Apparently, Broseff had pnned on plying almost everyoh sweets because he had a small bag of winal-cream-filled fry-cakes for Peter as well.Happily taking them, he could never say ‘no’ to a doughnut, he sat down with Ennalyssa on one side with the pixie in her p with Traya sittio Broseff. “So. An Adventurer’s Guild.” Peter started.The guard nodded, “Yes. It’s an anization that allows those with certain skills, but perhaps not certain employment, to ply those skills in a, well, not safe but at the very least legal manner.” “Good to know.” He nodded, nibbling on a fry-cake. “You sign up… oh, there is an Application Fee and a paperwork processing fee. You should have more than enough to cover the processing fee.” He grinned, “And you always get more from Kholmsen and the others.” “Snrk.” Peter coughed, “Maybe. Maybe. I just want to be careful.” “Well, that is why I’m suggesting this. It’s steady work, and being a Champion, you have the physical prowess and ability you could easily handle any of the beginning missions that may be on the board.” “Now. Here’s a question… How many Adventurer Guilds are there?” Peter asked.Broseff blinked, “There’s… just the one?” “Ah!” He nodded, “So it’s like the old Guilds on my old world. In more modern media the interpretation of the Guild is… well, basically a band of merd they pete with uilds even though that makes no sehis feels more like the inal way of doing things, where you joined a Guild and they oversaw the activities, crafts, and what-not of the Guild.” “Right. You apply, if you’re accepted you start at the lowest rank. You take certain level tasks. There are monthly dues for membership, but as part of the Guild there’s also bes you gain.” “Promotion opportunities?” Peter asked.Broseff nodded, “There’s several ranks as well as tests to increase your rank after a certain amount of time as part of the Guild, number of Tasks pleted, and of course how well you pleted them. Several factors.” He expined, “Your rank, of course, is good at any of the Adventurer’s Guilds branches in other cities, of course.” “Ooh.” Peter nodded, “So it’s a singur g body, with local offices.” “Right, it makes seo have a bran at least all the major cities. Even the bigger ones. Maybe not every tiny town or vilge, ’t spread too thin.” Broseff agreed. “It’s ho work, Peytr.” Traya spoke up now, “And as Broseff said, there’s a variety of jobs you take care of. It’s not… um… what were you thinking it would be like?” “Oh. Well, I know I said ‘in modern media’ Guilds were represented a certain way. But… mostly Guilds show up in games as a pce for the pyers to meet up a missions that progress the game. Or are just ‘extra’ things, on the side. In-game currency, experience, maybe an item or something.” He tried to expin and blushed as they all looked at him. “What… sort of games… have you going into… make-believe Guilds?” Ennalyssa asked, wide-eyed, “And… is that fun?” “You know, I wouldn’t even know where to begin in expining what a ‘video game’ is. For all I know they exist but because magic… are almost totally different iion.” He wi the word, “Whi~ich reminds me~” He ‘sang’, “I really o get a sheathe for that sword…” “We go to that bcksmith o Miss Sharra’s bakery.” Broseff suggested. “She did say to stop by and see her if I needed a on or something. Perfect.” Peter agreed, “As for the inal topic… It ’t hurt to go and look at the Guild, I’d wager.” He scratched at his in thought, “Worst that happens is that I don’t like something there and just don’t sign up.” “Khasha.” Traya nodded, reminding “That’s her name.”Peter nodded, snapping, “That’s it. Khasha, and Miss Sharra. Thank you, Traya.” “Of course.”Mae sighed, “Well, if that’s your pn. I tihe lesson with just Ennalyssa?” “My deepest apologies.” Peter stood and bowed, “I know you’re doing this at the behest of Di’si’thy herself.” “I also realize that life has a way of happening.” She smiled, “We just started your lessons too. So one day won’t throw things off too badly.” “For what it’s worth I do want to learn how, myself. Just… this is an opportunity to help me help them.” He motioo Ennalyssa and Traya.The magical tutor nodded, “I uand and appreciate things, and for what it’s worth, seg a steady job and a steady ine is important.” She agreed, smiling, “Just try not to make a habit out of it?” “If I did, it’s not you I’d be w about being mad at me.” Peter ughed, pointing upwards.Mae nodded in agreement, “Upsetting the Goddess of Truth and Magi’t a great idea.” She paused, “Upsetting any of the Gods, realistically, isn’t a smart idea now that I’m actually saying it.” “I imagi, no.” Peter agreed.She nodded, tinuing, “I’ve heard rumors that retly, someone had the brilliant idea to call upon all dek of the Family for some reason or another. I had heard that he barely made it to the room he was staying in at the local Church Luminous’ temple before dying.” She shook her head, “While I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead, I suggest taking that as a lesson to always watch your athyr drain…” She nodded, slipping into tutor mode. “Nothing about ‘incurring the wrath of the gods’?” Peter asked only half seriously.The offended, worried look on her face spoke volumes to the otherworlder, “What? No!” She shook her head, eyes wide, “I don’t know how things were on your world but the Family is no different than the mortals they guide and watch over, really. They are fallible, make mistakes. They be wrong, and admit to not being perfect.” She csped her hands, “We oyros are actually grateful knowing that while more powerful, and knowledgeable, that they are like us. Laughing, loving, getting angry and sad instead of being some untenable, unreachable ‘perfe’.”

  Peter blinked — he had to admit, at least to himself, that he khat about the Family beforehand, but to hear it so readily and clearly from one of the mortal followers without fear of reprisal? — “That’s good to know, Miss Mae, thank you.” He smiled and gave a head-nod-half-bow, “How about this. To make up for today, I’ll do a double lesson tomorrow.” “Well, if you’re sure… I don’t want to wear you out with athyr drain from a double-length lesson.” Mae cocked her head to the side, crest raising just a little bit. “I’m fairly sure I’ll be fine.” Peter smiled, “But I thank you for the . I’ll keep that lesson about that poor sap you mentioned in mind.” The Looks Peter got from Ennalyssa, Traya, and Broseff made it very difficult for Peter to keep a straight fad was excellent ‘cadre-face’ practibsp; For what it was worth, Jhe’fuh was also having a hard time keeping a straight face, turning away and doing his best to look busy with something so Mae missed the tortion his face was going through to keep from guffawing. The pixie was just a little fused about the whole issue and decided it was best, since everyone seemed distracted, to sneak a bite of fry-cake from Peter, smearing more of the winalli cream across her face.

  “Well, let’s get going then.” Broseff suggested to Peter who nodded iurn.Raising up his fry-cake he was about to take a rge bit when he went cross-eyed and focused on the pixie who was kneeling on the baked fe, cream spread almost ear-to-ear, wings buzzing happily as she tore into some of the sugar-sprireat to her face off. “Excuse you?” He asked.She stuck out her tongue, smiling, “Aheh~” “Ahuh~.” He said, “I’d like to finish my fry-cake if you don’t mind…”Fluttering off and sitting back down on Ennalyssa’s p she blushed, “Right.” “So, how are you doing?” He asked, nibbling on his treat without worry of the pixie having go it. “Still a bit sore, but mana absorption will fix that.” She nodded, “Speaking of… you have a lot of mana…” She pointed out. “Do I?” He asked, again ign the Looks from the three who had known him the lo. “You do.” She nodded, “If you like we could form a tract.” “I dunno about that…” Peter mused.Broseff shook his head, “Peter, trust me. You want a pixie by your side. They’re good panions, very useful too.” “A sed pair of eyes, at the very least.” The pixie spoke up, nodding, “Plus when you make a tract with us we use ic to store things away. Since you’re talking about being an Advehat means with a pixie you store away a lot of stuff you find on your adventures!” “Wait… store?” Peter blinked, “Are you telling me…”Broseff held out a hand, his fingers in a particur gesture for a moment, before a fsh happened and he was holding a brightly polished sword with a simple brass handle and cross-guard. “…Oh my gods…” Peter whispered, An iory ‘system’! “Just… ohing.” Broseff curled his fingers again and the sword disappeared, “Don’t call them PICsies.”Peter raised an eyebrow, squinting and curling his nose, “I… think I hear the difference…” “A lot of mortals call them ‘PICsies’ because of their ste magic.” Broseff expined, “It stands for Personal Iory Creature.” “Oh, I hate that.” Peter winced, hissing the words.The pixie perked up at Peter’s words, wings buzzing quietly. “Well, I ’t argue that wouldn’t be useful. And if it helps you heal, then all the better.” Peter nodded.

  There was a soft fsh of light and a scroll of paper appeared before the pixie, who then held it out to Peter, “You’ll o read this. It’s a standard tract with a Pixie. All the expectations from both involved parties, that’d be you and me obviously, and all the various cuses and addendum and the like.” She ail shing. “Fair enough.” He took it, unrolling it a bit and starting to read, “I’ll look this over a back to you. I don’t want to make Broseff wait lohan necessary, being his day off.” He said, “I would like to ask you a favor, though.” “Oh?” She asked, slit irises widening a little, “And what’s that?” “ you stay here, and watnalyssa for me?” He asked, motioning to the young teen sittio him, “Be that sed pair of eyes while I’m gone?” “Oh…” She nodded, looking up to Ennalyssa for a moment and smiling, “… Sure thing.” She gave a thumbs up. “Thanks.” Peter joined Broseff, rolling up the scroll as it would be rather stupid to try to read and walk at the same time — plus he o learn the yout of the city even more now that he was no lo the Church Luminous temple, “Sorry for the wait, Broseff.”

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