The Adventurer’s Guild was, in Elliot’s opinion, unnecessarily intimidating. The building was massive, with towering stone walls and a giant wooden door that looked like it belonged on a castle, not a recruitment center. A banner hung above the entrance, proudly declaring: “Join the Guild! Fame, Fortune, and Glory Await!” Elliot wasn’t so sure about the “glory” part, but he could definitely use some fortune. Preferably the kind that didn’t involve fighting dragons.

  Inside, the guild was bustling with activity. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes milled about, some clad in gleaming armor, others in robes that shimmered with magical energy. Elliot felt woefully underdressed in his tunic and trousers, but he tried to ignore the stares as he made his way to the registration desk.

  The woman behind the desk looked up as he approached, her sharp eyes scanning him from head to toe. “Name?”

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  “Uh, Elliot. Elliot Grayson.”

  She scribbled something on a piece of parchment. “Class?”

  “Class?” Elliot repeated, blinking. “I, uh… I don’t have one yet. Isn’t that what the exam is for?”

  The woman sighed, as if she’d had this conversation a hundred times before. “You need to choose a class before you can take the exam. Warrior, Mage, Rogue, or Cleric. Pick one.”

  Elliot hesitated. He’d never been particularly strong, so Warrior was out. Magic sounded cool, but he’d once set his own hair on fire trying to light a candle, so Mage was probably a bad idea. Cleric seemed like a lot of responsibility, and Elliot wasn’t great with responsibility. That left Rogue.

  “Rogue,” he said finally. “I’ll be a Rogue.”

  The woman nodded and handed him a small wooden token with the word Rogue carved into it. “Good choice. Head to the training yard for your exam. And good luck—you’ll need it.”