-Vandlind-

I stuffed my new license into my pouch as I walked out of the registration building. Wagons and humanoids with large packs of goods walked to and from the nearby gate. I had never seen so many species all at once (if the race selection screen in Restia’s domain didn’t count).

I looked in astonishment at the beastkin; the bipedal, animal humanoids walked along the cobbled road with everyone else. A beastkin with the appearance of a wolf stalked down the street, carrying what looked like a bag full of food. A crimson liquid pooled at the bottom of the container and dripped to the ground.

A gnome weaved through the crowd, narrowly avoiding the pedestrians more than twice his size. He wore a tall red hat, and I couldn’t help but chuckle; he was literally a garden gnome. Though they were quite comical to look at, I knew gnomes were one of the most academically gifted races in Iris. It would not bode well to underestimate them.

Lastly, a band of dwarves staggered through the streets, drunk despite it only being early afternoon. Considering dwarven biology, getting drunk this early was truly a commendable feat; the amount of alcohol they would need to drink would be astonishing.

The dwarves all had thick beards and braids down their hair. I knew from my mother’s brief lessons that these braids had significance. Often, certain patterns were relegated to specific clans, specific professions, or those with a degree of social power. And now that I thought about it, Dramur kept his beard unbraided. Unfortunately, I could only guess the importance of such a style. Nothing good came to mind.

If magic didn’t make me realize this was, indeed, a fantasy world, my first few seconds looking at this city did. The intricacy of something as simple as dwarven beards had a way of putting things in perspective.

‘Your naivety is showing,’ Veylin leaned on my shoulder.

‘Y-yeah, it’s just – wow. There’s so many different people here.’ I stared at the road for a few more seconds before pulling my gaze away.

‘C’mon, we need to meet up with the rest.’ Veylin grabbed my hand and pulled me along the road, directing us further into the city.

I thought the outer ring would be a trash heap after reading my mother’s books; this wasn’t the case. The roads were semi-clean, and the buildings were fairly well maintained. I could tell some parts of the ring were rough, but it wasn’t anything too serious: a few large potholes in the road, a couple buildings with their entrances shuttered, and the occasional stray vermin eating trash in the alleyways. Overall, it was like your typical American town (minus the electricity and with large walls surrounding it).

The diameter of the entire city was around ten miles (~15km), and the perimeter of the outer ring alone was around thirty miles (~50km). This meant the total area was about seventy some square miles (~180km^2). How I figured all this out, I wasn’t sure, but something deep inside my psyche told me I was right – er, close to right. There was a little room for error.

The walls of the middle ring weren’t nearly as big as the outer ring, but they were still impressive. The same type of regularly spaced watchtowers were present on this wall as well. Guards, outfitted identically to the ones outside the outer entrance, stood near the East gate of the middle wall. A decently-sized line stood in front of it, waiting to vetted before allowed entrance.

Veylin and I joined, quietly waiting our turn. I telepathically asked her a few questions about various things in the city, and she was happy to answer my questions. Before I knew it, it was time for us to be inspected.

A handsome, muscular human man held out his hand, “Papers?”

I handed Veylin my recently acquired documents, and she handed both to the guard.

The guard shuffled through them for a second, “Purpose for entering the middle ring?”

Veylin used her typical, disarming smile, “We plan on joining the adventures guild.”

The guard took a second to look at our armor and weapons, “I should’ve guessed that.” He handed our papers back and waved us through, “Head on in.”

We passed through into the middle ring, and it looked pretty much identical to the outer ring. If there were any differences, they were so subtle I didn’t notice them. There might have been slightly more patrols of guards along the streets, but it was hard to compare the two because the outer ring was so much bigger.

Veylin stopped to ask for directions to the Minotaur’s Labyrinth a few times. And soon, we found ourselves looking at the entrance.

A huge, three-story building greeted our eyes. A few people streamed in and out of the massive entrance; it was easily over twelve feet high (3.67m). Judging from their appearances, they were all adventurers: without fail, all of them carried weapons.

I hesitantly walked up the steps to the entrance when Veylin failed to make the first move, stepping through the open entrance and into the building.

“Hello! Welcome to the Minotaur’s – Oh, sorry. We only accept non-adventures on the weekends and holidays,” A female demi-human, a mix between feline beastkin and human, greeted us from behind a small podium.

My first cat-girl, cool. I might’ve had a weirder reaction if I was more into Japanese culture.

The demi-human stood slightly less than five and a half feet tall (167cm) and had a pair of orange cat ears to go with her hair. Her eyes were the same color, and they had the tell-tale vertical slits of a predator; sharper than normal canines poked through her lips. Other than that, she looked completely human. Magical screwery was probably the only reason she wasn’t some disgusting, hybrid creature.

Veylin stepped in front of me, “Really? Some adventurer friends of ours said to meet them here.”

The demi-human picked up a clipboard, “Oh. In that case, do you have a name?”

“Try, Dramur Greyforge.” I suggested.

The cat-girl browsed down the list with a finger, “I’m sorry, I don’t see anyone with that name.”

I frowned and turned to Veylin, “Shayna said to meet them here, right?”

The attendant stiffened, “S-Shayna Taruk?”

I raised my eyebrows and put a hand level with my head, “Quarter-orc about my height? Likes to bash things with a big hammer?”

“T-that’s the one,” the demi-human gulped, “F-follow me.”

The girl led us through a maze of halls that seemed impractical to have in an inn. I would’ve complained if the name of this place was something different. Eventually, the attendant brought us into a spacious room; a familiar set of faces greeted us.

“They’re here!” Shayna shouted, raising a mug.

The party sat around a large table in the back left corner of the room; a few other teams of adventures dotted the place, sitting around tables of their own. An unattended bar was on the far side, and a staircase, undoubtedly up to rooms, was placed to the right of it.

How am I supposed to find Freya in an inn this big? The place was massive, not to mention the confusing amount of side rooms. I decided that I’d worry about it later.

There were two chairs open on opposite sides of the table: one next to Theo, and one next to Shayna -- some coincidence.

‘You should make up with Theo,’ I shot the message to my bond.

Veylin grimaced, ‘I suppose so.’ She smiled awkwardly at Theo as she sat down.

The boy offered a slight smile back. Then, he stared straight down into his mug to avoid making eye-contact.

I grinned at them before taking a seat of my own. My bow and quiver poked uncomfortably into my back, and I decided to put them in my pouch; I estimated that there was only a ten percent chance that I would’ve needed to shoot something while I was here.

Shayna poked me with an elbow and spoke under her breath, “What’s up with those two?”

I looked at her with surprise, “You mean, you didn’t know? ” Why were those seats the only ones open then?

Shayna shook her head as she took a long draft from her mug.

Maybe it was a coincidence?

“Theo’s eyes were wandering when she was washing herself a few days ago.” I motioned my head towards the two; they appeared to be exchanging slight conversation at this point.

Shayna choked on her drink and started coughing, “That would explain Theo’s refusal to get out of the water.”

I raised my eyebrows, “He’s a growing boy; it’s not like he can control it.”

Shayna leaned back in her chair, “You seem awfully cool with him taking a peek at your woman.”

I rolled my eyes, “She’s not my woman.” She’s not even a woman at all.

Shayna opened her mouth to retort back, but a looming shadow appeared over her.

I subconsciously reached for my shortsword with my left hand, only to still myself.

“HELLO, NEW FRIENDS OF MISS TARUK!” the skyscraper of flesh shouted; it raised its hands wide, encompassing even more space. The voice was deeper than a canyon.

A bipedal, black bull with a man’s torso welcomed us happily. The minotaur easily surpassed the troll I’d killed in size. Two thick horns curled from his bull-shaped head, and a metal ring hung from his nose. A chef’s apron that read ‘Resident Minotaur’ clung off his bulging pectorals.

Minotaurs, not to be confused with beastmen, were considered humanoids on Iris (beastmen were monsters that looked similar, but they had a bull’s body to go with the head). Minotaurs had a handy racial trait that let them memorize the paths they’ve walked, hence the connection to labyrinths. They, quite literally, could not get lost. This made them invaluable to adventurers that explored dungeons or caves.

And now, one stood in front of me with two gigantic trays of food in his hands.

“H-hello,” I nonchalantly removed my hand from the hilt of my sword and nodded at him.

“Hello,” Veylin gave a smile; she sounded a lot more composed about meeting an actual minotaur than I was.

“For Friends of Miss Taruk, tonight’s meal is on the house.” Though the minotaur’s voice wasn’t as loud this time, it was still so deep I could barely believe it came from an organic being.

The minotaur laid the trays down on the table and lumbered off; black fur covered the entirety of his back. It was even easier to mistake him for a beastman without his hairless torso to distinguish himself.

I inspected the trays of food in awe: meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and loaves of bread were all ladled across them in impressive portions. I foolishly let a strand of saliva run out of my mouth before wiping it away.

Shayna looked at me in shock, “D-did you just slobber?”

I swallowed my excess spit, “It’s… just been a while since I’ve had meat.” Years, even.

Shayna gestured towards the food, “Help yourself. It’s not like we’ll be able to finish it all.”

*

Shayna was wrong. Not a scrap of food remained when the party was done. She underestimated the appetites of eight people who had been on the road for days.

I sank into my chair and stretched with a satisfied grunt; the meat was deliciously succulent. I understood my parents’ thought process when they refused to kill regularly for food, but whatever animal had blessed us with its flesh now was already dead; it wasn't like me refusing to eat it would change the fact that it died. I knew change began with a single person; however, I wasn’t that person. At least, not in this case.

“Hey, Shayna,” I tried to get the quarter-orc’s attention.

“Hmmm?” Shayna was still polishing off the last of her food. It was some combination of greens.

“How do you know that minotaur?” I was genuinely curious. The minotaur obviously held her in high regard.

“Chef Bull?” she asked, putting her fork down, “We used to be in the same party years back.”

My laugh got caught in my throat, “C-Chef Bull? Doesn’t he find that derogatory?”

She shrugged, “If he does, he’s never mentioned it. Everyone calls him that.”

“Interesting.” I said, “By the way, how do get a room in this place?”

Shayna rubbed the side of her head, “That’s… hard to explain. Follow me.” She scooted her chair back and walked towards the entrance of the dining hall.

I followed after her, noting the envious looks of the other adventures in the room. Whether that was from all the free food or because I was with Shayna, I didn’t know.

Veylin shot me a message, ‘Where are you going?’

‘To get us some rooms.’

‘You should only get one. We’ll save money that way.’

‘I thought you liked your privacy?’ I stopped and turned back towards her slightly.

She shrugged, ‘money is more important.’

‘If you say so.’

Shayna led me back through the confusing halls of the inn; I made careful consideration to map my movements this time. While unprepared at first, I would not get lost the second time around. Eventually, she brought me back to where the orange-haired demi-human was still attending the podium.

“Zoe,” Shayna waved to get the girl’s attention, “You have a customer.”

The demi-human’s ears twitched, and she turned to face me, “How can I help you?” Her speech was a lot stiffer than when I'd first met her.

“How much for a room?” I asked, digging in my pouch for my coin purse.

Shayna glanced at me, “You’re only getting one?”

I pulled out my sack of coins, “Well, yeah. Veylin said she didn’t care, and we should save money instead.”

“You realize that this place only has one-bedroom rooms, right?” Shayna asked.

I paused, then looked at Zoe, “How much for two rooms?”

“Depends on how long you’re staying.” Zoe replied.

I raised my eyebrows at Shayna.

She held up a finger, “One month for now.”

Zoe flicked her vertical pupils back at me, “It’ll be two silver for two rooms. Meals are included, just show whoever your room key.”

“Two silver?” I exasperated, “That’s quite pricy.”

Zoe’s ears twitched on top of her head; I was pretty sure she did that when she was agitated, “Each room has running water, a bathroom, and is magically cooled. Considering most inn’s make you shit outside, I think it’s a fair price.”

“Zoe,” Shayna growled, “You know Bull gives my party a discount.”

“Look,” Zoe hissed, digging her fingers into the wood podium, “Mr. Bull is too kind for his own good. If it was up to him, he’d give everyone discounts. That’s not how you run a business. Your friend here isn’t even an adventurer.”

Shayna’s knuckles cracked as she tightened her hand into a fist, and Zoe involuntarily stepped back.

I put a hand on my agitated friend's arm, “It’s fine.” I turned back towards the swindler, “How about just one room?”

Zoe nodded and accepted the silver coin I gave her. She then handed me a metal key before greeting the next party of adventurers to walk through the doors.

Shayna directed me back through the halls and slumped back into her seat. Dramur and Will were hudlled around a map they had laid out, Sam had his legs kicked up on the table, Clara was missing, and Theo and Veylin looked like they had gotten comfortable enough with each other to start joking. After checking Veylin’s emotions, I thought it was probably forced.

“Something wrong?” Sam asked; he was busy sharpening a dagger with a whetstone.

Shayna just snorted.

“She’s mad because I followed the rules,” I explained, sitting down myself.

Will didn’t take his eyes off the map, “Sounds like something Sam would get mad at me about.”

Sam paused his sharpening, “Did you just make a joke?”

Will sighed, “I make jokes all the time. You’re just too stupid to understand them.”

Dramur chuckled.

Sam turned toward the dwarf, “Did you just laugh?”

Dramur ignored Sam and continued quietly discussing something with Will.

“Have the hells frozen over?” Sam muttered under his breath, restarting his sharpening.

“Where’s Clara?” I asked; I had noticed she wasn’t present.

“Gone to see her father,” Sam answered.

“Wait, she went to see her father? If I knew that, I would’ve gone with her” I started rising from my chair.

Dramur waved a hand at me to sit down, “Clara’s father isn’t someone who you can just meet.”

I sat back down, “Is Clara’s father the Bishop of Lyros’ temple or something?” It seemed logical considering her stature as a cleric; they weren’t exactly common.

Will tapped his finger on the map, “Something like that.”

I sighed. It looked like it would take a while before these guys decided to tell me.

I sat quietly for a bit, talking with Shayna to suppress my boredom. There was still a bit of time before it got dark, and I wasn’t that tired. Will and Dramur finished discussing whatever scheme they were concocting after an hour of arguing back and forth.

Veylin sent me several messages to save her from Theo, but I ignored them; this was payback for leaving me out to rot that one time. However, I did joke back and forth telepathically to help her cope; that was more than what she’d done for me.

Right before the sun started coming down, Clara came back. She wore a dress that screamed ‘expensive’, and her posture told me she was incredibly drained. The cleric sat in her seat with a grunt, and Dramur passed her a mug of ale.

Sam leaned towards her, “So, what’s the verdict?”

Clara took a long swig of her drink before slamming it down and grinning, “We’ll have two more steel-plates with us here soon.”

A series of cheers rang out, and I felt Shayna clap me on the back. Theo congratulated Veylin, and she gave a tense smile back. Peas in a pod, those two.

Clara pulled two envelopes from the folds of her dress and handed us each one, “It’s seven days until the next adventurers’ examination. Give these envelopes to whoever’s proctoring it.”

I accepted the light blue envelope and froze. There was a rose stamped on the seal.

“Hey, Clara?” I pointed to the wax seal, “Is your dad nobility?”

Clara looked at me, finished the rest of her drink, slammed it down, then finally answered, “Unfortunately.”

I decided to ignore the obvious questions raised by her reaction, “Cool.”

I put the envelope in my bag, still wondering who the fuck this girl’s dad was.

Dramur cleared his throat, “Now that we’re all here, I will explain what Will and I have been working on.”

Shayna leaned in closer, “Oh?”

The dwarf motioned for Will to explain.

Will grinned, “We might’ve secured a rift to clear.”

Sam flipped off his chair, “Ow, fuck.” He rubbed his head as he stood up, “You can’t be serious? I thought only the Orichalcum and Adamantine teams got dibs on them?”

Will grinned even wider as he replied, “The rifts have started becoming even more numerous than what we heard about in Amaranth. There’s nothing concrete yet, but there’s been reportings of disturbances in the atmospheric mana not too far from Aerilon.”

Clara raised a hand, “That’s great and all, but can we even survive a rift? I mean, a mage as powerful as Vandlind couldn’t clear one.”

Dramur stroked his beard and turned to me, “You and Veylin are the only ones with experience. Do you think we’re strong enough to clear a rift?”

My heart dropped. I felt really bad about lying to these guys.

“We… don’t know.” Veylin started explaining, “We’ve only ever been in the one. The one we were in might have just been abnormally strong, but…” she trailed off.

Dramur grunted in affirmation, “I thought that might be the case. Didn’t hurt to ask.”

Theo rubbed his lips with a thumb, “Isn’t Aerilon Academy designing a mana crystal capable of detecting the strength of the rifts? If they’re really becoming more common, we’ll need every adventurer in Iris to help contain them.”

Will nodded, “Dramur and I discussed that. Since Veylin and Vandlind can’t give us accurate data, we'll wait for the crystals to be distributed to all the guild halls.”

“My contacts in the Academy said the first batch should be given to Aerilon’s hall in a little more than a month,” Dramur informed, taking a sip of his drink.

“And what will we be doing before then?” Shayna asked. “My halberd is getting lonely.”

Sam snorted, “There’s more blood on that hammer than – never mind. That joke was in bad taste.”

Will sighed before he addressed Shayna, “We’re going to wait until the week’s through. We’ll check what requests are up then.”

“Good.” Shayna gave a feral grin that I hadn’t seen in a while, “Until then, let’s get plastered.”

The table clinked mugs, and I decided to break my no drinking rule just once.

I wasn’t able to remember the rest of the night.