“I still do not understand why you insist on such an inconspicuous room.” The door fractured open, as Theo was still getting the hang of Rest. The wood parted, and he was mesmerised for a second by the way it functioned. As light filtered in, he saw two silhouettes standing there.

Theo stopped cycling Rest.

“And I keep telling you, it’s cool and functional.” Sparrow retorted, as they gestured for them to come and sit at the (no longer broken) table.

“Sarcasm is fine, but I would appreciate it if you two were nicer to each other.” As they walked through and sat down, Theo was able to see them clearer. The one who spoke just now was an older man, with white hair and a thin but gentle face.

They looked like the grandfather you wish you could have. In fact, they looked awfully similar to the grandfather Theo imagined when he pretended to have a family on cold nights.

“Just because some of us follow the God of Kindness doesn’t mean the rest of us have to live up to that, Kevin.” The speaker was the one who made the comment on the door originally. She was draped in ornate, glowing flowers that spun as she rolled her eyes.

If Theo knew better, he would realise that they were not only glowing flowers, but paper-thin runes, both aesthetic and packing enough power to single-handedly siege a castle. But he didn’t, so his hand unconsciously reached towards them before being swatted away (before he could lose a hand) by their wearer (and creator).

“Chrysantheus,” Kevin chided, “We are all here today for the same purpose. There is no need to fight like neglected children.” As Chrysantheus spluttered, Theo realised why they looked so familiar.

“The Mercy of Death.” Theo whispered, and Kevin turned to look at him with interest, eyes widening as he also recognised Theo.

Union City, for all its name and ideals point towards, still had the haves and the have-nots, the poor and those too wealthy to ever use it up over several lifetimes. Some priests, especially those of the Fet, God of Death and Kindness, would voyage to the Outskirts, risking danger and bravery just to help feed and care for the orphans on the street.

Well, they said danger. Theo felt like a lot of them just didn’t care and wanted every reason not to help or go where it was dirty. As a child, he knew when the priests who came actually cared, and when they were looking for the fastest exit.

It wasn’t always a bad thing, mind you – they were much easier to convince to leave the food with him to distribute so they didn’t have to do the work themselves. Made it a lot easier to eat until he was almost sick (only almost because he couldn’t afford to throw up the precious nutrition).

The more passionate priests were those who actually cared, cast healing magic on the orphans, and distributed the food themselves to stop anyone from hoarding and eating until they puked (which was a wise choice, in Theo’s opinion).

One of those passionate priests, was a man with greying hair who made sure Theo was getting regularly fed and maintained his health (at least until the Pub took him in and his introduction to the world of bards began).

That priest was identical to the man that sat near him right now, a bemused look of serendipitous coincidence in his eyes (as the rest of his face stayed perfectly neutral).

“It is always a pleasant surprise to witness one we helped not only survive, but thrive in this world. To think this is where we should meet again.” Kevin mused, looking directly at Theo. “I am thrilled to see you made it into the College of Song, Theodore.”

How did he still remember his name? Theo felt a faint red starting to creep onto his face, before he was saved by Chrysantheus. “Okay, you know the kid. Big whoop. Let’s do what we’re here for.”

Even though he was grateful for the change in topic, he still felt a little peeved at how she referred to him.

“Okay Theo, this is everyone.” Sparrow intersected, properly introducing him to the group. “The lady with a superiority complex is Chrysantheus.” She swallowed whatever she was going to say, scoffing at Sparrow’s words.

After a moment to figure out how to not live up to the descriptor that Sparrow had given her, Chrys affixed a (not entirely convincing) smile to the front of her face, and spoke slower (in a way that showed that if she wasn’t condescending before, she was now).

“Hey kid. Chrys for short. I am a runesmith and the one in charge of the Mint.” She said.

Theo was genuinely perplexed. Theo had heard that it tended to get out of control, but didn’t think it would be that bad.

“Why does someone need to be in charge of mint?” Theo tentatively asked. “Isn’t it just a plant?”

There was a pause, as people processed what he said. Then they laughed, and he withdrew a little, shrinking into a slightly more defensive version of what he already looked like.

Chrys guffawed, Kevin had a serene face but his shoulders were shaking. Sparrow was unapologetically joining in with Chrys’ laughter, and Esther cracked a smile at his embarrassment.

After a few moments to stop laughing and calm down (and wipe a tear from her eye), Chrys addressed his query.

“Not mint, but the Mint.” Chrys explained. “It’s where we replicate and inscribe the coins. The very coins we’re looking at today.” That made sense, but he still disliked the way she talked as if explaining things to a child.

Before Theo could ruminate any more, Sparrow started to introduce the priest.

“This is Kevin, also known as the Mercy of Death.” Sparrow gestured at Kevin, who simply smiled at Theo. “He is a priest of Fet, and as you’d know, does lots of charitable work in the Outskirts.”

“It is lovely to meet you again in this capacity, Theo.” Kevin began. “I am happy with whatever name you wish to call me by.” He smiled, but that smile quickly faded.

“Did you engage in dangerous internal magic? I’m sensing internal damage, some in your heart.” Kevin pivoted, eyes narrowing as he assessed Theo’s body. Sparrow looked alarmed.

“I…I did do some risky things,” Kevin’s eyes hardened to steel, and Theo frantically continued. “B-but it’s been healed!” Kevin tutted, shaking his head as he put a hand on Theo’s head, paying no attention to Sparrow, Esther, or Chrys in the room.

He muttered a few words (that loosely resembled a prayer), and Theo felt a knot in his chest loosen up.

“There is often damage not evident or easy to catch. Should that be left unattended for too long, then consequences may arise.” Kevin warned, serious. “But you are healthy. For now.” Theo breathed a sigh of relief (which was incidentally deeper than he remembered).

“Remember that nothing is perfect, and that everything is fallible. Especially with health, double checking is important.” Theo nodded in (semi)understanding, falling into a moment of reflection about risk.

“Now, I believe we’ve left them waiting for long enough. Let us indulge Chrysantheus’ curiosity, shall we?” Kevin asked, bringing a coin out of his pocket.

It was another coin from a college, one from the College of Prayer (to no-one’s surprise). It looked almost identical to Sparrow’s coin, and soon after both Esther and Chrys had also pulled out theirs, all held in their hands. Theo joined them, procuring his own coin, as well as Sparrow’s. He placed those two in the centre of the table.

Chrysantheus’ eyes were fixated on the one Theo had discovered in the chest, drinking greedily from the detail as she muttered under her breath about runes and specifications.

“Esther, could you put your coin on top?” Theo asked. She was the closest (besides Chrys, but he had a feeling that wasn’t going to work well.) Esther obliged, letting go and watching it fall, but nothing much happened. Just the satisfying clink of dropping coins.

Theo paused, before grabbing her coin, and putting it on the pile himself.

This time, there was a marked response, as the coin aligned itself with the original, almost pulled out of the air to rest side by side with Sparrow’s. It twirled in the air, spinning like a gyroscope as it fell in a perfect arc exactly where it needed to be next to the main coin.

“Fascinating.” Chrys mumbled, under her breath.

Theo added Kevin’s coin, which didn’t cause any different behaviour from Esther’s. More movement, but otherwise it was just a stack of partially magical coins.

Chrys’, however, caused a massive shift as one by one, they started to levitate. The five coins started to fly through the air and orbit each other. The orbit grew faster and faster, until the coins were a blur and generating a significant amount of wind.

As they span, each coin flickered with light, gradually glowing more and more until the light was continuous. Around a central star, four glowing rings appeared.

The rings pulsed.

The room was bleached with light.