Thud. A boy collapsed to the ground as Lucid kicked him in the balls and smacked his head with a stick.
"Let me get one thing straight," Lucid said coldly. "Just because I don't have a family or money doesn't mean I'll let you assholes walk all over me. This isn't one of those stories where rich kids get to do whatever they want. I'll do what I want."
The street thugs grabbed the groaning boy and ran off without another word.
Lucid exhaled and muttered to himself,"Maybe I shouldn't have kicked him there… Even watching it hurts. Ugh."
As Lucid stepped out of the alleyway, he glanced around at the bustling city.
"The city of Solmora…" he muttered to himself. "A place where I have to bust my ass just to get a damn license."
With a sigh, he started walking toward the Hunter's Guild.
The guild's hallway was noisy, filled with adventurers and chatter. Lucid made his way to the reception desk.
"Hi, how can I help you today?" the receptionist asked politely.
"I want to register for a hunter license," Lucid replied.
"Please wait a moment. I'll inform the examiner," she said before walking off.
Lucid leaned his back against the desk and looked around the busy hall.
In this world, monsters, beasts, and other terrifying creatures threaten humanity's survival.At first, we were helpless.Until one day, a mysterious group appeared — a race the world had never seen before.
They saved us. They fought back the beasts and wielded magic we'd only dreamed of.
Because of them, humanity began to rise.
Mages were born.Adventurers were trained.And hunters…Hunters were made to slay monsters.
The receptionist returned to the desk with a polite smile.
"Mister, the interviewer is ready. You can go in now."
Lucid gave a small nod and made his way into the room.
inside, a neatly dressed man looked up from a pile of papers and gestured to the sofa across from him.
"Welcome. Please, take a seat."
Lucid sat down on the opposite couch, a polished wooden table between them.
"I'll need to ask a few standard questions to complete your registration. Is that alright?"the interviewer said.
Lucid nodded quietly.
He never liked talking about himself. It always made him feel arrogant — and he hated arrogant people. Still, when necessary, he didn't hesitate.
"First, your name, age, and date of birth?"
"Lucid Seraph. I'm nineteen. My birthday is the 14th of Sovane, 1352."
The interviewer scribbled down the answer, then asked,"Hometown? And are you affiliated with any organization?"
"I'm from Duskholme. No affiliations."
The interviewer raised an eyebrow and looked at Lucid with mild surprise.
"By Duskholme, do you mean the one near the northern harbor?"
"Yes, that city."
"Huh. It's rare to see someone from Duskholme here in Solmora — especially in the Hunter's Guild."He paused, then moved on."Next: Do you have a contracted spirit, familiar, or any magic weapons?"
"No. Just a pair of standard dual daggers."
The interviewer jotted that down too.
Those things he asked about — contracted spirits, familiars, magic-forged weapons — they weren't just rare. For someone like Lucid, who had no family and no money, they were practically myths. He had never seen one, let alone owned one.
The interviewer put down the paper and stood up, walking over to a nearby cabinet. He returned with a contract sheet and an empty silver card, placing both on the table in front of Lucid along with a pen.
"Please sign this contract,"he said. "It confirms your agreement to become a hunter. If you're injured or killed during a mission, the Hunter's Guild will not be held responsible. However, signing this also gives us permission to send notice to your registered family or future contacts."
Lucid took the pen and signed the paper without hesitation.He had no family — not now — but maybe someday, he would.No harm in signing.
The interviewer nodded, collected the contract, then handed Lucid a syringe.
"Now, just one more step. Extract a drop of blood and place it on the silver card. Your information will be magically imprinted."
Lucid took the syringe and pressed the needle gently into a vein in his hand. After drawing a small amount of blood, he removed it, grabbed a tissue from the table, and applied pressure to the spot.
Then, carefully, he released a single drop of blood onto the surface of the silver card.
The moment the blood touched the metal, it was absorbed. Glowing lines etched themselves into the card, forming letters and numbers in an elegant script.
Name: Lucid SeraphDate of Birth: 14th of Solvane, 1352Monster Kill Count: 0Spirit: NoneFamiliar: NoneSkills & Abilities: Wind Resistance, Basic Dagger Style
Lucid examined the card for a moment, then slid it into his pocket.
The interviewer smiled warmly.
"Congratulations, Mr. Lucid Seraph. You are now officially registered as a hunter. Welcome to the world of Hunters."He raised a hand and put it on his chest as a way or salute."May all monsters fall in your presence."