“Don’t call me that,” Marthe snaps.

“My apologies for any offense. At home, it is proper to address those without a surname by any titles they may have earned from their peers. It’s a sign of respect.”

Which brings me to my question. “Marthe the Inferno?” I ask, lips pressed together to hold back a laugh.

She scoffs. “Stupid name a bunch of idiots gave me. Nothing respectable about it.”

“A title earned from her many victories on the dueling field against our fellow initiates,” William adds. “In one particular display against a water caster who attempted to exhaust her by quenching her flames, she covered almost all of the dueling field in fire in an impressive display of power. Hence, the Inferno.”

“Like I said, stupid,” Marthe groans.

“Title giving is common amongst fellows.” Alana chuckles. “You shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it. It truly is meant to show respect.”

“That right brightie? How would you like it?”

“Alana the Bright,” I muse.

“No,” she says immediately.

“Alana the Brave?”

“Saints, Lou. No. Quit trying to give me a title.”

“Alana the Strict?”

Her hand snaps out, grabbing the collar of my shirt and yanking me toward her. “I’ll show you strict,” she hisses between grit teeth.

I lean toward her, not bothered by her threat in the slightest. “How about Alana the Tease?” I whisper, licking my lips.

“You…” Her face flushes with embarrassment as she shoves me away. “We should give you a title. Lou the Pervert,” she growls.

“The Fool,” Marhte throws in.

“The Fornicator,” Alana retorts, raising a brow in challenge.

“The Swine.”

“Far too basic. The Eternal Reverie.”

“Hah? Stop making it complicated. You think bards want to sing long titles? The Greedy.”

“Can you both stop?” I say, a touch miffed. Even someone as shameless as me doesn’t have thick enough to ignore the clear mocking. “You shouldn’t treat a maiden’s heart too roughly.”

“Show me this maiden,” Alana says quickly. “She does have a point though. As a noblewoman, any title given to her would have to be more refined. A serious one at least. How about…the Flower-Picker.”

I can’t help but laugh. “That’s undoubtedly a compliment! Unfortunately, I don’t get around that much.”

“You’re right. Flower Gazer is more appropriate.”

…that’s on the verge of insulting me again.

“The Venisuela.”

“Uh…”

“The venisuela is a plant, specifically a vine that is famous in Rosentheim,” William answers. “Little purple flowers grow along the vine, quite beautiful. The vine is famous because two vines will instinctively move toward one another and twine around each other. Their ‘ropes’ can contain dozens of vines, until they’re as thick as logs. They also instinctively do it in a way that none of the flowers are crushed.”

Flowers twined around each other. Wow. I’m impressed.

I’m not the only one as Alana slowly claps. “I lose. That was inspired.”

“Did you think I’m some unlearned idiot? Hmph. I may not be a noble but that doesn’t mean I can’t read.” Girl just can’t take a compliment. “Enough fooling around. We need to find our last member. Time isn’t slowing down for us.”

“Eh-hem. If you all are agreeable, I have a suggestion. I have an…acquaintance. An earth caster of considerable skill, already tested in combat. I was considering forming a two-man team before you approached.”

“If this person’s such a catch, why don’t they have a team?” I ask.

He looks away, looking uncomfortable. “He’s…eccentric. Most find his personality overbearing but I have the utmost confidence that the three of you will be his match.”

Is he implying that the three of us are just as overbearing? Heh. “How ominous. Well? Where is our lucky fifth?”

“Ah. I know where to find him. Unless you ladies already have plans for the day?”

“Who does this bastard think he is, making us track him down?” Marthe grumbles. “Forget it. I say we take our chances here. Whoever this clown is, he’ll be there once we finish with the crowd right here.”

“Miss Marthe—”

“Do I look like a miss to you?”

Under the weight of her glare, William shuffles nervously. “Eh-hem. Marthe, then. I understand that I’m asking much of you, but please reconsider. If may be going out of your way and I have not said many good words about him, but his skill is real. I’m confident in it.”

“How confident?” I ask.

“Being unable to find a team to his satisfaction, he simply laughed and determined to handle the test on his own.”

Oh hoh. Either our potential fifth is a colossal idiot or quite skilled indeed.

The best thing about being around interesting people is that they drag you into interesting situations.

“Damn it, Lou.”

I turn to Alana with a raised brow. “I didn’t say anything.”

“I know that look.” She sighs. “We already have one team who is being targeted by his family. Maybe we can find someone more normal? No offense, William.”

“None taken. You have only spoken the truth.”

“Just like it’s a truth that you can’t help looking for trouble.”

I laugh at her glare. “It’s my second affinity,” I say with a laugh. “Besides, I’m sure if this guy is the worse, our current team can handle the qualifiers just fine.”

I would have been satisfied with just Alana, as I’m no longer paranoid about hiding my abilities. Well, not as paranoid. Ah, I need to have a conversation with Alana. It wouldn’t be right for her to find out with everyone else if I suddenly reveal a second or third affinity.

I’m not ready to tell her everything. That information is still too dangerous, especially with people connected to the interrogators, if not the criminal hunters themselves, targeting me. The rest remains secret for now.

“So? Where is this friend of yours?”

“I believe I know where to find him.”

“You believe?” Marthe practically growls. “Are we going to have to run all over the Hall looking for this guy? Why are we doing this again.”

“Eh-hem. I mean, I am reasonably confident I know where he is. Are you ladies willing to take a trip to the Grand Market?