Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night

"Now what would you like to know?" Aldrin asked, stepping closer to Jared to include him. He looked behind to see Evie still standing a bit away, so he waved her over. "You are a higher level than I was before I reset, so you might know more to help them out."

"What is the written test? And why does it matter if someone sponsors you?" Pierre asked first.

"The written test is basically seeing if you know the Guild tenets, rules, and conduct. Sponsorship Adventurers also don't have to go through the probation period where they are assigned Quests. After the probation period, which is usually about two months, you are then allowed to choose your Quest. The reason being, the mortality rate is the highest in the first two months, confidence is key, arrogance is death." Aldrin answered.

Evie spoke next, "The System will assign you a Quest based on your skill level but since you have a sponsor, when you get your plate, it will be transcribed with a mark that lets the System know that you do not need the probation period."

"Also, there are six ranks just like there are six tiers of Classes, but each rank has three sub-ranks and each rank up requires a test from the System. For example, I was Bronze rank 3 preparing to Iron rank 1," Aldrin said.

"And these tests come from the System? I mean, how does it know if you're ready?" Jared asked.

"You just go to the Adventurer's Guild, any for that matter, wherever you are, and then you present your plate to the administrator there and tell them you're ready to rank up. They will transcribe your plate with a new runic line that lets the System judge if you are or not." Aldrin told them. "A bit of advice I learned from a group I used to practice with is, always remember, confidence is key; arrogance is death. A lot of the new ones do a few Quests and become too sure of themselves from their quick rank ups. They end up challenging themselves beyond what they are ready for and end up dead. Luckily, that's neither of you." Aldrin said, looking between them with a wry smile.

"And the reason for no field test for us?" Pierre asked.

Both Aldrin and Evie chuckled knowingly to themselves. "Look where we are. This is your field test or would be if you were sponsored the official way. But since you've been running with this guy," Evie jerked a thumb at Aldrin, "fighting off bandits and the like afterwards, I'd say you both have been through enough field tests."

Aldrin swatted her thumb away, to which she smirked in return. "Normally, you will see four to five in a group. Those are all trained and vetted Adventurers who passed all their trials and tribulations, as the Guild likes to say. Sometimes, a group will pass by with seven or eight people. Those extra three are more than likely sponsorship Adventurers." Aldrin said, "Now there are Adventure Companies, which are like subsects of the Adventurer's Guild. Companies are groups of Adventurers that have banded together under a name that takes on specific Quests. A prime example would be the Holy Order or, as they sometimes refer to themselves, the Aurora. They specialize in the undead and cleansing."

"There are also some groups that deal with wars, infestations, hunters of all the like, dungeon runs, world records, maps, anything that has a worldly effect that the System deems worthy of a Quest. There is a group for it. NOW, that is only how combat classes work. Profession classes go to the Artisans Guild, and that's a whole different area of expertise." He quickly added.

"Although you can still get Quests without being an Adventurer or Artisan, in my case, who and what I am is deemed worthy of the System's attention. Mercenary work is also another way, but it's not sanctioned by the System. The person offering the mercenary contract also offers the reward. Whatever experience you get from doing the job will come from what you have to kill or obtain."

"I see, thank you." Pierre nodded thoughtfully.

Aldrin winced at the glazed look in Jared's eyes. "Sorry, that was a bit of a lot at once. I can explain in chunks later or if you have more questions. I was just eager to help out." He apologized.

Pierre waved him off, and Jared regained himself, then rolled his shoulders. "So shall we begin?" He asked.

Each of them looked at one another and grinned. Together, they walked towards the wide, gaping entrance with the pulsating inky black substance. Stepping through, they were now in the middle of the jungle. Birds called to each other as the insects sang their tune, hidden amongst the foliage. The sun above rained down from above through the thick canopy of trees that were littered with vines. Aldrin noticed a large lime-green, six-legged lemur staring down at them briefly before it darted off.

Aldrin quickly scanned it. "I'll draw them to me. Everyone else, just kill them as quickly as you can. Evie, do you have any healing spells that your class gives you?"

"One sustained, and three burst heals," she answered, pulling out her new gear.

Aldrin pulled ‌his new blade from his Inventory. There was a sharp, shrill scream that pierced his mind, making him drop the blade and hold his head. He grunted in pain as the scream echoed, then faded. He warily stared at the dull and chipped dark steel greatsword.

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"Did it speak to you?" Evie asked, watching him hold his head. "They say Artefact weapons have personalities."

"No, it just screamed," Aldrin answered, massaging his temples.

"What kind of scream?" Pierre asked.

"Painful, like a death scream," Aldrin said. "Granted, it is called Sin-Screamer, but I didn't think it would apply to me as well." He chuckled as he warily picked up the blade.

"Feeeeddd meee…" Aldrin heard thousands of ghostly whispers in his mind, flinching at first, then chuckled to himself. He stared down at the blade again. "Well, if it's cursed, what is one more to add to my list?" He gripped it with both hands before hefting it over his shoulder.

"I say we head deeper in to find a center point of the dungeon?" Aldrin offered.

They nodded and began their first trek through the dungeon. Distant roars bellowed from further in that were mixed with screeches and shrill screams of monsters they had yet to encounter. From what Aldrin could tell and from how Jared complained, it was humid as any jungle should be. Smaller insects buzzed around, but in Dungeons anything could be lethal, so they kept vigilant in case something small could cause them disease.

Jared groaned for the thirty-seventh time, making Aldrin look back as they all took turns leading. "What is it this time?" Aldrin asked over his shoulder, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

"We forgot to actually get supplies because we were so wrapped up in what the imp gave us," Jared explained his frustration.

A blank look crossed Aldrin's face. "Shit. You're right," He smacked his forehead.

"Everyone, just be extra careful then," Pierre said, his eyes never straying from the skyline of vines above them.

Aldrin sighed, "I'll just have to hunt for you all. They say Dungeon monster meat gives boosts? I've never tried it personally, though. How about you, Ev-"

Evie stopped abruptly, putting a hand out beside her to stop Pierre from going forward. "The jungle has gone quiet suddenly." She hissed quietly, crouching low.

Aldrin felt a presence within his sphere, then snapped his body in the direction, angling his greatsword to lunge if needed. "Left, on the tree, I think? Something is messing with my sense sphere," he barked.

The other three turned, their weapons drawn, with Aldrin taking point, Pierre a step behind, Evie and Jared slightly spread out on Aldrin's flanks. Aldrin used his Predator Vision to gleam any sense of life, but none glared white in his vision.

"It's not a living thing," Aldrin whispered, his grip tightening on his greatsword.

A mossy tree broke apart, revealing a malformed man made of jade who was wielding a crossbow.

It fired three jade bolts before diving behind another tree. The team dove out of the way to avoid the bolts. Aldrin then sensed the Golem appear behind them. "Behind us!" he shouted before turning into a swarm of bats to head to where the Golem was. When he appeared, he saw the Golem step inside the tree trunk, like it was made of water, and appear to the right, firing a bolt point-blank at Evie.

Her reflexes were faster thanks to her higher stats as she quickly ducked, throwing down a stone rune that erected a barrier in front of her and Jared. The bolt bounced off harmlessly as Jared returned an arrow in the direction the bolt came from. After the failed attack, Aldrin felt the Golem disappear from his sphere completely. He rushed back to the group. All of them stayed alert as they kept their heads on a swivel.

Each of them eyed the surrounding trees. "I think it's gone. It failed its ambush, so it probably went to set up another." Aldrin said, feeling for any wrongness within his sphere.

"Well, that was exciting," Pierre mocked, sheathing his daggers.

They continued their trek at a slower pace than they had started out with. Aldrin kept them updated in case another Jade Golem Ambusher was hidden inside one of the mossy jungle trees. A moment later, they came to a quiet stream. Evie tested it with one of her remaining magical tablets to see if the water was good enough to drink. She gave a thumbs up once the tablet dissolved without a trace. Aldrin kept watch as the other three took turns getting drinks of water and refilling their waterskins.

Afterwards, they followed the stream until they came to a lake that was filled with different sized boulders. Understanding that they were probably dealing with golems, they eyed the boulders with extreme scrutiny. Pierre threw a pebble he scavenged from the riverbed at one boulder. Of course, the boulders didn't move, so they cautiously stepped forward.

Steadily, they maneuvered around the boulders, coming around to the largest one at twelve feet high to see a miniature jade statue of a toad on a pedestal on the largest boulder. "How much do you want to bet that as soon as we take it, the boulders come alive?" Jared teased.

Evie looked at him strangely. "It may not even be the boulders that come alive."

Pierre was the one to wade through the water, as it came up to his waist the further he went in. He took out his daggers and attempted to jam them into the rock, only for them to bounce harmlessly off.

"Magical barrier?" Evie yelled at Pierre.

Pierre turned to her and shrugged before circling around the boulder. He searched for any signs to grab onto to climb the boulder, yet he could find none. "Aldrin, could you jump this?" Pierre called back.

Aldrin looked at the boulder for a minute. "Probably, yeah. I could try." He said as he started to wade into the pond.

Reaching the boulder, he stood next to Pierre as they both looked up at the jade statue. Aldrin crouched, bunching as much power as he could in his legs, then lifted off. He easily cleared the height difference, landing atop the boulder next to the jade statue. He carefully looked at it as best he could for any obvious signs of traps or enchantments, but saw none. Wiggling the statue back and forth until it popped, ‌he held it in his hands. It lit up in emerald green flames that didn't burn him. The flames shot out to all the boulders in the area, making them crack and mold themselves into living toad statues that held the same bright fire in their eyes.

"SEE! Somebody owes me money now!" Jared yelled, nocking one of his arrows with his Trick Shot: Explosive Arrow skill. He let it fly, ensuring the start of their first official Dungeon battle.