8 It's Just a Formality I Assure You

Walking through the door, Flynn took a moment to take in the environment.

On the far side of the room, a woman was hurriedly sorting out a stack of papers.

On the wall to his right, a large notice board took up the majority of the wall. Pieces of paper were pinned in different spots. Some had only text, some had pictures. A large wolf, a creature cloaked in reeds, a beast with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion.

On his left sets of tables were being wiped down and drinks being picked up.

As he walked further in, on his left Flynn saw two people wiping down wooden tables and picking up empty cups and mugs.

"So this place also serves drinks, noted." Flynn thinks to himself as he sees three people sat around a table. His eye catches on the group of three.

A short girl with long red hair sleeping soundly with a mug in her hand with two men quietly talking next to her, one with bright blond hair who takes a sip as he motions to a map placed between them. The other, his hair a dark green, was moving his mug in a circle watching its contents slosh about. As the blond-haired man looks behind him, Flynn and the man eyes locked for a second before Flynn looks away making his way to the counter at the end of the room.

Reaching the counter, the woman briefly looks up from her stacks of paper.

"Hi." Picking up a piece of paper she shuffles it into a different pile. Looking up again she softly smiles. "How can I help?"

"A friend of mine said this is the place I would need to go registered with the Guild."

"You want to register with the Guild? Yes, this is the place." Sizing Flynn up, she nods. "I would usually pass you off to my assistant, but we're kind of rushed off of our feet trying to get the new requests and bounties up."

Looking at all the papers dotting the desk, Flynn gestured to them. "Are you always so busy putting all of these up?"

Looking at her desk, the lady laughed. "Oh no. Once a month we get a large shipment from the Guild's main base in Arken-hold. All of these documents are for requests that the Guild has issued and bounties from other areas. We usually just have a few piles." Sighing, she wiped her brow. Pointing to some stairs on the other side of the room where the tables stopped, she turned back to her papers. "Go up those stairs, follow the path till you reach the door, go in and take a seat. I'll be with you shortly, I'm almost done here."

Nodding, Flynn walked up the stairs to the left of the counter. Reaching the top of the stairs, they turned left into a door.

Opening the door, Flynn peeked his head through.

A lavish desk was stationed in front of a window, its curtains drawn but a faint light illuminated the room through the gaps.

The middle of the room had a small table positioned between a pair of comfy looking couches.

Walking in, Flynn shut the door behind him.

Standing at the edge of the room, Flynn idly looked towards a bookcase. Cocking his head to the side, he read the names on the spines.

A red spine, The Workings of Ignrold, architect of the ancients. A dark red spine, Biology from beyond, anatomy of the Breach and a dark green spine, The Five heroes, the tragedy of Atmoran peak.

"What interesting titles," Flynn thought.

Reaching for the book titled 'The Five heroes' he heard the door open behind him.

Spinning around he was greeted by the woman from before.

"I'm sorry about the wait." As the woman sat down, Flynn saw she was balancing two odd-looking items on a notepad. One, a small white cube and the other, a small smokey white sphere in the other. "Without further ado, please take a seat and we can begin."

Sitting on the sofa opposite her as requested, Flynn gestured to the two items she was holding.

"If you don't mind me asking what are those?"

"This is a recorder." She remarked holding the cube up. "I can use this to record our meeting for later transcription if needed. It's just a formality I assure you, and this." She held the sphere up. Upon closer inspection, Flynn could see a faint green glow permeating the cloud. "This is a quantifier. With this, I can determine your magical power and elemental affinity. It helps find what adventuring rank you'll start at. The brighter the glow, the higher your rank." Shaking the sphere, she remarked on the faint green glow. "You see why I do all the paperwork."

Putting the cube onto the table between them, the cube began to glow.

"Does the glow mean it's on?" Flynn asked.

With a nod, she began. "Now. I didn't catch your name."

"Oh, I'm Flynn, Flynn Whitefield."

"Ok Flynn." Writing his name on the pad, she pointed her pencil at him. "Why is it you want to become an adventurer? To gain wealth? To gain glory? Are you in it for the vanity that comes with the title of adventurer? Or something more?" She enquired.

'This feels more like an interrogation than an interview.' Flynn thought. Clearing his throat Flynn began. "The honest reason? I'm not sure. My world has been thrown on its heads within the last twenty-four hours. I guess… I need power, power to save my sister."

Crossing her legs, she leant back against the sofa as she rolled the cloudy sphere between her hands. "Your sister? Why's that?"

Looking away for a second, Flynn weighed his options between lying or telling the truth.

"My sister was kidnapped after a group came to my house and tried to kill me. I think I need power to protect myself and save my sister, but I also need to learn why they are trying to hunt me down".

Slowly nodding along, the lady glanced at the desk to their side.

"Saving your sister from danger, that's a commendable reason. Please. Take this."

Holding out the smokey sphere in her open palm, Flynn eyed it.

"I wouldn't expect too much, I don't have any magic." He added. Taking the sphere, Flynn looked at the shifting white smoke. After a few moments, he shrugged, holding it out for her to take back.

"Sorry, but I told you I didn't have any magic."

"Just wait a second, it takes a second to recognise your mana." Her eyes lit up slightly as she saw something in the sphere. "See, look now."

Bringing the sphere back, Flynn's eyes widened seeing a plume of yellow smoke begin to diffuse through the cloud.

"I have… magic? W- what is this?" He asked, holding the yellow smokey sphere up.

"That's yellow, light magic you had no clue what your affinity was? Light magic is fairly rare in normal people, maybe you're a late bloo-"

The lady fell silent as a plume of red smoke appeared within the sphere snaking around the yellow smoke. Moments later the two colours filled the sphere leaving no white smoke in their wake.

"I don't-" Rapidly blinking she was shocked.

"What's wrong? Is it uncommon for someone to get two colours?" Flynn asked, equally as confused as she was.

"That- Are you human? I had assumed you were but, are you a hybrid?" She inquired.

"Hybrid?"

"Yes, don't you know what a hybrid is?"

Flynn quickly shook his head.

"When someone's parents are from two separate species. Their child is classified as a hybrid, or a half-breed depending on who you ask."

"Oh I've never met my parents, they abandoned me when I was a child."

Still inspecting the yellow and red smokey orb, the lady marvelled at how the two plumes of smoke seemed to twist around each other, her jaw almost agape. "The intensity of the smoke, not only do you have two affinities, but you also have potent mana… Yet you said you don't have any magic."

Flynn glanced at the sphere. Holding it up, he still didn't understand what this could mean. "I'm sorry but I don't think I understand what any of this means, I don't have any magic, I think I would have noticed if I had 'potent mana' or whatever. No offence, but I think your smoke sphere's broken."

Writing something down on her notepad, she held her hand out for the orb. "Thank you, that's all that is needed for the quantifier."

Handing her the quantifier, she placed it aside on the table.

"Just some more further questions, do you have any forms of training?"

Unsure, Flynn asks. "Forms of training?"

"Are you good with a sword, a bow, that kind of thing? Do you know any sword styles, forms of martial arts or such?"

"No, no I haven't had any sword training. Although I've gotten in fights in school if that helps. Although, I usually lose."

Looking Flynn up and down, she raised an eyebrow. "With that figure? You must be picking fights with some tough people if you usually lose."

Confused by her statement, Flynn questioned. "My figure? I've never really tried at the gym, just enough so I don't gain a lot of weight."

"He-he, sure you do." Writing one last thing on her notepad. She drew a line under it. "Ok, that will be all."

"Is that all? I thought there would be more to the process, I mean we've barely spoken."

"Different Guild Sites follow different protocols for registering new Adventurers, the head of this site is, well. She's very carefree with how she handles the registration process."

"I see. What did you mean by the head of this site?" Flynn asked.

"Oh that. Well, you know how there are the four leaders of the Guild who handle matters pertaining to the Guild as a whole. They delegate smaller matters to the people in charge of the Guild Sites… Although, with all of the time Kara is away. I may as well be the Head with the amount of paperwork I'm left with." Sighing, she stood up. "Thank you, Flynn, that will be all."

"Oh is that all." Standing up he held out his hand for the lady. "I never did catch your name?"

Shaking his hand she smiled. "My name's Liru. I'm sure you'll make a great adventurer Flynn."

"Well Liru, it was nice meeting you." Just as Flynn turned to leave, a thought crossed his mind. "So." He turned back. "How will I know if I make it as an adventurer?"

Clicking her fingers, Liru nodded. "Good point. Are you staying anywhere in town?" She asked.

"I and a friend are staying at Redford's Tavern. When my friend wakes up I'm pretty sure she'll be coming to become an adventurer as well." Flynn said.

"Ah Redford's Tavern, I know it well. I'll make sure the results of our little meeting are mailed there at the earliest possible time and well, if your friends are anything like you then we'd be happy to have them. Have a nice day Flynn."

--

After having left the Guild. Flynn began wandering around town. Flynn's interest in his new surroundings kept him content for hours as he hadn't noticed that the sun had begun to set.

As Flynn began walking near the edges of the town, Flynn couldn't help but feel off.

Walking past a dead-end, Flynn stopped seeing two men standing over a young boy who was clutching his stomach. Leaning against the wall, he poked his head around to see what was happening.

The brute to Flynn's right pressed his boot against the boy's face as he mocked him.

"See, this is why you always listen to your elders. So when I say, give me the money you owe us, you don't try and fight back. Because if you do." He would gesture to his more muscle-bound friend. "One of us may have to do something you will wind up regretting."

Retreating behind the wall, Flynn thought to himself. So two thugs are trying to extort money out of a defenceless kid. Looking further down the road. I don't need to get involved. I could leave and no one would know.

Having stopped paying attention, Flynn peaked his head back around the wall. Seeing the brute with muscles raising a bat over his head Flynn sighed.

As the muscled brute was about to hit the boy, he laughed. "The boss doesn't like it when people don't pay their debts, so let this be a reminder for you."

Moving to bring the bat down. The brute found he couldn't move the bat.

"You know, I honestly would have left."

Turning his head, the man was slightly shocked. Stood behind him, Flynn was keeping the wooden bat in place with a single hand holding the end.

"But you just had to go and escalate things, didn't you. I don't like conflict." Easily wrenching the bat out of the brute's hand, Flynn held it in both hands. "I try to avoid it when I can, but I just can't stand bullies." Bending the bat out of frustration, Flynn was shocked when the wood snapped in two. Blinking, he dropped the pieces on the ground. The two men who stood before him were speechless. "What's wrong, cat got your tongue?"

Looking at his friend, the man who had stepped on the boy's head pointed at Flynn. "Do you know who we are?"

"Nope." Flynn bluntly responded with a shrug.

"We're a part of the Soul Stealers, we run these streets."

Hearing this, Flynn took a step back, mock fear on his face. "O- Oh no, I'm so sorry I…" Smirking slightly he shrugged again causing the two men to glare harder at him. "Have absolutely no clue what that is. To be fair, I'm not actually from around here. So fill me in on why that name should matter to me."

"Our boss is one of the toughest around, he's an A-rank fighter. His unique skill means everyone is scared of him."

"Ranks, unique skills…" Putting a hand on his chin, Flynn completely disregarded the two men standing in front of him as he thought out what the man just said. "Looks like I'm not quite fully informed about this world…"

Taking this moment as Flynn was distracted with his thoughts, the thug with muscles swung a punch towards Flynn's chest.

Easily ducking the man's punch, Flynn wanted to test something. Stepping forward under his arm, Flynn took this moment to test a theory he had been wanting to check out.

Feeling muscles tense up he didn't even know he had, Flynn landed a punch into the man's unguarded chest.

The resulting hit, threw the man backwards six feet into the dead-end. His impact against the wall knocking him unconscious.

Shocked at this result, Flynn looked at his hand.

After a moment he looked at the thug still standing. The man was frozen in fear, scared he might get punched.

"Hey, you." The man jumped. "Go get your friend and get lost."

Quickly obliging with this request. The man quickly scampered forwards. Picking up his friend, he tried to make a quick departure as he dragged his unconscious buddy away.

When he was a safe distance from Flynn, the thug shouted. "Just wait till the boss hears about this. There'll be hell to pay."

Writing that last comment off as an empty threat. Flynn knelt to touch the boy's shoulder.

"Hey, are you ok?"

Flynn frowned slightly as the boy moved away from his hand.

"Hey hey, I'm nothing to be scared of. Those scary men are gone."

Looking up, the boy looked around.

"Who were those men? Why were they trying to get money from you?"

Clearing his throat, the boy coughed. "My… My father owes them money. He's gotten into debt with their gang."

Flynn slightly grimaced at this news. "So why are they beating you up, where's your father?"

Sitting up, the boy looked at his hands. "I think he's skipped town, I can't find him anywhere…"

Noticing how ragged the boy's clothes were, Flynn asked. "Where do you live?" Reaching a hand out, Flynn brushed some dirt off of the boy's light blue hair.

"We- we live on the edge of town. Our house is pretty run down."

Nodding, Flynn smiled. "I think I may be able to help you there. I have a friend, well I think he's my friend. He runs a tavern near the entrance to town. I'm sure he'll give you a place to stay until we can sort your situation out."

Looking into Flynn's eyes, the boy looked confused. "But, why are you helping me?"

Standing up Flynn held his hand out for the boy to take. "If you asked me yesterday I probably would have kept walking, but. I've been feeling different recently but I mean. If you'd prefer to stay on the ground I can go-"

Taking Flynn's hand the boy cut him off. "No. I want to come."

Helping him up, Flynn clapped his hands. "Good to hear. Come on, it's just this way."

Leading the boy back the way he had just come. Flynn looked around to make sure those two thugs weren't lurking nearby.

After walking in silence for a minute. The boy timidly asked Flynn a question. "Um mister, I- um. What's your name? My mom always said I should learn the names of people who help me. So that I can thank them personally."

"Smiling Flynn held his hands out to the side as he gestured to himself. "I'm Flynn and that's funny, my mom said something similar when I was younger. What's your name?"

"I'm Geld." He meekly responded.

Observing Geld's reservations on talking, Flynn patted him on the back. "Don't worry Geld, you don't have to talk much if you don't want to."

--

Arriving back at Redford's tavern, Flynn held the door open for Geld. Stepping in after him. Noticed that there were a lot of patrons sitting around drinking. He saw Redford at the bar serving a drink to one of its customers. The moment he closed the door behind him Flynn heard a knock on the door.

Opening the door for a second to see who had just knocked. Flynn was stumped seeing no one there, sticking his head out there was no one on the street. Looking down, there was a small box wrapped in packing paper the size of his fist bound together in twine. Picking it up he closed the door.

Joining Geld at the bar, who was sipping a red drink, Flynn put the small box on the bar.

"I think this is for you, it just arrived and do you mind if I just get some water."

Picking up a cup he put it in front of Flynn. Filling it with clear water, Redford unbound the twine, unwrapping the box he looked at the insignia on the top of the box. Faintly smiling he slid both the drink and the box back towards Flynn. "Doubt it I haven't ordered anything from the Guild." He responded. "Well, nothing that small."

Taking a sip from his cup, Flynn picked up the box. Seeing the Guild's insignia. Two swords crossed over a shield with a single arrow sticking through the middle of them. Flynn prepared to open the box.

"Does the Guild usually work this fast?"

"Not usually," Redford responded. "Go on then, open it. I want to see what rank you get to start at."

Opening the box, there was a small card. Picking it up, a red gem was resting on a cushion beneath it.

"What?!" Redford squawked. "Your starting pendant is a ruby, which means you are ranked in B class."

"Is that not normal?" Pulling the item out of the box, Flynn had assumed it was some kind of necklace.

Perfect. He thought. Another necklace to add to my collection.

"No, it's not. Usually, you start around E or D class."

Inspecting the ruby a little more, Flynn decided to put his thoughts aside for now.

Pocketing the ruby, Flynn gestured to the boy sat next to him.

"Redford, this is Geld. From what he's told me, his father fell into debt with the wrong people so now Geld is being harassed for what his father owes them. I told him you might be able to give him a place to stay."

Looking at the boy, Redford sighed. "Flynn, I can't take everyone that comes off of the streets you know. I was just doing that for you two since you have nowhere else to go."

"But Redford, Geld's in the same situation as me. He also has nowhere else to go and besides." Looking around the bar, Flynn took another sip of water. "I'm sure he could pitch in and help around the place."

Considering this for a moment, Redford turns to Geld. "If I gave you a place to stay, would you help me run this place? Nothing too hard, just handing out drinks and cleaning up after customers. If you do a good enough job I might even give you a wage."

Hiding behind his red drink. Geld's ears perked up as Redford offered him a place to stay.

"Really? You'd give me somewhere to sleep?" He asked. "I don't know the last time I slept in a real bed."

Hearing this, Redford answered Geld's question. "If you work why not."

As Geld started to sniffle at their kindness. A thought crossed Flynn's mind.

Patting Geld's head. He looked back to Redford. "So, how is Oriel? has she woken up."

Redford nodded. "Yeah, she woke up about half an hour ago. But her body is still weak from the mana exhaustion. You should go and see her and," bringing a vial of blue liquid up he handed it to Flynn, "Tell her to drink this, it'll help speed up her recovery. I meant to bring her it earlier but then there was the influx of customers."

Nodding. Flynn patted Geld on the head once more before taking his leave.

Walking back up the stairs to the rooms, Flynn started to think about what he was going to say.

With each step, his mind raced with questions he needed answered.

Who are you really?

Where are we?

Who were they?

Who am I?

Reaching his room, Flynn put his hand on the door handle. Taking a deep breath to try and clear his mind, Flynn opened it.

Seeing Oriel sat up in the bed, she was looking out of the open window.

Hearing the door open, she turned to see Flynn still standing in the doorway.

"Hey, Flynn." She smiled, her blond hair slightly flowing in the wind from the open window. "I know, I have a lot to explain."