It was near dawn when Jeff got back to his room and he did not wake till past noon. After a brief run and bath afterward, he returned to the common room to talk to the other auxiliaries again. Many of them are still there in deep discussion. It did not take long for him to find out they all started to make a guild charter like this was some kind of MMO. He chuckled as he put his name down as a provisional member till the whole thing was sorted out. Not realizing many of those there before see him as one of the original founding members. Over the next week went like this. On occasion a surprise interaction with another otherworlder from a different faction. Yet Jeff could not help but worry that Rachael has not been seen during that entire time.
On the morning of the tenth day after their summoning Xilna left a note for Jeff with his breakfast.
To ‘Commander’ Jeff Trever
You are asked to present yourself to ‘Armory 3’ at 10:30 or earlier. This is in regard to your combat gear becoming ready. Take note that 317 gold crowns of your allowance were used and are nonrefundable.
Corpral Shang
Jeff squinted his eyes at that in rage and almost tore apart the note before remembering the receipt he was given. Taking it out he read the writing on it.
Requisition issuer- Corporal Shang
Gear request- 1 dueling gauntlet that can double as a protective guard. Able to hold cards *labeled item 1
Gear recommendations- light-medium officer armor. No major specifications were noted.
Weapon recommendations- 1 short to medium sword. 1 dueling offhand dagger.
Comparison item 1- A roughly three-inch by seven-inch card with modest thickness (Precise thickness to be determined. One side has a mana construct in low-grade training gear. (descriptors provided magically) The back side has a six-point (double triangle) diagram of the four basic elements and the elements of light and darkness. Arranged to have their counters across from them. One triangle has fire, air, and light as the other has water, earth, and darkness. (further descriptors include magic script bordering the card)
Seeing as it was still fairly early, he decided to do a run first. When he got to the courtyard however he found Sergent Mar waiting for him.
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“ There you are, little commander. I noticed you have been working on your legs, but I have not seen you do any other training. No one wants to follow a commander who only knows how to run away.”
Jeff fails to suppress a sigh.
“ I was not told what else I could do from the good Corporal. We only had a short discussion about my gear before he ran off for a week. Actually, I got this this morning.”
Without thinking anything of it, he takes out the note he got earlier and the receipt. The Sergent frowned reading the newer document first before reading the receipt.
“ Freaking dwarf, neglecting his duties again before he half efforts his own vanity project. Tell me, did you specifically ask for this gear, or did he just dominate the entire conversation?”
Jeff takes a moment to remember how overbearing the dwarf was.
“ I remember the gauntlet, sword, and dagger were my ideas. Nothing else, however.”
The Sergent nods and calls for a private.
“ Go to Captain Lews and request her presence. Mention a certain lazy Corporal has earned some lashes. And there is no daddy to save his hide this time. Then mention we are on our way to Armory 3.”
The private solutes before running off.
“ I hope you do not mind if I join you.”
Jeff shakes his head.
“ How about you lead the way? Other than my room, here, and the auxiliary common, I have not been exploring. Too busy reading about the different peoples and history.”
The Sergent nods to this and starts walking. After about ten minutes they reach the basement beside a door labeled ‘Armory 3’. There Jeff saw a rather beautiful elven woman with half a dozen others handing her papers or filling them out as she spoke.
“ ...denied because such a project would take years if not decades to develop. In addition, the expense would not condone such outside a century or more of use. However, it is approved if third parties want to pursue such developments. As such the state will retain the value of 5,000 gold crowns worth of initial development at a minimum due to the nature of the source of the development inspiration.”
The scribe finishes writing and the captain presses her ring to the document before taking notice of the two new additions.
“ Sergeant Mar, this better be good. You know I've been wanting to deal with this thorn for a while. That is the only reason why I am here.”
Instead of saying anything he just handed her the two documents he himself was given. Due to the recept being first, her face did not scowl till she read the second one.
“ What the hell! Three hundred gold crowns are insane. I personally know my lord grace did not spend a fifth of that on a full platemail of enchanted mithril for his youngest son's coming of age. That is with a freaking griffin mount and an entourage to care for both.”
Handing back the documents to the Sergent, she then takes out a crystal orb and follows the magic signature of the receipt to when it was made. Seeing Jeff railroaded by the dwarf did nothing for her frown.
“ Gods damn that dwarf. You're lucky you asked for that receipt. If not he could likely say anything and use it as an excuse to do whatever he wanted without recourse. I swear, if that idiot managed to get ahold of the limited supply of adamantium we got...”
She did not say anything else as she put the orb away and walked through the door.