Chapter 5: The Rank That Never Existed
The silence inside Helena Frost's office lingered.
Abster looked at the old book resting on the desk.
"So... you're saying this prophecy is about me?"
Helena folded her hands.
"I don't know."
"The prophecy is over a thousand years old. Most scholars believe it's just a legend."
She paused before continuing.
"But today... two appraisal crystals were destroyed by your mana."
"That has never happened in the history of the Adventurers' Guild."
Abster lowered his eyes.
"I didn't mean to."
"I know."
Helena stood and walked to the window overlooking the guild hall.
"There are only two possibilities."
"You possess an unknown type of mana..."
"...or your power exceeds what our crystals are capable of measuring."
Neither of them spoke for several moments.
Finally, Helena turned back.
"Until we know more, keep this a secret."
Abster nodded.
"I wasn't planning to tell anyone."
A few minutes later, they returned to the guild hall.
The adventurers immediately fell silent.
Whispers spread through the room.
"That's the guy..."
"He broke two crystals..."
"Maybe he's an S-Rank already..."
Rowan handed Abster a small bronze card.
"Congratulations."
"You are now an official adventurer."
Abster looked at the card.
Name: Abster
Rank: F
"...F?"
Even Garrick looked surprised.
"Guild Master?"
Helena answered calmly.
"We have no way to measure his abilities."
"Without official results, guild rules require us to assign the lowest rank."
The hall erupted into laughter.
"So he broke the crystal and ended up F-Rank?"
"What a disappointment."
"I thought he'd be special."
Abster simply slipped the card into his pocket.
"If that's the rule... then F-Rank is fine."
Helena watched him carefully.
He showed no anger.
No pride.
No desire to prove himself.
For some reason...
That worried her even more.
"Every new adventurer starts with simple quests," Rowan explained.
She pointed toward a large request board.
Abster looked over the available missions.
Gather Healing Herbs
Deliver Merchant Supplies
Hunt Five Forest Rabbits
Eliminate Goblins Near Eastwood Village
His eyes stopped on the last request.
Goblin Subjugation
Difficulty: F-Rank
Reward: 5 Silver Coins
"I'll take this one."
Rowan nodded.
"I'll register the quest."
Garrick frowned.
"Goblins may be weak, but don't underestimate them. They attack in groups."
"I'll be careful."
Outside the city gates...
Abster walked toward Eastwood Forest.
The afternoon breeze carried the scent of pine trees.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Suddenly—
A terrified scream echoed through the forest.
"HELP!!"
Abster immediately sprinted toward the sound.
Behind a broken wagon, three goblins surrounded a young girl.
She couldn't have been older than sixteen.
Her clothes marked her as an apprentice mage.
She held a broken staff with trembling hands.
"P-Please..."
The goblins laughed cruelly as they moved closer.
Without hesitation—
Abster stepped between them.
"Leave."
The goblins blinked.
Then they burst into laughter.
One charged with a rusty sword.
Abster calmly sidestepped the attack.
With a single punch to the goblin's chest—
BOOM!
The creature flew backward, crashing through three trees before disappearing into the forest.
The other two goblins froze.
Their expressions changed from confidence...
...to pure terror.
One dropped its weapon.
The other turned and fled.
Abster didn't chase them.
Instead, he turned toward the frightened girl.
"Are you hurt?"
She stared at him with wide emerald eyes.
"N-No..."
"My name is Lyra Everwind."
"Thank you for saving me."
Abster smiled.
"I'm Abster."
Neither of them realized it yet...
But this chance meeting would become one of the most important moments in both of their lives.
Far away...
Deep beneath an ancient mountain...
A pair of crimson eyes slowly opened.
"The Hidden Sovereign..."
"...has begun to move."
A deep voice echoed through the darkness.
"Prepare the generals."
End of Chapter 5
New Character Introduced:
Lyra Everwind – A talented young mage whose life is saved by Abster. She is intelligent, determined, and will become one of his closest allies.