The outside of the guild was just as he saw it from his window. A complex of multiple buildings surrounded by runed walls, a black iron gate the only entryway. The gate was currently open, a single, robed wizard leaning against it, looking at the ongoing traffic of the city.

Gazing into the sky, Daniel saw a red sun brightly illuminating the surroundings, alone in an open blue sky. It was nice to be on his own two feet, the sun shining down on him. The weather was considerably colder than back home, but still warm enough to be fine in just a shirt.

The first order of business - he was going to see where the river led him. The magical lights illuminating his steps continued to do so until the gate, where he stopped to greet the magician. A quick nod and direct eye contact would hopefully make sure he was getting back in after nightfall.

The river winded to the left, and thus he followed it. There weren’t many people walking by the guild at this time of day. Among those that he saw, many of them wore finer linen and silk clothes dyed red, blue, and violet, strutting out their chests as they walked along. Fine azure jewellery sparkled with magic on more than one individual. Aptly, he noticed this place was named Azure Avenue.

Magical buildings caught his eye as he strolled along. A teahouse made of emerald leaves slowly swaying in the wind saw some guests chatting face to face, elegantly sipping from their porcelain cups. Next to it, a vibrant emporium showcased an assortment of flying orbs, each leaving behind a shimmering trail of magic.

The river shot past those buildings, continuing east. The clothing grew less vibrant on those here, the bustle of the city finally reaching Daniel. Here, he heard the clanging of hammers and the shouting of elders, screaming at their apprentices to do their work better. The buildings opened up, letting shopkeepers on both sides of the street converse with ease.

Daniel took some time, stopping at each unique object he saw. Speaking to the craftsmen, he found out that many were only marginally useful, being created as creative projects, but still displayed as curiosity pieces.

After all, one couldn’t level if they kept doing the same thing over and over. It was also here he learned a simple rule to level up - do what your class implied. If you were a tailor, you would level up from making clothes. It was that simple.

So, that begged the question. How did he level up? His class, Soul Reaper, levelled up from harvesting souls. If so, was he meant to be a killer, murdering others just to reincarnate them? Somehow, he doubted that was correct. That prompted another question - where did souls go after someone died not in his presence?

Before he could delve too deep into his thoughts, a shout startled him from across the street.

“Young man! Yes, you! You look mighty troubled. Let me help you with that.”

He whipped his head around, staring at quite a peculiar store. It was old and run down, painted in an ugly yellow colour. The windows were boarded shut, scratch marks marring the glass. A huge white board with red paint hung above the shop reading Madam Li’s Wonderful Fortune Shop.

The Madam Li in question was a portly old woman in her sixties, sitting on a rickety wooden chair sagging under her weight. She held a cup of tea in her hands, a part of it chipped away, which didn’t stop her from merrily sipping away. Her long silver-grey hair was loosely held by an embroidered red scarf from which hung beads and charms, swaying in the wind.

“Oh, apologies. I was a bit distracted,” Daniel said, intrigued.

“For only the cheap, cheap cost of five crests, I can help you divine anything in the world,” she said in a booming voice, practically screaming across the street.

Daniel observed the strange woman closer. Deep lines etched her face, but she let no sign of age show in her expression. Madam Li dressed in vibrant layers of silk garments, ones that he would expect on a belly dancer, or at least a woman forty years younger.

“Madam, I haven’t got a single crest to my name. Why don’t you divine when rich customers will be coming?” he spoke, his voice raised to match hers.

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“Gah, you’re a poor fool. My eyes must have been blind. Shoo, shoo,” she waved her hands like she was shooing off a pigeon.

Almost instinctively, he raised his lips to retort but then stopped halfway through. Who was he to argue with an old woman in the middle of the street like some sort of lunatic.

“Good day to you too,” he said, his earlier thoughts gone to the wind.

“Hold on, hold on. Don’t you want to resolve the problem, whatever it is? I’ll do the first divination for free,” she yelled at him, the tinkling of bells muted by her voice.

It was a wonder why no one else was staring. The carved toy shopkeep next to her peacefully whittled away at a piece of wood, ignoring the surrounding. The others were just as used to the scene as he.

“Well, don’t stand there. What’s your problem?”

He thought about it for a second. What could be the worst that could happen? His class was to stay to himself, so he thought about the second most pressing issue.

“Need to find a way to make some money. I don’t have a place to live or anything to buy food with.”

Theoretically, that was a lie. In reality, he would be getting thrown out the moment they realised he was completely fine. He had a day or two at best.

“Well, find a job, you lazy bum!” she spat her tea all over the ground, cackling at him.

“Alright, alright,” she said, noticing his glare. “You need to narrow it down. What are you interested in, how will you make your money?” She asked, leaning back on her chair.

“Something.... relating to souls or spirits,’ he said after a long deliberation.

“Come closer, see the future for yourself.”

With that, she leaned forward, sticking out her hand with the teacup. Daniel approached closer, looking at the pitch-black tea leaves inside. He narrowed his eyes, trying his darndest to find any sort of clue as to what it might be. There absolutely wasn’t a single pattern he could make out.

“A fool through and through. Fine, let me read it for you. Hmm,” she peered into the cup, squinting at it.

“I see a black night. Try praying to Morvina, maybe she’ll guide you to some semblance of intelligence. Ask around for the nearest church if you’re daft enough to not know the directions,” she guffawed, overturning the cup and spilling the tea leaves on the ground.

Daniel smiled at her, though both his brows and lips were twitching. Without a single word, he turned around and left, his steps long and hurried.

“APPRENTICE! I’ve performed another wonderful divination. Go clean up the mess.”

Madam Li yelled inside the shop, and soon, someone else stepped out. Daniel turned his head, his anger calmed a bit, intrigued by who the apprentice of such a horrid woman could be. Clad in long, flowing robes in shades of deep indigo and ebony, she moved soundlessly as if floating instead of walking. Her face was hidden by a porcelain mask, beaded strands of jade, amethyst, and lapis lazuli cascading from her wrists.

Noticing Daniel’s gaze, she bowed to him. A soft wind picked up, and as he blinked, the tea leaves were no longer in sight. Now that was someone who looked like a professional, not anything like the quack fortune teller he had left behind in a rage.

He slowed his pace, trying to once again take in the sights before him, but the wonder of it all was gone, ruined by the wretched woman. The sun was slowly setting, casting long shadows across the street. Despite that, the further east he went, the more bustling the scenery got. Intricate caravans pulled by massive lizards settled into a market square, where every man and woman was shouting for a one-of-a-kind deal.

The traffic here was several times that of Azure Avenue, with people squeezing to walk through narrow roads. Exotic beasts served as mounts and pets both, though by far the most common way of transport was by lizard. The scene looked comical until he saw the thing snap at a nearby passerby so fast it almost killed him.

He would’ve loved nothing more than to wander the market square, purchase several oddities, and converse with the locals here, but, if he lingered for too long, he wouldn’t accomplish any of his objectives.

Besides, he didn’t have any money.

After a long walk, he arrived at the city’s gates. Several city guards stood watch in runed armour, checking any carriages, caravans, and the like. The river continued outside into the great plains in front of him. Even from this distance, he could observe strange beasts moving back and forth, fights breaking out every once in a while.

The river ran past the plains and into a tall forest, where he finally lost track of it. He had a feeling it was the same forest he had reincarnated in. There, in the distance, would lay Velkir the Scarred, waiting for his time to die. He wistfully sighed, knowing that it was his obligation to kill the beast, which would involve a tough fight killing many of those involved.

It was up to him to figure out how he would do so. The first step was simple - he had to level up. The question was whether he could grow faster than Velkir. The sooner he got to it, the more souls he would save from eternal agony.