After walking a while, the big wide walls of Siterion were in sight. Arin picked up his pace. There were not much crowd near the entrance. Only a few people were in front of the gate, making a queue to enter. There was not much rush as Arin had anticipated, probably because it was still midday. Arin put on his mask and stood in the queue. The people in front of him did not bother to look behind. The guards were looking at the people. It seemed they were letting go familiar faces with little to no inspection. But if it was unknown or suspicious face, they were doing a thorough check as well as deep inspection of their belongings. Arin did not mind as he had only few coins and two silver bar and a flask of wine. The queue moved relatively smoothly, and finally it was Arin's turn.
-"Hey you, stranger, no funny business. Put down the mask before you enter!" One guard ordered, as Arin approached him.
-"My face is too much scarred to show to people, please let me keep it!", Arin pleaded to make his act more believable.
-"Don't worry" laughed another guard, "we are not going to marry you!"
-"He already has his share of ugly in his life!" taunted the first!
-"Shut your trap" the second guard said angrily and looked at Arin, "and you, don't delay the queue! Either put down the mask or leave and make way for people behind!"
-"Okay" Arin sighed!
In his past life the ugliest face he could remember was of Brutus, a goon whose face was already scary looking, but after a rival gang had captured him once, they had brutalized his face to such extent that he had become further scary as well as disgusting to look at. Arin always tried to avoid looking at him. But this time, he remembered that face of a Brutus, and then took off the mask
-"Ewww" the Guards riled up in horror and disgust, "put on the mask, and scuttle away! GO".
Arin nodded in agreement, put on the mask and entered the town.
Now, first thing first, he had to find the Adventurer's Guild. However, instead of asking around, and attracting attention of bad guys (as he himself used to do in his past life); he decided to find it out by himself while exploring the city. In this way he would find out more about the city as well.
This was not a big bustling town. There were a few small shops in the market plaza, which were not much occupied. Most shopkeepers were dozing off, most probably because this was not usual time for people to do shopping. He hardly heard vendors hawking. Some just gave him a quick glance and upon realizing that he did not have any mind for shopping, they lost interest and resumed to whatever they were doing. After a bit of exploration, he eventually discovered the Guild.
As he entered the Guild Hall, he found himself in a sparse interior with mostly empty sitting arrangements. Three people in corner were sleeping- one was in robe, and one was in leather armor. Another in metallic armor was snoring very loudly.
In another corner a person was probably dozing as well, with his face covered under an unusually big hat.
Arin looked around a bit and noticed two women sitting in a counter. Observing both of them wearing similar uniform, he guessed they were official from the guild, and thus approached them.
"ID Tag?" one girl asked him in an unimpressed attitude, without looking at him.
"Sorry, I don't have any!" Arin replied.
"So, you are here to submit any request or to apply for a registration?" she asked.
"Actually, I wanted to…." Arin stopped himself before he could finish his sentence. Suddenly he remembered what the kids had told him about their parents' demise. There was something fishy about what had happened to them. He felt it would not be wise to mention their parents' party. Doing this he could find himself entangled in a mess he was not prepared to deal with at this current stage.
With a sudden glance backwards, Arin noticed the strange guy with hat was peeping at him.
"Hello…." The lady nudged Arin, "you wanted to?
"Yeah, I wanted to join as an Adventurer!" Arin quickly replied!
"Are you from this city?" she asked.
"No" Arin replied.
"Are you citizen of Drihan?" she asked again
"No, I am new here!" he replied back.
"Okay. If you were our citizen, I would have to arrange a Trial for you to gauge your capabilities. But because you are not, just sign this disclosure where you say that if something happens to you, our guild would not be responsible and then only I will enroll you" she informed him, while extending a form.
Arin filled the form and handed it over.
The lady gave the form a quick glance and threw a Tag of Tin towards him. "Newbies do not need a named tag. After you get promoted to Copper, you will get named tag."
"Do I need a team or can I…." Arin asked.
"Whatever" she replied and went back gossiping with the other girl.
As Arin left the counter to look at the request board, he could sense the girls were watching him from corner of their eyes.
Arin walked up to the board for a suitable quest and found one to his liking- a cleanup mission. It may sound a good one, but actually not a very glamorous one, which was why most probably there were not much taker of that quest. Basically, the Adventurer had to enter the sewer, kill each and every kind of creatures there that could pose threat. After he was done, a team of sweeper would go down there. If they came back unscathed, the adventurer would be paid; or else he was going to face trial for negligence. It was risky endeavor indeed. However, one good thing was, whatever he would find in the swear would completely and officially belong to him. There would be no questions asked- when he entered or exit the sewer.
Arin realized that he should start the work as fast as possible. The earlier he would finish the work, the earlier he could get paid and move on.
Arin took the Quest, registered it in the counter against his name in the counter, and received a letter from the Guild authority to submit to Captain Duran who would allow him to go to the sewer.
Arin met the Guard Captain. He was a tall strong brawny man. This was the Captain Duran of whom Milean and the other guards were scared of. As Arin approached him, Duran raised his eyebrow and said, "Is there any reason for you to wear a mask? Are you scared to reveal your face or ashamed to show your face?"
"Ashamed would be more appropriate!" Arin replied nonchalantly.
"Well, still I want to know how does the new 'savior' of the sewer of this great city of mine does look like?" although Duran presented it as a simple request, his order was clearly understandable.
Arin took of his mask to show his Brutus face. Duran did not show any visible disgust but asked to wear it back.
"Come tomorrow morning," he advised Arin, "I will inform my deputy, he will open the sewer for you. The next day the cleaners will enter, and if they come back alive and unharmed before evening- you will receive your payment. If not, you may be in danger!"
"Well, I am aware of that", Arin replied, "But I wish to go right now!"
"Now?" Duran raised his eyebrow, as he sat straight on his seat, and examined Arin from top to bottom with his eyes, "You know this is soon going to be night; and these things, whatever be they, lurking in the sewer, are going to get more dangerous? If you want to die, die outside the wall, don't make trouble for us"
"I am fully aware of this, AGAIN" Arin also replied in stern voice this time. "I have my own way of doing things. And I believe, as per the contract between you and the guild, you are supposed to let me start my work whenever I wish", Arin pointed to the Guild letter which Duran was holding in his hand, "Am I not right?"
Duran gave him a very angry look, "alright, as you wish!"
"Guide this Gallant Warrior, Savior of Siterion's Sewer to his Super adventure" he ordered his Deputy, "and next year, before posting request for the same to the guild, remind me of today's incident!"
The Deputy nodded, "Yes Sir", and gestured Arin to follow him.
As Arin was following the Deputy outside, Duran called him, "listen boy, one advice!"
Arin stopped and turned his head to look at Duran, "Yes?"
"When you feel you are in danger that you can't deal, just run away!" Duran said grimly, "or, when you feel, you are going to die, die as close to the entrance as possible. I don't want your body rotting in great depth, making the whole process of cleaning more dangerous!"
"Got it" Arin replied, "message received, loud and clear!" and followed Deputy to the Entrance of Sewer.
When he came outside the barrack, it had become dusk. The market plaza seemed to become lively again. But it was no more time for sightseeing. They walked silently towards the wall. The sewer gate was near the wall.
The Deputy waved at a guard nearby. As he heeded his summon and appeared next to them, he was ordered to open the sewer gate. The Deputy gave a dry smile to Arin and gestured him to go down. As Arin descended, he realized if he had a beating heart, it could be heard like loud drums.