Anna was a Blank. Hearing that suddenly caught Alex off guard. He had thought they'd be rarer among people, but this meant he could ask Anna for help and advice on getting stronger.
He almost shouted from the shock. The nurse had always said Blanks were rare, but never mentioned Anna was one herself. Still, he needed to stay calm—not to cause Anna any trouble.
Thinking over what to say, he finally whispered, "I'm surprised. After that fight, I never would've guessed you're a Blank."
Anna sighed in disappointment.
"Well, you'd be surprised how many of us there are! Most of the students at our school are Blanks, just like me!" she said.
What kind of school was full of special people? It must be prestigious—if even the Silver Knight went there.
But that wasn't what Alex wanted to hear. He still didn't know if he was a Blank or if he even had a Core. All he knew was that he needed to get stronger. Someone like him wouldn't last long in this world.
"Still, teleportation must be really helpful and powerful. I'm sure many rely on you," he said.
"Teleportation?" Anna asked, confused.
"Yes?" Alex replied, even more puzzled.
Anna chuckled. "That's not teleportation—that's just my speed," she said proudly, looking confident.
Alex blinked, dumbfounded. Learning she was a Blank was one thing, but this was something else.
Breaking the silence, Anna smirked. "So!? What do you think? Cool, right?"
He simply nodded, with nothing else to say. Thinking back, it made sense—when she first leapt onto the beast and then jumped to save him, it was all thanks to her speed. Anyone seeing that would've thought it was teleportation.
Was that how powerful just one ability of a Blank could be?
"This is shocking and all, but how do you even use it?" he asked curiously.
How she controlled it was important to him—he needed to find a way to break through and use an ability like that. If that was truly just her speed, she might be the fastest person he'd ever seen.
Anna explained, "I channel mana inside me with my Blank to activate it. Saying 'activate' isn't necessary, but it helps me focus and channel more mana, letting me go even faster." She made a circular motion with her index finger.
Alex didn't get the finger movement's meaning, but he understood most of what she said. He guessed saying "activate" encouraged herself to focus and channel more mana.
Interesting—he'd love to try that someday, if he ever discovered he had a Core or a Blank.
He nodded silently, lost in thought. As they walked, a new question came to mind.
"Where are we even going?" he asked while Anna complained about Lucan and her daily life.
Anna looked at him and said, "It's a surprise. But I'm sure you'll like it, given your circumstances."
"Hm…"
A few minutes later, they arrived at a medium-sized stone and wood building. Two windows flanked the front, with a small staircase leading to the entrance. There was writing above the door, but Alex couldn't read it—it was a different language.
"What is this?" he asked.
"You can't read it? Oh, right. I forgot—you must be from the East," Anna said, clearing her throat.
He never understood what she meant by "East," but he guessed it was a country far to the east of the continent.
It reminded him of his old world, where people often called each other Easterners or Westerners based on location.
Anna stood before him, the staircase and wide doors behind her. "Welcome to the Adventurers Guild!" she exclaimed, arms raised proudly.
That reminded Alex—he had told her he was a lost adventurer when they met, but he didn't expect she'd actually bring him here.
Maybe he could get some quests to get stronger and learn more?
"Lead the way," he said as she struck a pose.
Inside, the guild was crowded and noisy. Tables were full of all sorts of people.
Some weren't even human—a man with a bird's face and a human body caught Alex's eye.
It startled him for a moment, but they didn't seem dangerous.
He kept looking around as they walked.
The place felt like a tavern, with boards hanging near the windows that looked like quest boards.
There were more doors leading elsewhere, but they were closed.
They approached the receptionist.
Anna asked, "Now, where's your license?"
"License? For what?" Alex asked.
Anna looked at him in disbelief, then sighed. "Your Adventurer license—you need it to find your hometown!"
Alex guessed the main reason she brought him here was to help him find his home.
He had told her he was a lost adventurer.
How would he tell her he wasn't even from this world?
Even if he didn't have one now, he'd need a license to do quests and missions.
Seeing those boards with quests, he figured he'd have to take them on to get stronger and learn more about this world.
He decided to be honest. If he lied again, it'd only make things worse.
Scratching his head, he said, "I don't have one. Sorry."
Anna, disappointed, asked, "Do you even have anything?"
He shrugged with a slight frown. Noticing, Anna turned to the impatient receptionist and said, "I'll vouch for my friend here."
The receptionist sighed quietly, adjusted some papers, then locked eyes with Alex. "You know this isn't how it usually works," she said seriously.
She slid a sheet of paper and pen across the desk to him.
"But since Miss Anna is vouching for you, I'll make an exception. Just this once."
Alex bowed slightly. "Thank you very much."
He took the pen and signed the corner of the paper as instructed.
Suddenly, what he wrote began glowing. The paper was filled with strange but beautiful symbols he didn't understand.
He stared in confusion. Seeing his face, Anna peeked from behind him. "Want me to read it for you? Since you're from the East, you don't understand Aelorian."
"No need," he said. "But could you tell me what it is supposed to say?"
He worried it might reveal something about his past—like his real hometown—or prove he was from another world.
Anna replied, "Well…" before the receptionist cut in, "It only includes your name, Core tier, birthplace, and adventurer rank."
Anna pouted. He thought, Now I want to know, but it'd be rude to ask her to read it aloud.
He'd probably have a low rank anyway—and maybe no Core at all.
The receptionist snapped him out of his thoughts. "If we're done here, take this." She handed him a silver card with writing. "Keep it with you—it'll show others you're an adventurer."
Then she asked for payment. He should've expected that.
He pulled out one of the gold coins the Silver Knight had given him and handed it over.
Her eyes widened slightly at the gold coin, but she accepted it, then gave him change—about 15 silver coins and 20 bronze ones.
One gold coin must've been really valuable.
The receptionist left to help others while Anna and Alex moved aside to exit.
Before leaving, he asked one last time, "Can I do commissions with this license?"
Anna, unsurprised by his ignorance, said, "Of course! But always take missions fit for your rank."
He nodded. She sounded like she had experience with this stuff.
Outside, standing on the cobblestone street, he said, "I guess this is where we part ways."
"Hey! We can always meet again—no need to look so sad!" Anna said, standing in front of him. "But next time we meet," she smiled wide, flexed her right arm, and winked, "let's both be stronger!"
"Yeah, of course." he smiled without realizing it.
Anna was the kindest person he'd met so far—she risked herself for him and still apologized.
He wished she could stay longer to help him, but she'd already done more than enough.
Anna bowed slightly, then walked away. He waved as she disappeared into the distance.
Even though he was frustrated she had to leave, he couldn't ask for more. She'd done so much—risked herself for him.
Now, it was up to him.
He had to grow stronger.
No more running.
In this world, it was simple: get stronger or die.