C3 To The Ceremony!

Eventually, they reached their village's main entrance where the Village Warp Zone is. Warp Zones are the main way to navigate in this world, although they can only transport people.

"Hey, Al!"

"Uncle Roya!"

"So we have 3 candidates this year.", said the other sentry.

"Oh, Ms. Frey is also on duty today!", Jun shouted.

Normally, village adventurers take turns in guarding their respective villages. Some villages that lack adventurers seek help from the guilds for this type of service.

"Hoo, I take it back. We have 4 candidates this year.", slightly pointing at the back of the three youngsters while holding his long staff.

"Rey!", Isha exclaimed feeling relieved.

"Here I thought you were injured and won't be able to join this year.", Jun taunted.

"Ah yes."

Rey pulled up his shirt and deep scratches revealed that even the 2 lookouts were startled.

"I asked Mrs. Gran to heal me so I can come with you this year. She even buffed me with Haste."

SHING!

"And it ended.", Al remarked.

Isha grabbed her arm and asked, "Where did you get those deep wounds?"

"Ah ha ha..." he nervously replied.

"I was on my way home from getting fire woods when I spotted a young villager getting attacked by a bear. I rushed without thinking and.. yeah!", he ended pointing at his chest.

"I don't want Jun to hate me for breaking my promise so I tried my best to catch up."

Jun, pushing her cheek with her index finger asked, "A promise?"

"uh hmm, I promised that I will be a Defender someday to be able to protect you."

"Eh?!", Jun was taken by surprise.

"HA HA HA!"

"Al?", Isha asked, confused.

Al walked towards Rey and then wrapped his arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry I thought you of still being a scaredy cat Rey! Defender emblem really suits you."

"Not a problem Al. I WAS scared. Ha ha!"

They laughed for a moment when Isha jokingly called out Jun.

"I think someone needs to apologize."

"Oh! Mr. Roya teleported me!", Jun playfully replied.

"I did not!"

She was suddenly at the front of the Warp Zone and quickly stepped inside.

"Idiot Rey.", she whispered.

"To Capital City!"

ZZZZZNNNGGGG

"Jun, wait for us!"

Isha was the second to enter the warp zone. Rey and Al hurriedly followed her and said goodbye.

"See you later Uncle Roya and Ms. Frey!"

They waved back to them as they announce their destination.

"To be able to heal such deep wounds, Arryn is such a blessing to our village."

"Yes, and Rey did not receive a mere Haste, that's a Greater Haste for world's sake!", Roya responded.

"The Grans really are something."

---

TING!

[Hokora Capital City]

[Fortunate Isles]

"Jun!", Isha shouted.

Al and Rey also reached their destination. They spotted Jun and Isha standing still, worried, Al started to run towards them but then suddenly slowed down.

"Al? What's the matter?"

Rey turned his sight to where Al is looking in the front and finally understood what was happening.

"Woah.", he breathed.

A gigantic wall is standing in front of them. It was as high as the sky and both sides stretches out to nowhere. It also has this strange-looking orb stuck inside it just above its gates.

"Our house looked like a birdcage compared to this gate!", Al screamed.

People and animal-pulled carriages can also be seen coming in and out of the capital. This is a normal day in the continent's capital since most of the important activities are being done here like trading, guild meetings, normal and adventurer job hiring, as well as citizens' day-to-day activities like eating, buying clothes, or just loitering around the capitals entertainment district.

While the 4 are still admiring the recent view they discovered, a guy approached them. Medium build, wearing a pair of armor clothing similar to the ones stationed in front of the gates. He slightly raised his hand and a Status Window suddenly appeared out of the thin air and he started to speak.

TING!

[Kleyn Strad]

[Lv. 30 Fighter]

[Title: Capital Guard]

"Amazing structure isn't it?", He then slowly put down his hand, the Status Window disappeared and he continued talking.

"The orb in the middle is a Protection Orb created by the Legendary Adventurers to repel dungeons from spawning inside the capital just like the Protective Barriers of the villages."

"Ooooh..", replied the four seemingly starstruck by the fighter.

"Ah ha ha...", tensely laughed and added.

"Are you perhaps going to the new Adventurers Ceremony?"

The four broke from the charm of their newly found childhood hero.

"Yes, we are!", Al energetically replied.

"Okay. You should probably go now, as the candidates from other villages already left. Go straight to the Central Plaza and you will see the World Warp Zone. Announce Lernseg as your destination and you should be good."

"Thanks a lot, sir! See you around!"

Then Al started running towards the capital.

"Wait for us Al!", Jun shouted.

Isha made a quick bow and followed the two. As Rey was starting to run, the capital guard stopped him and asked.

"Hey, apologies. Are you perhaps from the Vens village?"

"Yes sir."

"Oh okay, I just forgot to confirm.", and gave him a simple nod.

Rey then continued to run. The capital guard was then pulled by a fellow guard.

"Oi Hey!"

"Did I hear it correctly?"

"Yep, that's captain's son, Al. He looks promising indeed."

---

TING!

[Center Plaza]

"Oy Rey!"

He saw Al waving. He's with Jun and Isha standing near the warp zone.

"What took you so long?"

TING!

[World Warp Zone]

"The cool guard asked our village name."

"And?", Isha asked.

"Nothing more. He said he just forgot to confirm it."

"Alright! Let's continue our journey!", Jun exclaimed while already stepping into the warp zone.

"Jun!", Isha followed her again. Al and Rey have gone too short after.

---

TING!

[Lernseg Capital City]

[Elysian Fields]

"Hey, you two! Are you going to the ceremony?! Hurry up, they are already started calling village candidates!"

The two ran toward the capital's gates.

"Thank you!", Rey shouted as they ran away.

"Candidates!", exclaimed the last guard informing the one the two boys were approaching. The guard from the other side then raised his arm for affirmation and pointed to the right. They waived as they passed right him and continued to run to where he pointed them. Immediately they saw people gathering in front of a building.

The building has two large statues standing on both sides. It depicts winged humans dressed in hooded robes. They have spears that cross at the building's gate and giant shields on their other hands. The building itself is like a typical structure that you would normally see at the continents' capitals that are decorated by these pillars in their entirety.

TING!

[World's Sanctuary]

As they surveyed the area, they saw Jun and Isha standing below of one of the statues. They seemed to look for them too so Al and Rey started approaching them when the gates of the sanctuary opened. A group of youngsters walked out the gate dressed like most of the people around the area with a pocket knife-like weapon strapped on their side.

The guy standing beside the sanctuary gate then revealed the next village candidates to set foot inside the sanctuary for the adventurer ceremony.

"Vens village candidates, please enter the sanctuary!"

Isha looked around while walking toward the gate. Jun was the one who spotted us first. She tapped Isha and pointed to us then continued her walk. Her face brightened up and followed Jun upstairs. The gate closed slowly after the four of us have completely entered the sanctuary.

The inside of the sanctuary was pitched black after the gates had totally closed themselves.

TING!

[You have received a quest.]

[Approach the Primordial Stone!]

---

Up Next: The Next Legendary Adventurer!