Chapter 21: The Adventuring City?

As the party approached the walls of Seolford they prepared themselves to be taken into another side room and be questioned by the city guard even though Isla had told them that this city was built upon its adventuring scene. Lining up to enter the city the party made sure to have everything squared away correctly but passing through the city gate no one stopped them or asked to see any form of identification they were just allowed to pass on through the gate and into the city. Once inside the city the first thing the party went to go and do was to get official adventurers licences from the adventurer’s guild within the city as they never had a chance to in Ehccihster. Trying to locate the adventurer’s guild proved to be harder than the party initially thought as the signs above the buildings all looked similar in this city unlike the distinctive designs found in Ehccihster, but after a what felt like half of the remaining daylight searching for the guild building they finally found it and began the registration process for people that had been previously appraised. Completing the forms and then submitting them and waiting for the slow hand of bureaucracy to move the paper down the chain and then the licence cards back up it used up what little daylight remained in the sky, but with their licences in hand the party were able to utilise the facilities on offer at the guild which included a place to rest for the night. That night word spread to the lord that a new S-Rank mage had appeared and entered the city with a party of A-Ranks and were staying at the guild for the night, the lord sent a messenger out to the guild to notify this new party or guild whichever they were to come and visit his manor once morning came. When morning arrived and the members of the newly officially established Shin’ya guild entered the lobby of the adventurer’s guild they received their notice of summons by the lord from the front desk, after receiving this notice the party were quickly found by a member of the lord’s house staff to escort them to the manor of the cities lord. Ilev and Arano both tried to get information out of the member of the house staff on why they were called before the lord, but the house staff member remained silent throughout the entire walk similar to how the guard had acted when escorting them to and from the castle in Ehccihster before they were told to leave the city forever. The similarities between then and now had every member of the party on edge and nervous about what their future might hold as it once again seemed as though they wouldn’t have a place to return to after completing a quest or even be able to take on quests from this guild, as it felt like they were going to be told to move on before having a chance to even look to make some money from this cities quest board. The walk from the adventurer’s guild to the manor of the lord was a moderate one but one that was now complete, the member of staff that has escorted them to the manor opened the front door ushering the party inside and to where the lord was awaiting their arrival in the reception room. The lord sat at the head of the table within the reception room with six chairs set out three on each of the long edges of the table ready for the party’s arrival, as the party entered the room and the house staff left the lord stood up and started to speak.

“Welcome, I have been expecting you all. Now I know this must seem sudden but once I heard of a guild of your calibre entering the city I simply could not pass up the opportunity to meet with you as soon as time itself allowed. So please accept my sincerest apologies for the abruptness of my summons. But once I heard that you are all A-rank and one among you is even an S-rank mage, I could not contain myself. Now of course you will want to know why I called for you all, but I think I should introduce myself first and foremost before getting into business. I am Lord Connor Leon Seolfor the Fourth, the current lord of Seolford. But you may address me as just Connor as I am aware my full name is quite the mouthful. Now I know of you, but I am yet to learn your names so could you introduce yourselves then we can begin the business part of my summons.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome Lord Connor, I am the leader of the Shin’ya guild Ilev. I am an A-rank Commander.”
“Hi, I would be Lekly an A-rank Alchemist or something like that.”
“A pleasure to meet you Lord Connor, I am Aromi an A-rank mage.”
“Hello, my name is Arano I am an A-rank fighter.”
“Hey, I’m Ami and like Arano I’m an A-rank fighter.”
“Nice to meet you Lord Connor, I am Ilev’s right hand and second in command, Suieol. And I am like Lekly an A-rank Alchemist or Transfusioner.”
“Hmm? Guess I’m last. I’m Lexa, the S-rank mage.”
“Well it is nice to meet you all members of the Shin’ya guild. Onto business then, my request is what has been known in my family as the grand quest for generations and it is to be handed out to only the most capable of parties or guilds which I believe you to be after hearing of your abilities from the adventurer’s guild. Of course, there will be a large payment upon completion and if you chose to take the quest, I have prepared a house for your guild to use as well as some initial capital to use to upgrade and purchase new gear from the many merchants that have gathered within this city for the sole purpose of supplying adventurers like yourselves. You are most likely aware of the void zones that are scattered across this vast land, these are caused by the dark king and his realms attempted expansion into our own, this grand quest is for you to go and once again quell the king and stop his plans to invade this realm for the next thousand years. Are you willing to take on this quest?”
“We the Shin’ya guild will take this grand quest you offer, as it may be of use to our own personal situation as well.”
“Why thank you for agreeing to the quest, I must ask if you would share those personal situations over lunch in the manor. As it is getting towards that time and I cannot possibly let you all leave without at least offering.”
“Sure we’ll take you up on that offer, we’ll follow you to the dining room if we are to move.”
“Of course, please follow me.”

Lord Connor Leon Seolfor the Fourth rises from the table and exits the reception room heading towards the dining room leading the party as well as they prepare to have lunch with the lord of the city.