Chapter 87: The Guild Cards
The newly built guild building stood tall in the village square, its wooden walls reinforced with stone and marked with a large sign: Quest Board. Villagers gathered around, eyes wide, murmuring to each other with excitement and nerves.
Lari, a young elf girl, clutched her freshly issued Bronze Card. It shimmered faintly in the sunlight, no bigger than her palm. Her hands trembled—not out of fear, but anticipation.
"Three slimes... ten coins," she read aloud. "Doesn't sound too hard."
Beside her, a broad-shouldered goblin named Ruin snorted. "Easy for you to say. Slimes are nasty when they cling to your arm. Remember Toren last night?"
Lari giggled. "He fell face-first into one and lost his sword."
"I heard Caelen had to pull it off with tongs," Ruin added, grinning.
A voice rang out from the side of the board. "Those who complete more than five beginner quests can get evaluated for Copper Rank! You want more coins? Earn them!"
It was Dorgrim, standing proudly in his blacksmith apron. The guild was his idea too—he'd helped design the ranking system alongside Caelen: Bronze, Copper, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Seven levels of progress. Seven ways to grow.
The system made things feel real. Like an adventure.
Ruin glanced at Lari. "You teaming up with anyone?"
She nodded toward a small group of elves and young goblins already stretching nearby. "Yeah. We'll go to the east field. Heard there's more slime activity there."