In the late morning, Maximo arrived at the local Adventurer's Guild.

Since Ferncombe was a relatively small town, the guild itself was also diminutive, having only two staff members. At most, they accepted small, recurring bounties, such as weak magic crystals and certain low-level materials.

For bottom-level monsters, such as slimes and mole rats, one only needed a rudimentary registration since only children would lower themselves to such poor-paying tasks.

However, if one wanted to continue on this road and become an adventurer, formal registration was a must. And that was exactly what Maximo wanted to do.

Arriving at the desk, Maximo greeted the bored, middle-aged female clerk, whom he knew by the name of Libby. She wasn't even an ex-adventurer, but just a wage worker.

"Hi, Libby!" Maximo politely smiled.

"Why, if it isn't young Maximo? How can I help you? Isn't it a bit early to turn in monster materials?" Libby kindly asked. After all, most of her job was dealing with children, and Maximo was very polite and reasonable.

"I want to become an adventurer." Maximo got to the point.

Libby's eyes immediately turned sharp, her smile gone.

"You want to become an adventurer? You should be aware that it is a dangerous occupation. You can die at any time without a proper grave, and your future would be uncertain. While it is true that you can become extremely wealthy, and it is one of the only paths to great wealth for a peasant, the risks are even greater. Becoming the vassal of a lord or a craftsman isn't that bad, at least your future can be secure." She dissuaded.

"I am sure. I want to be an adventurer and hunt monsters." Maximo replied with a serious look.

Libby sighed.

"Did your father at least consent? I don't want your father to blame me."

Maximo nodded.

"Yes, he agreed. I convinced him."

"Fine. 5 silver coins for registration and a recommendation letter. Once you are registered, you will join the next convoy heading to the Dungeon City of Gaburg, which is tomorrow morning. You will also need to prepare around 30-40 silver coins for travel expenses, and 100 silver coins for the apprenticeship itself."

Maximo didn't haggle, placing five silver coins on the counter.

After Libby finished counting, she nodded and started writing. Around a quarter of an hour later, Libby finished and handed Maximo a sealed letter.

"This is your recommendation letter. DO NOT lose it, and only hand it over to the guild clerk of the Gaburg branch. Without this letter, they wouldn't accept you since your record would be too sketchy." Libby strictly warned.

"I understand." Maximo heavily nodded.

Libby sighed.

"Well, I wish you luck, kid. Try not to die too young."

"I won't." Maximo smiled and bade her farewell.

Once Libby saw him leave, she sighed again.

"Another young soul with a death wish."

Shaking her head, she continued her work.

.

.

.

The next day-

Maximo quietly left his hometown, embarking on an adventure.

He said his farewells to his parents, brothers, neighbors, and friends. Hugo, in particular, cried. He wanted to follow Maximo, but his father didn't let him.

The big oaf was the 2nd son after all, and his father didn't let him go. In a way, Hugo resembled his father much more than his elder brother did... and as it turned out, there was a good reason for it. Apparently, the eldest was the result of Callum's wife sleeping with a bard, while Hugo was Callum's true firstborn and heir. This, he learned from the gossip of a neighbor's wife.

Hence, Hugo had a secure future, so Maximo was naturally happy for the big oaf.

The convoy continued its travel Eastward, passing through two towns before reaching the Dungeon City of Gaburg on the 5th day. The travel itself was certainly expensive, costing Maximo 32 silver coins. After all, he needed food and lodging, both of which were costly yet necessary. After all, he was just a 10-year-old kid. Sleeping outside, holding over a hundred silver coins, was asking to get robbed. While confident he could fight a 14-year-old to a draw, an adult would beat him to a pulp, or worse, stab him. At the very least, the convoy master insisted he slept in a shared inn room with him.

Luckily, nothing bad happened aside from some stray goblins along the way.

Passing through the gate usually required some form of identification, but showing the envelope with the recommendation letter and a word from the convoy master allowed Maximo to enter.

Bidding them farewell, Maximo carefully walked through the bustling streets and soon arrived at the guild branch of Gaburg, situated near the dungeon entrance of the city.

Dungeons were apparently places where magic naturally gathered, forming monsters. It was also the primary source of Magic Crystals, producing more monsters than the outside world. However, these monsters had the quality of dissipating when killed, unlike regular monsters, and occasionally had drop items. So, while less lucrative than killing a real monster outside due to the lack of a carcass, quantity more than matched quality.

Maximo didn't quite understand the use of Magic Crystals, but he knew that part of it had something to do with alchemy, forging, and wizard stuff, and that the nobles and church hoarded them. In fact, he tried buying Magic Crystals once from the adventurer's guild and was informed that it was impossible because the Lord and Church received everything.

This gave him a thought at the time.

"Can they absorb crystals, too? Is this why they hoard it? But why isn't it common knowledge?"

No one informed him that it was possible, but he had a hunch that it was likely. After all, if he had a special power, why can't others have one, too? Alas, he came from a poor, commoner family and was afraid to ask, like a beggar who found a sack of gold, so he just never did.

After a hint of hesitation, Maximo entered the Adventurer's Guild.

Unlike the desolate one in his hometown, the city branch was much larger and rowdier, with several dozen people in various gear sitting at tables, both men and women of ages 16-50, laughing and chatting while drinking mead.

When Maximo entered, the adventurers glanced at him, looked him up and down, before ignoring him. He wasn't the first nor last teen to enlist in the guild, and everyone had their own background story.

After glancing around, Maximo quickly walked to the counter, where a beautiful and mature blond woman with curly hair and in professional attire sat at the reception desk. She had a calm look to her, and her blue eyes were serene, as if she wasn't in a rowdy place of glorified mercenaries.

"They put a weak but beautiful woman at the counter? Aren't they afraid that she would get molested?" Maximo curiously thought.

However, it was also apparent that no one dared harass her, or things would have looked much differently than now.

As Maximo approached, the guild clerk noticed him, and her smile waned ever-so-slightly.

"Another young fool... Hopefully, he survives to adulthood." She mentally sighed.

Despite her thoughts, she maintained a professional demeanor.

"Welcome to the adventurer's guild, young man. I am Kristin Willis, one of the guild clerks. How can I help you?" The blond beauty asked.

"Hello, beautiful miss. I am Maximo Doyle, from Ferncombe. I wish to register and begin my apprenticeship." Maximo said, handing over the recommendation letter.

Kristin took the letter, opened it, and scanned it. But after a short while, she widened her eyes and looked at Maximo with an incredulous look.

"You are just 10? I thought you were at least 12, if not 14!" Kristin said, feeling amazed.

After all, Maximo was half a head taller than his peers, with only Hugo matching his size, and his muscles were more developed than those of regular kids.

"Yes, I grow fast." Maximo nodded.

Kristin slightly narrowed her eyes before smiling.

"Interesting kid. He is likely Gifted. Maybe he isn't suicidal after all." 

Once she thought to that point, she motioned to Maximo.

"Follow me. I will take you to the Guild Master."

After Kristin made some arrangements with other clerks, she led Maximo up the stairs, leading him to an office. After knocking and receiving confirmation, the two entered into what Maximo could describe as a mixture of an office and a stereotypical magician's abode.

And behind an expensive-looking desk sat a skinny but handsome man. He had long, sharp ears and white streaks on his long, smooth, brown hair.

"An elf? It is my first time seeing one." Maximo thought.

Elves were a beautiful, magically attuned race of long-living demi-humans. Usually, they preferred living in forests, but some also lived outside the forest. The one sitting here was clearly the latter.

The kingdom of Auhuiral was predominantly human, but on rare occasions, one would find demi-humans. With that said, Maximo also knew that demi-humans faced many hardships, as humans tended to be xenophobic and racist. For the man before him to be a guild master, he was certainly a powerful man.

While he was thinking about that, the guild master raised his head, looking at Maximo with clear, emerald eyes, eyeing him up and down, before glancing at Kristin.

"Kristin, who is this young man?"

"Sorry to disturb you, Guild Master. This is Maximo Doyle of Ferncombe, and he wishes to join the guild. Despite how he looks, he is only 10, and I strongly believe that he is Gifted." Kristin explained.

"Hm? What does she mean by Gifted? Does she think I am a genius?" Maximo blinked at the new term.

"I see..." The guild master nodded and then looked at Maximo. "I am Ailmar Grecaryn, Guild Master of this Adventurer's Guild branch."

"Hello..." Maximo nodded.

"I won't beat around the bush. Did you happen to absorb Magic Crystals?" Ailmar asked to the point.

"Eh..." Maximo was taken aback, not knowing how to respond.

"How does he know? Will I get into trouble if I say yes?" Maximo worried.

However, his slight hesitation was all the answer Ailmar needed. Sighing, he spoke.

"No need to worry, the Gifted are rare, but in a good way. It is the sign that you were blessed by fate, and you won't be punished for it. I am also a Gifted." Ailmar calmly explained.

"Ah... Sorry, it is just the first time I hear about it." Maximo sheepishly scratched his cheek.

"No need to apologize, being cautious is a virtue. Now, come and sit. I need to give you the talk." Ailmar gestured to a seat in front of the desk.

Maximo cautiously walked to the seat and sat on it. Once seated, Ailmar spoke to Kristin.

"Kristin, bring the boy some juice. I would also like some iced tea, thank you."

"Of course, Guild Master." Kristin nodded and left the room.

Ailmar then looked at Maximo and spoke.

"The people of this world are divided into three castes, namely, the Gifted, the Elite, and the Commoner. The Gifted are those born lucky, able to absorb Magic Crystals and even passively absorb a bit of magic from the air at all times. The more Magic Crystals they absorb, the stronger their Gift becomes. Some can become physically stronger, while others gain sorcerous abilities, and some gain unique gifts. The chance of being born Gifted is one in several thousand, so in a small town, it is natural that a gifted person wouldn't appear for generations. It is so uncommon that most Commoners don't even know about it, and even small nobles are forgetful, but if you told it to the church or the local lord, they would have certainly informed you about it." Ailmar said before looking at Maximo with a wry smile.

"Ah... So it was a bad idea not to speak about it?" Maximo asked with a wary look.

"Not necessarily. While they would invest in you to an extent, they would demand loyalty and would restrict your freedom. While there are laws placed to prevent this, what happens in reality is not controllable." Ailmar shook his head.

"I... see." Maximo blinked, half-understanding it.

"Now, there is the Elite Caste and the Commoner Caste." Ailmar continued to explain. "The Elite are those with techniques to absorb Magic Crystals, strengthening themselves in the process. They are called this due to their retention of relevant techniques within their families and organizations, while not allowing the information to spread to the common populace, creating a sort of crystal monopoly that the powerful magicians, royalty, nobles, church, knight orders, and powerful guilds control. Those of the Commoner Caste, which I assume you originated from, usually live the rest of their lives without even knowing about it." Ailmar said, pursing his lips.

"So... I can't tell my family?" Maximo testily asked.

"That depends on how strong you become. Once you reach C-rank, you can teach it to your close of kin, but not freely sell it, or you will be hunted down if found out." Ailmar warned.

"I understand." Maximo nodded.

At this time, Kristin entered the room, bringing two cups. Maximo curiously looked at the orange-colored juice, smelled a citrusy scent, and took a big gulp. It was sweet and slightly acidic.

"In any case, what I am trying to convey is that, once you reach a certain rank in the guild, you will have access to such techniques. The higher your rank, the better the techniques that you will have access to, meaning you will enter the so-called Elite Caste. Naturally, there is a difference between elites, just like how there is a difference between nobles, so do take note of that." Ailmar explained.

Maximo nodded, and then Ailmar spoke again.

"Since you are Gifted, we will run some tests on you. If you pass, we will waive the apprenticeship premium and will invest in you as a seeded talent."

"Really?! Great!" Maximo happily thought.

After speaking, Ailmar looked at Kristin.

"Take him to the basement and test him."

"Yes, Guild Master." Kristin nodded and looked at Maximo. "Follow me, young man. Let's see what you are made of."