Hiori and Barnard came to a stop at the towering city gates, adorned with carvings of dragons and ancient symbols. Around them, the city buzzed with life—the shouts of merchants hawking their wares, the clatter of hooves from city guards, and the mingling scent of spices and smoke from street food stalls.
Barnard scanned the surroundings, one brow raised.
"Hmph… big cities. Always the same. Loud, crowded, and your coin purse might vanish before you even realize it."
Hiori gave a slight smile as she read the wooden signposts pointing down various streets.
"In that case, we should find the guild before you lose all your coins again, Barnard."
Barnard snorted.
"Hey, I was drunk just that one time."
They walked down the cobbled streets, passing buildings with high rooftops and stained glass windows. Every corner of the city told a story: children ran with dragon-shaped kites, two adventurers argued loudly over a contract, and a shady merchant sold glowing stones he claimed were "remnants of a dragon's soul."
Soon, they reached a wide intersection, where a grand structure stood. It was built of black stone, with a carved emblem of a sword and shield above its massive doors. It looked more like a small fortress than an office. From within came the sound of life: laughter, arguments, and the clinking of mugs followed by bursts of cheering.
Barnard grinned.
"Ah, this is it. The guild. Where dangerous jobs pay well… and where you find out just how long you might survive in this world."
Hiori exhaled slowly, her eyes fixed on the building with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"Alright… let's take our first step as an official party."
They pushed open the heavy wooden doors, and the world inside the guild welcomed them with a roar of cheers and dozens of eyes—some friendly, some skeptical, and others filled with curiosity.
The atmosphere inside the guild was as lively as a night market—adventurers of all races and ages laughed, shouted, discussed strategies, or simply bragged about the scars from their last battles. Smoke from a small kitchen in the corner carried the tempting aroma of meat stew, blending with the smells of sweat, steel, and who-knows-what-else.
The woman stood at the guild's entrance, her smile warm yet her eyes scanning them from head to toe. Her blonde hair was tied high, and the silver guild emblem on her chest caught the sunlight. The area around the door bustled with activity—adventurers coming and going, laughter mixing with the creak of wooden hinges and the clinking of combat gear.
"Hello, adventurers. Are you here to register as guild members?" Her voice was clear and firm, yet carried a friendly tone.
"Yes, we want to join the guild," they replied without hesitation.
The woman gave a slow nod, then glanced into the building. "In that case, follow me. Registration isn't just filling out forms—you'll have to prove yourselves first. This guild doesn't accept people who only have a way with words."
They followed her inside. The air smelled of paper, ink, and steel. To the right, the mission board was crammed with sheets of tasks—ranging from hunting monsters to escorting caravans. The chatter of adventurers filled the room with life, yet there was a subtle tension lingering beneath it all.
"Step one—personal details. Step two—a qualification test." She glanced back at them as she walked, that faint smile returning. "If you fail, you can leave through the back door without embarrassing yourselves."
That sentence made the air between them grow heavier. Whatever the qualification test was, they didn't know yet. But one thing was certain—this would be the beginning of something far greater than simply signing up for a guild.
"Please take this," the woman said as she handed over a sheet of paper. Hiori accepted the form, her eyes scanning the columns briefly. She then walked toward an empty table in the corner of the room, the wooden chair creaking softly as she pulled it out and sat down. Barnard followed behind, his large frame drawing a few glances from the other adventurers.
At the table, the atmosphere was quieter. The clinking of gear and the hum of conversations from the main hall sounded faint in the background. Hiori unfolded the form, her brows furrowing slightly as she read through each section that needed to be filled in.
"Name, age, height, origin, and abilities," she murmured softly. Picking up the quill that had been placed on the table, she began writing with calm precision. "Age... 24 years old. Height, 171 centimeters." Her handwriting was neat and measured, reflecting her careful personality.
Barnard sat across from her, leaning back against the chair. His eyes swept over the form until they stopped at the age column. His deep voice rumbled as he spoke, "My age is 475 years. My height is 187 centimeters."
Hiori glanced at him briefly before writing it down without comment. Silence settled between them, broken only by the steady scratch of the quill against parchment. Every so often, Hiori paused to double-check that nothing was missed.
When she reached the more crucial section—the column for special abilities—Hiori drew in a quiet breath, taking a moment to choose her words carefully. She knew whatever she wrote would shape the guild's first impression of them.
The black ink soon formed a firm statement on the page. Barnard leaned forward slightly, giving his answer in a low, steady tone that carried an unwavering confidence. Every word they inscribed carried the weight of understanding—this simple form was the first threshold to a world of battles, trials, and recognition.
When the quill finally stopped moving, the form was complete. Hiori placed it at the center of the table, and the two exchanged a brief glance. No words were needed—they both understood what this small step meant.
Together, they stood, ready to return the form to the guild receptionist.
"Oh, you're finished already?" A soft yet firm voice greeted them as they returned to the reception desk. The blonde-haired woman who had welcomed them earlier stood waiting, her gaze sharp but professional. With practiced ease, she took the paper from Hiori's hand.
"Let me check." Her slender fingers unfolded the form, her eyes scanning swiftly through the lines of writing. For a moment, she stopped, her expression shifting slightly. Her lips moved in a faint murmur, "Barnard Barnes… age four hundred seventy-five?"
She lifted her gaze, staring at Barnard with a serious look. "You… are the same age as the Saviors?" The atmosphere around the desk tightened at once. Several adventurers, who had previously been absorbed in their own affairs, now turned to listen in, curiosity flickering in their eyes as they glanced at Barnard.
That name—the Saviors—was not spoken lightly. They were living legends, heroes of a bygone era whose names were etched into every record of the guild. Survivors of the great war, who once walked the very ground where gods and demons shed blood.
Barnard did not answer immediately. His eyes were deep, cold, as though he was long accustomed to such questions. The air around him seemed heavier. "I lived in the same era as they did," he said at last, his voice resonant and low. "But I was not one of them."
The woman fell silent for a moment, exhaling slowly. There was tension on her face, mingled with respect and a hint of caution. She knew better than to pry too deeply. She continued reading through the form, trying to maintain her composure.
Beside Barnard, Hiori stood calmly. Yet she could feel the atmosphere inside the guild shifting, as though Barnard's presence had stirred memories that should have remained buried. Some adventurers whispered among themselves, uttering the name Barnard Barnes in hesitant tones, as if they recalled it from old tales.
The receptionist finally closed the paper and placed it gently on the desk. Her gaze flicked from Barnard to Hiori. "Your information has been recorded. But… with an age and background like this, the guild will keep a very close eye on you. Especially you, Sir Barnard."
A brief silence hung in the air. Then she offered a faint smile, attempting to ease the tension. "Well then, welcome to the guild. Let's see if the two of you can prove yourselves."