Tom’s POV

It was a very beautiful day so I decided to loiter around. I was sitting in front of my training hall when an unfamiliar fellow approached me. He look young and weak because of his small physique. He said his name was Ped. I was not surprised when said that he wanted to train here to get stronger.

After asking him a bunch of stuff, I accepted him as my trainee and told him to go inside the training hall because I will put my training garments on. After I done my garments, I proceeded to the hall and I saw him staring at the ground with a confused look on his face. So I explained to him the stages that are required to accomplish to become an adventurer.

He has a different aura around him, I could feel that he was not an ordinary person. I was predicting that he will take about four years at most to finish the training, but judging on his aura alone it might take a half of that duration. But to my surprise, he breezed through the first two task magnificently using his unreal strength, adaptability of his techniques and form, and also, his keen observation, decision-making and determination.

What’s even more surprising was his precision and timing in executing his plan to achieve his goal. Then, a realization dawned on me that brought chills down my spine. It was a doubtful realization but he has shown some of the signs.

‘Maybe… Maybe he is one of Them.’ I thought to myself as if trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle with lots of missing pieces.

I invited him to my house so that I observe him without getting suspicious but things weren’t going according to plan when a heavier task came along. Then, an idea suddenly came to my mind.

‘What a great timing. I could prove my intuition if he could go with me in this mission.’

I led him to my warehouse where I stockpiled my collection of weapons and armor. I let him borrow some of them to be used on battle. I was expecting him to choose a heavy infantry type of armor and a large and heavy weapon to accentuate his power. But he surprised me again.

He picked the lightest armor I had and selected minimal garments alongside it. He also picked a very light spiked bo. I was confused on his selection of armaments but then, I trusted him that he is comfortable with it so I shrugged that thought. After donning all we needed, we proceeded to the meeting area to be debriefed.

The local lord held the debriefing and we both agreed to join the monster extermination quest. We were lucky enough to be included in the number of participants that would have a chance to register on the first day. I was the first to go and was accepted immediately. I whispered to the guy named Sioret as I took the participatory crest that I will vouch for the next applicant. But he replied differently.

“If he passed the requirements, then there is no need for that.” and smiled then I turned away.

I was confident that he would pass it easily. An hour passed and I was still waiting for him on a tent near the gate but Ped was nowhere to be found. I was furious on the thought that he chickened out in the last minute because I thought he was a man of his word. After three hours of idling around the area, I saw Ped walking towards me but he showed no sign that he was accepted nor was there a crest to prove that he was accepted. I hurriedly headed towards him and scold him. And then….

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Ped and Elder Jerry headed towards the gate before going to the Elder’s house. They want to tell Trainer Tom of what happened on Ped’s application on the monster extermination quest.

“Ped? I was looking all over for you. What happened? Where did you go? Why di-.” Tom barraged Ped with questions but he stopped his nagging when he saw the Mayor alongside Ped.

“Good evening, Elder Jerry.” he greeted and bowed at the Mayor.

“Good evening to you, too, Thomas.” he greeted back at Tom.

“What brings you here, Dad?” Tom casually said.

“Well, primarily, I was going to see you and how you were doing. Knowing you, I knew that you would join the task of protecting the people of our town. Then, I passed by this familiar fellow pondering unto something. He already told me of his performance in your training.” the elder exclaimed.

“Is that so? Hey, boy! Why didn’t you join the quest? Did you chicken out?” he furiously said.

“N-n-no sir, I-i wasn’t accepted on this mission.” he explained

“So you were rejected? How did that happen? I already vouched for you.” Tom pondered.

“Apparently, one of the requirements of this mission is to have a profession.” the elder butted in.

“Crap! I didn’t consider that possibility. Boy, what profession do you want to become?” Tom asked Ped.

“Ahhh.. I-i don’t know yet sir. I don’t know the professions available and the conditions needed to be met to acquire one.” he said.

“Worry not, Thomas. The boy already sought for my help. I will explain everything to him in our house. You can relax for now, son.” the elder said and then turned to face Ped.

” Young man, can you give us a moment?” he asked Ped.

“No problem, Elder.” Ped smiled and sat on a stump outside the tent of Tom. Then, both the elder and the trainer entered the tent.

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Tom’s POV

As soon as we headed inside the tent, I knew what my father was about to ask.

“Is he one of Them?” he asked with a serious face.

“I don’t know. But this quest came at the right time. I will use it so that it would be the proof of my intuition. I will keep observing him until I can confirm that he really is one of Them.” I explained to my father.

“Hmmm, I understand. But as you look at him now, can you deduce that he is one of Them?” he said as he sighed out a relief tone.

“Maybe, just maybe. Would it affect us for the worse?” I asked.

“I don’t know, But there should be good and bad effects of it. I just hope that the bad ones are minimal. Depending on his character, that is” he said as he headed towards the exit of the tent.

“Well, that’s all I want to say to you. I will help you in observing Ped, but for now, I shall help him first for it is my responsibility after all. Take care son and come back alive and well.” he said with smiling eyes.

“You, too, Dad. Thanks. Oh! I almost forgot, can you give these to Ped” I passed on my trainer’s emblem then I prepared my equipments for the upcoming quest.

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Ped’s POV

I watched the two of them went inside. As they vanished on my sight, I looked up to the sky and saw the colors of the bewitching dusk. The transition of day to night is one of the few things that are very beautiful in my previous world. I was immersed on looking at the sunset when the Mayor went out.

“Are you hungry?” he asked me.

“N-not so, Elder.” as I said that my stomach grumbled.

” Haha, it’s like the first time we met, isn’t it, young man?”

“A-ha ha ha, you’re right, elder”

“So what are we idling for? Let’s go.” he said and smiled as he walked away.

We talked about the town a lot as we were walking towards the elder’s house. He said that the town is new and considered to be a frontier town on the continent. He also mentioned that the villagers are mostly composed of farmers and herbalist which are very common in a small town. He also said that he would most likely appoint Tom as the successor

After 15 minutes of walking, we came by a medium sized, 2 floored log house that is as big as four trailer home aligned side by side. It has a short pathway from the gate to its front door. The sides of the pathway is adorned with flowers of different kinds. I didn’t noticed this when I went here on the first time because I was still dazed to what has happened. Then, the elder spoke as we reach the gate of his house.

“Here we are. Home sweet home.” the elder said with eyes looking at the house full of admiration.

“It’s a very nice place.” I said truthfully.

“Thank you, young man. Let’s go inside.”

We headed straight to the living room. I sat on a sofa and he told his butler to prepare some food. We then talked about what monsters there are outside. The bat I encountered was called Kabog. There are other monsters more dangerous than the Kabogs.

There is a dark yellow boar-type monster as large as a car with a large protruding ivory horn between its eyes called Ramo. There are also giant red stag beetle-looking monster as big as a breed of a dog called Doberman with two horns looking like a tusk in its mouth called Bakukang. Gray wolves also roam around these forest in packs.

There are also some monsters that rarely show itself like undeads, giant spiders, ogres and trolls. Trolls are considered the strongest monster in these forest because of its power and regenerative ability.

“Dinner is served, Elder and guest. Please help yourselves and enjoy the food.” the butler said as he entered the living room.

“Thank you, Douglas. Shall we?” the elder said.

“Okay, thank you, elder and to you, too, Uncle Douglas.” I said as we went to the dining area to eat. As we eat, I can’t help but ask the elder of what are the available professions that are allowed to go outside.

“Hmm, a bit eager as usual, eh? Well, there are 4 major professions. Each professions have classes that distinguish them from one another.

First, there is a Fighter. This profession specializes in melee combat and uses blunt or edged weapon. It will harness your Strength and Stamina. This profession leads to a knight, champion, berserkers, swordsman and other similar type classes.

Second profession is a Viper. This profession specializes on light edged weapons like daggers or long range combat weapons like bows. It is the most agile profession and most deadly as it harness your Agility, Accuracy and Precision. This profession can become a rogue, assassin, rangers, archers and other similar type classes.

The third profession is a Magi. This profession specializes on magicraft and uses spells. It is the most offensively destructive profession but at the same time, the weakest in defense. These profession focuses on one’s Wisdom and Intelligence. This profession has classes like wizards, mages, sages, priests, witches and other similar ones.

Fourth is known as Binge. These are production classes like merchants, farmers, artists, bards and other production classes.” the elder explained.

“What are the conditions needed to achieve any class, elder?” I asked.

“Well, you need to go to the adventurer’s guild. You will need an emblem from your trainer to proceed to the next phase. Don’t fret for Thomas has given me his emblem for you to use. The other phase is easier. You will know when you go there but for now take a rest. Tomorrow is a big day for you, you know.” he said.

“Thank you, elder.” I courteously thanked him.

We proceeded eating and then talked for a while before he led me to the room where I will sleep. I can’t sleep while laying down on the bed.

‘Tomorrow, my profession will be a stepping stone to find clues of this world. Mother, Father, I wish I could talk to you right now. But I know that you don’t want to see me troubled nor sad, so I need to be strong right now. I know you’re watching over me.’ I thought as I drifted to sleep.

I had a good rest that night and got up early. We ate our breakfast and part our ways because the elder needs to go to the Town Hall while I proceeded to go to the Adventurer’s Guild. It was two blocks away from the training hall and it is very huge. I stood on the front of the Guild house.

‘Inhale, exhale. Good, now go’ I thought as I encourage myself.

I walked towards the door and pushed it.