15 Respect Earned

Entering the exam field we see an examiner currently fighting against a potential adventurer. They are both conjurers, the tester using wind while the test taker seems to be a water mage. The water mage is also a dark orange core which is surprising as she seems to only be about early to mid 20s. The examiner is slightly older at around 40 and is only at the solid orange stage, which is still pretty impressive considering the mass majority only reaches to red stage and never breaks through.

However experience shines through, and the wind mage examiner redirects a blast of water back to the owner while also conjuring wind blades. With too many attacks to focus on the water mage panicked and froze, having to be saved by the examiner as she stopped her magic before it could hit.

"C rank with potential to rise to B rank quickly with some experience, we look forward to your progress Juniper. Next! Oh guild master what are you and all them doing here?" The examiner had his back to us throughout the fight, so he didn't notice our approach. The water mage Juniper merely bowed before heading to the judges sitting down to get her guild card before exiting the room.

"We have a bit of a challenge from Mister Marno against a new guild member of ours. He seems to think I don't give accurate rank assessments." Marno could be seen with sweat dropping rapidly before he recomposed himself and stepped forward.

"We just want proof the little brat can actually handle A rank. We wouldn't want him to cost people their lives during a mission." He said confidently, gaining nods from various other seemingly seasoned adventurers. However at the hearing of 'little brat' I was beginning to lose my patience with this oaf and a bit of fire mana trickled out of my hands.

"Yes, a noble sentiment if it wasn't questioning my capacity as an examiner. Should we have someone else give you another exam Mister Marno as I seem to recall being the one who gave you your rank as well." Once again Marno looked nervous and sweatdropped at this before standing firm.

"Lets just get this over with." Kaspian sighed as he motioned to one of the girls sitting behind the judges desk.

"Yes, guild master?" She asked with hand clutching a clipboard to her chest.

"Bring Mister Marno a waiver to sign in case of an accident. He's gone and made probably the strongest person in this room angry, also bring one for Rez so Marno won't complain." He said quiet enough for Marno not to hear but I caught the exchange. She quickly dashed off and returned just as quickly with 2 pieces of paper.

"Hahaha! Good now I won't owe this kids family anything if I accidentally rough him up too much. I won't even need my full power and I'll still crush him. Sign the paper boy, I won't be responsible for your arrogance." The thought 'oh the irony' was clearly visible on my and Kaspians face, but I signed the paper and handed it to the girl with the clipboard. Marno does the same and we take our positions on the field.

"The duel between B rank adventurer Marno Bellend, Solid Red core Earth Augmenter and Axe user against A rank adventurer Rez, Solid yellow core-…" before he could finish he was cut off by the collective shout of disbelief from the crowd and especially Marno, however I was just laughing loudly at the fact his last name was bellend. Which came out rather creepy due to me changing my voice.

"Guild Master there's no way he's a yellow core, he had to have lied to you! Let me put this guy in his place for you so his family can stop blackmailing you!" Marno said with renewed determination as he stared me down. Kaspian just had a wry grin on his face and I could practically read his thoughts. 'He's definitely lying about his core stage, but not in the way you expect. Idiot.' Before shaking his head.

"If no one is going to interrupt again I was hoping to finish." He said in a serious voice while looking out over the crowd. Everyone wisely shut up and focused towards the 2 fighters on the field.

"As I was saying. -Solid yellow core Fire Augmenter and sword user. The match will begin when I yell 'fight', fighters please prepare yourselves." He finished while looking from me to Marno and then raised his hand in the air.

"3… 2… 1.. FIGHT!" He yelled as he dropped his hand.

I immediately focused a blast of fire mana to my feet and laughed myself at Marno and at the last second I brought my feet up to kick him in the chest. What surprised me however is that he hadn't moved an inch and just had a surprised look on his face as I felt the soles of my feet connect to his chest.

The next instant he was sent flying across the field into a wall where he left an indent before eventually falling out of it. During his flight since I had kicked him in the chest he had entered into a series of backflips, about 20 by my count before he hit the wall upside down face first. So when he fell out he was now on his back with his hands arms splayed to his sides.

The room was deathly silent and while everyone was standing in shock I was looking at my boots in wonder. Did the store owner put some kind of kick boost enchantment on these things? I really didn't expect the guy to just go flying like that, maybe I've gotten stronger than I realized. Which I guess isn't that surprising considering the workout routine that Reynolds put me through while teaching me hand to hand combat.

I guess now as I rethink over the battle, I don't remember Marno ever circulating his mana. I guess he really thought he could beat me that easily. Once the audience broke out of their stupor, everyone rushed towards Marno while Kaspian lazily called the winner.

"Rez has won the duel against Marno." He said as he also walked to where Marno could be found. Luckily for Marno there was an emitter in the guild staff who immediately rushed forward and began to heal him.

"Marno will be fine, but he won't be able fight for a couple days." The emitter said as they stood up and returned to their spot of judges for the exams. Marno was eventually helped up by the guy he had been standing in the guild hall with, but instead of beating a hasty retreat he stopped his friend and looked at me. The look was hard and firm before he gave me a deep nod and when his head came back up the hard look was gone.

"You are indeed strong Rez, it seems I misjudged you due to your size. Though you don't need it, you have my respect." He said and gave another albeit shorter nod this time, I just walked forward and everyone eyed me cautiously. However in contrast of them thinking I was going to say something I just stuck my arm out for a handshake, which made Marno look confused before grinning. He locked forearms with me and shook my hand.

"If we ever end up on a mission together I look forward to your support." I said calmly while shaking his hand.

"Aye. I wouldn't mind helping a budding adventurer."

With the dispute over everyone cleared out of the examination room and the examiners went back to testing new recruits. Kaspian waved for me to follow him and we went to his office where his secretary poured us tea and then left the room.

"Thanks for not killing Marno. While he's loud and mouthy, he's one of the good adventurers. He always takes requests that were obviously put up by people that couldn't afford the normal prices. And he also busts the heads of some of the less than nice adventurers when they step out of line.

While it probably doesn't feel like it, that was his way of looking out for you." Kaspian said and I just nodded.

"I'm glad I didn't kill him either because I honestly didn't expect him to let me hit him with that kick. I held back quite a bit after all." Kaspian laughed with a wide grin on his face.

"Haha, that's because you're too strong. He was probably too shocked to move. Anyways here's your guild card, it will let you enter any town or city without paying a toll. As well as inns will let you stay for a cheaper price than the usual rate, though I doubt price would have been a problem for you. Finally you can take on pretty much any quests as even S rank quests can be taken by a party of A ranks as long as their is a certain amount of AA ranks or at least one S rank.

Though that makes me wonder do you plan on going up in ranks? Because honestly I would have put you at AA if you hadn't said just A rank." When he finished I just tilted my head in thought. It would be good to rank up as I could take on more missions, and the added benefits would be nice, so why not.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind ranking up to AA after a couple missions. I kind of want to take some escort missions so that I can see some other towns, before I start tackling the Beast Glades and it's dungeons." Kaspian nods and looks at a paper sitting on his desk while he adjusts his glasses.

"That reasonable and I think I have just the one, an escort mission for a local merchant who plans to go city to city selling his wares. He wants to travel by carriage in a circle through all the cities buy and selling as he makes his way through, so he's asking for B rank adventurers and above and he wants at least 10. Your pay would be a daily fare of 50 gold a day since you're an A rank, B ranks will get 20 gold a day. Also depending on the quality of protection and the results of his sales a bonus at the end of the journey is possible.

The trip will take roughly a year, but each of the big cities have a gate that you can use if you ever need to return for a time." I thought over it and looked at a map of the cities and labeled towns, and honestly I didn't recognize half of them. Honestly more than half of them, some sounded familiar but only Xyrus and Ashbern truly rung any bells.

"Hmm, my mother has given me 3 years of adventuring before I have to attend the academy. So I think 1 full year dedicated to traveling will be fine, besides I can still train during our rest times. And I imagine plenty of my party members will want to challenge me. I'll do it, sign me up for the full journey." I say as i muse aloud before finally coming to a decision. Kaspian nods his head and pencils in my name on the sheet.

"Would you like to know your party members, some you won't be picking up until you reach other cities and you'll drop some at those cities?" He asked me.

"Sure, any notable adventurers I should be aware of?"

"I'm sure you'll enjoy this. You'll be trading off 5 people when you reach the halfway point in Etistin, the party "Twim Horns" will be joining from there until you reach Xyrus again." My eyes widened with the anticipation of getting to meet my true favorite character from the book, Jasmine Flamesworth. Everything about her ticks all the right boxes for me. Quiet and stoic, but cares deeply for the people she develops a connection too. Also she's strong in spite of her family neglecting her because she happened to be born with wind mana instead of fire.

"Yes, I've heard Reynolds tell quite a few stories about their adventures while he was training me. I imagine this journey will be quite interesting. When do we leave?" I asked

"Early morning 2 days from now at the Gates. Look for a caravan of about 10 wagons and fat man with a mustache. His name is Williams Zany." I nod before responding.

"I'll be there." I said as I stood to leave I was stopped by Kaspian once more.

"Be careful out there, I'm not sure what's happening but mana beast have been acting strange as well as bandits have become more aggressive as of late." I stare at him for a second wondering if this is the standard worry of a guild master or the worry of a master to an apprentice. However I eventually give a nod before speaking over my shoulder as I reach the door.

"You don't have to worry about me Mister Kas, I'll come back no matter what it takes. I have a family now after all." With that I left his office and made my way through the guild hall. Once again whispering littered the hall as I made my way out the door. Only about 30 minutes have passed and most of that was spent talking to Kaspian, but it feels like hours had passed.

I duck into an alley and after making sure no one was following me I change clothes back to my normal ones and head to the restaurant we had said we would meet at for lunch. A simple tea shop, known for their collection of teas and small food items to go with it. I do love me some tea after all, I might have to see if they sell packets of the leaves that I can take on my adventure.

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Author's Note

Yay for cheesy title! Anyways not much happened here, but now you have an idea of what the next few chapter will be about and I set it up for things to potentially happen. Also MC gets to meet the Twin Horns! Jasmine is actually my favorite character and I had considered making MC older just so that she could be the love interest. I love her whole assassin/ninja vibe with the duel daggers.

I'll try to balance the right amount of combat and conversation, as I don't plan to describe every village and city they enter. Maybe let MC makes some adventurer friends on this journey.

I plan to upload at least one more chapter today, maybe 2 more if I really get into the rhythm. Cross your fingers for me!

Thanks for reading.

-SocioPhobia