The next few days passed incredibly quickly. Alden filled his time with doing research about the city, working on his physical ability, and spending time with Bob. Over the last couple day Bob had significantly warmed up to him, to the point that Alden was finally able to affect him with a few of his spells. Nothing much of course, but Alden had already started what he liked to call ‘the body cleansing stage’. It was a bit of a nerdy name-sourced from a few books he had read as a child- but it accurately summarized his plan quite well. Put simply he was slowly going to be tailoring Bob’s diet, exercise, and puzzles to his current abilities. As a Chicken Mage Alden had the ability to affect his animal type to an incredible degree. However, the animal had to first trust him. Alden was hoping that through the use of spells and good old fashioned hard work, they would be able to improve it to tip-top physical and mental shape. Hopefully at that point Bob would trust him enough so they could move on to the more… ambitious of Alden’s plans. Nonetheless, Bob was not sporting the most luxurious and well cared feathers a bird could ask for as he trundled alongside Alden. Alden grinned as he dexterously imposed himself between oncoming traffic and Bob. Well, he thought he was quite dexterous. The look Bob was giving him gave him quite the opposite impression. Regardless, they still made it to Lannons’ well before the eighth bell. He hopped up onto the porch, hitting the wood hard enough that it left small bruises on his fists. He was in too much of a good mood to care much, however. Lannon opened it up, the man still his portly, gruff self. “I’ll never understand what witchery makes you so energetic this early in the morning. Hold on one minute, I’ll take you down to your new work.” Without waiting for a response, he slammed the door close, the sound of muffled rustling and banging sounding out. A cluck sounded out from behind him, and Alden nodded his head in agreement. “You’re right he is like a hen. Doesn’t like to get up in the morning, never appreciates those who are eager to greet the dawn. We’re a rare breed us.” An agreeing squawk sounded out from behind him. With a creek the door opened up and Lannon stepped out, dressed in leather clothing with a few furs draped off him. He set off, grumbling “Of course you’re an early bird. Just like your mother, that.” For a brief second Alden’s smile wavered before he plastered it back on, this time a little more forced. Lannon continued on, giving no indication that he saw Alden’s response. They traveled through the winding streets, Lannon guiding him with a deceptive ease. Hillak was easily one of the largest cities on the continent with around a quarter of a million souls. Such numbers placed an immense burden on the city’s logistical efforts. When Alden had first considered the different jobs available to him, many had come to mind. Alas, however much monster hunting or delving was more well known, it was the supply and logistics division that was the lifeblood of any well known city. His natural interest in the subject combined with his above average intelligence had made him highly inclined to ply his services. They crossed from street to street, dodging the huge crowds, wagons, and occasional beast of burden until they came towards the Central district. Said district housed most of the governmental buildings, or so he had been told. There destination was a rather stout and unassuming building, located off to the right side of the large block. Lannon moved with a deceptive swiftness, not even giving a glance toward the much more impressive palace at the center. Alden, however, couldn’t help but stare in awe, slack jawed, at the massive fortress that was called a palace. It was incredible, made of an elaborate marble with delicate engravings of silver and gold adorning it, and stained-glass windows depicting images of the history of Hillak. Lannon didn’t pause in the slightest, forcing Alden to hurry up to catch back up to him. Without breaking stride he began speaking saying, “You’ll most likely be a minor supply clerk. As such the most you’ll be doing is inventorying the less important items and issuing said items. They’ll also have you doing a lot of the paperwork I’m afraid- par and parcel for this kind of business.” Alden nodded. As the new guy he would be expected to do all the boring and tedious tasks. They arrived in front of the building as Lannon finished talking, a large pine door rested heavily on its hinges. Lannon strode up confidently before banging on it, sound reverberating like a gong from it. A small window at eye height opened, revealing murky brown eyes. “Lannon? Didn’t expect you of all people to be early. Come in, come in, the quartermasters in the back.” With a quick gesture the slit closed, and the sound of multiple locks coming undone sounded out before the door swung open, creaking even more than Lannon’s door. Lannon just grunted at the man before striding in, Alden quickly following suit. Inside the room was laid out in an incredibly utilitarian manner, with little other than a stone chair and a back desk that stretched completely across the back wall. The man who let them in turned out to be slim, and brown haired. He had an almost mousy expression, eyes constantly darting this way and that. He gestured for them to wait in the front room as he opened a small gate in the table and followed a hallway into the back. He and Lannon just stood still for a moment, waiting for the man to come back. Eventually the door-greeter came back with a woman in tow. She was a tall, robust woman, with long luscious golden hair. She was dressed officiously in perhaps some of the most unappealing robes there were, but Alden couldn’t help but notice the… curvature of her voluminous apparel. She looked him dead in the eyes, staring into them as if she could see into their souls. “I am quartermaster Laina. Harold here tells me that you’ve come to apply for the supply clerk job. You have a minute to convince me you deserve it. Go.” Alden always favored the motto of being prepared not dead, but he had never expected it to apply to everyday life. He answered however just as quickly. “I’m good with numbers, I’m naturally organized, I can talk to customers. I’m willing to listen to constructive criticism, I know when to be serious and when not to be. I don’t have any pressing needs that would compromise my ability to work here, and I’ve just recently arrived giving me almost no history with the city. I’m good with managing people and things and am always willing to try to improve and make better a system if I can.” His barrage of words seemed to take the women by surprise, as if she didn’t expect such a deluge for a response. For the first time since meeting her a little smile broke her harsh features. “Well, that was certainly the most coherent response I’ve heard in a while. You can start work tomorrow after you finish filling out some paperwork with Harold here. We start at the sixth bell, no later. We’ll issue your robes today as part of your welcome package, I expect you to show up with them every day. No stains, no grease on them, treat it with respect. That will be all.” With that she spun on her heel and left, pulling out a notepad and marking something off with it. Alden just exhaled quietly, happy that his response hadn’t been dissected and picked apart. That was most certainly NOT how he expected things to go to be honest. Harold just seemed to smirk at Alden’s confusion before gesturing at him. “Come along now, it’s time to finish up your paperwork.” Alden just nodded before following behind, Bob following him. Harold glanced back and saw it, his eyes widening slightly. “That your Companion?” Alden nodded in confirmation. “Well keep him close, make sure he doesn’t get underfoot. That would cause paperwork, and I hate to do easily avoided paperwork.” Alden just nodded again, glancing back slightly at Bob to see him watching Harold wit inscrutable eyes. Alden would ask him what he thought a little bit later.

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After the interview and paperwork had been finished, he and Lannon once again left looking for something to do. “I think I’m going to take Bob out of the city, maybe get him used to the wild gradually.” Lannon just nodded at him saying, “All right. You know the paths well enough by now. Just be careful kid, the guard keeps pretty good watch and patrol but there’s always slip ups.” Alden just grinned at him. “Don’t worry about a thing, I’ve got my fierce protector Bob with me,” he said gesturing excitedly at the sedately moving chicken. Lannon just shook his head before walking off, muttering something about ridiculous man-children.

As Alden and Bob passed through the gate, Alden looked around before quickly spotting an area for him and Bob to begin working. He pivoted on his heel, changing direction with an almost uncanny ease. Bob scrambled to follow behind him. He passed through the many crowds that surrounded the city, like thick rivers that flowed into the sea that was Hillak. He only stopped when they were about equidistant between the North and East gates, far enough way that people would mistake them for trees or something. He sat cross legged on the ground, Bob just watching curiously. “Alright Bob. I’m gonna talk about some options we’ve got for how to turn you into the best Chicken you can be. Basically, every enhancement is going to be easier if we make you larger. I could probably work something out while you’re this small, but anything I do is going to have to be much more cautious while I’m working on such a small scale.” He eyed Bob to make sure he was following along, the rustling and head movement that he responded with all the answer he needed. He continued, staring straight into Bob’s eyes as he talked. “Now no matter what there’s probably the standard package I’ll want to run through. We’ll start by continuing the cleansing package, making sure you’re the strongest, healthiest rooster you can be. Once we start plateauing there though, I’ll start on your bones first. It’s pretty complicated stuff, but basically if we want to make lasting changes, we have to make your body and spirit recognize it as a part of you. The spirit stuff comes through repeated spell use, but the body stuff is a bit more complicated and in depth. The short of it is that I’ll start by reinforcing your bones with various metals and structures. Then I’ll slowly extend it outward, reinforcing and strengthening your musculature and organs. This will be the hardest part ‘cause I don’t want to make it to where your heart tears through your chest, so we’ll take it slow and steady. After that we’ll make your skin tougher, your feathers more resistant and flexible, and we’ll reinforce those even more impressive talons. He eyed him. After that, things get a bit more… arcane. We’ll leave that for later. So, what do you think?” Bob eyed him for a minute before launching into a complex sequence of squawks and clucks, Alden nodding all along. For the first time in a long, long time, Bob seemed to smirk in that way unique to chickens.