Yasser wandered through the bustling streets of Lifara, his eyes darting between the colorful market stalls and the people who seemed straight out of a fantasy novel. A burly man haggled over a sword that shimmered faintly, while a woman in a flowing robe sold glowing vials labeled "Mana Tonic." The air was thick with the smells of roasted meat, fresh bread, and something oddly metallic—probably magic, Yasser figured. "This place is like Comic-Con, but everyone's way too serious," he muttered, dodging a kid chasing a stray chicken.
His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn't eaten since his morning coffee… which felt like a lifetime ago. The Minor Strength Ring on his finger glinted under the sun, but it wasn't exactly filling his belly. "Sixty points in the gacha system, and not one of them can buy me a sandwich," he grumbled. The system hadn't popped up with a new quest yet, so he decided to focus on two things: food and information.
He approached a stall where an old woman was grilling skewers of meat over a small fire. The aroma was heavenly, and Yasser's mouth watered. "Hey, uh, ma'am," he said, flashing his best charming smile. "How much for one of those? And, like, what do you guys use for money around here?"
The woman squinted at him, her wrinkled face suspicious. "You're not from around here, are you, boy? We use coppers, silvers, and golds. One skewer's five coppers."
Yasser patted his pockets, knowing full well they were empty. "Right, coppers. Totally forgot my wallet in… another dimension. Any chance you take, uh, IOUs? Or maybe trade for some top-tier sarcasm?"
She snorted, but her expression softened. "You've got a mouth on you. Tell you what—help me carry a crate of spices from the back, and I'll give you a skewer for free."
"Deal!" Yasser said, already rolling up his sleeves. The crate wasn't heavy, thanks to his new ring's slight boost, and he hauled it to the stall with minimal complaints. True to her word, the woman handed him a steaming skewer. He took a bite, and his eyes widened. "This is amazing. Is this beef? Magic cow? Dragon meat?"
The woman chuckled. "Just plain boar. Name's Marna, by the way. You planning to stay in Lifara, stranger?"
"Yasser," he said between bites. "And yeah, for now. Trying to figure out how this place works. Got any tips for a newbie adventurer?"
Marna leaned in, her voice low. "Lifara's a good starting point. The Adventurers' Guild is down the main road—big building with a sword-and-shield sign. They post quests for folks like you. Pays in coin and sometimes rare items. But watch your back. The forest outside's crawling with beasts, and not all adventurers are friendly."
Yasser nodded, filing the info away. "Guild, quests, monsters. Got it. Anything else I should know? Like, how not to get eaten?"
"Don't wander off alone until you're stronger," Marna said, handing him a second skewer. "And if you see glowing eyes at night, run."
"Solid advice," Yasser said, already halfway through the second skewer. He thanked Marna and headed toward the main road, feeling a bit more grounded. The system screen flickered into view:
New Quest: Register at the Adventurers' Guild
Objective: Sign up at the Lifara Adventurers' Guild and learn about the local quest system. Reward: 30 Gacha Points + Access to Guild Services. Note: Try not to insult the receptionist. They've heard it all.
Yasser smirked. "Oh, system, you know me too well." He followed the road, weaving through the crowd until he spotted the guild—a sturdy stone building with a massive wooden sign depicting a sword crossed with a shield. A steady stream of adventurers flowed in and out, some clad in gleaming armor, others in tattered cloaks.
Inside, the guild hall was chaotic. Adventurers crowded around a bulletin board covered in parchment notices, while others lounged at tables, swapping stories over tankards of ale. Yasser approached the reception desk, where a young woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense expression was sorting papers. "Hi," he said, leaning on the counter. "I'm here to register. Name's Yasser, future legend."
The receptionist, whose nameplate read "Lina," didn't even look up. "Newcomer, huh? Got any skills, or are you just here to waste my time?"
Yasser grinned. "Skills? I've got charm, wit, and I once hit a scaled wolf with a stick. Also, I'm pretty good at not dying."
Lina finally glanced at him, unimpressed. "Stick-throwing isn't a class. Fine. Registration's one silver. You get a basic ID tag and access to F-rank quests. Higher ranks require proof of ability."
Yasser's grin faltered. "One silver? Uh, I'm a bit… short on funds. Any chance I can owe you? Or maybe do a quest first?"
Lina sighed. "No silver, no registration. But there's a beginner's board with free tasks for unregistered folks. Complete one, earn some coin, then come back. Don't die."
"Harsh but fair," Yasser said, giving her a mock salute. He headed to the beginner's board, which was less crowded and covered in simpler notices. Most were mundane—deliver herbs, gather firewood—but one caught his eye:
Task: Clear Rats from Old Man Torv's Cellar
Reward: 20 coppers. Details: Giant rats have infested Torv's cellar. Kill them or drive them out. No magic required.
"Giant rats? Really?" Yasser muttered. "This is my epic adventurer start? Cleaning someone's basement?" Still, 20 coppers could get him registered and maybe a meal. He tore the notice off the board and headed to the address listed.
Old Man Torv lived in a rickety house on the edge of Lifara. The gray-haired man opened the door, eyeing Yasser warily. "You here for the rats? They're huge, mind you. Not your average vermin."
"I've faced a scaled wolf," Yasser said, puffing out his chest. "Rats are nothing."
Torv handed him a rusty short sword. "Use this. And don't break anything."
The cellar was dark, damp, and smelled like mold. Yasser gripped the sword, his confidence waning as he heard skittering noises. "Alright, rats. Let's make this quick." He descended the creaky stairs, squinting in the dim light. Three rats the size of cats scurried toward him, their eyes glinting.
"Oh, come on!" Yasser yelped, swinging the sword. The blade was dull, but his Minor Strength Ring gave him just enough force to clip one rat, sending it squealing. The other two lunged, and he dodged, barely avoiding their sharp teeth. "This is why I hate basements!"
He kicked a wooden crate, startling the rats, then swung again, hitting another. The third rat bit his ankle, and he cursed, stomping it until it fled. After a messy fight, all three rats were either dead or gone. Yasser leaned against the wall, panting. "That… was disgusting."
The system chimed:
Task Complete: Cleared Rats from Torv's Cellar
Reward: 15 Gacha Points. Note: Not bad for a guy with a rusty sword. Check your ankle for infection.
Yasser limped upstairs, where Torv handed him 20 coppers. "Good work, lad. Want another job tomorrow?"
"Hard pass," Yasser said, pocketing the coins. He hobbled back to the guild, paid Lina the silver, and got his ID tag—a cheap bronze pendant with his name etched on it. "F-rank adventurer, baby," he said, slipping it around his neck.
Lina handed him a pamphlet. "Read this. It's the guild rules and basic info about Lifara. Don't lose it."
Back outside, Yasser sat on a bench, flipping through the pamphlet. It explained the basics: Lifara was part of the Kingdom of Valthar, a land of magic, monsters, and rival factions. Adventurers ranked from F to S, with F-ranks stuck with grunt work. Magic and skills were common, but you needed training or rare items to unlock them. "So, I need to grind quests and pull good stuff from the gacha," Yasser said. "Classic."
The system pinged:
Quest Completed: Register at the Adventurers' Guild
Reward: 30 Gacha Points + Access to Guild Services. Total Points: 105. Note: You've got enough for a pull. Want to try your luck?
Yasser grinned. "Hell yeah, let's roll!" He focused on the system, and a new screen appeared, showing a spinning wheel of items, skills, and weapons. He hit the "Pull" button, and the wheel spun, landing on…
Gacha Pull: Congratulations! You've obtained Basic Mana Crystal (Grants a small amount of mana, enabling minor magic use).
A small blue crystal materialized in his hand, pulsing faintly. "Magic? Now we're talking," Yasser said, tossing it up and catching it. "Time to figure out what this baby does."
End of Chapter Two