The return to Lithuway was triumphant, though the mood of Lyra, Borin, Gareth, and Elara was tempered by the unsettling nature of the mutant orc. Hans walked beside them, his stride more confident now, though he still carried the quiet thoughtful air that had been etched into him by his early years in the forest. The emblem, once again cool and unassuming beneath his tunic, felt like a heavy secret, a power he was only beginning to glimpse.

Back in the clamour of the Guild Hall, the quartet reported their success, detailing the elimination of the orc threat. The Guild Master, an aging, scarred human named Theron, listened gravely to their account, his eyes narrowing when Lyra described the mutated nature of the last beast.

"A mutated variant, you say?" Theron rumbled, stroking his greying beard. "That's ill news indeed. Hints of darker influences at play." His gaze then drifted to Hans, who stood a little behind Borin, trying to appear inconspicuous. "And the boy, Gareth? Lyra tells me he was instrumental in its demise."

Gareth stepped forward, a proud smile on his face. "Indeed, Master Theron. His quick thinking, a bit of clever footwork, and a... unique intuitive ability turned the tide. The creature was immune to our steel and most spells, but Hans found a way to unbalance it, allowing us the opening." He deliberately kept the explanation vague, not wanting to draw undue attention to the boy just yet.

Theron fixed his gaze on Hans, a flicker of surprise in his ancient eyes. He’d seen children tagging along with adventurer parents before, but rarely heard of one contributing to a B-rank mission. "Is this true, young one?"

Hans, feeling the weight of all their gazes, nodded, his voice a little clearer than it would have been three years ago. "I... I just moved the ground, sir."

A low murmur rippled through the few adventurers lingering nearby, their conversations halting. A ten-year-old moving ground? That sounded suspiciously like an untrained earth-mage, or something even stranger.

Theron leaned back in his massive chair, a thoughtful hum escaping him. "Remarkable. Very remarkable. Such ingenuity, and at such an age… that warrants recognition." He pushed a heavy ledger across the desk. "Gareth, you spoke of registering him, correct? For his own safety, and to formally acknowledge his place with you."

"That was the plan, Master," Gareth confirmed, exchanging a quick look with Lyra.

"Very well," Theron said, picking up a quill. "Name, age, primary skill..." He paused, then looked at Hans again. "Given this report, and the unusual nature of his contribution to a B-rank threat... I believe an exception is warranted."

He dipped the quill, then scratched swiftly on the page. "Hans, welcome to the Adventurers' Guild of Lithuway. You are hereby registered as a D-rank adventurer."

The words hung in the air, silencing the Guild Hall entirely. A ten-year-old, skipping F-rank entirely, straight to D-rank? It was unprecedented. Whispers immediately broke out, a mix of disbelief, envy, and grudging respect. Most adventurers spent years toiling at F-rank, taking on minor pest control or escorting duties, before earning their promotion.

Borin let out a hearty laugh, slapping Gareth on the back. "Well, I'll be damned! Told you he was a prodigy, didn't I, pretty boy?"

Elara merely smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. Lyra, however, looked at Hans, a mixture of pride and concern on her face. The Guild Master's decision was a grand acknowledgement, but it also placed a heavy burden on the boy’s small shoulders. D-rank missions were not mere chores; they involved genuine danger, encounters with dangerous beasts and even darker forces.

Hans, still trying to process the concept of a "D-rank," felt a strange thrill mingle with a touch of apprehension. He now had a place, a formal identity within this new world. But with that identity came responsibility, and the unspoken expectation that he would continue to prove himself. The Guild Hall, once an overwhelming spectacle, now felt like a bustling training ground, a new stage for the next chapter of his ever-unfolding adventure.