Trillia had a little voice of guilt in the back of her mind, mostly for not discussing this crazed plan with her parents or Amelia. All three of them deserved a heads-up.

Truth be told, Trillia wasn't sure if she would have been able to follow through with it if all of them tried to talk her out of this plan.

Kismet had led her to a room much closer to the base of the tower. A dozen people were watching over large pots that were boiling what looked like small balls.

Trillia tried to wander away to look at something several times. Kismet was rather skilled at wrangling the curious and kept pulling her along.

"What is it that they are cooking?" Trillia couldn't help but ask. She did enjoy food and so far hadn't been allowed to sample anything from this new region.

"They aren't cooking anything per se. Those are cocoons. It's how we make a fabric called silk. It's what most of our clothes are made out of. One of the first things that Lord Arlyss did was create an underground cavern that mimics their native habitat. There are trees that grow great and wide canopies. The worms feast on the leaves, and we harvest their cocoons. Once boiled, the larvae die, and the fabric is left behind to be worked into silk."

The two stopped and stared at each other for a moment. Trillia looked down bashfully. "Right. I don't know your language, and it's something complicated. I'll learn later." Kismet offered her a smile, and the two kept going. Trillia had a vague idea and understanding of what was said. But it wasn't exact, and Trillia had the feeling it wasn't quite conveyed well by the trait.

Trillia was led to a back room. The large glass walls of the tower had heavy curtains covering them to offer some privacy. Kismet walked over to a humanoid that was covered in fur. The creature stood somewhere over five feet, a long tail twitching occasionally near the ground. The face wasn't quite so pronounced as the canine face of Ialu.

Speaking of Ialu, she was drawing a lot of stares. Apparently, the desert skoll were not creatures to be taken lightly. Trillia really wished she had better hearing and an actual grasp of the language being spoken instead of just a vague intent and understanding of it. Kismet had ushered or ordered everyone to leave the room except the individual covered in fur.

Both now approached Trillia, who offered a smile. To her surprise, she was spoken to in the orc language. "Kismet tells me that you are our Lord's avatar and that I am to assure you have good clothes as well as anything else you might need. My name is Rakana. I am a Raksasa. A few things to clear before we work together. I do not like to be pet or touched. Please keep your hands to yourself unless you ask first. I will need to take your measurements, which requires me to break the very rules I set for my own body. If you do not wish to work with me, I understand."

Trillia now knew Rakana to be a female, at least if her voice was anything to go on. "I understand. I won't touch you unless I ask first or if your life is in danger. I don't really know what you mean by measurements. My tribe passes down clothes and makes make-shift armor for our young. Most of our children grow very, very rapidly. So making custom garments for them at every stage in life would be foolish."

Rakana grabbed a few pieces of string that had little knots tied in them at regular intervals. "Kismet, please stand guard outside. I want to ensure that our avatar is not seen by some of the ruffians that Lord Arlyss is too kind to throw out." Kismet bowed and left the room. Ialu sat in front of the door on this side of it.

Rakana motioned to a platform that had three mirrors facing it. "Stand here and strip down, please. The measurements are just to ensure that the clothes I make fit you well enough to not fall off and allow you a free range of motion. We don't use a lot of straps in our clothing here compared to what you are wearing now."

Trillia began taking off her pouches, the belt that normally held her rapier and its sheath. The only thing she still had on by the time she got to the platform were her artifacts. As she stepped onto the platform and stared into the perfectly clear reflection, she saw the many scars that already marked her as an orc warrior. The stump of an arm hiding in the artifact that created her crossbow.

Trillia felt a little self-conscious.

As an orc, she knew she'd have scars from battle. Her mother and Ba'Shoon both had plenty of battle scars. But somehow, when she saw their forms and scars, she didn't think less of them. It was different with her own.

Rakana grabbed the string and began taking measurements and writing various numbers down. "Don't judge yourself. I've seen that look a thousand times. Whether it is men or women, you're after. When you reach an age that you're ready to find a mate. You will find someone who loves you despite all of your flaws. It's my experience you will find someone because of your flaws if anything."

Trillia looked down at the woman. "I just. I'm a child. I have my entire life ahead of me. I wonder how much will be left by the time I settle down to start my own family and tribe. Especially being a pact-bound creature to Lord Arlyss. There will be no shortage of battles."

The woman nodded as she worked. "Healing magic helps some. As do any skills or traits that boost your natural regeneration. But scars are going to happen, especially for those proud and confident enough to risk their lives to defend those of us who are not warriors.

The woman stood, and because Trillia was standing on the little raised platform, they stood eye to eye. "My husband has more scars than either of us care to count. Every year it seems he gains a new one. I still love him dearly. I know his willingness to throw himself between our people and danger is the reason I can work in this glass tower and not have to learn a combat class and be required to fight and kill. There will be plenty of people who see your scars and look away, thinking you grotesque."

Before Trillia could look at her scars in the mirrors, and again Rakana continued. "There will be far more, who see your scars and respect the hard life you've led, knowing that it was you, or people like you, that allow them to live in peace and harmony. You are an orc. Your people have a reputation for being powerful warriors. I promise little one. You will find love when the time comes. For now, focus on enjoying life."

Trillia offered a little nod. Rakana didn't relent. "By your own words, you're still a child. So be one. Have fun, explore the world. Lord Arlyss, the [Primordials], and all other deities be damned. We only get one shot at life. Make sure it's a good one that leaves you with no regrets."

The woman leaned in and gave Trillia a little hug. "You can get dressed. I have your measurements. What weapons do you normally fight with?"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

As Trillia stepped down and began grabbing her things, she answered. "Normally a rapier and this artifact. The artifact simulates an orcish crossbow. I am trying to become a mage as well. I guess I'm not sure what my end goal is. Right now, I'm just seeing what I like."

Rakana offered a nod. "Well. My husband specializes in one-handed weapons. I can have him talk to you about some of the classes and skills that are available to us on this continent. Lady Kismet is a potent gravity mage. I believe her secondary class is something like a rejuvenator? Regenerator? I'm not sure exactly; she's a healer. She can probably give you some tips on that front. Lord Maldoun - Lady Kismet's brother and Lord Arlyss' other advisor - specializes in two-handed weaponry in addition to chants and warcries."

Trillia took it all in and nodded. She was a bit wary. Everyone seemed so helpful and readily willing to give her information about classes and other things. "You're very kind, thank you."

Rakana put a hand on her arm, drawing their eyes together again. "You need to understand something. You are an avatar. There will be people who are kind to you because they want to get close to Lord Arlyss. There will be people who are kind to you because Lord Arlyss demands it."

Trillia looked at the hand, then at her. "And you?"

"I'm the third type. I am kind to you because the world is not kind. My husband and I grew up on these streets. Both of us have known the pains of starvation and sleeping in filth. If I can choose to be anything, I will choose to be kind. Warriors like you and my husband allow me that luxury. Besides, I feel a little bad. You're so young and already taking on so much. The least I can do is help you along."

Trillia offered her a smile at that as she gathered up the last of her things.

"Lady Kismet will show you around. It will take me a couple of days to make you something. I see your companion over there. If you are interested in monster taming. There are a couple of circus ringleaders on the city outskirts. Some don't have the favor of Lord Arlyss and aren't fully legal; others do and are. Both will have people skilled in monster-taming."

Trillia stopped and turned to Rakana, walking up to her and hugging the woman again. "Thank you for everything. Between you and I, I'm terrified. I'm in a place where I don't know who I can trust or what I'm even doing here. I don't have a plan except for a panicked state of saving my people."

Rakana returned the hug. "Listen to, and trust Lady Kismet. She's a good woman. Lord Arlyss is too kind for his own good, in our opinion. If you ever need to see your family, I am sure he will take you to them himself. I'm not going to pretend like the city is perfect. Crime is especially high right now due to food shortages, and there are plenty of evil people still lingering in the city. But many here want to lead happy lives and work hard to get ahead. Stick to those types of people, and you'll do fine."

Trillia smiled as she pulled away. Taking a deep breath and joining Ialu, the two of them opening the door. Lady Kismet offered her a smile and looked over her at Rakana. "She's all set for now. It will take me a few days to make something I'm happy with. Maybe take her to the barracks so that she can see the city guard and army. I think the lifestyle of the guards will be closer to what she is used to."

Kismet offered her arm, which Trillia took, and the two made their way further down the tower. The tower base was surrounded by a wall that was ten feet high. The 'courtyard' of the tower was perhaps a hundred feet from its base to the wall in every direction around the tower proper. It was a rather huge area, all things considered.

The guards wore metal helmets that came to a point. All of them had the same crest painted upon them. On their chests, they wore shirts that were made of thousands of tiny links of metal, all interwoven to form the shirt itself. A light white cloth under it. Heavy metal boots and what looked to Trillia like leather leggings made up the rest of the standard guard outfit. All guards had a polearm they carried and a personal weapon or three in addition to that.

Trillia took it all in as Kismet led her around the base of the tower, pointing out where various guard houses and barracks connected to the rest of the city. Anyone visiting the tower would be forced to scale the wall or go through one of the guard houses.

Kismet stopped at the edge of a squared-off area. Two dozen people with no armor and just the white cloth stood and drilled with their weapons. Or sat around small tables and rolled dice. Kismet scanned the crowd and motioned once more for Trillia to follow her.

"[Riposte]!"

"[Hail of Blades]"

"[Thousand Step Advance]!"

The names of at least a dozen other skills rang out as people paired off to spar with each other with the full use of skills. Despite the language being different, Trillia inherently knew what each skill name was as it was used. A sort of universal translation due to the system.

Kismet led her to a man who stood well over six feet in height. Probably the second tallest person here, Trillia had seen a minotaur training in the group earlier. "Lord Quintus. Your wife asked me to show our lord's avatar to the training grounds. She does not yet know our language but has a passing understanding of it due to traits, if I am correct, in the words we have shared."

The man looked away from the guards training in front of him. Looked down at Trillia and offered the slightest of nods. The man said a very simple statement in eight languages before Trillia recognized the language of the minotaurs and nodded in recognition. "I will have to learn the language of the orcs as well if you are to join us. I do not see a weapon. How do you fight?"

Trillia felt a little more comfortable surrounded by warriors who thought of battle first. It did remind her of home. "Normally a rapier and this artifact. Which works like a crossbow for my mana. Lord Arlyss currently has my rapier as a sign so that my mother doesn't attack him."

The man chuckled at that and nodded. "Your mother must be quite the warrior if Lord Arlyss doesn't wish to engage her in battle. The difference in power between Lord Arlyss and the rest of us really defines the difference in strength between a mortal and an immortal. We can loan you a one-handed sword if you'd like to spar for a bit. One of the guards may use a rapier as a personal weapon. "

Trillia smiled and nodded. "I'm happy to use a one-handed weapon of any kind. Am I allowed to also use the crossbow?"

Quintus nodded. Calling out in another language that Trillia didn't understand. A young man ran over and put a hand to his head, some sort of salute. "This is Lord Arlyss' avatar. She wishes to spar so as to not let her skills wane. Please find her a one-handed blade, as close to a rapier as you can."

The man nodded and ran off towards the barracks. Trillia activated [Mana-Sight]

[Human - Fencer - 61] Fire-Mana Manipulation

[Minotaur - Pit Slave - 93] Fear-Mana Manipulation

[Human - Warrior - 43] Fire-Mana Manipulation

[Half-Ogre - Brute - 37] Earth-Mana Manipulation

Trillia went through all of the others. The only one that really stood out was the minotaur. Not only was he the highest level by a wide margin, but his class also made her worry. She turned to look at Quintus and Kismet, who were watching the training. "Is slavery allowed here?" Followed by motioning to the minotaur.

Quintus looked at the ground with shame in his eyes. Kismet grits her teeth a bit. "Alexander! Fall out and come here for a moment, please." The minotaur raised a hand to pause his sparring match, looking first at Kismet, followed by Quintus. Seeing Quintus nod, he bowed his head and trotted over. Bowing to each of them in turn before looking at Kismet. "This young lady wishes to know our history of slavery. I think it is important that it comes from someone so recently touched by it. She knows your mother tongue."

The minotaur - Alexander - turned to regard Trillia. She felt a small hit to her mana as he tried to pierce her obfuscation. "How much do you know of our past?"

Trillia shook her head. "Nothing. Assume I know nothing of this continent and city. I am from the Shattered Plains of the northern continent. I am familiar with some of the customs of the minotaurs that call that place home."

When she said the Shattered Plains, the minotaur froze. Trillia was worried she had said something she wasn't supposed to. The minotaur gripped his weapon all the tighter and narrowed his eyes at her. She instinctively fell into a defensive posture.