Chapter Twenty-One: "Victor"

As soon as Nevales arrives at the gate of the Adventurers Guild, he finds no guards or even adventurers standing guard. It was quiet on the outside, but he began to hear a noise coming from the inside before he even opened the door. Sounds of laughter, shouts, and quick talk among a number of adventurers.

He muttered to himself, raising an eyebrow:

"Oh... It looks very vital inside."

Then, he pushed the door open, revealing a completely different world.

The main hall was bustling with activity, filled with the voices of numerous adventurers gathered in various groups—eating, discussing, or boasting about their adventures. Magical lights flickered in different colors, adding both a mystical and chaotic ambiance to the place.

The first thing that caught his attention was the sheer size of the hall—a vast space with a high ceiling supported by massive stone pillars, intricately carved with ancient designs. Magical torches lined the walls, casting a faint blue glow that added an aura of mystery and power.

In the center of the hall, long wooden tables were scattered across the floor, where adventurers sat drinking, chatting loudly, or bragging about their achievements in an exaggerated manner.

Large mission boards were mounted on the walls, covered with countless requests categorized by difficulty—monster hunts, caravan protection, ruin explorations, and even dangerous missions that required full teams. Behind these boards was a massive glass counter where guild employees sat, handling requests and processing adventurers' applications.

At the far end of the hall, a wide staircase adorned with elegant carvings led to the upper floors, where high-ranking adventurers and team leaders gathered. Behind the staircase, two massive doors opened into an internal training arena, where adventurers could test their skills or engage in sparring matches. The distant sound of clashing metal and excited shouts echoed from within.

However, the most striking feature of the hall was a colossal statue standing in its center—a swordsman wielding two blades, one engulfed in flames and the other covered in ice. The statue was sculpted with breathtaking precision, as if the figure had once been a living legend.

This alone was enough to ignite Nevalis's curiosity.

Taking in the scene before him, he smirked slightly and muttered,

"Lively? More like a war market."

He approached the massive statue, already having an idea of who it represented. He didn't need to read the golden inscription beneath it—but he did anyway.

"Founder of the Adventurers' Guild, one of the heroes of the War of Blood and Fate, the Master of Ice and Fire, the Sword of Annihilation—Alexander Valerius Reinhardt."

Nevalis smiled faintly.

"Oh... just as I thought. One of the great war heroes from 150 years ago."

The statue exuded an undeniable presence, befitting a man who had fought for humanity's survival. Just imagining that such a person had once walked this very land sent a thrill through him. He had always been fascinated by legendary figures who left their mark on history.

As he admired the statue, he heard approaching footsteps. He turned slightly to see a young woman dressed in the guild's uniform walking toward him with a warm smile.

"It seems the founder's statue has caught your attention," she said.

Without looking away from the statue, Nevalis replied,

"Oh, yes. I have an interest in heroic figures."

She chuckled.

"Haha, everyone who comes here is drawn to that statue. It is, after all, the guild's symbol."

Then, she looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"So, how can I assist you?"

Nevalis responded directly,

"I want to join a team as a trainee."

"Oh, I see. Then follow me—we need to fill out some paperwork."

She led him to one of the counters, where she took out a few forms and began recording his details.

"May I have your name?"

Without hesitation, Nevalis replied,

"Victor."

Of course, it wouldn't be wise to use his real name.

"Have you undergone aura or magic aptitude testing before?"

Pretending to hesitate for a moment, he then said,

"Uh... actually, I know a little about swordsmanship."

"Very good. Now—"

Before she could continue, Nevalis interrupted her in a calm tone,

"And I can also use magic."

The girl's hand froze mid-writing. She looked up at him again, as if trying to confirm what she had just heard. She stared at him intently, but all she saw was a seemingly normal fifteen-year-old boy.

Nevalis had a tall frame for his age, short black hair tied at the back, piercing black eyes, and slightly tanned skin—all thanks to the bracelet on his left wrist that altered his appearance. A sword hung at his waist, giving him a disciplined and powerful look.

"Are you sure you can use magic? There will be penalties if you're lying," she warned.

Nevalis didn't answer with words. Instead, he calmly raised his hand and released a gentle breeze that swept past her face, causing her hair to flutter slightly.

Her eyes widened in astonishment. She whispered,

"Wind magic..."

Then, after a brief moment of shock, her face lit up with excitement.

"Amazing! You can use magic at such a young age? That's incredible! I'll make sure you're placed in an excellent team!"

She quickly resumed writing, but once again, Nevalis spoke in a quiet voice,

"Excuse me, but... I can also use fire magic."

Her hand froze once more. Then, she suddenly shot up from her chair, staring at him as if she had seen a ghost.

"A dual-element mage...?!"

Before he could even respond, she hurriedly excused herself,

"Please wait here for a moment!"

Then, she disappeared behind one of the doors in a rush.

Nevalis had expected this reaction. He could have simply shown his wind magic, and with his swordsmanship skills, he would have been assigned to one of the best available teams.

But he didn't just want a good placement—he wanted to reach his goal as quickly as possible.

A few minutes later, the girl returned, practically running, her face a mix of nervousness and excitement.

"Please, follow me. The current Guild Master wants to meet you."

Nevalis raised an eyebrow slightly. He had expected to meet a guild officer at most, but it seemed that luck was on his side today.

A faint smile played on his lips as he muttered,

"Excellent."