The morning sun spilled over the training grounds, painting the dirt and stone in a golden glow. Sora stood at the center of the sparring ring, her nerves taut like a bowstring. William Helmsworth, the Guildmaster and noble of unparalleled reputation, stood across from her. Despite his age, his posture was unyielding, his movements fluid as he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.
"This is a simple test," William said, his raspy voice carrying a weight that made Sora's stomach churn. "All you need to do is keep up. If you fail, I'll know you're not ready for the adventurer's life."
Mary watched from the sidelines, her arms crossed but her expression betraying a flicker of worry. She had trained Sora relentlessly, pushing her to limits she never thought she could reach. But William was on another level entirely—a combatant forged by years of discipline and the heritage of a noble family renowned for its specialized combat techniques.
"Are you ready, girl?" William asked, his golden eyes sharp.
Sora swallowed hard and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Before she could blink, William was gone from her sight. She gasped, her golden eyes darting around the arena. He was moving so fast that her instincts struggled to keep up.
What?! Where is he—
A sudden gust of wind behind her sent a chill down her spine. She whirled around, catching a glimpse of him just as he circled to her left. Her body tensed, her muscles reacting faster than her thoughts.
He's fast. Way too fast! But... I can still see it... I can still keep up?
It dawned on her: the brutal drills Mary had put her through, the endless hours of sparring, tracking, and reading an opponent's movements, had honed her reflexes in ways she hadn't fully realized. Mary's voice echoed in her mind: "Anticipate, don't react. Feel the flow of the fight. Use your opponent's energy against them."
William lunged at her from behind, his movements like a blur. But Sora ducked at the last second, her instincts screaming. As his arm swung wide, she pivoted, grabbed his ankle mid-spin, and with all her strength, twisted and hurled him toward the ground.
The Guildmaster recovered mid-air, landing with feline grace. His eyes widened ever so slightly, his expression betraying genuine surprise. "Didn't expect that," he muttered, brushing off the dust on his sleeve. "Impressive, girl. Let's see if you can keep it up."
Sora barely had time to catch her breath before he came at her again, this time faster, sharper, more relentless. Each strike, feint, and step pushed her further, forcing her to tap into every ounce of skill she had learned.
Mary watched from the sidelines, her eyes narrowing in admiration. This isn't the same girl I met weeks ago, she thought, her chest swelling with pride. She's come so far... From a fragile girl barely able to survive to someone who can stand toe-to-toe with one of the most revered heirs of a noble family specialized in combat.
Sora ducked another swipe, stepping forward with calculated precision. She countered with a low kick, forcing William to shift his balance. For a moment, their movements synced like a perfectly choreographed dance, each anticipating the other's next move.
William smirked, his golden eyes gleaming. "Not bad at all, Sora. You've got potential. But let's see how you handle this."
He lunged again, faster and harder than before. Sora gritted her teeth, her body screaming in protest, but she refused to falter. She ducked, spun, and countered, every move an echo of Mary's grueling training.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to slow. Sora could see it all—the faint shifts in William's stance, the tension in his muscles, the gleam of determination in his eyes. She moved with precision, dodging his strike and countering with a sweeping kick aimed to unbalance him.
William stumbled slightly, recovering quickly but with a grin that betrayed his approval. "You've got fire, girl. I'll give you that."
Their sparring continued, the sounds of their movements echoing across the grounds. Sora's chest burned, her muscles ached, but she pressed on, fueled by sheer determination and a desire to prove herself.
Finally, William stepped back, raising a hand. "Enough," he said, his voice firm but tinged with amusement. "You've passed."
Sora collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. Sweat dripped down her face, her entire body trembling with exhaustion. But as she looked up at William, she saw something in his eyes she hadn't expected: respect.
Mary stepped forward, her lips curling into a proud smile. "Well done, Sora," she said softly. "You've earned it."
William nodded, his grin widening. "You've got the makings of a fine adventurer, Sora. Welcome to the guild."
William took a deep breath, brushing the dust off his coat as he glanced at Sora. She was still on her knees, panting heavily, her golden eyes wide with a mix of exhaustion and bewilderment.
"I might've overdone it there," William admitted with a sheepish grin, his raspy voice carrying an almost apologetic tone.
"Might?!" Mary snapped, stepping into the sparring ring with a sharp glare. "You went way overboard, William!" Her scolding voice was sharp enough to make even the hardened Guildmaster flinch slightly.
William chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, alright. I'll admit it. But, to her credit, she handled it far better than I expected."
Mary sighed, kneeling beside Sora and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Sora... you went above and beyond. Not only do you have the brains, but you've got the brawn to match. I am so proud of you, dear." Her voice softened, carrying genuine warmth and pride.
Sora blinked up at her, still catching her breath. Proud? The word felt foreign, but it stirred something deep within her—a flicker of confidence she hadn't felt before.
William extended a hand to help Sora up. "Come on, girl. There's one last thing we need to do."
Inside the guildhouse, the atmosphere was tense as William approached the receptionist's desk with Sora and Mary in tow. The receptionist, a young woman with glasses and a perpetual nervous energy, fumbled with her papers when she saw William.
"G-Guildmaster! Is everything alright?" she stammered.
"Perfectly fine," William said with a calm smile. "We're here to register Sora as an adventurer."
The receptionist nodded quickly, scrambling to prepare the necessary forms. As Sora signed her name, William turned to the receptionist. "She's had the proper tests and appraisal through our training grounds, and after reviewing her performance, I've decided on her rank."
The receptionist nodded and paused as she glanced between William and Sora, awaiting his decision.
"B rank," William said decisively. "She earned it."
The room fell silent for a moment as the receptionist processed the information, her eyes widening in surprise. "T-T-That's... a B rank? That's... incredible, Guildmaster!"
Even Mary raised an eyebrow, impressed. "B rank, huh? That's rare—especially for someone so young."
William nodded, his expression a mix of pride and approval. "She's no ordinary girl."
The receptionist quickly went to work, preparing Sora's adventurer's license. Moments later, she handed over a small, engraved plate with Sora's name and rank etched into it. The news began to spread quickly, and soon, whispers filled the guildhouse and the surrounding town.
By evening, the streets were abuzz with talk of the newcomer.
"Did you hear? A girl just registered as a B rank adventurer on her first day!"
"No way! That's unheard of!"
"She must be some kind of prodigy... or have powerful connections."
Some envied her. Others admired her. But one thing was certain: Sora's name was already becoming the talk of the town.
That night, Sora and Mary sat in a cozy inn near the edge of the town. The room was simple but warm, with a single candle casting flickering shadows on the walls. Sora stared at the adventurer's license plate in her hands, her mind racing.
"So," Mary began, leaning back in her chair, "what do you want to pick as your first mission?"
Sora's golden eyes lit up. "Since I'm already a B rank, I think we should go for a B-ranked mission!"
Mary raised an eyebrow, her expression turning stern. "Absolutely not. We're starting with D-ranked missions."
"Why?!" Sora protested, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "If I'm already a B rank, doesn't that mean I'm ready for higher-level missions?"
Mary shook her head, her gaze softening. "Sora, rank isn't everything. B-ranked missions are dangerous, even for seasoned adventurers. I won't risk your safety. Not yet."
Sora sighed, slumping back in her chair. She hated to admit it, but Mary had a point.
"Fine," she muttered. "We'll start with D-ranked missions. But don't think I'll be stuck there forever."
Mary chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Sora's fiery red hair. "That's the spirit, dear. One step at a time."
As the candlelight flickered, the two of them poured over the mission board pamphlet they had brought back, discussing their plans for the days to come. They found a simple task—a herb gathering mission in the nearby forest. It wasn't dangerous, but it would give Sora a chance to stretch her legs and familiarize herself with the kind of work she'd be doing.
Sora tucked the mission paper into her bag, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. It wasn't B rank, but it was a start. And soon, she'd prove she was more than ready for the challenges ahead.
The next morning, the town was still buzzing with talk of Sora's surprising appraisal. Despite the early hour, the guildhouse was already bustling with activity, the steady hum of adventurers coming and going creating an atmosphere of anticipation. As Sora and Mary stepped inside, the receptionist waved them over with a friendly smile.
"You're here early!" she remarked, her eyes bright with curiosity. "I heard all about your appraisal. B-rank on your first day... that's incredible!"
Sora shifted uncomfortably under the attention, but Mary gave the receptionist a warm nod. "We're here to pick our first mission."
The receptionist nodded enthusiastically, pulling a thick stack of mission papers from beneath the counter. "We've got a few options for you. There's a couple of D-rank missions that might be a good fit to start off with, but there's also a handful of B-rank ones if you're feeling confident."
Sora glanced at Mary, her fingers drumming lightly on the counter. "What do you think?"
Mary leaned in, her eyes scanning the mission papers carefully. "We'll stick with D-ranked. The B-rank ones will have to wait."
Sora opened her mouth to protest but then closed it, knowing she wasn't going to win this one. She glanced at the missions listed, her gaze landing on a few low-risk, monster-hunting tasks. None of them seemed too challenging, but they would help build her foundation. At least that's what Mary kept telling her.
"Alright," Sora muttered, her voice more resigned than she intended. "D-ranked missions it is."
The receptionist handed over the papers, and Sora quickly scanned through the list. There were a few missions to clear out low-level monsters from nearby forests, another to gather herbs for a local apothecary, and one to help repair a broken bridge. Nothing that would truly test her, but they would help her get accustomed to the life of an adventurer.
Mary gave a satisfied nod. "Let's start with the herb gathering. It's simple, but it'll give us a good idea of how you handle yourself outside the guildhouse."
Sora nodded, tucking the paper into her bag. "Alright, let's do it."
A few hours later, the two of them found themselves walking along a narrow path that led out of the town. The forest they were heading to was known for its medicinal herbs, and the air was thick with the smell of earth and growing things. Despite the simplicity of the task, Sora couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This was the first step into the unknown, the beginning of her journey.