The Golden Hearth Inn stood proudly at the corner of the bustling avenue — a tall, timber-framed building with golden shutters and flowerboxes lining its wide windows. The scent of roasting meat and freshly baked bread drifted out onto the street, luring travelers and locals alike.
Ryn paused at the entrance, taking it all in.
"Smells like heaven."
Taren nodded with a grin.
"And tastes like survival."
They pushed open the door.
The interior was even livelier — a warm glow from dozens of enchanted lanterns painted the oak walls in shades of amber. The main hall was filled with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of mugs. A bard strummed a lute near the fireplace while servers wove between tables, carrying trays of steaming dishes.
Behind the counter stood a woman who immediately drew Ryn's attention — tall, poised, with wavy chestnut hair streaked with silver and sharp amber eyes that seemed to see everything.
Her uniform was simple but elegant: a white blouse, fitted vest, and a gold-threaded apron. She carried herself with the authority of someone who'd been running this place for decades.
"You boys lost, or looking for a drink?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Taren straightened immediately.
"Ah, ma'am — we're here for the job posting! The one about waiters?"
Her expression softened, though the sharpness in her gaze never quite faded.
"Hmm. You and every other hungry adventurer in the district. Come closer, let's have a look at you."
They approached the counter nervously.
The woman looked them both up and down — noting the sword at Ryn's hip, the healer's charm hanging from Taren's neck, and their travel-worn clothes.
"Names?" she asked.
"I'm Taren, and this is my friend Ryn."
"Friend, huh?" she said with a faint smile. "Good. Makes work easier when you've got someone watching your back."
She turned toward a chalkboard hanging behind her, scribbled something down, then gestured toward the kitchen door.
"You're both hired. For now, it's trial work — two days. If you don't break anything or spill soup on a noble, you'll get rooms upstairs and meals covered. Understood?"
Ryn blinked.
"That easy?"
"Hardly," she said dryly. "I can smell desperation better than ale. And besides…" — her smile turned knowing — "the regulars like fresh faces."
Ryn flushed, unsure how to respond, while Taren tried to suppress a laugh.
"Name's Mariel, by the way," she added, leaning on the counter. "Owner, cook, and referee when customers get stupid. Don't test my patience, boys, and we'll get along fine."
"Yes, ma'am!" they both said in unison.
Mariel handed them each a linen apron.
"Kitchen's that way. You'll start with the easy tables — the regulars. Don't argue with them; they bite."
They slipped into the rhythm quickly.
Taren handled orders with charm and smiles, while Ryn focused on carrying trays — trying very hard not to trip.
The inn bustled with all sorts: merchants with maps spread over the table, laughing adventurers comparing scars, and weary travelers who looked like they hadn't slept in weeks.
A group of armored men called out,
"Hey, new face! More ale over here!"
Ryn hurried over, his nerves buzzing, and managed to pour without spilling a drop. The men cheered.
"Not bad for a greenhorn!" one said, slapping him on the back.
"Thank you, sir!" Ryn said, smiling awkwardly.
Across the hall, Taren was helping a young mother carry her child's meal, chatting kindly as he refilled mugs. He caught Ryn's eye from across the room and gave a thumbs-up.
Time blurred into the rhythm of laughter, movement, and warmth.
The air smelled of roasted boar and spiced cider. The great stone hearth crackled with steady flames.
As the evening wound down, Mariel gathered them behind the counter.
She handed each of them a cup of water and a small silver coin.
"Not bad," she said, folding her arms. "Didn't drop anything, didn't start a fight, and you smiled. That's worth something around here."
Ryn smiled shyly.
"Thank you, ma'am. We'll do even better tomorrow."
Mariel studied them for a moment, then nodded.
"Good attitude. Rooms are upstairs, second door on the left. Breakfast at sunrise. Don't be late."
As she walked away, Ryn turned to Taren.
"Bro, we actually did it. A place to sleep, food to eat… this feels unreal."
Taren grinned, stretching his tired arms.
"Welcome to working life, my friend. It's not glamorous, but it's honest."
They both laughed, heading upstairs together, the inn's warm glow following them.
For the first time since arriving in the city, Ryn felt a small, steady spark of belonging — the feeling that maybe, just maybe, this was where his journey truly began.
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
The Golden Hearth Inn had become almost like home for Ryn and Taren.
Each day began before sunrise — setting tables, sweeping the floors, and greeting bleary-eyed travelers. By nightfall, the inn came alive with noise and laughter, and both of them had learned the rhythm of the place: when to move fast, when to smile, and when to duck out of Mariel's sharp gaze.
Now, standing in front of the counter with their aprons folded neatly, they both looked a little reluctant to leave.
Mariel wiped her hands on a towel and eyed them knowingly.
"So, you boys are off, huh?"
Ryn nodded, smiling faintly.
"Yeah. Our guild registration's finally cleared. Time to see if we made it onto that notice board."
Taren gave a small bow.
"We just wanted to say thanks, Miss Mariel. For the meals, the room, and… well, everything."
Her lips curved into a wry smile.
"Hmph. You make it sound like I was doing charity work. You two earned your keep."
She paused, then softened her tone.
"Still… the place'll be a little quieter without you."
That surprised Ryn — Mariel wasn't the kind to show sentiment.
"If you ever need a job again," she added, pointing her towel at them, "the Golden Hearth's doors are open. As long as you don't bring chaos with you."
Taren grinned.
"No promises on that last part."
Mariel chuckled.
"Figures."
They all laughed together — the kind of laughter that only comes after shared work, sweat, and a few near-disasters.
As they stepped outside, the morning sun washed the street in gold. The air smelled of fresh bread from the bakery across the lane.
Ryn glanced back one last time.
"She's tough, but she's got a heart of gold."
"Yeah," Taren said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Fitting name for the place, huh?"
The crowd around the notice board grew louder by the minute. The air shimmered with heat, sweat, and excitement — everyone searching desperately for their names.
Ryn's eyes ran down the long list until his breath caught.
"Taren, there—look! That's us!"
Taren leaned in and laughed.
"Ha! We actually made it!"
A cheerful voice chimed in beside them.
"You two just got approved too, huh?"
They turned to see a young man standing just a few steps away — tall and lean, with short sandy hair and bright green eyes that seemed to sparkle with mischief. A light bow was slung across his back, its string newly waxed, and a quiver of freshly-fletched arrows hung at his hip.
"Yeah," Taren said, smiling. "First-timers. You too?"
"Yup!" the stranger said brightly. "Name's Kael. Just got in. Figured I'd see what kind of faces I'll be dying alongside."
Taren chuckled.
"Nice sense of humor for someone new."
Kael grinned.
"You have to laugh before the monsters do, right?"
Ryn smiled at that. He liked the guy's energy — confident but not cocky.
"I'm Ryn. Swordsman. And this here's Taren — our healer."
Kael's eyes lit up.
"Oh, perfect! Me being an archer, that makes a solid trio — close combat, support, and long-range. You guys planning to form a party?"
Ryn glanced at Taren.
"We were, yeah."
"Then count me in," Kael said immediately. "I can handle scouting, tracking, and long-range support. I'm not much for talking to nobles, though."
"Neither are we," Taren said with a grin.
Kael extended a hand.
"Then it's settled. Let's watch each other's backs out there."
Ryn clasped his hand firmly.
"Welcome to the team."
The three of them stood together amid the bustling square — one swordsman, one healer, and one archer — surrounded by a thousand names and countless dreams.
Kael looked up at the endless board and whistled.
"A thousand approvals this month… imagine how many are already out there."
Ryn nodded.
"More than we can count."
Taren crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"But out of all those, we just need to be strong enough to survive. The rest'll work itself out."
Kael laughed.
"That's the spirit. Come on then — let's grab our badges before the line turns into another warzone."
Together, they pushed toward the guild's registration tent — three hopefuls stepping into the next stage of their adventure.