The next morning, the city was alive with its usual chorus of noises the shouts of merchants, the creak of wagon wheels, and the clang of smiths hammering away at their forges. The sun was already high, painting the stone streets in bright gold.
For hours, the shift passed with little event. The occasional caravan rolled through, and once, a family with crying children rushed past, hurrying to reach the city before noon. The sun's heat pressed down on him, sweat soaking into his shirt beneath the armor, but he held his post until the relieving bell rang.
Once his shift ended, Rayan wasted no time. He hurried back to his small room. Lina was waiting, seated at the little table, with a modest lunch already prepared simple bread and a vegetable stew, warm and fragrant.
"You're back," she said softly, smiling.
He gave her a nod of gratitude and sat down. "Thank you. I needed this."
She watched him eat with quiet contentment, though there was always a shadow of concern in her eyes. She knew he was working himself too hard, but she also knew nothing could sway his resolve.
After finishing, Rayan washed his hands, tightened his boots, and left again. His path led him beyond the city walls, The woods, though peaceful on the surface, always hid monsters. Rayan had learned to stalk smaller prey boars twisted by mana, scaled wolves with unnatural teeth, even slimes that corroded anything they touched. This time, he pressed harder, moving faster and fighting longer than usual. His sword, though crude, was enough. His strikes were more controlled, his stamina more enduring. By the time he returned to the city, his pouch was heavy with materials harvested from slain creatures.
At the Adventurer's Guild, the air buzzed with activity. Adventurers of every kind filled the wide stone hall, boasting of their kills, counting their coin, or scanning the large wooden mission board that hung near the entrance. Rayan moved quietly to the counter and handed over the monster materials.
The receptionist weighed them, tallied the worth, and handed him a tidy pouch of coins. It was more than usual his hunts had doubled in yield today.
As he turned to leave, his eyes caught a posting on the mission board. Bold letters announced:
"Request: Exterminate Goblins raiding farmlands outside the southern plains. Reward upon completion."
Rayan's hand lingered on the paper before he pulled it down and walked back to the counter.
"I'd like to take this mission," he told the receptionist.
She gave him a polite but firm look. "Are you registered with the Guild?"
"No," he admitted.
"Then you can't. To register as an adventurer, you must meet the minimum requirement a Crest Level Two."
Rayan's heart sank. "And if I don't have a crest?"
The receptionist tilted her head slightly. "Then you need to own a combat class Artifact. Something strong enough to prove you can handle monsters consistently. Without that, you won't be accepted."
He tightened his grip on the notice. Of course, the Guild had rules. It made sense. But for someone like him, crestless and without an artifact, it was yet another locked door.
"Thank you," he murmured, setting the paper down and stepping outside.
The evening light painted the streets orange, but for Rayan, the glow felt heavy. He hadn't noticed the man leaning against the wall outside until a voice called out.
"Hey, you there."
Rayan turned. A man in light armor, a longsword strapped at his hip, gave him a measuring look. Behind him, two more figures adventurers, clearly waited with impatient expressions.
"You were eyeing that goblin mission, weren't you?" the man asked.
Rayan frowned. "I'm not an adventurer."
The man smirked. "Neither are we by the book. But we already took the mission. Problem is, one of our team didn't show. We're short a hand. If you come with us, you'll get a share of the reward. Deal?"
For a moment, Rayan hesitated. His armor was worn, his sword dull, and he knew they could see it. But the thought of turning down a chance like this gnawed at him. He nodded. "All right. I'll come."
They left the city at once. The walk south was filled with chatter from the other adventurers bragging, laughter, and the occasional mocking glance at Rayan. One of them even chuckled openly, pointing at his sword.
"That rusted thing? You planning to scare goblins away with pity?"
Rayan said nothing. He kept walking, ignoring the sting. Words meant little. What mattered was action.
By the time they reached the farmland, the sun had dipped low. Smoke curled faintly from a burned patch of field. The goblins had left their mark.
The fight was brief but fierce. Goblins, though weak alone, were vicious in groups. The adventurers fought with practiced coordination, cutting them down one by one. Rayan kept his head low, striking carefully, not wasting movements. His blade, though dull, pierced enough when driven with intent. He focused on finishing stragglers, covering openings, and protecting the farmers who watched from a distance.
When the last goblin fell, silence returned to the fields. The adventurers laughed and clapped one another on the back. One of them tossed Rayan a glance, less mocking now.
Back at the Guild, they reported the mission complete. The receptionist confirmed their success and handed over the coin. The leader of the group counted the shares and pressed a pouch into Rayan's hand.
"You pulled your weight. Here's your cut."
Rayan bowed his head. "Thank you."
As the group dispersed, Rayan slipped outside into the cool night. He opened the pouch. The weight of the coins made his chest tighten. With this he collected the amount he needed for the Academy.
His steps carried him quickly through the lantern lit streets, straight to the small restaurant where his second job awaited.
The gruff head cook greeted him with a nod. "You're late. But no matter. Get in the kitchen."
Rayan rolled up his sleeves, washed, and got to work. His arms ached from the day's battles, but he pushed through, stirring soups, seasoning meat, and plating dishes until the kitchen's heat clung to his skin. By the time he left, exhaustion weighed on every bone in his body.
Still, when he reached his small room and opened the door, Lina was waiting, her face lighting up at the sight of him.
"You're back," she said.
And just like that, the weight of the day lessened.