The next morning Amukelo rose early. His body still ached faintly from the past few days, but the feeling was nothing new to him. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, stretching his shoulders as he prepared for the day ahead. Today, they'd be leaving Gathe, and he wanted to get an early start.
After pulling on his boots and gathering his belongings, Amukelo stepped into the inn's hallway. He made his way to Eliss's door and knocked firmly.
"Eliss," he called out, his voice firm but not impatient. "Are you ready? We're heading off." But there was no response.
He frowned, leaning closer to the door. "Eliss?" he called again, knocking louder this time. Still nothing. Amukelo let out a sharp exhale, debating whether or not she had overslept—or worse, snuck out to cause more mischief. After a brief hesitation, he turned the doorknob, and to his surprise, the doors were not locked.
"I'm coming in!" he announced, stepping inside.
What greeted him was both ridiculous and infuriating. Eliss was sprawled across the bed in one of the most bizarre sleeping positions he'd ever seen. One leg was tangled in the blanket, the other hanging off the edge of the bed. Her arm was flung over her head, and her face was pressed into the pillow at an awkward angle. To top it off, next to her bed was an empty plate of food.
Amukelo's eyebrow twitched with a mixture of amusement and irritation. "She's been eating during the night," he muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.
He let out a heavy sigh, walking over to her side. Leaning down slightly, he clapped her gently on the cheek. "Eliss… wake up," he said. "It's time to leave."
Eliss mumbled something incoherent, turning her head slightly but not opening her eyes. Amukelo clapped her cheek again. "Come on, wake up," he repeated.
Finally, her eyes fluttered open, bleary and unfocused. "Huh…?" she muttered, her voice groggy. As her vision cleared, her gaze landed on Amukelo's face, and her expression shifted from confusion to alarm in an instant.
"Ahhh!" she screamed, sitting upright and slapping him across the face with surprising force.
"Hey!" Amukelo yelped, stumbling back and rubbing his cheek. "What are you doing? We're—"
Before he could finish, Eliss grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him with startling accuracy. "Pervert!" she yelled, her voice a mix of panic and outrage.
Amukelo dodged the pillow, barely managing to avoid the corner of it hitting his face. "What is wrong with you?" he snapped, throwing his hands in the air. "We have to—"
But Eliss cut him off again, her voice rising in indignation. "He's trying to do something weird!" she shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at him as if he'd committed a heinous crime.
Amukelo groaned in frustration, stepping toward the door. "You're unbelievable," he muttered under his breath, retreating quickly. As he reached the door, he shot her one last glare and said, "Just hurry up!" before stepping out into the hallway.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Amukelo leaned against the wall, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples. A moment later, he heard footsteps approaching and opened his eyes to see a fellow guest walking down the corridor. The man gave him a strange look, clearly having overheard the commotion.
Amukelo laughed awkwardly, waving his hand dismissively. "Kids, huh?" he said, trying to downplay the situation.
The man raised an eyebrow but said nothing, continuing on his way. As soon as he was out of earshot, Amukelo's face twisted in exasperation. "That girl!" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
After what felt like an eternity, Eliss finally emerged from her room, looking surprisingly put-together despite her earlier antics. She adjusted her travel bag over her shoulder and walked toward Amukelo with a sheepish smile.
Amukelo didn't waste any time. "What was all that about?" he demanded, his tone laced with irritation.
Eliss tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Who's asking that? You're the one who walked into a sleeping girl's room. You're the weird one."
Amukelo's jaw dropped in disbelief. "If you'd woken up on time, I wouldn't have had to go in there!" he shot back, his voice rising slightly. "And by the way, who leaves their door unlocked? What if some actual weirdo had walked in?"
Eliss smirked, raising an eyebrow. "But one did."
Amukelo let out a long, exasperated sigh trying to steady his temper. "Whatever," he muttered, waving her off. "Let's just go. We have a few places to visit before heading out."
Eliss grinned triumphantly, as if she'd won some unspoken argument, and followed him out of the inn. Despite Amukelo's frustration, there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips as they stepped outside.
After a while, Eliss glanced at Amukelo and asked, "So, what do we have to do before we leave?"
Amukelo kept his eyes forward, his tone steady as he replied, "First, we need to get you an adventurer badge. It's essential for any proper adventurer, and it'll make traveling easier. Some places require it just to pass through or access their resources."
Eliss nodded, intrigued. "Alright. Anything else?"
"Yes," Amukelo said. "We're going to create a guild. It's not just for show—it'll make us seem more official. Having a registered guild can open doors, especially in larger towns or cities."
Eliss grinned. "A guild, huh? Sounds like fun."
Amukelo didn't respond to her enthusiasm, but a faint smirk played on his lips as they approached the tall building that housed the Adventurers Association.
They stepped inside, and Eliss's eyes widened as she took in the scene. The interior was bustling with adventurers of all types, from heavily armored warriors to robed mages. The walls were lined with large boards covered in quests, and a faint hum of conversation filled the air as adventurers discussed their plans.
Amukelo led her to the main counter, where a stern-looking woman with round glasses and neatly tied hair sat behind a stack of parchment. She glanced up as they approached.
"She'd like to create an adventurer badge," Amukelo said, gesturing to Eliss. "And we'd also like to register a guild."
The woman nodded curtly, reaching beneath the counter to pull out several sheets of parchment and a small wooden box. "Very well," she said. "I'll need some information from you both. Start by filling these out."
Amukelo handed Eliss one of the sheets, and they both began to write. The questions were straightforward, asking for basic information such as name, age, and any previous adventuring experience. Eliss tilted her head as she worked, occasionally glancing at Amukelo to make sure she was filling it out correctly.
As they finished, the woman took the papers and began asking Eliss a series of questions. "What's your primary skillset?" she asked, her quill poised.
"Magic," Eliss replied confidently.
The woman nodded, jotting down the information. "And do you have any prior experience in combat or quests?"
Eliss hesitated, glancing at Amukelo, who raised an eyebrow. "Not… officially," she admitted.
"That's fine," the woman replied. "Everyone starts somewhere."
After a few more questions and a minimal fee, the woman handed Eliss her adventurer badge. Eliss beamed as she held it.
Amukelo raised an eyebrow as he watched her pin the badge proudly to her chest. "What are you doing?" he asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.
Eliss grinned at him. "I'm an adventurer now!"
Amukelo sighed, shaking his head. "You're not supposed to wear it like a medal," he said dryly. "Especially not a bronze badge."
Eliss crossed her arms. "You're just jealous," she teased.
Amukelo stared at her, astonished by her audacity. After a moment, he simply muttered, "Never mind," and turned back to the counter to finalize the guild registration.
The process for the guild was more straightforward. After filling out additional paperwork and paying another fee, they received their guild badges. Amukelo tucked his away immediately, while Eliss admired hers before reluctantly pocketing it at his insistence.
As they left the association, Eliss couldn't contain her excitement. "This is amazing," she said, skipping slightly as they walked. "We have a guild now! What's next?"
Amukelo glanced at her. "Now we need to meet someone before we leave."
Eliss tilted her head, curious. "Someone? Who?"
"A friend of your father's," Amukelo replied. "Lord Berthold."
Eliss groaned, her excitement dimming slightly. "Ugh… a noble? Do we have to?"
Amukelo gave her a sidelong glance. "I already promised him I'd introduce you."
Eliss pouted but didn't argue further. "Fine," she muttered.
When they reached Berthold's mansion, the guards at the gate recognized Amukelo and let them in without issue. They were led through the grand hall to a smaller, more intimate sitting room where Lord Berthold was already waiting, a glass of wine in hand. Lord Alaric arrived shortly after,.
Amukelo gestured toward Eliss. "Lord Berthold, Lord Alaric, this is Eliss. Eliss, these are Lord Berthold and Lord Alaric."
Both men rose, their gazes warm yet assessing as they looked at the young woman. Berthold smiled, his tone polite as he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Eliss. You truly do look like your father."
Alaric nodded in agreement, his voice carrying a note of approval. "The resemblance is striking."
Eliss surprised Amukelo by stepping forward and giving a respectful bow. "It's an honor to meet you, Lord Berthold, Lord Alaric," she said with perfect poise.
Amukelo blinked, his jaw tightening in astonishment. Where did this come from? he thought, unable to hide his disbelief. Eliss, who just some time ago had been calling him a pervert and laughing at his suit, now exuded the grace and composure of a noble daughter.