The guild hall wasn't just a place for quests and ranks, it had a busy cafeteria where adventurers could rest, eat, and recharge.
Inside, the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air. Adventurers crowded around wooden tables, their voices rising and falling in bursts of laughter, arguments, and cheerful greetings.
Mugs clinked as drinks were passed around, plates scraped clean, and chairs shifted with each new arrival. Some talked about the monsters they'd faced that morning, others traded loot or complained about sore muscles and broken gear.
"You wouldn't believe what came crawling out of that cave!" one warrior exclaimed, waving a drumstick for emphasis.
"If you didn't exaggerate every story, I might've actually believed it," a rogue replied, smirking as he leaned back.
The atmosphere was alive, warm, noisy, and slightly chaotic. It felt like a mix between a tavern and a war camp, filled with people who'd fought hard and earned their moment of peace.
Aaron stepped inside, feeling the heat and hum of the crowd as he looked around for Maria, who often helped out behind the counter during busy hours.
He stepped closer and waited until she finished serving a group of adventurers. Then, clearing his throat gently, he spoke.
"Sister Maria," he said, voice soft but clear.
Maria turned with a slightly surprised look, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Aaron? What's the matter?"
He gave a polite nod. "I'd like to buy a skill book. The one called Status?"
Maria gave a quick nod and replied with a smile, "I have the Status scroll. Just give me two silver coins, I'll fetch it for you."
Aaron hesitated for a brief moment. Two silver coins weren't a small amount, not for a rookie adventurer like him. But he reached into his pouch and handed over the coins anyway, feeling a small sting in his chest as the money left his hand.
Maria accepted the payment, slipped it into her apron, and stepped out from behind the counter. "Wait here," she said warmly, heading toward a side chamber where guild supplies were stored.
Aaron watched her go, tapping his fingers lightly on the table while adventurers around him continued laughing, eating, and trading gear. A minute passed. Then Maria returned, holding a rolled-up scroll wrapped in a faintly glowing ribbon.
She held it out to him and said, "Here it is. You can open the scroll and absorb the skill directly. It only takes a few seconds."
Aaron did exactly as Maria instructed. He gently unrolled the scroll, and the parchment shimmered with a soft light before fading into nothing.
He blinked.
Something strange stirred inside his mind, like a new door had quietly opened. It wasn't painful or overwhelming, just... different. There was no sound, no dramatic surge of power, just a subtle shift, like a hidden sense had quietly awakened.
He couldn't explain the feeling in words. But somehow, he just knew he could use it. The knowledge of how the Status skill worked was simply there, resting inside his thoughts like it had always belonged.
Curious, he focused his mind and activated the skill.
His eyes widened.
The world hadn't visibly changed, but the way he perceived it had. A strange aura shimmered faintly above the heads of people around him. Floating above most adventurers were glowing question marks, as if their details were hidden. But a few had actual numbers "1," "2," or "3" clearly displayed, each radiating a quiet energy.
Aaron tilted his head slightly, studying the marks.
Is this… their level? Their strength?
As Aaron stood silently, his eyes unfocused, the scroll still loosely held in his hand, Alice glanced over from the quest board. She narrowed her eyes slightly, he was completely spaced out.
Her lips tightened.
He's just a temporary teammate, she reminded herself, trying to push away the irritation bubbling in her chest.
With a cold edge in her voice, she came near him and called out, "Aaron, did you buy the equipment you need yet?"
Aaron blinked, snapped back to reality. He turned to face her, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I… I haven't. I'll go get it right now."
Alice's grip on her wand tightened unconsciously. She looked away briefly, then let out a quiet sigh. Her expression didn't soften, but the tension in her shoulders eased just a little.
"Fine," she said curtly. "Let's go. We leave once you've got everything."
Without waiting for a response, she turned toward the market stalls outside the guild hall, her boots clicking against the stone floor.
Aaron hurried after her, his mind still buzzing from the Status skill, but now focused on getting ready.
Aaron approached the weapons stall where a variety of blades and shields were neatly displayed. The vendor, a middle-aged man with a thick beard and cheerful eyes, looked up and smiled.
"Looking for something sturdy or flashy?" the vendor asked.
Aaron shook his head. "Just something simple. I need a basic sword and shield."
The vendor nodded and reached beneath the counter, pulling out a plain steel sword and a wooden round shield with iron lining. "These will do the job. Not fancy, but reliable. One silver coin for the set."
Aaron glanced at the items, then pulled a silver coin from his pouch. "I'll take them."
Alice glanced at the gear Aaron had just bought, a plain sword and a wooden shield. For a moment, she looked surprised. Compared to her own equipment, it felt far too basic.
She touched the edge of her cloak, remembering it had cost at least seven gold coins. Her wand? Even more. It was powerful, refined, something only experienced adventurers would afford.
Looking back at Aaron, she let out a quiet sigh and shook her head.
He's trying his best, she thought. But still, a hint of pity crept into her eyes.
Aaron made his way to a small shop and picked up a bag packed with rations that would last him three days. He also bought two wooden bottles for water. This should be enough for now, he thought.
Meanwhile, Alice didn't bother buying anything. She had a storage ring already filled with supplies, so she didn't need to worry.