Takanawa let out a low gasp, then a murmur as Luke got started. Destroying the dysfunctional marrow was the first step, and that was easy enough, more so now that he was able to utilize Weaver's Rupture, creating microscopic pulses of force rather than slicing everything to nothingness using Needle of Life. This was neater, more controlled. With that step complete, Weaver's Renewal dealt with restoring the marrow to a previous state, before it turned bad.

  Weaver's Perception showed him the mana channels connected to the marrow itself. They were strange and fluid, moving about. Restoring the physical aspect cured the metaphysical as well. Luke was on the cusp of a deeper understanding here regarding the way Lifeweaver healing worked compared to other classes. He just knew it, but it eluded him in that moment.

  Sighing, he opened his eyes.

  Takanawa stared straight at him, on the verge of tears, her lower lip even quivering.

  "Huh?" Luke breathed before raising his hands. "No, the sigh wasn't because it didn't go well. It did."

  "It did?" she asked, her voice nothing more than a small croak.

  Luke nodded and put on his best reassuring smile. "All is well. I can't detect any dysfunctional marrow anymore, and I've dealt with the reason for it."

  "The reason for it?" Alan asked, stepping closer.

  "Er, well. I don't know what the reason is exactly, but it's gone now."

  "Extraordinary," Alan said, taking Takanawa's hands in his. "See? I told you Luke would be able to help."

  "I..." she began. "I don't feel any different."

  "You will," Luke promised.

  She stood, nodded to Luke again, then to Alan. "I'll need to go have them run the tests again. I'm sure you understand. If it is as you say, Mr. Quinn, I'll be forever in your debt."

  "You can call me Luke."

  "And I'll be expecting a call from your board, Ms. Takanawa," Alan said with a warm smile.

  "Marvelous," Alan said once Takanawa was gone, and he had seated himself behind the large desk. He shook his head. "Just fantastic, and now you are part of the guild!"

  "It still says 'None' in my interface," Luke said, taking a seat opposite Alan. "No guild."

  Alan glanced at a standing watch on the left-hand side of the room. "Oh, I lost track of time. Your orientation has already started! A lieutenant will add you to the guild during that!"

  "Orientation? With those people by the entrance?"

  "Yes, that's right! You should hurry back down there. It's just a formality, of course, before we can assign you a position."

  "Position?"

  "They'll fill you in on everything you need to know during orientation. I'll have the compensation transferred to your account. Double your last payment."

  "How about paying me in credits instead?" Luke suggested.

  "Hah! Wouldn't that be something? Unfortunately, credit is a little harder to come by. Dollars, though, I have plenty of!"

  Luke stood. "Well, then. Guess I'll head downstairs to learn the basics of monster-killing."

  "Being part of Integrated Solutions Group is a little more involved than that, especially now that we're not the only guild in the US anymore, but you'll get more information with the others."

  "Someone else scraped the credits together?"

  "The Department of Integrated Affairs."

  "The DIA? Huh, how about that?"

  Alan nodded. "And there is another one called Phoenix Phalanx in New York. Lots of Integrated there, which means lots of dungeons. Also, a lot of credits to be made. I'll be heading over there soon to oversee the opening of our New York office. On that topic, how do you feel about relocating, Luke?"

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  "I don't know," Luke said. "I mean, my family is here."

  "It's an opportunity. Think it over, and we'll talk!"

  "Sure."

  Alan looked at the clock again. "Now go. Run, or you'll be late! Well, you're already late! Better hurry!"

  Luke stepped back and made as if to turn, then stopped. "Wait a second. Did you need me here so soon just to join orientation? Takanawa would have been fine to wait."

  "Noooooooo," Alan answered, drawing the word out while giving a wink, before answering an incoming call.

  Taking his damn time heading back downstairs, Luke found everyone had left. Everyone except Martin.

  Luke waved. "My coming here is turning into a reunion."

  "Can it be called that when we haven't been apart for even twenty-four hours?"

  "Maybe not," Luke admitted. "So will we be in the same party from now on?"

  "No, no. You're a newbie now, little Luke. You'll be with the other beginners. Besides, I already have Cass. Two healers in a party is far too much, and there aren't enough healers to go around as it is."

  "Right," Luke said, looking around. "I'm a whole-ass noob. Do you know where the others went, then?"

  "I'm here to take you to them, actually."

  "Alan sent you here just for that?"

  Martin laughed and guided Luke back to the elevators. "No, no. Mr. Schmidt's subordinate's subordinate sent me. I was just a bodyguard, remember? He found someone better, though, so now I'm a party leader instead."

  "That sucks."

  "Eh," Martin said with a shrug. "I still get paid the same, and now I get to go into dungeons instead. That's a win in my book."

  The elevator headed to the third floor, and they walked toward a large conference room.

  Milla: "You're coming to dinner with Mom and Dad tonight."

  Luke: "I am?"

  Milla: "You are."

  Luke: "I am."

  Milla: "I'll pick you up at five."

  Luke: "No, I'll see you there."

  Milla: "Picking you up at five. Need to talk."

  Luke: "See you at five!"

  His sister always had a way of making people see things her way.

  "This is it," Martin said, gesturing to an open door. "See you in the guild chat."

  Waving goodbye, Luke headed through the open door and found himself in what looked a whole lot like those classrooms at university, with staggered rows of chairs all facing one end of the room. All chairs except one were occupied, and every single person turned to watch him enter the room. They all looked irritated.

  "Mr. Quinn, I take it?" the woman up front asked. "We've been waiting for you."

  So that was why. They hadn't started yet. Because of him. Great.

  "Sorry I'm late," Luke said with a smile, hoping to ease the tension. It didn't work.

  The one empty chair was right in the middle of the room, and he had to excuse his way past twelve people to get there, each one of them forced to stand to let him through. Great. Just great.

  "Now we can begin," the woman said once Luke found his seat. "Like I said fourteen minutes ago, I am Viola Harkness, lieutenant, second rank in Integrated Solutions Group. From this point on, I will refer to it simply as 'the guild' or 'ISG'."

  She was perhaps a few years older than Luke and wore something that looked like shorts and a t-shirt sewn together into a single garment. He'd seen similar clothing before, but didn't have a clue what they were called. Hers was dark blue, and she had her long, light-brown hair in a loose ponytail. In a word, she was pretty, but looked severe, like she spent a lot of time pissed off. Or perhaps her mood was just because he was late and had screwed with her schedule.

  "If you have any questions, just raise your hand during the introduction, and I'll do my best to answer them." She waited a moment, and when no hands were raised, she continued. "Today, you will all be given enough information to get you started, and then, after adding you to the guild, we will divide you into parties of six. You will work and train within these parties, and, if you do well enough, we will send you into dungeons. Never alone at first, but together with more experienced members."

  Luke looked around the room. A lot of excited faces. Some scared. Still no questions.

  "Very well then," Viola said, picking up a remote from a small table beside her. She pointed it at a projector, and a video started playing. After walking over to turn off the lights, Viola seated herself by the door.

  Sighing, Luke leaned back in his chair and readied himself for more time wasted.

  Thirty minutes later, he found himself taking back the wasted time thought. The video was divided into two parts, both of which were treasure troves of new information. First, it spoke of the guild system, with animated characters presenting concepts like guild member rankings, where points are awarded by the guild leader or lieutenants, how different ranks worked and their respective functions, the guild chat, and how to identify guild members outside of dungeons. More advanced topics like guild wars and guild alignment were touched upon, but it was clear they didn't think Luke and the others needed to know much about that. The cartoon characters also went into specifics for Integrated Solutions Group, like what was expected of members, different jobs within the guild, community outreach, and even simple things like how to request time off and how scheduling worked.

  After cramming all that information into their skulls, the useful information started. Animated portals showed up with different colors on screen, and the figures explained how the colors didn't have anything to do with objective difficulty. Instead, each portal would be measured to show how difficult it would be, and what level the Integrated clearing it should be at, and how many of them would be required.

  The video, after dropping that bombshell of knowledge the guild possessed, went on to explain how ten percent of all credits earned in dungeons was to be handed over to the guild. Any magical items found were also to be given to the guild for redistribution, to see that every member was provided for. Ten percent wasn't that bad, Luke decided, since the video explained the credits would be used for health potions, mana potions, and things like that. Magical items, though? Eh, they wouldn’t be able to enforce that.

  As soon as the presentation was over, Luke raised his hand, along with a bunch of the other recruits.