As my party members accepted the quest, I edged away from the board to make room for Dengin. “Easy how, Sage Ian?” Wenri asked as Dengin walked over to the board and pulled a sheet. The same reappearance happened when he did, and Wenri gave a surprised “Oh!”

“If a party leader takes the quest, it gets shared to the rest of the party. At least that’s what it looks like…” I responded, looking at the elven Sergeant.

She gave a nod, then pointed at a slate next to the board that I hadn’t noticed. “Some things about the quests can be explained there,” she said, returning to her prior position of rest.

Dengin and I walked up to it, holding our sheets close to each other so we could compare. “Hmm, our ranking’s are different,” he noted.

I looked at his sheet, then at mine. It read Rank E, while his read Rank D++. Looking at the slate, there were rankings and descriptions. The descriptions had level ranges. “Well, that would explain it, I think, Dengin. You guys are higher level than us, right?”

Rank -

A - Party Level 17 to 20

B - Party Level 13 to 16

C - Party Level 9 to 13

D - Party Level 5 to 8

E - Party Level 1 to 4

(Some quests may use one or more + to indicate ranges within Rank brackets)

Dengin had looked back at the other two of his party, a thoughtful look on his face. “Aye, Wenri, and I are level 8, Argeth is level 6, and Couture is level 7. So, the two +’s make the quest a level 7?”

He’d turned to look at Sergeant es’Vayear as he said that. She nodded slowly, a thoughtful look on her face as well. Simple math, it’ll get you every time. “Correct…” she said after a few seconds. “The rewards, unfortunately, do not scale the same.”

That last part was said with a sympathetic smile to the veteran group. “Ha, typical!” Argeth was saying, though there was amusement in his voice. He stepped outside and out of sight for a moment, then returned. “Couture is on his way.”

Dengin nodded in response, turning back to me. “Let's not head out for these caves just yet,” he started. “We'll get Mimic Bait down here and have Talok grab the quest.”

“And then all three groups go to the caves until we have to split up?” I asked, to which he nodded with a smile.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“We'll make a party leader out of you yet, Sage.”

I shook my head, looking at the group I'd been put in charge of. I really knew nothing about this world, but the Guild Master had made me the group's leader. Why? Because I was Blessed? That shouldn't be reason enough, surely…

Dengin had gone to his party to discuss their plans, while mine had made their way over to me. “I really think someone else should be leading here,” I… Well, I whined.

Delave sighed, dropping her head into one hand. I frowned at that. I mean, I could maybe understand being exasperated or something but that was a… Oh, that's why Kendra was giving Orthan a very pleased grin while the young man dropped a few coins into her outstretched hand.

“Gee, thanks, guys.”

Orthan shot me his own toothy grin while shaking his head. “Easy, Ian, let us explain,” he began, turning his head to look at Kendra.

Who was dragging Delava out the door. Orthan and I looked at each other and gave a deep sigh. Tactfully, the members of the Order of the Sacred Helm had also made themselves scarce. The elven Sergeant was watching us with a smile.

“Don't mind me, gentlemen. I'm not here. Just ignore me altogether,” she said, unconvincingly.

I merely watched with a raised brow. I mean, I didn't really think I could do this, leading a party of people in a world I didn't even know existed a week or ago. “We voted to put you in charge, Ian,” the young lord said, fully confident in his words.

I, on the other hand, couldn't quite string together lengthy sentences to form questions. “Eh? What?” See, very articulate.

We both did our best to ignore the smirking noises coming from behind the counter. “Two of us are in this party because of politics of one kind or another,” he continued, causing to make sure I understood.

I did, actually. Orthan was the Barons youngest son, but not the youngest child. While his class and style were a good fit for the group, we could very easily have gotten someone else from the Guild to fill it.

Delava had literally been sent by her goddess, along with others of Anderis’ clergy. She happened to be the only one of a suitable level to group with us, without overpowering the group and possibly putting us in danger in the dungeon. She also happened to have a connection to the Guild Master and the Lorekeeper.

“The third member of our party,” Orthan was saying, “just finished her training and was expected to go into the dungeon with a group to get some experience. Low level, not pushing the monsters or anything. Just get her some real-world experience with traps and things.”

I nodded. Kendra truly was the least experienced of us all then, if she hadn't been into a dungeon or fought against any monsters or beasts. “Okay, so why does that all point to me?”

Orthan took a step forward and threw an arm around my shoulders. “Because, technically, you're older than all three of us combined.”

I blinked, frowned, and glared at him. “And I know nothing about this world, so where does the wisdom of age come into that?”

“Delava and I can help you navigate the Nobility and Religious hurdles to try and keep you out of trouble,” he said, pushing me out to the rest of the group. “Kendra will actually be helping all three of us, in that the ways of the guild are rather new to us all. Not to mention the fact that the world around the Guild isn't like what Delava or I are used to.”

I looked at him in surprise, about to say something, but he cut me off. With a roll of his eyes, he walked past me, his voice sounding resigned. “Yes, I am self-aware enough to know that I have lived a sheltered and entitled life. I'm not sure Delava has figured that out yet.”

I grinned, feeling better about things. A little. Okay, not so much, but it was a start. I wasn't so much expected to actually lead, as I was Mayne going to be looked to as an elder.

I really didn't think that was any better, but I was taking some wins along with the losses here.

“All caught up?” Kendra asked as we got closer. She had a smile on her face, a little sheepish. Delava looked a little stunned. Kendra apparently had had a talk, and it was a bit of a revelation.

“For now, I think,” Orthan said, looking at me. I wasn't sure I was happy with the situation, but it was something we would figure out. Especially if we were going to keep together as an adventuring party.

“Yeah, I think we can work with this.”