16- An after-party

“fuaaaa!! that was quite the feast!!”

Once i was inside my room at the guild, behind closed, very closed doors. I did a small celebration dance. After all the drinking and boisterous partying that somehow erupted after we got Feugan registered, getting free food and lots of free drinks was worth celebrating.

I'm usually not keen on drinking, but the guildmaster kept insisting that i was already a grown adventurer. He kept insisting to an annoying degree, truly… Thankfully guildmaid, Kara? I think it was Kara. She brought me some honeyed wine, that was a good compromise right there! Thank you so much Kara!

Ah… Well, that bunch of alcohol driven adventurers, singing, yelling, partying and dancing… They really helped me to take my mind off some things.

“Champion, uh?...” I said almost in a sigh. Still feeling overwhelmed by this idea. I sat on my bed, grabbing a nearby pillow and holding it tightly against my chest. I couldn't help but to not want to think about this at all. I mean. Just last week i was still just gathering medicinal herbs while avoiding feral bunesnarlfs to try and pay the Guild’s weekly housing fees.

But me, a Champion?!  

The magical device and the guild assistant had declared this to be true. So i guess there was no mistake there. I mean, they are trained very thoroughly to not make mistakes on this, public order depends on this so the Guild does not end fostering criminals. Oh! There were those blue magical light paintings I had been seeing since i met Feugan too.

They resembled… Banners? Flags? Paintings? They did resemble paintings, overly blue colorful pictures with symbols, shapes and stuff.

Ugh… And here I was so worried about being a victim of some sort of magical scam. But Master just laughed at me!

“Gahahaha!! A Magic money scam?!! No one would ever take seriously any magic contract signed on the middle of the streets!! Maybe if they bribed enough people!! but for what?! The 5 silver a week you are making?! Gahahahaha!!” tsk. I can still clearly remember it, he didn't have to put it like that! I can almost hear his laugh just by thinking about it.

“Gahahahaha!!! Ya lil welps think ya can outdrink me like that?!”

Ok, nevermind... i can still hear him laughing quite clearly! Tone it down would ya?! you are not 20 anymore!

But. He did say something important. Very important! "Those rectangles of light are called 'Menus', they are a thing of Heroes and Champions" Or so he said. But most important! I dont have to pay for it! Menus are Free! Free is good!!

“Ah… Classes uh?... What Classes did the Asisstant lady said i have?” I tried to remember all the things said during the meeting, mumbling some of the key words mentioned before, trying to remember, concentrating on them.

While mumbling some of the words i could recall, a sound like a soft wind chime got my attention. As i stared right in front of me at the source of the sound, i saw it again. A clear blue rectangle of light. At first i thought of looking away. But if master was right, and he was most of the time. Annoyingly so. This was one of the magics associated with champions and heroes.

I took a deep breath and tried my best to prepare myself for what was in front of me.

Classes Beastmaster: Level 1 Gatherer: Level 1 Champion: Level 1

In front of me was the rectangle of blue light. It looked so simple and somehow calming at the same time, it seemed to have some fancy little details on the borders of the rectangle, almost like those fancy painting holders they have at some of the alchemy union offices I had been before in order to deliver materials. The pale light from it didn't seem to affect anything else. It just stood there floating. In front of me, in my dimly lit room in the middle of the night. But there was one particular thing that concerned me the most about this magic painting.

I could understand it.

Reading was no longer a skill only for the privileged like back in the times of my grandpa’s grandpa. But it was still a skill that required some serious time and effort to learn. And just like Pa’ would say “Time is money, and we aint got no money for that!”. Also, it was more or less pointless for the third daughter of an impoverished farmer. But this painting. I didn't understand it, but I did understand it! The shapes shapes for letters and numbers, what is considered as writing (that's where my knowledge of what writing is ends), those were unknown'ish to me. I could have a guild's job request in front of me, point and tell others “yeah this is a letter, maybe” or “this is but a doodle” (perhaps). But these? These I somehow knew what they meant.

I stared at it intently for a time, almost enthralled. Mainly Captivated. Definitely confused, though. I slowly moved my hand closer, letting go of the pillow I had held firmly against my chest until now. To try and touch the painting, out of curiosity, really. We weren't supposed to touch paintings. But this painting was mine of sorts, right?... Right?!

“Beastmaster uh?...” With my finger I reached forth to try and touch the misterious shapes that formed the “Beastmaster” name within the magical painting.

With a single clear sound resembling a wind chime another blue magic painting appeared, surprising me just a little this time (A LOT).

Beastmaster: A fighter with mysterious abilities that allow them to converse and command living creatures to fight by their side. Current Bonuses: Small Bonus to Strength Small Bonus to Charisma Small Bonus to Vitality Small Bonus to conversations with living creatures.

I stared intently at the information. I was actually surprised i saw so little of it, yet every little part of it seemed to defy what i knew of the world. “Command Living Creatures”?! As a Monster Tamer, one would just end up at the stables of some lord, soothing their big animals and monsters, with their high monster empathy. Soothing them! Even training a monster was more of a “accompany the lord” during the training sessions in order to keep mounts calm with sheer amount of soothing presence, soft encouraging words, soft caresses, treats and maybe a mage at the ready to use a sleep spell while letting the lord and his mount get accustomed to each other.

But.

Converse? Command? Fight?!

Just what did i get myself tangled into?!

Still baffled. My eyes fixed on the magical painting in front of me, yet not really focused, as my mind wavered on all the implications. After some time, I don't know how long really. The Beastmaster explanation went away and with a soothing bell chime i was startled back into the previous blue magic painting.

Classes Beastmaster: Level 1 Gatherer: Level 1 Champion: Level 1

Without realizing it i had been holding my breath. Already in a small panic. If Beastmaster was so different from what a Tamer was. What was waiting for me behind the next 2?!.

I took another deep breath and focused on the second class listed. Surely, if I touched the other two, I would get more information right? explanations? some peace of mind?!

Slowly, almost afraid (certainly afraid!) I reached and touched it with a single finger. Had anyone seen me it would look like I was afraid the magic painting would hurt me with just a single graze.

Gatherer: The land blesses all. Respect nature, share its bounties and thou shall really be blessed. Current Bonuses: Small Bonus to Vitality Small Bonus Botany skills Small Bonus to all Yields

That… That is a prayer to the goddess of nature isnt it?! ISNT?! I remember repeating it with my family during fall’s harvest festivals! Of course, coming from a small-barely-managing-it farming village, the faith to the goddess of harvest was ever high.

WHAT?! Ok. No. Calm down. This whole Champion deal is just having me jump from one baffled moment to the next. Lets calm down, count to thirteen, that should do.

I finished counting. And i am still very much confused by this. Still. Let's take it as it is.

With another bell chime the blue magic painting just went away bringing me back to my senses, “Classes” right at the start, showcasing the 3 of them. My classes. Those are my classes right? gah! so much to take on!

While looking at the bright magical shapes in front of me, my classes. I reached forth, decided to press forth onto the last mystery here and just be done with it. No more surprises after this right?

With another pointlessly soothing bell chime, the last dreaded blue rectangular painting appeared.

Champion: Hark chosen one. The thirteen have seen thee. May thy actions guide others in their name. [Blessing: Pre Existing Illnesses Correction] Current Bonuses: Small bonus to other classes Champions might.

Ok, same as before. We start from one… slowly… two… three… four...

The fudge?!! This explains nothing!. Where is my peace of mind?! or a simple explanation?! Blessing?! Peace of mind is a blessing! where is mine?!

I just can't help myself and with a mixture of confusion and anger I poke at the most spectacular offender here. This flamboyant bunch of shapes and symbols I somehow recognize as the word “Blessing”, which happens to be followed by other words i can understand, yet i fail to understand too! what they mean together? maybe the thirteen know!! I sure dont!

Another spuriously soothing bell chime.

[Blessing: Pre Existing Illnesses Correction] A blessing to start up champions under all their untapped potential. Will grant a correction over any pre existing conditions, likely a result of: accidents, untreated injuries, birth defects, poisons, bad luck, curses and more. Accepting will require immediate rest in order to proceed. Do you wish to receive this blessing? [Yes]                          [No]

That's it. I'm so surprised and confused that I cannot get any more surprised right now. I’m somehow calm. Well as calm as one can be, when being explained a lot of some life changing magic stuff in a different tongue. This was a different tongue right? I understood maybe “accident”, “poison”, oh i know what “bad luck” is. I seem to have gotten a lot of that as of late in fact!

Wait. Is the question directed to me?... Thinking about it, if no one else can see this, it must be directed to me?... Let's simplify then, to make it easier to understand. Yeah, solid plan. Bravo, Mimiru. We are doing great now! Great adaptability! I'll buy you/me a jam filled bread tomorrow to celebrate our progress!

Ok. Super simplified version… “Do you want a blessing?” mmm… Simple enough right?! err… well this seems to be working with my hands so~

I reached forth. I poked the shapes i somehow understood as “Yes”. Without a single idea of what i was really getting into. Everything turned dark and i passed out.

15- Worthy

Mimiru was at the Adventurer’s guild, brushing and helping Feugan clean off. Much like Brushing a horse to have it prim and proper. She just had nothing better to do. It was way early for her, the sun was still sluggishly taking up on the horizon, the kingdom’s walls would provide a nice shade to sleep for a tad longer.

Just not for her.

She was wide awake already. Her developed adventurer’s habits to blame partially.

Armor? Checked. Shield? Sturdy and properly fastened. Dagger? Cleaned and sharpened. Breakfast? Where are thou?! Oh, yeah. Too early.

The other part to blame? Some bunch of weirdos that arrived to the guild. She hadn’t seen them yet but she had a bone to pick with them. Woken up a few times by some wackos yelling in the middle of the night. Something about wanting to catch a rat and finding food on some alleyway. And then!! Some crazy bucko! Yelling at the top of his lungs “ITS MORNING BUGOK!, THE SUN IS COMING BUGOK!” way before sunrise.

What gives?!!

She didn’t know who they were. But she would find them, and punish them.

Giving up on adequate sleep, she just decided to start her routine. Having accepted that sleep was no longer a viable option. She came down to the hall to wait for breakfast, way too early obviously. She encountered Feugan, and somehow she found herself helping him to prim off. Brushing him off almost like a horse, helping to get mud and dirt of his scales and wings, the clods stuck in between.

Later, once done with thr primming and well entered onto their breakfast (Which Mimiry paid for both of them, insisiting on not force Feugan's welcome too much), she saw the guildmaster. He waved and joined them at the table. They had a small amiable chat about the weather or something. Maybe. She wasn’t quite sure. Not fully awake yet.

After finishing the breakfast and finally feeling like she had some semblance of being awake. The guildmaster was signaling to both of them to follow him.

They were going to be holding the first part of Feugan’s registration as an adventurer. They talked about the subject the night prior if memory served right. She stood up and followed suit, Feugan behind her. The guildmaster lead them to a room on the back of the hall. They were holding the registration on closed doors, very private in an office Mimiru only knew from gossip with others. Adventurers would go in there to talk about costs and fees, or interviews between groups and interested people that required more privacy than sheer alcohol stupor from your peers around.

With a rather odd mood set in the room, the guildmaster invited them to sit, a chair for Mimiru and the same big comfy bag for Feugan.

Not too long after they settled themselves inside, one of the guild assistants entered the room. One of the pretty ladies that worked from behind the counter on the guild. Mimiru knew that regardless of the pretty looks and bright smile, the assistant was in fact a capable former-adventurer, deemed too much of an asset to the guild due to her managerial and people skills to be left on the wild. An offer for a stable position was made at some point in her career and the would be assistant lady was now one of the core elements of the kingdom’s Adventurer’s guild.

The guild assistant entered the room bringing with her a magic devise Mimiru recognized.

She had seen it before, it’s a magical devise that aside from the people can be considered the heart of the guild. They are very precious indeed, mostly because their capabilities to help with the guild business, they provide a magical means to contract signing, identity check and communication in between the guild branches across cities.

While one could consider it invaluable and certainly, the number of adventurer’s guilds was limited to the amount of such a magical devises available, their scarcity came mostly from how hard they were to create, it wasn’t expensive in itself especially since they became a necessity for big cities and administrative-oriented business.

The device was simple enough in shape. One big chunk of crystalized mana held on by a metal base, this one was an unadorned model. A diamond shaped pale blue crystal, almost like a chunk of blue ore the size of a melon. Mimiru had heard gossip about really fancy ones at other places like the merchant’s guild and indubitably, the king’s castle. The crystal here was built in and presented as a tool, sturdy and unadorned. Get the job done, let the nobles worry about looks.

The female Assistant came in and politely nodded to them, she gave Mimiru a warm smile along with a good morning greet which she replied back to. They had known each other from years as working together as deskfront and adventurer. Then turning back to her work duties, she placed the crystal artifact on the table at the center of the room, then sat right next to it, standing in between the Guildmaster and, Feugan and mimiru. She immediately placed her hands on the magical crystal and began concentrating on it.

“Feugan do you know what this is?” Asked the Stern looking Guildmaster.

“{No. I haven’t seen this before. A magical tool?}”. “H-he hasn’t! But he thinks its magical”. Translated Mimiru soon recalling she was supposed to be playing the part of translator.

“Mm. Simply put this crystal here lets us check on adventurers and communicate with other guilds. Every adventurer has to register to the guild using it. It will analyze you and make certain you are not a threat, so all other branches can recognize you as well”

“{Analyzed? Is this necessary?}”. “Feugan?... He wants to know if it’s necessary, he is concerned about being analyzed”.

“Yes. It’s a requirement for any adventurer. It will calm everyone when seeing that you went through the normal procedures and showed no ill intent.” Replied the Guildmaster, understanding how this seemingly rude request is also a necessity and just explaining it as it is.

“As for your personal details, they will remain inaccessible for most people, only high ranked employed of the Guild will have full access to your information” Replied the female guild assistant. “Even now, I can only use it due to the Master’s permission.”

“Ok, that’s all about it, Are you ready Feugan, just put your… Paw? Your muzzle? or a wingtip maybe?... eh, just touch the darn thing somehow until we finish”.

Nodding in acknowledgement, Feugan proceeded at touching the crystal with his right paw. The device gave a faint blue glow as both of them touched it, the female guild assistant seemed to focus on the crystal first and then on something right in front of her that no one else was able to see.

“Ok. Feugan’Naa… ‘The  Noble’?!! He has a title? That is very uncommon… M-Master! A-and H-Hero!! Hero level 1!!” Said the bewildered assistant as her eyes grew big in a sudden bolt of surprise dropping all her professional manners after being shaken by the information she couldn’t pretend it wasn’t true.

“mm… regardless of the level… hero…” Said the guildmaster with a pensive look.

“A-Another one!! he has 2 classes!! ‘Lightning Sovereign’?!!” Said the shocked assistant.

“The heck is that?! Hah!! You are trouble, that’s what you are! Darnit!!” The guildmaster almost barked it with an odd mixture of annoyance and amusement. “So we got ourselves a hero trainee to handle now?, hah!”

Feugan had stood straighter right after the befuddlement of the assistant. Mimiru couldn’t help to notice, she was able to easily read his mood, most likely due to her knack for monster empathy. If that was even needed. She was pretty sure anyone able to see Feugan would notice he was reveling in all of this. He was practically beaming as the old seasoned Warrior and the knowledgeable-looking assistant called him “Hero” having their expectations shattered. She could’nt blame alone him on this. It was a look she had seen before, on youngsters coming to register. Being a hero was a rarity, true. But still, most adventurers came with “gifts”, much like her own knack for monster empathy. She had seen a few showing incredible gifts, classes such as “Sword adept”, “Charismatic leader”, “Elementalist”. Even the meathead of Bannon had “Iron wall” to show off for.

“Oi! Girlie! Now it’s your turn. Go and touch the crystal too” said the Guildmaster, looking at Mimiru and breaking the silence that had set in the room.

“Old ma- er! Master?! What’s this? I’m already a registered adventurer!” Replied Mimiru, a picth higher than she would have liked, just at the same time the assistant looked at him surprised as well.

“Just go and humor this old fool. Worst come, we will see if you have been diligently training to be a proper Monster Tamer”

At this, Mimiru gulped. All her progress and work from the last few years could be put into numbers this way. It was a frightening idea, actually. She had heard stories of would-be Monster Tamers that had the same gift as hers, but couldn’t further nurture it properly, and after years they would remain as “Monster Tamer level 1”. She moved her hand slowly, trembling slightly, scared by the idea of knowing she might have been wrong all this time. All her efforts and sacrifices meaningless. And even more concerning, she would have wasted the money of her family and friends. Her village’s hopes crushed.

Gulping almost audibly, she reached for the crystal, putting her palm on the device, closing her eyes tightly and hoping for the best. She made a small prayer for help to the heavens. The assistant nodded in response and focused on the crystal too. Also hoping the best for the Guildmaster’s young protégée.

“Ok… Uh?! A title too?! Mimiru, ‘Dragon Deliverer’. B-Beastmaster level 1?! Master!!” The assistant turned to the master with a shocked expression on her face.

That was it… Mimiru’s worst fears had come true. “level 1? This is it. I’m sorry everyone. I’ll repay you somehow. I’ll find a way to gather money and repay your kindness. I’m so sorry-”

…

…

…

“WAIT!!! The fudge is a ‘Beastmaster’?!! I was training to be a Monster Tamer wasn’t I?” went across Mimiru’s mind along with a high speed train of other multiple ideas and questions, suddenly feeling too disoriented and overwhelmed by everything that was taking place.

“… Just calm down and read it as it is!” The Guildmaster replied to the troubled-looking assistant as he remained on his seat with his hands tightening onto fists.

“o-ok… Gatherer?! level 1!-”

“mm… I see, so she has acquired two-” Started the Guildmaster.

“and Cha-Champion!! l-level 1!” Finished the assistant, completely dazzled. Now with cold sweat on her face.

The old man froze in place. In fact everyone was frozen in place athe revelation. The room was now dead quiet. Mimiru, still a little too out of it, turned to look at the Guildmaster just to realize he had gone pale, his eyes wide open, unfocused.

“s-she has 3 classes… cha-champion…” the assistant mumbled all too softly, her eyes wide, unfocused and gone much like the Guildmaster’s.

 ***

In the history of the kingdom’s Adventurer’s guild they had only ever witnessed people with more than 2 classes about three times if the old records are to be trust. Both cases were heroes. Renowned Heroes at that. Within a rich history of 300 years.

Multiple classes were a weird thing like that. A regular person could become and adventurer and through hard work achieve a single class. At that point it was more akin to a merit badge with actual benefits given by the heavens.

It is believed it is similar to a recognition by the gods that you had achieved something. And had been awarded accordingly. To be born with a gift or even a class was uncommon but not unheard of.

Some drunk monk -somewhere- postulated that it was a deviant in the population, born with something inherent to them, long dormant within their family. Kind of like saying that long long ago a relative of yours had great affinity for fire magic, and now one of his great-great grandkids had acquired it back.

And then the madman tried to explain such a thing by using peas as an example. The man was utterly ridiculed of course. But, no one was able to deny the term “Deviant”, as the idea echoed on everyone’s mind. Someone out of the norm. Everybody had seen at least someone like that, born with certain affinity or predisposition to something. Stronger, faster, smarter and so on.

But.

3 classes.

That was straight up the realm of heroes of legend.

The seasoned Guildmaster was by no means talented. He had been born with an affinity for combat and worked hard to achieve his two applauded classes. He wasn’t angry or envious about it when he saw a green-newcomer with 1 or 2 classes (as long as they worked adequately and proved themselves useful to the guild). He had seen a good share of them die by making foolish mistakes. Gifted, not perfect.

Nor did he pity any starry-eyed kid that wanted to become a hero. He was proof that it was possible to attain great results with to hard work and determination. And he would cheer on them, train and polish them for it. All of them. Gifted or not.

But.

3 Classes.

Years ago he welcomed Mimiru to the guild. He heard her story and accepted her in. The kid had an affinity for monster empathy. That was it. No classes. No tittles. Only a wish to do the best for her family and friends by her own means. It… Maybe it was that… Acquiring one single class overnight wasn’t quite possible. Acquiring 3? Might as well blame the gods.

OH!

Champion, wasn’t it? That’s right… she was a champion now. A hero could be born or chosen. Some religious people claimed that all heroes were handpicked by the gods, or gods reincarnated, or even former heroes reborn from another world. The only thing they could agree was that a Hero had some sort of mingling going on with divinity. But a Champion was different. A champion has to raise from among the people. It was subtle to a degree. You could be born a Hero, chosen by the gods as an important piece in their plans. But no one could ever be born a Champion. They kept their eyes on the people of the realm, on those struggling and fighting, and then they handpicked those they wanted to take part in their plans. In short. The heavens had taken a look at his little girl and had deemed her worthy.

…

Gods be damned.

This little girls he took under his wing would now face innumerable challenges without a doubt.

His little girl would no longer had a normal, peaceful life.

Tsk.

14 - Drinking with a father

It wasn’t a long walk, yet it seemed almost eternal to Mimiru. She grew more and more nervous while walking the “small” Dragon along the city as he seemed to prefer taking a leisure pace without communicating with her at all. Just heavy thuds as he slowly walked behind her. A red Dragon basically stalking her along the city!

Was this some sort of nightmare? Was this hazing? Was the guildmaster hazing her so she would move out of the Guild’s living quarters?!

After a nice brisk stressful walk. They finally arrived to the Adventuring Guild.

“We have arrived this is the adventurer’s guild. It is a little well into the afternoon, so most adventurers should be already out. Depending on your needs, it might be a good time to come!” She said, with the most formal and business like speech she was able to muster torwards the threatening visage the Dragon nonchalantly provided.

The Dragon sat on his hindlegs, and took a look at the large building. A stout building indeed, stone brick walls, wood supports for the ceiling, large enough to work as a shelter if the need arised. Among the humanoid races seemed to be quite a popular shape for safety. He was quite pleased to see a wide and sturdy metal-reinforced wooden door onto a large and tall entryway. He wasn’t able to enter many buildings because of humanoid design, so it was a nice change he was quite grateful for. Only one problem remained.

{“Why are we here?”}

Congratulations!

By your Interactions you have raised your Monster Empathy skill! by +0.2

“eh? W-what do you mean we are here because you…” She stammered trying her best to ignoring the magic-bait in front of her, then tried her hardest to remember what had happened at the gate… She then tried her hardest to remember things differently, having just realized the good-for-nothing guards had just outwitted her. Then she proceeded to try and come up with a valid reason on to why she had escorted a Dragon to the adventurer’s guild. Definitly not because some meatbuns-for-brains guards had outsmarted her. She had a valid and reasonable reason! She just wasn’t sure what that reason was, yet.

“er… Is not the Adventurer’s guild the best place to find a solution to your problems and or preocupations?... maybe?...” Denial. She picked, denial. The Adventurer’s guild was full of resourceful people. If you had needs, they could provide assistance. Assistance even for a conundrum as simple as “how can I save face right now?!”. They did deliver.

{“Mmmmm… A solution for my problems?... Mmmph! Yes, perhaps this is the right place to have brought me to. I am grateful to you, human pup”}

Congratulations!

By your Interactions you have raised your Monster Empathy skill by +0.3!

Monster Empathy skill has reached level 2!

By your actions you have adquired Mediator skill!

By your actions you have raised your Mediator skill by +0.1!

Monster Empathy and Mediator have merged to create Monster Talk!

Monster Talk is now Level 2!

By your services to the noble Dragon Feugan you have been awarded a New title!

“Dragon Deliverer”

She quickly shut her eyes, the glowing blue square was HUGE this time. It said many things, she was sure some of them were interesting. But she wouldn’t fall for this trap! She was quite familiar with the sweet talk vendors in the city were capable of. Each word was like a fishing hook all too shiny with promises just waiting to get a hold of her wallet. She wasn’t falling for it, she wouldn’t lose to such an obvious magic market sales pitch!

When she opened her eyes, the Dragon was looking at her with his head tilted to the side. She didn’t need to be a professional monster tamer to see the doubt look on his face.

“ah!! S-some dust got in my eye! A-anyway, this way please!” She lead him the rest of the way, she opened the reinforced doors wide open for the Dragon to pass through. To her surprise, the Guildmaster was standing in the middle of the hall. Arms crossed over his chest, a fierce look on his eyes as he stared at the Dragon.

“M-Master!! This Dragon came to the guild for help…” She froze. A scene she had already witnessed today was taking place again.

The Stout Guildmaster was locked on a stare stand-off with the Dragon. Two fearsome creatures now locked in a duel. All the patrons present at the hall turned their gazes at the two of them, silence befell the hall, interrupted only by soft murmurs of adventurers apprehensive and afraid of what was taking place.

“Are they measuring each other?”, “Are they going to fight?!”, “They both look like monsters!”, “Did Mimiru bring a monster to finally off the old man?!”

“OI WHO SAID THAT!!, I was asked to help him out! Was it you Bannon?! Oi! don’t run away!!” Mimiru’s voice reverberated as the still fairly quiet hall felt the previous dramatic tension just melt away onto jokes and cutlery chattering as people lost interest and deemed their food more important.

“Mmm… He passes!” Said the weatherworn guildmaster.

{“You are not bad at all yourself”} Replied the dragon.

They both nodded knowingly as they stared at each other with a newfound respect and a feeling of trust developed out of nowhere. It was basically folly, every adventurer present agreed on this. You can’t just look at someone meaningfully and pretend you have understood their intentions. At least both of them were similar on this matter.

“Marx is the name! I run this fine establishment and help shape up this lot of whelps into proper adventurers” He then motioned to one of the barmaids to come.

“Meat and wine alright for you?”

{“Meat and water shall suffice, red apples if you got some, please.”}

The guildmaster stared at the dragon. The barmaid stared at him too. They both stared at him for a few seconds until the stout old man turned his face torwards Mimiru who had remained besides the Dragon unsure of what to do or when to leave.

“It doesn’t talk?...” He said. Breaking the fragile deluded illusions of the younger adventurers.

“So he is not a monster after all”, “I thought they reached mutual understanding by looking at each other”, “I think I need another drink” 

Were the faint rumors going around the hall.

“H-He! It’s a He! I mean, He is a him!... well yeah what else… I mean! He accepts the meat but he wants water and apples!” Replied the young confused and obviously soon to be overworked Monster Tamer (to be).

“Aha! I see, I can respect that! Come girlie, we will obviously need you for this!” The guildmaster Signaled to the barmaid to fetch the refreshments and then signaled to the Dragon and Mimiru to follow him.

Now at a more secluded corner within the hall with a wooden table between them, their refreshments in place just as they were ready to start their conversation. The guildmaster took seat and signaled torwards some big pillow-like bags, obviously in place to receive some of the enlightened races that didn’t had the lower body of a human. The huge pillow-bags were a huge success towards beings such as the Centaurs, Lamia, Arachnoid and the many with multiple limbs. The Dragon pulled one of the bags, he seemed to knead on it for a brief moment before settling comfortably on it. A brief moment in which Mimiru couldn’t help to think he seemed like a huge kitten. A Huge scaled lethal red winged kitten.

“Tell me then, how can we of the adventurer guild be of assistance to you? It’s rare to receive a quest from a Dragon. OH! I don’t think you have introducted yourself!”

The Dragon nodded, a serious look on his face as he remained with the comfy bag under his forelegs, his tail curled around him. “He does resemble a cat…” Mimiru thought to herself.

{“My name is Feugan’Naa. Thank you for receiving me. You can call me Feugan”} “H-his name is Feugan’Naa, he gives his thanks for receiving him, He says just Feugan is ok” Translated Mimiru.

Congratulations!

By your Interactions you have raised your Monster Talk skill by +0.1!

“Oh? Feugan’Naa you said? That sounds like an old naming convention, it sounds from the Kingdom actually”

{“It is”} “It is”.

“Interesting, I wont ask for details if they are unnecessary”

{“mmm, You are very prudent, that is quite alright”} “er… he says that’s prudent and alright”

“So how can we of the adventurer guild be of assistance to you?”

{“I don’t know”} “w-what?!... He-he doesn’t know” She replied with surprise and a tinge of guild, although this sense of guilt was lost to the other two.

“Ok… let me rephrase the question, you are free to answer it or not, no strings attached. Even the food is a courtesy from me to you, think nothing of it but of an old man trying to humor a guest and nothing more.” With this said, Mimiru couldn’t help but to feel nervous. This was an obvious invitation to something more, it was obvious the guildmaster had deemed this to be some sort of secret.

“What is your business in the kingdom?” {“…”}

The simple question changed the entire feeling of the room. This would be a total fantasy’esque statement if Mimiru herself wasn’t able to feel the mood of the two creatures she was interacting with. “No, wait! The guildmaster is a human not a monster!... surely!... maybe?” She was very glad no one with mindreading skills was present.

{“I am looking for my master”} “He is looking for his master”

“mmm… is he lost? Was he captured by someone?”

{“She! My master is a female. Captured is unlikely, she is a peerless fighter. As for lost… I don’t know”} “Er… His master is a Female and he… doesn’t know if she is lost. But he says she is an extraordinary fighter so it’s not likely she is being held captive”

“You don’t know?. This is troublesome…” The old man leaned back on his chair, he took a long go at his mug of Ale almost chugged down half of it.

“Oh might I might have taken much more alcohol than this poor body of mine can take, please excuse me if I go and start spouting nonsense. It will surely be the alcohol talking”

This confused Mimiru, she had seen plenty a drinking contest the guildmaster had won. She had even witnessed how the guildmaster would invite drinking rowdy young bad drinkers and made them regret ever thinking of drinking as something fun. He would take them on and then he would even drag their sorry poisoned bodies to the closest apothecary. Most of his victims wouldn’t drink again in months, it was said a few didn’t drink alcohol again at all.

“Would you and or your master be a hero from a different world?... hiccup…” He did go and said “hiccup” outloud!! With a straight face! It was the worst acting she had ever witnessed. And with the most outlandish question to boot. Was this ol- er… the Guildmaster trying to make a fool of himself in front of an enlightened beast?

“Oi! Master, there is a limit to how far you can take a joke in front of a guest! Those fantasy books sure can be popular among the youngsters! But there is a moment when you cant bring it up!”

Mimiru had seen her share of young new adventurers coming to the guild, claiming to be summoned heroes from a different world. Of course all of them had been still kids coming from close-by villages. The adventuring proffesion sure brought a lot of people in the need of money. But there were a few here and there, with their heads filled with stories from popular novels and bard songs. They came with dreams of turning into a hero of legend capable of defeating the Demon Lord, some even changing their background and pretending they didn’t come from an impoverished village.

{“Mph! You sly human!”} “eh?… wait what?” Mimiru stared at Feugan, confused, while he took and apple with his right foreleg, carefully holding it between his claws. He took a long meaningful look at the red juicy looking apple and in one single bite it was gone. His tail lifted a little and slamed against the floor, yet he didn’t seem to be angry. Mimiru realized it was most likely some sort of gesture just like someone would be rapping his fingers while thinking. She was actually quite sure of this, she could feel him being pensive.

{“What if we are?”} Said Feugan, his eyes seemed to close as if still pondering on his choice and looking straigh to the old Guildmaster. 
“ah?! He says… ‘what if we are?’ ” She replied a little unsure if she was translating or conveying the meaning properly as the conversation was turning way off for her to follow.

Congratulations!

By your Interactions you have raised your Monster Talk skill by +0.3!

And distractions on top of her confusion now!

“Tsk” The guildmaster clicked his tongue giving Mimiru a very welcome distraction. Taking his mug again he gulped it down in a single movement. Slaming it down, he grabbed some jerky stripe and started gnawing on it, almost as if it helped him to gnaw at his thoughts as well.

“Eat!” He commanded them in a tone of voice a little higher than he intended. Startling Mimiru, she just knew somehow she was included, she could feel it.

“Sorry… I am just… please eat some of this.” He gestured for another drink torward one of the barmaids that couldn’t hide as well as the rest.

“Feugan. We will somehow register you tomorrow as an ‘enlightened beast adventurer’. Mimiru here will accompany you and introduce you to the shops, merchants and people who might be of interest to you serving as a voice for you. There are not many monster tamers in the city so it was probably fate that you two…”

He stopped midsentence, his eyes grew wide just as he seemed to turn pale all of a sudden. In swift motion he turned his face towards Mimiru, that startled the already exceedingly confused Monster Tamer (to be).

“Mimiru, has anything out of the ordinary happened to you?!”

“Well yeah?” She said while motioning with one hand torwards Feugan. Who took the eating invitation to heart and was well started with a big piece of roasted Giant Lizard leg.

“Asides from him, has anything out of the ordinary happened to you since you met him?!”

“I…” She started fidgeting, she didn’t want to admit it, but lying to the old man she owed so much just wouldn’t do it.

“I might have been getting some sort of glowing blue square magical announces… B-but I haven’t read ‘em! Im not interested in buying anything!”

That quieted down the old man. Mimiru was really concerned as she saw on his face a sudden mixture of emotions. First he seemed angry, confused, then concerned and for a brief moment he even seemed proud while his eyes fixated on her. He didn’t say a thing until the barmaid came back with more drinks and food. She scurried away without breaking the mood, a true barmaid pro. The towering old man chugged another mug with ease.

“Oi Feugan! Ya philandering hatchling! here is your first quest. Please, take responsibility and teach this daughter of mine how to use her menus!”

{“Tsk, I will overlook your attitude this time only because it is my fault! It shall be done, this I vow”}

“Wa wa wa whats? going on! When did you two start being able to talk to each other? And whats this about me being your daughter now?! What’s gotten to you Old man?!”

“Tsk. Y’all adventurer whelps are my sons and daughters, git it?! ‘Whats wrong with me’ you say?! An overgrown lizard shows to steal one o’ my daughters and suddenly you even drop the formalities an’ respect with me?”

The rest of the night was a very familial drink and eat between the 3 of them. Spicied up with constant yelling about adventuring, the loneliness of office and unreasonable demands for Dowry