“Welcome. New recruits from the look of ye. What can I help you with.” The man greeted in a strong and confident voice. "The name is Zanif."
Eldin closed the doors behind them and joined Lumina to stand across from the headmaster. He handed Zanif their papers.
Taking the applications, Zanif eyed the two youth, “You seem to have had a strict upbringing. Your posture and attitude attest to that.” Standing up and grabbing the papers, Zanif started looking through the forms. Quickly scanning the information on them as he rounded his desk. The man was half a head shorter than Lumina, but he had a certain presence that demanded respect.
“Hmmm… Lumina, no surname, and Eldin Woodman.” He paused briefly once he was standing next to Eldin. “Woodman.” He muttered to himself obviously thinking. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he gave a large grin as he looked up at Eldin. “Milli’s boy is finally grown up. No wonder you’re so fit at your age. She probably put you through the ringer.”
Neither Eldin nor Lumina responded. Zanif chuckled, finally realizing what was happening, “Relax. You can speak. This isn’t the military and I’m not your mom; you’re looking to become mercenaries.” He paused briefly, “I mean adventurers.” Setting down Eldin’s form on his desk, he retained Lumina’s as he read through it again. “Hmm… a Fereece wearing that same dress. You must be Lucina’s daughter. A surprise indeed. I assume you suffered the same as Eldin?”
“Worse actually.” Eldin stated almost chuckling.
Lumina explained further, “We trained together when we were younger. But the last 2 years I trained exclusively with Milli, while Eldin studied under his father.”
Looking the two over, Zanif noted Eldin’s elementalist badge, “I see. Even with Elrin’s guidance, becoming an elementalist at the age of…” He glanced over at Eldin’s paper briefly, “uhh 18. Is unheard of.” Walking back over to stand in front of Lumina; he began examining her from top to bottom. “Been years since we last had a Fereece join the guild. The last being your mother some 20 years ago.” Walking back to his desk and taking a seat he motioned for both of them to sit as well.
Once the two were seated, Zanif spoke, “I have no problem accepting the two of you into the guild. If you are anything like your parents, I would be a fool not to take you. However. Most of the men that worked with your parents are either dead or retired someplace. I hope you aren’t expecting any type of recognition.”
“We are not sir.” Eldin replied.
“Good. On to the next issue.” Zanif directed his attention to Lumina, “Not only are you a female, but you are also a Fereece. Most of the merce… I mean adventurers you come across won’t take you seriously nor will they be inclined to work with you. You’ve got a major battle ahead of you if you want them to accept you.”
Grabbing a small block of wood from his desk and dipping it in a tray of ink, Zanif stamped his seal of approval on both their forms before sliding them back. “Welcome to the Gildale Mercen… Adventurers Guild. Take those papers back to Raymi and she’ll get you settled.”
Stolen novel; please report.
Eldin’s curiosity got the better of him wanting to know why Zanif had changed the guild. “If I may ask a question. Why’d you switch from hiring mercenaries to adventurers?”
The old guild master chuckled, “Was my daughter’s idea. You know the colorful gal downstairs. She’s got a knack for business and persuading people.”
“I’ve never heard of an adventurer’s guild.” Eldin remarked taking note that Raymi was this man’s daughter.
“Of course, you ain’t. The Adventurer’s Guild is the first of its kind. Before any of this, I was focused on what I grew up doing, being a merc. But after the world settled down, business dried up pretty quick. Ever since my daughter convinced me to make the change two years ago, business been booming and now she is being called on by various cities around the continent to explain her idea.”
“It does seem quite revolutionary.” Lumina chimed in not wanting to be left out of the conversation.
“You won’t see me complaining so long as the crystal keeps coming in.” Zanif chuckled.
Eldin thanked the guild master for his time and he and Lumina went back downstairs to deliver their papers.
“Congratulations on being accepted. Here are your badges.” Raymi exclaimed as she handed both of them a leather patch embedded with copper plate in the center as well as a pamphlet describing how guild ranking worked.
Adventurer Guild Rankings
Copper: Given to those that have joined the guild.
Iron: Received after completing 25 jobs
Silver: Received after completing 100 iron rank jobs
Gold: Received after completing 200 silver rank jobs
-Gildale Adventurer's Guild Pamphlet
With their cheap looking badges obtained, both of them decided to tie it onto their belts. Looking at a nearby board, they found numerous requests all written on paper posted under different categories based on rank. Looking at the copper ranked section Eldin was less than enthused.
“Find missing cat. Deliver goods to the appointed person. Transport crates at the docks.” He read aloud as he stopped to look at one last one. “Clean the city sewers.” He read more details on the job laughing to himself knowing that Lumina would never take such a job.
As he continued to read through it, he realized that it was probably the best job on the board for someone of his rank. It asked specifically that slimes be eradicated from the sewers. Which meant actual fighting to some degree.”
Slimes are an amalgamation of energy that bundles together taking on aspects of their environment. This combination of energy and random matter gives slimes an incredibly wide range of presentation.
While not considered sentient, a slime’s nature draws them to other sources of highly concentrated energy, like settlements and especially cities. Slimes will also attract other existing slimes causing these creatures to merge and become larger.
-Faline's Complete Bestiary, vol. I
Grabbing the paper so no one else could take the job, Eldin moved to confirm his selection with Raymi. As far as pay went, 30 crystal for something as easy as slime extermination was great. He could get the entire job done in half a day. In front of him however, Stephen was back and blocking his path back to the table while he talked to Lumina.
“Hey Eldin!” Lumina said excitedly as she pulled him over, “Stephen here says he’d be more than happy to give us the payment for this hunt he is on if we join him.”
“Joining your party? Or helping you with your job?” Eldin asked making sure that he was on the same page.
“For helping. You already formed a party with your friend. I wouldn’t want to break it up.” The knight clarified. “I really wished he hadn’t formed a party.” Stephen thought slightly peeved.
“What’s the catch?” Eldin asked causing Lumina to feel a little embarrassed about his suspicion towards the nice knight.
Stephen laughed at the obvious distrust, “No catch. Just trying to help a fellow guildmate who just started.”
There was definitely a hidden agenda, and Eldin didn’t like agreeing to something that he didn’t have the full details too. Sadly, Lumina was too excited to go on a hunt. Making it difficult for him to decline the generous offer. “Fine. We’ll help you on your hunt.” He replied begrudgingly.