Child of two notes? Like in music? How does being that kind of child and a grandchild of a god even work?

"So... I take it that means there's a Do Re Mi scale here too then? Something to do with gods? How does that even work?" The questions fly out of my mouth faster than she can answer, even more coming to mind quicker than I'm able to voice any of them. A pause as I see her stutter a step at my barrage of a quiz I spring on her. As sudden as everything I've been told so far is, meeting someone actually divine, or at least closely related, has taken me for a bit of a loop.

Continuing to walk behind our mentor duo, she takes a moment to consider her answer before Soot shouts back to us from ahead.

"Leave the interrogation for someone else there, Arc. She is nearly as clueless as you are about Notes and Chords. Or didn't you hear her say she's less than a month old?" He yells my way with just a minorly tone of berate in his voice, but not completely unkind.

"I mean... Sorry for going so hard on the questions, Day." My face warms in embarrassment. The drinks fog running through my head, I focus and realize how rushed I was with my curiosity about her. "I guess I just like having you here with me."

"Like having me here?"

"Of course, I really appreciate you." Her head goes through a brief flush from a dull daylight glow to the warm reds of a setting sun as I hear the unsteady tone in her voice when she responds. I'd bet she doesn't have many friends with as new to the world as she is, so it'd make sense if she wasn't sure what made a friend. I really liked having her fresh look on the world with us when we ate and drank. Quiet as she is, it was a nice steady companionship to dine with.

I attempt to answer her back in further thought, the hazy cloud of the lager still weaving it's way through my thoughts.

"Eh, you're quiet but warm to me." Physically, she does give off a stellar heat that reminds me of home in way if I'm honest here. Not to say she isn't warm-hearted as well though. "I don't know what's next on the agenda for us, but I'm sure there could've been worse people to get to know this place with."

The quiet crunch of gravel being treaded upon underneath our feet take place for a few moments as we walk back to the Explorers' Guild. I hold the silence with the rest of the group, excluding the occasional moan and groan from the less than well Caim, until Day speaks up again with more calm and thought in her voice.

"Yeah, I think so too. I was just told what I am when Adventurers found me around the wilds here a bit ago. I don't remember much other than what I told you." She looks up at the lone, shining moon and speaks once more aloud. "I think that might be what I try and do for the time being, learn more about Notes and myself."

"Makes sense, I know myself already but I'll have to see what's in this world and maybe look around for a portal to Alma while I'm at it."

The thoughts of home and being back there does draw me in, but ,if I'm honest with myself, I don't have a lot left over there. I joined the warrior group heading through the portal we found without much thought of coming back, only the thrill of new lands filling my young mind. The expedition was intended to explore the portal and come back with a full report after setting up a base of operations.

We finally get to the guild hall we started at and Day and I are pointed to some spare rooms to rest for the night by Soot before being left to our own devices. She wishes me a good night and heads promptly to bed. I head in to do the same and lay down on the mattress provided. My last thoughts of the night bring me back to the goal left to me by my comrades.

-"Back! Get back!" Sodder, the one lead of the expedition I bothered to get to know, shouts back as he draws the attention of the water wyrm. Turning around to search for the hole in space that lead us here, I only see a faint shimmer in the air that grows weaker where it was, leaving us no way home.

"The portal! It's gone, Sir!" I shout with a chorus of the same observations from those around me.

Managing to strike a blow with his crystalline lance that scrapes the beasts side, Sodder responds with a grim cheer.

"No way back?!? Then quit wasting time and GO FORWARD!!!"

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I'm waken the next day by a knock from Soot. How does a fiery fist even make a knocking sound?

"Early Almaej gets the wyrm, Arc. Introductory course is on hold for now since Caim drank himself into a coma last night."

Ugh, I tousle my hair as I lay down before sitting up and shedding the blankets off my body.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"Yessir, Soot. I'm up and at 'em. What're we doing tod-?"

"What happened to your hair?!? Did you do that just last night?" Soot cries out in shock, pointing at my, now amber colored hair, not unlike the warm shade of the lager we had last night.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Guess this is something else others here can't do then." I stand up, now wearing, only boxers I crafted onto my body since they provided other clothes for me in a dresser I can change into and out of as often as I want. Handy.

"After those drinks last night, I felt the 'alcohol', as you called it, actually made for great dye in my body. Over a short rest, I can change my body into different shapes and colors. That's the main reason why Almaej eat actually, so I wanted to use the dye for something."

"Hmm." Soot puts his chin in his hands as he focuses for a bit. After a couple of seconds, the flames over his head change to a clear cerulean color and stay that way as I put on the pants and loose, beige shirt provided for me. The clothes fit surprisingly well, not that I couldn't fit into them after a few hours but I appreciate the effort to find my fit.

"Alright," I check myself over and nothing comes off. "I'm ready."

Soot's hair has gone from cerulean and now flows with a prismatic rainbow shine as I stare at him.

"Show off."

"Hargh har har!" Soot roars with a deep laugh from his belly before letting his head return to its normal embered appearance.

"Yeah, not a lot can change appearance as easily as you but there's a few who can."

We leave my room and head down a hallway to some stairs, most of the living space being on the second floor.

"Here's the plan for us today." Soot begins to explain as we walk our way down the steps. "We're gonna need to go to the... Adventurer's Guild to report the wyrm as well. Ugh." Soot gives a groan laced with exasperation.

"What's wrong with that? Isn't it like something like the Explorer's Guild?" I ask him honestly. It sounds like explorers and adventurers wouldn't be too different.

"Sorry, it's nothing against the guild or explorers. We just have a friendly dislike of each other. Nothing sincere, we mostly just jest with each other."

We reach the bottom of the steps and Soot continues his conversation as we wave hello to Shaun managing the front end again today.

"Think you can explain the difference between adventurers and explorers better than me?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah." Shaun swallows another bite of a salad he's eating at his desk. "Morning, Soot. Heard you had your first drink last night? Congrats!"

"A lager I think? It didn't hit me as hard as Caim though, but it had a nice taste to it. Nothing like we have in my world."

Shaun give a small chuckle at Caim's name.

"Heh, Caim is kind of a lightweight with drinking, even for an elf."

"Makes sense. Although I really liked it too. The alcohol was a lot better for my body than water. Even acts as a good dye for my body did a little change last night with it." I brush my hand through my dark amber hair.

With another fork full brought halfway to his mouth, he pauses and gestures to my new overall new style.

"I noticed, figured it was something you did. Suits you, matches your brown eyes."

"Yup, thanks. I thought so too. Now we're on our way this morning to the other guild. What's it like then?"

"Ah! Forgot your question for a second there." Shaun puts his fork down onto his plate and pushes it away from himself then continues speaking.

"So, adventurers and explorers. Two major public service guilds that put themselves on the line of danger for all countries and peoples. However we differ in ways. Explorers focus on charting new lands and even realms. We focus on new and unsees, hence why we were the first to find you and Day,. Even had an introduction ready for you within the day."

"Yeah, Day mentioned she was... new. Glad she found you guys so quick."

"Mmhmm. Me too. It was actually Caim and myself who found her. I suspect she'll be tagging along with us for a bit until she knows that she's ready to leave."

Shaun pauses for a moment and eyes his salad. After thinking about it for a moment he quickly grabs a forkful and shovels it for a quick bite.

"Sorry 'bout that. With the diet my wife has me on, I get so hungry with these damn salads. Even if she does make them delicious."

He stares at a bit of leaf on his utensil before finally shrugging and putting it down again.

"Anyways, Adventurers. They're an... eclectic bunch. Specialize in hunting monster, fighting, taking odd quests or clearing dungeons. Adventurers will form teams and work in a case by case basis. Whereas explorers all work together as an organization, usually focusing on sending out teams of two. Also not all, but most, adventurers will be Worshippers of Seku. If you read the pamphlet yet, you'll get a sense of their style."

"Ah, yeah." I perused the pamphlet a bit but I wasn't able to read as well with the drinks last night. "I looked it over but I guess I'll see more of them when I get there."

"Yeah, speaking of. We should get going." Soot interjects.

"Well, I suppose that's the basics on how we differ with each other. The guilds that is." Shaun says, before putting another bite of salad into his mouth. "Hope I see you before I leave for the night. Try not to drink too much again!"

"Ha ha. I don't plan on it."

We head out through the curtains covering the entrance and walk through the center plaza. Early morning must be drawing a crowd, I assume.

"So," I begin to ask. "What's up with all the curtains?"

"Hmm?" Soot looks back at the curtains we left the explorers guild from. "Oh, yeah. Well two simple reasons. Firstly, this expedition is actually really expensive so it saves money."

Huh, makes sense I suppose.

"Secondly, with all the races we have here, it's a bit more practical. Doors can be a problem for some people." Soot nods to himself as we weave our way through the early morning crowd. "Minotaurs for example, their horns get caught sometimes."

"Minotaurs?"

"Yeah, bull-like beast people."

Ah, I can imagine how that'd be annoying for them. Better than doors for certain people though. Paama, the Goliath guard I realize now, might have some trouble opening doors so small for her.

After a short jaunt during our conversation, we cross to another large building opposite the plaza from us.

With a wooden front portion made of darker ebony planks, it strikes a jarring appearance. Looking around the side, I see the back portion holds a larger stone section of light color.

"Adventurer's Guild." Soot reads from a wooden sign hanging off the front double curtains, the symbol of crossing swords with a shield behind the lettering. "We're here."