Seth watched as Ithil enthusiastically flipped through the catalog. Ithil in turn took his time as he walked Seth through each of the pages answering even his most basic questions and trying his best to add context where Seth lacked it. He explained that the adventuring equipment, for the most part, was priced based on how difficult it was to make and the materials it was made of. In the case of the manuals, the pricing structure was quite different. Those were mostly based on what the various organizations that wrote them were charging the guild and had very little if any markup.

Ithil explained that out in the world gear values worked a bit differently and were often priced according to a rarity system. While it was rare for a monster to drop fully formed equipment it did on occasion happen and those items ranged wildly from rusted pieces of junk to masterfully crafted magic equipment. He even said that it was even possible, in rare cases for the universe itself to create equipment and weapons and give it to adventures in return for completing various quests and achievements. When the universe did this it was called a system reward in this case the system was reality itself. Baring actual pieces of equipment it was far more likely for monsters to leave behind bits and pieces that could be made into equipment and in that case, the rarity of the equipment was based on the rarity of the creature and how difficult it would be for adventures to take it down.

Ithil often laughed as he talked through and explained the pages of the catalog and in Seth's mind he seemed to do that lot but he seemed genuinely nice and seemed to enjoy his work so while Seth thought it was a bit odd he tried his best to put it out of his mind. Seth eventually asked why some of the terminologies seemed so obscure and if it was okay for Ithil to be sharing all of this information with him. After Ithil stopped laughing and caught his breath he spoke while wearing a large grin. “Of course it's ok! One of my main jobs as your mentor is going to be to train you and answer your questions if I don't do that I wouldn't be a very good mentor.”

Seth spoke thoughtfully “You mentioned that before how can you mentor us and watch the guild hall at the same time.”

Ithil smiled warmly as he spoke “The simple truth is I can't. That's why I said the person bringing your gear down was going to be my replacement.” Now that Seth thought of that he did remember Ithil saying it but hadn't thought anything about it at the time. “He will be acting as the new guild registrar. Then after your training is finished I'll go back to being the guild registrar and he'll head over to valley forge so the guild registrar there can do the same. So try and make the most of our time together and don't hesitate to ask me anything” He laughed again this time only a giggle.

“You sure laugh a lot” Seth muttered under his breath.

Ithil frowned slightly and spoke “You would do well to remember that in this guildhall I can hear everything, even you whispering things under your breath. For your information, I laugh because I can, because I am allowed to. Which, I confess, wasn't always the case. I imagine you don't know this being from Farmers Rest but I am a moon elf. My very name means moon though I confess moon isn't my real name.” Seth seemed puzzled.

“Since you don't know I will enlighten you. Moon elves live in the frozen lands of the far south and as a rule are a somber, silent bunch. Even among themselves they hardly speak and mostly use gestures and body language. They also believe that expressing one's self through any kind of emotional outburst, crying and laughing are both seen as disgraceful”

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Seth seemed confused by the information. “But you don't seem that way at all,” Seth confessed.

Ithil laughed again this time somewhat sadly before he spoke. “I try not to be. When I was young I confess I was very much not Moon Elf” He seemed to become downcast as he spoke and began to remember and the scene flashed through his mind as if it happened not so very long ago.

The day was white. He remembered thinking that all of his days would be white back then. Endless snow covered everything the trees, the hills, even the lakes and rivers, an endless sea of white. Day in and day out summer never coming nothing ever changing. And then something did. He watched them as they appeared over the horizon dark figures moving over the white, heavy, and loud. He could hear their laughter echoing as they made their way toward the village. They were unlike anyone he had ever seen clad in shimmering armor that reflected in the pale sun and thick with muscle they seemed to tower over the villagers, larger than life.

The villagers shunned them many of them even refusing to acknowledge they were there. But his parents took them in trading with and listening to the stories around the fire in the night. The flames danced in his mother and father's eyes as the strangers told them of their adventures and his depression as they left again and his whole life went back to being white. Even back then when they left he thought something inside of him was dying to the white. That he was becoming like the rest of his village and then they came back.

But they weren't like before they were beaten and battered. Some of them didn't look like they would make it through the night without help. This time was different his parents were told by the village elder that they weren't to trade with them this time, they weren't allowed to help and they didn't. He begged them they were going to die without help but they said it wasn't up to them and that they had disturbed the white and now it would have them. Still, he didn't relent, still, he pushed. Finally, he remembered his father his cold eyes as he told young Ithil that he could help them. He could take his inheritance and give it to the strangers but if he did he would no longer be welcomed in the white. He remembered that it was the most emotion he had ever seen his father display and he remembered the feeling of loss as he went to the strangers carrying all that he had in the world and the warmth they received him with the feeling that he was finally where he was meant to be. Ithil's voice quivered as he finished telling the story and tears started to form in his eyes.

Seth stammered “I'm,... I'm sorry”

Ithil brightened again as he spoke “Nothing to be sorry about, I think of the guild as my family now. In many ways it's the family I like to think I traded up for.” at that he threw his arm around Seth, and pulled him close to his side squeezing him.

Not too long after that, a young man emerged from the door behind Ithil's counter. He was shorter than Seth and had a slight build, his dirty blonde hair falling to just below his shoulders. He wore gray slacks and a matching padded jacket reinforced just above the shoulder on both sides. To Seth, his gait seemed unnatural as he walked rigidly head held high almost as if he were marching. The young man looked at Ithil and completely ignored Seth sitting beside him.

“Master, the preparations are made,” The young man said. Ithil looked at the young man with annoyance. “Gale, I have asked you repeatedly to please call me Ithil.” Gale didn't visibly react but stood there staring forward blankly. Ithil turned around looking away from the man to face Seth and Jason

“Gentlemen,” Ithil addressed them with a smile but it seemed... fake. “This is Gale he'll be assisting us in the ceremony tonight.” Jason looked at Gale and smiled, stiffing a giggle, “Hi Gale!” he said with enthusiasm to the point of satire. Gale looked at him briefly, nodded, and returned to staring at Ithil.

Jason snickered “Oh boy you're a fun one aren't you.”

Ithil turned an irritated look at Jason and then at Gale and shook his head before he spoke with obvious annoyance “Very well Gale I think we're all set here” He paused to look at Seth who nodded his head in confirmation. “Then let us proceed. Gentleman this way if you please.” He motioned for Seth and Jason to follow him. Looking at each other they got up and followed him down the stairs.