Chapter 14: The Adventurer's Guild!
"So this is the place," Xolvion murmured, arms crossed as he studied the imposing three-storey building before him. He had gained more and more knowledge, now finally coming across something called the adventures guild.
After his last encounter with the group of thugs in the alley, he had been forced to purchase some new clothing, courtesy of them, of course.
That shopkeeper girl sure was lovely... He thought, remembering her soft and luscious body.
The Adventurers' Guild was exactly what he'd expected from the knowledge he'd absorbed over the past few days, a bustling hub of activity where mercenaries, sellswords, and would-be heroes gathered to seek their fortunes. Through the tall windows, he could see figures moving about with purpose, and the sound of animated conversation spilled out onto the cobblestone street.
"An adventurer's guild," he mused, a concept that would have been laughable in the demon realm. Back home, power was inherited or taken by force. Here, it seemed, even commoners could rise through the ranks by completing quests and proving their worth. "How wonderfully... democratic."
The irony wasn't lost on him. His siblings had cast him out, believing him weak and powerless, yet here was an entire system designed for those seeking to grow stronger through effort rather than birthright. It would provide the perfect cover for his true mission, hunting the Holy Saints whilst building a reputation that would open doors throughout the kingdom. That and also providing him with some well-needed coin.
Pushing through the heavy oak doors, Xolvion stepped into organised chaos. The guild hall buzzed with activity as adventurers of various races and skill levels crowded around notice boards, formed parties, or celebrated successful quests over tankards of ale. Humans dominated the space, but he spotted several elves with their distinctive pointed ears, a few stocky dwarves, and even what appeared to be a cat-like beastman lounging near the bar.
Beastmen... Now there's a race I haven't heard about for a while. He thought, knowing their race varied from anything from Lionmen - being powerful and feared, to half-human and half rabbit girls, with bunny ears and a fluffy tail to boot.
At the far end of the hall, four receptionists worked behind an ornate wooden counter, efficiently processing paperwork and answering questions. Xolvion joined the queue, using the wait to observe his surroundings more carefully.
"Next!" called a cheerful voice.
The receptionist was a pleasant-faced woman in her mid-twenties, with auburn hair pulled back in a professional style bun. Her smile was genuine, though Xolvion noted the slight wariness in her eyes—clearly, she'd dealt with her share of unsavoury characters in her time, looking into his eyes with a questioning look.
"Good afternoon," Xolvion said, offering his most disarming smile. "I'd like to register as an adventurer."
"Of course, sir." She reached beneath the counter and produced a parchment form along with a quill. "Please fill this out completely and return it to me when you're finished. The registration fee is one silver coin."
Xolvion accepted the paperwork and found an empty table. The form was straightforward enough—name, age, race, and vocation. He wrote 'Xolvion' for his name, '21' instead of his actual age of 221 years, and 'Human' for race. The vocation section gave him pause. What exactly was he? Seducer? Power thief? Future demon lord?
I'll leave that blank for now.
Returning to the queue, he handed over the completed form. The receptionist scanned it quickly, her brow furrowing slightly.
"You've left the vocation field empty, Mr. Xolvion. It's not mandatory, but it helps other adventurers understand your role when forming parties."
"I'm something of an all-rounder," he replied smoothly. "Perhaps 'Adventurer' would suffice for now?"
"Certainly." She made a notation on the form. "That leaves the matter of the registration fee. One silver coin, please."
Xolvion had acquired more understanding of the human world and its currency from his exploits so far, knowing that one silver was equivalent to one hundred copper coins, and his remaining funds amounted to exactly fifty coppers. Meaning it was time for a practical demonstration of his abilities.
"I believe everything is in order," he said, allowing his charm magic to flow through his voice whilst maintaining steady eye contact.
The receptionist's pupils dilated slightly, her professional smile becoming dreamy and compliant. "Yes... Everything is in perfect order," she murmured, stamping the form without collecting payment.
"Excellent." Xolvion released his hold on her mind gradually, watching as confusion flickered across her features.
"Oh, yes, your guild plate." She shook her head as if clearing cobwebs, then retrieved a small copper disc from beneath the counter. Placing her hand over it, she chanted a brief incantation in what sounded like Common tongue mixed with arcane syllables.
Xolvion watched in fascination as his information appeared on the metal surface, etched by magical means. The technology here was remarkably sophisticated in its own way.
"Keep this safe," she instructed, handing him the warm plate. "You'll need it to accept quests and receive payment. Replacement costs one silver coin, so don't lose it."
"Thank you." He pocketed the plate and headed towards the quest board, where a small crowd had gathered.
The board itself was impressive, a massive cork surface covered in parchments of varying colours and sizes. Each quest was clearly marked with its rank, from Copper at the bottom to what appeared to be Diamond-level missions near the top. Most bore the seals of local merchants, town guards, or minor nobles.
Xolvion had read in the fine print that there was no limit to what rank quest you could take. However, if you choose one too hard and got hurt or worse, the guild would not take responsibility.
"Hey, lads, get a load of this one!"
A young man's voice cut through the ambient noise as he tore a parchment from the board with obvious excitement. He was perhaps nineteen or twenty, with sandy hair and the kind of eager expression that suggested either boundless optimism or dangerous naivety.
"How many times must I tell you not to address us as 'lads'?" snapped one of his companions, a serious-looking young woman with brown hair tied back with a blue bandana.
Xolvion studied the group with interest. The young man appeared to be their leader, equipped with a simple longsword and basic leather armour. His three female companions were more intriguing—another swordswoman with twin blades across her back, a petite mage in what looked like academy robes, and a martial artist with bandaged hands and a toned physique.
"You there!" The young man had noticed Xolvion's attention and was now approaching with characteristic enthusiasm. "Are you just starting out?"
"Is it that obvious?" Xolvion replied with mild amusement.
"Same here! Listen, I know we've only just met, but how about joining us on this quest?" He waved the parchment energetically. "The more the merrier, right?"
Xolvion caught the three women exchanging glances. The swordswoman looked sceptical, the mage appeared thoughtful, and the martial artist... was blushing slightly as she tried not to stare at him, turning away slightly as she flicked a piece of her hair from her face. His natural magnetism was already having an effect.
"What sort of quest?" Xolvion asked, though he'd already decided to accept. This group would provide excellent cover whilst allowing him to assess local threats and power levels.
"Giant boar hunt! Copper rank, so perfect for beginners like us." The young man extended his hand. "I'm Vlad, by the way. This is Kerry," he indicated the twin-blade user, "Junip," the mage inclined her head politely, "and Holly," the martial artist managed a small wave.
"Xolvion," he replied, accepting the handshake. "I'd be honoured to join your party."
"Now that's a cool name!" Vlad suddenly said, breaking the silence.
"How about we go and hunt this giant boar then!"
With the introductions done and out of the way, the five of them made their way to the city gates, leaving by taking the road that led towards the forest that surrounded the city on its west side.
The road to Gurgultime Forest wound through rolling hills dotted with farms and small settlements. Their destination lay two hours west of the city, where the civilised countryside gave way to genuine wilderness.
"The report says the boar's been spotted near the old logging trails," Vlad explained as they walked, his enthusiasm undimmed by the prospect of actual danger. "Kill it, bring back proof, collect five silver coins. Easy money!"
"Don't get overconfident," Kerry warned. "Gurgultime Forest is home to more than just giant boars. There are wolves, bears, and worse things that hunt in the deeper woods."
"Kerry's right," Holly added, stretching as she walked. "The warrior monks taught us to respect nature's dangers. Overconfidence gets you killed."
Xolvion's interest sharpened. "Warrior monks?"
"The monastery in the Mountains of Triumph," Holly explained, a note of pride in her voice. "I've been training there since I was five years old."
Impressive. Such disciplined training suggested she possessed considerable skill beyond her apparent youth. Definitely worth investigating further. He thought as he looked her up and down.
Holly had shoulder-length blond hair that was pulled back by a headband, keeping it out of her eyes except for the odd stray hair.
Her body was toned with a good amount of muscle on it. She wore a black leather armoured sports bra type thing, exposing most of her toned upper body. Xolvioned guessed it was to help improve her agility. She also had a pair of long baggy pants on that were wrapped around her monk-style boots.
"We should make sure not to stray too far from the path." Junip then said as she stepped forward.
"Oh come on, Junip, don't tell me you're scared too!" Vlad said jokingly.
"There are dangerous monsters that lurk in this forest. It would be wise to stick to the path."
Vlad whistled.
"Well, if a graduate of the Royal Academy of magic is giving me that warning, then who am I to object?" Vlad said, smiling at her.
Xolvion's ears pricked up as he listened to his words, specifically the words Royal Academy of Magic part.
Junip was a short girl, only coming up to Xolvion's chest. She had long blue hair running down her back with a black witch's hat on her head.
She wore glasses, giving her an intellectual look. She also had what looked like some kind of uniform on, with a well-fitting white blouse and black skirt, complete with black stockings and brown leather boots.
"Royal academy of magic, you say?" Xolvion asked, wanting to know more.
The petite mage adjusted her pointed hat self-consciously. "I graduated last month with honours in Elemental Theory and Practical Applications. This is... well, my first real field experience."
"Don't let her modesty fool you," Vlad interjected. "She's brilliant! Top of her class in everything."
Academic excellence combined with practical inexperience, another interesting combination. Xolvion filed the information away for future reference.
Soon enough, they reached the forest's edge as afternoon shadows began to lengthen. Ancient oaks and towering pines created a natural wall of green that seemed to swallow the logging road completely. The air was cooler here, thick with the scent of moss and decomposing leaves.
"Remember," Kerry said as they entered the treeline, "we stick to the path. No exceptions."
The warning proved prophetic. They'd walked for perhaps an hour when Vlad suddenly raised his hand, signalling for silence. The forest around them had gone unnaturally quiet all of a sudden, no birdsong, no rustling of small creatures in the undergrowth.
"Wolves," he whispered, drawing his sword. "Circle formation around Junip!"
Kerry also noticed what was going on and quickly drew her swords from her back, taking a defensive position around Junip.
Xolvion had also joined the circle defence around Junip, knowing that helping to protect their mage was a good idea.
He slowly drew his dagger, the one he had gotten from the group of men who stabbed him with it, deciding it would be handy to keep a weapon before joining the guild.
The attack came from multiple directions simultaneously. Grey shapes burst from the undergrowth with coordinated precision, their yellow eyes gleaming with predatory intelligence. Xolvion counted at least six of them, each roughly the size of a large dog but with longer limbs and more prominent fangs.
Vlad met the first wolf head-on. "Not today!" Vlad shouted, his blade catching it across the muzzle with a meaty thud. The creature dropped without a sound, its skull caved in by the impact.
"Two on the left!" Kerry called, her twin blades seeming to dance in the dappled sunlight. She moved with fluid grace, each strike precisely placed to disable rather than simply wound. Both wolves went down in seconds, their throats opened by clean cuts.
Holly faced her attacker with empty hands, waiting until the last possible moment before stepping aside and driving her knee into the creature's ribs. Xolvion heard bones crack from the impact. As the wolf stumbled, she followed up with an axe kick that crushed the creature's spine.
"Phoenix Strike!" she shouted, her foot briefly wreathed in actual flames as it connected.
Xolvion watched the attack in amazement. Martial arts enhanced by elemental magic. Fascinating. He thought.
"Fireball!" Junip's voice carried clear notes of academic precision as she pointed her staff at the remaining wolves. The spell manifested as a sphere of orange flame that detonated on impact, incinerating two wolves in the intense flames instantly.
Xolvion realised he'd been so busy analysing his companions' abilities that he'd nearly forgotten about his own opponent. The last wolf was already leaping towards him, jaws agape and claws extended.
Xolvion quickly stepped to the side and rammed his knife down into the wolfs skull, using enough force that the blade pierced the tough bone with a sickening crunch, killing the beast in one clean move as it dropped to the ground without so much as a whimper.
"Nicely done, everyone!" Vlad called out, surveying the carnage with satisfaction. "Now that's what teamwork looks like!"
"Low-level wolves," Kerry observed, cleaning her blades with practised efficiency. "Nothing to boast about." She said as she resheathed her swords on her back.
"Still, we should harvest what we can," Junip suggested. "Wolf pelts fetch decent prices in the city."
"I'll help too, it's the least I can do." He said as he readied his dagger.
Vlad nodded.
"Do you know how to skin a wolf?" He asked.
Xolvion nodded as he took his knife to one of the wolves and neatly cut it as he started the process.
Drawing on knowledge absorbed from a butcher's daughter he'd seduced days earlier. His companions watched with growing respect as he efficiently separated hide from carcass, producing pelts of significantly higher quality than their amateur efforts would have achieved.
"Wow, Xolvion, this is amazing! With a pelt in such good condition like this, you could easily sell it for 5 silvers!" Vlad said, looking at the wolf pelt.
"Where did you learn to do that?" Holly asked, genuine curiosity in her voice.
"Family trade," he lied smoothly. "My father was a hunter."
"Let's get the rest of them. I'll also take some meat and use it to cook us something tasty." He said, getting a heart-eyed reaction from the others.
"You can cook too!"
Once Xolvion had finished skinning the wolf pelts and taken enough meat for a large stew. Xolvion and the others headed a little further down the path before coming upon a large stream of water.
"This will be a perfect place to camp for the night," Vlad said as he dumped his gear, checking out the area.
The others did the same, seeing that the stream was deep enough to protect that side of the forest, and the clearing on their side gave them ample room and defence.
"I'll gather firewood," Holly volunteered.
"Tents," Junip declared, already reaching for her staff.
"I'll scout the perimeter," Kerry added.
"And I'll get the fire started," Vlad concluded.
"Allow me to handle the food," Xolvion offered. "I can make something decent from this wolf meat."
The division of labour proceeded smoothly, each member of the party contributing according to their strengths. Xolvion found himself impressed by their coordination; clearly, they'd worked together before.
Junip's tent-raising magic was particularly noteworthy. With a few arcane words and precise gestures, she caused five complete shelters to assemble themselves from folded canvas and wooden poles. The level of skill required for such practical applications suggested considerable talent beneath her nervous exterior.
As night fell and they gathered around the fire to share Xolvion's improvised stew, the atmosphere became noticeably more relaxed. The successful encounter with the wolves had bonded them as a group, and several cups of wine from Vlad's pack had loosened tongues considerably.
"This is incredible," Kerry admitted between spoonfuls.
"I didn't expect you to be able to cook so well, Xolvion." Kerry also said with a large smile on her face.
"It's the least I could do." He said, thanking Zoey for her knowledge of cooking he had acquired from her.
"Well, I guess it's gotten pretty late," Vlad said as he looked up at the night sky.
"We should get some rest," Vlad announced. "Tomorrow we find that boar and collect our reward!"
"Yes, I will turn in for the night, too," Junip said as she yawned.
The others agreed, bidding goodnight before retiring to their respective tents. Xolvion lay in his bedroll for what felt like hours, his mind too active for sleep, thinking about everything that had happened to him so far.
Each member of this group possessed knowledge and abilities he could use. Holly's martial arts training, Junip's academic magical knowledge, Kerry's weapons expertise, even Vlad's natural leadership, all of it could be his with the right approach.
The sound of footsteps outside his tent interrupted his planning. Someone was leaving the camp, moving carefully to avoid detection. Curiosity compelled him to investigate.
Peering through his tent flap, he caught sight of Holly walking along the stream bank, following the water deeper into the forest. After a moment's consideration, he quietly gathered his boots and shirt before following at a discreet distance.
He found her in a small clearing where moonlight created a natural amphitheatre. She'd removed her outer garments and was moving through what appeared to be a complex training routine. Punches, kicks, and grappling movements flowing together in perfect harmony. Sweat gleamed on her toned muscles as she worked, completely absorbed in her practice.
"Are you going to watch from the shadows all night, or is there something you want?" She suddenly said.
Xolvion stepped into the moonlight, offering an apologetic smile. "Guilty as charged. I couldn't sleep either." He said.
Holly turned to face him fully, and he noticed her gaze lingering on his bare chest before she looked away with slight embarrassment.
"I-I couldn't sleep." She said, looking away.
"Do you often practice alone?" Xolvion then asked.
Holly crossed her arms over her chest, looking at him.
"Is that a challenge?" She said with a cocky smile, her embarrassment gone.
"I guess you could call it that." He said as he lowered his arms to his side.
Holly smiled and did the same.
"I must warn you first, I was trained at the warrior monk school in the mountains of triumph since I was five." She said as she took a fighting stance.
Xolvion remembered she had mentioned that before, but took a basic boxing stance anyway.
"Let's see if your training paid off." He said mockingly.
Holly frowned as she ran at Xolvion, jumping into the air with a flying kick to start things off. Xolvion moved to the side using some basic footwork, stepping back to create some distance.
"Not yet!" Holly shouted as she twisted her body, throwing a spinning back kick at his ribs.
Xolvion blocked the kick in time, sliding back across the grass from the force with a surprised look on his face. She's strong... He thought as he looked at the bruise on his arm.
Holly smiled and quickly ran at him again, closing the distance before she shot a jab, followed by a cross and then a left body hook.
Xolvion parried the jab and avoided the cross but was hit by the body hook, feeling the pain in his liver explode as he grunted.
"Had enough yet!" She then said as she slammed a roundhouse kick into his right thigh, proceeding to use her same leg to slam another roundhouse kick into his ribs as he failed to block it, taking the full force of the kick to his body.
Xolvion almost doubled over from the pain as he clutched his ribs, trying his best not to be sick.
"I warned you." She said as she placed her hands on her hips, dropping her guard, looking to see if he was alright.
Xolvion smiled as he noticed her guard was down and quickly dived at her, grabbing her by her waist as he picked her up off the ground.
"What the!" she shouted too late as he dumped her onto the ground, holding her there.
"You sure have a strong hold!" She said as she wriggled a little to the side before getting her legs around his back, holding him in a guard position from the bottom.
Xolvion wasn't sure what she was doing, but he believed he held the dominant position as he postured up, trying to grab her wrists.
"I've got you now!" He said playfully.
But Holly smiled at him as she gripped his arm.
"Have you?" She said before suddenly spinning her hips and crossing her legs over his head.
Next thing Xolvion knew, he was on his back with his arm between her legs as she pulled it back into an armbar.
"Ok-Ok! I give up!" Xolvion yelled from the pain of his arm almost snapping, realising he was no match for her.
Holly smiled as she let go of his arm and slowly sat up, using her hands to support her weight.
"You sure this time?" She said playfully.
Xolvion smiled as he moved his arm, trying to shake the pain from his elbow.
"I'm pretty sure this time." He said, giving an awkward laugh.
"I really was no match for you. I would hate to see you use your full strength." He said as he sat up onto his knees.
Holly smiled.
"You weren't bad, you have strength. You just lack technique."
Xolvion smiled as he suddenly looked deep into her eyes.
"I do have some technique." He then said as he activated his charm magic.
"Oh yeah, what's that..." Holly said jokingly before she became fixated on his eyes.
"You're about to find out." He said, giving her a devilish smile.