Registering at the Adventurers' Guild

"Transfer all strength of your body into your fist. Use your leg to lever the force of gravity." Cowen instructed sternly.

In these one and half years of apprenticeship under him, Aren got to know what a true training was like. Mastering basic combat, remembering several difficult moves and basic skills, sharpening his reaction speed and intuition and tempering his body. Only after he finshed these courses did would he have the qualifications to harness the Runic force.

Master also told him about the method of advancing to rank 1. According to master Cowen, every advancement is a breakthrough in physical and spiritual limit of living beings. Only after they cross a certain threshold could they awaken the runes within them and use the Runic force.

After the battle with orcs, his master had started to whole heartedly train him. Diligent practice for more than a year had led him on the verge of awakening his runes. He was now 3 months away from being 11 years old. His master, Cowen, will also leave this village after 6 months. So he was also considering about leaving after he advanced to become a rank 1.

"Aren, you are quite gifted than I previously expected. Considering your improvement, if you train for two more years you can definitely advance. Most people will have to train daily for 5 to 6 years at the very least but you can manage to do it in three years." Cowen praised, satisfied with his disciple.

'Two more years? Looks like I'm quite talented. Its all because of this body. Even though I haven't reached 11, I already look like a 14 to 15 year old boy. Ever since I woke up in this body, my mind has always been clear and my memory power has improved as well.'

At this moment a white bird came flapping its wings and landed on Cowen's shoulder. It then made several indistinct sounds which made him frown. After the bird went he turned to Aren and said. "Looks like I have to depart a little earlier. Aren, come to my study after changing clothes."

"Was that a messenger bird, master?"

"Yes. It transmits messages spritually."

Saying that, he quickly entered the house leaving the sweat-drenched Aren thinking.

'Master will be leaving? Well, I learnt everything he has to teach me a little earlier. So it doesn't affect my plans.'

Inside the study room, Cowen took out a milk-white orb from his secret compartment. Putting it on a table, he mumbled some incantations and sat on a chair.

"Looks like the Elven Council will take over from now on. If they want me to go then the matter must have already been settled. I should also return to the academy. The other professors can't handle the situation there if I'm absent for more than five years. I should also take this opportunity to bring Aren with me to the academy."

knock! knock!

"Come in."

"Oh, Aren, you are here. Come, sit on that chair. Do you remember I told you that I have something to tell you when we first met?"

"Yes."

"Put your hand on that orb, close your eyes and relax your breathing. If you see something, then tell me." his master said, pointing at a spherical orb which was milk-white in color. When he looked at this orb, it seemed to be pulling his consciousness inside.

After examining it for a while he did as his master said him to. Eyes closed, he couldn't see anything but strangely he couldn't even hear anything. He didn't panic, however, as he had experienced a more imperceptible situation than this.

A while later, white mist filled his view. He appeared to be in some sort of an independent space. Far way in this space, a point of light could be seen. It was sometimes covered by the misty fog and sometimes emitting purple rays. Aren tried to get closer to this light to see what it was but suddenly, his eyes opened.

"What did you see?" Mr. Cowen asked, sounding eager to know

Aren looked around for awhile. He was momentarily stunned. He was sure he hadn't dreamt about that light and fog. After calming down, he answered.

"A light. It was a purple light and there was white mist everywhere."

'Purple light? As I perceived, he has violet ring aptitude. He has potential to easily become a greater mage or even.... an Archmage.' Cowen thought.

"Aren, let me tell you. You have potential to become a spellcaster. Spellcasters are called mages. What you did right now is to test your talent and you have the highest grade talent there is. You just have learn and train a little and you can cast spells. So then, do you want to learn magic?"

Cowen this time was even more solemn than when he took him as his apprentice.

'Magic? So I can become a mage and I have the highest grade talent also. Who am I actually? I have a feeling that I can uncover my body's secret if I learn magic.'

"I will learn magic." he unhesitatingly answered. He already had top talent so not learning magic felt like wasting his talent to him. If he can become powerful by becoming a mage then he will do so happily.

"You made the right decision." Cowen was glad that Aren was being this cooperative. Should Aren have declined, he would have to resort to forceful means. Aren didn't know what a highest grade talent meant to mages. Even the prestigious mages families with greater mages as their head don't have this type of talent in their younger generations.

"Since you'll soon be going to academy, I guess there is harm in telling you this. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Cowen sevester, a rank 4 lesser mage and professor at Clementine Academy of Magic and Sorcery. I came here because of a mission. As I'll be leaving five days later I'll also bring you to the Academy with me."

This secret, however, didn't affect Aren that much. He already had his suspicions when his master told him that he had talent for magic. Other than him being a rank 4, which stunned him a little, he accepted everything else calmly.

'So I have five days left, huh. I should bid Tina and others farewell. I am an orphan or an abandoned child so I don't have an identity. Although, Master can vouch for me at the academy, I need an identity to do trades and take up jobs. Looks like I have to visit Telnos city.'

After an hour of chat with master Cowen and asking him about the academy and mages, he left his house. Coming outside the village, he asked for a horse and went towards Telnos city alone. Of course he had already informed Tina that he'll return 4 days later. He was going to Telnos city for two things. First, to register as an adventurer at the Adventurers' Guild and second, to get a weapon.

Now that he was going to the outer world, an identity, a weapon and some money were must-have. After coming to this world and staying here for more than a year, he knew that the outside world wasn't as peaceful as lithuyrm village.

Outside the Adventurers' Guild, Aren was looking at the signboard. After a while he sighed and entered. Lots of adventurers, messy tables and the bored receptionist. It was the same as usual. The receptionist named Lisana wasn't there. It was Robert's shift today. Without paying any attention to others, he came before the reception and stated his purpose.

"I want to register as an adventurer."

The receptionist turned his head towards him, observing him for a while. Then, without saying anything, he took out a form from a drawer and gave it to him. Pointing at the feather pen which was dipped in black ink, he said.

"Fill this form."

Aren looked at this form which was made up of yellow parchment and started writing.

A while later he finished filling it and gave it to the receptionist who took the form and assessed its contents. The handwriting was quite neat.

Name: Ren Von' Neuthran

Age: 15

Gender: Male

Profession: Fighter (unranked)

Party: none

Occupation: None

Status: Commoner

After going through it, he entered a room backdoor. After a while, he came, holding a bronze coloured card. Giving the card to Aren, he said. "You've registered as an adventurer at the Adventurers Guild. As a newly registered adventurer, your rank is F so you can only take rank F and rank E quests. This is your guild card. Make sure you keep it well because if you lose it, you have to pay a fees of 2 gold coins to remake it. It can be used as your identity and you can take quest in any city with this card."

'How convenient! Lets see what quests' the quest board has.'

Aren went towards the quest board and looked at the F and E ranked quests. There, the quest available were...

F-ranked quest: Find Ms. Kerry's lost kitten.

F-ranked quest: Help Mr. Ferdinand sell his tomatoes.

E-ranked quest: Collect Nightflower weeds (At least one bag)

E-ranked quest: Escort Redwood merchants to Yunisse City. (A 3 day quest). Members filled 7/10.

E-ranked quest: Search for whereabouts of criminal Saxter.

F-ranked quest...

...

'Looks like the lower ranked quest are all like this. Hmm... I think I should take the escorting quest. Three more people can take this.'

Following that, he took the paper from the quest board and gave it to the receptionist.

"I'll take this quest."

"Are you sure? This is a E-ranked quest. Even though the reward is 5 silver coins, it might be dangerous. You should first take a F-ranked quest."

"I'm sure."

"Alright you should wait for 2 hours. When the quota is filled, the staff will inform you." the receptionist said.

Aren went outside the building and headed towards the main road.

'The next stop is at Webber's Weapon Shop.'