From Real to Realm

Today wasn’t just any day for Lynesia.

Today she would shadow Val as she walked through the streets.

At first, she hadn’t paid much attention to her routine. However, she began to notice a trend recently. She was gone early in the morning, and not coming back until late in the evening.

After seeing Val at that tavern, Lynesia had felt this nagging sense of unease.

“I’m just making sure she’s okay. Not stuck in some situation with the wrong crowd.”

Lynesia sighed as she looked in the mirror.

Can I even shadow her without being seen?

Val was probably a lot faster than her.

If she noticed and wanted to break line of sight, then it wouldn’t be hard.

Lynesia’s only hope was the gap in knowledge of the city’s layout. Val was still trying to relearn so much, whereas Lynesia never lost the knowledge.

With a huff, she pulled her hair into a bun.

She always wore it down, but today was about blending in.

She swapped out her bright colored dress for a more drab pair of pants and plain t-shirt.

She barely recognized herself in the mirror.

It wasn’t until a couple of hours later when she finally saw Val leave her house.

Why did she leave so much later today?

It didn’t really matter all that much, but still concerned Lynesia.

Within moments, Lynesia was doing her best to shadow Val through the streets.

It felt surreal lingering through the alleys and side streets. Val didn’t try and hide. It almost worried Lynesia how oblivious to a tail Val was right now.

If someone wanted to hurt her, they’d be able to do the same thing.

I want to make sure she’s safe…

Val was following a specific path. Lynesia could tell by how determined and focused she was. It wasn’t the first time Val had taken this route.

Lynesia was becoming more confident she was about to find out what her best friend was doing everyday.

Wha—isn’t that the adventurer’s guild?

Lynesia couldn’t sneak up any closer. Not with the wide open space around the massive stone building in the middle.

So she chose to cling to the corner of a far building as she watched Val.

Why are you here?

Within seconds of arriving, Lynesia watched the guards at the gate grab onto Val.

Her hands squeezed the rough stone of the building.

There was nothing she could do to help.

Am I about to watch her get arrested?

However, the large man Val bumped into must have not been a guard. After some choice words, the men who grabbed her let them go.

Lynesia couldn’t tell what was said, but the expression the tall man had was… frightening.

“Crap. She’s inside the fence now.”

Lynesia looked around. The streets were quiet this early—too quiet to sneak by unnoticed.

Maybe they will let me in?

She laughed at herself.

“There’s no way they’d believe I’m an adventurer…”

She leaned against the building and looked up into the sky.

So far she knew where Val was likely going everyday. What she was doing within the guildhall was still up in the air. Not everyone involved with the guild fought. There were plenty of clerical positions.

She wouldn’t risk her life carelessly. She’s probably just helping with strength training or something.

She peeked again.

Was she truly sure that Val wasn’t fighting? No. Not even close.

“I need to make sure. Just so I know she’s safe.”

It wasn’t easy to find somewhere she could get a vantage point from.

After entering a dozen stores on the edge of the large square she finally found the right one. It was three stories tall, full of gear for adventurers.

However, that wasn’t what mattered to Lynesia.

Perfect. These windows give me a full view of the grounds!

She scanned the courtyard. Then the training grounds… and there.

Val.

“Told you that haircut made you stand out too much,” she muttered with a quiet giggle.

The giggles didn’t last though as Val was absolutely creamed by a small dwarf.

Lynesia gasped and pressed her fists against the glass.

“W—what’s happening?! Didn’t that big guy just help her?!”

Lynesia was powerless as she was forced to watch Val fight two men.

The seconds stretched on as she watched Val get battered between them.

Lynesia lost count of how many times she watched her fall to the ground. Of course Val would occasionally land her own attack, but it hurt to watch.

She’s… smiling?

It was unmistakable.

Even though Val was obviously hurting, there was a smile that showed occasionally.

It confused Lynesia.

She could tell Val was in pain, on the defensive.

Then why did she look like she was having fun?

Cyrus held the door open as everyone walked into the lobby of the guild hall.

It was getting busy now that they were getting close to midday. People were flitting throughout the entire room, some eager to find their next quest, others just trying to find a spot to relax.

It made Val smile.

I’ll be just like them now.

Cyrus patted her back. “Well, you ready to make it official?”

Val grinned. “Absolutely.”

Val had already chosen the Hybrid class while outside with her friends. At first, she’d hesitated—but the truth was, it just felt right.

Everything from the past two days had proved it: this was the path she was meant to walk.

Val stepped away, her friends watching fondly behind her.

Each of them had walked the path Val was beginning to tread. The day they each got their badge was a fond one. They knew she would look back on this day the same way in the future.

The same older plump woman from before was sitting behind the counter. Once more her hair was pulled up into a bun while those same reading glasses sat low on her nose.

“I’ll need your name, class, and current level to issue a—“

The woman adjusted her glasses. “I remember you,” she said with a frown. “That haircut is… hard to forget.”

Val chuckled. “Well, I was warned it made me stand out a bit too much.”

The woman nodded. “You should listen to whoever told you that. Now, do you have a class this time?”

Val grinned wide. “I do."

The woman smirked. “Good, now I’ll need your name, class, and current level to issue a badge.”

She thumbed to a fresh page in her ledger before looking up once more.

“Once we’ve confirmed your information is correct and accurate, you’ll be escorted by another employee to a side room to fill out your official application. Once done, you’ll be taken to another room to be linked to your new badge.”

It still sounded robotic, just like before.

However, in this moment?

Val was bursting with excitement to hear them.

She gave her information as requested. The older woman filled in each box, easily keeping up.

When she was finally finished recording all of the information she motioned toward a rune inlaid on the counter.

“Place your hand on the rune. It will give me access to see your class screen, to make sure you gave me correct and accurate information.”

Once more Val was reminded about the guild’s fail safes.

If you lied about your class in any way, this rune would catch you in that lie.

Val stepped to the side and placed her hand on the rune. Within seconds she felt a slight tingling as she noticed her screen pop up in front of the woman.

She remembered how Lucia’s screen had stayed hidden a few days ago. Hopefully hers would do the same.

The older woman tilted her head, catching Val’s attention.

Then she saw it. The first letter of her name was… glitching?

It would show a V and then warp to a C for a brief second before reverting. It only lasted for a few seconds, but during those seconds Val was beginning to panic.

Don’t tell me the system is going to give away the truth?!

Val looked down at where her hand met the rune.

If she pulled away she could avoid them finding out, but then they’d want answers even more.

She closed her eyes, desperately.

Please, for the love of Qhemeria—stop fucking glitching out!

My name is Valnarei now!

“Hmm. I don’t know what that was for a moment there, but your class screen matches what you’ve given me,” the woman said, eying her warily.

Val opened her eyes in shock as the woman began scribbling something down.

She wanted to see what was being written so badly, but before she could do anything the woman turned and called out to someone.

“Jess, we have another one ready.”

A cute woman in the same purple and gold uniform approached Val. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to be linked with your official badge.”

Val gently lifted her hand from the rune, glancing at her palm. “A—alright. Lead the way.”

She couldn’t hide the slight tremble in her voice.

Everything she’d been working towards—her new life, her family, friends, and her new career. It all had almost come crashing down because of a random glitch in the system.

I thought the system was full proof?

Val was looking up as she asked that.

It was stupid to think Qhemeria might answer, even for a moment.

“Please enter,” Jess said, holding a door open. “Once inside, you’ll get further details from Marcus.”

Val did as the woman suggested and entered the dimly lit hallway.

At the end was another lit room with someone standing deeper inside. The hallway itself was barren, but there were a few guards stationed within alcoves on each side.

When Val finally walked through the doorway to the lit room, the man spoke up.

“Good afternoon, miss. Are you ready to begin the final preparations to become an adventurer?”

His voice was almost sing-song in a masculine way. It felt like the room was absorbing his voice and amplifying it for her.

“Yes sir.”

The man smiled. “Good.”

Marcus approached her before motioning to a pedestal in the middle of the room.

“There is a small chunk of bronze on the pedestal before you. Place your hand on it, close your eyes, and believe in your path.”

Val hadn’t known what to expect.

However, right now she was feeling the tension from before give way to a more visceral emotion—belonging.

With a hesitant step, she made her way to the center of the room.

A bland chunk of bronze awaited her hand, almost begging to be shaped into her badge.

She drew a breath and raised her hand, placing it on the cool metal.

“Excellent. Now, close your eyes and focus. I will cast elemental magic to change the shape. As you pour your heart into the metal before you, we will create the badge that signifies your place by our side.”

Val couldn’t stop the grin that was spreading. Her eyes closed and she heard Marcus begin chanting something.

“Mother Nature, in all her raw forms, give way to the heart of those before you."

“Allow your bounty to be shaped by our will.”

As he continued chanting Val could feel the metal beneath her hand moving.

It was slowly widening and elongating.

A shape was beginning to emerge.

“Give us your blessings as we use your creations to better our lives.”

“Trust in the heart of the one before you now!”

Val felt a rush of warmth travel through her.

It started at her feet and worked its way up her body. Then traveled down her arms and into her fingers before dissipating.

“Now, raise your hands, and open your eyes.”

Val did both at the same time.

Her eyes took a moment to focus, but lying there on the pedestal was a badge. It was the same ones Lucia and the girls had.

My badge…

“Congratulations and welcome.”

Val looked at Marcus, tears stinging her eyes.

“For the final step, I must bind the badge to you.” He stepped forward and presented a very small ornamental blade from his sash. “I need to prick your finger.”

“After placing a few drops of blood on the badge, I will bind it to you. If it’s ever lost, we will need to perform the same ritual again.”

Val nodded as she presented her hand to the man.

He gently pricked her pointer finger, making her wince. Then he held her finger above the badge.

“Your badge can only be altered by myself, or other mages with the same position at other guild halls. As you progress within the guild, your badge design may change dozens of times.”

After a few droplets of blood were on the face of the badge his hand glowed faintly green.

Val could feel a familiar warmth as the small prick was healed instantly. She looked at Marcus. He only smiled.

“Alright, one moment,” he said, gently taking her hand in his.

Then he placed his other hand on the edge of the badge.

A faint purple glow slowly suffused the badge itself. Val watched curiously as the droplets of her blood melted into the badge.

Slowly the same sigil she saw on the back of Zennia’s badge appeared. It was identical down to the smallest detail.

After a few seconds Marcus released her hand, and then handed the badge to her.

“The ritual is complete. You are officially badged within the guild and free to take on the dungeon.”

“This is not a small occasion. Remember to always be safe, vigilant, and look out for your fellow fighters. I wish you a long and prosperous career with us, Valnarei Rose Strouss.”

Val furrowed her brow. “How do you know my name?”

Marcus chuckled, winking. “Let’s just say we follow the same patron.”

Before Val could ask more questions Marcus walked to the door, opening it.

“I’m positive this won’t be the last time we see each other. Maybe next time we can chat a bit longer.”

Val really wanted to ask a ton of questions.

Marcus obviously had a way to speak to Qhemeria if he knew her full name. But did that mean Qhemeria also told him the truth about her original form?

She couldn’t have, right?

Val sighed, but nodded. “I plan on rising through the ranks, so I will definitely be back.”

Marcus only chuckled in response as she walked through the door back into the hallway. Once more she traveled its length.

However, this time she was flipping her badge between her fingers. Unable to keep the excitement at bay.

When she pushed through the door back into the lobby she was greeted by a surprising sight.

Not only was Cyrus and his group standing there, but so was her original group.

Lucia, Mina, and Amarisse were all standing there looking at her.

Everyone was smiling, but it wasn’t until Mina saw the badge that anyone moved.

“She got a badge!” Mina squealed, rushing forward.

She gave Val a big hug—or as big a hug as she could.

The others followed close behind, all ready with their own congratulations.

“I knew you’d get one no problem,” Cyrus said. “Feels like yesterday when we bumped into each other.”

Irina elbowed him. “Hey, none of that emotional stuff right now.”

Dolf shook his head, barely hiding a smile.

“Looks like we get to stick together after all,” Amarisse said, smiling.

Lucia smirked. “Like we’d leave her behind after fighting together.”

Seeing everyone here, waiting for her, was a strong reminder—she wasn’t alone in this world. There were people who loved her—and plenty who supported her.

“W—what’s wrong?” Mina asked.

Val sniffled, brushing her tears away.

“I’m just glad to have friends like you guys.”

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