Initial Acceptance 2
1330 Words
“Dingling——” The wooden door of the guild creaked open, and the chatter inside fell silent for a moment. A group of men sitting in the corner didn’t understand at first, but as their eyes landed on the newcomers, one of them couldn’t help but click his tongue.
Two figures entered, one tall and one short. The shorter one was dressed in a lively and cute emerald-green outfit, her bright, watery eyes full of curiosity as she scanned the hall. The taller one was dressed in a sleek silver-and-black battle suit, which made her appear even more composed. She cradled a small wolf in her arms, her phoenix-like eyes sharp and indifferent.
These two seemed out of place, like young aristocrats sneaking out for some fun.
Especially considering they appeared to be no older than fifteen or sixteen.
“Which family’s young lady are you? How did you end up here?” A burly man sitting near the door rudely wiped his mouth, which was covered in beer stains, and asked.
“We’re here to take a mercenary mission,” Valentina scanned the room and replied.
The burly man looked at her in surprise. “You want to take a mercenary mission? You’ll have to register as mercenaries first.”
“If you want to take a mission, look at the board by the counter and let me know,” he said, seeing that the two girls had begun filling out the form. He put down his bowl and went behind the counter to point at a crystal-panel board nearly as tall as him.
The people in the hall occasionally glanced at the two girls, whispering among themselves.
“These two little girls look delicate. I bet they’ll get lost once they leave the city, haha!”
“Such a pity, if they grew up a couple more years, I’d marry one of them to play with. Instead, they’re here shouting and killing, what a waste…”
“I wonder what their strength is like. A few days ago, some newcomers came to register for a mission, and they still haven’t come back!”
“…”
Amanda rolled her eyes several times while Valentina ignored the murmurs. This was just how the world worked—strength ruled all. Once they completed the mission, most people would be too embarrassed to keep talking.
Valentina scanned the board and pointed to a task in the middle-lower section that didn’t seem too difficult. “Let’s go with this one.”
Just as she was about to leave, Draven poked her gently with his paw, sending a telepathic message: There’s a hidden section on the board.
This was a customary feature at the mercenary guild. The task board displayed tasks in tiers, and only those with sufficient strength could see the hidden tasks. Those interested could ask the guild leader to reveal the hidden content.
Valentina tapped the task board with her index finger and looked at the burly man. “Can I see the hidden tasks, please? Thank you.”
The burly man was taken aback, almost knocking his head on the desk. He quickly wiped the surprise from his face, realizing this was the first person that day to ask about the hidden tasks. How could a young person like this have the strength to see them? Could she be a master? He began to panic, silently cursing his earlier words.
“I must’ve been blind! Please follow me, and I’ll show you!” He quickly changed his tone, bowing respectfully. He motioned for Valentina to follow him into a back room, while instructing two others to guard Amanda outside.
The chatter in the hall ceased the moment Valentina asked about the hidden tasks. Now, it was dead silent. Some people who had spoken too flippantly saw that Valentina wasn’t bothered and hurriedly set their bowls down, sneaking out toward the door.
The burly man handed over a piece of transparent parchment and gently tapped it with a golden-winged serpent ring. The writing then appeared on the parchment.
The first task caught Valentina’s attention immediately. She clenched her hand holding the parchment, her pupils contracted, and a wave of fear and regret washed over her.
The task clearly read: “Find the golden scepter-shaped key and the girl who possesses the scepter!”
That was talking about her, wasn’t it?!
The person seeking the scepter must have failed to get what they wanted from her father or brother, so now they were coming after her!
Her heart pounded loudly, each beat sounding more frantic than the last. What did this mean? Was her father or brother still alive?!
Not wanting to give away her emotions, she forced herself to calm down. She quickly thought to herself: since they were looking for the girl with the golden key, she should start dressing as a boy from now on. That might give her some added safety.
Recalling that night when her home was destroyed, Valentina’s eyes began to swell with tears. From now on, she would have to be more careful—after all, not only was she searching for her father and brother, but her loved ones might be in danger too.
Draven, who shared a deep bond with her after their contract, could sense her turmoil. His voice resonated in her mind. “Don’t worry. Your enemies are my enemies too. I’ll help you find your family and get revenge. Once I mature, no one will be a match for us! You just focus on your mission. If you can’t beat them, I’ll step in!”
Valentina snapped back to reality, her eyelashes trembling. The tear she had been holding back finally fell, landing on Draven’s back, deep into his heart.
Even the strongest have their weak spots, and even the most indifferent will eventually be broken. Now, she had a weak spot, but she also had armor!
At that moment, unlike the night before, she truly felt that Draven was willing to face it all with her, ready to protect her. And it was in that moment that she chose to open up to him, to truly become his comrade, his partner.
The burly man, still bending over respectfully, didn’t notice any of what had just transpired. He was puzzled as to why Valentina was taking so long to read the parchment. Was she going to choose multiple tasks? But he didn’t dare rush her. After all, such powerful individuals had their own pace.
After collecting herself, Valentina quickly scanned the task board again and saw one titled “Obtain Eagle Kiss Fruit” located in the Fengze Mountain Range.
What perfect timing!
Usually, anyone strong enough to see hidden tasks would have surpassed the need for Eagle Kiss Fruit. For them, it was just a small profit. But for her, one fruit would allow her to leap into the ranks of a Mage, so it was a must-have!
She quickly rolled up the parchment and handed it back to the burly man. “I’ll take Amanda outside to practice for a bit. Once she’s home, I’ll come back and pick my tasks.”
The burly man smiled broadly, showing no impatience at all. He bowed deeply and respectfully, seeing Valentina out of the back room. In his mind, he was now sure of his earlier guess: this was a powerful family’s servant! Such a young lady must have mastered the art of youth preservation!
He immediately regretted his earlier rude comments but was relieved she didn’t hold it against him.
As Valentina and Amanda left the guild, they were given a small token, a handplate inscribed with the golden-winged serpent logo and the task number. To submit the task, they simply had to bring the token back.
Valentina stretched and cracked her back, then tilted her head to Amanda. “Let’s go, I have something to do. Afterward, we’ll pick up ten Spider Web Flowers!”
- Writer
