Paama's quick jaunt left Aster to guard her post in the meantime. With Hal in her arms and myself on her shoulder we entered a large stone building with a sign I was able to read that said, "Explorers' Guild". Apparently, the language I spoke was called Common here and often found throughout the realms, although not the only one discovered.

Large curtains that Paama swept aside, as she crouched in, covered the entrance. Inside she maintained a deep stance that resembled a waddle more than a walk.

"You should be able to talk to that worker in the desk. Looks like there's only one other person in queue, so you should be helped quickly."

She leaned over to let me down then pointed towards an average looking gentleman looking over some paperwork.

"Do you think you can handle it by yourself?" Hal asks from his position of power. "As much as I would like to help guide you through, I do actually need to get checked up on."

I glanced at the surrounding area inside the building and probably couldn't spot more than a few people. Honestly, the general vibe of the area gave me a typically boring clerk's office feeling.

"You should get checked up, Hal." I respond assuredly. "There's not too many people here right now and shouldn't Soot be hanging around for a bit here?"

"Hmm," Hal ponders for a second from Paama's grasp, her arms starting to sway and rock him without him noticing. "He might be here for another hour or so. If you have questions, just ask anyone here to check if he can swing by for you."

Paama, still rocking Hal in her arms, nods and give a wide smile from her crouched position.

"Settled then. I hope you get some of the answers you deserve."

With that, she turns around and leaves the building. Hal is still cradled in her arms, who I can see has noticed the rocking now that they’re outside and is making a fuss about it. Paama makes for one of the most unique and outstanding sights I've seen so far.

I wonder if everyone is as odd as her.

I let the curtains at the entrance fall back into place, a thick fabric stained black from the soot and ash hovering in the air. Turning to the clerk once more, I see he's still talking to another stranger. I catch the clerk give the woman a sheet of paper and hear the last bit of what he says before she departs.

"-should lead you straight to the briefing room for welcome courses. Come back here if you miss it or have any more questions."

"Of course, thank you for all the help."

The woman heads away from the counter and I get a chance to see another unique being once more. This woman is about as tall as I am, so definitely not whatever race Paama is, but has luminescent golden skin with what looks like veins of steel running through her arms. These veins lead up her neck and end in a circle around her ears. A set of amber horns, such as a deer's, peer out through her golden hair cascading over her shoulders in waves.

I begin to take an ample amount of time to examine her flowing, verdant green gown when I hear a cough in front of me.

"Ahem, sir. Do you need help as well?" The clerk asks me.

"Ah, yes! I'm sorry about that." I shuffle over quickly to avoid some embarrassment. There are so many interesting things around here but I need to learn to stop staring as much.

The man chuckles to himself a bit and waves me off.

"No problem. Never seen a Chord before I take it? Whelp, I've never met an Almaej so don't take offense if I stare like you did. Here for a welcome course as well?"

A Chord, is that what her race is?

"Ah, yes. That's exactly what I need to see about. Soot and Hal found me out near the volcano and sent me here."

"Mmhmm." The clerk nods his head and hums in response, searching around his desk for some things. "Soot's in the back actually, gave us a synopsis of your story. Sorry, for the loss."

"Oh, umm." I shuffle awkwardly a bit. This many people knowing my story is beginning to get a little bit discomforting. "Really, don't mention it. It's okay."

He hands me a few papers in turn, looking me in the eyes.

"Don't worry, I really won't mention it. Other than the head explorer, and maybe adventurer too, I'm gonna be the last to know the full story. Some others may be able to guess what's happened based on what's happened though."

He gives brief shrug and apologizes.

"Sorry, won't be able to stop that from happening." He points at the leaflet of papers I'm holding. "That there should be some basic info, in Common for you, to orientate yourself to the world along with some directions and a map of the base. Nothing too sensitive that you won't find out from the street or a church."

I glanced down at the stack and see the title of the top sheet, So You've Just Been Born/Arrived in/Created in Maja?

"Umm, what's with this title?" Is the first of many questions out of my mouth.

The gentleman rolls his eyes and gives me my answer, "A Worshipper of Seku wrote the pamphlet. We wanted one from Gnat but ran out of luck.” He seems to notice something to do with the time and stops me before I can ask who Seku and Gnat are.

“Listen up, friend. We actually don’t have a bunch of time for me to answer questions for you. Don’t worry, the welcoming course is there for that.” He reaches over and pats my shoulder then points down a hallway to my right. “You seem to have a strong heart and mind. Down that hallway there’s a room with a yellow drape over the doorway. Doe Ray, that’s the Chord woman you just saw, should be heading on in there. A meeting had already been set up for her and you’re actually piggy backing off hers. It’s about to start on the hour and you got a few minutes till. Good luck!”

I’m shooed away by the clerk and start heading away before being called back one more time.

“By the way, my name is Shaun Liam. Welcome to Maja, Arc!”

I give Shaun a friendly smile and wave him bye as I start heading towards where I was told to. Turning the corner, I peer down the hallway and notice all of the doorways have curtains instead of doors as well. Is this to save labor or a cultural thing? I shake my head to myself.

Questions upon questions.

Off a few entryways to the right, I spot a singular, bright yellow drape that must be the one that was mentioned to me. I stride over in somewhat of a rush, I would hate to stall the course by being late. Plus, I really am starting to get hyped a small amount to learn what is going on.

I reach the curtains and pause for a moment, my hand still reaching to pull back the drapes. I try to listen for the sounds of the meeting starting, but a strong and resonant woman’s voice calls out when I do.

“Come in! We haven’t started yet if you want help or need to join.”

I startled at the shout but manage to pull the curtain aside and enter quickly.

Glancing around the room, it’s what I recognize as a type of meeting room with a long central, oval-shaped desk. Grained and a deep shade of brown, the desk must be made of a darker wood than most I’ve seen so far. Natural light pours in from a series of large windows that have dark, black curtains pulled aside. Sitting on one side of the table with clear attention on her face is the Chord woman I heard called Doe Ray. Her striking appearance and natural glow give a warm glow to her side of the room in a way different than Soot does.

At the thought of Soot, I bring my gaze to two individuals on Doe Ray’s opposing side. Soot himself stands there with a kind smile, he waves hello towards me and beckons me to take a seat.

To the side of Soot stands another man with pointed ears as well. Much lighter skin than even Aster had, this gentleman has similar brown hair that falls down his back in a singular braid.

“You must be Arc.” He comments.

“Ah, err, yes. I am Arc and identify as-” I begin to give a full proper introduction before the man raises a hand to stop me from continuing.

“Sorry to cut you off there, but I guess the first item I’ll advise you on regards your greeting I’ve heard about. My name is Caim. Caim Anias, brother to Aster Anias.”

My eyes widen marginally at this greeting. Similar but still different in major parts to how I would normally introduce myself.

Caim nods his head to me and walks over to pull a chair out next to Doe Ray that I accept.

“I don’t mean to offend any culture you have with your greeting but what I gave tends to be the norm in Maja and most frequented realms we know of. First name of course, although some prefer last name instead, is what most people give. If you feel like explaining further, you can just give a full name instead and apply your relationship to individuals the person you’re speaking to may know.”

I nod my head once and take this in. It seems the gender identification is unnecessary. They must not have many people who change as often as an Almaej can.

Doe Ray looks absorbed while Caim explains but turns to me once he finishes speaking.

“I am Doe Ray, but you can actually call me Day if you’d like.” Doe Ray, or Day I suppose, reaches a hand out to shake and beams a small but brilliant smile towards me.

I grasp her hand firmly and return a kind smile in turn.

“You can call me Arc.”