A crowd of travelers slowly made their way toward a large village nestled in the distance. Despite being called a village, its size could rival a small town. Behind it loomed the towering, reinforced walls of the Empire of Rustalia, standing like a guardian of civilization.
So… this is Rustalia.
A voice echoed in thought, yet no one appeared.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through a nearby bush—lightly shaking its leaves—before a faint ripple shimmered at the ground. From that distorted air, a figure emerged silently.
Leo.
His red hair caught the morning light as he stepped out with calm movements, slipping into the crowd unnoticed.
Alright… act normal. Don't draw attention. Just blend in, Leo reminded himself.
He moved along the path, eyes scanning the vibrant world around him. After weeks of traveling through forests and mountains, the smell of fresh bread, the excited voices of merchants, and the playful laughter of children felt like music to his senses.
Ah… it's been a while since I saw this many different faces. This feeling... it's just good.
As Leo walked, his attention was pulled to a scene on his right. In a small open area off the main road, two young boys were harassing a girl who had fallen to the ground.
One boy had messy black hair; the other, bright blonde. The girl had soft pink hair and green eyes, her tiny fists clenching dirt as tears welled up in her eyes.
"What a weakling," the blonde boy sneered. "You said you wanted to play with us? You can't even use magic, trash."
"Yeah," the black-haired boy chimed in. "She thinks she's one of us? Hah!"
Just as the girl looked ready to cry, a firm voice interrupted them.
"And what do you think you are?"
A taller girl with long black hair stepped in, dressed in clothes resembling a café maid. Her presence was confident and calm.
"She's just a little kid, and you're bullying her? Shame on you."
She gently helped the girl up, kneeling down with a smile. "It's alright, sweetie. Go home, okay?"
The girl wiped her tears and ran off, muttering a shy "Thank you" as she vanished into the village.
"Tch. Do you even know who I am?" the blonde boy snapped. "You trying to act like a hero or something?"
"Yeah," the other laughed. "She thinks she's some big-shot heroine now."
"Ugh, you jokers are annoying," the maid girl said, folding her arms. "Go pick a fight with someone your own size, losers."
Leo watched silently from afar, brows furrowed.
Should I step in? They're younger than me, but still… they're using magic irresponsibly.
The blonde boy's anger peaked. He raised his hand and conjured a fireball, launching it straight at the maid girl.
Her eyes widened for a split second—but before the flames could hit her, a woman with long black hair and vivid green eyes appeared like a flash and stood between them. She raised her hand, and a transparent barrier dispersed the fireball into harmless sparks.
The boys' eyes widened in fear.
"You two… what do you think you're doing?" the woman scolded. "Should I tell your parents about this?"
"Ah—let's go, Liam!" the blonde one, Gared, stammered.
"Y-Yeah!" Liam replied. And with that, the two scurried away.
Leo let out a sigh. Phew… that woman came at the right time.
He turned to leave—
Wait…
She blocked that fireball… with her body?
Leo ran forward and stopped near the woman. "Are you alright? I saw what happened. That fireball—it hit you."
The woman blinked in surprise at the sight of a masked boy. "Ah… do I know you?"
Leo realized he might've come off too strong and scratched his cheek. "No, no. We've definitely never met. I just… saw what happened. You came in so fast to stop those boys, and I thought it might've hurt you."
He glanced at the maid girl. "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah," she replied shyly, hiding slightly behind the woman.
"I should've acted first," Leo added. "Sorry I didn't help earlier—"
"No, it's alright," the woman interrupted gently. "Your heart was in the right place. I just got there first."
Leo tilted his head. "Wait, that fireball—it actually hit you. Are you hurt?"
"Hmm? Oh, I was wearing a fire-resistant apron," she said with a chuckle. "Only got a small burn on my hand."
"Can I see?"
She offered her hand, and Leo raised his palm. A faint light glowed as he cast a simple healing spell. The red mark vanished.
The maid girl leaned in curiously. "Whoa… you can use healing magic?"
"You seem new around here," the woman said, smiling. "What's your name?"
Leo froze.
...Crap. I never thought of a fake name! I can't use my real one!
His thoughts swirled in panic.
Why didn't I prepare this? I've been planning everything else but forgot the basic stuff!
Noticing his hesitation, the woman chuckled. "Ah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked for your name so suddenly."
"No, it's alright," Leo quickly replied. "I really am new here. So…"
She smiled again. "Do you want someone to guide you?"
Well… it's not a bad choice, Leo thought, glancing around. Could be useful.
"Sure. I'd appreciate that."
"Great! Then come with us," she said warmly. "My name is Feren, and this little one is…" She looked at the maid girl and paused. "Umm… her name is Lilian."
Leo nodded. "I'm… Hades."
"Well then, Hades," Feren said with a grin, "come to our café. You can rest there, and I'll explain everything about the Empire."
As the three walked together, the road gradually shifted from dirt to smooth cobblestone. After a few minutes, they arrived near a quiet village. Everything seemed normal.
Suddenly, Feren glanced at the younger girl.
"Lilian, you should go to your father's café. Your break time is probably over, right?"
Lilian nodded and ran off without a word.
Leo blinked, confused. "Wait... what just happened?"
Feren smiled, realizing his confusion. "Lilian works part-time in my father's café. It's just over there."
Leo tilted his head. "Ah… so that means I have to stay here?"
Feren chuckled. "No, no. My café is inside the Empire walls."
Leo raised a brow. "Double business?"
She laughed lightly. "Yeah, something like that. Come on, follow me."
They continued walking. A few minutes later, they finally arrived at the massive gates of the Empire. Two knights stood guard on either side, while a third was stationed in front, checking the crowd. He was questioning people, ensuring they belonged here and weren't smuggling anything illegal into the capital.
As Feren and Leo approached, the third knight looked up.
"Hey, Feren! How are you? I didn't see you leave the walls today."
Feren smiled. "I'm good. Actually, you must have just started your shift. Someone else was posted before you."
"Oh, must've been the other knight." He waved it off. "Anyway, go ahead."
But as they stepped forward, the knight raised his hand again—this time toward Leo.
"Hold on. I haven't seen you before. Are you new here? If not, show me your guild registration card." His tone sharpened. "Also, why are you wearing a mask? Remove it. Show me your face."
Leo froze for a moment, thoughts racing.
Crap. What should I do? I can't show my face. I don't want anyone to even get the slightest hint of who I really am… It could cause trouble later.
But before he could speak, Feren jumped in smoothly.
"Oh, come on, don't ruin it." She smiled. "He's my friend. Just a shy boy, that's all. His name's Hades, and he's new here. I'm guiding him."
The knight—Ruijerd, according to the name on his armor—blinked, then relaxed. "Ah, a new arrival. My apologies, Mr. Hades. I didn't mean to be rude."
Leo gave a polite nod. "No, it's alright. You were just doing your job. Anyway, thank you."
With that, he finally stepped past the gates and into the Empire.
The inside was a world of its own. Streets bustled with energy. Merchants shouted from their stalls, kids played freely, and people crowded cafés and shops. Some bartered. Others laughed, chatted, and haggled over goods. The scent of roasted meat, spices, and fresh bread drifted through the air.
Leo gazed around, eyes wide behind his mask.
So this is… the Empire.
As they both stepped inside the Empire walls, Feren looked back and said, " Welcome to Empire of Rustalia Hades now, Follow me."
Leo silently nodded and followed her through the busy streets. After a few minutes of walking, they arrived in front of a large café. The wooden sign above the door gently swung in the breeze.
Feren pushed the door open and stepped inside first. The warm aroma of fresh food and roasted coffee hit instantly. Dozens of people sat around, chatting, eating, and drinking.
She turned back and called, "Hades, come in."
Leo stepped in, his eyes quietly scanning the place.
The café was bustling. Laughter, clinking glasses, and casual conversation filled the air. The lighting was soft, and the wooden interior gave a cozy, homely feel.
Feren pointed toward a free table tucked away in a quiet corner. Leo walked over and sat down, with Feren taking the seat across from him.
"So," Leo began, his voice low. "Now tell me more about this Empire."
Feren leaned forward, folding her arms on the table. "Alright. First of all, if you're new here and haven't registered with any guild, you should do that first. After registering, just tell them you're new and don't have Rustalia's currency."
Leo listened closely.
"They'll give you a starter pack. It includes some money to help you get by for a while. After that, you can work—mostly by taking on quests like other adventurers. It's simple: complete a quest, get paid."
She paused, studying him. "Unless you want to do something else here?"
Leo fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.
If I join the adventurer's guild, I'll probably get a lot of permissions—and money too. That way, I can stay in the Empire without standing out too much.
He looked at her and asked, "If I want to stay here at your café… as a renter, how much would it cost?"
Feren smiled. "If you're paying for a whole month, then it's thirty silver coins. And that includes free food for the entire month too."
As Leo finished thinking it through, he finally made up his mind.
"I've decided," he said. "I'll go to the guild."
Feren looked pleased. "Alright, good. Want me to tell you the way? I can't go with you—I've got some work here."
Just then, a café worker called from behind the counter, "Feren! Come over here already, we need help!"
Feren let out a sigh and raised her voice. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!"
She turned to Leo with a small grin. "See? That's why I can't go."
Leo nodded. "Alright then, just tell me the directions."
Feren pointed with her hand as she explained. "First, get outside the café and go straight. Then take the first right. Keep going until you see a building on the left—it's the Adventurers Guild. You won't miss it."
She gave him a quick wave. "Okay, I've really gotta go now. Good luck!"
"Thanks," Leo replied. But as he stood and made his way outside, a nervous smile crept across his face.
Ahh… I still didn't understand it properly. But I'll figure it out.
Stepping out into the street, Leo followed the path Feren had described. He moved past crowds of people working, chatting, and selling goods. Adventurers walked by, some geared up and heading out, others returning from missions. He passed medicine shops, swordsmiths, armor stalls, and even magic vendors.
Finally, he arrived at a large stone building with a worn banner hanging above the entrance. Bold letters read:
"Adventurers Guild - Rustalia Branch"
Leo stared for a second, took a deep breath, and muttered, "Alright… let's get inside."
He pushed open the heavy doors and stepped into the guild.
Inside, it was lively—dozens of adventurers filled the hall. Some stood in lines at counters, others sat at tables discussing quests, and a few were already deep in drink and celebration. The air was filled with chatter, clinking mugs, and the faint sound of weapons being polished.