*Chapter 4: "Guilded Dreams (and Paperwork Nightmares)"**

The village of Elmsworth was exactly what you'd expect from a fantasy settlement: cobblestone streets, thatched-roof cottages, and a tavern that smelled like ale and bad decisions. It was also home to the Adventurer's Guild, a sprawling building with a sign that read, *"Join Today and Get a Free Health Potion!"* in bold, cheerful letters.

"Free health potion, huh?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "What's the catch?"

"The catch," Garrick said, clapping me on the back hard enough to make me stumble, "is that you have to survive long enough to use it."

"Great," I muttered. "Just great."

Lyra, Kaela, and Ryn were already ahead of us, chatting animatedly about the rewards we'd receive for turning in the artifact. I couldn't help but notice how Kaela kept glancing back at me, her expression a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place. Lyra, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious, her focus entirely on the guild.

"You coming, Leo?" Lyra called over her shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah," I said, jogging to catch up. "Just trying to mentally prepare myself for all the bureaucracy."

"Bureaucracy?" Ryn repeated, grinning. "Oh, you're in for a treat."

The inside of the guild was bustling with activity. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes filled the room, some nursing drinks, others haggling over quests, and a few just passed out in the corner. Behind the counter was a stern-looking woman with glasses and a clipboard, her expression suggesting she'd seen it all and wasn't impressed.

"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild," she said in a tone that suggested she'd rather be anywhere else. "How can I help you?"

"We're here to turn in a quest," Garrick said, placing the artifact on the counter. "And sign up a new member."

The woman—whose name tag read *"Martha"*—picked up the artifact and examined it closely. "Hmm. Impressive. This will fetch a nice reward." She set it aside and turned to me. "And you're the new recruit?"

"Uh, yeah," I said, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. "Leo Carter. Nice to meet you."

Martha raised an eyebrow. "Leo Carter, huh? Any experience?"

"Well, I survived a dungeon, fought a giant snake, and took down a bunch of skeletons with a bone," I said, trying to sound confident. "Does that count?"

She stared at me for a moment, then sighed. "It'll have to do. Fill out these forms, and we'll get you registered."

She handed me a stack of papers thicker than my arm. I stared at them in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Welcome to the guild," Ryn said, grinning. "Where the real monsters are the paperwork."

---

After what felt like an eternity of filling out forms (including one that asked for my "preferred method of monster disposal"), I was officially a member of the Adventurer's Guild. Martha handed me a badge and a small health potion, which I promptly tucked into my bag.

"Congratulations," she said dryly. "You're now a Bronze-rank adventurer. Try not to die."

"Thanks," I said. "I'll do my best."

With that out of the way, we headed to the guild's common area to celebrate. Garrick ordered a round of drinks, and we found a table near the fireplace. As we sat down, I couldn't help but notice the way Kaela and Lyra were sitting on either side of me, their attention focused entirely on… well, me.

"So, Leo," Kaela said, leaning in slightly, "what's next for you? Now that you're officially an adventurer, I mean."

"Uh, I don't know," I said, trying to ignore the way her proximity was making my heart race. "I guess I'll take on some quests, earn some gold, maybe buy a better weapon. You know, the usual."

"You should team up with us," Lyra said, her tone casual but her eyes intense. "We make a good team."

"Yeah," Ryn chimed in, smirking. "And it's always fun to have a rookie around. Keeps things interesting."

I glanced between them, feeling a little overwhelmed. "Uh, sure. That sounds… great."

Garrick raised his tankard. "To Leo, the newest member of our party!"

"To Leo!" the others echoed, clinking their glasses together.

As the night went on, the conversation turned to stories of past adventures. Garrick regaled us with tales of battling trolls, Ryn shared her most daring heists, and Kaela talked about her time studying magic at the Arcane Academy. Lyra, meanwhile, kept her stories light and funny, her laughter filling the room.

At one point, Kaela leaned closer to me, her voice low. "You know, Leo, you're not like anyone I've ever met."

"Uh, thanks?" I said, unsure how to respond.

She smiled. "It's a compliment. You're… refreshing."

Before I could reply, Lyra interrupted, handing me another drink. "Don't let her flatter you too much, Leo. She's just trying to recruit you for her research."

"Research?" I repeated.

Kaela rolled her eyes. "I'm not *recruiting* him. I'm just saying he's interesting."

"Interesting, huh?" Lyra said, her tone teasing. "Well, he's already part of our team, so hands off."

I felt my face heat up and quickly took a sip of my drink to hide my embarrassment. Was this what my life was going to be like now? Caught between two beautiful, strong-willed women who seemed to have very different ideas about what "teamwork" meant?

As the night wore on, I found myself enjoying the camaraderie. Despite the occasional tension, it was clear that Garrick, Ryn, Kaela, and Lyra were a tight-knit group. And now, somehow, I was part of that group.

---

The next morning, we gathered in the guild hall to pick up our first official quest as a team. Martha handed us a scroll with a list of available jobs, and after some debate, we settled on one: investigating a series of mysterious disappearances in a nearby mining town.

"Sounds straightforward," Garrick said, rolling up the scroll. "We'll head out first thing tomorrow."

"Great," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Can't wait."

As we left the guild hall, Kaela fell into step beside me. "You nervous?" she asked.

"A little," I admitted. "I mean, I've only been here a few days, and now I'm going on a quest to fight… whatever's causing people to disappear."

She smiled. "Don't worry. You've got us. And you're stronger than you think."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a little more confident. "I'll try not to let you down."

Lyra, who was walking ahead of us, glanced back and smirked. "Just don't forget who saved your life first, Leo."

Kaela rolled her eyes, and I couldn't help but laugh. This was going to be an interesting adventure, to say the least.

**SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NEW QUEST ACCEPTED – "INVESTIGATE THE DISAPPEARANCES IN BLACKROCK MINES."**

**OBJECTIVE: UNCOVER THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MISSING MINERS AND NEUTRALIZE THE THREAT.**

"Well," I muttered, "here goes nothing."

As we prepared for the journey ahead, I couldn't shake the feeling that this quest was just the beginning. The mines, the disappearances, the growing tension between Lyra and Kaela… it was all leading to something bigger. Something dangerous.

And once again, I had a feeling I was going to be right in the middle of it.