Alice

Just as Aaron was about to turn and leave, Maria suddenly called out to him. 

"Hey, Aaron, do you need a teammate?"

Aaron paused, surprised by the question. He glanced at Maria, his expression puzzled. 

Seeing his confusion, Maria offered more context. 

"Actually," she continued, "someone else joined the guild just before you. She's also looking for a teammate. Maybe you two could form a group?" 

She gave a gentle smile and added, "If you're interested, I can introduce you."

Aaron hesitated. His mind drifted to his newly awakened profession, Blood Slave. It sounded powerful, but at the moment, he only had one passive skill. Something that helped with blood recovery, but not much else. Was that enough?

After a moment's silence, he realized he was overthinking it. Everyone starts somewhere. 

He nodded slowly. 

"All right, Sister Maria. I'd like to meet her."

Maria smiled warmly and said, "Come with me to the waiting room. I'll introduce you to Alice."

Aaron nodded and quietly followed behind her, his steps steady and expression calm. The hallway was quiet, lit by soft lanterns that flickered gently as they walked. Within seconds, they reached the waiting room.

It was mostly empty, except for one girl seated near the window, lost in thought.

She looked to be in her mid-teens. Her long red hair fell in soft waves down her back, glowing under the warm light. Her skin was pale and smooth, almost porcelain-like, and her eyes were a deep crimson that flickered with quiet intensity, like embers barely contained. She wore a deep-blue robe trimmed with silver thread, its elegant design more fitting for a noble's study than a guild hall. But there was something else, something unspoken. The way she sat, straight-backed and composed, gave off an air of discipline. Graceful. Controlled. And yet, her eyes kept scanning the room, like she wasn't quite at ease.

Aaron paused for a moment. She didn't look dangerous, but she didn't seem ordinary either. There was something in her aura, that made Aaron look away.

Maria gestured toward the girl. "That's Alice,"

Maria gave Alice a gentle nod and said with a kind smile, 

"Miss Alice, this is Aaron. He just joined the guild like you did. I thought it might be a good idea for you two to talk, maybe discuss forming a team."

Alice looked up from her thoughts and slowly turned to face Aaron. Her crimson eyes studied him, quiet but curious. She didn't say anything right away, but there was no coldness in her gaze, just caution, as if weighing what kind of person he might be.

Aaron met her eyes with a calm expression, respectful but not overly formal. He could feel the quiet pressure of the moment, two strangers sizing each other up, wondering if they could trust one another.

Maria took a step back, giving them space. "Take your time," she added. "There's no rush. Just see if you're a good match."

Then she smiled at both of them and quietly left the room, leaving Aaron and Alice alone to begin what could be a new partnership.

Alice studied the boy standing before her, her gaze cool and calculating. From his modest clothing and plain boots, she could easily tell he wasn't from any noble background. That fact alone eased something in her heart.

With her usual calm, she spoke, her voice quiet, but distant. 

"You already know my name. I'm a mage. That's my profession." 

She paused for a heartbeat, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. 

"Now it's your turn. Who are you?"

Aaron gave a light chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head. His smile was awkward but honest. 

"Well… I can't exactly say what my profession is." 

He looked at Alice, trying to read her expression. She didn't flinch or press for more. 

"But what I can promise," he continued, "is that I'm good at drawing monsters toward me. You take them down while I keep them busy."

It was a simple offer, straightforward and practical. Not flashy. Not boastful.

Alice took a moment to think, her gaze steady on Aaron. 

"What about your skills?" she asked, her voice calm but slightly distant.

Aaron shook his head, a little embarrassed. 

"I've only got one skill," he admitted. "It helps me recover blood, and I got it when I awakened. Other than that… I haven't learned anything else yet."

He spoke honestly, without trying to impress her. And though his words were simple, his tone carried a quiet determination, as if he planned to grow stronger, no matter how slow the start.

Alice considered this silently. For now, he seemed useful enough. If Aaron could attract weak monsters like slimes, she could easily finish them off with her magic and rack up some experience. It was a practical arrangement, not a permanent bond, but something that worked for both of them.

After weighing the possibilities, she gave a small nod. 

"Fine," she said, her voice still cool but not unfriendly. "We can form a temporary team. Just until I level up."

As they walked toward the quest board, Alice glanced at Aaron and asked, "Should we grab a quest now, or do you want to shop for anything first?"

Aaron hesitated, clearly uncertain. After a moment, he asked, "Can I buy any skill scrolls that I could actually use?"

Alice blinked, realizing just how inexperienced he truly was. He didn't even know the basics of adventuring. With a quiet sigh, she replied in a cool tone, "Yes, skill books are sold in the market. The common ones usually cost between 1 to 5 gold coins, depending on demand and supply."

Aaron's face fell. He had braced himself for the prices, but hearing them made his hopes sink. He knew his savings wouldn't stretch far enough. With a resigned sigh, he said softly, "I guess I'll just buy some equipment instead."

Then he turned to Alice and asked, "What about you? Need to buy anything?"

Alice shook her head and said calmly, "I've already got everything I need. My equipment's sorted."

She paused for a moment, then added, "If you want to buy anything, go ahead and check the shops. I'll wait for you in the adventurers' hall."