Adventurer of Many Professions

"This is really getting on my nerves…" Raymond muttered, watching Andre swagger away, the shadow of his sinister grin still lingering in his mind.

Raymond sighed, clenching his fists. He had steeled himself for a beating if it came to that, but facing the inevitable still left him with a pit in his stomach. "If only I could awaken a profession right now… I'd give those three exactly what they deserve," he thought, a surge of defiance flaring up. Just three of them, that was all he'd need for the 'Fighter' awakening condition.

But he shook his head. 'Wishful thinking.' He had a plan, and he couldn't let anger lead him astray.

Leaving the kitchen, Raymond glanced at the front counter. Mrs. Becker was no longer there; instead, her husband, Mr. Becker, stood tall and gaunt, his unkempt beard casting shadows over his long, narrow face. The Becker couple was notoriously stingy and suspicious. Neither one of them ever let an employee handle the cash register.

"Count? Ha!" Mr. Becker would say with an exaggerated sneer, eyeing them as if they were thieves. "Can't trust any of you not to pocket a coin or two when my back's turned," Mrs. Becker would often add, her tone biting and distrustful.

Raymond headed up the creaky stairs to his room, casting wary glances behind him. He half-expected Seth and his gang to appear, lurking in some dark corner, ready to pounce. But he made it to his door without incident.

'Maybe I'm just being paranoid,' he thought, but something in Andre's parting look suggested otherwise. Seth and his friends weren't just planning to rough him up on a whim; they were plotting something, something worse. The fact that they hadn't jumped him right away only added to his unease.

"They're not just out to blow off steam… they're scheming," Raymond whispered, the thought making his stomach clench. He needed to act fast and find a way to awaken.

Lighting the small oil lamp in his room, he changed out of his work clothes into something more practical, then took a moment to look around. The rest of the inn had lighting stones, smooth, alchemically treated rocks that glowed with a warm light. But for the lower-paid staff, oil lamps were all they had. The stones were far too expensive to waste on them.

Raymond reached into his bedside drawer and pulled out a small knife, slipping it up his sleeve. 'Just in case,' he thought grimly.

Originally, he had planned to wait a few more days before asking Mr. Becker for leave to explore the Adventurer's Guild and meet other professionals who might reveal additional career paths. But with Seth and his gang plotting, he could no longer afford to wait. He needed to gain strength, and fast.

Luckily, once he'd finished the dishes each night, he had free time. Unfortunately, by then it was always after ten, when the streets of Witts were nearly deserted, save for the occasional adventurer passing through.

Raymond blew out the lamp, careful not to make a sound as he slipped out of his room. As he crept down the hall, he noticed Arya's door slightly ajar, a soft glow filtering from within. He couldn't help but smile. Arya, with her kindness and unwavering support, had become a rare comfort in his life.

'It feels good to have someone who cares,' he thought, his heart lightening a bit. He stepped carefully, not wanting her to notice and question him about where he was headed.

Pausing briefly by the washroom, he caught his reflection in the dim mirror, a young man with tousled brown hair and piercing blue eyes stared back. His face was fair, probably from spending so much time inside, and though he wasn't thin, years of heavy work had given him a lean, strong frame. But the bruises from Seth and his gang had taken their toll, and the quiet fear that had grown in him made his expression seem a little too guarded.

He straightened his shirt and took a deep breath. He wouldn't let them beat him down any longer. He was going to find a way to break free from this life.

Quietly, Raymond slipped out the back door of the inn and into the cool night air.

---

The town of Witts lay sprawled beneath a sky painted with stars, its quiet streets winding through the valley like veins of silver. Situated on the border of the Kingdom of Atlantis, Witts was a small but bustling town. It wasn't just home to ordinary folk; adventurers, merchants, and demi-humans of all kinds passed through, lending it a vibrant and eclectic mix of cultures.

The town was divided into four main districts. The northern district housed the nobles, their stately homes and manicured gardens a stark contrast to the rest of the town. The western district was home to many of the demi-humans, a group of non-human species who lived peacefully among the townspeople. The eastern district, dominated by the Adventurer's Guild, was the liveliest part of town, where fighters, archers, mages, and all manner of adventurers gathered, filling the streets with their stories and their power. Finally, there was the southern district, where Raymond lived and worked, a quieter area where ordinary townsfolk went about their daily lives.

Raymond headed toward the eastern district, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. He was a nobody, barely scraping by, but tonight he was determined to take the first step toward his future.

To become an adventurer, a person must first awaken a profession and then officially register at the Adventurer's Guild. There, they can accept commissions and, upon successful completion, earn rewards, which are essential for any adventurer's livelihood.

Tonight, Raymond was heading to the East District, where the guild was located, his heart pounding with both excitement and apprehension.

He looked up at the sky, where two full moons hung above; one a luminous white, the other a soft, eerie green. Their combined glow cast a strange, beautiful light over the town of Witts, illuminating the cobblestone streets and the buildings that lined them. The town, though called "small," was far from tiny; it had grown considerably over the years. It took Raymond nearly half an hour to walk from the quiet South District to the bustling East District.

The South District streets were empty except for the occasional shadow of a drunken wanderer or clusters of unsavory types muttering to each other in hushed voices. Raymond made sure to keep his distance, moving with purpose, staying unnoticed. But when he finally crossed into the East District, the entire atmosphere changed.

Unlike the dim streets of the South, the East District was alive with light. Stone lamps, each embedded with glowing white gems, lined the streets in regular intervals, illuminating the paths in a warm glow. Adventurers filled the streets, their presence unmistakable. Most wore armor and carried an assortment of weapons, some of which were caked in dirt and dried blood, testaments to the night's earlier battles or hunts.

Raymond's eyes widened when he saw the adventurers. Among them were demi-humans; exotic figures with animal ears or tails, standing out even among the battle-hardened adventurers. They moved between shops, some laughing and chatting with friends, others looking worn and weary from the night's work. Each one had a nameplate hanging from their belt, marking their identity and rank in the Adventurer's Guild.

Raymond took a deep breath to calm his nerves, clenching and releasing his fists as he prepared himself. He hadn't seen so many powerful individuals in one place before, and he felt a surge of anticipation and awe.

Taking a step forward, Raymond moved closer to a swordsman with a well-worn blade at his side. Suddenly, a blue panel appeared before him.

"Awakenable Profession Detected: Swordsman. Awakening Requirements: Swing a long sword weighing at least eight kilograms one hundred thousand times in one day!"

Raymond's eyes lit up at the word "Swordsman." He knew it was a respected and capable profession; after all, many knights were Swordsmen. 'The awakening requirement is just… swinging a sword?' He felt a flash of optimism. Hard, yes, but possible. Before he could fully process it, a group of four adventurers strode past him, laughing and talking in low voices.

One by one, new notifications popped up on his panel.

"Awakenable Profession Detected: Hunter. Awakening Requirements: Set and use a trap to kill a monster; track prey for at least ten minutes without being seen; shoot an object no larger than ten centimeters in diameter from ten meters away with a bow."

"Awakenable Profession Detected: Magician. Awakening Requirements: Kill a monster with your bare hands!"

"Awakenable Profession Detected: Priest. Awakening Requirements: …"

As the group moved out of range, the panel refreshed with a list of several professions he could awaken simply by being near these adventurers. Raymond scanned the options, seeing others such as thief, archer, assassin, craftsman, and pharmacist; all professions with unique awakening requirements that varied wildly in difficulty.

Raymond wandered through the streets a while longer, letting the panel gather as many potential professions as possible. When no new options appeared, he reviewed the list, his mind racing as he considered each one's requirements. Some seemed manageable; others looked near-impossible. He'd have to weigh his options carefully.

Just as he was about to turn back, a movement caught his eye. Three figures emerged from a nearby alley, talking excitedly and chuckling among themselves.

Raymond's heart dropped.

"Seth?" he muttered, recognizing his tormentor and two of his lackeys.

'Why are they here?'