"And what exactly do you plan on doing at the Adventurer's Association, Adrian?"
Eli's voice was gentle, though deeply concerned. Adrian had returned home, immediately sharing his ambitious plans.
Now, standing in the cozy living room with Eli and Mara, he was tasked with convincing them.
Adrian smiled reassuringly, meeting Eli's anxious gaze directly. "I'm going to register as an adventurer."
"An adventurer?" Mara echoed incredulously. "Sweetheart, even Eli, who has an affinity, couldn't pass their assessment. They're notoriously strict. You understand that, don't you?"
Adrian nodded calmly. "I know it's difficult, ma'am. But I have something special that I've made that will help me pass the assessment and get my license."
Eli exchanged an uneasy glance with Mara, both adults clearly wrestling with how best to respond.
Adrian observed their silent deliberation patiently, understanding their apprehension. After a moment of silence, he decided to help them out.
"But you trust my inventions, right? All I'm asking is that you trust me again. I'm just going to try. If I fail, that simply means I'm not ready yet, and I'll come straight home."
Silence lingered as Eli deeply considered Adrian's words. After what seemed an eternity, Eli finally sighed, shaking his head with an affectionate smile.
"Alright, Adrian. You've always been special, and as much as it pains me to say yes, I trust you. Just promise me you'll be safe."
Relief washed over Adrian. Convincing them had been far easier than he'd anticipated.
"I promise, sir. I'll be careful."
"Remember, if things look dangerous, don't hesitate to come back. Your life is worth more than any license."
"I will, ma'am. Thank you both."
"Wait," Mara added quickly, disappearing briefly into the kitchen and returning moments later with a large cloth-wrapped bundle.
"Take this food with you, in case you get hungry."
Gratefully, Adrian accepted the bundle with a "Thank you".
The journey to the Adventurer's Association was arranged quickly. Eli had hired a modest animal-drawn carriage from the village.
The Association was located in the larger town of Eldergrove, about half a day's journey from their village.
Adrian sat comfortably in the wooden carriage, bumping along the dirt road as he mentally reviewed everything he'd learned about the Adventurer's Association from the countless books he'd studied.
***
The Adventurer's Association building in Eldergrove was a large, imposing structure crafted from rough-hewn stones, reinforced by massive oak beams.
Banners bearing the association's crest — a red Dragon breathing fire, with two swords crossed diagonally across it — could be seen everywhere.
The interior was large and Adventurers — mostly mages dressed in practical robes, and a few tough-looking warriors wearing basic armor or leather tunics — chatted casually, their laughter mingling with the occasional sounds of weapons being sharpened or polished.
His small figure drew curious glances, with some adventurers raising eyebrows or whispering amongst themselves.
Adrian ignored the stares, his focus solely on the receptionist seated behind a sturdy oak counter. She was a young lady with sharp eyes and an impatient expression, sorting through parchments without looking up.
"Excuse me," Adrian said politely, stepping up to the counter.
The receptionist sighed irritably, finally looking up and frowning when her eyes met Adrian's young face. "Child, this isn't a playground. Go back home."
Adrian barely flinched at her dismissive tone. "How do I register for the adventurer's test?"
Her eyes narrowed. "The test isn't free, kid. It costs a gold coin. Are you sure your parents know you're wasting their money?"
He winced internally at the price but placed a gold coin onto the counter. "Now, how do I proceed?"
The receptionist scoffed lightly but took the coin anyway. She gave him a parchment to fill in some details, before motioning carelessly to a short line forming near a set of double doors.
"Stand there. They'll call you when it's your turn."
Adrian nodded and moved to the indicated spot, quickly joining the short queue. As he waited, his mind raced with thoughts of what the test might entail.
He had read extensively about adventurer qualifications. Typically, tests involved demonstrating one's combat ability or magical power against a restrained magical beast.
He mentally reviewed everything he'd prepared. His pistol was secure in the custom holster at his belt, and the pouch at his side contained bullets and carefully measured packets of gunpowder.
Soon enough, his turn arrived. A door opened, and a voice called, "Next!"
Taking a deep breath, Adrian stepped through the doorway. Inside, the testing room was spacious, with stone walls and a sandy floor.
At the far end sat a sturdy-looking man dressed in light armor. His face was partially hidden by a trimmed beard, and his dark eyes assessed Adrian critically.
"You're...Adrian?" the examiner asked dubiously, glancing at a parchment in his hand.
"Yes," Adrian replied confidently.
"Age ten?" The man's skepticism deepened.
"That's correct."
"Are you a mage, then?"
"No."
The examiner shook his head incredulously. "You're telling me you're a ten-year-old warrior?"
Adrian tilted his head thoughtfully. "Not exactly a traditional warrior, but yes, I suppose that's closest."
The examiner sighed. Adrian knew from his readings that warriors were usually individuals without magical affinity, who honed their bodies to peak physical condition.
Warriors were respected for their mastery of various weapons and martial arts, allowing them to face magical beasts and even hold their ground against mages.
Some old legends mentioned warriors who reached such physical prowess that they could manipulate a mysterious internal energy, but that was mere speculation without proven fact.
The examiner interrupted Adrian's musings impatiently. "Where's your weapon, then?"
Adrian tapped the holster at his belt. "Right here."
The examiner squinted suspiciously. "What's that supposed to be?"
Adrian simply smiled, "You'll see soon enough."
With a frustrated groan, the examiner waved to several mages positioned at the edges of the arena. "Prepare the beast!"
The mages nodded, and one of them opened a heavy iron cage. From inside emerged a small but ferocious creature resembling a wolf, with fiery red fur and glowing amber eyes. Adrian immediately activated his Analyze skill.
[Analyzing...]
[Beast identified: Flame Wolf]
[Rank: 1-Star Magical Beast]
[Element: Fire]
Adrian focused his mind as the beast snarled, straining against invisible magical restraints created by the mages. The examiner raised an eyebrow at Adrian.
"Are you ready?"
Adrian drew his gun from the holster smoothly, the polished barrel gleaming under the dim light. The examiner's eyes widened slightly, sensing something dangerously unfamiliar in the weapon Adrian held.
"I suppose so," Adrian replied calmly, aiming his pistol toward the beast.
"Very well. Begin!" the examiner called, signaling the mages to release their restraints.
The Flame Wolf immediately lunged toward Adrian, snarling ferociously. Calmly, Adrian steadied his stance, inhaled slowly, and squeezed the trigger.
~BOOM!~
The loud bang echoed throughout the room, startling everyone, including the examiner who jumped from his chair with a shocked yell.
Smoke rose from the pistol barrel, and the wolf stumbled, collapsing to the ground, motionless.
The examiner's jaw hung open, disbelief etched on his face as he stared at the lifeless beast. Before Adrian could register the stunned silence around him, a system notification appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations! You have killed a magical beast!]
[Would you like to harvest its Magic Crystal?]