The team were exhausted, the fight had gone on for hours, into the night. Even though it wasn’t their true bodies that they were fighting with in the mirage chamber the mental exhaustion was real. They were surprised to see all the other guests in the suite. Mr Randulph had quickly taken them aside and explained.

“I apologise for the intrusion into what you thought was a private fight but I felt it would be of benefit of you to get Mr Roberts involved. He runs the development program for the arena. He’s an ex adventurer who now spends every waking moment looking for adventurers that are worth training. He’d like a word if you’re amenable?”

The four new adventurers felt slightly taken aback they were having this much interest, especially as at the start of the day they were just at the arena for some entertainment. They acquiesced and the elf went to collect the Leonid.

[Looks like no sleep for us tonight then] James said on the interface. Even whispering the silvers and gold rank people in the suite would be able to hear, their shared interface as far as they were aware was un-hackable.

[Has anyone got any gear at the Inn?] Teddy asked.

[No]

[No]

[No but I wanted to pop back in before we head to the boat and leave something nice for the owner, we haven’t paid a thing and she’s been good to us] Kyra said.

They all agreed and made sure to get away from whatever this was before they had to head straight to the docks for their return to Greenstone.

They were standing like statues, backs to the wall around the mirage chamber beds watching the people in front of them. It would be unnerving to look at, no one knowing they were conversing with each other while they stood.

Mr Randolph extricated Mr Roberts from his conversation and brought him over.

“Who would be the leader of this team?” He growled.

“Unfair to have a leader amongst family, but I’d say I’ll take your questions.” Teddy answered.

“Family?”

“Mr Rogers, I’m Theodore, this is my wife Kyra, my brother James and his wife Lucy.”

“A lot of scope for heartbreak in a team like that.”

“We’re aware, but it’s not like we have a choice and we’d rather be there to cover each other’s backs.”

The big Leonid raised an eyebrow at that.

“You don’t have a choice?”

“Hero has us snagged on a deal, don’t worry we had choice then, him being who he is we just don’t exactly want to back out now.”

“Him being a god?” Roberts asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Exactly.”

Roberts turned to Mr Randolph who shrugged.

“They’re new here.”

“I’m getting that. Outworlders generally cause problems or fuss one way or another.” He said turning back to the team.

“I assume the that Hero has something in mind for you which answers some of my questions. My name is Liam Roberts, I keep an eye out for promising upcoming talent in the arena and feed that back to the various guilds that support my endeavour to produce the best teams to combat monsters in the world.”

“You’re sponsored by the guilds to tip them off when hot new talent comes by to scoop them before the competition?” James piped up.

“See, this is why I was going to do the talking.” Teddy said to James.

The groups of people around the room made sense now, they were grouped in twos and threes and keeping to themselves, looking closely he could see they had different badges on the lapels of members of each group.

“Mr Roberts is a very influential figure for making connections that may get you in the right guild Mr Mitchell.” Randulph said to James. “A guild can forge new connections that can aid you later in your adventuring career.”

They looked over the groups, there must be six guilds represented there.

“Is this a join now or never again scenario? We would need to do some looking into guilds, it’s not something that’s been on our radar?” Teddy said.

“I have no idea what a radar is. But no, they guilds may or may not express interest in you, you will then be free to make your choice on them as you will, some may put a time limit on it but most won’t but may retract their offer if you make a name for yourself that they don’t want associated with them. I would like to introduce you to the first two groups then I would invite you to mingle and meet the others.” Roberts said, looking more dubious at their behaviours.

[The highest bidders get a personal introduction then.] James said.

[Probably the ones that have the most money so probably worth paying attention. Also, there’s a lot of reasons for them to not pay us any attention which is interesting why there are six guilds here just after midnight just to see us. We need to look into this before we make any decisions.] Teddy replied.

They followed Mr Roberts to the first two groups, they talked to one then the other, the groups on the periphery all payed keen attention. They were mostly asked about their background and history, there were some questions about their principals and drive. They politely declined questions about their past saying nothing of the other world. They also skirted the topic of their deal with Hero, it wasn’t specifically asked as the groups knew better than to meddle in gods business but they asked around the topic. Once they were done they split up to talk to the other groups. They chatted to all the groups until early in the morning. Four of the groups offered them places, it seemed two of the lower groups chose candidates more on lineage than the aspects the others were looking for and said they would need to see more evidence before offering a place to the team.

[Time to go guys, we need to get to the boat.] Teddy said.

They approached Mr Roberts who was standing next to the two guilds he had introduced them to obviously knowing all the members quite well and chatting.

“Mr Roberts, it’s been an unexpected pleasure and thank you for doing this, we are beginning to understand what it means for us and I’m sure when we leave and do some research we’ll be blown away by how generous you’ve been. We have to leave now as the ship back to Greenstone is due to leave in a few short hours.” Teddy said shaking the giant hand of the leonid.

“My dear boy, I think you’ll find the ship will wait as long as is needed for some people.” One of the guildsmen said. Teddy frowned, double checking the pin to keep it in mind.

“Be that as it may, there are a lot of people expecting, and some maybe counting on, the boat leaving on time and we’re not the sort that would delay that without good reason.”

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That wiped the self satisfied smile off the mans face and he self consciously sipped his drink.

“Thankyou Mr Randulph for hosting us overnight.” James said. “I hope to be coming back soon to hold you to your word for more work.”

“Please do, working on something so unique will be a privilege, hopefully next time we will be able to focus on a design of your choosing. It is in my interest to make it the best armour it can be however, I need to keep you alive so you can keep bringing it back!”

They were guided out of the arena complex by a member of the staff from the suite. Out in the pre-dawn light they found an interesting mix of people out in the city. Tradespersons were bustling to and fro, carrying goods in carts or wagons. Messengers were out in force, spreading all the news that ‘could wait till morning’. A good amount of adventurers were out for exercise. The team joined them, donning exercise clothes from storage and running towards the inn.

When they got to the inn the landlady was putting the days food menu in the card holder outside the front door. She greeted them warmly, her toddler had been halfway down the street, well within eyesight but she knew she would have to run to chase him, the team had scooped him up without breaking pace, he laughed at the speed of their run. They went inside at the landlady’s insistence that they have some breakfast, they explained they had to get to the boat and she compromised with a quick smoothie. When they were saying goodbye Kyra pulled out her hand mirror out and looked at the bar, a medium size bronze bell on a little arm appeared, resting on the dark wood. Roughly the size of a basketball it was a feature item. Swirling patterns went around it with a little thrum of magic.

“What’s this for?!” The landlady exclaimed.

“We haven’t paid a thing and we know you won’t take any money from us so please accept this gift. Where we are from it’s customary to ring the bell to warn the bar that it’s almost closing time and to get their last orders in. Maybe the tradition will catch on over here?”

“Oh my dears. This is too much! It’s lovely, I’ll have to get it put up straight away, next time you’re in town you’ll have to come stay and see it on the wall!” She enthusiastically gave each a hug and let them go.

On the run to the docks they chatted on interface, being used to it with no one around.

[Kyra you do realise that bell was worth more than the stay would have cost us at full price?] Teddy asked.

[I know, but good people deserve good things, plus it was a pretty bell!]

[What was the magic on it?] Lucy asked.

[Just a little aura stimulation, if they’re drunk enough to not hear the bell that’ll get their attention.]

Lucy pulled a notebook from a rune circle that appeared next to her, keeping speed with their run. She made notes while running, keeping centre of the pack so she didn’t have to pay attention, her increased iron rank agility meant she had no trouble keeping up while making note on what magic she had seen on the bell.

They arrived at the docks and changed back into travelling clothes. They pulled their tickets and approached the booth at the end of the gangplank to board.

“Good morn’ young travellers.” The elderly attendant greeted them. “Your tickets seem to be in order but I’m sorry to say the boats been delayed in it’s departure.”

The Mitchells all shared a look.

“Can we ask why it’s been delayed?” Teddy asked, they all feared it was something to do with them. And the activity at the mirage chamber.

“Why of course, there’s been a report of Harpies on the route, by the city’s law we cannot depart until we’ve taken contract with adventurers to deal with the problem.”

The team let out their held tension.

“Have you got a copy of the contract?”

“Of course, you’re all adventurers?” He handed them a copy of the contract.

It was a two star contract, the monsters had a nest on an island that the local ships used as a navigation point, they were fiercely territorial and attacked every ship, while the iron rank monsters were no threat to the gold rank equivalent ship but the city wanted the problem dealt with swiftly and the ship would easily be able to deliver adventurers to the rock.

“Would we be able to take it? As a team? None of us are two star but can we get dispensation to take it as a team?”

The attendants face lit up, he had been dealing with grumpy passengers all morning with the news and this was the first solution he had heard. He reached back and tugged a curtain revealing a young boy lounging reading a book, he gave him a quick kick.

“Samual, get over to the adventure society office in the port and get an official over here, they’ve got four stars between them and I want this boat out of my port in the next hour!”

The boy scarpered off to get to the office. The team hung about, chatting with the attendant who appeared to actually be the harbour master, with large ships he dealt with them personally to ensure the smooth running, having all the boats grounded until the nest is dealt with meant that he definitely needed to be involved.

An adventure society functionary arrived to the booth.

“You are the team that wishes to apply for dispensation for a two star contract?” He asked in a nasally voice.

“Yes.” Teddy said.

“There is a simple form to fill in which will then be processed to determine whether or not you will be eligible to have dispensation.”

He pulled out a think stack of papers and a lectern seemed to twist and grow from the wooden boardwalk.

“Team name?”

“Well… we’re not actually a team officially yet, we’ve not registered.”

The functionary looked sceptically at the team. He then pulled out a team registration form for them.

“Team name?”

“The Mitchells”

“I’ll need all of you to sign and aura imprint the stone at the bottom.” He passed the form to them to pass around. “Now back to the dispensation. Length of service of most junior member.”

“Err, one week.” Lucy said.

The man raised an eyebrow.

“Length of service of most senior?”

Teddy looked sheepish after the man’s reaction to Lucy.

“Six months.”

The man rested his pen on the form and looked over his glasses at the team, scrutinising them. He then went on to ask to see their badges, taking their details to check for records of jobs completed. When he got to the last page he looked up.

“Now I know that you are young adventurers and new to the the city. The form requires a sponsor, when people don’t know anyone they generally put down the adventure society…”

“Mr Roberts at the mirage arena.” James butted in. “Big Leonid bloke, he’ll sponsor us.”

The functionary looked very surprised at the name. He called over a messenger that had come with him, after a few words the messenger set off at a sprint.

“Thankyou, I’ll go process this and will let you know the outcome shortly.” He nodded to the harbour master and turned on his heel and walked for his office. The lectern twisted and shrank back into the boardwalk.

They sat and waited again, having a hot drink with the harbour master. Suddenly they all saw a streak of light appear from the city and land nearby in the port area. Not long after the functionary was running out towards them.

“A messenger came from the arena, you are vehemently cleared for the contract! Can I see your badges please?”

He used a stone to press against each one, instead of the usual silver star a black star appeared next to the first.

“This shows that it is for one contract only, once this contract is cleared the star will fall away.” He turned to the harbourmaster. “The city is now content to clear this ship and this ship only to leave, it must signal once the nest is dealt with.”

The harbour master clapped them on the back and they boarded the ship, the harbour master went off to speak to the captain and the team made their way to their cabins to finally have some sleep.

They were woken by a knock on each of the couples doors. Ship crew had come to deliver them an invite to dine in the captains quarters that evening.

They all changed into formal wear, Teddy and Kyra in new outfits, she was adorned with her new diamond jewellery. James and Lucy had their own formal wear with new accessories bought by Kyra for them. They met just outside the captains quarters. They knocked and a member of crew let them in. They met the captain and the unmistakable feel of a silver ranker.

“Evening Captain, thankyou for the invite.”

“A pleasure, a pleasure, always a pleasure to welcome adventurers on board for contracts!”

The jovial man sat them down at the table, he held Kyras chair out for her and a member of crew held out Lucy’s for her. When they were all sat the starters came out.

“It’s something I always like to do for those who board for contracts. Gives me a chance to live through you a little!”

“Makes me want to ask.” Teddy said. “Why are we taking an iron rank contract when you are silver rank? You must have some combat powers?”

“HA! Yes of course, water, wind, might for the leviathan confluence. I could rip the rocks they nest on from the water and drag them to the bottom of the ocean. I gave up my adventuring days to captain this boat, we have crew who are employed as essence users as well of course, but we are all under contract to not engage with any monsters that are not attacking the ship. Hands are tied I’m afraid. You’ll be getting your fee reimbursed of course, those who are on contracts don’t pay for passage.”

“I guess they don’t want you using the ship as your own monster hunting vessel.”

The captains eyes glittered.

“It’s something every captain has thought of I’ll not lie. They know it and set the rules.”

“Well we’ll try and give you a good show to try resist the urge.”

They chatted long into the night, the captain of such a large ship lived in luxury, the food and the wine were excellent, a recording crystal played music in the corner whilst they told the captain about the monster hunts in their time. He talked a lot about monster combat at sea, they gleaned a lot of good tips on water fighting from the man who had once made a living of it.

They said their goodnights and thanks for the excellent company. They headed back to their cabins for the night. They knew in the morning they were passing the Harpies territory.