Two days later, at the shop, Charles had just arrived. Today Lita was with Christina and Pristina.
As he entered he remember the flashback.
"Let's go, Lita."
"No, today she will stay with us." Christina protested.
"And why?" Charles asked.
"It's our girl's secret, right Lita?" She winked at Lita making her a little embarrassed.
.
.
"Sigh! Today I am gonna be alone, I guess she should also enjoy," Charles muttered to himself. His hands were behind his back as he walked towards the shop.
As Charles walked towards his weapons shop, lost in his thoughts, he spotted Victoria standing in front of the shop. Confusion clouded his mind as he wondered why she was there.
Approaching her, Charles stopped in front of Victoria and asked, "Victoria, what brings you here?"
Victoria's expression turned slightly sad, realizing that Charles didn't remember the promise they had made the previous week about him becoming an adventurer.
Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she responded, "Charles, don't you remember? We talked about you becoming an adventurer."
Charles furrowed his brow, trying to recall the conversation but failing to retrieve the memory.
He stammered, "I... I'm sorry, Victoria. I must have forgotten. But who will manage the shop if I'm gone?"
Just as Charles finished speaking, Lara, Ai, and Nu, his trusted companions who had been working at the shop, emerged from the entrance.
They smiled warmly and approached Charles and Victoria.
Lara stepped forward and reassured Charles, "Don't worry, Charles. We can handle things here at the shop while you're away. We've been trained by you, after all. We'll make sure everything runs smoothly."
Ai chimed in, her eyes shining with determination. "Yes, brother. We've learned a lot from you, and we're ready to take on more responsibility. You've always encouraged us to grow, and this is our chance to show you what we're capable of."
Nu nodded in agreement. "You've been a great mentor to us, brother. We'll do our best to keep the shop thriving in your absence. You should enjoy yourself too."
Charles stood there, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He felt grateful for the support and dedication of his companions.
While he had been hesitant to leave the shop before, their reassurances and determination now filled him with a newfound sense of confidence.
Turning to Victoria, he mustered a smile and said, "Well... Let's go."
•
As Charles and Victoria entered the adventurer guild, all eyes turned towards them.
Whispers of excitement and curiosity filled the air, for Charles was a well-known figure in the town.
Many adventurers and guild members recognized him as the owner of the esteemed weapon shop.
The guild itself was a bustling hub of activity. The main hall was spacious, adorned with trophies, maps, and various artifacts collected by adventurers over the years.
Tables were scattered across the room, where adventurers gathered to share stories, plan quests, and form parties.
As Charles and Victoria made their way further into the guild, they were met with a mix of welcoming smiles and intrigued glances.
Some adventurers approached them, addressing Charles as "boss," a testament to the respect he commanded within the community.
"Boss! Long time no see! Are you finally joining us on an adventure?" exclaimed one jovial adventurer, clapping Charles on the back.
"About time you showed up, boss. We've been waiting for you to experience the thrill of being an adventurer firsthand," added another, a twinkle of excitement in their eyes.
Jealous gaze from some adventurers, who were perhaps envious of Charles's success and reputation, were also directed their way.
They muttered among themselves, their eyes filled with a mix of admiration and envy.
Victoria, known as the "Ice Goddess" for her cold and distant personality.
She, who didn't even bait an eye on the adventurers trying to pursue her, was in the company of Charles and laughing was a surprising sight for many.
Whispers spread throughout the guild as people wondered about the relationship between Charles and Victoria.
As Charles and Victoria approached the receptionist's desk to fill out the necessary forms, they were greeted by a young woman with long, flowing chestnut hair and bright, mischievous eyes. Her name tag read "Eliza."
As Charles and Victoria approached, a sly smile played on her lips.
"Welcome, handsome," Eliza said, her voice dripping with playful affection. "I can't help but notice how cute you are. Are you sure you want to become an adventurer? Why not stay with me instead? I can show you a different kind of adventure."
Charles chuckled nervously, not entirely sure how to respond to Eliza's flirtatious banter.
Victoria, standing beside him, observed the exchange with a cool demeanour, but a hint of displeasure flickered in her eyes.
She was unimpressed by the receptionist's attempts at flirtatioflirtationtained her composure.
However, her icy aura seemed to intensify, causing Eliza to pause momentarily, realizing the potential consequences of her words.
Clearing her throat, Eliza quickly shifted her focus back to the paperwork, her tone becoming more professional. "Alright, let's get you registered as an adventurer, cu-Mister... We'll need your details, your preferred class, and any previous experience you may have."
As Charles handed back the completed forms, Eliza glanced at them before looking up with a mischievous smile. "Great job, Charles. Now, before you can officially become an adventurer, there's one more thing you'll need to do."
Charles raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What's that?"
Eliza leaned in slightly, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. "You'll have to pass a test. You have to fight the trainer.
She continued, "The trainer is waiting in the combat training area. He'll assess your combat abilities, strategy, and resourcefulness.
Don't worry, Charles, you don't have to defeat him outright. Just show him that you're capable and ready to take on the challenges that await."
Charles nodded, his focus sharpening. "I understand. Where can I find the combat training area?"
Eliza pointed to a doorway on the side of the guild hall. "Go through that door and follow the corridor. You'll reach the training area. The trainer's name is Axel. He's tough but fair. Good luck, Charles."
Victoria, standing beside Charles, chuckled tuning about the test. She was looking forward to seeing how Charles would perform.
As they made their way toward the training area, the whispers among the guild members intensified. They were intrigued to see how Charles would fare in the test.
Passing through the designated door, Charles and Victoria entered a spacious training arena.
The room was equipped with various training dummies, weapon racks, and a designated combat area.
The air was filled with the sounds of clashing weapons and the grunts of aspiring adventurers.
At the centre of the training area, a tall and muscular man stood, his eyes sharp and focused.
His confident gaze shattered as he saw Charles and Victoria entering the door.
The man was Axel and the reason for that was, he had a crush on Victoria.
He tried to get close to her and even confessed to her but was rejected coldly.
And now that he saw her with a man,(Who was handsome) laughing.
Axel's face twisted with a mix of anger, jealousy, and frustration as he watched Victoria enter the training area with Charles.
The sight of her cheerful laughter and apparent connection with another man triggered a surge of emotions within him.
Axel clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
Thoughts of rejection and wounded pride flooded his mind, fueling his anger further.
'If I could show her that I am stronger than him. She will come to me, right?'