6 - Aria's Memories

A blurry figure stood before Aria, their form flickering like a mirage. She strained to see them, but their features remained just out of reach. Yet, something about them felt... familiar. More figures emerged, shadows shifting in the haze, their voices distant—urgent, gentle, maybe even sorrowful.

She focused, trying to make sense of the words, and for a fleeting moment, clarity cut through the fog.

Then—darkness.

Aria's eyes snapped open. The dream dissolved like mist under the morning sun, leaving behind a hollow sense of loss.

She lay still, blinking as her vision adjusted to the dimly lit room. A faint rustling of fabric reached her ears, followed by approaching footsteps. Then, a voice—clear this time, not muffled by the dream.

"You're awake. Good."

Aria turned her head, her gaze landing on a woman in a crisp white uniform. A nurse.

For a moment, she remained motionless, caught between the fading fragments of her dream and the reality before her.

Had it been a dream? A memory? It had felt real, but the details slipped through her fingers like sand.

She exhaled, pushing the thoughts aside, and sat up. "Where... am I?"

"Dragon Bone Headquarters," the nurse replied, placing a neatly folded set of clothes on the bedside table. "You've been asleep for a few hours. As you know, we took your measurements earlier today, so here—these should fit."

Aria glanced at the clothes, then back at the nurse. Confusion still lingered, but there was no use dwelling on things that made no sense.

She stretched with a yawn, rolling her shoulders.

The nurse cleared her throat. "Ahem. Aria, right?"

Aria nodded. "Mhm, that's right. What is it?"

"Go to the restroom over there and get dressed." The nurse gestured to a door in the infirmary marked Restrooms This Way.

Aria tilted her head slightly, puzzled by the sudden instruction—until a strange feeling settled in her gut. She looked down.

Her breath hitched.

Heat rushed to her face as she hastily pulled the thin blanket up to cover herself. "Why… why am I naked?!"

The nurse closed her eyes briefly, a gesture of respect. "Well… earlier, when I came in to wake you, you threw your robe at me—hard enough that it hit the wall... it had also made a crack in the wall. I thought you were waking up, but then the power flickered. Due to certain restrictions, no medical staff can assist or dress a patient during an electrical failure… It's a protocol we set up after an incident a few years ago."

Aria stared at her, then sighed, rubbing her temple. "I-I see…"

She grabbed the clothes and hurried toward the restroom, muttering under her breath. A few minutes later, she emerged, adjusting her sleeves. "These fit perfectly," she admitted, rolling her shoulders.

The nurse gave a small nod. "Good."

Without another word, she turned and exited the room, likely to check on another patient.

Now dressed, Aria stepped out as well.

She spent the next hour and a half wandering the Guild, familiarizing herself with the layout. Eventually, she found herself in front of a door labeled Halstein's Office.

She knocked.

"Come in," came the gruff response.

Aria entered, spotting Halstein behind a cluttered desk. She took a seat, tilting her head slightly. "So… uhm, what happens now that I've registered with the Guild?"

Halstein leaned back in his chair. "There are several paths you can take. The most common is gate raiding—portals that started appearing seven years ago. No one knows why, but we're working on it. Then there's the option of becoming a Guild Receptionist, handling new applicants. You could also travel the world under specific regulations."

He tapped the desk. "On rare occasions, dungeons appear. Unlike gates, dungeons are a lot more unpredictable—higher mortality rates, stronger enemies, and, on the upside, better rewards. You might even come across rare creatures whose remains can be harvested for a hefty sum. Miners usually handle that part, taking a cut from every part of the corpse they salvage."

Aria listened carefully, absorbing the information. "Hm… so what exactly are gates?"

Halstein exhaled and pulled three folders from a stack, sliding them toward her. "These are the current gates you're eligible for. All E-rank—the easiest tier. Best way to learn is by experiencing one firsthand."

She picked up the reports, flipping through them, she soon stood up from the chair, "Can I take these with me to read over later?" 

"Sure, I don't mind at all." Halstein replied quickly before going back to signing off on different documents. 

Aria walked to the door and left the office before finding her way to her room that Halstein had prepared as every other guild member has a room. 

Aria stepped into room 331, her gaze immediately drawn to the dark purple walls and the emerald-green sheets neatly spread across the bed.

"Did they customize the room to match my hair and eyes? …How strange." She murmured under her breath before moving toward the nearby desk. Setting down the three folders she carried, she picked up the first one and flipped it open.

"Spider's Invasion."

Her eyes scanned the contents, skimming past the mission details until she landed on the reward.

"$2,500.00."

She furrowed her brows and read further, noting that the amount was to be split among four people.

"So that's… $625 per person?" A sigh escaped her lips. The number was far less impressive than she'd hoped.

Setting the first folder aside, she grabbed the second and flipped it open.

"Danger Cliff of November."

She blinked. "What the hell?" The name alone was enough to give her pause.

Having her curiosity piqued, she read aloud:

"An island-mountain type gate with dangerously high water levels and constant heavy rainfall. Cliff conditions are treacherous, making any climb toward the top a deadly risk. The monsters inside are classified as unknown. Their weaknesses—unknown. The gate boss—also unknown…"

Aria exhaled sharply, her fingers tightening around the folder. "Not much to go on… but the payout is a lot better."

Her gaze drifted to the reward section.

"$6,500."

She did the quick math. "Split between three people… that's about $2,166 each."

A better sum, but the lack of information made it an undeniable gamble.

Still in thought, she reached for the third folder, but the moment her eyes landed on the reward, she immediately set it back down.

"$1,500."

Split between three people.

"It's probably the safest option, considering the pay is the lowest… but from what I remember, money is pretty important for survival."

Her gaze lingered on the two higher-paying raids, "Spider's Invasion" and "Danger Cliff of November," weighing the risks against the rewards.

Aria sat at the desk for hours, her fingers idly tapping against the surface as she weighed her options. The sun had long since set, and the room was now illuminated only by the soft glow of the overhead light.

Her eyes flickered between the folders—"Spider's Invasion" and "Danger Cliff of November."

"Even if the payout is higher for the Danger Cliff whatever, there's too much risk. If I slip up, I might not make it out at all."

She exhaled, leaning back in her chair.

"I mean, I guess"Spider's Invasion" isn't exactly enticing either, but at least the information is a lot more clearer. The dangers are known, the team size is also larger, and the survival rate—at least in comparison—seems far more favorable for me." She said to herself before sighing once again.

"The reward is lower, but I'd rather make less and live than gamble on something I know nothing about."

With that thought, her decision was made.

Aria reached for the "Spider's Invasion" folder and pulled it toward her, closing the others.

She left her room and made her way to the reception desk, the "Spider's Invasion" folder in hand. She approached one of the receptionists and placed it on the counter.

"I'd like to take this one," she said, her gaze drifting across the lobby as she spoke.

The receptionist gave a quick nod before settling into her chair, fingers gliding across the keyboard as she registered Aria for the upcoming raid.

"You're all set. The raid is scheduled for next Friday. Until then, be sure to rest and enjoy your time. Best of luck to you!" She offered a polite smile before turning to assist another visitor at a nearby desk.

Aria gave a small nod in response before heading back to her room. As soon as she reached her bed, she sat down, testing the feel of the mattress beneath her. Slowly, she laid back, sinking into the fabric.

"Not bad…"

She closed her eyes for what felt like only a moment, but exhaustion had already settled in. Within seconds, sleep took over, pulling her into the depths of unconsciousness.