On the way to the Guild in the free city of Horizon, Lysandra enjoyed the sunbeams warming her pale skin. They reflected off the refined architecture—massive in scale and immaculate in color—making her long, silvery hair gleam in the same breath.
The ocean wind rushed through the city's many paved alleyways, delicately lifting the ribbons of her dress with timid little sighs. The elementalist was pensive; the icy blue of her eyes dissolved into the sky's. Walking at an unhurried pace, she savored this moment of freedom before—according to her hopes—living a life of thrilling adventures. Yet despite her carefree gestures, a palpable tension could be read on her youthful, smooth face, pulled between excitement and apprehension.
Let's go…
Once she arrived, Lysandra looked stunned as she noticed the many groups of people wandering in front of the building—and the adjoining ones.
I didn't expect there to be so many adventurers here…
With difficulty, she cracked open the heavy wooden door to slip inside. The place was teeming just as much within as without.
Away from the chaos of the crowd, she took the time to observe the establishment's rustic, spacious tones. Despite its many differences, it had nothing to envy from the academy she had come from.
Near the entrance, leaning against the wall, stood a warrior dressed in worn—yet well-made—gear. Judging by his relaxed posture, he seemed to be waiting for someone.
— Um… excuse me… she murmured, addressing him.— Yes?— Is… is it always like this here?
At that question, his face softened.
— Ah, that… The quests were just posted, so it's a bit of a circus! Once the groups have chosen, it'll calm down pretty fast…
The man looked the young girl up and down.
— You're new, I take it?
Caught off guard by that unexpected perceptiveness, the elementalist lowered her gaze.
— Don't worry—we've all been there! he chuckled, giving her one last once-over. Try to wriggle your way to the counter to register; it won't take long.
Ending the conversation right away, the warrior gave her a light pat behind the shoulder and nudged her toward the crush.
— Reaching it will be your first mission. Good luck, kid!
As she was unwillingly thrown into the mêlée, Lysandra didn't know whether his words were ironic or simply meant as encouragement. But brief as it was, she found that first contact with an adventurer rather pleasant.
After that, she desperately tried to carve a path through clashing armor, like on a battlefield. Her small build could be useful in certain situations—but here, she could easily get hurt if she ended up wedged between two warriors.
Her eyes shone: the diversity in this place was impressive—especially for her, who had lived secluded in a kabbalah for most of her life. Humans, elves, and dwarves. Men and women. Fighters and mages. Young and old. If luck favored her, it was even possible to spot a bestian here and an orc there—something uncommon in this remote region of Elyséa.
Despite these exciting discoveries, her sense of smell was still being put through a harsh trial. Beyond mere body odor, strong wafts of steel and rust seeped through the immense hall…
Once she finally reached the counter, Lysandra stepped forward timidly and began her registration.
— There you go, the guild attendant concluded, letting out a long sigh. Now you know the basics. Still, remember that you're free to do as you please. The missions are open. Naturally, we'll advise you as best we can in your choices and tell you if the quest you selected is too hard—or too easy.
As she looked toward the board where the notices were pinned, the attendant continued her long, instructive monologue.
— Besides that, you can only reserve one quest at a time. If it isn't completed by the next morning, it will be put back on the posting wall, and you may be fined depending on the circumstances.
Lysandra's eyes widened, but the attendant immediately justified it with an exaggerated sigh.
— Don't worry—we don't condemn failure. Only certain "lapses in responsibility."— C-Could you be more specific?— Even today, some adventurers monopolize a quest—only to go get drunk at the local tavern and forget about it…— Ah… I see, Lysandra said, stifling a laugh.— We agree it's pretty… stupid, the attendant confirmed, mirroring her expression. Besides that, note that this Guild building has a limited, defined operating perimeter. So you won't find the same quests depending on which city the organization is in. Only special missions are an exception to that rule—but for now, I don't think you need to pay attention to them, given your rank.
The young woman finished her engravings. Wiping a small bead of sweat from the back of her hand, she held out an iron chain—accompanied by two copper plates—that served as a collar.
— Here are your identification plates. Be careful not to lose them! They'll allow you to be recognized as an adventurer—and identified if something happens to you.
A cold sweat ran down Lysandra's spine at those last words.
If something happens to me?
In a flash of lucidity, she was pulled back to the harsh reality of this profession.
It's not like this job is safe… But details like that won't discourage me! she thought, clenching her fists.
She discreetly lifted her long silvery hair and hurriedly fastened the collar around her neck.
— Here! I also made a simplified copy of your adventurer card, the attendant added. With that, you'll be able to show your status more clearly to your future teammates. And like everything else—watch it carefully.
Name: Lysandra
Rank: Copper
Class: Elementalist
Race: Human
Sex: Female
Age: 16 cycles
Height: About 1m60
Hair: Platinum blond — long
Eyes: Glacier blue
Affinity(ies): Light — Fire — Water — Earth — Gas
Things are really well thought out—this is nice! Lysandra thought.
Seeing her naïve expression, the attendant's eyes quickly assessed Lysandra's equipment and immediately noticed how mediocre it was. Since she had just left a kabbalah and her family lacked wealth, her amulet was of poor quality—something that could hinder her spellcasting, especially when effort was required. Her robe, meanwhile, offered no protection.
— To start your adventure properly, I advise you to pursue objectives suitable for your rank. That way you can get better equipment with the rewards you earn. Hmm… There are boar-hunting quests, if I'm not mistaken. That could be very good training—and it'll give you a decent income for a beginner!
Those latest recommendations made Lysandra hesitate. Everything had happened so fast that she didn't want it to be over already. After a brief moment of thought, she straightened up and nodded.
— Alright… I… I'll look into that! Thank you for your help, and all your explanations!
Judging her attitude exemplary, the young woman gave her a small wink in return.
— You're welcome. It's me who should thank you for joining the Guild! I remain at your disposal if you need to validate a quest or for any other question. Otherwise, I wish you good luck in your adventure—and I hope to see you again very soon!
Finally freed from this mandatory step, Lysandra offered a careful bow and stepped away from the counter.
During her registration, the crowd had dispersed—leaving only a few indecisive groups in the large hall. With the way clear, she headed for the posting board and swept her eyes over it eagerly, searching for hunting quests.
Just as her azure gaze settled on one of them, a metallic hand tapped the panel with measured restraint, followed by a smooth female voice:
— Hey, mage! You wouldn't happen to be a new adventurer, would you?!
Lysandra took a step back and slowly turned her head to see the unexpected guest.
It was a young blonde woman wearing full plate armor—rather worn at first glance.
— Um… Yes. I-I just registered… W-Why? Lysandra finally answered in a low, broken voice.— Perfect timing! the warrior exclaimed, a slight smile stretching her full lips. My group's looking for recruits! Interested?