Chapter 7: Arrival at the Guild
Max walked alongside Seria and Lira, the three of them continuing to talk as they approached the Adventurer's Guild. The bustling streets of the city slowly faded behind them, replaced by the looming sight of the guildhall ahead. Its grand wooden structure and large sign engraved with a sword and shield symbol caught Max's attention.
"So," Max began, glancing at the twins, "what are your favorite hobbies? I mean, when you're not out adventuring."
Seria thought for a moment before replying. "I like reading. History books, mostly. Learning about the world, ancient battles, forgotten kingdoms… it's fascinating."
"And you, Lira?" Max asked.
Lira smirked. "Sparring. Nothing like a good fight to keep you sharp. But if I'm not doing that, I enjoy sketching. Landscapes, animals, that kind of thing."
"That's cool," Max said. "Me? I've always been a bit of a nature guy. Exploring forests, learning about animals… guess that's why I ended up as a Beast Tamer. Oh, and favorite color? Mine's green. Feels calming, you know?"
"Green, huh?" Seria said with a smile. "Mine's blue. Reminds me of the sky."
"Red," Lira added, her grin widening. "It's bold, like me."
Max chuckled. "Makes sense. How old are you two, by the way?"
"Twenty-two," Seria replied. "And you?"
"Twenty-five," Max said. "Guess that makes me the oldest here. Not by much, though."
The three of them shared a laugh as they reached the guildhall. Max paused for a moment, taking in the sight. "Wow," he murmured. "This place is massive."
They stepped inside, and Max's eyes widened as he took in the bustling interior. Adventurers of all kinds filled the hall—some gathered around tables sharing stories, others inspecting weapons or poring over quest boards. The air was alive with energy and the occasional clink of tankards.
"This is… something else," Max said, talking to himself. "People everywhere, quests on the walls, and… is that a forge over there?" He pointed toward a corner where a blacksmith was hammering away at a glowing blade.
As they walked further in, the noise in the guild quieted slightly, and Max noticed that many of the adventurers were looking in their direction. He could hear murmurs from the crowd.
"Hey, it's the twins," someone said.
"Didn't expect to see them back so soon."
"Who's the guy with them?" another voice asked.
"Think he's a new recruit?"
Max scratched the back of his head, feeling the weight of the stares. "Looks like you two are pretty popular," he said, glancing at the twins.
Seria shrugged. "We've made a name for ourselves here. People talk."
Lira smirked. "Can't help it if we're good at what we do."
Max grinned. "Fair enough."
They approached the reception desk, where a blonde, blue-eyed woman with dog-like ears greeted them. She was curvy and wore a professional outfit that still hinted at her energetic personality. Her ears perked up as the twins approached.
"Seria! Lira!" the receptionist called, her tail wagging slightly. "It's been a while. How've you been?"
"Hey, Mira," Seria said, smiling. "We're good. How about you?"
"Same old, same old," Mira replied. "Dealing with rowdy adventurers, keeping the guild running smoothly. You know how it is."
Lira leaned on the counter. "Still babysitting everyone, huh? You're a saint, Mira."
Mira laughed. "Someone's gotta do it." Her gaze shifted to Max, and her ears twitched. "And who's this? A new recruit?"
Seria gestured toward Max. "This is Max. He's a Beast Tamer, and we thought we'd show him around the guild."
Lira added, "He's got some serious potential. You should've seen him in action."
Mira's eyes lit up. "A Beast Tamer? That's rare. Nice to meet you, Max."
Max smiled and gave a small wave. "Hey. Thanks for letting me tag along. This place is incredible."
Mira chuckled. "Well, welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. If the twins are vouching for you, I'm sure you'll fit right in."
The three women continued chatting for a bit, with Mira asking more about Max and the twins sharing some of their past guild adventures. Max listened, feeling more at ease as the lively energy of the guild began to feel familiar.
Max leaned against the counter and looked at Mira with curiosity. "So, what are the rules of the guild? And how do I join?" he asked.
Mira's dog-like ears twitched, and she smiled warmly. "The guild isn't too complicated. The main rules are: respect your fellow adventurers, complete quests responsibly, and don't bring trouble back to the guild. Oh, and don't accept quests that are clearly beyond your ability. Safety comes first."
Max nodded. "Got it. Pretty straightforward. And what about joining?"
Mira tapped her chin thoughtfully. "To join, you'll need to fill out a basic registration form, pay a small fee, and complete an initiation quest. It's usually something simple, like hunting weak monsters or gathering resources. Once you complete that, you're officially an adventurer."
"That sounds fair," Max said, smiling. "What do you think?" He turned to the twins.
Seria crossed her arms and gave him an approving look. "It's a good system. The guild keeps things organized, and the initiation quest weeds out people who aren't serious."
Lira nodded. "And it'll be a great way for you to start building your reputation. The stronger you get, the more high-level quests you'll unlock."
Max grinned. "I like the sound of that. I've been wanting to become an adventurer anyway. My goal is to become the strongest Beast Tamer in the world and travel everywhere."
Mira chuckled. "Ambitious, aren't you?"
Max shrugged. "Gotta aim high, right?"
The four of them talked for a while longer, discussing the guild's structure and how it operated. Mira explained that the guild had ranks, starting with Bronze and progressing through Silver, Gold, Platinum, and even Legendary. Adventurers could move up the ranks by completing quests and earning guild points.
"It's a solid system," Mira said. "But it's not just about strength. Your reputation, teamwork, and how you handle yourself on quests all matter too."
Seria chimed in. "We've been at Silver Rank for a while now. It takes time to move up, but it's worth it. You get access to better quests and better pay."
Lira smirked. "And you'll get to show off those skills of yours. Beast Tamers are rare, so you'll stand out."
Max rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Alright, then. Let's do this." He looked at Mira with determination. "I want to join the guild."
Mira's tail wagged slightly as she smiled. "Alright, I can help you with that. Let's get you registered."
Max grinned. "Awesome. Thanks, Mira."
Mira reached under the counter and pulled out a stack of papers along with a quill. "Here you go. Just fill this out—basic information about you and your skills—and pay the fee, and we'll get you started."
Max took the papers and quill, sitting down at a nearby table. The twins followed, sitting across from him.
"What's it ask for?" Seria asked, leaning over to look.
"Name, age, class, basic skills… stuff like that," Max replied as he filled in the form. "Pretty standard."
Lira smirked. "Don't forget to write 'handsome' under strengths."
Max laughed. "I'll leave that for you to say."
Once he finished, he handed the completed form back to Mira along with the registration fee. Mira looked it over and nodded. "Looks good. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild, Max. Now for the fun part: your initiation quest."
"What's the quest?" Max asked, leaning forward with interest.
Mira scanned a ledger behind the counter. "Let's see… Ah, here's one. There's a minor pest problem at a nearby farm. Wild Horned Rabbits have been causing trouble. Your task is to deal with them. It's a perfect starter quest."
Max nodded. "Sounds doable. When can I start?"
"Whenever you're ready," Mira said. "Just come back here to report once it's done."
Seria leaned back in her chair, smiling. "Horned Rabbits, huh? Sounds like a good warm-up."
Lira grinned. "Think you can handle it, Beast Tamer?"
Max smirked. "Guess we'll find out. Let's make this the start of something great."
The four of them shared a laugh, the atmosphere light and full of excitement. Max couldn't wait to tackle his first official quest as a guild member.
To be continued…