Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

I was waiting at the Station Plaza, and soon, Sia came up to me. Looking at me, she tilted her head.

"Wow, this is unexpected."

"What is?"

"I thought you'd reject the offer."

I chuckled, scratching the back of my head sheepishly. "Yeah, I thought about it, but then I figured it wouldn't hurt to see what the Grace guild has to offer. Plus, I couldn't pass up the chance to learn from someone as esteemed as you, Vice Guild Master Sia."

Sia smiled warmly at my response, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, I'm glad you decided to accept. I think you'll find the experience quite enlightening."

"Anyway, We're still waiting on one more person, but it looks like we'll have to wait quite a while. Should we go ahead first?"

"I don't care either way."

"Then let's go."

At the same time, a limousine stopped in front of us. It was a long, luxurious limousine that was often seen in movies.

The driver then came out and opened the door for us.

"Get in."

I got inside the limousine with Sia. The car seat was extremely comfortable. Just sitting in it made me drowsy.

"Let's go."

At Sia's words, the limousine began to move smoothly through the bustling streets of Eldoria. As we rode along, I couldn't help but marvel at the elegance and luxury surrounding me. It was a stark contrast to the busy streets outside, and for a moment, I felt like royalty.

Sia glanced at me, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Enjoying the ride?" she asked.

I nodded, unable to hide my fascination. "Yeah, this is quite the experience. I've never ridden in a limousine before."

Sia chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, get used to it. As a member of the Grace guild, you'll have access to all sorts of luxuries."

I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at her words. The thought of being part of such a prestigious guild filled me with a sense of pride and anticipation.

As the limousine continued on its journey, Sia and I engaged in idle conversation, discussing everything from our training routines to our aspirations for the future. Despite her status as Vice Guild Master, Sia was surprisingly down-to-earth and easy to talk to, and I found myself opening up to her in ways I hadn't expected.

Before long, we arrived at our destination: the Grace guild headquarters. Stepping out of the limousine, I was greeted by the sight of the imposing building towering before me, its sleek architecture a testament to the guild's prestige and power.

As expected of the world's fifth ranked guild, the building's exterior looked spectacular. Each part seemed to have been designed carefully as the building looked both beautiful and geometrically marvelous. This tall building was undoubtedly built using cutting-edge magic engineering and technology.

"Let's go in~"

Sia led me into the building. The lobby that entered my view could only be described as vast. It almost felt like I was in a concert hall.

"Offices for Heroes are on the second floor and up, but there isn't much to see on the first four floors. The real thing begins on the fifth floor. The first floor has the lobby you see here, a lounge, a training room, and a sparring room. Ah, there's a sports hall and a cafeteria too. It's designed to accommodate all the needs of our members," Sia explained as we walked through the lobby.

I nodded, taking in the grandeur of the surroundings. "It's impressive, to say the least."

As we made our way through the building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer scale and sophistication of the Grace guild headquarters. Everything seemed meticulously designed and impeccably maintained, a testament to the guild's commitment to excellence.

We soon reached the elevator, and Sia pressed the button for the fifth floor. As the doors slid shut and the elevator began its ascent, I felt a rush of excitement coursing through me. I was about to step into the heart of one of the most renowned guilds in the world, and I couldn't wait to see what awaited me.

As the elevator reached its destination and the doors opened, I stepped out into the fifth floor of the Grace guild headquarters. What greeted me was beyond anything I could have imagined.

The fifth floor was a hive of activity, with Heroes bustling about, engaged in various tasks and missions. The air buzzed with energy and determination, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration at the sight.

"Let's go to meet the the Hero in charge of the program."

"...Oh, right."

"Follow me."

Saying that I started to follow behind Sia, Soon we reached the office cabin.

"To be honest, you won't be doing anything special. Today, you'll just look around the building, then starting from tomorrow, you'll get to interact with other guilds. You might also get to follow a Hero to see him exterminate monsters."

With that, Sia opened the door.

Unlike what it looked like from the outside, the office was quite spacious. The owner of the office seemed to have a gentle character as there were flower pots under the window sill and documents were stacked nicely on the office desk.

"Have you heard of Carlo Shen?"

"Uh... I think I've heard of him."

"Carlo is a very highly ranked Hero."

In truth, I haven't just heard about him, I knew him better than Sia.

Carlo Shen. Although he was acting as Sia's right arm, he was devious and sly on the inside. He wasn't a fallen human but was someone who would betray Sia in the future. A bit harshly, at least. However, I kept that knowledge to myself, not wanting to cause any tension or suspicion.

Sia continued, unaware of my inner thoughts. "Carlo will be your guide for the day. He'll show you around the guild, introduce you to some of our members, and give you a taste of what life as a Hero in the Grace guild is like."

I nodded, feigning enthusiasm as I prepared to meet Carlo Shen. Despite my reservations about him, I knew that this was an opportunity I couldn't afford to pass up. Learning from a highly ranked Hero like Carlo could provide valuable insights and experiences that would benefit me in the long run.

As Carlo entered the office, I plastered a polite smile on my face, ready to embark on this new chapter of my journey as a Hero.

"Hello, Sir. It's a pleasure to meet you," I greeted him, extending my hand in a friendly gesture.

Carlo returned the gesture with a firm handshake, his expression pleasant but unreadable. "Likewise," he replied, his voice smooth and composed.

With introductions out of the way, Carlo began to outline our itinerary for the day, detailing the various activities and tasks we would be undertaking.