The head receptionist introduces herself as Marka. She has been a guild worker for more than 20 years and she assures me that she should be able to assist me with any queries I have with the registration. "Just assume I know nothing. What little I know I got from my companions." Marka accepts my explanation without asking about my past. She hands me a form and asks if I can read and write. "Not yet, but I am planning to learn." Marka assures me that it isn't uncommon, but she does recommend I learn.

Sitting side by side, she goes through the form and asks me for details to fill it out. There are the basic details like age, name, known associates, current address, but there is also a section on background prior to registering. I explain that I have spent most of my life living on my own in the wilderness. She seems fascinated by my story, it does not seem to be a common one.

Next we need to do a few tests. She explains the concept of levels. "As humans absorb lifeforce we become stronger, and even gain longer life. Most humans will never go beyond level 5. To exceed this you need to be exposed to higher concentration levels of life force. As we absorb a certain quantity we may reach a saturation point, which is what a level is. Since this level is a good indicator of your overall strength we need to measure this. At the guild we have a tool that can do this." She finishes her explanation. I guess this life force is what keeps people young looking as well, though it is just a guess.

After putting my hand on a flat stone, she confirms what I already know. My level is 9. She doesn't seem surprised. "Your level is decent, but not as high as I expected considering how long you lived in the wilderness." That makes sense. If I had actually lived for many years in the wilderness rather than just the few months that I have, I might have a much higher level. "I tried to keep my distance from larger dangerous animal if I could. I have only ever killed two beast bears, and both took a lot of efforts."

I use enough truth in my explanation that the deception seems almost believable to myself. Marka seems to fully believe me. Next we head out back into the dismantling hall. She has been told about my abnormal storage space, and as part of the registration she wants to test it. "Soul storage space is not limited by weight, form or density, but purely by volume. These closed empty boxes will take up the same space if they were filled up. Please store as many as possible in your storage." I put all of them in my storage before taking them out again.

"Very good, a lot of parties want at least one member who can store luggage and prey in their soul storage, but as most people with large storage are mages, it is a highly sought after ability. Of course the fact that you have such a large soul space is a good indicator that you have a talent for magic." So I am a valuable porter, not sure how I feel about that.

"Next we need to assess your skills. Skills are more easily acquired by people with higher lifeforce level, as lifeforce is what allows their acquisition." Wondering how much of the guilds understanding is similar to my own analyze skill, I ask her if there are levels associated with individual skills. "It is well documented that skill operate similar to the lifeforce level, but with notable the exception that level 10 is the max level. However, the tools and techniques for measuring individual skills by levels is only available at the guild branch at the Magic city and in some other northern branches. We use self assessment according to a rough 5 level system.

Magic city, that is new, wonder what that city is like. Marka regains my attention. She is really good at spotting when I get distracted. It feels like I am about to get told off by a school teacher, but she just continues her explanation. "The 5 levels are as follows:

- Beginner,

- Intermediate,

- Advanced,

- Expert,

- Master."

"Don't exaggerate your skill, you will only get caught out, and it will reflect badly on you. Don't put master on a skill, no newbie is a master of anything."

It seems like level 1 and 2 is beginner, 3 and 4 is intermediate and so on. I better understate my skills, especially since I could put master on 3 of my skills. The skills seem to be grouped much more roughly as well. Since ordinary people don't have the benefit of my skills menu, most would not know what level they are, or exactly what skills they have. Observation and testing would be the only way to know. Can't be too detailed in my skills explanation. I really don't want to stand out too much. I know too little about this world.

"First lets look at combat skills, you will have to have acquired some skill to survive in the wilderness. What weapons are you good at?" Marka probes me with a question. "I am decent with a spear, and very good with a bow." "Very well, what do you think your mastery level is for each of those?" "I would say intermediate on spear, but archery being my main combat skill is either advanced or expert." Considering my unique master boost skill, these estimates seem realistic to me. However, Marka looks dubious.

"As combat skills are essential for the ranking of hunters, we will need to test both those estimates. Are you still comfortable with those levels?" "I think so." I am not so sure if I should be translating the skills like for like anymore. I might be digging myself a hole. Best to keep all estimates on the low side. "Since it is late in the day we will do the testing of skills tomorrow, but we will complete you paper registration today." Marka seems to take for granted that I will be staying in town longer. Guild registration is a lot more thorough than I expected for a medieval fantasy world.

"Let us review other survival skills. These can be a bit harder to estimate, but are still important to form a full picture of your ability. Please give me some examples of what you can do." Rather than suggest a level I might get away with giving examples of what I can do. "The only means of transportation for me in the forest are my feet, so I can run a lot." Marka doesn't seem impressed. "We all use our feet. You got to give me some more details for me to put it down as a skill." Well, I once ran from late afternoon and all night covering a distance of forest equal to two and a half days march. I was still in good enough shape when I arrived to kill 33 goblins when I arrived."

My latest story seems to be a bit too incredible to Marka, maybe I should have left out the goblins. "Well running all night is not something people your level should be able to do, I am putting down a beginner level running and enhanced stamina. If you hadn't handed in all those goblin ears earlier, I would never have believed the last part though."

"What else? Being a good runner isn't going to impress other hunters, if you wish to form a party." That kind of makes sense. The one most likely with a running skill would be the coward, who abandoned his party. "I heal quickly, I once broke my leg in an accident, but I was up and running only weeks later." Surprisingly Marka believes this one. "A regeneration skill, not too uncommon, but yours seem particularly high. This skill is usually acquired through a lot of hardship." That reminds me, Mari got this skill too.

"Surely you must have some hunting skills having lived in the wilderness?" Marka probes me more. Why didn't I start with this one? Silly me. "Yes, I am decent at tracking down prey, but what I excel at is sensing nearby danger in time for me to act accordingly. It saved my life many times." How do I explain my alert skill? Marka seems to assume it is all part of my hunting skill, and gives me intermediate, with a comment about good at sensing danger, with scout in brackets.

"Finally, can you do any magic?" "I can do a bit of fire and healing magic. I am a complete novice, but as you have already pointed out I do have decent aptitude." Instead of doubting me Marka just asks me to demonstrate. I bring out a clear orange flame on my fingertip. When I am about to point out that I need something to heal, Marka un-ceremonially cuts herself on a sheet of paper and presents her bleeding finger. Funny how that action makes me cringe after all I have been through.

"Are we done?" I am keen to get back to the girls. The old receptionist responds with a curt "No". "We have just finished your hunter skills details, we still need to consider any commercial skills. I lot of hunters take side jobs in town between hunting trips. All our low ranking hunters do this as a full time job. It is more like short term employment arranged through the guild for local business, but if the skill is particular valuable we will source much further afield. Some hunters start their own businesses or get taken on as permanent employees of the local businesses, but most are either not skilled enough for either or skilled enough to only work when it suites them."

Marka stops for a second to let her explanation sink in, but continues with a tirade of questions. "Do you have any crafting skills? Are you good with any particular materials? How good are you at dismantling your prey? Can you make potions or herbal medicines? Do you have any experience working with metal?" First I am a bit flustered by the number of questions, but I guess she is just trying to stimulate me to think about it for myself.

"I can dismantle like any hunter. Until I met Lynne, I did it all myself. I am self taught, as I am with all my crafting skills. I entered the wilderness with no tools. Not even a knife." Pulling out my best flint knife from storage, I continue my explanation. "I made due with flint tools until I got some metal knives from killing goblins. I made flint spears to fight with and all the tools I needed for living. I built a mud hut with tiled roof and under floor heating. I am good with natural materials like wood, stone and clay. Even though I have no experience with smithing, I believe I would easily pick it up, as I have always been good with my hands. My best crafting skill by far is my bowmaking skill." I hold up my best bow.

Marka looks interested. " I am putting you down as beginner on most related topics for now. If you leave a bow of you making for our assessors to review, we should be able to determine you bow making skill. I am also putting a note on file that you may have the generic crafting skill. People who are naturally good with their hands usually have it, but it is very hard to determine. Please note that all skills are up for review. If any of our business partners vouches for your skill, we will update it, so do your best when you represent the guild in a workplace." Leaving my second best bow with the guild staff, I head back to the inn.