It was busy on the first floor of the guild hall. Adventurers and hopefuls filled the space, some just starting out, others seasoned from years of battle.
The job boards were covered with new postings, each one calling out to anyone brave enough to take on the challenge.
The murmur of voices was steady, the hall alive with the energy of people eager to make their mark on the world.
I made my way to the counter where the receptionist stood.
She had a sharp, professional air about her, her auburn hair pulled back in a tight bun as her eyes scanned through the guild register.
I placed my pack on the counter, unbuckling it and revealing the spoils from my hunt.
"I took down a giant wolf," I said, lifting the meat, fur, and bones from the pack and arranging them neatly on the counter. "Thought I'd sell it to you."
She gave the materials a once-over, nodding in approval. "Not bad, Kaelith. This will fetch a decent amount."
I shrugged, tired but satisfied. "Five silver coins. That sound good?"
She glanced at me, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Solid work, especially for someone your age. You're starting to handle bigger game."
I nodded, taking the five silver she offered. It wasn't much, but it was enough. I slipped the coins into my pouch and let out a sigh, leaning on the counter for a moment.
The receptionist gave me a thoughtful look before speaking again. "You're about to rank up, Kaelith."
I raised an eyebrow. "Rank up? How close am I?"
She gave a small shrug. "You're pretty close to B-Rank, actually. You've been doing well. Most adventurers your age are still working on C-Rank."
I leaned back, pondering the ranks. E-Rank was where most start—fresh, untested adventurers.
Those just out of training, capable of handling only the weakest monsters.
D-Rank was next. Those who'd proven themselves a little bit more, handling small threats and minor tasks.
C-Rank was where I was now. It was a step above, where most adventurers ended up.
You could fight bigger monsters, take on more challenging missions, and even team up with others. It was the average rank, where the majority of guild members sat.
Then there was B-Rank, where I'd likely be after this hunt. It was the first sign of real respect, the rank of adventurers who could tackle truly dangerous monsters.
A-Rank came next, the veterans who fought and survived against the most powerful creatures.
And finally, S-Rank—the legendary few. Those who fought monsters that could wipe out entire villages or even cities.
I rubbed my chin, trying to calculate exactly where I stood. "B-Rank, huh?" I mused aloud. "Not bad."
The receptionist smiled, taking a moment to finish tallying the transaction. "Not bad at all. You've worked hard for it. You should be proud."
I glanced at her, feeling a little more pride than I expected. "B-Rank is still a ways from the legends, but I'll take it. Still got a lot to learn."
"That's the spirit," she said, handing me my completed transaction. "But you're ready for the next step. You've earned it."
I paused, feeling a slight sense of accomplishment. "So, what rank am I now again?"
She looked at me, a faint smile on her face. "You're still C-Rank—but you're on the cusp of B-Rank. That last hunt should push you over the line. Just keep working hard, Kaelith."
I nodded. "B-Rank is a nice milestone. But I'm far from finished. There's still a lot of ground to cover."
"Of course," she said. "Take care of yourself out there."
I smiled, nodding to her before gathering my things. As I turned to leave, the weight of my pack felt a little lighter, and I thought about the next step.
Now that I had enough to stay at Virue's tavern for another week, I could finally relax—at least, that's what I would usually do. But today was different. Today, I had a goal.
I wanted to join the war.
It's strange, isn't it? Wanting to fight in a war for peace. Most people would run the other way, hoping to avoid the chaos.
And I understand why—war isn't something to be taken lightly.
But I've seen the way our kingdom has been pushed to the edge, the constant pressure, the rumors of enemy armies moving closer.
War is on the horizon, and I can't sit idly by. I'm not a hero, far from it.
But peace will only come when this war is finished. And if it's my place to help bring that about, then I'll do whatever I must.
With that in mind, I set off. I knew exactly where to go next if I wanted to make any real progress.
This town, despite its peaceful appearance, was a border settlement.
It might look like a haven for travelers, tucked away in the forest's embrace, but it was positioned along the edge of our kingdom's territory.
The forest around it wasn't just scenic; it was dense, almost impenetrable, a natural wall of protection from enemy forces.
Yet even with that security, the town's importance wasn't lost on anyone.
The higher your rank here, the more respect you earned.
The guild ranks were important for adventurers, but there was a hierarchy outside of that too.
The higher your status, the more influence you had.
Some people talked about it as if it were a quiet game of power, shifting beneath the surface.
Adventurers like me made up the lower ranks—C-Rank, D-Rank—on the outside, trying to carve out a name for ourselves.
But the real power? That was with the town's higher-ups: the guards, the guild leaders, the merchants who controlled the flow of goods and information.
It was no surprise that the captain of the guard was a regular at Virue's tavern. Captain Greymont had a presence—always in his crisp, dark uniform, a reminder of the town's vigilant defense.
He wasn't just the captain, he was a fixture, someone who commanded respect both in the tavern and in the town square.
I'd had my fair share of conversations with him, but he was always cautious.
I couldn't blame him. People like me—people who didn't follow the usual paths—tended to raise eyebrows.
But if I wanted to join the war, I had to go through him. So I made my way out of the tavern, heart heavy with resolve.
It wasn't a long walk to the guardhouse, the headquarters of the town's defenses, but the atmosphere here was different.
The constant chatter of the tavern was replaced by the sharp clink of armor, the sound of boots on stone, and the presence of soldiers coming and going.
This was where the real work was done.
I approached the heavy wooden doors of the guardhouse and was greeted by the familiar face of one of the town's sentries.
She gave me a knowing nod—obviously used to the regulars—and stepped aside without a word.
Inside, the guardhouse was bustling.
There were maps spread across tables, soldiers practicing drills in the yard, and various captains and lieutenants giving orders in low voices.
But I knew exactly where I was headed: Greymont's office.
When I found him, he was sitting at his desk, writing something on a parchment. His piercing gaze lifted when he saw me.
"Kaelith," he said with a nod. "What brings you to the guardhouse today?"
I met his gaze, my voice steady. "Captain, I want to join the war effort. I know it's not the usual route, but I have the skills, and I've made up my mind."
He didn't speak right away. His eyes narrowed slightly as if searching my face for some sign that I was just another idealistic fool.
He'd seen enough young men and women come through the gates of this town, their hearts full of dreams of heroism.
They all wanted to change the world, to fight for a cause. But not all of them understood the true cost of war.
"You shouldn't," he finally said, his voice low but firm. "The war isn't some noble pursuit for glory, Kaelith. It's a fool's dream. People die. Heroes die. You might think you can make a difference, but it's far more likely you'll get caught up in something bigger than you can handle. If you truly want to help, then stay out of it. Protect yourself and those you care about. That's where your duty lies."
His words struck hard, but they weren't wrong.
The war was brutal, and people like me—young adventurers with dreams—didn't always last long.
But I had already made my choice. I wasn't going to turn back now.
"I understand the risks, Captain," I replied, my voice steady. "But I can't just sit here and do nothing. If this town needs help, then I'll help. If the kingdom needs people on the frontlines, I'll be there."
Greymont stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing my resolve. He finally sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Alright," he said, his tone reluctant. "You want to prove yourself? Then do this. There's a group of raiders along the outer rim of the forest, just on the kingdom's borders. They've been harassing traders and caravans, causing trouble. It should be an easy enough task for someone like you, but it'll show me if you're truly cut out for the job."
I took the mission scroll from him, feeling the weight of it in my hand. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for.
A test. If I succeeded, then maybe—just maybe—I'd earn my place in this war.
Greymont gave me a final look. "Take care of them, Kaelith. And don't make me regret giving you this chance."
I nodded, turning to leave. "It should be easy enough, Captain. I'll have them cleared out by sunset."
I left the guardhouse and headed to the gate of the town. Then pausing briefly I look at the sun, three hours to get to the edge of the forest. Im gonna need a little help.