Chapter 3
Author Note
Wanted to add a bit extra but just ended up leaving it as is. Enjoy!
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The life of a Guild worker is boring. Rushes of adrenaline are few and far between, and all that awaits you is the consistent and monotonous life of a salary worker. But boring was good; after all, in this line of work, excitement meant the next disaster had emerged or another adventurer had gotten killed.
That's how life was for the various guild workers. Repetitive, dull, unchanging and that's how they enjoyed it. The security of going through the motions just to make it through another day was pleasant. After all, the myriad of paperwork that came with every significant accident was enough to make anyone drop dead.
Orario had just gone through its most significant loss after the fall of the Zeus and Hera Familia, just a few months prior.
The Nightmare on the 27th Floor
The event had dissuaded many aspiring adventurers and killed off most, if not all the older veterans. Adventuring had become less than desirable with the instability of industry; the Freya and Loki Familia had barely stabilised themselves after the massive power vacuum, and with many of their older members dead, the younger generations had no one to look to for guidance.
Orario was placed in a difficult situation, and while the levelling-up of renown adventurers such as ⌜King⌟ and ⌜Braver⌟ brought about awe and assurance to the citizens, unless proper peace was given, tensions would continue to rise.
Rehmer had no desire to work overtime at the guild when his next break was due. His counter was empty, with most of the adventurers choosing to line up behind the counters of his female companions. Just as he was about to clock out and leave the counter, a new client made their way to his desk. He was undeniably young, as his youthful face betrayed the mop of ashen grey hair that sat atop his head.
While Rehmer was not unused to seeing young aspiring combatants, he was certainly taken aback at the timing of his registration, especially after the thousands of deaths that happened not so long ago. Orario was still mourning its losses, and the guild was still trying to recuperate and account for all the deaths. The boys' violet eyes were frankly unnerving, as if there was an undercurrent of omniscience underneath. No matter, his job was to help potential clients and see to it that everything proceeded smoothly. Internally, he hoped the process wouldn't take long, as his long-awaited break was calling out to him.
As the child's footsteps stopped right in front of his counter, he began to recite the standard introduction for all guild workers.
"Good morning, my name is Rehmer. what can I do for you dear customer?"
The boy spoke. Softly and slowly, as if to deliberately emphasise each and every word coming out of his mouth. He spoke in a tone that suggested someone older was behind the face. Perhaps he was a pallum, instead of a young boy.
Nonetheless, he asked to be given a basic rundown of Orario. Nothing too unusual considering many hopeful adventurers came from outside of Orario's walls; usually knowing next to nothing about the inner workings of the city.
Sighing to himself, Rehmer contemplated pushing his inquiries onto someone else, knowing the amount of time it takes to sate the curiosity of new customers.
Unfortunately, the rest of his co-workers were already busy with their own clients, so with no one left to give the boy to he gestured to the unoccupied small booths in the guild building, hoping to answer all the boys' questions before his break started.
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"So what you're saying is, to legally enter the dungeon underneath the Tower of Babel as an underaged adventurer I need to obtain a Falna and join a Familia. A Falna being the blessing of a God and a Familia being the collection of blessed individuals a god or goddess has obtained."
The guild worker, Rehmer he recalls sigh's once again as Moriah regurgitates exactly what he had just said a few moments earlier. Nodding in affirmation a few moments later at his statement.
Moriah was exasperated at this newfound knowledge. This array of new information combined with his sudden arrival in the city, which he now knew as Orario, strained the remaining reserves of mental energy he held. His hand snaked its way up to his neck pulling at the edges of his collar in resignation. However. He was determined to find a way to survive in this new world, after all what was the point of a second chance if he ended up just as miserable as his old life.
His head, which was dipped low, staring at the backs of his hands that rested on his lap slowly lifted. The violet eyes of his staring uncaringly at the guild worker.
"Then point me to the best Familia"
Rehmer shivered. He saw it. The same deadness under his eyes which he saw on dead adventurers, hoisted by stretchers out of the dungeon. Comrades next to comrades, laying lifeless as the people they left on the surface were abandoned and, in some instances, were left to suffer the consequences of their deaths.
The dull piercing of his eyes reflected the tranquilly of a frozen wasteland. It was frightening. How someone so young could house eyes so dead, they spoke of the unseen horrors of the world.
As a cool breeze made its way into the room, gently ruffling the curtains and tingling Rehmer's skin, he knew of only one Familia that already had experience with unique and unstable children. Pointing Moriah towards the Familia's home, giving a brief description of its appearance, Rehmer could only lament that he wasn't paid enough to deal with the troubles the boy would undoubtedly create.
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Moriah found himself alone once again, walking in the direction Rehmer had directed him towards. The pain in his right leg no longer exudes jolts of pain when leaned on. Although he found the lack of pain abnormal, his uncaring attitude dismissed the injury, merely thinking it had healed, as its inconvenience brought frustration to Moriah's attempts to walk earlier.
His conversation with Rehmer had gone better than expected. He had obtained essential information about this world that would help set the precedent of his future actions. Moriah's prior enlightenment on the existence of gods and goddesses meant he needed to be extra careful about his interactions with every individual, lest he gain the wrath of a powerful Familia. Furthermore, the levelling system in this world seemingly mimicked the RPG games of his previous world, except it was extremely difficult to level-up, as the individual with the current highest level is a level seven adventurer in the Freya Familia by the name of Ottar or most notably known as ⌜King⌟.
Thankfully, after learning about the most recent purge of adventurers that occurred by an organisation by the name of Evilus, gods and goddesses alike would most likely be looking for more adventurers to join their Familia. While it is cold hearted of him to take advantage of this mourning period, one man's loss is another man's opportunity.
Plus, Moriah didn't have much of a heart to begin with.
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He had finally made his way to the Familia's house. It was undoubtedly hard to miss and obnoxiously big; no doubt a flex and nod to the power and wealth they had accumulated. The massive plot of land was something akin to a fortress. A grand metal gate bordering a castle that hid behind its walls.
This was it. The home of the Loki Familia.
Moriah's vibrant eyes betrayed his weary expression as he internally began to muse whether becoming an Adventurer was worth the dangers and risks it brought. He had no desire to become a bona fide pack mule, nor did he wish for any sort of laborious jobs. He already had his fair share of long hours and piles of work given to him by his former superiors. However, the benefits of entering a renown Familia outweighed the negatives. Smaller Familia had longer work hours, had more expenses to worry about, and overall took more effort to maintain and manage.
Stronger Familia, however, were more likely to be afforded longer breaks despite the required quests the Guild made them fulfil, such as delving into deeper floors. It was unlikely he would ever need to adventure past levels that would endanger his life. But if he were, the Loki Familia would undoubtedly blitz through all the foes and ensure his safety in the lower levels.
Perhaps he could take on a more administrative role in the Familia, after all, such a large Familia most likely needed more intelligent individuals than one minded brutes to operate. Offering his management services would assure him of his welfare, and with no need to adventure in the dungeon, his free time would skyrocket. He would be free to do as he pleased. The thought of having free time was enticing—almost addictive. As he began to envision the soft and refreshing sensations of ruffled bed sheets, his mind wandered to all the fantasies he created when work became too gruelling to be fully conscious in the office. The ability to sleep without worry; only leaving when necessary, was the epitome of heaven. Unfortunately, such fantasies would have to wait until he was accepted into the Familia.
Moriah, still standing outside the gates of the Loki Familia caught up in his own world, was unaware his presence was swiftly agitating the guards outside, as his dead eyes, devoid of emotion, stared unmovingly at Twilight Manor. The guards could do nothing but stay rigid, heightening their senses to fully concentrate on any sudden actions.
Finally, he moved. A short intake of air was heard, wiping away the remaining vestiges of distraction that clouded his mind.
He spoke quietly, not above a whisper, yet indisputably clearer than the arcs of light peppering their faces underneath the cover of their metal helms.
"I wish to join the Loki Familia"
Resolutely, he faced the guards head-on. His head tilted up in slight arrogance but in a manner of elegance, and the once dull hue of his eyes began to chillingly shine brighter under the glare of the sun.