Argat hadn’t exactly been thrilled at the prospect of letting me go back to work unaccompanied, but he also clearly had more to do than just looking after me. In the end it was Eimer who suggested a solution I was more than happy with. Setting down the broken stool I gave my new furry companion a good pet, much to his delight.
The appropriately named Taffy was a honey brown, medium sized hound with floppy ears and a seemingly permanent droopy grin. His tail thumped back and forth as he leaned into the pets and scritches, a picture of derpy excitement that warmed my heart.
Still, I’d returned to the workshop with a mission. Reluctantly pulling away from my affectionate companion, I trod towards a pitted and charred worktop currently bearing a small beaker of white solution. Given the relative newness of the rest of the room, the charred and pitted bench suggested my attempts at alchemy had been eventful. Perhaps failures in alchemy just left more of a mark? Either way, as I tilted the beaker to better gauge the viscosity of its contents, I was glad to be using a finished alchemical today rather than starting something new. It certainly looked suitably gloopy, and I faintly recalled making it as an adhesive for the stool, but all I could really do was hope it would work. I wished I understood it better, and immediately knew I messed up.
It was like the world zoomed in on the liquid in the beaker I saw flashes of its components, sap from a tree that oozed out then would harden in to a powder that would blow away in the breeze, bones from a plethora of animals, some familiar others not, boiled vigorously before the water cooled, a tiny drop of venom from a stinging insect that made me shiver, combined and allowed to thicken. Flour could be added if needed but would weaken the strength of the bond, it was part chemical hardening part a reaction with the qi in the wood. This batch didn’t need it. And like a diver reaching the surface I gasped as the vision stopped.
Giving Taffy a reassuring pet I brought the glue over to the stool before beginning to look for clamps and a brush. Argat had warned me that while I needed to learn to use my skills eventually, I should hold off for a few days. Straining my historical aspect further would obviously be bad, but overtaxing the others didn’t sound much better. Apparently overspending qi could literally shorten one’s lifespan.
A friendly bark directed my attention to a pair of clogs Taffy had pushed over quite adorably while I’d been searching drawers. Slipping my feet out of the sandals I had on, I found the hard wooden clogs surprisingly comfortable, conforming perfectly to the bottom of my feet and supporting just the right places. They might not be strictly necessary for gluing a stool, but I could suddenly see how the hard wood made for good protective footwear in the workshop. Taffy was a smart one. He certainly had a better idea of what was normal than I currently, and I wasn’t shy about praising him for it.
The stool wasn’t strictly broken, but one of the legs was precipitously loose and the others would benefit from some attention. One of the crossbars/stretchers near the bottom of the legs appeared ready to fall free at a moment’s notice. Dipping the old paintbrush in the thick glue I got to work. Carefully exposing as much of the tenons as possible without pulling the stool apart I coated them in glue. The ends of the stretcher also got a coat before I pressed the stool tightly together and began placing the clamps. Just as I was thinking I could do with an extra pair of hands, a well manicured set adorned with intricate rings that pricked at my appraisal skill appeared, holding things in place.
Looking to their owner, if I had to sum her up in a single word it was striking. Delicate robes with intricate embroidery rippled across well defined muscle. A youthful face with high cheekbones and intense eyes that seemed to glimmer with gold. She radiated power. The kind of figure blocks of marble hoped the chisel would reveal within them. Yet her face bore a gentle smile and Taffy nuzzled into her side, a character reference that put me at my ease.
“Thanks.” Not stopping as I placed the clamps, despite her finery, her actions showed she was willing to help. “Sorry, I’m a little foggy on names at the moment, but I appreciate the help.”
“So I heard Vaul, yet you’ve found your way back to your workshop once more.” her voice surprisingly soft for someone so physically imposing.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“I guess I did. It just feels right somehow. Calming, I guess. Like when I’m doing something with my hands my mind is clearer. Plus, it’s nice to fix things. Lookin’ forward to making some stuff too. But I’m blabbering on about myself, was there something you needed miss?”
She stepped back with fluid poise as the last clamp was placed, “I suppose I should have reintroduced myself, but I’ll hope you’ll forgive me, it’s not often I get to make a second first impression.” She gave Taffy a scratch behind the ears, “I am Su of the Lei bloodline, guildmaster of this branch of the adventurers’ guild. As to what I needed, I’m primarily here to ask how you are, and discuss any support you may need. I was going to tell you there’s no need to rush back to work,” her smile turned amused, “but I’m beginning to suspect I might need to lock down the workshop to stop you.”
“OH! Uh, please don’t... lady guildmaster?”
She laughed, visibly relaxing as she did so. “Vaul, I’m the last person who would stop you from following your class, particularly when it helps support this branch of the guild. I just didn’t want you to think you had to rush back to work. Take things at your own pace and listen to Argat’s advice. There will always be plenty of work the guild would benefit from, but adventurers can - and generally should - source their equipment elsewhere.”
“What? Why?!”
“Peace Vaul. I mean nothing against your craft, simply that an adventurer should have appropriate equipment before they stand at the entrance of a dungeon. Much of what we sell are necessities that the inexperienced have forgotten. Moreover, while you craft more impressive pieces, they are often dependent on the spoils retrieved from the dungeon and as such vary in nature and availability. This allows many adventurers to purchase opportunistically as they see something that suits their class, but I would consider it unwise to rely on our small stock having appropriate items for every class or challenge.” She took a breath, “The guild’s primary goal in selling items is generating interest in the spoils from the dungeon and discouraging excessive price gouging. Generating a profit is of course a nice bonus, but we make far more by being able to sell the materials from the dungeon and keeping business flowing smoothly. Adventurers rioting because all the rope on sale is five times the market price isn’t good for anyone.”
I winced, “Yeah, a mob of angry adventurers sounds problematic. Would people really be that stupid to... what am I saying, of course they would.”
“Unfortunately, yes. Greed has overcome wisdom on a few occasions in the past, hence the guild’s policy. Part of why the clans permit the existence of the adventurers' guild is to manage such issues and discourage the formation of larger mercenary companies in favour of smaller adventuring groups.”
“That’s why we mostly sell the materials as well isn’t it? Rather than processing all the materials ourselves and having a monopoly, or something damn close, we supply the local economy.”
She gave him an appraising look, “For someone who has claimed in the past to be uninterested in politics and economics you certainly have a fine grasp of it Vaul. Still, I think we’ve gotten a little off topic here. I merely wished to convey my best wishes on your recovery and reassure you that as both a vassal of the Liu clan and an employee of this guild, you have financial and job security however long your recovery. Should you have any issues please feel free to raise them with me. The stamp or seal you created when the accident occurred is in my care and I’ll see about having it properly appraised. Perhaps that will shed further light on how best to restore your memories.”
“Appraised? Actually, I think I have a skill for that now.”
The guildmaster raised an eyebrow as one of her rings glimmered. Taffy on the other hand looked up with a big grin like he’d just been promised a bowl of treats, his formerly wagging tail now almost a blur behind him.
“Well that certainly is welcome news, though I must apologise for not raising the privacy ward sooner, I wasn’t anticipating a change in skills.” She must have read something in my face, “Class too? Goodness Vaul, I’m glad some benefit has come out of this ordeal for you.” She peered down to look at the hound, “Now Taffy, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to step outside for moment.”
With an eager bark he trotted off.
“Now where were we? Ahh yes, an appraisal skill and possibly a new class, if you feel comfortable discussing it. I doubt many were close enough to overhear – though I confess I’m hoping you don’t wish to keep your appraisal skill under wraps for long - but Kete at least will know and be overjoyed at the news.”
“Argat mentioned him I think. I’m happy to help out, though I’m still trying to get my head round my classes and skills, but who exactly is Kete?”
“I can give you some guidance, however I’m sure Argat has done so already. Kete is another employee here at the guild, teaching everything from survival skills and harvesting, to basic weapons and combat training. He’ll always be a creature trainer at heart though, with Taffy being one of his companions.”
“Well, if Taffy likes him, then I like him already”