Peter looked at the small cup before him; it was thick-walled, with a thin, bell-like shape, a stem, and a base with a small one-finger loop to serve as a handle positioh the cup, attached to the stem. It reminded him of an ‘Irish coffee’ mug, ss, but this was made out of some sort of pottery or ceramic.

  “If I’m not mistaken, you had keffe at the dining hall before you left.” Vaunn said, sipping from his own, matg cup. “Aye.” Peter nodded, sniffing, “Smells great, though.” “It should. It’s a bit sweet, though.” He warned, “It mixes a keffe-based liquor with a cao’khe-based liquor. That’s where the sweetness es in. Mixed with a bit of milk it’s quite a tasty after-dinner indulgence.” “Sounds like it.” He sipped, eyes going wide “Mmm~”He took a longer sip, slowly, and sav it. “Sounds like you like it.” “Mhm.” He nodded, swallowing, “Oh, that’s good. Keffe and cao’khe liquors, you say?” “Aye.” Vaunn said, “Cao’khe is a … mh.” He rubbed his , sippily, “… it’s the inner flesh of a seed pod that was once fairly difficult to grow.” He grinned, “It was thanks to an otherworlder like you that cao’khe produ increased and became avaible more readily instead of being worth about five times its weight in ptes.” “Ptes?” Peter asked, “Broseff expihe currency… I know there are gold shields but he didn’t mention ptes…” “Ah, they’re gold as well, and a rger denomination. Ten shields to a pte.” Vaunn answered. “That… is quite a bit.” Peter whistled softly.Vaunn nodded, “As an adventurer, you might one day deal with ptes semi-regurly, but it’s mostly used by shop-keeps and merts.”

  Peter ‘hefted’ his little mug in toast, “Here’s hoping.” He chuckled.Vaunn grinned, returning the ugh and ked gsses, “So, if I’m not mistaken you’re waiting for something or someone?” “Mhm” Peter wiped his mouth after taking a sip, “Ye, Broseff said he’d take care setting up the interview and would e a me, or talk to me, when it was time or he had more information.” He expined, “Then es the interview, whatever that entails. And, I’m guessing there’s that bat test somewhere after that.” He sighed, “I don’t like Broseff fronting the application fee, I admit. But this is for Enna. Getting steady will only help.” He mused, “I am paying the paperwork processing fee.” “Ah, bureaucracy~ What keeps the world rolling.” He saluted with his mug.Rolling his eyes he ked cups again before drinking and finishing the small drink, “I might have a sed of these. I really like it.” “Aye, I think I’ll join you.” He raised his hand to order another round, “My treat for the new adventurer.” “You hold a lot of faith in me.” Peter ughed. “Aye, I do.” Vaunn said, “I don’t know which of The Family interfered with d’Zaier’s summoning to make sure it was you eared, but I am grateful to them.” “Why do you say that?” He asked, having tipped back his cup to get the st little drop of the mixed drink. “I don’t know if you’ve learned about abilities one get or learn… but I was born with a fairly unon one.” Vaunn said, “I see one’s athyrik aura.” “Mh… in truth, the priest of earth, Jhe’fuh, said he could do the same.”Vaunn nodded, “A good man, and yes, he .” He tapped at his temple, “It’s very useful as an Adventurer.” “I see.” Peter coughed. “Did you know?” “That I was a Godchild?” Peter coughed, nodding, “I did… but d’Zaier, and others, assumed I was a Champion…” “And you didn’t correyone… myself included.”Peter frowned, “I had reasons, Shepherd Vaunn. I’m sorry for the duplicity…” “I ’t, and won’t, bme you. You didn’t know who, if anyone, you could trust.” Vaunn said, “But I hope to be one of those people iure.”Peter nodded. “And, on my end, I will do my best to prove to you that I am trustworthy.” Vaunn promised. “Allies are important.” Peter said, looking into his empty gss, “So I appreciate that, Shepherd Vaunn.” “I do, however, fess to curiosity…” Vaunn looked over at the Godchild as the dragonkin brought them their fresh drinks.Peter just smiled, pig up his cup and giving Ayzema thanks, “Well…”

  “Peytr!” Broseff called out, ly yelling, but loud enough to be heard over the din of the chatting Adventurers as he jogged over, “Finally got someone pinned down.” He grihen straightened up, “Ah, Shepherd Vaunn!” “Good Morn, Broseff.” The older man said sprightly, grinning, “Good to see you again.” “Yes, sir. Good to see you too.” He nodded, “Sorry for intruding.”The old man waved it off, motioning for Broseff to join them, “Sit, sit, d. Don’t keep me from delivering your news. I’ve just been keepir pany while he waited.” He smiled, “And we’re both Adventurer’s Broseff. Here, I’m just Vaunn.” He pulled out a medallion from under his tunibsp; “You’re…” Broseff coughed, blinking, “… Vaunn you’re a Master-ranked Advehat’s amazing.” “I wasn’t always this old, you know.” Vaunn ughed, sipping at his mixed-liquor drink.Broseff’s cheeks turned red, “Yeah, that’s fair.” He cleared his throat, “Right, so. Peytr.” “That’s my name, don’t wear it out.” Peter chuckled, sipping at his drink, “You said you finally pinned someone down?” “Yeah, Talked to one of the attendants at the ter—” Broseff pointed over his shoulder, “— and got you in for an interview at one of the desks.” He shifted, indig said desks in the ter of the floor. “So. Important question that I probably should have asked earlier; what, exactly, is involved with the interview? Is it just filling out paperwork, talking to a person… which would be the person at the desk I’m guessing?”Broseff nodded, “That’s exactly it. You’ll meet up with the desk attendant and fill out some basic paperwork.” He motioo Vaunn’s medallion, “For printing on that, as well as file keeping at the Guild.” He expined, “You’ll also be given a mana-sb. It’s a rune-inscribed stohat will measure your mana level as well as any athyrik attu you have.” “Right.” Peter nodded, “That doesn’t sound terrible.”Though he did have reservations about the mana-sb; he had no idea how he would react due to Na’at’s creating of his form. “Nah, it’ll just take some time is all.” Vaunn reached over, patting the younger boy’s shoulder, “After that, you’ll end up waiting until they find a proctor for your bat assessment. Usually you’ll take care of your medical check-up during that time. Then, you’ll have your test.” He nodded, “It shouldn’t take too long after that for your application to e back.” “Positively, I hope.” Peter said, sipping his liquor drink, “I’d hate to gh all that only to have the applicatioed.” He o Broseff, “Especially si’s not my being spent.” “A fair worry.” Vaunn admitted, “But you’ve the potential, and instinct, I think.” He scratched at his , “You don’t fend off three trained fighters without something?” The old smiled, toastier. “Spite, and blind luck?” Peter scoffed lightly. “If it works…” Vaunn chuckled.

  ?Peytr Kharl.?The trio looked up as a voice with a bit of eade the an, with Broseff pattier’s shoulder. ?Peytr Kharl, please present yourself to Desk Five.? “It’s that one.” Broseff poio the desk iion. “Gotchya, thanks, Broseff.” Peter sighed, swallowing the rising adrenaline — he couldn’t let the ay and depression of his old life affect him here.

  ==========

  Peytr Kharl… Peter Kharl… sounds like a human he Guild Attendant who sat at Desk Five looked up from her paperwork — a standard application to the Guild and a pen and ink to fill it out — making sure she had the mana-sb ready as well.Her long ears wiggled uhe locks of her purple hair that stuck out from under her cap as the annou went out over the athyrcaster and she looked up, adjusting her slightly pointed gsses before shuffling around the papers of the application, hoping to get a look of who she was going to deal with.…Holy…The figure walking towards her was just uwo strides tall and looked like he snapped small trees for fun. And, speaking of small trees, he was carrying ohat, by the looks of it, was as tall as he was.He had a slight point to his ears, which made her think half-human, and got curious about what the other half was; his rich purple eyes were attention grabbing, too — at the very least it grabbed her attention.

  “Ah, Desk Five?” He asked.She nodded, uo find her voice; his voice wasn’t all-that deep and actually sort of light and bright. “I’m Peter Karl.” He looked like he was about to offer a hand, but pulled it back, as if he wasn’t sure that was the proper thing to do.Sitting awkwardly in the chair on that side of the desk the attendant coughed, “Right. Yes. This is desk five, and you are, as you say, Peytr Kharl.” “I am.” He nodded. “So. Looking to join the Adventurer’s Guild…” She said, not posing it as a question, obviously, as she shuffled her papers, “And… it looks like the application fee has already been paid. Oh iing, you have a sponsor.” “Now, I know what a sponsor is but not the text in which having oters for the purpose of joining the Adventurer’s Guild.” Peter coughed, “Apologies, as this was sort of sudden.” “Sudden?” She asked — sidering the cost of the application fee a ‘sudden’ desire to join the adventurer’s guild was telling, and time would tell if that was a good or bad thing. “Well. Truth-be-told…” Peter sighed, shifting in his seat as he leaned forward, leaning the rge studded mace against the desk in an attempt to keep it out of the way, “… I’ve only been here, oyros, I mean, for… just under a week.” “On Ae… for just… a week…” The attendant blinked, “Ah, Hold on. I apologize. Let… Let’s back up a moment.” She offered her hand, aook it, “You introduced yourself, but I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Glenawyn Woive, Midman rank and Attendant.” “Peter Karl, as previous mentioned.” He shook her hand with a det grip, “And as also mentioned, only been here just about a week. I was, um, I was summoned, you see.”She sat back down, nodding, “Right. Only here a week… summoned?” She coughed, “So you’re a Champion.” “So I’m told.” Peter shrugged.In truth, he had no idea why he was keeping that story up. He was tired of the subterfuge, the story… but if people uimated him by thinking he was ohing while he was, in fact, something else entirely… that was an advantage, right?” “Well. Alright.” She sat down, “Not that that ges the application process, to be ho.” Glenawyn expined, her long triangur ears wiggling a little uhe waves of her purple hair and what looked to be a backwards-fag ‘ft cap’, with the stiff brim fag back, “Nor, since you asked about it, would a sponsor.” She said, “In this case, ing what it means for someoo sponsor you for the Adventurer’s Guild… they’ve vouched for you, or vetted you. They feel your skill is petent enough that, by sp you, they are are basically saying ‘Yup, he’ll make a good member of the Guild’.” “No pressure, then.” Peter snorted.Glenawyn chortled softly, her bodice shifting a bit as she did as she squirmed around in her chair, “I only imagine.” She sat forward, pushing a folder towards him, “You’ll he first ters in there. The rest is for your medical examiner and bat proctor.” “Alright.” He asked, “I fill them out here or…” “You .” She paused, “Um. This is a terribly rude question, but please sider I am asking it because you said you had been summoned… You read, yes?” She cleared her throat, “I meayrosan…” “I , actually. However, I spent most of that week oemple grounds of the Church Luminous here iy. So I know… really nothing of the city.” “Oh.” She coughed, “So you wouldn’t know the street address for the temple, for example.”With a straight face Peter answered, “I was unaware that you had street addresses… for example.” “Oh.” “Ye~ah.” Peter flushed, rubbing the back of his neck, “It is… rather embarrassing.”She shook her head, smiling, “Don’t you worry about it. Just fill out what you , and I’ll help you fill out the rest. After that, we’ll get you checked up and check out yhting skill.” She eyed the sword at his hip and the kanabō, “That being said…” “I’ll be fighting with this.” He reached for the long mace on, nodding, “The sword is … not for everyday bat.” He expined. “Ah.” She nodded, figuring it was an heirloom, or even ceremonial. Being summoned, and if he had been staying at the Church Luminous, likely by them then the sword ecial in some manner she wanted no real part of. “So, if you’re curious…” “I am.” Peter smiled.Glenawyn nodded, smiling back, “Right now, we’re in the Upper on District. The Adventurer’s Guild is sort of a tralized location, vely located he city ter with-in walking distance from the Mert’s Quarter as well as the Temple District — e by today~”Peter snorted, smirking. “Sorry, you hear it ohyrcast a lot.” “That is the sed… or third?… time I’ve heard that word.” Peter mused, thinking back, “I’d like to ask what it is but… there’s more important things to worry about.” “That’s fair. Well, what about after your bat assessment?” She asked, “We… could chat while you wait on the results of your application.” Glen! What are you doing… you just met him!The tiny little voice screamed at her from the back of her mind as the words just blurt out before her filter could stop them. “Oh, sure.” He smiled a smile that made the desk attendants long, pointed ears red from the tip to about halfway down, “Are… you okay?” “What!?” She coughed, reag for some water, “I’m fine, you’re just hot… I mean I’m just hot.” She tugged at her colr-less blouse under her bodice, trying to ‘air out’.Peter blushed at the movement that caused, nodding, “Well, don’t get too overheated.” He said ily, “It’s no fun, that’s for sure.”

  He had absolutely no idea just why Na’at and Di’si’thy were groaning in the back of his mind.

  “Right, so… basiame, Age, Height a…” She motioned her pen to the paper, “I’ll fill in the address.” “Right, so, that’s at the Pilr’s temple, currently.” Peter nodded, “As for name…” He waited until she was doting that down, “Peter Karl.” He paused, “Ah…” “What’s wrong? Don’t know ye?”She meant it as a tease but quickly realized that, if summohat may very well be the case. “Well, I speak and read Aetyrosan script but I just realized I don’t know the letters. Like, when I spell my name P-E-T-E-R…”Glenawyn nodded, “Oh, I uand what you mean.” She smiled, “And, I uand what you mean.” She scribbled dowters, turning the page around, “How’s that look.”

  Peter blinked, looking at the letters with a squint as, thanks to Na’at’s magic, he uood them as easily as his inal nguage, “Yeah, okay.” He nodded, relieved as the attendant took the page back, “So, Age is… ahh… not sure how to pronou… dekteen?” He said, recalling Na’at said he was going to be in his ‘prime’ and that sounded good enough (especially after version to Base-12), “Height a are a mystery. I haven’t seen a doctor, or healer, or someone who could measure that for me.” “Alright, so I’ll get that when you get checked out for the application.” She smiled, “So, the part is simple.”Pig up the mana-sb and pushed it to Peter, “This is a mana-sb, this will measure your capacity for maion as well as any elemental attu you have. All you have to do is put a pulse of mana into it.” “Sounds good.” Peter said, moving to grab the sb. ?Wait, Peter!?Peter paused momentarily as his fingers brushed against the sb — there was a snapping crack followed by a fsh of light and then the rune-inscribed mana-sb was sitting on the desk in pieces surrounded by a lightly smoking bck ring.

  Both Glenaeter’s ears were ringing.

  “… So about that healer?” Peter half-yelled, wiggling a finger in each of his ears.Glenawyn nodded, “I think we should see the Curist visiting today.” “The Cure?” He asked, “I didn’t listen to them… and never went to a cert before.” “Don’t worry, we’ll make a certed effort to fix this” Glenawyn nodded.

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