Rider Displaced

Chapter 7

"We have returned! Finally I can rest my wings."

The flight back to Edith was as uneventful as the flight to Cadia, something both rider and dragon were thankful for. After they took care of the goblins, they gathered all the treasure from their den and stowed it all within the bags on the sides of the saddle. However this required them to move several items around to fit it all in, and the extra weight put a strain on Amber. Despite the added weight, she was conditioned to carrying much heavier loads during basic. Though it did cause her to use more of her energy just to keep airborne. By the time they reached the walls she was exhausted.

Without even wasting a second, the magenta ness dove into the Market District and landed outside the tavern where they could turn in their completed quest. To show proof they completed the quest they needed a piece of evidence. Amber at first suggested they bring a severed head from one of the corpses she did not vaporize with her breath. However Walker didn't want to carry, not even touch, one of the creatures. So instead he picked up one of their swords and took it with them. He hoped it was enough evidence to show his task was complete.

Now on the ground, Walker jumped down from Amber's side, carrying the bastard sword with him. Of course it was of no use to him, so if the staff didn't take it off him he would try and find somewhere to sell it for a bit of extra profit. He also still had that broken radio in Amber's saddle, and it was no more than scrap making it useless to him. Getting rid of it would be a bonus as he could use the extra space for anything else.

As he entered the tavern, the parties at the tables were different than the ones from before, so he got a few curious looks as he passed by several adventurers. But he paid them no attention as he approached the counter where the barmaid from before was washing down a tankard with a wet cloth. She looked up and noticed him with a surprised expression as he sat down.

"You're back already? Did you perhaps forget something or change your mind?"

"What?" Walker responded in confusion. "No, I just came back after completing the quest. The goblin threat is no more."

The barmaid looked confused and suspicious at the same time before her eyes went wide as if she remembered something. "Oh yeah, you have a dragon with you. My apologies, it's just that normally adventurers come back within days or weeks after accepting quests. Anyway, you completed the starter quest?"

The rider nodded, bringing out the goblin sword and setting it one the counter. The barmaid inspected it carefully as if she was looking for a specific criteria. Whatever it was, this sword seemed to possess it as she nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good. That makes you an official member of the Adventurer's Guild." She reached under the counter and pulled out a fold, inkwell, and quill. "Now to complete your registration. I require information about you for the guild to keep track of your progress."

The entire process was straight forward and simple. It was familiar to him creating an online account for an app or membership. All he had to do was put in his name, age, gender, race, date of registration, and his class which he decided to put as marksman with his proficiency in rifles. As for Amber he filled everything out in her stead, and put her class the same as her race. He was done within just 2 minutes.

"Thank you." The barmaid said as he accepted the paper and item back. "Give me a minute to grab you your new badges." The barmaid left the counter and went into the back room of the tavern, returning only a minute later with two iron badges and a small pouch of what sounded like coin. "Here you are, two official rookie badges, and 20 silver as payment for completing the job."

Walker accepted the items, removing the copper badge from his vest and replacing it with his new iron badge. The other he would attach to Amber's saddle once he returned to her. As for the pouch of silver he would hold onto it for now. Now, he and Amber were officially glorified freelancers working for other people who submitted jobs to the guild. At least he made a high profit from just a beginner's quest, but that was because he found all the loot plundered by the goblins. He had no idea how the economy system worked here, so he did not know how long it would last him. He would have to find that out quick.