Al's grey robe fluttered in the wind as he took a left turn. The old Lady, Tammy, gave Al directions to the Guild. 'Straight at two intersections, left at the next. Then the next right.' Al repeated her words to himself.
He took a right on the brick street and arrived at a city square. On the square's far end a massive building stood. Five stories high and painted blood red, the building towered over all around it.
It resembled the pagodas of the Hana Dynasty Dorian had told Al about. A massive sign labeled Adventurer's Guild hung above its entrance.
Finally. Al didn't want to waste any time. In quick steps, he entered the building.
It was packed, reeking of booze and sweat. Men and women of all kinds mingled around the tables set up along the room. Among them was one constant, they were all very strong.
Approaching footsteps came from Al's right. "Welcome, my name is Noah. What brings you to the guild today?" A young boy asked Al.
He had fine black hair and a feminine face. He was dressed in a red robe with the symbol of the guild on it, an ax crossing a sword.
"I would like to join."
"Right, follow me."
Noah guided him to a desk on the far end of the room. A beautiful middle-aged woman was manning it.
"Ms. Fern, we have an applicant."
"A young one, eh? Thank you, Noah." The boy left as Ms. Fern slipped a strand of brown hair behind her ear, "Let's get right into it. What's your cultivation realm? Do you have a party to join?"
"peak 1st Realm and no."
An eyebrow raised at the mention of his realm. "Would you like to be assigned to one?"
Having enjoyed companions on his travels, Al clearly saw the advantages of a party. However, he did not like to be reliant. If he sought freedom, he needed independence. "No, thank you."
"So, a lone wolf." Her delicate hands slide through a stack of files, retrieving a thick piece of parchment. "This is your contract. A signature entitles you to the Guild's standard services. In return, we receive ten percent of your proceeds."
It looked to be a fair arrangement, Al signed. After putting down the quill, he asked, "What now?"
Ms. Fern inspected the contract. She stored it in a wooden filing cabinet before piking through her desk drawer. She withdrew an iron pendant of an ax crossing a sword, the guild symbol, and handed it to Al. "This shall identify you an iron-plated adventurer, Mr. Monet. As an iron rank, only the bottom floor will be open to you. If you wish to advance in rank, you will need to advance in your cultivation realm or complete an advancement mission successfully."
"Thank you." Al hung the pendant around his neck. A giddy feeling within him.
"Quests are posted on the quest board." She pointed to a wooden board spanning the entire eastern wall. "To accept a quest come to me."
"Got it, thanks."
"Any questions." Ms. Fern said.
"Yes, this is unrelated, but where could I find the Tudor University?"
"In the inner city, quite a trek away. Fortunately, the guild provides maps." Ms. Fern laid down a map depicting the entire city grid. "Do you wish to study at the University?"
"Yes, I do."
"You're just in time the entrance examinations start tomorrow morning." Ms. Fern smiled, showing a mature charm. "Normally, a map is two silver, but for a cute boy like you, I can make an exception."
At the sudden tease, Al was taken aback and blushed a little, "Umm... thank you, Ms. Fern."
Ms. Fern coquettishly smiled. "No problem, Mr. Monet. Any questions just come to me."
Al left the interactions slightly weirded out by the latter part. He wanted to check out the Quests. However, his path was barred by a large figure emanating an aura close to the 2nd Realm.
A bald, burly man with a claw mark running across his face, contorted into a menacing smile, stood in the middle. On his right was a skinny man reminiscent of a rat, and his left wobbled around a priest in a tattered robe, his face flushed with booze. Both of them were in the peak 1st Realm.
"Fresh meat should play by the rules." the burly man said closing in on Al. The rat-like man chuckled in a sadistic way.
A blond man came up to him. He grabbed his arm and said, "Vadim, he's just a kid."
The man named Vadim lifted his arm and threw off the man with ease. He flew into a gathering, breaking their table. The man coughed in pain, and anger rose on the adventurer grouping.
"Problem?" the rat said. Panic replaced their anger before they scurried away into the crowd.
"Sir, might I inquire what issue I caused?" Al said.
"You've defied the laws of the Guild." The burly giant bent down. His face was now right in front of Al's. He could smell the booze from his breath.
Al remained calm, brutes like the least threatening he could think of. "And, what laws would those be?"
"Ms. Fern is mine to woo." Violent rage brewed in his eyes.
"Pfff- haha!" Al couldn't help but laugh. What a ridiculous reason to start a fight! "That's a first, I never knew trolls could woo." A few chuckles arose from the circle that formed around them, but a glare from the rat stifled them.
His face grew confused before anger took over. "What are you saying?"
"That you are a troll. Although that might be unkind toward trolls." Breaths of cold air were sucked in around him as icy rage surged in Vadim's eyes. His fist barreled towards Al's head who leaned back, leaving the fist only air to punch.
The troll kicked toward Al, but the Shape Self spell was already active. His kick blasted through a projection when an obscured Al shoved his revolver into his mouth.
""Boss!"" Alarmed, his two companions drew their weapons.
"My friends I wouldn't do that. Even trolls can't survive a bullet blasting through their skulls." Al smiled at them in a cruel imitation of kindness. "Now, I think a peaceful parting would be in everyone's best interest. Would it not?"
Al looked into Vadim's terror-filled eyes. He forcefully nodded, doing his best to speak."Yeshhs! Ofsh Courshe!"
His two minions followed suit, "Yes, of course, kind Master."
"So, we are in agreement." He pulled out his gun.
Free, the troll collapsed, coughing. His two companions came to his aid, while Al walked out of the Adventurer's Guild. He made his way back to the Inn. He carefully watched his back, in case he was followed by them.
He arrived at the Inn panting. Al rapidly strode up to his room where he collapsed into his bed. Shape Self's Mind Qi expenditure was immense. He had nearly fainted multiple times on the way back.
Al went to sleep to replenish his Qi. He slept until the next morning, the morning of the Tudor University Examination.