The next morning, Ashbrook was almost unrecognizable. At dawn, horses began entering the village in small groups. Wagons loaded with equipment rolled to a stop in the main square. Men and women clad in leather or chainmail armor were already deep in conversation. They were all heading to the same place.
The Adventurers' Guild.
Aiden watched the scene from the corner of a street.
"There are a lot more people than yesterday..."
Bone stood beside him, hidden beneath his clothes. From a distance, he looked more like a traveler wrapped in a heavy cloak than a skeleton.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Local Population Updated.
Adventurers Detected: 43
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Forty-three. Ashbrook usually had fewer than a dozen regular adventurers. The discovery of the ancient ruins had drawn people from all across the region.
"That means these ruins are really important..."
Today, he intended to register. It didn't matter how dangerous it was. It didn't matter what people thought. Those ruins were probably his best chance to grow stronger. Together, they crossed the main square. Around them, every conversation revolved around the same topic.
"I heard the tunnels are enormous."
"I hope I find an ancient artifact."
"The first explorers said they spotted inscriptions no one could identify."
"The monsters can't be that strong if the Guild is already allowing registrations."
"Keep dreaming. Every ruin hides something."
Every new piece of information only fueled his curiosity further. When he reached the Guild, he found a line stretching all the way into the street. Adventurers chatted, laughed, or checked their equipment. The atmosphere was electric. Everyone wanted to be among the first to enter the ruins.
"We're going to be waiting..."
The minutes passed slowly. Aiden watched the adventurers around him. Most looked far more experienced than he was. Enchanted swords. High-quality bows. Armor covered in countless scars. He felt almost out of place in his simple tunic.
At last, it was his turn. Behind the counter stood a man in his fifties with graying hair. His expression looked weary. He had probably been answering the same questions all morning.
"Name?"
"Aiden."
"Class?"
"Grave Keeper."
The receptionist paused for a moment.
Then continued writing.
"Level?"
"Three."
This time, he immediately looked up.
"Level 3?"
"Yes."
The man set down his pen.
"You want to join the expedition?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry," he sighed.
He pointed to a notice posted behind him.
"The requirements are perfectly clear."
Aiden followed his finger.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Emergency Exploration Request
Minimum Level Required: 5
_______________________________________________________________________________________
"I know."
"Then you understand why I can't register you."
"I can still try."
"No."
"Guild rules are not open to negotiation."
"But I..."
"Level 5 minimum. The ruins haven't been explored yet. We have no idea what kind of monsters are inside. Sending a Level 3 adventurer in there would be the same as sending him to his death. Come back in a few weeks. Gain a few levels. Then we'll talk."
A few weeks.Aiden thought of the system.The Hidden Quest.The warnings.He had a feeling the ruins wouldn't wait for him.
"Please. I can still be useful."
"How?"
Aiden hesitated. Should he tell him about Bone? The system? His hidden Class? Impossible. No one would believe him.
"I... I can handle myself."
"That's not an answer."
"Just give me a chance."
"I refuse."
Behind Aiden, several adventurers were already beginning to grow impatient.
"Come on, move it!"
"We don't have all day!"
"The kid's holding up the line!"
Aiden lowered his head. He understood the rules. Even so, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something. At that moment, a voice burst into laughter behind him.
"I knew he'd try."
Aiden turned around. Marcus. As always. Accompanied by several other youths from the village. He stepped forward.
"So?"
"They don't want the great Grave Keeper?"
A few adventurers watched the scene with curiosity.
"Do you know who he is?"
He pointed dramatically at Aiden.
"That's the boy who received the worst Class at the entire Awakening Ceremony."
A few people laughed.
"Grave Keeper?"
"Seriously?"
"I thought that Class had disappeared centuries ago."
Marcus smiled. He took another step toward Aiden. Then another. Bone placed a hand on Marcus's shoulder. Marcus froze.
"Get your hand off me."
He violently brushed the hand away. The sleeve slipped up to the elbow. An arm made entirely of bone was revealed beneath the fabric. Marcus stood there, speechless. His gaze slowly rose toward the hooded figure.
"It's... a skeleton?!"
As he recoiled, he accidentally grabbed the hood. The fabric fell back. Bone's white skull was revealed in full view. The faint silver lights in his eye sockets stared calmly at Marcus. Every eye in the Guild turned toward them. Marcus pointed at Bone with a trembling finger.
"He's controlling a skeleton!"
Bone tilted his head slightly. The Soul Link immediately conveyed a faint emotion to Aiden.
Confusion.
The skeleton couldn't understand why this man suddenly seemed so terrified.
"That's enough."
Marcus took another step back. His breathing was uneven. Then he looked Bone up and down. His expression changed. The fear gradually gave way to a mocking grin. Then he burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
The other teenagers exchanged glances. Marcus shook his head.
"For a second, I thought it was something dangerous."
He gestured toward Bone with his chin.
"But it's just a lousy skeleton!"
"So what? Did you dig up a corpse behind the cemetery?"
His friends burst into laughter.
"And what exactly are you planning to do with that? Skeletons are the weakest monsters there are. Even a kid with a stick could smash one to pieces. Seriously... this is your mighty servant? I almost feel sorry for you. Even a giant rat would be more useful."