The days counted down to Dallion’s selection test. And during that time four things occupied Dallion’s mind. The guild work became a regular thing to the point that Estezol booked his jobs in advance, so Dallion and the siblings could go right at it first thing in the morning. The sudden influx of sphere items—not only at the Icepicker Guild, but in all guilds in Nerosal—had increased the number of jobs guild members could have, allowing Dallion to do three per day. That not only let him boost his skills quite a bit, but earned him so much money that he started keeping most of it in the guild.

Dallion had made several attempts to pay back Falkner, including offering twenty percent interest. The boy had flatly refused, saying it was a favor in need and nothing more. While the explanation sounded innocent enough, Dallion was starting to be concerned about it. Apparently, Nil had been right—there was a favor hanging over him now, and at some point, Falkner was going to collect, and from what Dallion could see the favor would not involve money.

Training was the second thing that took part of Dallion’s days, specifically trying to figure out ways to use his forging skills in and out of awakened realms. While inside made more and more attempts to successfully forge an object. None of the tries resulted in anything, but he was slowly learning to follow part of the steps. Just one or two at first, but gradually, and with enough stubbornness, he managed to get as far as the twentieth correct step. The perception increase had helped a lot, though it was still too low for him to see the layers Euryale had described.

To no surprise, the gorgon was also on his mind in more ways than one. Even with all his other chores and occupations, he kept counting the days to her return, wondering what she was doing out there. After five days, he started checking on her workshop every day in the hopes to see it open. Alas, nothing but statues greeted him each time. The moment she came back, there were a number of things they had to talk about. The key was one thing, in a broader sense. And then there was the matter of his newly acquired skill.

Euryale had already promised to teach him forging and possibly give him some more combat hints as well. However, there was where part of the complications began. If Dallion passed his selection trail—which he was confident he would—he’d have Vend as a mentor. The elite had been keeping an eye on him lately, checking on his jobs, and occasionally joining in on the celebration feasts with advice on how to defeat sphere item creatures. One could say that the mentoring process had already begun. It would be awkward if Dallion refused, becoming his guild subordinate now. At the same time getting in a relationship with Euryale was likely to pose questions. Dallion still had no idea why, but Nil had warned him on several occasions to keep his distance from her, even after it became obvious the two were getting close. It was starting to sound like there was some history between her and the Icepicker guild.

In the end Dallion decided he’d stick with Eury, even if it meant him leaving the guild. Hopefully, it wasn’t going to come to that.

The last thing that kept Dallion occupied with was the most trivial, yet most important in the short term: personal development. Between his exploration work at the guild and inn’s chores, Dallion had improved a total of twenty-eight skill points. Most had gone to raise his music, reaching the respectable level of twenty-five. The rest Dallion had split equally between attack and defense, bringing his guard skills to a round twenty and his attack skills to eighteen. While the initial gamer logic was to increase music to the extreme, Dallion had come to the conclusion—with Nil’s help—that a high skill was not as efficient without the attributes to back it up. Group leveling was slow and annoying, but in the long run better than min-maxing, at least until Dallion passed the next gate.

Are you doing this just to spite me? The dryad shield asked after Dallion’s lunch shift. Just go and buy an instrument. Any instrument. You’ve got gold to spare. Skills are not meant to be wasted on one alone. No offence there, Harp.

“Shield…” Dallion sighed.

This had become the new topic of conversation that the dryad shield kept bringing up. Dallion had already made it clear that he wasn’t going to discuss Euryale, or any of his love life for that matter, nor did he appreciate talks on fashion and bodybuilding. As a result, music instruments and the stone orchid had become hot topics. It was almost incredible how difficult it was to get the guardian to stop talking.

A lute, for example. Or a flute. Or something more exotic, if you wish. When you get your forging skills to par, I’ll teach you how to make some of the really cool musical instruments.

“No need.” For some reason Dallion had negative preconceptions when it came to that.

Trust me. I know you think it’s pointless, but real-world practice counts for a lot. Even the stuck-up kid will agree with me on this. That’s why you should do some exercises here as well. I’d highly recommend swimming, personally. Not to mention your gorgon friend will agree with me on that.

“Thin ice, shield.” Dallion did his best to appear uninterested, but an image did pop up in his mind.

A chorus of encouragement sounded in Dallion’s mind.

Even Harp agrees with me. Singing to the plant five minutes before bed isn’t going to cut it. Get an instrument, learn it and start playing during dinner time. People like going to a place that has an inn awakened, but they really love awakened bards. And a bard without a musical instrument is like a fork without a knife—possible, but no matter the skill, everyone feels something is missing.

An interesting comparison. In his heart Dallion knew the guardian to be right, but he really didn’t want to start yet another activity to focus on. It was difficult enough to juggle between two jobs, learning, training, and a potential love life. Thinking about it, life had become much more similar to college on Earth than he could have imagined: Dallion was in effect a paid intern studying to get a permanent position, with a second job in the service industry—to cover his rent—and student debt in terms of shield rent. On the positive side, everything was much more fun, and Dallion had all the time in the world.

“I’ll think about it,” Dallion grumbled. “Just don’t expect me to become some wayward bard.”

Have no fear, I’ve perfectly low expectations for you in that area. At this point, even a tambourine would be an improvement.

That was harsh. Dallion had a mind to go out and buy the most complex instrument just to show him. The idea matured for several seconds in his mind, then was quickly cast out. There was no need for another forging fiasco.

There was a sudden knock on the window. Given that Dallion was on the top floor, that was more than a bit curious. There had been a few instances of birds gathering on the window, but that was weeks ago. Stranger still, thanks to Dallion’s increased perception, he could tell that the knock came from someone’s knuckles.

Remaining perfectly still, Dallion focused on every sound. The knock came again, more insistent than before. Dallion got up from his bed. To his surprise, there was a person outside.

A fury? Dallion recognized her instantly. The ears were a clear clue, not to mention that Dallion had met this particular fury before at the Combat Arena where the general had been. What would she be doing here, though?

Puzzled, Dallion went over and opened to open the window.

“Good afternoon, mister Darude,” the fury said. She was dressed in the same type of butler’s clothes Dallion had seen her during their last talk. “My apologies for the inconvenience, but might I have a word?”

“Hello,” Dallion replied. He knew that furies could fly, though not what the proper etiquette should be. Should he invite her inside, or would that be considered rude? “Would you like to come in?” Ultimately, he decided to offer.

“That’s kind of you, but this wouldn’t take long.” She smiled. Using his music skills, Dallion could tell she appreciated the offer. “The general has asked to see you. I’m aware that this is a short notice, but he was very insistent on it. I trust that you could make time for it now?”

Dallion had watched enough gangster movies to know where this was going. To a degree he just had been made an offer he couldn’t refuse, just in a far more polite fashion.

“Sure. I’ll be right outside.”

“That would be splendid. Please bring the armadil shield along with you.”

That was unexpected. “Okay. The harpsisword as well?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Just the shield would be fine.”

“Right. Give me just a few minutes and I’ll be out in front.”

With a nod, the fury whooshed away as if she were diving through air. Dallion had read a few things about the species after his unfortunate mugging. Information on the other races turned out to be surprisingly scarce, considering the size of the ring library. Nil, of course, had come up with the excuse that the library’s aim was to help a person be a better awakened, and not focus so much on other things. However, Dallion knew that to be untrue. There were plenty of tomes on human historical figures, and not a single detailed account of a non-human one. Other than a few basic characteristics and abilities, everything else was left pretty much to the imagination.

Dallion put on his boots—dartbow included—grabbed the shield and rushed out of his room. When he got to the street, the fury was already there. Her clothes had gained her some interest from the passers-by. If Dallion was to guess, they cost enough to place her in the household of an upper-class family.

“Sorry for the wait,” Dallion said.

“Not at all. I am aware you have a quite busy schedule,” the fury replied. There was a slight smile on her face, but even without his music skills Dallion could tell it was fake. If anything, it could be treated as part of her uniform. “Please, follow me.”

While Dallion knew where they were headed to, the fury took a new path to get there. For one thing, it was much more pleasant than Arthurows had used. The neighborhoods they passed through were also considerably nicer.

“I never got your name,” Dallion said while they walked.

“That is quite alright, sir. I’m just under the employ of the Combat Arena.”

“Okay, but I’d still like to know, if that’s okay?”

The question had a greater reaction than Dallion expected. There was a single vibration of gratitude among the fury’s other emotions. A week ago, Dallion wouldn’t have noticed it, but after raising his music skills to their current level, and using them non stop since he had started to distinguish between the faint nuances of the things surrounding him.

“It’s Karin,” came the reply. “Thank you for asking.”

“My pleasure. And you can call me Dallion.”

“Now that would be most inappropriate, sir.” The employee facade was back up in full force.

“Offer still stands,” Dallion said with a semi-laugh. Damn it, I’ve been hanging round the shield for too long, he thought. “Can I ask you about your species?”

“Of course, sir,” she said in a fashion suggesting she got that question a lot.

“Are there different types of furies? I mean I’ve only seen five since I’ve come here, but all of you seem quite different from each other.”

“I assume you’re talking about your colleague at the Gremlin’s Timepiece?”

Her name is Jiroh. “You have to admit she’s very different from you. Is that normal? Are there different races of furies?”

“There were. Unfortunately, I’m not fully aware of the current state of things. I was born in Nerosal. In fact, all servants at the Combat Arena are second or third generation. Most furies in the city are.” There was a slight pause, along with a tingle of regret. “Your friend is a thunder fury. That’s why she’s so different, and also why the rest of us stay away from her.”

Thunder fury? Dallion didn’t remember Jiroh mentioning that, although as a hunter, he could imagine her being dangerous.

“If it were my business, I’d advise that you keep your distance from her.”

“I’ve seen her fight first hand. I think I had an idea what she’s capable of. We’re good friends though.”

“Forgive me, sir, but you don’t have the slightest idea. Furies are like clouds. We fly, we float, we move along with the wind. We can stand up to any awakened short of nobility. Your friend is like a thundercloud. She looks beautiful and exotic among the rest of us, but if she decides she can raze entire neighborhoods to the ground.”