The sunrise over Riquier lit the red-tiled rooftops with a beautiful golden glow that slowly revealed the cobblestone streets as the sun ascended into the sky. The scent of brine was carried in from the sea breeze along with lavender, a popular flower in the outlying manors. Riquier was a picturesque town, a jewel of the southern coast.
They sailed over the walls and swept over streets, bustling with life. Merchants called out from their stalls, peddling everything from fresh seafood to colorful spices. Sounds rose up from the ground fathoms below; hawkers shouting indistinctly of their wares, a child’s playful yell and the distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer.
They’d set sail the previous evening after the ambush. Nobody had wanted to go to sleep after that and Mother Dukas had wanted the aspirants to move anyway. Just in case there was a second wave of attacks. They’d started far inland near the alps but the passengers of the airship discovered that Captain Dimont had spent the last week practicing sailing at low speed. The Second Wind made for the sea and was into the Byzas Strait before sunrise. The aspirants watched the moons light play upon the water until right before sunrise when they’d come back to land and made a great arc back to Riquier.
Sam—practically hiding between Dave and Hugh—especially smiled and sighed, looking at the sunrise as the airship slowed over the centre of town. She was not the only one who thought it a shame to be deprived of the views from the Second Wind but the Adventure Society branch would be opening soon and everyone on board prioritised ending the expedition over even a perfect sunrise. Being suddenly attacked in the night can change one's perspective and, despite some combat-bourne camaraderie, the social class divides on board were still uncomfortable. Except for Johan, of course, whose wholesome, brute-force-attack on reality made friends with anybody.
“You alright?” asked Dave quietly to Sam.
She smiled brightly up at him in a way that he knew was anxious. Nearby, Blackwood and Lefevre huddled with Valleron and Payne, their subdued expressions reflecting their anxiety. Blackwood glanced around, nervous, before offering a tight smile to Dave.
“See? She’s fine,” said Hugh, clapping Sam on the back. “We’ll teleport her out as soon as the badger is on her chest.”
Sam smiled pleadingly at Hugh in a way that he couldn’t understand.
“Let’s just get back to questing as quick as we can,” said Dave. “Pretty city but I want to follow up these questlines.”
““Steady as she goes! Bring us down easy!” bellowed Captain Dimont.
Further conversation was stymied by the bustle of the crew bringing the ship to as close to a stop as was possible over the steps of the Adventure Society building under the commands of the captain.
“Disembark!” ordered Captain Dimont.
Team Executive Services cast themselves over the side of the ship with a practiced ease, slow falling lightly to the cobblestones. Sam gripped Dave’s arm tightly and he spun but she was looking at a flower stall where a vendor was arranging bright bouquets of sunflowers, lavender, and wild thistles, their colours vibrant in the morning light.
“Pick a few out,” said Dave, tilting his head towards the vendor.
Sam smiled hesitantly up at him.
“We’re super rich, remember?” said Dave, smiling back. “We don’t need to question if we can afford it. Just question if you want to support a small-time florist.”
“I want!” whispered Sam. She clasped her hands together and smiled, making her way to the vendor and even skipping for a couple of steps.
Instructor Drakos eyed the crowd disdainfully.
“That’s everyone,” he said to Mother Superior Dukas. “If Miss Khantong deigns to stay with us, of course.”
A blushing Sam scurried up the marble steps of the Adventure Society hall, grinning at the ground with her arms full of flowers that she admired as the flock of aspirants trailed behind their superiors, each falling silent as they approached the building’s grand facade.
The entrance of all Adventure Society buildings was designed to humble and inspire, and this branch was no exception. The pale stone shimmered in the morning light, cut and polished with the precision of ancient craftsmen. Wide, sweeping steps led to a towering set of heavy wooden doors, dark and weathered but unyielding. Above them, the emblem of the Adventure Society—a sword and rod crossed over a shield—was carved in high relief, casting sharp shadows that danced in the shifting sunlight. Flanking the entrance, banners of deep blue and gold snapped crisply in the salt-tinged breeze, their edges lined with runes that seemed to hum with unseen power. It was more than just a building; it was a statement. Those who crossed its threshold were daring, bold, and destined for greatness.
“I always dreamed of entering these honourable halls,” said Johan, looking like a heroic comic book panel as he absorbed every heartbeat of this momentous occasion on the threshold of the building. “Adventure awaits.”
He turned back and smiled beatifically at Sam who was paling, her breath quickening, before he led the way, cape trailing behind him.
“My Lady says she is with you,” said Hugh in Sam’s ear.
“Thank you!” she squeaked.
They followed in the head-turning wake of Johan, ever the golden-haired knight. His charming smile and easy, calming aura caught the attention of staff and adventurers alike. Attention that his team–wanted by the Builder cult for questioning, spy inside the Builder cult and restricted essence user–were happy for him to take.
The aspirants were guided to a meeting room where they were greeted by cool air and the scent of old stone and ink, a testament to the centuries of bureaucracy that had taken place there. The space was expansive but efficient, designed for purpose rather than grandeur. Long rugs stretched across the stone floors, muffling footsteps and lending a sense of quiet solemnity. Overhead, heavy wooden beams, darkened by time and salt air, crisscrossed the ceiling. Along the walls, glowstones shimmered softly, their steady, white light casting an even glow that reinforced the room’s air of stern professionalism.
The instructors Konstantinos and Drakos took the prime positions at the table, looking approachable and aloof respectively. To the side of them, Mother Superior Dukas stood with her usual calm authority holding a kind of crystal ball. Aspirants stood in two groups, nobles to the fore and commoners behind but both groups conversing in hushed tones.
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“Please let me have made it, please let me have made it,” Lefevre muttered openly with his eyes closed and fingers crossed.
“Well, I’ll do you first then, Lefevre,” said Mother Dukas, gesturing the young nobleman forward.
She waved her crystal ball in front of him that Dave could see would both show the magical essences inherent in an aura as take an aura imprint.
“Wheel, lightning, resolute and juggernaut,” said Mother Dukas.
Her words were taken down by a scribe who’d been sitting unnoticed behind the instructors.
“Essence and racial abilities?” asked Drakos, handing the paper back to the scribe.
Unlike the members of Executive Services, he wasn’t fully awakened and so after he registered all eleven of his abilities, he waved off his racials, the scribe quietly handed the vellum sheet to the instructors who both pressed some mana into small magical formations at the bottom of the sheet. The piece of paper was filed away in a folder and Mother Dukas pressed an Adventure Society badge against the crystal and channelled a little mana before handing over the badge.
“Next is Blackwood, Edward,” called Mother Dukas.
Blackwood approached, sweating and visibly slumped when Mother Dukas read his essences of song, dark, hammer and discordant off to the scribe. He too was scanned and relayed his abilities that Dave had identified for him some days ago. He too got a badge. He clapped Dave on the back as he returned to his place. Dave’s smile turned strained when Lefevre had passed.
As the process went through the next few aspirants, one by one, Sam’s knuckles became whiter and whiter around her bouquet. She stared into the flowers and tears started streaming down her face with fear.
“Khantong, Samorn!”
Sam stumbled forward on leaden legs, wondering if it was her last moments as a free woman or her last days alive. Dave turned his body so that nobody a higher rank than him could see him palm a gold coin from his inventory. Hugh started sweating. Johan stood proudly.
“Oh, Samorn,” said Mother Superior Dukas, revealing a glowing, matronly smile just for Sam. “How lovely to see you, dear!”
Sam just nodded and smiled in terror. Mother Dukas spoke in Funan while peering at Sam through the crystal idly but seemed to get distracted. She pointed at Sam’s flowers asking a question. In response, Sam lit up, pushing the flowers forward and pointed at the sunflowers. Mother Dukas said something else, gesturing at the wild thistle and Sam laughed shyly. The conversation continued for sometime before Drakos cleared his throat loudly.
“He’s right, Lek,” said Mother Dukas, sighing and looking at Drakos. “We girls can prattle on, can’t we?”
Sam smiled guiltily, some of the fear coming back. Mother Dukas cast her eyes over the aspirants setting on Dave.
“Booker? A copy of Samorn’s abilities, thank you.”
Dave’s face got his characteristic far away look as he interacted with his UI.
“In the correct format, thank you. Hand them to the scribe, please,” said Mother Dukas, in the tone of moving things along to make up for lost time.
Dave was already flicking his hand, papers appearing in them soon to be stamped with the same boilerplate text that the scribe had and his pens flying through the air, ready to fill out the blank spaces.
“It needs to be announced,” said Drakos, bored.
“Why don't you tell him, Lek?” said the Mother Superior kindly while pressing a badge against the aura crystal.
“Life, flesh, dance, and animate!” Sam squeaked, her voice barely above a whisper, terrified the lie would unravel.
Mother Dukas smiled serenely, nodding to the scribe to check and approve the papers that Dave’s pens flew into his hands. In a moment the scribe nodded and passed the papers to the instructors for stamping.
“There you have it,” said Mother Dukas, her voice like a warm breeze as she held out the Adventure Society badge to Sam.
Sam broke down, weeping as she took the badge. The symbol of a life she thought she’d only ever see in her dreams again while the world passed her by.
“Thank you,” she whispered to Mother Dukas.
Mother Dukas smiled at her.
“The Goddess sees a future for you,” the matriarchal voice of Mother Dukas intoned. “I trust you’ll take it.”
“I will,” Sam cried, her voice full of emotion.
“Go on now. Enjoy yourself with your friends and smell those beautiful flowers.”
Sam made her way back to her spot in the room, still holding the badge tightly to her chest.
The rest of the badge awards went smoothly. Eventually, the scribe was packing his equipment away and the instructors were handing him the folder of abilities.
“That’s all for today,” said instructor Konstantinos. “If any of you wish to challenge or query the results, you may do so with administration at this branch as early as tomorrow. Wait times may be longer for other branches.”
Only a single one of the remaining aspirants didn’t pass. Francios de Bourbon, was the youngest aspirant. De Bourbon would turn sixteen next month and had, apparently, attempted a fight he was supposed to refuse. He hadn’t expected to pass after needing to be rescued but instead of going home early, he’d followed his father’s advice and continued on for the entire trials to get some much needed experience with monsters and some official feedback at the end to better pass the next intake.
“To those of you who passed,” continued Konstantinos, “I wish you a successful career performing the most necessary, most dangerous job this world has to offer; monster hunting. Welcome to the Adventure Society.”
The aspirants spilled out of the Adventure Society building, badges gleaming on their chests and smiles as bright as the sun overhead. Johan led the way, like a hero from the old stories, often turning to call back to the new adventurers who were laughing at some joke only half-told as often as not. Somehow, Johan’s aura bridged the gaps between commoner and noble. Sam clutched her bouquet and badge like talismans, grinning shyly at passersby. Even Dave at the back couldn’t help but grin as they had made their way down the marble steps and into the cobbled streets of Riquier.
“Well, I dare say this calls for breakfast,” said Hugh, eyeing the bustling market that inevitably sprang up outside Adventure halls, “Something hearty. Croissants, eggs, smoked meats, fresh fruit, maybe some cured ham. Oh, and a whole wheel of cheese between us all, of course. And don’t forget the butter. Proper butter, not that whipped nonsense. We’ll need bread, too—baguettes, maybe some rolls. Coffee, of course. Or tea, if you’re feeling fancy, Dave.”
Sam giggled, bouncing on her feet.
“It’ll have to be takeaway,” said Dave over the din. “We need to get Sam onto that beach we flew over on the way in.”
Hugh deflated slightly. Sam smiled guiltily at him.
“Cheer up, mate,” said Dave, patting Hugh on the shoulder. “A full Francalbian breakfast on your own personal beach is hardly a downer in life.”
“Well, perhaps we can buy the feast before you go, Sam?” asked Hugh.
Sam smiled in confirmation. Hugh's eyes flicked to Dave who nodded the translation.
Still caught up in Johan’s infectious aura, they moved joyously through the market. Dave noticed the cultist gang were lingering at a distance, quietly raising their badges to each other, grinning with satisfaction. Valleron whispered something to Payne, and they all chuckled, but were careful to contain their words and their mirth from the townspeople near them. Dave thought it odd but continued with the bright mood however, as the group approached the notice board, the mood shifted. The usual market bustle seemed subdued, conversations hushed and strained. Vendors had stopped calling out their wares, and there was a tension in the air, like the breath had been knocked out of the town.
The source of the anxiety was next to the notice board. A town crier stood there, his voice strained as he read details from a parchment that the new adventurers had no context for.
“Good elf,” said Johan to an ashen faced bystander. “What’s going on?”
“Lutetia’s gone,” said the slight elven woman. Her voice sounded hollow.
“Was there a fire?” asked Hugh, concern on his face.
“No, it’s… gone,” finished the elf lamely and gestured at a projection crystal that’d just been handed to the crier by a runner.
The crystal flickered to life projecting a scene of devastation above the crowd. Some sobbed, others cried in disbelief. The scene was a flat expanse of rubbled that used to be buildings. Nothing recognisable that Dave, Sam or Hugh could identify. They’d never been there. Only the skeletons of the grandest or most lucky structures remained. Everything else scattered like confetti.
“It’s like fucking Hiroshima,” muttered Dave in shock.
Other murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“...iron rank explosion…”
“...the whole city, gone…”
“...Church of Purity claims responsibility…”
“...everything within the monster wall?”
The crier’s voice broke as he continued.
“...Is not confirmed at this time. The Praetor of Frankalbia is urging all citizens to remain calm.”
Dave stopped listening to the words. He could pull the announcement from his message history later. His eyes instead locked onto the group of Builder cultists who’d just become iron rank adventurers. Blackwood and Lefevre shared a glance with him, a glint of satisfaction flickering across their faces before quickly masked by faux solemnity.
“Investigations are ongoing,” continued the crier, his voice trembling but resolute as he finished the announcement. “We ask that all citizens remain vigilant. Trust in the gods, and trust in the leaders of our realm. Order shall be restored. May the strength of Byzas be with you.”
“What do we do?” asked Sam. She wasn’t the only one.
“Everything just changed,” said Dave hollowly before his unfocused eyes snapped back to reality. “But there’s a quest marker over the crier as well as the cultists so I think we’ll start there.”
