The First Step to Adventure

The trio stood just outside the grand Adventurer's Guild, the imposing building alive with activity. Adventurers of all kinds came and went through the tall, ornately carved doors—some boisterous and laughing, others wearing determined expressions as they exchanged whispers of dangerous quests. The sound of heavy boots on cobblestones mixed with the hum of conversations, while banners bearing the Guild's insignia flapped gently in the breeze. Aqua, Casial, and Adam waited patiently, their eyes occasionally flicking toward the flow of adventurers entering and exiting the guild.

Claire and Emilia finally arrived, their leisurely pace earning a mock scolding from Casial. "You took forever, Claire," he said, feigning impatience. "We've been waiting—now let's go already."

Claire, unfazed, simply rolled her eyes, her indifferent expression not betraying any rush. Emilia followed quietly behind, her usual shyness intact as they entered the bustling guild together.

A young guild worker approached them, her cheerful smile contrasting with the overwhelming din of the main hall. "Hello! My name is Lily. Are you here to post a request?" she asked politely.

"No," Aqua and Claire replied in unison. "We're here to register as adventurers."

Lily's eyes widened slightly in surprise as she looked over the group of five. Their youthfulness, combined with the distinct Academy uniforms they wore, stood out starkly among the hardened faces of seasoned adventurers milling about. Still, she maintained her composure and nodded. "Please follow me to the registration table. You'll need to fill out these forms, and we'll perform a mana check."

As they completed the forms, Lily's professional demeanor faltered briefly. Her eyes darted over the details, pausing when she realized the extraordinary nature of the young adventurers before her. Two Imperial twins, a duchy heir, and the successor to the richest county—all at one table. To add to the astonishment, four of them had four magic circles each, and one was even capable of commanding wind spirits.

She quickly masked her surprise and greeted them with a newfound air of respect. "It's an honor to have you here," she said, her voice tinged with reverence.

Casial, ever quick to break formality, waved her off with a disarming grin. "No need for all that. Let's just finish registering, shall we?"

One by one, they placed their hands on the mana-checking orb. The magical device hummed softly as it illuminated, confirming the information they had provided on the forms. Lily smiled as she handed over their adventurer cards. "Congratulations. Individually, you are ranked B, but as a party of five, you qualify to take on A-rank missions. However—" she paused, her expression turning slightly more serious.

Before she could continue, Casial interrupted eagerly. "Let's take an A-rank mission!" he declared enthusiastically.

Aqua raised a hand to stop him, his calm voice cutting through the moment. "Let's start with a B-rank mission first. Also, Casial, you should let Ms. Lily finish speaking—it's bad manners to interrupt," he added, a hint of firmness in his tone.

Casial blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before raising his hand in a mock salute. "Yes, Captain," he said, grinning. His playful response earned a small smile from Claire, who seemed pleasantly surprised by Aqua's ability to rein in her brother.

Lily nodded approvingly. "I also recommend starting with a B-rank mission. It's your first time, after all," she said warmly.

With everyone in agreement, Aqua led the way to the large mission board mounted on the far wall. The board was crowded with parchment slips detailing quests of varying difficulty, their edges curled slightly from handling. Adventurers gathered around, some animatedly debating the best options while others quietly considered their choices.

Aqua's eyes scanned the board carefully, taking in the descriptions of the missions. Casial and Adam leaned over his shoulders, occasionally pointing at options that caught their attention. The golden glow of oil lamps overhead cast soft shadows across their faces as they deliberated.

"What do you think about this one?" Aqua finally asked, his gaze landing on a particular mission slip.