Chapter 15 – Receiving a token.

The two cards in Adam's soul flashed with a brilliant golden light.

The light continuously grew brighter and even the mist surrounding most of the cards now couldn't hold back the light. It completely looked like glowing golden cotton candy.

Drip. Drip.

Drops of golden liquid started falling from the two mist covered cards.

First, only a few drops would fall intermittently but the rate kept increasing with time.

Within a few seconds, the drops started falling like the rain in a heavy storm.

The tops of the cards had already lost their shape and were drooping.

Soon two pools of golden liquid had formed on the clear floor of Adam's soul world. The thick mist that covered the cards before didn't dissipate but swirled downward and came atop the two pools separately. Covering them completely from view.

It could not be seen what went on under the mist but the two veils of mist were rapidly drawing closer to each other.

They collided in grand fashion.

Lightning of different colours flashed within the veils of mist further enhancing the beauty of the whole event.

The lightning within the mist continued growing more fearsome. Within moments the bright lightning escaped the mist and flashed in the soul world.

The blinding flash of lightning lasted for a very long time.

When it finally subsided a new card had formed. This card was a little wider than the two cards before it. It still had the same texture though.

The only thing that changed was the lines of text and the square picture in the top middle of the card.

It now read… 'Dual Class'.

The painting below was the true spectacle. It now looked like a merger of the two paintings from before.

The design on the rim was half golden vines on the left and the various weapon's design on the right half.

The image within the painting was completely different. The backdrop was neither the forest nor was it the basement room, it was now a long and wide dojo hall.

Tatami mats completely covered the floor and sliding doors with paper windows stretched along the three sides of the hall that could be seen.

There was a slightly elevated part of the floor in the centre of the room. Four red wooden pillars stood on the edges of the rectangular shaped elevated floor space.

On the right side below the elevated floor, hundreds of small tables were placed with an array of short weapon's, bows and arrows.

Similarly, on the left side, two huge tables were placed. Gauntlets and gloves of various different shapes and colours were placed on them.

In the Centre of the room atop the elevated tatami floor stood two people from the previous painting. They were both still dressed the same.

With their hazy faces it was impossible to see their emotions but from their actions of just blankly standing there, it could be seen that even they were contemplating the situation.

Simultaneously, both of them walked over to the other and without warning they both attacked.

The man threw out punches while the woman dodged and slithered around them occasionally throwing in kicks of her own.

Fast. Incomparably swift.

Every attack they threw out was precise but the other would predict and dodge it. Neither of them could land a hit on the other.

It was like the most masterful dancing fighter's putting on a display.

Realizing that they were in equilibrium in terms of skill they then began picking up respective gear from their sides and utilizing it.

The fight continued on endlessly. Neither gaining an advantage over the other. They seemed as if they would never tire.

Below the painting the lines of text now read :

'Dual class body of a Ranger/Monk : (Passive Skill)

Level – 0

Exp to next level – 0/2000'

The line that went down from the painting now clearly split into two before disappearing into the veil of mist.

...…..

"This is also good. Only the card has merged. It's not like a completely new class has formed. I can still use the information about classes that I have learnt." If a new class had formed he would have had to create a totally new starting point and conduct his own research to figure out the kinks of the class.

From a logical point of view, this was a nightmare for a systematic person. Especially for someone like Adam who liked being prepared.

Breathing a sigh of relief he scanned through the information on the card once more.

He kept getting drawn to the two people sparring in the painting and he wouldn't mind just watching them for hours on end but his body was burning up.

He got his sentient mind to record the events of the painting so he could watch them later if they ever stopped.

"The experience required shot up to 2000!" Previously the experience he required to level up in both classes was a thousand. Now with the merging of the cards, it had increased to two thousand.

Thinking about it for a moment he said " This is actually a blessing in disguise. This way I wouldn't have to separately use the skills of each class to gain experience in them. This way I can level up both classes simultaneously without worrying about neglecting the other."

When fighting monsters how can one worry about what movements or attacks they use. This change had simplified his future endeavours substantially.

"The sentient mind wasn't kidding about an efficiency increase." He nodded his head in admiration.

"Ok, time to leave." Taking a final look at the surroundings of the empty room he took in a deep breath and walked toward the door leading out.

This encounter with the celestial enlightenment stone had truly led to a lot of unexpected gain's.

Opening the door he walked out into the corridor leaving the room behind.

Outside in the corridor, a reddened face with puffy eyes that were on the verge of tears greeted him.

It had been over an hour since Adam had gone in. Even Mrs Bren had started to worry let alone the already anxious Fen.

With a single leap, Fen jumped and arrived in front of him.

Adam was speechless. He knew that she would be worried but he hadn't realized how long he had spent inside. He was honestly expecting to get scolded from the look on her face.

Unexpectedly she opened her arm's and took him in her embrace. A look of utter relief shone on her face.

"Why did you take so long?! What were you doing in there?" Fen immediately wanted answers.

"ugh…" Adam did not know how he could explain why he took so long. He could not reveal the event's recklessly especially since Mrs Bren was right here listening in on their conversation attentively.

"Nothing happened big sis. Calm down." The worst thing one could say to an agitated woman was 'calm down'. The inexperienced Adam would learn this today.

"Calm down?! You were in there for more than an hour. How can I calm down? What would I have told Mistress if something would have happened to you?!"

Seeing how he had fanned the flames of the fire, Adam instantly regretted being casual about his response.

"I'm sorry big sis." He said regretfully.

His immediate apology threw her off a little and deflated her anger. She knew the process of initiation was out of the control of her young master. She just wanted to vent her frustration a little when he finally came out.

"Its alright young master. So what happened?"

"I am an adventurer now!" He did his best not to reveal as much information as he possibly could.

"Alright, you two settle down." The quiet till now Mrs Bren spoke up. "Your mother had made a special request on your behalf to the guild master and I was asked to escort you to his office once you completed your initiation."

"He should already be waiting over an hour for us and it's best if we don't delay any longer." She knew that the guild master would interview the boy. She would just have to wait until then to find out why he took so long.

"Special request? What is it, Mrs Bren?" Adam was curious.

"You will find out when we get there. Let's go." Said Mrs Bren. She then didn't wait for a response and led the way to the third-floor stairs.

Reaching the third floor only a wide lobby could be seen. One large two-door entrance to an office with a desk outside were the only things on this floor's lobby.

At the desk sat a skinny young man with glasses dressed in the same grey robe with black highlights like Mrs Bren. This was apparently the uniform of the guild staff.

The man was oblivious to the arrival of the three and continued to fiddle with the papers at his desk.

"Come In." A voice boomed from inside the office. It seemed the one inside was more attentive and had already been aware of their arrival.

The skinny man was startled by the voice and the paper's in his hand was thrown into the air. Scattered they fell all over the desk and floor.

Ignoring the papers as if the event of him being startled had never occurred, the man walked over to the three. Skillfully sidestepping the papers on the floor. With a poised expression, he said, "Please come in the guild master has been awaiting your arrival."

Walking them to the two large doors he opened them up and led the group in.

It was a rectangular room with full glass window panes serving as the walls for the three sides of the room other than the plain wooden wall of the side of the large door.

It was a magnificent room that faced the back of the guild building.

The light was cascading in from all three sides and the room felt wide and open.

There was a desk with its back to the view outside and facing the door in the room.

Behind it sat an old man with grey hair. He was dressed in completely black robes with highlights of gold.

With his elbows on the table, fingers interlocked and placed under his nose his long grey beard was emphasised as it flowed and extended to even beneath the desk.

His eyes were locked onto the group that had entered and he was scrutinizing the youngest of the group intently.

Adam felt the glare on him but he didn't pay too much attention to it.

Walking in Mrs Bren and the skinny man with glasses stepped to either side of the table and stood there leaving Adam and Fen to face the man behind the table.

"Greeting's Guild Master." Adam slightly bowed his head in a respectful greeting.

Fen Followed suit and greeted similarly.

"So you are Adam. Yuki said you were young but I thought she was just being overly protective. It seems she wasn't."

"Why have you decided to become an adventurer so early?" His voice was deep and held a power that came with the position. He spoke clearly and did not beat around the bush.

"It is always better to get an early start and be decisive. This is what I feel." Adam replied honestly.

"Hmm, interesting boy." The guild master was surprised by the insight that this young boy showed.

"What class have you chosen? I'm guessing you had choices since you took soo long…"

"Guild master is not wrong. I chose the Ranger class." Adam decided to say the ranger class because the monk class required him to adorn gloves or gauntlets whereas with the ranger class he would have to carry weapons.

It was a lot easier to play off the gloves as most classes wore them but how could he hide the weapons? Thus he had decided. If he were ever to be asked which class he had chosen, he would say he was of the ranger class.

"Not a bad choice."

Hearing the guild master satisfied by this response Mrs Bren could only stifle her curiosity on the matter.

"Ok, I shall get down to the matter at hand. Yuki has requested for you to be allowed access to start training in Two Fang dungeon."

Adam was surprised. His mother was crazily overbearing. The dungeon was off limits by the guild to everyone as it was a newly formed Dungeon. How had she come up with this request?

New dungeons were great places for new adventurers to train as they would generally have low levelled monsters and would not be as dangerous as the wild where monster's of different levels were scattered about and could be accidentally encountered.

New dungeons were vulnerable in their earlier stages and were heavily protected by the guild's to ensure their safety. Not many people knew why because the guild had stifled all the information to avoid an increasing number of people learning about it and seeking to take advantage.

Two Fang city's dungeon was still off limits to everyone. If he were allowed it would be his own personal training grounds.

"We have agreed and come to terms. You shall be allowed access. Here take this token. It will serve as proof to the guards at the entrance." Saying this he threw a black wooden token with the guild's insignia on it. A distinct aura was emanating from the token that even Adam could feel.

"Thank you guild master." What strings had his mother pulled to accomplish this feat? Adam was joyful but at the same time his energy was gradually being sapped and he was growing increasingly tired.

"Thank your mother." A look of loss flashed through his eyes for barely an instant when he said that. "Enough! Take this and go home for now. She must be waiting."

He produced a clearly processed crystal from somewhere in his desk and placed it on top of it.

"This is a recording crystal that all adventurers are given on passing the initiation. It holds the recordings of senior adventurers of all five classes executing basic movements and attacks. How you take in their movements and build on it will be your true test as an adventurer."

Picking up the crystal Adam handed it over to Fen. After all, he was still a 5-year-old wearing a child's robe with no pockets.

"Ok, we have come to an end. Bren, please escort them to the gate."

"Come on little ones let us go. The guild master should have important work to do." Mrs Bren said and led them out all the way to the gate where she stood and waved them farewell.

Finally done with his excursion Adam could not wait to get home and collapse.

The two hurried back to the Lodge.

…..

Back in the Guild Master's office.

"Sir, Is it really okay to let him into the dungeon? What if he gets past the second floor and enters the core room?" The skinny man with glasses asked the old man behind the desk.

"He is still a child and is level 0. That should not be a concern for a long time. It should be ok for now. Plus I already gave that woman my word." The old man said in a contemplating tone.

"But…" The skinny man still had reservations.

"Oh, you weren't saying anything when that overbearing woman was here before. What's with all the sudden doubts?"

"Ah! that… I wasn't paying attention when she was here. I was thinking about some other important matters." He tried furiously to dodge the question and the gaze of the old man.

"Shameless." The old man was at a loss at the behaviour of his subordinate. "Whatever happens will happen. We shall monitor the child's growth in a few years time."

Saying as much they went back to discussing other topic's.