"Yo, kid," Riley playfully saluted Osmond.
Riley was wearing a green matted leather armour over his moss green shirt. In his right hand, a long sword was held. Its edge shined in the morning light. A green gem of will glimmered on its hilt.
Osmond looked with displeasure in his mind. The last time when he spoke to Riley, he asked about his parents without any tact.
"This man will be accompanying you to the adventurers guild and further be with you during quests. I expect you two to get along," Connor said.
"Can it be someone else?" Osmond asked frowning.
Riley placed his sword on his shoulder and tousled Osmond's hair. "Oh, come on kid. We are going to have a great time."
Osmond moved the hand away. "We are not friends," he said.
"Do you expect anyone else from high castes to go with an orphan boy?" Connor said glaring.
Osmond had no words against that.
"I have personally checked his strength and I can say that he will keep you safe."
"Pack your stuff, you two will be leaving in three days," Connor said.
Osmond went to his room and Riley went back to the trainee quarters. Audrey had kept some bags in his room for taking his things. He moved them to one side and lay on the bed.
Osmond remembered reading about the book of adventures with his mother. He wondered what his mother would think of him going and seeing the same things as his parents did.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye and Osmond found himself carrying his bags with Riley beside him.
Osmond was wearing a black shirt with cream pants. He strapped a dark matted leather belt around his hips. He has cropped his hair short to make himself think that he was a warrior.
Riley was wearing a red shirt with a purple velvet blazer over it. Its sleeves were rolled to his ankle and he had unbuttoned up to his chest, making his muscular body visible. He wore a light brown leather belt around his cream pants, its end hanging to his leg.
A wagon painted in blood red was standing in front of them. The coachman, a paunchy bald man with blue eyes opened the door for them. Osmond placed the bags inside and Riley threw the rope bag into a seat.
Connor was standing in front of the door, above the stairs with Audrey beside him. Connor was wearing a beige shirt, buttoned and wrinkle-free. His pants were shadow coloured, just like the ones cast by the sun. He held his arms folded and looked down.
"Don't get yourself killed," Connor said looking away.
"Don't worry master, I am with him," Riley said grinning.
Connor glared from above and Osmond felt a shiver run down his spine. He nodded but Connor didn't notice that. They climbed into the carriage, first Riley and Osmond next.
The coachman closed the door and climbed onto his seat. He whipped the two horses, one the colour of ivory and the other that of obsidian. The beast cried and moved forward, pulling the carriage with them.
The carriage rolled and rocked to the road. Riley tried looking at Osmond, but he turned his face away. The carriage reached the town of parting and turned towards the capital town.
Riley looked at Osmond and turned to the front. "Say kid, do you want to be an adventurer or are you doing this because of the king's order?"
Osmond's eyes widened. He didn't know about the king's order. "I want to be one so that I can get stronger," he said coldly.
"You can get plenty strong at that mansion. Then why be an adventurer?"
Osmond hadn't thought about that. He looked down for some time.
"My parents were adventurers so I guess I want to see what that is like."
"This is not something to do for curiosity. You can get yourself and your companions killed," Riley said grimly.
"But you were doing it for fun," Osmond said frowning.
"Well, I am strong and you are just a tiny boy," Riley grinned.
"What I am saying is, find another reason to be an adventurer. You are going to see things that are not fun in any way."
Riley leaned to his seat and closed his eyes and the trip was silent from then onwards.
They woke to the shouts coming from outside. Riley looked outside through the window and found that they have reached the capital town.
Osmond climbed outside and saw a tall cinnamon-coloured building in front of him. Leaded colour glasses poured light inside it. A tall staircase went to the mahogany door and Osmond saw people entering and leaving the building. He saw farmers with sweaty clothes, merchants with posh drapes and men with armour, iron and leather.
Riley peered outside the door and looked at the building. "Back after a long time," he smiled.
After nearly eight months of training, Osmond had put on some muscle on him, even though he heaved and gasped as he climbed the stairs carrying his bags. Riley followed behind him with the rope bag on his shoulders and blowing a whistle.
"Lesson number one, always travel light," Riley said.
They entered through the front door and Osmond placed the bags on the floor and sat down. He saw long lines standing in front of five or six counters. To the sides, he saw rows of notice boards with requests pinned on them. He saw men in armour carrying weapons pondering in front of the boards.
"It has become too crowded in here because of the king's order," Riley said looking around.
"Come with me. I know a guy who will help us out," with that, Riley walked forward.
They walked to the counter in the leftmost corner and front of the line. Across the glass wall and the grilled gate, Riley saw a familiar face.
He had canary yellow hair and emerald eyes. He was wearing a cobalt blue shirt. His face was sunk into the papers piled in front.
"Hey, Tony," Riley called tapping the glass.
Tony raised his head with his brows touching. He saw Riley's smiling face and his eyes widened.
"Riley? What the heck are you doing here?" He said standing up.
"Got a kid who wants to be an adventurer," Riley said pushing Osmond to the front.
"You take care of these guys, I have a visitor," Tony called a woman to his seat.
Tony opened the door on the side earning glances from the people in the line. "Come on in," he said inviting them to a room inside.
Inside the room, there was an ivory table with chairs on both sides. Osmond and Riley sat on one side. Tony came shortly after carrying a kettle and three glasses.
Tony placed glasses in front of Osmond and Riley. Hot steaming tea poured from the kettle into the glasses, its smell filling the room.
Tony filled his cup and sat down. He held the cup by the handle and blew away the steam.
"Haven't seen you in a while. What are you up to?" Tony asked taking a sip from his glass.
"Before that, let me introduce you to each other. Kid, this is my supervisor. Everyone gets one when they reach Gamma level," Riley told Osmond.
"Level?" Osmond was confused.
Tony placed his cup on the table and leaned forward. "Adventurers are classified into six based on their strengths; Omega, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Eta; Omega being the strongest and Eta being the weakest."
Osmond nodded to each word that came out of Tony.
"Now, who is this kid Riley? Isn't he way too young for being an adventurer?"
"Frankly, I don't know and I don't care. The kid wants to get stronger and I am just tagging with him. It's his life, let him do what he wants," Riley said without any care.
Tony let out a sigh. "You are always like this. At least keep the boy safe."
Tony got up with his chair sliding. He went outside and came back with some papers. He placed them softly in front of Osmond.
"Fill this up kid and I hope you know what you are doing."
The form asked about his name, his current residence and his combat role. He filled them quickly and pushed them to Tony.
"Looks good," Tony said nodding.
He went outside and came with a tag. It was made of iron and a word was carved into it.
'Recruit.'
"Uhm, is there a mistake? It says 'recruit 'and not my level," Osmond said pointing to the tag.
Tony let out a small chuckle. "You have to do a starter job first. Only then we will give you a true adventurer tag."
"Come on kid, we are leaving," Riley said getting up from the chair.
"Where?" Osmond asked puzzled.
Tony answered that question. "To a blacksmith. You can't go to a fight dreaded like that. Show them the tag and they will give a set of basic gear. Oh, and here," Tony handed a pouch containing some coins. Osmond counted it to be ten pemphros.
Osmond left the room first and Riley followed behind. Riley reached the door and Tony closed in and whispered to his ear.
"Protect the saviour."