Chapter 209
FM: Sponsorship Office
TO: Walter
RE: Anomalous Class
We have just recently received a sponsorship application with an odd class listed. The trainee applicant appears to be a half-elf and the class, Icemaiden, is neither on our list of known classes nor on our watch list for prohibited classes. One of the others in the office believes there may be a chance that the class is not of human origin. No one here is sure of how to proceed. Please advise.
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The group had at first intended to eat on campus but M'redith had quickly nixed that idea.
“We would have had to have gotten permission ahead of time for Sha'li to eat here,” she explained apologetically.
“I know where we can go,” Aiden insisted. “My treat!”
That was enough to get everyone else on board and they turned away from the road that led to the dining hall and instead followed Aiden to a pedestrian gate. There was no room for a cart to get through, just a door in the wall that could be closed and locked by the Guard if need be. At the moment however it was wide open. An ever changing number of Guild guards wandered about, one of which stood at attention next to the gate.
The group walked out without interacting with the guards – no one cared if they left – they paid far more attention to those attempting to gain entry to the Guild grounds.
Aiden paused until everyone had caught up to him on the side of the city street and took a step to cross the street.
Norri pulled him back by his sleeve just as a cart rolled by. It would have hit him had he not been yanked out of the way.
“You're supposed to look both ways, not just to your right!” Norri scolded him as everyone waited for the cart to pass and then helped Aiden cross to the other side.
Aiden looked slightly embarrassed, “Sorry!”
M'redith chuckled, “Don't apologize to us – you're the one that almost got hit.”
Norri giggled and Sha'li smiled, unsure if she should join in or not.
The sun had just begun to set by the time the group walked up to a building built out of dark red stained wood. The front face of the building was covered with windows and even the front door was mostly glass. Aiden pushed on the door and it swung open easily.
A tiny bell over them rang as the door brushed past it. It was a cozy restaurant full of dark wood stained tables set with bright white tablecloths. The chairs were all dark wood as well, some of the natural wood color shined through where the stain had been worn away from constant handling and use in places.
Aiden seemed to know where he was going and guided the group to a table close to the front windows. Jay pulled out M'redith's chair for her and then sat next to her. Across from them sat Sha'li. To their left sat Norri and to their right, Aiden.
The tablecloth was bare and a waitress wearing black pants and shirt but with a white apron that covered her entire front approached them and set a napkin, cutlery, and a glass in front of each of them.
After she had set the table for them she left and returned a moment later with two plates. One held a loaf of french bread sliced in half and then in to pieces. It was steaming hot and the bread looked incredibly soft and fluffy. The second plate held a dish of warmed butter. She set them on to the table with a thunk sound and gave Aiden a wide smile.
“What can I get you all?” she asked in a high pitched voice. Her brown hair was pulled back in to a bun and she took out a pad and writing implement to write down their order with.
“Can we get the manicotti and peas please?” Aiden asked as he tried to stop his mouth from drooling.
The waitress blinked. “For each of you?”
“Yup.” Aiden said and grinned. “You guys don't mind if I order do you? You've got to try it – its delicious!”
“You say that about all your food!” Norri said accusingly.
Aiden sighed. “Good point. Doesn't mean I'm wrong though!”
Sha'li laughed and shrugged. “I'm up for it if everyone else is.”
Jay happened to love manicotti and was not about to say no. The others all gave in and nodded as well. If Aiden said it was that good then it was probably really good.
The waitress nodded. “I'll be back with your dinners shortly,” she said as she left the table and headed towards the kitchen.
“She's lying,” Aiden said. “It'll be a bit. Manicotti doesn't cook all that quickly.” His stomach growled when he had finished speaking.
As they sat there they could easily make out the street as well as the pedestrian gate they had used to leave the Guild grounds. A Guild guard stood at his post just next to the door that led on to the Guild's land.
“Thank you all for today, this has been a lot of fun,” Sha'li said as she reached out with one thin arm and snatched a middle piece of french bread off of the plate. She used the knife she had been provided with by the waitress and slathered some warm butter on the bread. The butter melted before their eyes.
That was enough to break the stalemate and once she took a bite of the bread everyone reached out to get a piece of their own.
“You're welcome, you were a good group mate. We were happy to have you along,” M'redith said kindly before she took a bite of her buttered bread.
“Do you have time to go with us to the library tonight?” Norri asked and sounded a bit worried that her new friend might not be able to make it.
Sha'li shook her head while she chewed. “No,” she started but then chewed for a moment before she continued, “No, I have time. I was supposed to work at Redgrass tonight but I swapped shifts with one of the other girls. I won't make any money but I got my class out of today's outing so I'd say it was worth it,” she finished with bright eyes and a wide grin.
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Mephistopheles was a unique creature in that although it did not speak the human language it could still manage to communicate with them, albeit on a more basic level. The monster was far larger than the prey it currently hunted. It took a step forward and stopped. Which way had its prey gone?
Massive thin towers of wood formed a sparse forest through which the monster hunted. There were many hiding places. Too many to just guess where the prey had gone.
Its feet were dotted with pads, each of which would squish down slightly as it walked to help absorb shocks. They aided the creature when it tried to grip surfaces as well. One of its ears rotated to the left as it heard the faintest of sounds. Breathing. It approached closer, down on all fours, and lowered it's head to the floor to minimize its profile.
It was sleek, thin, and low to the ground. It's head was dominated by large eyes that could see in almost total darkness. The creature's nose had thick straight hairs sticking out into the air and were used by the creature to detect small changes in air currents in the immediate vicinity. Right now it detected nothing nearby.
The nose though – the nose was one of the creature's most advanced senses. It was so advanced that it could sense scent molecules and pheromones that were entirely undetectable by humans.
A scent trail led to the creature's left and it moved slowly and soundlessly. It glided over the floor on four feet, its pads gripped the floor firmly. It could hear and smell its prey now. It was getting closer.
A long tail helped the creature maintain balance as well as communicate with other monsters of its kind, and, at times, even humans. It held the tail low and close to the ground.
There. A four legged creature with a fat belly was rubbing at its face with its front paws. It had yet to see Mephistopheles. The hunting monster drew its hind legs forward and rested them on the floor just behind its front legs. It scrunched up its entire body like a spring under tension.
Its tail raised slightly as the front half of its body suddenly uncoiled and shot forward, the rear half of its body following along only a split second later as the body stretched. The monster shot through the air and extended its forward legs out in front of it as it soared. Razor sharp claws tipped with bacteria flicked out of its front two feet and the claws hyper extended in anticipation of making contact with its prey.
The monster struck its prey before it even had a chance to move and dug all of its front claws into the creature. It used the same claws to draw the prey's body in to the monster's chest as they both fell to the ground.
The monster rolled onto its back while it still clutched at its prey and held it firmly. As it did so it drew its hind legs up and extended claws out of both of its back feet. The claws were curved and razor sharp. It ravaged the body of its prey with violently rapid swipes as it tore away at its prey's body over and over again with its rear claws.
The creature it had been hunting was no longer alive and once it had stopped struggling the monster let it drop to the floor, no longer concerned with it. The monster stood up and began to clean its claws as well as any spots where it had gotten blood on itself from the prey. It took its time and it was minutes later when it finally decided it was time to wrap up the job.
The monster opened its mouth and displayed rows of incredibly sharp tiny teeth. It swept up the body in its mouth and carried it out from the corner it had been hiding in. The monster walked the dead body to the middle of the room's floor and then dropped it there where someone was sure to find it.
Then the monster laid down in a tight circle and immediately fell asleep while it awaited its payment.
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“AHHHH!” a female cook screamed. “GAIA DAMN IT! Meph found another one!” one of the cooks yelled out as a busboy was directed over to the spot in the kitchen. “I hate rats! Get rid of it!”
The busboy was barely a teenager and made a disgusted face as he used two take out bags to pick it up with. He walked it outside the back door and dumped it in to the trash.
The cook had gone down on to one knee and was rubbing at the little monster's belly as it stretched out and woke from its nap. “Whose a good little kitty? WHO? You are! That's right you are! My little Mephy-poo! That's a good Mephistopheles!” the cook praised the monster who meowed happily as its tail lashed to the left and right.
“ORDER'S UP! TABLE 3!” one of the other cooks yelled as he slammed his hand down on a bell.
DING!
The group's waitress from earlier picked up a large tray and stacked six plates on top of it. She paused and rearranged things until she was satisfied. Then she picked it up and balanced it on her head and one hand and walked out of the kitchen. She used her free hand to keep the double swinging doors from bumping the tray off of her head.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
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Dinner was Manicotti – a four inch long tube of pasta, one usually ate three or four of them in a sitting. The word manicotti actually comes from the Italian word 'maniche,' which means sleeves. That is the perfect way to describe them – sleeves made out of pasta. The sleeves were then stuffed with a mix of ricotta cheese and spices. The top of the sleeves were then covered in tomato sauce and more cheese.
The manicotti that night however was covered in bands of sauce. Tomato, Alfredo, tomato, Alfredo, in a repeating pattern across all of the pasta. The delicious steaming hot pasta was served with classic peas which had been dusted with salt and pepper along with garlic bread, which had been set out on the table on its own plate for sharing.
Jay smiled as he noticed Sha'li's hair turn purple in streaks as yellow and red waves chased them away as quickly as they formed. “Excited?” Jay asked.
Sha'li blushed but smiled. “That obvious huh? I've never had manicotti before, this looks amazing!”
The others laughed and Sha'li grinned. She was getting used to being herself around the group and was discovering that she fit in rather well with them.
Another woman brought out a selection of wines and offered them to the table. M'redith looked about to choose when Aiden spoke up. “Can we have Sha'li choose? I hear she knows her wine.”
“Where did you hear that?” Sha'li asked seriously.
Aiden looked embarrassed. “Um, I didn't actually hear it anywhere – it's a saying. I figured you knew wine from working at Redgrass.”
“What? Oh! Right. Yes! I know wine! Sorry – you confused me a bit there,” Sha'li apologized with a grin. A light scent of vanilla appeared and disappeared so fast that Jay wondered if he had imagined it.
“Do you all like red wine? Red would go well with pasta.” Sha'li suggested.
Jay shrugged but Norri shook her head.
“Can we get something white? I don't feel like drinking red tonight,” Norri said with an apologetic smile as she offered her opinion.
“Sure! How about... a Chardonay?” Sha'li asked the woman holding the tray of wine bottles.
The woman nodded and pointed at a dark green bottle with a white label and with golden foil wrapped around the neck and mouth of the bottle. “This is a full bodied Chardonnay with a rich flavor profile enhanced by oak aging. The oak aging complements the savory and rich flavor of a manicotti. Smooth, buttery mouthfeel along with aromas of vanilla, caramel, and toasted nuts, this wine can add complexity to your chosen dish.”
Sha'li did not comment and so the woman continued her description.
“The wine's balanced acidity can cut through the richness of the cheese while highlighting the acidity in the tomato based sauce. Oak aged Chardonnay offers a well-rounded and satisfying pairing for a hearty and flavorful dish of manicotti,” the woman offered as she raised the bottle off of her tray.
Sha'li nodded, “Perfect! We'll have that. Thank you for your help.”
The woman left with the tray of bottles and returned with the bottle they had chosen alone, still sealed. She opened the bottle and pointed it away from the group as she did so.
“May I pour?” she asked and Sha'li nodded with a smile. Everyone else did as well.
Five glasses of oak-aged Chardonnay were poured and the remained was left at their table in the bottle.
“Please let us know if you need anything else!” the waitress said with a warm smile and then walked off to the kitchen.
M'redith smiled. It was a good choice, much better than the red they had originally been offered. She sipped the wine and smiled. It was perfect.
The atmosphere around the group was one of family as if they were eating at their family's dinner table rather than at a restaurant. The air was warm, the setting cozy, and the sounds from the city outside reached no further into the room than the glass windows which their table sat adjacent to.
The first noises everyone made as they ate was huffing. A lot of huffing as they all at once discovered just how hot manicotti was even if the top of it had cooled. The insides were still molten hot. Each of their plates had four sleeves of manicotti on them and were covered in sauces.
It was too good to wait to eat though. It was cheesy and the sauce had been well seasoned. The air was filled with the scent of garlic and tomato. Occasionally one of them would pause to eat a bit of garlic bread or a fork full of peas but for the most part everyone focused on the pasta.
As they ate they kept an eye on the street outside, not for any specific reason – it was right there and people watching was a fun activity when one was eating. Carts and carriages passed. People on horses. People on foot. Even people on other people as some of the younger ones rode on the shoulders of their parents.
Sometimes the traffic would slow down to a stop and they would discuss whomever was sitting in the cart near their window. At other times the traffic would pass too quickly to notice details. There came a time however when they stopped glancing at the traffic entirely.
The pedestrian gate for the Guild was just across the street from them. Sure, there were plenty of times when they couldn't see past the carts and traffic, but there were times when they could make the entrance out from where they sat.
It appeared that things were happening. A small crowd had gathered outside of the Guild's door.
“Hey M'redith, why do they call it a pedestrian gate if there is a door there and not a gate?” Jay asked in between bites.
M'redith glared at Jay for interrupting her meal and continued chewing for a moment. She didn't want to stop eating but finally relented. “There is a gate, you just can't see it. It's hidden in the wall itself suspended over the door. In a pinch the Guard can close the door and lower the gate.”
Jay smiled. “Thanks. I figured it was something like that.”
The area around the gate was now surrounded by four Guild guards, all of whom wore rank insignia. Their armor was slightly different as well and had a more business like appearance. Their armor wasn't for show was the lesson Jay took away from it the more he observed them. Jay noticed that they each moved as a hunter would.
They kept their balance on the balls of their feet and their weight centered between their legs and shoulders. That was not how guards moved. Guards moved differently - slowly with their weight on the entire sole of their foot. They tended to stand straight or lean and would occasionally lock their knees, the way someone forced to stand in one place for an extended period of time would.
The not-quite-Guards looked around the area before they were joined by another man, this one not in armor but in a much more formal looking attire that reminded Jay of a suit. It also reminded him of Walter.
“Am I seeing things or is that Walter out there?” Jay said but was careful not to point. Pointing at someone never ended well and only served to call attention to oneself.
Norri looked up first and nodded, “Yup. That's him alright.”
Walter had stepped out on to the sidewalk and was looking back and forth up the street as if searching for something. Or someone. His facial expression was...piqued.
Slight frown. Furrowed brow. Narrowed eyes. Pursed lips. Jaw set. Yep, Jay thought to himself, Walter looked piqued.
“I wonder what he's,” Aiden said as he swallowed to make more room for speech, “I wonder what he's doing there? Couldn't he have sent Guild guards to check the gate?”
Sha'li shrugged as she looked across the street along with the others at the table, “He did, didn't he? He sent Guards and went himself.”
M'redith made a hrmmm noise as she swallowed and dabbed at her mouth with a white cloth napkin. “That isn't like him. He has people go to him, not the other way around.”
“Maybe he's chasing someone?” Norri suggested.
M'redith shrugged, “Maybe. Can you pass the garlic bread please? And the salt? Thank you.”
Aiden passed her the plate of bread and she thanked him with a smile as she took a slice off of it and put it on her own plate. Norri grabbed the salt shaker and set it next to M'redith's plate.
They watched as Walter held a discussion with the Guards that had arrived before him. Then they all filed back inside through the pedestrian gate – or door, depending on your point of view.
“Well, he didn't find what he was looking for.” Norri observed absentmindedly as she chewed her peas carefully and popped them between her teeth one by one. She enjoyed the sensation and it was one of the main reasons she liked eating peas.
The show was over it seemed and the sidewalk across the street from them was quiet once more. They returned to observing traffic but had finished their meals.
Aiden looked like he was about to burp but M'redith glared at him – really glared at him, and he reconsidered his actions. Instead of a loud UUUURP he let out a quiet hiss as he tried to be more polite. He turned away so that the burp wouldn't float in to the personal space of his group mates. M'redith nodded her head appreciatively and Aiden smiled.
The waitress had been keeping a close eye on the table and noticed when they had finished eating. She let them rest for five minutes and then returned with the check.
Aiden raised one finger at her approach and she handed him the check with a smile. Aiden handed her a single coin and she startled in surprise but ducked her head in thanks and took it. She would return with change she assured him.
“Would any of you care for dessert?” the waitress asked with a polite smile.
Everyone groaned and made the faces that people made when they had finished a meal and were stuffed full. The waitress smiled as she always did. “I will return with your change then,” she said and left for the kitchen.
“Thank you Aiden!” Sha'li said with a grin as she reached over and grabbed his shoulder. He was wearing leather armor so he barely felt it but smiled nonetheless.
“You're welcome!” Aiden said as the rest of the group all began to thank him.
Jay made sure to thank Aiden. He knew what a big deal it was to him to treat his friends and wanted to make sure that he knew Jay appreciated it.
The waitress returned with a tray of coins and a receipt. Aiden tilted the tray in to his coin pouch and jiggled the tray until all of the coins had slid in to his bag. He withdrew a few and handed them to the waitress. He carefully deposited them into her hand and smiled.
“The meal was delicious, please thank everyone involved,” Aiden said in a sudden bit of inspiration. He peeked to the side and saw M'redith nod in approval. If M'redith thought he had said the right thing then he probably had.
“Thank you all!” the waitress said after Aiden had generously tipped her. “Please, come again!”
“Don't worry, we will!” Aiden assured her as the group all got up. They left the restaurant slowly, much slower than they had entered a short while ago. They were all no longer hungry and were in desperate need of a good rest. Or a nap. Either would suffice for their digestive needs.
The bell over the door sounded once as they opened it and again as they shut it behind them. The city street outside was loud compared to the inside of the restaurant and smelled like a mix of dinner, horses, and humanity.
The sunlight had faded and the day had progressed to dusk as the ground became swathed in shadows while the sky turned a gradient of light and dark blues. It provided light without illuminating the ground and would only last a short time.
Magical street lights had turned on and lit up the street. It seemed like traffic had picked up a bit and the group had to wait longer than they had assumed they would in order to cross the street.
“Where to now?” Norri asked as they looked both ways twice before they stepped into the busy city street.
“Now? Now we go to the library. Party time!” Jay said with a grin.
“I think that is the first time I've heard the words party and library in the same sentence,” Sha'li said with a grin. Her hair had turned red, all different shades that constantly shifted and changed.
A group had gathered at the pedestrian gate as the Guard was questioning a group of five people who were looked to enter the Guild grounds. The Guard was facing away from Jay and his group though. Not sure of what he should do, Jay just kept walking.
The group waltzed right onto Guild property without being challenged. One of the members of the other group called out 'No fair!' and pointed towards Jay but it was too late and Jay's group blended into the people around them as the guard at the door spun around only to realize that someone had gotten past him.
It was too late. The Guild guard finally allowed the group he had stopped to enter the property. He could tell his boss that someone had gotten past him but that would mean extra punishment duty. He could do without that. He finally decided to keep it to himself. Why not? No one would ever know. Chances are it was just some students or a group of full members anyhow.
Inside the Guild grounds, Jay and his group proceeded directly to the Guild Library. It was dinner time and most of the traffic was flowing towards the dining hall and away from the library. That just meant that Jay's group didn't have to fight through traffic as long as they stayed to the sides of the pathways.
It got suddenly darker and the group saw that the sun had set. A band of brightness still shone just above the horizon but the day had ended and the light would soon disappear entirely. A full moon shone above them and glowed a soft white.
M'redith tugged one of the massive double doors open once they had reached the main entrance to the library. Her group filed inside and she followed behind them, the large door shutting behind her with a thunk and a click.