"Now then! Since you're all prepared we just have one more issue, I have sent my strike squad to clear all the dungeons in this area as part of an emergency clear. We don't want other adventurers to have the risk of an anomaly like you encountered. So naturally their wont be any dungeons for you to clear around here."
Pausing for a moment to ensure they were keeping up with him, Erik continued to speak. "I am going to allow you use my transportation crystal, I want all of you to grow strong as soon as possible and it is clearly dangerous here, I will send you to the capital and you can set out for some dungeon clears there.
Transportation crystals are rare artifacts that only top nobles and S-Rank adventurers can obtain. The king had the limited amount of them set up in ideal locations throughout the kingdom so that S-Ranks can move quickly to wherever the king needs them. There are also artifacts for personal teleportation but they are exceedingly rare and expensive.
And so after some small talk and deliberation the group was at the transportation circle that Erik would use to send them to the capital.
"Lys remember to show our insignia when you go through! The guards at the capital will want to know why you all are showing up instead of me when they see where the incoming teleport is coming from!"
"Yes, father I know what to do!"
With that, Erik channeled his aura into the artifact and the magic circle began to glow with bright white light. After only a brief delay the group felt a lurching feeling as they were forcibly yanked through space before appearing on another magic circle in a similar looking room. Erik was not there anymore, and instead it was two guards with the insignia of the royal household. A lance that pierced through a large rock with storm clouds above. They were now in the capital of Landia, known as Aqualith.
The massive city sitting near the heart of Landia was positioned perfectly, surrounding the largest river running through their lands. The river was the main form of transport for merchants coming through the kingdom as the river ran all the way across the continent through several kingdoms. This made Landia quite rich as the city of Aqualith sat roughly in the center of the continent it was an enormous point of trade and everything running through the continent had to move through Aqualith.
The city sat split in half on either side of the massive river with several large and tall stone bridges arching across the river to connect the two sides of the enormous city. Many riverboats could be seen traveling the river, which flowed from west to east very slowly and allowed passage in both directions as long as the boats were capable.
Being the richest city on the continent and the capital of the kingdom of Landia, this city was nothing short of awe inspiring to behold. Wide well maintained roads, tall and well constructed buildings, seemingly unbreakable defensive walls surrounding the city and massive gates over the rivers that could be lowered to stop the passage of boats should it be necessary. It was outstanding the craftsman ship and efficiency that earth mages could achieve under the right guidance.
Recovering from the sudden transportation they underwent, the group was questioned by the guards.
"Halt!" The guards shouted.
"You come from Frost Manor, but you are not Duke Erik! State the meaning of this immediately!"
Lys was quick to hold up the insignia of her family, stating plainly to the guards. "Calm down, I am Lady Lysandra Frost and my father permitted my friends and I to transport here."
"Y-yes! Apologies Lady Lysandra! We only meant to do our jobs."
"There is nothing to apologize for, why don't you tell us the easiest way to the guild hall from here."
While speaking with the guards Lys had an entirely different air about her, reflecting her status. Although she was casual with her friends, these were guards and she had her and her fathers reputation to keep in mind.
"Of course lady Lysandra, we will show you the way."
"That will not be necessary, simply point us in the right direction."
"Yes, my Lady"
After the guards showed the group where to go they set out from the transportation room, which was located in a secure building beside the main castle that housed the royalty of the kingdom. They traveled the streets nearby and eventually crossed one of the many stone bridges connecting the two sides of the city before they came across the adventurers guild. This was the capital so of course, the building was the headquarters of all the adventurers guilds in Landia.
The adventurers guild was actually independent from any kingdom and had a headquarters in every capital city across the continent. This meant that the power and the wealth of the guild was able to challenge any nation that would not allow it to conduct itself how it saw fit. The leaders of the guild were a panel of seven SSS-Rank people and they held unimaginably more power than any S-Rank, It is said that the difference in power from S-Rank to SSS-Rank was that of the difference between F-Rank and S-Rank.
The building could practically be described as a second castle when compared with the castle that housed the royal family, this guild headquarters was the largest, considering that Landia was the largest and richest kingdom on the whole continent, the guild hall here needed to reflect that.
"Finally, Siarra we can be recognized as official D-Ranks now!" Niss was excitedly approaching the entrance to the guild with the rest of the group in tow.
"Thats right! I also broke through to D-Rank while we were resting at the Inn this morning and finally learned the second spell tome I picked up last time! We are all so much stronger than we were a few weeks ago, and now we have Lys and Curt too!" Siarra was all bubbly knowing she was improving and also keeping up with Niss and Trevor.
"We are all gonna be D-Ranks now, welcome to the club!" Trevor had a grin as he caught up to Siarra and Niss laughing with his normal boisterous laugh.
"After this it won't be long before we're all ranking up again." Niss said as he finally entered the doors and headed to the reception desk.
.....
The group each took care of individual tasks they had to complete, like their rank ups and equipment check ups as well as refilling on some consumables. Trevor was running low on potions and even with Curt it was still good to be prepared.
Finally after some time the group met back up on the ground floor where the dungeon delve requests were.
"Well then, what do you say we find another good one."
"Yeah!"
"I can't wait to take on some more beasts!"
The group spent some time looking at the requests and found a nearby D-Rank dungeon, Orcish Bladecave.
[Orcish Bladecave]
Peak D-Rank Dungeon
(No F-Ranks permitted. Orcs tend to split groups up so all members must meet the D-Rank at minimum.)
Reward: 350g
(This dungeon has been reported to contain dangerous blade traps, please keep this in mind while forming a group.)
Recommended party size:
(Occasionally an Orc Chieftain will appear here so we recommend 5+ party members)
Requirements: A party member with high danger sense skill or a danger detecting artifact D-Rank or above.
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Note: The guild had sent the guards back to Frost Manor with the groups compensation for Chillcrypt Catacombs and they received it the morning they had breakfast there.