Lance Grey has been at home ever since Leon died. It has been a week now, so Lance's friends have come to pay him a visit.
Nina Willow: I hope Lance is okay. (Nina says to the others as they reach Lance's house)
John Crest: He's fine, that guy is the strongest person I know. (John tells her)
Rex Striker: Was that a compliment John?
John Crest: Nooo! I meant strong literally!
Rex Striker: Sure you did. (Rex replies with a smile)
Lora Magma: No matter how strong he is, he'll still need our support.
Sebastian Tempest: Indeed, we owe him our support as his friends.
John Crest: Why are we standing here talking?, Let's go already! (John yells as he goes over to the building and knocks on the door)
Elizabeth opens the door
Elizabeth Grey: Oh what a wonderful surprise, are you here to see Lance? (Elizabeth asks happily)
John Crest: Yes we are.
Lora Magma: We're very worried about him aunty.
Nina Willow: It's been a week since we last saw him, Is he alright? (Nina asks with a worried look on her face)
Elizabeth Grey: Lance is fine, he's in his room right now, you can all see him but, I need you to keep an open mind.
Sebastian Tempest: Why do we need an open mind?
Elizabeth Grey: It's hard to explain, just come in. (Elizabeth let's them in and as they enter, they see Runt, Huntress, Seeker, Ravager and Scavenger around the house)
Runt: Intruders!!! (Runt yells as he sounds an alarm and the Dark Hyenas get into fighting positions)
Elizabeth Grey: Everyone calm down, these are Lance's friends. (Elizabeth tells the Curses as they were surrounding Lance's friends)
Huntress: Everyone stand down! It's a false alarm! (Huntress orders)
The Dark Hyenas stand down
Elizabeth Grey: That's better, please tell Lance his friends are here. (Elizabeth tells them, and the Curses all head upstairs to notify Lance)
John Crest: Why are there so many Curses now? (John asks in a frightened tone)
Elizabeth Grey: Lance brought them back with him, He said he met them all in the Soul Kingdom, and they helped him survive the attack. Apparently, their all the friends of the one that has been living with us for years.
Nina Willow: You mean Hyena?
Elizabeth Grey: Yes...Hyena and his friends all say they exist to protect my son, by I'm not sure, I have a feeling there's still more to the story, something Lance is not telling me, but since he doesn't want to talk about it, I won't force him to. I should be happy that my son has so many protectors, but I don't understand why he's attracting Curses, Is that really a good thing? (Elizabeth tells them with sadness in her voice)
Sebastian Tempest: Perhaps it's his magic ability, that would explain why they are attracted to him.
Nina Willow: Besides if these other Curses are like the original Hyena, they will protect Lance with their lives, and won't let any harm come to him.
Elizabeth Grey: I guess you're right, If they keep Lance safe, that's good enough for me.
Rex Striker: The reason we came here today is to get Lance out of the house, he needs to join the Adventurers Guild and continue his journey as a professional mage.
Elizabeth Grey: That's not gonna be easy, he refuses to leave the house. He's still sad about the death of Leon Chronos.
John Crest: We were all sad, but we didn't let that affect our lives, It's not like it was his fault or something, Leon gave his life to save the Soul Kingdom, And he would want Lance to continue moving forward. You know what, Don't worry, we have a fool proof plan to get him out of the house.
Elizabeth Grey: Oh, what is it?
John Crest: You'll see for yourself, just keep an open mind. (John answers with a confident smirk)
Lance finally comes downstairs, with all of the Dark Hyenas in tow.
Lance Grey: Hey guys, sorry to keep you waiting. (Lance says as he rubs his eyes)
John Crest: Grab him! (John yells as they all rush at Lance and pick him up from his hands and legs)
Lance Grey: W-What's going on?! What are you guys doing?! (Lance asks in shock)
Sebastian Tempest: Saving your future as a mage! Let's go guys! (Sebastian yells as they all carry Lance out of the house)
Huntress: They're stealing him! We have to stop them! (Huntress yells in anger as she tries to go after them)
Hyena: (Intercepts Huntress) Wait a minute! They're not stealing him, they're just taking him to where he needs to be. (Hyena explains to Huntress)
Huntress: Then let's follow him! He will need our help!
Elizabeth Grey: What he needs is your support! He's not just a regular young man! He's a Mage for Spirits sake! He needs a supporter, not a babysitter. (Elizabeth tells Huntress sternly)
Huntress calms down
Huntress: I apologize for making you think I was babying him. If you will allow us, we would like to support your son with all our might.
Elizabeth Grey: (Chuckles) I'll allow it. You can support him best by delivering him some fresh clothes, the ones he has on now are filthy. (Elizabeth says as she brings some fresh clothes from Lance's room)
Huntress: Consider the job done. Runt! carry the clothes on your back. (Huntress orders)
Runt: Sure. (Runt responds, and Elizabeth straps the clothes on him)
Huntress: Now that that's done, Seeker! Find Lance Grey!
Hyena: That won't be necessary, I know exactly where they are taking him. (Hyena tells them with a smile)
Lance's friends forcefully carry him to the Adventurer's Guild before dropping him.
Lance Grey: Wait, Ow! (Lance says as they drop him on the ground)... Woooah, Is this the Adventurer's Guild? (Lance asks as he stares at the massive building in awe)
John Crest: Yes Lance Grey, welcome to your destination.
Lance Grey: Why did you guys bring me here?
Sebastian Tempest: Joining the Guild is very important. If you want to continue being a Mage that is?
Lance Grey: Of course I want to continue. (Lance retorts)
Lora Magma: Then you need to join this Guild. Lance I know Leon's death hurt you, but even he wouldn't want you to give up on your dreams.
Lance Grey: Is that what you all think of me? (Lance asks them sadly)
Nina Willow: Lance, we know you're not the type to give up, But you've been distant lately, It made us all worry because we care about you, a lot. (Nina tells Lance nervously)
Lance Grey: (Smiles) Thank you all for bringing me here, I'm sorry I made you all worry. (Lance tells them with a bow)
Rex Striker: Don't worry about it, It's the least we can do.
John Crest: (Groans) Come on already! Let's go! (John yells as he drags Lance into the building)
Lance enters the Guild and sees mages of every caliber.
Lance Grey: Wow, so many Mages. (Lance says in awe)
John Crest: Not just Mages my friend, they are also Warriors and Knights. The Adventurer's Guild welcomes any type of fighter.
Lance Grey: I know about Knights but who are the Warriors?
John Crest: (Sighs) Always so clueless. The Warriors are civilians with either incredible fighting abilities or unique magic powers. They're not very strong and mostly take on only low ranked missions.
Lance Grey: Okaaay, I get it. Let's just register already.
Lora Magma: We're not registering Lance, only you are.
Lance Grey: Huh?, What do you mean you're not registering?, Isn't this important to all of us? (Lance asks in confusion)
Lora Magma: It is. That's why we all registered a week ago. (Lora informs him nervously)
Lance Grey: You all registered without me?! (Lance asks in surprise)
Sebastian Tempest: Sorry buddy, but as you said, this is important and we couldn't afford to wait.
John Crest: Or did you think we were all going to wait for you until you were ready?
Lance Grey: I guess not, you all worked hard to become Mages, It wouldn't be fair for me to hold you back.
Rex Striker: Don't be silly Lance, you're not holding anyone back, we all just thought you needed some time to clear your head, before you start going on adventures.
Lance Grey: Thank you all for caring about me, It makes me really happy. (Lance tells them happily)
Nina Willow: We will always care about you Lance, that's what friends are for. (Nina says with a kind smile)
Lance Grey: Here I go! (Lance says as he heads over to the receptionist of the Guild)
Astrid Onsworth (The Receptionist): Hi, I'm Astrid Onsworth, how may I help you today? (The young lady asks nicely)
Lance Grey: I would like to register as an Adventurer.
Astrid Onsworth: Sure, what type of Adventurer do you want to become?
Lance Grey: Type?
Astrid Onsworth: I mean are you registering as A Mage, A Warrior or A Knight?
Lance Grey: Oh. I'm registering as a Mage.
Astrid Onsworth: Okay, your Mage Badge please.
Lance Grey: Mage Badge?
Astrid Onsworth: (Sighs) The badge you got after you completed your training as a Mage. You have one don't you?
Lance Grey: Ohhh right! My Mage badge. (Lance says as he tries to remember what happened to it)
Note: It was destroyed in his fight with Mad Mask.
Lance Grey: Yikes. I think it got destroyed in a fight, does that mean I can't be an Adventurer?
Astrid Onsworth: No you can still be an Adventurer, but you can't register as a Mage without a Mage badge, you will have to register as a Warrior until you can solve your badge issue.
Lance Grey: A Warrior?, But I'm a Mage.
Astrid Onsworth: That's what you say, but there's no proof is there?, If you had your Mage badge, you would begin at Silver Rank, but since you don't have it with you, you can only begin as a Bronze Ranked Adventurer, which is a typical start for a Warrior.
Lance Grey: Okay then, I'll do it.
Astrid Onsworth: Lovely. Please fill this form. (Astrid says with a smile)
Lance fills the form with all his details.
Lance Grey: Annnd, Done. Is that all?
Astrid Onsworth: (Take the form) Yes, congratulations you're officially an Adventurer. If you want to go on missions now, feel free to grab a mission tablet. (She shows him a wall filled with hanging wooden tablets, which had missions engraved on them. The rank of each mission is also on the tablets, along with the pay for completing them)
Lance Grey: Apart from Silver and Bronze, what other ranks are there? (Lance asks inquisitively)
Astrid Onsworth: There is Gold and Platinum...
Lance Grey: So Platinum is the highest rank?
Astrid Onsworth: Yes, Platinum ranked Adventurers are the highest paid, and are considered the strongest people in the Kingdom, only second to the Elite Mages.
Lance Grey: Wow. They sound strong.
Astrid Onsworth: Oh they are. Did you know that Elite Mages are chosen from Platinum and Gold Ranked Adventurers?
Lance Grey: I did not know that
Astrid Onsworth: It's a known fact. So if you want to be an Elite Mage some day, you will have to do your best to move up the ranks. (She tells Lance with a smile)
Lance Grey: I'll try my very best.
Astrid Onsworth: Good luck to you then, Lance Grey.
Lance then goes to meet his friends.
Lora Magma: Have you successfully registered?
Lance Grey: Y- Yes.
Lora Magma: That's great! Why aren't you excited?
Lance Grey: I am a Bronze Ranked Warrior.
Rex Striker: Bronze Rank?! Why are you a Bronze ranked Warrior?!
Lance Grey: Because I lost my Mage Badge.
John Crest: How did that happen?
Lance Grey: It got destroyed in our fight with Mad Mask.
John Crest: Huh, probably because you let him shoot you a ton of times. (John says as he recollects the fight)
Lance Grey: It's not my fault, I was protecting you and Sir Reginold. Anyway, what's done is done, let's just go on a mission as a team. (Lance suggest excitedly)
Lance's friends start acting weird, almost like they can't go on a mission with him.
Lance Grey: What is it now? (Lance asks in frustration)
Sebastian Tempest: We can't go on missions with you now... Since you're a lower rank, you can't go on Silver Ranked missions with us. And Bronze Ranked missions are so easy that all of us going would be a total waste of time. (Sebastian says what everyone was thinking)
Lance Grey: Oh right, I totally forgot... I'm not going to remain in this rank for long, I'm going to raise my rank as soon as possible, so that we can finally be a team.
Rex Striker: We'll be waiting for you buddy.
Lora Magma: Don't take too long, otherwise we'll go higher.
Nina Willow: I'd wait for you Lance, Its the least I could do. (Nina tells Lance nervously)
Sebastian Tempest: Lance is really strong, we shouldn't even be waiting for him, he may surpass us if we're not careful.
John Crest: I'm not worried about him surpassing me, I am the best after all. (John boasts confidently)
Sebastian Tempest: Says Who? (Sebastian asks John with a light chuckle)
John Crest: Says me, with my Weakening and Strengthening abilities, I will obviously move up the ranks pretty quickly.
Rex Striker: With all that skill and confidence, do you think you can take on Lance?
John Crest: Lance now has several Curses under his command, It wouldn't be a fair fight.
Lora Magma: Fair for whom?, Lance or you?
John Crest: Just leave me alone! I'm going on a mission, Alone! (John says as he Strom's off)
Nina Willow: I need to go as well, Good luck on your mission Lance. (Nina says as she leaves)
Lance Grey: Thanks Nina! And thank you again for bringing me here.
Lora Magma: Enough thanks, just go on your mission already, see you later. (Lora says as she also leaves)
Rex and Sebastian both say their goodbyes before leaving Lance. After his friends had left, Lance goes to the mission wall and grabs a mission tablet, the mission he chose is to clear giant boulders that were blocking a road, the reward is twenty bronze coins.
Note: Its not a lot of money, but is an expected pay for a Bronze ranked Adventurer.
After taking the tablet, Lance heads back to the receptionist and hands over the mission tablet.
Astrid Onsworth: You're taking the boulder mission?, Good first choice.... All of our Missions are presented to us by the people of the Heart Kingdom, once you complete the mission, come back to receive your reward.
Lance Grey: Understood, Thank you very much. (Lance says before he leaves the Guild to go on his first mission as an Adventurer)
Meanwhile the Dark Hyenas watch Lance leave the Guild from a distance.
Hyena: There he is, he's probably going on a mission, let's join him. (Hyena says to the clan and they all try to leave)
Huntress: You all should wait, I have something to say. (Huntress says, stopping the rest of the clan in their tracks)
Hyena: What is it? (Hyena asks in confusion)
Huntress: When I found out Midnight died, my heart sank into my chest. But after finding out he entrusted his powers onto another, I swore to protect that individual with my life.
Seeker: And so would we!
Ravager: Why do you doubt our loyalty?! (Ravager says in outrage)
Scavenger: We will always be loyal.
Huntress: Is that so?, Then why did you all hesitate when we fought Helos?! (Huntress yelled in anger)
Runt: B-Because he's our friend, he lost himself and wasn't thinking clearly. (Runt tells Huntress nervously)
Huntress: Wasn't thinking clearly?! He destroyed an entire kingdom! Which killed a lot of people, If that mage hadn't intervened, we'd all be dead, along with the last remnant of Midnight.
Ravager: We've done terrible things before, If Helos knew what we know now, he wouldn't have done what he did, and he would still be alive.
Huntress: Maybe, maybe not, what I do know is that the Great Demons are free now, Nighterra and Clonera are probably by their side and it's only a matter of time before they come for Lance. When they do, I need you to fight with all your might, don't hesitate to kill anyone who threatens our Master's life, even if they were our friends. Is that understood? (Huntress asks sternly)
The Dark Hyenas sadly agree.
Huntress: Okay then, let's now join Lance. We will obey his mother's wishes and only help him if he wants or needs it. Let's go. (Huntress tells them and they all leave with her, but Hyena waits behind a bit)
Hyena: Take care of yourself Clonera, for your sake, I hope our paths never cross. (Hyena says before leaving to join the others)
Next: Lance Becomes The Best Warrior.