We reached Eisenwald's towering gates, where a diverse crowd stood in line to enter. Unlike the others, we bypassed the long queue and headed straight for a smaller, double gate, half the size of the main entrance. To my surprise, no one paid us much attention; they mostly ignored us as we approached.
"Cliff, looks like you had a good time," the guard at the double gate said, offering a friendly grin toward Cliff and his party.
"Yeah, we definitely had fun," Cliff replied, chuckling. Both of them laughed briefly before Cliff added, "Anyway, I need to report something urgent to the Guild Master."
The guard, Eric, nodded. "Sure, we'll talk more later." He extended his hand, waiting for something.
Cliff and the others handed him what looked like cards. One by one, they passed through the double gates. Just as it was my turn, I leaned toward Elaria, curious. "What are those cards?"
Elaria looked at me with a raised brow. "Identification Cards. You don't have one?"
I frowned, concerned. "Do we need one to enter?"
Elaria paused briefly before reassuring me with a comforting tone. "It's fine. You can still get in as long as they check for any criminal records and someone vouches for you. I'll handle that. Don't worry, Celeste."
When Elaria reached the gate, she spoke briefly with Eric before I was called to follow him into a nearby room. Inside, several tables were set up, and more guards were stationed around.
Eric guided me toward a stone pedestal, where a white marble tablet rested. "Place your hand on the tablet. After that, you'll be free to enter," he said calmly.
Surprised, I tilted my head. "Is that all I need to do?"
"Yep," Eric answered without hesitation. "Though, Elaria and her party's vouching helps skip most of the paperwork."
He then gave me a piece of advice. "You two should get IDs as soon as you're inside the town. Otherwise, you'll face this same hassle everywhere you go in the Velmorin Kingdom. You might even be denied entry elsewhere."
"Thank you for the advice," I said quickly, bowing my head in gratitude.
I placed my hand on the tablet, and it immediately lit up in violet, shifting to green, then blue. The light gradually dimmed.
"Is everything alright?" I asked Eric, my curiosity piqued. I wondered what the colors meant and why they changed.
"Violet, green, and blue... looks like you're good to go," Eric replied, his voice neutral, offering no further explanation. He then motioned for Mirelle to do the same.
When Mirelle touched the tablet, the colors shifted again, but this time the light glowed golden, green, and then a mixture of violet tinged with green and blue. Eric remained silent, though his expression betrayed no surprise.
He turned back to us. "Entering without an ID will cost you two small silver coins."
I handed over a small gold coin I had received earlier and asked, "Mister Eric, what do these colors mean? And why did Mirelle's show all those mixed colors?"
Eric gave us our change and then began explaining. "Each person has a unique color combination. The important thing is that none of it turns black. Black indicates a criminal record, and the more black in the mix, the worse the crimes. Those with a fourth color often represent someone they serve—like knights or those with oaths of servitude. It's a sign of deep trust or connection with others."
Once the identification process was complete, Mirelle and I were free to enter Eisenwald. As we stepped out, we saw Elaria and the others waiting for us.
"Looks like you two are done," Cliff said. "We need to report to the guild. What about you two?"
"I need to get IDs for Mirelle and me, but I'm not sure where to go," I answered.
Elaria, stepping forward with a smile, chimed in. "You can get them from any guild, magistrate's office, or even the church. Since we're heading to the Adventurers Guild anyway, why not register there? The ID card you get will work anywhere."
I thought for a moment before responding. "Okay, we'll register at the Adventurers Guild."
Elaria's smile widened. "Then why don't you come with us? I promised to show you around town, didn't I?"
"We'll be in your care," I said with a bow.
"No worries," Elaria replied with a cheerful wave of her hands. "It's the least we can do."
As we walked toward the guild, I couldn't help but admire the bustling streets. Stalls offering all sorts of goods lined the roads, and the architecture had a distinct medieval charm. People of all skin tones and fantastical races walked about, adding to the vibrant, lively atmosphere of the town.
When we arrived at the Adventurers Guild, the building loomed like a miniature castle, bustling with activity. Adventurers in a variety of armor and weapons filled the space, some even accompanied by beasts or monsters. It was exactly how I had imagined a fantasy world would look, especially the Adventurers Guild.
We entered and made our way to the counter. Behind it sat a cheerful cat-eared woman with a tail swishing behind her. Beside her stood an elegant elf, tall with sharp, pointed ears encased in gleaming gold, etched with intricate runes and flowing vines. A silver earring dangled from one of her ears, completing her regal appearance.
When the elf noticed Cliff and us, she smiled. "Cliff, you're back. The Guild Master was just looking for you."
"Thanks, Syl. We'll head there right away," Cliff replied, giving me a soft pat on the shoulder before heading for the stairs. "And please, help these two register as adventurers."
"Sure, no problem," Syl responded warmly, smiling at us. "Please follow me, and I'll help you with registration." She gestured toward a door at the end of the counter. We entered and seated ourselves on a pair of sofas in front of a table.
Syl retrieved some papers from a cabinet in the corner, then sat opposite us, pushing the forms toward us. "Please fill out the form with your information. If there's anything you don't want to disclose, just leave it blank." She placed a small box on the table, taking a seat and waiting.
"Mirelle, would you mind if I write it for you?" I asked as I picked up one of the forms.
"I don't mind, Lady Witch!" Mirelle replied cheerfully, staying close beside me.
Curious, I asked Syl, "Is there any race that can't join the Guild, Miss Syl?"
"No 'banned' races, but there are some that might find registration difficult," Syl explained. "Some demon sub-races, for instance, have instincts that are more dominant than reason." She paused, eyeing me. "Is your friend a demon?"
"I'm human, but Mirelle's race is called 'Terrakin,'" I replied, a hint of concern in my voice. "Will that be a problem, Miss Syl?"
"No, it shouldn't be. I don't recall any issues with 'Terrakin' races, but you should be fine," Syl reassured me, her voice softening.
"Okay, thank you," I said, relieved. I then began filling out the form, omitting certain details, such as my skills and personal information, leaving only our names, races, ages, and jobs. I listed my second job as a mage.
I handed the completed forms back to Syl. "It's all done, Miss Syl."
Syl read through the papers and nodded. "Almost done. One last question—have either of you committed any crimes?" Her tone shifted from warm to serious, a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor.
"No..." I responded, confused and slightly shocked by the sudden change. The room fell into a brief silence, which was broken by a soft giggle from Syl. "Fufufu."
"Is everything alright?" I asked, still a little concerned.
"Yes, the registration is complete. You two are now adventurers," Syl said with a bright smile.