Kai put his drink down. The familiar cold amber fluid made from some exotic grain found in some exclusive rift somewhere near the city would have been indistinguishable from any ale he could have found back on Earth, if not for the suspended cold aspected mana that kept it cool and refreshing.

"I don't understand why they put me in the ring with a gold ranked adventurer."

"It's because the guild looked bad," Temra said as she took the remaining empty seat.

Kai scoffed as he sat back in his chair, resiting the urge to swing on its heals in contemplation as he reflected on his guild assessment.

Once he had returned to the stands and Temra confirmed there wasn't much reason to hang around as there was apparently no-one of interest waiting to be assessed and they could come back in the evening to collect their guild badges.

Cillian and his team took that as their cue and suggested they go get those drinks they had offered to buy Kai.

So now they sat, In an inn on a main street that seemed to serve adventurers exclusively.

Their two separate groups coming together for the first time to have a very public drink to celebrate their admittance into the guild. The display intended to cement the pretence of them all becoming fast friends.

They had opted for a table in the corner, the long single piece of thick wood with matching benches on eather side was clearly chosen with large groups of adventurers in mind, with five people able to sit comfortably on each side, six or more possible if they squeezed.

"Think about it Kai. Seven applicants in a row, most of them getting high-mid tin without even breaking a sweat. It was beginning to look like the guild was favouring us unfairly. They had already clearly broken their rule on random selection by letting you kids go one after another," Temra said, giving reason to Kai's confusion.

"The guild needed to make an example out of one of us before they moved onto the other applicants," Niamh finished.

"Exactly," Temra said, giving Niamh's deduction an approving nod.

"They probably hoped one of us would slip. But when Alicia and myself came out and settled our fights the way we did… Kai unfortunately became their last chance to do something about their reputation," Syl added as she eyed her drink.

"Would it have really mattered?" Kai asked, trying to rationalise the explanation in his mind.

"Yes. On one hand people might question the authenticity of our qualification, not that it matters much at tin level. On the other hand people were already muttering about nobles always having an unfair advantage. so the assessors decided to try a tried and true method to keep people happy. Give someone a tough opponent. The panther of Karta has a bit of reputation for putting on a show. She's never killed anyone or done any lasting harm. The kicker being anyone she approves of usually goes on to have a great adventuring career… once they recover."

"People think we're nobles?" Kai asked in confusion as he looked around the room at the other patrons, most of them doing a poor job of minding their own business.

He decided he could have passed for any of them. That was if anyone of them were male and were wearing spotlessly clean, perfectly tailored clothes.

He had removed his armour and donned what he thought was casual everyday clothing using his raiment.

He had to admit that maybe his clothes were a little too clean and far too well fitting to be something off the shelf; he had to admit maybe there was something to the assumption that he was a noble.… that and he was technically an emperor, one of three, but it counted.

Seeing both Alicia and Syl in equally trim, clean clothing, he decided it would be an uphill struggle to pursue the complaint that he was anything but noble.

"The manager was furious," Temra went on as she explained her quick meeting with the guild manager, "She had left as soon as we were sat to go make an in person report to the main office and neglected to inform anyone of why exactly we were sitting in the premium seats other than to tell those running things that they should bump us up the list so we would be seen to sooner than later. Told me it was common practice for those with our circumstances."

Hearing that, Kai had to admit the people waiting to be assessed had a right to be suspicious. They were in fact getting preferential treatment. Even if the only thing they had been afforded was slightly less crowded seats and a priority for their matchups.

"I suspect the guild will be quite apologetic when we collect your badges and sign your official guild writ." Temra chuckled. "I am hoping I can get the three of you three moved up the list for access to some popular low level dungeons, when you're ready for them that is. As it was the manager seemed a bit too distracted for anything when I cornered her, she was particularly terrified Talious might do something rash."

Talious shrugged, "That didn't cross my mind. But now that you have mentioned it. Maybe I need to make myself clear, establish my territory while I'm here."

"I think 'Mine' made things clear. Talious, you've got to tell me how you did that. I managed it when Trengor was giving me commands, but I havent been able to replicate it since."

Talious just looked at Kai, her jaw slack for a moment before she picked it up and she gave him the signal that she was obscuring their conversation. "ill see what I can do, but please understand, this is taboo among my kind."

Kai nodded in thanks.

Alicia sighed, "I wish we could figure out High'viairen."

Talious coughed, "To be clear… only dragons can speak what we call dragon call… if Kai found a way to imitate us, it was not dragon tongue… after all, we learnt the tongue form… others, what is commonly called the Lost. If Kai has shown this ability I doubt it is because of the nature he shares with me, but instead what makes him unique. So what he has done in the past… probably not dragon tongue."

"Oh, Ooh!" Alicia said when she figured out what Talious was hinting. "Do you mind if I come and take notes?"

"You can come, but no notes… and don't tell my brethren if you learn anything. Many of your kind have tried through the years to unlock the mythos of High'viairen. So we dragon's have established a general rule and it has become taboo to even entertain the idea of teaching it. Given the power of your language skill and connection to Kai and Syl you might see results. But not all of my kind know what makes you three unique yet. It is a closely guarded secrete among my kind. You understand?"

Alicia nodded eagerly, and nothing more was said as the general conversation resumed.

The others at the table had easily overheard the oblique conversation, and they made a point of minding their own business.

They were all well versed in the fact that there were massive secrets among them. Cillian, for example, somehow still hadn't figured out that Kai, Alicia and Syl were the Imperial Trinity of Dawn. All he knew was that Alicia was The Sage's daughter, and that was enough for him. While his sister and cousins knew not only that, but had figured out Kai was the elusive Spectre.

Everyone present knew that they were trusted friends despite not knowing everything there was to know about each other. Such as Kai and Syl's unique race that so far had shown itself first as High-Human, then revealed as Perfect Progenitor Archetype by Syl, then High-Vei when Alicia had examined them. The mixed results made Kai wonder what Ester might see if she were to examine him when he lowered his guard and was not wearing the pendent that changed the results of their examination.

The fact things were being said so openly in their presence at all with them there was an open extension of trust.

A lot of things simply remained to be asked, and Kai felt that they were at the point he would tell any of them anything they wanted to know. He knew he was quick to trust; he didn't care with these people.

Temra eyed all the different drinks on the table sadly then signalled a waitress and asked for a nonalcoholic drink before she turned back to the table and said with a little bit of bite, "Talious, what I don't understand why some one of your… reputation was even at the guild registration office in the first place." The statement was clearly fishing for an explanation.

Talious put down another empty glass next to the growing collection she had in front of her, and she sighed dramatically. "Oh, that… I thought I had to register Sicily if I wanted to take her out and about with me. The Guild seemed like it was the easiest way I could register her."

Temra planted her head in her hands, clearly wanting to say something but holding her tongue as she let Talious go on.

"It did not occur to me they would have my mana signature on record. Only the spirits know how they got it. But when I tried to register there was this annoying alarm that went off and they got all angry with me for some reason. A moment later they were all bowing and scraping as they begged me to come to the back office while they confirmed things." Talious glanced at Temra. "You look annoyed, why do you look annoyed?"

Temra let out a sigh of her own as she lifted her head and gave Talious a smile. "It's obviously nice to meet you like this. But this, it just complicates things. It now looks like my team has an insanely powerful benefactor. Normally I would be thrilled, but it is going to be hard to explain. I dread the interest it's going to draw, that and the implication. People are going to have suspicions."

"Why? We just met. That and people are going to learn your teams particular little secrete eventually. That alone will draw attention," Talious said as if it didn't matter they were in a busy common room.

Temra coughed.

Talious went on, "The guild will do it's best to hide exactly who I am. I think I was pretty clear about my desires. But I'm sure my strength will make people both nervous and curious in equal measure… Even if they can't determine my level from an examination, my power is not something I can hide from anyone who has learnt to read auras like your Syl here. So I'm not foolish enough to think that my identity will not get out eventually. When that happens I think It would be even more suspicious if I, at this point, didn't show an interest in your team considering the circumstances. I mean what are the odds of me meeting them?"

Temra's eyes narrowed. "They're astronomical… It's just not at all what I had planned for, not something within my immediate calculations. Going to complicate the next few days for me. But if I could not adapt, I would be pretty shit at my job."

"You worry too much," Talious said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "You should know worrying's not good for one with child, especially if you are delaying the birth.

Temra growled in frustration.

"Leave it to me, I'll make sure there are no problems. That no one oversteps and tries to take advantage of your team," Talious said confidently as she eyed a man waiting a table away. His twitching thick grey, perfectly trimmed beard revealed his advanced years despite his youthful complexion as he did his best to wait patiently.

Kai had not bothered examining him. He already knew the man was from the famed Riders Association.

A flustered guild representative had brought him into the inn and pointed him towards their table in the corner before dashing out the door as quickly as possible.

The man waltzed through the inn's common room like he owned the place to approach their table. He stood tall, grinned proudly, and then announced himself loudly, proclaiming that he was there to escort them to the Riders Association.

Talious called him an idiot and immediately ordered him to sit down and shut up, as a growl caused everything in the room to rattle as she glowered at him.

Cowed, the man sat down at the nearest table, where he had been staring nervously at the wall ever since.

He must have felt Talious's attention, as he Somehow, he managed to sit up a little straighter. Still, he dared not look her way.

"You can head back to the Riders Association. Tell them I will be along when I feel like it," Talious said, addressing the man as she gave a passing waitress a smile and tapped one of the empty glasses in front of her.

The man practically jumped up from his seat and bowed deeply before straightening to fearfully look in Talious's direction, his eyes never quite raising to look at her directly.

His lips worked for just a moment before he said, "As, you wish… but what about the…" He eyed their group carefully before continuing, "the other two… I was sent to give you all an escort-"

"Actually there's three," Talious said, cutting the man off. "And can't you see, now's not a good time. They are celebrating. I'll make sure to bring them when they are ready."

The mans eyes widened at the mention of there being three, and he glanced between each of them, assessing them in turn in the time that only someone with considerable stats could manage.

Kai guessed the man was uncertain who exactly among them actually had a dragon hatchlings and was trying to work it out.

Fortunately, they had managed to convince Castiel, Fayriel and even Sicily that they wouldn't be up to anything interesting. So the three of them had retired to the domain to check on Gift, find something to eat and hopefully not get into any trouble.

A long moment passed, the man seemingly frozen in his bow.

When the waitress came with a platter of drinks for the table, the man finally asked Talious calmy, "Do you know the way? I will gladly come back at a later time, or date if that pleases you?"

"Boy, has the building been changed since It was first established?"

"No, But the manor, it has been expanded and renovated since you last… visited."

"Did any of these renovations allow the building to get up and walk away?"

"That would be-"

"Then I will find the place in my own time. Until then I will ensure these are safe in my care until then."

The man bowed a little deeper and turned to leave.

"Did we have a say in any of that?" Kai said jokingly as the man left the inn's common room.

The serious looks he got from Temra and Talious told him that they didn't.

"You have a busy week ahead. When that is settled, you might have some free reign to do what you want. Until then, you need to stay on track. Unless you want that week to become two or three," Temra lectured.

"Typical," Kai muttered in mock frustration.

He didn't actually mind. So long as he knew what the plan was ahead of time, he actually found the regime comforting.

"While I'm curious as to what all that was about," Niamh said with a nervous glance towards Talious, playing her part perfectly. "I'm going to let you guys keep your secrets. We have our own after all. You should see what our manager back at The Sage's place has lined up for us… Technically speaking were not supposed to be here right now. But after that assessment I think we deserve a drink or two, and if the old fart complains, we can tell them we were forming connections. That and a promise to buy a man like Kai a drink shouldn't be taken lightly."

"I'll drink to that," Meave said, raising her glass in a toast.

"Heres to our new friend Kai and him nearly getting killed on his first day," Cillian said with a grin.

"The crazy woman threatened to put me in the guild infirmary and give me a nice scare," Kai said, not thinking the joke was all that funny as he remembered the look in the woman's eyes and the flare of her mana.

He really needed to figure out what aura was and how to read it because if that last fight was anything to go by, you could get a good sense of someone's intentions from their aura.

He knew it had something to do with mana, but that was about it.

"Oh, we heard," Alicia said. "They adjusted the arena's barrier the moment she entered the arena so we could hear you talking. They must of known how chatty she was and wanted to make sure everyone knew they weren't favouring you. I'm impressed you managed to portray the strong silent type as long as you did."

"I hear some time in the guild infirmary, does one good," Syl said in a rough imitation of Kai. "That was worth the cost of admission alone."

"The 'Oops' at the end kind of ruined it for me," Aoife added.

"At least we all know why Kai insisted on changing out of his armour. I was in the stands and even I nearly soiled myself when that woman realised her aura and came for Kai," Saoirse said, speaking up for the first time since they got to the inn.

"I'm sure the guild could have stopped her, but I needed to make a point. And you will want to give Kai his due. He didn't actually shit himself. The same can't be said for the rest of the arena."

"Wait, how would you know that," Temra said as she shifted in her seat.

"I could smell it…" Talious said, wrinkling her nose.

"I have a baby pressing on my bladder, if anything came out of me it was unrelated."

"Actually, I was talking about the general public. I gave you the benefit of the doubt."

With Temra glaring at Talious, they decided they could wrap things up.

Thanking each other for their company, they quietly shared where they were staying, knowing that people were listening in and that the information couldn't be contained in a city like this.

With a quick verbal agreement made to help each other out if they ever ran into any trouble and to spend some time together in the near future training and sharing pointers with one another, they finally parted.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

When they got back to the inn they were staying at and into the safety of the domain, Temra nearly exploded on Talious for jeopardising all of their plans.

The dragon was supposed to lie low, hide her identity, protect the others from a distance, and only when it became known they had dragons then maybe she could make herself known. Temra acquainting Talious with some kind of living secret trump card should there be any trouble.

Talious just shrugged, saying it was already weird that she was staying at the same inn and that it was far easier to protect someone by acting as a known deterrent than having to skulk around a city.

Temra pointed out she knew for a fact the dragon in human form could come and go from the inn as she wished without anyone noticing.

The fact that the little pregnant gnomel woman seemed fearless in the face of Talious the red dragon in human form was not lost on people.

Their argument went round and round for an hour or so before the two pivoted to talking about how they could make this work for the better.

The afternoon went by quickly as they once again met up with the other group after they had met with their own manager to debrief her.

Niamh and her cousins reported that there was already word spreading of a new adventurer who had survived their bout with a certain infamous gold rank during their assessment. The buzz being that he was handsome, that he had eloped from some noble family and had a powerful yet mysterious backer.

Apparently, their manager was already using her connections within the city to investigate the rumours of Kai and his team further.

It was of course all pretence on their part.

The manager was an old trusted friend of The Sage who had come out of retirement just because The Sage had asked her for a favour.

Temra explained that the old woman had probably worked everything out long before they had even arrived in the city.

She personally knew the old woman from her time on the Spirit of Exploration and saw it as a great opportunity to work alongside her and advance her new carrier.

The interesting part being that Temra had actually been The Sage's second choice for handling Kai, Syl and his daughter. Only Temra's time with them on the airship winning out in the end and securing Temra her current position as Kai's person aid back in Dawn, but also his adventuring team's manager.

Kai thought that surely this other manager would have to get access to the domain at some point if she had any chance of effectively managing the Korabain team. Even if they were by some chance, a miracle worker that could do wonders while working behind the scenes. It was impractical with how they had come to use the domain.

When he mentioned he was curious why they hadn't met their manager yet, he was informed that the old lady was refusing to acknowledge the existence of the domain and the portal to enter it within The Sages property.

Plausible deniability apparently.

It was fine if she wanted to keep her distance. Kai just thought it complicated the management of their team; how was she supposed to get ahold of them when she needed to?

As if in answer to his thoughts, Niamh got up, a flashing communication crystal in her hand.

She announced that their manager needed them to head back to the guild to collect their badges and sign their adventuring writs as the day's assessments had finally drawn to a close.

He thought, at least the manager at least had someone like Niamh keeping everyone on track.

Despite being the youngest on her team, Kai had to keep reminding himself she was actually just a couple of weeks older than him despite his brain constantly telling him she was on the youthful side of eighteen.

A fact that Kai had discovered annoyed her older brother Cillian, who looked much younger than her. Syl had explained that, like back on Earth, girls started puberty earlier than boys, who were often left to catch up.

Niamh was clearly the unofficial team leader and always seemed to be corralling the rest of them.

Well, Kai admitted, her three cousins seemed to have their heads in the right place, and it was only Cillian who made Kai worry.

Shortly after the others had left, Kai felt something odd.

Someone was trying to access the portal he had left with the Houses.

He barely had time to acknowledge the feeling and check who wanted into the domain before the feeling was gone.

Syl had let them in, and she was excusing herself, saying she needed to see to someone new in the domain. Not too uncommon of an occurrence with all the spirits that were coming in with the Kitsuné setting up their little village.

The feeling that Kai got through the bond let him know there was nothing to worry about and that he needed to somehow keep whatever was happening a secret from Alicia for some unknown reason.

Kai tried to stomp down on his own curiosity as he did his best not to let anything bleed through the bond to Alicia. It was actually good training, but he noticed her eyeing him suspiciously every so often.

Luckily, just half an hour after Syl had left, Ester showed up grinning like a mad little dwarf woman.

Her Crafting assessment had gone well, and she had been awarded the level of journeyman for all three of the crafts she had chosen for assessment. The level that was considered outside the apprentice tier meant she could take on higher better paying commissions without guild supervision.

When Kai asked how her brother Orril had done in his crafting assessment, she curled her lips in disgust.

Well, was all she said before flopping down in a seat and explaining that Orril had taken the opportunity to head out early with some beautiful girl he had met during his assessment. Her last comment on the subject was that he had no loyalty.

What that meant exactly Kai didn't ask, but he assumed it had something to do with the woman that Orril had left behind when his parents had dragged him to the Dawn Empire.

Noting that her brother would be fine on his own, Ester ginned and launched into the fantastic story she had heard of some mysterious man filling the arena with light and passing his guild assessment by defeating a particular gold ranked adventurer.

That led to Alicia filling Ester in on how their assessments went after she left the arena.

She was just telling her how Kai had unleashed all his mana bolts at once when the Korabain team returned. Each of them proudly sporting their brand new tin guild badge.

Temra didn't give them a chance to catch up as she rolled off the edge of the rocking pregnancy chair Syl had made exclusively for her and told Alica and Kai it was their turn.

Temra scowled at Talious as she followed along with a smug grin on her face. Syl only came to join them just as they were leaving their room at the inn.

When they got to the guild, the place was pact, and it was clear not everyone was there to collect their guild badges following a successful assessment.

The packed room shifted, and conversations changed as they entered.

Temra groaned.

Kai felt his identity pendant go cold as eyes turned their way.

With everyone's collective attention washing over their group, most of them thankfully froze until they got to Talious in the back, and they suddenly decided to look away again.

"It appears they have been waiting for us. They'll either be wanting to join your team or offer you a position in the guild," Temra said with a dissatisfied click of her tongue.

"And here I thought that submitting to the guild that we weren't looking for members or to join a guild would mean we got less attention," Kai said sarcastically.

"Normally you would be right. But there are always those that like to push their luck before the big movers and shakers get involved. Seems that your performance has elicited more attention then usual,"

"Hopefully they'll wait until we get things sorted, that way we can just excuse ourselves and make a hasty exit," Alicia said as she took Kai by the arm.

"They'll wait if they know what is good for them," Talious said, and Kai turned back to see her lower a glare in the direction of a group that had just stepped forward.

He felt a slight pressure wash past him as Talious froze the eager group where they stood with a flare of her aura that then burst once it hit the unlucky group to wash over the rest of the room in warning.

People had told him that his aura was lacking when it was compared to his willpower that allowed him to block people's examinations. He even had the Giant Slayer achievement from the trials dungeon, which claimed he could enhance his aura with each achievement, whatever that meant.

He thought that aura was something that would come naturally with levels and stats, but perhaps it was time to explore what aura actually was. Especially if aura was related to the pressure that he felt from people far stronger than him. Just learning to read it the way Syl seemed to be able to do could be useful, but if he could control it like Talious… that could be game changing.

He made a mental note to ask Talious about auras in one of their magic lessons and stored it away with all his other mental notes.

The crowds parted as they approached, a corridor forming as Talious glared at anyone that moved their way.

Syl took her place on his other side as Talious guarded them from behind and Temra led the way forward.

When the crowd parted enough and the counters were visible, a guild clerk stood up to get a better look over the heads of the line she was seeing to.

Confusion turned to recognition, and suddenly the clerk was abandoning her counter to guide them all through the back to the room they had met Talious and the on duty guild manager just that morning.

Only this time when they were led into the room, Talious wasn't the one waiting for them.

The panther of Karter was sitting in a chair in the corner. Her arms were folded over her plain clothes as she stared up at the ceiling. The image brining to mind a bored child stuck in a time out.

She didn't even look their way; she just heaved a heavy breath and asked, "What is it now?"

As if in answer to her question, there was a commotion in the corridor.

A shrill voice cried, "You put them in the same room?!" as footsteps approached the door.

The voice from outside the room caught the attention of the Panter causing her to look at who had actually come into the room.

"Spirits!" she cried as she fell from her chair down into a low bow, planting her head firmly against the floor with an audible crack.

"I'm sorry, I lost control and disgraced myself, my guild and damaged the trust that people put in the Adventurer's Guild. Master Kai more then proved his qualifications to the level required for that of a capable tin ranked adventurer and making an example of him was not only unnecessary but violates the tenants of the Guild. Doing so to maintain a reputation such as I have is distasteful especially considering my recent elevation to gold and I sincerely apologise," the Panther of Karta said, the words coming out at a rapid, almost panicked pace.

The door creaked open, and the room was filled with silence.

"That sounded rehearsed," Talious mused as she made her way further into the room.

The panther tensed.

"She may have had time to think about what happened," the Guild manager from this morning said from where she stood in the doorway.

The silence stretched out again as the Panther of Karta chanced a look around the room before nervously licking her lips and saying, "I was asked to make sure people did not think the Guild was going easy on Master Kai and his team. I took things too far, and I lost my… cool."

"We thought as much," Temra chuckled at the confirmation that the guild was indeed trying to maintain its reputation.

"Why did you loose your cool?" Kai asked unable to contain his own genuine curiosity as to him, nothing he did in their fight should have forced an experienced adventurer over the edge to the point they would launch themselves at their opponent with such palpable blood lust.

"Master Kai, it was clear you were capable. But I could tell you were holding something back the entire time. People die when they hold back… strangers, party members, friends, family... The path of an adventurer is filled with the blood of others… I was impressed with how you handled yourself, but I was also angry. I though Kai was fighting me with using some incredible artefacts, holding back and taking the assessment lightly," she sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I thought I needed to teach him a lesson. That's why I decided he needed-"

"A scar." Syl said, finishing the woman's sentence for her as she gave the woman a fierce, displeased look.

The panther of Karta touched the scar on her own face.

"It's a good reminder. But I apologise. I understand of course that it is within peoples best interests to hide what they are capable. An assessment is not the same as an actual fight and its best hide what you can do… But all those mana bolts, all of them under your control the whole time, not some artefact… I was surprised, shocked even. When all that mana hit me, I had a- a flashback, I saw a threat, I blacked out and when I came to…" she paused, her eyes glancing at Talious nervously, "I was face down in the sand."

"P.t.s.d," Kai said quietly, "I'm sorry…"

Kai got curious looks from almost everyone in the room. Only Syl nodded along as she gave the Panther a pitying look.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, the Panther got up to rest on her knees.

"My guild. No, I personally wish to make amends. And while I would love to extend an offer of something like my tutelage in arcane swordmanship. I know my style, runes, enchantments, and equipment would not fit with Master Kai. But if there is anything you need, I will be happy to do what I can."

Kai opened his mouth, but he shut it again when Temra took a step further into the room.

"I am sure you or your guild is already aware of where we are staying. Have someone establish a means of contact and I will make sure Kai does not abuse your offer. We will contact you in the future when there is something of interest or a need we believe is within you power to fulfil. But, of course, should you come up with something you think is suitable, by all means contact us at anytime.," Temra said calmy doing her job and managing the gold ranked adventurer's offer in his favour.

The Panther's lips curled into a grin as she nodded at them each in turn, her eyes darting to the floor after she chanced a look at Talious.

"So that is settled," the manager said as she finally came fully into the room. "I must also apologise on behalf of the Guild. We created the situation and things did indeed get out a hand. If everyone would please take a seat, I have your writs and badges."

The Panther stood in the corner, not moving, confusion on her face, and Kai realised that she hadn't actually been dismissed.

The manager turned to her and looked at the chair in the corner. "I'm not done with you yet, this wont take long and nothing we are about to discuss exceeds the parameters of official guild business. That is so long as it is okay with you of course."

"There is no issue." Temra said as she moved to take a seat, sighing as she settled her hand resting on her belly.

After the manager gave them all a minute to take a seat, the panther of Karter once again took her seat in the corner.

"While I was not present for your assessment, I have read the reports and watched the recordings. The three of you are more than capable. But as you no doubt no we cannot exceed mid grade tin-"

"You jumped up to gold for me," Talious said suddenly, interrupting the woman's flow.

"Yes, I… erm," the manager glanced at the corner where the panther sat, and she licked her lips. "Our records show that you were registered with the guild years ago, so we-"

"I don't think I have ever been registered with the guild."

"Yes, you were… but as a familiar."

Talious looked up at the ceiling for a moment as she thought, "that actually makes sense. I'm surprised you have records that old."

"The guild is diligent. We have merely updated our records. No policy, tennant, principle or bylaw of the guild has been violated by giving you this, and we look forward to the day you accept a higher rank," the manager said as she rifled through the documents on the table, placing one to the side and putting a gold pin atop it.

The Panthers' chair creaked as she moved to get a better look from her position in the corner, but she said nothing.

The manager then adjusted the rest of the documents, spreading out a set of three, each with a tin badge placed atop it.

"I spoke to my superiors and we concluded it best not to add any political stars to your credentials yet. Should your relationship continue to develop however that may change when you inevitably rank up to Bronze. Though a bronze ranked adventurer has had no hand additions to their badge in centuries."

Talious scoffed, "Stingy."

"For someone who want's to remain anonymous you dont know what a low profile is," Temra said dryly.

Talious just shrugged. "I thought I told you low profile has never really worked for me. And don't see anonymity and low profile as mutually exclusive. You can be one and not the other. Just need to make sure everyone's too afraid to do anything foolish. I found it was the easiest way to maintain my territory. You don't need to know what is hunting you to know its a good idea to get the hell out of there and stay out."

The panther's chair creaked again, and Kai turned around to see she was sitting on the edge of her seat.

The manager coughed nervously. "these badges work as an identity tokens, as so long as you remain in good standing with the guild we will maintain them free of charge. However there is a fee for replacements. We suggest that you only wear them when necessary or acting in behalf of the Guild. Some people like to pin them to their gear, others wear them as a pendant. But most store them safely in a spatial device if and when they should acquire them."

The manager paused to give them a moment to process.

Seeing that they were all following along and had no questions, she continued.

"You have access to tin level guild quests, missions and commissions. You however will find that there is quite a waiting list for the tin level dungeons… you will need to acquire a mandatory number of tin points before full access opens up and you can push up into the bronze level. Some people call this the tin tally. It is in place so you can learn the basics of being an adventurer, learn how we do things. It is to keep you, and others safe. Just know that when gain full access you cannot go higher then one rank above your own unless specially authorised by the guild. As you have a capable manager I sure that is all I need to tell you for now."

Temra had indeed gone through and explained most of this, and if Kai hadn't missed his mark, this was the guild's way of informing them they would not in fact be receiving any more preferential treatment than they already had.

"The writ is your official contract with the guild and I will need you to apply a mana signature before you may take your badges. You will get a copy that also serves as secondary proof of guild membership. Should you loose your badge, it can be used in cases where you are not in proximity to a guild office to receive a new badge. Such as when you answering a quest or fulfilling a task on behalf of the guild. It details what the guild expects of you in an official capacity should you find yourself needing a reminder of what you have agreed to by joining the guild. This will be expanded as you rise through the ranks. I suggest you be careful who you show your writ too as it contains all the information you submitted with your application. that includes the information about your familiars…" the manager trailed off at the last part, making it clear that there was something she wasn't saying outright in the mixed company.

"Unfortunately, that airship has flown. The man from the riders association, that the guild sent our way, announced to whole inn we were in that he was there as an escort for Talious and two others. I'm sure that curious people are pulling that thread as we speak," Temra said, her tone making her annoyance clear to the manager.

"Apologies. I was not the one who handled the riders association when they came looking for you, i'll make sure everyone is aware how important discretion is to some of our members."

Kai looked back again at the Panther as he heard her chair shift.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what is going on. Political stars, territory, the Riders Association? You said this was official Guild business but you are being… shady. I've been an adventurer for a long time and I've even seen the Guild's underbelly a few times and I live with it. This all sounds..." The Panther trailed off.

"This is troublesome, I did not think this conversation would get so involved. May I?" the manager asked, looking to Talious for permission.

Talious nodded, saying, "So long as she knows I would find it distastefully for any of this information to leave the room."

"Harriet, the woman you pissed off today is not just any woman who has taken up or been given the name Talious. She is the Talious. The red dragon newly taken on human form, come to our city to get use to her new transformation."

The look on the Panther's face went through several steps as she looked at the diminutive woman called Talious, who was at this moment expertly directing waves of her aura over the woman as her horns curled out of her head and red fiery scales formed on her skin.

First came confusion, then awe, and finally terror as she paled. For once, she was unable to look away.

"You planned this," Talious said, turning back to the manager, "Couldn't even go one day."

The manager shifted uncomfortably. "Forgive me. Despite what happened today, Harriet here is in good standing with the guild. We know her well. Well enough to know she would do everything she could within her considerable power to learn everything about the woman who cowed her single handily. You would be her next milestone, her next rival. If we got involved and tried to stop her it would only serve to make her more curious. She would involve more people and it would become difficult to contain. Best to nip it in the bud now. Isn't that right Harriet?" the manager said firmly.

Harriet, the Panther of Karta, nodded furiously. Her face was still pale, and her mouth agape as she seemed to process everything seriously.

"As I said, distasteful if anything leaves this room. I trust that she knows how serious I can be, that I too have a reputation to uphold. And don't think I will appreciate this approach in the future. Now if that is everything you wished to discuss, I was invited to a celebration, I've never attended a celebration in this form. I am quite looking forward to getting… what was it… oh yes, drunk," Talious said, standing up.

Kai and the others quickly leant forward and put their mana signatures on each of their writs half of each stack disappearing to leave just their copy behind as they collected their badges.

"Does this place have a back door, I don't fancy leaving the way we came in. Nothing has gone as I planned today," Temra asked as she got to her feet, the writs disappearing from the table as she touched each of them after .

"We do have a back door. But trust me, if you are thinking to avoid the growing crowd, good luck. As physical altercations have happened in the past, I must remind you that your actions will now reflect on your standing with the guild. If you wish I can arrange an escort, though that will draw as much attention as it avoids. I suggest you do not take this approach as there are already rumours of favouritism."

"Actually can you give us the room, before we go? There's something we need to discuss real quick." Kai asked as an idea came to him.

"Certainly. Harriet, come."

The Panther of Karta got up slowly and followed the manager out of the door.

As soon as the door was closed, Temra turned to Kai and asked, "What is is?"

"Make it quick and keep it small, and connect it to here," Syl said, already knowing what Kai had in mind and sending him a mental image of a location within the domain.

Kai nodded and opened a portal.

"Should have though of this. They will wonder how we left, but I'm tired and I want a good soak in the bath tub," Temra said picking up on the Kai's plan to get out of there without having to head back through those that were waiting to harass them about one thing or another.

There was a pause, and no one moved to go through as just beyond the portal where Syl had asked Kai to make the connection, there stood a confused woman looking back out at them.

"Lilly!" Alicia suddenly squealed as she jumped through the portal, her arms out wide to embrace the surprised woman on the other side.

"Shit. Everyone through," Kai called as he manipulated space to give everyone a tug in the right direction.

…

Harriet peeked past the manager as she opened the door.

The room was completely empty.

She looked about. The magic in her crystal eye saw nothing, revealed nothing.

Just the faint wisps of the aura from the group that had occupied it just moments ago.

"How? This place is warded against teleportation," the manager said in confusion.

"You're the one who told me that was Talious in human form," Harriet said, still not quite believing it. "Who know's what she is capable of? You know, I'm really glad you convinced me to stay behind and not rush over to their inn to apologise... Just who are they?"

"As far as we are concerned, ordinary people. Trust me, the Guild is handling it. And by the spirits, don't agitate that woman. She is the red dragon! I verified it myself five times and the Guild itself another ten. She could turn this city to rubble if she wanted to."

"Why is she with those kids?"

"She is interested in them, that's all I can say. But you will find out soon enough if you're patient. Do us all a favour and keep your distance, keep your guild distant. Don't do anything we will all regret."

Harriet nodded, but inside something was burning.

Those three kids, the way their auras were tied together. She had never seen anything like it. She just wished she had the money for a better eye that could see more than just traces.

For the first time in years, she was actually interested in something. For the first time since she had lost her party, she felt alive again, and she would be damned if she just took a seat in the corner.

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