Time seemed to pass quickly for Erik as he threw himself into his new regimen. As he attempted to adjust to the new sword style, he put his body through a daily punishing workout routine. He would practice the fluid movements over and over again until they became ingrained in his muscle memory.
Despite this, he picked himself up each time he failed and tried again. He never gave up. Even though his muscles were sore from the long hours of practice, he welcomed the ache in his body. In addition, he worked on his usual sword technique and the formation of neural links.
But it wasn't all physical training. Thanks to the biological supercomputer, he could inject his brain with information about the local Thaids and other creatures native to Etrium. Erik would have done this regardless, but since the trial required this knowledge, the reason for learning all this increased.
As Erik sat at a corner table in the bustling cafeteria of the mercenary Guild, he shared a friendly banter with the waiter, a cheerful man named Vance. Over the course of the previous month, Erik's routine trips to the cafeteria after his strenuous workouts had resulted in the two of them developing a friendship.
A stocky man with a wide grin and a head full of snowy white hair, Vance had been with the Guild for decades. He had seen a lot of young people with promise come and go, and Erik was just one of them. However, Vance was drawn to Erik because of his tenacity, toughness, and the fact that there was something unique to Erik's aura.
During their conversations, Vance would share tales of past mercenaries who had come through the Guild, their triumphs, and failures, adding to the rich tapestry of stories that Vance seemed to have an endless supply of. For his part, Erik would listen attentively to each story as they revealed specifics about the daily life of a mercenary in Etrium.
"So, do you have any suggestion for the trial?" Erik asked the older man. Vance refilled Erik's glass with cola; then, the older man took a moment to reflect before responding.
"Well, lad, all trials are significant in their own right," Vance started, his tone solemn."But if there's one aspect that many underestimate and that you shouldn't, it's the Guild Values assessment."
He straightened up and crossed his arms, his eyes meeting Erik's.
"Many people come here intending to become the greatest mercenary, focusing solely on combat skills." They forget that being a mercenary is about more than just strength and fighting skills."
Vance pointed around the bustling cafeteria at the many men and women engaged in camaraderie and laughter in heated discussions and quiet debates. "Take a look around, Erik. What you see here is a neighborhood. The Guild is more than just a place to complete quests and earn money. It's a place where we watch out for one another and uphold certain principles and values."
He leaned in closer, his voice softening. "Trust, integrity, cooperation, respect for all life, commitment to the mission, and duty to the Guild. These values are the bedrock of our Guild. Neglect them; no matter how great a fighter you become, you'll never truly be one of us."
Erik looked the old man in the eyes, and with a teasing glint in his eyes, he said, "You know, I just realized you are always here to chat with me instead of working." He laughed.
The older man did the same, throwing his head back. His eyes twinkled as he looked at Erik, and a mischievous smile curled at the corners of his lips.
"Work?" Vance laughed, slapping his hand on the counter. "Kid, I've been working here for more years than you've been alive. I've earned my breaks. Besides," he leaned closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"My secret is... the Guild's boss is my sister. So, as long as I don't burn the place down, I'm golden." He chuckled, throwing his head back and his laughter echoing in the bustling cafeteria.
Erik couldn't help but laugh along with him, but I wondered if he was serious when he said that. The atmosphere in the Guild's cafeteria was lighthearted, a welcome relief from the ferocity of life outside.
Vance slapped Erik on the shoulder with a final laugh before turning to tend to the other customers, leaving Erik chuckling at the older man's candid and cunning response.
Erik was left alone with his thoughts, pondering the significance of Vance's words about the test. The trials were a test of his character and values as well as his abilities. He realized then that he needed to approach them with the seriousness they deserved.
Erik rose from his chair after finishing his conversation with Vance, leaving behind the comfort of the Guild's bustling cafeteria.
He strode purposefully across the marble-tiled floor, his gaze fixed on the nearby clerk's counter. The muffled hum of the Guild's administrative operations replaced the noise of clattering cutlery and bubbling conversations behind him.
As he approached the counter, the clerk of the day, a middle-aged woman with warm brown eyes and silver streaks in her hair, looked up from her holographic computer screen. The display's ambient light illuminated her face, casting a soft light across her features.
"I'm Erik Kay. I came here to take the Novice trial and jump to the Pupil rank," he introduced himself, capturing her attention. She blinked at him, "Just give me a minute to check your points," the woman then looked back to the holographic display, her hands quickly dancing across the glowing interface as she searched for his name. The soft click-clack of her keystrokes filled the air, a rhythmic melody in the Guild's administrative hub.
She quickly scanned through the digital information for a brief moment before finding his file. She nodded after verifying his request, her hand swiping on the holographic display as she set up his trial. The procedure was quick, owing to the numerous times she had done it before.
She then raised her head, meeting Erik's gaze, and said, "Corridor A10, room B1." Her tone was firm but not harsh, revealing the balance she had found between being firm and friendly.
Erik turned and began his journey toward Corridor A10, leaving the clerk behind, who had already resumed her work.
Visit freewe𝑏n(o)vel.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience