The night sky shimmered overhead, a canopy of stars scattered across indigo velvet, as Ascalon trailed behind Reika through the lamp-lit streets of Lontara. The clatter of boots echoed gently against the cobbled paths, the silence between them broken only by the distant hum of nightlife.
"Where are we going exactly?" Ascalon muttered, eyes darting between moonlit alleys.
Reika gave him a confident side glance, lips curled with mischief. "You'll see."
Moments later, she stopped before a tall, reinforced gate adorned with a golden emblem—two crossed blades overlaid on a roaring lion's head. Lanterns on either side flickered with mana-imbued light, illuminating the sign above in bold letters:
THE ADVENTURERS' GUILD – LONTARA BRANCH
The building stood like a monument, constructed from obsidian-gray stone and wood that pulsed faintly with enchantments. Crystalline panels reflected the moonlight, casting dazzling rays around the yard. Through the slightly opened door, the muffled clamor of clinking mugs, laughter, and clashing steel filtered out.
"This is the place," Reika said with a proud grin, pushing the heavy gate open.
Inside, the reception hall greeted them with the aroma of oil-polished wood, parchment, and steel. A massive bulletin board was pinned with quests ranging from mundane errands to dragon subjugations. Adventurers of all kinds lounged about—some nursing drinks, others polishing their gear or laughing boisterously in their groups.
Reika led Ascalon past the crowd and toward the reception counter, where a young woman sat cross-legged atop a levitating chair, flipping through a floating set of holographic papers. She wore a violet uniform, sleek and tailored, with the guild insignia embroidered on her shoulder. Her hazel eyes perked up as they approached.
"Hello, Miley," Reika greeted casually.
Miley glanced up and raised a brow. "Reika. Back so soon? What is it this time? Want another rank up?"
Reika scoffed. "I'm not that desperate. I'm here for my friend. He needs an evaluation."
Miley blinked and turned her gaze to Ascalon, her expression shifting from bored to intrigued. She gave him a slow once-over—eyes trailing over his simple yet neat outfit, the sword slung on his back, and the faint glow of magic clinging to him like morning mist.
"You... look like it's your first time," Miley said, her voice neutral but curious.
"Yes," Ascalon replied, offering a polite nod.
"Well then, follow me."
She stood, her chair lowering with a soft whirr, and gestured for them to trail behind. They walked through a side hallway until they reached a wooden door inlaid with green veins of mana crystal. Miley pushed it open.
The room beyond was unique—an open-roof arena with stars glittering directly above. The floor was grassy, fresh and soft, and rows of humanoid mannequins made of straw and leather stood like soldiers awaiting orders.
"This is our Evaluation Room," Miley said. "We'll be checking your mana control and raw spellcasting ability."
She brought over a tray with a single card and a small leather pouch. The card shimmered faintly, its glyphs glowing with dormant energy.
"This pouch isn't soul-bound," she explained. "It'll temporarily accept this evaluation card. When you activate the card, whatever spell it's imbued with will fire and then return into the pouch automatically. Got it? You need to shoot as many mannequins as you can."
Ascalon nodded and reached for the card. His fingers brushed its surface—and instantly, a familiar static tickled his spine.
"My first spell card since that suicidal Inferno," he thought wryly, lips twitching.
Miley sighed and muttered under her breath, "Newbies. I'll be lucky if he doesn't faint after one cast…"
Reika suppressed a giggle.
"Alright, Prince," Ascalon said internally, raising the card to eye level so the prince could read it through their shared sight. "Can you read the incantation?"
The prince squinted, then spoke in a posh whisper: "Flamma."
Ascalon stepped forward. Holding the card in one hand, he raised the other and pointed toward the mannequin in front.
"Flamma." Prince speaks internally.
The card pulsed. A fireball the size of an apple materialized instantly, burning with bright orange and red flame that crackled softly with energy. It zipped through the air with a sharp whoosh, colliding with the mannequin and sending it tumbling backward, scorched.
Volkrayn's voice rumbled in his head.
"That cost you 2 mana. You've got 24 total. I'd say... keep going until you're bored."
Challenge accepted.
Flamma.
Flamma.
Flamma.
One after another, fireballs burst from his hand like rapid-fire arrows, each finding a target with precision. The room echoed with soft impacts, smoke curling from the singed mannequins.
By the twelfth spell, the card flickered once and vanished into the pouch with a muted snap.
Ascalon lowered his hands and turned around casually—only to find Miley and Reika standing there, mouths slightly agape like statues in a temple.
"...Did I go too fast?" he asked sheepishly. "Oops?"
Miley slowly blinked. "You... you just cast twelve spells. Back-to-back. Without re-reading the card. And... without chanting?"
Reika narrowed her eyes, lips curling into a grin of certainty. "I knew it. You're not what you seem, Ascalon."
Ascalon scratched the back of his neck, feigning innocence.
"I mean, the card did say Flamma... it's not that hard to remember..."
Miley stared at him like he'd just told her gravity was optional. "That's not the point! Most newbies need a full five seconds per cast! And they usually faint after two! Who are you?!"
Ascalon shrugged dramatically. "A guy with excellent memory and very low standards for subtlety."
Volkrayn chuckled inside his head.
"You just declared yourself a magical anomaly. Well done, hatchling."
Reika stepped forward, smug satisfaction in her eyes. "So, Miley... is he guild-worthy?"
Miley exhaled sharply and gave Ascalon a long, bewildered look.
"Oh, he's more than worthy," she muttered. "He's a walking mana mystery wrapped in humble rags."
Ascalon grinned.
The stars above twinkled like conspirators, bearing silent witness to a fate that had just taken another unexpected turn.
-------
The stars had shifted ever so slightly overhead by the time Ascalon stepped back out into the courtyard of the Adventurers' Guild, the silver light of the moon washing over him like divine recognition. Cool wind tugged gently at his coat as he adjusted the new leather pouch strapped to his belt—a sleek, darkened satchel with fresh silver embroidery that shimmered faintly with mana threads.
Miley, still recovering from her earlier shock, walked him to the exit in a daze. She was muttering softly to herself, flipping between disbelief and begrudging admiration.
"Well, I guess... I'm supposed to say congratulations, Silver Rank Adventurer," she said, pressing a bundle into his hand. "Three basic spell cards, one healing card, and a registered mana pouch calibrated to your frequency. Don't lose it. Or explode it."
Ascalon blinked, turning the cards over curiously. Each one pulsed with arcane energy—clean, powerful, and surprisingly lightweight. The healing card in particular glowed a soft jade green, a gentle warmth radiating from its surface.
"You're giving me this... just like that?" he asked.
Miley gave him a long look. "Let's just say your anatomy is suspiciously optimized for spellcasting." She narrowed her eyes. "Next time, try warning me if you're secretly a mana prodigy before I prepare for a rookie collapse."
As she stalked off, still muttering, Ascalon sighed and murmured internally, "Next time remember to tell me what's normal, Prince."
"You're lucky she didn't stick you with a tracking card and label you a threat."
Ascalon turned his gaze toward Reika. She stood nearby beneath the lantern-lit arch of the courtyard gate, her eyes wide and shimmering with an emotion he couldn't quite place. Her lips parted slightly, as if she were seeing a vision from a dream finally made real.
"What?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
"You're like a main character from a storybook," she whispered. "That spell output, no chanting, and then casually stepping out like it was nothing... You're either secretly a hero or secretly wanted."
Ascalon coughed awkwardly. "Right... So—do they give every Silver Rank adventurer these free cards and this pouch?"
Reika chuckled, arms folded behind her head. "Not in other cities. But here in Lontara, the High Priestess pushed a new system to promote advancement. Every bronze gets a free heal card. But you? You skipped straight to silver, so they dumped the whole welcome kit on you."
"Huh... Okay then." He turned the pouch in his hand, admiring the craftsmanship. "That's generous."
"Oh, it gets better," Reika said, stepping forward with a bounce in her step. "If you ever reach Gold Rank, the guild gives you a full epic equipment set and a Gold Certificate. That document waives taxes in any affiliated city."
"Wait—tax?" Ascalon blinked. "No one taxed me when I came here."
"That's because this is a merchant city," Reika said proudly, pointing toward the towering rooftops beyond the gate. "There's no tax on food, equipment, or property here. The High Priestess abolished them all to boost trade and quality of life. It's basically the paradise of travelers."
Ascalon's lips curled into a half-smile. "So much freedom. So many free things. I think I like this place." (not really)
"I knew you would," Reika said with a wink.
Above them, the moon glowed brighter as if in silent approval. Ascalon stood at the threshold of a new life—ranked, recognized, and armed with fresh tools for the path ahead.
And tonight, the boy who once fell from nobility had taken his first true step... as an adventurer.