Online In Another World

As the two veteran adventurers left, a motivational thumbs-up was given from Faust to Emilio before the youths were left on their own now.

"Well…" Emilio said.

"I guess we should sign up?" Melisande suggested.

"Yeah," Emilio breathed in, preparing himself.

The interior of the Guild Foundation was almost modern in its structure and atmosphere; it was kept brightly lit by runes used similarly to lights that he experienced on Earth.

There was certainly truth to feeling 'out of depth'; though he'd been traveling alongside adventurers and meeting them on occasion, it was entirely different when at the center of it all, or more like the summit.

While looking around in awe, he nearly bumped into an adventurer passing by; a man in exuberant, black armor with a crimson greatsword strapped to his back, wearing a diamond insignia.

"Ah–my bad," he apologized.

There was no response from the stern-faced, black-haired man who moved along with heavy footsteps, ensnaring more of the young man's awe before moving on.

"Scary," Melisande said, "--Well, not that I was scared, but I imagine others would be."

"Yeah, totally," he responded quietly.

Arriving at the receptionist desk that was labeled "World-Class Recruit", he found himself stopping before a furnished desk of fine wood, covered partly with a velvet cloth.

Standing behind it was a receptionist: a fair-faced man of clear elven descent by his pointy ears and perfect skin, wearing a verdant-and-gold vest atop white attire.

"Welcome, travelers," the glasses-wearing receptionist greeted the two with a kind voice, "What may I help you with today?"

Glancing at Melisande, he realized it was up to him to do all the talking as he stepped forward, "We'd like to apply to become World-Class adventurers, please."

There was slight surprise in the elven man's emerald irises, though his expression didn't change as he remained silent for a moment.

"Are you sure that is what you desire? I must warn you, it is a formidable trial ahead of you if you choose to pursue this," the receptionist said calmly, "It is not uncommon for ones of your age to apply, but…it is uncommon for them to survive the test."

It was a disturbing development for the two as their faces went pale. Up until then, he had little clue as to what the nature of the 'trial' was to become a world-class adventurer, but death being on the table changed things.

Though death was a companion to him on this journey; it wasn't as though he grew out of fearing it, but he was callused to its dread. However, what he feared was what this meant for the one he was entering the trial alongside.

"Melisande…" He glanced back.

"I can accept that," Melisande affirmed.

"--What?" Emilio looked at her in surprise.

The silver-haired girl smiled confidently, though there was clearly fear hidden in her lips, "I knew what I was getting into when I chose to go with you. The kind of courage to face something like this…that's what Joel taught me most of all. Besides, I can handle myself–don't worry. Besides, I remembered what my brother wanted to do…"

"What Joel wanted to do…?" Emilio looked at her.

Melisande looked at him with her glistening eyes, nodding, "He wanted to be a world-class adventurer, but he chose not to so he could look after me…The reason he wanted to be able to venture the world was to find our father."

"Your father? I thought–well…" He withdrew what he was going to say.

"Don't worry…Honestly, I've accepted for a long time that he's probably gone. But, Joel idolized him…Father is a world-class adventurer himself, he's the entire reason Joel became one, and I guess…that extends to me, too," Melisande told him, "So, I'll carry on that will–I'll find my father."

It was difficult for him to swallow, though he knew he had little right in denying the way she felt as he slowly nodded with a smile, facing the receptionist again.

"We'd like to apply," Emilio told the elven man.

Hesitant for a moment, a small, gentle smile was held by the man as he held out his hand, "Alright, then, young travelers, the fee is two thrones."

As he was about to rummage through his pouch of coins to retrieve the fee, he remembered the peculiar coin gifted to him by the red-haired adventurer, instead retrieving it and setting it on the man's hand.

"Will this work?" Emilio asked.

The elven man was surprised, adjusting his glasses as he studied the sword-etched coin, "This is more than enough–for the two of you, actually. Are you sure you'd like to pay with this?"

He was surprised to find it covered the cost of both, but happily nodded, finally following through with the investment the man made, "Yes!"

After paying the fee, Emilio and Melisande were given contracts to sign; it required their names, ages, birthplaces, skills, and aspirations. At the very bottom, a magic-enforced waver needed to be signed in the event of death through the trial.

"Alright…this is it," Emilio said, finishing signing, "After we turn these papers in…there's no going back."

"Yeah," Melisande agreed, feeling the weight of it.

As they slowly turned the signed documents into the receptionist, the elven man read them over before reaching behind his desk, retrieving two separate keys.

What's that? Emilio thought.

Leaning over the desk, the kind receptionist pointed to a hall to the left, third from the right and between multiple, busy questboards, "Rooms two-zero-eight and two-zero-nine; that is where you will stay for the night. You're free to eat as you'd like, but first thing in the morning, you two will be fetched along with the other recruits for the trial. Best of luck, young travelers. May the winds carry you forth."

For some reason, he expected the trial to begin right after signing up, though he preferred it this way after an eventful day.

"Thank you," Emilio told the man with a smile.

–

Passing by hole-in-the-wall bars laid out for adventurers who cooled down from their arduous adventurers, the two who aspired to be like those who lingered in their worn armor went into the lengthy corridor of rooms to search for their temporary lodging.

"Guess we should rest up for the big day tomorrow," he said.

"Yeah, we should," Melisande responded.

Their rooms were directly across from another, with him taking the key to "208" and Melisande taking the key to "209".

"Hey, err–" he stopped the girl.

"Hm?" Melisande glanced back with the key still in the door.

"Want to see what they've got for dinner? You know, after a bath…I think one is called for after being in those swamps," Emilio shuffered.

"Yeah, you're definitely right on that…" Melisande wryly chuckled, "but sure!"

"Alright," he smiled.

As they parted ways for the time being, he entered his designated room, finding it surprisingly comfortable-looking for a place meant to be lodging for adventurers. At least, there was a cozy-seeming bed and a window that peered out to the mystical scenery.

Okay…operation: bathtime, he thought.

Just traveling through the Styx High Swamps was like walking through the repellant of a skunk, prompting him to hop into the bath and soak himself in soap.

"...That's the stuff…" He said, sinking into the warm water as he relaxed.

After nearly falling asleep and drowning as water infiltrated his nostrils, he took that as a kind enough signal to get out and dry off. Scrubbing his body down with a towel, he realized that he no longer had a change of clothes–just the clothes he arrived in, his journal, sword, and staff as his belongings.

Great…I forgot the lich tore through the carriage, he thought.

Tossing his clothes on, he let out a sigh as he finally sat down on the bed, relaxing for a moment as he took in where he finally was.

It was the last step, or the calm before that final, daunting step, at least. Sitting on that bed within the illustrious Guild Foundation, he found himself reminiscing of what it took to get there.

…It's been a long few months, but I'm almost there, he thought.

After making sure he no longer smelled like the stomach-churning mildew of the swamps, he left his room to meet with Melisande for dinner.

"I'm totally sore…scrub, scrub, scrub…" Melisande groaned.

Moving down the hall together, they passed by open rooms, allowing Emilio to see various adventurers training in their rooms–swinging swords, reading grimoires, or cleaning their armor. Though the cities had a high density of adventurers, it was new to see a place mainly occupied to them to such an extent.

I guess I didn't really understand what this place was, he thought, the 'Guild Foundation' is like a giant hub for adventurers and quest activity? I didn't think there'd be lodging for adventurers, though.

"Let's just hope there's something good to eat here," Emilio sighed, "If we're heading into danger tomorrow, I'd at least like a final supper."

"Don't talk like that–negativity brings negative results," Melisande reprimanded him.

"Right, right," he replied.

Heading into the lobby, there were multiple outlets for dinner through separate establishments settled into the Guild Foundation itself. There was a courtyard within the massive interior, set specifically as a hub for meals.

It's sorta like a mall, he thought.

As was the nature of adventures, coming from around the world, there was something for everyone; the savory, large portions of meat and gravy that were of Milligarde, health-conscious salads and pastries from Vasmoria, and what Emilio recognized as chinese cuisine that was supposedly native to Danxia.

Though these were only the types of food he could recognize, as the other restaurants were out of his scope of knowledge with other kingdoms in mind.