A gentle breeze swept down the stone alleyways of WillowShade, ruffling the banners hanging from wooden beams and carrying the scents of hearth smoke, baked grain, and early morning rain. The town was beginning to wake, and inside the Bear's Den Inn, the warmth of the hearth still lingered from the night before.
The inn's common room was quieter than usual. Just a few early risers—two guards eating in silence, an old dwarf nursing a hangover with Blackroot tea, and at the far corner, a table where two unlikely companions sat.
Just yesterday when Jin and Lyr went to meet with the Count Lord of WillowShade. He took a small bite of toast and immediately enjoyed it. The softness and sweet taste of the toast fill his sense with each bite. Across from him, Lyrderu, ever the stoic lizardman, gnawed through a smoked tuber like he was cracking bone.
Jin set down his cup of tea, the ceramic tapping lightly on wood.
"I'm thinking we head to the Adventurer's Guild today. We'll need the guild's IDs if we want to travel freely. Easier to avoid suspicion. Plus, I imagine Guild status carries some weight across the continent."
"Good idea…you register…get card. ID verified. Also...commissions fees. Food. Shelter. Coin." Lyr emphasized that last word with a pointed claw.
As if the confirmation needed was but just that between the two oddity duos, they finished their meal in companionable silence. As they stood to leave, Jin gave a small stretch, rolling the stiffness out of his shoulders. The weathered wood of the Bear's Den door creaked as it opened, and the two stepped out into the gentle hum of Willowshade's morning.
They walked through the town unhurried. Jin watched the merchants unfurled canvas awnings, and couriers darted through alleys with scrolls and satchels in hand. Children with wooden swords clanged against imaginary foes while a baker chased a goat away from her cabbage cart.
Jin took it in with the quiet appreciation of a man who didn't take peace for granted. Lyr walked beside him, speaking in his usual clipped, trying to explain to the best of his ability and memory:
"Guild has... Ranks. S…top…then A, B, C... down F. You? Probably E...rules are…above F, but still bottom" His tone wasn't mocking—just factual.
"I see." Jin stepped over a rain puddle. "What's about missions and commissions?"
"Posted on board…jobs…hunt…escort…find lost thing…match rank…higher rank, better pay…failed…penalty pay…guild's trust…assigned mission…difficult…best pay."
Jin nodded, his thoughts ticking ahead.
"I suppose earning trust is a different kind of challenge."
Lyr gave a quiet grunt of approval.
Then, from the Bear's Den Inn, it did not take long before they reached it.
The Adventurer's Guild Hall stood on a gentle rise overlooking the town square. Its architecture blended stone and timber, built to endure and defend if needed. Banners hung from its upper windows, faded from sun and wind but still bearing the insignia of the Radiant Kingdom's crest crossed with the sword-and-book emblem of the Guild.
A wide entrance, flanked by stone lion statues, welcomed them. The double doors were slightly ajar, the scent of wood polish, leather, and aged parchment drifting from within.
Jin slowed his steps as they approached. He remembered being here before—briefly, during that chaotic dinner with Kaela and her companions. Then, the hall had been lively, almost chaotic. Laughter, spilled drinks reeked of alcohol, bards on makeshift stages.
Today, it was quieter. More business than revelry.
Inside, the large foyer was filled with natural light spilling through stained-glass skylights. A mission board dominated the far wall, plastered with parchment of varying color and complexity. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes moved with practiced ease—some returning from missions, others stood in front of the board – probably choosing a suitable mission for their party. Armor clinked softly, boots tapped against polished stone, and the occasional cheer erupted from tables near the side lounge.
At the far right, a wide counter separated several attendants from the public. A tall sign labeled one booth as "New Registrations."
Behind it stood a young woman with auburn hair tied up in twin loops, her vest crisp, sleeves rolled, and a smile as sharp as a dagger.
"Good morning!" she called brightly as they approached. "Welcome to the WillowShade Adventurer's Guild! First-time registrants?"
"Yes. Both of us." - Jin gave a small nod.
"Wonderful! I'm Mina. I'll be assisting you today. Let's get you both started— First please fill in these forms first!" – Mina introduced herself
She passed two thick parchment slips to them across the counter, each with lines for name, age, race, sex, combat style, and magic proficiency.
"Take your time and please write clearly. We've had a few... incidents involving illegible handwriting and someone getting registered as a goat. And if you have any difficulty reading or don't know how to write, please go to the booths over there, we will have someone asking questions and fill in the form for you."
Jin glanced at Lyr.
Lyr was already scratching in his answers with confident, spiky strokes.
Jin began filling his own out, using the slightly old-fashioned quill and ink. With "Language Comprehension" skill, it wasn't long before he could fill all in and handed it back.
Mina scanned both forms, her eyes moving quickly.
"Huh. No mistakes. That's... actually a little rare." - She looked up, eyes twinkling. "Okay! Next, we'll run you through our three standard tests for new adventurers: Mana Compatibility, Strength, and a Field Evaluation."
She then ticked each one off with her finger.
"First, you'll place your hand on the mana resonance crystal. It'll glow in the color of your magical affinity—blue for water, red for fire, white for holy, and so on. Some hybrids appear as purple or teal. Don't worry—it doesn't hurt."
"And the other two?" Jin asked.
"Strength test is done in the training hall. You'll spar with a staff member or demonstrate power against our gauges. The field test... well, that depends. Sometimes you're sent into town to retrieve something. Sometimes a quick subjugation. It's designed to show how well you handle yourself outside."
"Simple enough," Jin said.
"Please follow me," she said, stepping from behind the counter.
Mina led them past the mission board and into a hallway that branched off from the main hall. Sunlight filtered in from narrow windows above, casting long beams across tiled floors as they passed by wooden doors, a few open to reveal classrooms, offices, and equipment storage rooms.
Eventually, she stopped in front of a chamber framed by iron-bound doors.
"Mana test's just inside," she said cheerfully, pushing the door open. "Come on in."
The room was round and quiet, lit from above by a glowing mana stone embedded into the ceiling. At the center stood a waist-high pedestal, atop which sat a jagged, fist-sized crystal mounted in a silver prong. It pulsed faintly—an idle, waiting rhythm. Mina gestured Jin toward it.
"Just place your palm on the crystal and let your mana flow naturally. The crystal will respond with a color that corresponds to your dominant affinity. Some get two colors—rare, but not unheard of. If nothing lights up... well, either you've got no magic, or the crystal's taking a nap."
Jin stepped forward.
He stared at the crystal for a moment, took a breath, and rested his palm against the cool surface.
The pulse changed.
A glow flickered inside.
Mina leaned in slightly, quill hovering over her clipboard.
Then the crystal darkened.
The pulsing stopped.
A shadow bled into the center, devouring light. A deep, oily black that didn't shimmer or glisten like the other colors. It just... was.
"...Wait. That's—um." - Mina blinked.
The darkness inside the crystal didn't waver. It just sat there. Heavy. Absolute.
"That's not in the chart," she said quietly, frowning. "Maybe it's a new hybrid? I mean, it's not fire... not void... maybe a misread?"
Jin pulled his hand away slowly. The crystal remained black for a few seconds longer before finally dimming.
"I'm gonna go check with the Vice Guild Master, just to—"
Mina called out to Jin but could not finished. The air shifted.
Behind her, a large shadow loomed in the doorway.
A voice like gravel ground between stone echoed through the chamber.
"No need. I'm here."
Jin turned and met a wall of fur and armor.
The bearkin was massive, even by non-human standards—nearly twice Lyr's width, with shoulders like uprooted tree trunks and a great-axe strapped to his back that looked more like siege equipment than a weapon. His fur was dark as slate, streaked with silver along the muzzle and arms. A jagged scar ran from one side of his snout down toward his chest, just above a dented steel pauldron.
Golden eyes narrowed at Jin, then shifted to Lyr.
"...I'll be damned. Lyrderu Numshi."
"Obsidian." - Lyr straightened slightly.
"Still look like a wet boot stuffed with scales." – Obsidian grinned.
"You…dried bear…spit." - Lyr
"What kind of greeting was that?" – Jin thought
Obsidian chuckled, a deep rumble that vibrated in his chest.
"So... you dragging in this one to join up? He your apprentice? Adopted kid?"
"No, traveling companion." – Lyr
"Pity. You've got the same haunted eyes. Thought he was yours."
"He strong. Worthy. Watch him." - Lyr shrugged.
Obsidian gave Jin a longer look, then nodded.
"All right. You lit the mana crystal black. That's not a common occurrence. So, I'll be conducting the rest of your evaluation personally. Name is Obsidian Grizzlemaw – Vice Guild Master of the WillowShade's Adventurer Guild, nice to meet you kid"
"Black…is that... good?" - Jin frowned slightly.
Obsidian turned, beckoning with a clawed hand.
"Depends how badly you want to impress me. Black is a myth, however."
They exited out the back of the guild hall into the training grounds—a wide, walled-in field segmented into multiple sand-packed rings. Some were occupied by sparring trainees, others by instructors demonstrating forms to new recruits. The scent of churned earth and sweat filled the air.
As the trio stepped onto the field, heads turned.
The Vice GM didn't usually walk the training yard—let alone with a lizardman war-vet and a newcomer following him.
Low murmurs followed them like a rising tide.
Obsidian led them to a vacant ring near the center, nodding toward the guild staff on the sidelines.
"Clear the space."
The staff obeyed without question.
Jin stepped inside the ring as Obsidian loosened the straps on his pauldron.
"The strength test's simple," the bearkin said as he rolled his shoulders. "Land a hit on me. Just one clean strike. Don't hold back."
"You sure about that?" – Jin
"You'd be surprised how often people ask that but failed to do so." - Obsidian
He entered the ring opposite Jin. For a moment, the two sized each other up—the lean, dark-cloaked youth versus a towering beast of war.
A gust of wind whispered through the courtyard.
Obsidian raised a clawed hand.
"Begin."
Jin moved immediately.
He didn't teleport nor vanished. But the moment he sprinted forward, it was like watching a shadow split from the ground—silent, swift, precise.
Obsidian was calm, however. His golden eyes didn't widen. His stance didn't break. The moment Jin veered to his rear, Obsidian turned on his heel, wide arm sweeping in a practiced arc meant to block, catch, or crush anything that tried to flank him.
A clash was coming—except it didn't.
Jin wasn't there.
He had shifted, just barely, to the right—narrow enough to avoid the sweep, but with a timing that made it look like he knew Obsidian's move before it happened.
Obsidian grunted, foot pivoting, eyes tracking.
"Clever..."
He adjusted again, posture tightening.
But then it happened.
Jin didn't move fast. He didn't flicker.
He simply was there.
Beside him.
Too close.
Too sudden.
Obsidian hadn't blinked. He hadn't even broken eye contact.
Yet Jin had slipped past every defense like mist through a net.
"Tap. Tap. Tap."
Three strikes landed clean—one to the ribs, one to the shoulder, one to the center of Obsidian's massive backplate.
Not enough to harm.
More than enough to make a statement.
Obsidian exhaled sharply through his nose and lowered his arms.
"...Stop. The test completed"
A stunned silence hung in the yard.
Jin lowered his hands.
Obsidian stared at him, rubbing the spot where he'd been struck.
"...You're fast. Scarily fast. No chant. No telegraphing. No hesitation."
"I've had practice," Jin replied quietly.
Obsidian exhaled slowly, almost a laugh.
"Well then," he said, grinning, "I'm going to observe your field test myself. There've been sightings of orcs near the southern trails. You're to scout them out, assess the threat, and if possible, subjugate two orcs for your certification".
"Only two?" Jin raised an eyebrow.
"It's a field test, not a war." - Obsidian
The forest greeted them with the sound of birdsong and the scent of damp moss. A narrow dirt path cut between towering gold-pine trees, their golden-hued needles shimmering faintly in the sunlight that filtered through the high canopy. The deeper they walked, the quieter it became—nature drawing its breath, watching.
Obsidian walked slightly ahead, his great-axe strapped across his back and a leather-bound notepad tucked under one thick arm. Lyr followed with his usual silent stride, eyes constantly scanning the undergrowth, spear strapped diagonally across his back like a loyal spine.
Jin, walking in between, could feel the subtle shift in atmosphere. He wasn't nervous—not really—but there was a familiar tension, like the hum of a drawn bowstring just before release.
"Keep sharp," Obsidian rumbled, his voice low. "Normally, they would roam in loose pairs or trios. But we've spotted more lately. Still, your task is simple: take down two. Show me you're not just good in the ring."
"And if we run into more?" – Jin nodded
"We fall back or you kill two and return. Let me handle the rest."
"And if I don't?"
Obsidian paused, giving him a sidelong glance.
"Then I'll handle you."
"Fair enough" – Jin nodded
They didn't have to walk far before Jin's sight notice a trail just few meters away.
Jin halted first, holding out his right hand. Then he crouched, pressing two fingers into the soft earth beside the trail.
"Tracks," he murmured. "There's a heavy foot sprint, clawed toes and uneven spacing. Orcs, no doubt. This wide and many, probably eight or…no nine Orcs up ahead. They might not be far."
Obsidian moved in beside him, eyes narrowing.
"That's not right. They're moving in formation?" Obsidian muttered. "Staggered steps. Spread formation. This isn't a wandering band. They're patrolling. Coordinated."
"Too close to town for that kind of activity, right?" – Jin stood up
Obsidian nodded grimly.
"Way too close. We're within ten klicks of the southern gate. That's supposed to be secured territory."
Immediately, the trio sprinted forward. Then, after just half an hour sprinting, Jin looked to the trees ahead, where a faint glimmer of movement shifted between trunks.
There.
Eight orcs, hulking and armored with scraps of iron and beast hide, stalked through the underbrush. Most carried crude axes or spiked clubs. A few wore worn helms or chest plates likely scavenged from fallen mercenaries.
They were alert. Eyes scanning. Ears twitching.
Jin activated Appraisal (EX) and scanned the Orcs:
▼ Target Identified: Orc Soldier
◇ Level: 40
◇ HP: 4,500 / 4,500
◇ MP: 120 / 120
◇ Classification: Warrior Class
◇ Traits:
• Brutal Strength
• Pack Coordination
• Hardened Hide
• Low Magic Resistance
◇ Description:
An aggressive frontline combatant often found in raiding or patrolling groups. Physically powerful and difficult to stagger, but lacks complex tactics. Most effective when flanking or overwhelming weaker opponents with numbers. Responds aggressively to perceived territory threats.
◇ Origin:
Spawned from the Southern Bloodwood Territories. Commonly used by Orc clans near the fractured borderlands. Some are believed to have been pushed north due to demonic corruption or forced relocation from imperial expansion routes.
Jin then activated on all of these Orcs, thus they're ranged between level 40-43
Obsidian's hand moved to rest on the hilt of his axe.
"New plan. We backtrack. Report to the guild. Bring a proper squad. This is no place for a field test."
Still, Jin's expression didn't change. He took one step forward.
"I'll handle it."
Obsidian turned toward him, brow lowering.
"Kid. I'm not joking. This isn't the sparring ring. One wrong step, and they'll cut you in half before you can blink."
Jin's tone didn't rise. Didn't challenge. Just steady.
"I won't give them the chance."
Without another word, he slipped between the trees.
Obsidian opened his mouth—then stopped.
"...Damn it," he muttered.
Lyr just folded his arms and leaned against a tree.
Jin moved like a shadow given form.
He didn't run—he flowed. His body lowered, shifted, vanished and reappeared in places with no wasted movement. In the stillness of the forest, not a single leaf stirred under his steps.
The first orc never saw it coming.
A palm to the throat—charged with mana and compact force—sent the beast flying backward, spine-first into a tree. It slumped without a cry.
The second managed to turn. It saw something—just a flicker—before its weapon was knocked from its hand and a foot slammed into its chest, sending it into its companion like a living projectile.
Panic rippled through the group. They turned, roaring, confused—but not ready.
Jin wove between them.
He didn't use spells. He didn't need to.
A low kick took one's leg out. A chop to the neck crushed another's windpipe. One tried to grab him—Jin twisted beneath the outstretched arms, using the momentum to flip the orc and drive it into the dirt.
One raised a horn.
Jin didn't let it blow.
A burst of fireball from his palm, the only spell-like action he used, shattering the horn and burned the orc's head in a single flick.
The rest broke ranks and tried to flee.
Though, they didn't get far.
It was over in under a minute.
Eight bodies. No wasted breath.
From the tree line, Obsidian stared.
Mouth slightly open.
Shoulders stiff.
He muttered, almost to himself, "...My god lord. Did he... hold back when he fought me?"
Lyr smirked, arms still crossed, he didn't need to say a word.
As Jin dusted off his hands and turned back toward the tree line, a familiar chime echoed softly in his mind. The same ethereal tone he'd heard after his first fight in the forest.
[Ding!]
[You have leveled up!]
[Level increased: 52]
He felt it—like a breath taken deep into his bones. That rush of strength, the subtle stretch of his senses sharpening just a little more.
The trip back to WillowShade's adventurer guild was quiet.
Obsidian walked at Jin's side; his expression unreadable. Lyr followed a few steps behind, tail flicking now and then, spear slung casually across his shoulder as if they hadn't just encountered a combat-rated patrol near civilian territory. Everyone is quite in their own world.
Obsidian was already replaying the scene in his head—those movements, the silence between steps, the orcs dropping like wheat in harvest season.
He grunted low, more to himself than anyone. "Still say it was supposed to be a test...".
By the time they returned to the guild, the afternoon sun was slipping westward, casting long beams of light through the high windows of the guildhall. A few adventurers milled around the mission board. A half-elven bard tuned her lute quietly near the bar. The world had moved on in their absence, unaware that anything noteworthy had happened at all.
Obsidian led them straight through the main hall and up a flight of stairs near the side offices. They passed notice boards covered in guild stats, old war maps, and team rankings. Eventually, he opened a heavy wooden door at the end of a hallway and gestured them in.
The Vice Guild Master's office was surprisingly neat. Books lined one shelf, and a framed blade hung above the desk, its edge dulled from ceremonial age. Three chairs surrounded a sturdy oak table.
Obsidian dropped into one with a grunt.
"Tea?"
Jin and Lyr both nodded.
Steam soon curled from three cups as the tension eased.
"So," Obsidian began, eyes locked on Jin. "You're not just some greenhorn playing hero. That much is clear."
Jin sipped his tea, saying nothing.
"Met him…half year ago." - Lyr spoke instead. "thought he's a fool…a softskin…duel but lost. He… fought like storm."
"Storm, huh?" – Obsidian snorted. "Try damn hurricane."
He turned back to Jin.
"You didn't just pass. You broke the test."
"I didn't intend to." – Jin replied.
"No, that's what makes it worse," Obsidian chuckled, rubbing his face. "You're efficient. Quiet. And smart enough not to boast about it. That's dangerous in the right—or wrong—hands. Right, that's why your mana test is black. Black mana means you have affinity to all – everything – that's why it was a myth".
Jin and Lyr froze while Obsidian leaned back, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"Where did you two meet, anyway?"
Lyr answered, recounting the misunderstand between his tribe and Jin, the base built by Jin near the biggest tree inside Evernight Veil, the training which Jin always did and taught him and the Chimera incident. He painted it plainly, without embellishment, though Obsidian's eyes widened more than once during the tale.
When it ended, the bearkin gave a low recognition.
"So not only can you fight—you've got instincts, timing, and you're not afraid to act when it counts. The hell have you been hiding until now?"
"well…far away," Jin said hesitantly.
Obsidian didn't pry. Instead, he turned toward a small drawer behind the desk, pulled out a wax-sealed scroll, and scribbled a note on it. Then, he rang a small bell.
Moments later, Mina burst in, nearly tripping over the doorway.
"Yes, sir?" "Use this to process these two ID cards" He handed her the scroll. "Kazama Jin, E-rank. Lyrderu Numshi, C-rank reinstated."
"Wait—Lyrderu Numshi? You're that—oh gods, I read about your campaign against the Bloodfang Legion!" – Mina screamed.
She then vanished again in a blur of paper and excitement.
Obsidian leaned back once more.
"While we wait... I'll be blunt. You saw those orcs. That wasn't random."
"You think they were scouting?" – Jin asked
"I know they were. Coordinated formation, patrol routes that close to town? Either they're desperate... or someone's nudging them forward." – Obsidian carefully stated.
"Empire?" – Lyr chimed in.
Obsidian exhaled through his nose.
"Every year, they stir. Push at the border. Test the wall. But they've never gotten past it." - He looked toward the window where the mountains framed the horizon like ancient teeth. "It's been twenty years. And yet... something's different this time. Can't say what yet. Just a feeling."
Silence followed after that. They all thinking something of their own but decided to not voice it out.
Then, a knock interrupted the silence.
Mina stepped in, flushed and triumphant, holding two neatly embossed cards on leather cords. She handed one to each of them with a beaming grin.
"Here you go! Official, stamped, and registered with the Radiant Adventurer's Guild."
Jin turned the card over in his hand. The metal emblem glinted under the lantern light—engraved with the guild seal, his name, and the simple rank:
Veylashen Adventurer Guild
Name: Kazama Jin
Race: Human
Age: 17
Sex: Male
Rank: E
Lyr examined his own with mild amusement.
"C. Not bad."
Obsidian stood, stretching with a grunt.
"Well, you're officially part of the guild now. Go ahead and report to Mina for commissions if you're staying in town. Or start packing if you're headed out."
Jin stood, slipping the ID card into his pocket.
"Thank you very much, Vice Guild Master."
The three men nodded to each other. It wasn't a farewell. Just an understanding.
As Jin and Lyr made their way down the stairs, voices from the hall buzzed in the distance. The guild hadn't changed. But Jin had.
He stepped out into the evening sun with a new weight in his pocket—and a heavier one in his thoughts.
The Empire.
The orcs.
And the unknown road ahead.