Adventurer of Many Professions

Raymond blinked, momentarily stunned by Lorain's words. It took a second for him to fully grasp what she meant. She was talking about joining their team, 'teaming up' with him and Sylph. His surprise quickly faded into a smile.

"You can just call me Raymond," he said, his voice warm and inviting. "But, before you make your decision final, are you sure you want to join us? I mean, it's not a decision you should take lightly."

Lorain lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting nervously at the hem of her sleeve. Her cheeks flushed, and she hesitated, as if gathering the courage to speak her mind.

"I... I've been thinking about it," she said softly, still avoiding eye contact. "For the past two days, actually. I want to become an adventurer. Your team... and Miss Sylph, too... you all seem like you're doing great. I think it would be amazing to join you."

Raymond watched her with a mixture of admiration and curiosity. Her voice trembled just slightly, betraying the nerves she was trying to hide. He could tell it wasn't an easy decision for her, but the sincerity in her eyes was clear.

'She's serious about this', he thought.

Lorain had already been considering the path of an adventurer long before today. After Raymond and his group had left the temple the other day, the idea had started to take root. Later, she had sought advice from an older priest, a former adventurer herself, who had supported her decision wholeheartedly.

That priest had been quick to point out the value of a good team, especially one as promising as Raymond's. She'd explained that it wasn't just about being capable, it was about growing together, building trust, and having a solid foundation of teammates.

"You've made up your mind then?" Raymond asked, his tone serious but encouraging.

Lorain nodded. "Yes. And I want to thank you for giving me the chance. I... I really believe this is the right path for me."

Raymond felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over him. "Of course," he said with a grin. "If you've thought it through, then we'd be happy to have you on the team."

The weight of his words seemed to settle into the air between them. Lorain let out a quiet breath, her nerves easing just a little. Raymond's warm acceptance made her feel more confident about the decision she had just made.

'It's really happening', she thought.

He wasn't just welcoming her into a team; he was offering her a chance to truly belong; to grow, to learn, and to explore a world beyond the walls of the temple.

Raymond's thoughts shifted as a new question formed in his mind. "By the way, when do you plan to register with the Adventurer's Guild?" he asked.

Lorain blinked in surprise, clearly not having expected the question. "Ah, well... I think I'll need to wait a bit longer. There's... there's a senior priest who used to be an adventurer. She wants to give me some basic training first, just to make sure I'm prepared for what's coming. She also said I should spend some time reading and studying before officially registering."

Raymond's expression softened with understanding, but a hint of envy crossed his face. 'A senior priest offering training? That's lucky...'

He thought back to his own struggles. He had no such luxury, no mentor guiding him, no one with firsthand experience to help him navigate the complex world of adventuring. He had been left to learn through trial and error, relying mostly on overheard gossip from travelers at the inn.

"I see," Raymond said with a nod. "That sounds like solid advice. I'm glad you're getting that extra preparation."

"I hope it helps," Lorain murmured. She had been touched by the priest's kindness, but a part of her still felt uncertain. "I'm just... a little anxious about the whole thing."

Raymond smiled reassuringly. "I get that. But when you're ready, just come find me or Sylph, and we'll go with you to the Guild to register. No need to go alone."

Lorain blinked, caught off guard by his offer. "Wait, you... you want to come with me?" She was surprised. She had assumed registering as an adventurer would be a simple, solitary process.

Raymond chuckled. "Of course! It's not just about filling out a form. You're registering as a priest, and that's a big deal. Trust me, there will be a lot of people trying to team up with you."

Lorain's face flushed again, this time with a mix of embarrassment and worry. "Is it really that... that big of a deal?"

Raymond's smile became more serious. "Oh, it's a 'big' deal. When people see a priest registering, especially someone like you, they'll jump at the chance to recruit you. The last thing I want is for you to get swept up in some shady team or worse... end up in a situation where you can't say no."

He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "You're not going alone. Not if I can help it. We'll be there, and we'll make sure you're treated right."

Lorain blinked, unsure whether to feel grateful or a little overwhelmed. "I didn't realize... Thank you," she said, her voice small but sincere.

Raymond's expression was firm but kind. "You don't have to thank me. We're a team now, remember?"

She nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. There was a weight to his words, a promise of safety and camaraderie that she hadn't expected but was grateful for.

It felt good. It felt right.

"Alright," she said, a new resolve building in her chest. "I'll finish my preparations, and when I'm ready, I'll come to you."

"Sounds good," Raymond said, clapping her on the shoulder in a gesture of support. "We've got your back."

Lorain nervously stole a glance at Raymond, her cheeks flushing as she quickly lowered her head again.

Raymond's serious expression made her feel a little uneasy, but she forced herself to speak up. "So... how can I find you when I'm ready to register?" she asked in a soft, almost hesitant voice.

Raymond took a moment to think, then gave her both his and Sylph's addresses with a calm, clear tone. "You can come find either me or Sylph when the time comes. We'll be happy to help you with the registration process."

Lorain's face brightened instantly, and she nodded eagerly. "I understand. Thank you so much!"

Her smile was like a burst of sunlight, lighting up her whole face. It was impossible not to notice how her eyes sparkled with happiness, her lips curving into a smile that made her delicate features all the more striking. For a moment, her joy seemed to fill the room.

As the warm glow of the setting sun streamed through the window, its golden light bathed her figure, making her look almost ethereal, as if she had stepped out of a dream. Her small frame, still wrapped in the slightly oversized priest's robes, added to the image of someone who was delicate, almost fragile, but at the same time, full of potential.

Raymond watched her for a moment, his gaze softening as he took in the sight of her; something about the scene made him pause.

She was... beautiful, in a quiet, unassuming way. The soft, dark waves of her hair, tucked under her priest's hat, framed her face, and her shy eyes, filled with a certain vulnerability, were enough to make anyone want to protect her.

Lorain suddenly looked up at him, her face turning a deeper shade of red as she caught him staring. "Um... is there something wrong with me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as though she were afraid to hear the answer.

Raymond blinked, realizing he had been lost in thought, and his cheeks flushed slightly as well. He quickly cleared his throat to cover up his awkwardness. "Ah, no, nothing's wrong," he said, adjusting his stance as if to shake off his own momentary embarrassment. "I was just wondering... how long have you been awakened? Since, you know... you've caught the favor of the Sun Goddess."

Lorain's eyes widened slightly, as if she had been holding her breath. "Oh, is that what you're curious about?" she said, as though relieved that his question wasn't something more uncomfortable. She rubbed the back of her neck, her gaze drifting to the floor as she thought for a moment. "Well, it's been about three months since I awakened."

Raymond blinked. 'Three months?' That was surprisingly quick. In the grand scheme of things, three months was a short time to have unlocked the divine art of 'healing,' one of the most revered powers an adventurer could possess.

Still, considering that it hadn't even taken three months for her to master it, Raymond was impressed. From what he knew, most people took longer to even 'begin' to tap into their powers. Then again, as Sylph had pointed out, Lorain had been chosen by the Sun Goddess herself, so maybe this was to be expected.

"That's... really impressive," Raymond muttered, more to himself than to her. "But I'm curious, do you know what your magic affinity is?"

Lorain furrowed her brow at the question, clearly thinking hard. "Um, I think I remember... it's 2.4, I believe?"

"Two point four?" Raymond repeated slowly, unable to hide his surprise.

"Yes! That's right," Lorain confirmed, looking a little more certain this time.

Raymond couldn't suppress a sharp breath. '2.4?' That was... extraordinary. The average person with a magic affinity above 1 was already considered exceptionally rare, something like 1% of awakeners would ever reach that threshold. But 2.4 was unheard of.

He thought about his own magic affinity 0.2. His heart sank a little, but he quickly brushed the feeling aside. This wasn't about him.

Lorain's numbers were staggering. If what she said was true, she was already well beyond many seasoned adventurers. With a magic affinity of 2.4, her magical potential must be enormous. Raymond couldn't help but wonder just how much power she had hidden inside her, just waiting to be unlocked.

"That's... amazing," Raymond murmured, a little awestruck. "I can see now why the Sun Goddess chose you. Your magic is—" he paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face, "it's far more powerful than I imagined."

Lorain blinked, her cheeks coloring at his praise. "You really think so?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and modesty. "I don't feel all that special... I'm just... doing what I can."

Raymond shook his head, smiling warmly. "You're being humble. Believe me, you've got more potential than you know. I don't think any of us fully understand what you're capable of just yet."

For a moment, the room fell silent as the weight of his words settled between them. Lorain shifted slightly, still not fully sure of herself but clearly moved by the confidence Raymond seemed to have in her.

"And..." Raymond continued, his voice softening, "with your kind of magic affinity, your power is going to grow faster than most. You'll only get stronger from here."

Lorain nodded, still processing everything he had said. "I just... I want to be useful. To help people."

Raymond smiled at her once more, his eyes filled with genuine warmth. "You'll do more than that, Lorain. I'm sure of it."

For a few beats, they just stood there, exchanging glances, the quiet understanding between them deepening. Outside, the last rays of the setting sun turned the world into a canvas of gold and red, casting long shadows across the room. It was as if the world itself was acknowledging the potential of the young priest standing before him.

As the moment lingered, Raymond could sense that Lorain was more than ready to begin her journey. She wasn't just an ordinary priest. She was someone destined for greatness. And, somehow, he knew that her path, 'their' path, was just beginning.