The training yard was a large, open space filled with straw dummies, obstacle courses, and a group of nervous-looking recruits. Elliot joined the crowd, clutching his token and trying to look like he belonged. A burly man with a scar across his face stepped forward and addressed the group.

  “Welcome, recruits!” he barked. “Today, you’ll be tested on your skills and abilities. Those who pass will become official members of the Adventurer’s Guild. Those who fail… well, let’s just say you’ll be going home with your tails between your legs.”

  Elliot swallowed hard. This was it. His chance to prove himself. Or, more likely, his chance to embarrass himself in front of a bunch of strangers.

  The first test was a simple obstacle course. Elliot managed to make it through without falling, though he did trip over his own feet at one point. The second test was a combat simulation, where recruits had to spar with a training dummy. Elliot’s dummy promptly fell over after one poorly aimed swing of his dagger, but the instructor gave him a passing grade anyway.

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  The final test, however, was the one Elliot had been dreading: the Stealth Challenge. As a Rogue, stealth was supposed to be his specialty, but Elliot had never been particularly good at staying hidden. He’d once tried to sneak into the kitchen for a midnight snack and ended up knocking over an entire shelf of pots and pans.

  “Recruits, you’ll have five minutes to navigate the course without being spotted by the guards,” the instructor explained. “If you’re caught, you fail. Good luck.”

  Elliot took a deep breath and stepped into the course. The first part was easy—he ducked behind a barrel as a guard walked past, holding his breath until the coast was clear. The second part was trickier, with a narrow pathway and two guards patrolling back and forth. Elliot waited for the right moment and darted across, his heart pounding in his chest.

  He was almost to the end when he heard a voice behind him. “Hey! You there! Stop!”

  Elliot froze. He’d been caught. His shoulders slumped as he turned around, ready to admit defeat, but then he noticed something: the guard wasn’t looking at him. He was looking at another recruit who had been less careful.

  Elliot seized the opportunity and bolted for the finish line, skidding to a stop just as the instructor called time.

  “Congratulations,” the instructor said, clapping him on the shoulder. “You passed.”

  Elliot blinked. “I… I did?”

  “You did. Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild, Rogue.”