Chapter 6: Chapter 6

I spent the entire afternoon filling out forms and signing documents at the Adventurers' Guild in the Royal Capital.

When I finally finished, I realized I hadn't eaten lunch yet. Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to wander through the city until I found somewhere to eat. Lori had gone out to run some errands for her adventuring party, and we were supposed to meet back at the inn.

"Excuse me miss..." A voice interrupted my thoughts.

A middle-aged Orcish-looking man wearing an official uniform approached me cautiously, his hand held out palm upwards. His hair was greying, but it was cut neatly short and parted down the center. He wore a crisp white shirt under a brown leather vest over a blue tunic, which seemed quite fashionable compared to the raggedy outfits worn by most civilians. Despite being older than average, his physique remained strong.

He was tall enough that I needed to crane my neck to meet his gaze. After a few moments, he spoke again. "...are you Miss Alice?"

"Yup." I nodded politely. "What do you want?"

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, but then widened in surprise when he saw my Rank C insignia. "Oh! Congratulations on Rank C!"

"Yeah." I shrugged indifferently.

"I hope you won't mind answering a few questions," he began hesitantly. "First, may I ask where you hail from?"

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Ahh! Oh dear." He took a deep breath and straightened his spine. "I apologize. Of course I meant 'where are you currently living'. Please forgive my rudeness."

I chuckled lightly. I thought about it for a minute, but suddenly I remembered the signs I'd passed. "I umn, live in Halton, one of the capital's large suburban towns?"

"Halton!" He exclaimed delightedly. "Do you know Lord Garth Duskswain? He used to be the leader of our local branch of the Adventurer's Guild."

Garth Duskywind?

I shook my head. I knew next to nothing about this world, or the existing relationships my body had.

"I see." He frowned slightly. "In that case, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Colonel Garenna Rufus, commander of the Royal Army garrison stationed in the Royal Capital. May I have a moment of your time?"

"Sure," I agreed noncommittally.

We briefly discussed my background; how long I'd lived in Halton, and whether or not I had any family members who were still alive back home. Then he asked if I wanted to join the military.

"Huh?" I blinked. "Why would I do that?"

Colonel Rufus smiled apologetically. "My apologies for asking such a bold question, but I assure you that joining the army as a commissioned adventurer will greatly improve your standing among the locals. You'll gain access to many privileges and benefits unavailable elsewhere."

"Like what?" I tilted my head curiously.

"For instance..." He glanced around furtively, as though someone might overhear us. "If you choose to serve in the military, your rank and status will automatically increase to match that of an officer. If you are willing to become a soldier, you will receive additional pay and training to prepare you for combat against the looming Demon Invasion threat. In addition, you will be provided with housing, food, clothing, medical care, and even a stipend for travel expenses. On top of these perks, you will also earn respect from everyone else in society."

Wait wait wait hold up, Demonic invasion threat? What is going on? Is there a demon invasion going on in this world? Lori mentioned something about a Demon Lord but...

"This is a very exciting opportunity for anyone interested in serving their country and protecting others," he enthused. "But I understand that not every person is suited for active duty. For those who wish to contribute without risking life and limb, we have several positions available. Our Intelligence Corps is always seeking volunteers with special skillsets and well. you can see I am here at the Adventurer's Guild searching for young talent personally. Members will be treated as reserves, and will be able to continue as active-duty adventurers."

I considered his offer carefully. It sounded interesting. Not only did it involve a lot less danger than combat, but I wouldn't have to worry about getting hurt anymore. Maybe I should give it some consideration?

Then again, maybe I shouldn't. I already made my decision. I was starting to get attached to the airhead and there were too many unknowns here for me.

"I think I'll pass," I replied slowly.

Rufus bowed deeply. "Of course. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. My door is open anytime you change your mind."

He handed me a metal card stamped with the crest of the Royal Army, then turned and walked away briskly towards another group of soldiers waiting outside the building. As soon as they spotted him, they saluted and followed along behind him.

I watched them go silently for a bit before turning my attention back to the cityscape around me. The Royal Capital looked pretty nice, actually. Compared to Halton, it felt almost futuristic. Like, 1800s London. Buildings were taller, cleaner, and brighter than anything I could remember seeing in the village. They weren't all built out of stone either; but most of them appeared to be constructed from brick or wood. There were no roads running through the city proper, but instead wide boulevards lined with trees. Most of the buildings were multi-story affairs, but a few of the smaller shops were located on the ground floor. There were lots of people walking around too, dressed casually in whatever style they liked best. Some wore robes like mine, while others favored leather jackets or ...jeans?

They had zippers? Oh god, please tell me they have pockets.

There were so many people milling around that I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Wherever I stepped, people moved out of my way instinctively. At least half of them were women. Everyone was friendly and polite, smiling at me whenever we passed each other on the street. Even though I was new here, people kept giving me weird looks. Was it because of the outfit? Or was it just because I was a foreigner? Either way, I definitely wasn't comfortable yet.

After wandering aimlessly for a while longer, I ended up in front of a... large high fantasy shopping mall? I stopped to look inside and gawked at a four-story building in shock. It looked like a modern roadside shopping mall, but it was packed with all kinds of odds and ends.

It was huge! People milled everywhere, browsing racks and shelves full of clothes and accessories. Everything from jewelry to swords and shields hung on display, and the store clerks stood ready to assist customers with any questions. I passed by a store full of various gemstones and jewelry, and I heard a bell ringing somewhere overhead as an elf sales clerk beckoned to me excitedly.

"Hey! Hey, hey!" She waved enthusiastically at me. Her blonde hair fell past her shoulders, tied back in two neat pigtails. A red ribbon adorned the tips of both braids, and she wore a green dress underneath a matching jacket decorated with golden embroidery.

She smiled at me, and I felt the room light up in sparkles and happiness. Literally.

The girl was honestly gorgeous, and I felt myself staring at her with a blush for a second.

"Um..." I cleared my throat nervously. "Can I help you?"

Her smile faltered ever so slightly, but then she quickly regained her composure. "Oh yes, hello there. Are you lost dear? Do you need directions?"

"No, um..." I stammered. "Actually, I'm looking for food. Can you direct me to somewhere nearby?"

She furrowed her brow in confusion for a moment before shaking herself free from whatever thoughts were occupying her mind.

"Oh! Right. Yes, sure thing." She pointed across the road at an eatery sign across the mall. "Over there, you can find anything you're hungry for."

"Thanks," I said gratefully, then turned and headed an establishment that looked like a mall tavern.

I walked a few steps toward it, and I just...stared. My eyes darted left to right, trying desperately not to let the sheer amount of stuff get the better of me.

It was a tavern but...the place was absolutely massive.

There's so much stuff here, I don't even know what half of it is. There were shelves full of all kinds of weird-looking food: breads, vegetables, and even meat! Wait, is that chicken? And look at those big fish!

The elf behind the counter looked at me curiously but offered no input. She didn't seem too bothered by my confusion either.

Oh right. What kind of store was this anyway? Gemstones?

As if reading my mind, the elf girl spoke up with a smile. "What can I help you with today, miss?"

"I'm..." I took a deep breath and closed my eyes briefly. "Erm, what kind of store is this, anyway?"

She blinked in surprise. "A... store for magical reagents?"

I looked around again. The shop's interior had a lot in common with other places I'd been inside recently; but there was one important difference.

"Yes, that's correct. We specialize in gemstone catalysts."

I tilted my head quizzically. "Gemstone?"

The elf looked back at me questioningly. "You know of these gems that some people use in sorcery?"

I thought about it. Magic, sorcerers... sorcery... Well, I'm supposed to be a magic user, but I don't exactly have my memory. It could have been anything. I shrugged and tried another approach. "So are these gemstones the kind I need to practice with?"

She gave me a confused frown. "No. They're very expensive. Only for very advanced practitioners. Even this garnet catalyst would run you 20 gold pieces."

I gawked in surprise, running through the numbers in my head. If a 6 silvers could purchase a whole night's worth of room and board for one person at a trading town. That's well over a thousand dollars of purchasing power!

She noticed my expression and hurriedly explained. "But you wouldn't be able to learn how to use it effectively without years of guidance from expert mages."

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It seemed like the price would get much worse the more complex the spell. "So umn. Do you have any beginner's magic books here?"

Her expression lit up in relief. "Of course!" She grabbed one from a shelf behind her, and I saw it was about 3 inches thick. It looked really heavy too. "Here, try this. 'An Introduction to Household Utility Spells' - the price of this is eight silvers."

I accepted the book with gratitude. I had money to spare with my cut of 100 gold in the bank, and the elf started to read aloud as she demonstrated a basic spell.

"This spell allows you to levitate objects around you that aren't resisting. Memorize these runes, then visualize them in your head in your mindspace. Then, orient the frame of your mind towards your intent."

She reached behind the counter, and withdrew a black wand. "Here, use this. Vocalizing your intent after helps you channel the core mana focus. I wouldn't expect you to get it on the first try, though. If you're a beginner your body won't be used to channeling and wielding mana."

I closed the book after she finished demonstrating the chant. I closed my eyes, and tried to do as she instructed, focusing on myself. The next thing I knew, I was hovering above the ground. The sensation made me nervous. It wasn't exactly fun, feeling myself falling helplessly towards the floor. I flailed my short, stubby limbs out.

"Whoa there. You should always move slowly when learning new spells, and definitely don't use it on yourself!" the elf reprimanded me. "But good job! You definitely didn't look like a beginner there!"

She helped steady my descent, then took her hand back.

The elf smiled proudly. "All done. Now, try it again!"

This time, I put the wand down and concentrated harder. This spell looked simple enough that even someone who couldn't remember what sorcery was supposed to be could still cast it. All I had to do was picture a bunch of magic symbols floating into the air around me. Then, focus on someone or something.

But it still didn't work.

I opened my eyes with a start. "What? No!"

"Oh, it didn't work did it?"

"It's just..." I looked around me. I felt dizzy and lightheaded for some reason.

She sighed, looking disappointed. "You have to visualize the mana pathway of the spell, that is, the abstractions provided by the symbols perfectly to properly channel mana into it. Mages use catalysts like wands to give them a much wider margin of error. There can be recoil for failed attempts, sometimes."

"Woah!" I gasped, suddenly understanding. My head was spinning again. "But that means... Oh no! That means I can't cast spells wandlessly unless I understand exactly how they work!"

Her smile wilted as she nodded solemnly. "That's right. I've heard rumors of highly talented mages such as a recent young, prodigious graduate of the Royal Academy using high level magic without a staff or wand, but they're extremely rare. Staves are engineered to allow a mage to focus more mana into a spell though, and they allow for even faster casting and increased output. Some individuals have affinities for certain schools, such as illusionism, conjuration, evocation, or even specific elements."

I slumped against the wall and pouted down at my feet. "I guess it's time to start with the basics, huh?"

She gave me an awkward shrug. "Well, we have all kinds of books on basic spellcasting here. Why don't you start there? I suggest finding a good teacher to teach you how to use magic though."

I thought about that for a moment. "So then why would I need a wand? Isn't it better for beginners to focus on getting used to the concept first?"

"It depends entirely on the person, of course. But wands are generally easier to handle and less prone to error." She pointed out at the shelves, where various types of wands were lined up along the walls. "We have some basic wands available for beginner-level magic users. If you're starting out it's best not to tax your mana reserves heavily."

I looked over at a small display of wand-like objects. Each one was about 10 inches long, made of wood with a simple design.

I was pretty sure whatever Alice had blew theirs out the water.

I shrugged, "I think I'll take the book....and this 'Introduction to Self-Defense Spellcraft' book. I'll be back for sure Miss...?"

She nodded. "Just call me Elenor, dear."

I gave her a curt nod, then left the shop with my purchases in my traveling bag.

There were more shops than I expected nearby, but none seemed like they sold much of interest to me. My stomach growled, so I decided to try the eatery across from the store. I found a bench outside and settled down on it.

The eatery itself had two main rooms. A large dining hall at the front, and another smaller dining room on the opposite side. I could see several people eating from both. There were also quite a few tables lining the hallway to my right. There was a lot of noise coming from inside, too.

"What the hell is going on here?" I muttered as I approached the window.

The entire place was filled with all kinds of weird-looking people, some dressed like they were heading into the wilderness while others were wearing full suits. Some had armor, and some weren't even carrying any weapons at all.

This is like an old fashioned inn. Or like...an adventuring tavern! It's got the same kind of decor, and it even smells similar to the one at Halton.

The smell of food made my stomach grumble in anticipation, but there was something else I couldn't quite put my finger on...

A young girl was sitting at the bar in the corner. She looked a bit like a waitress, wearing a red apron over her... schoolgirl uniform with matching red hair and red eyes? I figured I could get my meal to-go and eat it somewhere out of the way; but then she turned to look at me.

She was looking straight at me. "Huh? Are you the one who just got certified?" she asked curiously.

Her expression was curious but pleasant. And I was certain that voice was familiar. "Who are you?" I asked cautiously.

"I'm Suzuki. The one who certified your magical proficiency last month? Anyway, welcome to the Waystop Tavern."

She came over and sat next to me. Her outfit wasn't quite so strange when she sat down. "Do you want something to drink or something? We have tea, coffee, juice, soda, milk..."

"No thank you," I replied. "Are there any seats inside? I just want something hot and savory right now. I'm faaamished."

"Sure, if you'd like."

I opened the door and followed her into the dining room. There were two people sharing a table in the back. I walked over to them. "Excuse me, may I take the seat here?" I asked politely.

They seemed to be eating a large amount of meat, but they both smiled at me pleasantly as they waved for me to sit.

I sat down across from them and ordered some breaded steak sandwiches. I couldn't help but listen to the conversation next to me as I waited for food.

The two were clearly adventurers, judging by their outfits and equipment. They weren't carrying anything that looked like a staff or wand though. One was an elf with silver hair and brown eyes, and the other was an orc that had brown hair and green eyes. Their conversation was very similar to the ones I heard around town before.

"So what's been going on?" Silver-Hair asked.

Green-Eyes shook his head. "Not much. It hasn't been too hard to find work."

Silver-Hair nodded, looking down at his empty plate. "I've seen quite a few people with weird stuff going on around town." He paused for a moment to think, then added, "Well, we all know that the royal capital is full of people who have unusual abilities yeah?"

"Mmhm," Green-Eyes agreed.

Silver-Hair looked down at his own empty plate again, then glanced up. "There's something that's been bothering me... Have you guys heard about all the disappearances lately?"

"Yes..." the silver haired adventurer replied quietly.

"Disappearances?" I asked? "Like women and children?"

"No," Green Eyes responded, "A bunch of pretty reputable C rank and B rank adventurers just...fell off the grid.

They both went quiet, and then Green-Eyes continued eating as he spoke. "I had a party member get killed by a group of thugs recently too. They took out his legs before he could fight back."

Silver-Hair looked down at his food and sighed deeply.

I frowned, shivering at the grisly thought. But then I perked up as my sandwiches arrived. It smelled so good, and I finally dug into my food.

My mind wandered back to what they were talking about.

These kidnappings didn't have any connection to the stuff at Rivershire Crossing, did it?

Nah, that was too big of a stretch.

...At least I hoped so.

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