Hiromi's POV

"I'm going to miss mother and father, Gaia." I said to my wisp friend.

"You shall not worry Master Hiromi, they are more capable than you think they are." Gaia replied telepathically.

I know that, I've seen their power almost everyday, so I've been used to it.

I am Hiromi, or atleast that's what my mother and father have named me, I don't remember anything about my infant life since my mother have mentioned that I was only found and not born by them.

It was pretty devastating at first, not for my current parents but for the one that left me behind. Though I'm pretty much contented about what I have right now, I don't have any regrets.

I've been taught magic and spells, as well as swordsmanship, thanks to my mother and father, they said they were pretty skilled swordsman and mage during their time, I was convinced since they have taught me much up to this time.

I've been longing on becoming an adventurer since my parents' stories are somehow attractive. I've devoted myself on learning their teachings up to now. My efforts have been paid off.

Gaia mentioned about a city not too far from our home, Treeshroud City. I've read about that place before, apparantly, it is the primary home for the adventurers, at the center of the city is one enormous elder tree, it is in fact, the city's main attraction, the Ancestral Tree. Inside it is their famous huge Adventure Tavern, wherein adventurers from all over the world gather and update their progresses. Of course, there are other But from other big cities.

Treeshroud City is a place where the theme is mostly based on the Ancestral Tree itself, mosses covered most of the houses and buildings of the city, but nevertheless, it is a lively place.

Still riding my Nightmare Corvus, I landed on the Adventure Tavern located at the main branch of the Ancestral Tree, the branch is strong enough to accomodate the tavern's weight and the adventurers going inside.

People who saw me landing stared at me with awe, well, I can take pride of my parents' teachings.

'Th-That's a Nightmare Corvus, an S+ familiar!'

'Who is she? I've never seen her before around these parts.'

'Is she from Mechanical City?'

I can hear distant murmurs from here, well, I can't blame them since seeing one can naturally attract their attention.

I held my staff proudly as I walked into their huge Adventure Tavern, inside, I saw bunch of people talking with one another, there are also beastmen and dwarves communicating with humans.

"They're also in peace with non-human creatures." I thought.

"Wow... that's a nice Magic Tome Staff you have there." I jumped in surprise as I saw someone staring at my staff.

"Wh-Who are you?" I asked.

"Oh, pardon my sudden distraction of your trance, I'm Mina, a Mage just like you." The girl introduced herself, she has snow-colored hair wearing a blue dress that falls down towards her knees, the dress is actually a magic armor suited for her class. She also has cat ears like mine so I assume she's also a Beastman, particularly the Cat Tribe.

"I can't suppress myself on liking that staff of yours, it is quite a rare one." Mina stated excitedly.

"My mother gave this to me as a parting gift, I just started being an adventurer earlier." I replied back.

She gasped in shock, but soon calmed down.

"Your mother must be an adventurer during her time."

I nodded.

"A-Anyways, you mentioned that your new here, then I assume you'll be getting your Adventurer's Card? Mina asked.

I nodded again.

"Perfect, let me show you towards the registration area."

With that, she showed me the way towards the Adventure Tavern's registration area, nothing really special happened during the registration, I just placed my hand on the crystal ball and the my fake stats showed up, my mother and father wants to hide my true identity for some reason, and I'm quite aware of it.

Name : Hiromi
Level : 23
Race : Beastman (Cat Tribe)
Class : Mage
Elements : Fire Magic, Ice Magic[Upgraded], Dark Magic, Light Magic
Title : Bronze Ranked Adventurer

"Hmm, for magic aptitudes already, I'm quite impressed." Mina commended, while I'm at it, why not secretly appraise her, she's been sticking with me for a while.

"Advanced Appraisal" I silently casted.

Advanced Appraisal, judging by the name, an appraisal skill that is more advanced, a mere low leveled adventurer can't determine whether he or she was appraised or not.

Name : Mina
Level : 29
Race : Beastman (Cat Tribe)
Class : Mage
Elements : Fire Magic, Water Magic, Nature Magic, Earth Magic, Light Magic
Title : Silver Ranked Adventurer, Amateur

"Pretty good, I guess?" I thought.

"Now that the registration's done, what are you gonna do now?" Mina asked.

"I'm thinking about practicing my skills outside the city, do you want to come?" I asked her.

"B-But, outside this city are already higher leveled monsters, probably with the average of Level 35." She explained.

"Does it?" I asked in surprise, but I understood since this is a city, to get out from here, a low leveled adventurers must be accompanied by higher leveled ones if they were to move to another town, that is why starter adventurers always starts on towns and not in cities like this. Towns should have their own Adventure Taverns too in order for one to be registered as official Adventurers.

She just nodded in response.

"Though, I might be able to handle them, but I don't know about you. You are still Level 23." Mina murmured with uneasiness.

"I think I'll be fine." I stated in determination.

She just reluctantly nodded and we headed outside the city. The city guards let us pass even though they appraised us and knew we were low leveled, all thanks to Mina's excuse.

Arriving at a clearing, I saw some Dire Wolves on a distance, I appraised them.

"Appraisal."

Name : Dire Wolf
Level : 39
Difficulty : A

Name : Dire Wolf
Level : 40
Difficulty : A

Name : Nightmare Dire Wolf
Level : 47
Difficulty : A+

"Hiromi, do you think we should go back? That's a Nightmare Dire Wolf, I don't think you can handle them." She suggested as she picked up her staff.

"I think I'll be fine." I stated.

"That is some confidence you got there." She smirked and then looked at the wolves.

The wolves noticed the pair and quickly charged towards them with haste, their claws darkened in color and extended.

"That is a Shadow Claw skill, be careful." Mina informed.

I nodded and then held my staff up in the air.

"Mystic Flare."

Blue ball of flames surrounded my body, then, each one of them darted towards the wolves, piercing on their bodies mercilessly. They were killed just before they're about to get scratched. Dire Wolves' cores fell of on the ground as they disappeared in dust.

"Wah-" Mina's jaw dropped at what she just witnessed. She absent-mindedly stared at me as I walked towards the fallen cores and placed them on my Dimentional Bag which can hold even life forms.

"Let's go back?" I gave her a cheeky smile.

"Y-You..." She stuttered.

"M-Mystic Flare i-is an S+ s-skill, how did y-you..." She's finding a hard time contemplating what just happened.

"Etto...my mother taught me that skill when I was twelve." I explained to her truthfully.

"Twelve?! That is so messed up Hiromi." Mina gasped in shock, finding a hard time catching her breath.

"Master Hiromi, a Level 60 Giant Fire Salamander is coming on your way."  Gaia suddenly alarmed on my thoughts.

"A what?! Mina stand your ground!" I quickly called out

"Wha-, What's happe-"

She was cut off by a sudden quake on the ground, the salamander came out of nowhere near them and charged  towards the two.

"I don't have enough time." I thought, so one thing's to be done now.

"Switch."

With that, the staff I'm holding disappeared and the scabbard appeared on my hip, I quickly ensheathed the katana and blocked the Giant Fire Salamander from banging his head on us. I focused my power on my arms and pushed back the salamander out from the surface.

Mina looked at what happened and was horrified after seeing the salamander.

"Appraisal."

Name : Giant Fire Salamander
Level : 60
Difficulty : S

I have to thank Gaia for notifying me.

"H-Hiromi, don't tell me you're fighting that thi- wait why are you holding a sword now?" She asked rather than getting worried about what's in front of us.

I sweatdropped at that.

"No time to explain for now, let's focus on this first."

"Wait, we're fighting this thing?!" Mina yelled.

The salamander opened it's mouth and fired a large Fireball towards us.

"Spray Cannon!" Mina quickly casted, repelling the Fireball from hitting me.

Noticing the chance, I quickly darted towards the salamander, while I'm at it, Mina did something.

"Greater Speed."

"Greater Strength."

"Protective Barrier."

She casted support magic on me, I owe her one.

I jumped above the salamander and dived towards it.

"First Form : Shatter."

The blade sliced through the salamander, the salamander cried out in pain and disappeared into dust, leaving only the Giant Fire Salamander core.

Mina went on her knees as she reminisce the events, mostly at the display of my power. She stared in awe at me as I took the core and placed it on my Dimentional Box.

I walked towards her and offered my hand on her.

"We've pretty much leveled up from that fight, let's go back." I gave her my cheeky smile.

"Y-Yeah, let's go back for now." She took my hand and we returned back to the city.

To be continued...