Date: Two weeks after the Final Exam
Location: Central Branch of the Adventurer's Guild, Elareth City
---
If someone asked me how our "summer break" began, I wouldn't call it rest.
David gathered us in the courtyard at dawn, still half-asleep and sore from finals. He handed us a sealed letter stamped by the Headmaster's flame sigil.
> "You're to report to the Central Guild. Effective immediately."
Anna blinked. "Summer vacation is a lie."
---
The Central Guild was a towering structure of stone and silverwood, polished until you could see your reflection in the walls. Inside, it was chaos.
Adventurers. Merchants. Maps. Quest boards. Too many voices. Too many egos.
> "Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild! First-time applicants, form a line!"
We lined up. Lily adjusted her cloak. Leander tried to flirt with the receptionist and nearly got hit with a quill.
> "State your names, previous rank if applicable, and intent."
I was ready to step forward first, but then Alice smoothly placed a card on the desk. It shimmered bronze.
> "Alice von Eirenthal. Bronze Plate. Transferred from Northern Border Branch."
Lily followed. Her card shone iron.
> "Lily Everwinter. Iron Plate. Transfer from Rivergate Outpost."
Elric surprised us all next.
> "Elric. No surname. Iron Plate. Church of Pure Dawn."
Leander gaped. Anna stared. Gideon just looked over at me, waiting.
> "...You three already registered?" Leander cried. "TRAITORS!"
Alice sipped water. "Not our fault you're slow."
We were told the rest of us would need to take the Iron Plate Entry Exam the next day. Standard Guild protocol.
Riya whispered, "I thought we were just students."
---
A few other teams from the Academy were there. Some recognized us. Some smirked.
> "So the famous Silent Tactician joins the guild, huh? Let's see if he can order paperwork around."
They laughed. We ignored them.
Until the orb.
The guild's registration orb lit up when I placed my hand on it. Not a gentle glow. A flare. Like someone had struck a match on magic itself.
The receptionist blinked.
> "...Are you sure you're a new applicant?"
> "Pretty sure."
She scribbled something in haste.
> "Recommended for immediate Bronze upon completion of combat test."
Anna: "I didn't know we were bringing fireworks."
---
After a few more forms, they let us upstairs to see the mission board.
One wall. Hundreds of requests.
Escort caravans. Slay beasts. Guard relics. One job just said: "Help Old Man Marvin Clean His Roof".
Leander: "I call that one."
Alice: "Denied."
We laughed.
But we all knew—this was no longer school. No more tests. No more grades.
This was real.
The Guild official handed us a slip:
> "Group entry test scheduled tomorrow. You pass, you earn your plates. Welcome to the world beyond the walls."
---
I wrote this entry with dust on my boots and the scent of adventure in the air.
Let the next chapter begin.