Chapter 2: Monastery of the Holy Cross
As Limon contemplated his origins, the image of Meloka City flickered in his mind. If the letter of entrustment was indeed his, then Meloka City must be the place this body hailed from.
With this thought in tow, Limon replied, "If my recollection serves me accurately, I believe I am from Meloka City."
A faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Rhine glanced at Limon beside him and said, "Since Lord Limon seems to have forgotten much, I'll refrain from idle chatter. You see, Lord Limon, as a fledgling adventurer, to carve out a niche for yourself in this city, a visit to the Adventurer's Guild is essential. Only by registering as an adventurer can you undertake commissioned tasks here in Arizela City and secure a means of livelihood."
"Arizela City, you must know, is a bustling trading hub perched at the southernmost tip of the Avenir Continent. Here, coin reigns supreme. Given your capabilities, Lord Limon, survival within these city walls should, in theory, pose no insurmountable challenge."
A straightforward matter? Limon was far from convinced. Integrating into an alien world and an unfamiliar human society was a Herculean task, to say the least.
Nevertheless, Limon's mind wandered back to the mysterious panel he could summon at will. According to the information it presented, he ought to possess certain singular abilities. Demon Warlock... it sounded like a profession in the same vein as the traditional wizard or the priest Rhine had once aspired to be.
Unbeknownst to them, the two had already left the quiet meditation area and stepped into the solemn prayer hall.
Upon entering the hall, Rhine immediately fell silent and made his way along one of the side corridors.
The monastery was truly a sight to behold, especially the prayer hall, which was adorned with a lavishness that bespoke its significance. The walls were bedecked with elaborate murals, and the domed ceiling above was a marvel in its own right, emanating a palpable aura of religiosity.
Strangely, the hall was rather sparsely populated. Only a smattering of individuals, all of them monks like Rhine, were scattered about.
With hushed footsteps, the two traversed the length of the prayer hall.
By this time, the monastery's imposing gate came into view. Even before they drew near, a cacophony of sounds reached Limon's ears.
It was a raucous din, the chaotic clamor of a large and boisterous crowd.
When he finally reached the monastery gate alongside Rhine, Limon realized he had sorely underestimated this world.
Though there were no towering skyscrapers or the frenetic bustle of modern traffic in sight, the peculiarly shaped edifices that lined the streets exuded an air of refinement and grandeur. In particular, the lofty and magnificent structure in the distance stood out like a beacon.
The sun hung high in the sky, its rays bathing Limon's body and imparting a gentle warmth.
Standing before the monastery, Limon regarded the passersby on the street with a curious and discerning eye.
What piqued his interest were not the humans, but rather the non-human entities that mingled among them.
Among the pedestrians, Limon could easily distinguish between ordinary humans and a variety of strange beings.
These curious creatures sported animal ears and, upon closer inspection, a tail was visible. Among them were civilians going about their daily lives, as well as professionals clad in leather armor, or draped in flowing robes, brandishing an assortment of weapons and sporting wizard hats.
Limon's gaze also alighted upon some even more peculiar creatures.
They were diminutive in stature, scarcely reaching a meter in height, with ears that came to a delicate point. Their small size lent them an endearing appearance of plumpness, not overly rotund, but just enough baby fat to make them seem irresistibly cute.
Limon noted with some surprise that among the street pedestrians, the number of non-humans was nearly on a par with that of humans. Roughly four or five out of every ten individuals were of a non-human ilk.
"Do you see that resplendent palace? The rulers of the Taklama Kingdom are elves, of the Lulufil clan. These charming little beings, don't be deceived by their delicate appearance. They possess an innate and prodigious affinity for magic, be it the faith-based or the arcane variety, they can master it with effortless ease."
Rhine's voice, a soft murmur in his ear, prompted Limon to look up at the palace in question.
Elves? The image of those delightful little creatures he had seen on the street sprang to mind. Surely, they must be the elves Rhine spoke of.
In any world or fictional narrative, it often seems that humans are the rather ordinary race, while some non-human species are endowed with extraordinary talents and ability levels that far outstrip those of their human counterparts.
In this world, it appeared that humans were no exception to this rule.
Why did Limon think so? Well, Rhine, who stood beside him, was a case in point.
Rhine was no longer in the bloom of youth, yet at his age, he was still merely a priest apprentice. One could only surmise the extent of his talent...
At that moment, Rhine spoke again, "The Adventurer's Guild is situated at the end of this very street. It's hard to miss, with its large and prominent sign. Lord Limon, you should have no trouble locating it. If you happen to encounter any difficulties along the way, do not hesitate to return to the Holy Cross Monastery and seek me out."
Was he a genuinely benevolent person? Limon regarded Rhine thoughtfully, then gave a slight nod.
Rhine was undeniably amiable, and most people would doubtless be pleased to interact with him.
But Limon was not like most people. He was not one to let his guard down simply because of a few kind words.
Limon knew next to nothing about the Holy Cross Monastery's teachings or its true nature, but he was not one to dismiss Rhine's kindness out of hand.
After a brief moment, Limon took his leave of Rhine.
Rhine had his duties and responsibilities within the monastery, and Limon had his own path to tread.
He needed to gain a deeper understanding of this strange new world, and the Adventurer's Guild seemed the perfect place to start.
As he made his way through the bustling streets, Limon could feel the very essence of this alien world seeping into his bones.
Strange beings, unfamiliar beasts of burden with riders astride them, and peculiar carts drawn by equally strange beasts trundled along the streets. Everything that met Limon's gaze was a novelty, a strange and exciting discovery. This unique human society kindled a spark of adventure within him, and he felt a growing sense of anticipation.
Rhine had been correct. The Adventurer's Guild was not far from the Holy Cross Monastery. It was located at the end of the street, a distance of approximately two miles as the crow flies.
At a bustling crossroads, on one side of the square, Limon caught sight of the Adventurer's Guild.
It was an imposing structure, dwarfing many of the surrounding buildings and standing out like a sore thumb. There were several large, eye-catching signs that proclaimed its identity.
Without a moment's hesitation, Limon stepped through the entrance.
Once inside, the blinding glare of the sun was left behind, and the "din" that had filled his ears was reduced to a muted murmur.
This was a lounge area, replete with numerous tables and chairs arranged in a somewhat haphazard fashion. Scattered about the tables and chairs were small groups of figures, engaged in animated conversation and boisterous laughter.
The lounge was not overly crowded. A cursory glance revealed that there were just over a dozen people present.
Limon made a beeline for the counter.
The Adventurer's Guild bore an uncanny resemblance to the bars he remembered from his past life, right down to the counter.
From a distance, Limon could make out a small figure standing behind the counter.
Just like the diminutive beings he had seen on the street, it was most likely the elf Rhine had mentioned.
She had noticed Limon's approach...
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone