Leaving the shadowy confines of the alleyway, where I had first begun to decipher the intricate mysteries of magic, I stepped onto the bustling streets of Gemso, a vibrant city alive with the rhythm of its inhabitants. The air buzzed with the sounds of laughter, the call of merchants hawking their wares, and the distant chimes of street performers. Yet, as I scanned my surroundings, I sensed something distinctly altered—an undercurrent of energy that made the world feel both familiar and foreign.
My curiosity ignited, I sought answers about this subtle transformation, and the system's voice answered with a calm assurance, "Upon mastering Mana Circulation Level 1, you have also acquired the skill Mana Eyes Level 1." A wave of realization washed over me. With a thought, I activated my Mana Eyes, and the ordinary cityscape around me shifted dramatically. The throngs of people, who once appeared like mere shadows of themselves, were now enveloped in a shimmering, white, viscous cloud. This ethereal aura danced around them, pulsing with life, and I quickly deduced that it was the manifestation of Mana.
My gaze fell upon an enigmatic figure cloaked in dark fabric that seemed to absorb the light around him. He maneuvered through the crowd with an eerie grace that set him apart from the ordinary citizens, whose auras glimmered faintly in comparison. This individual was enveloped in a far more substantial swirl of that white, viscous substance—a pulsing nebula of energy that danced and twirled like a living entity. Intrigued, I felt an irresistible pull to follow him, each step an instinctive reaction. However, my pursuit was fleeting; sensing my attention, he abruptly veered into a narrow alley and vanished as swiftly as a wisp of smoke. With his disappearance came an unexpected sense of apathy, prompting me to redirect my focus to the enchanting cityscape of Gemso. Unlike my previous life, where hope was often overshadowed by the expectations and disappointments of others, I now felt an exhilarating sense of freedom—a burning desire to discover my potential, grow, and carve out my own destiny.
Determined to establish my foothold in this new world, I knew my first task was to seek employment. In many "Magic Worlds," a guild system often serves as the backbone of economic activity, facilitating the hiring of skilled individuals, and I was eager to integrate myself into this network. As fortune would have it, my gaze was drawn to an imposing guild building—the Normandy Guild—a magnificent structure that dominated the main street. Its ornate façade, embellished with intricate carvings and shimmering glyphs, captivated my imagination. With a heart pounding in rhythm with my excitement, I stepped inside, scanning the lavish interior filled with polished wood, vibrant tapestries, and bustling activity.
As I approached the reception desk, a warm smile greeted me. "Welcome to the Normandy Guild! How may I assist you?" the receptionist beamed, her friendly demeanor easing my nerves.
"I'd like to register," I replied, my voice steady despite my racing heartbeat.
Just before completing the registration, I accessed my system and unlocked the skill [Foreign Writing] at maximum proficiency—an impulsive venture that drained 100 energy points from my pool, leaving me with 800 to allocate. Armed with this newfound knowledge, I returned to the receptionist, who handed me a form asking for several essential details: Name, Age, Level, Mana, Class, Tier, and Path.
Noticing my hesitation, the receptionist kindly elaborated on the form's components, her voice informative and encouraging. "Your Level reflects your cumulative power, achieved through various activities—everything from mundane chores to fierce battles. For effective leveling, we recommend engaging in monster hunting or dueling other practitioners. Mana signifies your current magical capacity, measured by our systems. Your Class denotes your job; if you're currently without one, we can guide you toward apprentice classes like Mage, Swordsman, or Archer. Advanced apprenticeships require a mentor—think Blacksmiths, Assassins, or Priests. Finally, your Tier indicates your standing within a specific class—Tier 0 is for apprentices, while Tier 1 marks the entry level of established classes."
She continued with enthusiasm, "The guild system allows for a rich tapestry of specialization—you're not confined to a single class, although most practitioners focus on one path. Be mindful, however, that once you unlock one of the Brain, Heart, or Daintian pathways, diversifying your skills becomes progressively challenging, so choose wisely."
With her words resonating in my mind, I filled out the form with precision, concealing the fact that I had already unlocked all three pathways and had the inexplicable ability to access any apprentice class—I perceived this as a covert gift from the mysterious voice that had initially guided me, perhaps a gesture of goodwill or an apology for past uncertainties. My completed form read as follows:
Name: Owen Alpine
Age: 20
Level: 1
Mana: 159
Class: Apprentice Mage, Apprentice Tamer
Tier: 0
Path: The Brain
Once I finished, the receptionist accepted my application with a nod of approval and soon returned with my Normandy Guild ID—a sleek black card, its surface embossed with shimmering gold details. As she explained the guild's ranking system, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm: "Upon joining, you start at Rank 0. As you complete quests at your current rank, you can be promoted to Rank 0 One Star. This continues until you reach Rank 0 Ten Stars, after which you may apply for a rank upgrade—either through a quest or by battling a member of a higher rank. Successfully completing the designated quest or excelling in that match will elevate you to Rank 1, where you'll need to gather another ten stars for your next advancement."
She added with a proud smile, "There's much to gain from climbing the ranks, including reduced guild commission rates, lower costs for using guild facilities, and access to lucrative quests."
With newfound clarity regarding the guild's inner workings, she presented my ID card—a tangible symbol of my formal initiation into the guild. My name was elegantly scripted in the native language at the top, followed by my rank, classes, their respective tiers, and my level, each detail reinforcing the burgeoning sense of purpose that had begun to take root in my heart.
With gratitude, I took my leave and headed toward the Tier 0 Board, where I eagerly selected a Wild Boar Hunt Request, a Tier 0, Two-Star mission. Asa had mentioned that this quest would provide an excellent opportunity for progress toward my first star due to its elevated rank, promising the potential for even greater rewards if I exceeded expectations.
With my goal set, I made my way to the Orva Forest, conveniently located just a mile from the bustling heart of Gemso, anticipation bubbling within me for the adventures that awaited. But first I decided to do two things: first, I needed to find something to eat to replenish my energy because I was hungry, and second, I wanted to learn some new skills to make boar hunting easier. To accomplish this, I asked one of the locals for a recommendation for a good restaurant, and they directed me accordingly. I went to a place called "The Blue Sea," which is known for having some of the best seafood in the entire city, and I was eager to try it. Once I arrived, I was quickly seated at a table in the left corner of the restaurant. A waitress approached to take my order, and I asked her what their specialty was. She smiled and said, "Give me one moment, and I'll be back with your food."
About 15 minutes later, my meal arrived: a traditional pasta dish with shrimp, similar to Alfredo. Without a second thought, I dove into the food, especially since the last meal I had was a terrible pre-cooked option. The dish was absolutely delicious, as was the wine that accompanied it.
After enjoying my meal, I asked the waitress how much it cost. She told me the pasta dish, called Gauvab, was 579 Ran, and the wine was 250 Ran, bringing the total to 829 Ran (or $8.29). I gladly paid the bill, feeling it was well worth it. After the meal, I had 9,271 Ran remaining (or $92.71).
I gained 255 Energy from the meal, as it provided 1,020 calories, and the energy conversion rate was 4:1. With my new 255 Energy, I found a place to sit and returned to the system to navigate to the 'Learn a Skill' page. I chose to learn several control skills: Fire Control, Water Control, Wind Control, and Earth Control, allowing me to manipulate all the elements. Through this process, I also learned the summoning skills: Fire Summon, Water Summon, Wind Summon, and Earth Summon, enabling me to summon elements at the cost of mana. Additionally, I acquired Temperature Control, which allows me to raise or lower the temperature using mana.
Feeling satisfied with my skills, I was left with 450 Energy. Now, it was time to hunt some boars.