Ruel left his home and stepped onto a street that was nearly empty, most likely because people were working now.
Why were they working? Because it was daytime here!
'Likely around 10 hours behind where I stay! Good thing it was like that though, leaving that home might have attracted attention.'
After a while, he reached busier streets.
The further he walked, the more vibrant and alive the city became, with sounds of chatter and movement filling the air.
He could have called one of the carriages pulled by monsters or horses, but he chose not so he could observe a little more.
He silently darted his eyes around as he observed everyone and everywhere.
Humans, Beastmen, Elves and even Goblins—they were all gathered here.
He was surprised that Muriel had to telepathically tell him to stay composed. He hadn't realized how visibly shaken he was, until Muriel's words grounded him.
'All in one place? Elves are rarely seen back in Talia and Beastmen are treated like barbarians… Truly, one is only limited by what they have seen.'
The diversity here defied the boundaries he'd grown up believing in.
This region was most likely meant for mid-to-high class residents so he had to walk a while before he saw stalls and shops.
He reached a stall that sold accessories and looked at the middle-aged woman standing behind with a smile.
Seeing his attire, she welcomed him with a warm smile, "Young man, welcome, welcome."
Ruel bowed lowly as he said, "Good day, ma."
"Is there anything I can help you with?" the woman said, gesturing towards the rows of items facing him.
"Actually, I'd like to ask for help with directions. I am looking for a store that sells…"
'Adventurer-related items.'
Muriel whispered and he completed.
"...Adventurer-related items."
"Oh," The woman said.
"You must be new here then! Welcome! I advise you to take a carriage because it's more direct, it only costs a few coins. But if you want to walk, you just need to…"
'So there are two options: a guild or a private company…' Ruel thought as he thanked the woman.
"I am glad to help," she chuckled. "If you ever need jewelry, just remember me! It's pretty enough for any female relationship you have. See for yourself!"
Ruel was drawn back to the items on the stall shelf. "I'll come back, ma."
"Great!" The woman beamed with joy, "See you soon then!"
Saying his goodbye, Ruel walked away, asking Muriel what option he should choose.
"A Guild. That will help build reasonable associates now," she said.
Ruel saw her point instantly.
Nodding to himself, he raised his hand and hailed a nearby horse-drawn carriage. He wasn't quite ready to deal with monster carriages yet.
After sorting money transactions, he told the carriage driver to take him to the guild building near here.
Seated within the carriage, Ruel passed by the normal building structures he saw when he went to the City for his Talent Awakening.
"This feels like a normal City that's just large, is there a reason it's being called a Haven?"
Muriel turned full body as she sat opposite him with her hands placed gently on her laps.
She looked out the carriage window expressionlessly before explaining:
"There were two reasons this place was called a Haven then, both attributed to the Enma System.
"The first one is because this territory was naturally free of beasts when Enma was created due to the System's influence that pushed the beast away.
"The second reason is related to Otherworlders like yourself. The anchor used to open a gate to this world can only be safely dropped in a Haven.
"Beyond Haven region, anchors are unstable and that can lead to being dropped in random places in the Wild."
Muriel lingered for a second before she said:
"I think the Havens have been expanded though. The influence of the Beast Repellent is probably weak at the ends of the city and Anchors are probably still unsafe to be dropped just at the edge of the city."
"I have a lot to learn… After all this, please brief me on the History you know," Ruel said.
After giving a nod, Muriel turned back to a ball, leaving Ruel to silently think as buildings passed by.
'The longer the Ritual lasts, the higher my Talent gets upgraded too… And it's meant to be very painful to the extent that I can break mentally…'
It was scary, honestly, but with the opportunity being provided, Ruel decided to push through.
Before, he desired strength so he could support the town's various businesses more.
But now, he knew he and his family were being treated as a tool that can be discarded anytime by the unknown enemies.
There was a safer path outside what he was familiar with that his ancestors had prepared for him.
It was the Class system that related to the Quest, "Path to PyroKnight," but that was going to take quite a while.
'Even if it's just B rank, I'll be satisfied for the meantime, then I can try to become the Pyroknight later…' he thought.
Soon, the carriage came to a stop and Ruel was required to pay…
Ruel flickered two of those silver coins from the chest and quickly turned around.
He looked at the tall and wide building made of marble. Above the entrance was a large crest depicting a heat-resistance monster with red liquid–lava–pouring on it.
Ruel walked into the reception area, immediately locating the long reception desks, split into four for decorum.
There were a few people dressed as explorers and adventurers in a queue, but Ruel wasn't really impressed by that.
After a while of staying in the short queue, he reached the desk desk where a brown-haired woman with a ponytail and brown eyes, wearing a black suit with a red undershirt, welcomed him.
"Good day, sir. I have not seen you here before. Are you new?" she asked with a warming smile.
Ruel gave a smile and said, "I'm new here. Good day. I want to buy items."
"What are on your list?"
Based on Muriel's words, Ruel listed, "The Core of a creature at A-rank, if there's one of higer available, that works too. Blood of any creature B rank or above. And an Ice attribute catalyst."
The receptionist tilted her head subtly as she said, "There's a core of an A-rank creature and its blood available too–it was recently killed. There are options for the catalyst too."
"Just get the highest quality for the catalyst," Ruel said with a smile. "How much in total?"
"That's 73,000 En."
"Alright."
Seeing he didn't drag it, the receptionist led him to a common room on the second floor for him to wait.
The room was small, with two armchairs and a low table placed between them. The light coursed through the single window, bathing the room splendidly.
A short bookshelf was at the corner holding books Ruel would care to read.
Ruel refrained from accepting any drinks as he was in unfamiliar grounds.
Still a ball of light, Muriel said, "The Guild's higher ups know you're special already."
"How?"
"Because you appeared out of nowhere. It's impossible that no one actually failed to notice you leaving the house, especially not in a district like that."
Seeing her point, Ruel asked, "What now? You seem to be satisfied with this."
"It's through them that we'll rise in this world," Muriel said with a simple face.
At that moment, a tall bulky man dressed in a white coat with a red accent walked in.
The man's deep voice cut through the quiet, his eyes sizing Ruel up before he offered a faint smile.
"Hello there… Mr. Otherworlder."