Visionless

Ren sighed, slumping onto the creaky wooden chair as he rummaged through a small leather bag. "Well, it's official... we're out of money," he muttered, his tone edged with frustration.

Adam leaned back against the bedframe, arms crossed casually. "You sure you don't want me to cover it? It's fine, really. You've been paying for everything so far. Besides, it's just until we find that girl, right? What's her name again?"

"Naya," Ren replied, his voice heavy with exasperation. "Her name's Naya. And yeah, if you're sure about paying, be my guest. I'm desperate here. The sooner I find her, the sooner I can leave this gods-forsaken place."

Ren had been searching for Naya for what felt like an eternity, yet every lead had turned cold. Erak was a city steeped in memories he'd rather forget—its winding roads and looming buildings haunted him with images from his early mercenary days before the church forbade the beastfolk from entering its walls. Every hour spent here felt like another clawing at old wounds. Letting Adam handle the costs wasn't just practical; it was another step toward escape.

"Any news from those masked weirdos? Did they give you a lead?" Ren asked, glancing toward Adam, his eyes hopeful despite himself.

Adam shook his head with a slight shrug. "Not yet, but I doubt it'll take long. Maybe a day or two—heck, they might even get back to us today." Standing, he stretched before heading for the door. "Anyway, Ren, I'm heading out. I'll cover the room when I get back. If I'm not back by noon, check the Adventurer's Guild. I'll probably end up there." With that, he opened the door, leaving with a casual wave.

Adam strolled down the bustling streets of Erak, hands in his pockets and eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. "Alright, today's the day! Really should've done this sooner, but… eh, I got busy." He paused, orienting himself, then pointed down one of the wider roads. "If I remember right, it should be this way."

The city loomed around him as he walked, each street seemingly endless, the sheer scale overwhelming. "Man, this place is massive!" he muttered to himself, marveling at the towering buildings and broad avenues teeming with life. "Seriously, how big does a place have to be? What, half the continent lives here or something?"

After what felt like hours of wandering—and a mounting sense of frustration—Adam finally spotted his destination: the Adventurer's Guild. The building dwarfed everything else around it, a colossal structure of stone and wood, its grand archways adorned with symbols of swords, shields, and magic.

"Great," Adam muttered, standing at the entrance and staring up at its intimidating size. "I'm definitely getting lost in here."

With a resigned sigh, he pushed open the heavy door, a bell jingling overhead as he stepped inside. The sheer chaos of the guild hit him immediately. Adventurers of every imaginable kind crowded the massive hall, their laughter, arguments, and clinking armor creating a cacophony. Tables groaned under piles of food and gear, and the walls were lined with bustling noticeboards.

Adam's eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the absurd diversity of adventurers. Some towered over him with impossibly large weapons; others wore barely any clothing, their exposed skin glittering with runes or tattoos. One person appeared to be wearing armor that looked disturbingly like stitched-together human skin.

"This... this is going to be the worst day of my life, isn't it?" he muttered, stepping hesitantly into the chaos.

He tried his best to get someone's attention, weaving through the crowd. "Excuse me? Hey, do you know—" Before he could finish, the person walked off. Another attempt. "Hi, sorry, could you—oh, gone already…"

Adam groaned, running a hand through his hair as he realized just how impossible his task might be. "Yeah, worst day of my life for sure."

Adam scanned the bustling guildhall, his eyes darting between adventurers adorned in every manner of fantastical gear. But despite the sea of weaponry and armor, he saw no sign of anyone wearing the standard guild uniform. With a frustrated sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Alright, think. If I were a receptionist's desk, where would I be?" he muttered to himself. "Probably tucked away on the edges, out of the chaos."

Armed with that logic, Adam began weaving through the maze of adventurers, dodging hulking swords, oversized axes, and more than one tankard of ale sloshed mid-cheer. After what felt like half an hour of aimless wandering, he finally spotted the desk—mercifully labeled—but it was empty.

Adam groaned and leaned against the counter. "Figures. Guess I'll just wait," he muttered. No sooner had he settled than a group of rowdy adventurers stumbled over, their boisterous laughter cutting through the noise of the hall.

"Oi, kid! What're you doing here?" one of them barked. The speaker was a tall man with a massive claymore strapped to his back. His tone was slurred, and the scent of ale clung to him like a second skin. His face was hidden behind a knightly helmet, but even without seeing his expression, Adam could tell he was drunk. The man turned to his companions. "Hey, guys, you know this kid?"

"Kel, knock it off," said a much shorter, bald man at his side. He carried a staff nearly as big as himself, its ends capped with wicked-looking metal spikes. Nudging the armored man, he added, "Sorry about him. He's... not the brightest sword in the forge. Hope he didn't scare you."

Adam crossed his arms, unimpressed.

"You looking to place a quest, little fella?" the bald man continued. "If so, you'll have to wait. Vikar—the receptionist—ain't here yet. You could try another counter, but trust me, this place is so packed you'd just end up trampled. Best to stick around."

As the bald man spoke, a woman in mage robes approached. Her light brown hair swayed with each step, and a book and mace hung at her hips. She looked exasperated, glaring at the drunken knight.

"Kel, are you drinking again?" she scolded, planting her hands on her hips. "We're about to head out on a quest! I told you not to drink! What would the Goddess think?"

Kel waved her off with a laugh. "Aw, give me a break, Meli. I work better when I'm drunk! Besides, if it bothers you so much, you could just use some magic and sober me up!"

Meli pinched the bridge of her nose, much like Adam had earlier. "If I did that, I'd be wasting mana. And you'd just go back to drinking!" She sighed, clearly reaching the end of her patience. "I swear, if I didn't have better things to do, I'd have thrown you out a window by now. Wait…" She finally noticed Adam standing silently by the desk. "Who's this?"

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Been here the whole time."

"Oh! Sorry about that, little guy," Meli said, her voice softening into the kind of tone reserved for children and small animals. "Adventurers aren't all like this, I promise. It's just our useless knight here."

"Hey!" Kel protested, but she ignored him.

"So, what brings you here?" Meli asked. "Are you looking to place a quest? We're busy, but we could pass it on to someone else if you need."

Adam sighed, his expression flat. "I'm not here to place a quest. I'm an adventurer."

The three stared at him for a moment before exchanging skeptical glances.

"You're… an adventurer?" Meli said, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you a bit young? I mean, technically, there's no age restriction, but—wait, what's your class badge? Here, this is mine." She pulled out her adventurer badge, which gleamed a polished silver. "See? That's silver rank. You must have one too."

Adam nodded and fished his badge out of his pocket, holding it up for them to see.

The badge was unmistakably copper. Raw copper.

"Raw copper?!" Kel blurted, his voice a mix of surprise and disbelief. "Oi, kid, you didn't steal that, did you?"

Adam scowled. "No. It was made for me back in Kedor's guild. Is there something wrong with it?"

The bald man scratched his head, looking puzzled. "Wait, you're serious? They actually registered you as raw copper? That's… odd. Kid, you said you came from Kedor's guild, right? You didn't come here on your own?"

"Nope. Got sent here," Adam replied.

The trio exchanged wide-eyed looks, their expressions shifting from skepticism to something closer to alarm.

"Sent here? From Kedor?" Meli repeated, her voice dropping. "Oh, boy. That explains a lot."

As the three adventurers exchanged concerned looks, a new voice broke through their thoughts.

"Well, well, who knew I was so popular? Already got people waiting for me. Ah, I could die happy now," it drawled with a teasing lilt.

The group turned to see a man approaching the reception desk. His pallid skin was ghostly pale, dark bags under his eyes giving him the appearance of a man who hadn't slept in years. His greasy hair clung to his scalp in uneven strands, and his overall look screamed corpse on legs. Yet, in stark contrast, his demeanor was chipper, brimming with energy that felt almost unsettling.

"Vikar! Finally!" Meli exclaimed. "Can you come over here and take a look at this kid's badge? I think there might've been some kind of mistake."

"Mistake?" Vikar echoed, cocking an eyebrow as he leaned over the counter. "Well, now I have to see this. Hand it over, little adventurer."

Adam handed his badge to the receptionist, who plucked it up and squinted at it. For a moment, Vikar was silent, his lips pursed in thought as he turned the badge over in his fingers. Then he nodded, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

"Yep, it's legit. No forgery here, thank the gods," Vikar declared, handing the badge back to Adam. "Kid, you must be pretty good if you've got raw copper at your age. Wait…" His grin widened. "Don't tell me—you're from Kedor, aren't you?"

Adam nodded. "Yeah. The guild manager, Dyrk, told me to come here and claim my reward for a mission."

At this, the three adventurers and Vikar all let out a collective "Ooooh."

"A mission?" Meli said, blinking in surprise. "Man, that must've been something crazy. I've heard Dyrk has a reputation for being... unconventional, but sending a kid on missions? That's a new low."

Kel let out a low whistle. "Yeah, Dyrk's methods might be questionable, but hey, results are results."

Vikar's smile didn't falter. "Well, whatever the case, you're here now, and I'm your guy. Come on up, kid. I'll see what I can do to get you sorted out."

Without waiting for a response, Vikar vaulted over the reception desk with surprising agility, landing in front of the group. Dusting his hands off dramatically, he turned to the three adventurers.

"As for you lot, I'll deal with you in a bit. Go grab a table, maybe a drink—on second thought, no drinks for you, Kel," he added with a pointed look at the knight. "I've got some explaining to do to this little guy first."

The trio exchanged amused glances but ultimately complied, heading off to a nearby table. Vikar turned his attention back to Adam, motioning for him to follow behind the desk.

"All right, kid," Vikar said, his tone softening slightly but still lively. "Let's talk."

Adam leaned casually against the counter, his expression neutral but his tone sharp and direct. "First, I want to know what all that fuss was about. Second, I need you to explain adventuring—whatever you think I need to know to not screw this up. Third, I was told I have coins stored here from Kedor, so I'd like to know how to withdraw those."

Vikar chuckled, running a hand through his greasy hair. "Man, kids these days don't mess around, huh? Straight to business. All right, let's tackle this one at a time. First, the commotion—yeah, that's mostly about Kedor's recent fall from grace, so to speak. The guild there has been under fire lately—mismanagement, corruption, you name it. Word spread fast when most of the adventurers got fired or demoted, and Dyrk… well, let's just say his reputation wasn't stellar to begin with."

Vikar leaned in slightly, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "He's known for being reckless and pushing adventurers way too hard. Based on the fact you're here and not, you know, dead, I'm guessing you got caught up in his antics firsthand?"

Adam sighed, the tension in his shoulders relaxing slightly. (So they're not all like Dyrk. Thank god.) He nodded. "Yeah, I've had my share of experiences with him."

Vikar grinned. "Figures. Don't worry—I'm not like him. Most guilds run a tight ship, and we actually care about the well-being of our adventurers. Now, onto the second point. Adventuring knowledge, huh? Let me guess—Dyrk didn't bother to give you the standard handbook?"

Adam shook his head. "Didn't even know one existed."

"Thought so," Vikar said with a laugh. "Well, the handbook's great—if you enjoy reading dry, boring texts. But for you, I'll give you the essentials. First off, let's talk ranks, since they're the backbone of the whole system. Adventurers are categorized by a color-coded rank system, which represents your skill level, experience, and the kinds of tasks you're eligible to take on. Here's the breakdown:

Raw Wood: The absolute beginner. Think of tasks like collecting herbs, finding lost pets, or cleaning houses. Simple, low-risk stuff. Wood: A step up—similar tasks, but maybe with a touch more responsibility. Still entry-level. Polished Wood: Now you're starting to show promise. Tasks might include escorting minor shipments or helping with small town issues.

"After that, we move into copper:

Raw Copper: That's you, kid. Copper-level adventurers start handling real challenges—monster hunting, minor protection jobs, mining operations, stuff that requires more grit. Copper: More of the same but with tougher enemies and better rewards. Polished Copper: The top tier of copper ranks. These adventurers are trusted with jobs that involve significant danger but still fall short of elite-level work."

Vikar leaned back, crossing his arms. "Then there's Silver and Gold, which are a whole other ballgame. Silver-level adventurers are veterans—experts who can handle large-scale missions, organized monster hunts, or even wars. Gold? You're talking about legends. People who've made a name for themselves across the world."

Adam raised a brow. "And the ranks above that?"

Vikar grinned. "Ah, those are rarefied air, kid. The kind of adventurers you read about in storybooks. If you ever make it to Silver, I'll fill you in, but don't get ahead of yourself. Focus on climbing the copper ladder first."

"Fair enough," Adam said. "And quests?"

"Quests are tied to your rank," Vikar explained. "Wood-class jobs are easy, low-paying stuff. Copper is where it gets interesting—you'll get better-paying, higher-stakes missions, like tracking dangerous monsters or guarding merchants through treacherous areas. Silver and above open doors to elite missions, but you'll worry about that later."

Vikar clapped his hands together. "And lastly, withdrawing coins. It's simple—just show me your badge, and I'll confirm the deposit sent from Kedor. Once I verify it, the funds are yours to withdraw."

Adam nodded, digesting the information. "Got it. Thanks for clearing all that up."

"No problem, kid," Vikar said, leaning forward with a grin. "Now, let's get you sorted out so you can start making some real coin. You're gonna need it if you plan to survive in this world."

"So, how do I actually take a quest?" Adam asked, watching as Vikar fiddled with a strange device into which his badge was inserted. "Do I just grab one from one of the boards, or is there more to it?"

Vikar glanced up briefly, a sly grin on his face. "That's pretty much it, kid. You pick a quest off the board that matches your rank, bring it back to any receptionist—like yours truly—and we register it under your name. Once you complete it, we'll confirm the details and make sure you get paid. Keeps things honest, so no one tries to stiff you."

Adam nodded. "Seems straightforward."

"More or less," Vikar said, still focused on the device. "Oh, and if you complete enough quests—especially tougher ones—you might get assigned special quests. Those come directly from us receptionists. Do a good job on those, and you might even qualify for a rank-up mission. Now, those are no joke. They're extremely tough and designed to push you to your limit. You can take them solo or with a party, but passing one means you officially move up in rank. Fail, and, well… better luck next time."

"Good to know," Adam said, leaning on the counter. "What happens if I don't take quests for a while? Do I just stay at the same rank?"

Vikar smirked. "Not exactly. If you go too long without taking any quests, you can get demoted. It's rare, but it happens. The guild expects you to stay active—at least one or two quests a week is a good rule of thumb. Keeps you sharp and out of trouble."

Vikar finally pulled Adam's badge from the device, inspecting it one last time before handing it back. "And done! Kid, looks like you're sitting on a treasure trove here. I'm officially jealous. That's like two months of my salary."

Adam took the badge and turned it over in his hands. "Treasure trove? How much are we talking about?"

"250 gold," Vikar said, his tone a mix of awe and envy. "That's a lot of coin for someone your age. Don't blow it all in one place, though. The guild's got plenty of shops and smiths that usually have something worth buying. I recommend checking them out."

Adam raised an eyebrow at the badge. "So, what, this thing's my wallet now?"

"Exactly," Vikar replied, tapping the counter for emphasis. "The guild's made it easy. Your badge now holds your funds, so you don't have to lug around bags of coins everywhere you go. And if you're worried about it getting stolen, don't be. The guild guarantees the safety of your money. Even if someone swipes your badge, your funds are untouchable without the proper clearance."

Adam narrowed his eyes slightly. "Clearance?"

"Yep," Vikar said with a grin. "It's magically linked to your identity. The badge recognizes you—not just anyone. Trust me, it's safer than any lockbox."

Adam relaxed and slid the badge into his pocket. "Thanks for the rundown, Vikar. Oh, and the name's Adam, by the way."

"Good to meet you, Adam," Vikar said, his smile as bright as ever. "Now, go enjoy that gold and try not to blow it all on sweets or something."

Adam smirked. "No thanks. I'm good."

"Finally, it's our turn! Jeez, kid, you sure took your time," said a familiar voice. Adam turned to see the knight from earlier, Kel, striding up with his usual swagger, flanked by the monk and the mage. His speech was slightly slurred, betraying the fact that he might have indulged in a bit more ale since their last encounter.

"Looks like Vikar's taken a liking to you! That's great. Look at you, already making connections!" Kel said, his laugh hearty but unsteady.

The mage groaned, her face buried in her hands as if she were physically trying to disappear. "Oh, Goddess, forgive them for their sins," she murmured, her cheeks a vivid shade of red.

The monk stepped forward, offering Adam an apologetic smile. "Don't mind those two, but Kel's not wrong. It's rare for Vikar the Undying to take such an interest in anyone. You've got some good luck, kid."

"The Undying?" Adam asked, eyebrows raising in confusion. "What does that mean?"

Kel leaned closer, clearly eager to tell the tale. "Pwahaha! You seriously don't know? Alright, listen up! See, all the receptionists here used to be adventurers themselves. Vikar was no exception. Back in the day, he was a polished silver adventurer—a high-rank badass, to put it plainly. He was famous, kid. Every time he went out, no matter what nasty business he got into, he always came back alive. Monster infestations, deadly ambushes, getting poisoned over and over again—didn't matter. He'd survive it all and show up like nothing happened. Then, one day, he survived a dragon!"

Adam's eyes widened. "A dragon?"

"Yup!" Kel said, grinning ear to ear. "Walked away with only some scars and a crazy story. After that, the guild's adventurers started calling him 'The Undying.' It stuck, and he became a legend. Eventually, he retired and ended up here, running the front desk. You can guess the rest."

The monk chuckled softly. "It's true. He might look like he's about to keel over, but trust me, Vikar's probably tougher than half the adventurers in this room."

The mage sighed, rubbing her temples. "You'd think he'd act a little more dignified with a title like that. Instead, he spends most of his time acting like a cheerful corpse."

Adam glanced back at Vikar, who was busily shuffling papers and humming to himself behind the reception desk. "Huh. The Undying, huh? Guess there's more to him than meets the eye."

"More than you'd think," the monk said, giving a small nod. "Stick around long enough, and you'll hear some wild stories about him."

Kel slapped Adam on the back, almost knocking him off balance. "You'll be fine, kid! Just keep making those connections, and you'll be climbing the ranks in no time!"

Adam rolled his eyes but couldn't help smirking. "Thanks, I guess. I'll keep that in mind."

Adam stepped out of the guild, the weight of the day pressing on his shoulders. The cool evening air hit him, and he inhaled deeply, trying to shake off the lingering tension. "Finally... I'm out of there," he muttered, the hum of the bustling guild fading behind him. He started toward the hotel, his mind racing. Dragons... Dragons are real. Holy shit. Please, let me live my entire life without ever seeing one.

"I'm back, Ren," Adam called out as he entered the room, his voice light with the relief of returning to familiar ground. "I paid the hotel. We can stay a little longer. You—" He stopped mid-sentence, the sight of Ren pulling him short. The man was sitting on the edge of the bed, head in his hands, his usually sharp features weighed down with an expression Adam had never seen before.

Ren's voice broke the silence, low and raw. "She's alive..." he murmured. Adam blinked, unsure he had heard right, but Ren continued, his words a tangle of sadness and frustration. "She got married. To someone from the church." He let out a bitter laugh, one that held no humor. "What am I supposed to do with that? I... I failed her, Adam. I promised I'd protect her, that I'd keep her safe. And now? Now she's probably suffering because of me." His voice cracked, anger and despair bleeding into every word. "What the hell do I do now?"

Adam stood frozen for a moment, watching Ren—normally so composed—come undone. He stepped closer, unsure of what to say but knowing he had to say something. "Ren... what happened? Did... Did they come by? Did they tell you where she was?"

Ren nodded, his hands clenched into fists so tight his knuckles went white. "They told me everything," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's in the capital. Married to some high-ranking bastard from the church. I don't know if she's happy or if she's trapped. I don't know anything. But I know this wasn't the life she wanted. I know she didn't choose this."

Adam sat down beside him, trying to catch his gaze. "Hey... listen to me, okay? We'll figure this out. There's gotta be something we can do. Maybe she's okay, Ren. Maybe this isn't as bad as it seems."

Ren turned to him, his eyes hollow and rimmed with anguish. "You don't get it, Adam. If she's trapped, then it's my fault. If she's suffering, it's because I wasn't there. I left her behind. And now..." He exhaled shakily, his head falling forward again. "Now I don't even know if I have the right to go to her. What if she hates me for it?"

Adam hesitated, his own chest tightening at the sight of Ren breaking down. He didn't have the answers, but he placed a hand on Ren's shoulder, gripping it firmly. "Ren, I don't know what's waiting for us if we go after her. But what I do know is that you care about her. And if she's in trouble, you're not the kind of guy to sit here and do nothing. We'll figure this out together. You're not alone in this, alright?"

Ren didn't respond, but Adam felt the slightest shift under his hand—a tremor, a sigh, something that said his words had been heard. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating, but Adam stayed there, grounding Ren as best he could.

For the first time since Adam had met him, Ren seemed utterly lost, and Adam vowed silently that he wouldn't let his friend face this alone.

Ren's head lifted slightly, a flicker of resolve piercing through the haze of his despair. "We could..." he began, his voice low and measured, as though testing the words before committing to them. Then, with a grim determination, he finished, "We could kidnap her. And kill the bastard she married."

Adam blinked, the silence stretching between them as Ren's words hung in the air. Slowly, Adam turned his head to look at him, his expression unreadable. Finally, he said, "Yeah... Let's do that."

His tone was calm, almost unnervingly so, as though he were discussing nothing more significant than what to have for dinner. "But not tonight," he added after a beat, leaning back slightly. "Tomorrow. We rest first. We'll need to be in top shape for something like this." His words were deliberate, measured, as if he were carefully weighing each one before letting it fall.

Ren gave him a sidelong glance, the corners of his mouth twitching faintly—whether in grim amusement or something darker, Adam couldn't tell. "You're serious?" Ren asked, his voice carrying the faintest note of disbelief.

Adam met his gaze, his face as steady as his tone. "Dead serious. But if we're going to do something this insane, we don't go in half-cocked. We plan. We prepare. And we rest."

For a moment, Ren just stared at him, and then, for the first time that evening, he let out a sound that was almost a laugh. It was rough and humorless, but it was something. "You're either crazy or the most loyal friend I've ever had," he muttered, shaking his head.