Aki's eyes widened as they entered the town. Colorful banners hung between tall buildings, vendors shouted from their stalls, and neatly paved roads wound between crowds of townsfolk. Everything felt alive, bustling, and beautiful.
The cart slowed to a stop. [Kiel]:" You said you were headed for the guild right? This is where we part ways then. If you head infront and take a right at that corner you won't miss it." [Aki]:" T-Thank you... Hope to... See you... Around sometime." The three adventurers exchanged a warm glance before smiling at him. [All]:" Good luck,kid." They waved as they continued escorting the merchant farther down the street.
Aki followed Kiel's directions, weaving through the busy road. [Aki whispering]:" Cynth you there?" [Cynth]:" You don't have to talk out loud for me to hear you, just talk to me subconsciously—unless you want people to think you've lost it." "...Fair point."
Eventually he found himself standing before the Guild Hall. It loomed over the surrounding buildings—grand, wide, with tall pillars and a massive crest above the entrance. [Aki impressed]:" Kiel wasn't kidding when he said I won't miss it, this place is huge!"
He pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.Chaos greeted him. Adventurers were drinking and laughing boisterously. Others crowded around the reception counter. A pair of muscular fighters arm-wrestled while a small crowd shouted bets. A group near the fireplace was comparing loot, bragging loudly about their latest quest.. [Aki sighing]:" Well this is your typical isekai guild..." He moved into the line, bracing himself for whatever came next.
At last, Aki reached the front of the line. No one stood behind him now. Through the tall guild windows he could see the sky fading into shades of orange and purple—it was already evening.He lifted his gaze toward the receptionist… then froze.
A gulp slid down his throat, loud enough he could hear it.
She was a young woman, maybe eighteen or twenty. Light brown hair tied neatly behind her ears, warm amber eyes, and red-framed glasses that made her look both professional and charming. She wore the same green uniform as the other receptionists, but somehow it looked far better on her.
She greeted him with a gentle smile.
[Receptionist]:" Welcome to the Justia Guild Hall, I'm Amy, I can tell that you are new here. What can I do for you." Aki's entire body stiffened.
He'd never talked to a girl his age before… and now life decided to throw him into this situation with no warning. His palms grew sweaty. His mind raced.
But then he remembered: he needed to do this quickly if he wanted a place to sleep tonight.
He forced himself to breathe, shook off the nerves, and stepped closer.
[Aki trembling]:" H-Hi… my name's Aki Toshiba… You're… um… right about me not being from… around here. I-I'm from a distant land and… I wanted to join… the guild."
She stared at him for a while like she was analysing him. The she went into a drawer and pulled out a piece of paper. She placed it infront of Aki. [Amy]:" We could always use more help around here. Place your hand on the paper and we can get started."
Aki swallowed again and obeyed, pressing his palm against the parchment.The reaction was instant.
A burst of bright blue light flared from under his hand, glowing through the sheet like liquid magic. Strange symbols and elegant letters began to bloom across the once-empty surface, curling and forming lines on their own as if an invisible quill were writing for him.Aki's eyes widened in awe as the paper filled itself.
Once the parchment finished glowing, Amy lifted it carefully, adjusted her glasses, and scanned through the freshly written stats. Her brows shot up. [Amy surprised]:" Oh my! For a level 2 your stats are looking like that of a normal level 8 so that makes you an elite." [Aki scratching his head]:" Elite...Level 8....Normal?"
[Amy chuckling]:" I guess you're even newer than I thought. Alright—let me simplify the guild rankings and stat system for you." Aki looked clueless. [Aki]:" Please go easy on me with the Intel...too much information can be overwhelming." She clapped her hands together like a teacher about to start the easiest lecture ever. [Amy enthusiastic]:" I'll explain it in the simplest of ways. First of all is the stat system, here there are 3 categories: First are the unprevilaged who when leveling up recieve stat points ranging from 4-9. Next are the normals who receive Brown 10-19 normally 15 and last are elites who recieve normally 20-23 but including you there's a handful who go beyond that like the hero."
Aki's eyes sparkled like someone just told him he had main character privileges. [Aki cockyly in his head]:" I'm Sooo OP... Thanks a lot creator." Amy looked at him knowing clearly what was going on in his head. She politely coughed to bring him back to the discussion at hand.
[Amy]: Don't go giving your self a big head just cause you're an elite. Now the maximum level capacity for humans is 150 for monsters and some non human races is 200 and for anything above like the gods is 250." [Aki thinking]:" I really got the shortest straw by being a human."
[Amy continuing]:" Next the guild has 9 rankings as follows from lowest to highest:
Bronze: Lvl 1-4
Copper: Lvl 5-14
Iron: Lvl 15-34
Silver: Lvl 35-59
Gold: Lvl 60-74
Emerald: Lvl 75-89
Ruby: Lvl 90-119
Diamond: Lvl 120-145
Platinum: Lvl 146-150
The higher your rank, the more dangerous quests you can take—and the better the privileges. So here's your adventures card, currently you're an Copper adventurer."
She slid a small metallic card across the counter. It shimmered faintly with a copper sheen. It contained some information of his adventurer status. Aki accepted it with both hands like it was holy treasure. Amy then reached under the desk and placed a single gold coin in his palm. Aki stared at it, then at her, completely lost.
[Amy sighing]:" Come on, don't tell me you also don't understand the money system." Aki nodded awkwardly.[Amy]:" Well you're lucky that this is simpler. In Justia, their three ranks to currency: Gold, Silver and copper. 1 gold is equal to 1000 Silver and 1 Silver is equivalent to 1000 copper. As simple as that."
[Aki thinking]:" So just your typical system of currency." He pocketed the coin. [Aki]:" Thanks so much miss Amy. Can I just trouble you for one last thing... I kinda need a place to stay." [Amy]:" First, just call me Amy. Second, if you ever need anything just ask Kay and third, there's an inn nearby I'll write down the directions." She scribbled onto a small slip of paper and handed it to him. [Amy]:" Here, should be easy enough to follow. Have a great night since you start tomorrow." Aki bowed slightly, waved, and headed for the door. Amy waved back warmly.