Beneath The Fallen Sky

The moment I stepped out of the carriage, the city swallowed me whole. Tall houses lined the wide streets, their balconies draped with fluttering laundry. Market stalls spilled into the roads, selling everything from fresh fruits to polished weapons. The scent of grilled meat mixed with the sharp tang of alchemical potions, and the constant hum of bartering voices filled the air. I turned to point something out to Caden—

He was gone. They were all gone.

"Shit."

I had no clue where I was going. All I knew was the name of the adventurers guild. Nothing else. I was lost in an unfamiliar city.

With all the people around, I could barely hear my own thoughts. I pushed through the crowd, my heartbeat speeding up with every step. Where did they go? Faces blurred past me, voices overlapping in a storm of noise. I tried retracing my steps, but every street looked the same. Endless stalls, endless people, endless movement.

I swallowed hard. I was completely alone.

"Excuse me, boy."

A warm voice cut through the panic.

"Yes, you."

I turned to see an old lady with a kind smile, her eyes warm with understanding.

"You look a little lost, am I right?"

"A-ah yes, I happen to be a little lost..."

It was a little embarrassing. Not only was I being treated like a child, I was lost like a little dog.

"What do you happen to be looking for? I'm sure I can help you"

Tears ran down my face as I looked to the sky with my hands in the form of a prayer. I was saved.

"I seem to have wondered off from my friends without noticing, but the main thing I'm looking for it is the Ironclad Hall"

"Oh you mean the adventurers guild? Keep walking down this road until you reach the fountain. Once you've arrived, take the road to the right and go up the stairs. It'll be right in front of you."

I immediately took off and thanked her. She waved me off with a kind smile. I wish there was a way I could repay her kindness.

The statue of Vespera stands tall, almost lifelike, her braided hair flowing down her back with fine details that make it seem like it could move in the wind. Her wizard hat rests perfectly atop her head, decorated with ancient symbols that almost glow with magic. In her hands, she holds an old staff, its wood gnarled but strong, and topped with a crystal that radiates a soft, mystical light. The staff is called Astravorn, a name whispered among those who remember her, said to channel the very essence of the stars. The statue gives off a sense of quiet power, a lasting reminder of her strength and wisdom as one of the greatest heroes of her time.

I didn't waste too much time, I didn't have any to spare. I marched up the slightly cracked cobblestone stairs and slowly saw a huge hall entering my line of sight. Ironclad Hall was written in huge letters, wooden doors bearing the guild's crest stood tall and open. People were entering and leaving, each having amazing armour and fancy weapons. I felt out of place.

When I walked in, a kind lady with short dark hair dressed in a green attire and a small hat sitting atop her head greeted me.

"Welcome to the adventurers guild, my name is Helene. What can I help you with today?"

I tried explaining to her that I was here to take the hunters exam, but I was quickly interrupted by a huge man wearing thick, heavy armour. The handle of his massive hammer had knocked me over. His huge and heavy footsteps halted and the clanging of his armour went quiet.

"Oh, what do we have here? What's a small little brat like you doing here? This isn't a daycare, little boy."

His party of 5 people behind him laughed. The rest of the guild quickly followed. I got up and dusted myself off. Typical jackasses. I tried my hardest to keep a blank face and continued my conversation with the lady, but yet again, was interrupted by the muscle-for-brains asshole.

"Did you not hear what I said? You don't belong here twerp. Buzz off and go find your mommy."

His words scraped against something raw inside me. Find my mother? If only he knew. My grip tightened around my knife. I knew I wasn't strong enough to take him down, but I wasn't going to let him talk like that.

A shadow appeared quickly, as if it had teleported in front of me. A large figure, almost as tall as the monkey in the armour stopped my blade with only his fingers. His frame was huge, despite only wearing normal clothes. He had a short, brown beard that was slowly turning grey. His slicked back hair revealed scars on his face. This guy must be a veteran.

"That's enough you two, you should know not to fight in the guild hall. It's strictly forbidden. Any issues must be taken outside."

"Y-yes guild master…"

The large monkey in the armour backed down like a scared little dog. It was quite the hilarious sight.

"What is your name, young man?"

"Kael. My name is Kael."

"Well then Kael, what business do you have here today?"

"As I tried explaining to the kind receptionist, I'm here to take the hunters exam."

This was it. This was the moment I was waiting for. The sole reason for coming to this town, for crossing that hell-shaped forest that almost killed me. I was scared. I couldn't expect what would happen next.

"You seem to be a little young, boy. Do you not know that the age of entry is 13?"

"Yes, I'm fully aware, but I don't have time to wait another year. I need to take the exam now."

"I'm not sure why you're in such a rush, but I can't let you take the exam. I'm sorry."

What was I thinking? The rule was set there in the first place for a reason. Of course I wouldn't be able to take it a year early. Especially since I had no talents to prove. The front doors creaked open and 3 people came through. It was Caden and his party.

He called out my name and asked where I had ran off to. I explained to him what happened and how I got lost. After that, the guild master explained our current situation. Caden seemed unusually friendly towards the guild master, even for a guy like him. That's when I found out they were family friends. That's when the guild master had proposed a solution.

"What if you apply as a miner, since no exams need to take place. With that, you can join Caden's party and venture out with him until you turn 13. Miners don't just dig. They extract mana stones from crystal caves, which often attract beasts. It's dangerous, but with the right party, you'll survive and gain experience along the way."

Generally, parties consisted of 5 main roles. Hunters, priests, rangers, mages and tanks. Occasionally, if the party decided to attack the crystal caves to extract the mana stones, they would take on a miner to join their party. t's true that Caden's party didn't have a miner yet, but this really wasn't what I was expecting. I was completely in Caden's hands. Wether I would be able to survive was up to him.

"Hmm, that's not a bad idea. Sure, let's go for it. What do you think, Kael?"

My eyes widened. Was I hearing this correctly? A party strong enough to provide for themselves would willingly take on a kid like me? A deadweight? I clenched my fists. Why? Out of pity? No, I can't think like that! If they're giving me a chance, I have to take it. Both Finnian and Elyndor agreed to it as well. I bowed down and shouted.

"I'll be in your care from now on. I'll try my hardest to prove my worth and to not drag everyone down."

They chuckled and told me to take it easy. I was truly indebted to them. They had saved me for the second time. The receptionist handed me my miner's license. The picture was awful. I looked like I'd crawled out of aditch.

We decided to head out to find an inn to spend the night. On our way, we picked up some grilled corn and chicken-on-a-stick. I, of course, had no money, but was still fed. I really had their kindness to thank.

I think I've found a place I can call home.