FrenzyAren
patreon
Chapter 6 : Adventurers Guild
🕑 Added 2024-08-05 05:26:53 +0000 UTCOrion left the Dawn Winery with a spring in his step, Skyward Spine securely fastened on his back. He decided to head to Springvale, recalling the way back to the small town with its cozy atmosphere. After a brief walk, he arrived in Springvale, feeling a sense of familiarity wash over him.
As he entered the town, the sound of chatter and the bustle of daily life filled the air. He decided to stop for a meal before heading to the Adventurers' Guild. Just as he was about to enter a quaint tavern, he spotted a familiar figure—Eula, the elegant lady knight, standing nearby.
"Greetings, the gorgeous lady knight," Orion called out with a friendly smile.
Eula turned towards him, a faint blush coloring her cheeks at the unexpected compliment. "Ah, Orion," she replied, her voice maintaining its usual composed and aristocratic tone. "I see you've found your way to Springvale."
Orion chuckled. "Barely. I might be terrible when it comes to directions, but I somehow managed to remember the way here."
Eula's lips curved into a small smile. "Are you planning to dine here?"
Orion nodded. "I am, actually. Would you care to join me for a meal?"
Eula hesitated for a moment, then nodded, her blush deepening slightly. "Very well."
They found a table inside the tavern and ordered their meals. As they began to dig in, Orion glanced at Eula. "I was wondering if you could help me with something. I'm trying to find the Adventurers' Guild."
Eula set her fork down and looked at him thoughtfully. "The Adventurers' Guild is holding recruitment tests today," she explained. "Even their current adventurers are participating because there are new rules and procedures being introduced."
Orion's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? This sounds like a big event."
Eula smiled, pleased to see his enthusiasm. "Are you planning on taking the test to join the Adventurers' Guild?"
Orion shrugged, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I need to see if it's interesting and worthwhile first."
Eula nodded. "The Guild offers opportunities unlike any other. Unlike me, bound by duties to Mondstadt, adventurers have the freedom to roam the entire seven nations. The Adventurers' Guild is one big organization spread across all the lands."
"That does sound nice," Orion admitted, intrigued by the idea of such freedom.
"I heard from Kaeya that you can already use Cryo and Pyro," Eula continued. "You should consider becoming an adventurer."
Orion raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you call ice and fire elements?"
Eula gave him a look of mild incredulity, her tone turning slightly sarcastic. "It's odd that you don't know that, but yes. Anemo, Geo, Cryo, Electro, Hydro, Dendro, and Pyro are what we call the elements that we can harness and use. Gaining a Vision is already quite rare, but mastering two elements without one? That’s practically unheard of. I doubt whatever test the Guild has in store will be much of a challenge for you."
Orion chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Well, I'll have to go and see for myself."
Eula nodded. "Indeed. As for the location, I have something that might help you." She reached into her bag and pulled out a detailed map of Mondstadt, showing all the landmarks and places of interest. "This map should guide you not only to the Adventurers' Guild but also help you navigate Mondstadt more easily."
Orion accepted the map with gratitude, examining it closely. "Thank you, Eula. This will help a lot, no more getting lost!"
Eula smiled, pleased to see his enthusiasm. "You're welcome. I'm sure you'll do well in the tests. And remember, should you need further guidance, I'm often patrolling the city."
Orion grinned playfully. "Are you making an excuse to meet me again?"
Eula blushed, her aristocratic demeanor momentarily faltering. "D-Don't be ridiculous! I'm simply fulfilling my duties. It's NOT like I want to see you again or anything!" she replied, her tone a mix of embarrassment and defiance.
Orion chuckled. "Of course, Lady Knight. I'll see you around then."
Orion got up from the table, still grinning from Eula’s tsundere-like response. He folded the map carefully and tucked it into his pouch, giving Eula a final, playful wink.
“Well, I better get going. Don’t want to be late for my big adventure,” he said, slinging his polearm over his shoulder.
Eula rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Just make sure you don’t get lost again. Mondstadt is not that difficult to navigate.”
Orion laughed. “With your map, I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thanks again, Eula. I owe you one.”
As he turned to leave, Eula called out, “Orion!”
He paused and glanced back. “Yeah?”
Eula smirked, raising an eyebrow. “You didn’t pay for the meal yet.”
Orion froze, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “Ah, right. Mora, Mora.” He fumbled for his pouch, fishing out Mora to cover the cost.
Eula chuckled, shaking her head. “I’ve got it covered this time,” she said with a genuine smile. “Consider it a good luck gesture for your tests.”
Orion nodded gratefully. “Eula. I appreciate it.”
...
Entering Mondstadt’s lively streets once more, Orion made his way to the Adventurers’ Guild with a confident stride. The city’s vibrant atmosphere buzzed around him, amplifying his excitement. With Skyward Spine in hand and its reassuring weight on his back, Orion felt like he could tackle any challenge that lay ahead.
As Orion approached the Adventurers' Guild, he was struck by the impressive sight of the grand building. It towered over the surrounding structures, its facade adorned with intricate carvings of various adventures and a massive banner that boldly declared: "Recruitment Event Today!"
The grandeur of the building left Orion momentarily awestruck, but he quickly refocused on his mission. He made his way inside, where the lively buzz of activity filled the air. At the reception desk, he spotted a woman with a poised and professional demeanor—Kathryne.
"Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild," Kathryne greeted with a practiced smile. "I’m Kathryne. May I have your name and the purpose of your visit?"
"Orion," he replied. "I’m here to take the test to join the guild."
Kathryne’s eyes sparkled with interest. "Very well. Could you please provide some details? What weapon do you use? Do you possess a Vision, and if so, what element does it align with?"
Orion shook his head. "I don’t have a Vision. My elements are Cryo and Pyro."
Kathryne blinked, her expression a mixture of surprise and skepticism. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
"Certainly," Orion said, unfazed. "No Vision. My elements are Cryo and Pyro."
As Kathryne listened to Orion's answer, she arched an eyebrow in disbelief. Under her breath, she murmured with a hint of mockery, “Is he being serious, or is this just another case of someone not knowing what they’re talking about?”
Noticing the slight smirk on Kathryne's face, Orion shifted uncomfortably. With a sheepish grin, he scratched the back of his head. “My bad. I do have a Vision, actually. I meant to say that my element is Pyro.”
As Kathryne processed this information, Orion couldn’t help but reflect on Eula's words about the rarity of having two elements. He thought to himself, Maybe I should keep these kinds of details to myself. Mentioning I can use Cryo and Pyro might just make things more complicated.
Kathryne’s expression shifted to one of mild amusement, though she maintained her professional demeanor. “Very well, then. Take this card with your information.” She handed him a neatly embossed card and continued, “Enter the hall through those doors. There will be three separate tests to complete today. The first one will be explained once you get inside.”
Orion accepted the card and headed towards the hall, feeling a mix of excitement and caution. As he walked, he reassured himself, "Well, here goes nothing. Let’s see what the Adventurers’ Guild has in store for me."
Orion thanked Kathryne and made his way into the vast hall of the Adventurers' Guild. The space was bustling with activity, filled with a diverse crowd of hopefuls. Faces ranged from confident and determined to nervous and uncertain, each person clearly eager to prove their worth.
As Orion scanned the room, his attention was suddenly drawn to a figure who stepped forward with an air of authority. Clad in a refined yet practical outfit, the man introduced himself with a commanding presence. “Greetings, everyone. I am Cyrus, the Branch Master of the Adventurers' Guild here in Mondstadt.”
The room fell silent as Cyrus continued, “Welcome to the first test. We’ll begin in ten minutes. This test is designed to evaluate your combat skills and adaptability.”
He gestured towards a covered contraption, and with a dramatic flourish, unveiled an Automaton. The mechanical figure stood tall, its sleek, metallic form shimmering under the hall’s lights. “This is a new invention from Fontaine,” Cyrus explained. “The Automaton can mimic any weapon or fighting style it encounters. Defeat it, and you pass this test. If you fail, don’t be
disheartened; you’ll have two more chances.”
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as Cyrus added, “We have plenty of these Automatons prepared for the over a hundred participants today. Head to the designated combat area and remember: if you have a Vision, you are not permitted to use it in this test.”
Orion looked around, taking in the setup. He couldn’t help but think to himself, Well, this looks easy enough.
As Cyrus concluded his announcement, Orion muttered to himself with a wry grin, “Well, great. Good thing I just arrived.”
Cyrus’s voice echoed through the hall once more. “The tests will proceed in the order of arrival as indicated on your cards. Due to space limitations, the arena can only accommodate five participants at a time, so you'll have to wait your turn."
As Cyrus wrapped up his instructions, he added, “Good luck to everyone. Let the fights begin!”
Orion glanced down at his card and read the number 110. His face fell, and he sighed dramatically. “110? Fantastic. Just my luck. I knew my sense of direction was bad, but I didn’t think it extended to being last in line for everything.”
He shook his head with a rueful smile. “Looks like I’ve got time to ponder the mysteries of life… or at least catch up on some naps while waiting.”
Orion leaned against the wall, observing the spectacle with a mix of curiosity and impatience. One by one, participants faced off against the Automaton. The room was filled with a cacophony of clashing metal and strained grunts as some struggled to overcome their mechanical adversaries. The Automaton's relentless precision and strength proved challenging, and several contestants found themselves humiliated or barely managing to eke out a victory.
Among the crowd, a few exhibited an effortless prowess, their experience shining through as they dispatched the Automatons with almost nonchalant ease. Orion watched with admiration and curiosity. His gaze eventually fell upon a particularly intriguing scene: a girl with a bow and a raven companion engaged in combat. He raised an eyebrow, muttering to himself, “Is that even allowed? Fighting with a raven? Well, if it works, it works.”
His attention then shifted to another participant who was having a decidedly less graceful encounter. This individual, dressed in a slightly untidy adventurer's outfit, swung his sword with all his might in a tempest of emotion, but each strike seemed to miss its mark by an almost comical margin. His wild swings and desperate grunts drew more than a few chuckles from the crowd.
The participant, known as Bennett, was famous for his incredible streak of bad luck, but what happened next was beyond anything Orion could have anticipated. As Bennett swung his sword one final time, he stumbled, his weapon slipping from his grip and skidding across the arena floor. The Automaton, apparently unimpressed by the display, turned to attack Bennett, who had now fallen to his knees in a dramatic and somewhat theatrical pose of defeat.
In a moment of sheer coincidence, the Automaton tripped over Bennett’s discarded sword and, in a perfect twist of fate, crashed face-first into the ground, rendering itself immobile. The crowd burst into laughter and applause at the bizarre turn of events. Bennett looked around, blinking in astonishment as he clambered to his feet, his earlier despair replaced by a mixture of disbelief and relief.
Orion, witnessing the whole spectacle, couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “Well, that’s one way to win a fight, I guess?"
