With the first rays of dawn, Erik forced himself out of the cozy confines of his bed. He quickly dressed, showered, and ate breakfast before leaving his hotel room. He was a man with a purpose, and he couldn't waste any time.
Testrovsc's Rest was already bustling with activity when I stepped outside onto its streets. People from all walks of life hurried about, each on their particular quests, as vendors set up their booths, the clanging of smithies resounded in the air, and merchants set up their stalls.
Erik motioned for a cab. Within seconds, a sleek, black car pulled up to the curb. "Where to?" inquired the driver, a woman with kind eyes and a weathered face. Erik said, getting into the back seat, "The Mercenary Guild, please."
The driver did not seem surprised in the least by his request and simply nodded. The Mercenary Guild was a popular destination for travelers in this city full of adventures and mercenaries. A low hum could be heard as the taxi merged into the morning air traffic and wound its way through the city streets to get to Erik's destination.
As they drew nearer to the Mercenary Guild, Erik could already make out the crowd of people that had gathered around it, which included people of all ages and stages of life, from fresh-faced youths to weathered veterans and everyone in between.
This was the first step he needed to take in order to become a mercenary. It was also the first step he needed to take in order to advance professionally, acquire power, and establish a foothold in this world.
When the taxi arrived, a stop was made at the curb in front of the Mercenary Guild. After handing the driver his money, Erik exited the vehicle onto the cobblestone streets and stared at the massive and menacing structure that stood in front of him.
The Mercenary Guild building stood out like a giant monolith against the background of the sprawling cityscape. It was a stunning example of modern architecture that managed to combine form and function in a natural way. The guild was the central meeting place for the active mercenary community in the city, and its building was designed to resemble a shiny mirror on the outside so that it could reflect the surroundings.
The clouds had obscured the building's peak, but the structure itself was tower-like in appearance and reached far into the horizon of the city skyline. Its exterior was covered in panels of brilliant neon lights, the colors of which subtly changed, painting the structure in a spectrum of colors that was constantly shifting.
These lights served a purpose other than aesthetics; they made important announcements and news about the guild's activities visible to everyone in the city.
The grand entrance to the guild featured a pair of substantial double doors made of polished dark wood adorned with intricate carvings of various mythical beasts, a nod to the risky and fantastical nature of the mercenaries' work.
Large holographic banners bearing the guild's crest—a pair of crossed swords atop a circle-shaped shield—flew from the building's top. The guild's dedication to defending the city and its residents was symbolized by the brightly shining emblem, which stood out against the skyline as a steadfast beacon.
The guild hall served as the hub of activity, with a constant flow of people entering and leaving. At the same time, their various armor and weapons created a rainbow of colors.
Erik was astounded by the sheer number of people milling about inside the Mercenary Guild as soon as he entered.
The expansive room buzzed with a variety of different activities. A wide range of emotions were present, including trepidation, resolve, and anticipation.
Erik's attention was immediately drawn to the plethora of holographic displays strewn about the room.
Their long, flitting shadows on the stone floor shimmered with an ethereal blue glow as they cast their effect. The adventurers clustered around each screen to examine the available quests in greater detail.
They engaged in an animated conversation, pointing at the screen and discussing various strategies, potential benefits, and associated risks.
Close to one of the displays, a young woman with fiery red hair and a large man carrying an axe on his back were conversing with each other. They appeared to be having a heated argument while pointing to a quest on the screen. Still, the hum of activity around them obscured their voices.
A stoic-appearing man with a prosthetic arm stood by himself before another screen. He had cybernetic fingers that danced over the holographic interface as he navigated the available quests. He also had a mechanical eye, an icy blue color, which was fixed intently on the screen as he evaluated the quests with a grim resolve.
"I guess I have to take a quest from these holographic screens," the young man said to himself. However, as he got there and entered the password to the account the System made for him, he was left disappointed. The only quests he could take were training ones. It was clear he didn't need training at all.
<System, why did you place me at the Novice Rank, the lowest one?> he asked the biological supercomputer.
[ANSWER: PEOPLE YOUR AGE ARE STATISTICALLY AROUND THIS LEVEL. SETTING ONE HIGHER WAS GOING TO BE SUSPICIOUS.]
It made sense, but Erik still hated the situation. The young man didn't have time to inject information about the guild system. Besides, he wanted to ask something to a human to see if he could take higher-ranked quests.
Erik began to navigate his way through the crowd, heading toward the reception desk. Behind the counter, a cheerful-looking woman with braided hair and glasses perched on her nose was busy attending to the queries of a pair of twin sisters who looked no older than 20.
While he waited, Erik was impatiently counting down the seconds until it was his turn. He was on the verge of signing up, stepping in a new direction, and beginning his journey. The holographic displays continued to flicker in the distance, giving tantalizing glimpses of the upcoming adventures.
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