16.2. Candidate selection process

Heron slept longer than usual and was feeling more rested. When he went down for breakfast, Emilia was at the counter, serving other customers.

Remain calm, don’t make a scene. “Good morning, Emilia. May I have some breakfast?” He tried to ask it as naturally as he could, but it still sounded a little bit off.

“Yeah, sure,” Emilia responded, tonally indifferent.

They tried to avoid looking at each other's eyes, averting their gaze as much as possible.

We really need to talk. Heron munched his porridge as he thought about how to go about it. But he made a promise. And speaking of the person he made a promise to, Marcus entered the tavern, sitting next to Heron.

“Ah, good, you are up. I’ve managed to set up the meeting. But I have not said anything, so it is up to you to convince them. We should get going once you’re done with breakfast.”

“Hey, Marcus. Can you tell me where the apothecary is?” Heron said as they walked towards the guild.

“Sure. Something wrong?”

“No, just having some trouble sleeping. For two nights now, I have been feeling like someone's saying something, and then I wake up and there is nothing there.”

“Sounds troubling. Did you do something?”
“No, first time, I think it wasn’t even a dream. I was using a blower, and just blanked out.”

Marcus stopped in his tracks.

“Marcus?”

“Nah, it couldn’t be,” he pondered. And then he just smiled. “I think it is just a bit of acclimation and stress, but nothing a bit of Valerian tea can’t fix. I think I have some back in the tavern, just remind me to make you some before you go to sleep.”

The guild was unusually quiet when Heron and Marcus arrived. A soft chant drifted from within, low voices woven with grief.

Inside, several of the adventurers stood in silence. Candles flickered along the walls, and at the center of the hall rested a single pair of worn boots, a sword laid across them, and a white sash embroidered with the sigil of the Rohana Federation.

Marcus removed his hat and whispered, “Funeral rite. Someone must have died during a mission, so they are honoring his service. Since we don’t know the man, just quietly follow me.”

Heron followed him closer. The air carried the faint smell of oil and incense. A woman near the dais sang, her trembling voice echoing in the main hall.

Beneath the oak where first we met,

The roots remember, they never forget.

The grass bows low, the earth is deep,

And there my love shall softly sleep.

Helmond, shade him in golden leaves,

Sing to his rest in autumn’s eaves.

When Vihor’s snows in silence fall,

I’ll light the lantern and heed his call.

Some bowed their heads; others clenched their weapons as if anchoring themselves against loss.

A tall woman in a hunter’s coat stepped forward once the song ended. Her silver braid caught the candlelight. “We gather not to mourn,” she said, her voice firm, “but to remember why we walk the path we chose.”

Marcus touched Heron's shoulder and gestured toward a figure standing near the back of the gathered crowd. Even in the dim candlelight, the man was distinctive. He wore a red military uniform with detailed brass buttons, ginger hair tied back, and a stoic bearing.

"That's Richard," Marcus whispered. "He is our man. We can approach him after the rite concludes. Let us go to one of the visitation offices, and let them finish honoring the dead."

“So, what is it that you want, boy?” Richard sat across the table from Heron.

After getting into one of the visitation chambers, Marcus left Heron. “I will not be staying. I’ll meet Richard outside. Good luck!” He exited and closed the door.

Richard and Heron were now face-to-face, and Heron felt the presence of authority coming from Richard’s aura.

“I’d like to join your party, sir,” Heron responded adamantly.

“And why would I allow you to join?” Richard asked, maintaining a strict tone.

“I have a goal, one that I can only reach with the help of a party like yours. I wish to visit Tiwaz.”

“So, you want to use my party to achieve a personal goal. Marcus has surely gone too old. He is losing his sense of sanity, calling in a favor for this nonsense.” Richard growled.

“Sir,” Heron started to plead. “I will try to be of any use to you, and I will not abandon the party. I’m just hoping that if we find ourselves in a situation where Tiwaz is in proximity, that you will allow me to go there.”

“Heron, was it? Listen, Heron, you don’t want to join an adventuring party; you want to hire one. People who join these parties are either bold and stupid or running from worse things in their lives. Or they are villagers seeking citizenship and better pay than they earn in the villages. Bottom line is, there is no place for personal goals aside from monetary ones, understand?”

“I can’t hire a party as I have no passport first. I’d just throw money away.”

“Oh, you think you are rich enough to afford a party?” Richard laughed. “Listen, setting a quest locally is expensive enough, not to mention hiring a party that will guide you to a place two kingdoms away. You do realize we’d have to pass through the entire Tuska before we enter Scallia Republic, right?”

“So, what would you have me do?”

“Well, become a citizen and get a passport. It will take at least ten cycles to become eligible, but until then, work for a local party or be smart and find a nicer job and form a family. And if you are really in a hurry, you could try smugglers, but if they are undercover police, you’d be executed.”

“Neither of those options is something I’d want. Becoming a citizen takes too long, and I don’t want to commit a crime for smuggling. I want to earn my way.”

“Well, then, sorry to say, but best of luck finding another party. There is no need for any further discussion.”

“Wait!” Heron yelled, then, realizing he raised his tone, he lowered it immediately. “If I had something of value, something to trade in, could you make me a party member and organize a mission to Tiwaz?”

“You did not rule out the money the first time. What is it that you think you possess that you think is that valuable, boy?” Richard asked, eyeing Heron with curiosity.

“Well, I don’t own anything, but maybe I could get a hold of it. My question is, would offering a soul crystal as payment be enough?”

Richard looked at Heron in silence. “Heron,” Richard said, his voice reverberating. “How would a boy like you get his hands on such an item?”

“It doesn’t matter how; what matters is if it is enough.”

“Don’t play around, boy. Having something like that is very dangerous, for both its nature and its value. If you had that sort of item, you’d be better off giving it to the church. They may even speed up your citizenship process.”

“Would that be faster than joining a party and going to Tiwaz after?”

“No,” Richard was getting annoyed. “But it doesn’t matter. Having two of us trade such an item would get us both killed. You’re stupid for even suggesting it.”

“I didn’t offer to trade it, I just asked if such an item would be enough to cover expenses?”

“Gah! You annoy me,” Richard growled. “And the only reason we are still talking is because I owe Marcus. But the answer to your question is no.”

“What? But someone told me these are really rare and high value.”

“They were right. But they don’t cover a party membership. That is something that you must earn, provided you can give me the information where I could look for such an item.”

“That is fine with me. I wanted to earn my way into the party, fair and square.” Heron responded with conviction. “So if I earn my right to join you, you’ll get instructions on where I might have seen the crystal, as you put it.”

“No, the price of taking the test must be included in the same deal. So, you will get the test, and if you fail, you will have to provide me with the information. That is not negotiable.” Richard said it and crossed his hands.

“Can I have time to think about it?” Heron asked, his enthusiasm waning.

“Sure, but I want the answer by tomorrow. I’ll be here at the same time. I expect the decision by then.”

Heron exited the guild building and went back to the tavern. He was troubled by the dilemma Richard imposed. The crystal is too valuable to risk. But I may not get a second chance. How did Haran cross these countries? There were many questions in Heron’s head.

When he arrived at the tavern, Emilia had already finished her shift, and Marcus was on duty.

“So, how did it go?” Marcus was eyeing Heron.

“Not great,” Heron responded honestly. “They are asking me to give up on a valuable item for a chance to take the candidate test.”

“How valuable is this item?”

“It is really valuable to me,” Heron said, but as he said it, he pulled out the pendant to fool Marcus regarding what the item actually is.

“Well then, I wouldn’t gamble something so precious. But again, you were pretty adamant you have to go to Tiwaz—so is the price not worth it? You need to figure this answer for yourself, Heron.”

Heron grabbed his head with both of his arms and moped on the counter. “What is it so difficult to decide?” he complained.

“Why don’t you think it over tonight. Also, for your rest, I remembered about the tea. You can take it upstairs with you after dinner.”

Marcus put out the dishes for dinner in the evening, and Heron took the vegetable pie. He wasn’t feeling hungry for anything more substantial, and he was anxious about deciding on Richard’s offer.

Then he asked for the Valerian tea and went back to his room. He decided to take a shower to relax before going to sleep. As he finished showering, he was looking at the blower.

I don’t know if I should use it. Last time I was spaced out, what if something worse happens? Maybe he should just let the water dry up from washing. No, it may take too long. This is faster, and I’ll use the comb to fix my hair.

He picked up the blower and pressed the button.

-.. --- -. .----. - / .-.. . .- ...- . / -- . / to die.