"He disappeared…?"
Aiyana muttered, still staring at the spot where the man in the witch hat had stood.
She rose to her feet, brushing herself off with a scowl.
"Was he… a ghost?" Her voice trembled with both disbelief and a flicker of fear.
She paused. Her brows furrowed, and her tone sharpened.
"No—that's impossible. The door opened and hit me. Ghosts don't slam doors." She crossed her arms. "Still, what kind of person vanishes mid-sentence like that? And so rude, too… Hmph. Whatever. I've got more important things to deal with."
Just then, a man passed by—tall, poised, dressed in a finely tailored Victorian suit, a polished cane in hand, and a gleaming top hat resting perfectly atop his silver-streaked hair. His presence exuded nobility, like a character from a regal manhwa panel come to life.
As he stepped beside her, he paused, turned, and offered a deep, graceful bow.
Aiyana blinked. Now that's how you greet a woman, she thought. She nodded slightly in return, hiding her amused smirk. Unlike that witch-hatted jerk… if I see him again, I swear he's getting a swift kick to the shin.
The gentleman continued toward the large door ahead—an ornate arch etched with glowing runes and a gilded plaque that read:
Adventurer's Guild – Hall of Contracts
Aiyana watched him disappear inside, then muttered to herself, "Might as well follow. I need answers."
—
The door creaked open, and her eyes widened.
Inside, the hall was alive with movement and color. Velvet gowns and laced corsets mingled with plate armor and capes. Cloaked figures leaned over wooden tables covered in maps. A group of knights debated something fiercely near a glowing quest board filled with handwritten parchments.
The air buzzed with arguments, laughter, and the clatter of mugs. It felt like stepping into a dream—or a fantasy novel she once read on a night shift.
"I… wasn't expecting this," she whispered, slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.
She made her way through the crowd, dodging knights and mercenaries mid-conversation. Every person here seemed busy, too busy for idle questions. She glanced at a group shouting over a new contract, and knew she wouldn't get answers that way.
Reception desk, she thought, locking eyes on a counter tucked in the corner beneath a stained-glass window.
There, a woman sat behind the desk—flawlessly dressed, smile practiced, posture rigid. But beneath her elegance were dark circles and a tiredness Aiyana knew all too well.
Aiyana reached for the small brass bell on the counter and gave it a ding.
The receptionist's head snapped up. Despite her clear exhaustion, she gave a courteous bow and greeted her with a refined tone:
"Welcome, dearest Miss. How may the Adventurer's Guild assist you today?"
Aiyana's expression softened. She bowed back, respectfully.
She recognized that look—the forced smile, the poise masking exhaustion. She's like me, Aiyana thought. A survivor of customer service hell.
In the moment's hush between them, surrounded by the chaos of quests and contracts, something like mutual understanding passed between them.
Then Aiyana spoke, voice steady.
"I'd like to apply… to become an adventurer."
The receptionist nodded warmly to Aiyan, flashing a gentle smile before crouching to retrieve a stack of parchment from a drawer beneath the desk.
As she waited, Aiyan let her eyes wander. Despite the hustle of suited men, elegantly dressed women, and knight-like figures moving through the hall, the Adventurers Guild felt majestic. The architecture was grand and intricate, unlike anything back in her world. Its tall ceilings, antique chandeliers, and scent of aged books wrapped the space in a gothic warmth. She could feel the difference—this world was undeniably something else.
"Miss… Miss!" a voice called.
Snapped from her trance, Aiyan blinked and turned toward the receptionist, who was now standing, holding out a paper.
"I'm so sorry, I got lost in thought," Aiyan said, a little embarrassed.
"It's quite alright, Miss," the receptionist replied kindly. "As long as you're okay. Here at the Guild, we prioritize everyone's safety above all."
The sincerity in her voice warmed Aiyan's heart. She smiled and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Miss."
"It's a pleasure," the receptionist said. "Now, would you kindly write your credentials here—your name, age, and your Pathway."
Aiyan paused. Pathway?
She looked down at the form, confused, then glanced back up. "Uhm… excuse me, Miss, but… I don't think I have a Pathway."
The receptionist's eyes widened, her professional calm briefly breaking.
Aiyan noticed it right away. Wait… why did her face just change like that? she thought, starting to get nervous.
"Is something wrong?" she asked cautiously.
Still slightly stunned, the receptionist replied, "You're not from around here, are you, Miss? It's extremely rare—almost unheard of—for someone in the Kingdom of Caelumbre to not have a Pathway."
Caelumbre? Aiyan echoed in her head. So that's what this kingdom is called…
Thinking quickly, she masked her unease with a laugh. "Oh! I'm actually from a country far to the east. We don't really use the term 'Pathway' over there, so I guess I'm just… unfamiliar with it."
Nice save, she told herself.
The receptionist seemed to buy it, nodding thoughtfully. "Ah, I see. You must have come with your family and decided to explore the adventuring life. Makes sense."
Aiyan nodded and smiled. "Yes, Miss."
"You're lucky then, Miss Aiyan," she said proudly. "Because I have the Pathway of Solitary—it lets me see others' Pathways with just a touch."
Aiyan blinked. "Oh… that's really impressive!"
With a proud grin, the receptionist gestured for Aiyan to follow. "Come with me, Miss. We'll conduct your evaluation."
They walked together down a dim corridor behind the desk, the noise of the guild fading into muffled echoes. Halfway through, the receptionist suddenly stopped, turned, and bowed politely.
"I forgot to properly introduce myself. My name is Elara Vior—but you can just call me Elara, Miss Aiyan. I have a feeling you're going to be the key to my promotion out of receptionist duty!" She laughed cheerfully.
Aiyan chuckled awkwardly and bowed back. "Nice to meet you, Elara. I'm Aiyan Berasuko. I'll be in your care."
Elara stared for a beat too long. "…A goddess?"
Aiyan froze.
"Huh?" she asked, pretending not to hear it.
Elara quickly waved it off. "My apologies! I'm just… caught off guard. People from foreign lands have a certain glow about them, I suppose."
Is she always like this? Aiyan wondered. Elara had seemed calm earlier—now she was talking like they were old friends.
"Well," Aiyan replied, "there are plenty of people more beautiful than me back in my country, really."
"Wait, reall—?"
Elara stopped mid-sentence.
Aiyan blinked. "Miss Elara?"
Elara's tone shifted. "Nothing, Miss Aiyan. We've arrived."
They stepped into a round room. At the center stood a table, two chairs facing each other. Elara gestured toward one.
"Please, have a seat."
Aiyan sat, slightly unnerved by Elara's sudden change in tone.
"So… what is a Pathway, exactly?" Aiyan asked. "How do you see mine?"
Elara didn't answer. She simply raised her hand, palm up.
Aiyan hesitated. Something in the air felt… wrong.
Sweat trickled down her temple. "You're not… Miss Elara, are you?"
Elara's face remained frozen in a gentle smile.
And then—snap.
Elara lunged forward, seizing Aiyan's hand. Her smile widened—unnaturally, impossibly. Darkness poured out from around her as if the room itself were closing in.
Aiyan tried to pull back, but her limbs were heavy—anchored by cold, shadowy hands. They clutched at her wrists, her shoulders, even her chest—as if trying to grab her very soul.
She screamed.
In the depths of her panic, a faint image appeared—a veiled figure with an empty, grinning face.
Miss…
"MISS AIYAN! We're done!"
Aiyan jolted upright, gasping.
Elara was standing in front of her again, perfectly normal, holding her registration form.
"W-what happened?!" Aiyan stammered.
"You finished the form, Miss Aiyan. And I performed the reading," Elara said, tilting her head. "Your Pathway… is unknown. I've never seen anything like it. We'll write 'Special Case' for now."
Aiyan stared, horrified. "But… that didn't… I don't remember writing anything…"
"You gave permission to touch your hand. I simply looked into your core," Elara said with a smile. "Properly. Safely."
But Aiyan's heart was pounding. No… that wasn't safe. That wasn't even real. What did I just see? Who did I meet?
She swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, Miss Elara. I guess I'm just… shaken."
Elara waved it off with a cheerful laugh. "Nothing beats my power, Miss Aiyan! But yes, I recommend you visit the Kingdom Library soon. Undefined Pathways can be… unstable."
Still trembling, Aiyan nodded.
Elara held up the registration and it vanished in a flicker of light.
"Magic…?" Aiyan whispered.
Elara grinned. "Yes, Miss Aiyan. And now, allow me to officially welcome you…"
She placed a small briefcase on the table.
Inside: a sleek Victorian-style pistol, ten bullets, a metal Adventurer's Guild ID card… and bundles of paper and copper coins.
"Your gear, pass card, and an advance payment—1,000 paper coins and 50 copper. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild!"
Aiyan's eyes widened. "This is real?!"
"Yes, Miss Aiyan. May you serve and protect our kingdom, discover the secrets of the world , and bring hope to others. We are honored to have you with us."
Elara bowed deeply.
Aiyan bowed in return. "Thank you, Miss Elara. I'm… honored as well."
But in her heart, a shadow still lingered.
That smile she saw… that thing she felt…
Was it Elara? Or something else entirely?
Elara turned toward Aiyan once more, her voice warm but firm.
"One last thing, Miss Aiyan. The pistol and bullets are part of your initial gear. But if it breaks… or if you run out of bullets—you'll have to buy replacements with your own earnings. The Guild won't cover it next time."
Aiyan gave a slight nod, gripping the pistol's weight at her side.
"Understood. Nothing in life stays free forever," she said with a faint, knowing smile.
Elara's tired but gentle eyes softened.
"You've got the heart of a fighter. I can feel it." She leaned in just a bit, her voice quieter. "I have a feeling your arrival will bring change—not just for you, but for this world too."
The two women walked back to the reception counter. There, they faced each other once more.
Elara bowed deeply. "May fortune guide your steps, Miss Aiyan."
Aiyan returned the bow, this time with genuine gratitude. "And may we meet again—hopefully not with another terrifying magical vision."
They both laughed quietly.
With that, Aiyan stepped through the grand doors of the Adventurer's Guild.
Outside, the world had changed.
The sun was gone. The sky above Caelumbre shimmered with unfamiliar constellations—foreign, beautiful, and a little eerie. Streetlamps flickered with enchanted light. Shadows danced along cobblestone streets. The air was cool and filled with the murmur of distant bells and chatter.
Aiyan blinked.
"It's night already?" she muttered, staring up at the sky.
Then reality hit her.
"…Oh no."
Her expression dropped.
"I… don't even have a place to sleep yet."
The weight of her new gear suddenly felt heavier. The city looked larger. Her journey had just begun—alone, tired, and with nowhere to rest.
And yet—beneath the frustration and fatigue—there was a spark of something else: curiosity. Determination. A tiny flame of hope.
She sighed and glanced around.
"Alright, time to find somewhere I won't get mugged in my sleep."
And with that, Aiyan stepped into the night.
Chapter 3 has ended