Chapter 51: Joining the Guild?

Ash: “What do you mean no!?”

Nathan: “You know you are the third person within a week to ask me to join their party, all of them turned down just the same.”

Nathan followed Ash through the streets, refusing his every offer to join his team. From what Nathan could tell, he was a red headed cat type therian, with a care free personality.

Nathan: “I have absolutely no interest in joining any party.”

Ash: “Why not, I can Definitely get in if you did.”

Nathan: “Regardless, I still won’t join.”

Ash: “Aw, come on, don’t be that way.”

Ash groaned with disappointment, he thought he had finally found the way, yet again, it was denied.

Ash: “*sigh* Well, shoot, it thought for sure you want to, it’s not every day you see three rouges all together.”

Anais: “Hey, what exactly is this Rouge you been calling us?”

Ash: “You don’t know?”

Anais: “I wouldn’t have asked if I did.”

Ash: “Well, look around at the therians, what the difference between them and me?”

Anais: “Uh, Species?”

Ash: “Can’t say that’s wrong, but look closer.”

Nathan: “………….. There wearing chokers?”

Anais: “A choker?”

Nathan: “The thing there wearing around the neck.”

Every single Therian roaming the streets, didn’t matter age, were wearing a choker.

Ash: “Right, basically a rouge is a Therian who isn’t affiliated with Loegrey Midheim or Hyborne through, being one with either, means one with all.”

Nathan: “You mean, it comes down to having identification?”

Ash: “Yup, its to keep a certain group of individuals from, well, vanishing.”

Nathan: “So we just need to register citizenship?”

Ash: “Impossible, none of the Therian are citizens, just affiliated, if you catch my drift.”

Nathan: “…………..Ah.

Anais: “What’s the difference?”

Nathan: “That’s it Anais, let’s not delve any deeper, lets saved this talk for later.”

Nathan had the strangest feeling, the conversation, was about take a turn for the darker side of things. He was sure, that the conversation best be left for private moments.

Anais: “Hey wait, you’re not wearing a Choker, that means you’re a Rogue too.”

Ash: “Not so fast their shorty, I have something better than citizenship and what I was gonna suggest you all do.”

Nathan: “And that is?”

Ash: “Join the Guild.”

_

_

Ash: Here it is, the adventurer’s guild.”

Nathan: “Oh?

Nathan looked up and down the three-story building and was completely unimpressed. It completely lacked luster, just your everyday, four wall, red brick structure, with a sign he assumed read adventurer’s guild.

Anais: “This place looks plain.”

Ash: “Don’t let the appearance get you down, it’s the inside that houses all the magic.”

Ash strolled on in, with Nathan and company following behind. As they strolled in, all eye fell on them, more specifically, on Nathan. Then, the whispering started, the one thing Nathan minded was how acute his hearing was. He could hear every word, even the ones he didn’t want to hear. Half talking about how they couldn’t believe he exist, the other how beautiful they thought he was and what they would do to him.

The smell of a meal being prepared, wafted through the air. It came from a room to the far end of the building, a sort of cafeteria for adventurers. As they approach the counter, Nathan notice that some of the people staring, weren’t staring at him but at Ash.

Ash: “Hey, Belle.”

Belle: “Ash, hello.”

*Boing**Boing*

Nathan: “(Whoa!)”

The receptionist standing behind the counter bowed when they entered. Like most of the woman he met in this world, she was highly attractive as well. However, what stood out most of all was her sizable chest, that bounce with every motion. Nathan never seen such a massive set, he would have been enthralled if not for the daggers being stared into his head. He attempted to look away, but his eyes always trailed back to them.

Belle: “Ah, are these friends of yours, you didn’t tell me you were friends with the Lycanian? She’s so beautiful.”

Ash: “I just met “him”.”

Nathan: “What?”

Belle: “Him, you’re a man, amazing so beautiful.”

Nathan: “Yeah, but I’m surprised Ash, your one of the first to get it right.”

Ash: “Naw, I thought you were a girl, I just happened to overhear your conversation with Zane.”

Belle: “Well what brings you here today?”

Ash: “They’re here to join.”

Belle: “Ash, you know the rules, you know they need at least four party members.”

Nathan: “What rules?”

Belle: “You don’t know, honestly Ash, did you not explain anything.”

Ash: “I was gonna.”

Nathan: “What is she talking about?”

Ash: “Well, in order to become an adventure, you need at least a party of four, two party members above level fourteen and there’s a small fee.”

Nathan: “Hey, I told you I’m not joining your party.”

Anais: “You tried to trick us into joining with him.”

Ash: “I wouldn’t call it a trick per se, more like hurrying things along.”

Anais: “More like trick us into signing up with you.”

Ash: “True, but no one said you had to stay a four-person team once you become one. As long as you had a party of four, you can always leave it afterwards, people joining other parties, is not unheard of.”

Nathan: “I see.”

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Belle: “Yes, but if you fail to join another party within a certain amount of time, you lose your membership.”

Nathan: “And how long before you lose yours?”

Ash: *Mumbling*

Nathan: “So that’s it, huh?”

Ash turned his head, it was too obvious what his goal was.

Belle: “So, you three will be forming a party with Ash?”

Nathan: “Hmm, can I ask you something miss, what are your procedures when it comes to personal information?

Belle: “Unless adventurer say otherwise, personal information is kept by the guild, full non-disclosure policy. This includes levels, status, titles, class and any other information you wish to be withheld. However, if anyone wanted to hire you specifically, though we won’t show them any information, we will point them in the general direction of anyone who fits their criteria.”

Nathan: “What about the guild higher ups?”

Belle: “They will have free reign when it comes to your information, but with a pact, they aren’t allowed to discuss anything they see, with anyone other than other higher ups but a pact will cost you two hundred Rydt.”

Nathan: “So it comes back, to money.”

Belle: I’m afraid so, no matter what we do, we’re are here to make money, a business is still a business.”

Nathan: “True, Could I ask you one more thing, it’s a big sensitive so I rather they didn’t hear?”

Nathan moved in close and whispered in her ear, she look a little surprise by the question?”

Belle: “Yes it still counts, but sir, if what I’m understanding is true, the fee will be cut in half.”

Nathan: “Oh?”

Belle: “Yes usually we charge one hundred Rydt, but you only have to pay fifty if what I understand correctly.”

Nathan: “Oh that sounds great, I don’t have the money right now, but I want to join.”

Belle: “That’s fine, come back whenever you’re ready.”

Ash: “Wait, what!?”

Nathan left, with Ash bewildered about what had just transpired.

Ash: “What did he say just now?”

Belle: “Ash, you know well, that I can’t tell you that, confidentiality, you know?”

Ash: “Well, why did you say she only had to pay half?”

Belle: “Well, if someone already has a party, then there no need for us to sell them a “Unit Crystal”.”

Ash: “Party?”

Belle: “Yes, from what I understood, he leads a party.”

Ash: “No wonder, but high in the world did he find a Unit Crystal, I thought the guilds were the only ones who knew how to make them?”

Belle: “As far as I know that is true, it is a bit odd.”

Back outside in the streets, Nathan pulled out the bag of money.

Nathan: “I wonder if this is enough, Ena could you tell how much this is?”

Ena: “Ah, well, you have a little over a hundred Rydt here, it’s enough to pay the way.”

Anais: “But, that would leave us not much left, we still need some food and some place to stay, so we should hold off on joining the guild.”

Nathan: “Agreed, but then again, I might just sleep outside. Aint no way in hell, I’m staying at any inn.”

Anais: “Yeah, now that I think about it, you’re right.”

Ena: “You’re going through all this trouble for me, why?”

Nathan: “Not just you, I probably would have ended up joining either way, but at least now I have a legitimate reason to join.”

Iris: “Yes, this isn’t about you, please do not flatter yourself.”

Ena: “Eugh.”

Nathan: “Cut it out, okay what should we do, you think I could sell some produce, grow something to earn a little money.”

Ash: “Not without a license you’re not.”

Nathan: “You still following us, I’m sure Belle told you already.”

Ash: “That you already have a party, no wonder you won’t join anyone, sorry about before.”

Nathan: “Its fine, so what was that about a license.”

Ash: “Yeah, the country has strict regulations on merchants, if you were to try to set up shop, they throw your ass and prison and confiscate everything you own.”

Anais: “And this license cost money?”

Ash: “Your learning.”

Nathan: “Well that sucks, how am I supposed to make some money.”

Ash: “Simple, sell one of those swords.”

Nathan: “My swords.”

Ash: “You can’t start a business, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sell your possessions to already existing shops.”

Nathan: “So what, I should go to some random shop and sell them something, hoping they give me a good price?”

Ash: “Don’t be that way, I’ll show you to some of my favorites, I’m sure you find a good price.”

Ash then proceeded to lead Nathan around town, stopping at his favorite shops. Nathan showed each shop the sword, they would make a face and look at Nathan as if he was a fool. They would give Nathan a price that sounded good, but something was weird.

One by one he dismissed every proprietor Ash took him to. Soon Ash ran out of stores to show and began trying random ones, but still Nathan dismissed them. Everyone made a face, like they were looking at an idiot.

Ash: “Well, that was the last one, do you really want to sell it or not?”

Anais: “What’s wrong?”

Nathan: “I don’t know, I just get the feeling they were all trying to take us for a ride.”

Ash:” I don’t know about the last ones, but the first three stores, I think they always give me good prices.”

Nathan: “No, every, last one of those merchants lied to us.”

Anais: “How do you know?”

Nathan: “I don’t really understand it myself, but I can just tell. Hey Ash, what do you think of this sword?”

Nathan handed his sword over to Ash, who turned it over several times. Taking out his blade he could tell that Nathan sword was of higher quality, but not much else.

Nathan: “Well?”

Ash: “It’s a good sword, better than mine anyway.”

Nathan: “Nothing stands out about it, (Then what was with that look in their eyes and their reactions)?”

Ash: “What do you want, it’s not like I have an appraisal type ability.”

Nathan: “You don’t?”

Ash: “No, of course not.”

Nathan: “What about those store owners?”

Ash: “I wouldn’t be surprised, not a full-on appraisal ability like “Examine”, but maybe something that showed them the basics of any item.”

Anais: “But, Nathan haSHMMPH!?”

Nathan quickly scooped up Anais, stopping her from finishing her sentence.

Ash: “What was that?”

Nathan: “Nothing, nothing, are their anymore merchants.”

Ash: “Well we can’t go to the noble’s district, not that they would let us walk around that area. The only other place I could think of……..but that place is.”

Nathan: “Its fine, lead the way.”

Anais broke free from Nathans grasp.

Anais: “*Whisper* Your gonna have to stop doing that.”

Nathan: “Don’t say anything about what I can do, I don’t think I’m supposed to them.”

Ash lead Nathan through streets, the clutter if people lessening as they traveled further east. Also, the condition of the structure seemed to deteriorate, but that was mostly about one particular structure. The structure seemed to be on its last leg, the walls were visibly crumbling, the sign the roof, there was a hole. Ash was heading straight to the building, meaning that this was the shop he mentioned.

By the look on Ash’s face, said everything.

Anais: “This place is a piece of crap.”

Nathan: “Don’t say out loud what we all were thinking.”

Ash: “Well, its seen better days, but it the last shop, sooooo-”

Nathan followed Ash into the shop, it wasn’t any better on the inside. The shelves were barely stocked and what was there, didn’t look usable. It seemed whoever was here was going out of business.

Anais: “Where’s the shop keep?”

Ash: “He’s probably in back.”

?????: “Ah!?”

Nathan: “HMM?”

On the other side of the room was a therian child. A face that went from shock to pure excitement. He quickly rushed out the door

????: “Brother, Brother, we have customers.”

??????: “What!?”

As someone stampeded into the room, their was a symphony crashing, smashing and profanity. Stepping into the door way was another Therian.

Nathan: “You’re the shop keep?”

The man face, lit up at the sight of customers, from the look of it, he hadn't had any in a while. He bowed his head, like so many merchants before.

???????: “Yes, I’m Ramol and this is my little brother Kyr. Welcome to Medly.”