บท 12: To The Guild

The sun was high above, as always shining the world with its brilliant radiance, enduring and vigilant. The people beneath, too, doing the same thing they always do. Living. Filling each page of their life with intricate yet monotonic and idyllic details.

He'd come out once again, forced by the needs to explore the new world he shoved into. With the same grimy armor of plate and chainmail, a few prayer words inscribed in the belts that kept the brown rag clung tightly and covering the steel beneath.

But, not alone. Her golden locks hid from the glaring star above, beneath a soft-velvet robe. The contrast of her ivory skin and the intricate black dress she wore, creating a resplendent beauty unmatched by any mortals. If not for the man that walk side by side with her, it would leave a tinge of the imagination of a high member of the aristocracy and her guardian knight.

Their pact was last night, a memorable and eventful day for both of them.

A pact not of children and their parents, but as a partner that walks side by side. Granted, it was one-sided at the moment, since the said goddess is basically useless for the man. A side audience may argue, you'd lived with a divine beauty! Just accept it.

Part of the Khajiit Dragonborn must disagree, while he accepted the benefit of said beauty that caused his inner turmoil that boiling and raging throughout the last night, it has been her request and parts to contribute anything.

But that was for another time. There's another pressing matter that he needs to do, dungeon-diving. Another side of him, was already giddy like being denied to come to his favorite candy store yet promised until they reach Christmas.

Time to unwrap it.

As they by-passing the main road, they reach a stop to their destination.

The building was impressive, with flawless bright stones made up the rest of the wall and various colorful banner residing it.

He could imagine the sheer of waves and waves of people coming through and out the building, like swarms of insects trying to reach its meal. By looking at the multitude of the entrance, that supported by stone pillars in front of it, he could see it.

Rather, when entering, the building was fairly empty with the occasional adventurers in armor and robes coming in through, alone or with a party. The sun is high after all, it was noon. It's the time when the adventurers still adventuring beneath the ground. He would like to call them miners instead, but can they be called by farmers, too? Since Excelia -this world's equivalent of XP- and monster stone are their prime targets.

It was the parts that confused him, although being simple enough to understand. His mind simply can't cope up. Adventurers should be go adventuring. Reaching nook and cranny that has never been explored, the thrill and horror of founding new bizarre creatures, or simply the feeling that you've done well by helping people in their quests.

Maybe in a sense, it could be applied for soldiers. It's not like they're warmonger or their day filled with nothing but a mind-numbing battlefield. It's simply a profession.

Yes, a profession. Not some kind of Holywood shtick.

He could agree with that.

Spotting an idle staff who mopped the front of a counter, recognizing the formal attire they wore, The Disguised Dragonborn and his goddess approached.

"Hello, may I help you?"

Came to the greeting of the receptionist. As always, the denizens of this world are all or almost, reaching the border of beyond attractive in a sense of beauty in his old world. Although it was numbed, somewhat and hopefully, by the appearance of his goddess.

She's wearing the typical suits of a receptionist. A white suit covered with a black vest, neck tied with a bow, and black sleek long pants. Although the pants part surprised him, and also another part of him found it disappointing. Isn't this supposed to be some kind of anime world or at least its equivalent, where's the skirt! the skirt!

It should be noted, that skirt may impede the mobility of a guild staff. As every day won't be the same day, as such an emergency and accident may occur and need the assistance of a guild worker.

"Yes, we wanted to register for a new familia."

Ereshkigal replied in a smooth tone.

"Oh, registering is it. Please, come this way."

The guild-staff obliged in a bright yet professional tone. She was a woman, in her twenties judging by the healthy smooth curve of her body. No way, such developed flower is under twenty. Of course, who is he kidding with, this is another world. For all he knew, the slightly pointed ear of hers was an indication that she was a part of the elven race. And her ages may below or beyond that speculation.

She leads them to a room, through the door beside the counter. Looks like they appreciate the privacy the most. Though there's a doubt, at least an organization that lasts for a thousand years is a testament enough for their credibility.

The guild staff motioned towards the green couch, as she went towards a desk, presumably to take some paperwork required.

"Please to meet you, I'm Eina tulle. I'll be your guide throughout your time registering."

"Me too Miss. Eina. So, what do we need to do?"

Eina smiled and offered a piece of paper to the Goddess.

"Before we can register your Familia, there's a set of rules and contracts that will bind your familia. Please, don't be alarmed, some of this is just precaution."

The goddess nodded before Eina explains the set of rules.

Familia is to be ranked from, I up to Rank A. This was done to set how much a Familia obliged to pay the guild taxes. Low ranking Familia is to be exempted from taxes, ranging I to G. From up there, Familia would be obliged to pay taxes, the higher the ranking the higher the taxes will be.

Of course, they're generous enough to not set the predetermined cost of the taxes. It was calculated how much a Familia earns in a single month, their possessions and property are also included.

The ranking system is also provided another benefit, for the guild that is. As Familia reaches D-rank they too need to provide a contribution to the city. It depends on the type of the Familia, an exploration Familia that oriented towards dungeon diving need to conduct expedition in the deep floor of the dungeon. While production-oriented Familia is contributing to a new product, invention, or simply a large tribute.

Other than that, Familia may receive a special mission that can't be refuted, commissioned by the guilds. Though something like this is pretty rare unless there's a time of emergency.

That basically summed up the basis of the contract.

"I understand. So, where we need to sign."

Eina took another parchment, as she handed the goddess a quill.

"In here, you also need to provide your name and residency."

The goddess sent a troubled look to the girl.

"I'm sorry, Miss Eina but we've just arrived in this city. Short in Valis, in a hope my child can venture the dungeon so we can get a shelter tonight."

She weaved a forged backstory like a seamstress waved the cotton. Her distressed face was enough to put the guild staff face in a deep frown.

Granted, they didn't actually think that the guild would need an address. He thought it would rather loose in rules, but at least this one they can work out.

"I see, I think we can work on it. Just we need to fill it for another time, as the address is very important should there's anything to occur."

"I understand, Miss Eina. My child shall inform you as soon as we found a roof to live on."

The silent armored man, who still standing behind his goddess, gave a quick nod towards Eina.

"I thank you for your cooperation, Miss Ereshkigal. Since the matters of Familia registration has been done, I presume we also need to register your child as an adventurer."

"Sit, M'aiq. The couch can sustain the armor, right?"

"Yes, we ensure every furniture's here can stand the full brunt of an adventurer's after all," Eina nodded.

"Is there something wrong with me?" The Receptionist asked the man that seem rather keen on parts of her face all this time. Sensing his gaze, as her ear twitched slightly. Though she maintained a semblance of professionality this time.

"No, M'aiq is just intrigued with the part of your ears and fairness, are you Elf?"

The goddess seems to give the armored man a dirty look at his questions, as there's a subtle change of her feet.

The armored man ignored the pain that came from his foot, still maintaining his gaze. How the damn, the goddess managed to hurt his foot even though it's encased with a wrap of steel.

The receptionist, slightly with a tinge of red in her cheeks answered, "Not really, I'm technically a half."

"A half-elf then, interesting." He muttered lough enough, before moving on to the matters, "So, what do I need to fill?"

Eina somewhat relieved in a sigh, fearing there's would be another racist or god forbid, another man that ensnared with her features. The man named M'aiq seems just need to satisfy his curiosity.

"You just need to fill names, residential can be skipped for now, and a sign. That's it."

"Rather simple, is it not. Are you not afraid of fugitive or criminals that may try to forge a new identity here?"

"No, preventive measures may be taken and we guild also had another branch that held the authority over these matters. But I had to say, we also allow those people to register as long as they adhere to our rules unless there's a power representative that demands them to be judged as long as there's proof to do."

A complicated matter. The Orario at its essence is a free-neutral city, that not parts of any sovereign power out there. Order is a fragile matter in Orario, as adventurers reign and sometimes political power is just a small thing to be snuff upon. Only the sense of just morals of the people and adventurers that shape and hold the Orario to this day.

With that, the matter of registering is done. Eina explained that she'll be my advisor from now on. The person that will consult over the problem that the adventures may face. Though she seems rather keen on her belief, that adventurers should not go adventuring and I should not descend to the lower floors before I can get a sufficient status and experience.

Everything is started from zero when it comes to Adventurer. No matter how highly talented you're before receiving Falna, the parameter will still be zero. This was also the same case of me, although a few may be bestowed with a skill as soon as they received Falna. Such as Bloodline, or type of specialty a person endured in their journey.

Eina's reasoning is fairly understandable. Being a receptionist and guild staff, I must not be the first for her. Perhaps there's a dozen more before they kicked the bucket, and many times that the back she advised will not return again, burdening the young half-elf mind.

Despite the glory and promise, there's always a catch. The high mortality rates of adventurers. Most newbie is over-disillusioned of their imagination as the reality started to seep in but it was too late, their blood feeds the endless chasm of the dungeon.

Before they could get off their couch and go back to the entrance, another guild staff came in and whispered to Eina.

Her eyes accepted in a nod, "I understand."

Then the male guild-staff before bowed to them.

"I'm sorry for the wait. But we've heard, you're making a delivery to Ouranos this moment."

The goddess beside the armored man tilted her head in confusion, of the guild staff sudden words. Instead, the man seems not perturbed by this as he simply nodded before moving on.

"Thank you, lead us to him."

He too is actually surprised by this turn of event. But connecting the dot of what Fels said in their meeting, the only one who had the power and motivation that could hide the Xenos all this time is only one. The one behind the making of the Lid of the dungeon itself, and based on the legend a thousand years ago that he read. Ouranos.

"Of course, please this way."