Adventurer guild:
The thick smell of blood and grime assaulted my nose as I squeezed my way through the innumerable people to get closer to reception.
A few clashes were ought to happen as I the huge man the size of a bear punt the skinny man infront of him into the floor.
I sighed, Astria wasn't well known for their adventurer guild not some you would expect from a city famous for having a church of stars located there.
'They are ranked at the lowest level in terms of hospitality.'
I had no choice but to spent my time, with these men waiting for my name to be called.
Today was a special day, it was the time of mass recruitment by the guild so you don't need to give them a detailed description about you.
Even if you did they won't care considering the amount of people that are left for recruitment.
A paper filled out with some personal information such as location, name, age, experience etc. is enough.
These informations could be easily forged.
A perfect opportunity for criminals in hiding.
'One third of the people here is an murderer, slavery, blasphemer or a cultist.'
I didn't have a hard time maybe my armour intimidated them or my above average height did the job.
'After this I will immediately leave the city and head towards the land of no return.'
He wanted to say a goodbye to his brother but unfortunately his brother wasn't in Astria right now.
"Is there a Cassian here?"
My ears perked up the moment I heard my name and I stood up, easily towering over the dwarves that were present here.
Some heads turned towards me but after a single glance they went back to what they were doing.
'Scouting out newbies huh?'
Teams or parties were made by adventurers when they face a mission far beyond a single person's capabilities.
Most of them would disband right after the mission but some would stay together and become a permanent party.
I walked through the crowd gathered right outside the guild, there were too much people.
But fortunately for me the staff members made space for me to reach the reception.
The receptionist wasn't a human but an elf,
He had grayish hair and he had an elegant moustache which was the same colour as his hair.
He looked like a normal human except his sharp pointy ear and handsome face.
'Elf are known to be one of the most beautiful people out there.'
"Cassian right?"
The moment I stepped into his vision he called out to me.
I nodded and handed him the filled out form about my personal information.
He took one look at it, I'm pretty he didn't even read it and placed it together with a stack of paper.
He took out a small oval shaped golden plate with my name engraved on it.
He handed it over to me and I recieved but before I could even inspect it, I was pushed away by the crowd.
'....I'll check it after getting out of here.'
I sighed and made my way through this crowd of men and women, avoiding contact with everyone present there.
*********
I walked through the road with my eyes on the wooden plate in my hand, my eyes widening the more I realised their marvel.
'This is made from an ifragilis tree, which is almost unbreakable when they come in contact with the sun or fire.'
Infragilis trees only grew in the deep dark, and during those times they are the most fragile wood man has ever seen.
But when they come in contact with sunlight,
Their barks would peel off and the wood inside would turn gold and unbreakable.
I always wanted to see these wonders, witness them myself.
This is the reason I decided to be an adventurer.
'Curiosity.'
Humans were known for their curiosity.
I stored it inside my belt pouch and focused my attention on the road.
Today I was in happy mood, after eating some lunch and visiting the church I will be ready to leave.
Thinking of the visit to the church I sighed again, my brother is devout believer of the starmother and I have no choice but to accept his request.
However my happy mood was ruined when a certain someone shouted at the top of their lungs on the streets.
"THE QUEEN IS ARRIVING!"
'A procession?'
I immediately moved closer to the building I was near to and saw a huge number of horses with people of high status riding on them.
But the most eye catching one was the woman who wore the royal crown while being in the centre.
'Queen Victoria.'
She was the current ruler of Astreaea.
She succeeded the throne when her husband fell to witchcraft.
But my eyes didn't linger on her much, my attention went to another lady who was by her side.
She looked exactly like the queen, long silky blonde hair and blue eyes, her face was emotionless and her eyes soulless.
She was the daughter of the queen, though the queen never treated her as one.
Some rumours have spread that the princess' father isn't the late king but she was birthed due to a curse placed on her by the witch.
The said witch was the one who led an army of witches and raided the castle.
Their motives were unknown and if the rumours were true, the princess should have been already killed by the queen.
'I think it's true.'
Her name was a proof, maybe it was the queen's way of declaring war against witchcraft to avenge her husband but that doesn't justify the way she tests her own daughter.
'Hecate.'
She was named after the goddess of witchcraft, Hecate.
I observed her from afar but she somehow seemed to have detected as she turned towards me.
Our eyes met.
Those serpentine eyes stared into mine and I felt an indescribable feeling rise in my heart.
No it wasnt indescribable I know what that feeling is.
Fear.
My body started trembling, my breathing became heavier.
"Haa, haa, haa."
I try to calm down but those serpentine eyes were etched into my mind.
I immediately stormed off through the alleyway by my side.
I ran towards the city gates, my stuff was already packed before heading to the guild and my brother would return tomorrow and the keys were with the church.
'My brother trusts them too much.'
I tried thinking of alot of different things ranging from a cat to a legendary sword but everytime those eyes would pop up in my mind.
I might've tumbled down for a few times but I still got up and kept on running.
Heh, this is how my pathetic escape from Astria went.