Comrades in arms

The way up the mesa is a winding path with many curves but soon enough we reach the top. Gora thanks the coachman and he heads to the carriage stop to rest.

Before me is the Resting Guild HQ. It is different from how I imagined, especially compared to the intricate buildings from the capital. The entire place is integrated with hills and mountains. At first glance is almost impossible to see the man-made aspects of it.

But as we approach on foot, I start the hear. Lound crashing sounds. Coming from the top of one of the hills.

I see a big hulking rock troll fighting against a nimble looking Naga, a serpent creature with man arms. It startles me, but as the Naga dodges an attack that leaves a crack on the ground, loud cheering can be heard.

My first instinct is the run but paying close attention I can see the orange and purple attire they are wearing.

(They seem to be training with protections, just like Gora said. It really is a lot physical)

Diverting my attention to the opposite side, on top of another hill I can see bright flashes of light. With many people launching what looks like fire bolts while others block with magical shields.

(And that Is blessing training. That is literally magic!)

It’s getting impossible to contain my excitement.

“I see you’re eager to start.”

“Sorry, it’s just that everything looks absolutely fascinating.”

“C’mon then, lets meet up with Tom and then I can give you the tour.”

As we walk, I can see it more clearly. Almost every building was built from inside out of the surrounding topography. With the smaller hills serving as platforms for what I assume to be training.

We reach the base of the main mountain that has the massive tower like peak reaching into the sky. We could see it from kilometers away before reaching the mesa. It has a massive door which Gora effortlessly opens. And on top of the door, carved into the mountain, a massive statue of a young-looking girl.

(Is that how Sonala looks like?)

Heading inside we go into a beautiful hall, well illuminated and decorated. Both sides of the hall are full of tables with groups talking with one another. The sound of talking is clear, however all of them keep an appropriate tone as to not disturb the other groups and where no one needs to speak up to be heard. The organization they have here is quite baffling.

Around the tables there seem to be bookshelves, but instead of books they are filled with binders, scrolls and pieces of paper being held together with string.

In the middles there is a circular hollowed table with what look like receptionists inside. There is a cylindrical bookshelf with slots that fit more scrolls.

And all the way in the back of the hall there’s a massive quest board carved into the mountain stone with what looks like to be the continent of Morlum. It is incredibly detailed, to the point of even though it is my first time ever seeing the continent I can clearly see where the capital is and the path we took to reach here.

Each mesa with its corresponding town is clearly depicted with a relief in the stone and flyers are scattered around them. The stone carving has a light color, but the more flyers located on a mesa the darker it gets and the more attention it seems to draw. The groups at the board are almost exclusively looking in places with more flyers.

On both sides of the quest board there’s a passage that seems to lead to the back. We head there and they both connect to a small corridor with another set of doors. It gets quieter as we get closer. Like the sound gets left behind in the main hall.

Gora asks me to stay put, she knocks and the door and heads inside first.

As I wait for her to come back, I hear footsteps and looking behind me I see a slender looking man with snow white combed hair, and a light blue tint to his also snow-white skin. Behind his ears he has what look like horns at first but looking closer they remind me of the external gills that axolotls have.

“Oh my! This is no place for a civilian to be!” He says with a pompous tone.

“Uh no, I’m not…”

“No, no, no. That won’t do. I know you must be ecstatic to meet your heroes of the resting guild and pay your most sincere gratitude, but this is a serious matter!” He just keeps on talking.

“Actually I’m…”

“Your mere presence here could distract us from our duty and training. I’m flattered, but I must ask you to leave. If fate allows us to meet again, in the name of the Resting Guild I will be more than glad to hear everything you have to say.”

“Will you let me SPE…” He puts his finger on my lips.

(Okay, I’m about to punch this guy.)

I slap his hand away.

“Dude what wrong with yo…”

I get interrupted again. Thankfully is Gora opening the door.

“Alright Akihiko we can go ins… What are you doing here?” She looks at the guy next to me.

“My, my! Gora-Senpai! What wonderful encounter! I was just about to meet with mister Tom once again to ask about my first mission when I met with this lone civilian! Poor thing got lost, I was about to kindly guide him outside.”

“Look dude, first off don’t call me senpai is weird. You’re older than me.”

“Age means nothing in the face of skill Gora-Senpai, and on that front you are truly superior. Showing my respects is the obvious thing to do.” He puts his hands on his chest as if saluting her.

“Sure, sure then just tone it down a bit.” Gora has been talking to him for so little time and already looks tired. “Second, he’s a new recruit. He’ll be joining us soon.”

As soon as he hears that his gills perk up.

“But why didn’t you say so! A new comrade in arms! How exciting!” He grabs me by the shoulders, almost taking me off the ground.

“The name is Salazar of Salamander Kin! At your service.” He lets go of me.

Although you’re here rather early are you not? There is still some time for the new batch of recruits to arrive for the exam.”

“He’s a special case. Plus, I have a feeling the exam is going to be just a formality to him. I bet he’s gonna be the ace of the next batch.”

“Ho ho.” Salazar says rubbing his chin “I’ll most certainly be keeping my eye on you then. I’ll take my leave. As you future senpai is only natural for me to let my cute kouhai go before me. I’ll be taking my leave and come back later.”

Salazar darts off laughing.

I think I hate him.

“What was that?” As I look at Gora I can feel my eyes almost starting to twitch with anger.

“Salazar was the ace of the last batch. He’s a massive weirdo but he’s got a good heart. Try not to get too angry with him.”

“Sure… What’s this about recruit batches?”

“Once we talk to Tom, you’ll understand it a little better.”

We head inside the doors. Looking inside, we are at a nice-looking office with stacks of paper. Behind them a massive man sits on a chair. When I say massive, I mean in every sense of the word. Both in height and in weight he is easily taller than Gora when fully transformed into an orc.

The tall and chubby man stands up and comes to greets us. He has beige skin, bald head and lots of cooked teeth, including two lower protruding canines form his lower jaw. Way bigger than Gora’s.

Despite his weight, he wears a nice orange and purple suit.

“Well, you must be Akihiko. It’s so good to finally meet you in person! I’m Tom of Ogre Kin, I’m the one responsible for all the paperwork that comes in.”

He has a surprisingly soft and cheerful voice with a polite manner of speech.

“Nice to meet you too.”

He wanders over and shakes my hand. He’s strong but it looks like he learned to hold back his strength.

“Well, let’s get to business, shall we? Volkan and Gora already gave me a rundown of your current situation. You must be truly special for waking up after 10 years of no new awakenings.”

“Well, I don’t really feel special. All I did was wake up.”

“Time will tell; time will tell.” He sits back down.

“So, you’re also of Human Kin, aren’t you? The second one here after Lara.”

This Lara person. Another human. Could she be from another world like me?