Not to say that I don't believe you... but doing what you're implying is strictly not possible. I mean, the ramifications of such an act, and the evidence that you simply cannot recreate the feat of magic you're referring to is... well, irreputable. You know I trust you Grim, but there has never been something like that on record ever, and there have been no killings as of late so who's to say anything actually appeared? If anything the Wardens will fix the line and everything will move accordingly. Space-Time is flexible after all.

-Ramblings of A Crazed Magiscientist, a work of fiction.

Ace sat in the lobby of one of the largest organizations in, not only Ardun but Aerae as a whole. Or so he was told. An observer would've thought he'd decided to roll around the dirt or wrestle a bear, maybe run into a cactus. The last would've been a deduction from the cuts and nicks across his chest and arms. They were shallow, stinging, uncomfortable and the complete opposite of how he was feeling.

Of course, the mages bustling about the lobby were too busy gossiping to particularly care. And of course, the people around him had seen just how he had gotten into that state in the first place.

The chair he sat in was one that he melted into, or rather was it that the chair melted into him? His legs didn't hang, nor did they stop short. The armrests were just enough to be used as intended or lounged upon, the latter which Ace had decided upon. Legs up, and relaxed, the events leading up to their current situation barely phased him.

"What is so impressive about this entry exam?" Erok rumbled, the roken had taken to standing, calling the chairs too soft. "Is it not as impressive as the rounds for the Adventurer's Guild?" His tall stature was ignored in a city as diverse as Ardun.

"The Practitioner's Coterie is a widely respected and powerful group, Erok." Max explained, though his attention was outward. His voice was smooth like silver, succinct and precise. "Entrance into their ranks comes with the risk of death. Still, thousands apply for initial exams. The spots are coveted heavily."

"Many people travel here specifically for the exam, Erok. Ardun is a foothold for many shakers." Nayah explained. "And while the Guild might be more powerful and vast, The Coterie has its own allure." Nayah shot a glance towards Ace as she mentioned the guild.

"It's one of the reasons some of the locals pegged me for traveling here." Ace agreed.

The three stopped talking for a moment to look at Ace quietly. In truth, they hadn't stopped looking at him oddly since he dispatched ten opponents in a row. He had been asked to meet with a Guild Official on account of his performance if he was aiming to join in the first place rather than sparring for sport.

"Enough with this." Ace chuckled, gesturing to all of them "If you have something to say, I quite imagine I wouldn't be averse to hearing it."

There was a slight pause. Ace wasn't slow though. He may have gone overboard when sparring, but he hadn't had a chance to stretch out his skillset in the past few weeks. When was the last time he was able to grapple someone or trade blows with someone his own size and speed? Erok and Maxworth were different opponents altogether and while he was confident he was able to take them the people sparring weren't comparable.

"Forget it, Ace." Nayah replied, slowly shaking her head.

Every successive spar he would amass more fans and scare away challengers. It was maybe the sixth or seventh fight that he lost sight of his group of friends. The last three fights were something else but he managed, and those opponents more than any of the other fights had left his group slightly dumbfounded, no matter their initial knowledge of what Ace was capable of. What gave him pause, however, was the unrefined technique of most of his combatants. To him, it was almost like the rest were fighting on their instinct and very rarely with any strategy. Of those that did seem to have some kind of refined technique going in, Ace was leagues beyond them.

He could still easily put people in awe without magic. Though perhaps some of the moves he applied seemed like they were a type of magic and that was why.

"Well? What's this about someone defeating a proctor of the exams? It's got all these people milling about like crazy." Though of course, Tate was the least surprised of the group. After all, she knew Ace's public and private history perhaps as much as the Amber Demon did. And it wasn't as if his opponents had been particularly divergent from a typical humanoid. Ace zoned in on the conversation. "Surely it isn't entirely unheard of?" Tate finished, her eyebrows raising as she glanced around the lobby.

The metal on her arm flowed like mercury.

"Someone defeating a proctor of the Coterie?" Ace sat up. "The proctors should be the most capable and in control mages of the group, right? For a new entrant to overpower one seems pretty unlikely." He had heard as much talking to the locals, especially those nearby the exams.

"It's not unheard of." Nayah cut in. "There have been previous records of similar happenings. Gelford of the Snow, the mage whose control of the weather forced the proctor to cease the exam. A Life mage named Jonas who simply didn't die. There are more but those types of cases are few and farther between. They do not happen often. If they did, it was for some unavoidable draw or circumstance like those I just mentioned."

"Then what of Ace's display for the Adventurer's Guild? Surely, that is just as impressive." Erok rumbled, there were, in fact, a few faces that had been glancing over at Ace. Nothing hostile he noted, thankfully.

"Admirable." Surprisingly it was Max that spoke. His response was short. "Even I could not accomplish the same. Although, I think it is surprising in a different way than the Coterie exams." And while Ace severely doubted he couldn't, he left it at that.

"Ace's... performance is an oddity." Nayah addressed everyone, having truly gotten a little more comfortable around them. "It seems I'm the only one passingly familiar with how these tests go. In Peace, many a traveler was one who had failed the Guild, Coterie, or Ranger exams."

She continued. "These spars Ace participated in are something akin to a showcase for people that are serious to get into the organization. You have to be noticed. Which means you have to impress. Defeating ten opponents in a row itself calls for some attention. To do with ease?" She tilted her head at Ace. "That level of skill demonstrated was monstrous. But for your last three opponents to be who they were? And for you to still defeat them with relative ease? I wouldn't be surprised if you'd be contacted soon. One way or another."

"It is not a simple task to defeat an Orgek." Erok's shook his head. "They are deadly fighters, often bonded to life with their weapon of mastery."

"Even without a weapon, they are dangerous. Fast, powerful, and smart." Maxworth replied. "And you managed to even seem as if you were dancing among them."

To be fair, Ace had a Trait that helped him. He honestly would not have been a match for the last three in terms of sheer speed and instinct were it not for his Trait. Acute Battle Sense allowed him to move as if he were dancing a well-practiced step whilst playing chess in his mind. It was powerful, if not for the fact he remembered Jerxos' eye twitching at the tool, and still he felt he barely scratched the surface of its capabilities.

"Suffice to say I didn't have my weapon of choice either." Ace grinned cockily.

And he didn't. He hadn't even seen a gun since he arrived in Aerae. He was jealous the second he saw Tate form something akin to one, if not in form then function. That strange metal of hers was a powerful tool.

A few eyebrows rose at his comment. "What?" He said. "And by the way has anyone seen Luck?"

At that, they all realized none of them had. The only reason they were in the Guild's lobby was that it made a good public area to meet up. Luck was supposed to meet them here. All of this commotion was just a coincidence, they all had arrived here to meet up after everything was said and done. They had lost track of time chatting.

"I've not seen him." Nayah stated. The rest had similar responses.

Tric perhaps had the best view, flying up above and outside the building. She had a bright cloth tied around her to denote her as a familiar and not some wild monster.

I don't see him! Ace could practically hear her zipping about in the wind.

"Hmm." Ace began, having an eerie feeling.

Someone tapped his shoulder. A man in light armor, axe sheathed at his side. Ace had observed the same man around the lobby frequently. This time, however, he had in tow a particular someone if Ace remembered.

"That's him." The accompanying individual nodded to the armored man.

Ace turned, the motion catching the attention of the rest of his group.

It was the Ogrek. Battle scars down his chest and arms, an almost tealish green tint to his skin. Large, but otherwise the visage of a human, albeit sharper and more animal. He rivaled Erok's size. A damn difficult opponent, intimidating in the mastery he had of his weapon, an obvious lifetime attached to the skill he wielded it with. The old Ace he would've gave maybe thirty seconds before the Ogrek cut him down.

"Hey, friend." Ace grinned at the Ogrek.

The armored man cut in. "His name is Wreth. He is an experienced warrior with much standing and respect in the Guild." Upon inspection, this man had a bluish tint to his skin as well. Much more subtle. He redirected the conversation. "I am here on behalf of the Guild. Your sparring had attracted many eyes. The Guild itself is one of those pairs. I am Jaxon, Adventurer's Guild Proxy. A small role to play, but one I play well."

"Ah, I see. What brings you here then?"

"We would ask if your intention was in joining the Adventurer's Guild. With your demonstration, we deem you capable enough. Although it's true not everyone spars for the sole purpose of gaining entry into the guild. We are never averse to recruiting capable individuals." There was the guild emblem on his armor but other than that he showed no official identification. The multitude of surrounding people didn't challenge his authority though.

"You are a strong warrior." Wreth nodded, moving his hands and shuffling his feet. Ace recognized some amount of martial movement in the steps. "Your moves are odd. Focused on the individual."

"Don't discount yourself, Wreth. There is a lifetime of mastery in your style." Ace replied coolly. "On another day perhaps you would best me."

Wreth growled softly. "No, I do not think so." Strangely acute.

"Well? We simply wish to know if it in your interest. Otherwise, we will be moving on to some of the others we had noticed."

Briefly, his mind flowed freely with thoughts of the future. Could he live a life at ease? Not once worrying for his own life, or risking it on his own terms? His life had always been one of risk and reward, where skill made up for nearly all of his risks.

"What comes with joining?" He asked.

Nayah chimed in. "Prestige for one. The Adventurer's Guild is widely renowned nearly everywhere you go."

Jaxon glanced at Nayah. "True. And also Quests, issued by the System itself, and the Rewards that come with completing them. Experience and traveling, meeting other powerful individuals. Organized expeditions into Aerae's unknowns. Emergency response to high-risk threats and such. The opportunity to fulfill tasks issued by the citizenry for coin."

"Seems like work," Ace responded, though truthfully he felt he was one who needed to have that in his life. It was a little attractive. But Ace was hesitant of any large groups, he had just freed himself from a similarly large organization or mercenaries. There was a dark side to every group as large as the Adventurer's Guild.

"Only as much as you accept. The System updating only pushes us harder for new members. Consider us the vanguard, so to speak, to spearhead the unknowns that the System brings us. Joining us will save many lives, sating your curiosity of the world in the process." Jaxon explained, his eyes genuinely twinkling in a spiel Ace was sure he had given multiple times. "It's a noble pursiut, but I will not downplay the dangers that accompany the Guild."

"I think I'll pass, thanks." He waved, leaving Nayah's mouth agape.

The two ogrek paused only momentarily but nodded understandably, respecting his decision with little pushback. "Then we will be off."

"Huh?" Nayah said sharply. "That was the offer of a lifetime. People risk their lives, their whole careers for a chance at a job so lucrative as joining the Guild! How could you throw that away?" Her voice nearly broke, but the volume was lost in the rising commotion of the lobby.

"An interesting decision, Ace." Erok rumbled, the roken was much more talkative than Ace would've guessed weeks ago. "I believe the Guild is the envy of any aspiring individual seeking power. Do you not also want that?"

"My interests lie elsewhere, just as yours and Maxworth's do. The Adventurer's Guild is not the medium I need to achieve them." They nodded, but Ace added. "Once I find out exactly what it is. Besides, you're all forgetting the potentially life-threatening situations they're basically promising." He grinned.

Tate laughed, a bright cheery noise Ace was never averse to hearing. It was directed towards Nayah's deep breathing, Erok's confused brow and Maxworth's comical tilt of the head. The only thing missing was Luck's smirk.

Where was he?

Gradually a voice rose louder than the rest. A crowd of footsteps knocking hard on wooden and tiled floors. Frantic yelling, panicked voices breaking the regular noise. It was already loud by the time Ace noticed, and Ace noticed things fast. The lobby cleared out as people parted like the waves.

"I need the best healer in the Guild! Now!" A robed woman carried a limp body into the middle of the lobby floor. The mages surrounding the particular woman made room for her and ran off to find the right people to pester.

Many of the people only took one look at the blood trailing into the Guild before dismissing the poor soul. Ace among them.

"He's already dead." Ace said cooly, noting the amount of blood lost. "He's probably stopped breathing by now."

From their spots in the chairs they could only see between the mass of onlookers surrounding the body. Mangled. That was the term Ace would use to describe what he briefly saw.

Tate chuckled. "You think that's the proctor?" He had forgotten how lightly dark her humor was.

"No robes." A man in the crowd said backward upon hearing Tate speculating. The space created by the commotion had pushed many people backward, condensing them against the walls and consequently against their sitting area. "An odd thing too, usually the proctors are better at holding back."

"They are explicitly warned before the test." Nayah shrugged. "Chances of death are slim but it happens."

The people bustled like a moving thing, more curious and bored than actually concerned. Just the way even the younger people looked upon the body reminded Ace what type of world they were living in. Yes, he saw swords and shields and weaponry and magic that seemed more at home in some fantasy. He had witnessed an advanced technology, a damn combat drone for God's sake. But there was a real wooden floor below him, soaked in the blood of a real person, somewhere in a city both magnificent and jarring just as real as the previous things.

He saw a man in cut leathers, fit to his form and hanging from his arms and legs and waist. A powerful posture, a sureness in his movements, people seemed to part before him. He was standing beside the body. Ace could see him every time there was a gap in the crowd, he was too lazy to get up from his chair in any case. The one in Luck's Dimensional Room beat this one by far, however.

He missed that place. It was relaxing.

The man cleared a path for an old lady who moved at the speed of a turtle, a gnarled wooden staff in her arms. She stared at the body on the floor, looked at the blood as Ace did and then to the man across from the body. The room had fallen to quiet whispering as if what she said held some notable importance.

"He failed, did he?" The woman said. "It's not like you to get carried away like this. I thought you types are all about absolute control?" She thwacked the mage on the arm and he flinched in good nature.

"Did you hear about the exams earlier today?" The man said changing the subject.

"Ah, one of the proctors got it handed to them?" She chuckled. "Who was it this time, Gerd, Stejuyi? They've always been lax. I must admit that their brand of magic is not the easiest to control. Not to mention proctor with. Out with it then." She gestured.

"Well..." The man scratched his head. "Ahh that would be me Guild Master."

She blinked, her eyebrows raising up in genuine surprise. "You?" She exclaimed. "And? What of the mage that bested you? Where is he? Where is she?" She corrected herself.

The crowd parted again and a medic moved onto the body of the man on the floor. A similarly dressed mage did the same. They only took a seconds glance and got the Guild Master's attention. "He won't make it like this."

Sighing at the news the Guild Master looked back up. "It's unfortunate, but this poor soul doesn't seem like he'll be surviving." She sighed. "It's not the first death in this lobby. I'd thank you for making an example today, new candidates for the Guild need to see death like this. Well, Jayeke? And of the mage that bested you?"

"He happens to be right there on the floor." The man pointed at the crumpled mess. "Mage Lockyer."

Ace nearly shat a brick. His hand slid down his face as he decided how he was going to react.

"Well. I take it back. The man lives!" Ace yelled, shooting out of his seat and gathering the attention of nearly everyone in the lobby.

Ironic that Luck was the one who gave him the tips to move through crowds as he did, especially doing so with surprise, like perhaps the revelation that your best friend is a mangled corpse on the ground.

He pushed through the crowd and made his way to the two in the middle of the circle. Tate came out right behind him. She still didn't recognize the body.

Ace turned to Tate. "First off, he's fine." He whispered the next part. "Stupid regeneration." Then he addressed Jayeke and the woman. "Hello, that's my friend on the floor."

"Well, he won't be for long." The medic responded grimly.

"Oh, he will." Ace hummed.

"You." The Guild Master said. "I know you. You're the one who defeated the three Ogrek after seven consecutive sparring wins." There was murmuring the crowd. He even spotted Jaxon and Wreth observing the whole ordeal.

Ace nodded but gestured to Luck, who seemed to visibly be reforming. "Lucky, you good? You're gonna make your sister worry." He whispered it, actual concern coming through to his voice, as he knelt down.

To his small surprise, there was a very very soft moan that sounded something like, "Fuck you Ace." A bone snapped audibly into place.

Everyone jerked at the body suddenly speaking. The more magical medic, since it seemed there was a physical healer and a magical healer exclaimed softly as well. "What the...? I've never seen anything like this regeneration. Is this even possible?"

"A Reward from the System." Ace explained, and he was met with no resistance at that. A genuine surprise for him. He had expected at least some pushback at that excuse. All he recieved were quiet nods from most people. Of course, he didn't want anyone to know his own capabilities, and he assumed neither did Luck.

"And you are?" Jayeke questioned, smiling somewhat apologetically.

"Friend of Luck's here." Ace replied. "Are you the bastard that did this to him?" He said without preamble.

"Ah... that would be me, yes. I sincerely- " Jayeke started but was cut off almost immediately.

"How is it possible he is in this state if you say he had bested you?" The Guild Master turned on Jayeke as well.

"You'd think you'd be the one who'd be messed up and mangled." Ace remarked keeping an eye on Luck. It looked like his friend would actually be coming back. Inwardly, he released a sigh of relief. He gave a mental affirmation to Tric that they had found Luck.

Jayeke merely nodded, sighing and shaking his head. "First and foremost I am glad it seems he will survive. A mage like him would be a valuable asset, even if I am not sure exactly what he did." He explained. "He is an exceptional mage of both endurance, vitality, and stamina. He quite simply did not stop against the tide of monsters I brought against him, even when others had long reached their own limits, even when the rest had already impressed me, he continued."

"And you did not pass him then and there? Is the Coterie so blind that it risks new capable members in light of the Update?" The Guild Master shook her head, tapping her staff on the floor disapprovingly. It rang louder than Ace thought it would.

"Well, he complained to me that the test was too easy and that it was only a matter of disabling me." He sighed then. "It was, of course, a shallow lunge at my pride, and we both knew it, but I indulged him. After all, I had just tested this mage on a battle of attrition to which he never even wavered." He continued. "I was curious, for the Coterie's sake, of his further potential."

"And?"

"And suffice to say I did not expect to be disabled so quickly. It was done professionally. No blood was drawn, a neat checkmate. I did not react accordingly." He glanced down at Luck's body.

His limbs were twisted, scrapes against every exposed piece of skin. Covered in bruises. It was as if he was thrown like a ragdoll at high speed. Ace noticed some of these things correcting themselves even as he looked at the broken limbs and torn skin.

"You? You mean to say in your own domain he managed for you to admit defeat?" The Guild Master asked, pressing to see if she was understanding correctly.

"Correct, but... of course at the moment I hadn't really realized it." He shook his head. He gestured. "So this."

Ace sighed. Paranoia wasn't something he truly struggled with. But secrets getting out were annoying. Now people knew Luck's regenerative capabilities, whether they believe it from the System or not, the fact of the matter was that people knew.

Generally, the more private you were the better, especially in a world as wild as Aerae. He could tell anyone that much just from moving between rural and sometimes even remote missions. Like the wild, if someone knew enough, they could target you effectively.

Perhaps he was just being pessimistic. Maybe the people didn't even care, there was a large number of people who simply didn't remark on the regeneration. Then again, there might've been other members of the Guild more impressive than even that.

"Medic, healer, get the man a room." The Guild Master said. "Looks like he'll be up on his feet eventually."

"Yes Guild Master Mavon." They got a stretcher under him. The material of which was something Ace didn't recognize. They looked to Ace and Tate. "You two are free to follow. It seems the man knows you so you're admitted as guests."

"Alright. Let's go Tate." Ace looked back to his group of friends but found Maxworth near the edge of the crowd, a small bubble of space around him. He simply nodded and turned around to tell the others.

Hours later, they were in what passed for a medical room in the Guild. There were shelves full of oddities and potions, a bed for Luck to lay in, and chairs all around. Everyone had stayed for a few minutes but by Ace's insistence, they left to check out Ardun with the promise that he would stay. Nothing was happening anyway, Luck was still unconscious.

Tate stayed as well, understandably worried but also not surprised. "He always does stuff like this." She frowned, Ace knew she would slap Luck's unconscious face without any moral qualms if she wanted to. That was just Tate being Tate. "It's different now though. I feel like this second chance is our last one too." She said softly.

Ace sat across the room, letting her be with her brother. "That's Lucky for you." He said. "He's done more dangerous stuff before. This time he just knows he can heal it all back. If anything he's more capable now than he's ever been, Tater Tot."

Tate glared at Ace, but wasn't quite in the mood to put up a fight. "I wonder, do you think he thinks about them when he's near death. I know I did when I was up in the Zones, facing off Icil Wolves with Mark. Facing starvation even before then." She said quietly. "I thought about everyone up there."

"Everyday he does." Ace said softly. "I know that one for a fact. The first time he got that pendant on his neck he went straight after you. It's how we ended up so close to you when Noshm caught you." Ace recalled the blessing of cold he received, a chill he never knew previously suffusing him lightly. He breathed slight frost. "Your brother hasn't had a day of rest. Everyday we weren't fighting for our own lives, we were fighting to find one of you Lockyers."

"Pendant?" She asked, a look of confusion on her face.

"It links family. It's why he took the exam. Join the Coterie, use the resources to help locate Rick and Laura." Ace nodded. "Either of those organizations would help."

"Then why did you deny the Guild?" Tate said sharply, tilting her head.

Ace paused, choosing his words carefully. "Because I realized I don't want part of any large organization that hires out mercenaries." He finished, silent. His reasons were his alone. It wasn't a life he'd ever be eager to live again.

Tate sighed. "Sorry Ace."

"Yeah, I'm sorry that I have to sit here and listen to you two flirting again." Luck quipped. Ace swore he heard the smirk in his voice before he even looked at his sorry face.

That bastard. Every time.

Tate sighed, but Ace noticed her ears redden. Ace sighed as well, at least Tate and he were on the same page when it came to that. They wouldn't work well together.

"Back from the dead, huh? That's too bad, thought you'd stay that way." Ace smiled despite himself. "Looks like you got into the Coterie at the very least."

"That's good. How was sparring? You find any martial arts to do with people with more than four appendages?" Luck grinned.

How did he know I was asking about that? Did Maxworth?

"Fought some monkey guy but other than that not really. Just stronger, larger, and faster opponents." Ace shrugged, not off balance.

"Yeah, much larger." Tate added, looking at Ace like he was crazy.

"Yeah, well I learned my lesson too." Luck made eye contact. "Do not startle a mage. Man, he destroyed me. If I was anyone else I'd be dead right now."

"True, true. But you're Lucky." Ace slipped in.

"Ace, I swear to god." Tate groaned, the metal on her arm somehow seemed disappointed too.

Ace felt it odd being in that room. For one, none of them had ever been in any official sort of hospital, and when they did it was nowhere near as relaxing or stress-free as they were. They just sat and talked and talked and talked, and for a while, there was a sense of normalcy Ace had never had the pleasure to know. He smiled, a rare genuine one that anyone would've been hardpressed to find on the mercenary before.

"I talked to the Guild Master Mavon. There are a few caravans going into Snake's Way. I believe that's South of Ardun, and where some of those lights on your pendant are pointing, Lucky. We don't have to be members to join it, but we will be expected to defend the caravan while they harvest what they need from the surrounding forest. Are you interested?"

He rose and eyebrow before making eye contact with Tate. "It's either Mom or Dad." He said softly. "Of course I am."

"I'm coming too." Tate added.

Neither Ace or Luck were naive. Tate could easily take care of herself. They weren't one to hold her back if she set her mind to something and for that, they would have someone watching their backs out there.

"And what if we were members?" Luck asked.

"Better protection, we'd be an asset to the Guild so they'd want us safer. Basically, a lot of assurances we wouldn't otherwise get. We can still get paid, although we won't be getting any rewards if this is part of some Quest we're not seeing, which it likely is." He chuckled. "Don't forget we're still dirt poor. Lucky we have the Grove for food and drink, not to mention shelter."

"Oh, we don't have to worry about money, Ace. I've already set up shop earlier today. I've got a handful of gold Aerans on me." He smirked. "Go figure herbs and fruits from the Grove sell so well."

"Grove? Aerans?" Tate questioned. "What have you guys been up to these past weeks?"

"Oh, you know the usual." Ace laughed. "We'll catch you up Tate. But for now, I think we need to let Luck rest. Even his stupid regeneration takes a toll on him, at least I think it does, otherwise, it would be unfair. And I don't think Jerxos would be particularly keen on allowing that."

"Well, maybe, maybe not. I am exhausted though. Let's try to find somewhere to hole up for the night." Luck's body was mostly in the right shape, but the difficulty with which he moved was telling.

"Yeah, Magice is too far North in the city for us to catch the caravan tomorrow. It leaves on the South end of the wall." Ace explained, briefly outline the layout of the city. "After all, you're not allowed to spend the night here once you're whole."

"Sounds good." Luck said after thinking about it. At least he seemed unbothered with traumatic injury.

Ace shook his head.

"Alright, I'll be on the lookout." He sighed. "And by the way, Jayeke said he'll be coming around to fill you in on your new membership. Tate and I were the only ones here when he showed up but you were already unconscious." Ace added, remembering his visit a few hours ago. "Tate?"

"I'll stay with Luck." She said.

Ace nodded. "Then I'll find us somewhere nice to stay." He smirked at Luck fully intending to find something glamorous.

And then Ace was walking outside of Mainhelp. The towering spire was the center of the plaza. He had just come from the Adventurer's Guild building, a wooden structure that seemed smaller than it was. Architecture was one of his hobbies but the dimensions didn't line up exactly, he suspected that some of the structure extended underground or had implemented some type of magic.

The interior of the building had been a nice break from the simple dirt ground he walked upon now. His walking was without true purpose as thoughts crossed his mind. Above, the sun's light still shone, but only reflected off the sky. It didn't look like Ardun slept though, as many many people were still out and about.

That at least was something Ace was familiar with. It was like any other city. There was always something to do. But for him, he was simply tired.

The rest of the group would return to Luck's room in the Guild building before Ace returned. He'd come back with the location of an inn to stay at. He consulted some passerby and they directed him to a well-reputed inn that wasn't far off from the Adventurer's Guild.