The morning sun painted the village in warm hues of gold and orange as Alaric set out to meet Alicia and Jake. The cool breeze carried the scent of the fields, a reminder of his simple life as a farmer. But today, it felt different. There was excitement in the air, a sense of anticipation. He had a lot to think about, especially his recent promotion to rank C at the guild.
Alaric had made up his mind: he wasn't going to tell Alicia and Jake about it. He didn't want to rub it in. Both of them had been struggling with their guild ranks and trying to prove themselves. They were still stuck at rank F, just like most of the newcomers. He didn't want them to feel bad or think he was showing off, especially after defeating a Fenrir.
When he finally reached the village square, he saw Alicia and Jake standing by the fountain. Alicia was her usual cheerful self, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Jake, on the other hand, was standing with his arms crossed, staring out at the horizon with a quiet intensity.
"Good morning, Alaric!" Alicia waved energetically.
"Morning," Jake said, nodding at Alaric but not showing much emotion.
"I'm ready to go to the guild," Alaric said with a smile. "I've heard there's a good quest available. Maybe we can do it together."
The three friends set off toward the guild, the path winding through the village as they chatted. Alicia and Jake told Alaric about some of their recent attempts at quests. Most had ended in failure, but they were determined to keep trying.
As they approached the guild, the tall stone building came into view. The large wooden door opened with a creak as they stepped inside, the usual cacophony of voices and the clinking of coins filling the air.
But the moment Alaric entered, the atmosphere shifted.
It was as if the entire room had frozen in place. Adventurers who had been chatting and laughing suddenly stopped and turned to look at him. A wave of silence swept through the guild hall. It was unnerving.
Alicia and Jake froze as well, their faces confused as they glanced around. The tension in the room was palpable, but neither of them knew why.
Alaric tried to act nonchalant, but he couldn't help but feel his palms grow sweaty. What was happening? Why was everyone staring at him? Was it because he had been promoted to rank C?
Before he could even say anything, the guildmaster, a tall and imposing figure with a gruff voice, approached. He walked briskly toward Alaric, eyes wide with recognition.
"Alaric... it's you," the guildmaster said, his tone full of surprise and something else—respect, perhaps?
Alicia blinked. "Wait, you know him?"
Jake glanced between the guildmaster and Alaric, still confused. "What's going on? Why is everyone staring at you?"
The guildmaster, not wasting any time, turned to the group of adventurers who had been watching. "It's nothing to worry about. Alaric here has earned his place. He's... well, let's just say he's done something that most adventurers can only dream of."
"Is that right?" Jake muttered under his breath, still not understanding what was happening.
Alaric felt the heat of the stares from every corner of the guild. Adventurers continued to watch him, some whispering among themselves, others openly gawking. He felt like a fish in a tank.
"Don't worry about it, guys," Alaric said, trying to keep his cool. "I'm just here to sign up for a quest. Let's not make a big deal out of it."
But the tension didn't dissipate. It lingered in the air, thick and heavy. The guildmaster motioned for Alaric to follow him to the counter, away from the prying eyes of the adventurers.
"I'll explain everything later," the guildmaster said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But for now, let's get you signed up."
As Alaric followed the guildmaster, he couldn't help but feel that things were changing. Maybe his small village life was behind him, and he was about to step into a much bigger world.