It took some time for Darius's remaining items to burn to indescribable messes, what wasn't destroyed completely was demolished through Logan using his Force mick on them. Removing any signs of the firepit, the two safety-conscious adventurers made sure that the fire would not spread into the forest, as not to anger any bears. Cleaning up the area, Logan and Marcus started the long trip back to town.

During their travel, the Spellthief and Devout had a long conversation over the events that had transpired that day. Logan informed Marcus that the people who attacked the Movas were under the command of Darius, Marcus noticing the link between the attacks and the leads towards Logan. They had also discussed the golden watches that Darius mentioned, apparently evidence against Logan and his previous actions.

With little to go on, the two resolved to stay more low-key, at least as much as they could being an oracle and a Devout who gained three times his MP in a few days. Logan had some ideas as to hide their origins, but it would rely on the friendship and trust of a certain receptionist. They were tempted to return to the site of their wolf ambush, to take what would remain of the adventurer corpses, however, they decided that the remains were far too destroyed to have anything of worth, especially if they were low level enough to fall to wolves.

Arriving back at Tinte, the two were thankful to see some modicum of civilization again. Evening turning to night, Logan and Marcus resolved to hit the beds after handing in their quest, thankful the lunatic Wizard had the thought to take the components from the wolves that had already been harvested. Unlike the hobgoblin ear a few days prior, the wolf eyes were needed to be handed back to the guild, Marcus was sent to prepare the room at the inn whereas Logan went to the hall.

At the adventurers' hall, Logan saw a good 9 adventurers ending their daily quests, a few looking more injured than others. Identifying the selection, he saw they ranged from level 1 to 4. “The longer I stay here, the more I will seem stronger than other ranks, I can't blend in well with those below my level”, Logan rationalised.

Moving over to the counter, Logan saw Rubené had cut her dirty blonde hair a bit shorter with blue and red ribbons placed on either side. The haircut suited her 5'4'' frame better, as her previous length kind of hid the shorter woman away. Her clothes were recently laundered, the dark-brown and dark-blue colours looking brighter than usual, her blue undershirt changed out for a pink one. The same quill sat behind her ear, no longer keeping her now short hair from her face. Her magenta eyes almost glowed as they landed on Logan.

“Good evening, Logan. Come to hand in your wolf quest?” Rubené asked, instinctively knowing that Logan had completed his quest as usual.

“Yes, Ru, took longer than usual but I got all 4 here”, Logan replied, placing the eyes on the counter.

Without any sort of disgust, probably used to dealing with body parts due to her job, Rubené looked over the wolf eyes and placed them into another bag, pulling out the 3 silver reward in 30 copper coins at Logan’s request, and handing them to the Spellthief. His signet got updated to 15 quests, 11 of them being villager requests.

“Say, Ru, when do you get off?”

“Sorry? What do you mean?” Rubené was confused, most likely due to the Earth phrasing from Logan not translating into this world.

“Oh, sorry. I meant when does your work end today.”

“Oh. Um. I could finish now. I normally work over my set hours for extra income, but if it's you asking I can let my associates know I will be ending early”, Rubené replied, a shyness to her tone.

“That works, I can just use Clean while I wait here”, Logan stated. Rubené quickly tidied away her documents, a rush in her steps. Logan sat at a nearby table, using his mick to make himself the most presentable, though roleplaying it as usual.

“Waters of everclear, wash away all dirt. Clean”, he chanted a few times, making sure that both he and his clothing were in top shape.

It took a few minutes for Rubené to sort her work situation out, seemingly a simple task in her position, overtime looked to be very fluid in this new world or at least for the adventurers' hall staff. Meeting up with the favour-seeking Spellthief, the two exited the hall to a few whispers from the other members.

“Think that's business or laying?” one voice whispered.

“Classed with a classless? He has strange tastes”, another said.

Ignoring the rumours and gossip, Logan tried to push the voices out of his senses. Reaching the orange-hued streets, Logan turned to Rubené, seeing her in a new light painted her as quite the looker. “I shouldn't mess around too much with people here. If I plan to leave I don't want any commitments keeping me back. Especially if there are those wanting to cut me up into components”, Logan reasoned.

“Have you had your evening meal yet? I wanted somewhere we could sit down and have a conversation”, Logan asked.

“You found me just before I was about to dine for the night, so you are in luck. If you're open to suggestions, a fair wind will take us to the Lonst Shank tavern in the north part of town. They offer several meals a day to travellers if you're wanting a sit-down meal”, Rubené suggested.

“No restaurants or something similar?”

“Restaurant? What is that? Some sort of inn?” Rubené had another confused look to her.

“This world doesn't understand restaurants then. It does feel more ‘Olden time’ so they probably don't have fancy places to just sit and eat like that. Come to think of it the Dogslop Inn only really serves up breakfast and rarely a dinner meal”, Logan surmised, trying to note what concepts would translate to this foreign land.

“Oh, nothing. It was just something I heard, we can go to that tavern you suggested”, Logan replied, leading the couple northwards. Feeling out of place in this medieval-like area, Logan didn't know the proper etiquette for sitting down with people or having long conversations. He had general chatter with the people he worked with, though aside from Marcus all others were straight to the point with little mingling in between.

Thankfully, Rubené saw fit to take the lead, grabbing onto the cuff of Logan's sleeve. “Is that normal? No linking arms or hand-holding? God this feels weird”, Logan felt he was starting to sweat under the pressure.

“Ru, do you mind if I ask you about other things I heard in my travels? Some of the magi I met were rather weird and I wanted to make sure their advice was helpful”, Logan veiled his information gathering.

“You can do so, Logan”, Rubené accepted, looking up to the Spellthief as the two walked down the dirt streets.

“Alright, I will just say a few words, let me know of any that you know. Dates, hotel, couples, PDA.”

“Well, ‘dates’ are a type of fruit, ‘hotel’ means nothing to me, ‘couples’ are a pairing of two people often in a romantic relationship or just the number two, ‘PDA’ is not familiar”, Rubené recited, giving some basic information to the Spellthief who had returned to education again.

“Quite different, dates aren't a romantic thing, and all I got is inns to rest at”, Logan deduced from the information given to him.

“Those are quite strange terms, were the magi you learnt from much older? They might be before my birth.”

“Yes, old enough that some started to shrink”, Logan replied, thinking about some of the higher-ups from his previous PA company. “I wonder if they got someone to replace me already”, he pondered.

Arriving at the Lonst Shank tavern, Logan saw it to be quite a large establishment, at least compared to the nearby shacks. Made up of light-brown wood and dirty-red brick, the tavern had a sign designed like a leg of meat dipping into a tankard. Just like all the other buildings, it lacked any form of glass and just had wooden window panes that were wide open.

Moving inside, a wave of honeyed meat and spiced drink smells hit Logan, a stark contrast to the outside that was just dirt amongst more dirt. Several dark-brown tables were set up with groups and couples sat eating hot meals or drinking down tankards. Still unsure on how to proceed, Logan was happy that Rubené had no issue about taking the lead, the woman pulling the Spellthief to an empty table near an open window.

“Today they should be serving either poultry platters or a forest arrangement”, Rubené explained, placing 6 copper on the side of the table.

“Remind me what those are?” Logan inquired, feeling out of his depth.

“Poultry platters are slices of cooked chicken alongside scrambled eggs and rice. Forest arrangements are generally the season's vegetables and fruits with herb spices. Both are 6 copper here.”

Placing 6 copper next to Rubené's, Logan made a mental note on how ordering and payment occurred. “They probably have coins on show to let the workers know we're ready, no qualms over who pays for what either. That or Ru is more forward than I thought.”

Looking around the room quickly, Logan saw a few doors at the far end that probably led to the kitchens. Unsurprisingly, due to the gashriek discrimination he had noticed before, there were only humans at first sight within the Lonst Shank. There were no issues over colour or gender either, a complete mix of humans was seen. “Hatred goes to other species rather than other races or orientations I see.”

Moving her head over to gain the shifty mage's attention, Ru continued, “Not been to many taverns for meals as a traveller? I thought you might have visited plenty seeing you joined as a quarter-man.”

“It was mostly food on the road or what I could hunt, sometimes a friendly face offering bread”, Logan responded, a smile appearing across his face as he remembered Jrizan. Though it looked more like a smile directed at Rubené.

“You've settled in nicely at Tinte though, will you be staying much longer?” Ru asked cheerfully, a smile being returned to the Spellthief.

“Actually, that is one of the reasons I called you out tonight.”

“Called me out?”

“Sorry, it is why I asked you to an evening meal.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I won't be staying much-” Logan started, but was cut off as a member of staff approached the table, picking the two towers of coins and placing them within a belt pocket at their hip.

The male waiter was dressed in a dark-brown shirt and slate trousers, their shoes more like boots than anything fancy and of garish mossy-green colour. Running a hand through poorly cut bark-brown hair, the man revealed dark skin marred with yellow pockmarks across his eye-line which accented his hazel eyes.

“Hail sir and madam, what shall you be ordering this evening?”

“One poultry platter, please”, Rubené requested.

“And another for me, please.”

“Hearty choices, I shall bring those forth posthaste”, the waiter replied, a slight bow before leaving through one of the far doors.

“As I was saying, I won't be staying much longer in Tinte, probably only 2 more days before I head on”, Logan informed, looking over at his quest window to see he had 1 day and 11 hours left before his main quest ended.

Cutting him off quickly, Ru began to argue the decision, “That's quite early, you would be leaving after only a week here. Where do you plan to go to next?”

“I discussed with Marcus that our next destination would be the capital.”

“That's a long journey by foot, 10 days if I remember correctly.”

“There's something I need to do at the capital, and if it pans out I will probably stay there for a long while.”

“I was growing quite accustomed to your daily visits at the hall. It will be a sad morrow to not have you in them.”

“You never know, quests may bring me back to Tinte at some point”, Logan responded. “She is sadder than I had thought, I guess my helping the villagers had more of an impact”, he thought.

“I have seen a few quests take adventurers far afield.”

“I will have to make sure to pick up a few to come and see you again.”

“You better do so, Logan. I am certain the other villagers would be pleased with your presence.”

“Before I go away, I had a sort of favour I would like to request of you.”

“Oh? If it is about your documentation we would gather it all up and sort it before your departure. The lack of communication tools at our hall means we tend to send you off with all we have if you're going to a larger hall.”

“It is about the documentation, but not that. I was wondering if it would be at all possible to make some changes to them?”

“Do you mean an early reassessment?”

“No, I was actually-” Logan began but was cut off by plates being slid onto the table by the previous waiter.

Large waxed-wood plates held on their surface a display of thick-sliced slabs of chicken meat sitting between light-yellow scrambled eggs as well as a pile of brown rice with black seeds. Landing two large tankards on the table, Rubené raised her hand and asked for ale, Logan copied, the two having a cloudly yellowish-black liquid poured into the tankards. With the waiter leaving, Rubené started her meal off with a large sip, Logan copied.

“God that is sweeter than the ale I had back home. Though it tastes very, thick? Hopefully, the alcohol makes it safer to drink… would it be rude to Clean the drink?”, Logan thought to himself, somewhat shocked at the strangeness of his beverage.

“You were saying?” Rubené asked, starting to eat her meal.

“Right, I was wondering if it would be possible to alter parts of my documentation. Mainly the date of my signing.”

Coughing slightly on her meal in surprise, Rubené stammered, “Why would you want that? The documents are seen by quite a few eyes.”

“Well, since I am a quarter-man, I would like to have a bit more experience down on parchment and the capital is quite the overbearing place.”

“It isn't too uncommon for magi to be older when they join though.”

“I know, but, I have other reasons too. I promise it won't come back to you, I'll handle the fallout if there is any. We could say I found papers from an older hall or something.”

“Logan, it isn't just about your signing date. All of your completed quests also have dates attached to them. If any of the clients are asked, which you have over a dozen now, you would easily be found out.”

“Would my quest history really be looked into though?”

“If there are any problems at a particular hall, they tend to do background checks to see where adventurers were and when.”

“Can you think of any other way?” Logan asked, worried his plan was falling apart due to circumstances he didn't anticipate.

“Well, we could destroy your records? You've only worked a bare week, there isn't much to remove. Once you get to the capital you sign up again there”, Rubené suggested, pausing at times to think over her words.

“That might work, I could say I worked elsewhere or as a freelancer.”

Logan and Rubené continued their discussion, finalizing the details, timings, and actions that needed to be taken. Starting “fresh” would be the best step forward, Logan being able to sign up as a much higher-ranked adventurer would mean he could bring in many more kills or complete several quests in a day if people believed he had many more slots to cast spells with. Their discussions were also full of talking about Rubené's life within Tinte, Logan finding that she had turned 21 just last summer.

On the other side of town, Marcus had some time to himself after preparing the room for the night. Knowing that Logan was indulging in personal business, settling up their loose ends before the long travel northwards, Marcus wanted to finish off the last parts of his life in Tinte on a good note. Stepping to the large doors of the Devout church Marcus pushed them open.

So late at night, the halls were mostly desolate aside from the Devouts and workers at the church. Pensively fondling a pouch of coins at his hip, Marcus stepped forward into the hall. While the people inside recognised him and gave slight nods or waves, Marcus only had one place in his mind.

Sitting at a bench near the end of the church, close to the altars with lit candles that produced calming scents, Marcus plopped his coin pouch to his side. A few moments passed as Marta came out from a nearby room, her robes showing signs of damage from monster claws. She turned her head and noticed Marcus sitting nearby, with a small smile she walked over to sit by her fellow Devout.

“Marta, I hope Pondress has kept your steps cured”, Marcus offered.

“And Desma holding your crossbow true, Marcus”, Marta returned.

With a nervous disposition, the younger Devout turned to the woman who was easily 10 years his senior, “Those plans I had told you about before, they are coming close, I aim to leave overmorrow.”

Tilting her head to look over Marcus, Marta showed a bit of disappointment in her gaze, “So, your sign has shown true to you. You aim to follow it to its end?”

“That man, he is the key. While he is a caster like us, he shows no animosity to any class or classless. If not Pondress, Vokka would be the one who sent him to me. Someone who can break these divides that cause-” he continued, being cut off by Marta holding up her hand slowly.

“If you so believe in this man, then you should do what your faith and more importantly your heart tells you. Pondress seeks home for all civilized beings, Vokka searches for neutrality. Either one may guide you, but if you believe it to be your sign, do what you must.”

Smiling slightly, Marcus bowed his head to Marta, “Thank you. This is my leaving penance”, he continued, pushing the pouch closer to Marta.

Picking the coin pouch up, Marta weighed it with her hand, “You have paid your dues, leave at your will. Though know it will be a darker day without you here.”

“Don’t worry, when my journey comes to an end, I am sure that we’ll stand side-by-side with all others”, Marcus promised as he stood up, confidence showing in his posture.

The two Devouts said their farewells, Marta making a claw over her heart, Marcus making two fists near his stomach with the closed palms facing and almost touching each other. As Marcus took his leave of the church, Marta faltered in her strong stance as if she was weak at the knees, her hand placed over her side. Out of sight of her fellow, Marta moved to the nearby Devouts for healing.

The night came to a close as the sun disappeared on the horizon with the moon taking its place. Orange hues turned to black and blue tones, painting the brown town in a calming light. Logan and Rubené had finished their meal alongside their discussion, sure in what they would do in the coming days.

“Everything is set for my departure, it will all hinge on what happens with that 7-day timer, but either way I will need to reach the capital”, he thought to himself.

Deciding it best and proper, Logan escorted Rubené back to her house. It was surprisingly similar to all others, though a bit cleaner on the outside. A small hut with wooden window panels, the rest a mesh of thatch and dirt, or maybe it was clay. Logan was unsure how the night would end, however, Rubené continued to show her forwardness.

“Tinte won’t be as good without your presence, Logan. If you are to leave, I would like to make a memory with you”, she propositioned, an intent in her eyes that even Logan could understand.

“You do know I might not return to Tinte anytime soon, Ru?”

“I would like to keep a memory nonetheless. If it leads nowhere, I will fare well.”

Logan had a slight pang of guilt at the idea, as he would be leaving not too soon afterwards. Though, he felt like Ru knew that would happen and did not care as much as he did about it. Taking the offered hand by Ru, Logan was lead inside.

--- *** ---