LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 6: Proving Grounds
Ryker walked down the bustling street, the faint tapping of his cane punctuating the lively hum of the city. His heightened senses took in the laughter, conversations, and general cheer of the people around him. "Everyone seems so alive here," he murmured to himself, a small smile forming. "It's nice."
Suddenly, his mental map picked up something distinct. The structure appeared in his mind with clear detail, and above it, the name "Adventurers Guild" seemed to materialize as if written in the air. His heart quickened with excitement. "There it is," he said softly, his cane tapping rhythmically as he made his way toward the building.
As he approached, he paused just outside the door, taking a deep breath. "Alright, Ryker," he muttered to himself. "First impressions matter. Let's make this count."
With that, he pushed the door open. The vibrations and echoes from inside painted a vivid picture in his mind. He could "see" the layout: numerous adventurers sitting at tables, a bar lining the far side of the room, and a prominent receptionist desk near the entrance. The air was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the occasional boastful tale of adventure.
"A lot of people," Ryker thought, his mental map continuously updating with the movements and auras of those inside. "Looks like the real deal."
As he stepped inside, the tapping of his cane drew immediate attention. Conversations halted, and curious eyes turned to him. He could hear the murmurs and whispers start almost immediately:
"Who's that?"
"Is he… blind?"
"What's a blind guy doing here?"
"Maybe he's lost?"
Ryker ignored the comments, his cane tapping steadily as he approached the receptionist desk. The receptionist, a young woman with a calm but curious demeanor, watched him closely. Her thoughts raced as she took him in. A blind adventurer? Is he serious? How does he even plan to…? She caught herself, straightened up, and smiled politely.
"Welcome to the Adventurers Guild," she said, her voice professional yet warm. "How can I help you?"
Ryker tilted his head slightly, his mental map outlining her figure in his mind. Without the details of color, he could still sense her confident posture and the slight tilt of her head as she addressed him. "She seems capable," he thought to himself before smiling.
"Yes," Ryker replied. "I'd like to join the guild."
For a moment, the entire room went silent. The laughter, the chatter, even the clinking of glasses stopped. Ryker tilted his head slightly, his smile unfading. "Hello?" he said, breaking the silence.
The room erupted in dramatic chaos.
"What?!"
"Is he serious?!"
"A blind guy wants to join the guild?"
"That's insane!"
Even the receptionist couldn't contain her shock. She jumped slightly, her hands gripping the edge of the desk. "You… you want to join the guild? But you're blind! How can you possibly…?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch.
The adventurers joined in, their opinions flying fast:
"There's no way he can handle this!"
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"He'd get himself killed on his first quest!"
Ryker stood calmly amidst the uproar, his cane tapping faintly against the wooden floor. He listened to the voices swirling around him, waiting patiently for the storm of opinions to settle. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he thought to himself, Well, this is certainly a lively crowd.
Ryker stood firm amidst the chaotic din of the Adventurers Guild, his cane tapping lightly against the wooden floor. With a confident voice, he called out, "Then let me fight somebody to prove myself!"
The room erupted once more, filled with laughter, jeers, and sarcastic remarks:
"Is he serious?"
"A fight? Against who?"
"Does he think this is some kind of game?"
The receptionist opened her mouth to respond, but Ryker cut her off, his voice calm yet cutting. "I guess you're all scared to get beaten by a blind guy. What mighty adventurers you are."
The room fell into a stunned silence, every eye fixed on Ryker. For a moment, there was nothing but the faint creak of chairs as people turned to look at him. Then, as if on cue, the room exploded into a cacophony of rage:
"What did he just say?!"
"Scared?! Me?!"
"This blind guy's got a death wish!"
Fists were raised, voices boomed, and the tension in the room became almost palpable. The receptionist looked visibly overwhelmed, her hand reaching up to steady herself as the chaos unfolded.
Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice cut through the noise. "I'll fight you."
The room went eerily quiet once more as everyone turned to the source of the voice. Gasps rippled through the crowd, and whispers quickly followed:
"No way... it's him! That's Garrek Steelhand!"
"Of all people... he's stepping in?"
"He's one of the strongest warriors in the guild!"
"Yeah, I heard he once took down an ogre solo!"
"Not just an ogre—an entire pack of them! And he barely broke a sweat."
"He's known for his skill with the sword and his insane strength."
"Not to mention his temper. This blind guy doesn't know what he's gotten himself into."
"Garrek's no joke. He's been in the guild for years and has a reputation for never backing down from a challenge."
"He's the kind of guy you don't want to mess with, and yet here we are."
The murmurs grew as adventurers traded stories about Garrek, their excitement and apprehension palpable. One whispered nervously, "I'd never fight him. He's like a force of nature."
Another added, "If Garrek's stepping in, this fight's as good as over. No way the blind guy stands a chance."
Ryker tilted his head slightly, his mental map highlighting the figure that stepped forward. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his presence commanding and imposing. Ryker could sense the weight of his steps and the sharp precision in his movements. Activating his skill, Appraisal, Ryker's mind was flooded with the man's stats and abilities.
Status Screen (Mental Image):
Name: Garrek Steelhand
Level: 32
Class: Warrior
Health Points (HP): 720
Strength: 85
Agility: 40
Skills: [Steel Resolve], [Shield Bash], [Heavy Strike], [Battle Roar]
Ryker's lips curled into a faint smile as he processed the information. So, he's strong. Stronger than I expected, he thought to himself. But that doesn't mean unbeatable.
He tapped his cane on the ground once more, his confidence unwavering. "Well," Ryker said aloud, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Looks like I've got a worthy opponent. Let's see if you can handle a blind guy like me."
The crowd watched in hushed anticipation, the air electric with tension. Ryker, calm and composed, prepared himself mentally as he listened to Garrek step closer, the duel looming just moments away.
Ryker tilted his head slightly, a faint smile on his face. "So, where can we have our little battle?" he asked, his tone light but confident.
The receptionist, still looking slightly overwhelmed, gestured toward a side door. "The training field is this way," she said, her voice steadying. "Follow me."
Ryker and Garrek exchanged a brief glance before following her lead. The other adventurers quickly fell in behind them, their excited chatter filling the air:
"This is going to be insane!"
"Do you think the blind guy even stands a chance?"
"Garrek's going to crush him."
"Still, you've got to admire his guts for even trying."
The group made their way through the guild, the energy buzzing with anticipation. When they reached the training field, the receptionist stepped aside and gestured to the open space. "Here you go. This is where you can settle things."
Ryker and Garrek walked to opposite ends of the field, the tension thick in the air. Ryker tapped his cane lightly on the ground, his mental map filling with the details of the area. Garrek, meanwhile, cracked his knuckles, his gaze steady and unflinching.
Ryker spoke first, his tone casual. "So, Garrek, any advice for a newbie?"
Garrek smirked, his voice low and gruff. "Yeah. Don't die."
Ryker chuckled. "Fair enough. Anything else?"
"Don't waste my time," Garrek replied, his tone firm. "I'm not here to babysit."
Ryker grinned, his grip on his cane tightening slightly. "Noted."
Meanwhile, the adventurers gathered at the edges of the training field, their voices a mix of curiosity and disbelief:
"He's so calm. Does he even realize what he's up against?"
"Garrek looks like he's ready to end this in one hit."
"Do you think the blind guy has some kind of trick up his sleeve?"
"If he doesn't, this is going to be over in seconds."
As the murmurs grew louder, the receptionist stepped back, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. Ryker and Garrek stood ready, the tension in the air thick enough to cut. The adventurers leaned forward in anticipation, waiting for the battle to begin.
To be continued...