Standing in the crowded streets i watched as people went in and out of the big building called mercenary guild. My plan was to finally become a registered chasm seeker and get onto the lower floors so that i could meet my parents.
It wouldn't be easy but that was the only way for me as i had currently no money and needed some sort of information about the chasm.
Let's do this. Gathering the courage i went inside along some people and couldn't help but be amazed.
Entire building was filled to the brim with countless people, most were chasm seekers while some worked as receptionists and handed them what seemed to be pieces of paper, probably the said commisions.
Spotting the line next to one of the receptionists being exceptionally small, i made my way toward it and immediately tried to adress him, as my mouth opened he immediately stretches out his hand leaving me confused.
"Your indentification." The clerk said to me while lazily supporting his head on his fist.
I didn't have any indentification at the moment due to my age but to become chasm seeker it wasn't really required so that was a weird question to ask, maybe theres some special thing to show for them like a badge of sorts but i didn't really know that so.
"I don't have any, i came here to get graded."
My answer was straight forward, i needed money so i came to get a job.
The man looked at me slightly before murmuring something under his breath which i picked up on. Damn drifter. I couldn't really blame him for it as i wasn't graded yet somehow got to the stronghold in the second section.
Drifters was the name people called ungraded chasm seekers, they did various jobs but had no access to information provided by mercenary guilds, or blood empire in entirety.
It was impossible to asses their strenght until they showed it or willingly let it get tested but that was rare and many simply died out making me stand out quite a bit.
He seemed to press something which resulted in another person coming towards me.
"Hello, me names Mary, please follow me towards the grading room." After telling me so, she went ahead waiting slightly for me.
I left behind the clerk who was now talking with another person and made my way to the said room where i would get graded.
"Do you specialize in fighting with a sword?" The woman started a small talk, which was most likely to learn more of my abilities. For me it was a goos thing as the more i complied the better the relationship i would have with the guild, following that logic i answered the question truthfully.
"No, although i specialize in close combat. My main weapon is a longsword." Although the weapon i now had was called longsword, it was way smaller than the one i usually used making it uncomfortable for me.
"I see, we can provide you with a practice blade for the grading." The woman reassured me as we entered a small secluded room.
The surrounding walls were made of stone or metal like material, probably to minimize the damage from testing chasm seekers strenght. In the middle of it stood a stone pillar with multiple cuts on it, it looked very old in my opinion having tasted the strenght of thousands various people.
"For the first test we need to see how strong you are, please take your main weapon and hit the pillar with all you've got."
The task was simple, just hit it hard. I walked to the side where a weapon rack with multiple weapons stood, they seemed of good quality having no scratch on them and being completely polished.
I took the biggest longsword that was there, and swung it a couple of times testing its weight. Nice.
It was an excellent weapon but slightly worse than ones i saw at the knight covenant. Couldn't really blame them for it, the weapons for the knights are specially crafted by the best people on the first stronghold making them elites.
Standing right in front of the pillar i took a deep breath concentrating and tensing my muscles, it felt completely different than when i was back home. I felt that my strenght had increased ever so slightly, probably thanks to the terra flux influence.
Raising my hands over my head and preparing to do a simple vertical slash. Now! i tensed my legs and in a quick simole movement, cut the stone pillar.
I took a deep breath while looking at the cut i left there which was by far the smallest one there from the ones ive seen.
Dammit. I was dissapointed in myself for all the times ive been lazy during lectures and practice lessons, it was evident that i needed to work way harder than before.
Turning around the woman seemed to have gotten a notepad probably writing down my results, i put down the sword back onto the rack and walked over to her.
"What now?" I was a little impatient and a little hungry now, i havent eaten anything in around two days so the money id get would be my saving grace.
The lady looked up from her notepad walking toward the cut i made, slowly tracing her finger over it.
"How long have you been outside of section one?" She asked me curiously while looking toward the cut.
I didn't really know the answer though, i ran around the first floor for around a day, then was captive for one more. After passing out i havent bothered to check what day it was so i couldn't know myself. I guess il just give a vague answer.
"I was just a few days here so i thought about registering-"
"A few days?" The woman asked me, slightly surprised at me answer.
"Yeah, now can i take other tests? I havent eaten in days." Not bothering to hide my feelings anymore i came off slightly rude, minding only my own business.
She thought for a moment before nodding and going toward the door. "You don't have to worry, you will recieve a bonus for joining us. Wait a little here, i need to being something for another test."
With these words i was left there alone in an empty room. Was a few days too little to count as a chasn seeker? I didn't want to think of me failing the grading and spending my days outside the stronghold. Without any money, armor and most of all people, it was impossible to survive by yourself.
"I should check the date later." I mumbled to myself.
If someone asked me that question again, just a vague answer wouldn't really suffice. I needed to count the days i spent here so that i wouldn't make a mistake when going to lower floors.
"Heh.. im such a bum." I remember the people i walked past while growing up, looking at their dirtied bodies and rugged clothes was a repulsive though for me, but now? I was one of them, just trying to find some method to earn money.
Even with everything at my disposal, i felt that it was just a small part of things i needed. The feeling of fear that the next day might be your last was now my motivation to put the little effort i still could in my goal of reaching the seventh section and meeting my parents. Because they are waiting for me.
I know they are there surely, somewhere.