Esmoendo was less of a town and more of a borough, bigger and well spread out but not as big as a city. People moved around, appearing busy but always had more time on hand than to know what to do with it, it was a charter town after all. Business boomed throughout the year and everyone all around had plenty to go about. As any large town would have, there was minor nobility too, mostly referring the wealthiest traders or those with the real estate monopoly. But of course, it was nothing compared to a true noble and the expanse of not just their wealth but also their status and their influence. Nonetheless, Silas and Tormac were amused by the prosperity and the liveliness of the new place. It wasn't even close to what they had expected, like Grytrand and it's grim people who worked hard throughout the day for survival. The duo wandered about aimlessly, admiring the town and getting to know their surroundings until they came up on a huge market, with seemingly exotic spices and many other stalls lined with goods like cheese and dairy, fresh meat and fish as well as recently harvested fruits and vegetables. The sight of fresh meat was enough to give a mouth watering reaction form the duo, as they had just finished their own supply of venison.

Silas saw Tormac eyeing for a place to eat and said "I'm hungry too, but move. We can get something to eat by the Adventurer's Guild too. And hopefully get some advise on a place to stay"
Tormac agreed and moved with him, the quicker they settled, the quicker they got something to eat. They asked about for the Adventurer's Guild and soon found it. They entered and found many mercenaries just lounging about, hoping for employment or any quests they could be eligible for.
Silas spoke to the guild clerk behind the counter "Hey, we are new in town and are looking for accommodation or any small room we could stay in"
"Sure, we could do that. Many inns and lodgings nearby have a contract with the adventurer's guild. I am sure we could find a place fitting a handsome man such as you two" the guild clerk said with a bright smile and a wink.
Her flirty advances were met with no reaction, Silas knew this was just a front to attract people. 
"Yes, please do that. And we would also like to register as new adventurers and would like a job as quick as possible. And could you also please see that the place we stay at is well within the ranges of our earning as well? Thank you" Silas said while rummaging through his rucksack for the registration fee.
"Absolutely. There's a lodge right across the street from the Guild. They frequently have new members of the Guild stay there. They also provide decent meals with a place to stay. Would you like to register as new members now?" The Guild clerk asked, still smiling brightly.
"No, we'll be back by today evening, could you prepare our first quests for us please?" Tormac interrupted before Silas could say anything.
"Sure, I will do that for when you come back in the evening then" The clerk finished.

"Come on. Let's get this stuff of our backs before anything else" Tormac said "You always tend to overdo everything, man. Take some rest first"
"Yeah, sorry about that." Silas said and realized his body was exhausted too from all that travelling.
They entered the inn and were greeted by the man behind the bar serving the drinks
"Greetings, travelers. What can i help you with?" the man said
"Lodgings please, for the two of us" Silas said
"Sure, we have some rooms for you. Any specific purpose you boys are here? How long do you intend to stay?"
"We just signed up as new adventurers and were hoping for a place to stay. As for the duration, we aren't sure ourselves." Silas said.
"No problem at all. Rooms will cost you 25 Pennar a day and if you would want meals with that then it's 40 Pennar for both of you."
"Can we deposit an advance? About 2 Lunars?" Tormac said
"Sure. That will cover you for 5 days excluding today. Don't worry, I won't be charging the both of you for today." The man said, smiling "You're new and are learning the ropes, it's the least i can do for aspiring youngsters like you. Anyways, breakfast is still being served, so i suggest you two go eat, first"
Silas and Tormac were very happy over saving a day's worth of expenses and thanked the man, profusely. The two rushed to eat quickly, satiating their starving bellies was on the top of their priority list for now. 4 days of on-foot travelling was a lot for them, even with breaks, rest and such. The duo, quickly sat down for their meal and stuffed themselves al the way to the top. Although, a request for Ale was denied by the man, saying "Don't be tempted by this vile fluid. It will tear your life apart", neither of the two argued any further anyways. 

Silas and Tormac finished their meal, thanked their patron and went out to familiarize themselves with the local region as it was to be their long term base of operations before amassing a wealth enough for long distance travel. The duo went around the town and learnt of most landmarks they could to get a bearing of their general location. As the afternoon drew closer to an end, Tormac reminded Silas of their plans to go back to the Guild by evening. They had discussed of how they would be needing to move and how much they would have to be earning to live a somewhat decent life as they are now before they have to reach Austrand. The same clerk lady greeted them with a smile "Hey, welcome back. Ready to register and receive your first quest?"
"Yeah, sure. How much was the registration again?" Tormac asked
"It's 50 Pennar each, sir." she said taking the amount and passing a sheet to them "If you would sign here...and here and.....that's it. The Guild now recognizes you as one of our own. We maintain your quest records until you reach the rank of Skirmisher, after which you can choose to opt out of having your quests recorded. Here's a guide book as well, it includes all the regularly encountered flora and fauna by the adventurers and some extra information you may find handy. Would you like me to hand you your quests now? And would like to do the quests as a party?"
"Yes, please" Silas said "And no, we would like individual quests. Better earnings than as a party, anyways."
"Smart. I have a item delivery request and another one...oh yeah, a vermin extermination request. Which one would either of you want?" the clerk asked
"I'll take the ext-" Silas began when Tormac cut him off "No. I'll take it. I'll take the extermination quest. I would seem much more suitable". Silas looked at Tormac in confusion but Tormac explained " Sil, you had enough time to work on your magic so far. Let me try this one. Let me learn as well."
Silas smiled at his friend and said "Sure. Why not? But if you get scared and fall on your butt don't blame me for laughing at you. That would be quite the sight to see, anyways. Haha" 
Tormac just elbowed Silas in the ribs and left for the location on the request paper.
"Excuse me, but, could you hand me my quest as well? I'd like to leave as well." Silas said still smiling from a moment before.
"Sure, but before that there is some information you need to know. The object isn't large so you may carry it in your hand and your method of transportation shouldn't matter either, but you are delivering to a noble family that is visiting this town. So, while delivering the package please be courteous to whoever you talk to. Nobles pay well but are always trouble. You may receive your payment directly from the ones who made this request." the clerk finished.
The clerk handed out a package, it was small enough to fit inside his robe pocket. He took it and headed out northward. The request was for the guild to deliver a package to the temporary residence of the Silvaren Family. A reward was not mentioned, but the clerk said nobles won't be cheap out on him as being frugality wasn't a virtue of those of nobility.

Silas continued on his path to the residence lost in his thoughts for new ways for his magic. Travelling had put a strain on his body but built some endurance, he needed to work on his magecraft and his mana pool to grow as both a mage and adventurer. He still needed to work on freely controlling his own blood, rather than needing to draw it out. He tried visualizing how he could use his blood, like using a very thin but sharp and pointed dagger made from his blood over his fingers like claws or a thin mana crystallized blood coils to use as a sharp whip or such things. He continued to devise different possibilities as he went on with his quest. He looked around for any ideas or inspiration from the marketplace he was passing though and noticed a weapons trader with his wares out. He had knives, daggers, short swords, broadswords, shields, axes, polearms and many other such items, then he noticed a lone spear set aside and covered with dust and it gave him the idea to aim for a long reach weapon. He snapped out of his thoughts and realized he was staring at the vendor while standing perfectly still in the middle of the road. He stepped quicker with embarrassment and quickly moved out of the market. 
He reached his destination and took a look at the residence from afar for a bit. It was a beautifully constructed Manor with wood carvings so intricate and detailed it would shame the gold ornament sellers in the market. The manor by itself seemed so opulent that it could shame all of the prestigious traders of Esmoendo for their pretense of aristocracy. Silas hesitated to ask for anyone for a second before steeling himself and speaking to the guard outside.
"Package for the estate" Silas said calmly.
"Package? Dispatched by whom?" the guard asked
"The Adventurer's guild, I'm not at the liberty to reveal any further than that" Silas said soft but firm
"Very well, give me a moment to confirm" The guard said and went inside.
The other guard stood by the entrance and was sizing up Silas like an opponent. Silas didn't bother to say anything, he had to avoid even the slightest sliver of conflict. 
The first guard returned and said "Verified. Come in and hand it off to the personal attendant yourself."
Silas walked through the entrance and then the front door and stood in the massive hall that came right after the door. The external decor did no justice for what was inside the manor, lit chandeliers, portraits of ancestors framed with what seemed like gold frames, the floor made entirely of marble so white, it made pearls look dull. Silas immediately put on a straight face, no display of emotion as he couldn't be sure of what the nobles would assume of his expressions. From the corner of his eye he saw the swish of a daydress of a lady and immediately looked forward again. A lady had exited a nearby room and was in the hall with him, Silas immediately averted his gaze to avoid catching even a glimpse of her.
"Stranger by the door" a sweet yet dignified voice called him "State your purpose in this manor"
"My apologies, my Lady" Silas said with his voice courteous, still averting his gaze "I am simply here to deliver a package that was requested from the Adventurer's Guild"
"I see you do not wish to meet eyes with me" The lady said "Has my countenance displeased you that much?"
"Shit....this is either a test or an excuse. I better watch my words" Silas thought
"My apologies again, my Lady. I do not meet eyes with you to avoid being discourteous and seemingly rude." Silas said
"Then perhaps would you turn around if you do not wish to look me in the eye?" The Lady said.
"I would do as you would command, my Lady, but showing my back to a noble would be a far worse of an offense than averting my gaze" Silas said, starting to worry where this conversation might lead.
"You needn't worry about that as I would turn around myself" The Lady insisted
"Very well, as you command, my Lady" Silas said and slowly turned around, facing forward. As he turned around he noticed a maid beside the young lady.
"Now, messenger. Introduce yourself"
"Silas Ryd. Rank: Novice Initiate. Mage. Here to deliver a designated package" Silas said
"Very good, concise and direct as you could be" The Lady giggled "Forgive me for prying, but what kind of mage are you? Could you display your mageworks?"
"My Lady, I am a mage of a unique element that is very commonly frowned upon by the masses and people avoid me for it. I cannot show it to you without it drawing your ire or disgust, so please forgive my refusal." Silas said
"Saying such a thing would only rouse my curiosity more"
"Then, I would prefer doing so while being pointed by the spears of your guardsmen while displaying my element, as a gesture that I mean you no harm when i profess my element, my Lady" Silas said, left with no choice as further refusal would mean offending her.
"Very well, it shall be done then" The Lady said as she turned, commanding the guards to surround Silas and point their spears at him.
Silas prepared himself and took off his robe. He took out his short sword and made a long cut from his elbow to his knuckles, letting every drop fall onto the marble floor. Everybody witnessing the scene either frowned or winced. The young Lady put her hand on her mouth, aghast. Silas then used his mana to coagulate the blood and seal the wound. He then proceeded to use his mana to suspend every single drop of his blood into an air and into the shape of an orb. The marbles were clean, as though they had a drop of blood on them to begin with.
Silas looked at the Young Lady and met her eyes, he then said "See, my Lady? I told you it would draw your disgust. In a moment, I will turn this into something not difficult on the eyes as the previous instance was.". He then parted the large orb into multiple smaller ones and used mana compression to make multiple mana bullets at once. Silas formed a total of 6 bullets, with 5 of the piercing kind and the last one as a Shatterburst kind. He then held out his hands and let the suspended mana bullets to fall into his hands, putting them into his robe pocket as wore the robe back again.

The Young Lady was speechless for a few seconds before she calmly and coolly collected herself and called off the guards and said "That...was fascinating. I believe you may the first and probably the only Blood Mage I have met and will ever meet. The objects you made from blood, could you perhaps show them to me?"
Silas gently placed the piercing projectile in her hand while holding the Shatterburst within his own, so the Lady wouldn't prick her hand on the edges of it.