[https://i.imgur.com/eTdqR2C.jpg]

"I met his eyes as he left port. There were a thousand lives within them, and none his own." - Von Briggs, amateur painter.

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“Are you okay?” Knell asked, setting the tray down on the table. A twinge of pain ran down the side of his body, but he didn’t let it show on his face.

“I’m fine,” the waitress said, gathering herself. She glared at the woman who had nearly knocked her over. “Watch where you’re going!”

“I – uh, sorry,” the woman said, taken aback. “I didn’t realize you were there.”

“Perhaps you should pay more attention to your surroundings,” Knell suggested, keeping his expression neutral. Five seconds wasted.

She pressed her lips together and left, heading up the stairs at the side of the room to the second floor. The man who had been arguing with her followed after the woman.

“How much for the meal?” Knell asked.

“It’s free,” the waitress said, shaking her head. “I would have had to clean a big mess up if you hadn’t caught that plate. Your reaction speed is incredible, mister. Are you an adventurer?”

Knell shrugged, taking the plate and sitting down at his table. A twinge of pain shot through his right leg and up into his chest. “I know I look a bit young, but magic has a way of twisting appearance.”

It wasn’t a lie. Powerful mages did age slower. His own appearance was completely unchanged, but she didn’t have to know that.

“Wow,” the waitress said. “Thanks again, mister…”

“Knell,” he finished.

“Linda!” a booming voice roared. “Stop flirting with the customers and get back in the kitchen! I’ve got orders to be delivered, girl!”

The waitress flushed and gave Knell a quick curtsey before darting off to the kitchen. Knell watched her leave, then step-tapped back over to his chair and sat down with a grunt. He laid his staff across the table once again, keeping it within grabbing range, and turned to his food.

A chair scraped across the ground. The short figure hopped down from their chair and strode up to Knell’s table, pulling the chair across from him out and sitting down. He let out a sigh. More wasted time.

“Can I help you?”

“You just stopped that group from mugging me, didn’t you?”

The voice was high pitched, that of either an older child or a young woman.

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“How do you figure?” Knell asked.

“The big guy was glancing at the little pansy arguing with his woman. I’m pretty sure I saw one of them following me last night, but I wasn’t sure until I heard him curse when you stopped their distraction. Why’d you do it?”

“I did nothing but save my food,” Knell replied. “If you feel that I aided you, I’m glad to be of service.”

“I don’t believe you. Are you gunning for it too?” the figure started to rise. Knell grabbed his staff and rapped her on the shoulder, pushing her back into the chair.

“Sit down,” Knell said, his voice flat. “I don’t like being accused of being a thief. I have no interest in whatever you may be carrying. If you’re going to cause me trouble, kindly wait until after I have eaten. I am hungry and my temper is short.”

The figure stared at him for a few moments, then inclined their head. “Sorry. I suppose I’m a bit paranoid.”

Knell didn’t bother responding. He was too busy making the food disappear into his gullet as quickly as possible. Once he finished, he sat back in the chair and let out a content sigh. It had been some time since he’d eaten a good, home cooked meal.

“You’re still here,” Knell observed.

“You’re an adventurer, right?”

“I don’t recall mentioning anything of the sort.”

“Who else would step into a fight like that? Besides, most of the people that come to this town are either pirates or adventurers, and you don’t strike me as a pirate.”

Knell shrugged. “A fair assessment. You want something from an adventurer, then?”

“Yes. I’d like to hire your team.”

“Impossible,” Knell said.

“What? Why?” they exclaimed.

“I don’t have a team right now. I am currently in the search for members.”

“Seriously? What rank?”

“I don’t see how that’s your business,” Knell said, cocking his head. “Unless you’re seeking to apply?”

They pulled their hood back, revealing light purple skin and a head of long shimmering silver-white hair. The person was very clearly a woman, and likely a moon elf judging by her angular ears and wide, dangerous eyes.

“Seriously? Why would I want to join the adventuring group of somebody that doesn’t even share their rank? The only people that do that are the ones without one.”

“Ah. You’ve got me dead to rights,” Knell said. “I’m afraid I’m unranked. Never went to an academy. But if you wouldn’t want to join my team, why would you want to hire me?”

The elf stared at him, then pressed her lips together. She leaned forward over the table, staring into Knell’s eyes.

“What’s your Path? You strike me as a man that has one.”

“I see no reason why I should tell you that,” Knell said. “You’re asking a lot of questions but offering nothing up in response. If you don’t have anything of worth, please leave. I hate having my time wasted.”

“I’m a Shadow Stalker,” she said. “Rank Zero. Consider this my formal application to join your adventuring team.”

Knell blinked. He hadn’t expected that, but he didn’t let it show on his face. Rynholt’s words rang through his head.

“You might have to get in line,” Knell said with a wry grin. He wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth – not before seeing what the woman could do, at least. “Why should I accept you? I don’t even know your name.”

The woman glanced around, then cocked an eyebrow. “Is the line in the astral plane?”

Knell shrugged. “I’m a picky man. You clearly want something from me, and I suspect it has something to do with…”

He trailed off, not finishing the sentence but sending a pointed glance at her bag. The moon elf gritted her teeth and drummed her fingers on the table. “You may refer to me as Stix.”

“Refer? Not your real name, then,” Knell observed.

“It is not. In my culture, we do not exchange names unless there is great trust between us.”

“Fair enough,” Knell said. “I am Knell.”

“Your real name?”

“Who knows,” Knell said, his lips quirking in a grin. “Do you have a room here?”

“I do, but –”

“Perfect,” Knell said. “We shall continue your audition there, where there are fewer prying ears.”

“I’d much rather talk here, where there are other people.”

“If you trust me enough to want to join my crew, then you trust me enough to bring me to your room. Otherwise, feel free to leave. I don’t care. Make up your mind.”