A Silent Truth

The name of the adventurers guild is: Black Company.

While Leona didn’t come to understand what this guild name meant, it was ironic to carry such a name.

I could see now why the girl at the desk wanted me not to join. Warning me of its true nature.

Black Companies on Earth are known as companies which take advantage of their workers, often forcing them to join a slave mentality just because they hold that power.

To think that I would trade being a slave to being treated as a slave.

He took the bronze pin in his hand and pocketed it. Still, he kept this association to himself as there would be no point trying to explain something that existed in another world.

The bronze pin was proof he is an adventurer and that was good enough. From today on he was permitted to leave the manor and come to join those of the Black Company adventurers guild.

Once he made it back he was told by Leona that no matter what, his allegiance was to her and her alone.

I could see that Leona is in her own sort of cage—perhaps that is why she acts like she does—I wonder if this will ever change…

“Leona—do you ever wish things were different?”

“Dravis, what’re you talking about?”

“If there’s one thing that you could change, what would it be?” Dravis asked.

“Like you, I wish to be free, I wish for a life where I can do what I want to do”

“So you’re not happy with the way things are?”

It was just Dravis and Leona so there was no need to keep secrets hidden—afterall a former-slave’s word doesn’t hold up as much as the second princess word would.

“I don’t think I ever was happy, and it’s been like this for a long time now—”
“And what is it you’d do if you were truly free?” Dravis had asked.

“I haven’t given it thought, the truth is I don’t know—I don’t think I’ll ever find out”

“If you were given the chance, would you take it?” He asked.

She nodded, “I think so”

“It doesn’t matter what I think—” She said.

“Listen to yourself, is that really how you feel?”

“Why do you need a weapon by your side?” Dravis had said.

“I suppose I can tell you—my father is planning on sending me to a magical academy on my own, “

She closed the book that was in front of her and turned to Dravis.

“My father has many enemies—and so we both know why that’d be a bad idea—but if I have a weapon by my side I’d needn’t worry”

“I see, if I am to be your weapon then you can no longer treat me like a slave—”

“Fine, if that’s what it takes then so be it”

———

The day had finally come where it was time to meet the Black Company.

Dravis was let out by word of Leona and with his bronze pin affirming the fact.

The carriage of drawn smoke-steeds were waiting to travel to the capital.

“To the adventurer’s guild” Dravis had said,

Feels good to be giving orders for once.

The carriage made it there in a hurry.

Once Dravis had entered the adventurers guild, presented his bronze pin and he asked this of the receptionist:
“Where is it that I'll find the Black Company’s Guild?”

She wrote the directions on a piece of paper and then slid the paper to him.

If he could read her mind, he pondered what it was she'd be saying.

‘Don’t be stupid—or I can’t believe he doesn't know about what kind of reputation the Black Company has’—is what he thought she’d be thinking.

Either way he wasn’t going to let a bad reputation stop him from finding a way through the shadows.

From what the girl had written The Black Company's base was just outside of the capital city—a single tower that one could see in all black.

Being as it still was fairly early in the day there weren't all too many people walking about.

Once he found the black tower, it was not like one could have missed such a place for it was big enough as it is.

Dravis had knocked a couple times, waiting to see who would answer the door.

The one person who opened the door looked as though he had been sleep deprived for many years, he had facial hair that had been overgrown like that of weeds to an unruly garden.

“And who’re you supposed to be?” His voice was deep but it didn’t seem to match his face, for even though he had facial hair his face said that he was still young.

“I was told that you were accepting members to join the guild”

His eyes widened,

“That would be right, but the guild master isn't in—she's the one who’d be able to accept your request “
He leaned in closer,

“Don’t you know what they say about our guild—because it’s true, every last word it’s exactly how they say it is—”

“I know what they say might be true—but this is the only guild which accepts slaves or former slaves”

“So that’s why you wish to join—don't say I didn’t warn you”
“I’ll tell the guild master you want to join, what’s your name so I can relay the message”

“The name’s Dravis”

He closed the door without saying another word.

So this is the courtesy I am to expect from a guild like this.

Guess I can’t say I'm surprised, if I was overworked too I’d probably feel the same way.

He hadn’t thought of the fact that there was no transportation for him to make my way back to the manor.

And so with no coins to his name he had to walk all the way back.

And when he came back to reach the manor and its doors, he was exhausted from the long walk, he made sure to remember the way back but still it was something he wouldn’t make the mistake twice of having to do.

He knew he was to report back to Leona and so he went and asked if anyone knew where she was.

“She’s in the garden,—” Someone had said.

The female slave who’d been keeping her company was dismissed once she saw that Dravis had returned.

“I had to walk all the way back from the capital on my own—”

“Is that supposed to be my fault?” She had said.

“There’s one thing I haven’t told you—