Chapter 3: A New World

For as long as anyone could remember, Provera had been the heart of Tel Tahkat. A city where ambition and commerce intertwined seamlessly. Its business district thrived with activity, bustling with adventurers, merchants, and consumers of every race and stature. As the primary hub for trade, Provera received shipments from all across the land, transforming imported goods into innovative—sometimes outright peculiar—trends that captivated its citizens.

Beyond its vibrant markets, Provera was home to one of Tel Tahkat’s greatest marvels: the Dragon’s Cradle. Towering in the city’s heart, the colossal structure provided power not just to Provera, but to the entire land, a testament to the ingenuity of the world’s forefathers. Their efforts had carved out bastions of safety in an otherwise perilous world, and none stood as proudly as the walled city.

Yet, among all its landmarks, one stood above the rest in reputation—the Provera Adventurer’s Guild. Unlike the imposing, sleek black fortress of the Dragon’s Cradle, the guild was a relatively modest structure, but its significance was undeniable. It was the lifeblood of the adventuring community, where all manner of Warriors, Mages, and Seekers gathered to take on jobs from the city’s inhabitants. Here, the guild ensured that every task was handled, either by those who accepted the quests or by others sent to see the job through.

More than a mere job board, the guild was a sanctuary. Within its walls, adventurers found respite, free from threats and conflict. The grand double doors at its entrance symbolized its open embrace—an unspoken promise that all who entered would find a safe haven until they were ready to embark on their next journey.

Those very doors now swung open with force, their impact echoing across the hall as a small but confident woman strode in.

“Provera Adventurer’s Guild!” Raven declared, throwing her hands into the air as she stepped past the threshold. “The only place you really need to know if you’re an adventurer!”

Lucian winced at the attention she was drawing, instinctively lowering his head as he followed her inside. Still, even as he kept his head down, Lucian couldn’t help but be impressed. Towering arches, glowing signage, and enchanted chandeliers floated midair, casting shifting lights across the polished stone floor. It was chaotic—Mercenaries shouting across the room, Mages levitating books, someone asleep on a pile of Gold—but it was alive. It was real. He’d played games like this for years, but standing here, it hit different. He was in it now.

One Warrior immediately caught his attention—a man with an enormous weapon strapped to his back, so massive it could easily shield him and two others. Yet, despite its size, he moved effortlessly, weaving through the crowd with surprising grace.

Further ahead, a mysterious figure leaned against a desk, their entire body concealed beneath flowing green robes. A narrow slit in their headwear was the only visible opening, allowing them a limited field of vision. Their posture suggested quiet observation, waiting for something—or someone.

Then, without a word, a woman in a wide-brimmed Witch’s hat pivoted sharply and strode toward the exit. As if on cue, the robed individual followed. Behind them, a burly man in a leather tunic with iron knuckles, a stocky merchant with a cart full of wares, and a resolute Warrior clad in armor all moved in unison, as though answering an unspoken call.

Must be their party. And by the looks of it, they’ve covered all the basics of a balanced team. As the robed member walked, a gust of wind lifted the hem of their cloak, revealing an intricate array of symbols etched onto a peculiar book. Lucian narrowed his eyes. A Mage, perhaps?

“And that over there is the information desk,” Raven said, following his gaze. “Getting details about a quest helps adventurers decide if it’s worth taking. Of course, they’re not all-knowing—they only have whatever information the client told them.”

“Is that right?” Lucian murmured, still half-distracted.

“Yup!” Raven said brightly. “You can even ask about available rooms.”

Lucian turned to her. “Rooms? Whoa, wait a minute, I can’t afford that. Do they come with… services?”

Raven scoffed. “Women?”

“What—no!” Lucian replied, taken off-guard. “I meant things like cleaning, food, that sort of stuff.”

“This is a guild, not The Ritz,” Raven shot back. “You get a bed and some water. Be happy no one’s trying to stab you in the back—yet.”

Lucian eyed her. “Just the ones stabbing me in the front, then.” He waved a hand. “Anyway, tell me about these rooms.”

“Oh, right!” Raven said. “The guild also acts as an inn for adventurers. Think of it as a bed-and-breakfast deal. Two Gold gets you a bed for the night and breakfast in the morning.”

“Just two Gold, huh?” Lucian muttered, then frowned. Two Gold for a night sounded cheap… or was it steep? He had no idea how the economy worked in this world. “Say, Raven… How do you actually make money around here?”

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Without a word, but with an ever-growing smile, Raven led him across the hall toward the western side of the guild. The moment they arrived, Lucian immediately understood why this area was packed with people.

“This,” Raven announced grandly, “is the heart and soul of the guild—the Quest Boards!”

Lined up along the western wall were five large bulletin boards, each identical in appearance—simple wooden frames with cork backings. Lucian stepped closer, Raven right beside him, his eyes scanning the papers pinned to the boards. He had expected a chaotic mess—requests slapped haphazardly over one another, notes barely legible, the works—but to his surprise, everything was neatly arranged, each request pinned with precision so that none overlapped. The sheer organization of it all made Lucian pause, admiration flickering in his eyes. So beautiful. So neat. So… efficient.

As he scanned the boards, he noticed that several identical requests appeared in different locations. Curious, he reached out and read one:

[Extermination Request]

Pests have razed my farm to the ground! Not just regular rats, but humongous ones! Please defeat them!

[Quest Reward, 5 Gold]

[Accept?] Yes [] No []

He shifted his gaze to the adjacent board—sure enough, the exact same request was there. He turned to question Raven, but before he could speak, the realization dawned on him. Of course! This way, there’s no crowding on a single board. Smart.

Turning back to examine more quests, he caught Raven’s disappointed expression—clearly, she had been ready to explain, only for him to figure it out on his own. He smirked. Ha, priceless.

As he continued browsing, Lucian sought the highest-paying jobs, ones truly worth his time. Can’t waste effort on these low-tier requests. I need Master Cores. However, when he found a promising job, something odd happened. The request remained pinned, refusing to budge no matter how many times he tried to take it.

[Escort Request, Level 4]

A shipment of fruits from the Lindson Company’s farms must arrive in Chaepstow by the end of the week. Looking for reliable adventurers to make sure the goods reach the destination unscathed.

I am unavailable for the journey, but my assistant will oversee the entire operation and will provide compensation as they deem fit.

[Quest Reward, 50 Gold per pristine crate of fruits delivered]

[Accept?] Yes [] No []

Yet, when another adventurer accepted a ghost-hunting request nearby, the parchment vanished in a soft glow, reappearing in their hands. Lucian frowned. Something wasn’t adding up.

Turning to Raven, Lucian found her mere inches from his face, smiling mischievously. He barely stopped himself from recoiling.

“Yeeeees?” Raven sang, her grin widening. “Need an answer to something?”

Yeah, ever heard of personal space?! Clearly, Raven had no concept of conversational distance. If the average person measured comfort zones in inches, she negotiated in millimeters. Lucian cleared his throat. “Yeah, I was wondering why some of these requests seem to be unavailable for me to select.”

“Ah, that got me too when I first went out on my own,” Raven admitted. “Luckily, a member of my new team explained it to me.”

New team? Just how many teams has she had? Lucian kept the question to himself and listened as Raven explained how some requests were locked based on the client’s chosen level bracket. “Some clients want to ensure they get the best service, so they restrict their requests to adventurers of a certain level,” Raven continued. “Requests are broken down by tiers of five levels. Level 1 requests can be taken by anyone. Level 2 requests can only be accepted by adventurers who are Level 6 or above. Level 3 requests need Level 11 and above, and so on.” She then pointed at the job Lucian had been trying to accept. “This is a Level 4 request. So, they can only be accepted by adventurers of what level?”

Lucian stared at her, waiting for her to continue. Then, he realized she was expecting an answer. “Level 16 and above,” he said curtly.

Raven clapped her hands, her grin turning smug. “Very good! You’re a quick learner, huh?”

Lucian felt his face heat up as nearby adventurers turned to look at them. Some seemed confused at first, but after spotting Raven, they rolled their eyes and went back to whatever they were doing. Great. So this is just normal for her? Hoping to shake off the lingering embarrassment, Lucian refocused on the Quest Board.

As expected, the lower-level requests weren’t as lucrative as the high-tier ones. He also noticed a distinct difference in presentation—lower-level requests looked handwritten, some even scrawled on scraps of parchment, while higher-tier ones were printed on crisp stationery with official seals.

Makes sense. The smaller jobs probably come from regular folks scraping together everything they have to make their requests look appealing. Meanwhile, the high-tier ones? Most likely from companies making a fortune every day, throwing adventurers a mere pittance in comparison.

Lucian exhaled, crossing his arms. “Money talks no matter where you are, it seems,” he muttered under his breath. Wish I could speak its language, though! I need to level up fast. Maybe the low-level requests give enough EXP to be worth it…

“You know,” Raven’s voice cut through his thoughts, “if these requests aren’t cutting it for you, there’s another way to earn some Gold.”

Lucian perked up. “Oh?”

“We could go exploring. Off the beaten path this time.”

Lucian raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly will that do?”

Raven smirked. “Remember how I told you to stay on the path when we were traveling here?”

“Yeah, I remember,” Lucian said. “You even made me promise not to look back, no matter what I heard. Which, by the way, I swear I heard people trying to get our att—”

Raven cut him off with a firm shh! and a finger to his lips. “All in the past. You did good, by the way. Those tree mimics are getting better at impersonating people.”

Lucian’s stomach dropped. “Tree mimics?!” His curiosity skyrocketed, but judging by Raven’s expression, he had a sinking feeling he wouldn’t get answers anytime soon.

“Yeah, like I said, all in the past.” She waved the topic away. “What I’m saying is that the paths exist for a reason. They’re designated safe zones. Monsters can approach them, but they can’t actually cross into them.”

Lucian’s eyes narrowed. He could see where this was going. “So, you’re saying…”

Raven’s smirk turned downright devious. “That’s right. I think it’s time for your first hunt.”