Makoto groaned softly as his eyes fluttered open. His back ached from the hard cobblestones beneath him, and a faint buzz of lively chatter reached his ears. Slowly sitting up, he was met with a sight that instantly made him forget the discomfort.

He was in the middle of a bustling medieval town square, surrounded by quaint stone buildings with thatched roofs and colorful banners swaying gently in the breeze. Merchants shouted about their wares from wooden carts, children chased each other through the streets, and adventurers clad in armor strolled by with weapons strapped to their backs.

Makoto's jaw dropped. "This… this is amazing!" He scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting around in wonder. "An actual fantasy world! It's just like a storybook…"

A loud groan snapped him out of his awe. He glanced down to find Aqua sitting on the ground, her legs sprawled out in an undignified manner. Her face was buried in her hands, and her shimmering hair was a tangled mess.

"Ugh… I can't believe this is happening…" she whined. "I'm a goddess! A goddess! I'm supposed to be in the afterlife, sipping ambrosia, not stuck in some backwater mortal world!"

Makoto tilted his head, sweatdropping at her dramatic display. "Uh… well, it's not so bad, right? I mean, look around! It's a beautiful day, and everyone seems so lively."

Aqua peeked through her fingers, glaring up at him. "How are you so cheerful about this?! Do you have any idea how humiliating this is for me?!"

"Well," Makoto said, rubbing the back of his neck, "we're here now, so we might as well make the best of it." He offered her a hand, flashing his usual hopeful smile. "Come on. Let's figure out what to do next."

Aqua groaned again but begrudgingly took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet. "Fine, but this better not take long. I want to get this whole 'redemption' thing over with as fast as possible…"

Makoto chuckled nervously. "We'll figure it out together. First, we should find an Adventurers Guild, right?"

Aqua sighed, brushing off her robes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's just get this over with."

The streets of the town were bustling with activity as Makoto and Aqua made their way through the cobblestone paths, asking passersby for directions to the Adventurers Guild.

On their way, Makoto couldn't help but stop and help anyone who seemed to be struggling.

"Here, let me help with that!" he called out, rushing to assist an elderly woman who was struggling to carry a heavy basket of produce. She smiled warmly as Makoto took the burden from her and walked her to her stall.

"Such a kind young man," she said, patting his shoulder.

A little farther down the road, Makoto spotted a group of men struggling to lift a massive crate onto a cart. Without hesitation, he ran over to lend a hand, grinning as they hoisted the crate into place.

"Thanks, kid!" one of the men said, clapping him on the back.

As Makoto waved goodbye to the group, Aqua trailed behind him, pouting. "Do you have to help every single person we pass? You're too nice for your own good, you know that?"

Makoto glanced back at her with a sheepish smile. "I just can't ignore someone who needs help."

"Yeah, yeah," Aqua muttered, rolling her eyes. "Just don't come crying to me when you get taken advantage of."

Eventually, after asking for directions a few more times, they found themselves standing outside a large, wooden building with a sign that read Adventurers Guild. The faint sound of laughter and clinking glasses drifted from inside.

Makoto took a deep breath, his heart racing with anticipation. "Okay… this is it."

Aqua crossed her arms, glancing at the door warily. "Why are you just standing there? You're the one who wanted to come here, so go on!"

With Aqua's not-so-encouraging words, Makoto mustered his courage and pushed the door open.

The inside of the guild was even livelier than he'd imagined. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes were gathered around tables, laughing boisterously, clinking mugs of ale, and boasting about their exploits. The air smelled of grilled meat and spilled beer.

As they stepped inside, they were greeted by a cheerful waitress with short, red hair. She carried a tray of drinks and offered them a warm smile. "Welcome! What brings you to the guild today?"

Makoto smiled back. "We'd like to register as adventurers!"

At his words, a loud laugh erupted from a nearby table. A burly man with a scar across his cheek turned toward them, grinning smugly. "You? An adventurer?" He leaned back in his chair, pointing at Makoto. "You don't look like you could even kill a fly, kid."

Makoto opened his mouth to respond, but Aqua beat him to it.

"Hey!" she snapped, stomping her foot. "You don't know what he's capable of! He's got more guts than you think!"

The man scoffed, smirking as he took another swig of his drink. "Sure, whatever you say, sweetheart. Why don't you two just turn around and go home? Leave the real adventuring to us."

Aqua bristled, her face turning red as the man turned back to his table. She whirled on Makoto, jabbing a finger at him. "What was that?! You just let him talk to you like that? You need to learn to stand up for yourself!"

Makoto chuckled, scratching his cheek. "Sorry, Aqua. But… thanks for sticking up for me. It's nice to know you care."

Aqua blinked, her cheeks tinged with pink. She turned away quickly, muttering, "W-well, someone's gotta keep you out of trouble…"

The two of them approached the reception desk, where they were greeted by a young woman with long blonde hair tied back in a braid. Her bright smile and… noticeably generous figure made it hard not to feel at ease.

"Welcome to the Adventurers Guild!" she said brightly. "My name's Luna. How can I help you today?"

Makoto smiled politely. "We'd like to register as adventurers."

Luna's expression didn't falter. "Of course! There's just a small registration fee of 1,000 eris per person."

At her words, Aqua's jaw dropped. "What?! You're charging me?! Do you have any idea who I am? I'm a goddess! A literal goddess!"

Luna blinked, then chuckled softly. "A goddess? Ah, yes… of course you are." Her tone was polite, but it was clear she didn't believe Aqua for a second.

Makoto sighed, stepping in to smooth things over. "Sorry about that. Don't mind her."

Luna laughed again, offering him a sympathetic smile. "I imagine it must be difficult dealing with her."

Makoto chuckled. "You have no idea."

After leaving the guild, Aqua let out an exasperated sigh. "Great! We don't have any money, we can't register, and we haven't eaten all day. What are we supposed to do now?"

Makoto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well… I guess we'll have to find some work."

Aqua groaned, dragging her feet as they walked down the street. "This is the worst. I didn't sign up for this…"

Makoto smiled to himself, his determination unwavering. "Don't worry, Aqua. We'll figure it out. We just need a little luck.l

To be continued…