The Guild

It was only a short walk to the guild from the castle. Inside it looked like a normal tavern, but one wall was covered in quests, the vast majority are for hunting, others are escorts and protective details. Zander walked to the main desk, "Hey is Escal open now."

Without looking up, the desk clerk spoke, "If you want an appointment with the guild master, please make one," The clerk looked up, "Oh I'm so sorry your majesty, I will see to it now."

The clerk ran upstairs, as the manager took her place, "So your majesty, I remember when you were just a kid. You haven't taken many hunting quests as you used too."

"Yeah, I got married, and I'm a father now. What about you Claire"

"Same old. So why are you here?" Claire answered

"Get this kid registered," Zander pointed at Scythe.

The clerk looked Scythe up and down, "really? You are using your connection with the master, to get this kid registered."

"I'm not asking for a free pass." Zander said, "He wants to earn it himself."

"Really," the clerk looked at Scythe, "so you want to do this?"

"Yeah."

From upstairs, "ZANDER IS HERE!" A moment later, someone came running down the stairs. "How have you been? I haven't talked much with you since the dragon we killed in the western mountains, have you heard more about the other things."

"Yeah, Escal, it's been two years now. With that, it's been quiet."

"So is that the boy in question?" Escal asked, "He is quite young-looking."

"Escal, he gave me a good match this morning?" Astela said.

"You, The Lightning Blade herself, damn I might need to go a match with the kid, I haven't had a good thill in a while. Miss Claire, could you open my afternoon, I'll be the test fight."

"Sir, you are reserved for the higher classes. If a newbie fights you off the bat, he is already considered a high class."

"Well, it shouldn't take more than a quarter-hour, I'll be back shortly." Escal spoke loudly, "Come on Scythe and party."

Going into the back training room, "So to get a basic ranking you need to last at least a minute with me, to become a higher class, well last longer. Or in the event you win, I guarantee a high rank, but it's unlikely you will win."

Astela grabbed Scythe before he went into the ring, and whispered, "He is a knucklehead, don't play the long game, keep your head down."

"Thanks."

Walking into the ring, Scythe drew out his blade. The match started slow, testing each other. Trying for weak spots, learning the line.

Then at the drop of a coin, both launched in.

Scythe seemingly danced around the blade.

Escal had wide sweeping arcs.

Each fought, never connecting except for swords.

The intensity grew from a simple match to borderline fight to the death.

As each began to slow, strikes grew ever closer together, getting closer and closer to clothing and skin.

Both went for a kill strike, as a spear landed between the two blades. Each an inch away, Scythe's, against Escal's throat, and Escals massive blade, just over Scythes left shoulder. Each stopped by the red spear. "GUILD MASTER ESCAL! YOU HAVE APPOINTMENTS TO ATTEND TOO!" Miss Claire came barging in.

"Miss, uhh... Claire… I uhh got carried away by the fight."

"NO EXCUSES!" Miss Claire dragged Escal out. A lean figure in dark crimson armor, with a few white highlights, stepped in, "Zander, you bastard, you are back. That dragon was a hard kill, kid do I know you?" the armored man looked up.

"No, I don't think so."

"Calcifer." Zander, spoke in a turse tone.

"You look like someone I've seen, just can't recall where." the crimson knight shrugged, "Eh, you got some skills though, good match."

Calcifer stepped in, "Watch that bloodlust, my spear reacts to that." stepping back, and looking to the side, "From what I watched, I think you passed."

Miss claire walked back in, "Scythe you passed with flying colors. Escal would not stop."

"I'm sorry for taking him away from work."

"You don't need to apologize on his behalf. You are just a kid, with a Guild Rank, A-nine."

"I don't understand." Scythe said

"You didn't teach him anything about the guild?" Claire looked at Zander, "The guild has different ranks for letting people take on missions." Claire started to talk for a while.

E and F rank guard the walls, and with hunting each rank can hunt anything, but are strongly recommended for goblins and rats. D and C ranks are short-range patrols around the city and at night, for hunting, Kobolds and undead. B and A ranks, guard high-level politicians, drakes, and wyverns. And S rank, are allowed to do almost anything, but even so, dragons are a difficult hunt for any party. "... I think that covers everything. Any questions Scythe?" Claire asked finishing up her explanation.

"No, none yet."

"Even though you have an A-Rank, don't hunt drakes or wyverns until you get a lay of the land. This is the north, there are so many mountains here and even deeper crevices."

"Thanks," Scythe turned to Zander, "Should I start with goblins then?"

"I would say yes, but you can easily take care of those, especially with that fire magic."

"HE'S A MAGE!" Astela gasped, "that has to be wyvern shit."

"I can do some little magic," Scythe waved his hand like the memory, and a soft yellow flame appeared.

"Well it was way bigger than that," Zander said, "It was almost at Liziala's level."

"He knows Conflagration?" Astela asked

"No, it's just a basic fire spell, Fire." Scythe answered.

"You had me fooled," Astela spoke.

"And then there were more unknowns." Calcifer commented.

"Cal, that was uncalled for." Zander spoke, "he is just a kid."

"I know, we need a chance to talk soon, just the two of us." Calcifer said, "Certain things have come to light."

"Thanks." Zander looked down, "Astela, stay here with Scythe and explore the town, Cal and I are heading back to the castle."

"Can do," Astela said.

The party split up, Astela and Scythe walked into the front, looking for a relatively new party to adventuring. "When on a hunt, it's good to have people with specific jobs, both of us are middle guards, Escal and Zander are vanguard tanks. The person my brother mentioned, Liziala, is a mage she will be in the middle of the formation."

"But what about side attacks?" Scythe asked

"Those… It's why you want faster fighters or even Rangers. To react to those."

Hours passed, Scythe and Astela chatted for most of it. "Well, I don't think there is anyone new today, except for you. We should leave, it's midday now."

"Okay." Scythe stood up, and felt a hand on his back, Looking behind him it was a little girl. "Hey, are you okay?" Scythe asked

"Who are you talking-- Oh, hey." Astela turned around.

"Are you lost?" Scythe asked.

"I don't know." The girl said, "I can't find mom."

"Would you like help to find her?"

"Mmhmm." The girl rubbed her eyes.

"Well let's start looking, should we ask Claire?" Scythe looked at Astela.

Astela nodded, Scythe spoke to the young girl, "We are going to that nice lady over there, would you like to come with us?"

"Yeah."

Walking over to Claire, Scythe asked "Hey Claire, do you know her mom?"

Claire looked down at the girl, and signaled Scythe to move a little closer, "Her mom… Ifera Serao'ryan has been missing for a while now, we don't know where she is. Just that she left for a hunting quest a two weeks ago, the town she went to is half a day away. She is assumed to be dead."

Scythe froze after hearing that. "What was her rank?" Astela asked.

"A D class, she just got on her feet, I think she went after a goblin hunt solo. You should bring the girl to the church near the wall, the people there are kind."

"Thank you," Astela said, "Scythe lets go."

"What mission did she take?" Scythe suddenly spoke, "She might still be alive."

"It's low but possible," Claire stepped back for a moment, "here, this is the quest, I wish you the best. And bring this amulet with you"

"Thank you, after we bring her there, let's go and take care of the mission Astela." Scythe stopped,

"Wait what is this amulet?"

"It'll track your kills, so if you do a mission, it'll track that you did it."

"Thanks."

"Let me send a message to my brother, then we will go."

Astela left the message with Claire, bringing the girl to the church, Scythe seemed rushed. Almost panicked. By early afternoon, Scythe and Astela got on horses and started riding at a fast pace.