10 Chapter 10: Rivella
"Jorael… promise me, you will run and hide into the forest…
Mother…
RRRRRUUUUUUUUNNNNNN!...
Mother… Why couldn't I save you?...
Protect my boy…
Father… Do I deserve being your son?...
The only thing I did was run away…
Jorael please… help me…"
The Traveler woke up abruptly in the middle of the night, breathing heavily and sweating. The same nightmare occurred, again and all over again, as for the last decade.
"huff… huff…
I can't take this anymore…" shouted Jorael angrily, and then continued:
"My cowardice allowed me to survive. I was scared and obeyed what my Mother told me, but was it the right choice?...
If I intervened and helped her would she be alive?...
Would have the slavers killed both of us?...
Would have a 5-year-old child made any difference?...
I… don't know as I'm just filled with regrets and despair…"
…
The following day, after a hearty breakfast at the inn, Jorael left The Gift on the main road to reach the capital city of the Human Empire, Rivella.
The road was busy, and it was double large as the road from the Wall to The Gift. A lot of Humans and carriages were traveling back and forth between the two cities.
After half day of travel, Jorael could see the capital on the horizon. It was beautiful for the Traveler to witness such a large city in a foreign world. The medieval-like palaces had all blue roofs that were glittering and reflecting the red sunlight. For Jorael was quite the spectacle to behold.
By dusk, he had arrived at Rivella. The city was stunning as seen from the distance, if not more.
"I should ask for directions. Maybe let's try to go to the Guild to become an adventurer. A pass may come handy, just in case…" was thinking Jorael as he approached a middle-aged woman at the street side.
"Excuse madame, as I'm new to the city, may I ask where the Guild building is?" asked politely the Traveler.
"Oh, young boy you are so charming and well-dressed and mannered… where the Titan's Guild building is?...
Just to inform you, Rivella is divided into four districts. Right now, you are in the West district, the nobility district.
To go to the Guild, you have to go to the center of the city, pass the Royal Palace and High Temple of Kalipso, and go to the North district.
In that district, you will find the Guild, alongside bureaucratic buildings.
Also remember that if you need to shop, go to the South district, the merchants' quarter." Replied abundantly the woman.
"Thanks, madame, what about the East district?" asked curiously Jorael.
"Young boy, we don't like that commoner's place. Just don't bother going there. Instead, if you wish… you can come inside my villa…" replied the woman while she grabbed the Traveler's hand.
"uh-um. No thanks, madame… I need to go now… farewell." said Jorael while gently moving away from the woman.
"That's a pity…" ultimately said the woman.
"D-did I just get hit by a cougar or something?!?!" was thinking the Traveler whilst walking to Rivella's center.
Jorael arrived at the city's center, a massively large plaza, with the Royal Palace in the north pompously imposing its presence in the piazza. Right to the Emperor's residence, there was the High Temple of Kalipso, where a gigantic statue of the Goddess was standing in front of the shrine. A lot of folks were praying beneath the statue.
Passing close to the Royal Palace, Jorael noticed a familiar statue in front of it. As seen in The Gift city center, there was an even more impressive statue of Emperor Fasted. Then, the Traveler looked more closely at the palace. It was candid white as snow, enriched with gold decorations, while the roof was shining blue.
Jorael continued marching to the north, and eventually, he found the right building he was searching for. It was a tall building, with a huge signboard above the door where you could read "Titans Guild".
He entered from the main door and saw a large hall crowded by many adventurers talking and passing their time. In front of the entrance, after the big hall, there was what looked like a reception. Jorael approached the lady who seemed working as the secretary. She was a cute long-haired blonde thin lady in her twenties.
"uh… excuse me, I wish to enter in the Guild and become an Adventurer, is this the right place?" asked politely the Traveler.
"Good morning, I'm Catherine, the Titans Guild's secretary!" exclaimed loudly the lady joyfully, and then continued:
"Yes! You're in the right place!...
You're so young… are you sure you wish to become an Adventurer?!
Anyway, here is the module to be filled for the request!"
Jorael took the module and started filling it with his information, writing in it on the large reception's counter while thinking about the answers:
"Name: Jorael
Surname (if you have one):
Age: 16
Sex: Male
Height: 1,8 mels
Weight: 12 stones
Hair color: dark brown
Eyes color: purple
Particular features (if you have any): I'll pass this one…
City of Birth: uh… The Gift?
Class (Warrior, Mage, Assassin): Mage
…and that's it!"
The Traveler gave back the module filled to the Guild's secretary, and she immediately started reading it. By the end, she seemed flustered and annoyed. Jorael could feel something was off.
"You wrote you have 16 years and that you are a Mage?!?! Are you making fun of me?!?!" yelled Catherine calling to the attention of all of the adventurers that suddenly stopped talking. Silence ensued.
"Shit! Now I've done it!" thought Jorael panicking.
Then the silenced hall burst out laughing. You could hear adventurers yelling:
"AHAHAH! Now he's done it and made Catherine mad!"
"16 years old and a Mage… what he was thinking about joking like that!"
A mighty adventurer left the others and came to the counter, approaching Jorael. The Traveler could feel pressure emanating from the guy and thought that he had to be a formidable foe. The dark-haired adventurer in his forties was taller than Jorael and much more muscular. On his back was hanging an enormous dual hand giant sword.
"Young boy, don't make Catherine mad… you'll see for yourself that it's better not to joke with her…" whispered the man.
"May I know what are you telling him, Sir Arnold?!" shouted the secretary annoyed.
"uh-um. Just combat advise Kat…" lied the adventurer.
"tch…
so, adventurer-to-be Jorael should I take your word that you are a Mage?!
A 16-year-old that would have just enrolled in Nefertalis Magic Academy should be called a Mage?!" asked furiously Catherine.
"uh… Yes, you're right!
I may know 2 or 3 spells that my parents had the audacity to teach me, but I'm still far from becoming a full-fledged Mage.
Sorry for the misunderstanding. Ahah!" politely excused Jorael.
"Whatever… you also have a sword, should I assume you're a hybrid class?" Asked Catherine while sighing.
"Uh… well yes, I can use also the sword a bit…" replied Jorael, but was abruptly interrupted by Arnold that noticed the weapon:
"That sword hilt…
A young boy may I look at your blade?!"
"uh… sure…" replied Jorael as he was unsheathing his sword and giving it to Arnold, that then asked:
"It's in pretty bad condition, dull and rusted; but there's no mistake. The red ruby on the hilt is an undeniable and distinctive proof of the previous owner of this weapon.
Young boy, how did you obtain this sword?"
"It is a memento of my now dead Father… well, it was not his sword either…
My Father told me a former adventurer gave this weapon to him, because he didn't need it anymore…" lied the Traveler.
"Interesting. Did your father ever tell you what happened to the adventurer?" asked again Arnold.
"No, he left my city and never returned…" lied again Jorael.
"Roland… where did you go…" whispered the adventurer.
"Did you by chance know the owner of this sword?!" asked the Traveler.
"Yes, but I haven't seen him in two decades since when…" was saying Arnold when suddenly he got interrupted:
"Uh, hello?! We still have to finish the registration?!" yelled the secretary.
"W-wait! about the sword's owner…" exclaimed Jorael.
"Young boy, remember the advice I told you. You can find me here another time. Farewell." Said Arnold as he was walking away.
"Why did he have to leave?!" yelled the Traveler.
"Now, I'll validate your request and give you the Guild pass. With this, you're free to leave the Empire to embark on adventures under Guild's contracts. Do you know how Guild Ranks works and the assignation of Guild Quests?" asked enthusiastically Catherine.
"No…" sighed Jorael while looking at Arnold leaving the building.
"Let me explain!
When you start as an adventurer, you're at Novice rank, and with dedication and training you can raise your rank to:
2nd rank, Recruit
3rd rank, Initiate
4th rank, Disciple
5th rank, Officer
6th rank, Veteran
7th rank and last, Titan
You can access Quests based on your rank. Completing quests will give you rewards and can raise your Guild rank, giving to you more opportunities to better rewards and fame.
Welcome Novice Adventurer Jorael to Titans Guild!
Work hard and you can become like Sir Arnold, one of the only three Titan rank members!" explained Catherine.
"Now I get the pressure I felt…" whispered Jorael.
"What?" asked the secretary.
"uh… Thank you, Madam Catherine!
Everything was clear to me!
Would you like to give me my first Quest?" demanded the Traveler.
"oh, you get it!
Then this one!" exclaimed Catherine while giving to him the quest contract.
Jorael started reading it:
"Quest for Novice adventurers or above:
Research for Pancelot
Madame Francine from villa number four, fourth street, West District, lost her dearly pet. Adventurers have to find the cat alive and return him safely to his owner.
Reward 250 gold coins.
Warning! To receive the reward from Titans Guild this contract needs to be signed by whom requested it."
"I have to find a cat?!
Wait… 250 gold coins?!" shouted the Traveler.
"Yes, Novice Adventurer. The contract is from a wealthy Noblewoman who loves her cat.
Now start your adventure!" said Catherine.
"Wait, sorry, if I may ask as I'm new to the city, would you suggest me an inn to spend the night?" asked Jorael while he folded the Quest contract and put it in his pocket.
Catherine's eyes lit up, and the Traveler could feel some malicious intent coming from her.
"Yes! I know one perfect for you!
Go near the end of East District, to the Mad Filly Inn. Ask of Daisy.
Farewell Novice adventurer!" Replied the secretary with a strange smile.
Jorael saluted Catherine and departed for the East District. When he arrived at the quarter, he started to understand why the woman in the North District told him to not go there. As he was walking, stone houses started to become wooden houses, the smooth paved road became a dirt road, the district became a slum, and near the end of it, the Traveler found the Mad Filly Inn.
An old and decadent building, Jorael mastered some courage to enter it and to witness the madness in it. Flooded with half-conscious yelling drunkards and half-naked prostitutes exposing their breasts out as merchandise. Some folks were passed out on the table or under it, and some folks were having sex under tables or on it.
Jorael slowly approached a half-naked girl at the counter and asked of Daisy embarrassed thinking: "If Miranda would have seen me entering a brothel…".
A huge woman arrived from the other side of the inn's counter, and with a deep masculine voice asked:
"Candy boy, were you asking of me?"
Jorael looked closely at Daisy and could easily tell she was biologically a man, well dressed and made up as a woman.
"uh… yes. Catherine the Titan's Guild secretary advised me to come here to spend the night…" replied Jorael a bit scared.
"uh-uh Candy boy, did you make Kat mad?
You can stay, 50 silver coins per night, single bedroom. Breakfast included if you find any." Replied the innkeeper.
"Uh… thank you. Here take 1 gold coin madame Daisy…" said politely the Traveler whilst giving her the money.
"Candy boy, you're so charming and polite…
What did you do to make Kat mad?!
Anyway, room 7, first floor. Here's the key.
If you need any assistance tonight… feel free to call me!" said Daisy while winking with her left eye.
"Uh… thanks…" responded Jorael petrified, and then he immediately walked to his designated room.
He opened the door to find a depressing, decaying, bad furnished, old wooden room.
"Ugh… for sure rats are living somewhere here…" exclaimed Jorael while sighing.
He closed the door and sat on the bed, but too many noises the Traveler could hear. People moaning in pleasure, yelling, and someone fighting.
That night Jorael did not have nightmares, nor he was able to sleep.
