Part One - Third Year - Chapter [020]

Arslan was nowhere to be found - not that I mind it. I was just wondering where he could be after he had left me with what was starting to seem like a bigger and bigger task. On the other hand - even though this current quest felt like some sort of tutorial - I appreciated that he wasn't here to handhold me through what was probably the most boring part of any video game.

Treating you're players like they don't even know how to move the camera is something I never really appreciated from big box RPGs. 

Any road, I had to make my way to the outside of The Laughing Lord and wearily go into the mansion - it didn't seem a place where I should be going. My drabs weren't exactly looking classy or royal - they were of the starting set kind. I guess Apollo had made sure I looked the part of someone who was just starting. 

Still level one. 

I didn't mind as I had to play the part to blend in with everyone else. 

Nevertheless, I wearily made my way into the lobby of the mansion, opening the doors, only to be greeted by the most royal-looking place I had ever been to. This place even made fun of my own house. Of course, the house my parents lived in was modern and suave.

Meanwhile, this place was like some kind of medieval royal dream. The floors had intricate styling with gold inlay patterns that looked like they cost a pretty penny. 

The walls were made of carefully selected wood that stretched through the architecture, the stairs were clean and made of porcelain - and the windows were tinted of rose-colored glass. This whole place screamed fancy. I wasn't vibing with the whole posh aesthetic they had going on. 

It was all for show. 

I stood back - taking the mansion with all its splendor. I couldn't help but notice someone was registering before me. 

He looked like a warrior - his hand went on some type of stone tablet. It chimed and shined red. 

Instantly the people around him started cheering and clapping. They looked happy that the man registering had managed to get into the Warrior's building. 

Another one!

Hurra!

They shouted and celebrated. The man was ushered to the upper floors of the mansion - where I noticed there was a party underway. The mansion was starting to feel much more like a castle.

Because I hadn't even noticed the voices and laughter coming from upstairs. 

Immediately after that - I noticed the lobby had some sort of reception. I locked eyes with a warrior, his face was bushy - he had a thick black beard and a scar on his face that ran through his left eye. 

He looked at me and instantly smiled - knowing probably I was here to register. 

"Welcome!" He shouted from what seemed like the other side of the room. I took the initiative and started heading in his direction. 

"You a recruit?" He pronounced with a big perky attitude. His voice was soft and masculine. 

"Oh yeah - hi - I'm here to register for The Red Lions?" I asked puzzled - not sure if I was in the right place. 

"Perfect!" He said.

"Names - Willmot Rawkin - most people just call me Will," he said with a big broad smile. 

I now noticed other people were sitting on a wooden table with a draped blanket over it.

They were holding wooden boards that had paper on the other side. One of them was a girl - she had a pretty face. The other was a guy who had glasses and a face like a cat. The girl had brown reddish hair - and the guy with glasses had pure white hair. It was starting to feel like I was in a fantasy setting with distinct characters. 

"These two are Ayleth and Drew, they're sort of our team managers, you'll get to know them down the line as they'll give out quests to you and you're inamorato. If you ever find one that is." Will sort of chuckled. 

"Nice to meet you -" said Drew, his voice soft and feminine. 

"Nice to meet you as well," mused Ayleth, she was soft and tender, his build was lean and it looked like she had some muscle to her. 

I could already tell Will had a build similar to Arslan.

There was a beat - I couldn't help but notice - there it was again - that world.

Inamorato.

What exactly did it mean? 

I wanted to ask - but Drew quickly interrupted me. 

"Now we just need one thing from you -" said Drew, his voice was soft and plain. 

I turned to him and saw he pulled out some kind of stone tablet, with a strange symbol in the middle I couldn't understand. 

"This here is the stone of beginning - " said Ayleth, she seemed sweet and extroverted. Now that I noticed Drew was smiling as well. I was getting a vibe that everyone had some kind of smile on their face.

Was this normal? 

I guessed they all wanted me to join and were treating me nicely - but it sort of creep me out how broadly they kept their smile on.

I summoned the idea that maybe this guild was just full of extroverted people. 

I was feeling overwhelmed as my personality is very introverted - even though the sports I play bring out my extroverted side. 

Perks of being an INFJ I guessed. 

"What do I do?" I asked the three of them.

"Just place your hand on the symbol - we'll tell you what to do next," Willmot mumbled. 

I did as he told me. 

At first, nothing happened - then even more nothing.

I was getting worried. 

After what seemed like a long time. 

The symbol finally flashed blue. 

There was a palpable silence in the air, unlike the warrior that had gone before me, my symbol had rung blue instead of red. 

"Ah, dammit!" Said Willmot, Ayleth was visibly holding in her laughter, and Drew just seemed worried like he didn't want to make me feel bad. 

"What - What does that mean?" Ayleth started cackling. 

"Ayleth.- come on!" Said Drew, clearly being scratched by the same funny bug. Trying to hold in his laughter as well. 

"Look kid - " started Willmot. He cut whatever Drew and Ayleth were laughing about like a knife with butter. He held his composure like a pro. 

"A blue rune means you're only fit to join The Red Lions as a Science building guy - a red rune means you'll get to join as part of the Warrior building, it's okay if you don't want to join - but the result will be the same in any other guild - so you best stay with us okay?" He said while his eyebrows were twitching. 

Why did the science building get such a bad rap? I still didn't understand. 

"Don't feel bad - " Drew mused. 

"It's just warriors get to do everything around here - the science guys stay indoors all day," said Drew. 

"Unless a warrior desperately needs an inamorato - then they'll get plucked out of their cave," said Ayleth. 

"Like some kind of gobbling or something - am I right?" Willmot continued. All three of them started laughing again. 

"Yeah that's it -" said Drew, in between churning and laughing their ass off. 

I didn't find the funny.

I was starting to feel more and more depressed. 

The stone rune tablet thing printed out a small ticket. Willmot grabbed it and ripped it like some sort of receipt. 

"Anyway kid - here's you're official registration - go down that hallway and into the first floor - go through the courtyard and into the building on the other side of the mansion, you'll find the science guy's over there," Willmot said while cleaning happy tears from his eyes and managing to control his laughter. 

I took it from his hand - softly. 

And started heading in the direction he told me to go. 

I passed through a dingy old room that was full of boxes and cobwebs, then made my way through the courtyard - it was quite a nice space. The grass was green and they kept flowers in perfect condition. The grass was well kept and the fountain looked pristine. The statue on top was that of a proud lion, the water was pouring from the sides of a base. It looked almost majestic. 

Finally, I made my way to the building on the other side of the mansion. 

Compared to the outside I had just come through - this building looked decrepit and not well kept at all. 

Vines of grass and other roots were taking hold of the outside walls. 

I didn't know if I should knock or not, but with the ticket in hand, I decided to open the doors. 

It creaked with immense tremor, the door was quite large, and the building was one floor, but it had an enormous ceiling. 

There was almost no light inside this building. 

What the hell?

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect - but it wasn't this! 

I expected guys with nerdy glasses to make potions and research stuff. 

The smell inside this room - was that of a mix of humanity and just opened sardines. 

It reeked.

My eyes watered and my pupils went tiny. 

I had to take a breath of fresh air before entering the room again. 

In a moment I became accustomed to it. 

I started looking inside the room - potions were badly kept - failed experiments were plastered all over the floor - something having to do with wax that I wasn't sure what that meant - science-looking glass vials with purple liquid inside - something brushed my feet and I squealed.

A furry ball of something stopped to look at me - its mouth panting like a dog and big cute eyes. It was almost cute. It continued on its way diving into darkness. 

Was there no one here? 

What the hell this room was a mess - books laid out everywhere - not a single look of tidiness. 

I was appalled. 

"Hello?" I said - but no one answered. 

What the hell was this?