Chapter 12: Wanna Join the Gang?
Chapter 12: Wanna Join the Gang?
Noah’s group was promptly escorted back out into the commoner area, or the Outer Zone, as the guard called it. Even though they had been turned back, they hadn’t yet lost all hope.
“All we have to do is wait till Anna returns, right?” Sophie asked.
“Yeah. Wonder where she went,” Noah replied. “You reckon Alatair’s still here?”
“I doubt it. Even if he is, who knows what he’s up to?” Franco shrugged. “In the meantime, you two don’t have a place to stay, do you?”
“Unfortunately not.”
Franco's face lit up. “No worries! I might have just the solution. How about I introduce you to my guild?”
“Your guild?”
“Yeah! Most magicians here are affiliated with a guild because they offer a ton of benefits. For example, you get to pick quests that suit your interests for some income, and it's also a great way to meet new people! Furthermore, guildhouses are considered safe zones by the Lattice, meaning no combat is allowed there. It’s a place where you can truly relax. If you’re interested, want to come check it out?”
Franco was so excited that it was hard for Noah to say no. Not that he would have turned down such an offer anyway.
“Umm, yeah, sure.”
“Awesome. It’s not too far... probably about a 15 minute walk from here?”
They set off once again, with Franco enthusiastically leading the way.
“How many people are in the guild?” Sophie asked as they navigated the busy streets.
“We’ve got about thirty members,” Franco replied. “But most of them are out on commissions right now, so it should be relatively empty.”
The cityscape gradually shifted as they moved into a quieter part of the district. Eventually, they arrived at a large building. It was located right by a pleasant meadow, with a smaller branch of the main river winding through the field. Despite its relatively secluded location, they could still hear the bustle of the marketplace blending with the soft trickle of water. A large, wooden crest representing a cloud with a tornado cutting through it was hung above the entrance.
Franco stepped through the open doors and beckoned for them to enter. The immediate area was filled with a bunch of mostly empty wooden tables. Further in was a bar beside what looked to be a reception counter, which was currently unmanned. The whole vibe reminded Noah of an old German pub.
There was also a rather striking notice board on one of the walls. In contrast to the mystical, antique vibe of the other pieces in the room, this board was fully digital. It also looked to be touchscreen. To Noah, it felt comically out of place, but this was probably Lattice technology.
“Yo guys! Check out who I brought!” Franco hollered.
The few people in the room all glanced over at them.
Sophie quickly averted her gaze. “So embarrassing!” she hissed.
Noah found her reaction amusing. Wasn't she supposed to be the social one?
The lady manning the bar was practically glowing with excitement. She quickly bounded over, shaking their hands. “Hello, welcome to Spark Nimbus! My name is Flora, the guild’s bartender~ Are you two interested in joining the guild?”
“Err, is there a requirement we should know before joining?” Noah asked. Her presence was a tad too overwhelming for his comfort. Even Sophie was starting to find herself a little out of her depth.
“The only requirement is that you have to be at least an E-Rank magician. But that isn’t decided by us! It’s one of the laws imposed on all magical guilds by the city,” Flora beamed.
Noah sucked in his breath. “Um…”
Franco’s smile faded. He slapped his forehead, “Ah! I completely forgot about that.”
Judging from his reaction, Noah assumed that Alatair must have informed Franco of the fact that he was an F-Rank. But the rank requirement was a problem. Since Sophie was an E-Rank, she could join Spark Nimbus without issue. The thought of them splitting up left Noah uneasy, and judging from Sophie’s expression, she felt the same way.
Flora frowned. “Is something wrong?”
Noah smiled awkwardly. “Well, you see..”This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“The boy’s an F-Rank,” Franco declared.
The room fell silent. Noah heard one of the members by the table whisper something.
“Oh!” Flora awkwardly rubbed the back of her head. “In that case—”
“But he does have a Talent,” Franco cut in. “I’m not sure why the Lattice classified him as an F-Rank, but from what I’ve heard, it’s quite powerful.”
“What’s the Talent?” someone called. The tone leaned more towards curiosity than mockery.
“Noah, if you would introduce yourself?” Franco gestured.
“Huh? Oh, um… hi, I’m Noah. So, yeah, I happen to be graded an F-Rank. My Talent’s called Zero.” Wait, was it safe to just outright describe his talent? Noah supposed there was no harm. “I’m still learning more about it as I go, but as of right now, I can reduce an enemy’s attack and health to zero over time.”
As he waited for the crowd to take in the information, a man in a straw hat seated nearby raised his hand. “Is there a catch to it? Because that doesn’t sound like an F-Rank Talent.”
“Not that I know of,” Noah admitted.
“That’s weird. So why were you ranked that low?”
“I’m sorry, but I would like to know as well.”
“Maybe we can bring this up to the boss. She’s in her room right now. I’m curious to know her opinion,” the man suggested.
“Good idea. But before that, Sophie, would you like to introduce yourself too?” Franco prompted.
“Ah—yeah! Hi, I’m Sophie. Nice to meet you all,” she said quickly. “I’m just an E-Rank, so, uh… I guess we’ll see what the boss says about Noah first.”
Franco clapped his hands. “Alrighty then, Flora, could you get them some drinks while I go get the boss?”
“Already on it.”
“Sweet, be right back. Sorry for putting you guys on the spot like that,” Franco whispered before rushing upstairs.
“He’ll be back in a bit,” Flora reassured them. “Meanwhile why don’t you two have a seat?” she continued, settling two mugs on a nearby table.
As they did so, the straw hat man wandered over and plopped down beside them. “Greetings, the name’s Clifton. I assume that you two aren’t from around here?”
Noah nodded. “Yeah, but it’s a little hard to explain…”
Clifton lowered his voice. “For the record, I wouldn’t mind having you around. You seem interesting.”
“Uhh…thanks?”
They were interrupted by the sound of boots thumping down the stairs. Franco returned with a woman of similar age as him, dressed in combat gear.
“I hear we have two new potential members?” she boomed. She directed a piercing gaze at Noah and Sophie. “Welcome to Spark Nimbus. I’m Tanna, the leader of the guild. Which one of you is the F-Rank?”
Noah swallowed. “That would be me. I'm Noah.”
“And yet you have a Talent?” she asked, taking a seat on a bench beside them.
“Seems like it.”
“How fascinating. Care to explain how it works? You can explain yours too, young lady,” she nodded at Sophie.
Noah went first, giving her a brief overview of Zero and displaying his Vitra as he did so. It had been a while since he had last observed his own Vitra.
—
Class: HumanLevel: 4XP: 400/1330HP: 1750/1750MP: 59/59Attack: 390Defence: 310Rank: FTalent: 0
—
Global Skills
GS1: Echolocation (Level 1)
GS1: Consume (Level 1)
—
Talent Skills
TS1: Void Suppression (Level 1)
TS1: Void Vitality (Level 1)
—
He was currently Level 4, and his statistics had been slightly increased throughout the board. Once he was done, it was Sophie’s turn to describe her abilities. Her Vitra popped up beside them.
—
Class: HumanLevel: 4XP: 0/1330HP: 1750/1750MP: 59/59Attack: 390Defence: 310Rank: ETalent: Looter
—
Global Skills
GS1: Echolocation (Level 1)
—
Talent Skills
TS1: Eagle Eye (Level 1)
TS1: Ocean Breath (Level 1)
TS1: Disarm (Level 1)
—
“Looks like I’m still slightly behind you in terms of XP,” she observed.
“It’s probably because of the Diamantis. That thing dropped a ton,” Noah replied.
“Hold on. Did you say… Diamantis?” Tanna perked up. “At your level and Rank, it would take a miracle to even escape a Diamantis attack. Yet you managed to kill it?”
Noah was trying to keep his humility in check, but he ultimately gave in. “I killed it when I was Level 1. I think the Diamantis was like… level sixty-something?”
A kick landed from under the table. He looked up to see Sophie deadpanning at him. “Show off,” she mouthed.
Tanna let out an almighty guffaw. “That’s it, I’ve decided. Starting today, you two are officially members of Spark Nimbus!”
“I knew it,” Clifton smirked, mysteriously tipping the brim of his hat over his eyes.
“But Ma’am, it’s illegal for—” Flora rushed forward.
“Ahh who cares? It’s a stupid rule anyway,” Tanna waved her off. “People should be allowed to join magical guilds even if they’re Talentless—I mean F-Ranked.”
"That’s… not really the point. If the Council finds out—"
"Then we let Noah demonstrate his ability," Tanna countered. "Let’s see if they’re still so confident once they get a taste of it themselves."
Noah couldn’t believe his ears. This boss was insane. She hadn’t even seen his Talent in action, yet she was willing to take such a risk. Still, he couldn’t help feeling relieved. For the time being, he had a place to call home.
“So what do you say? Wanna join the gang?” Tanna asked.
Might as well, right? They seem kinda cool. Noah nodded, “I’ll gladly take you up on your offer.”
“Same here,” Sophie affirmed eagerly.
“Excellent. Flora, could you handle the registration? Document their particulars in the guild logs for me, thank you. In the meantime, why don’t I show both of you around? Let’s start with the Commission Board.”
Chapter 12: Wanna Join the Gang?
Chapter 12: Wanna Join the Gang?
Noah’s group was promptly escorted back out into the commoner area, or the Outer Zone, as the guard called it. Even though they had been turned back, they hadn’t yet lost all hope.
“All we have to do is wait till Anna returns, right?” Sophie asked.
“Yeah. Wonder where she went,” Noah replied. “You reckon Alatair’s still here?”
“I doubt it. Even if he is, who knows what he’s up to?” Franco shrugged. “In the meantime, you two don’t have a place to stay, do you?”
“Unfortunately not.”
Franco's face lit up. “No worries! I might have just the solution. How about I introduce you to my guild?”
“Your guild?”
“Yeah! Most magicians here are affiliated with a guild because they offer a ton of benefits. For example, you get to pick quests that suit your interests for some income, and it's also a great way to meet new people! Furthermore, guildhouses are considered safe zones by the Lattice, meaning no combat is allowed there. It’s a place where you can truly relax. If you’re interested, want to come check it out?”
Franco was so excited that it was hard for Noah to say no. Not that he would have turned down such an offer anyway.
“Umm, yeah, sure.”
“Awesome. It’s not too far... probably about a 15 minute walk from here?”
They set off once again, with Franco enthusiastically leading the way.
“How many people are in the guild?” Sophie asked as they navigated the busy streets.
“We’ve got about thirty members,” Franco replied. “But most of them are out on commissions right now, so it should be relatively empty.”
The cityscape gradually shifted as they moved into a quieter part of the district. Eventually, they arrived at a large building. It was located right by a pleasant meadow, with a smaller branch of the main river winding through the field. Despite its relatively secluded location, they could still hear the bustle of the marketplace blending with the soft trickle of water. A large, wooden crest representing a cloud with a tornado cutting through it was hung above the entrance.
Franco stepped through the open doors and beckoned for them to enter. The immediate area was filled with a bunch of mostly empty wooden tables. Further in was a bar beside what looked to be a reception counter, which was currently unmanned. The whole vibe reminded Noah of an old German pub.
There was also a rather striking notice board on one of the walls. In contrast to the mystical, antique vibe of the other pieces in the room, this board was fully digital. It also looked to be touchscreen. To Noah, it felt comically out of place, but this was probably Lattice technology.
“Yo guys! Check out who I brought!” Franco hollered.
The few people in the room all glanced over at them.
Sophie quickly averted her gaze. “So embarrassing!” she hissed.
Noah found her reaction amusing. Wasn't she supposed to be the social one?
The lady manning the bar was practically glowing with excitement. She quickly bounded over, shaking their hands. “Hello, welcome to Spark Nimbus! My name is Flora, the guild’s bartender~ Are you two interested in joining the guild?”
“Err, is there a requirement we should know before joining?” Noah asked. Her presence was a tad too overwhelming for his comfort. Even Sophie was starting to find herself a little out of her depth.
“The only requirement is that you have to be at least an E-Rank magician. But that isn’t decided by us! It’s one of the laws imposed on all magical guilds by the city,” Flora beamed.
Noah sucked in his breath. “Um…”
Franco’s smile faded. He slapped his forehead, “Ah! I completely forgot about that.”
Judging from his reaction, Noah assumed that Alatair must have informed Franco of the fact that he was an F-Rank. But the rank requirement was a problem. Since Sophie was an E-Rank, she could join Spark Nimbus without issue. The thought of them splitting up left Noah uneasy, and judging from Sophie’s expression, she felt the same way.
Flora frowned. “Is something wrong?”
Noah smiled awkwardly. “Well, you see..”This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“The boy’s an F-Rank,” Franco declared.
The room fell silent. Noah heard one of the members by the table whisper something.
“Oh!” Flora awkwardly rubbed the back of her head. “In that case—”
“But he does have a Talent,” Franco cut in. “I’m not sure why the Lattice classified him as an F-Rank, but from what I’ve heard, it’s quite powerful.”
“What’s the Talent?” someone called. The tone leaned more towards curiosity than mockery.
“Noah, if you would introduce yourself?” Franco gestured.
“Huh? Oh, um… hi, I’m Noah. So, yeah, I happen to be graded an F-Rank. My Talent’s called Zero.” Wait, was it safe to just outright describe his talent? Noah supposed there was no harm. “I’m still learning more about it as I go, but as of right now, I can reduce an enemy’s attack and health to zero over time.”
As he waited for the crowd to take in the information, a man in a straw hat seated nearby raised his hand. “Is there a catch to it? Because that doesn’t sound like an F-Rank Talent.”
“Not that I know of,” Noah admitted.
“That’s weird. So why were you ranked that low?”
“I’m sorry, but I would like to know as well.”
“Maybe we can bring this up to the boss. She’s in her room right now. I’m curious to know her opinion,” the man suggested.
“Good idea. But before that, Sophie, would you like to introduce yourself too?” Franco prompted.
“Ah—yeah! Hi, I’m Sophie. Nice to meet you all,” she said quickly. “I’m just an E-Rank, so, uh… I guess we’ll see what the boss says about Noah first.”
Franco clapped his hands. “Alrighty then, Flora, could you get them some drinks while I go get the boss?”
“Already on it.”
“Sweet, be right back. Sorry for putting you guys on the spot like that,” Franco whispered before rushing upstairs.
“He’ll be back in a bit,” Flora reassured them. “Meanwhile why don’t you two have a seat?” she continued, settling two mugs on a nearby table.
As they did so, the straw hat man wandered over and plopped down beside them. “Greetings, the name’s Clifton. I assume that you two aren’t from around here?”
Noah nodded. “Yeah, but it’s a little hard to explain…”
Clifton lowered his voice. “For the record, I wouldn’t mind having you around. You seem interesting.”
“Uhh…thanks?”
They were interrupted by the sound of boots thumping down the stairs. Franco returned with a woman of similar age as him, dressed in combat gear.
“I hear we have two new potential members?” she boomed. She directed a piercing gaze at Noah and Sophie. “Welcome to Spark Nimbus. I’m Tanna, the leader of the guild. Which one of you is the F-Rank?”
Noah swallowed. “That would be me. I'm Noah.”
“And yet you have a Talent?” she asked, taking a seat on a bench beside them.
“Seems like it.”
“How fascinating. Care to explain how it works? You can explain yours too, young lady,” she nodded at Sophie.
Noah went first, giving her a brief overview of Zero and displaying his Vitra as he did so. It had been a while since he had last observed his own Vitra.
—
Class: HumanLevel: 4XP: 400/1330HP: 1750/1750MP: 59/59Attack: 390Defence: 310Rank: FTalent: 0
—
Global Skills
GS1: Echolocation (Level 1)
GS1: Consume (Level 1)
—
Talent Skills
TS1: Void Suppression (Level 1)
TS1: Void Vitality (Level 1)
—
He was currently Level 4, and his statistics had been slightly increased throughout the board. Once he was done, it was Sophie’s turn to describe her abilities. Her Vitra popped up beside them.
—
Class: HumanLevel: 4XP: 0/1330HP: 1750/1750MP: 59/59Attack: 390Defence: 310Rank: ETalent: Looter
—
Global Skills
GS1: Echolocation (Level 1)
—
Talent Skills
TS1: Eagle Eye (Level 1)
TS1: Ocean Breath (Level 1)
TS1: Disarm (Level 1)
—
“Looks like I’m still slightly behind you in terms of XP,” she observed.
“It’s probably because of the Diamantis. That thing dropped a ton,” Noah replied.
“Hold on. Did you say… Diamantis?” Tanna perked up. “At your level and Rank, it would take a miracle to even escape a Diamantis attack. Yet you managed to kill it?”
Noah was trying to keep his humility in check, but he ultimately gave in. “I killed it when I was Level 1. I think the Diamantis was like… level sixty-something?”
A kick landed from under the table. He looked up to see Sophie deadpanning at him. “Show off,” she mouthed.
Tanna let out an almighty guffaw. “That’s it, I’ve decided. Starting today, you two are officially members of Spark Nimbus!”
“I knew it,” Clifton smirked, mysteriously tipping the brim of his hat over his eyes.
“But Ma’am, it’s illegal for—” Flora rushed forward.
“Ahh who cares? It’s a stupid rule anyway,” Tanna waved her off. “People should be allowed to join magical guilds even if they’re Talentless—I mean F-Ranked.”
"That’s… not really the point. If the Council finds out—"
"Then we let Noah demonstrate his ability," Tanna countered. "Let’s see if they’re still so confident once they get a taste of it themselves."
Noah couldn’t believe his ears. This boss was insane. She hadn’t even seen his Talent in action, yet she was willing to take such a risk. Still, he couldn’t help feeling relieved. For the time being, he had a place to call home.
“So what do you say? Wanna join the gang?” Tanna asked.
Might as well, right? They seem kinda cool. Noah nodded, “I’ll gladly take you up on your offer.”
“Same here,” Sophie affirmed eagerly.
“Excellent. Flora, could you handle the registration? Document their particulars in the guild logs for me, thank you. In the meantime, why don’t I show both of you around? Let’s start with the Commission Board.”