Strictly dressed according to one of the most formal local canons, the Ninth Praetor waited exactly where we had agreed. She stood there, pretending to examine the facade of the nearest house carefully. Even though I arrived a bit earlier than the agreed-upon time, she had come even sooner.
"Good morning, mistress," I greeted, wearing a friendly smile.
"I hope so," Despite her healthy and lively appearance, lingering fatigue could be heard in Oma Ai Tahayasi's voice. "I truly hope it's a good morning."
She looked me up and down, paying particular attention to my traveling boots, the large bags on my shoulders, and the gambeson I was currently using as outerwear. Even longer, her gaze lingered on the spear, the tip of which, as per the guard's rules, was tightly wrapped in cloth.
"Good morning, Aunt Oma Ai," Popping out from behind me, Aun greeted the lady somewhat awkwardly.
The Ninth Praetor gave the young man such a telling look that I hurriedly explained, "He's just seeing me off."
"Good morning, young Aun Duan," After my words, the lady nodded in greeting to the boy, but it was spoken in such a formal and stern tone that he immediately hid behind me again. "Are we following the route we agreed on earlier?" Turning to me, the official asked.
"Mostly, but with one small addition," I replied.
"What kind of addition?" She rolled her eyes so dramatically upon hearing my words that even Ye Lan, with her acting calling, would probably envy her expression at that moment.
"As far as I recall the Tries' architecture," The moment I mentioned the name, the corners of Oma Ai's lips twitched in irritation, but she held back and continued listening, "On our path between the Tunnellers' Guild building and the Temple of All Gods, there's an alley with magic shops. I'd like to stock up on some travel-oriented utility magic."
"In Pentapolis, such simple items are much more expensive," The Ninth Praetor nodded, completely satisfied with my explanation. "But we shan't stay there long."
"In and out, in and out, Oma Ai, nothing more," I said, bowing my head and smiling as genuinely as possible.
"Then let's not waste time," The lady returned me a smile and took the lead.
Apparently, Oma Ai somewhat intimidated Aun because the usually excessively talkative boy didn't utter a word throughout the journey, as if he were some silent ghost. In contrast, the Ninth Praetor, unlike the young man, chatted excessively for all of us. Like any politician, she could talk endlessly on any topic while simultaneously discussing nothing at all. At first, I thought she was speaking out of politeness, to avoid awkward silence, but after a few minutes, I realized it wasn't that simple. Mistress Tahayasi's chatter "about nothing" provoked me into various reactions about Tries and the time I had spent in the city. Like a caring guide asking a tourist if they enjoyed everything during their visit. But in reality, she probably cared little about these details. In this world, anyone could, theoretically, grow to the Heroic Coil. And if they harbored resentment against you, once powerful enough, they could come back for revenge.
Of course, reality differed sharply from theory, and only about one in a million reached the Legendary Coil, but the chance for such an outcome always existed. Plus, having won the Grand Alchemists' Guild tournament, I clearly stood out from the crowd. Oma Ai's thought process was simple but logical for her position: "Right now, the city's guest Raven is a nobody against the world's strong. But who knows where he'll be in a decade? Judging by what he's shown, he's one of those who, if they don't perish early on, will surely reach the Heroic Coil. So it's better to understand now if he harbors any anger or resentment towards our city." Of course, it could also be that all my thoughts were mere figments of imagination, and Mistress Tahayasi was talking to me out of sheer politeness. But I think that even walking beside me now, Oma Ai is simply doing her job well, never forgetting her duties.
The Tunnellers' Guild building in Tries was not only located on the city's central square, standing on par with the Senate, Municipality, Temple of All Gods, and Arena, but it also looked appropriately majestic, resembling an antique palace from a painting. A broad marble staircase led to its entrance, and carved stone columns adorned its facade.
It's officially believed that there are three Great Guilds or Guilds on Ain, and these three organizations truly stand out against the rest with their scale, power, order, and structure. But even against this "big three," the Tunnellers' Guild stands apart.
For instance, even though the Alchemists' Guild has several thousand members and has representations or trade posts almost all over Ain, this guild doesn't unite all the alchemists of the world. At best, it comprises a third of those who practice this profession. The majority of alchemists work for themselves or have organized into much smaller, usually geographically based, minor guilds. As for the Artifactors' Guild, it earned the title of the Great Guild mainly because of its splendid organization. Also, it was the only one across all of Ain that, long before the appearance of earthlings, developed and somehow maintained some standards. Yes, over a thousand masters were listed among their ranks, but against the backdrop of the whole world, this was essentially a drop in the ocean.
The situation with the Tunnellers' Guild is entirely different. This organization is truly massive. Even on Earth, it would be one of the largest. If in the Alchemists' Guild, only every third alchemist was a member, and in the Artifactors' Guild, perhaps every fifth master was, then in the Tunnellers' Guild, ninety-nine percent of those who chose this as their profession were members. By rough estimates, the Tunnellers' Guild had over seven million members across the entire continent. The Tunnellers' Guild also differed from other Great Guilds in that it virtually had no clear structure and unified leadership. It was more like a colossal trade union, which took care of protecting the interests of tunnellers all over the world. Also, this Guild made sure that the tunnellers themselves followed the accepted rules and agreements. It was something akin to a global network structure that fundamentally had a unified set of rules and regulations. Essentially, every branch of this Great Guild largely operated as an independent community. There were even times when two branches in neighboring cities or countries were at odds with each other. However, such situations were more of an exception than the general rule.
Every member of the Tunnellers' Guild received numerous benefits: reduced taxation, discounts, protection from authorities whenever possible, and much more. In return, all they had to do was abide by a set of rules and pay a small percentage of all their earnings to the Guild. And this percentage was significantly less than the tax discounts, so it was not burdensome at all. Also, in many cities, the Tunnellers' Guild acted as what we earthlings would call a "job board." Any resident could come to the Guild building and post their announcement on the Hiring Board. Due to the structure of the dungeons and their Reset, most tunnellers were often free from their primary work and gladly took on side jobs. These jobs could range from seasonal assistance to farmers in harvesting fruits to hunting for criminals or monsters. Of course, like any structure, even as amorphous and divided, this Great Guild strived for centralization, but so far, throughout the history of Ain, no one had ever succeeded. One could even say that no one was even close to such a union. Although there were many attempts, they mostly ended with nothing more than the merger of several neighboring branches under one management.
Stopping in front of the marble staircase, I turned to Oma Ai Tahayasi. Her demeanor indicated that she wouldn't ascend and would wait for me here. Dropping my bags onto the cobblestone, I left my belongings under the watchful eye of the Ninth Praetor and strode onto the steps. Aun clearly wanted to come with me, but he was caught by the steel-like fingers of Mistress Tahayasi and, wincing in pain, also stayed in place. I handed him my spear to make him feel useful and, turning around, began to ascend the staircase.
Unlike private and even state structures, branches of the Great Guilds operate around the clock. No matter when you enter, even in the dead of night, there's always at least one person on duty. Therefore, despite the early hours, the Tunnellers' Guild building was relatively crowded. The majority of the people there was a fairly noisy group comprised of a full dozen Bronze-rank tunnellers. From what I could gather from their loud conversations, they had spent the night at the inn near the branch and were now preparing to clear out a particularly challenging dungeon that was close to being Overflown and was located in the suburbs near Tries. Also, right at the entrance, two elderly tunnellers sat in comfortable soft chairs. They seemed to be just over fifty. It wasn't unusual; the Guild's branches mostly employed veteran tunnellers who had retired from active dungeon clearing. However, despite their age, these two sitting by the entrance could not only defend themselves but also put most troublemakers in their place since both were on the Steel step of the Great Spiral.
As soon as I crossed the threshold, these two grey-haired warriors turned to me but didn't even get up from their seats. They simply looked me up and down, clearly recognizing me as the winner of the Alchemists' Guild tournament, exchanged meaningful glances, and then said nothing more.
In contrast to the lavish facade, the interior was much more austere, even spartan. Directly from the entrance, a spacious open hall began. The area of this chamber was large enough to fit a full-sized basketball court easily. There was minimal furniture, and the only decorations were the "Tunnellers' Code" framed and stretched along all walls. The calligraphically written lines of the Guild's Charter, each page of which was displayed on the walls. The rules that had remained unchanged for hundreds of years - since the very Fall. Of course, each branch also had its own customs in addition to this "Code," but no one displayed them publicly on the walls. Three wide, tall doors led out from the central hall. One likely guided to the general storage, the second to the inn, and the third to the utility rooms. The overall internal architectural design of the tunnellers' branches was kept rather uniform everywhere. Of course, this wasn't always achieved, but it was the goal. Moreover, such uniformity wasn't mentioned in the "Code," but it was something like an established general tradition.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
At the opposite end of the entrance was a massive counter that even the biggest bars would envy. There were no pages of the "Tunnellers' Code" on the wall closest to the counter; instead, job offers were posted there. Any local resident could pay a small fee and post their request, outlining the nature of the job being offered. However, before the notice is placed on the "Hiring Wall," it will be checked for compliance with the "Tunnellers' Code."
I had barely entered the hall and taken a few steps when a stunning young girl immediately approached me. She was dressed strictly and formally yet still managed to look a tad provocative, much like a schoolgirl who had hiked up her skirt slightly to reveal her thighs. I couldn't help but smile as this girl's appearance triggered a sharp "memory of the future."
There were two types of people working at the branches of the Tunnellers' Guild. The first type was retired veterans who had stepped away from clearing dungeons; they handled the main work. The second type was exactly like these lovely young girls, who served as the "face of the branch" and assisted visitors. They weren't even members of the Guild itself and weren't listed in the Book. The fact that the helpers had to be young and beautiful wasn't stipulated in any "Code." However, no matter which branch you visited, anywhere in Ain, it would always be like this. The reason for this detail is simple. Many families, not being particularly wealthy and wanting to marry off their daughters advantageously, sent them to work at the guild's branches. Single and promising tunnellers often visited such places, and these girls would try to charm them. And there was no debauchery or prostitution – everything was strict; they aimed for marriage and nothing less. As a result, the turnover of such assistants in each branch was vast, but there were even more who wanted to take their place. This arrangement was beneficial for both the families sending their daughters and the Guild itself, which got almost free labor. All the girls worked diligently and eagerly since they understood that no decent man would marry a lazy woman who idles about. This was the reason for the peculiarity of the clothing. The standard design for the assistants' attire is quite strict, but each girl tries to stand out and adds her touch. Most branches turn a blind eye to such liberties taken by the staff; hence, the girl who greeted me flaunts a deep skirt slit - up to her mid-thigh. She had obviously been working here for more than a week: she quickly scanned my clothes, noted the absence of a Guild sign, and the presence of a squire brooch. However, she apparently wasn't into fights and never went to the Arena since she didn't recognize me personally by face.
"May I assist the esteemed Master?" The young woman greeted me formally and curtsied as customary when meeting someone of noble status.
In less than six months, such assistant girls will wear badges with their names, an innovation brought by earthlings, which the locals will gladly adopt.
"Guide me to the reception desk." Saying this, I gestured for the girl to lead the way.
"With great pleasure, Master." Flashing a sincere smile, she turned and, waving for me to follow, walked ahead.
Of course, I didn't need assistance for such a trivial matter. But the sight of the girl walking in front of me, with her deeply cut dress and excellent figure, was a treat to the eyes. I couldn't resist the fleeting temptation to watch her as she moved. I think she clearly understood why she was asked for such accompaniment. She swayed her hips so conspicuously during her walk that it couldn't be mistaken for her regular gait.
"Good morning." Approaching the counter, I greeted a tall, middle-aged woman.
Unlike the assistant girls, this lady was dressed simply but tidily. She also wore a combat belt, albeit with empty sheaths. Around her neck, on a wootz-looking ribbon, hung a Sign of the Guild. This woman was evidently the primary receptionist for the day. Assisting her was a mage seated on a stool, around the same age as the ones at the entrance. Naturally, this pair noticed me as soon as I entered the hall but pretended to acknowledge me only when I greeted them. The mage coldly nodded to my greeting without standing up, but the woman behind the counter smiled warmly and invitingly. In appearance, she somewhat resembled Oma Ai, just younger and evidently more affable.
"Good morning, Om Raven," she responded to my greeting with a warm and open smile. "How may I assist the champion of the Alchemists' Guild tournament?"
The same group of Bronze-ranked tunnellers that I noticed upon entry also recognized me. Their conversations momentarily ceased as they curiously observed me.
"I would gladly accept your assistance in joining the Great Tunnellers' Guild," I stated directly, without beating around the bush.
As I spoke without lowering my voice, everyone in the hall heard my words, and with a considerable degree of surprise, they began to examine me even more closely. Even the Opal mage, who had been sitting on a stool, rose to his feet with a slight creak and, peering into my face, spoke:
"Join us? Really? Why not to the Alchemists?"
"Because where I choose to join is my personal matter," I replied sharply but calmly, enduring the mage's heavy gaze.
"It's your right." Ending the stare-off, the mage was the first to avert his eyes. Shrugging, he performed a magical gesture over the counter.
As soon as the subtle, barely noticeable magical wave - which I wouldn't have discerned if not for the orcish belt I wore - swept over the counter, the tabletop parted, revealing the Tunnellers' Guild Book. Or just the Book. If someone somewhere mentions "the book" without specifying further, they're referring to this one.
An artifact, according to legend, created even before the Fall - by Ishid himself, the deity of ritual magic, planning, and wisdom. This book is always singular yet exists in many places simultaneously. Every branch of the Tunnellers' Guild possesses this Book or, rather, one of its Manifestations. In the Last Cycle, Morpheus suggested that the Tunnellers' Book is a single multi-dimensional artifact, and we merely observe its manifestations in our physical three-dimensional world. And there can be as many of these manifestations as desired, even though the Book itself is genuinely singular. Everything recorded in any of them is instantly reflected in all other instances. This Book contains data about all the tunnellers who have registered in the Guild. Not only about those currently in it but also about those who have ever been recorded in the Guild. Even if this record was made hundreds of years ago, it remains. If this Book were a typical paper volume, its size would be hard to imagine, and finding something specific in it would be impossible. On the outside, the Book looked like a substantial, weighty folio a meter long, seventy centimeters wide, and twenty centimeters thick. Its cover seemed to be cast from a flexible sheet of silver, and its pages were as white as if made from the purest snow collected from the highest mountains. And every tunneller of the Guild has their personal Page in this book.
Actually, working with this artifact was not difficult. After going through a specific attunement, any earthling could easily use this Book. For us, accustomed to tablets, virtual assistants, and other similar technologies, it was much easier than for the locals, many of whom couldn't master the Book's workings.
Running his hand over the closed tome, the duty mage said:
"Open a new Page."
The folio obediently opened, its pages rustling in the air, flipping as if in a wildly spinning kaleidoscope. But within a few seconds, the pages stopped moving, and the Book, seemingly, opened right in the middle, on a pristine page untouched by any notes.
"Introduce yourself." Raising his gaze to me, the mage uttered. He knew my name, but such was the requirement of protocol.
"Raven from Seattle."
The mage did not reach for a brush or pencil; his palm hovered over the Page. He whispered something, and the first entry appeared on the snow-white artifact paper.
"Place your palm on your Page."
I had to take a step before I touched the Book. The sensation of this touch was as if you were reaching out to an electricity-charged surface; even the hairs on my hand stood on end.
"Rank - Steel." The mage noted.
Yes, the Book can accurately determine the rank of the person touching their personal page. Moreover, unlike other artifacts, it cannot be deceived or misled in any way. As soon as my rank was spoken aloud, the woman behind the counter opened a drawer and began rummaging through it.
"Do you wish to add the names of your teachers to your Page?" The mage formally inquired. "A maximum of two names."
"I do," I confirmed. "Two names. First. Ender from Logarad."
"Noted."
"The second." I hesitated for a long time, but, coming here this morning, I decided. Skipping this name in the Record would be deeply wrong, so I said, "Ronin from Cern."
"Noted," confirmed the mage. "Two names out of two. Column filled." The duty tunneller looked up again. "Are you familiar with the Guild's rules?"
"Yes."
In some branches, they test novices on the knowledge of the Code; in others, they turn a blind eye. However, on ranks from Steel and above, this question is always formal. Because the locals rightfully believe that if a person has climbed so high on the Spiral, they definitely know the lines of the Tunnellers' Guild Code.
"Om Raven," the female official caught my attention.
"No need for "Om," when I reach the Precious Coil, then..." I shrug.
"I understand, but it's a formality." With a sweet smile, the woman handed me a band and the Sign of the Guild.
Tilting my head, I allowed her to place the ribbon with the Steel strip and the sign of the Tunnellers' Guild around my neck. As our faces came close, the lady whispered:
"You shouldn't mind Master Nguyen," her intonation and head tilt made it clear she was referring to her colleague behind the counter. "He bet against you in the grand finale and lost quite a sum." Pulling back, she laughed softly, covering her mouth with her hand. After laughing, she once again took on a formal tone, "What form of payment would suit you, Master Raven? A share or a monthly fee? Most tunnellers choose a share, and only those planning to clear particularly dangerous dungeons with rare resources opt for the latter."
"Fee," I replied without hesitation.
"For the Steel rank, it's twenty-five silver coins a month."
A coin flashed in my hand and landed on the counter.
"I'm paying for two months in advance," I clarified.
The woman in combat attire simply nodded in understanding and, with a graceful motion, swept the gold into a drawer. Turning to her colleague, she said:
"Note in the Book that the fee for two months has been paid in advance."
"Done," the mage grumbled, clearly displeased. He then turned to me and said demandingly, "Place your hand on your Page, and with that, your registration as a new member of the Tunnellers' Guild will be complete."
"You've forgotten something," I said, barely suppressing a smirk.
"I forgot?" The mage's eyes sparkled with barely concealed anger.
"Yes, you did," I held my ground.
The woman standing between us nipped the brewing conflict in the bud. She gently laid her hand on her colleague's shoulder and quietly said:
"Master Nguyen, Master Raven is right. Even though Master Raven is not yet on the Precious Stone Coil of the Great Spiral of Elevation like you, as the victor of a tournament hosted by one of the Three Guilds, he has the right to a personal motto and the corresponding entry of that motto on his Page."
"Hmm..." Realizing his mistake, the mage pretended he wasn't angered and, raising his hand over the Book, said, "I'm listening."
I had long pondered the motto I would choose. Ultimately, I decided to align with the general theme of the "future known to me." In the Past Cycle, despite the fact that Dice was the first earthling to reach the Precious Coil, it was Nate who officially received the first motto. The future God of War picked a phrase quite popular on Earth. It was his favorite, just like the Earth history figure who uttered it, whom Nate greatly revered. By choosing this phrase as my motto, I'd not only pay homage to the Past Cycle but also irritate Nate, who'd now have to choose something else. And since getting on the nerves of the future Warrior was on my to-do list under point seven, I decided to kill two birds with one motto.
"I am Raven from Seattle, victor of the Tries Tournament of the Great Alchemists' Guild in the year two thousand and three since the Fall, and I take the following words as my motto." Ensuring I had their full attention, I continued, "Came, saw, conquered."