“I can’t believe this is working.” Syl’s antennae twitched with worry as she looked at Aimon cackling to himself.
“Why wouldn’t it?” It was Mery who responded. “If He’s people, then we’re people, and he our Bond is True as his Achievement says then the connection ought to work both ways.”
Syl grumbled. “You’ve gotten a lot better at speaking.”
Mery smiled, her sharp fangs shone in the golden light. “I decided to observe for a while, and these are the results.”
“Quiet down, all of you, especially you Myron. I can’t focus.” Dakini’s voice boomed down from above, the soul they were in pulsing. Myron coughed into his fist and apologized.
Dakini harrumphed and ignored them. Instead she slowed down her pace and walked casually through the streets of Great Oak, alone, with her very own Trainer within her soul as if he was on the other end of the tether. Choro would have never been capable of such thoughts, and she had lost all hope just a week ago. Here she was, living the life.
She headed to the Guild, Morphed into a nondescript woman. She had changed as little as she could, so as to keep the cost of the Ability small but she was already eating up her Aether reserves fast. If only Choro had not wasted all those levels raising her shield by letting her tank damage in training for no reason.
“It’s fine, Dakini. We have no Shortage of Aether. Keep going as you are. Have your fun.” Myron reassured her from within her Soul, their Bond the closest it had ever been and she rejoiced.
The homes in this side of the city where bunched up close to one another with rooftops leading into doorways and outhouses standing behind the storehouses of others that stood at the roofs of five story apartments. She meandered on the ashen wood paved roads, going up and up. Until she walked through an arch with a name on it. She couldn’t read and neither could Myron so Syl translated. “Welcome to the Stump.” She read and shrugged. “You’ll see.”
The area past the sign was made of large flat structures, maybe Two stories tall at most, expansive and big with less buildings and bigger blocks. Here, it was much more common to see Aimon out and about with their Trainers. Some where on leashes which made it even harder to swallow than the non-existence of Aimon presence on the streets but they moved on anyway. Dakini could ignore it. She’d been through it and new that it was better to be out and on a chain than locked up inside the cage.
Dakini, now in the single digits of Aether picked up the pace a bit. In the distance she could see the tallest building of the bunch, and as she headed towards it the meaning of ‘The Stump’ became rather clear.
They stood on sideways growth of the trunk of the Great Oak, perpendicular to its vertical growth. They crossed a bridge where below the trunk was opened up and the tree’s white flesh appeared, growing still, growing and being trimmed by workers that had rappelled down from the bridge and other platform all throughout the open wound.
The Building for the Guild’s Headquarters was strong and stout. Taller than its neighbors but not all that. Of dark wood and red varnish, of glass windows, and marble steps that lead up and to the opened double doors.
Dakini stepped in and was blown back by the noise, a scene of organized chaos, where people kept to themselves and the tens of receptionists stood in their own little booths on the far end of the massive hall. Yet off to the side, through a doorway that had no door, a bar was situated, and from there the noise of the few disturbed the many, those standing in line waiting to do business in the Main Hall. Though Myron guessed that those now in line would be roughhousing not much later, judging by the leather bags of clinging crystals they received as they left.
The Duke’s banners hung from the ceiling and in between them, the aforementioned windows let natural light in, washing the hall with a friendly atmosphere yet one that requested poise. Said Banners where deep blue in the background, A tall Oak with black bark and deep green leaves stood proud in the sky, and through which a golden sword Pierced.
Dakini stepped into the one receptionist’s booth that had no takers, for some weird reason. The Receptionist dropped her book and smiled at them. Two rabbit ears unfolded form her head and her piercing yellow eyes stared at Dakini.
“Hello, I am Marissa, How may I help you today?” The Lapure asked with a dashing smile. Dakini remained locked in place. Mery chuckled within her soul and that reverberated through out her body.
“Well. I’d like to register as a Trainer.” She managed to eke out.
“You’ve come to the Right place! Follow me.” She pushed the whole booth open and stepped to the back, Myron followed her and a co-worker of hers moved to close the booth.
They walked through the back of the Guild, halls that all Trainer’s saw at least once, until they entered a room with a couch at the back, two stands for books on either side of the couch, a small cactus plant near the door, a large oak desk stacked with papers and a big chair-throne behind it.
Marissa brought out a little stool for Dakini to sit down. Marissa herself crossed one leg over the other and gazed at Dakini royally, her head rested on the back of her throne-chair.
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“What is your name?”
“Daquiri.” Dakini responded and Myron chuckled, glad that she had decided to go along with the name they’d agreed upon despite the unforeseen circumstances.
“Right. Daquiri, Nice to meet you. I am Marissa, though you already seem to know me. Now, would you kindly tell me why you’re going around masquerading as a Woman and asking to join the Trainer’s guild instead of… Running away? What’s the point of the disguise.”
Myron’s head peeked out of her chest. “Sorry Daquiri.”He chuckled as he pushed his arms out and then the rest of the way. He rolled as he fell down and smacked his head as he came up on the desk. He released Syl and Mery from his Soul as he rubbed his nose and upper lip. “But I think we need to be honest here.”
“Didn’t expect this at all.” Marissa stood up, her eyes darting between Dakini and Myron. “How did you do that? You are human, right?”
“That I am. The New Trainer of these three wonderful women.”
“But how did you do that?”
“Trade secret?” Myron winked.
Marissa dropped it, and plopped her butt back down on the cushions of her throne-chair. “So what is a Wanted criminal doing in the Guild asking for a License?”
“Did the paintings capture my dashing good looks?” Myron asked as he took a seat at his stool. Clearly, Marissa didn’t buy that baloney, and if she did, she was too interested to act upon it right now. She chuckled at his joke but didn’t otherwise comment.
“I believe they did Myron.” Mery was the one to answer, seriously, and Myron was grateful for her.
“Miss Marissa the White, the Healer, I am truly here to Register and get my License as a Trainer. I don’t want my Bonds to seem illegal or ill-gotten, and I need some form of Identity in this world. Otherwise I won’t exist in any records and I can’t make a life out of that.”
“Oh! You’re a Disruptor, aren’t you?” Marissa smiled, and out of any Aimon so far it was the weirdest seeing fangs and sharp teeth on a white rabbit with the word Pure in the name of its species.
“I wouldn’t call myself that. I am merely a former Citizen of Earth.”
“So how did you get involved with the Princess? This is the second Kidnapping attempt that has happened in the past week.”
“Why would someone try to Kidnap a Princess?” Myron asked, taken aback.
“You tell me… who am I to ask?” Marissa looked behind her and found a large velvet cushion. She chuckled and responded. “The attempt happened in the Grand Ducal Palace at the same time that both Syvan and her betrothed, Tomin where away battling in the Northern Border - I see you know those names.” She frowned.
“I fought there. We fought there, by the Side of Tomin, his Soldiers, and all those Guilders who had taken up the Mission. The Gate brought me very close to the Region that has by now Burned down.” Myron provided.
“In the attack on the Estate many guards where killed, gardens where torched and she was saved solely because of the way her Aimon, a Kentauros fought for her. When I got to him he was almost dead. I healed him as much as his body would take, but I don’t think he was close to fully recovered. Despite that. He’s just a step from Tier 3, I don’t see how you could have overpowered him and escaped.”
“We didn’t kidnap the princess that is why. They saw us, attacked us and let us go. Actually, the princess asked us to remain hidden, which is why we knew that we had become wanted, and why all this trickery with Dakini and [Body Morph]” Half lies and Half truths where always the way to go when dealing with someone potentially hostile.
“Why should I believe any of this? How did you bond three Aimon? How are you doing what you just did without a Tether? How did you manage to fight in that Brutal battle and remain well? Why did you meet the princess? You’re telling me she was trying to run away?”
“I am telling you exactly that. She was escaping, being chased by the Guards. She found us and used us. I am new to this world… Would you believe me if I show you documentation from my World in a Language you can’t read and made with materials you can’t produce here?”
Myron dug into his pocket at her nod and brought out his ID, he always carried it around. “There is no need for that.” Syl interjected and stood.
“I hear you are a Priestess of Ilana.” Marissa stood, lightning crackled at her paw-tips, hair long ears stood on end like spear tips.
“Where did you learn that tidbit? What does it mater to you?”
“I learned it from Sunika. She guided me to you, for I am also a believer. I believe in Loyalty above all else. I believe in Ilana, the True Goddess. I know some of the Old Rights, and I know of the Shattering of the Pantheon, the Division of Gods, the Fall of Others.” Syl let it all out, more than they had planned, but even then. It worked.
Marissa was cowed. She hopped over the desk and took Syl’s hands into her own. “Calm Child. I hear you. I believe you.” She took Syl into a hug, and a warm smile bloomed on her beautiful, round little face. “I’m sorry then, for the cold welcome. I hope you understand.” She said to Myron and he waved it off, standing and bowing.
“I should thank you, for doing your job as you should. And I should thank you again, for accepting us so quickly.”
“The Children of Ilana are my Children. That is why I became her Priestess. That is why I still live. How could I not notice the sincerity immediately?”
Syl and Marissa separated. “Are you truly here to gain your Trainer License?” She asked looking at Syl, not Myron.
“Yes. Myron needs it. He can’t operate without it legally as a Trainer, and we are not breaking our bonds.”
“A little late for legal operations seeing as how I am wanted.” Myron chuckled grimly. As he had mentioned already, he hated having his actions controlled and dictated by the whims of others. If he ever got his hands on that Princess he would have Mery smack her in the head.
“Not too late at all. Firstly, the Guild does not concern itself with Politics, so what the Ducal Household claims is true, doesn’t matter much here. If they don’t bring irrefutable evidence that she was indeed taken from her chambers and that she escaped where you met her, instead of what actually happened, then they won’t have you. Not to mention that this may be temporary. Since the Princess tried to escape, and the Guards know it, they aren’t fools, they would have seen signs of struggle, they’ll have to drop the matter when the Drama keeps increasing. The one who failed the first time has no reason to try again, now that someone else is supposedly trying to get in on the action.”
“Ah, I get it. So you’re expecting this to blow over and for the Guards to stop putting any import to it after a while.”
“Yes, though until then you should remain low. It would be for the best if you left the Oakenshield Duchy.”
“Right after I get this damned license I’ll live. Great Oak city is pretty and all, but the Duchy hasn’t been all too kind with me. I’ll try other pastures.” Myron agreed.
“If that is the case. How about we begin the Test? I’ll take it easy on you with the Theoretical questions, but I hope you’ve prepared yourself?”
Myron smiled. 24 years of test taking experience to back him up. Give him a subject, and some pen and paper, and he along with all his peers could bullshit so hard that even a thief and a politician would believe it.