The City of Blacksteel Pt. 7

Elara stirred in my arms, waking up gradually as I carried her through the quiet streets of Blacksteel. Her breathing was steady now, but I knew we couldn't risk bringing her back to her family's estate. They'd likely expect her to continue whatever dangerous path she had started, and that didn't sit well with me.

As we approached the Adventurer Management, I realized there was a problem. Elara was a noblewoman—easily recognizable to anyone who had seen her face before, especially the receptionist who was probably used to dealing with adventurers and nobles alike.

"You're going to need to change your appearance," I muttered, glancing down at her. "The people here will recognize you in a heartbeat, and we don't want that kind of attention."

Elara blinked up at me, still regaining her strength. "Change my appearance? How?"

"Cover up, hide your face, something. A hood might help, but they'll still know you're not from around here," I said. "Maybe get rid of that noble air you're carrying."

She frowned at me, clearly not happy with the idea. "You expect me to disguise myself like… some commoner?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Unless you want them asking questions about why the daughter of House Voss is slumming it with the adventurers, yeah. Play it smart."

Elara hesitated but eventually nodded. "Fine. What do you suggest?"

I dug around in the bag I had scavenged earlier and pulled out a tattered cloak—something worn enough that it wouldn't draw attention. I handed it to her, watching as she reluctantly pulled the hood up, covering her distinctive features.

"There," I said with a smirk. "Now you look like every other traveler in Blacksteel."

When we reached the Adventurer Management, the building was as chaotic as ever—adventurers of every race and class moving in and out, looking for work or causing trouble. The sharp-eyed receptionist was at her usual spot behind the counter, barely glancing up from her paperwork as we entered.

Elara stayed close to me, her hood pulled low, hiding her face from view. She wasn't used to blending in, and it showed in the way she carried herself. But no one here seemed to pay much attention.

"Alright," I whispered to her. "Try not to look like you're ready to order people around. Blend in."

She shot me a look. "You know, I'm not completely clueless. I can manage."

"Sure, sure," I said, holding back a grin. "Just saying, it's easier to survive if people don't notice you."

We approached the registration desk, and I handed over the coin we had managed to scrape together. The receptionist finally looked up, her eyes narrowing as they flicked between me and Elara.

"You're new?" she asked, eyeing Elara with mild suspicion.

"Yeah," I said quickly, trying to divert attention away from Elara. "We're here to register. Been meaning to get involved with the guild."

The receptionist leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "You look familiar. Weren't you on a request not too long ago? Something about a missing person?"

I hesitated for a second. "Yeah, about that… I didn't complete it. Things got complicated, and I got out safely, but I didn't get what I was looking for."

The receptionist didn't seem surprised, her expression unchanging. "Figures. A lot of people don't make it through the tough ones. No reward for you, though."

I shrugged. "Wasn't expecting one."

She looked at me for a moment longer before sliding over the registration forms. "Fill these out. And don't cause trouble."

After filling out the paperwork and getting Elara registered, we moved toward the job board. Elara seemed quiet, but I could sense the wheels turning in her head.

"You're really set on sticking around for this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, adventuring's not exactly what you're used to."

She turned to me, her eyes steady and determined. "I want to see more of the world. Going on adventures isn't just about survival—it's about finding out what's out there, beyond the safety of the noble life. You've shown me there's more to it than what my family would have me believe."

I blinked, a little surprised. "You? Want to go on adventures?"

"Yes," she said firmly. "I may not have experience like you, but I'm not completely helpless. I can learn."

I scratched my head, still trying to wrap my mind around the idea of a noblewoman willingly throwing herself into the adventurer's life. "Look, I'm not saying you can't… but this isn't some grand quest. It's dirty, dangerous work. It's not glamorous."

Elara crossed her arms, looking at me with something like impatience. "Are you saying you don't want me around?"

"I'm saying you'd be more trouble than you're worth," I muttered, glancing at the job board. "But… having a companion might not be the worst thing. Could keep you from getting killed."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "So, we're agreed?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, fine. You can tag along. But don't say I didn't warn you."

We scanned the job board together, looking for something that wouldn't get us killed immediately. Most of the requests were the usual—monster slaying, treasure hunting, escorting traders. But one job stood out: a simple delivery request.

It involved delivering a package to a merchant outpost near the city. The reward was modest, but it was easy work, and it wouldn't put us in immediate danger.

"This one looks simple enough," I said, pointing at the delivery request. "What do you think?"

Elara studied the request, nodding slightly. "Better than monster hunting, at least. I'm in."

I smirked. "Alright, let's grab the package and get going."

As we left the Adventurer Management, I couldn't help but glance at Elara. She had agreed to this life far more easily than I expected, and despite her noble upbringing, she seemed genuinely excited about the idea of adventuring.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. A companion could be useful, after all. And if she was determined to stick around, I might as well let her.

"Just try not to slow me down," I said with a grin.

She shot me a look. "I think you'll find I can keep up."

We'll see about that.