Kyle sighed as he read through the quest on the board. As he expected there was nothing like the forest ivy this time. Instead he was left with quests that would barely even offer to pay for his rent.
"Community service, gardening, etc. isn't there at least one decent job?" he asked disappointedly.
At this point he was going over some bronze-rank jobs, a hint of sorrow in his eye.
"Hunting goblins, slaying kobolds, and the pay is nice too." he remarked. One job was enough to pay for his rent and a simple meal with little to spare, and those were just the easier ones.
'There has to be a way for me to take bronze-rank quests...'
He went over to counter to enquire from the receptionist. This time around, the elven receptionist was absent. In her place was another species that intrigued him as well.
Since coming to Fairhaven, he'd seen dwarves and elves. The rest were either humans or demi humans–a race that was a mix between humans and monsters.
The receptionist this time was a cat-person. She had black ears cat sticking out of her black hair. Behind her was a tail that danced as she greeted him.
"Good day sir."she began, "Welcome to Fairhaven's guild, how may we be of service?... Oh I haven't seen you around before I are you new?"
"Yeah I moved into town few days ago, I'd–"
"That's excellent!" she cut in, "Have you gotten the chance to see the sights yet, but I would recommend the red lights district thou–"
She continued rambling without even giving him a chance to reply. At first he was going to wait till she was done but his stomach had other plans. He finally decided to use his ace in the hole to bring her back to reality.
Pulling down his hood was the last thing he wanted to do. since entering the guild. It's effect though was immediate. If he didn't already attract attention with his stylish look, this was enough to make him a beacon for stares.
The receptionist went silent at his reveal but just as she was about to talk about his looks, Kael layed his complaints as fast as he could, startling the people behind him.
"Is there a way for a bronze rank adventurer to take on Bronze rank quests? I really want to know!"
Kael let out a sigh he'd unconsciously held in during the exchange as she replied.
"Of course an adventurer can go on quests a rank higher than theirs if their in a party."
He thought for a moment before replying. "So if I wanted to go on Bronze rank quests, I'd need to be in at least an iron rank party?"
"Yes." she replied.
The revelation was nice, but it also came with a depressing truth.
'Great' he praised with a hint of sarcasm, "Now where would I find a party willing to accept a newcomer like me–'
"Hey is that you Kael?"
Once again, he was interrupted but this around it wasnt the receptionist but a rather familiar rough voice that called out to him, with a party trailing not far behind.
"Gareth," he replied as he turned to face the party that saved him from the goblins the other day.
"Oh you remember me?"
"Yeah"
"Mind if we head over there?" Gareth motioned at the barside of the guild. "The line's getting impatient."
"Um... Sure." Kael replied, finally noticing the looks the adventurer's were giving him for taking so long.
*****
"You didn't tell us you were an adventurer," the swordsman–Doran asked, showing a little interest in Kael than the other day.
"You never asked." Kael replied with a blank stare.
"Why you–mph"
He winced as a foot crashed onto his' with apparently a lot of force. He felt his feet go numb instantly.
"What was that for?" Doran asked, staring at Hazel with a small flush on his cheeks.
"Want another?" She smiled, raising a fist this time while the swordsman flinched, calming down instantly.
Even with his detached attitude towards others, Kael couldn't help but smile at the scene. "Hey umm... Hazel?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for the other day,"
"Don't worry about it, adventurers need to stick together right?"
"I guess... So what did you guys want to talk about?" Kael asked, casting Gareth a quick glance, though a part of him was glad she didn't mention his new look.
"Yeah, about that..." Gareth cleared his throat as he continued. "We were planning to head to the dungeon, but according to the rules, we need a fifth member. to go in there as a party."
"But doesn't that only apply to an E-rank party?... Wait did you guys?"
"Yeah," Elise replied with a smile, giving their captain a playful elbow. "Gareth here just advanced to tier 2. Isn't that right?" she shot at him.
"She's right." he told Kael. "I'm officially a 2nd tier tank now."
According to the guild policy, for an adventurer to advance from bronze to iron rank the requirement was to be 2nd tier, which in other words was to have your third class and from the looks of it, Gareth was now iron rank.
'Iron rank... Forget bronze, that's where adventuring truly began.'
"So since you're coming to me, does that mean...?"
"We'd like for you to be our fifth member, what do you say?"
'Whoa... That's... This is great..'
"Thanks but--" He stopped midway and was about to decline that he wasn't ready but then a thought, or a feeling flared up within him.
'They said they were going to a dungeon... Dungeons mean more monsters and more monsters mean more money... more money means I get to–'
"I'll do it!" He replied with a spark in his eyes as a single thought crossed his mind.
'I'll finally get to eat something... Finally.'
"Really? Well then..." Gareth confirmed, giving Kyle a quick smile.
"Welcome to the team Kael, pleased to be working with you."