Aurethria: The Dragon Goddess Owes Me One

I stood there.

Alone. Surrounded by swaying grass, distant trees, and absolutely no idea where I was supposed to go.

The goddess had technically told me I'd be near a village.

Which direction? That part… she kind of skipped. Not like I could pull out my phone and DM her.

"Hey, Aurelya. Quick Q—north, south, or do I just spin around and hope for the best?"

Still, she hadn't dumped me completely empty-handed. I looked down at myself—my clothes had changed. Simple brown travel boots, a dark tunic with leather straps, and a cloak that didn't scream "lost Earthling." If I had landed here in jeans and a hoodie, I probably would've been burned at the stake for suspicious fashion choices.

I also had a satchel slung over my shoulder. Might as well check what the divine starter pack included.

Unbuckling the flap, I reached inside.

Huh.

There was a slim book and a few coins. The pouch clinked with exactly twenty little metal disks. I didn't recognize the currency, but considering I now owned all of it, I figured I better treat them like gold bars.

Let's hope this world has a value menu.

I flipped open the book. No title. No table of contents. Just a folded map tucked inside the first page. My location was marked with a small blue dot, and a neat arrow pointed north.

Toward a town.

"Eastmere," I muttered aloud.

Seemed simple enough.

I turned the page. There, in soft, flowing script, was a handwritten note:

"I know it's not much, but this guidebook might come in handy as you get started in this world. I've also provided you with twenty cens to help with your first few days. Look for a range of mountains in the distance—that's north. Have a safe journey, Sir Kaito.

—Aurelya"

Cens. That's the currency here, huh?

No idea what the conversion rate was, but if this worked anything like an RPG, I was probably somewhere between "broke" and "pathetic."

Still, I had a direction. I looked up—and sure enough, faint silhouettes of jagged peaks loomed far in the distance. That would be north.

Time to move.

I tucked the book back into my satchel, adjusted the strap, and started walking.

***

"No need to worry! If you don't have a guild card yet, the entry fee is just ten cens, young man."

The old gate guard smiled like he wasn't asking for half my entire net worth.

A big, white beard, wrinkled face, sun-browned skin. He looked like Santa had retired early to join a medieval homeowner's association.

When the goddess first dropped me off with clothes and a satchel, I felt pretty optimistic. But now? I'd barely made it to town and already lost fifty percent of my startup funds just to cross the gate.

And here I thought divine intervention came with better customer service.

Before I could protest, a grumpy voice growled behind me.

"Move along, kid. Some of us got things to do before our backs give out."

I turned to find a short, broad-shouldered dwarf glaring up at me like I'd personally delayed his lunch.

Right. Welcome to fantasy land. No refunds.

With a deep sigh, I handed over ten cens. The guard plucked them from my palm with all the ceremony of a toll booth worker, stamped a paper, and waved me through without a second glance.

Thanks, Grandpa.

But the moment I stepped through the gate…

All complaints vanished.

The town of Eastmere opened before me like something straight out of a cozy JRPG.

Stone-paved streets stretched into a lively marketplace, dotted with colorful awnings and busy stalls. Human merchants shouted over each other, offering freshly baked bread, polished trinkets, and questionable potions. Dwarves argued over weapon quality. Beast children darted through the crowd, giggling as they chased one another with wooden swords. The scent of spices, sizzling meats, and roasted nuts danced through the air like invisible ribbons of temptation.

And elves.

Actual elves.

I caught a glimpse of one walking past me—silver hair cascading over her shoulders, silver-and-emerald armor gleaming in the sunlight, a longsword strapped to her back. She moved like a breeze in human form.

If this were a game, I'd have immediately hit the flirt button.

But this wasn't a game. It was real life. So I admired her from a safe, respectful distance, gave a polite smile… and kept walking.

Vendors shouted, "Fresh fruit! Fresh bread! Magic combs—detangle your soul!" Even though I had zero intention (or coin) to buy anything, they still tried. One particularly cheerful innkeeper almost lured me in with the promise of soft beds and a warm bath near the Temple of Aurelya.

"Only twenty cens a night!" she beamed.

I smiled. Nodded. Died a little inside. And gently declined.

The way her smile dropped and turned into a look of oh, you poor thing was something I could physically feel in my wallet.

Still, thanks to Aurelya's blessing, I could talk to everyone like I'd lived here my whole life. I blended in. My words flowed. My understanding of signs, prices, directions—all natural. It was kind of amazing, actually.

And despite the divine screw-up that brought me here, I couldn't help but feel it:

This place was… magical.

Not just because of the spells and elves and sword-swinging adventurers, but because it felt alive. Like a world filled with stories I hadn't yet read.

I passed food stalls grilling meat skewers, others selling stuffed pastries oozing with filling. My stomach growled in protest. I had exactly ten cens left and no idea how long they needed to last.

Endure it, Kaito. You've played enough RPGs. First stop—guild registration.

I scanned the buildings around me. Street signs were clearly marked, and after asking a kind older woman with fox ears for directions, I found myself standing before a wide red stone building at the center of town.

A metal plaque was nailed above the entrance in bold script:

Eastmere Adventurer's Guild

Its windows glowed with soft yellow light. A wooden notice board sat near the entrance, cluttered with job postings, scribbled quests, and colorful flyers. The building looked sturdy and well-kept—like it had seen decades of hopeful souls pass through.

***

The heavy wooden doors creaked open as I stepped inside the guildhall.

Warmth wrapped around me instantly. The scent of old wood, burning firewood, and aged parchment filled the air. A large hearth blazed off to one side, casting a cozy orange glow across the room. Wooden beams crisscrossed the ceiling above, and the floor was worn smooth by the boots of countless adventurers before me.

The place buzzed with low chatter and clinking mugs. Adventurers of all kinds lounged around long communal tables—some laughing over drinks, others poring over maps or polishing their gear. A burly man in iron armor was arm-wrestling a beastkin with striped fur and a grin that could crack boulders. No one looked out of place. Everyone belonged.

And somehow… I didn't feel out of place either.

Along the far wall was a wide desk framed by notice boards and hanging lanterns. Behind it stood a woman with short chestnut hair, carefully organizing stacks of parchment with practiced ease.

A placard on the desk read:

Reception — Lisa

Alright. Time to introduce myself… and figure out how the hell I start making money without dying in the process.

"How may I help you, sir?" she asked with a warm smile, looking up before I could even say a word.

"Oh—uh, hey. My name's Kaito. I'm… kinda new around here."

I blinked at how young my voice sounded. Okay, that's gonna take a while to get used to.

Lisa's smile didn't falter. "So, you want to register with the guild?"

She said it like she'd done this a hundred times—which she probably had. With graceful efficiency, she set her papers aside and motioned for me to follow.

I did. Mostly because I had no clue where else to go, and partially because, well… she was really pretty.

As we walked through the guildhall, I noticed some less-than-subtle stares. The kind that made me instinctively glare over my shoulder.

"You need a hand with the boy, Miss Lisa?" a pig-faced man called out from a nearby table, his voice greasy with implication. His buddies laughed like background extras in a bad tavern scene.

Lisa didn't even pause. "Would appreciate if you finally picked up a job," she replied smoothly. "Or I'd hate to see your license suspended when your time runs out."

Oof. Direct hit.

The laughter dried up immediately.

"Don't bother with them, kid," she said to me over her shoulder, leading me through a narrow hallway. "The loudest mouths usually have the fewest points."

She pushed open a small wooden door and stepped inside. The room was modest—just a pair of chairs and a table in the center with a smooth, glassy orb resting on top. The appraisal crystal.

I took a seat across from her.

Lisa crossed one leg over the other and straightened a small clipboard. "As you might already know, we'll need to run an appraisal first. Don't worry—the guild won't be able to see your stats. They'll be embedded into your card for your eyes only."

She gave me a reassuring smile before continuing, her tone smooth and practiced—clearly something she'd explained a hundred times before.

"Due to privacy policy, all adventurers start at Rank H, no exceptions. You'll earn experience points for every completed quest. Once you reach the threshold, you'll be promoted to the next rank. However, if you're inactive for more than two weeks, you'll lose 100 points."

She paused just long enough for that to sink in.

"If your experience points hit zero, your license will be revoked. Usually, it takes about ten low-level monster kills to earn a hundred points. So I recommend taking at least one job every two weeks unless you've already stacked a good amount."

Okay, got it. Don't slack off too long or your adventurer career goes poof.

"There's no registration fee, and no hidden cuts from job postings. Commissions are deducted before the quest is listed. If you use any extra services—transport, material processing, monster parts handling—those come with additional charges."

"Got it," I nodded. It was surprisingly fair. Way more transparent than my last job, that's for sure.

Lisa folded her hands neatly. "One last thing. Infighting between guild members is strictly forbidden. Any unlawful activity will be reported immediately to the town guard. If you agree to all of that, place your hands on the appraisal crystal."

A lot to take in—but honestly, it all sounded reasonable. I nodded again and placed both hands on the glowing orb.

It lit up instantly.

Not the gentle shimmer I expected—but a bright, vibrant green light that filled the entire room. Lisa blinked, her mouth falling open slightly.

Then, just as quickly, the glow faded.

"Well then…" she said, trying to sound casual as she stood and reached for a small metal card. "You're quite something, young man."

She slid the card under the orb. It pulsed softly for a moment, etching the information onto its surface. Then she handed it to me with a small, impressed smile.

"Here you go, Kaito. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild."

I took the card carefully, like it might shatter if I gripped it too hard.

It was cool and metallic, about the size of a credit card. My name gleamed at the top in elegant script.

Name: Kaito

Age: 16

Race: Human

Title: Apprentice Scholar

Blessing: Scholar's Insight

Strength: F

Agility: G

Vitality: H

Speed: E

Dexterity: G

Mana Core: G

Intelligence: SSS

I stared at it, equal parts proud and mortified.

Okay wow… SSS Intelligence. That's insane.

But the rest? Yeah… I was basically a wet noodle with great reading comprehension.

Still… holding this card in my hand, for the first time, I felt something spark in my chest. This wasn't just a random fantasy scenario anymore.

It was real.

My new life had officially begun.

I tucked the card carefully into my satchel, still a little dazed. With ten cens left, I figured I could at least afford a cheap inn and something edible before nightfall. One step at a time.

Now the real question is… how do I survive with noodle arms and an overclocked brain?

If I was going to make it in this world, I'd need to find a way to turn that SSS intelligence into something useful. Fast.

****