There was still a line for the ranking office, but not much of one. Five fighters went in ahead of Nala's party, while she and the others waited in a pleasantly furnished wood-panelled room with dozens of empty seats.

"I guess there are good points about being last," Mist said, for the seventeenth time. "You guys should've been here earlier, there were so many people, I couldn't even believe it! More people than on my whole island, I bet! This place is a lot bigger than I expected. Did you expect it to be so big? I didn't! Um, what rank do you think we'll get? It's probably too much to expect a high one, I don't think we'll get B but maybe C? Do you think? Um, Nala? Do you think we might get ranked C?"

"I know nothing about the ranking system."

"Oh! Really? I thought ... I mean, you just seem like ... and you're the party leader ... you didn't read the brochures?"

Nala looked at Mist.

"In the admissions room?" Mist said. "There were lots, I think I read them all, I got here early so, um, I had to wait a while. You didn't read any? Well anyway, what they do is they take all of our classes and equipment and special abilities and combat effectiveness and compatibility and everything, then average it out and give us a ranking based on that. S is the highest, of course, then A, B, C ... anyway, once we get a rank we can choose a bunch of stuff based on that, like S-rank parties get to pick pretty much any accommodation they want except for the team houses, A-rank have a lot of options too, what do you think we can hope for? Maybe C? Even D would be okay, I read there are dorms near the ruins that looked kind of nice. C class would be great, though, you can get an actual house in one of the villages, there's one that's so pretty, all these lovely white houses with orange roofs and they're all built in close together so there aren't really streets, just like paved courtyards, and then little stairways going all up and around, it just looked so nice ... my village doesn't have anything like that, hardly any stonework at all, in comparison this place is amazing! Well, I guess in comparison to anywhere this place is amazing. I've only been here and my village, but I've heard stories. Oh, I'm from the Sunrise Islands! I didn't say that already, did I? Well I am, anyway, from Feather Island ... um, where are you all from?"

"I don't wish to talk about my homeland," Praetorian muttered, from where he sat a few seats away.

"Does it even matter?" Sly asked, a couple of seats away from Praetorian.

"I don't actually know," Amanda said, from where she sat beside Tzugakk, who looked down at his big hands, his wide mouth tight.

Mist looked around at her fellow party-members, her eyes going to Nala, who was standing near Tzugakk.

"Um, Nala? Where are you from?"

In response Nala pointed to her cheek.

"I ... I don't know what that means? You don't have a beard?"

"Female dwarfs don't have beards, it's just a myth that they do," Praetorian muttered. "She's showing you that there's nothing on her cheek."

"Huh? So you're showing me there's nothing there?"

Nala was looking away from Mist.

"Yes," she said.

"YEEEEEEAAAAH! B-RANK, WOOOOO! RED TOWN FIGHTERS FOREVER!"

Mist turned to stare at the group of fighters whooping and high-fiving their way out of the ranking office.

"Man, you guys better get in there!" one of them called. "They're feeling generous today, yeah! PARTY HOUSE HERE WE COME!"

"Generous sounds hopeful," Mist said, waving at the fighters as they left. "Should we, um, should we just go straight in?"

The ranking office turned out to be a circular room with a domed ceiling above, the floor polished marble, intricate stained-glass windows depicting humans and dwarves and elves and halflings and other races striking down demonic shadows. In the centre of the room was a circular desk with chairs arranged around—it seemed able to accommodate more than a dozen parties at once, but at this time there was only a single clerk left, a bored-looking human.

"Come on, then," he called, his voice echoing. "You're the last? Let's get you ranked and we can all get on with things. Party leader first, give me your hand."

Nala led the others to the desk and held out her hand, her BrightCircle already glowing.

"Confirm your name and class," the man muttered, peering down at a scroll through thin square spectacles.

"Nala Greyward. Rogue."

"Mm-hm. Next you have a zombie? Name and class?"

"Me? Uh ... Amanda Willow. Glumgirl, apparently."

"Next?"

"That would be me? Praetorian Darkcede, necromancer."

"Mm. Next."

"Uh, Sly Lightfear, I'm a sniper."

"Mist Reginleif!" Mist said, before the clerk could even ask. "Valkyrie!"

She shrank into her oversized armour as everyone looked at her.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I got excited."

"And a goblin, apparently? Oh, there you are. Name and class?"

"Tzugakk." Tzugakk shifted where he stood, hesitated before continuing in an even softer voice than normal: "Stenchmerchant."

"Yes, unsurprising I suppose," said the clerk. "That's all of you? Wait there a moment, then, this part—oh, it's already done. Not much to calculate, I suppose. Hm. Hm-hm. Hm, haven't had one of these in a while."

"What is it?" Mist asked, going on tip-toes to try to see the scroll the clerk held. "Is it our rank? Is it bad? Oh no, it's not F, is it? Are we Rank F?"

"No, no."

"Oh, phew."

"You're Rank Z."

Silence carried particularly well in the big domed room. It was Mist who broke it:

"Z? Z? There's a Rank Z?"

"Yes, well, your lack of equipment didn't exactly help, nor did the cursed weapon. Puts you dead last for choice, no special privileges or permissions or bonus merits—and as for accommodation, well, you're just going to have to find it where you can. I'd suggest splitting up, try for your base class-type lodgings—you, elf, play the race card and you'll likely get in over on Fauxgreen. Necromancer, take your pet and head to Everglim, near the craft quarter, it's not far from here."

"I'm not his pet," Amanda protested. "And I want my OWN lodgings!"

"Technically speaking you are a monster," said the clerk. "Z-ranked at that. You're lucky we're not just putting you in the zoo."

"In any case," Praetorian said, "you must stay at my side or you'll lose what little personality you currently retain. Believe me, if I could have it any other way..."

"I wouldn't complain," said the clerk, "Everglim's one of the safer parts of the academy. Not many bullies want to risk tangling with mages, at least not on their home turf. Plenty of cottages too, near the gardens."

"Cottages," said Praetorian. "Now that doesn't sound too unbearable."

"Um, what about me?" Mist asked.

"'Valkyrie'. Hm. Fighter would be your base class, I suppose ... try the dorms in battle quarter, check the signs outside for directions, it's a bit of a hike from here. The company might be a little rough but you'll soon get used to it."

From Mist there came a tiny squeak.

"I, um ... I thought we might be able to stay together?" she said. "Since we're a party?"

"If you were higher ranked then certainly. Not much you can do with Z, though. Now, the rogue and the little nobbler, you'd be best off trying your luck in the sprawl, just at the southern edge of the ruins near Waveless Beach. That's where all the miscellaneous low-tier scum gather."

"Is that, uh ... it?" Sly asked, after a short silence.

"Unless you have any questions? No? Good. Out now, go on. It'll get dark soon, you certainly don't want to be without a safe zone once the sun goes down, especially not on the first day."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The darkening sky outside the ranking office matched the newly-formed party's mood. The butt of Mist's spear trailed behind her as she clanked through Destiny Square.

"I really thought we'd all be together," she said. "I know we all just met up but I feel better with you guys around. I thought being a party..."

Mist trailed off gloomily. Tzugakk patted her plate-armoured arm.

"That was my hope also, yes," he said. "Safety in numbers, to protect us all from the dangers of this place."

"Hm. Even together we don't present much of a threat," Praetorian said. "What can we do? I have no stave, our valkyrie seems more likely to trip over her spear than employ it effectively, our sniper's bow is cursed not to hit, 'stenchmerchant' sounds like exactly the wrong kind of offensive, our party leader has only the most basic iron knife, and it," he said, nodding at Amanda, "is restricted by class from so much as equipping a weapon."

"She." Tzugakk's voice was as soft as ever. "Not 'it'."

"Well forgive me, please do, but if you'd had the history that I do with her kind then you would perhaps excuse my use of the impersonal pronoun. Regardless, I am going, before night truly falls. Coming, zombie?"

"Like I have a choice," Amanda muttered.

"Oh, but of course you do! You can shamble along after me or you can stay here and lurch around being ineffective. Does that sound appealing? No? Then come along."

"Wait."

Praetorian let out an exaggerated sigh then turned to give Nala his full attention.

"Does our 'leader' have something she wishes to say?" he asked. "Before we all seek what little sanctuary we may find in this wretched place?"

"Tzugakk is right," Nala said. "Our best chance of survival is in keeping together."

"Survival?" Sly laughed, not a little nervously. "You make it sound like this is life or death, dude. Worst that can happen here is we get beat up too many times and they kick us out."

Nala caught Tzugakk's eye as Praetorian spoke:

"But you must admit that her point is valid. After today's frightful events I have little hope of making it past the first week, but I would like to remain here at least long enough to explore certain possibilities. My desires are few and base in nature, but I'd like to indulge them before being forced to return to the zombie-infested hole that is my homeland. Above all else that means avoiding demerits, which means avoiding death."

"I, um, I think they call it 'defeat' here," Mist said. "We should also, um, I mean we should be trying to earn merits, too. That's the whole point of this place, right? To earn enough merits to graduate, to buy adventuring licenses and that kind of thing. I read that you can get merits for doing lots of different stuff ... nothing I'm good at, though..."

Praetorian laughed through his nose. "And what ARE you good at, pray tell?"

"...I'm okay at embroidery..."

"Don't guess there are sewing merits here, though," Sly said.

"There are some for crafting!" Mist said. "None of the brochures I read mentioned sewing but ... but maybe..."

"We're wasting time," Praetorian said. "I'm weary and the sun is setting—that cheerful and encouraging soul within the ranking office mentioned that Everglim is close and safe, and this seems to be a fairly central part of the academy. Safety and convenience seems an excellent combination to me, so what's say we all meet at my cottage tomorrow morning to discuss the best path forward? We can pool our collective knowledge of the academy and its mysterious ways and then venture out as a group to explore the opportunities before us. Disagreement? No? Then come, zombie, our 'safe zone' awaits."

"Uh, wait a sec, how are we gonna find you?" Sly asked.

"Hm. Relevant query, I suppose. Very well, how's this—I shall inscribe the front door with a sigil of some kind, cantrips of that nature are within my power even without a stave."

"A sigil?" Mist said, perking up. "Oh! Could it be a loveheart?"

Everyone looked at her, and she lowered her eyes.

"What?" she said, fiddling with her spear. "I like hearts..."

"Fine, a heart, I honestly do not care. Is there anything else anyone wants to discuss? Briefly?"

Praetorian looked around at the others, then gave a theatrically extravagant bow and turned on his heel, striding away with Amanda shuffling behind.

"Slow!" she called after him. "These legs aren't exactly made for running..."

Her dry voice faded as the two of them left the square. Sly was already slinking away, giving the others a vague wave as he departed, and Nala and Tzugakk turned to go, the goblin holding her sleeve—

"Um."

Nala and Tzugakk stopped, both looking back at Mist. Although taller than either of them she seemed tinier than ever, her too-long spear held in both hands, her mouth tight.

"Could I ... um, do you think I could maybe go with you guys? Maybe I could find a place in the sprawl or wherever..."

"Your base class is fighter," Nala said. "You have a set area. The dormitories in the battle quarter."

"I, um, but I kind of ... I mean I read about that place, it's where all the sparring and training goes on, and ... and it's, um, it's filled with, you know ... fighters..."

"Yes?"

"I just, I don't know if that's my place, it doesn't feel right and most of the fighters I met today were ... I mean ... kind of ... awful..."

Nala looked at Mist with blank eyes. Tzugakk's expression held more compassion ... but also a measure of helplessness.

"This place is confusing," he said, quietly. "But it seems class is important, yes. We are going to the sprawl, a place for rogues and other low-tier scum." Tzugakk allowed himself a small, sad smile. "You are a valkyrie, but you must also be a fighter."

"I ... I guess..."

"Goodnight, then," Nala said, once more turning to go.

"Um, goodnight ... see you two tomorrow..."

Tzugakk looked back as he followed Nala, watching Mist shuffle away.

"She is scared," he murmured.

Nala said nothing.

In Destiny Square and the streets surrounding everything was well-maintained and clean and generally nice, but the further Nala and Tzugakk travelled the rougher their surroundings grew—at first a few missing cobblestones or tufts of thick grass growing from cracks, but then the buildings began to show signs of neglect and the streets were more bare earth than anything, and soon the area resembled a ruin more than a living city, the remains of those buildings that had succumbed to time pushed roughly from the street to pile in alleys. As they walked on the sky grew dark and the streets grew narrow, gnarled trees with thick green foliage becoming a frequent sight, in some places wood dominating stone thanks to the spread of wild growth.

"Nala, a place like us," Tzugakk said, looking around with curious eyes. "City and forest coming together. It is a surprise, to find this here."

"Ruins?"

"No," Tzugakk said, grinning at Nala. "Beauty!"

Nala shook her head and they walked on in silence, passing through the overgrown ruins and making their way into an area of shadowy buildings built from dark blue stone.

"It was your plan that led us here."

Nala had spoken suddenly, her pace unchanged, and it took a surprised Tzugakk several seconds to reply:

"I'm sorry—"

"No. Not like that. This is better."

Soft orbs suddenly bloomed above the street, the ghostly blue light they cast making everything pale.

"Yes," he murmured, as they walked on beneath the glow. "Better."

"For that..."

Nala trailed off, wincing briefly before her usual flat expression returned.

"I want you to understand that I understand," she said, not looking at Tzugakk.

"Understand what?"

"That I owe you everything."

Tzugakk stopped, Nala's sleeve released from his grip. She came to a stop, too, several steps ahead of him.

"No," he said. "Together, we did it together."

"It was your plan."

"No, no no. Only my idea. The plan was yours."

"Without you I would have been lost. It was your plan."

Tzugakk smiled down at his wide feet. "I would give you my eyes if I could."

"...is that a goblin expression?"

"I want you to see Nala Greyward as I see Nala Greyward. My eyes see her better than her eyes see her. Your life before, you told me, you were small and weak and slow but you survived because you understood how things worked—"

"This place is nothing like Sontra."

"Both places have rules. You are good at rules. You listen and you learn and you adapt and you become better and better and better, that is you, Nala!"

Nala did not reply. Tzugakk smiled at her and took her sleeve, and together they walked on through the ghost-blue streets. As the sky darkened further and stars became visible there came subtle activity; shadows cast on distant walls, whispers in the alleys surrounding, footsteps on rooftops, a cloaked figure hurrying past. Here there were ruins, and buildings built atop ruins, and makeshift tents in the places that were clear, and the scent of unfamiliar food filled the air thick and sweet, and then suddenly there was a small figure before them; a fox-faced halfling girl in a twilight robe.

"Don't try anything with me and I won't try anything with you," she said, her voice barely raised above a whisper. "That's how it goes here. You a rogue? And you..." The halfling girl smirked as she ran quick eyes over Tzugakk. "You look like you need all the help you can get. You two want something to eat? Somewhere to sleep? I can show you."

"Why?"

The halfling girl grinned at Nala. "Because. Far-follow if you're wary—or canny. I'll show you the trick to this place."

Nala and Tzugakk became aware of others as they made their way through the streets and tent villages of the sprawl, dozens, hundreds, and yet there was a comfortable feeling here, a familiar feeling. The halfling girl guided them through it all, first showing them where to get food—pigogs and land lizards and more were hunted in the dry sewers below the sprawl, their trophies sold and their meat cooked.

"I've been here three years," said the halfling girl, talking through a mouthful of greasy meat as she walked, Nala and Tzugakk similarly occupied. "So let me tell you rule one: it's all about the merits. You got merits you can do whatever, but first you gotta earn 'em, right? Takes a lot of craft merits to buy anything useful, so you're always gonna find something to eat around here. Get a few for cooking, see? But you can't trade in food, so it just goes wasting 'less there's someone around to eat it."

"Ah!" Tzugakk said. "I see! Not hunting for meat, hunting for merits. Not cooking for food, cooking for merits."

"You're sharper than you look, Gakky. Merits come first, just remember that and you'll get this place figured out. Lot of folks around here get by on the small stuff, taking the long easy road to buying out—or for some of 'em, they prefer it here. Safer than out in the real world, that's for sure. You can call safehold shards a curse but at least here you get chances."

"Do you get guide merits?" Tzugakk asked. The halfling girl laughed.

"Nah. Just paying back, y'know? Here, how's this place? Good enough?"

It was a large stone building, four storeys tall, solid despite its obvious age. Stone stairs and balconies led to dozens of doors, most of which had small bright marks on them.

"That there means it's claimed," said the halfling girl, jerking her thumb at one of the marks—it resembled a stylised pinwheel. "So just find a door that ain't got anything on it. Mark it, and no one can come in without you wanting 'em to. Pick good, because once you choose it takes a boatload of merits to change. Okay? Got questions?"

"No, I don't. Thank you!" said Tzugakk, as Nala shook her head.

"Okay. Gonna leave you two here then, got errands to run. Need anything around this place, just ask for Kit." Kit flashed them a grin. "I'm known."

There weren't any free apartments on the ground floor, but the door at the far end of the second storey was unmarked. Inside, the dull glow of a cheap crystal provided light, sleeping mats were piled in a corner, and there was a wooden cabinet against one wall. Aside from these things, and an immense quantity of dust, the room was empty.

"Not everyone here is bad," Tzugakk said, as he began dragging the sleeping mats out. "Not everything here is terrible. Some see this place as an escape!"

"No."

Tzugakk stopped, looking at Nala. She was gazing up at the light crystal.

"This place is better than what faced us before," Nala continued, still gazing at the light. "But we did not choose to come here. Don't forget this, Tzugakk."

"Nala—"

"Do not forget this. You are safe in this room, no one can enter unless we allow them to. Wait here."

"Wait for what?"

Nala put the hood of her cloak up over her head and turned towards the door.

"For my return."