Greyhaven stood tall before them.
Stone walls reinforced with steel, banners fluttering calmly above the gate. It was clean. Organized. Prosperous.
Arelion squinted."So this is the nearest city… why does it look like it charges entry?"
Two guards stood before the gate, halberds crossed.
"Identification," one of them said. "Adventurer card or merchant permit."
The merchant stepped forward first, handing over a card."Merchant permit."
Approved instantly.
Then the guards turned to Arelion and Elayne.
"…Adventurer card?"
Silence.
Arelion smiled awkwardly. "We're… between careers."
The guard sighed. "Then you cannot enter."
Before Arelion could respond, the merchant suddenly spoke up.
"Oh—right. I almost forgot," he said, rummaging through his bag. "This is for you."
He handed Arelion a folded document.
"Those bandits who attacked us were wanted. This is the bounty clearance."
Arelion blinked. "You're giving this to us?"
"You saved my life," the merchant said earnestly. "I should've told you about city permits too. I'm sorry."
Arelion accepted the paper."…Thanks."
The guards, however, were unimpressed.
"Paperwork for the guild," one of them said. "Still need identification."
Elayne leaned closer and spoke quietly.
"Just pay them."
Arelion froze. "…Pay?"
"This is common practice."
He stared at her.
Then at the guards.
Then back at her.
"So that's how my kingdom works," he muttered. "Impressive. In the worst way."
With a resigned sigh, he reached into his pouch.
It was heavy.
…Right.
Thank you, everyone back home, for the generous corruption budget.
He handed over a small pouch of gold.
The guard weighed it once.
"Welcome to Greyhaven."
As they passed through the gate, Arelion glanced at Elayne.
Inner thought:
Thanks… I would've been standing there all day.
She didn't notice.
Or pretended not to.
The Adventurer's Guild
The Greyhaven Adventurer Guild was lively, noisy, and exactly what Arelion expected from a fantasy world.
"So this is where the tutorial starts," he muttered.
The receptionist looked up. "Registration requires completion of at least one quest."
Elayne didn't hesitate.
She placed the folded document on the counter.
The woman read it.
Then looked up, surprised.
"…Bandit subjugation confirmed."
Two cards were placed on the counter.
"Rank F. Welcome."
Arelion accepted his card.
Inner thought:
That was smoother than I expected.Thanks again, Elayne.
They finished the rest quickly and stepped back outside.
The city felt less intimidating now.
More alive.
As they walked, loud voices and laughter spilled from a nearby building. A wooden sign swung gently above the door.
The Gilded Mug
A tavern.
Arelion stopped.
"…We earned this."
Elayne frowned. "We did not drink."
"I didn't say drink," he replied. "I said enter."
She didn't look convinced.
They stepped inside.
Warmth. Noise. Movement.
Then—
A sudden crash.
A chair hit the floor.
"Hey! That's enough!"
The room tensed.
Arelion sighed quietly.
Inner thought:
Of course.Every tavern has one.
He glanced toward the source of the disturbance.
"Well," he said, "looks like Greyhaven wants to introduce itself properly."
And just like that—
Their peaceful entry into the city was over.