As Adam reached the gates, the guards, clad in gleaming armor, eyed his peculiar, blood-stained clothes. "Where are you from, traveler? And what's your purpose in Damarsh?" one asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
With Lyra's subtle guidance, Adam pitched his tale. "I'm from a distant kingdom, traveling for personal reasons. Unfortunately, I encountered bandits on my journey. They took everything—my belongings, my money. I barely escaped with my life." He managed to inject a convincing tremor into his voice.
The guards exchanged weary glances but seemed to accept the story. Bandits were a common enough woe. They handed him a temporary residence card and advised him to sort out his identity at the Adventurer's Guild.
A Peculiar Adventurer
Adam stepped into the bustling streets of Damarsh, his eyes wide with wonder. The vibrant market, the diverse faces, the tantalizing smells of cooked food—it was overwhelming in the best possible way. He ignored the strange looks he received for his outlandish, torn, and bloodied attire.
"The Adventurer's Guild is your best bet for travel and identity documentation," Lyra advised.
He made his way to a large, stone building buzzing with activity. The moment he stepped inside, all eyes turned to him. His bizarre appearance clearly marked him as an outsider.
"Welcome, stranger!" a burly man with a scarred face boomed. "Planning to register with the guild?"
Adam nodded. "Yes, I am."
A young woman at the reception desk, though trying to maintain composure, stifled a giggle as she eyed his clothes. She slid a shimmering crystal ball across the counter. "Please place your hand here to register your level, sir."
Adam placed his hand on the crystal. A moment later, a single, glowing "1" appeared above it.
The entire guild hall erupted in laughter. Seasoned adventurers, burly warriors, and sly mages alike roared with mirth. "Level 1? Is he a newborn?" someone shouted. "Even a child in training is usually higher!" The receptionist, mortified, covered her face.
An Unprecedented Affinity
She quickly recovered, however, and managed to stammer, "S-sir, you need to be at least Level 10 to join the guild. But... please, place your hand on this one." She pushed forward another, slightly larger crystal ball.
Adam, confused but compliant, placed his hand on the second crystal. This time, instead of a number, the crystal flared with a blinding, kaleidoscopic light. Symbols representing fire, water, earth, wind, light, and dark swirled around it, pulsating with immense energy.
The laughter died. The room fell into an immediate, stunned silence. Then, chaos erupted.
"All elements?!"
"How is that possible?!"
"What kind of magic can you even do?"
People swarmed him, their faces a mixture of awe and disbelief. Adam, equally shocked, stammered, "I... I haven't even learned any magic yet."
More confusion. "You're telling us you were born yesterday?" someone muttered.
Edward Douglas, Guild Master
A booming voice suddenly cut through the din. "Everyone, stand back!"
A towering figure emerged from a back room, his presence commanding respect. He was a grizzled man with a stern but wise face, radiating an aura of quiet authority. He moved with a practiced ease, and the swarming adventurers parted before him.
"I am Edward Douglas, the Guild Master," he announced, his gaze settling on Adam with intense scrutiny. "Bring him to my office."
Adam, still processing the shock of his elemental revelation, was led away, leaving a bewildered and buzzing guild hall behind him.