The evening at the welcoming celebration event in Etherys for the Rohese crew was vibrant. Leaving a lasting impression on Lassim were the sights, sounds, and interactions that he had.
Lassim found himself immersed in the lively atmosphere
He mingled with nobles present, some of the family scholars, and paid artisans from various realms that were there to add music and art to the atmosphere of the evening.
Some played their instruments and others painted scenes on canvases of the night’s attendees out in the open for anyone to come up and admire.
Each conversation Lassim had offered new insights into the structure of the Aetheria Kingdom and their alliances, traditions, and cultures that intertwined together.
In between moments where the Prince of Aetheria, Kael, and his bride, Princess Elara of the Harmony Kingdom, chatted with Hallen about their desires for the design of their future home, Lassim was captivated by the couple’s admiration for each other with their genuine affection and shared interests.
He had fully assumed that this marriage was purely political in nature and arranged, but they spoke of their hopes for the future, bridging the gap between their kingdoms, and fostering a legacy of peace and prosperity.
Lassim couldn’t help but admire their commitment to their people and the genuine connection they shared.
As the evening drew to a close, he offered his heartfelt wishes for their happiness and future family they’d build together.
The next morning, Lassim awoke in the comfortable quarters provided to the Rohese company by the Aetheria Kingdom for the duration of their collaboration in Etherys.The room was one of many double bedded rooms, cozy yet elegantly furnished, with a view of the floating cliffs and crystal-adorned buildings outside the windows.
Stretching as he got out of bed, Lassim greeted Hallen, who was already up and about preparing for the day ahead.
"Good morning, Young Master," Hallen greeted with a warm smile. "Did you sleep well?"
Lassim nodded, a hint of excitement in his eyes. "Yes, I did. It’s a beautiful morning. Waking up to the crystals outside makes you feel like you’re on a whole other world."
Hallen nodded in agreement. "Indeed it does. Well, hurry up and get ready. Meet me downstairs in the dining hall when you’re ready for breakfast. Today, we have a few things planned to get you prepared for your journey south."
After a relaxing start to the day as he got dressed, Lassim eventually joined Hallen for breakfast where they discussed the plans for the day ahead.
Hallen, ever resourceful, had a specific destination in mind. "Young Master, I think it’s best if we start today with us heading over to the Adventurer’s Lodge," he announced with a smile. "It’s the perfect place for you to gather most of the necessary supplies and information you’ll need."
Lassim’s eyes lit up, "The Adventurer’s Lodge? That sounds a bit familiar, but I don’t recall where I know that from," he replied, pondering why it seemed to ring a bell in his head, but he couldn’t remember so he brushed it off as they finished eating and headed out the door.
As they made their way through the bustling streets of Etherys, Lassim couldn’t help but marvel at the city’s unique blend of natural beauty and magical city design.
The floating cliffs, the shimmering crystals, and the harmonious gem infused life all around further painted an otherworldly picture that made him question if he was still even on Nexaria.
As Lassim and Hallen approached the Adventurer’s Lodge, the building stood starkly unique amidst the opalescent gem buildings of the city.
Crafted from what seemed like obsidian and ironwood, the lodge bore a brooding, rugged aesthetic that clashed with its shimmering surroundings.
The structure resembled a colossal, petrified tree, its trunk twisted and blackened as if struck by lightning, while sprawling branches forged from ironwood jutted out, holding aloft a canopy of dark, reflective panels that shimmered with an inner light.
The entrance was marked by an archway of interlocking branches, leading to doors inlaid with runes that pulsed softly with a mystical energy. These doors, crafted from the same dark wood and bordered with obsidian, seemed to be enchanted with an air of endurance and resilience required of those who dared to venture within.
Entering inside, the lodge’s interior continued the theme of stark contrasts. Walls lined with beast trophies and shelves filled with artifacts from a myriad of elemental planes gave it the air of a place steeped in adventure and combat.
The central hall, where cultivators and spirit warriors alike gathered and discussed, was lit by glowing moss balls suspended in the air, casting a soft light over the assorted gathering of adventurers.
Lassim blurted out, "Wow, it’s like a souped-up version of the Mission Hall! I even recognize the same mission board format!"
Hallen chuckled at Lassim’s wide-eyed admiration. "Where do you think your academy got the idea from?" he teased, leading Lassim further inside.
As they walked, Hallen began to unfold the lore of the Adventurer’s Lodge. "These lodges," he explained, "are not just here but exist across every continent; in every kingdom. They serve as nexus points for those who walk the path of cultivation needing work, offering not just missions but a connection to the wider world in need of strong warriors to fulfill commissions into dangerous lands.
In times of need, they can also help recruit warriors in-mass during beast tides or Dragal invasions."
"Long before your academy erected its Mission Hall, these lodges were where cultivators and commoners alike came to seek and offer help through the Quest system, to share news of distant lands, new elemental planes, changes in local wildlife population and warn others about hidden dangers.
Like the missions in your mission hall, named here as "Quests", range from gathering esoteric materials found in the darkest forests to tracking and obtaining components from rare beasts."
"The lodges," Hallen continued, "were originally founded by the legendary Adventurer Guild, a coalition of the first explorers who mapped the world of Nexaria beyond the first established borders. They aimed to foster cooperation and provide a structured system where individuals could seek help or offer their services for the common good."
"Each lodge is built with materials said to match the very first lodge ever built, in honor of representing the resilience and endurance of the first founding members of the original Adventurer Guild. Their plan is that each lodge should serve as both sanctuary and stepping stone for those who dare to conquer the unknown."
The walls of the lodge were adorned with so many different tapestries that depicted epic scenes of legendary hunts of the founding members, alongside some of the trophies of those very depicted creatures they battled. The shelves along the vaulted shelves near the ceilings were lined with a gathering of rare materials as well.
Lassim nodded in reply as he took in the history and scope of activities that the lodge facilitated.
After pointing out the Quest Board to Lassim, a large, ornate board filled with various requests and offers on one of the walls, Hallen suggested an immediate benefit of joining the Adventurers Lodge for Lassim.
"You should consider getting a membership card," he proposed. "It will simplify interactions across the lodges. With it, you’ll be recognized as a bona fide adventurer. It holds your records, accomplishments, and allows easier access to high-level missions.
More importantly, however, is that it will serve as a form of identification across the kingdoms and continents, simplifying your travel and interactions with local authorities. Every kingdom and every continent has a lodge and is respected everywhere.
You were able to cross into Aetheria because you were with us this time, but in the future it’ll be much more difficult to cross without any formal identification."
Under Hallen’s direction Lassim approached one of the nearby counters.
Before him sat a small, intriguing device emitting a soft green glow—the membership registration cube. The clerk, a middle-aged woman with a stern yet kind demeanor, watched as Lassim approached, clear that this young man was here to be a new register into the system.
She instructed Lassim on the procedure.
"Just a drop of blood," she said, pointing to the cube. Lassim complied, and as his blood touched the glowing surface, it seemed to absorb the droplet, pulsing brighter for a moment.
"This device," the clerk explained, "sends your genetic signature via an internal array system directly to the central database managed by the First Lodge. This ensures your membership card is uniquely yours and helps with identification—in the unfortunate event of an adventurer’s demise on a Quest."
The next step involved a large, translucent orb resting on the counter.
Pointing to the left, she added, "Place your hand here and channel a bit of your mana into it," the clerk instructed.
Lassim did as told, feeling a slight tingle as his energy flowed into the orb. It flickered, cycling through a spectrum of colors before flickering equally between violet and azure blue.
The clerk’s eyes widened as she read the results displayed on a small screen behind the orb. "Two elements?" she muttered in disbelief, puzzled. "That can’t be right. Sir, can you please try again? I think the orb might be faulty."
"Uh, actually, I do have two elements…" Lassim responded as he raised his hands up to the clerk, his left swirling with a rotating tendril of gathered water mana, and the right flickering with dancing electricity.
"Well then… I think I need to speak to the Lodge Manager. Our cards actually were designed to have only one slot for a single element. I don’t think they’d ever imagine someone like you showing up one day. Just a moment, please."
She hurried away, leaving Lassim to ponder the situation.
After a few minutes, she returned with the Manager of the Lodge, a robust man with a commanding presence and a friendly smile.
"Storm Bringer, isn’t it?" the Manager boomed, extending a hand. "A living legend in our midst! I heard about your victory over this month’s champion in Durelia Town.
Lassim, still reeling from the recognition, could only nod hesitantly.
"Don’t worry lad, our network is extensive; we keep tabs on significant events in every nearby kingdom to stay informed. It’s part of the gig!"
The Manager laughed heartily. "Let’s get you a special card then, young man. It’s not every day we have someone with your unique abilities here."
With a few swift commands into another device, the Manager arranged for a customized membership card to be created. Within minutes, a sleek card bearing Lassim’s name and both of his elemental symbols was handed to him.
"Here you go," the Manager said, handing over the card with a grin. "Welcome to the Adventurer’s Lodge. May your journeys be grand, your unexplored elemental planes be bountiful and your returns be triumphant!"
Lassim thanked the Manager, still in a bit of shock, but smiling.
As he and Hallen moved on to explore other parts of the Lodge, he tucked the card safely away.
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