"Tell me about these adventurers," Matthew asked.
Travis smiled. "Anyone as 'Rank 1' is able to start becoming an adventurer," Travis began, "You have to have all of your abilities unlocked before you even meet one of the 3 qualifications needed. The second qualification needed is to pass the exam that the Adventure Society has for any newcomers. The last qualification is to be able to pay the fee, usually around 5 Bronze pieces."
From what Matthew had learned, 'Pieces' were the currency used here. The ratio for the exchange between different pieces was 100:1. 100 Copper for a Bronze, 100 Bronze for a Silver, 100 Silver for a Gold, 100 Gold for a Platinum, 100 Platinum for an Emerald, and 100 Emerald for a Diamond.
"After passing all 3 Qualifications, you're an adventurer," Travis continued. "Adventurers can take on tasks that are posted up in any of the offices planted around the world. The only limitations are Rank, Ability Set or Party Size Limit. Some jobs can be harder so you may need to be a higher rank to take it on, or you may need a bigger group. Other jobs may require you to have a skill that the requester wants you to have. But all in all, adventurers have the easiest chances to rank up. Maybe being a noble is another way to rank up quickly."
Travis scowled at the air when he mentioned the word 'Noble', but he carried on with his explanation.
"I had become an adventurer when I had Ranked up. I had set out on a task I had received from Greyvault village to escort a supply run. I arrived here and met... circumstances... that made me stay," Travis said, avoiding eye-contact with Matthew. Matthew chuckled.
"Anyway," Travis said, trying to carry on the conversation, "The life of an adventurer is one full of danger, but the rewards can be great. From money, to fame, to power. Adventurers have one of the greatest chances of obtaining whatever it is that they want. The only 'Rank 20' that had ever existed was an adventurer. Since Monster Cores are the only way to advance one's rank, adventurers that seek out monsters constantly, find themselves ranking up more quickly than others. For every Monster Core you absorb, after you unlock your abilities, increases certain stats by a percentage, the stat that is increased being random. The higher rank you are, the harder it is to rank up a stat with the lower rank Monster Cores."
Travis pulled out a notebook and Scribbled down some notes.
"These are what is currently known to adventurers as the amount of experience gained to a stat per Monster Core depending on rank. Note that you are unable to absorb any Cores that are higher rank than yourself, though fighting a monster that is higher rank than you is already considered suicide."
Travis handed the paper over to Matthew.
"Well Matthew, that's all I know about Adventurers and Ranks. Was there anything else you wanted to know?" Travis asked.
The sun was already high in the sky, indicating that it was around noon.
"No. Thank you for the information Travis. This really helped me out," Matthew said, standing up. "I'm going to head back now, I'll see you later."
Matthew headed back to the Tavern/Inn, Travis waving as he walked.
.
A few weeks had passed by, Matthew had turned 17 while he had been in this world. He still had no idea on how he had come to this world, or how he was ever going to return to his old one.
While he had been in the world he knew as 'Raistus", he had stayed in Greyvault Village, helping out Linda with the Tavern/Inn, and earning his stay in his new accommodation. Matthew had asked her if he could help, in order to pay the fees that it usually cost to stay. She had jumped to that idea and he began his daily routine of waking up, training in the morning and working for Linda until the afternoon.
Travis had told Matthew that he needed to train. Matthew was short, skinny with almost no visual muscle, and lacked any skill when it came to combat.
About a week after their conversation in front of the village, Matthew had announced that he wanted to become an adventurer. Travis was stern with Matthew, saying that if he wanted to follow that path, it would take a lot of work. Most people that became adventurers started at the age of 15, receiving all their abilities either through buying Monster Cores, or hunting monsters for them. Matthew was 2 years older than that and still didn't have more than 1 ability, which Matthew still had yet to share.
Travis had told him to keep it a secret, as he and Linda had only told Matthew to help him out.
.
Matthew had awoken once again to the early rise of the sun. He hopped out of bed, changed his clothing, went out to the courtyard and dumped his head into a bucket of water to wake himself up. He then began his usual training. Travis had recommended basic strength training as Matthew lacked any sort of muscle required to do anything more. It had been almost a month since he had started, and slowly he was building a physique that didn't look skeletal.
He was fed well by Linda afterwards and began his daily chores of cleaning the Tavern, serving the customers and other mundane tasks given to him.
After work he was given basic lessons on etiquette and mannerisms in this world. They still believed him to be from a small village with little to no educational systems in it. And as the days went by, he found himself falling in love with this world more and more.