The morning sun spilled across the cobblestone streets of Elarion's adventurer district, casting golden light on the towering spires of the Imperial Capital Guildhall. It was here that every aspiring adventurer began their journey, where the clang of swords, laughter of veterans, and whispers of dreams all converged under one roof.
Suho Kim pushed the guildhall doors open, stepping into the bustling hall filled with voices and the faint smell of ale and parchment. His hand tightened around the strap of his worn satchel. This was his second week since officially registering as an adventurer, and though his body had grown accustomed to the guild's lively chaos, his heart still raced each time he walked in.
Behind the long counter sat a row of guild receptionists, handing out parchment mission slips to eager adventurers. Above them, a great wooden board displayed hundreds of requests, each with its rank marked in bold ink.
"Still hanging around the low-rank board, kid?" a sneering voice called out.
Suho turned to see Kael, a bronze-ranked adventurer barely older than him, leaning against a pillar. Kael's group of companions chuckled behind him, their polished gear gleaming as if to mock Suho's simple leather armor.
"Not much choice," Suho replied evenly. "Everyone starts somewhere."
"Sure," Kael said with a smirk. "But most don't stay stuck at herb gathering and rat-clearing jobs forever. Maybe you should've just stayed at the orphanage."
The laughter stung, but Suho didn't let it show. He walked past them toward the board. His eyes scanned the lower section where rookie missions were posted.
"Herb collection – Tier 1. Escort an herbalist to the market – Tier 1. Subjugate cave bats – Tier 1."
Not glorious work, but work nonetheless. He tore the escort mission slip from the board.
"Another easy job, huh?" Kael's mocking voice faded into the guild's noise.
---
The day passed in simple tasks. Suho accompanied the herbalist, warding off a few wild dogs with his wooden practice blade. His movements were steady, not flashy, but precise. The herbalist noticed.
"You've got a good sense of distance," the man said. "Most rookies just flail around."
Suho smiled faintly. "I learned early on that mistakes cost lives."
By dusk, he was back in the guildhall, handing in the completed mission. The receptionist stamped his parchment and offered him a small pouch of coins.
As he turned to leave, an older adventurer stopped him. A scarred man with sharp eyes and a worn cloak — Master Darius, a veteran silver-ranked adventurer.
"You handle yourself quietly," Darius said. "Most rookies try to show off. You don't."
Suho dipped his head respectfully. "I can't afford to."
Darius studied him for a moment longer, then leaned closer. "Keep listening when the veterans talk. The world isn't as balanced as it looks. Not all towers stand as tall as they once did."
Before Suho could ask, Darius was gone, swallowed into the sea of adventurers.
That night, Suho sat in the tavern beside the guildhall, sipping watered ale. Around him, voices buzzed with stories — parties celebrating victories, adventurers boasting about monster hunts, whispers of strange ruins in the east.
Then he heard it.
"Someone mentioned the ruins again," a hooded adventurer muttered to his companion. "The ones tied to the forgotten Tower… the Tower of Light."
Suho froze. His chest tightened, as if something ancient stirred inside him.
The Tower of Light… could it truly exist?
The tavern noise swallowed the words, but Suho's mind clung to them.
For the first time in years, his heart burned with something he hadn't felt since his childhood dreams.
Hope