The sun brushed across her figure, Corven and Guinevere making their way through the forest. So far the two had encountered corrupted beasts however they met their ends before they could get closer to them. His curses had long fallen silent, his throat dry and perched from the lack of water.
As for the traps he had hidden, she had managed to avoid most of them, the few that were triggered were directed at him like a sponge further ridding him with injuries she didn't bother to heal. A thin trail of crimson followed the pair, his hands cut off and his resolve long gone.
At first Corven thought that she was a Bloodwright given her immense power but something about her felt off. She didn't use malcore, it would seem that reality itself would bend to her whim. The deaths of the beasts, the shattering of his bones or clearing the path ahead, never once had she lifted a finger as it all came to be.
He didn't bother asking a question that would lack an answer. From afar a civilization could be seen, far more developed than Mistfen as it had modern touches to it. However there was a chasm separating the two and a forest right after.
"This is the part where I'm forced to let you go. It's been an honor Corven." Her words light and humorous as she guided the horse past the chasm. It wasn't a sharp fall to her death as the horse strangely kept on walking on air. The maw beneath them echoed with rocks falling and silence calling to them.
Once on the other side, Guinevere snapped her fingers and went on with her trek. Corven however wasn't as lucky as he was sent spiraling into the chasm. The fall was anything but gentle as his bones jutted out in strange ways, flesh torn by poking rocks before his figure finally crashed to the bottom of the abyss.
He didn't die from the fall, Guinevere ensured that he didn't. Adding salt to the injury she made sure that he couldn't use his malcore to ward off any creatures that he would encounter. The rock beneath him was coated in his blood, his breathes hastening by the moment as within his mind he realized that he would meet his end there.
His sharp eyes could faintly perceive in the darkness thanks to his rank as a Dreadbound but what use would it give him. And it was then that he saw it, a snake making it's way to him. It didn't have any rank, nothing more than just a regular snake. "Fuck!!!" He cried out as he tried to move his body away from the approaching reptile but his state denied him.
Any movement would send unimaginable pain to his mind further sweetening his pain. The snake barred it's fangs, hissing at his cries shooting a venomous rope into his other eye. "Arghhh!!!" His echoes went unheard as the snake finally closed the distance.
It wasn't huge in size but it's lethality wasn't meant to be underestimated. It started by injecting venom into his neck slowly paralyzing Corven. From there it wrapped around his neck and looked at Corven, ready for the feast to come. In an instant it dug into his bloody eye and tearing it out of his orbit.
Spitting it out the snake forced itself into his orbit, his screams the only thing filling the chasm. More snakes now alerted started making their way to him. Corven could feel the snake fester in his head, shivers running across his body before multiple pangs of pain claimed his body.
The more time dragged on, the more snakes enjoyed feasting on his body. From his legs, his neck or his chest, none of it was spared. Hours passed before he finally drew in his last breathe and died, his body claimed by the reptiles of the chasm.
***
Guinevere watched his despair, a light chuckle escaping her lips as she savored every scream Corven let out. Her body draped in a black shady cloak came into view from afar, this time she was halted by the guards upfront. She lowered her hood to reveal her face, perfect and silky smooth entrancing the two knights.
"Excuse me but I would like to see your adventurer identification badge." One of the asked, regaining his composure. "Oh, I don't have one but I'm sure that you two could make for an exception for sweet little me." Her allure sky rocketing as she toyed with their minds. "It is against protocol but I guess that we can make an exception."
"Just make sure that you sign up for to become an adventurer or become a citizen for Redfall." The other mused still entranced by her beauty. "Why thank you. I'll make sure that I do." And just like that she gained entry into the city. At a glance it was far bigger than Mistfen, the security far better than the town as well.
Returning her cloak back on, she navigated through the streets, polished and littering with humans who went about their day. She instantly made her way to a hotel where her presence instantly drew eyes. Money wasn't a problem for her when she had something far more dangerous in her hands.
Gifted the best room by the owner, she smiled it off, blowing him a kiss as she made her way towards the guild. It towered far above the rest of buildings in the city, it's sheer presence drawing intrigue to those who lay their sights on it.
The guild had an edge of modernity she fancied, the corruption of earth pleasing to her. The place however was barely full, most of the adventurers absent. "Hello, how may I serve you?" The one at the desk inquired, raising her eyes to look at Guinevere behind the glass window.
"I'm here wishing to become an adventurer." Her words short and curt. The lady flicked through her computer before looking back up. "Okay, I'll require a sample of your blood and- Wait! You're Princess Guinevere!" She shot up with bewilderment seeing the girl in front of her.
"Yes, but please can you not make it to be a bigger deal than it needs to be." Understanding her intent, the registrar calmed down as she cleared her throat, adjusting herself. "Of course, we'll need you to provide a sample of you blood and have you sign through some documents. We'll also need a rank appraisal to be conducted on you."
Guinevere gave a light nod to which the process began. "Just place your hand on the marked panel in front of you." The cool obsidian glass panel glowed faintly forming a hand print. Pressing her digits she felt a light prick however it didn't last long. "Great, now you'll be required to read these agreements before we get to the last stage. Take as much time as you need."
The registrar took her leave heading elsewhere, with the guild barely full, Guinevere took her time as she shuffled through the contents of pages.
...
"Sir, I have Princess Guinevere here at t guild. She wants to sign up as an adventurer." She relayed the message through a tablet. The face on the other end showed surprise before excitement. "This is great! Just have her become an adventurer and tell me when you're done. I'm on my way." The call came to an end, the registrar pleased with her work.
'With this I should be able to receive a massive bonus to my pay!' Picturing her superior rewarding her, she made her way back to the front desk where Guinevere was done. "You're all set. Now what we need is an appraisal test. I'm sure that you're aware why. Just make your way to the scale and I'll do the rest."
Gesturing to her left where a scanner was, Guinevere made her way. The scanner was a small booth. Stepping inside, she saw a message pop up from a screen.
[{Please release your full aura. The booth will nullify it's effects from the outside world so there's no need to hold back}]
The registrar looked at the readings on the screen, puzzled with the sharp spike. 'Wait! I didn't think that she would be thus strong.' The registrar's face full of excitement shifted into shock. The readings she got were far higher than she had anticipated.
[{Please make your way back to the counter}]
The voice ringing through flat and emotionless. "Well how did I do?" Her tone innocent by choice. "I'm... you- As expected of royalty. The score is far above the common adventurer." The registrar kept on looking at the message that popped on her screen staring it in disbelief. "You're... you're a Hollow Saint?!" Her tone inquisitive rather than factual.
"What's the problem?" Realizing her flaw, the registrar quickly broke into a series of apologies. "I'm sorry for asking about your strength but people of such a rank are impossible to find. Not even most kings are of such a rank."
'Other than her malcore reading of Hollow Saint, her physique read that of a Gilded Champion. Doesn't this make her one of the strongest people in all of Arcania?'
A Hollow Saint rank was shocking enough but a Gilded Champion physique was too alien. The two ranks were the most revered statuses one could achieve in both paths. Achieving one was more than enough as a life of fame and luxury was already in hand.
"Well are we done as you had said?" Guinevere posed, her tone calm flustering the registrar. "Ah yes of course. I'll have the badge handed over to you. Just give me a moment." Making her way to the back, Guinevere smiled at the ripples she had caused in the political field of the world. No ruler had yet to achieve such a rank and yet she ignored it with no shock.
For her, a higher rank would have been perceived by the machine as irregular, something she didn't want to, at least not yet but her rank as of now would be enough. "Here." The registrar mused, her tone hoarse as she handed over a small black box.
Opening it she was met with a small badge. It's shape portraying Redfall's emblem, a silver sword with blood swirling around it dripping from it's blade. The metal felt soft to touch, it's design clearly well thought out as the surrounding color of the badge was purple.
She couldn't help but let out a hum of admiration as she placed the badge on her chest.
[{Congratulations on signing as a Redfall adventurer. From here you shall be given tasks to execute for the kingdom.}]
[{Current available tasks for you to accomplish...}]
[{None}]
The hologram of a message fell back onto her chest. "Congratulations on becoming a Redfall adventurer. I hope that this was to your liking your majesty." The registrar mused pleased with her work. "Can you explain to me why the guild is so empty?" Guinevere asked, her eyes darting towards the near empty seats. Those who were present didn't care that much about her presence.
"Ah yes! There has been an emergence of strange creatures sighted in the woods and adventurers of ranks three or higher are required." Guinevere looked at those present, most of them were either Ashborns or Vein Weavers. "Rank three?" Guinevere asked, her face full of confusion.
The registrar slapped herself on the cheek, light and amusing. "Right, the adventurers have different ranks. We use the malcore path to determine the ranks. Those on the first rank have gray emblems, second rankers have red. Third being green, fourth being gold, fifth being black and finally sixth being purple. Though we've never had a sixth rank adventurer till you."
Guinevere paused, aware of why such people of her rank were lacking in the adventurer world. 'Most of them are already dragged into the world of politics and those not living in secrecy. It's a shame that I won't have any people to you with for the time being.'
Before she could take her leave, the doors to the guild opened and an individual walked through. The aura around him was dense and on his chest an emblem was embedded. The gold glimmering faintly in the light. He didn't waste any time as he made his way to the counter, a smile already present on his face.
"Your majesty, it's an honor to have you here." The man made a light bow eliciting yelps of shock from those present.