Around five-ish in the afternoon, the three of us- in Jacq’s carriage- arrive at the block-shaped guild hall. Simply with the job of declaring our job done.

Being late enough to not be around noon, but also not late enough for people to have finished travelling from their afternoon jobs, there are only around twenty people on the first floor, with five of them being guild employees. Due to this, we arrived at the counter after we started queuing without a noticeable wait.

The employee behind the counter we go to was an elf; to state his pale complection, thin but muscular build and pointed ears was just redundant. The only remotely interesting part of his visual description, aside from both them being here and working for the guild, was purple eyes- which although he tried to hide with some kind of magic to blue, showed themselves in flickers which I could easily see.

“Good afternoon lady, sir and skeleton, how may I serve you?” To his question, I handed the certificate we were handed upon doing our job. He became silent as he read over the details.

After a minute of skeptically reading, he faced back at us with a sigh and handed back the paper. “I see, well then. I can confirm this quest complete.” He leaves for another minute, before returning. “Please enter room two-nineteen, second floor, on the left from where you enter. We will prepare your reward there. By the way, we have to ask you to remove your summon Miss… Jacqueline was it?”

“She isn’t one, this lady here is just a free, sentient skeleton who joined our guild,” Jacq explained. With S waving on her own accord to the hapless clerk.

“Oh, I do apologize for my assumption then… Well then, please feel free to all go to the room,” he beckoned us to the stairs, and welcomed the next person as we left.

We headed up the stairs without issue, with literally no one in sight for the entire process we reached the room without serious delay. There, S knocked before hearing a voice to come in, which we obliged.

Inside, another employee, this time a human female, gestured towards a heavily cushioned, wide chair which could seat at least five people at once which I had never seen before.

Once confirming us seated, she asked, “Can you present the certificate and your guild cards please?”

When we immediately handed over, she scowled them for a few seconds with glowing eyes, looking back at us with a nod after it had been done.

“I can confirm these aren’t forgeries. Now then, onto the reward… The total award given by the town of Lacria was fifty gold, and this city of Prestoria awarding another one-hundred to total one-hundred-and-fifty gold. With six parties fulfilling the request, as the certificate says, we have split the reward so that your guild gets twenty of this gold. This being due to your lack of numbers both working and at the risk of dying. Although we do acknowledge with your successes on your side; such as saving the majority of people and slaying your fair share of orcs and ogres. Hence, although it may seem small when compared to how much the other guilds will receive, we believe this to be a fair amount and you have heard our reasoning behind this. Do you have any problems with the reward amount based on our explanation?”

We unanimously shook our heads, so she continued, “Well then, please wait for me to amass the reward.” After saying which, she headed through the backdoor, which locked both magically and physically as it closed behind her.

Sometime later, she returned with a small bag, handing it to Jacq. She, once counting it, threw it to me. Although it vanished into my storage midair. We then left the room and guildhall, returning to our carriage.

-

The sun fell by the time we returned to our base. Jacq clears away the carriage, as me and S head into our guild’s base. The clanking of metal from the workshop, and other grating noises in the background likely from sawing, are the only sounds present as we head to them. Scarce other sounds from the building can be heard.

As we have no real goods for Grey, and hearing him still busy, we only knock on Helen’s workshop. Which, although emanating noise, was silent in comparison to Grey’s next door.

The door opens, to reveal Serv as the one who opened it. I simply pass her the ogre and a few orcs that were in good enough condition for me to pick up. All having only a few massive cuts in them and no arbalest-sized holes in their bodies or chests. She ignored me and, after inspecting the corpses, took them inside. I then left with S to the main room.

We had the money in forms of twenty small gold coins, so we gave two to the designated area in the shrine Lethy made in the base, putting the rest of the money par mine, Jacq’s and S’s share and a note on the dining table. Then S and I split for the night. Either waiting for morning, or for the others to arrive.

Upon reaching my room, I lie floor with the usual blanket. Having only rested due to magic power fatigue and not on the carriage ride like normal, my body put up no resistance, falling asleep spontaneously.

Instead of blacking out, I end up in a familiar, near blinding white room. Two fidgeting figures on the other side.

“”We need to…”” the two said in sync, snapping to the other with expressions of confusion.

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One was a black-haired male, with a stout, muscular build and wore simple overalls with a blue apron on. The other, a platinum-blonde female with scales over some of her skin, intricate red marks on her face and spread down her neck to where it hid under her rather revealing clothing.

“Why are you here?! I on purposely seanced this boy! Get out now,” the male declared.

“How shallow, I seanced this child on my own accord. If anyone should leave, it should be you,” the female countered.

“You draconic gods are so full of yourself! My personal child is at risk of this traitor murdering him, and even though I went through all the right channels… How dare you feel entitled to eavesdrop!”

“You dwarven gods are so rash and hypocritical, my favourite daughter is at more risk! No dwarf are even is this traitor’s party, so how is your child at risk?”

“I can say the same for bloody dragons Missy. Also, I reign over all smiths. You have no excuse miss Andricine, goddess of white dragons. Oh, you didn’t know? Us dwarfs actually bother to learn the names and domains of other gods and goddesses in our plane, as we’re not egoists, unlike your own! My name is Logan Ironforge, god of Mister Jacob Silverfang, who under me made a legendary weapon is in his party. And, so, very much is at risk of him.” Resting his case, he simply asked, “Well Missy, anything to say in defence or will you kindly leave?”

“Fair point, I must acknowledge I am indeed shocked that you know who I am… However, you are critically wrong. There is indeed a dragon in the same clan, who, unlike your claimed son who I’ve already seen murder people, my daughter is a pacifist through and through. If anyone is at risk from the boy who killed a dragon with a single arrow, she is. And I very much refuse to let this happen, thank you very much.”

Easily figuring out who each of them are talking about, I soon cough to bring the attention back to me. “Did you two hear the story I just told, or do I have to repeat myself? This is getting annoying if I do say so myself. If you are to say no, I’d suggest using judgement on what I’m about to tell you. I can guarantee you will not believe me.”

Both turn to me, with gaping expressions apparently appalled by my lack of emotions. Andricine stated the obvious, “We are gods. You are a mortal. Do you not fear us just killing you here and now for insulting us?”

“You are the idiots who would have to explain your reason for killing me to Klast and the council. Knowing him, he’d very much ruin your day for your problems. So, miss Andricine... Go on, I dare you.”

Both immediately cringe, then Logan, who had been being quiet while fuming expressionally with rage, answered my previous question, “At least I have not heard your story. I have no time to spend stalking the mortal realm, especially for those who aren’t my disciples.” Andricine nods to his sentiments.

“Alright, let me make this quick. Remember a specific high court case… from about five years ago? If you remember any case from that time, you will likely know the one I am talking about.”

Thinking hard, Logan swiftly clicks his fingers whereas Andricine doesn’t, brooding for over a minute more before shrugging in defeat…

“W-wait… You can’t be, right? I didn’t get the deal back then, but if you’re this young, I can see why that drama happened.”

“Huh… Oh, are you talking about that slave-master killing ca… Judgement: are you perhaps saying you were the defendant in that case? That’s awfully coincidental if so.”

“Yes, yes I am. You now know why I became a traitor. Well? Did I die ,or can you understand the non-issue and let me go yet? If you want more details, you will have to ask Klast however… I am honestly shocked he even allowed me to say that much knowing how much of a black scar it is for him.”

Both are too shocked to reply, each unblinkingly staring into one another’s eyes in astonishment.

Eventually, they snap out of it. With Andricine asking me one more question, “Judgement. I said too much, so I know you now know who my daughter in your group is. Therefore, answer me this: Will you show her, or his- as obvious to you now as my daughter- son, direct danger?”

“No. Why would I bother doing that? The only reason I have not explained my title and past is that, unless it was directly needed or I was in a position where it would leak out immediately, Klast banned me from mentioning that role. In the case it did leak, he allowed me to explain it to anyone. Also, I know no one without Judgement will believe me anyway, so what would be the point?”

“Meeting Adjourned. Now that I know the circumstances for myself, allow me to express apologies to the dim attitude and blatant anger I showed you here. My precious daughter is that important to me… Hopefully the next time we meet, the tone is more relaxed.” Andricine explained, curtseying.

“I’m sorry too… Sam was it? I was too brash as well. Now you know who my son is, you can likely guess how many people have harboured ill-mannered plans for him in the past,” Logan followed, bowing.

At that point, the seance ended and the sound of S’s… voice, woke me.

‘Hey, Sam… Are you asleep?’, she asked. Through the doorway I could hear her starting to walk away.

Without speaking, I put on some clothes in a rush and ran after her. Lightly panting, I returned a question, “S-sorry miss S… What is it?”

‘The others came back a while ago, and asked me to hand you your share. I… Sam, do you hate people knowing that story?’

“You got Jacqueline to tell them, didn’t you?”

She faced her skull to the side, forcing an answer, ‘n-n… Kinda?’

“Miss S, I did not keep it a secret because I wanted to. Firstly, something out of my control was indeed stopping me, and secondly, not everyone is as.... Trusting as you Miss S. I did not even think Jacqueline would buy it, let alone the people who openly showed me contempt. Now, I did tell you the truth, I am also used to no one believing it. So please don’t feel bad about it.”

‘I… I didn’t want to tell them. Jacq wasn’t even there, so I just rebutted. I didn’t know Serv could understand me, so she started telling the others the story with skepticism. I did my best to make sure they believed you, but even Jessica voiced some doubt about it.’

“To be expected, even if it is true, it sure must seem like a crazy story. But, thank you for at least believing me when the others clearly do not. Goodnight Miss S.”

Saying that, I wait for the money to be given, then left for my room to sleep once more.