plentiful world and another beginning.

The Guild's interior was a hive of activity, a cacophony of voices and clinking armor filling the air. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes milled about, some poring over quest boards, others haggling with merchants, and a few simply lounging in the corners, nursing their wounds or their egos. 

The scent of polished wood, parchment, and the faint tang of sweat and steel mingled into a uniquely Orario aroma. It was a place of opportunity, danger, and endless possibilities—exactly where I needed to be.

The elf behind the counter finished sorting her stack of papers and turned her full attention to me. Her emerald eyes sparkled with a mix of professionalism and curiosity, and her pointed ears twitched slightly as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the counter.

"Alright, let's get you registered," she said, her voice smooth and melodic. "First things first—your name?"

"Zephyr Kane," I replied, my tone casual but confident. I wasn't about to let the unfamiliar surroundings rattle me. After all, I'd just taken down a Shadowfang Alpha without breaking a sweat. A little paperwork wasn't going to intimidate me.

The elf nodded, scribbling my name onto a form with a quill that seemed to glide effortlessly across the parchment. "Zephyr Kane… got it. Next, your race. You're… human, correct?"

I hesitated for a moment, considering how much to reveal. My status screen had labeled me as a Celestial Human, but I wasn't sure if that's a thing here because it's my first time seeing or hearing about such a race. For now, it was probably best to keep things simple.

"Yeah, human," I said, offering her a small smile.

She nodded again, jotting it down. "Alright, Zephyr. Next, do you have any familia affiliation?"

"Familia?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. The term sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. "What's that?"

The elf blinked, her expression shifting to one of mild surprise. "You don't know what a familia is?" she asked, her tone tinged with disbelief. "Where exactly are you from?"

"Let's just say I'm from… very far away," I said, my grin widening. "Enlighten me."

She sighed, setting down her quill and folding her hands on the counter. "A familia is a group of adventurers who serve under a god or goddess. The deity grants them their falna—a blessing that allows them to grow stronger and gain abilities. Most adventurers in Orario are part of a familia. It's practically a necessity if you want to survive in the Dungeon."

"Ah, I see," I said, nodding slowly. So, this world had gods walking among mortals, handing out power-ups like candy. Interesting. "And what if I don't want to join a familia?"

Considering I have a system to grow stronger fast, I don't need this falna stuff.

The elf's eyes widened slightly, and she leaned back in her chair, studying me with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "You don't want to join a familia?" she repeated, as if the concept was foreign to her. 

"That's… unusual. Most adventurers rely on their familia for support, resources, and protection. Going solo is… well, it's not impossible, but it's incredibly risky and you won't go far."

I shrugged, my grin never faltering. "I like challenges. Besides, I'm not really the 'joining' type. I prefer to do things my own way."

The elf stared at me for a long moment, as if trying to decide whether I was brave, foolish, or both. Finally, she shook her head and picked up her quill again. 

"Alright, no familia affiliation. Noted. Just be aware that you'll be at a significant disadvantage compared to other adventurers. The Dungeon isn't kind to those who go in alone."

"Duly noted," I said, giving her a mock salute. "But I think I'll manage."

She sighed again, clearly not convinced, but she didn't press the issue. "Next, your class. Are you a swordsman, mage, scout, or something else?"

I glanced down at the jiang sword strapped to my side, its ornate hilt gleaming in the light. "Swordsman, I guess," I said. "Though I'm still figuring things out."

"Swordsman it is," she said, scribbling it down. "And your level?"

"6," I replied, unable to suppress a hint of pride in my voice. I'd only been in this world for a few hours, and I was already making progress. Not bad for a guy who'd started out as a level one newbie.

The elf's quill paused mid-stroke, and she looked up at me, her eyebrows raised. "Level six?" she repeated, her tone skeptical. "You're sure about that?"

"Positive," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "Why? Is that a problem?"

"It's just… unusual," she said, her gaze narrowing slightly. "Most new adventurers start at level one. Reaching level six so quickly would require a significant amount of experience. And you who knew nothing about falna suddenly at level 6…Are you sure you're not… exaggerating or in fact lying?"

Huh… ohhh. I don't have a falna, so their power structure doesn't apply to me. But I don't know how they level. I need information. "I guess I'd be the lowest level then since I never had this falna."

She studied me for a moment longer, then shrugged and wrote it down. "Alright, so level 0. Noted. Just be aware that the Guild may request proof of your level if you take on certain quests."

"Fair enough," I said, nodding. "Anything else?"

"Just a few more questions," she said, flipping to the next page of her form. "Do you have any prior combat experience?"

"Some," I said, thinking back to my encounter with the Shadowfang Alpha and also my training in my past world but those are fighting under rules so here, they can barely pass. "Enough to handle myself in a fight."

"Good to know," she said, jotting it down. "And I'm guessing you don't have any special abilities since you haven't received any blessings from a god.

My [minor space manipulation] ability and the passive abilities and my Celestial Human traits were definitely unique, but I wasn't sure if they can be defined as abilities just yet. For now, it was probably best to keep them to myself until further tests. 

"Nothing worth mentioning," I said, offering her a nonchalant shrug.

She gave me a skeptical look but didn't press the issue. "Alright, last question—what brings you to Orario? Are you here to explore the Dungeon, seek fame and fortune, or something else?"

I leaned against the counter, my grin widening. "All of the above," I said. "I'm here to make a name for myself, explore this world, and see what it has to offer. Oh, and maybe get rich while I'm at it."

The elf chuckled, shaking her head. "Ambitious, aren't you? Well, Orario is the place for that. Just remember—this city has a way of chewing up and spitting out those who aren't prepared. Don't get in over your head and you should seek to join a familia. It's better."

"Noted," I said, giving her a wink. "But I think I'll be just fine."

She finished filling out the form and set it aside, then reached under the counter and pulled out a small, rectangular card. "This is your adventurer ID," she said, handing it to me. "It's proof of your registration with the Guild. Keep it on you at all times—you'll need it to accept quests, enter the Dungeon, and access certain services."

I took the card, examining it closely. It was made of a smooth, durable material, with my name, race, and level etched into its surface. There was also a blank space where my familia affiliation would have been, but since I didn't have one, it remained empty.

"Thanks," I said, slipping the card into my pocket. "So, what's next?"

"Next, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the city and the Dungeon," she said, gesturing to a large map pinned to the wall behind her. "The Guild offers basic orientation for new adventurers, as well as guides to the Dungeon's floors and monsters. I'd recommend starting there."

I nodded, glancing at the map. It was detailed, with various sections of the city and the Dungeon clearly marked. "Sounds like a plan. Anything else I should know?"

"Just one more thing," she said, her expression turning serious. "Orario is a city of opportunity, but it's also a city of danger. Trust is a rare commodity here, and not everyone has your best interests at heart. Be careful who you ally yourself with, and always watch your back."

"Got it," I said, giving her a nod of appreciation. "Thanks for the advice." 

"You're welcome," she said, her smile returning. "Good luck, Zephyr Kane. I have a feeling you're going to need it."

I chuckled, turning away from the counter and heading deeper into the Guild. The map on the wall caught my eye again, and I made a mental note to study it later. For now, I needed to get my bearings and figure out my next move. 

As I walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within me. This was it—the start of my journey in this strange, dangerous world. I had no familia, no allies, and no real plan, but I had something far more valuable: determination and a system, a thirst for adventure, and the confidence that I could handle whatever this world threw at me.

After all that was put at the back of my mind, I head towards what seemed to be a library.

End of Chapter 3.