Chapter 2

The Guild hall. Still just as large as it was when I first entered it. The white marble columns reminiscent of the ruins on the east coast. Four years of scrap quests, four years of ranking up. While I'm still young, I can now say I'm in the upper echelon of adventurers.

Just seeing all the people outside, whatever quest I was requested for, I wasn't the only one requested. Pushing past the men and women outside, the inside is just as hectic with people. There are some big names all around. The Ruth couple stand by the counter, each with a martini in hand. Contrasting them is Monolith at the same counter with a small glass of water, looking solemnly to the door. Him being a large Earth Elemental adds to the scene more than anyone else around them.

Going even further in, there stand a major amount of A rank and A+ rank adventurers. Wait, that characteristic brightness and slight breeze. Are Survivor and Tornado here? Sure enough, two Elementals stand in the center of the see of people. One made of fire, calmly letting off light that just barely illuminates his surrounds. The other made of harsh winds that roll off him in a sort of light sea breeze. Why are 2 of the 5 S ranks here? Okay, lets not get cold feet, I just need to talk with Admiral. Maybe I won't have to go on their mission. 

Getting to the back counter, Admiral is already talking with some other adventurers. It still is strange to see and old human man in general, let alone being a guild master. With what happened in the last war, I'd expect someone in their mid fifties. But Admiral was a great one and despite going on 80, he still does field work from time to time.

Admiral finally turns and notices me. He beckons me to the counter with his classic soft smile.

"The Shade is finally here. How goes it Luck?" A stool appears from behind me.

"Well, school starts in a week." I pause for a bit. "By the way, who chose my alias?"

He smiles, "Of course I did. I gotta give you a name relating to your general self. Think about it, The Shade, a natural enemy of light."

"Well yeah, I do have an unnaturally high rate of fighting against light affinity things, but Shade just sounds a bit weird."

He laughs a bit, "Yer a little right, and a little wrong. That statement came up during the leader's meeting. We thought between Shadow and The Shade for your name. And well, you are The Shade. Some say Shadow sounds better, but, you ain't at the point where you can be called such."

Well, at least some people agree that Shade is just a bit weird.

"Alright, so why was I called in today. Please tell me it has nothing to do with the 2 S ranks here today as well." Despite being ranked A, I'm not good enough to keep up with most other A ranks yet.

Admiral chuckles again, "Sorry to say, you have everything to do with the S ranks this time. Now to business. Just this past week, a new Dragon Overlord appeared close by. Dangerous son of gun. Worse yet, it is the rare light affinity dragon type. Without info on it, it is quite possibly one of the most dangerous monsters in Sicarius ever."

"You don't expect me to fight it, right?" My palms start to sweat. A light dragon nearly killed me only a month ago. I'd much rather not face one for at least a year if not longer.

He shakes his head, "No, you ain't gonna be fighting. Remember, your not a full A rank till you get your true race. But you will be on the mission. Kind of an onsite strategist and a magic recharge station." He stands showing off his metal arm. "Though today, I need you to hold an information session on anything you think is useful when fighting light affinity monsters. You know the most about such, even more than any manuals in the records."

 "I can do that. Any chance there is a light magic enchantment scroll lying around?"

He holds up his hand as he goes into the back room. After more than a few minutes of the sound of shuffling boxes, Admiral comes out with a thin layer of dust all over his person.

"No dice. I can run and buy one if need be." He shakes the dust off causing the area to be gritty.

"Fine, I can make one. I need a light core and a secluded room."

Impressively, he produces a light core. "Go ahead to your usual room. We'll have your session in, say 2 hours."

I give him a thumbs up and head to a back corner room. This room never really changes. Ever since I became a C rank, Admiral gave me this room for anything I could need. All the materials a scroll store could ever dream of strewn throughout the shelves.

All I need to do is make a scroll that can demonstrate everything. Easier said than done, but light magic is quite easy to manipulate on scrolls.