Astral Point: Summoners Dimensional War

Pierre, Thomas, and Catherine walked through the streets of Arcadia, taking in a scene vastly different from their experiences in the kingdom of Esverita. There were no armed guards stationed at street corners. Instead, merchants bustled about serving customers, and children played near a fountain. The aroma of baked bread and spices filled the air, adding a profound sense of peace to the atmosphere. 

"So, where exactly is this adventurer's guild?" Pierre broke the silence, his tone tinged with frustration. "We've been walking for quite a while, and I don't see any signs of it." 

Thomas, with his hands clasped behind his back, responded casually, "Perhaps we should ask someone. This city is quite large, and without directions, we're just wandering aimlessly." 

"I agree," Catherine added, her eyes still scanning the road ahead. "But make sure we ask the right person. Some people might not be too friendly toward outsiders." 

They stopped in front of a small shop, and Pierre approached an old man sitting on a bench with a cup of tea. "Excuse me, sir," he said politely. "We're looking for the adventurer's guild. Could you tell us where to find it?" 

The old man raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Oh, the adventurer's guild? Just keep heading west past the main square. It's a prominent building with a sword-and-shield emblem on its door. You can't miss it." 

"Thank you very much," Pierre replied before returning to the group. 

"We have our direction now," he announced. "West, past the square." 

"Good," Catherine nodded. "Let's hope it's not too far." 

As they continued walking, the conversation shifted to the city's atmosphere. "This place feels so peaceful," Thomas said thoughtfully. "There's no sign of guards or military presence. The residents seem completely at ease, as if no threats exist." 

"Indeed," Catherine agreed. "It's a stark contrast to Esverita. There, guards were always patrolling, even before the vampire incident." 

Pierre scoffed. "Peaceful or not, I'm not quick to trust it. We've seen enough to know that peace is often just a facade." 

Thomas nodded. "True. But for now, we should use this calm to gather as much information as possible." 

As they passed through the main square, a large fountain featuring a statue of a hero wielding a sword caught their attention. Around it, locals were busy with their activities. Children ran about, merchants displayed their wares, and street musicians played cheerful melodies. 

"This truly feels like another world," Catherine murmured. "It's as if no one here knows or cares about what's happening elsewhere." 

Pierre glanced at the statue briefly before shifting his gaze westward. "Look over there. That must be the guild he mentioned." 

Ahead of them stood a large building adorned with the emblem of a sword and shield on its door. Adventurers were seen coming and going, equipped with various gear and weapons. 

"Finally," Catherine said with relief. "Hopefully, we can get the information we need inside." 

"Let's go in," Thomas said, leading the way to the door. 

Inside, the guild was alive and bustling. Adventurers in various combat attire and weapons moved about. Some stood near a bulletin board crowded with mission papers, others chatted with the receptionist or their comrades. The sounds of clinking mugs, hearty laughter, and overlapping conversations filled the room. 

"This guild doesn't seem too different from the ones in Esverita," Thomas commented, observing the surroundings. 

"But it's far more peaceful here. There's no sign of the chaos we saw in Esverita," Pierre added with a grin. "This place feels genuinely normal." 

"Don't be so quick to conclude," Catherine interjected, watching the adventurers move with clear purpose. "Peaceful places like this often hide secrets we'd never expect." 

As they took in the scene, a young woman from the reception desk waved at them. She wore the guild's uniform, complete with the emblem of Arcadia on her chest. With a warm smile, she greeted them, "Hello, you must be new here. I'm Vela, one of the guild receptionists. May I see your identification?" 

Thomas stepped forward confidently, reaching into his pocket and pulling out an adventurer's card from Esverita. "Here's my adventurer's card. We've come from the kingdom of Esverita to continue our mission here," he said, handing her the card. 

Vela took the card and examined it carefully. Her eyes widened slightly as she noted its origin. "Esverita? That's quite a journey," she said, clearly surprised. "And what about your companions? Do they also have adventurer's cards?" she asked, glancing at Pierre and Catherine. 

Thomas opened his mouth to explain, "Actually, they're—" 

But Catherine interrupted, her face calm and her tone firm. "I am their employer. Thomas works for me, not the other way around," she stated confidently, leaving Vela momentarily puzzled. 

Thomas let out a long sigh, restraining himself from making further comments. Meanwhile, Pierre tried to suppress a laugh, though his awkward smile was obvious. 

Vela seemed momentarily confused but decided to overlook the details. "Very well. If you already have an adventurer's card, that's sufficient for now. Feel free to check the mission board over there for available tasks," she said, pointing to a wall on their right. 

"Thank you," Thomas said politely, while Catherine gave a slight nod.

The three of them walked toward the bulletin board, which was crowded with various missions, ranging from simple delivery requests to dangerous tasks like hunting monsters outside the city. Thomas carefully examined some of the papers. 

"Anything interesting?" Pierre asked, eyeing the same list of missions. 

"There are a few, but we'll need to discuss them with Navigator. He'll want to ensure we prioritize the most important one," Thomas replied, pulling a few mission sheets for closer review later. 

"Let's hope we don't get caught up in something overly complicated," Pierre muttered, glancing at Catherine, who was sharply scrutinizing the list of missions. 

"Complicated or not, a task is a task," Catherine said coolly. "And we must not disappoint Navigator." 

The missions seemed ordinary enough, with no clear indications of difficulty or recommended levels. 

"Why isn't there any information on the difficulty level of these missions?" Catherine asked in her mind, directing her question to Navigator. 

Navigator's voice echoed calmly in their thoughts. "The natives of this world don't use a leveling system like we do. They rely on past adventurers' experiences or the extent of damage caused by monsters. As a result, the recorded difficulty levels are often inaccurate." 

"That explains a lot," Thomas murmured, nodding slightly. 

"It's rather inconvenient," Pierre added, glancing at a mission about dealing with wolves attacking a farm. "How are we supposed to know which ones suit our abilities?" 

Catherine was about to respond when heavy footsteps approached. Thomas, closest to the source of the sound, glanced to the side and saw a young man in gleaming golden armor walking toward the bulletin board. Beside him was a girl dressed regally, like a noble princess. They stopped right next to Catherine, Thomas, and Pierre, gazing at the same board.

"Stay silent," Navigator's voice suddenly instructed in their minds. 

Thomas, Catherine, and Pierre exchanged puzzled looks. Why were they being told to keep quiet? Before any of them could ask, the young man in golden armor spoke. 

"Why don't these missions have level or difficulty indicators?" he asked irritably, clearly directing the question to the girl beside him. 

"Because this place is run by idiots," the girl replied coldly, folding her arms across her chest. "You just pick a random mission and leave. Just collect the rewards—that's enough." 

The young man nodded, though he didn't seem entirely satisfied with her answer. "I'm already level 26. I need something challenging," he muttered, more to himself than to the girl. 

"Then find a big monster and have your navigator do something about it. I'm bored." The girl waved her hand dismissively, as if she didn't want to waste any more time. 

Thomas, Catherine, and Pierre watched the exchange with blank expressions. None of them said a word, though Catherine looked like she was itching to make a sarcastic comment. However, Navigator's voice returned in their minds. "Do not engage with them. They are combat units belonging to other players." 

"Other players?" Thomas thought, surprised. 

Pierre swallowed hard, glancing at Catherine, who seemed to be contemplating speaking up. He quickly nudged her arm, signaling her to stay silent. Catherine glanced at Pierre, sighed, and looked down, choosing to hold back. 

The young man in golden armor eventually pulled one of the missions off the board, seemingly indifferent to the details. The girl beside him yawned lightly, looking utterly uninterested. 

"Let's go," she said commandingly. 

The two turned and walked away, paying no attention to Thomas, Catherine, or Pierre. Once they were far enough, Pierre leaned against the bulletin board, exhaling deeply. 

"Well, that was… tense," he muttered. 

"Navigator," Catherine said in her mind, her voice icy. "Do you know who they are?" 

"Not entirely," Navigator replied. "But from the way they spoke, they are part of the same system as us. Be cautious. If they are enemies, they'll be far more difficult to deal with than the natives." 

"Great," Thomas sighed, then looked back at the bulletin board. "Now what? Do we still take one of these missions?" 

"Pick something that isn't too conspicuous. We don't want to attract more attention than we already have," Navigator advised. 

Carefully, Thomas selected a mission about gathering medicinal herbs outside the city. Catherine and Pierre stood behind him, remaining alert and occasionally glancing toward the direction where the young man and girl had disappeared.

***