Riven sprinted across the rooftops, leaping from one building to the next with fluid precision. Amber mana coursed through his veins, intertwining with his own natural reserves. If I''m going to get stronger, I need to master control over both types of mana, he thought. Below him, the streets bustled with life—stalls packed with vibrant goods and shoppers haggling in animated tones. He spared the scene a glance. The chaos of an empire''s city, Riven mused with a sigh. He quickened his pace, his destination lying at the edge of the city center.


    As he reached the white marble stairs, he skidded to a halt. Dropping to street level, he adjusted his composure, walking like any ordinary citizen. Before him stood a grand structure of immense scale, its design imposing and meticulous. The building''s rectangular form was accentuated by smaller blocky sections that jutted out at its sides. Its entrance, framed by two enormous wooden doors with brass trim, swung open to admit a steady stream of adventurers and beasts alike. Riven''s stomach fluttered as he stepped forward. The Adventurers'' Guild, he reminded himself, swallowing his nerves.


    Inside, the opulence was staggering. Polished redwood floors gleamed under the light filtering through stained-glass windows. Walls adorned with intricate metallic inlays caught the eye, while doorframes of blue and white granite stood etched with glowing runes. The space was vast and open, with staircases curling upward from either corner of the entrance. These stairs bore their own rune patterns, and above them, balconies provided a view of the ground floor below.


    To his left stretched a line of counters, each marked with glowing boards that displayed their purposes in swirling letters of mana. To the right, a bustling tavern buzzed with activity, adventurers hunched over tables planning their next missions or simply sharing drinks and laughter. Right, Riven thought grimly, working in groups is always safer. His lips pressed into a thin line as he turned toward the counter labeled Recruits.


    Approaching the desk, he saw a striking woman in her twenties. Her long brown hair was tied into a ponytail, and a red-and-white uniform hugged her athletic frame. A silver nameplate on her chest read Helga.


    "Hello, Miss Helga," Riven began, doing his best to sound confident. "I''m here to register for the guild."


    Helga''s sharp eyes assessed him before her lips curved into a polite smile. "Alright," she said, pulling out a prism tablet swirling with faint, shimmering runes. "I''ll need some basic information first."


    Riven''s eyes lingered on the tablet. He had heard of such devices but had never seen one in person. A true master craftsman must have made this.


    "Name, age, and rank," Helga prompted, her tone brisk.


    Riven straightened. "Riven Stormbrand. Sixteen. Zero," he replied with growing assurance.


    Helga nodded, channeling mana into the tablet with practiced ease. Setting it aside, she retrieved a sheet of paper and handed it to him along with an ink pen. "Fill this out, and we''ll proceed with the physical test."Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Riven took the paper and sat at a nearby bench, his brow furrowed in concentration. He filled out the form carefully, his mother''s advice echoing in his mind: A single mistake reflects on your character. Once done, he returned the document to Helga, who sealed it with wax before gesturing toward a door at the side of the desk.


    Following her, Riven entered a room with concrete walls and a sand-covered floor. A metallic humanoid construct stood at the far end, its surface gleaming under the light. Helga approached the construct and adjusted something at its back, her movements precise and deliberate.


    She stepped aside and addressed Riven. "Please strike the dummy with all your strength."


    Riven blinked. He had expected a test, but the simplicity of the task caught him off guard. Father mentioned this, but he didn''t give specifics. Shaking off his doubts, he focused.


    Dropping into a combat stance, Riven checked his mana reserves. Both his cores thrummed with power, ready to be unleashed. He channeled half of his pink mana through his body, reinforcing his muscles, while directing thirty percent of the amber mana to his right fist. Over a week of trial and error, he had honed this method of dual-channeling.


    With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, the sand scattering beneath his feet. Twisting his torso, he unleashed a devastating punch at the dummy''s head. Amber mana erupted on impact, sending a shockwave rippling through the room. Sand flew in all directions, and the metallic construct groaned under the force before its head crumpled inward. The dummy''s body skidded across the floor, slamming into the wall with a metallic clang.


    Panting slightly, Riven glanced at Helga, expecting reprimand. Instead, her expression remained composed, though her brows arched ever so slightly. "You''re not a beast tamer, yet you possess such strength. Fascinating," she remarked, her tone calm. "In any case, you pass."


    Relief washed over Riven as he followed her back to the counter. She returned shortly, tossing him a small bronze medal.


    Catching it, Riven examined the medal in awe. Its shield-like shape bore beveled edges and runes that shimmered faintly, displaying his name and rank: Rookie, Tier Three. His eyes widened. Tier Three? That''s just one step away from Initiate!


    Helga interrupted his thoughts. "I''ll explain the procedures," she said, gesturing toward a massive board on the wall. It spanned at least a dozen meters, covered with parchment of varying sizes. "That''s the quest board. Choose a quest, then bring it to the counter marked Initiate. Once completed, present proof of completion to the counter beside it."


    Riven nodded, thanking her before approaching the board.


    The parchments were an eclectic mix, some illustrated with creatures or artifacts, others scrawled with detailed instructions. Every one of them bore the requirement Rookie, and scratch marks at the edges indicated relative difficulty. Without hesitation, Riven reached for the most heavily scratched quest: a bounty for hunting three red fox-like creatures classified as Threat Level One.


    This should be simple enough, he thought, scanning the details. The task required retrieving either the entire body or at least the hide.


    Approaching the Initiate counter, he presented the parchment. An older man with graying hair glanced at him, then at the quest sheet. "You sure about this, kid? No team?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.


    Riven hesitated before nodding firmly. "Yes, I''m sure."


    The man sighed, taking Riven''s badge. His hands glowed faintly as he recorded the details onto a prism tablet. After a moment, he handed it back. "No shame in fleeing if the battle seems lost," he said solemnly.


    Pocketing his badge, Riven waved a quick thanks and strode toward the door. It''s still noon—plenty of time to get started.