After about four hours of steady travel, the group finally walked beneath the afternoon shadow of the town’s ten-meter-high walls. A short line of merchants and adventurers waited for entry, but it moved quickly. As they crossed the drawbridge toward the gate, Ren watched each traveler flash an ID card at the guards. He could forge one if he had to, yet he chose to stick to his story.

  When their turn came, a guard stepped forward.

  “ID, please.”

  Lennen showed his merchant card. The Searing Gale members fished their guild cards from their belt pouches. The guard’s gaze shifted to Ren.

  He gave a sheepish shrug.

  “I don’t have an ID. I’ve lived with my master in the Great Woods and just came of age, so I haven’t visited a town yet.”

  “I vouch for him,” Lennen said at once.

  Gwayne nodded.

  “So do I. We’re taking him to the guild to register.”

  The guard’s expression softened.

  “Very well. Entry is one silver.”

  Ren patted empty pockets, ready to conjure a coin, but Lennen handed one over.

  “Least I can do. You’ve helped me plenty already,” he said with a wink.

  Gwayne cleared his throat and gestured toward the wagon.

  “By the way, we ran into dire wolves about five kilometers back, near the forest edge. A big gray alpha led them. Might be worth warning the captain.”

  The guard peered into the wagon and blanched at the pile of carcasses.

  “Th-thanks for the warning. Wolves that size would have caused havoc at the gate.”

  “All in a day’s work,” Gwayne said, grinning. “We’ll claim the bounty at the Adventurers’ Guild.”

  Ren tilted his head.

  “Dire wolves? Not normal ones?”

  Gwayne nodded.

  “Yeah. You can tell by their size and dark coloring. Dire wolves are much more dangerous than regular ones. That’s why we appreciated your help. A whole pack like that? We were lucky to walk away with just minor injuries.”

  Satisfied, the guard waved them through.

  Towering wooden gates, banded with iron, stood open. Above them, the steel teeth of a portcullis hung suspended. Beyond the archway, a bustling avenue stretched straight ahead. Wagons and carriages jammed the center of the road, with thick crowds lining both sides. In the distance, a large gatehouse loomed, while off to the side, a castle perched on a hill, surveying the town below.

  Stone and timber buildings rose on either side, reminding Ren that he now lived in a world of swords and sorcery. He’d traveled far in his past life on Earth, but nothing compared to the awe he felt now—stepping into a living fantasy.

  Leah laughed beside him.

  “You look like a kid seeing the big city for the first time.”

  She facepalmed.

  “Oh wait, you are!” she chuckled, giving him a playful clap on the shoulder. “But don’t worry, your big sis is here to take care of you!”

  Gwayne joined in with a laugh.

  “I remember seeing that same look on your face not too many years ago.”

  Mary snickered and grabbed Ren’s arm.

  “And I think I’m the more reliable ‘big sister.’ Honestly, how does a ranger like you still get lost in a city?”

  Leah yelped, her face and ears turning red.

  “Hey, that was ages ago! The capital is huge, okay? I couldn’t even see the sun in those alleys. I just… couldn’t find my bearings! It wasn’t that big a deal!”

  Dominic scoffed.

  “Not a big deal? If I remember right, you were in tears when we found you crying in the back of some shady alley in the slums. You’re lucky we found you before someone else did—and carted you off to a brothel.”

  Leah looked away, clearly embarrassed.

  Ren smiled. The group’s banter warmed him. He wondered if he would ever become part of a team like this—if he would make such good friends. But in the back of his mind, he still remembered: he was an Observer. He wasn’t supposed to interfere too much. Sooner or later, he’d learn where the true limits of his divinity lay.

  After passing through the gates, the party turned left. The roads here were wider, and a large market square opened up between two bigger buildings. One looked like a stable, positioned near the wall. Opposite it stood a large inn or tavern. Ahead, an even taller building—maybe three or four stories—rose as part of the outer wall.

  Dominic pointed toward it.

  “That’s the Adventurers’ Guild,” he said. “Let’s head there first. We’ll drop off the dire wolf corpses, claim the bounty, and get you registered, Ren.”

  Ren nodded with a smile, grateful for their help.

  Lennen expertly guided the wagon toward two large, barn-style doors on the side of the building. With practiced ease, he backed the wagon up to a loading platform where two burly men stepped out to meet them. Cale spoke briefly with them. Both men stepped back, surprised, and peered into the wagon. Lennen added something, and the two nodded before climbing onto the platform. Cale hopped into the back and emerged dragging a dire wolf corpse, which the men quickly took and carried inside.

  “Come on, let’s head in,” Gwayne said.

  Ren followed him through the main entrance. The room beyond was brightly lit by a magical chandelier hanging from the center of the hall. Along one wall stood a row of counters, reminiscent of an old-fashioned post office. A staircase to the side led to a seating area overlooking the main floor. On the opposite side, more doors branched off, with a large notice board stretched across the wall between them. At the far end of the hall sat a bar, beside which a doorway led into a busy kitchen.

  An older woman bustled in and out, balancing trays of steaming food. All around, adventurers filled the space—some loud and rowdy, clinking mugs and yelling across tables in slurred voices, others seated in tight circles, whispering over plans or bounties. Ren guessed there were between eighty and a hundred adventurers gathered in the hall.

  Gwayne led the way to the far counter. As they moved through the hall, greetings rang out from all directions.

  Leah spotted a table full of women her age and immediately rushed over.

  “Hey! Ale over here!” she called to a barmaid, waving her arm as she slid into a seat beside them.

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  Mary grabbed Ren’s arm, guiding him after Gwayne while he was still distracted by the room. A wave of oohs and aahs rippled from different corners.

  “Who’s the skinny kid?” someone muttered.

  “What’s he doing with his arm linked with Mary? I’m so jealous,” said another.

  The noise level rose as more eyes turned toward them, some drawn by the chatter alone.

  Mary smiled at Ren. “Just ignore them.” Then, raising her voice, she declared, “None of these losers stand a chance!”

  She broke into loud laughter. Dominic shot her a perturbed look, while Gwayne simply shook his head—clearly used to this kind of outburst. The rest of the hall erupted with laughter too, many adventurers raising their mugs in mock defeat before gulping them down.

  After waiting in line, they finally reached the counter. The receptionist looked up and smiled warmly at Gwayne.

  “Ah, Gwayne. Welcome back. I heard you brought in quite a haul of dire wolves. Their pelts and fangs will be appreciated.”

  “Thanks, Sherry. It was a tough job, but we got help from my young friend here,” he said, gesturing to Ren.

  Sherry tilted her head and peered at Ren over her glasses, looking exactly how Ren imagined a fantasy guild receptionist should.

  “Oh, what a cutie,” she said with a smile.

  “He’s a mage,” Gwayne added. Leaning closer, he lowered his voice to a whisper. “And a pretty good one. He can use lightning magic and even has a decently sized item box.”

  Sherry’s eyebrows shot up. She gasped slightly before quickly schooling her expression back to calm professionalism.

  “Ahem,” she coughed, clearing her throat. Her gaze returned to Ren, now more curious.

  Ren began to sweat.

  Did I mess up by showing lightning magic? he wondered.

  “So, Ren, are you registered as an adventurer?” she asked.

  “He’s not yet,” Gwayne answered as Ren shook his head.

  “In that case, would you like to register?” she said, reaching under the counter. She pulled out a form and slid it across with a quill and ink pot. “Do you know how to read and write?”

  Ren nodded and took the form. He read through the sections and began filling them out: Name, Age, Occupation, Skills, Magic, Preferred Weapon.

  “Do I need to list all the magic I can use?” he asked.

  “You don’t have to,” Sherry said. “But the skills and magic you list must be accurate. They’ll also affect your starting rank. The more magic you can use—and demonstrate—the higher your evaluation.”

  “So I can leave things out,” Ren said thoughtfully.

  He didn’t want to reveal everything to the guild. While he could always change his name and register again later, he wanted to enjoy this life at his own pace—not shoot up the ranks too quickly. This was his chance to live more freely.

  “Well then, I’ll just list wind and earth magic,” he said. “Keeping lightning magic a secret might be best.”

  Sherry sighed, looking a little disappointed.

  “Are you sure?” she asked. “Lightning magic is rare. If your spells are strong enough, you might qualify for D-rank. Maybe even C-rank with the guild master’s approval.”

  “I don’t want to stand out,” Ren said. “I’m fine starting at the bottom and working my way up.”

  Sherry sighed again. “Well, you can do that. There are benefits to starting higher, but beginning at a lower rank gives you time to learn and take on easier quests.”

  “Are you sure about this?” Gwayne chimed in. “You’re at least C-rank, like us. You took down two dire wolves by yourself.”

  Sherry’s eyes widened.

  “Two?” she whispered, clearly impressed. “Ahem. If that’s the case, even without lightning magic, air and earth alone would put you at F-rank at least. Starting as G-rank wouldn’t reflect your abilities.”

  Ren nodded. “F-rank sounds fine to me.”

  He finished the form and listed his skills: Weapon Mastery: Sword, Unarmed Combat, Keen Senses, and Appraisal. He considered hiding Appraisal, but figured it would give him more flexibility in his adventuring career.

  He slid the form back across the counter.

  Sherry adjusted her glasses and scanned the form. Her brows lifted again as she read.

  “Weapon Mastery and Unarmed Combat—both useful skills. Keen Senses will help you avoid danger.” She paused at the last entry. “Appraisal? That’s a rare one. Most adventurers don’t have it. Merchants love that skill. You might’ve fit right in with the Merchant Guild.”

  She pushed her glasses up and smiled.

  “Everything seems in order. Just a moment while we prepare your card. With your swordsmanship and magic, we could consider an exam for E-rank. Would you like to try?”

  Ren thought it over, then shook his head. “No thanks. I’m fine starting at F-rank. I want to earn my promotions.”

  Ren bowed his head slightly.

  “But thank you for your consideration.”

  “Well, aren’t you polite,” Sherry said with a smile as she turned and disappeared through the door behind the counter.

  Gwayne watched her leave, a little too wistfully. Ren raised an eyebrow, then cleared his throat.

  “Ahem… is there something going on between you and Ms. Sherry?”

  Gwayne coughed, his face coloring as he looked away.

  “N-No… not yet, anyway,” he mumbled, a bit wistfully.

  Mary chuckled, and Dominic scratched his cheek. It clearly wasn’t much of a secret. Ren politely looked away to spare Gwayne any more embarrassment.

  A few minutes passed in a somewhat awkward silence before the door reopened. Sherry returned with a shimmering white card in one hand and a small dish containing a sterile needle in the other.

  “Please prick your finger and place a drop of blood on the card to register it to you,” she instructed, handing the items to Ren.

  Ren did as told, pricking his finger and letting a single drop of blood fall onto the card. It flashed briefly before settling, its shimmer fading. Looking down, he could now see the information he had filled out earlier printed on it.

  He looked up at Sherry.

  “Is there anything else?”

  “There is a registration fee,” she replied. “But we’ll deduct it from the payment for the two dire wolves.”

  “Huh? Two dire wolves?” Ren blinked in confusion.

  “Exactly,” Gwayne said from beside him. “Since you took them down, they’re yours to claim. Don’t worry—once the appraisal is complete, you’ll receive your reward. You can take it in cash or store it on your guild card. Most shops in the city accept direct card payment.”

  Ren felt a wave of relief. He’d been worried about creating money magically and the problems it might cause. Now, he had his own funds, this would help out a lot.

  “Thanks,” he said sincerely. “I really appreciate all your help.” He gave Gwayne a respectful bow.

  “Think nothing of it,” Gwayne replied with a grin. “Just repaying a favor.”

  “Well then,” Sherry said, “your cards, please.”

  Ren handed over his new guild card. Gwayne, Dominic, and Mary did the same. Leah returned with Cale, who was wiping his hands on a cloth. They passed their cards to Sherry as well.

  She quickly tapped each card against a crystal orb behind the counter before handing them back.

  “Thank you for your service. The dire wolf appraisal came to 200 gold each—1,400 total. Four hundred gold has been transferred to Ren, as agreed. The remaining 1,000 has been split five ways.”

  “Are you sure that’s okay?” Ren asked. “I don’t mind splitting it evenly.”

  Cale clapped him on the back.

  “Don’t worry about it. We also get paid for the escort quest by Lennen. He’ll probably give you something extra too—for helping and for hauling cargo.”

  “We all agreed,” Dominic said, with Leah and Mary nodding. “Just take it.”

  “Thank you,” Ren said, bowing again, clearly touched.

  “Well, that wraps things up,” Gwayne said. Then, turning to Sherry and scratching behind his ear, he added, “Thanks for taking care of Ren’s registration.” He looked like a shy schoolboy mustering courage in front of his crush.

  “Um, would you… maybe… want to grab dinner later? We just got back to town, and it’d be nice to catch up.”

  A warm smile curved across Sherry’s face, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

  “Why, Mr. Gwayne, are you asking me on a date?”

  Gwayne flushed red and stammered, struggling to respond. Sherry leaned in and whispered just loud enough for them to hear.

  “I think I’d like that very much. I get off at eight, so let’s meet here at half-past. That’ll give me time to freshen up.”

  A giddy grin spread across Gwayne’s face.

  “I’ll look forward to it.”

  Dominic gave him a heavy clap on the back.

  “Good for you!”

  Mary and Leah smiled like proud older sisters. Cale, standing nearby, laughed.

  “Looks like it’s your turn to buy drinks tonight.”

  The four of them herded Gwayne out of the guild, Gwayne casting one last glance over his shoulder. Sherry stood behind the counter with a fond smile before turning to the next customer.