Wrapped in a gray-blue cloak, Ryan stepped into the Awakener's Guild mission hall once more.
His pace was steady, yet his movements betrayed the lingering exhaustion in his body. An entire day of combat had left his mind on edge. Only now, as he returned to familiar ground, did the tension begin to ebb slightly, replaced by the quiet aftermath of survival.
He approached the reception counter.
There, waiting with a posture more respectful than earlier in the day, was the same young woman in her pale gold uniform. She smiled softly as he stopped before her.
"Welcome back, Mr. Blackwood," she said warmly, her tone laced with new reverence. "Word has already reached us. You not only completed your assignment, but also eliminated a mutated kobold shaman. The guild's observation unit has submitted a full record of your battle performance."
Ryan gave a small nod.
The system interface flickered to life before his eyes, subtle and silent.
[Mission Complete: B-076 – Elimination of Hostile Creatures]
[Confirmed Elimination: Mutated Kobold Shaman (Lv.6)]
[Calculating Rewards…]
[EXP +1200]
[Starlight Coins +100]
[Bonus Achievement Triggered!]
[Item Acquired: Azure Staff (Rare)]
The receptionist lifted a silver-white box from behind the counter. Intricate magical patterns shimmered faintly along its surface.
"Due to your exceptional contribution—slaying a mutated entity and intervening in a demonic ritual—the system has acknowledged your mission as having significant impact," she explained. "The Guild would like to offer you this additional reward."
Ryan opened the case.
Inside lay a staff.
It gleamed with a deep azure hue, its form graceful and sleek. The body of the staff looked like it had been carved from polished ice, yet warm to the touch. At its crown, embedded like the eye of an ancient leviathan, was a sapphire-like gemstone. It pulsed with tranquil magical energy—calm, deep, pure.
As Ryan picked up the staff, information appeared in his vision:
[Item: Azure Staff]
[Quality: Rare]
[Type: Magic Weapon – Staff]
[Equip Requirements: None]
[Stat Bonuses: Intelligence +50, Spirit +50]
[Description: Forged from purified arcane crystals mined in deep magic veins. Highly efficient in mana conduction, significantly enhances mental clarity and casting precision.]
Ryan narrowed his gaze slightly.
In the Awakener's equipment system, gear was categorized into four tiers: Common, Rare, Epic, and Legendary—mirroring the power scale of classes themselves.
Most Awakeners obtained gear through standard channels: dungeon drops, commission rewards, blacksmith orders, or market trade.
Even among those, rewards from missions were rarely above the Common tier—especially for low-level assignments like the one Ryan had just completed. Rare equipment was almost exclusive to elite-level dungeons or high-tier commissions. For one to appear as a B-rank mission reward was exceedingly uncommon.
Ryan tightened his grip on the staff.
A chill sensation, like a breath of clean wind, seeped into his fingers. The fatigue clouding his thoughts seemed to scatter, replaced by a cool clarity, as if his spirit had been rinsed clean in a spring of mana.
He exhaled slowly.
For someone who had just reached Level 7, this staff was far beyond what he should have access to. Yet here it was—resting in his hands.
"It must've been the mutated shaman," he thought, letting the reality sink in.
"A good beginning," he murmured aloud, nodding with satisfaction.
The receptionist watched his reaction, then said politely, "Your mission record has been finalized. The assignment board is closing soon. Please feel free to return tomorrow for new tasks."
"Understood." Ryan turned and walked away.
He did not linger.
Crossing the grand hall, he headed directly for the exit. But even as he passed through, voices followed him—quiet, awed, speculative.
"Is that... a Rare-grade staff?" someone whispered.
"He's only just hit Level 7—how the hell did he get his hands on something like that?"
"I heard he saved a Ygraine family heir yesterday..."
"No surprise. He awakened a Forbidden Class. Things are different for people like him."
Ryan said nothing.
Their voices washed over him like a breeze against stone. His expression remained calm, his steps measured.
Stepping out into the street, Ryan felt the cool night air brush across his cheeks. The lights at the far end of the street flickered to life one by one, casting long golden reflections against the cobbled path.
Above him, the night sky shimmered with distant starlight.
His shadow stretched across the road, drawn long under the pale glow, following behind him silently as he walked into the deepening dusk.