As a week was eight days on Amanria, I eventually had to learn what the days of the week were. The first day of the week was Murandur, or Moonsday; the second was Furlandur, or Fireday; the third was Quarandur, or Waterday, the fourth was Wyrandur, or Windday, the fifth was Standur, or Stoneday; the sixth was Vyxdur, or Voidday; the seventh was Praudur, or Starsday; and the eighth was Artandur, or Godsday.

I didn't know why the days weren't directly translated, but I presumed it was for the same reason why Lissana's last name wasn't translated, in spite of sharing a common root with Wyrandur. But, I didn't have much reason to fixate on that since, as it was Standur, I was a day late in getting my commissioned shabbard.

Nash accompanied me, and helped me equip it properly after I verified it matched the schematic properly.

"You are not wearing a sword on your back." Nash said with an unimpressed expression on his face.

I drew my short sword rather awkwardly, but aside from my inexperience with drawing it this way, that was to be expected.

"Hey! No brandishing weapons in my shop!" The shopkeeper snapped.

"Sorry." I said. "I just want to make sure it's right. You won't mind me doing it a few times more?"

"You break something, you buy it." He warned.

I practiced drawing and sheathing my sword a few times until I was able to relatively reliably do it without too much issue. Nash watched me intently, even getting behind me- but not too closely- to observe.

"I see, the design is meant to facilitate quick drawing and sheathing." He said. "And you wrapping the strap around your belt keeps the weight of the weapon from making the scabbard from sliding out of reach."

"Shabbard." I said. "So named after Shad M. Brooks, its inventor."

"Is it not arrogant to name something after yourself?" Nash asked.

"Maybe on this world." I said, a comment that got an eyebrow raise from the shopkeeper. "Besides, it would be rude to claim a design as my own when I know who made it."

"And if you didn't?" Nash asked.

"Then I'd say I didn't know who made it." I replied. "In any case, I've gotten what I wanted and now I've got more training to do."

Nash nodded.

We left the weapon shop and walked toward Lissana's manor. There wasn't much talk, and Nash looked deep in thought. "Penny for your thoughts?" I asked.

"What's a penny?" He asked.

"The equivalent of a Kutras." I replied.

"My thoughts are drawn to... our recent revelation." He said. "The nature of our relationship has changed greatly, and indeed, were it anyone else, for me to act so informally would be suicidal at best."

"You want to know what the best way to approach speaking with me is." I said. He nodded. "Just treat me normally, nothing has really changed, so why treat it like everything's changed?"

"It is more the matter of what should happen if word spreads." He said. "Even now, I am hesitant to really discuss it as there may be those who listen in with little regard to their personal safety."

He shot a glare at some Procyoni who immediately looked away.

"What of it?" I asked. "I have no problem with you treating me however you want based on my actions."

"There are those who would become offended for your sake." Nash stated.

"Then I give you permission." I said.

He looked at me. "It is not that easy."

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"Bullshit." I said. "If someone thinks they can put words in my mouth and decide for me what I think is right, they can suck my-"

"John!" There was a Human woman who ran up to us. She looked at me, then her face reddened. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I thought you were my husband. Have you seen him? Same hair color, a bit taller..."

"Sorry." I said. "Do you have a place where you both decided to meet up if you got separated?"

"Yes." She said. "But I've waited hours and he still hasn't shown up. I'm worried for him."

"And you haven't reported this to the city guard?" Nash asked.

"They wouldn't listen to me." She said. "They said I was just being a hysterical woman and that he was probably at the tavern. My John doesn't drink, and he would not leave me by myself in an unfamiliar city."

"I am sorry, but it is not our place to chase down errant husbands." Nash stated. "We are busy regardless, and do not have much time for-"

"Wouldn't this make excellent training?" I asked Nash, who glared at me for interrupting. "Navigating a city specifically to search for someone would certainly come in handy for an Adventurer to be."

"You are not incorrect." He said.

I looked at the woman. "Then we'll look for him." I said. "Please give me as accurate a description of him as possible and wait for us by the Windsong Guild Hall. Also, knowing where you both were meant to meet up at would be a good place to start looking as well."

"He's probably the only other Human in this city." She said. "Brown hair with golden eyes, he is wearing a green shirt with black leggings and leather gloves. He has a brown cowl to keep the sun off his head. We were meant to meet up at the inn near the main gate."

I nodded. "Alright, if we see him there, we'll let him know you were getting worried and to meet you by the Guild Hall."

"Thank you, and Gods bless you." She said before heading in the direction of the Guild Hall.

"We have no reason to stop what we are doing to help her." Nash said. "In all likelihood, she is indeed being hysterical and this will all be a waste of time."

"Alright, but what if she isn't?" I asked. "Let's say something bad happened to her husband, and us not looking for him ended up with him gravely injured, or worse? Do you know how that would make her feel? And let's say we hear about this later on, how would you feel knowing you could have helped her, but chose instead to ignore her?"

"She's a Human woman." He said. "They're more fragile than-"

I wasn't tall enough to slap Nash's face, so I punched him in the throat, which caused him to clutch at it and cough.

"What the actual hell, Nash?" I asked. "Fuck you, I'm not going to be an asshole and I'm going to find this guy, even if it ends up being a wild goose chase. And for the record, I know for a fact that Human women are not nearly as fragile as you think they are."

I turned around and walked off. The more I walked, the more I realized that this was a stupid idea, and that wandering around without any real idea of what the city's layout was like was probably going to get me more trouble than it was worth. I sighed and turned around, I knew I couldn't do this alone, and that pressing on was only going to end in disaster.

Time froze, and I couldn't see any immediate threats around me. I drew my sword and looked around, several people looked at me like I was crazy. 'Good. The more people watching means if someone intends on taking me out when nobody's looking, they won't have a chance to attack, not without causing problems for themselves.'

I kept looking around carefully until I spotted something dart into an alleyway. I paused, and time froze again. 'They did not move until I noticed them, which means...'

I spun around in time to see something small rush toward me. It leapt into the air with a dagger in its hand... Time froze again, and I carefully observed it. It was a Kobolti with two daggers in each hand. I darted forward, rushing underneath it, causing it to sail over me. I spun around just as it turned to face me. I punched the air, discharging my cap of Mana at it, which it took. It leapt back with a surprised expression before charging directly at me.

Time froze again and I focused. 'Bahamut, Cleansing Flame, grant me your divine protection, grant me sanctuary from that which seeks to harm me.'

Time resumed as the spell borne from my prayer took effect. The Kobold leapt into the air, and its expression turned to one of shock before it slammed directly into me. It hit the ground on its back and made a grunting sound. I grabbed its daggers, flipped it onto its chest, and brought its arms to its back and pinned it. I then held its dagger to the back of its neck while dispelling Lesser Sanctuary.

"If you are not alone, then know I have your compatriot at my mercy." I said. "Attack me, and they die."

The Kobolti tried to wriggle from my grasp, but I put my weight on them. "I have a dagger at your neck. You know I can use magic to penetrate resistances, you know I can cast divine magic, and considering the ruckus you caused by attacking me in broad daylight in a main thoroughfare, you know that guards are coming. Who set you to attack me, and why?"

"Lord Wyrashe did." Their voice sounded male. "We were offered a generous sum, and we do not leave a contract unfinished."

"How long ago was this?" I asked.

"A week or so." He replied. "You were never alone, so Lord Wyrashe took matters into his own hands. When we saw you alone, we attacked."

"Lodran is not in a position to pay you." I said. "And if you were already paid, there is no point in completing your contract."

I heard heavy footfalls and glanced to my left. Guards were approaching. I pulled the dagger away and said, aloud, "This Kobolti attacked me, I defended myself without bloodshed."

Thankfully, the guards weren't the kind who thought two people fighting were equally culpable, though they did confiscate the daggers I took. Nash arrived just as I finished giving one of the guards my account of the incident.

"By the Gods." Nash said. "You're barely out of my sight and you're already trying to get yourself killed!"

I looked at him. "To my credit, they were hired to kill me by Lady Wyrashe's brother, who as we both know is currently locked away in the loony bin, but..." I sighed. "I'm sorry for punching you in the throat and walking off on my own. Can we find John and-"

"There is no John." Nash said, sighing. "I tracked the woman after you left, she was not waiting at the Guild Hall, and had instead received payment from a Kobolti. It seemed they wished for us to split up in search for a Human who did not exist."

"And the 'fragile woman' thing?" I asked.

"Humans are known to underestimate women." He said. "I misjudged your character, and your right fist."

"Alright, and how'd you know she was lying?" I asked.

"She described your appearance." He said. "I knew something wasn't quite right, I had hoped you were wise enough to understand what I was trying to do."

I nodded. "Then we both fucked up." I replied. "I did think the 'fragile woman' thing was a little uncharacteristic, though."

He sighed. "Considering you're still alive without a scratch, I'd say you did well."

"Did well?" I asked. "I knocked him down, took his weapons, and held him to the ground without letting him escape."

"Don't get ahead of yourself." He said. "You survived only because you were prepared and alert. Now, this does not excuse you from training, let's return to my Lady's manor and we can see how well you do with serious sparring!"

He had me run back to Lissana's Manor...