Chapter 12

Fourteen

*Mataru*

We've been on the road for months now. Even our traveling clothes are worn through and our shoes desperately need replacing. We're dirty, and our once clean-cut and conditioned hair has gone wild, like shrubs neglected by their gardener. We truly look the part of ragged orphans now, and our savings have all but dried up.

If Mei and I are to enact my plan of becoming adventurers under new names, it must be now, else we'll be thieves instead come another month. We'll not look any less like ourselves for waiting than we already do, either.

This is our last opportunity to evade our uncle and continue to build the skills we need to avenge our parents. If we fail to fool those looking for us, we'll rot in a gilded cage while our mother suffers and our father's killers go free.

If we believed our current appearance beneficial, we would go in as dirty as we are, all the more to distance ourselves from our noble heritage. The guild would likely reject us as street urchins rather than take us seriously, however, so we stop by a local river to bathe. I stand guard while my sister goes first, then she changes to cleaner clothes and begins to wash the ones that we were wearing while I take my turn in the frigid waters.

We aren't as clean as we would be with soap, a real bath and proper hair care, but we're cleaner than we've been in a long time. My hair is heavy with water, but we have no towels, so like my sister, I shake it out like a dog. It's the only thing we can do with it. I run my fingers through first her hair, then mine, trying to get as many knots out of both as I possibly can. By that time, the sun has done most of the rest of the work on both our bodies and our clothes.

We eat the last of our provisions and refill our waterskins from the river, going over the plan once more as we do so. Mei will be Ayumi, and from this day forth, until my parents are avenged, I will be Arisu. Both names sound suitably common, but mine refers to our heritage, the place we once resided, and hers, to the distance we've traveled. Names carry power in their meaning, our father taught us that, and so we take names to ensure we never forget where we've come from.

That we both have classes despite our ages would be too much of a give-away that we're nobles, so for the time being, we'll be pretending that Ayumi doesn't have one. That means that I'll be the only one becoming an adventurer. That doesn't mean she won't still be training, however, and when I can save up enough to pay for her to supposedly receive her class, she'll be praised as a prodigy.

Too much will depend on what happens after that to make much in the way of plans. I could spend a year plotting out what to do if I can't find a teacher quickly enough, or if they don't believe me, or if we're ever discovered. We're at a point where we no longer have time for what-ifs.

So we finish reviewing what we can plan for and then we separate ourselves from the last physical link to our past. Mei blows a hole in the side of a cliff with her fire magic, a task much easier than doing so to that troublesome golem, and we stuff our last identifying belongings inside. Our noble attire, our equipment that our parents purchased for us, and, with the greatest hesitation, our family lockets, they're all stashed inside. Finally, I cover the hole with a large rock and move some foliage around to make it look like everything belongs there.

And then, it's off to the nearest town, and the guild hall within.

* * *

"Welcome to the Mopoki-Hathi Branch of the Independent Exploration Service Guild!" The pink-haired receptionist leans over the counter to look at us with a brilliant smile. "Oh, aren't you two adorable! Are you looking for someone, hons?"

Oh, wonderful, she's a ditz.

I look around at the rest of the people in the guildhall. It's uncomfortable being the center of attention, and it probably looks more like the insecurity of a child in a room full of scary strangers. In truth, I'm just worried we might be found out, but all of the expressions are those of curiosity or preemptive concern at seeing two children come in alone.

I bring my attention back to the receptionist, careful not to let my gaze linger on anyone around us. "No, we're not here for anyone," I insist. "I want to register as an adventurer."

Her gaze sharpens for just half a heartbeat, just enough to make my own heart stop as I second guess how much of a pushover she might be. But then it's gone again as fast as it came, and she's all smiles again.

"Got parental permission?"

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

So that's what it was, it's because we're young. That was something we already anticipated, but did her eyes have to get so sharp over it? I felt like I was about to be under attack ...

"They're gone," I reply, going with the backstory Mei and I put together. "It's just me and my sister now." I put my hand on her shoulder. "And I don't want her living on the street or having to steal to survive."

The receptionist's gaze softens at the story. I only wish it were more of a lie. Of course, if it were, it wouldn't be necessary in the first place. "Wanting to provide for your little sister ... That's awfully responsible of you. But we need to know what happened for your records. Are you up to telling us?"

I nod and make a show of steeling myself. "Monsters," I say simply at first, then inhale before continuing. "They were merchants, but they went off the highway to try to save some time." Now for a little more truth, albeit out of context. "It's thanks to them that Ayumi and I managed to escape."

"How sad ..." The receptionist sniffs. "But if they were merchants, surely you have retainers to take care of you?"

I shake my head. "They weren't that big. They took us everywhere with them. And we had to abandon the wagon to escape. It's surely been ruined by now. We have nothing to our names but what you see on us."

And a magic backpack, but we're keeping that a secret.

I decide to give the conversation a little push to get us back on track. "I just want to register as an adventurer. Can we get back to that, please?"

"Right, right." The woman makes a visible attempt at rallying herself, even clapping her own cheeks, and pulls out a form. "Name?"

"Arisu."

There's some chuckles from the other adventurers for some reason, but the receptionist's glare has more utility than I expected, and they choke to silence quickly.

"Air-ih-soo," she sounds out as she writes it down, almost as if she wants everyone to clearly hear the pronunciation. Did I pronounce it poorly when I said it? No, I don't think so. There must be some other miscommunication to which I am not privvy. "Age?"

"Fourteen," I lie through my teeth and pray they don't have a soul orb to double-check.

There's that sharp look again from her, but I suppress the urge to flinch it instills in me. Again, I'm second-guessing my initial assumption of her aloof nature.

"Fourteen," she repeats. "Do you even have a class?"

Oh, thank the Essence, it was only about my class. "Yes, I do. It was a gift for my birthday." I glance to Mei. "I'll have to save up for Ayumi's, myself, now ..."

That gets her gaze to soften again. "I see ... Highest attribute, then?"

"Agility."

"Mhm." With a bit more of a teasing tone, she asks, "And is it a thieving class?"

A callback to my concern about stealing to survive, no doubt. In any case, I shake my head. "No, I'm a Fencer."

"Ooh, classy," she coos. "You'll sweep some girls off their feet with that kind of style one of these days."

Yeah, not even a priority. I don't even say anything, just dip my head away at the teasing.

"Level?" she asks next.

"Ten."

"At fourteen?" I don't understand why she keeps stressing that word like that. "That's very impressive."

"Our parents trained us while we traveled," I explain. It's not even entirely untrue. Though I had a swordsmanship tutor, my father made sure to personally test my progress regularly. The thought almost makes me tear up for his absence. From the way her face softens again, I must have let it show, so I force the sentiment down again. "We've even already been to a dungeon."

"I can tell your parents cared a great deal about you both," she says sympathetically. "Let's get through this application, okay? Do you have any traits?"

"No."

"Relevant skills to interest a party?"

I hesitate at that, hoping what I say next won't be an issue. "Actually, I'm hoping to find someone willing to teach me some."

She puts on that bright smile again. "That's a good attitude to have, and you're in the right place!" She starts writing again. "I'll just put, looking for mentorship. There'll be somebody interested in helping you out with that! If not, the guild offers lessons and workshops, too."

The receptionist seems almost overeager to help us out, but I suppose that's her job.

"Thanks," I answer, consciously reminding myself not to speak too properly. "Anything else?"

"Do you have your own gear?"

I shake my head. "No, ma'am. I had a training sword, but it was left ... well ... behind."

"Well, they aren't the best quality, and you'll want to save up to replace them as soon as possible," she disclaims, "but the guild does have some basic gear available for sale. One tin per piece."

I fish into my pockets. We have just enough to eat for a week if we keep it light and basic, but this will at least make sure that I can earn more, so it's an investment. "Can I get a saber and a buckler?"

She thinks for a moment. "Mmm, a buckler, definitely, but I can't guarantee a saber. A dao or a smallsword is probably more reasonable."

I nod, that's better than I could have hoped for. "Either of those will work." Any other type of sword of similar length to my saber would likely be too awkward for me to use. I'll have to settle for something with less reach, but it'll help me avoid overextending, anyway. Besides, I always had to strap my saber to my back for it to fit, anyway.

I place the coins on the counter, and she gives a big smile and slips them into a drawer. "Great! I'll get those for you right away! But first, here's your badge! Congratulations on becoming a Wood-rank adventurer, hon!"

I turn the literal wooden token over in my hand with disbelief. Only wood?! But I'm level ten! I turn back to her, the confusion evident on my face. "Really? Am I so weak?"

Her smile is understanding. "Sorry, hon, but those are the rules. I know you're level ten, and I didn't lie when I said that was impressive for you, but it wouldn't matter if you were level fifty. You can't rank up until you turn fifteen. If you budget well, Wood will pay for you and your sister until then."

My face must look crestfallen, because she reaches down and pinches my cheek. "Aww, don't look so down, hon! I'm sure as soon as you turn fifteen, you'll jump right up to Iron rank! If you work hard, you might even make Bronze by then!"

I try very hard not to react poorly to the intrusive sign of affection. "Is there any chance we can just change my age on my application to fifteen now?"

The receptionist's smile widens again as if in amusement, but at the same time, her eyes sharpen again. "Don't get too full of yourself, hon. You're already pushing your luck pretty hard as it is, don't you think?"

I swallow before I can stop myself. Yes, I was definitely mistaken when I took her for a fool.

"Wood will be fine, ma'am, thank you for your assistance."