The guild master led Sorin to a small waiting room before entering his office with Assessor Haley. There were two people in the waiting room: Sorin's butler, Percival, and a man who wore physician robes embroidered with the Kepler Clan crest.

Percival looked extremely guilty about the entire affair, but Sorin understood. His family provided funds and a butler not to 'maintain the family image' as they'd claimed but to keep a close eye on him. The only reason they hadn't had him killed was likely because it would upset some of the old timers in the family.

Regardless of what happened to Sorin's parents, it remained that his uncle was now the head of the family, and his son was next in line for the position. Sorin's own claim was substantial, as he could trace a direct line of descent from his ancestor, Sirius Abberjay Kepler, but his uncle – once removed – had quite a strong claim and, more importantly, the power to back it up.

It was very likely that they'd mobilized someone from the family the instant they'd heard he could cultivate again. There was a big difference between a crippled potential inheritor and one that was able to cultivate.

Ten minutes trickled by at a glacial pace. The man in physician's robes continuously probed him with his spiritual senses – a very rude practice by anyone's standards – and repeatedly failed to thwart Sorin's own spiritual senses. As for Percival, he wisely kept his lips tight and made no attempts to communicate with Sorin.

"You can all come in," the Guild Master finally called out from his office. Haley opened the door for them and motioned for them to take a seat. The guild master was seated closest to the door, the host's seat, while the representative of the Kepler Clan took the opposite seat.

"Take a seat," Haley said to Sorin. "And you too," she said Percival, gesturing to a seat closer to the Kepler Clan representative. "We don't have much classist nonsense around here, and I get twitchy fingers whenever someone gets forced to stand around and wait." Percival looked to the physician in askance. It was only when the man gestured for him to sit that he did so.

As for Sorin, he sat at the middle of the table, but edged slightly towards the guild master and Haley. He was sure that, given their positions, his gesture would not go unnoticed.

"As you might all know, I am Guild Master Roy," said the guild master. "This is Haley York, a two-star assessor at this branch guild, and she has appraised me of the situation out in the field. Now, forgive me for my rudeness, but I have no idea who you are. All I've been told is that you're from the Kepler Clan. Would you care to introduce yourself, Mr. Kepler, as well as your employee?"

"Please call me Physician Marcus," said the man. "And this an employee of the family, Percival Dunstring. I am a two-star physician from the nearby city of Dustone. I came to this outpost today because I received troubling news: a lost sheep in the family decided to challenge the Adventurers Guild assessment without his family's permission."

"I'm not a minor," interjected Sorin. "I turned sixteen just this year, and I am legally allowed to make my own decisions."

"But as you might know, the great families have agreements with the guilds and associations to prevent their members from tarnishing their reputations," said Marcus. "It is our family's requirement that anyone who wishes to become an adventurer first be vetted by the family."

Guild Master Roy cleared his throat loudly. "I think we've started this meeting off on the wrong foot. My intention was for us all to make introductions, not for you to take the floor in my own office."

"Apologies, Guild Master," said Physician Marcus. "I'm sure you can understand that we take such cases very seriously."

"I understand," said Guild Master Roy. "But before we proceed any further, I'd like to pass something on to my little friend Sorin. Ms. York?"

Haley grunted and tossed a bag over to Sorin. A certificate of assessment, an identity badge, and 5 gold coins lay inside.

"What's this?" asked Sorin, gesturing to the coins.

"Your partial bounty for the flesh-melting demon spider," Haley explained. "Strictly speaking, the assessment was not to include more than one bounty-level target. It was my prerogative as an instructor to increase the difficulty of your test and verify your aptitude. But since you killed it, the bounty is yours.

"As for the core, you can do whatever you want with it. Spend it, use it for potions, or gamble it at the Temple of Hope for all I care. Normally, you'd need to get it verified and stamped as proof that you killed it, but since I was there as an eyewitness, that won't be necessary."

This time, it was Marcus who cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, but I seem to be misunderstanding something. It sounds to me like you're all going against our family's right to vet potential trial takers."

"Yes, that does sound like a misunderstanding, doesn't it, Physician Marcus?" said Guild Master Roy. "I would fully understand your position if Sorin embarrassed you. In that case, we'd strike the trial off the records and require proof that he's passed your internal audit before he takes the trial again.

"But in this case, he didn't just pass the trial – he distinguished himself before his peers. This fact was witnessed by our most excellent assessor in the entire branch. Moreover, she is from the York family and is, therefore, quite familiar with the requirements of a great family. And unlike the Kepler Clan, the York Clan specializes in adventuring."

Everything now made sense. It was as he suspected: Haley had made his assessment more difficult for reason. It was unlikely for him to defeat it, but by exchanging a few blows with it or surviving for some time, he could have retreated and shown off both his bravery for having attempted the feat and his wisdom for having backed off. Either way, she would have been able to use the fight to showcase his ability and justify his acceptance to the guild.

"As Guild Master Roy explained, I'm fully aware of a large family's requirements for associations and guilds," said Haley. "His assessment was documented in detail. Here is the assessment grid that I completed, along with a complete report of the trials he faced."

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Marcus glared at her but accepted the folio. He frowned as he looked through it, and his frown deepened the more he looked.

For a while, no one spoke. They gave Marcus ample time to use the communication device he'd brought with him to exchange messages wit the family leadership. Finally, after a good ten minutes of back and forth, he nodded. "Very well. It was our mistake," said Marcus. "Everything with the assessment seems to be in order. Would you mind giving me a copy of the assessment?"

"We have a copy," said Haley. "You can keep the original."

"Then I believe congratulations are in order, Sorin Kepler," said Marcus. "I wish you good luck in your bright new adventuring career. A poison user, is it? You realize the ramifications of cultivating such a path, don't you? Both within the family, and within the medical association?"

"I do," answered Sorin. He'd known it before he even began cultivating the Ten Thousand Poison Canon, and he had no regrets despite knowing the challenges he would face.

This time, it was Guild Master Roy who frowned. "That's it? Nothing more? No outrage, and no political ramifications?"

"It's just as you said," said Marcus. "This was all a misunderstanding. We of the Kepler Clan were only concerned about our family's image. As you well know, Sorin's cultivation received a huge setback, and we were afraid that we might be biting off more than he could chew. But if Miss York's report is accurate, and I trust that it is, then it seems we have nothing to worry about."

Guild Master Roy let out a sigh of relief. "If that's all, then I guess it's settled. I take it you'll be going back to Dustone soon?"

"I'll actually be sticking around for a while," said Marcus. " The family has been thinking about expanding the clinic in this area. The increase in demonic activity of late has the family worried, and as you both know, the outposts always receive the brunt of it."

"Our guild would most certainly be grateful for such a thing," said Guild Master Roy. "Will that be all then, Physician Marcus?"

"It will," said Marcus.

"Then Sorin, you are excused," said Guild Master Roy. "Haley, stay behind."

The meeting ended on a much lighter note than Sorin had expected. Of course, he wasn't so naïve as to think everything was over.

Marcus waited until they were out of the office before greeting Sorin with a smile. "I'm afraid we never had the pleasure of meeting," said Marcus, holding out his hand. "I'm Marcus, from the Sovinger branch."

"Sorin," said Sorin, accepting the handshake. "Abberjay branch." A stream of life mana and spiritual sense drilled into his body from Marcus's, and Sorin, not wanting to be impolite, mobilized his own mana and strong spiritual sense to push back.

"I realize your station in the family exceeds mine, but I don't think you quite realize how problematic it might be for you to cultivate poison," said Marcus. "In fact, only cultivating death mana would be a greater affront to the family."

"And how brave of you, touching a poison cultivator directly," said Sorin. He chuckled when Marcus jerked back his hand. "Relax. My mana control is exceptional. I was trained by the best, which is far more than you can say."

"How funny," replied Marcus. "It's been a while since a blood condensation junior bared his fangs at me."

"In the Kepler Clan, it's actually you who's the junior," Sorin countered. "As you yourself already admitted."

"But in the cultivation world, and in all the associations, it's the other way around," said Marcus. "Excuse me, someone's trying to contact me." He retrieved a jade slip from his belt, and his smile deepened when he saw the contents. "Apologies, I only received the briefest of orders during our meeting. There are further developments, it seems. You can expect something in writing sometime tomorrow."

"There's no need to beat around the bush," said Sorin. "I'm aware of how the family works."

"Then I won't keep you in suspense," said Marcus. "Henceforth, you are forbidden from practicing as a physician. The Medical Association has officially stripped you of your honorary designation, which had been tenuous ever since the loss of your cultivation."

"Justification?" asked Sorin.

"Incompatible mana," said Marcus. "Poison mana is only moderately useful in treating wounds and deadly if misused. As you surely know, the Medical Association issued a blanket ban on physicians with poison, death, and dark-type mana around a hundred years ago. A written exemption is required to do otherwise. Feel free to apply for such a thing if you think you have the clout to pull it off."

Sorin nodded, as he'd already expected this assessment. "Anything else?"

"You are also forbidden from instructing students in medicine," continued Marcus. "Gabriella Michka will be reassigned to a more competent instructor."

"As long as she is agreeable to matter, I have no objections," said Sorin. "She is a talented future physician, as your assessment will likely indicate."

"I'm sure it will therefore not come as a surprise that the clinic will need new management," said Marcus. "I will personally stay to manage the clinic. Further, several family assets will be confiscated. Your Divine Medicine Codex is the primary item, but all controlled medicinal ingredients, all magic treasures related to the practice of medicine, and all tomes related to the practice of medicine will also be taken."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," said Sorin. These things had been given to him by his family in the first place, so it only made sense for them to take them back.

"That is all," said Marcus. "And I must say, you're taking things a lot better than I imagined."

"That's because everything that's happening now is within the realm of reasonable expectation," said Sorin. "Also, I believe the perspective of someone who's already lost everything is quite different from that of someone who's never encountered setbacks."

"Well, I'm personally glad you're taking things so well," said Marcus. "The family cares deeply about its image, so you will be allowed to keep the manor assigned to you and will continue to receive a stipend for its operation. Percival and Clarice will also remain behind to take care of you. Their salaries will continue to be paid by the Kepler Clan."

"Sounds about right," said Sorin. "Anything else?"

Marcus's eye twitched. "Is that really all you have to say? You finally screwed up and had everything you had left taken away from you, and you're not even losing your temper?"

Sorin smiled lightly when he saw Marcus's reaction. "To someone like you, who struggles day and night to climb up the family tree, it seems like a big deal, doesn't it? But to me? I stopped caring about all this nonsense three years ago."

"But you were a cripple then," Marcus pointed out.

"Yes. I was," said Sorin. "I lost my parents. I lost everything. I saw people I called friends turn their backs on me and people I called family kick me when I was down.

"I've long since accepted my fate, Marcus. It's my uncle who controls the Kepler Clan, and it's his son who'll be taking over after him. These facts can't be changed. Not be my, and not by anyone else."

"It's good that you know," said Marcus.

"To be clear," continued Sorin. "I know you'll be staying here to keep an eye on me. I know that Percival is going to keep reporting on my activities. I know that everywhere I go, there will be eyes on me, reporting my every move to the Kepler Clan.

"So please do me a favor. Include in your report that I'm fine with that. I've given up. If the Council wants, it can even excommunicate me from the family. I won't even fight it."

Having said his piece, Sorin left the Adventurers Guild. It was raining outside, and the cobblestone streets were slick with mud that had yet to wash out into the cracks. An umbrella popped open above his head, shielding him from the elements.

"I don't blame you, Percival," said Sorin as they walked. "I don't blame anyone. It's like I said to Marcus: I've been hurting for so long I don't feel anything anymore."

"But you love the clinic," said Percival.

"Losing the clinic hurts," Sorin admitted. "But it's nothing compared to being crippled, losing your parents, and learning that everyone you ever cared about didn't care back. I'll be fine, Percival. More than fine. I finally have my life back, along with a little bit of freedom."

"You know they'll never let you get too strong," said Percival.

"Then we'll see exactly how they keep me in check," said Sorin. "I finally earned my freedom after three long years of suffering. If they want to take it back, they'll have to kill me first."