Rumi stared at Rome, the stupid white-haired pretty boy who'd talked his way directly into trouble. His eyes locked with hers, silently begging for help. The guard's hand tightened on his weapon.
This beautiful idiot was going to get them thrown out of Orario before she'd even seen the inside of the Guild.
Her dream—the one she'd waited for, saved for, fought her father over—was about to vanish because this arrogant moron thought he could bluff his way past a professional guard with nothing but a stained shirt and a smug smile.
"Sir? Your Familia?" The guard's voice hardened.
Rumi's heart pounded against her ribs. Her rabbit instincts screamed to run, but where would she go? Back home to hear her father laugh? Back to serving ale to drunk traders who grabbed at her ears?
She doubled over, clutching her midsection. A genuine groan escaped her lips as she thought about her dreams slipping away.
The guard's attention snapped to her. "Miss? Are you alright?"
Rumi swayed on her feet. Rome, the absolute snake, slid an arm around her shoulders. She wanted to bite him. His arm felt strong, steady. She hated it.
"I'm sorry about this," Rome said, voice dropping to a concerned murmur. "She's been having... issues... a little while after that night."
That night? What was he talking about? They'd met two days ago!
Cold dread slithered down Rumi's spine. Oh no. He wasn't saying what she thought he was saying...
"Yeah, that's why we were in a rush to get inside," Rome continued, his face a perfect mask of worried sincerity. "Needed to score enough money to keep us occupied for the next few months, since it was... unplanned."
He glanced down at her with fake tenderness that made her skin crawl. Her ears flattened against her skull in genuine horror.
"Honestly, she shouldn't even be out at such a sensitive time," Rome added. "I'll take her home to rest. I can come back later alone."
The guard's professional demeanor vanished. His face softened as he clapped Rome on the shoulder. "My friend, you should have said so! Of course, take care of her! Family comes first!"
Rumi kept her head down as Rome guided her away from the entrance. Her face burned hotter than the kitchen fires at The Thirsty Rabbit.
"Congratulations on the little one!" the guard called after them.
As soon as they turned the corner, out of the guard's sight, Rumi straightened up and shoved Rome away with both hands. Her ears stood straight up, quivering with rage.
"WHAT. WAS. THAT?!" The words burst from her mouth.
Rome brushed imaginary dust from his shirt, completely unfazed. "Improvisation. It worked, didn't it?" He shook his head. "That was a disaster. We're doing this your way now. Let's go to the Guild."
"My way?" Rumi sputtered. "My way would have been telling the truth! Not pretending I'm—" she lowered her voice to a hiss, "—carrying your child!"
"Would you rather be escorted out of the city?" Rome asked, already walking away. "The guard bought it. Problem solved. Now, which way to the Guild?"
Rumi stormed after him, fists clenched. "Do you have any idea how humiliating that was? What if we see him again? What am I supposed to do, stuff a pillow under my dress for the next nine months?"
"We'll deal with that if it happens," Rome replied, scanning the street signs. "For now, we need to get registered before sundown."
Rumi grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. "Listen to me, snow-top. From now on, I do the talking. You stand there and look pretty. That's it."
Something flashed in his mismatched eyes—amusement? Irritation? She couldn't tell. After a moment, he nodded.
"Lead on, then."
The Pantheon was even more impressive than Rumi had imagined. The massive building dominated the eastern quarter of the city, its white stone columns and vaulted ceilings dwarfing the surrounding structures. A steady stream of adventurers flowed in and out through the main entrance.
Rumi stepped inside, momentarily overwhelmed by the scale of the place. The main hall stretched out before her, filled with adventurers gathered in small groups. Some examined maps spread across tables. Others argued over monster parts and magic stones. Guild employees in black uniforms moved among them, answering questions and settling disputes.
"Come on," she said, pulling herself together. She marched toward the information counter, Rome trailing behind her.
Three Guild employees sat behind the counter, each helping a different adventurer. The leftmost position was staffed by a silver-haired elf with porcelain skin and bright, attentive eyes.
Rumi strode forward, deliberately positioning herself in front of Rome. She wasn't letting him anywhere near another position of authority.
The elf looked up as they approached, a practiced smile appearing on her face. "Welcome to the Pantheon. How may I assist you today?"
Rumi took a deep breath, pushing down her nerves. This was it. Her first real step toward becoming an adventurer.
"Good afternoon," she said, her voice clear and steady. "We're new arrivals to the city, looking to register as adventurers. We were hoping we could get a consultation on any Familias that are actively recruiting new members."
The elf's smile widened. "Of course! My name is Sophie. I'd be happy to help you with registration and provide information about Familias." Her gaze shifted to Rome, who stood behind Rumi. A faint blush colored her cheeks. "Both of you are looking to become adventurers?"
"Yes," Rumi answered before Rome could speak. "We just arrived today."
Sophie pulled out two forms and placed them on the counter. "Wonderful! First, I'll need you to fill these out. Basic information—name, race, place of origin. Then we can discuss your options."
Rumi took the forms and handed one to Rome without looking at him. She grabbed a quill from the inkwell on the counter and began filling out her information.
Name: Rumi
Race: Hume Bunny
Place of Origin: Hare's Hollow
She hesitated at the next line: Familia Affiliation. With a small sigh, she wrote: None.
Sophie leaned forward slightly, her eyes on Rome as he filled out his form. "Are you interested in any Familia in particular? Some specialize in different areas of the Dungeon."
"We're keeping our options open," Rumi said sharply. "What Familias are currently recruiting?"
Sophie blinked, turning her attention back to Rumi. "Well, there are several smaller Familias always looking for new members. The Takemikazuchi Familia, Miach Familia, and Soma Familia are all accepting applications."
"What about the larger ones?" Rome asked, setting his completed form on the counter. "Loki? Freya?"
Rumi shot him a glare. So much for staying quiet.
Sophie laughed, the sound like tinkling bells. "The top-tier Familias are much more selective. Loki and Freya rarely accept new members, and when they do, it's usually by personal invitation from the deity."
"So we're stuck with the small fry," Rumi muttered.
"Not necessarily," Sophie said, taking their completed forms. "There are mid-tier Familias that offer excellent opportunities. The Athena Familia has been recruiting recently. They value strategy and tactical thinking above raw strength."
Rumi perked up at this. "Athena? That sounds promising."
"There's also the Hestia Familia," Sophie continued. "They're small but growing quickly. Their captain recently made it to Level 6 in record time."
Rome leaned against the counter. "Any others?"
"Hmm." Sophie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The Hermes Familia is always looking for clever adventurers. They focus on exploration rather than combat. Oh, and the Quetzacotal Familia is rebuilding after losing several members in the last Expedition."
"Expedition?" Rumi asked.
"Yes, larger Familias sometimes mount joint Expeditions to the Deep Floors of the Dungeon," Sophie explained. "The last one encountered unexpected difficulties."
That was a polite way of saying people died, Rumi thought.
"What do we need to do to join a Familia?" she asked.
"First, you need to find a deity willing to accept you," Sophie said. "You can visit them and apply. If accepted, the god or goddess will grant you their Falna—their divine blessing." Her eyes brightened with enthusiasm. "The Falna allows you to grow stronger by accumulating Excelia from your adventures. Without it, you'd be at severe risk in the Dungeon."
Rumi nodded. Her father had explained the basics, but hearing it from a Guild official made it feel more real.
"What about temporary housing?" Rome asked. "While we look for a Familia."
"There are short-term accommodations for new adventurers," Sophie said. "One of them near here is called The Wandering Inn. They usually cost two crowns or 500 valis per night, including breakfast. You can stay up to two weeks."
Rumi's stomach sank. She had exactly eight crowns to her name—enough for four nights. After that...
"We'll take it," Rome said smoothly.
Sophie nodded, making a note on their forms. "Of course. Now, before I finalize your registration, I need to verify your entry tokens."
Rumi handed over the wooden disc she'd received at the gate. Rome did the same.
"Perfect," Sophie said, stamping both tokens and returning them. "Keep these with you until you join a Familia. They serve as your temporary ID." She reached under the counter and retrieved two small pamphlets. "These contain basic information about the city and the Guild's services. You'll also find a map of Orario with major landmarks and Familia locations marked."
"Thank you," Rumi said, taking the pamphlets.
"One last thing," Sophie added, her voice dropping slightly. "Do not enter the Dungeon without a Falna. The Guild cannot stress this enough. Even the Upper Floors are dangerous for those without a divine blessing."
"We won't," Rumi assured her.
Sophie smiled. "Wonderful! If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you for your help," Rumi said.
As they turned to leave, Sophie called after them. "Oh, and welcome to Orario! I hope you find your place here."