Viktor and Eric had chosen to venture to the Hoff Guild Office before going to Rose with their plans. The office, located at the heart of their small village, was one that Viktor had only glimpsed from afar. It functioned as the nerve center for all adventurers in the area, with mission briefings and critical information being dispatched from its bustling halls.
As they approached the building, Viktor couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by its grandeur. A massive structure of stone and wood, it boasted banners of various guilds fluttering from its ramparts. He glanced at Eric out of the corner of his eye as they neared the entrance, hoping to draw some courage from his mentor's serene demeanor.
Inside, the office was a labyrinth of corridors filled with busy adventurers discussing missions, trading items, or simply sharing a few drinks. The air was filled with a cacophony of conversations and the scent of old parchment and fresh ink.
They found themselves in front of a counter manned by an elderly woman with a stern expression and sharp eyes. She looked up from her work as they approached and immediately straightened upon recognizing Eric.
"Ah, Eric," she greeted warmly. "What brings you here today?"
Eric briefly introduced Viktor before explaining their cause for visit. "I've decided to bring Viktor along on my adventures," he said confidently. "We are here to register him."
The woman's stern expression softened as she turned her attention to Viktor. "A new adventurer," she said with a nod. "I trust you've prepared yourself for what lies ahead?"
Viktor knew it was not a simple question; being an adventurer was not merely about fighting monsters and exploring treacherous terrains; it was also about developing oneself and navigating the intricate relationships between various guilds and their members.
With a solemn nod, he replied, "Yes, ma'am. I am."
She studied him for a few moments longer before finally turning back to her ledger. With swift, practiced motions, she began to fill out a new entry.
"Name?"
"Viktor Fritz."
As she scribbled down his name in the large, leather-bound tome, Viktor felt a thrill of excitement. This was really happening. He was becoming an adventurer.
The woman finished registering Viktor and handed him a small brass badge. It was stamped with the crest of the Hoff Guild - a stylized shield overlaid with crossed swords and two roses twisting around them.
"This is your Adventurer's Badge," she explained, her tone strict yet somewhat kind. "Keep it on your person at all times as proof of your registration."
"Thank you," Viktor said, reverently taking the badge and fastening it onto his tunic.
With their business concluded, Eric led Viktor out of the office and into the hustle and bustle of the village square. As they made their way back towards the farm, Viktor reached up to touch his new badge.
It wasn't much more than a piece of metal, but to him, it symbolized so much more – it was a promise of adventure, a beacon towards his future.
Back home, Rose seemed surprisingly receptive to their adventure plans. After a long hug and many words of caution, she left him with a small pack filled with provisions for their journey.
"Come back safe," Rose whispered into his ear as they bid goodbye.
Eric clapped him on the back as he smiled and ushered him to a massive wooden board. "So, this here is the Job Board."
It was a towering structure, filled with countless parchments of varying sizes and colors. Each piece had detailed information about the different tasks that adventurers could undertake. "Bounty hunting, escort services, monster slaying, artifact retrieval," Eric enumerated, pointing towards the corresponding notes as he went on. "There's a whole bunch of jobs here that cater to different skills and experience levels."
Viktor's eyes widened as he examined the board, taking in the sheer number of tasks available. He had always thought that an adventurer's life revolved around slaying monsters and finding treasures in dungeons, but there was so much more to it than that.
Eric took his time explaining each job type; how they varied in difficulty and rewards, and how some had special requirements or included certain risks. A few hours passed as they sifted through various tasks and discussed potential assignments.
After a long debate, they finally selected their first mission—a simple delivery task to the neighboring town of Eldridge. "This should be a good start," Eric said with a nod. "It may not be very exciting compared to other jobs, but it'll give you a feel for the road ahead."
"Oh! Sir! The card is formality, to accept or apply to any jobs you'll need to take an aptitude test."
Eric turned, looking at the young guild assistant who had just approached them. The young man was holding a piece of parchment in his hands, his face flushed from the rush of finding them among the sea of adventurers.
"Ah, I nearly forgot," Eric said with a raised eyebrow and a sheepish grin. "Viktor, you'll need to pass an aptitude test before you can officially take up any jobs from the board."
At Viktor's worried glance, Eric chuckled. "Don't fret, lad. It's not as daunting as it sounds. It's simply a way for the guild to gauge your abilities and make sure you're not biting off more than you can chew."
The two had walked back to the desk as the associate greeted them with a smile. "Would you like to take the test now?" They asked.
Viktor glanced at Eric, who gave him an encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and nodded. "Yes, I'm ready."
The assistant's face brightened, and he led Viktor and Eric to a different room in the Guild Office. It was a large space filled with various training equipment, targets, and dummies. At the far end of the room was a desk where another Guild member was seated.
"Viktor will be taking the aptitude test," the assistant informed the man, handing over the parchment he had been holding.
"Alright, then," the man said as he looked Viktor over. He was middle-aged with a grizzled beard and hard eyes that spoke of years of adventure and experiences. "I'm Beorn, guild's tester for new recruits. You ready?"
Viktor nodded again. Beorn gestured towards the center of the room where a dummy was placed. "Your task is simple. Show us your combat skills. Use any weapon of your choice."
Viktor hesitated for a moment before choosing a simple wooden sword from the rack nearby. It felt right in his hands - not too heavy, not too light.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Viktor approached the target dummy with measured steps. He swung his sword, aiming for its torso. The sword struck home, causing dust to puff up from the dummy's straw-filled body.
Beorn watched attentively as Viktor demonstrated some basic moves - thrusts, parries, slashes - each done with focus and precision. After several minutes of observation, Beorn signaled him to stop and called him over.
"Great, 13 out of 18. Now from what I understand you're a mage as well?"
"Yes, sir." Viktor replied.
"Then show me some magic," Beorn commanded, pointing to a pile of rocks at the other end of the room.
Viktor nodded and turned his attention towards the stones. He extended his hand, focusing his mind on the smallest pebble. He whispered an incantation under his breath and felt the familiar surge of energy coursing through his veins towards his fingertips.
The pebble suddenly twitched before lifting off the ground and floating in mid-air and then-
It dropped.
Viktor then found the pebble to feel as if it were the weight of the sun, it wouldn't budge in the slightest.
And as if time had froze from the corner of his eye a figure walked into view. His eyes icy blue and his hair snow white.
"You think I would let you use my magic?" It was Kirchner, his newly formed alternate persona. Or was he the alternate? Fritz knew he had only been in Hoff Village for nearly a year and some change but it felt as if he had been here his whole life.
So it would only make sense that Viktor Kirchner was the real one. The original character and Fritz was just a cover.
But then, why did it feel as if the opposite were true?
"Kirchner," he managed to say, struggling to lift the pebble once more. It remained stubbornly on the ground. "Help me."
The snow-haired figure seemed to hesitate before, with a flick of his wrist, the pebble was soon floating in mid-air again. Beorn raised an eyebrow but made no comment.
After using a few more spells - some successful, others not so much thanks to Kirchner's interference - Viktor was finally allowed to stop. Beorn was silent for a moment before he spoke.
"You've got potential," he said gruffly, "Your combat skills are decent and your magic shows promise. Practice enough and you'll be able to handle most jobs available on that board."
Viktor felt his heart surge with joy at the words. Thanking Beorn, he was then led back into the main area of the Guild Office where Eric was waiting.
"Well?" Eric asked, looking expectantly at Viktor.
"I passed," Viktor announced, grinning widely at his friend.
"Good! I knew you would!" Eric clapped him on the shoulder enthusiastically. "Alright then, let's return tomorrow morning sharp so we can accept our first job."
That night, Viktor lay awake in bed, staring up at the wooden beams of his room ceiling. His badge felt heavy on his chest and in his mind was the image of Kirchner - cold, distant yet powerful.
As he drifted off to sleep, Viktor realized that this was just the beginning of his journey as an adventurer.
Next Chapter: 34-From The Shadows