The murmurs in the guild hall refused to die down. Adventurers leaned in to whisper to their comrades, while others openly gawked at Belle as if she had grown a second head. The revelation of her three elemental affinities had thrown the entire hall into disarray. Even the more seasoned adventurers, who had seen countless rookies come and go, looked rattled.
"Three affinities… Are we sure this crystal isn't broken?" a dwarf in heavy armor muttered, rubbing his beard with suspicion.
"Not a chance," a robed mage responded, eyes fixed on Belle. "That crystal is enchanted by the Grand Magic Council itself. If it says three affinities, then it's the real deal."
Alina took a steadying breath, her professional demeanor returning. She stood up straighter, subtly raising her hand to signal for silence. It took a moment, but the adventurers, sensing the weight of the situation, slowly quieted down. The tension in the room remained thick, but at least the chaos had been contained.
Kai, meanwhile, smirked and crossed his arms. "Well, Belle, looks like you're not just another rookie after all."
Belle sighed, feeling the pressure settle onto her shoulders. "Yeah… not exactly what I was hoping for."
Alina, still gripping the parchment she had been writing on, cleared her throat. "Before we move forward, let's get one thing straight." She turned to Belle, her violet eyes filled with something between awe and concern. "You are the only known person in centuries to naturally possess three elemental affinities. Most people are born with only one. A select few—typically high-ranking adventurers or noble bloodlines—are able to unlock a second affinity through years of rigorous training or special artifacts." She glanced at the crystal again. "But a third affinity? That is the stuff of myths."
Belle shifted uncomfortably. "So… what does that mean for me?"
"It means you're going to draw attention. A lot of it," Alina said seriously. "From nobles, from powerful guilds, and even from people you don't want attention from."
Kai frowned. "Tch. She's right. There's no way something like this stays secret forever."
Alina nodded. "Which is why, for now, we'll keep this information within the guild as much as possible. But understand, Belle—your journey as an adventurer is going to be very different from the average recruit."
Belle took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I understand. I still want to continue."
Alina's lips curved into a small smile. "Good. Then let's proceed with your registration." She placed the affinity parchment aside and pulled out a fresh scroll. "Now that we've determined your magical potential, we need to establish your adventurer rank."
A few adventurers, still lingering near the counter, took the opportunity to chime in.
"Oh, this should be interesting," one chuckled. "Wonder if they'll just bump her straight to B-Rank or something."
Alina shot the adventurer a glare before focusing back on Belle. "The adventurer ranking system exists to ensure that individuals take on quests appropriate to their skill level. Recklessly accepting a mission beyond one's capability is the fastest way to end up dead."
She rolled out the scroll, revealing the official ranking structure of the Dawnstead Adventurer's Guild.
Adventurer Ranks:
F-Rank: Beginner level. Mostly assigned to safe, mundane tasks such as herb gathering, deliveries, or handling weak monsters like slimes and wild animals.
E-Rank: Slightly more advanced than F-Rank. These adventurers can handle minor threats such as goblins, bandits, and weak magical beasts.
D-Rank: Capable of taking on subjugation quests for stronger creatures and working in small teams. D-Ranks start to develop their magical abilities or combat techniques.
C-Rank: Considered the first major milestone. Adventurers of this rank are competent fighters, often forming stable parties to take on more dangerous missions.
B-Rank: A significant leap in strength. B-Rank adventurers are highly skilled, often capable of handling large threats such as wyverns, golem rampages, and advanced magical foes.
A-Rank: Among the elite. A-Rank adventurers are few in number and are capable of handling national threats. Their strength is equivalent to that of a seasoned knight commander or an elite mage.
S-Rank: The highest known adventurer rank. Only a handful exist in the entire continent. S-Rank adventurers are considered legendary, capable of taking on calamity-class threats.
Alina let the ranking system sink in before continuing. "New adventurers always start at F-Rank, no exceptions. The only way to rank up is by completing missions and proving yourself. Once you accumulate enough guild points and demonstrate your abilities, you'll undergo an official evaluation."
Kai, who had been listening quietly, leaned against the counter. "Let me guess. She's starting at the bottom, huh?"
Alina gave him a pointed look. "Yes, just like everyone else. Even with her unique affinities, she still needs to build her foundation as an adventurer."
Belle nodded. "That's fair."
Alina handed Belle a brand new F-Rank guild card with the guild's emblem engraved on it. "This is your Guild Card. It serves as an ID, a proof of your status as an adventurer and it will be used to track your progress as well as register all your achievements within it. You can also use this card as a permit to enter and exit any town you visit. If you lose it, you'll have to pay a fee to replace it."
Belle took the Guild Card, running her fingers over the engraved emblem. It felt heavier than she expected—maybe because it carried the weight of everything she was about to step into.
Kai grinned. "And with that, you're officially an adventurer."
Alina smiled. "Welcome to the Dawnstead Adventurer's Guild, Belle."
The hall erupted into a mix of cheers and murmurs. Some adventurers smirked, already placing silent bets on how fast Belle would climb the ranks. Others looked on with wary curiosity, realizing that today, a new anomaly had entered their world.
As the tension from the affinity test slowly faded, Belle took the opportunity to slip away from the counter, feeling the weight of countless eyes still lingering on her. The hushed whispers and stolen glances followed her across the guild hall, but she did her best to ignore them. Kai, ever nonchalant, stretched his arms and walked beside her.
Belle approached the large wooden quest board, where parchment sheets fluttered under the warm glow of hanging lanterns. The board was divided into sections based on rank, with the lower-tiered missions at the bottom and the high-risk ones pinned near the top.
Her gaze swept over the options: Material gathering, herb collection, supply deliveries... and then her eyes landed on something more interesting.
Quest: Subjugate Three Horned Rabbits
Rank: F
Reward: 5 silver coins per rabbit
Details: The horned rabbit population has grown unusually high near the outskirts of Dawnstead. Hunt and retrieve at least three as proof of completion.
"Horned rabbits?" Belle murmured.
Kai leaned over her shoulder, reading the details before nodding. "Not a bad pick for a beginner. They're fast, but not too dangerous. Good for testing your combat skills."
Alina, who had approached unnoticed, glanced at the quest Belle was holding. "That's a standard starting quest. If you're going with this one, make sure to bring back the horns as proof." She turned to Kai. "You're going with her, I assume?"
Kai grinned. "Of course."
Alina sighed but gave a small smile. "Try not to cause trouble."
Kai feigned offense. "I don't cause trouble. Trouble finds me."
Belle shook her head with a chuckle, already sensing this would be an interesting experience.
She tucked the quest sheet under her arm as she followed Kai toward the guild's exit. The moment they stepped outside, the fresh air was a welcome relief from the lingering tension inside. Though the stares had lessened, she could still feel the occasional glance from adventurers passing by. News about her affinity test was clearly spreading fast.
Kai, hands behind his head, grinned as they strolled through the bustling streets of Dawnstead. "Alright, newbie, time for your first real adventure. Hunting horned rabbits isn't exactly thrilling, but hey, it's a start."
Belle gave him a sidelong look. "I'd rather start with something manageable than get thrown into a death battle on my first day."
He smirked. "Fair. But don't get too comfortable. F-Rank quests are meant to be easy, but things can go sideways fast if you're careless."
As they passed through the town gates, the guards stationed there gave Kai a knowing nod, one even muttering, "Try not to cause a scene this time."
Belle curled an eyebrow. "Should I be concerned?"
Kai scoffed. "They're exaggerating. Just a minor misunderstanding last time."
The guard overhearing this scoffed back. "You set half the training grounds on fire, Kai."
Belle stopped in her tracks.
Kai rubbed the back of his neck. "Details."
Belle folded her arms. "That seems like an important detail."
"Moving on!" Kai clapped his hands together and picked up the pace, clearly eager to change the subject.
Belle sighed and followed, making a mental note to be prepared for whatever chaos Kai might attract.
The outskirts of Dawnstead stretched into open fields and patches of dense woodland, a peaceful contrast to the lively town. The designated hunting area wasn't far, a mix of rolling grasslands and scattered trees, ideal terrain for spotting small creatures.
Kai led the way, occasionally pointing out tracks on the ground. "See these? Slightly curved imprints. Horned rabbits leave these when they hop around."
Belle crouched to inspect them. "They look normal to me."
"Well, they're not," Kai stated matter-of-factly. "Horned rabbits are about twice the size of normal ones, and their horns aren't just for show. If they feel threatened, they'll charge right at you like tiny, angry bulls."
Belle blinked. "So… I'm basically fighting miniature rams?"
"Pretty much. Except they're faster and harder to hit."
Belle hummed in thought. "I was expecting something a little more dramatic for my first quest."
Kai grinned. "Oh, don't worry. With your luck, I bet something ridiculous is gonna happen."
Belle rolled her eyes.
They continued tracking until they reached a clearing where the grass was freshly disturbed.
"There," Kai whispered, pointing.
Three horned rabbits were nibbling at some shrubs. Their bodies were covered in thick, dark fur, and sure enough, curved ivory horns protruded from their foreheads.
"Alright, time to see what you got," Kai said, stepping back and crossing his arms. "Go on, rookie."
Belle exhaled and stepped forward cautiously. She reached for a small dagger she had borrowed from the guild's armory—basic, but enough for an F-Rank hunt.
She took a step closer.
SNAP!
A twig broke under her foot.
The rabbits immediately perked up.
"Uh-oh," Kai muttered.
BOOM!
The three rabbits launched themselves at Belle like furry cannonballs.
"WHAT—?!"
Kai prepared to jump in—only for something completely unexpected to happen.
Belle… disappeared.
Or at least, that's what it looked like to Kai.
In a fraction of a second, a strong gust of wind blasted past him, kicking up a swirl of dust and leaves. Before he could even react, the rabbits vanished from the clearing—their bodies already sprawled out unconscious in the grass.
And Belle? She was already standing right behind him—holding all three severed rabbit horns in her hands, looking completely unbothered.
Kai blinked. Then blinked again.
"What… just happened?" he mumbled.
Belle inspected the rabbit horns. "Huh. That was easier than I thought."
Kai turned his head very slowly, his face blank. "Did… did you just kill all three in less than a second?"
Belle frowned, confused. "Yeah? I just ran up and took them out before they could react."
Kai stared at her like she had just spoken in an ancient, forgotten language.
"I DIDN'T EVEN SEE YOU MOVE!" he suddenly shouted. "You were there, then boom, and suddenly you were back here holding their horns like it was a damn grocery run!"
Belle tilted her head, teasing at Kai with a playful thought. "That's… not normal?"
Kai pointed dramatically at her. "NO! NO, IT IS NOT NORMAL! DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW FAST YOU JUST MOVED?"
Belle tapped her chin. "I mean, it felt normal to me—"
Kai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I swear, you are not a beginner. There's no way."
Belle simply shrugged. "Anyway, quest complete. Let's head back."
She started walking off, leaving Kai completely speechless as he looked back at the unconscious rabbits. He was supposed to be watching her skills in action, and yet—
He didn't see a damn thing.
After a long pause, Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"…Why do I feel like this girl is going to give me a headache?"
Still grumbling to himself, he followed after her, the weight of Belle's absurd speed finally sinking in.
Meanwhile, back at the guild, a certain receptionist was about to have an even bigger headache.
End of Chapter 12