* 15th glyph engraved on Spatial Domain (⦿⦿)

'How?'

Well, that was a stupid question. How else could I possibly get another glyph in [Spatial Domain] so soon after the fourteenth one? Because I used that damn weave, challenged myself, and went beyond the limits of what I could do before. All that was left was to do the same with the other weaves.

'Easy peasy, right?'

Well, before jumping into the whole why it wasn't that simple issue, I glanced again at the note from Lieutenant Blain in my pocket.

│City Hall. Ask for an instructor to evaluate your fighting skills.

│Don't worry about the coins. All taken care of. Will be given back.

'Again, why? What was the point? I mean... I wasn't one to turn down something for free, and I needed to learn how to fight. Still...'

This couldn't have been Rayden's way of teaching me some self-defense. It just didn't feel quite right. There had to be more to it. However, no matter how much I racked my brain, the real reason eluded me.

"What the fuck are you standing there for, bitch?!" the guy who bumped into me snarled. In my brooding, hand in the pocket on the note, I completely forgot that I was standing under the stairs outside the entrance to City Hall. "Fucking Terr's! The city would be better off without them."

'Fuck you too!' or 'Watch where you're going' were the brazen replies that came to mind. Neither, however, rolled off my tongue. I wasn't here to argue, much less fight. The reason I came here was to learn those two things - apparently.

And so, fixing my shirt and pressing my ears to my head, knowing what was waiting for me inside, I ventured forth.

─◇─◇─◇─

"Ah, Grey. I was wondering if you'd show up here again?" Enola asked me as soon as it was my turn at the reception desk.

'Huh?'

"W-why wouldn't I?"

"Well, you got your aid package; our guide showed you the city; I heard you found a job."

"You did? From Ria?"

"Who else? She talked about it all day yesterday."

'Oh no! Did she tell everyone about me being Wierin?'

"What exactly did she tell you?"

Enola raised an eyebrow at my cautious question. "Was being a beast talker supposed to be a secret? Because if it was, I'm going to have to talk to her..."

"N-no!" I stopped her. "No, it wasn't. I mean, I'd rather no one knew, but it seems like half the city knows already."

"Ah, I was wondering why the recruiters from The Arbiters are eyeing you so hard."

"Who?" I asked, looking around like a fool.

"The two guys standing at the third column from the entrance," Enola clarified, chuckling at my reaction. "Anyway, most people like you shouldn't have a reason to be here outside of wanting to put something on a notice board, be a seeker, or complain. So, which is it?"

"Neither, actually."

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"Really?" she asked, doubtful.

"See, I was wondering if Ria would be willing to teach me Standard."

"Ah, not happy with using the weave, are you?"

"Y-you knew?"

"I talk to dozens of people every day, Grey," Enola said as if that explains everything. And it actually did. The fact that I'd rather for everyone to shut up aside, it was not hard even for me to distinguish several dialects echoing from different corners of the hall.

"I see, s-so would it be possible? For Ria to teach me?"

"Well, it's certainly an unusual request - usually people ask for a more experienced teacher, in which case, I'd tell you to put it on the NOTICE BOARD. But since you're asking one of our employees directly, I'll ask her when she gets back."

"Oh, she's not here?"

"You must have just missed her."

'Did I? Maybe if I hadn't been standing outside the entrance so long lost in my thoughts... oh, well, no use crying over spilled milk.'

"The woman asked for her directly - it was a tad odd, but not unusual. As much as it doesn't seem like it, being a guide comes with a reputation," Enola dismissed the matter. But my ears perked up.

"O-odd, how odd?"

"Ria doesn't guide as much as the others, so few people ask for her, not without prior experience with her. Actually, this was the first time. Hang on, Grey. Something's wrong?"

'Was there?'

On the one hand, I wanted to run into the city to find the little kitare. On the other, I shouldn't have to. Someone like Blaine was keeping an eye on her - Rayden had promised me as much. Besides, the mind mages wouldn't be so stupid to approach her directly, would they?

"No," I lied. Not very well, I might add. "I was just hoping to see her."

"And Ria you. She'll be sad BUT excited to hear you want her to teach you. Is that all you wanted, by the way?" Enola asked, not-so-subtly implying that I'd been keeping people behind me for more than a little while.

"S-sorry," I lied again, this time to those standing behind me, and turned back to Enola. "Actually, I was hoping Ria could show me where the library is. My friend told me about it, but didn't have time to show me."

"It's in Imperial Square," Enola said promptly, smiling. "But I guess you have no idea where it is. Well, in that case, I suggest you hire a guide. We do employ others than Ria, you know?"

Of course, I knew. Yet, my first impulse was to forget about the whole library for today and wait until Ria's back. The thought of putting my trust in someone else just didn't sit well with me. Not to mention the whole mind-mage thing. I'd be putting another kid in danger. On the other hand, what was stopping the bastards from using someone other than Ria? What if that other kid was already under the influence of mind mages? Perhaps Enola was too, recommending that very one?

'Stop it, Korra!'

These doubts were exactly what the bastards wanted. At least, according to Rayden. Still...

"I'll think about it."

"Sure, but..." Enola said, nodding again behind me at the growing line.

"I know, I know. Sorry. There's one other thing."

'What did the note say again?' Scanning the slip in my pocket through my domain, I re-read the instructions.

│City Hall. Ask for a trainer to evaluate your fighting skills.

│Don't worry about the coins. All taken care of. Will be given back.

"I-I'm considering learning to fight. But first, I would like to have a trainer evaluate my fighting skills. Is that possible?"

For a moment Enola just stood there staring at me before a sad smile spread across her face. "Honestly, when Ria told me you'd found a job, I thought you'd avoided the lure of the Labyrinth. Don't get me wrong, I know how hard it is. But I also know how many of those who got tempted don't come back."

"Enola, I..."

"Don't worry, Grey. It's not my job to tell you what to do and what not - you know what I mean. All I can do is to inform you that diving into Fallen's Cry is something you should think very carefully about. Here."

She pulled a leaflet of some sort from under the counter, placing it in front of me. "Basic information and recommendations. Read it thoroughly."

"O-okay. I will. But Enola, I... I really only want to know where I stand in terms of fighting."

"If you say so. At least you're not rushing down there. Well, let me see…," she said, shifting to the large book on the desk to her right and flipping through it. Her frown deepened with each turn of the page. "Yes, as I thought, all the instructors are full for today... huh? He's out of the Labyrinth?"

"Something wrong?" I asked, failing to hide my unease. Lieutenant Blaine wrote in a note that everything was arranged. The problem was that I had no idea what the "all" entailed.

"Well," Enola breathed, looking up from her book. "It depends. There's a spot open available today, but that one's not cheap. Thirty silver coins an hour.”

'Arranged my ass!' That was actually more than I currently had.