The sky had turned orange, a sign that the sun was about to set.
"Alright, I guess it's time to head home," said Amyra. Athena tilted her head, "But... I don't have one," she replied.
"O-oh right, I forgot!" Amyra exclaimed.
She held her chin thoughtfully, "Ah, I know!" she said.
"There's a dormitory for Adventurers near the Adventure Guild Headquarters. The rent is pretty cheap too! It's meant for adventurers who are too lazy to go home or don't have a place to stay," Amyra explained.
"O-oh... I see," replied Athena.
"So what do you think?" Amyra asked with a smile.
Athena glanced at Mary for the fairy's opinion. They still had quite a bit of money from the reward for slaying The Beheaded One.
Mary jumped excitedly on Athena's shoulder. "Oh, absolutely!" she exclaimed.
"A dorm sounds perfect for us! We'll be close to all the action, and you'll get to meet tons of other adventurers. It's like having one big crazy family!"
Amyra nodded in agreement, "Mary's right, it's a great place for adventurers like you," she said.
She reached out, squeezing Athena's hand reassuringly. "Dorms are a great choice for new adventurers. They have all the amenities and are right next to the Guild Hall. You can't get a better location than that."
Athena grinned at Mary before turning to Amyra and nodding.
Amyra's face lit up with joy as Athena nodded.
"Great!" she cheered, clapping her hands. "We'll head there as soon as we've dried off. It's not far from here, and I'm sure they'll have a room ready for you."
The two girls left the plaza as the city began to settle for the night. Merchants closed their stalls, and families returned home for dinner.
The scent of food wafted through the air, making Athena's stomach growl.
A few minutes later
Their footsteps halted in front of a large, classic-style building—the Adventurer's Dormitory.
The hall was spacious, with a receptionist at the counter as they entered. The floor was made of high-quality wood, and two staircases led to the second floor on either side of the counter. Adventurers moved about, engaged in their activities.
Most had just returned from missions, clad in armor, while others wore robes. The first floor of the dormitory was full of life.
The receptionist behind the front desk looked up and smiled warmly at the newcomers.
Amyra led Athena to the desk, nodding at the receptionist. "Hi, my name's Amyra, and this is my friend Athena," she introduced,
"We're here to get a room for Athena. She just joined the Guild today."
The receptionist, a middle-aged man with a kind face, smiled at Athena. "Welcome to the Adventurer's Dormitory," he said.
"We're always happy to welcome new faces here. Let me grab the registration form for you."
He rummaged under the counter for a moment, then handed Athena a piece of paper and a feather pen. "Here you go, just fill this out with your name, rank, and the room you'd like to rent."
"Then we'll give you your key and room," he added.
Athena took the feather pen and form, filling out the necessary details. As she did, Mary flew around the room, eyes wide in wonder as she took in the sights and sounds.
Amyra smiled, watching Athena fill out the form. "You're going to love it here," she reassured her.
"There's always something going on, and you never know who you might meet. Plus, the rooms are pretty cozy for adventurer housing."
When Athena finished, the receptionist took the form and scanned it quickly. "Everything looks good," he confirmed.
"Athena Rei, Rank D Assassin. One room, paid in gold, right?"
He rummaged under the counter again and found a simple brass key. "Here you go," he said, sliding the key toward Athena.
"Room 205, second floor, west wing. You can't miss it. If you need anything, just let us know."
Athena took the key. "This room comes with a medium-sized bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen. You're lucky—yours has a balcony. You can relax and sip coffee while enjoying the view," the man said.
"Alright... I'll take it. Thanks," said Athena.
The receptionist smiled and nodded in approval. "That's the spirit," he chuckled. "You'll love it, trust me. Not every day you get a room with a balcony in a place like this."
He reached under the counter once more and pulled out a small booklet. "This is the dormitory guide," he explained.
"It has all the rules and regulations, as well as some useful info about the area. Be sure to read it when you get a chance."
Amyra grinned, taking the booklet from the receptionist. "Don't worry, I'll help her get settled," she said.
Scene change
Amyra stood in front of Room 205's door, Athena and Mary at the doorway. "Here's the guidebook."
She handed the dormitory guide to Athena, who took it.
"Amyra-san, are you heading home now?" asked Athena.
"Yes, I've got a few documents to handle when I get home," Amyra replied.
"Amyra-san, do you live in this dorm too?" asked Athena.
"No… I live with my parents," she said.
"I see," said Athena.
Amyra paused for a moment, then remembered something. "Oh right! Tomorrow you'll go on your first mission! And I'll be your instructor and supervisor. Make sure you don't oversleep," she said with a smile.
Mary gasped with excitement, fluttering in front of Athena's face. "Ooh, a mission! I wonder what it'll be?" she squealed.
"Maybe we'll fight a dragon or rescue a princess from a tower! Oh, the adventures we'll have!"
Athena laughed, shaking her head at the fairy's enthusiasm. "Calm down, Mary," she chuckled.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm sure the first mission will be something simple, like gathering herbs or hunting small game."
Amyra nodded in agreement. "She's right," she said. "You don't want to jump into something too big too soon. Better to start with easier missions so you can get a feel for being an adventurer."
She reached out, squeezing Athena's shoulder reassuringly. "But don't worry—I'll be by your side the whole time," she promised.
"We'll face this mission together, and I'll make sure you succeed. Just remember to get a good night's sleep and eat a hearty breakfast."
With a wave, she turned and walked down the hall, leaving Athena and Mary to explore their new home.
As the door closed behind Amyra, Mary immediately began flitting around the room, her eyes wide with excitement. "Wow, look at this place!" she squealed.
Her voice echoed off the walls. "And that balcony! I can't wait to see the view!"
Athena chuckled, shaking her head as she watched the fairy explore. "Calm down, Mary," she laughed.
Athena smiled and placed her bag on the bed. "Not bad," she agreed. "For an adventurer's dorm, anyway."
Mary giggled, perched at the edge of the bed.
"Wow, I think it's amazing," she declared.
She flew to the balcony and peeked out at the city below. "Whoa, look at that view!" she gasped.
"You can see for miles! I bet we could even spot the mountains if we squint hard enough."
Athena joined her at the balcony railing, gazing out at the twinkling city lights. "It's pretty nice," she agreed.
"But, We still have to pay the rent though."
Mary shrugged, her wings fluttering. "Who knows? Maybe you'll become famous and rich one day and buy the whole dorm!" she laughed.
"But for now, let's just enjoy this moment while we can."
"You're right," said Athena, smiling at Mary. She turned her gaze to the view in front of her.
A gentle breeze blew through her blonde hair as the sun had set, replaced by the night sky.
The sky was adorned with scattered stars, the night wind carrying a fragrant scent.
The city below was bustling with activity, the streets alive with people going about their nightly routines.
Mary leaned against the railing, her eyes sparkling in wonder. "Isn't it beautiful?" she sighed. "I could stare at this view forever."
Athena nodded in agreement, taking in the view. "Yeah… it's beautiful," she whispered softly.
"Truly beautiful..."