Waking up I look around myself. In front of me is the tunnel that was filled with slimes and behind me is the forest that the path from the tunnel leads into.
Letting out a short yawn I use the tree, which I slept leaning up against, to push myself off the ground and onto my feet. Now standing up I look towards the entrance of the forest. The trees are normal sized and there is many floating lights inside it.
After looking into the forest for a while, I can tell that this is definitely not the forest, which disappeared back in the valley. There is too few floating lights in the air and no glowing mushrooms inside the forest.
I continue to look into the forest for a while before slowly forcing myself to follow the path from the tunnel and into the forest.
Walking for a while nothing happens. After having followed the path for a few hours, it expands into a road again. The only positive thing since entering the forest was a small increase in floating lights in the air.
A short while after the path had become a road the forest ends.
Walking outside the forest, I see an open land spreading out before me with hills scattered here and there around the terrain. A few lonely trees, small streams and colorful flowers help covering up the open land. Behind a tree a few meters away, I can see a white rabbit drinking from a stream nearby creating a truly calm and beautiful scene.
Wait… W-white rabbit!
Like a predator who found its prey my eyes start to shine, I slowly start to move closer to the harmless little white rabbit.
10 meters… 6 meters… 2 meters…
I am now hiding in a bush just besides the prey. Looking down at it, I slowly start to move closer… Aaaand Jump!
The moment I jump after the little white rabbit it makes a splendid dodge and looks at me like looking on an idiot, I hit the ground face first.
I look up at the little white rabbit in the distance with tears in my eyes. Getting up on my feet again, I hurry after the little white rabbit. When I reach the road, it disappears. The little white rabbit was gone once again.
Dispirited I walk along the road again.
Walking onwards, I continue my journey.
___________________
Walking for another hour or so, I see something in the distance. The closer I got the more I think it looks like the wall from the small city. The difference is just that this wall is not cracked or overgrown, but it looks new and has no plants growing all over it. The most important thing is that something or someone is walking on top of it!
When I get closer to the wall I can see that there is people walking on top of it, some have funny animal ears while other look like normal humans. In addition, some looks more like animal then human. Their entire body covered with either scales or fur.
Before I had noticed it, I was standing I font of the big door in the wall.
One of the funny looking person with rabbit ears and a shiny armor came walking up to me.
“Hey little girl, do you want to enter the city?” (Guard)
Looking inside the big door in the wall, I can see many people both with and without animal traits walking around. The city does not have plants everywhere and there are more floating lights inside.
Concluding on my answer, I nod my head in acknowledgement to the question.
“Okay, then let me see your information card for a moment” (Guard)
Tilting my head to the side, I start to wonder what an information card is.
Information an…d card? A card with information on it? Who’s information? Mine?
Wondering what the magic card with information on it is, I start to send a burning gaze towards the guard who asked for the magic card.
Noticing me going from confused to excited the guard is caught a little off guard. Looking towards a fellow guard standing nearby. The fellow guard walks up.
“Do you not have an information card? Then what about an adventurer card?” (Fellow guard)
Calming myself down again, I shake my head.
“If you don’t have an adventure card either you can get one made at the adventurer guild, I can show you the way over there if needed. Before you enter you just need to touch this crystal here” (Fellow guard)
The guard who came up a little earlier presents a shining crystal with many floating lights flying around it.
“Ooooh” (Me)
Letting out a voice of amazement, I go towards the shining crystal. Slowly my hand moves towards the crystal. The moment my hand touches the crystal it start to glow a little brighter than before, before returning to its original shining glow.
“Okay that is fine just move your hand for now” (fellow guard)
Moving my hand away from the shining crystal, I look up at the guard who put the shining crystal away. The other guard was already back at the gate again. Looking up at the guard who had the shining crystal, I notice that he is a normal human.
“Follow me I will show you the way to the adventure guild, ah you can just call me Dave” (Dave)
Nodding in affirmative, I walk into the city following behind Dave.
Entering the city, a bustling street spreads out before me. Many people walk to and from one place to another, some talking to each other while others are hurrying from place to place. Shops for everything ranging between shops selling magic equipment to books on cooking. Walking along the lively street, I find out that many of the people passing by Dave and I sent us a glance before moving on.
Moving through the streets Dave stop at a big building that was in the middle of the street. The building has a few words floating in the air above the entrance saying “Osaki Adventure Guild”.
Amazed by the floating lights that was used to form words, I stare at the floating words with amazement.
After a while, I can feel someone lightly tapping my shoulders. Turning to the side, I can see Dave staring at me.
“So? What do you think? This is the city’s adventure guild!” (Dave)
Dave looks proudly at the majestic building that is the adventure guild of this city. After bragging about how awesome, the adventure guild is Dave and I enter inside.
Inside there are many people standing in lines waiting. At the side, there is a board, which has “Quests” written on it. Looking towards the quest board, I can see that it is divided into different ranks.
Looking up I can see that there is something, which looks a lot like a bar upstairs. A lot of people are eating and some drinking chatting happily together about the so called quests they have completed.
I look up at Dave and see him looking at me. Looking back at him with a puzzled face Dave starts to talk.
“This is the adventure guild! The lines over there is for people who have completed a quest” (Dave)
Dave points towards the line where most people are lining up.
“That line over there is for registering at the adventure guild” (Dave)
Dave says and points towards an almost empty line.
“We need you to register over here to get an adventure card; this also helps to prove your identity. You can register at the adventure guild from the age of eight, even though most tasks are things like collecting herbs or cleaning. The higher level things at the adventure guild is monster subjugation” (Dave)
With these words, Dave and I go to the line for registering in the adventures guild. A few people looks towards Dave and me before turning away continuing with what they were doing before.
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When Dave and I reach the registration desk, a young woman with horns on her head and scales covering her left arm comes into view.
Dave starts talking to the young woman.
After talking to the woman Dave’s face is a little red, but he still looks down at me and starts to explain.
“Just follow the pretty sister here and she will help you get your adventure card made. Shia don’t do anything strange to her!” (Dave)
Dave sent a glance towards the young woman, whose name was Shia.
“No worries I won’t do anything to her. Come here follow me and we will have your adventure card made in no time” (Shia)
Chuckling lightly Shia send a smile my way signaling me to follow her.
Following Shia, we move upstairs. Upstairs looks like a place to eat and drink, so it looks a lot like a restaurant. However, with adventures drinking and chatting here and there the felling you get from it is not that of a restaurant, but a bar.
Moving past the area where people eat and drink Shia and I move towards a door located at the spot in the back of the bar.
Opening the door Shia walked into the room. Following behind her I also entered the room.
The room is small and there is not any decorations or windows inside the room. In the middle of the room, a big crystal ball is laying on a table letting out a few floating lights into the surrounding air.
Moving closer I see Shia already standing beside the crystal begging me to come closer to her.
“Place your hand on the crystal and it will read your status. After that it will create an adventure card which can be used to accept quests or enter a city” (Shia)
Touching the big crystal, I can feel something inside of me leaving my body before it enters the crystal.
After a moment a transparent screen pops up in front of me
[No name chosen!]
[Chose a random name?]
[Yes] [No]
Touching the yes in front of me, a new screen pops up in front of me.
[Lesser spirit has been named Lyna]
[Title “Named” Gained]
Before I get time to calm down the big crystal on the table start to tremble lightly. Trembling for a minute or so the big crystal slowly returns to its former calm. Just when I think, it is over the big crystal shoots out strands of light that gather and form something, which looks like a card.
After the card was formed the big crystal calms down again. Before the card stops floating in the air, a hand comes out of nowhere and snatches it.
“So your name was Lyna? Huh? A spirit? Are people from the spirit race not living deep in the forest and rare? Moreover, you can take on a human form… Well it’s not really my problem and the adventure guild don’t have prejudice against people from different races” (Shia)
Saying so Shia hands over my adventurer card with a smile on her face. Grabbing the card, I look down on it to see what it displays
Name: Lyna
Race: Lesser Spirt
Age: ?
Guild Rank: Trainee
Slain Monsters: 0
Monsters to Rank up: 10
Monsters slain? Monsters to rank up? Does this mean I need to kill 10 slimes to rank up?
Looking puzzled at the card I peek towards Shia who is currently smiling at me. Feeling a chill go down my spine, I hurriedly look away. After calming myself down, I look at the new title I gained.
[Named: A spirit that have been named is awarded with this title. Permanently increases wisdom by 5]
[Do you wish to equip title? Equipping a title gives no bonus!]
[Yes] [No]
Clicking yes, I call forth my status and just as the transparent screen said, my mana increased with my wisdom. The title that was empty after my name has also been filled now.
Looking towards Shia, she asks me.
“Do you want me to explain the ranking system?” (Shia)
Looking at me with a splendid smile from beginning to end Shia looks at me with gentle eyes, but deep down I fear something bad is going to happen if I say no. Slowly nodding at her question Shia starts explaining guild ranking system.
“To rank up you need to kill a monster on the same rank as you. As monsters do not have ranks, they are divided based on the level of the monster. For example, a level 10 monster is considered Trainee Rank while a level 30 monster is considered Soldier Rank. The ranks of the guild is as follows:
1 - Trainee level: 1 - 15
2 - Squire level: 16 - 29
3 - Soldier level: 30 - 45
4 - Knight level: 46 - 59
5 - Silver Knight level: 60 - 69
6 - Gold Knight level: 70 - 84
7 - Protector level 85 - 99
8 - Guardian level 100 - 150
9 - Legend level 151 - 200
10 - ? level 201 - ?
The reason that there is not any limit to the 10th rank is because the current highest level adventurer is below that level and anything above level 200 is considered unknown” (Shia)
Finished explaining the ranks Shia looks smilingly towards me. Taking a step back and feeling sweat appearing at the back of my hand I slowly move towards the door. Slowly getting closer. Almost there.
Just before I got to the door, Shia appears out of nowhere standing in front of the door. Out of shock, I fall down on the ground. Sitting at the ground I stare teary eyed up at Shia who is smiling towards me.
“So you don’t have anywhere to stay right now? Right?” (Shia)
Feeling the temperature of the room suddenly falling by several degrees, I can only nod my head to Shia’s question.
Seeing me nod Shia puts on an even more brilliant smile than before.
“So if you don’t have anywhere to stay what about staying at my place? There is only me living there and it gets lonely from time to time. Don’t worry, I won’t bite!” (Shia)
Seeing the hesitating look on my face Shia sends a teasing smile towards me while making a clawing motion with her left arm.
Feeling defeated I nod my head.
Shia then goes towards me giving me a hug before letting me go again.
“Lyna… let’s get along then” (Shia)
I can feel a terrifying gaze on me right now. The same gaze I had back when going after the little white rabbit.
Does this mean that I have become the little rabbit?
Looking at Shia’s eyes that was burning with a weird ambition, I feel myself grow weak.
After talking with Shia, we came up with a plan. I will go out and explore the town until Shia’s work in the guild is over. After that, I will follow Shia back to her lair… I mean home.
Walking downstairs, I see Dave waiting in front of the desk that Shia was standing behind when we came. The moment Dave spots us he rushes over as fast as lightning.
“Girl did she do anything to you? Talk to me! Respond!”(Dave)
Dave starts to shake me before I even get the chance to respond him. Looking at him Shia does a downwards chop on his head, which shuts him up.
“I didn’t do anything! Shut up already would you. Everyone is already starring at you idiot” (Shia)
“Sorry” (Dave)
Dave mutters in a low voice after noticing everyone looking weirdly at him. After Dave calmed down Shia tells Dave about our agreement, where I will stay at her lai… home from now on. Dave is first shocked at the news. Afterwards he tries to talk me out of it, but the gaze I get from Shia is too scary.
Saying bye to both Dave and Shia I walk into the bustling street of the city ready to explore every nook and cranny of this place.
___________________
Passing by all kinds of shops, I continue walking through the town. Exploring a weapon shop with lots of shiny things. Exploring a library. Exploring a bakery and many other places.
Currently I am running. Looking behind myself, I see over 10 cats following behind closely. Taking a turn by a corner, I hide myself inside behind a tree.
Peeking out after five or so minutes have passed, I see that the cats are gone.
“What did those cats want from me?” (Me)
I ask myself.
The cats that ran after me just appeared out of nowhere and started running after me. It started with two cats and slowly more and more joined the hunt of the innocent little spirit.
Looking up at the darkening sky, I move towards the guild to meet up with Shia as planned.
___________________
Standing in front of the adventure guild, I see Shia walking towards me while waving at me.
“Lyna over here” (Shia)
Shia calls. Walking over to her, I ask her.
“Shia where are we going?” (Me)
“To my house of course” (Shia)
Shia answers my question and we start to walk towards Shia’s house.
This city is divided into three districts. The living district where people live. The Shopping district where the shops are located and Adventure district where the adventure guild, inns and weapon shops are located. Shia’s house is located in the living district.
After walking for a few minutes, we made it to Shia’s house. It is not so big, but not small either.
When we get inside the house, Shia guides me to a room with a bed in it and says that it is my room from now on before leaving the room.
After inspecting the room, I walk to the place where Shia went.
Looking up at Shia I can see that she is making something. Moving closer I see that it looks like soup or something similar to it. After the soup was, finished Shia sits down by a nearby table and starts to put the soup into her mouth swallowing it.
Looking at Shia swallowing the warm liquid with no hesitation what so ever, I look on with a shocked expression.
“Do you want some?” (Shia)
Shia noticing my expression asks.
“C… can you eat that?” (Me)
Sending a questioning gaze towards Shia, she start laughing a little to herself before answering me.
“Yes of course you can, this is soup. It tastes great! Come and try it” (Shia)
Still skeptical about what Shia said, I walk up to Shia taking the spoon from her. Slowly I guide the spoon towards my mouth before swallowing the content.
“Delicious” (Me)
I blurt without knowing and just keep eating Shia’s soup.
After eating Shia’s soup, I start to feel a little tired. Looking outside I can see the sky has already darkened. I look towards Shia who just finished eating.
“What about we go to bed for now?” (Shia)
Shia asks me with a sleepy look on her face. Nodding in acknowledgement both of us walk back to our rooms.
Laying on the bed, I slowly drift away entering the land of dreams once more.