Birk handed the two adventurers cards with the name of their adventurer crew on it as well as a stamp shaped like their crew logos as they stood once again in the Nito Island Guild. "These are you licenses. They grant you access to ninety five percent of the world facilities and also identifies you as a legal adventurer crew. As you can see, your rank is clearly written on the card. Right now you are rank one, a Saturus. To increase your rank, you have to take the rank rising exams, but only if you complete the criteria given to you for that exam."
"I didn't know the adventuring world was so complex," Shinzo said.
Birk chuckled. "The road to being a great adventurer is hard, let me explain. There are twenty ranks, each rank is accompanied by a particular level you have to get. To increase your levels, adventurers have to go on quests who reward levels and other things by the guild. Once an adventurer docks in a country, they send a letter to us and we send in all the quests for that country."
"I see."
"When is the rank rising exam?" Paolo asked.
"Rank rising exams take place every month, giving adventurers a little amount of time to gather level points. The requirement for you to take the second rank exam is to get between levels fifty to hundred. Levels are distributed equally to the amount of people that take it so if it's a level five quest even if ten people take it, you'll still have level five."
Luca lifted up the stamp. "What of this?"
"All adventurers should have their crew sign somewhere visible on the body, so that we can identify you. So the guild has forged a stamp that leaves the crew sign on your body." Birk looked at the adventurers as they processed the information. "Any questions?"
They all shook their heads and he smiled. "Once again, welcome to the guild."
.....
Luca stopped Paolo in front of the guild hall, five members of both crews staring at each other. Luca lifted his chin, pointing at his crew sign on his neck. The sign was a blue sun hiding behind a cloud of the same color, the color standing out on his pale skin.
"Remember this sign, this is the sign of the crew that will take the throne that Erin G. Rub once sat on."
Paolo smiled. "If that's a challenge then…" he pulled off one arm of his shirt, pressing the stamp on his shoulder and showing off the Cross Heart Adventurer logo. "This is me accepting your challenge, this is the sign of the crew that will become the greatest adventurers that ever lived."
Luca clicked his tongue, not bothering to give Paolo a response. He brushed past him, his crew members trailing behind him, William waving a goodbye. The boy with black hair stopped in front of Paolo, smiling slightly.
"Forgive the captain, he's a little anti-social, but he means well," he said before quickly introducing himself. "I'm Vernon, his vice-captain, I hope we can meet again."
He walked away when Luca shouted his name, the five of them staring at the backs of the Blue Dawn Adventurers.
"They're going to be formidable rivals," Octavius said.
Paolo nodded. "But then again, they might also prove to be worthy allies."
.....
The Cross Heart Adventurers had returned to their ship, Paolo putting their marks where they wanted it. Shinzo flexed his pectoral, smiling at his captain's handiwork.
"I picked a good spot."
Aline clicked her tongue, even though she happily enjoyed his display of 'manliness'. "You are too narcissistic."
"At least my mark is in a cooler place."
"There's nothing wrong with it on my arm."
Shinzo scoffed. "Lame."
The two started arguing, but the adventurers didn't pay attention to them, Paolo imprinting Luna's shoulder with the stamp.
Luna grinned at Paolo. "Look we're twinning."
He laughed, moving on to Octavius and pressing the mark on the back of his hand. "I don't know why you guys are arguing over something so stupid," Octavius said, but showed off the mark on his hand. "Because my location is way cooler."
An argument started again this time with Octavius joining in, Paolo just laughed at the scene, putting the stamp on the deck table.
"Let's have a party," Luna suddenly suggested. "After all, there's nothing like good drink after a win."
"I agree," Aline said, pausing their meaningless argument. "But first we need to know our next course of action."
"Luna where do you think we should go?" Paolo asked. "I'm fine with anything you choose."
She brought out a map from her hat. "The two closest countries to Manu are Alba and Kaas. Alba going west and Kaas going east. I suggest we start heading west because it'll be easier for us to maneuver the ship. Plus, heading west will lead us to the South Sea as opposed to east which would take us to the North Sea."
"Why the south?" Octavius asked.
"The North Sea is known as the territory of big shot adventurers, so if we're starting from the bottom, it makes more sense to take the east to the South Sea. Although getting there would be tough, not only do we have to pass eight countries, but we have to cross the Central Sea. The sea known for being the most unpredictable. It crosses between all the four seas of the world, so no one can avoid it. It is one of the major obstacles for adventurers."
"That's tough," Aline said.
"I can't say for the weather, but there is a special compass for it which I so happen to have. As your navigator, I'll help you cross over that sea no matter what."
Paolo grinned. "I trust you."
"So Paolo what's your plan?"
"We'll start heading west like you say. We'll wait for the quests to be delivered and spend our time in Manu gathering our levels, so that by the time we get to Alba, we head to the exam site."
Luna nodded, rolling up the map. "Since we've made the decision let's start moving, Aline, Paolo, set the sails."
They ran towards the sail, letting the fabric fall. A large gust of wind blew through the cotton, the material steadily flapping around.
"Octavius, the anchor."
Octavius ran into the control room, pulling the lever for the anchor. The heavy metal rose from the water back inside the ship, waiting patiently for the next time it would be used again.
"Shinzo the helm, let's get this baby moving."
Shinzo turned the steering, the ship slowly moving from the harbor. The wind blew at their hair, the implications of the past two days finally settling and causing them to grin.
"We actually did it," Luna whispered.
Paolo grinned. "And for that let's celebrate, Luna get drinks."
She cheered, running to the kitchen and returning a few minutes later with five cups of beer. She placed them on the deck table, the five of them surrounding it.
"This is where our adventure begins and the only way we're moving, is forward." They grinned, their captain's words spurring them on. "Let's launch our new beginning." He raised up his cup. "I am going to become the greatest adventurer."
Aline lifted her cup, pressing it against his. "I'm going to taste and create dishes from around the world."
"I'll become the greatest martial artist," Shinzo followed.
Luna giggled, doing the same as her crew members. "I'll make maps for all the islands of the world."
"I'll become the greatest engineer in the world."
They all had goofy grins on their faces, cheering before taking huge gulps of their drinks. On January 22nd, the Cross Heart Adventurers passed the adventurers exam and took one step forwards towards their dreams.