It was an unusual sight, the location that the two adventurers had taken Damien was that of what looked like an old church. It was a grand building made of stone. 

The inside of it, however, looked more similar to what the old folktales would describe. Along the walls, there hung old paintings of people or historical events. There were also painted windows showing tales of the Devine.

In the middle of the room stood a giant pillar that was covered in papers holding information on the ruins. What one was expected to see in it, who the lord of the ruin was, and what the party had discovered it.

On the right entrance, there was the help desk. It was there new adventurers could join, and where one reported which ruin one was heading to or if one had cleared a ruin. The people behind the desk were dressed in more fine and official clothing, wearing the green and white colors of the guild.

On the opposite side of the entrance, there was a wall full of other papers. It was there parties would put up requests for more members or for adventurers to notify that they were looking for parties to join.

Next to the “looking for adventurers” board, there was a small bar serving rations for adventurers going to the ruins or just drinks for the ones who just returned from one.

To the left of the entrance, a massive structure loomed, made from a material that seemed to be similar to glass or marble. It covered most of the wall, depicting a map that was both familiar yet strange. The continents seemed to shift and twist as one gazed upon it, showing lands that no longer existed or terrain that was completely different than how it is today. Yet, despite these differences, its purpose was unmistakable. A relic from the ancient world, a fractured guide to the location of the Djinn.

The map of Valor.

Shattered and incomplete, the most vital landmarks were lost to the ruins, and naturally, the Djinns resting place was nowhere to be found.

All around the guild hall, there were tables of adventurers sitting discussing future plans, playing cards, or just enjoying a drink. The mood in the guild hall was pretty festive.

That was until they noticed who had just entered. As soon as Leon and Alice walked in, the mood became more stale. Almost like a wave of anxious bitterness had drowned the once lively hall. The only thing breaking the silence was the now awkward song of the musicians.

Despite this, Leon and Alice confidently walked into the building heading to the far wall.  

After what felt like hours of judgment, the patterns of the guild all started up again.

Damien walked up to the help desk, where he was greeted by a woman clad in a cream white dress with a green vest on top. The edges of her dress where the same green as her vest.

"Welcome sir. How can I be of assistance for you today?" the lady asked, her voice calm and sweet.

"W-well, I wanted to sign up as an adventurer for the guild." Damien told her, a bit nervous.

"Fantastic, then I just need you to read through and sign some of these papers before we can start your registration." the lady said, handing him some papers.

Reading through the papers, Damien saw it was mostly how any rewards found in the ruins all belong to the one who collects them. The only reward required to be shared with the guild and it's patrons is any map shards to the Djinn that might be found in the ruins.

As Damien moved to sign the papers, he hesitated, reading through the clause about injuries. The guild wouldn't be liable if he got hurt or worse...

But at least they would patch him up enough for the next mission.

With a deep sigh, he signed the papers.

"Perfect, now, Mr. Ledger, just to make sure, have you ever entered any ruins outside of the guilds knowledge?" the lady asked.

Damien froze up for a second before answering.

"Oh no. Is that not allowed? Oh, by the serpent have I committed a crime?" Damien panicked internally.

"Eh..." he began.

But before he could say another word, the lady raised her hand.

"Now, Mr. Ledger I where to add something before you speak, yes there is some laws about non adventurers not being allowed in the ruins however, if we are to be honest most of the people here have probably entered the ruins once before becoming an adventurer." the lady said, a bit unprofessionally.

"So why don't we just put that under inexperienced," the lady said, giving him a slight wink.

Damien let out a nervous laugh, not sure how to respond.

"Now what kind of skills do you have, Mr. Ledger? I see you carry a sword, so should I register you as a swordsman?" she asked.

"Eh, I- I do have some experience with swordsmanship, but I am what's called an Elixirist. But maybe it's more known as a potion brewer or apothecary around here." Damien explained, trying to hide his excitement about his work.

"An Elixirist? Don't see those often." the lady laughed, writing something down in the thick leather book in front of her.

"So, mister Damien Ledger an Elixirist with no official records of being in the ruins. One more thing before we are done. Your age and do you intend to explore the ruins alone or with a party, and in that case, have you one already prepared? In that case, I would need their credentials." the lady said.

"Of course. I just turned 23 last week actually, and I plan on partying up with these two." Damien pointed towards Leon and Alice, who stood over at the "looking for parties" board.

"Actually, I just met them, so we decided on going on a trial run first, so we have to see if I stick around with them or not." Damien explained.

However, his words went on deaf ears as the lady only gave him a chocked expression.

"W-with those two?" the lady asked, her voice now much more panicked and distressed.

It also seems like Damien's words had been heard by other patrons of the guild.

"You're going to party up with the Omens? Are you mad kid?" he heard a raspy voice ask him.

It came from a man, clearly under the influence of alcohol, dressed in black robes that could not hide his beer gut.

"The omens?" Damien asked confused, instinctively backing away from the man as his breath reeked of old foods and liquor.

"You haven't heard?" another voice asked.

This voice belonged to a red haired woman, maybe just a year older than himself, dressed like a knight. Next to her stood a party of two others, a swordsman and a thief girl.

"They don't have the best reputation around. Through all of their years being in the guild, the only success they have had is some minor magic items. And it was only some year back that they started forming a party. And oh by the serpent's grace, that is another hell in of itself." the red-headed knight explained.

"What do you mean?" Damien asked, a bit concerned.

it suddenly got tense again, just like when the three of them had entered the guild.

"The first time they tried to expand their party size, they brought in three others. One of them being a greenhorn like you." the drunk man spoke.

"Two of them died, and the greenhorn couldn't even pick up a sword again after that mission." the man explained.

"But that is what happens in the ruins, yeah? Well, two months after they tried again. Six entered, five left." the man told him.

"And what I heard from another group that tried to party with them was this. We couldn't compare, Leon and Alice where fighting like if they where going in solo. Making it basically impossible to work together with them." the drunk man explained.

"Oh..." Damien let out.

"We call them the omens because they bring bad luck wherever they go. That Alice girl, when she first got here, the first thing she did was to join any table playing cards. She gambled everyone out of their money within the evening and lost it all somewhere in the ruins." the lady behind the help desk joined in.

"And that Leon kid..." the drunk man said before taking another sip out of his flask.

"He walked in here one day shouting something about how he would be a great adventurer and how he would be the one finding the Djinn. Then, the next day, he walked in covered in blood after a mission gone wrong. It was later revealed that the party he had joined got into a trap on the first floor that killed them, forcing him to solo the rest of the tower. But there are still speculations." the drunk man explained, a melancholy look in his eyes.

"Speculations regarding what?" Damien asked.

"If in fact it was he who killed them and lied about the trap. Main argument was that how could a greenhorn manage to solo a tower at their first ever mission. So some think he tricked and killed them to steal their equipment. Working with another group or something like that." the drunkerd told him.

"Anyway, kid, you shouldn't be around them. Now even if you manage to cooperate with them, you might just ruin your reputation around here. So how about this. I have a nephew who should be around your age, he is also looking for more party members. So why dont I hook you up with hi-" the man said but suddenly stopped.

For behind him now stood Leon, with one hand on the mans shoulder.

"Hey now Tom, you trying to steal our new recruit, huh?" Leon asked.

"Damien, come, we need to talk." Leon said before noticing the look in Damien's eyes.

It was a mixture of fear, worry, and excitement.

"They told you about us and our interesting history with the guild, I presume." Leon then said.

Damien gave him a nod.

"Look, I understand if you might be rethinking your choices, but at least give us a chance." Leon said, the desperation in his voice echoed around them.

Damien took a second to think. Looking around to the people around him, he then answered.

"Don't worry, I promised you guys at least a trial run before I decided, right? So just let me finish up my registration and I will meet up with you." Damien told him, to the dismay of the other patrons around him.

Leon smiled.

"Sure." he said.

So Damien turned back to the lady behind the help desk who just sighed and handed him a locket with a moon engraved into it. Opening the locket, he saw a small piece of paper containing his name and information.

"This is your proof of registration. Welcome to the adventurers guild." the lady sighed, seemingly disappointed in Damien's choice of party members.

The three sat around a small table in the corner of the guild.

"Before we start, you do know how the ruins work, right?" Leon asked.

"Like you know of the different floors and how each ruin has it's own lord with it's own kind of magic?" Leon continued, a bit worried that he wouldn't know anything.

"I do, not to brag, but I have explored the ruins on three different occasions before today." Damien explained, a hint of pride in his voice.

"That's where I got this." he said, pointing to the elegant curved sword on his back.

"Only three? I did at least 17 before I joined." Leon bragged.

"So the sword..." Alice started before looking around.

"Magic?" she whispered, not wanting any unwanted attention.

"Y-yes." Damien said, matching her tone of voice.

"Then It's two to one Leon."  Alice teased, causing Leon to groan.

Damien looked at her with a confused expression.

Alice then pulled out a small coin bag. She opened it and reached her whole arm down the small bag. As she pulled out her arm, she took out a large war hammer, around the same size as her.

Alice gave him a knowing nod.

"With you here, then Leon is the only one of us who hasn't found anything magic." she explained.

Leon just sighed pulling out a piece of paper.

"Maybe we should get into the interview." Leon said changing the subject.

Leon then focused his attention on Damien.

"Why do you want to explore the ruins?" he asked.

Damien looked at him stunned.

"Huh?"

"Why do you want to explore the ruins?" Leon repeated.

"I'm here for the same reason as everyone else?" Damien answered.

"And what is that reason?" Leon asked.

"Did he hit his head or something?" Damien thought.

"To find the map shards and eventually find the Djinn." he then answered.

Leon smiled hearing that.

"Good. You see, that isn't why most people explore the ruins anymore. It's been a long time since the last map shard was found, so now most people gave up hope for finding it." Leon explained.

"And now, most people only do this for status, power, or money. But not us. We are some of the ones who still insist on finding the Djinn." Leon told him.

"So I want to know that you are not some lame fake adventurer only doing this for money. Because if you are, then you can leave." Leon told him, his voice taking on a serious tone.

Damien sat quiet for a second.

"I promise. I am not here for boring stuff like that. I am here for the adventure of a lifetime. I'm here to find the Djinn."

Leon smiled at his answer before extending his hand out.

"Then let us find the Djinn together." Leon said shaking his hand.

"Now..." Leon said pulling out a piece of paper.

It was a report about a ruin called "The holy spire" it's a tower consisting of eight floors, five being normal challenges of beasts and puzzles, and the seventh is reported to be a safe room before entering the Lord's Chamber.

"Only eight floors? I know we should go easy with the newbie, but he said he has some previous experience." Alice said.

"It's not because of that. Here look." Leon said, pointing towards a string of text around the end of the report.

"Before the scouts exited through the safe room, they felt a powerful aura of power emitting from the Lord's chamber. None of the scouts wore marks..." Alice read out loud.

"Holy..." she muttered looking towards Leon.

"What? I don't understand." Damien said confused.

"If a Lord emits such a high magic aura that even those who aren't marked with magic can feel it. It usually only means one of three things. The boss is guarding a powerful weapon, a scroll or..." Leon explained letting Damien finish his sentence.

"A map shard!" Damien exclaimed.

"Now you're getting it." Leon smiled, holding on to Damien's shoulder.

"Then is everyone alright with us going with this one?" Leon asked.

The other two gave him an affirmative nod.

"Then let's head out." Leon spoke, a determined smile plastered on his face.

The three headed towards the help desk and informed the guild on their mission before they headed out. Determined to defeat the Lord and claim their reward.