Chapter 6: A New Beginning
The next morning, the guild was alive with energy. The sound of boots clattering, voices chattering, and adventurers gearing up for the day filled the large hall. Lila and Zora stepped inside, entering into the busy crowd. Lila's hands were tightly clenched, her nervousness written all over her face. Beside her, Zora stood steady, his calm exterior hiding his own worries. The guildmaster, stood at the front of the room, holding a long scroll. As he stepped forward, the room quieted, all eyes on him. He cleared his throat, his deep voice echoing through the hall.
"It's time to announce the results of yesterday's trials," he began. Lila's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't help but fidget, her excitement and anxiety mixing together. Zora glanced at her and smiled softly. The guildmaster began calling out names one by one, pausing after each announcement to let the crowd react. Finally, he reached the end of the list. "And last but not least," he said, his voice growing louder, "Lila!" Lila felt her breath caught in her throat. "Congratulations. You've passed the trials and are now officially a D-Rank Adventurer!"
The room broke into applause for the new adventurers, and for Lila, it felt like the entire world was cheering for her. She jumped up, her face lighting up with pure joy. Holding up her shiny new adventurer card, she turned to Zora. "I did it, Papa! I did it!" she exclaimed, spinning around in excitement. Zora chuckled, reaching out to pat her head. "Yes, you did. Congratulations, Lila."
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To celebrate the big achievement, Zora took Lila to a popular restaurant in town. The place was lively, filled with adventurers boasting about their missions, merchants haggling over goods, and townsfolk sharing laughter over hearty meals. The rich aroma of roasted meats and freshly baked bread filled the air.
Lila's eyes sparkled as she looked at the menu. "Can I order whatever I want?" she asked eagerly. Zora smirked. "Within reason. Don't go ordering the whole menu." They both laughed as Lila settled on a feast of grilled chicken, vegetable stew, and a slice of apple pie for dessert. She dug into her meal with enthusiasm, savoring every bite. As they ate, Zora raised his glass of juice. "This is your first step toward your dreams, Lila. But remember, the road ahead won't be easy. Be careful, don't get overconfident, and always stay true to yourself. If you ever need to stop, you can always come back home." Lila nodded, though her attention was more on her pie than his advice. "Are you even listening?" Zora teased, raising an eyebrow. "I am! I promise!" Lila replied, her voice muffled by a mouthful of food. Her wide grin made them both laugh.
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As the day went on, reality began to sink in. Lila's new responsibilities meant she'd need to stay in the town to take on guild missions. Zora, realizing this, felt a load of sadness but knew it was the right thing for her. Together, they spent the afternoon looking at apartments. They visited some luxuries places, which they could not afford to cheap place which didn't seem it could hold on any longer, as their search continued.
They visited a few more places, but none felt quite right until they stumbled upon a small, cozy apartment near the southern part of the town. It had a single bedroom, a tiny kitchen, and a snug living space. The simplicity of it appealed to both of them. "This is perfect!" Lila exclaimed, spinning around the room. The landlord, a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes, entered the conversation. "It's a nice place, but I have a strict rule: no one under 18 can live here alone." Lila's excitement faltered. "Oh…" Before she could say another word, Zora stepped in smoothly. "Don't worry. I'll be staying here with her." Lila's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?!" Ignoring her protest, Zora quickly signed the paperwork.
That evening, as they settled into the apartment, Lila sat cross-armed, glaring at Zora. "You knew about that rule, didn't you?" Zora shrugged, pretending to be innocent. "It's just a lucky coincidence." Lila groaned but eventually gave up. "Fine. But you can't interfere with my guild missions. Promise?" Zora smiled. "Of course. Whatever you say." Though he agreed, Zora's mind was already racing with ways to keep an eye on her without her knowing. That night, Lila struggled to sleep. Her mind was buzzing with excitement as she thought about her future as an adventurer. She couldn't wait to take on her first mission and prove herself even more.
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When dawn arrived, she was up and ready in record time. Zora, still dazed, followed her to the guild, yawning as he walked. Inside, the mission board was filled with requests ranging from simple delivery tasks to dangerous monster hunts. Lila scanned the board eagerly, her eyes landing on a mission she liked. "This one!" she said, pointing to a task that involved gathering herbs from a nearby forest. She rushed to the receptionist's desk to accept the mission.
The receptionist took a look at the mission paper and then at Lila. "I'm sorry, but as a D-Rank adventurer, you're required to form a party of at least three people for most missions. You can't take this on alone." Lila froze, her excitement draining away. "What? I didn't know that…" The receptionist offered her an understanding smile. "Don't worry. You'll find other adventurers to team up with. Everyone starts somewhere." Lila turned away from the desk. She had been so excited to get started, and now she was faced with an unexpected challenge. Zora, who had been watching quietly from a corner, approached her. "What's wrong?" he asked, though he already knew. "I have to form a party," Lila muttered, her frustration clear. "I thought I could handle missions on my own." Zora placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You'll figure it out. Maybe this is a chance to meet new people and learn from them. You don't have to do everything alone, you know." Lila sighed but nodded. "I guess you're right."