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Jessa approached the guildmaster’s door, her spine hunched with apprehension. Nervous, compulsive fingers combed and strained a lock of chestnut hair. Neither the din and liveliness of the Brass Tusk tavern upstairs nor any other sound in all of Esyrene could compete with the pulse echoing in her ears. Although she’d visited the guild numerous times before to seek out their dues for the tavern basement her father had rented out to them, she couldn’t shake the anxiety that eclipsed her entire body. This visit was different, with the potential for a drastic change in direction she had never imagined nor ventured.
Courage seeped forth in dribbles, and she held on fast to each drop she gathered. A heavy exhale banished her trembling as she straightened her posture. After smoothing down her hair, she reached out a thin, delicate hand to the door. Her pale cheeks flushed as hesitance overcame her, but she finally managed to knock.
“Excus—” she croaked, but she cleared her throat and tried again. “Excuse me, Deventh? Are you there? It’s Jessa.” In response, she heard the faint rustling of papers from the other side. Footsteps soon approached.
The latch clicked open, and the guildmaster’s face which greeted her appeared as that of a stranger, though familiar all the same. A tall and imposing dark elf – Dronvar, by their vernacular – Deventh had a way of provoking turbulence in Jessa’s mind with his mere existence even on a typical day. At that moment, however, it felt as though he towered over her, and his crimson gaze burned like lava pouring into the azure sea that was her own.
“Miss Bisset,” Deventh addressed her, his voice somewhat deeper than usual and gravelly with fatigue. “Come in.” He stepped to the side, allowing the dreary hall to receive a stream of warm light emitting from two capsule-shaped lamps fitted within ornate brass stands. Even after multiple visits, Jessa still found the means by which they were powered to be frustratingly nondescript, devoid of any sort of magic she could recognize.
Deventh gestured to invite her in. She crossed over the threshold while he returned to his desk. Already feeling dwarfed, she caught herself staring up at three towering mahogany bookcases, each one taking up the entire space of a wall. A pair of dark blue banners hung from the furthest bookcase, with rigid square borders embroidered in golden thread, and a single cog in the center. A keen inventor with a limitless hunger for knowledge, Deventh kept his books close, as well as an enigmatic collection of gadgets.
“What brings you here?” the Dronvar asked as he sat down, despite his full expectation that she had come to collect the guild’s rent.
Jessa sat on the chair opposite Deventh’s desk, smoothing the wrinkles out of her pale blue skirt. She eyed the stacks of books, papers, and trinkets before closing her eyes, settling into the refuge from the bitter chill of Grimros. Nestled away within a near-perfect circle of Nelthemar’s highest mountain peaks, the Orcish region seemed impossibly cold compared to its more temperate neighbor, Oakenhaven, from where she hailed.
Unsure of where to begin, she centered herself by concentrating on the spongy plush of the carpet underfoot. This afforded her a modicum of focus to clear her head and speak.
“I was, um, wondering how your guild has been doing. How you’re faring with jobs and all...” she started, awkward long pauses filling in the space between statements. Her eyes wandered as she took in the countless books and curios lining the shelves within the study. They avoided nothing but Deventh as he placed his elbows on the arms of his chair and interlaced his fingers.
“Well enough, I suppose,” He said after a pause to see if she would continue. “We’ve been somewhat inconsistent with retaining members, but a few have stayed, which is reassuring. We’re managing to get by on the jobs that have been coming in.”
He eyed Jessa dubiously, now second-guessing his assumption of her intent. When she didn’t respond, but instead shifted around in her seat with her eyes shut, he asked, “Is that all you–”
“I’d like to join Valorforge!” Jessa blurted out. Her eyes still closed, fists clenched on her lap, she sighed with relief at having gotten past so much as saying what she wanted to say. After her tension settled, she looked at his face, noticing now, in the light, that he may have been more out of sorts than she was.
Though his skin was usually a warm gray, at that moment he looked rather pallid, as if all the color had retreated to the dark pair of bags under his eyes. The dullness of his complexion gave way to the glint of silver piercings dotting his visage: A stud beneath his lower lip, a loop through his septum, and a few other rings on the upper edges of his pointed ears. His jet hair, which flowed down to his shoulders, took on a straggly appearance as well. Jessa drew ever closer to the conclusion that she may have very well disturbed his sleep.
Nonetheless, through the haze of his grogginess, Deventh still exuded an eerie handsomeness as he managed a small chuckle, quirking a brow.
“Now, why would the daughter of Lord Pierron Bisset want to do that?” He asked with genuine curiosity.
Having mistaken his reaction for a mocking gesture, Jessa felt her pulse quicken.
“I-I noticed that Valorforge isn’t doing so well, in finances or otherwise...” She thumbed the final rent notification in her pocket, three weeks past its due date, realizing the indiscretion of asking her father’s tenant to hire her. “I figured, well, maybe you’d like the help. I’ve also always wanted to do something other than work for my father for the rest of my life, though I’d still be running this place.”
Deventh nodded, maintaining his calm demeanor, and folded his hands atop his desk. His odd pair of gloves caught Jessa’s eye; mostly leather and dyed pitch black to match his attire, they sported a fitting of articulated brass that circled the wrist and covered the topsides of his hands. Thin stems of the metal extended over each finger with rings like hinges at the knuckles. Although it wasn’t often she’d seen him for more than a few minutes at a time, it seemed he never took them off.
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“I’m not going to deny the obvious, we aren’t doing well,” he said. “Forgive me, however, if this sounds rude, but that arrangement strikes me as somewhat... Backwards. If you’re to work for us, that would put us in more debt to you, as opposed to less, would it not?”
“N-n-no, of course not!” Jessa found herself unsure whether she was more embarrassed by her offer or stunned by Deventh’s perspective of it. She fiddled with the lap of her skirt while shifting in her seat, a nervous habit she developed in her early youth. A deep breath helped to settle her nerves. “I’ve already given some thought to this. I don’t want you to pay me or give me any compensation. I want to do this for your benefit. And, well, there’s one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Father says if I have to evict one more tenant, he’s going to take me out of the University of Oakenhaven.” Apprehension broke her voice, betraying her reluctance to answer.
“I see,” Deventh said, nodding as he leaned back in his chair in a display of receptiveness Jessa had never seen from him up to that point. The Nelthrin of Oakenhaven prided themselves on their magical expertise, more so than humans of other regions, and anyone ejected from a mages’ university wore a permanent mark of shame. Deventh’s sympathy for this gave him pause, but not quite as much as the mention of eviction.
Pushing aside a new batch of questions her last statement had evoked, he attempted in vain to meet her averted gaze. His reservations loomed over him, but he proceeded in a professional manner, treating her as he would any other applicant. “What do you suppose you can offer that would help us?”
“Well, I’m sure you’re aware I can handle various types of administrative work, so I could assist Anna with her duties,” Jessa said, mentioning the guild’s co-founder with strategic intent. “I can also organize, alphabetize, or otherwise sort and order projects. Can’t say how my adventuring skills would measure up, however...” she trailed off, her confidence waning with the realization that she lacked most in the skills pertinent to an adventurers’ guild. “I’m more than happy to learn anything and do what I can to help out!”
The seed of awkwardness flourished into a net of overgrown weeds. Deventh let out a low hum and leaned forward to grab a fresh sheet of paper.
“And your studies at the university – You said Oakenhaven, correct? How much would you say that would affect the amount of time you’re able to devote to contracts?” he asked. From his pocket, he pulled out an unusual writing utensil with a body composed of patchwork metal and a nib that emulated the tip of a quill. He jotted down a few notes and continued. “We’re accommodating to personal endeavors, so studying wouldn’t be a concern for us under most conditions. Given your commitment to helping your father with his work as well, though, you might want to consider that you’d be stretched thin.”
“I believe if anyone is stretched thin here, it would be you,” Jessa said, compelled by a twinge of annoyance at his suggestion. “At least from the perspective of Anna’s complaints of walking in on you asleep at your desk multiple times a day.”
“And I wouldn’t recommend for anyone to emulate such behaviors,” said Deventh, impassive and unfazed by her snappy response. “If not for your sake, then, could you answer the question for our reference?”
“O-oh...” Jessa said, her attitude shifting as she realized how rude she must have appeared. Her nose reddened with embarrassment. “Well, the university encourages its students to do a large portion of our studying outside the school grounds. Understanding the practical applications of magic is far more valuable than sitting in cramped rooms with dusty books. As long as I’m in regular contact with my professors, I don’t need to be present in the building to remain a student. I’ll only require an hour or so per day to practice and work on projects.”
“Very well,” said Deventh, scribbling down a few more notes. “Are there any particular schools of magic in which you’ve excelled during your studies thus far? Any specific skills you’d be interested in pursuing aside from office work? And by that, I don’t mean to ask you if you’d be willing to learn whatever will help us. I’m asking if there’s anything you are interested in for yourself.”
Jessa had prepared for this type of interview question more than any other. She smiled as she answered, a hint of pride in her voice.
“I just so happen to specialize in the schools of elemental affliction and conjuring! Specifically, the lightning aspect of the former, and summoning for the latter, which my father suggested. I took great interest in it.”
“What sort of summoning?” Deventh asked as he paused to glance up from his notes, an expectant stare gnawing at Jessa’s nerves.
“Lus’rakian,” she said, her voice losing some of its strength. “But only the small ones. Harmless, like imps and such. I have some experience with animal and spirit companions as well, which I can stick to if anyone has any reservations toward Lus’rak.”
“All right,” said Deventh, nodding while continuing to write for a moment more. Once finished, he folded the paper in half. “I think that’s all I’ve got for now. I know most of the basic information about our operation is on the papers for the property, but aside from that, do you have any questions, any concerns?”
“Maybe,” Jessa hummed, tapping a finger against her chin. “Will I be working under Anna?” Deventh shrugged, sliding the paper towards her.
“Depends on what needs to be done,” he replied, giving a quick nod, “There isn’t a lot of paperwork for the guild itself. Most of what you see here is for other jobs I’ve taken on, which you wouldn’t have to worry about. She is in charge of recruitment, though, so it’s not unlikely you’d be helping with that.”
After a short pause, he decided to conclude the conversation. “Anyway, if you can drop that paper on her desk on your way out, you’re free to go, Miss Bisset.”
Jessa blinked a few times, surprised by the shortness of the interview.
“Oh. Does that mean I’m in? I’ll be honest, I was expecting something more rigorous, but I promise I won’t disappoint!” She stood up as she thanked Deventh, grabbing the letter at the same time. “Where is Anna right now?”
“Frankly, in our current state, we don’t have the time or resources to implement a more rigorous process,” said Deventh. So as not to instill any hope or otherwise, he avoided answering the former question. He pointed a thumb to his left to indicate the general direction of Anna’s office, having assumed her absence based on how long he’d managed to sleep without interruption. “Anna’s office is right next to mine. If you didn’t see her on your way in, she might not be here. Like I said, you can leave the note on her desk.”
He offered a cordial nod while sliding a small stack of papers beneath a book. “Either way, good to see you again. Until next time, Miss Bisset.”
“Of course, until next time.” Jessa gave a bow and added, “And please – call me Jessa.” She slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her. Resting her back against the door, she closed her eyes and basked in the relief of making it through her interaction with Deventh.
A nagging doubt, however, crept to the back of her mind and prevented her from truly relaxing. She knew she was forgetting something, and as she pulled the item she had been thumbing out of her pocket, a sudden realization left her paralyzed with embarrassment. Warm blood rushed to her face, and she held a frigid hand against her forehead to cool down.
She forgot to give Deventh the final rent notice.