“Hello sir, madam. Welcome to Aithgard. Is it your first visit?”

  That was a very unexpected greeting from the city guard to unknown teens. Probably something to do with the system favored thing. But it wasn’t like they were going to begrudge an overly polite welcome.

  Bev stepped forward and said “We are Bev and Kennon. Yes, it is our first visit.”

  Kennon kept looking around, worried someone might try something with their cart. They had their storage crate on it. And in that was all their belongings. He hadn’t thought before about the need to key it to only work for them. But right now he felt that fear keenly.

  The guard was a stout man in enchanted chain. Pinned to his chest was a symbol of a tree, half of it was burning and the other half was loaded with red fruit. The symbol of the town perhaps?

  He said, “I see. What brings you to our humble town.”

  Yea. he was definitely trying to butter them up for something.

  Bev said, “we just left a portal, and wanted to sell our goods. We were also thinking of setting up a crafting shop and joining the adventurers guild.”

  The man looked at her and gave the biggest smile Kennon had ever seen.

  “Good! We always need more crafters and adventurers. You will find the adventurers guild just inside the gate. It is twenty stories tall, you can’t miss it. They should be able to help you with anything you need. Please enjoy your stay.”

  With that his eyes unfocused for a moment, then he waved them on. Kennon noticed several other guards down the path to the gate take a quick look at them then go back to what they were doing. Apparently the man sent a message ahead.

  They walked ahead without incident till another guard, a younger man in light leathers ran up to them and said, “Hello, I hear you have an unsecured crate. Would you like me to keep watch? Or perhaps carry it for you?”

  Kennon thought they were going a bit overboard. And by no means was he going to let this stranger carry all they owned. But watching his back couldn’t be a problem.

  “Sure, you can watch, we are headed to the adventurers guild.” Kennon said while he kept walking.

  “Of course sir. Happy to be of service.”

  Kennon turned away from him to look ahead just as they entered the city, and he almost fainted.

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  It was beautiful.

  All the buildings were a mix of steel and living wood, twisted together as if the steel had been grown alongside the wood. The road held shimmering enchantments every few meters. And the smallest building was three stories tall.

  Half the buildings in Greentown were made of cobble.

  The guard was right about the guild building being impossible to miss. It stood at almost twice the height of the walls. With the top half of the building having several sections that were open to the air.

  The purpose of that was obvious as they saw a man fly into the building so fast they expected a shockwave followed by some sort of giant flying fish with boxes strapped to its side.

  The streets themselves were filled with man and beast. The people walking the streets varied from young to old, rich to poor. There were carts aplenty. It was a sea of flesh and wood. Kennon felt dizzy just trying to keep track of it all.

  Lining the inside of the wall were an endless line of stalls. Each selling something different. The merchants called out their slogans one after the other in a wave that seemed to circle the entire city.

  The mana density was blinding. And it was almost completely pure.

  Kennon felt like they would have a very hard time fitting in here.

  They made their way to the guild at a decent pace, despite the crowd. And when they got to the door their guard left them.

  The door of the guild was branded with three circles containing, a sword, a knife, and a staff. Representing the three starter classes. The symbol of the guild.

  Thankfully things had thinned out a bit by the time they arrived. So they had a moment to think before they entered. What would they say about themselves?

  Their plans until now had been simple. Easy. join the guild. Do some crafting. Gain power and money.

  Now those goals seemed distant, and childish. Even though they were closer than ever to achieving them.

  Until now it had all been if’s and maybe's. But when they walked into this door it would be definite, real. And they didn’t know how to feel about it. Did they really want the risk involved in becoming an adventurer? Both from man and beast.

  Was it even possible to open a shop selling gear in a place like this?

  Why in the name of the system did they have to come to a city this big!

  They took a moment to breathe.

  They could do this. Their goals hadn’t changed. And it wasn’t like they were going to be sent on a mission the second they walked inside.

  They needed to sell their loot. And they needed a place to stay. Everything else was secondary. They could work on making a joint armoury and apothecary after they had a little copper in their pockets and a bed to sleep on.

  Void they wished they didn’t have to do this alone. Margie standing beside them would make things so much easier. Even if she didn’t do anything.

  At least they weren’t completely alone. They had each other. Even now Kennon felt Bev beside him. He felt her nerves like he felt his own.

  But also her excitement. And eagerness. And he found those same feelings running through himself.

  They could do this. Void! They were level ten at fifteen! Even if it was a weak level ten.

  Even if the entire world was against them, together they would come out victorious.

  Thank you for sharing my journey. To help me walk it I have a set up. It is 20 chapters ahead and releases at the same time as the Royal Road chapters.

  Remember every follow, review, and rating helps the story get more attention.