The Hero's Puppet Master

The ride on the farmer's cart was quiet and slow.

Ronan lay sprawled lazily on the dry grass, his hands behind his head as if he had all the time in the world. Aurelia, on the other hand, sat upright, bouncing slightly with each bump in the road, her excitement barely contained.

"Do you ever stop disturbing me?" Ronan asked, without opening his eyes.

"I can't help it," she replied, grinning as the outline of Westford Town grew closer in the distance. "I've never been to a town this big before. Look at the walls! They're enormous!"

He chuckled softly. "Relax. It's just a town. The only thing that makes it big is how crammed it is."

When they finally reached Westford's gates, Aurelia hopped off the cart, eagerly taking in the sight of the bustling marketplace just beyond. Her eyes sparkled as she looked around. Stalls lined the cobblestone streets, offering everything from fresh fruits and spices to intricate jewelry and weapons.

Ronan had barely stepped off the cart before Aurelia was darting from one stall to the next.

"Look at this!" she exclaimed, holding up a carved wooden figure of a bird.

"We didn't come here to shop," he muttered, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her back toward the main road.

As they made their way through the crowd, Aurelia noticed something she rarely saw in her village—demi-humans. There were cat-eared merchants, a pair of bearfolk carrying crates of goods, and a fox-eared woman weaving through the crowd with a child in tow.

"There are so many demi-humans here," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "I've only ever seen a few passing through the village."

He nodded, still dragging her along. "Westford's a trading hub. You'll see all kinds of people here. Keep staring like that, and they'll think you're a lost tourist."

She pouted but followed him as they finally approached their destination—the Adventurer's Guild.

The guild building was a massive structure. The heavy wooden doors creaked as he pushed them open. Inside, the place was alive with the clatter of mugs, laughter, and the low hum of conversations.

The crowd was as rugged as the atmosphere. Adventurers of all shapes, sizes, and species filled the hall—hulking warriors in dented armor, nimble rogues sharpening their blades, and mages who's drinking alcohol.

Aurelia's gaze immediately locked onto a large notice board at the far end of the hall. It was covered in papers, some neatly pinned while others hung crookedly. Each one detailed various quests, from goblin subjugation to beast hunts and delivery requests.

"That's where we'll find jobs later," Ronan said, steering her toward the front desk.

The receptionist caught Aurelia's attention immediately. She was a cat demi-human, her sleek black ears twitching as she scanned a document. Her sharp emerald eyes glanced up at them, and though she was undeniably beautiful, her expression was nonchalant.

"What can I do for you?" she asked, her tail flicking lazily.

"We're here to register," he said, his tone casual.

The woman's eyes flickered with brief curiosity before she reached under the counter and pulled out two forms. "It's five silver elios each. Fill these out—name, age, role, and then we'll check your mana type."

Ronan handed over the coins without complaint and nudged Aurelia toward a nearby table. They filled out the forms quickly—both stating thier role as a mana swordsmans.

When they finished, they returned to the desk. The receptionist gestured to a pedestal with a crystal ball sitting on top.

"Place your hand on the crystal," she said. "This will determine your elemental affinities through your mana leak."

Some adventures were eager to see what type of affinities these new kids has.

Ronan went first. He placed his hand on the crystal, and it immediately began to glow. First, a dark purple light spread through it, followed by red flames and green wind currents.

The guild hall fell silent.

"Dark, fire, and wind," the receptionist said, her cool voice changing into curiosity. "Dark mana, huh? That's rare."

The murmurs in the room grew louder.

"Dark mana? That's no joke."

"And three affinities, no less!"

"Who is this kid?"

Ronan smirked, ignoring the whispers as he stepped back. "Your turn," he said, nudging Aurelia forward.

She hesitated. He had already taught her how to suppress her divine affinity temporarily, but nerves still fluttered in her chest. Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand on the crystal.

The orb flared to life, lighting up with red, green, blue, and brown lights in rapid succession. Fire, wind, water, and earth. Four elements.

The whispers turned to gasps.

"Four affinities?"

"That's legendary!"

"Who are these two?"

Even the receptionist, who had maintained non chalant demeanor, couldn't hide her surprise. "Four elements," she gasped, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That's… legendary."

Aurelia pulled her hand away quickly.

Before Ronan could speak, a voice interrupted.

"Well, well," a man said, leaning against the pedestal with a cocky grin. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his auburn hair falling messily across his hazel eyes.

"Two rookies with affinities like that? Looks like the guild just got interesting."

Aurelia glanced at the stranger, "And you are?"

"Bryce," the man said, straightening up. "B-rank adventurer and your first roadblock. I run the entry tests for newbies."

"Entry tests?" Aurelia tilted her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes.

The receptionist's tail flicked. "All new registrants are tested to ensure they can handle guild work. Bryce will assess your combat ability."

Bryce smirked, clapping a hand on Ronan's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll go easy. With affinities like yours, this should be fun. Think you can keep up, rookies?"

Aurelia practically buzzed with excitement. "Absolutely!"

Ronan rolled his eyes but stepped forward. "Lead the way. Let's get this over with."

Bryce grinned wider, already heading for the training grounds. "Follow me, then. Let's see if those affinities are more than just pretty lights."