Standing at the edge of the castle grounds, I unfolded the map of Arenthia, my fingers tracing the fine lines that marked the vast expanse of the kingdom. The map was old, its edges frayed from use, but it was detailed, showing every district, town, river, and forest. I could feel Lyra's presence close by, her aura a comforting glow that seemed to wrap around me like a warm cloak. The ring on my finger pulsed gently, a reminder that she was with me, always.
"Twenty-four districts," I muttered to myself, letting the weight of my task settle over me. Each district was run by a powerhouse—a Duke with his own rules, his own people, and his own way of doing things. It would be no easy task to navigate them all, but that was exactly why I wanted to do it. To see the world beyond the castle, to learn, to grow, and to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The first district I would visit was Ravenreach, the domain of the Blackthorn family. Duke Orin Blackthorn was known throughout the kingdom as a man of stern discipline and unwavering loyalty to the crown. I knew little of him beyond the whispers I'd overheard in the castle halls and the few stories I'd managed to glean from the knights. But that was enough to know I needed to tread carefully. People said the Duke was a man who did not tolerate failure or disrespect. His district, Ravenreach, was said to be a place where strength and honor were held above all else.
I folded the map and tucked it into my bag, feeling a rush of excitement mixed with apprehension. This would be my first time truly traveling outside the safety of the castle walls, my first real taste of the world beyond the palace grounds.
"Are you ready?" Lyra's voice echoed softly in my mind, a gentle whisper only I could hear.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, my thoughts directed towards her. Her presence had grown stronger since the transfer to the ring. It was as if she could now project more of herself into the physical world, and I could feel her thoughts more clearly than ever before. Her strength was my strength, and knowing she was with me gave me the courage I needed.
I adjusted the pack on my back, feeling the weight of the supplies I'd gathered. I had food for the journey, a few changes of clothes, and a sturdy bedroll. The ring was secure on my finger, and I could feel its connection to Lyra pulsing faintly with every heartbeat. My new armor, a sleek set of black and brown, hugged my body. I hadn't chosen anything too heavy; I wanted to be light on my feet, ready to move quickly if needed. The gloves were the only part of the outfit that felt slightly out of place—a relic of the past, the knight had said, but something about their golden aura had drawn me to them.
"Why these old things?" The knight had asked when I'd picked them up in the armory. "They're not much use in a real fight."
But I had insisted, and now they were mine. I didn't know why they called to me, but I trusted my instincts. They had never failed me before.
As I made my way through the castle gates, I could hear the clatter of the city beyond. The people of the capital were always bustling, always busy, but today it felt different. Today, I was one of them, stepping out into the world as a traveler, an adventurer. My destination: the Adventurer's Guild.
I had already registered with the guild, but there was still a lot I didn't know about how things worked. I made my way through the busy streets, feeling Lyra's calming presence through the ring. "One step at a time," I reminded myself, echoing the advice Lyra had given me so many times before. She was right, as usual. This journey was about more than just reaching my destination; it was about learning, growing, and finding my place in this vast world.
The Adventurer's Guild was a large building, its stone walls standing tall against the skyline. As I approached, I could hear the sound of voices inside, a low hum of conversation mixed with the occasional burst of laughter or the clatter of a mug against wood. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, feeling the warmth of the room wash over me.
The guildhall was bustling with activity. Adventurers of all kinds filled the room—warriors in heavy armor, magicians in flowing robes, archers with bows slung over their shoulders. I felt a surge of excitement as I looked around, taking it all in. This was where I belonged. This was where my journey would truly begin.
I approached the front desk, where the same burly man from before stood, cleaning a mug with a rag that looked like it had seen better days. He looked up as I approached, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Back again, eh?" he said with a grin. "Can't stay away?"
"I'm looking for a job," I said, trying to sound confident. "Something that will take me to Ravenreach."
He raised an eyebrow. "Ravenreach? That's a fair distance. You sure you're up for it?"
I nodded. "I'm sure."
He shrugged. "Alright, then. Let's see what we've got." He pulled out a large book from beneath the counter, flipping through its pages. "Ah, here we go. There's a job heading that way. Escort mission. Looks like some merchant wants protection on his way to Ravenreach. Pays well, but it's a high-risk job."
"High risk?" I asked, leaning forward.
He nodded. "The route crosses through a wild area known for its beasts. Some of them are pretty nasty—high-level stuff. That's why this job requires a full team. Two magicians and two physical fighters. You up for that?"
I thought about it for a moment. It sounded like exactly the kind of challenge I was looking for. And it would get me to Ravenreach. "I'll take it," I said.
He gave me a long, appraising look. "You got guts, kid. I'll give you that." He wrote something down in the book, then looked up at me. "You're a physical fighter, right? What's your specialty?"
"Hand-to-hand combat," I replied. "I don't use weapons."
He chuckled. "Bold choice. Alright, we'll pair you up with a team. Shouldn't be too hard to find a couple of magicians willing to join. Not many people are crazy enough to take this route, but the pay's good, so there's always a few."
I nodded, feeling a surge of excitement. This was it. My first real job as an adventurer. And it would take me exactly where I needed to go.
"Before you go," I said, "I have a question. Now that I'm registered with the guild here, does that mean I'm registered everywhere? Or do I need to sign up again in each district?"
The man shook his head. "Once you're registered here, you're good everywhere in Arenthia. Your registration carries over to any guildhall in the kingdom. Just show them your guild badge, and you'll be treated the same as you are here."
"Good to know," I said, feeling a sense of relief. One less thing to worry about.
"Alright," he said, clapping his hands together. "I'll post the job notice. Shouldn't take too long to find a team. In the meantime, get your gear ready. Once you're out there, there's no turning back."
I thanked him and made my way to a table near the back of the room, sitting down to wait. As I did, I felt a familiar warmth on my finger—the ring pulsed gently, and I knew Lyra was reaching out to me.
"This is it," I thought, directing my thoughts towards her. "Our first real adventure."
"I'm with you," she replied, her voice like a soft melody in my mind. "No matter what happens, we face it together."
I smiled, feeling a surge of determination. I knew this journey wouldn't be easy, but I wasn't afraid. With Lyra by my side, I knew I could face anything.
It didn't take long for a group to form. Two magicians approached me first, both of them young and eager. One was a tall man with dark hair and a serious expression, the other a woman with bright red hair and a mischievous smile. They introduced themselves as Aric and Elara.
"We heard you're looking for a team," Aric said, his eyes studying me carefully. "We're both magicians. Fire and water magic."
I nodded. "Sounds like a good combination. I'm Torrack. Hand-to-hand combat."
Elara grinned. "No weapons? That's brave. I like it."
I shrugged. "I make do."
A moment later, another adventurer joined us—a large, muscular man with a greatsword slung over his back. He introduced himself as Joran. "I'm in, too," he said with a nod. "Physical fighter. I can handle myself in a scrap."
"Alright," I said, looking around at my new team. "Looks like we're all set. Let's do this."
We spent the next hour discussing the details of the job, going over the route we would take and the dangers we might face. The journey to Ravenreach would take us through a dense forest known for its dangerous beasts