"Alright, I think this should do it!" He placed both hands on his waist and smiled at himself as he looked at the mirror. There, his image bounced back on him. The sheer excitement and joy of having finally worked hard enough to obtain his own armor and equipment through constant labor and hard work paid off. Simply wearing it gave off a different impression, to him anyway.

He became quiet and stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself but seeing his own image of him from the past, then to now. His messy, short brown hair and brown eyes were still the same. The only thing seemed different from him was that he seemed more mature than back then when his back was slouched, his eyes looked as if they had lost all hope in them, and his face seemed desolate and deadpan.

It felt as if though he could stare at himself all day just thinking of how unbelievable it was to finally be standing with his equipment on, as if he were already an adventurer, the very thing that he aspired to be on that day.

"A new leather armor set and a brand-new sword... All those times carrying barrels and boxes, helping out at the forge, doing chores... Has been worth it!" He jumped with joy, unable to hide it.

"Hey, knock it off up there! I'm trying to get some goddamn sleep!" a loud voice roared from below, hitting the ceiling that was his floor.

"Sorry!" he said in a hushed voice, exhaling after calming down.

He looked at his room which was on the second floor of the Inn he was staying at. The furnishings were simple, all made of sturdy wood. The open window offered the sight of a bustling street where people walked to and fro to their destinations. Shop keeps and various merchants loitering the busy districts yelled out to their potential customers, the women were talking to their fellow wives, and the children happily chased each other at an energetic pace.

The sky was bright overhead, and the horizon showed a breathtaking view of the many structures in the distance. He had heard about how amazing the capital city of the Empire was, but having seen this sight more than once, he thought of just how magnificent such a thing would be compared to what he was seeing right now. The liveliness of the people simply brought it to life. 

After fixing his belongings and tidying up the room he rented out, Lear descended to the main floor of the Inn, meaning to say goodbye to the one who took him in when no one else did.

It hadn't even been that long, yet he was already thinking of how he was going to miss this sight that he saw every day. He worked here on a nightly basis, helping around as both a cook, a cleaner, and a server. Though the pay wasn't enough to a normal worker, he alone was happy to have been given a place to stay by that very person who adopted him.

"Oy, lookin' good there, Lear, finally got a costume on for hallow's eve? Pretty terrifying, but I'm afraid you're already months late fer that!" the old man cackled on with his companions, poking fun at Lear as per the usual.

"It's not for that! Keep on laughing, cause it'll be the last time you will. Next time you see me, I'll be someone great, you'll see," he said confidently. He was too busy thinking of his future and the things he could accomplish outside of the city that he paid them little mind.

"Yeah, yeah, that's all good. We weren't making fun of you, c'mon, Lear. You're great enough as it is," he said genuinely.

"Really?" he asked in a hopeful tone, looking to have changed his opinion of the men.

"Yeah, you're the best waiter in this Inn. Now how's about you get me another refill of this thing?" he laughed, wheezing through it, extending his arm out, holding the empty mug.

"Oh hush, all of you!" said a young, beautiful woman who came out from the back of the room, wiping her hands clean on her apron. "Don't worry about them, Lear. I'm sure that you'll make a name for yourself out there." She smiled, catching his attention immediately as he turned around.

"Alice?!" he said stuttering. A sense of uneasiness swirled around his stomach. His palm started to sweat, and his feet became jittery.

She was a young woman with blue eyes and a gentle and kind image, sporting a long brown hair along her back. She wore a long beige dress and exuded elegance as she wore it. She was the one who helped Lear when he was first taken in by her father, assisting him in serving customers and managing the inn. he had grown to owe her a lot because of that, eventually sparking a flame of admiration for her. In his own words, calling her beautiful would have been an understatement for she was one of a kind.

"Look at him go! Hahaha, he's getting nervous. The kid's always like that around you. You'd think by now that he'd go out and say he fancied you, and he probably does. You're really are a looker, aren't ya, Alice?"

"Ahh, d-don't believe what they're saying, it's all a bunch of lies! And hey, you're all going too far, stop that already," Lear said, covering up the old men's words by making loud noises.

It was true that he admired her, but only to an extent. He couldn't do something like that no matter how much he admired her. After her father had the heart to take him in there was no way he was going to be cut out for it. 'What Alice would want is someone dependable and strong, and someone who has a lot of money to support her with. I'm none of those... well, yet anyway'. He thought to himself, dismissing those thoughts of admiration.

"Go home already, you're all still drunk this early in the morning!" she scolded them.

The noise they made immediately died down after Alice's plea failed, and another presence entered the room. His figure towered over the men and drive fear into them. His stern, yet serious eyes sent them packing out from the Inn in an instant, thus allowing the morning silence to settle in the room.

"Oh, father, you've come back from the market! Lear and I are already done with the cleaning, so only the cooking is left until later," said Alice.

"Thank you for taking care of that, my dear. Go on and take a rest. I'll take over from here. Now Lear." He faced the young man in question. His voice reverberated through the room. "It seems that you're finally going to be embarking on your own quest. Are you sure you're prepared for that?" He sat down on a vacant chair and looked at him intensely, pinching his chin, thinking to himself. 

He was a tall, lean, well-built man with a full face of beard to go along with his brave and infalliable demeanor. He had a scar across his left eye which he wore proudly as a trophy. He was said to be as proud as a lion, or as the saying went with some of the people who gawked at him and exaggerated, both those who were terrified and astounded of him.

The thing was, Duncan Fusbre was a veteran soldier who fought in many battles for the Empire of Lasphius, retiring only when his wife, Alice's mother, passed away. He sold all his belongings and honors to put up a safer business which would support the both of them.

It was then Lear aspired to be someone as strong as Duncan, asking him to train him after a few days of having opened up to the family.

"Ah, Sir Duncan. Yes, I am. You've trained me yourself, so I'm confident in what I can do now. Like I promised, I'll repay you when I get enough of the money together."

"Don't worry about that for now. It's good for a soldier to worry about when his next meal is going to be, but here in this unforgiving world, you'll have to worry about your safety above all else. The monsters around here are luckily weak since the town's soldiers keep them away, and we're far from where they're said to live. Then there are guilds which make easy pickings of them, too. But with the capital, it's different. All manners of monstrosities lurk on every corner. Remember, once you're out there, always be ready for anything."

"Yes! I'll keep your words close to heart."

But as he tried to leave, Duncan caught up with a few words.

"Just keep this in mind, Lear. I recommend joining a guild. Seeking to chase your dreams by doing reckless things such as attempting to ascend Event Horizon alone is a death sentence. The tower of Event Horizon is a place that's never been ascended by any single person, heck, even the top guilds of this kingdom are having a hard time clearing the first floor of the monsters that it's just plain ridiculous. I have confidence in you as you trained under me, but for someone starting out, being rash is the last thing that should be on your mind, always remember that, alright? There's more than one way to earn a name for yourself."

"Don't worry, Duncan. I'll be able to do that someday. But you're right. I'll get strong soon enough for it. I'm not reckless enough to charge into harm the very first urge I get."

"I believe you'll be able to succeed, Lear! Please stay safe on your adventures. Also, please bring this with you." She presented him with a pendant made of silver which gave off a strange feeling to it. It had the shape of a moon. "It was given to me by someone back then, and ever since, it's been like a charm to me. I hope that it'll be of great help to you."

"Thanks, Alice. I'll be sure to keep this safe no matter what. I think with this alone, I'll be safe enough," he laughed to hide his embarrassment, scratching his head.

"Don't be too cocky, Lear. But I'm happy that you two are getting along. Now, hurry up, the carriages headed for the capital leaves soon. Come back here when you get the chance. A little visit now and then will keep both of us at ease."

"I will!" he said with a smile.

With an upbeat feeling with him, he set out the door with one last farewell, waving to them, then disappearing through the door.

Duncan let out a sigh which caught the attention of his daughter, causing her to worry. She placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Are you alright, father? You don't seem too well."

"I'm fine, dear. But what I'm worried about is Lear."

She tilted her head. "What about Lear, father? Are you already worried about him?"

"Yeah, in more ways than one. I just hope that he gets by fine enough."

"What are your doubts about. I'm sure that he will be a great adventurer, don't you agree?"

"Well, there are other professions. You see, Alice, he doesn't really have the aptitude for it. Well, he's got dedication and perseverance, I'll give him that. But his technique with fighting is... giving me a lot of doubts."

"But I thought you trained him until you deemed him to be good enough."

"It's just the basics. He's lacking a lot of things. But, what placed me at ease with him was his sound judgement... most of the time. Though I asked him some basic questions, he has a tendency to be rash when the situation turns dire. Heroics are a bad thing in this world."

"Then why did you let him leave, or tell him the truth? That is very reckless of you, father!" she scolded him, pouting with her arms crossed. She wanted to chase after him now, but she took into consideration that Lear would be hurt if his dreams were to stop there, so she stopped herself without the need of her father from halting her.

"You would too if you knew how many times he asked. I turned him down initially, but he worked hard enough for me to see just how badly he wanted to learn. He's been through a lot, too. He grew up an orphan because his parents left for a journey and never came back. I took him in not because I felt sorry, but because I wanted to see how he would change his life around. Let's just have faith in him, alright? Let him realize it rather than killing the moment. Experience is the best teacher, keep that in mind."

She heaved a sigh, but not forgiving Duncan just yet. "I have already given him all the hope I could give, and I will only keep giving giving him more regardless. I only wish for him to be safe now," she looked downcast, placing her hand on her racing heart. She already became worried for him even if he hadn't left for a whole hour yet.

It was a rather calm and stable street with a normal flow of people going by. It wasn't at all crowded since Lear passed by easily with the flow of the crowd, making sure to not miss his carriage to the Empire's capital.

The town of Walbur was the Empire's territory to the south, settling on a wide plain of lush, green land. It was bustling for it was a strong source of the Empire's rations that came from farmers and laborers. It was quite close to a neighboring kingdom, but is separated by a mountain range which was secured by the Empire, so no real threat reared its head as of the present.

There was a smile on his face the entire way, he passed by the many shops, saying his farewells to those he had come to know in his time of living here. He had met many and enjoyed their company.

"Oh, Lear, you seem to be going somewhere. Mind humoring an old lady?" A familir old lady manning a fruit store waved at him.

"No problem, Gran. I was just on my way to the gates. I'm heading to the Empire to become a living legend!"

"Well you be careful now, alright? Here, have these fresh fruits as my parting gift. They just came in this morning. You helped me out a lot back then, and this is my way of repaying you. I hope that it helps." She handed him a small assortment of fruits that Lear stored inside his bag, taking a bite out of one and savoring its sweet taste.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Thanks, Gran! This'll help out a lot. When I succeed, I'll come back and buy some more from you, just you wait."

He moved on and ran for the gates, checking the clock on the tall tower behind him. 

He saw the convoy of carriages that were preparing to leave by the open town gates. There were many who were headed to the capital as well, for all sorts of varying reasons. There he saw the carriage that he was to take, the one with the two brown horses. The coachman seemed to be resting, his head inclined with his hat covering his face from the dawning sun.

"Hey, Lear!" a man wearing a full set of armor wielding a spear called out to him as he approached the carriages.

"Vass, already out guarding the gates?"

Vass was a tall man with brown hair hidden inside his helmet. He was rather easygoing, but most of the time thinks rationally. 

"Yeah, the other was out sick, so I had to take over for him. So you're already heading out? Lucky. You'll get to see all sorts of things out there. Planning to conquer Event Horizon?" he teased, whispering to him.

"That's a given. I'll definitely have a name for myself if I were to do that. Every story I hear about it just makes me want to get there faster."

"It's pretty far and dangerous, so there's that. Well, you do have a good chance considering Sir Duncan trained you. Once captain of the guards, always a captain of the guards. Shame that he's retired now, anyway. I would have loved to train under him, but he's not taking in students."

"Why not join me, Vass? With you and I, we'll definitely make something of it, that much I'm sure of. You were always good with a sword when i saw you. You're a town guard now, after all."

"Well, I'm not really sure I can. There's all sorts of monsters out there, so you never know what'll happen. It's dangerous. Plus, I need to take care of my brother and sister. The two would probably be lost without me, and me without them."

"Leaving in about a minute!" called out the organizer of the convoy. The coachmen all stretched their arms and began checking the belongings, including the people and their tickets.

"Oh yeah. I saw them yesterday. They seem to be doing well. But I better head on out. Give my regards to Finn and Dayla." He and Vass parted with a handshake.

"Be safe, alright. Don't go on forgetting about me when you get famous!"

Vass was one of the few people that got to know Lear when he first arrived to town. He is also a friend of Alice, and they all grew up together. He was the same age as Lear and had taken the post as a town guard as a means to support his siblings and himself. Their past had bound them together, and they became close to each other nearly to the point of brothers.

After Lear parted with Vass, he presented his ticket to the coachman and boarded the carriage finally. His heart wouldn't settle, and the excitement wouldn't dissipate. The silly grin on his face was that of a child's who couldn't wait for the untold adventures of his life.

The carriages all began moving, following the roads that would eventually lead him to the capital.

On the way, he admired the vast plains and the breathtaking sights in the far distance. It was his first time going out by himself and to somewhere far.

He peered behind the carriage and saw the others following behind.

The convoy was made secure by paid adventurers and mercenaries riding on the carriages and some on horses. They wore all sorts of armor and wielded all kinds of weapons that put Lear's to shame. But he didn't mind. They all looked intimidating and serious, but Lear admired them for how menacing and professional they looked, comparing them to him as he tried to imitate their terrifying faces, only serving to make him look silly to the others riding along with him, causing a burst of embarrassment to slowly build up in him.

There was nothing out of the ordinary about his journey to the capital, which set the others at ease. In truth, traveling the land away from towns and cities raises the likeliness of monsters attacking those who are not wary, thus the need for mercenaries and adventurers made the occupation a well sought out one for all that you had to do was know how to wield a weapon and put it to good use. That was the case for most, however, monsters grew to adapt, making them more menacing and dangerous as time passed.

The occupation of being an adventurer and a mercenary is a road filled with many ups and downs. One would not know how it would usually go, but it was a given that the higher the danger, the higher the reward for it. And because of that, many became adventurers who made names for themselves. There, many legends were created.

"We're arriving at the capital city of Oberys soon!" cried of the coachman. It had taken two days at the least, but with nothing out of the ordinary to look at, Lear eventually fell tired and slept. The convoy took more of a scenic route around the countryside and was nearing the end of its journey.

He let out a yawn and peered out the open window to see where they were. He saw the horizon beyond the hill, revealing a stunning sight of a grand city with tall walls acting as its border going around the large city. It was larger than Walbur, much larger. In fact, a small fraction of the city is the size of the countryside town. Many magnificent and tall buildings stood proudly to be admired from afar. On the very middle was a large palace that spanned wide, looking to be made of materlials that shone with the sun.

Though there were many other structures outside the city, the city's sight simply took Lear's attention outright. His mouth was agape the entire time, and he had lost track of all things for an entire minute.

"So this is the city of Oberys..." he spoke to himself. "... Amazing. It's larger than I even first imagined it to be."

They approached the large gates, ushering them in. There were many soldiers positioned outside making their rounds and serving as the guards of the area. There were also many others walking to and fro into the gates where a checkpoint made the flow of the crowd constant and flowing.

The banners of the Empire that hung on the tall and imposing walls and ramparts fluttered as the winds blew against it. The banner showed Julius, the kneeling knight, holding the sword of victory, Justia, a legend from the Empire of Lasphius.

The convoy stopped by the stables near the gates, and it was there that Lear got off to admire the inside of the city, heading straight to the first plaza where a fountain with a beautiful statuette of a woman wearing a silk garb stood in the middle. The area was surrounded with houses and many establishments erected using sturdy looking stone materials, and they towered over each other. The ambiance was not full of festivities as he thought it would be, rather, it was a calm morning which seemed like the usual to them. People crowded the markets, some hung around the scenic parts, the others enjoyed the company of their friends and companions, the usual.

Along with the collected chattering of the people around him, he surveyed the area, taking his time in sightseeing before he would dive into his new life. People wearing strange and extravagant clothing came and left through many districts and streets. But then he remembered what he came here for.

"Right, I have to find a place to rent out, then out adventuring I go!"

He went around asking various people of the inns and taverns close by, finding something that wasn't completely full or chaotic. He wanted one that was rather peaceful and homely. But most of all, he wanted something cheap and affordable, lest he squanders all of the money Duncan had lent him.

"Welcome to the sleeping dragon, what can I do for you?" an old man behind the counter asked.

"I'd like to rent a room out."

"No problem. We've got a couple of vacant rooms, all you need is to pay up front, and it's all yours."

"How much?"

"Just going to cost you twenty gold pieces."

His mouth opened wide in shock, unable to take in what he had just heard fully.

"So, how's about it? You looked like an adventurer, so I thought of giving you a great rate!"

"T-Twenty gold is the lowest?!"

"Yeah and it's dirt cheap! You won't get any better prices anywhere else!"

"Ahaha, let me think about it," he laughed wryly. But in truth, he was reeling from it. He staggered out the door, keeping his wits intact. He couldn't afford that now since he only had fifteen gold pieces and fifty silver pieces, that alone wouldn't be enough, and if he did miraculously get enough, it would leave him with nothing.

"Where am I going to sleep now?" he asked himself, looking up. The morning was still fresh, and there were still many things that he could do.

"Don't have enough, kid? You look miserable" asked a gruff looking man was happened to pass by him. He wore a simplistic kind of clothing but stood out with his cool demeanor with his hands in his pockets. There was a tattoo of a knight's helmet showing from his chest that he masked, pulling up his shirt.

"Y-yeah, sadly." He staggered back and tried his best to look into the serious man's eyes.

"I suggest you try to find a guild who'll accept you. Members usually get access to a room where they can live. You seem to be an adventurer with that get up. There are a lot of guilds here, so it'll be impossible to not join one. They all just have different prerequisites, but most just have you do a quest of their choosing."

"Is that so?" his eyes lit up instantly. "Thank you, I'll try! What's your name, if you don't mind me asking."

"Karl. Get going, kid. The earlier you get it done, the better."

"Right!" But just as he began to go, he saw someone posting what seemed to be a notice on a wall across from him. The inn that he came from was positioned somewhere in a narrow alley where an ample amount of shade was present. The amount of people weren't plentiful as well, but there were enough of them crossing by to not make the place into a ghost town, or city, rather.

"There, that should do it!" the man said with a beaming smile, placing a hand on his waist as he admired the notice. The letters were large enough for him to see what it was about from a distance. He carried more copies on the other side of his arm, all rolled up neatly.

"New guild accepting members... The Eveningtide, huh?" he murmured to himself.

The man turned around and saw Lear, narrowing his eyes at him. "Hey, you! You must be an adventurer, aren't you?"

"Y-yeah!" he responded as the man snapped him out of his daze. He was caught off guard with what he should say, but he responded as best as he could.

"You looking for a guild to join? I just opened up mine, you see, and I'm searching for people who would want to join me. How about it?" asked the man as he approached Lear, allowing both to take a better look at each other. "Oh, you look pretty good in that armor. Makes you look like an experienced adventurer." It would be a barefaced lie if he said that he didn't consider the compliment. He was already inclined to join after he had said that.

Lear studied the red-eyed man whose name had not been given to him. There was a certain aura of determination to him, and a brightness in personality, but it felt as if there was more than meets the eye. It was simply just a hunch, although.

He looked like a noble with his white, long-sleeved shirt with its sleeves folded till the half of his arm. He wore dark pants and dark boots to match that. He was of average length, a bit taller than Lear. He had long dark hair with his bangs combed to the left, nearly covering his left eye. Some of his hair was tied back as a ponytail going until his neck. He had a confident looking personality and an approachable character which caught Lear completely unaware.

But just before Lear could respond, a loud bell rang from the distance, echoing through the part of the district.

"Oh, time flies when you're rushing. Well, better head off while I can. Sorry, I'll talk to you again when I get the chance. Stay right there if you can, I'll be back in a bit!" he dashed away at an amazing speed, leaving Lear confused at the turn of events.

"Seems like you don't know that eccentric guy. I don't suggest joining his guild," said Karl, approaching and taking one of the noticed he had posted on the wall, studying it for himself. "The writing's legible, but it's crudely made by hand. Seems like a sketchy offer to me."

"What makes you think that?" he asked.

"There are guilds out there who exploit people, offering up positions only to have them mugged or killed. The Eveningtide, huh? Usually you would have heard of a new guild if it had been endorsed by another guild, but this is the first I'm hearing of it. It's a gamble, but you have better choices. Try your luck somewhere else first," he urged.

"Alright, thank you, Karl! I won't forget what you've done for me."

Taking what Karl had told him, Lear began asking around for the local adventurers' guild, fancying one that stood out greatly, located south-east of the city. It was a rather large, two-story, stone-built structure with the name Waking Dawn on its banner. The Waking Dawn was a prominent guild that was in the top five guilds in the city of Oberys.

Lear gulped at the thought of finally having something to do relating to an adventurer. He placed his hands on the double doors of the guild, feeling an emotional weight behind it, he opened it.

Inside revealed a lively atmosphere. The room was lit up by torches and what seemed to be crystals that glowed white. There were also orbs of light that made him think of the presence of mages in the room. But it was truly wide. People talked amongst themselves, sitting on tables along the hall, pillars adorning and serving as the foundation of the building. There were ornaments that were hung up on the walls. Some were rare looking materials like claws, weapons, armors, and many others.

There were also strong looking adventurers wearing armor that was fashioned to make them look even more menacing and imposing. The weapons they wielded shone brightly, all looking brand new.

"Welcome to the Waking Dawn guild. My name is Niere, I'm the head of the guild's admissions. Is there something that I could help you with?" asked a beautiful looking woman wearing a dress serving as a uniform, her chestnut colored hair flowed along her back. He noticed that there were also other women walking around wearing the same dresses, save for those female adventurers wearing armor.

"I want to join the guild!" he blurted out, surprising the woman with his lack of preparation for the real thing.

"I-Is that so? Well, the application is quite simple. Just like the other guilds, we require the applicant to successfully finish a quest chosen by us, and depending on the performance of the applicant, we will decide on those factors. Currently, the guild master is out, so I will be the one issuing the quest and companion."

"Companion?" he asked in confusion as this was the first he was hearing of it.

"More of like an observer, a companion is as the name states, but he or she will only be there to guide and grade you depending on your performance as if it were the real thing, and you were a part of the guild. There are other ways of joining, but this is one of the most reccomended, so I would rather have you choose this than any other. Are you just starting out?"

"Yes. I come from Walbur. My name's Lear."

"Very well, Lear. Let me ask, are you fine with this kind of quest?"

"Yes! I'll do it."

"Good. You seem to have enough of a determination to pull through. Don't worry, it won't be anything that a novice wouldn't be able to accomplish. You're allowed to have a few days to prepare yourself, buti if you'd like, you can start now."

"That'd be for the best, I think. Thank you."

"Alright then, please wait here while I call out your companion."

The woman left, and Lear's anticipation grew. He knew that if he was going to pass, he had to somehow impress his companion with his skills and abilities, nothing too difficult for him. But he would need to draw out every bit of Duncan's teachings. He felt like he had the edge to succeed with just that.

He secured his belongings, equipment, and weapon, making sure that he was prepared to move out at any time. But it didn't take long until Niere had come back with the said companion. That too caught him off guard.

The tall man serving as his companion had lazy looking eyes that seemed disinterested at anything in his line of sight. He was someone who looked far from dependable for his slouched posture the uninterested, and sometimes disgusted face he makes at those that tried to greet him. There was a mix of dissatisfied glances at him as well, as Lear noticed but did not openly state. Oddly enough, his aura was ruthlessly cold, yet it didn't feel like there was any effort into what he was doing. It seemed to be natural, as ridiculous as it seemed to Lear.

He wore a dark coat with a white shirt underneath. Black pants and black boots for below. He wore a silver necklace inside that shirt of his.

"This is Noel Earle, he is one of the top ranked members in this guild. Right now he isn't as busy with quests, so he is kind enough to lend his time for your evaluation. I hope that you two get along. If things go south, you can depend on Noel to help you, right, Noel?" he nudged him with her arm, receiving no reply as the lazy eyed man simply looked beyond the open door where a familiar man ran by with his notices on his shoulder. He had the same smile as before on his face as he disappeared.

Noel looked at him and held out his hand. "Noel. Nice to meet you. Let's get going."

He shook his hand which was cold as if it were a dead persons'. Noel immediately left after that, leaving Lear behind.

Niere let out a wry laugh. "Please don't think too badly of him. He is often misunderstood because he doesn't talk much, but I assure you that he is a good person inside, I can vouch for that. He has the quest you're going to accomplish. Good luck," she smiled, giving Lear an ounce of courage that boosted his self-esteem.

He ran past the door and caught up to Noel as they headed towards their destination, following a clear path towards the city gates. Lear's heart brimmed with joy as his adventure was about to start, and a chance to join the city's top guilds would be something else as well. He would have been able to brag to Vass about it, enough to make him jealous and join. But that was still unlikely.

"Where are we going?" he asked from beside Noel.

"Just follow me. I don't know where it is, but I can walk there no problem. Just don't get killed by the monsters, alright?"

His words reassured him, but the thought of that happening bummed him. Though he had not seen much of monsters or know a lot about them, Duncan taught the basics of what he needed to know if he were to go against one by any chance.

He clenched his fists and took a deep breath in, encouraging himself.

You can do it, Lear! My journey to the top will start here!