‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Sakda snapped back abruptly. ‘She’s going to become a Mage, just like Sir – ’

‘I’m from a family of Wizards you see,’ Aalaiyah interrupted calmly. ‘It’s tradition that I become a Mage too, then return home and continue training myself to become a Wizard.’

‘You mean you weren’t given a choice?’ Hirei raised his eyebrows.

‘No, no! Don’t misunderstand,’ Aalaiyah defended her family quickly. ‘It is my fate to become one, but I made the choice too, I like what I’m doing. Besides, I’ve never really thought much about the job choosing thing, so I really do not mind much about it.

‘Are you from Geffen by any chance, Aalaiyah?’ Penelope inquired. Aalaiyah laughed and nodded, Penelope smiling in satisfaction. ‘I knew it! I was from Geffen too until I moved to Prontera for my Acolyte training. Although I do remember seeing you, but I don’t recall where or when.’

‘Hey, Rei, Penelope,’ Cedric started. ‘After we become Novices, and join our own guilds, do you think we could travel together, along with my brother? We can visit different cities, meet different people and fight different monsters together! Finding Ymir’s heart fragments, training ourselves, fighting for peace… it’s all on the same path! It’s better to have a big party, right?’

‘You know I’d always be there for you buddy!’ Hirei patted Cedric on his back. ‘But yeah, Penelope, would you like to join us?’

‘It was my intention from the beginning to join a party and travel after I become an Acolyte,’ Penelope smiled. ‘Sure, why not?’

‘Alright, we’re here already,’ said Sakda out of the sudden, the group having moved away from the hall to a small room without them realizing. The room was empty and silent, the grey tiles on the floor arranged in a peculiar pattern in the centre. They could only hear their footsteps echoing throughout the room as they walked behind Sakda, followed by the sounds of Aalaiyah’s deep breaths after they stopped in the middle of the room. ‘We will finish up the Novice test by making your status as a Rune Midgard adventurer official. Your temporary identification cards, please.’

As soon as the four of them handed over their cards, the lights in the room turned off. A flash of light shot out from a small point from the ground, a regal, aged man with a luxurious crown and purple cape appeared as the light dispersed. He was glowing brightly, the light that hitting their faces and allowing minimal sight of each other.

‘Congratulations new Novices,’ said the man steadily with a booming voice, amplified further by the enclosed room. ‘You have taken the first step into committing yourself to improving yourself in your art and to protecting the peace of Rune Midgard.’

‘K-King Tristan the Third!’ stammered Hirei. Hurriedly, he fell onto his knees and lowered his snowy white head. He tugged on Cedric’s shirt to get him on the ground and glared at him, menacing even when shrouded in the darkness. The King continued to speak as steadily before, as if it was a recording put on play.

Sakda tried to hush Hirei. ‘It’s just a hologram, silly,’ he explained, his arms crossed and still listening to the hologram’s words. ‘The King doesn’t have time talking to every single common person here. Anyhow, would you get up from the ground now?’

Hirei loosened his grip from Cedric’s shirt, embarrassed. However, he stayed firmly on the ground and shook his head in return.

‘Let him be, he’s really persistent when it comes to things about respect and culture,’ Cedric explained.

‘– may join any guild of your choice,’ the King went on in his steady pace. ‘Once again, I am deeply grateful and proud that you have taken up my offer. Good luck in your journey, and I pray that you will achieve whatever you set your minds to, and bring pride to the great kingdom of Rune Midgard.’

With that, the hologram King faded into the darkness. The beam of light grew stronger like water rushing out of an open faucet and filled every corner of the small room. Cedric, cupping his eyes with his hands, was overwhelmed by the blinding light which seems to be bouncing off the walls made of mirror and magnifying.

‘Wow, we really done it!’

Cedric opened his eyes slowly, the blinding lights having disappeared and the room was lighted by the lamp hanging from the ceiling. First, he saw Hirei running towards him, and then he was on his back, tackled to the ground.

‘Ced! We’re Novices now! Look!’ Hirei cried gladly, spinning on his feet to flaunt his new outfit, an asparagus top and a shiny breastplate completed with baggy brown pants. ‘Come on, get up, look smart!’

With his hands, Cedric pushed himself up of the ground. As he did, he looked down and saw that he had magically changed into the Novice outfit too, a shiny Novice insignia sitting on his shoulder. He flashed it Hirei, who smiled and pointed to his shoulder too. He saw Penelope and Aalaiyah applauding each other, both wearing a cute pink shorts and a white top, also with a breastplate.

‘Congrats guys! You’ll need this when you travel around as a Rune Midgard adventurer,’ said Sakda. He returned them their identification cards, now with their picture and information written on it. Cedric took his from Sakda, a half-body Cedric in Novice outfit smiling up at him.

‘I guess it’s time I sent you guys off,’ Sakda said. ‘I’ll open a portal back to Prontera if you’re ready. And Miss – uh, Aalaiyah, we will send you back to Geffen, there will be your people there waiting for your return and –’

‘I don’t want to go back,’ Aalaiyah said fervently. ‘I want to follow Penelope, Cedric and Hirei to Prontera and join them on their journey.’

Sakda staggered backwards, stunned while the rest were equally shocked. ‘B-but Aalaiyah! Your father… he’ll be worried!’

‘I’m sure he’ll be fine, I’ll explain to him when I get back to Geffen, don’t worry,’ Aalaiyah answered confidently, determined with her decision. ‘I really like being with them, I learn a lot. I want to follow them and look for the Ymir’s heart fragments, and discover new lands, and better myself! Unless… they don’t like having me around?’

‘No, never!’ said Penelope nervously. ‘We would love to have you in our party. Thanks for wanting to join us so much. I just hope that your dad would be okay with this…’

‘Uh, okay then… yes, Prontera…’ Sakda stammered, feeling a burden of risk weighing down on him. He took out a small, blue gem and raised it above his head. He started chanting, a magic circle circling under his feet. He crushed the gem in his fist and threw his palm downwards, the blue dust scattered on the floor. A bright flash of light spewed out of his palms where the blue dust gathered, forming a circular portal as the magic circle under his feet disappeared.

‘This is it then,’ said Sakda as he stood up and moved out of the way. ‘This portal will lead you to Prontera. It has been nice knowing all of you. I pray for your safety and hope our paths will cross again in the future.’

‘Same to you, Sakda,’ Cedric smiled gratefully. Hirei gave Sakda a high five and exchanged blessings. Turning to Penelope and Aalaiyah, they both nodded back at Cedric and walked towards the portal.

‘Together on the count of three. One, two, three!’


Once again, they floated involuntarily in the bright space within the portal. Cedric somehow enjoyed this feeling of weightlessness, until he made a bad landing and fell, face first into the dark, concrete floor. Cedric straightened up immediately when he heard Penelope laughing from behind, glad that she was not the only one who lands improperly from a portal.

‘Welcome back, and congratulations!’

Cedric noticed that they were back in Prontera at the place they had taken the portal to the Novice Training Grounds from. Pavienne smiled and welcomed them back, receiving cheers and thanks in return.

‘See you guys soon!’ Pavienne said when they were about to leave. ‘All the best!’

As the foursome walked out of the building into the busy streets of Prontera, Aalaiyah made a squeak like a Yoyo in a banana plantation.

‘Wow! This place is crowded!’ Aalaiyah squealed, fascinated. ‘Back in Geffen, it’s always so quiet and the streets are tiled in grey. It’s so bright and lively here! And the buildings here are all so huge. Back home, only the Geffen Tower stands high over the city. And all the buildings there have roofs like wizard hats.’

‘I’m glad you like it here,’ said Penelope happily. ‘So… where should we head next?’

‘We could follow Penny to the Acolyte Job Change Test,’ said Hirei. ‘It’ll take awhile, wouldn’t it? Meanwhile, we can walk around town with Aalaiyah! The sun is setting soon, I suggest dinner at Lisa’s! They have wonderful Bomber Steaks there!’

‘Yeah, we could escort Penelope to the church first,’ Cedric agreed. ‘I’d like to go down to the residential area afterwards to look for my brother.’

Together, they walked towards the Northeast corner of the city. Aalaiyah was excited as they came across many peculiar trinkets Cedric, Hirei and Penelope has already grown accustomed to, along with the unique people who flocked to streets. They stopped for awhile by the river to listen to a wandering minstrel.

After listening to the Bard play them some song(Cedric felt refreshed after listening to the music, and thought it tasted like apples), they finally arrived at the oak doors of the Prontera Church, a magnificent cross guarding the entrance. Penelope walked forward and pushed against the doors, revealing a beautiful sanctuary inside. There was an aura of serenity and peace in the Prontera Church, and the priests inside were warm and helpful. Penelope greeted each of them with an equally gentle voice. She brought them to the room on the right, arriving before a man in a dark priest robe. He smiled warmly at them as they approached.

‘Welcome, young ones,’ he spoke. ‘And welcome back, Penelope. Have you returned to take the Acolyte’s test?’

Labels: NaNoMadness, The Eminent Guardians