The inside of the Adventurers Association was far busier than the guild hall.

  The moment Lars stepped through the large double doors, a wave of activity greeted him. The building was vast, its high ceiling supported by thick stone pillars. Sunlight streamed in through tall windows, illuminating polished floors and rows of wooden counters.

  Adventurers moved in every direction.

  Some stood in lines near a large board covered in parchment notices — quests, by the look of them. Others gathered around a section where a group of officials seemed to be conducting evaluations. Lars watched as one armored man stepped forward, handed over a small badge, and spoke with a clerk who carefully recorded his information.

  Nearby, another counter handled rewards. A group of adventurers counted coins as they laughed about what sounded like a recent hunt.

  Everything felt organized. Structured. Precise. Nothing like the rugged atmosphere of the Wilds Guild.

  So this is the Adventurers Association… Lars thought. He scanned the hall again — quest boards, ranking counters, waiting areas, officials writing in large record books. But no library. At least, not one he could see.

  Maybe I should ask…

  He walked toward the main desk near the center of the hall. Behind it stood a young woman, probably in her early twenties. She wore a neat uniform in soft brown and cream colors, with the Association's emblem stitched onto the sleeve. Her hair was tied neatly behind her head, and her posture was straight but relaxed. She had a friendly expression, the kind that made people feel comfortable approaching her.

  She noticed Lars walking toward the desk.

  He looks young, she thought. Still a boy, really. Maybe he wants to become an adventurer.

  Lars stopped in front of the counter and gave a polite nod. "Good afternoon."

  The woman smiled. "Good afternoon. My name is Elira Dawncrest. How can I help you today?"

  Lars hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "My name is Lars… Silverwing."

  Elira tilted her head slightly. "Silverwing, hmm… I don't think I've seen you around before. Are you thinking about becoming an adventurer?"

  Lars nodded. "Maybe. But actually, I came because I heard the Association has an archive. I wanted to study some things."

  Her expression brightened. "Oh! The archives. Yes, we do have them. They're quite extensive." Then her tone became a little more professional. "But before I can let you in, I'll need some information."

  Lars' chest tightened.

  "The Association keeps records of everyone who enters or leaves the archives," she explained. "It's standard protocol. We're very strict about that."

  He swallowed quietly. Stay calm.

  She picked up a small quill and opened a ledger. "Let's start with the basics. Full name?"

  "Lars Silverwing."

  She wrote it down neatly.

  "Affiliation? Guild, party, or independent?"

  "I'm currently staying with the Wilds Guild."

  Her brows lifted slightly. "The Wilds Guild? That's impressive company." She continued writing. "Place of origin?"

  Lars hesitated for just a moment. "I'm… not from around this region."

  She glanced up at him, curious, but didn't press the question. "Understood," she said, writing something down anyway. "Temporary resident, then."

  Lars let out a slow, quiet breath. So far, so good…

  Elira dipped the quill again. "Do you have any form of identification or guild crest?"

  Lars reached into his pocket and carefully placed the golden Wilds Guild crest on the counter. Her eyes widened slightly. "Ah. That will do perfectly." She slid the crest back toward him and closed the ledger. "Alright, Lars Silverwing. You're cleared for archive access."

  Relief washed over him.

  She pointed toward a wide staircase at the far end of the hall. "The archives are on the upper level. Just follow the stairs and speak to the archivist at the entrance. They'll guide you from there."

  Lars nodded respectfully. "Thank you."

  Elira smiled. "Good luck with your studies. And if you do decide to become an adventurer, come see me again. I'll help with your registration."

  Lars gave a small bow, then turned toward the staircase. For the first time since entering the building, he felt a sense of direction. Answers were waiting upstairs.

  ?

  The staircase led Lars away from the noise of the main hall and into a quieter part of the building. Each step upward felt like he was climbing out of the chaos of the city and into something calmer, more thoughtful.

  At the top of the stairs, a wide wooden door stood slightly open. A small brass plate beside it read: Adventurers Association Archives.

  Lars pushed the door gently. It opened with a soft creak.

  Inside, the air was still and cool. Tall shelves stretched across the room, packed tightly with books, scrolls, and bound ledgers. Sunlight filtered in through narrow windows, illuminating floating specks of dust that drifted lazily in the air. It was quiet. Almost sacred.

  At a central desk sat an older gentleman. He looked to be in his late sixties, with thin gray hair combed neatly back and a pair of round spectacles resting on his nose. His robes were simple but clean, and his posture was upright despite his age.

  He looked up as Lars approached.

  "Ah," the old man said, his voice gentle. "A visitor. That's always good to see."

  Lars gave a respectful nod. "Good afternoon."

  "Good afternoon to you as well," the man replied. "What can I help you find, young man?"

  Lars hesitated for just a moment. He didn't want to sound suspicious or out of place. "I… wanted to learn more about mana and Ki," he said carefully.

  The old man's eyes softened with understanding. Ah, he thought. Another young one dreaming of the adventurer's path. A faint smile appeared on his face. "A fine place to start," he said. "Come with me."

  He stood slowly and walked toward one of the shelves, running his fingers along the spines of several books before pulling out a small stack. "These should give you a good foundation," he said, handing them to Lars. "Basic theory, energy flow, and combat applications. Nothing too advanced, but more than enough for a beginner."

  Lars accepted the books with both hands. "Thank you, sir."

  "Take your time," the old man said. "Knowledge is best digested slowly."

  Lars nodded and found a quiet table near the window. He sat down, placed the books in front of him, and opened the first one.

  ?

  The first book described mana as a natural energy that flowed through the world — present in the air, the land, and all living beings. Some people were born with the ability to wield it, regardless of race, though noble bloodlines often carried greater potential. Mana regenerated constantly, but overuse caused exhaustion. Fully depleting it could lead to death, as it was tied directly to life force.

  Lars' eyes widened slightly. So that's what I felt… The cave. The forest. Guild Master Raiyo. It had all been mana.

  He turned to the next section. There were three types of casters: those who used catalysts like staffs and magical tools, those who relied on chants and incantations, and the rare few — less than one percent of all mana users — who could control it directly without either. Lars thought of Tobi and his staff. So he's the first type…

  Further in, the book explained the ranking structure. From D Rank all the way to S Rank, adventurers were classified based on their strength, skill, and accomplishments. But above them all was a special title — Dragon Slayer Rank. Given only to those who achieved legendary feats, warriors strong enough to stand alone against threats that could destroy entire armies. Lars felt a chill run down his spine. A one-man army…

  He set that book aside and opened the next.

  This one spoke of Ki. Unlike mana, which flowed through the world, Ki was cultivated within the body — a force created by absorbing and refining external mana, turning it into raw physical power. It was most commonly developed by warriors, hunters, monks, and close-combat fighters, allowing the body to move faster, strike harder, and endure greater damage. Mana and Ki were different, the book noted, but equal in strength. Mana dominated at long range. Ki excelled up close.

  Lars leaned back slightly. So… they're different paths. Then a thought struck him. What if someone used both? He flipped through the pages, but found no mention of it. Maybe it's not possible… Still, the idea lingered.

  The final book explained monsters. They were born from areas where excess mana gathered — when no one consumed that energy, it condensed into cores, giving life to creatures formed from the surrounding environment. Mana cores came in different colors: white or blue for weak monsters, orange for stronger ones, purple for powerful beasts, and black for dragons. Lars remembered the feral gray. Its core must have been destroyed…

  He closed the last book and sat quietly. So many answers. So many new questions.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  ?

  As he glanced around the archives, he realized something. All the books he had read so far were about energy, combat, and adventuring. Not the world itself. If I'm going to live here… I need to know where "here" even is, he thought.

  He stood and walked back toward the shelves, his fingers tracing across several titles before one caught his eye — The Continent of Sesilia: A Political and Geographical Record. He pulled it free and returned to his seat.

  The first pages described a vast land divided into seven major kingdoms. Though trade and diplomacy existed, the continent was politically tense. Alliances shifted constantly, and borders were watched closely. There was no true peace. Guilds and the Adventurers Association often acted as neutral forces, helping maintain balance between nations. But beyond politics, the book warned of something greater — ancient monsters, mana-saturated territories, and the legendary elemental dragons.

  Lars leaned forward.

  The first section described Solaris, the land he currently stood in. A prosperous human nation known for long daylight hours, fertile plains, and abundant agriculture. One of the three major powers of the continent, and almost entirely human. Lars blinked at that word. Almost…

  He read on.

  The other kingdoms each had a section of their own. Karthun was a wild and powerful nation ruled by demi-humans — beastfolk, giants, and mixed races living in dense jungles and rugged mountains, where strength determined status and warrior traditions shaped society. One of the three major powers of Sesilia. Zahara was a golden empire of trade routes and oasis cities, its markets filled with merchants, mercenaries, and mixed races, wealth and information flowing constantly through its desert roads — the third major power of the continent. Celestia was a closed kingdom ruled by powerful mages, its floating towers and mana-saturated lands rarely open to outsiders, considered a hidden fourth power. Valdren was a northern land of ice and steel, its people living in frozen fortresses, raised in a harsh military culture where strength meant survival. Dorgrum was a dwarven nation built deep within the mountains, famous for crafting the finest weapons and armor in all of Sesilia.

  Then came Luminas.

  A human religious nation led by a powerful faith. Their belief was simple — and dangerous. Humans were the pure race. Monsters must be eradicated. Other races were questionable. Lars felt uneasy as he read. The book mentioned growing tensions between Luminas and other nations, especially those with non-human populations.

  The next section made his eyes widen. There were four great elemental dragons in Sesilia — ancient beings of immense power, rarely seen and almost never attacking kingdoms without reason. But when provoked, they were capable of destroying entire nations. They were not just monsters. They were natural disasters given form.

  The final section described something far darker. Hidden beneath the surface of the continent was a network of criminal guilds — assassins, smugglers, slave traders, extortion rings — operating in secret, often funded by corrupt nobles or powerful figures. In times of political tension, these groups grew stronger.

  Lars felt a small chill. So even in a world filled with monsters… humans could still be the most dangerous creatures of all.

  ?

  He slowly closed the book. Seven kingdoms. Multiple races. Dragons. Political tension. Criminal underworlds. The world was far larger — and far more complicated — than he had imagined. And he had only just arrived.

  Before he could sink deeper into his thoughts, a gentle voice spoke behind him.

  "Have you had enough studying for today, young man?"

  Lars turned. The older archivist stood there, hands folded calmly behind his back.

  Lars nodded. "Yes, sir. Thank you for helping me."

  The old man smiled. "Knowledge is always here when you need it. Don't hesitate to return."

  Lars gave a respectful bow, then made his way toward the exit.

  ?

  The sounds of the Association grew louder as he descended the stairs. The energy of the main hall returned — voices, footsteps, the rustling of papers, the clink of armor.

  Elira was still at her desk. She looked up as Lars approached and smiled. "Well? Did you find what you were looking for?"

  Lars hesitated. "I'm… not sure," he admitted. "But I'm glad I learned more."

  Her smile widened. "That's a good answer." She leaned forward slightly. "So… are you thinking about becoming an adventurer?"

  Lars blinked. He hadn't really thought about it. Not seriously. But as he considered it, the idea didn't seem bad at all. An adventurer meant strength. Freedom. Travel. Answers.

  I guess I should see how strong I can become in this new world, he thought.

  He nodded. "Yes. I'd like to try."

  Elira looked genuinely happy. "That's wonderful! Then the next step is your rank evaluation." She stood up from behind the desk. "But I should warn you… at your age, don't be too surprised if you end up at D Rank. Maybe C Rank if you're lucky."

  Lars didn't look offended. "Honestly," he said, "I just want to know what I'm capable of."

  She gave an approving nod. "That's the right attitude." As they began walking across the hall, she added with a small smile, "Though… if you're lucky, maybe you'll start at B Rank."

  Lars looked at her, surprised. "Really?"

  "Well," she said, "you have the Wilds Guild backing you, don't you? They must see something in you."

  A small spark of hope lit inside him. Maybe…

  They stopped near a wide open area. Several adventurers stood nearby, some watching others go through evaluations. At the center of the space stood a man beside a massive crystal orb mounted on a stone pedestal. The orb was perfectly clear, almost like frozen water, and faint energy swirled inside it.

  "This," Elira said, "is the ranking crystal. It can withstand all types of mana and Ki fluctuations."

  The man beside it nodded toward Lars. "Step forward, boy."

  Lars did as he was told. "Place your hand on the orb," the man instructed. "It'll determine your rank based on your current power."

  Lars nodded and reached out. His palm touched the cool surface of the crystal.

  The orb lit up instantly.

  The man began explaining as it glowed. Each color represented a rank — brown for D Rank, green for C Rank, blue for B Rank, purple for A Rank, gold for S Rank. Lars watched as the orb moved through each one in sequence, brown shifting to green, green to blue, blue to purple, then gold.

  Then the light inside the crystal flickered.

  The colors began cycling faster. Brown. Green. Blue. Purple. Gold. Over and over. Then something changed. The orb didn't settle on a color. Instead it began glowing with multiple colors at once, swirling together in a chaotic, shifting pattern. The light pulsed. Flickered. Almost like the crystal didn't know what to do.

  The man's eyes widened. "That's… not supposed to happen."

  Elira stepped closer, her voice quiet. "Is it broken?"

  "No," the man said slowly. "This crystal has never broken."

  Around them, nearby adventurers began to notice. "What's going on?" "Is the orb malfunctioning?" "I've never seen it do that…"

  The colors inside the orb kept shifting, overlapping, refusing to settle into a single rank.

  Lars pulled his hand back, confused. "…Did I do something wrong?"

  No one answered him. They were all staring at the orb.

  ?

  Elira stared at the crystal orb, her eyes wide. She hadn't been working at the Adventurers Association for very long, but in all her time there, she had never seen anything like this. The orb continued to shimmer faintly, its colors still overlapping in unstable waves.

  Around them, nearby adventurers began muttering. "What was that?" "Did the orb just glitch?" "Never seen it do that before…"

  Lars looked from the orb to the staff member, confused. He didn't understand how the crystal worked, so one thought crept into his mind. Maybe… I'm just that weak.

  He lowered his head slightly. "I'm sorry," he said. "Maybe I'm not strong enough yet."

  The man's eyes widened. "No, that's not—" He stopped himself mid-sentence.

  Lars noticed. It was subtle. A pause. A shift in tone. The way the man's eyes flickered for just a moment. But Lars had grown up in a noble household. He had spent his life around politics, hidden motives, and veiled conversations. He could tell when someone was holding something back.

  The man cleared his throat. "Why don't you come back another time? We'll… try the evaluation again then."

  Lars didn't argue. He simply nodded.

  Elira stepped forward, her expression apologetic. "I'm really sorry about that. Even though your evaluation didn't go as planned, we can still complete the rest of your registration. That way, you'll be officially recognized by the Adventurers Association."

  Lars still felt uneasy, but he pushed the feeling aside. Maybe I'm just overthinking it… He nodded. "Alright."

  ?

  Elira guided him back to the desk and opened a new ledger. "Let's finish your registration. It won't take long."

  She dipped her quill in ink. "Full name?"

  "Lars Silverwing."

  "Place of origin?"

  Lars hesitated. "…I don't remember. I've been told I was found in the forest."

  Elira looked surprised. "You don't remember where you came from?"

  He shook his head. She glanced at the Wilds Guild crest he carried, then back at her ledger. "Well… if the Wilds Guild is backing you, you're probably a special case." She wrote down: Origin: Unknown. "For now, that should be fine," she said. "We can always update it later."

  After a few more questions, she closed the ledger and reached beneath the desk. She pulled out a small metal badge and handed it to him. "This is your official Adventurer Badge."

  Lars took it carefully. It was made of simple metal, with the Adventurers Association emblem stamped into its surface. Along the edges were small engraved markings — his name, his registration number, and other official details. Even though his rank wasn't listed yet, he still felt a small sense of pride holding it.

  "…Thank you," he said. He paused, then asked, "Is there a fee for this?"

  Elira nodded. "Just one bronze coin."

  Lars reached into his pouch and handed it over without hesitation. She smiled. "All set. You're officially registered."

  As he turned the badge over in his hand, a random thought crossed his mind. He looked back at her. "Out of curiosity… what would someone need to start a guild of their own?" he asked, almost jokingly.

  Elira chuckled softly. It was a relief to see that the orb incident hadn't crushed his spirit. "Well, first, you'd need at least three members. You and two others to form a party."

  Lars nodded slowly.

  "And the registration and processing fee," she continued, "would be about… one hundred gold coins."

  Lars almost reacted out loud. One hundred gold…?! He managed to keep his expression calm, but inside, he was stunned. How do people even afford that? How did Guild Masters start their guilds? It was hard to imagine that kind of money.

  Still, he nodded politely. "I see. Thank you." He gave a small bow. "And thank you for helping me register."

  "You're welcome," Elira replied.

  ?

  Lars turned and began walking toward the exit. As he passed through the main hall, he started noticing something. Whispers. People were looking at him. Some stared openly. Others leaned toward each other, speaking in hushed voices.

  "…That's the kid, right?" "The one from the crystal?" "Yeah, the orb couldn't even rank him…"

  The witnesses from the evaluation had already spread the news. To them, it was a strange incident. An anomaly. And the boy at the center of it all was now walking right past them.

  Lars tried to ignore the stares. His thoughts were still stuck on something else entirely.

  One hundred gold coins…

  He let out a small, quiet chuckle as he pushed open the doors and stepped outside. That's going to take a while.

  ?

  The noise of the main hall slowly faded as the scene shifted.

  Footsteps echoed rapidly along a stone corridor. The man who had overseen the evaluation hurried up a flight of stairs, his expression tense. He clutched a small ledger tightly against his chest as he moved. He didn't stop. Not until he reached the familiar doors of the archives.

  He pushed them open and stepped inside.

  The quiet air of the archive room greeted him, just as it always did. Sunlight streamed through the windows, dust drifting lazily in the beams of light. At the central desk sat the older gentleman from before, calmly reading through a book.

  The man approached quickly. "Head Master Grandolf," he said, slightly out of breath.

  The old man looked up from his book, adjusting his spectacles. "So urgent?" he asked gently.

  The evaluator swallowed. "Sir… something has happened. During the rank evaluation. A boy just now — the orb… it malfunctioned."

  Grandolf's expression didn't change. "Explain."

  "The crystal showed multiple colors at once," the man said. "It cycled through every rank. Then it started… glitching. Like it couldn't decide. I've never seen anything like it." He hesitated, then lowered his voice. "It's finally happened again, Head Master. The first time in decades since—"

  Grandolf raised a hand, calmly finishing the sentence for him.

  "—since the last Dragon Slayer Rank appeared."

  The room fell silent.

  The evaluator nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."

  Dragon Slayer Ranks were so rare that most adventurers believed they were only legends. Even the Association kept most information about them hidden from the public. Very few people knew what their true power looked like. And even fewer knew how the ranking crystal reacted to them.

  The evaluator steadied himself. "What should we do, sir?"

  Grandolf closed his book and folded his hands. "Describe the boy."

  The man nodded. "White hair. Bright blue eyes. Young — maybe fifteen or so. Polite. Said his name was Lars Silverwing. Claimed he didn't know where he came from. Backed by the Wilds Guild."

  Grandolf's eyes narrowed just slightly. He remembered the boy immediately. The one who had come into the archives asking about mana and Ki. Quiet. Respectful. Curious. What an interesting turn of events, he thought. But he kept that thought to himself.

  He rose slowly from his chair. "Seal any information regarding the incident," Grandolf instructed. "No public records. No rumors from staff. Treat it as a temporary malfunction."

  "Yes, sir."

  "And discreetly gather information about the boy," Grandolf continued. "His origin. His movements. Who he associates with."

  The evaluator nodded. "Understood."

  Grandolf turned toward the window, sunlight reflecting faintly off his spectacles. A faint smile appeared beneath his calm expression.

  "It seems," he said quietly, "Solaris has been blessed with another Dragon Slayer."

  The evaluator swallowed, the weight of those words settling in.

  Outside, the city continued its daily life, unaware of what had just awakened within its walls.