Kael moved closer to the commotion, drawn by curiosity despite his better judgment. The crowd of onlookers had grown, forming a loose semicircle around the gates. People whispered to each other, some with expressions of annoyance, others with barely concealed amusement.
He positioned himself near the edge of the crowd, where he could observe without being obvious about it. Vera pressed close to his leg, her presence comforting through their bond, while Ember settled on his shoulder, her flames dimmed to avoid drawing attention.
"—second time this week," a woman near Kael muttered to her companion, a man with a large reptilian mythbeast at his side. "You'd think someone would tell him to stop making scenes."
"Who's going to tell the governor's son anything?" the man replied with a snort. "Especially the second son. He's got just enough authority to be a problem but not enough responsibility to care about consequences."
Kael's attention sharpened. The governor's son? That explained the ornate carriage and expensive clothes, at least. He studied the figure at the center of the argument more carefully.
The young man—probably in his mid-twenties—wore clothing that cost more than everything Kael owned combined. Rich blues and silvers, with embroidery that caught the light. His dark hair was styled perfectly, and rings glittered on his fingers. Two mythbeasts flanked him: a sleek feline creature with midnight-black fur that seemed to drink in light, and a bird with iridescent feathers that shifted colors as it moved.
He was gesturing angrily at a guard captain, his voice carrying across the open space. "—don't care what your procedures are! Do you know who I am? I demand entry immediately!"
The guard captain, to his credit, maintained professional composure despite the verbal assault. "My lord, I understand your position, but these are the governor's own security protocols. All carriages entering the city must be inspected, regardless of—"
"My father's protocols don't apply to his own family!" the young man interrupted. "This is ridiculous! I've been traveling for three days, and I will not be delayed by bureaucratic nonsense from some common guard!"
More whispers rippled through the crowd. A young woman near Kael shook her head. "That's Lord Cedric," she explained to her friend. "The second son. He's known for this kind of thing—throwing his weight around, making demands. Usually, it doesn't amount to much, just him being irritating."
"Seems worse than usual today," her friend observed.
"Probably tired from traveling," the first woman said. "Makes him more temperamental."
Kael filed away the information. So Lord Cedric was a known problem but generally harmless—spoiled and entitled rather than actively dangerous. Still, it was the kind of commotion Kael had no interest in being near. People with power and bad tempers were unpredictable, and he had no desire to accidentally offend someone connected to the city's governor.
He noticed a side entrance to the city—smaller, less ornate, with a sign marking it as "Guild Members Only." A few tamers were using it, showing their guild cards to a bored-looking guard and being waved through without fuss.
Perfect.
Kael extricated himself from the crowd and made his way to the guild entrance. The guard barely glanced at him before gesturing for his identification. Kael pulled out his bronze tablet, and the guard's eyes flicked to it, noting the Rank 1 designation and his name.
"Go ahead," the guard said, already looking past him to the next person in line.
Just like that, Kael was through, leaving the commotion behind. He could still hear Lord Cedric's raised voice as he walked away, but it faded quickly as he entered the city proper.
The streets of Thornhaven were dramatically different from the previous night. Where before they'd been quiet and mostly empty, now they buzzed with activity. It was around five o'clock, Kael estimated from the sun's position, and the city was in full evening swing.
Street vendors called out their wares—fresh bread, roasted nuts, skewers of grilled meat that made Kael's mouth water despite his recent lunch. Workers headed home from their day jobs, stopping to chat with neighbors or pick up groceries for dinner. Children played in the streets, their laughter mixing with the calls of various mythbeasts. A woman led what looked like a giant salamander carrying bundles of cloth on its back. A man haggled with a merchant over the price of vegetables, his small bird-type beast perched on his shoulder, chirping input that the merchant seemed to actually consider.
It was vibrant and alive in a way that made Kael's chest tighten with something he couldn't quite name. This was civilization built around mythbeasts, humans, and magical creatures living together in a symbiosis that seemed natural and right.
He made his way through the busy streets toward the guild, the wrapped bear heads in his pack drawing a few curious glances but no real concern. Apparently, bringing back proof of kills was common enough that people didn't blink at it.
The guild was busy when he arrived, significantly more so than the previous night. The common area where tamers had been drinking and relaxing was now packed, and a line had formed at the reception desk. Kael joined it, settling in to wait.
Through their bond, he felt Vera's patience and Ember's curiosity as the tiny fire fairy watched the other tamers and their beasts with interest. The variety was impressive—he spotted everything from small rodent-like creatures to a massive bear-type beast that took up half the common room by itself.
The line moved slowly but steadily. After about ten minutes, Kael reached the front, facing a different receptionist than the night before—a younger man with sharp features and an efficient manner. Shift change, probably.
"Job completion?" the receptionist asked without preamble.
Kael handed over the job notice and began extracting the wrapped bear heads from his pack. The receptionist's nose wrinkled slightly at the smell, but he accepted them professionally, unwrapping enough to verify they were indeed bear heads.
"Harlan's farm, two bears, completed in..." He checked his ledger. "One day? You took this job yesterday evening."
"Yes," Kael confirmed. "The farm was easy to find, and the bears weren't particularly challenging."
The receptionist made notes in his ledger, then did something to Kael's guild card—placed his hand over it briefly, and Kael felt that same static-like sensation from when it had been created. When the receptionist handed it back, new information glowed faintly on its surface.
Kael Veyrin
Age: 17
Rank: 1 (25/100 points)
"You've earned twenty-five points toward your next rank," the receptionist explained. "One hundred points gets you to Rank 2. Points are awarded based on job difficulty and completion speed. Finishing a week-old job in one day earned you bonus points."
He counted out fifteen basilisk coins and slid them across the counter. "Your reward. Good work."
Kael pocketed the coins, feeling his financial situation improve marginally. He now had twenty-three basilisks total—not wealthy, but no longer on the edge of broke.
"Question," Kael said before the receptionist could dismiss him. "What should I have done with the bear carcasses? I left them at the farm."
The receptionist nodded as if he'd expected this. "For your first job, that's understandable. But in the future, you should consider hiring a porter. Normal animal bodies have value—hide, meat, bones. Wild mythbeast bodies are even more valuable because they can form elemental crystals if they've stayed in one area long enough."
"Elemental crystals?" Kael asked, his interest piqued.
"Concentrated magical energy," the receptionist explained. "Forms inside mythbeasts that establish territory and live there for extended periods. Crystals can be used in crafting, sold to merchants, or even used to enhance your own beasts' training. Valuable stuff."
"And porters help transport all that?"
"Exactly. Porter services are posted on the board near recruitment. They typically take a fifteen percent cut of whatever materials they help you transport, but it's worth it. Most have their own cargo beasts—large mythbeasts bred for hauling. They'll meet you at job sites and handle all the heavy lifting."
"Good to know," Kael said sincerely. "Thank you for the information."
"Part of the job," the receptionist said with a slight smile. "Helping new tamers learn the ropes means fewer people dying on simple jobs because they didn't know basic procedures."
That was cheerful. But Kael appreciated the honesty.
He stepped away from the desk, intending to head back to the inn, when his eyes caught on something he'd missed the previous night in his exhaustion and hurry. To the left of the main job board were two smaller boards—one labeled "Bounties" and the other "Recruitment."
Bounties were self-explanatory—wanted posters for dangerous mythbeasts or, occasionally, criminal tamers. The recruitment board, though, was interesting.
Kael approached it, studying the various postings. Most were straightforward—experienced tamers looking for partners for specific jobs, or new tamers seeking to join established teams. The postings varied from professional ("Rank 5 tamer seeking specialist for extended expedition, water-types preferred") to casual ("Need someone to help guard my shop, will pay in food and experience").
Then he noticed one poster that stood out, mainly because it was partially hidden beneath newer postings and looked significantly more worn than the others. Kael pulled it free, studying it carefully.
The paper was faded, the edges frayed from age and handling. A sketch showed a young woman, probably around twenty years old, with sharp features and determined eyes. The text was simple:
Name: Lyssa Thornwood
Age: 20
Rank: 3
Seeking: Team members not afraid of bad luck
Specialty: Tracking and wilderness survival
Contact: Through the guild reception
Not afraid of bad luck. That was an odd thing to put on a recruitment poster. Most people tried to sell themselves, emphasizing their strengths. This woman was leading with what sounded like a warning.
Kael found himself intrigued despite the red flag. Or maybe because of it.
He turned to Vera and Ember, opening their bonds fully to communicate. What do you think? Should we consider adding someone to our team?
Ember's response was immediate and enthusiastic—pure excitement at the idea of meeting new people, making new friends. She radiated eagerness.
Vera's response was more measured, more cautious. She sent back impressions of the assessment, of needing to meet this person first before deciding. Not a no, but not an automatic yes either.
Fair enough, Kael sent back. We'll meet her and see how it goes. No commitment unless we all agree.
He took the poster back to the reception desk, waiting another five minutes in line. The same receptionist looked up when Kael reached the front again, one eyebrow raised.
"Back already?"
"This recruitment poster," Kael said, sliding it across the counter. "I'd like to meet with this person. Lyssa Thornwood?"
The receptionist's other eyebrow joined the first, his expression shifting to something between surprise and concern. "You're sure? That specific one?"
"Yes," Kael said, wondering what he was missing. "Why?"
The receptionist studied him for a moment, seeming to weigh his words. "That poster's been up for three months. Lyssa Thornwood is a skilled tamer—Rank 3, which is respectable for someone her age. But she has a... reputation."
"For bad luck?" Kael guessed.
"Among other things. Jobs that go sideways, equipment that breaks at the worst possible moment, monster attacks that shouldn't happen but do." The receptionist shrugged. "Could be a coincidence. Could be she's actually cursed. Either way, most people avoid teaming with her."
"But she's still a guild member in good standing?"
"Of course. She completes her jobs, doesn't break rules, and pays her debts. The guild doesn't ban people for being unlucky." He tapped the poster. "If you want to meet her, I can arrange it. Tomorrow morning at dawn, here at the guild. But I'd recommend thinking carefully about this."
Kael had already decided. Call it intuition, call it stubbornness, but something about this woman's situation resonated with him. Besides, he was a transmigrated human with impossible abilities who'd died by getting crushed under a vending machine. If anyone understood being written off due to circumstances beyond their control, it was him.
"Set up the meeting," he said firmly. "Dawn tomorrow, here at the guild."
The receptionist made a note in his ledger. "Your funeral. Or hers. Honestly, it could go either way with Thornwood's luck."
"Reassuring," Kael said dryly. "Anything else I should know?"
"Just that dawn means dawn. Thornwood's a professional—she'll be here exactly on time. Don't keep her waiting."
"Understood. Thank you."
Kael left the guild with the sun beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold. The streets were still busy, but the energy was shifting from daytime commerce to evening leisure. More people headed toward taverns and inns, while street vendors began packing up their wares.
He needed to make one more stop before returning to the Sleeping Drake. His current clothes were serviceable but showing serious wear from his time in the forest and the various fights he'd been through. If he was going to be a professional tamer, he needed to look the part.
Kael found a shop selling adventuring gear—sturdy clothing designed for people who regularly tramped through wilderness and fought dangerous creatures. The proprietor, a middle-aged woman with a scarred face and knowing eyes, helped him select practical pieces: two sets of durable pants, three shirts that could layer for warmth, a proper belt with multiple pouches, and a weather-resistant jacket.
"You're new to this," she observed as he paid. It wasn't a question.
"That obvious?" Kael asked.
"You're buying smart gear but asking basic questions about sizing. Plus, your current clothes suggest someone who's been through combat but didn't start with proper equipment." She nodded approvingly. "But you're learning fast. This'll serve you well."
The clothes cost him eight basilisks, which made him wince, but it was necessary. He was down to fifteen basilisks now.
His next stop was a butcher shop, where he purchased large slabs of meat for Vera. The Psyrakin was a carnivore and needed quality protein, especially if they were going to keep training hard. Six basilisks for enough meat to last several days.
Down to nine basilisks.
He made one final calculation in his head. Dinner tonight at the inn would cost one basilisk. Breakfast and lunch tomorrow would be another one and a half. That would leave him with six and a half basilisks—enough for a few more days at the inn if he was careful, but uncomfortably close to broke.
I need to take another job soon, Kael thought. Or several jobs. Being this close to the edge financially is dangerous.
But that was tomorrow's problem. Tonight, he had a warm bed waiting and good food to look forward to.
The Sleeping Drake was moderately busy when he arrived, with several patrons enjoying evening meals in the common room. Merra stood behind the counter as always, and Borin sat at one of the tables with what looked like other dwarven craftsmen, their deep voices rumbling as they discussed whatever dwarves discussed over ale.
"Back from your first job?" Merra asked as Kael approached.
"Successfully completed," Kael confirmed. "And I'd love some dinner if the kitchen's still open."
"Always is, at least for another few hours. Mother!" she called toward the kitchen. "One dinner!"
Elara's voice called back confirmation, and Kael paid his basilisk coin, watching his funds dwindle further. He found an empty table and settled in, Vera curling up beside his chair while Ember perched on the table edge, watching the other patrons with interest.
When the food arrived—another excellent meal of roasted meat, vegetables, and fresh bread—Kael ate slowly, savoring both the flavors and the comfortable atmosphere. The other diners were mostly tamers, their beasts ranging from small creatures that fit in pockets to medium-sized animals that lounged under tables.
He caught snippets of conversation—discussions of jobs completed, mythbeasts encountered, areas of the region to avoid. It was a wealth of information delivered casually, and Kael absorbed as much as he could.
After dinner, he headed up to his room. The first thing he did was pull out the slabs of meat he'd bought and set them on the floor for Vera. She tore into them with evident pleasure, and through their bond, Kael felt her satisfaction and gratitude.
You deserve the best, he sent to her. You and Ember both. We're going to make this work, build something good here.
Vera's response was warm affection mixed with absolute trust. Ember, who'd been exploring the room, chimed her agreement and settled onto Kael's shoulder, her warmth pleasant against his neck.
Kael changed into his new clothes—they fit well, and the quality was noticeably better than what he'd been wearing. He felt more like a proper adventurer and less like someone who'd stumbled out of a forest half-dead.
He lay down on the bed, Vera finishing her meal and jumping up to curl beside him. Ember nestled into her smaller bed, her flames dimming to a comfortable glow.
Tomorrow he'd meet Lyssa Thornwood, this supposedly unlucky Rank 3 tamer. He'd make a decision about whether to team up with her based on that meeting. If it went well, he'd have his first human teammate. If it didn't, he'd continue solo with Vera and Ember.
Either way, he needed to start taking more jobs, building his reputation, and advancing through the ranks. He had abilities that could change this world—Beast Resonance, Divine Restoration, the knowledge from his system—but he needed to be smart about using them. Needed to get stronger before revealing too much.
Will the meeting go well? Kael wondered as sleep began to pull at him. Is Lyssa Thornwood someone I can trust? Someone who'll fit with our team?
Through their bonds, he felt Vera's patient uncertainty and Ember's optimistic hopefulness. They'd find out tomorrow.
Kael's eyes drifted closed, his mind already planning for the dawn meeting. New teammate, new possibilities, new challenges.
His second life was moving forward, one step at a time.
And tomorrow, it would take another leap into the unknown.