Chapter 53

The treasure vault was located in the basement of the Foreigner’s Port Adventurer’s Guild Branch. After being teleported out of the ruins, Wil had spent a day recovering from the test. Dehydrated, exhausted and utterly sick of dried rations, he had splurged on food and drink with coin left to him from Quentin.

The Drake was long gone, they were halfway back to Illyria by now, and he wouldn’t see his companions for another three months, at least. Before she had left, Quentin had given him enough money to cover any supplies he would need.

It was nighttime when Wil emerged from the ruins, the black moon hovering silently in the sky above. He was alone, near the entrance stairway, the mage having simply dropped him off, before disappearing again.

The walk back to the guild branch was uneventful, and he was given a room to rest and access to the guild cafeteria after showing them his passing token. Clean, refreshed and with his armor and weapons fully restored by a quick visit to the shops, Wil was ready for anything they threw at him.

It was a day after his completion of the test that Wil was standing in front of the door to the vault, joined by only four others who had each received a gold token.

To his surprise, it was the large, wolf eared Beastman that had gotten a hold of the gold token in the portal chamber. The man simply nodded at Wil when he saw him, turning to concentrate on the vault door as he waited.

Not one to push for a conversation, Wil leaned against a wall, waiting with the others for the guild representative to let them pick a treasure item.

“So, you five have the gold tokens? I honestly thought there would be more.” A bored voice sounded from behind the group. The disinterested woman who had overseen the first test was walking down the hallway, her notebook still in her hand.

Wil didn’t know what response she was looking for from them, but she evidently didn’t receive it, because she scowled, before shaking her head.

“Whatever. Just take your token and place it against the door, one at a time, and you’ll be let in. When you make your selection, tap the item with the token and you’ll be allowed to take it. And hurry up, I’ve got shit to do.” She said, before checking her notebook for the order they would be allowed to enter in.

They were placed in order by when they received their token in the ruins, Wil going last as he spent the longest down there.

The large Beastman was first, taking out his gold token and placing it gently against the iron double doors of the vault. In the instant the token touched the metal, a ripple passed through it, and the man passed through the now insubstantial iron.

One by one, the others went into the room, spending several minutes, before leaving again. The Beastman emerged with a black, half-moon axe slung across his shoulders, heavily enchanted. Another person, the muscular woman Wil had seen during his combat test, came out wearing a set of spiked gauntlets.

Finally, it was Wil’s turn as the others cleared out, leaving him alone with the disinterested woman in the hallway. Taking a deep breath, Wil strode forward and placed his token against the door. Stepping through, he took in the chamber beyond.

For a treasury, it was certainly small, and lacking in everything he would expect from a vault. It didn’t have piles of gold coins, or treasure chests overflowing with gemstone and jewels. It was a simple room, with brightly woven rugs covering the bare stone floor, and tapestries hanging over the walls.

In the center of the room was a table, with only a single item left and four gold tokens placed in a line.

Resting on the wooden table was an emerald gemstone, the size of a robin’s egg. Smooth and round, it shone in the bright light of the vault. Lifting it in his hand, Wil could feel the mana within in, strong, and vibrant. The energy nearly burnt his hand as the gemstone could barely contain the power within.

With no other option available to choose from, Wil placed his token against the emerald and watched as it flared with golden life. Placing the token on the table with the other four, he carried the gemstone out of the vault in his hand, feeling a connection building between his mana, and the mana of the stone.

“It’s too bad you were so late, you’re stuck with that.” The woman spoke as he walked out of the vault.

“What is it?” Wil asked, burning with curiosity at the stone. He could feel the strength in it, as he rolled it around in his hand. The woman looked up from her notebook, peering at the stone as it rolled around in his palm.

“Earth elemental. The guild’s had it for years, but it’s sulking ever since its last owner passed away. Anyway, good luck with that, no one’s been able to coax it out.” She said, before leading him away from the vault.

Gripping the smooth emerald in his hand tightly, Wil followed along, determined to interact with the elemental as soon as he was free of his business here. An earth elemental could be a powerful ally, if he could gain its trust.

Following the woman, Wil found himself back in the courtyard on the main floor, where he had first waited for his combat test to begin. Unlike last time, the area contained only a few dozen people. Wil recognized many of them from his time in the ruins, they were all those who passed.

Nodding to the dwarves, the two Beastmen and the group of human mages that he had met in the ruins, he took his place against the back wall, as the high-ranking Mage who had teleported him out yesterday flashed into existence.

This time, she was dressed in long, white robes and holding a black staff, topped by the largest sapphire Wil had ever seen before.

“Good night. I want to thank you all for persevering thus far and congratulate you on your accomplishments. Ever member, even our locals, have passed these tests, so we can commiserate with your difficulties.”

“Our guild was founded over a thousand years ago to serve the nation of Lund as explorers and adventurers, as warriors and seekers of knowledge and truth.”

“To that end, it is imperative that our members be capable fighters. To be able to defend the innocent and overcome threats to yourselves, your companions, and this beautiful nation of ours. Lund needs every capable person to defend it, and, as part of the Guild, you will often be the first line of defense.”

“You, who have passed the test of combat, have demonstrated your abilities to our satisfaction.”

“As adventurers, you will be called to delve the deepest ruins and climb the highest peaks. You will search the far reaches of our continent in your explorations, and meet obstacles that will require your wit, your drive, and your determination to overcome.”

“You have shown us that, this past month. By seizing a token from the ruins below, you have demonstrated that you have the essential qualities needed to become adventurers.”

The mage paused her speech at this moment, as she looked around the room. With a wave of her hand, each badge on every person present changed from copper to silver, proof that they had passed the second stage of the examinations.

“But there is one more quality that our members must possess, and the final test will show us if you have it. There will be times when, in your missions with the guild, you must push further than you thought possible.”

“You will need to look deep within yourself and go beyond your natural limits. I’m not talking about a ‘want’ to succeed, but a ‘need’. A determination to see the task accomplished regardless of the sacrifice. To disregard the cost to yourself, the cost to others, in order to accomplish your goal.”

The mage looked around to see the effect her words had, letting them hang in the air.

‘Twins in heaven, what the hell are they going to have us do next?’ Wil wondered to himself, as the room fell silent.

“We will be offering you a week to think about whether you want to continue. The next test is not simply about passing or failing, we have had members die trying to accomplish what we will be asking of you. It is not a shameful thing to back out now, no one will think less of any of you if you choose to not proceed.”

“If you are still willing, you will meet back here in one week’s time, prepared for a journey that could take months, across terrain hostile to life. You will face monsters and ferocious beasts. You will be burned by the sun during the days and freeze under the black moon at night. There will be little water, minimal food, and no ambient mana to draw upon.”

“There will be no guides, no assistance provided, no benevolent guardians to protect you. You will be on your own, you will only have yourself to rely on.”

“The final task will be to cross the Midnight Desert.”