Chapter 7

It had only been a bit over a cycle since Krarshe had departed Remonnet, but it felt like the longest cycle of his life. As he stepped through the city gates, it oddly felt as though he'd returned home. The one thing he hadn't remembered was the tingling sensation that danced along his skin as he entered. Had it always been there and he just never noticed? Given how neither Taliarrah nor Lycia seemed to pay it any mind, he didn't bother dwelling on it further.

Instead, his mind was preoccupied with the start of this new segment of his life. Again. His opinion of adventurers was never particularly good. They always seemed to be rude, self-important, and regularly smelled. And soon, he would be considered one of them. He still wasn't sure how to feel about it but had reassured himself over and over that it was for training.

Despite all this, it did feel good to be back in the city. The streets of Feyfaire were just as busy as he remembered, the street merchants just as pushy. The succulent smells from the food stalls brought the promise of a warm meal, a most enticing prospect during Zael.

"We're not here to eat. Keep up."

Krarshe turned to see Taliarrah and Lycia quickly leaving him behind. He hurried up next to Lycia. "Was it that obvious?"

"I think it was the drooling," she said with a giggle.

He could feel his embarrassment spread through his cheeks. "I-in my defense, we haven't eaten since we left this morning."

"You can eat something while waiting for Lycia to finish her registration. There's always vendors outside the guild hall." Taliarrah looked back. "Think of this as training."

"I don't know if I like this training..." Krarshe grumbled.

"You'll get used to it. Whether you enjoy it or not."

"Ugh..."

Lycia patted him on the shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look.

The three of them continued down the streets of Feyfaire and onto a main road. Or, what he thought was a road, not that he could tell with all of the street merchants covering every brick in the area. As they weaved through the numerous tables and tents, they approached a monumental building that loomed high overhead. Its faded green exterior and the multitude of small cracks revealed its age. Despite its imposing size, it was surprisingly unassuming. There appeared to be a constant flow of people passing through its wide doors.

As they got closer, Krarshe noticed the wooden placard had a sword and shield painted on it. Hmm... I wonder if this is the guild... Taliarrah and Lycia continued into the building. I figured...

Inside was dimly lit, mostly illuminated by the sunlight coming in through the multitude of large windows. A dozen or so large tables were arranged in the center of the room. Off to one side was a large board filled with innumerable pages. A swarm of armed people had gathered around it, occasionally ripping one of the parchments from the wall. On the opposing wall were small booths, tables partly walled off from the main room. Further in was a large counter, illuminated by a multitude of candles for the staff manning it.

Taliarrah guided Lycia and Krarshe through the crowd to the back counter. As they approached, they were greeted by the young lady behind the counter.

"Ah, welcome to the adventurer's guild's Remonnet branch. How can I help you today?"

"We're here to get these two registered," Taliarrah said, stepping aside and gesturing to the two young elves. "And I would like to have my registration updated."

"Right away, ma'am. Do you have your guild tag?"

She placed a small metal identification plate on the counter. "I'll ask this be kept private."

The receptionist picked it up and looked over the emblazoned silver tag for a moment before calling for another receptionist. She whispered into their ear for a moment before handing off the tag. "We'll go look for the paperwork. In the meantime, which of these two would you like to register first?"

Taliarrah looked back at them and sighed. "The boy, I guess..."

What was that reaction for?!

The receptionist smiled warmly at him. "Just a moment." She crouched down behind the counter and came back up with a sheet of paper. She brushed the tight curl of red hair out of her face and continued, "Okay, sir. I'll need you to answer a few questions."

Krarshe stepped up to the counter. He could feel knots of nervousness and excitement in his gut. "Y-yes?"

"First, could I get your name?"

"K-Krarshe."

She looked at him for a moment. "... If you don't mind my asking, how do you spell that?"

"I... I'm not sure. In common, at least."

"Oh, is it an elven name? We can use that instead."

"Uhh..." Krarshe's nervousness was overtaking whatever excitement he'd had.

"Sorry, he's from a place that still uses Old Imperial," Taliarrah interjected. "Here, you can spell it like this."

Krarshe watched quietly as she took the quill from the next station and quickly wrote on the page. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hmm. I wouldn't have guessed," said the receptionist. "Any family name?"

Krarshe shook his head.

"Then, place of residence?"

"What?"

"Where are you from? We can use that instead of a family name."

"Oh... Umm..." Krarshe thought for a moment. I can't go using home... What do I say then?

"Sir?"

"S-sorry. I... Umm..."

"You can just use Valenfort," Taliarrah instructed. Krarshe was beginning to wonder if he should just let her do this for him.

"Y-yeah. Valenfort."

"In the Remonnet queendom?"

Krarshe nodded.

"Okay. Can I get a family member's name and their place of residence?"

What's with all of these difficult questions?! "Oh..."

"Is... there a problem with this question too?" The receptionist cocked her head to the side.

"Uhh... It's just... N-no..."

She waited a moment before asking, "No?"

"I... have no family..."

Her expression saddened. "Oh, my apologies, sir. I didn't realize..."

Krarshe could see Lycia's face, dispirited. "Oh, Karshe..." she murmured.

"Umm... I do still need to put in someone for next of kin."

"Huh? Why?" Krarshe asked, momentarily forgetting he was supposed to be sullen.

"It's in case you... fall... while completing a request. We can inform them and send them... whatever of you or your belongings remain or are found."

"... Oh..." I guess that makes sense. "Umm..."

"Put Marcel, of Valenfort." Again, Taliarrah answered for him.

"Okay. Umm... Okay. Can I ask your skillset?"

"Uhh... What do you..."

"He's a mage," Taliarrah said to the receptionist. "Krarshe, I'll take it from here. You just go eat."

"Really?!"

"If... that's all right with the sir here, we can do that," said the receptionist as she looked at Krarshe.

"Absolutely." Not like I've answered a single question aside from my name...

"Very well. Let's continue then. Next question..."

Krarshe didn't wait a moment. He dashed out of the guild hall and into the streets of Feyfaire to sate his now ravenous hunger. That was awful. I felt like a krun, but I couldn't very well answer those. At least it's over. Now, food! Maybe rabbit? Nah, I'm hungry. Venison seems like a better choice. Hmm...Without wasting another moment, he hurried over to a nearby merchant to buy his meat.

* * *

"Haa uaz wahfuu."

"What? Swallow first," Lycia said.

Krarshe swallowed his grilled venison. "Sorry. I said that was awful, that registration."

"Oh. Yeah... I didn't know you didn't have a family."

"What? Oh. Right. About that..."

"You didn't lie on your registration, did you?" Taliarrah asked before taking another bite of her roasted sweet potato.

"Well, no. I just... I don't know where my family is, let alone if the guild could contact them."

"Are you an orphan?"

"Mom!" Lycia shouted, glaring at her mother.

"No, no, nothing like that. I just left home a while ago."

"Are they nomads then?" Taliarrah pressed.

I should probably just end this before she digs any deeper. "Something like that, yeah."

"Hmm. I could see why you struggled to answer that question then." She finished her sweet potato and cleared her throat. "Well, we have a few more things to prepare before we return, so let's-"

"U-umm... Mother, if we may... Could we... have some free time?"

Taliarrah looked at her daughter.

"If... it's okay... that is..." Lycia added timidly.

She studied her for a minute. "Hmm. I suppose I can probably gather them myself. Very well, you two may do as you please for now. We'll meet back up here when the sun reaches that tower." Taliarrah pointed toward a tower on the city wall to the west. She pulled out the small silver tags and offered them. "And don't lose these. Consider it part of your training," she added with a smile.

Is this the first time I've seen her smile? A humorless one, sure, but still a first. Krarshe took his adventurer identification and put it into his coin purse. Lycia did the same.

"Make sure you keep each other safe, and don't do anything I'd kill you for," Taliarrah said as she left.

After she disappeared into the crowd, Krarshe asked, "What does THAT mean?"

Lycia shrugged. "Not sure, but we have some free time. So... What do you want to do? Eat more?"

"Am I just a glutton to you?"

"Not just. But, a glutton nonetheless," she said with a smirk.

Krarshe didn't retort. He just took the final bite of his venison. "So, anywhere you want to go?"

Lycia shook her head but then reconsidered. "Maybe somewhere warm. It's freezing." She pulled her cloak tighter.

"I mean, we could just wait in the guild hall if you wanted to do that."

"No. It smelled in there."

"Did it? I didn't notice."

"Well, one of us had to actually stay in there to do their registration..."

"Hmm. Well, if not there... Oh! Mind if we go visit some friends of mine?"

Lycia was taken aback. After a moment, she said, "... I guess we could..."

"Great! Let's go then!"

"Oh, Karshe! What a coincidence, meeting you here!"

Krarshe stopped. He recognized the voice, but never in that tone. "Armand?"

Armand stood there in a fine, fur-lined winter coat, smiling. "It's been a while, hasn't it? How have you been? Well, I hope." His wavy blond hair was impeccable as always. And his smug, smiling face goaded Krarshe to introduce his fist to it, just as it always had.

Krarshe felt a chill run down his spine. "Y-yeah... I've been well..."

"Karshe, who is this?" Lycia asked.

"Umm... This..."

"My apologies for intruding upon the two of you. My name is Armand. Armand Lucroy," he said with a bow. "I'm a friend of Karshe's from the academy here."

Friend? What is he talking about...? "Y-yeah, this is Armand... Umm, was there... something you needed?"

"What, a friend can't say hello?" Armand laughed. "But yes, there was something. You see, our esteemed Professor Owyn has been wanting to talk to you. So much so, in fact, that he sent me to get you."

"To talk? About what?"

"I don't know, he wouldn't give me specifics."

Maybe he feels remorseful. ... Wait. How'd he know I was here? And shouldn't there be classes right now? "Umm... I'm a bit-"

"He insisted. Said it was urgent. I think it might have to do with your two friends."

Krarshe felt his heart leap into his throat. "Tibault and Bri? What happened?"

The corners of Armand's lips curled up ever so slightly. "As I said, I don't know the details. Now, shall we get going?"

Something feels off. But, if something ACTUALLY happened to them... "Okay. I'll speak with him."

"Follow me then. No time to lose."

As they started to go, Armand stopped and held up a hand in front of Lycia. "Sorry, miss, but this is a private matter."

"It's okay, she's with me," Krarshe explained.

"Sorry, I was instructed to bring you. ONLY you."

"If he has something to say to me, he can say it with both of us there."

"I said she's not welcome," Armand said flatly, glaring at Krarshe.

"If she's not allowed, then I won't go."

"But-"

"Tell Professor Wild Brow to reconsider. I'm not going to just leave my companion."

Armand's eye twitched. "I said your sprite whore wasn't welcome!"

Krarshe reached out and grabbed a fistful of Armand's coat. He pulled him close, his eyes meeting Armand's. "And I said I won't go!"

Armand gritted his teeth as he grabbed Krarshe's cloak. "What's wrong? Trying to look tough in front of your SPRITE WHORE?"

Just as Krarshe was about to hit Armand, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back, expecting it to be Lycia, but he was wrong.

"What's going on here?" Taliarrah asked.

"Oh, umm. Master, you're back." Krarshe released Armand.

Armand did the same, backing away a couple steps and fixing his coat.

"Just so you're aware, you can have your adventuring license revoked for public disturbances like this," she explained.

Ugh, I didn't know that. How'd that guy back at The Easy Lute get away with it then? "There was no disturbance here. We were just talking."

She looked at Armand. "Mmhmm... Well, whatever it was you two were discussing, you'll need to continue it another time. I've decided to have you both come with me. It'll be faster."

Krarshe nodded quietly and glowered at Armand. "Sorry, Armand. You'll have to tell Owyn that it'll have to wait..."

"R-right... I'll do that..." Armand said with a bitter sneer and then turned down a side alley.

"So. Who was that?" Taliarrah asked, watching Armand as he left.

"Certainly not a friend," Krarshe said, looking at Lycia. She seemed confused and worried about the whole exchange. "Honestly, I don't think I can trust anything he said."

"Well, just be mindful of your actions, especially in public."

"... Yes, master..."

With that, the three of them headed into the throng of street vendors without another word about what happened. Krarshe would have preferred to forget it, but the whole exchange with Armand had him worried. How did he know he was there? Why would Owyn want to talk, especially considering their last exchange when Krarshe left the academy? And, most importantly, were Bri and Tibault okay?

But there was no way for him to find out. The opportunity had passed. He knew he'd just have to pray they were safe.

* * *

"To the village's newest adventurers!" Marcel said, raising his mug. Everyone in The Tavern this evening followed his example.

"Is it really important enough to require all this fanfare?" Krarshe muttered as he sipped his ale.

"Ehh, perhaps not, but I don't see any harm in it."

"He just likes to celebrate any old thing," Esther said. "He celebrated someone's cat giving birth once."

"That WAS call for celebration!" Marcel retorted. "All safe births are a blessing."

"What about that time ya found my lost fishing pole then?" asked another customer. "Why'd we celebrate that?"

"... Look, do I need a reason to have us all drink?"

"As long as you're paying!"

The room erupted into laughter. Krarshe smiled a bit. He remembered this jovial atmosphere. Having it again in his newest home gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest, but accompanied by a bitter thought about how abruptly he left. I NEED to visit them again. That'll settle my emotions, surely. He repeated this thought a few times, as though instilling the vow in his heart.

"C'mon, Karshe! Smile, lad! You'll be going off on fun adventures tomorrow. Don't you youngsters all dream of such things?" Marcel asked.

He looked up at the old man. "Hmm. I wonder."

"Oh, don't give me that! I know you're excited!"

"This isn't for fun, Marcel," Taliarrah said. "This is training."

"Oh, sure, sure. Training. All serious. No fun allowed. None." He puffed out his chest in an exaggerated manner, acting pompous and commanding.

Taliarrah just rolled her eyes.

"Well... I'm... a bit excited," Lycia said quietly before sipping her drink.

"Excited to finally see more than just the fields of Remonnet, miss?" Marcel asked.

She glanced over at Krarshe. "Perhaps."

"Oh, no. Not you too! You elves are too subdued with your excitement!" He slammed his empty mug on the counter. "Esther!"

"Yeah, yeah. I got ya booze right here," she said, sliding another full mug to him as if on cue. Some of the brown, frothy liquid dribbled down the side as it sloshed about.

"I honestly don't understand your enthusiasm, Marcel," Krarshe said. "Would almost think you were the one heading out tomorrow."

"We just never have anything exciting around here. Having our friends going adventuring is about as exciting as it gets."

"Peace and quiet is its own blessing, Marcel," Taliarrah muttered.

"Oh, I meant no offense. I do rather like your protection."

"Curses, Marcel, ya're going to bring bad luck to us!" Esther yelled from the kitchen.

Everyone laughed and continued their merriment.

Amidst all the revelry, Krarshe secretly slipped out from the crowd and took his usual place against the wall, drinking his drink and partaking of their excitement from a safe distance.

"Don't care for being the center of attention?"

Krarshe looked over and saw Lycia. How'd she sneak over here so quietly? "Can't say I am. Makes me feel uncomfortable. I prefer to be out on the edge of the excitement."

"Same. It's too loud." She pulled up a stool and sat next to him.

The two watched quietly from the edge of the barroom. "You know..." she started, but then stopped.

"Hmm?"

"Oh, no, it was nothing."

"No, no, go on."

"No, really."

"But now I'm curious." He gave her a sly smile.

She shook her head and smiled back. "Just... I'm actually very excited."

"Oh? Can't wait to explore the world?"

"Well... There's that too..." She tucked her braid behind her ear and turned away. "I'm more excited that you're coming with us though..."

"What?" Krarshe stared at her, confused.

She didn't answer. Instead, she hid her face as best she could. Krarshe could see her ears turning crimson. He felt his heart pound in his throat and began to blush himself. "O-oh..." He stayed quiet for a moment before adding, "M-me... too..."

Neither spoke for a minute. Neither looked at the other. They both drank in awkward but pleasant silence, in the company of the other.

"Marcel! There's an emergency!"

Krarshe turned to see what disrupted his bliss. A woman had burst into The Tavern, child in tow.

The crowd hushed and turned their attention toward her.

"What happened?" Taliarrah asked, emerging from the mob with Marcel following behind.

"Taliarrah! Thank Teva you're here! You must help!"

"What's wrong?" Marcel asked.

"One of the children is missing, Marcel!"

Krarshe could see everyone shift uneasily.

"Missing?" Taliarrah asked, stoic as always. Her eyes narrowed. "Missing... where?"

"... In the forest."