As much as Alliana didn’t want them to leave the carriage, both Alister and Wisteria were far too interested to contain, and Blas himself looked to be eager to make an appearance as well. She relented, and so Duke Blas Severin, Young Duke Alister Severin, and Wisteria O’neah stood outside the carriage looking up at the brick and mortar building.

Alister made a point to slow and take in the sights as his father and Wisteria started ahead into the door. A guard stayed beside him to ensure his safety.

The building before him was made of greyish red brick with pale grey mortar. It was wide, the length of at least five carriages with horses attached, but its height was the truly impressive aspect to Alister. Five stories tall, the building was the tallest human-made structure Alister had ever known - but more shocking than that, it was hardly the only one that tall around. Most buildings from one side of the road to the other here were at minimum three stories.

Before, some towers were taller, yes, but they weren’t made by human hands! Could this have been made with magic too? If it was, it didn’t have any of the telling marks… Alister wandered up to a part of the wall near the door and patted it with his palm. No… nothing strange. The material wasn’t alchemical from what he could tell… That in and of itself was strange! How far could they push construction if one were to combine this with magic? How tall were the towers nowadays?? Why weren’t the houses in the town as impressive as this? According to the map, it looked like the town was nearer to the border. Perhaps it was considered a frontier town? If so then-

Blas cupped his hand onto Alister’s back, making the young boy jump out of his thoughts. He whispered, “You’re getting some strange looks standing around staring at the wall like that. We should head inside. I don’t want you to tarnish your reputation. You haven’t debuted yet, so people will be very curious about you.”

“Y-yes. Sorry,” Alister mumbled, “I went too far the other direction and focused too much on what’s around me…”

Blas chuckled and led him inside, “It’s fine. Let’s meet with your cousin.”

The inside was just as impressive as the outside to Alister. He was looking up at the ceiling with his mouth slightly agape, allowing his father to lead him forward and through the parted crowd of people. The guards they had helped with keeping a respectable distance between the Duke and the rabble as well. The ceiling was strung up with a matrix of crisscrossed wire, each one drooping down to connect to a crystal. Each crystal was refined so well that it was clear, at least four to six inches in length, and each one was glowing with the light of two candles at once. With all of the dozens of them together, the inside of the guildhall was as bright as a dual full moon sky.

“Duke Severin, my lord, a pleasure to see you in our humble guild, sir,” the receptionist said, a young man with short blonde hair and brown eyes, “Miss Morgan will be out shortly.”

Blas nodded to the man and placed a hand on top of Alister’s head, “Your mother dislikes places like this but no one can argue their need to exist. Brave people come and register as adventurers here and take jobs that other people who cannot or do not wish to fight post. It helps to keep monster populations down and to keep civilians safe.”

“I know what mercenaries are, father.”

Blas laughed quietly, “Not mercenaries. No. The principle is similar but should you call an adventurer a mercenary they’d get quite irritated with you.”

Alister furrowed his brow, still looking around the place, “Then what’s the difference? They’re paid to do combat work.”

“It’s not just combat. It’s anything, really. Combat, gathering, crafting… it just depends. But more than that, there’s an unspoken rule that adventurers don’t fight other people. You can hire them for protection, sure, but they are strictly uninterested in political agendas and unwilling to help in them. Mercenaries can be hired for war, for guarding, for political uses, and more. They have fewer moral limitations, commonly.”

“So, adventurers are simply stricter with what they think is right?”

“I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” Blas said, chuckling as his hand dropped back to his side.

Morgan arrived, a stunning young woman with long black hair tied back in a thick braid and bright grey eyes that matched Alister’s. She certainly looked like she’d be related. Morgan waved, voice loud, “Oh hey! Uncle Blas! You got here a little early. Nice. Oh! Little guy. You must be my cousin Alister.” The girl leaned forward to look at him eye to eye.

“You’re wearing pants,” Alister said, stunned by this woman’s boldness, “…Wait. You’re actually a noble? She’s actually related to us?”

She laughed, standing back up, “Yup! Sure am. You’re looking at Countess Morgan Severin, adventurer and local legend. It’s a pleasure to meet the tiny Duke in training. My father’s Lord Felthinus. Uncle Blas’s older brother. So I’m your cousin. Got a problem with it?”

Alister was still stunned, but he rapidly shook his head, “No! No. No, I just… didn’t expect… this.” He motioned toward her, “You’re a girl. I figured an adventurer, especially a noblewoman adventurer, would be a boy.”

“Well, I suppose some people around here think I’m trying to be a boy, wearing pants like I do, but they’re all just silly. Let’s head out. I’m done here, Uncle. Thanks for picking me up,” she patted Blas on the shoulder and moved past the three of them toward the door. Wisteria was just as surprised as Alister with this discovery. She was a total weirdo! What noble did that?

It was so cool!!

Wisteria and Alister gave each other a look and rushed off after the woman.

“Miss Morgan?” Wisteria called out.

“Just call me Morgan, sweetheart. What’s your name?”

“Wisteria, ma’am. I’m just a friend of Lord Alister’s.”

Blas explained, “She’s a commoner but she’s my ward for this trip. Alister would’ve been terribly bored without a friend.”

“All good,” Morgan said, waving him off, “I just needed her name. Wisteria, what’s your question?”

Wisteria blushed, “I… um… If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

Morgan grinned, clearly proud, “I turned seventeen this year.”

“You’re only seventeen?” Wisteria repeated, though she reddened further, “Not to say you look old! You look young, which is why it surprised me to hear that you’re as young as you look.”

“I’m amazed your father allows this,” Alister added.

Morgan laughed, “Oh, he doesn’t. I don’t live in the same city as him for a reason, you know?”

“Please don’t give him any ideas, Morgan. He’s only eight.”

“Yeah, but I heard he’s a full-recall case. How cool is that?” she grinned, bypassing his plea entirely. They made it back to the carriage and everyone piled in smoothly. Morgan gave a polite nod to Alliana, “My Lady. It’s wonderful to see you again. You and my Uncle have been so quiet in society for so long. I was worried I wouldn’t see you for years yet! I’m happy this wasn’t the case, even if we’re meeting for less than stellar reasons.”

Alliana gave a small smile to Morgan, “Yes, well, whatever the reason, seeing family might be nice. Do relax, though, no need for such formalities. Just call me Aunt.”

“Of course, I just recall you don’t like it much if someone doesn’t say hello properly. I wanted to make sure not to get on your bad side if I’m to be riding with you for a while. I’m pleased to be in your hands, however,” when talking with Alliana, Morgan sounded like a proper noble. It was giving both of the kids whiplash. Blas didn’t mind, though, and when her attention turned back to him, he just grinned. “Uncle Blas, can you tell me the story of Salvator again? Please?”