After two hours of talking, the shouting began\u2014and stopped almost as fast. Tempers had risen\u2014and no sooner did a chair scrape back than they all caught each other and took a second to breathe.<\/p>\n
The six people sat around a table and studied each other carefully. They were all warriors, and all but one of them was Human. And while some of them were friends with each other, they weren\u2019t here to socialize. This was business, and right now, they were all arguing about one thing.<\/p>\n
The first to break the silence was the Minotaur. Calruz, captain of the Horns of Hammerad, wasn\u2019t one for waiting at the best of times, and his patience was already stretched thin. He hit the large table in the Adventurer\u2019s Guild lightly\u2014at least in the sense that his fist didn\u2019t crack the wood. Two of the other adventurer captains jumped from the impact as everyone stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you no spines?<\/em> Here is the opportunity of a lifetime, and you all hesitate to step forwards! Grab your axes, and let\u2019s enter these ruins already!\u201d<\/p>\n The woman sitting next to him shook her head. She was a fair-skinned woman with blonde hair and polished silver armor, completely contrasting against Calruz\u2019s bare chest and impatient nature. But he and she were in agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of us don\u2019t use axes, Calruz. And while you have a point, recklessness is the exact reason everyone else is hesitating. We need to move carefully, and I\u2019m saying it can be done. But\u2014together. No running over people\u2019s chances to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur glared sideways at the woman, but he was wise enough not to attack his only ally in the room. He subsided back into his chair, grumbling.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we don\u2019t get in there first, some Gold-rank team is going to organize an expedition and grab everything before we do!\u201d<\/p>\n One of the captains sitting across the table shook his head. He was an archer, at least from the large longbow resting against the table next to him. He<\/em> was tired\u2014not only from organizing this meeting, but from riding all the way here from Liscor to meet everyone. Without Skills to aid his travel, it had been a day-long ride with little breaks. Even so\u2014he was cautious and moderated his arguments. Because he had seen what Calruz was speaking so eagerly about with his own eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Charlez said. He took his entire group in right off, and they came back as zombies.<\/em> Not a scratch on their weapons, but their armor was nearly ripped off. We all know what that means.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t. Stop talking in riddles and spell it out for me.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the adventurer captains leaned forwards. He was a burly man with an axe nearly as large as Calruz\u2019s strapped to his back. He glowered at the archer-captain.<\/p>\n This time, it was the man in robes sitting next to him that answered the captain. Captain Menes was a spellcaster, a decent one, but Silver-rank. Not Wistram-trained but bookish, like most [Mages].<\/p>\n \u201cWhat it means, Gregor, is that whatever Charlez and his group ran into, they didn\u2019t even get a chance to fight back before it ripped them to pieces. And then something\u2014<\/em>it might have been another monster or the same one\u2014reanimated them and sent them back out. That\u2019s a serious threat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd above our ability.\u201d<\/p>\n That came from a scarred man who only wore a longsword at his side. Captain Rois. He wasn\u2019t armored like the other adventurer captains, but then, he clearly didn\u2019t feel the need while they were sitting in an Adventurer\u2019s Guild talking. He folded his arms and shook his head at Calruz and the only female captain, Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve all heard of how many Bronze-rank teams and individuals have been lost in those damned Ruins so far. True, most of them rushed in, but Charlez was different. He was experienced, and he went in prepared to retreat. Whatever got him was deadly. And you\u2019re proposing we go in without knowing what the hell is down there?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman in silver armor shook her head. She had the emblem of her noble house emblazoned on her armor, and so the others were slightly deferential\u2014but only just. They were all adventurers, here.<\/p>\n \u201cSilver and steel, Rois, haven\u2019t you been listening this entire time? I\u2019m not saying go in blind! The exact opposite! I\u2019m proposing we join together and launch a six-team raid on those ruins. We stock up on supplies, pool our best warriors, and fortify along the way as we go as far as we can.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n She glanced at Cervial, the [Archer Captain], for confirmation that she was on-track with his proposal and got a nod.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have a far better chance if we work together, and the Ruins are practically untouched beyond the first level. I hear Liscor doesn\u2019t want to investigate themselves and is leaving everything up to the adventurers. If we want to get to whatever treasures are buried in there, now\u2019s our chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz nodded emphatically, but the others didn\u2019t appear convinced. Cervial leaned forwards and addressed the table at large.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not let the other adventurers go in first and wait for at least one or two to come back for more insight? I know I organized us to talk\u2014but I\u2019m still not sold myself. This isn\u2019t like you, Yvlon. I could see Calruz wanting to go in, but how\u2019d he manage to talk you into it?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon, the woman in silver armor, smiled at the other captain.<\/p>\n \u201cImpatience and daring, Cervial. I was excited as the rest of you when I heard about the ruins. But you\u2019re right. I am moving fast, but not because Calruz managed to talk me into it. I heard there\u2019s a team of Gold-rank adventurers who\u2019ll be here in a week or less.\u201d<\/p>\n That<\/em> caused a stir at the table. The other captains muttered, and not happily too.<\/p>\n \u201cWell that<\/em> changes things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes it? Not in my opinion. The Ruins are still too dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut letting a bunch of Golds take all the treasure? That\u2019s different. Are they bound from the City of Adventurers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost definitely. But that\u2019s not all I\u2019ve heard. And my news is more disturbing.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, it was the Menes who spoke up. He glanced around the table and raised a finger significantly. The tip of it sparked with magic.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a Named-rank adventurer in the city right now. You might have heard of her. Gazi the Omniscient.\u201d<\/p>\n All the captains fell silent. Gregor\u2019s lips moved soundlessly with awe and trepidation. Gazi the\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Of course they knew her. That\u2014that changed things.<\/p>\n Gold-rank was as high as most ranking systems allowed for in any continent. As a general rule of thumb, a Bronze-rank adventuring team wasn\u2019t much better than a group of rookies, while a Silver-rank team was more than a match for a small city\u2019s standing militia. The equipment and magic available to a group of adventurers like the Horns of Hammerad meant that they could take on challenges even a large garrison might not manage.<\/p>\n Beyond that, Gold-rank adventurers were experienced, highly-trained groups that could handle most monster threats with ease. At the top of that grouping, teams of adventurers were equivalent to small armies and could affect disputes between nations.<\/p>\n Some countries quibbled about the exact definitions of each rank and had different ways of grading the ranks\u2014but in practice, they were all able to fit in these three categories to a certain degree of expectation. But once you surpassed a certain level of prowess, you got given a new title.<\/p>\n Named-rank Adventurer.<\/p>\n In practice, they were called that because their names were known throughout the part of the world where they travelled. They were living legends to adventurers with short careers like the Silver-rank captains in the room. There was no higher rank, no loftier expectation. One of them could do what teams of Gold-ranks could not.<\/p>\n They were famous, like Deniusth the Violinist, Saliss of Lights\u2014and Gazi was famous enough to be known continents away.<\/p>\n Captain Rois broke the silence first. He checked his longsword and exhaled hard.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s different. Very different. If a Named adventurer is in the city, there\u2019s probably only one real reason why she\u2019s there: the ruins. But the real question is why hasn\u2019t she gone in yet?\u201d<\/p>\n Captain Menes lifted his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell you why. It\u2019s because she\u2019s being cautious. And if a Named<\/em> adventurer doesn\u2019t want to go in just yet\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Cervial hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cShe might not have any idea what\u2019s down there. It could be fine. They\u2019re not all-knowing. I mean, despite her name.\u201d<\/p>\n No one laughed at the joke. Gregor licked his lips nervously. Gazi had spooked him.<\/p>\n \u201cOr there could be monsters that would make the High Passes look like a small bear cave by comparison! No! My group won\u2019t take part.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou coward, Gregor. Where\u2019s your sense of pride as a warrior?\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz raised his voice and aimed it at the captain with the axe. The man flushed red and pushed his chair back angrily, but Menes put a hand on Gregor\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of us are cowards, and you\u2019d do well to remember that before tossing around insults, Calruz. But this changes things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly if you\u2019re taking the worst view of it.\u201d<\/p>\n This came from Cervial. He was thinking, stroking the handle of his bow thoughtfully as he spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI might, might<\/em> be willing to give this a try. I\u2019ve wasted enough time in Liscor to see that the other teams aren\u2019t organized. Charlez was brave\u2014but he went in alone, with only his team for backup. The Horns of Hammerad and the Silver Spears together represent a large fighting force. If I throw in my team, we\u2019d have a party big enough to challenge even the deeper parts of the Ruins of Albez.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be stupid, Cervial. You can\u2019t expect these ruins to be the same.\u201d<\/p>\n Cervial shook his head at Menes\u2014the [Mage] was appalled, but the other captains were listening hard.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not suggesting they are. But between our three teams, we\u2019re at least equal to one or two Gold-rank teams, and if the rest of you joined in it might work. Might.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz leaned forwards and addressed Cervial.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re with us, I\u2019ll want your full commitment, not uncertain promises. My team has heard my decision, and they are with us. If you lack their spirit, we do not need you.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon winced, and Menes shook his head, pushing himself back from the table. Calruz was no negotiator. But Cervial didn\u2019t seem to have taken much offense. He studied Calruz and then asked a question.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does Ceria Springwalker think about the Ruins?\u201d<\/p>\n That caused another pause in the room. All eyes turned to Calruz. The Minotaur\u2019s nostrils flared, and he snorted angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cCeria does not lead the Horns of Hammerad. I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Captain Rois had paused, his chair scraping on the floorboards. He sat down thoughtfully, and Menes joined him. Rois looked at Calruz.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but she\u2019s got more experience adventuring, and she\u2019s older than any two of us in this room put together. If she thinks it\u2019s worth the risk, I\u2019ll throw in with this plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Gregor the axe-captain stared incredulously from Calruz to Cervial. He stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re all crazy, and whatever\u2019s down there is going to eat you alive. I\u2019m out, and so is my party.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon shook her head, distraught. She glanced at the mage captain hopefully.<\/p>\n \u201cMenes? You with us? Listen. This is the kind of thing that puts a team on the map. My brother\u2019s team, the Silver Swords? They didn\u2019t become Gold-ranks turning down chances like this.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone glanced up, because Yvlon had invoked a famous name. The Silver Swords. Gold-ranks.<\/em> Menes hesitated brushing at his robes and then shook his head reluctantly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but Gregor\u2019s right. It\u2019s too risky, and my group needs more space to cast our spells. If we knew for certain what was below, I\u2019d join you. Cervial, you should think this through as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The archer-captain paused and then shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand, but I\u2019ll trust our resident half-Elf on this one. If she thinks it\u2019s worth the risk, I\u2019ll take my team in, cramped corridors or not. How often do you think we\u2019ll get a chance like this?\u201d<\/p>\n His words went unanswered. Gregor and Menes left the room, shaking their heads and talking to each other quietly. After a moment, the scarred captain stood up and followed after them, leaving the three captains behind.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that could have gone better.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon leaned over the table despondently as Calruz glared at the closed door.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t need cowards. If they lack the courage to risk their lives, we were better off without them to begin with. Such weakness would only drag us down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but now we have to fill their holes with Bronze-rank teams, and that is<\/em> weakness. I guess it\u2019ll come down to how many freelancers are hanging around the ruins. We\u2019ll need more mages and more front-line fighters. At least we\u2019ve got one team who can detect and disarm traps.\u201d<\/p>\n Cervial raised one hand warningly.<\/p>\n \u201cIf<\/em>\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, if Ceria thinks it\u2019s worthwhile. But I believe these Ruins might even be bigger than Albez, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why didn\u2019t Ceria join us and lend her support while we were all arguing? If she had\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cBah. She wanted to stay in Celum. Now she\u2019s pacing around the Runner\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe was waiting for a Runner to come back. She made a mistake and gave her mana potions instead of healing potions right before she ran into the High Passes.\u201d<\/p>\n The two other captains blanched. Cervial shook his head sadly, but Calruz was unaffected.<\/p>\n \u201cI told her it would not matter. This Runner is no coward like the others. Mistake or not, she will survive the journey. And meanwhile, we have an expedition to prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou seem awfully confident about that, Calruz. The High Passes are no joke. If it were there we were going to explore, I wouldn\u2019t feel comfortable even with all three of our teams working together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe will survive. She is a Human worthy of my admiration and respect. She will survive.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon raised her eyebrows at Cervial. It was rare that anyone heard Calruz talking about any Human positively, let alone like this.<\/p>\n \u201cThis wouldn\u2019t happen to be that barefoot Runner I\u2019ve heard so much about, would it? Was that the one who bailed your group out when you were fighting that Lich?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe very same. Her name is Ryoka Griffin, and she is fearless.\u201d<\/p>\n Cervial\u2019s fingers snapped together lightly. The other two captains looked at him in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cI wondered where I\u2019d seen her face. That girl\u2014I believe I saw her last night. She ran straight into the city just before dawn. She\u2019s here now, in fact. I saw her entering the guild.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz\u2019s eyes widened. His mouth fell slightly open. The Minotaur\u2019s long, tufted ears went very still. He blinked at Cervial and then turned his eyes upwards to the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka Griffin is here?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It was odd. Ryoka was sure she hadn\u2019t burned that many calories with her little light trick, but before she knew it, she\u2019d downed a hunk of cheese, half a loaf of bread, and quite a bit of meat and an entire stick of butter.<\/p>\n Not separately, of course; these came in the form of sandwiches, but it was still disgusting to think that she\u2019d somehow eaten that much food in one sitting.<\/p>\n Ceria downplayed Ryoka\u2019s disgust. She explained being ravenous was normal for someone casting magic for the first time and mages in general.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s why you don\u2019t see many fat mages\u2014well, at least among mages who actually use their spells in combat. You should meet one of the [Mages] in Wistram, Telim\u2026anyways. After a really exhausting battle, I\u2019ve eaten an entire ham by myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka blinked at Ceria as the mage blushed. It didn\u2019t even seem possible a ham would fit<\/em> inside the half-Elf\u2019s smaller body.<\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t your\u2026people vegetarian?\u201d<\/p>\n Instantly, Ceria\u2019s face turned wary.<\/p>\n \u201cNot all of us. I don\u2019t know what you\u2019ve heard, but we eat all the food Humans eat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, of course. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Mentally, Ryoka kicked herself. She was really<\/em> tired to be making mistakes like that. But at least she hadn\u2019t started talking about Tolkien elves or any of the other stereotypes. Come to that, she didn\u2019t know much about half-Elves either. She wasn\u2019t a big fantasy fan.<\/p>\n Changing the subject, Ceria fiddled with her wand and pointed to Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should probably get your first level in the [Mage] class as soon as you take a nap. Hopefully, it\u2019ll come with a Skill or a spell, but don\u2019t worry if it doesn\u2019t. After that, you can start thinking about what field of magic you want to specialize in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Levels.\u201d<\/p>\n Another problem. Ryoka sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cIs\u2014is leveling necessary to learn magic? Couldn\u2019t I learn magic without gaining a\u2026a class?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looked surprised and had to think about that question for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you don\u2019t need<\/em> levels to learn spells. I think? What a question. But it makes everything so much faster. For instance\u2014when I reached Level 18 in my [Elementalist] class, I learned the spell [Fireball]. It would have taken me a month of study and the right scrolls to even begin casting that spell otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n She eyed Ryoka somewhat suspiciously.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? You aren\u2019t one of those types who believes in the Book of Levels, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe what?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria waved her hands, grimacing.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, this famous book that was popular when my grandmother was a child. I thought it died out, but I run into people who swear by it now and then. It has all kinds of notions about how levelling works. Some people\u2014they claim that we all have a set amount of levels in us. If we gain too many levels in a bunch of different classes, we\u2019ll eventually run out. The Book of Levels. Never heard of it?\u201d<\/p>\n Great, religion without the gods.<\/em> Ryoka snorted derisively.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. And I don\u2019t believe in that either. I just wanted to know if I could study by myself or if I had to\u2014to wait until I leveled to learn more spells.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Well, that\u2019s a common misconception. Mages level from casting spells, but we gain a lot of experience from studying magic. You can\u2019t just go around throwing fireballs and expect to level up quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n And there was another thing. As Ryoka kept talking with Ceria, lightly speculating about what magic she might like to learn, her mind was racing.<\/p>\n Level limits? That<\/em> sounded like a game to her. But people were treating it like some kind of superstition. How much did they really know about levels anyways?<\/p>\n In Ryoka\u2019s sleep-deprived state, parts of her mind were firing off with questions, but she deliberately did not ask Ceria any of them. She liked and even trusted the half-Elf, but some things were better left unasked. At least, for the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look beat. I\u2019d offer you my bed, but all the other adventurers are waking up. They\u2019ll be thumping around soon enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka was pretty sure she could sleep underneath a railroad at the moment, but she still declined Ceria\u2019s offer. Mostly because a railroad track might have less of a mess under it. Besides\u2026she didn\u2019t want to waste the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to talk some more about magic and look around the Adventurer\u2019s Guild if that\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. I\u2019m free until Calruz finishes meeting with the other Silver-rank leaders. And besides, it\u2019s breakfast and everyone should be downstairs. We can meet them and eat at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria didn\u2019t notice the brief look of distaste that flicked across Ryoka\u2019s face. The other girl didn\u2019t want to go down and socialize, but she had no choice. Reluctantly, she followed Ceria down the stairs.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Damn. I hate talking to people. No\u2014that\u2019s not exactly right. I hate talking to people in groups. Individuals are fine. Ceria\u2019s fine, Garia\u2019s fine\u2026Sostrom is fine because he fixed my phone\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026That\u2019s about it. I\u2019d be absolutely happy to talk to any one of them, but everyone else can go to hell rather than bother me. But instead, I get to follow Ceria down and socialize<\/em>.<\/p>\n I hate that. But I do owe Ceria, not least because she\u2019s helped me learn magic. Me. Learn magic*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *If I weren\u2019t so tired, I think I\u2019d be running around waving my arms and screaming in a high-pitched voice**.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n **Probably not. But I\u2019m really, really excited. It\u2019s magic! Magic!<\/em> I wonder what spells I can learn and\u2014damnit, here come people.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I follow Ceria down into the main section of the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. The ground floor has an open lobby for people to either submit requests for assistance to the guild or adventurers to turn in bounties and collect rewards like the Runner\u2019s Guild, but it also has more sections designed to cater to the adventuring lifestyle.<\/p>\n A small shop staffed by employees of the city\u2019s guild is the last stop in the small corridor before we reached what I can only describe as a cafeteria. It\u2019s a mess hall, but the way it\u2019s set up immediately screams school cafeteria to me. And this is not a pleasant association.<\/p>\n The cafeteria is essentially one far wall with a noisy kitchen partially exposed to the room and a long counter where adventurers can pay for food without having to make their way to an inn. The Adventurer\u2019s Guild in Esthelm is even big enough to have quite a few rooms for rent like the one Ceria was staying in. I suppose it all makes sense\u2014you can earn even more money feeding the people who kill monsters for you.<\/p>\n As soon as Ceria and I step into the room, people turn and look. I guess it\u2019s an adventurer thing\u2014and a Runner thing, come to think of it\u2014not to want to be caught off-guard.<\/p>\n But the truth of it is that Ceria and I would probably attract attention anywhere we go. Ceria is Ceria\u2014half immortal and beautiful. And I\u2019m\u2026me. I\u2019ve got bare feet, and I\u2019m taller than a lot of the guys here. Plus, I look Asian, and this is a very Anglo-Saxon type of place*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Seriously. What\u2019s up with that? Is it just a rule that white people are always the colonists who screw over the indigenous groups? I know Humans aren\u2019t native to this continent, but does that also mean white\u2014excuse me\u2014caucasian<\/em>** groups are the dominant ethnic group in this world? Or\u2026is it mirroring our world somehow? Hm.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n **Technically speaking, caucasian is also not politically correct since it implies someone who\u2019s descended from the Caucasus region, which isn\u2019t necessarily true. Plus, the word literally means<\/em> white people, just without saying the word white overtly. The correct term here would be European-American, except that it doesn\u2019t apply to people here since there is <\/em>no America or Europe, which means that white people is the best damn word there is and stop thinking about this\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka Griffin!\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m cut off from my incoherent musings when I hear someone talking to me. It\u2019s a familiar voice, but that doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m too happy to hear it. Still, I\u2019ve got to play nice. And I do<\/em> owe these people, even if it seems like half of them are a bit too interested in me as a member of the opposite sex.<\/p>\n So I smile, turn, and clasp hands with Gerial, Sostrom, and the other Horns of Hammerad as they get up from their seats. There are several people I don\u2019t recognize, and they nod to me as Ceria and Gerial introduce them.<\/p>\n \u2018Hey, Ryoka, this is blah blah or someone someone who\u2019s here to hit things or shoot people with arrows.\u2019 I really don\u2019t care, especially since I\u2019m still hungry, tired, and grumpy at having to meet people. But I do owe the Horns, so I shake hands and smile and pretend I like them, which is not my strong suit.<\/p>\n \u2026What\u2019s wrong with me? Remember all that gratitude I was feeling\u2014what,\u00a0 a week ago? I remember it. I remember it\u2014but the feeling\u2019s gone.<\/p>\n What\u2019s left is this desire to kick something. It\u2019s like I\u2019m surrounded by Persuas, but these people have done nothing to harm me. Except Ceria, but the mana-potions thing was an accident, and she just taught me magic.<\/p>\n But suddenly I just\u2014can\u2019t. I can\u2019t do the social thing. You know how it\u2019s said introverts lose energy by being around people and extroverts gain it? I must be on zero battery because I feel like every second I spend around these people smiling at me I\u2019m breathing bile.<\/p>\n I have to get out of here\u2014but because I like these fucking assholes, I\u2019m staying put. <\/em>I inhale, exhale\u2014I hate them. I hate Garia, who punched out that asshole adventurer I should have kicked in the skull\u2014I hate all of this.<\/p>\n I just want to run. Run until I\u2019m tired and away and\u2026I try to shake off this feeling. It\u2019s fine.<\/p>\n I feel like this now and then. My parents can bring it out in about five seconds.<\/p>\n Everyone has days like this, right?\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019m just tired. It was a mistake to say I wanted to check out the Adventurer\u2019s Guild to Ceria. What I really should have said is that I want to look around really quickly, talk with her for three more hours, and then go to sleep for the rest of the day before doing anything else.<\/p>\n Instead, I\u2019m stuck. And guess what? I forgot that people still hadn\u2019t heard about me going through the High Passes, which means suddenly a bunch of annoying people want me to tell them exactly what happened.<\/p>\n \u201cI ran into a bunch of Goblins, some wolves, some goats, and then some gargoyles. I just kept running, and then I got to my destination.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial makes a polite sound of disbelief while Ceria eyes me as she brings us some more food. Cafeteria food for adventurers. Lovely.<\/p>\n To be fair, it\u2019s sausage, barley bread, and some vegetable soup steaming in a bowl. And some weak, minty drink people around here love. And that\u2019s great cooking by medieval standards. A far higher standard of living than what poor people would have eaten all the time*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Barley. Barley bread, barley pizza, barley pancakes, barley soup\u2026yeah. They didn\u2019t have many options back then.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I eat it while they pester me with questions. The Horns of Hammerad have their own table, but it seems like a bunch of adventurers just happen to be standing around listening too.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s got to be more than that. What kind of wolves were they? Normal kinds or were they actual monsters?\u201d<\/p>\n I glance up at Gerial. He\u2019s still smiling and trying to be Mr. Nice Guy. Okay, maybe he genuinely is nice, but I still don\u2019t like him as easily as I do Ceria. Probably because he\u2019s a guy and even he can\u2019t resist staring at my breasts once or twice*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *My eyes are up here. Not that I really want people to stare into my eyes. Over my shoulder is nice, but I\u2019m used to them looking at my feet, too. And at least Gerial doesn\u2019t stare much and stops when he realizes he is. That\u2019s the sign of a semi-decent guy, as opposed to the other guy sitting next to him who can\u2019t stop looking at them.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Okay, I realize what the problem is. I uncross my arms and stop leaning back in my chair. If you\u2019ve got it, don\u2019t flaunt it unless you want people to think about touching it. Or something.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. They were a lot bigger than normal wolves. And they had red fur.\u201d<\/p>\n And bodies like iron. Gerial looks around. One of the mages standing next to Sostrom nods.<\/p>\n \u201cCarn Wolves.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Several of the nearby adventurers whistle, and Ceria looks pained. Oh yeah, she was really <\/em>guilty about giving me those mana potions by accident. I told her it all worked out, but\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cThey were pretty bad. They ate up the Goblins that ambushed me and then got torn to shreds by the Gargoyles and goats.\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers murmur again and look at each other. Gerial shakes his head and leans forwards, this time meeting my eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cSee, Gargoyles I understand. They\u2019re terrifying monsters when you find one holed up in a cave or terrorizing a village. But goats? What do you mean, \u2018goats\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably the flesh-eating goats, the kind with sharp teeth that can tear even Carn Wolves apart. Eater Goats, they\u2019re called.\u201d<\/p>\n This comes from a guy standing among the other adventurers. He\u2019s got a scar over one side of his face, and he\u2019s wearing a longsword at his belt. Which means he\u2019s pretty sparsely equipped compared to the rest of the adventurers, who\u2019re walking around in chainmail or wearing leather armor even while they eat.<\/p>\n He nods at me as Gerial and the other Horns turn in their seats.<\/p>\n \u201cRois, Silver-rank adventurer. You must be the famous barefoot Runner. Were those the kind of goats you saw?\u201d<\/p>\n I eye him. Despite the crowd now forming around our table, this guy is getting a bit of space and he\u2019s not being shoved. Clearly, he\u2019s important.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I guess. They had sharp teeth. And they scream.\u201d<\/p>\n The scarred guy nods grimly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s them alright. Those goats hunt in packs and can climb anything. They\u2019re village killing monsters. Whenever they leave the High Passes, they eat everything edible in their wake for miles around. If you outran them, Miss Runner, consider yourself lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n All of the adventurers seem impressed at this. The scarred man seems to have fought the damned goats more than once, and Gerial and the others start asking him questions about them.<\/p>\n I lean over to Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s he?\u201d<\/p>\n She pauses, swallows, and glances at the scarred guy who\u2019s busy talking about how to behead the goats properly.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s Rois, captain of the Swordlock Dogs. A Silver-rank team, more known up north. He was supposed to be talking to Calruz and the others, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay. You got through the monsters, but what was waiting for you at the other end?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria breaks off as one of the newer members of the Horns of Hammerad interrupts our conversation. Rude asshole. He\u2019s also the youngest guy with scruffy, brownish hair. He stares at me and demands to know who I met.<\/p>\n \u201cWho was he? Some rich hermit? A mage living in retirement? A shadowy figure?\u201d<\/p>\n Like hell I\u2019m going to tell him or anyone for that matter. The mystery, possibly-elf archmage Teriarch might annoy me, but he\u2019s my mystery.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one special.\u201d<\/p>\n While I may not like people, I am<\/em> good at keeping a straight face while I tell lies*. And at least here I can play the Runner\u2019s confidentiality card, so I don\u2019t have to answer any more questions about him at least.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Lies like \u2018oh, I\u2019m so sorry<\/em> your stupid hamster died\u2019, or \u2018I just cannot believe<\/em> your stupid, inbred boyfriend dumped you! How terrible!\u2019 And so on.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBut Gargoyles? I\u2019ve never seen one up close. What were they like?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBig. Stone. They spit rocks and try to eat you.\u201d<\/p>\n What the hell do they want from me, a hand-drawn portrait with anatomical references? \u2026Hell, I\u2019d buy a monster bestiary if they had one around here. But all these adventurers want to know is how to kill one, and I\u2019m definitely not the person to ask for that.<\/p>\n \u201cI barely got out alive. It was sheer luck that I got away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI happen to disagree with that. Anyone who can outrun a horde of Gargoyles is clearly not merely lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, the clear voice comes from behind the other adventurers. People turn and stand aside as they do as three adventurers walk forwards. That probably also has to do with one of them being Calruz. No one gets in his way.<\/p>\n Calruz, a guy holding a huge longbow as tall as he is, and a woman in silvery armor walk to the table I\u2019m sitting at. Great. More people, and these ones also look like captains. The woman with long flowing blonde hair smiles down at me and offers a gauntleted hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon Byres, Silver-rank adventurer. I\u2019m Captain of the Silver Spears, and I wanted to make your acquaintance.\u201d<\/p>\n My god does she look like something out of a movie. I stare up at her with crumbs on my face and then take her hand. One firm handshake later and somehow she and the other captains are sitting at the table.<\/p>\n Great. As if my trials weren\u2019t enough. Now I\u2019ve got Calruz sitting next to me, and a giant, hairy Minotaur is not<\/em> my preferred seatmate. And now there are four Silver-rank adventuring captains sitting around me, nicely blocking me off from Ceria while a bunch of people stare at me like I\u2019m some kind of amazingly interesting piece of crap*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Or something else. Honestly, I could be a golden poodle for all I care. I hate<\/em> being stared at when I\u2019m not running, and even then it\u2019s not exactly a blast. But at least then I can outrun the eyes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGetting through the High Passes alive is something that hasn\u2019t been done in years. Not that many Runners have tried it, but it takes a special kind of someone to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz snorted, and the other adventurers nodded as Yvlon, the fabulously armored and beautiful captain, continues lavishing praise on me. It\u2019s actually getting to be more annoying than the questions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a request. I got it done\u2014half-done. I just need to finish my delivery, and it\u2019ll be over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n This time, everyone is interested. One of the adventurers tries to look casual.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere to? Whom to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cConfidential.\u201d<\/p>\n Their faces fall. But I don\u2019t think any of them were really expecting to get the truth out of me anyways. But at the mention of the delivery, the ring and letter I\u2019ve been given burn in my mind. I left them in the pack in Ceria\u2019s room. Damn. I should have been more careful with them. I\u2019ve got to deliver\u2014<\/p>\n I blink, unfocused for a second. The spell.<\/em> For a moment, I was about to get up and start running. That stupid mage\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka?\u201d<\/p>\n I look up. Everyone\u2019s staring at me. I must have not been paying attention. I try not to turn red, fail, and look at Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, what?\u201d<\/p>\n This<\/em> is why I hate talking to people. But she smiles as if nothing happened and asks me again.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just wondering if you had any levels in a fighting class or whether you only had levels as a Runner. Did you enter into any other classes before this?\u201d<\/p>\n Now that<\/em> is a loaded question that I\u2019m not prepared to answer. I scramble\u2014give up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you want to know?\u201d<\/p>\n Yeah, that\u2019s right. I\u2019m about as blunt as a hammer to the face. But Yvlon only smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cSimple curiosity. I\u2019d like to see how well you\u2019d do in a fight. I\u2019m told you\u2019re quite the pugilist despite being a Runner.\u201d<\/p>\n Pugilist? Who the hell uses that term? Oh, right. \u2018Boxer\u2019 probably hasn\u2019t been invented yet.<\/p>\n Gerial looks blank. He and the other adventurers at the table exchange a glance.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s a \u2018pugilist\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria sighed and supplied the answer.<\/p>\n \u201cBoxer.\u201d<\/p>\n All the adventurers nod in sudden understanding. Okay, maybe boxing does<\/em> exist in this world and Yvlon\u2019s just a prat. Or someone who appreciates literature. I could respect that*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *But I won\u2019t. I\u2019m too tired. And pugilist is a stupid word, anyways.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019d you hear that from?\u201d<\/p>\n Word can\u2019t<\/em> have spread about me laying the beat down on that stupid adventurer in Celum. No way. I literally outran rumor. So how does this woman know who I am and that I can fight?<\/p>\n \u201cI heard it from my aunt twice-removed. She lets me know about interesting people, and she told me it would be worth seeking you out.\u201d<\/p>\n All the adventurers seem to understand this and look at me curiously. But I\u2019m still out of the loop.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s the aunt? Do I know her?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria coughed gently, as if I\u2019m making a stupid mistake.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon Byres is leader of the Silver Spears, but she\u2019s also part of a noble family, Ryoka. House Byres. Up north. They deal in\u2026silver I think?\u201d<\/p>\n I look blank. Ceria sighs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Byres family? Aristocracy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMinor aristocracy.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon corrects Ceria with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re practically unheard of. My sister\u2019s a [Merchant], and my brother\u2019s a [Knight]. We have relatives, but it\u2019s a small family. We trade in silver and have several large mines in the area. And we\u2019re distantly related to the Reinharts.\u201d<\/p>\n She says that as if it means something. The who\u2026?<\/p>\n Oh. Ah, shit. Magnolia\u2019s last name is Reinhart, isn\u2019t it? That means\u2014<\/p>\n That fucking woman.<\/em> Even when I think I\u2019ve outrun her she manages to find someone to bother me.<\/p>\n For a moment, my scowl flashes across my face, and Gerial closes his mouth and sits back. Yvlon eyes me, the smile still fixed on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry if my aunt has bothered you, Ryoka, but she\u2019s quite insistent. And she\u2019s told all of my family\u2014everyone, really, to keep an eye out for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial blinks at Yvlon. Not the quickest on the uptake, and nor are the other adventurers. But the archer-guy\u2014Cervial I think his name was\u2014and Ceria both stare intently at Yvlon. And so does Calruz. I guess he\u2019s pretty quick too.<\/p>\n But if Ceria and Cervial say nothing, Calruz doesn\u2019t have their subtlety. Or any, for that matter. He rests his arm on the table and leans forwards\u2014which is only a little bit since he\u2019s so massive already\u2014to stare down at Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cHer business is her own. If Magnolia Reinhart seeks Ryoka Griffin, she should either respect her privacy or seek her outright.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon makes a pretty face and shrugs ruefully at Calruz.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Calruz, but no one in my family defies Lady Magnolia. And I wasn\u2019t intending on doing anything to Ryoka. I just wanted to know if she really was<\/em> good at fighting barehanded.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I suppose you are?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, maybe she\u2019s well known, but everyone gives me a look like I\u2019m a massive idiot. Yvlon smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a bit of a reputation. The Silver Spears are known for fighting with any weapon that comes to hand and barehanded if need be.\u201d<\/p>\n Sostrom nudges me on my right side and mutters loud enough for me to hear.<\/p>\n \u201cShe once defeated five bandits with only her bare hands after losing her sword.\u201d<\/p>\n Wow. Wooooow. And am I supposed to be impressed by that? Beating five guys down with your bare hands isn\u2019t exactly amazing in my book. And it\u2019s less amazing because Yvlon Byres is wearing full-plate armor made out of expensive metal. If she was fighting \u2018barehanded\u2019 with those metal gauntlets on against five guys with bad weapons, I\u2019d put money on her too.<\/p>\n Perhaps my lack of any amazement showed*, because Yvlon raised one perfect eyebrow, and the other adventurers looked\u2014discontented. Why? Because I\u2019m not impressed by a chump in armor smacking around a few idiots?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *It totally did. I was not impressed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI heard that you managed to defeat a low-level [Assassin] with your bare hands and fought a Carn Wolf without any weapons as well.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, everyone<\/em> goes silent. Okay, that\u2019s it. Magnolia has been upgraded from a person I really don\u2019t want to talk to into someone I can\u2019t ignore. The assassin is one thing since I bet she hired him, but\u2014how did she know about the wolf?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to see your abilities myself. I know you\u2019re tired, but if you have time for a quick match, I could give you a handicap.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no malice in Yvlon\u2019s tone. In fact, she\u2019s been pretty above-board with me about telling me she knows Magnolia and all. And it\u2019s probably a fair offer, considering adventurer levels and all that. Certainly none of the other adventurers\u2014Gerial, Sostrom, etcetera are frowning. Only Calruz looks displeased.<\/p>\n But\u2014a handicap. A handicap for me from this woman who looks like a supermodel who got sent back in time? Or one of those Hollywood female knights?<\/p>\n Right, that\u2019s it. I\u2019m tired, cranky, and I ran over sixty miles last night to get here after fighting a mysterious assassin, getting in a bar fight, and managing to cast magic for the first time in my life.<\/p>\n First things first. I\u2019m going to kick Yvlon\u2019s face in, challenge Calruz to a fight, and then go to sleep.<\/p>\n Exactly in that order.<\/p>\n The potion bottle at my waist sloshes gently as I grin with all my teeth at Ms. Perfect Knight-Adventurer.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, I\u2019d love<\/em> to have a sparring match. Tell me, have you ever heard the word MMA?\u201d<\/p>\n She looks confused.<\/p>\n \u201cMMA?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After two hours of talking, the shouting began\u2014and stopped almost as fast. Tempers had risen\u2014and no sooner did a chair scrape back than they all caught each other and took a second to breathe. The six people sat around a table and studied each other carefully. They were all warriors, and all but one of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693081,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693130],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-13650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-1","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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