When I crossed the threshold, I was hit in the face with a wave of previously unknown odors: the week-old stench of unwashed shirts, socks, stale sweat, and metal shavings. It transported me to a memory from a past life. The same odor that always accompanied real fighters. This place was a harsh dwelling place for warriors, and it was filled with all kinds of people: young and old, fat and thin, haggard and mighty. And they all had one thing in common: they were warriors.
Everyone here carried weapons, and what an arsenal of weapons there was in this hall! Daggers, bows, crossbows, long swords, knives, pitchforks, machetes, sabers, rapiers, halberds, axes, cleavers, maces, sticks - every fighter, regardless of age, was armed to the teeth. In the corner there was a sword, almost as tall as me, leaning against the wall, and I wondered: who was the giant who could lift it?
As I looked around at this variety of people and equipment, I realized that I was in a place inhabited by true masters of their craft. With my hands clasped together and my eyes on the floor, I walked forward cautiously, trying not to bump into anyone. At the end of the hall I was greeted by a massive wooden counter, behind which stood a girl. She turned to me with a slight smile:
- Welcome to the mercenary guild! Have you chosen a contract yet?
A mercenary guild... Is it something like the adventurer's guild I read about in my previous life? But this seems to be more serious. If the adventurer's guild is a place for adventurers, then everything here revolves around combat and battles. As I thought about it, I realized that I've been silent for too long. I had to answer without sounding ignorant:
- No, it's my first time here. Can you explain what this place is?
- Are you kidding? I was sure you were a mercenary like the others," the girl tilted her head slightly, eyeing me suspiciously. She must have noticed the traces of blood on my clothes and the weapon on my belt.
- The Mercenary Guild," she continued, "is an organization that connects customers and contractors. When you sign a contract and join the guild, you can take contracts. We have different levels of assignments, from killing monsters to military operations. I understand you're not a member of the guild? Do you want to join?
Is it worth it? I wondered. My plans didn't include such a job, but my abilities could help me make easy money from destroying monsters if I remained undetected. Deciding that the risk was worth it, I answered:
- Yes, I would like to join the guild.
The girl nodded:
- Oh, great. Now we're going to go through the registration process. First, I'll need your name.
- Alexander," I answered, trying to look confident.
She wrote down my name and, without taking a break from her notes, asked:
- Do you know how to handle a gun?
- Yes," I lied without thinking, for I had never held a sword before.
The girl handed me a piece of paper with text I didn't understand and a pad of red paint.
- Put your seal here," she pointed to an empty space.
I couldn't read the contract, but I decided not to give away my illiteracy. I dipped my finger in the pad and left a fingerprint, officially becoming a mercenary.
- Congratulations! - she squinted a little. - You are now a member of the guild. Your rank is "Rookie". You will be able to increase it as you complete your quests. For now, only entry level quests are available.
- How many ranks are there in total? - I asked.
- Five: Rookie, Mercenary, Professional, Master, and Elite. Need any more help?
- Where can I get an assignment?
The girl behind the counter smiled and gestured to the bulletin board. Embarrassed, I headed over there, trying to hide my excitement. She was exceptionally beautiful-perhaps the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. There were only old women and children left in the village where I had come from, for all the young girls had been taken away by the soldiers. I suddenly realized that perhaps every attractive woman I met would now seem more beautiful to me than before, for it had been so long since I had seen young faces.
But there was something strange about it, too. I'm just a thirteen-year-old boy, and she was cool with me claiming to be a mercenary. Shouldn't she have been wary? Were children even allowed to become mercenaries? Or do I look older than I think I am?
Jostling among the huge, armored soldiers, I reached the bulletin board. It was a large board, littered with scrolls of text and seals. Suddenly a frightening thought occurred to me: I can't read, can I? How do I pick an assignment? Just pick something at random? What if I choose something too difficult? Then that beautiful girl will definitely make fun of me. Not daring to go to the board again, I went to the corner and leaned against the wall, trying to look calm, but feeling lost inside.
Looking closely at the people, I studied their armor, weapons, and mannerisms. Many of them were silent and focused, but there were loud voices at the counter where an argument was breaking out. I listened.
- You need to find another member of the group to start the mission. You have five hours to do it," the girl behind the counter announced in a steady voice. - If you don't make it in time, the contract will go to another team.
- Shit!" one of the fighters roared. - I should have known not to trust those idiots! - He turned sharply to someone nearby. - It's all your fault, you chose them! - This time he raised his voice, almost shouting at his companion.
I didn't understand everything, but I got the point. It looked like their group consisted of a couple of people arguing furiously. Finally, the guy at the counter stopped talking and looked around. Suddenly his gaze stopped on me, and he strode straight toward me. My stomach sucked in a bad feeling. His gaze wasn't just hard, it was direct and intimidating. I wanted to hide, but before I could take a step, he grabbed my shoulder.
- Hey, you don't have a band, do you? - he blurted out in a huff. - Come join us, we need a man now!
- But... I've only got a rookie rank," I mumbled uncertainly, almost stuttering.
The boy only waved it away:
- It doesn't matter! Are you coming with us or not? Come on, don't slow down, answer me! - He said irritably, clearly losing his patience.
- Yes," I finally squeezed out, though I was still struggling with fear and uncertainty inside.
- Great! - He was happy and, nodding to the girl behind the counter, took out a sheet of paper with the contract. - He's in. - And, without waiting for my answer, he pulled me with him.
Once outside, the guy finally softened. The other members of the group were walking beside him, and I was beginning to think that maybe he wasn't as scary as he seemed at first glance.
- I'm sorry for the commotion," he said, turning to me. - My name is Zenaris Bladewind.
Bladevind. Is that a family name? I knew that in our world, only noble families had last names. Have I met someone of noble birth? I guess I'll have to be careful with him.
- My name is Alexander. I just joined the guild today," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.
- It's good to meet you, Alexander!" Zenaris clapped me on the shoulder good-naturedly, then turned to the rest of the squad. - I'll introduce you to the team.
He pointed to a young girl standing a little farther away, watching us with a quiet smile. She had soft features, long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, and deep green eyes that seemed to penetrate you. I noticed a bow behind her back, and I could tell she was a ranged fighter.
- This is Helen, our archer and... the light of our squad," Zenaris added with a smile.
Helen blushed and nodded in greeting. Zenaris, wasting no time, turned to the next member of the team. He was a skinny guy with short black hair, a penetrating gaze, and a cloak concealing his weapons. I noticed several daggers and a crossbow behind his back.
- And this is Michael, our smartest member. He can be trusted with all of our plans," Zenaris said proudly, and Michael only bowed his head in response, keeping a nonchalant expression.
Next was a large, muscular man in thick armor. His majestic figure towered over us, and he looked at us with such a serious expression that I felt uneasy. But when he took off his helmet, he immediately turned into the most good-natured man in the world, with round, soft features and red hair gathered into a neat coiffure. His weapon, a huge spiked kanabo, looked as formidable as he was.
- This is Goliath, our heart and our protection," Zenaris said, smiling slightly. - Under his heavy armor, we are all at ease.
Finally, Zenaris pointed to himself and proudly introduced himself:
- And I, Zenaris Bladewind, our blade. Yes, I am of the Bladevind bloodline, but never mind that. I'm not here to boast, I'm here to fight like everyone else.
I was surprised by his words, but before I could think about them, the team was already discussing the task. In the end, I joined their ranks so quickly that before I knew it, we had already left the city and were on our way to the village where the Gluhsars we were to destroy lived.
My first assignment started so suddenly that I didn't even have time to get a taste of city life, wander around the shops or try the local food. But that seems to be the fate of a true mercenary.