After the confrontation with those adventurers, the headmaster made it clear how she viewed me. I didn’t bother with trying to go back.

  The dirt road was well worn from years of footsteps and wagon wheels. It made it quite easy to see even in the dead of night.

  I didn’t know how long it would take to get to the next city. But I needed to. There weren’t many things I could do because of my young age. Another orphanage was out of the question. And I knew too well how easily someone could end up as a slave—or something worse. So there was only one real way to live that I knew of, and it was reinforced by tonight.

  I needed to become an adventurer.

  Traveling women are very protective over young women wandering the world alone.

  Due to that, I was picked up from the side of the road very quickly. They even healed my wounds, gave me some food, and directions to help me find what I was looking for.

  It was strange to receive help from strangers. It felt uncomfortable in my skin, as if something was crawling underneath, digging through my body and into my soul.

  It only took about a day or so to reach the nearest city which had an adventurer’s guild hall, the city of Gilton.

  Gilton was the second largest city in the country of Saphren. It’s mainly known for being the city where the Adventurer’s guild was formed, it used to be its headquarters too, but they moved it to an unknown location for security.

  The sun pierced down through the clouds when I arrived. The streets were bustling with merchants, adventurers, etc. You could find anyone for anything here. The only question was, how long would it take for someone to find it.

  It took me almost an hour to get through the crowded streets to the guild hall. I was surprised when I saw that it wasn’t busy. But all that did was let me fully see how grand the building was. Its main gate was larger than any tree I’ve seen. And yet it had such intricacies, I couldn’t make out one singular detail, but the whole picture was a beauty that I’d never imagined possible.

  After pushing down the thought of doubt, I walked through the gate and towards the door.

  Even the entrance door was filled in with details, none of which I could understand. As the door pushed open, the smell of smoked oak and ale filled my lungs. I looked around the large room, hoping to see something resembling a reception desk.

  “What’s ya doin here? Ya lost?” A voice akin to thunder spoke from behind.

  I looked at the voice’s origin, it was a large man clad in plate armor with a massive axe on his back. Only his head was bare, framed by the dull gleam of his armor. He had brown hair and cold, pale blue eyes that felt like they were boring straight into my soul.

  “Ya deaf? I said, what’s ya doin here?”

  “I was looking for the area where I can register to become an adventurer.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Pfft-Ahaha.” He bellowed, his armor clinking against itself as he did.

  “What?”

  “Sorry. Just, this here’s the back entrance. Only folks who works here comes here. It’s why there’s a bigass gate out there. Transport n’ shit.” He then gave me a look up and down. “Anyways ya really wan’ a be an adventurer?”

  I only gave a nod in response.

  “Eh well, ya ain’t ma kid. Follow me, I’ll take yas where ya gots to go.” He gestured with his head to a massive hallway.

  I followed him down the corridor, this whole place seemed full to the brim of history. The kind to where retelling couldn’t capture the moment so they engraved it into the stone and wood to hold the tales. But one caught my eye in particular.

  It depicted a man in a long coat lifting his open hand up, in his hand was a small crystal. There was a little sign that wrote.

  The one who watches us grow. He who has mastered all. The man who is magic given form. The End of all Magic.

  “I said follow me. Stop starin at that shit.” The burly man growled.

  “Hey, what is your name?” I asked while catching back up.

  “It’s Byre.”

  “Well Byre, I’m Seina.”

  “Seina? Ya gots a last name? Yous seem likes ya do if that’s ya first name.”

  I open my mouth to respond. But a lump stopped my voice from coming out. I didn’t want to say it was Ironheart, that would cause my family to know, and bring unwanted attention my way.

  “No… I don’t.” I finally responded.

  “Hmm? Well alright.”

  We didn’t speak for quite awhile. To keep my mind busy, I looked at the walls as we walked through the hallway. Many of the carved tapestries were from old adventurers and their battles and victories.

  The feeling of cold iron slammed against my face.

  “We’re here. Don’t die or some shit.” Byre grumbled as he walked away.

  I looked ahead to see a large desk with three people standing behind it. They each had a role, one took on new adventurers, another helped with quests, and the final handled medical needs it seemed. I walked towards the receptionist who took on adventurers. She was tall, athletic, slight sharpness to her face…and pointy ears. She was of elf heritage.

  I opened my mouth ready to introduce myself.

  “Well, what do we have here?” she spoke in a drawl.“Anyway. How may I help you today?”

  I locked eyes with her, steady as a pillar of earth.

  “I’m here to apply to be an adventurer.” Saying the words filled me with anticipation. I was really going to do this.

  Her face dropped, “You want to be an adventurer? Like I’ve haven’t heard that from all the kids that come in the second they hit puberty. You all think you can kill gods at your age.”

  “Yes. Yes I do.” My eyes bored into hers, as I spoke to her. Choosing to ignore her comment.

  “I. Uh. Well, I can’t say no to your application.”

  She pulled out a piece of paper, a pen, and a small rock.

  “Fill out the application and we will let you know when we’re ready for testing.”

  I responded with a quick nod.

  I looked at the paper, it filled me with a small sense of pride. I was about to become an adventurer.

  The paper had the questions one could expect from an application. Such as name, age, gender, magical capabilities, fighting style, etc.