Scene change.
After that cringe-worthy moment, Athena walked alongside Amyra and Lucia toward the Adventure Guild camp.
Mary sat perched on Athena's shoulder. The blonde girl wore a white long-sleeved blouse, a black leather corset, and a short black cloak over her shoulders.
A black asymmetrical skirt, dark stockings, and tall boots clacked against the cobblestone path.
"So, how far is the headquarters?" Mary asked.
Lucia pointed to a large building in the capital, its architecture ornate and grand.
"That's the headquarters of the Adventure Guild."
Mary's eyes widened in awe.
"Woah! It's huge!"
Lucia nodded, grinning.
"Yep. And it's even bigger on the inside," she said as she led the way.
"The guild's been around for centuries. It has a lot of history," she explained.
As they approached the building, Amyra gestured to the massive doors.
"And that's just the entrance hall," she said.
"The real action happens in the back rooms and training areas."
Mary bounced excitedly on Athena's shoulder.
"I can't wait to see everything!" she squealed.
"This is gonna be so much fun!"
As they neared the hall, the heart of activity greeted them. Adventurers of all races crowded the space—humans, elves, dwarves, half-race, and other beings.
Lucia climbed the stairs and pushed open the massive wooden doors.
"Alright, Athena, get ready," she said over her shoulder.
"This is where the real work begins."
Inside, the hall was just as bustling as the outside. A large reception counter stretched along the far wall, behind which over a dozen staff members worked diligently.
A massive bulletin board took up much of the left wall, covered in notices, missions, and job postings.
To the right, groups of adventurers clustered around tables, poring over maps and arguing heatedly.
Amyra smiled at Athena.
"It's a bit overwhelming at first," she admitted.
"But you'll get used to it. And with us by your side, I know you'll do great."
Lucia approached the reception desk, scanning the room.
"Alright, Athena, let's get you registered," she said.
"First thing we need is to get you a guild ID. That's how you prove you're a real adventurer."
She pointed to a bored-looking clerk who glanced up from his paperwork with a sigh.
"Yeah? What do you want?" the clerk grumbled.
Lucia flashed him a charming smile.
"Hi there. My friend right here is joining the guild. She needs an ID. ASAP."
The clerk rolled his eyes and grabbed a blank form.
"Name?" he asked, not even looking up.
Athena stepped forward, her heart pounding.
"Athena Rei," she answered.
"Athena Rei," he repeated, filling out the form and stamping it with the guild seal.
"That'll be 20 gold coins." Athena reached into her pockets, only to find them completely empty. She checked again—nothing.
"Um, I… I don't have any money..." she murmured, rubbing the back of her neck, cheeks flushing.
The clerk finally looked up, brows furrowed.
"No money? Then you don't get an ID."
Lucia stepped forward, slamming her hand on the counter.
"Hold on a second," she growled.
"This girl just saved our ass from The Beheaded one. The least you can do is give her a chance."
The clerk paled slightly but remained firm.
"Rules are rules," he said.
"No ID, no missions. No exceptions."
Amyra placed a calming hand on Lucia's shoulder, pulling her back.
"It's okay, Lucia," she murmured.
"We'll figure something out."
Mary fluttered off Athena's shoulder, flying up to the clerk's face.
"Hey mister," she chimed,
"Can't we work something out? Athena's a fantastic adventurer. She'll bring tons of gold to the guild. Surely you can make one exception, just this once?"
The clerk hesitated, clearly torn.
"I… I don't know," he stammered.
"It's against policy..."
Suddenly, a gloved hand patted the clerk's shoulder.
He turned to see a man in his twenties, with red hair, glasses, and a white uniform, smiling at him.
"Amyra, Lucia, I see you brought a new guest with you?"
"Ah! Nathan!" Lucia said brightly.
She turned to Athena.
"This guy's name is Nathan. He's one of the guild's top researchers. He's done a lot to advance our technology."
"You don't have to oversell me, Lucia-san," Nathan chuckled.
"My name is Nathan Leofrick. A pleasure to meet you."
"A-ah, I'm Athena Rei. Nice to meet you too," Athena replied.
Nathan glanced at the clerk.
"I hear we've got an issue with the administration?"
The clerk nodded nervously.
"Y-yes..."
"This girl defeated one of the Abyss's hands—The Beheaded. That means she's entitled to the bounty placed on that monster. She can use it to pay for her ID," Nathan explained.
The clerk's eyes widened.
"The Beheaded?! That monster's worth a fortune!"
Nathan grinned.
"Exactly. And since Athena took it down, she's earned the reward. That should more than cover her ID cost."
The clerk swallowed hard and nodded.
"R-right. I'll process her ID immediately."
Nathan clapped the clerk on the back, making him gasp.
"Good man. I knew you'd see it that way."
He turned to Athena, his eyes glinting behind his glasses.
"Athena Rei, huh? I've heard a lot about you. Taking down The Beheaded isn't something just anyone can do."
"T-thank you… I didn't do it alone. I had help from Lucia-san and Amyra-san," she said with a smile.
The clerk returned with a jade-colored orb, placing it on the desk.
"Next step is to measure your Mana levels through the Arcane Force. That'll determine your rank in the guild," he explained.
"Arcane Force? My rank?" Athena echoed.
Amyra nodded.
"Arcane Force is the opposite of Cursed Energy. While Cursed Energy is born from curses, rage, and hatred—"
"Arcane Force comes from positive energy, the force of life itself," She elaborated.
"In short, just place your hand on this orb, and we'll know how much Arcane Mana you have. That'll decide your rank and your class," Lucia added.
"There are seven ranks: F, E, D, C, B, A, and S. The higher your rank, the tougher the enemies you'll face."
"I see..." Athena whispered.
Nathan leaned forward, his eyes gleaming.
"This is going to be interesting," he murmured.
"Watching the raw potential of a budding hero."
The clerk gestured to the orb.
"Please place your hand on the orb, Miss Athena. Focus your Arcane Force. It'll only take a moment."
Athena nodded, her hand trembling as she placed it on the cool surface of the orb, taking a deep breath.
The orb glowed with a soft white light, pulsing gently in rhythm with Athena's heartbeat. Everyone waited in anticipation.
'Is she an A-Rank?'
'Must be at least B-Rank,' they thought.
Slowly, the light faded. The clerk checked the results with a neutral expression.
"Hey, hey! What's her rank?" Mary asked impatiently.
"Miss Athena Rei—Rank D," the clerk announced.
"Rank D?!" the others gasped.
"But wasn't the Crownless a B+ or A-Rank threat?" Lucia said.
"The chart shows her Arcane Force clearly ranks as D. No mistake," the clerk confirmed.
Athena withdrew her hand.
"Sorry to disappoint you. I told you I was just a regular girl. Nothing special about me," she said with a small smile.
"A D-Rank is more than enough for me."
Nathan frowned slightly at the result.
"Rank D?" he mused.
"I suppose that makes sense, given her lack of experience. Still… I must say, I'm surprised. Her true potential is far greater."
He looked at Athena, his expression thoughtful.
"You may not see it, Athena, but I know you're not ordinary," he said softly.
"You have a rare talent—it would be a shame to waste it."
Lucia rolled her eyes, arms crossed.
"Pfft. Who cares about dumb rankings?" she scoffed.
"Athena's already proven herself in battle. The rest will come with time and experience."
Amyra nodded, smiling.
"Lucia's right."
"Your rank is just a number, Athena. What matters most is your heart and your courage."
Mary jumped on the desk, grinning.
"Yeah! And you've got both!"
Nathan turned to the clerk.
"What's Athena-chan's job class?"
"Her job… is Assassin," the clerk answered after checking the chart.
"Assassin, huh? That suits you, Athena-chan," Lucia said, giving her a glance.
"And her Elemental Resonance…"
Type: Light,
"What?" they all echoed in confusion.
"That's not a basic element," Amyra remarked.
"That explains the golden energy when Athena fought the Beheaded," Lucia said.
"A unique girl, with Elemental Resonance beyond the basics," Nathan noted.
"Is that… bad?" Athena asked nervously.
The clerk shook his head, examining the chart.
"No, not bad at all," he reassured her.
"In fact, it's extremely rare. Most adventurers only resonate with basic elements."
Nathan chuckled, eyes sparkling.
"Unique abilities come with unique challenges," he said.
"But I have a feeling you're more than up to the task, Athena."
He leaned in, voice low and conspiratorial.
"You know, I've been working on some interesting projects lately," he admitted.
"New ways to harness Arcane and Cursed Energy for the guild's benefit. Maybe we can talk over tea sometime?"
Lucia groaned, rolling her eyes.
"Great. Another nerd trying to poach our newcomer," she muttered.
"Come on, Athena. Let's get out of here before he starts a lecture on Mana manipulation."
"Eh? Hahaha…" Athena chuckled awkwardly.
"Here's your ID card, Miss Athena," the clerk said. Athena took it.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," the clerk replied.
Athena stared at the now-dim orb, then slowly clenched her fist.
"Rank D, huh…" she whispered.
But deep within, she felt a faint pulse—not from the orb, but from within herself.
A power she didn't yet understand… waiting to awaken.