Chapter 15

Krarshe perused the multitude of pages on the wall of the guild. He still struggled with evaluating the relative difficulty of each, the vague terms like "apprentice" or "experienced" or "veteran" didn't explain much to him. Knowing how "experienced" you needed to be would vary by party size and what skill sets you had available only added to his confusion. How Taliarrah did it, or Lycia this past half-cycle, was beyond him.

"Find anything?" Lycia asked, making her way through the crowd around the request board.

Krarshe shook his head. "How about you?"

She let out an exasperated sigh. "No... They said they'd be interested in one of us, but not both. Didn't want to split the reward further or something."

"Did you explain-"

"Yes. I told them we could split a single share. I don't know if they didn't believe me or what, but they still said no."

"Ugh. Guess it's an apprentice-level quest again." Krarshe snatched one of the pages off the bottom of the board and headed for the counter.

"Guild tag, please," said the receptionist.

Krarshe showed her the silver plate he carried with him. Lycia did the same.

"I'm sure we'll find a party at some point," he said to Lycia while the receptionist jotted down details about the quest and their tags.

"I sure hope so," she groaned.

"Keep at it, you two," said the receptionist, returning the page to Krarshe. "You two were Miss Taliarrah's students, right? There's definitely a party that will want you. I'm sure of it." She smiled at them.

Lycia's mother sure has a reputation...

"Thanks. Please let us know if a party comes seeking a pair of mages," Lycia said.

The receptionist smiled and nodded. "You two will be the first ones I'll recommend."

Krarshe gave a slight bow as he followed Lycia out the door into the busy streets of Remonnet.

"So, what did you grab?"

"Talinroot."

"Ugh, again?"

"It's easy," he said with a shrug.

"And boring. And I really hate having to wade through the water. And getting mud between my toes..."

"You could go in with your boots."

"That's even worse. With my luck, they'll get ripped off my feet, like what happened to you the first time."

"... Well, at least it was a good lesson."

"Except I warned you in advance."

Krarshe was about to respond but realized he had no rebuttal. He decided changing the subject was his only option. "Besides, at least we only have to go down the river a little bit. We should frequent the guild as often and quickly as possible."

"I suppose..."

"What's more, most of the other apprentice quests had us travelling as far as Espria. I'd like to be able to keep Na'kika's training up if I could, rather than leaving for another half-cycle."

"I still can't believe you did that." Lycia shot him a sideways look.

"She's getting it slowly. I think she'll be able to really communicate with a group soon."

"I don't know where you're getting that idea. She hasn't been able to get even a single word yet."

Krarshe stopped. "Do you dislike her or something?"

"Huh?"

"Na'kika. I feel like you're being awfully mean. And you always seem hostile toward her when she's around."

"Maybe if she... you..." Lycia said under her breath.

"What? I didn't catch that."

"I'm not mean toward her. You're imagining it. Come on, let's get going."

"R-right..."

They made their way through the gate of the city and headed west along the river. Given how often talinroot was harvested for healing potions, they'd have to travel a good distance for any untouched patches.

Krarshe had noticed the sensation he felt crossing the city limits had disappeared. He never did find out what it was, but he was pretty convinced it was some sort of barrier. And, given he was the only one who ever felt it, he'd abandoned any efforts to discuss it.

The traffic gradually dwindled as they travelled to their destination. After they turned off the road, they found themselves alone on the grassy hills. Smatterings of flowers painted the fields as far as the eye could see. From the sunny hilltop, they could see people working the shores of the river, pulling in nets or scavenging the riverbank.

"Think you'll beat me this time?" Lycia asked, breaking the long silence.

"What?"

"I had seventy-two roots last time."

"You're on this again?"

"Got to find some way to add spice to this request."

"You only beat me because I fell in and lost half of them," Krarshe protested.

"A win is a win." She smiled smugly.

As they came to the crest of the hill, they stopped. A large, hulking man towered over them. His tanned skin was mostly exposed from the waist up, save for a single pauldron. Elaborate tattoos extended up along his muscular arm and extended across his chest, tapering off at the side of his head and face. A large sword, or more of a hunk of steel, hung off his back.

His lean, clean-shaven jaw clenched in a firm scowl as he scanned the hills with cruel, dark eyes, as if looking for prey.

"M-my lord..."

A girl stammered from behind him. The imposing figure had distracted Krarshe enough that he hadn't even noticed the gaggle of women he had with him. Krarshe spotted one trait a few of the women had: a metal collar.

Slaves.

"Huh?" the hulking man grunted. He looked down at Krarshe and Lycia.

They both stepped back, with Krarshe trying to keep Lycia behind him. If this was another slaver, distance would be key if a fight were to break out. The reach of that sword would be enormous, it was clear even without a lot of combat experience. He just prayed there wouldn't be another of those scrolls.

The man's eyes shifted between Lycia and Krarshe a couple times, lingering on each for a moment. Finally, his eyes narrowed and focused on Krarshe. "Really?"

Krarshe wasn't sure what that reaction was, but he remained on high alert.

The man looked into the sky. "THIS ONE?! Really?! THIS is the one you picked?!"

What's going on here?

"You must be joking!" the man continued shouting into the sky. "I mean, look at this!"

The man's arm swatted across, catching Krarshe on the shoulder.

He winced as incredible pain shot through him. The pain was incredible, like the pain he'd had in his ribs after that fight.

While his eyes were pressed shut, he noticed a sound. Like wind. Calming down, he noticed a sensation too. Or, rather, lack of one. He opened his eyes slowly. Then widely. All he saw were clouds and blue sky.

Huh?

He felt his back slam into the ground as he rolled and tumbled backwards, the sky and grass seemingly alternating faster than he could keep up with it.

When he eventually skidded to a stop, he lay there, staring into the sky. His shoulder was throbbing now and his body hurt all over. Nothing, aside from maybe his shoulder, seemed to be seriously injured. He sat up carefully. His cloak was near the start of the dirt rut where he first started his skid. His boot, further still. His eyes continued up.

He could see the figures of the huge man and his harem of women two small hills from where he sat. He couldn't even make out which of the women was Lycia from this distance.

He got up, staggering slightly as he picked up his cloak and boot. Slowly, the overall pain subsided, though his shoulder was still throbbing. He had no idea what just happened, but he knew there'd be no fighting this man, whoever he was.

But, he couldn't leave Lycia there. He hurried as best he could.

As he approached, he could hear an argument going on.

"No! I will NOT be part of your 'harem'!"

"Oh come now. You saw how much stronger I am than that pathetic lahdr. Besides, you won't regret it. Right, girls?"

"You could have killed him!"

"If that was enough to kill him, he wouldn't be worthy anyway." He looked over at Krarshe trudging up the hill. "See? He's fine."

Lycia turned to him. "Krarshe!" She came running over. "Are you okay?!"

"Shoulder is killing me, but other than that..."

"Tch!" The man clicked his tongue. He turned to one of the slave girls. "Give it to him."

An elf girl with a metal collar came running over and offered Krarshe a vial.

"Drink the potion. Come on, I have business to attend to." The man didn't seem combative as much as annoyed.

He took the vial. It looked like the healing potion he'd taken in Lanche. He hesitantly took a sip.

The bitter taste made him grimace. Yep, healing potion.

He could feel the soothing sensation fill his body as he drank it.

"Good. Now, here." The man stepped up to Krarshe and held out a small stone. "Take it."

Lycia and Krarshe exchanged glances.

"Hurry up!"

Krarshe winced at the man's outburst. He hesitantly took the stone. Strange markings and symbols were scratched into it. It didn't seem to make any sense, but it was clearly deliberate.

"Do NOT lose that. Got it?! I swear, if I have to come find you again because you lost it, you'll wish the Hungerer'd found you instead. Understood?!"

Krarshe nodded nervously.

"Good. Come on, girls. I need some fun."

With that, the man headed off, the herd of women in tow. Two latched onto his trunk of a torso as he wrapped his arms around them. The rest followed behind quietly.

"... What... just happened?" Krarshe asked

"I have no idea..." Lycia said.

"What happened after I... uhh... went for a flight?"

She shook her head and shrugged. "Again, no idea. He just continued yelling at the sky about you, I think. About how weak you looked or something."

"O...kay..."

"Said he preferred me and tried to get me to join his harem."

"Preferred you for what? His harem?"

"... I don't really know, actually. It seemed unrelated. Like the harem was an afterthought."

Krarshe and Lycia watched him walk off into the distance for a minute.

"Should we just head back? If you're hurt-"

"No. No, I think I'm okay. We can gather the roots still. I can feel that potion working."

"Right... Well, just don't make it worse, okay?"

"You're just saying that because you want to win."

Lycia smiled. "Wasn't my intention, but now that you mention it..."

The two continued on toward their original destination. The strange incident had passed. Unusual as it was, it was short. Almost like a dream. And a dream is what they accepted it as.

* * *

"Maybe it'd be better to just find separate parties..."

"We told your mother that we'd watch each other's back," Krarshe said.

"I know, but this is looking to be impossible," Lycia groaned.

"You're letting what those dregs said earlier get to you. We just need to be patient."

"Be patient? It's almost been a full cycle! Will you stop playing with that!"

Krarshe stopped rolling the mysterious stone in his hand, the stone he'd received from that strange man. He wasn't sure what it was and still couldn't make sense of the symbols on it, but he found the smooth texture rather pleasant. "I can't help it. It's addicting."

"The fact that you kept that weird thing is beyond me. I hope it's not some cursed artifact."

"I don't think so. Doesn't seem like it, at least."

"I swear, if that's why we haven't been able to find a party..."

Krarshe looked at her, then the stone. "You know..." he teased.

"Ugh." Lycia rolled her eyes and wandered off the road and sat atop the grassy knoll.

Krarshe followed after her. He stood beside her and looked out over the soft hills that led to the Walchil Wood. The forest was on the eastern edge of the kingdom, just before the hills that separated it from Gagerith. Not a fun place to travel through. He'd made the mistake once in his merchant days. Never again.

"I wish mom was here..." Lycia said sullenly.

Krarshe watched her stare wistfully into the distance. He felt the need to say something but knew not what that something was. Lost for words, he just watched her quietly.

"... Hmm?" Lycia stood up. "What's that?"

Krarshe looked down the hill toward the forest's edge.

A group of people seemed to be running out of the woods. A moment later, a flock of harpies emerged from the boughs of the trees in pursuit of the people, the screeches from the pursuers drowned out the yells of the pursued.

"Harpies?"

"Looks like it," Lycia answered.

"I can only imagine what they did to get that many chasing them."

She shook her head. "No idea, but we should probably help them. Bet I can ground more of them."

Krarshe cracked his knuckles. "That a challenge?"

"... Actually, maybe I should just do it myself. Knowing you, you'd hit the people too."

"What?! I have more control than-" Krarshe paused. "Okay, good call. I leave it to you."

Lycia gave a confident nod and stepped forward. She shrugged her cloak off to the side and extended her arm. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she yelled, "Ze'anarun zerais!"

A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky with a boom, striking half of the harpies. The others shrieked and scattered as their brethren fell to the ground.

"Perfect, as usual," Krarshe commented.

"Mmm. That's what I like to hear," Lycia said with a smirk. "Let's go check on them."

The three people seemed exhausted but relieved and uninjured. One of the men in leather armor was splayed out on the grass, laughing between panting breaths. Another, a woman in robes, was kneeling while holding a staff upright, mumbling something to herself. The third gave Krarshe pause. The man reminded him of the one who bestowed upon him the stone in his pocket: large, tanned skin, tattoos decorating his exposed skin all the way up to his bald head. He was cleaning blood off a large greatsword.

"Hail! You three okay?" Lycia called out to them.

"Ahh... A goddess. A goddess has saved us," said the leather-clad young man on the ground.

"Careful or you anger her," said the large man.

"I didn't specify WHICH goddess, did I?"

"No, but I'll take offense to it anyway," said the young woman in a soft, even tone. "Teva's mercy upon him."

"Umm..." Krarshe said, hesitant to interject in their banter.

"Oh, I mean no offense to you two, of course. You saved us, no doubt. A blessing from Teva that you were here." She smiled and bowed to Krarshe and Lycia, deeply enough that her singular dark braid swung freely past her shoulder.

"She's a cleric," the young man whispered to them as he sat up. He shrugged and then began to fix his wavy, golden hair.

"How I found myself entwined with a rogue like you is beyond me..." She shook her head and interlaced her fingers. "Teva, guide me."

The big man laughed hard enough that his mouth could be seen through his thick beard. "Love you two here. Much fun!"

The rogue leapt to his feet, dusted off his pants and turned to Lycia and Krarshe. With a charming grin and a bow, he said, "Name's Tomas."

"I'm Celine," said the cleric.

"This one Sverre!" said the swordsman, beating his tattooed chest with his fist.

"Don't mind the tattoos. He's a Gaer," whispered Tomas.

"A what?"

"The original tribe from Gagerith," Lycia whispered to Krarshe.

"Oh."

"I'm Ellycia, though most call me Lycia."

"And I'm Krarshe."

"Kura..." Tomas struggled with his name.

"It's fine. No one ever gets it. Just use whatever works for you."

"Krarshe?"

Everyone turned to Sverre, surprised.

"How..." Krarshe started.

"Easy. Just like Krianir, god of fast ruhnning," Sverre explained forcefully.

"God of... what now?"

"Gaers have a lot of strange gods," Celine explained.

"Mmm! Krianir, Kalnir, Svetnir, Alsnir, Vantnir, Slanir, Slonir..."

"Do they all end in '-nir'?" Lycia asked.

"No no. Also Hjohildr, Vrildr, Sovildr, Savildr..."

"Oh, Teva's mercy... Why'd you ask?" Celine covered her face with her palm.

"Uhh..."

"Don't bother trying to remember them. There's like a million of them," Tomas said. "Pretty sure he tells us about a new one every day."

"R-right... Well, we should probably make our escape before the harpies wake up," Lycia said.

"Wait, they're not dead?!" Tomas exclaimed.

"No, just unconscious. They may be monsters, but that's not a reason to kill them."

"Speaking of... What happened to get that whole flock chasing you?" Krarshe asked.

"I swear, I didn't think they were harpy eggs!"

Krarshe and Lycia both arched an eyebrow.

"Okay. I feel justified in not killing them," said Lycia.

"I'm surprised you were struggling with them."

Tomas pulled out a pair of daggers. "Believe it or not, daggers are not the best way to fight them. Too short of a reach, you know? Their talons can be pretty nasty to get past."

"Basically it was just Sverre that could hold them off," Celine added.

"Thankfully there was a mage around!" Tomas said and looked toward Lycia.

"Two, actually..." Krarshe muttered.

"You're a mage too?"

He nodded.

"Wow, that's incredible!"

"Two mage, rare," Sverre said.

"Y-yeah... We have some unique circumstances..." Lycia said meekly.

"Oh?"

She nodded. "If you're heading back to Remonnet, we can explain on the way."

"Were you not here for a quest of your own?" Celine asked. "Or was it divine guidance that brought you out here?"

"Oh, no, just here for some silk sacs."

"Those cocoons? Eww. I hate those things," Celine said with a grimace. "Too sticky, and the larvae you find... No thanks."

"Yeah, I'm not a fan of this quest either..." Lycia gave Krarshe a sideways look. "Besides, the harpies will be on high alert now. It'd be dangerous to go into Walchil Wood."

Krarshe thought back to one of the quests he and Lycia had done with Taliarrah. "Yeah... They're... very protective of their eggs..." One of the few times Krarshe was able to understand a monster's views, even if he was on the receiving end of their ire.

"Then we'll take you up on the offer." Tomas adjusted his rucksack. "I look forward to making friends with some mages."

"Friends?"

"Karushe, I'm sure these next few days, we'll be the best of friends."

"'Karushe', huh? Have to add that one to the list."

Tomas laughed. "I might just get your name right by then too!"

"Easy. Just 'Krarshe'." Sverre slung a heavy arm over Tomas' shoulder. "Come. Say with me. Kr-a-r-shh."

"Ahh! I get it! You're heavy!"

Celine smiled and sighed. She gave a knowing look at Lycia and followed after her two companions.

Lycia chuckled to herself.

"What?" Krarshe asked Lycia mentally.

"You wouldn't get it," she replied. She chuckled again and followed the trio.

Krarshe gave an exasperated sigh. Sure, why would I? Ugh... He jogged quickly to catch up to the others as they began the trek back to Remonnet.

* * *

"Mmm! Ah, it's nice to be back!" Tomas said as he stretched, waiting inside the gates of Remonnet for the rest to pass through the checkpoint.

"Sleeping in a bed after a quarter-cycle will be nice," Lycia agreed.

"Half-cycle for us," said Celine.

"Oh, that's much worse. Krarshe and I haven't taken any requests that take that long. The silk sacs were the longest."

Tomas came up and draped an arm around Celine. "Long quests are a pain, in more ways than one. Right? Ow, ow, ow!"

Celine, pinching the back of his hand, removed Tomas' arm from her shoulder. "Will you shut it?!"

"Ouch..." Tomas said, rubbing his hand. "I was just-"

"No!"

"Could have given privacy," Sverre said. "I protect you while perform coitus."

"Sverre!"

"You two are mating?" Krarshe asked.

"I... didn't realize you two were..." Lycia shifted awkwardly.

Celine took a breath. "Teva, guide me..."

Tomas laughed. "It's nothing to be ashamed of," he said, hugging Celine from behind. "We've actually known each other since we were children, and been in a formal relationship for a bit over a year now."

"Mmm! You like lovers since join party. Fun to watch. Many laughs!"

"... Teva take me now..." Celine hid her face in her hands.

"How about I take you? ... To an inn? OW!"

Celine ground her heel into the toe of Tomas' boot. The more he cried for mercy, the harder she dug her heel in.

"Ahahahaha! Much fun! You two, best party ever had!"

Krarshe and Lycia exchanged glances before looking away, embarrassed about the whole conversation.

"W-well... I can refer you to a great inn," Krarshe said, trying to interrupt Katia's chiding.

Lycia sighed. "Not as amazing as he claims, but yes, it's sufficient."

"As long as they have a stable to throw this one in," Celine said, not releasing her tight grip on Tomas' ear.

"Hope food good," added Sverre.

"Of course," Krarshe said proudly, as though it were his own establishment.

Lycia rolled her eyes at him. "Okay. This way. I'd like to just flop into a bed rather than just discussing one."

"What's got her so irked? Ow, ow! Can you- ow! - release my ear already? Please??"

"Hmph!" Celine released him and followed after Lycia.

"I'm still not sure," admitted Krarshe. "I think she just doesn't like one of the waitresses."

Tomas rubbed his ear. "Might be good to talk to her about it. A woman's fury is no joking matter..."

"Ha!" Sverre gave out a laugh before chasing after the two young women.

Tomas sighed. "I never know whose side he's on."

Krarshe shrugged as he joined the procession to The Easy Lute. "You said you and Celine knew each other since you were young?"

"Mmhmm. As far back as I can remember. Don't think she'd put up with me otherwise," he said with a grin.

"I'm surprised still. Thought she was going to take your ear off."

"Y-yeah... Me too..." he said with a nervous laugh, rubbing his ear again.

"Hmm..."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking about a friend from my own childhood."

"A girl?"

Krarshe looked at him flatly. "... Yeah."

"Ooh?" Tomas sidled up next to him. "What's her name?"

Krarshe could already see what he was thinking. He wasn't looking to entertain this more but reluctantly answered. "... Ari."

"Ari, huh? Hmm... Ari..."

"... Yeah. Come on, let's hurry up."

"Does Lycia know about this Ari?"

Krarshe stopped and glared at the rogue. "No. Nor will she."

Tomas smiled, unperturbed by Krarshe's gaze. "Oh? This something that should be kept secret? Hmm?"

"No. She's just unrelated to any of this. I don't see a reason to bother her with my past."

"Heh. Well, brother," he said as he pat Krarshe on the shoulder, "I understand all about that. Your secret is my secret."

"Uh- Wait- No, I think you're misunderstanding-"

"Will you two hurry up?" Lycia called from up ahead.

The corners of Tomas' lips curled upward as he held a finger to them and jogged off.

"Surely this won't come back to haunt me..." Krarshe muttered to himself.

The rest of the way through the quickly dimming streets of Feyfaire, Krarshe followed the group in silence. Lycia and Celine were becoming fast friends, some sort of commonality seemed to bind them together but Krarshe couldn't understand it. Tomas and Sverre seemed to be discussing something, but he couldn't hear what it was over the noise of the crowded streets. These pairings were the same throughout their trip back to the city, Krarshe had long since accepted it.

Not that it bothered him. He'd spent a lot of time with Lycia already, so there was nothing to be bitter about. That's what he told himself, at least.

When they arrived at The Easy Lute, it was busier than when they'd left. Not as busy as when Giselle and Burmir were performing, but more than he'd like.

"Ah! Karshe!" Valerie called. She gave a perplexed look as she came over. "There's... more of you now."

"Hi, Val. These are-"

"My name's Tomas!" he said, cutting off Krarshe. With a grandiose gesture and charming smile, he continued, "And these are my party members, Celine and Sverre. Might I have your name?"

Celine smacked the back of Tomas' head.

I guess he never learns, Krarshe thought.

Val gave a forced smile. "Hi. I'm Valerie. I assume you're with Karshe."

"Mmm! Krarshe say good food here. If kind, may have table?" Sverre asked.

"Oh, a gentleman. Rare that we have Gaers here. I have the perfect table for you all." Val turned but stopped. "And... a surprise for you," she added, glancing at Krarshe.

Lycia and Tomas both shot a look at Krarshe. The difference between these looks made him uneasy, filling his head with all sorts of undesirable possibilities. "I... can't wait..."

After showing them to a table, Valerie said, "I'll be right back with your... surprise."

Krarshe could feel Lycia's gaze intensifying.

Tomas leaned in. "I think I see why she was displeased with this inn," he whispered to Krarshe, eyes fixed on Val as she sashayed away.

A swift kick to his shin from Celine returned Tomas to his upright posture.

"What this? Feesh stew?" Sverre asked, looking at the menu with confusion. "Food seem same as other inn."

"It's good, I promise you," Krarshe said.

"Not even bread!"

"Sverre, please calm yourself," Celine said. "Wheat bread is expensive. We'd likely have to go to Castle Ward for it, and then we'd have no money for the room itself."

"Oh, how I miss bread..." Krarshe said, remembering the meals he had with his friends from the academy. All generously, or reluctantly, paid for by Tibault. He chuckled to himself.

"I, too," Sverre said with a nod. "Soft, warm, good..."

"Ahem!" Val interjected, suddenly behind Krarshe. "Your surprise," she said, moving aside to present Na'kika behind her.

Na'kika stepped forward, shyly holding her tray in front of her. Krarshe looked her over, she seemed the same as always. Her ears were back, tail whipping around with excitement, though she bit her lip nervously.

"Go ahead," Val whispered, urging on the catfolk girl.

"What's wrong, Na'kika?" Krarshe asked.

She opened her mouth, but then closed it, biting her lip again. She looked down at the floor, then at Krarshe. "N-no-ing... M-m-mast...er..."

Krarshe's eyes opened wide and stood up, to everyone's surprise. "Na'kika..."

She looked away, her posture showed how nervous and embarrassed she was.

Krarshe searched for the right words, his thoughts going too fast for him to process them all. It was shaky, broken, unstable. But, these were the first words he'd heard from her. From his own student. He was so happy for her. In the end, he simply said with a smile, "Good job, Na'kika." He pet her head.

She looked up at him, her face filled with surprise at the praise, then overflowing with joy. She smiled as tears welled up in her amber eyes. She nearly knocked him over as she grabbed him in a hug.

Krarshe could see Valerie pursing her own lip, trying to contain her own happiness.

"Uhh... Did... we miss something?" Lycia asked.

Krarshe turned to notice everyone just watching in silent confusion.

"Oh. Umm... She finally spoke. Sort of. You know."

"... What?" Tomas asked.

"I assume it was only directed at you," Lycia said with a groan. "I guess it's a start..." She seemed more disappointed than happy for Na'kika.

"I'm not sure I follow."

"Me neither," added Celine.

Krarshe turned as best he could with Na'kika still hugging him and rubbing her face against his chest. "It's a spell I've been trying to teach her. I can explain later, but she finally managed to use it. Honestly, I'm surprised how quickly she managed to use it."

"We practiced a lot while you were away," Valerie explained. "And after closing. We wanted to surprise you, so she really worked herself to exhaustion."

"You certainly did that."

"What did she say?" Celine asked.

"Oh, nothing... Wait. Na'kika, why'd you call me 'master'?"

"Master?!" Lycia shouted as she stood up. She quickly came back to her senses and sat down again. "Master?" she repeated, more composed.

Na'kika released Krarshe and looked away bashfully. "T-tea...ch..."

"Teach? You mean teacher?" Krarshe asked.

She nodded.

"Yes! 'Master' name for teacher," Sverre said, nodding knowingly.

"Oh..." Krarshe looked at Na'kika. It made sense, but it felt weird to be compared to his own master. "Well, I welcome the mantle of 'master' then!"

She smiled, her ears perked up, tail whipping wildly.

"Sounds like a slave..." Lycia muttered quietly.

"Don't be mean," Krarshe thought to her sharply. He just hoped no one else heard it. Luckily, the lack of reaction from anyone seemed as such. Even more so, Na'kika seemed to be oblivious to the comment, her orange tail still waving about.

"Na'kika here will take your orders, then," Valerie said.

"Oh, do you have more rooms available? We also need a place to stay," Tomas asked.

"Of course. I'll get that taken care of. Karshe, Lycia, your rooms are still reserved for you."

"Thanks. Na'kika, tell Julien I'll take whatever he recommends," Krarshe said.

"Know the name of the kitchen staff? You've spent a lot of time here, haven't you? I wonder why..."

"Enough Tomas, you're making him uncomfortable," said Celine. "I'll have the fish stew."

"We've been at this inn for nearly a full cycle, and he's spent even more time here prior to that," Lycia explained.

"Seems like a long time to reserve an inn. Have you only been taking close quests? Oh, sorry, I'll have the chicken with greens," Tomas said to Na'kika, who was waiting attentively.

"Pretty much. We've been taking mostly easy jobs around here. Since we're only apprentices still, and I want to try and check for parties in need of mages often."

"You're looking for a party?" Celine asked.

Lycia nodded. "For a while now. Since... Well, for a while. There were some circumstances..."

"You seem skilled. In fact, I don't doubt either of you."

"But no one wants two apprentice mages. Not like we bring individual specialties or anything."

"Well..." Tomas started. "What about our party?"

"What?"

"We don't really have any mages. And you both seem like fun people."

"I agree," Celine added. "Would be nice to have another girl around here."

"And Ka- Karshe? Karshe and I are already friends too!"

What is with this instant friends stuff? Wait, is he going to keep pestering me about the girls around me? ... Not sure I'm liking this... "Well-"

"If you'd have us, it'd be great, honestly." Lycia looked at Krarshe. "We'd finally be able to get some real training in with a party."

"Y-yeah..." Not sure I can talk her out of this...

"Sverre, what do you think?"

Sverre finished telling Na'kika his order. "Hmm? Oh, yes! You two, strong! I trust both."

"Sounds like we're in agreement then!" Tomas said. He stood up and put out an open hand to both Krarshe and Lycia. "Welcome aboard!"

Lycia shook his hand. Krarshe begrudgingly followed suit.

Sigh... Well, there could be worse company. I just hope he doesn't go causing problems.

He looked around the table, everyone smiling and talking excitedly about the new party members.

Yeah, could be MUCH worse.