Although the Foresters was a large building, it didn’t show the same obnoxious wealth as the Lightbringers. Its entrance hall was narrow and practical, with a desk, a line of straight-backed chairs and several doors leading off behind it. It had the guild emblem emblazoned on a flag, and the guild’s forest green colours adorned the walls but without showing wealth. The half-stone, half-wood panelling looked practical, reminding SJ more of an inn than anything else. A human female sat at the desk near the entrance.
“Can I help you, miss?” the woman asked.
“I am enquiring about membership details to join the guild.”
“I see. Please take a seat, and I will get one of them to come and attend to you.”
SJ sat in one of the chairs by the desk, feeling as though she were in a doctor’s waiting room. A human male in flowing robes entered the building in a hurry.
“Charlotte. Is Frederick in?”
“No, sorry, Martin. He left earlier this afternoon. How did your quest go? Are you not back earlier than expected?”
“Yes. That is what I need to see him about,” the man said. “We lost Bertew and Dahlia.”
“Oh my,” Charlotte gasped in shock.
“Yes. It wasn’t what had been registered. There was a red dragon nest. The rest of the group is fine, apart from some minor burns. I portalled back to inform Frederick as soon as I was able.”
“Clarice is in. Can she be of assistance?”
“She will have to do. Whoever registered this quest needs to be dealt with,” Martin said as he hurried past the desk and through one of the doors.
‘Well, that didn’t sound too good,’ SJ thought.
“They had to be a fair distance from Asterfal. I am not aware of any dragons in nearby territories,” Dave said.
‘I wonder where it is? I doubt it is the kind of question that would normally be asked to be completed, is it?’
"Nest, clan or pack clearances are pretty standard for guilds to take. Villages or towns may hire guilds if they have issues near their borders," Dave said.
The woman behind the counter looked flustered, and SJ noticed a tear trace on her cheek. She removed a handkerchief from her pocket, dabbed her eyes, and blew her nose.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” SJ said.
The woman looked up and smiled weakly at SJ. “Thank you. Bertew and Dahlia were both deeply loved members of the guild,” she said, taking a deep breath to gather herself.
SJ sat in silence as several beings came and went from the guild. The beings were mixed and, from their clothing, of varying classes. It was a while before a stately woman wearing black leather armour embossed with the Forester emblem approached SJ.
“Sorry for the delay. We had some urgent issues to attend to. Please follow me,” she said.
SJ followed the woman through a door and entered a large, open room. Off the room were several other doors, and a bar ran along one wall. It appeared to be a common room for the guild.
“In here,” the woman said, opening a door and allowing SJ to enter.
The room was plainly furnished, with a large wooden desk and several cupboards. The desk was tidy and well-kept, with neat piles of parchment laid out. The only sign of wealth was the jewel-encrusted inkwell on it.
“I am Clarice, one of the guild administrators. How may I help you?”
“Please call me SJ. I was enquiring about guild membership and the requirements.”
The woman had the most jet-black hair SJ could remember seeing, and her face was hard-lined and strong. To SJ, she looked young, but she had to be in her forties or older; the telling sign of eye wrinkles belied her age.
“Have you been a member of a guild previously?”
“No. I am not level 20 yet.”
“I see. May I ask why you have chosen to enquire at the guild?”
“I am aware of the guild rankings, and I know the guild is one of the best in Asterfal. If I were to consider joining any guild, it would be one with a significant reputation.”
“Well, you are correct. The guild is highly ranked. This also means that we are quite select on our members and who may join.” a shrewd look came over Clarice’s face. “May I ask your alignment?”
That hadn’t been a question that SJ had expected. “Yes, of course, I am neutral good.”
“So you are aware all guild members must remain at least neutral. Any change in alignment towards evil tendencies would mean that you would forego guild membership. Now, on to the details. We prioritise recruitment based on class requirements for the guild. We have a limited membership, although as a level five guild, we have the capacity for a maximum of three hundred members. Just so you are aware, we never fully recruit as we keep vacancies at all times, just in case of exceptional circumstances.”
SJ nodded in understanding.
“I can see by your appearance that you are not a warrior class. May I ask what class you are?”
Although SJ knew that her class would be known in a guild if she joined, she again wasn’t ready to divulge all her details openly to this stranger.
“I don’t believe that is relevant at this time,” SJ said.
Clarice’s eyebrows raised, and a smile crept on her lips. “Very well then. The membership tiers are pretty standard. Basic members have access to the guild facilities and may rent accommodation in the guild when they are in the city. Then we have five tiers, starting from e-rank and going to a-rank. Tiers are earned depending on the quests that you complete. Those who reach rank a or b may be considered for the dungeon parties.”
“How long would you expect a new member to take to reach rank b?”
“That is an open question. It all depends on the individual and their commitment to advancement. The harder the quests you accept and complete, the faster you will progress. Also, if you don’t perform a minimum number of quests, then you may also lose ranking.”
“What are the fees?”
“The basic membership fee if you were selected is twenty-five gold.”
The price was half that of the Lightbringers guild.
“Can you purchase ranks?”
Clarice laughed. “You have been enquiring at other guilds as well. No, we do not allow ranks to be purchased. You progress through your actions, and at each rank, you gain further perks. Quest type access, loot percentages, access to the guild bank, etc.”
“Guild bank?” SJ asked, surprised.
“Yes. At d-rank, you may access the guild bank and borrow items that you may require for quests. We use a deposit system to offset any lost items.”
“That sounds interesting. I haven’t heard about guild banks before.”
“Not all guilds use them, or if they do, few allow members to access them.”
SJ really liked the sound of having access to a guild bank.
“How long have you been on Amathera?” Clarice asked.
“Not very long, several months now.”
“And your current level? You stated you weren’t level twenty yet.”
“I am nineteen currently. Could you explain to me what the selection process entails?”
“If you were successfully chosen as a potential recruit, then you would begin a trial period, during which you would be teamed up with a guild member who would accompany you on quests. They would confirm your status and actions and report back accordingly. If successful, you would then be made a full member, and that is when you would pay your membership fees. The fees are annual as well.”
The details sounded much more enticing than those of the Lightbringers guild. They may be the top-ranked guild, but the fact that you could buy ranks and positions didn’t feel right to SJ. She would much prefer to earn her position and prove her worth rather than pay for privileges.
“It sounds exciting.”
“I am glad. Now, if you have no further questions, I really need to attend to a rather urgent matter.”
“The red dragons, I assume.”
Clarice frowned, “Yes.”
SJ replied hurriedly. “I was at the desk when the man entered, reporting the problems.”
“Ah. Yes, it’s rather troublesome, but we will get it resolved.”
“Do I not require filling in any details?”
“No. Not at this time. Once you reach level twenty, and if you are truly interested in joining the guild, then you complete the paperwork.”
“I won’t take up any more of your time then. Thank you,” SJ said, standing.
“Maybe we will see you again soon,” Clarice smiled, holding out her hand.
SJ took it, and Clarice shook it firmly. Clarice followed SJ to the door and called over to a goblin sitting by the bar. “Nathan. Can you please show SJ out for me?”
The goblin jumped down from his stool and walked over. “Of course, Clarice,” Nathan smiled.
A goblin called Nathan was the strangest name she had ever heard for one. “I guess you are a Legionnaire with a name like that,” SJ said as she walked with him towards the exit.
“Yeah,” he smirked. “Pretty obvious, really. I didn’t realise that you could change your name when you first arrived.”
“I didn’t know that either.”
‘Why did you never tell me that?’ SJ thought.
“Erm. It never crossed my mind, and we didn’t exactly get on initially,” Dave coughed.
‘At least you didn’t just say, ‘You didn’t ask’.’
Dave chuckled as SJ left the guild, thanking Nathan.
Once she was back on the street again, she turned towards the Black Griffin, which was only a few buildings down the street.
‘It’s strange speaking to others who you know are also legionnaires,’ SJ thought.
“Why?” Dave asked.
‘Knowing that they also have an AI, and I know I have chatted with Darren about things from Earth occasionally, it would be nice to have others to speak to as well.’
“Are you really that interested in talking about your past?”
‘Not so much my past. It would just be nice to know some more legionnaires. Considering the age of some of them, they could be from different eras. It would be interesting to talk to them about historical details.’
“Ah. It isn’t as open a scope as you may believe.”
‘What do you mean by that? Isn’t Amathera over twenty thousand years old?’
“Yes, and no. In terms of Earth years, Amathera is probably only fifteen hundred years old.”
SJ stopped dead in her tracks. ‘What?’
“It’s difficult to explain the details fully. It’s all due to time dilation and universal transition. And before you ask, don’t. I couldn’t explain it if I tried.”
‘So Amathera, although over twenty-five thousand years old, is really only fifteen hundred years old?’
“No, Amathera is twenty-five thousand years old. The transition of legionnaires, though, has taken place within the past fifteen hundred Earth years. I don’t know if you remember I mentioned Genghis Khan previously. He was one of the earlier legionnaires. Due to universal transition and time variance, the arrival and addition of legionnaires can be varied. You were from 2024, but the next legionnaire to join could be from the year 1200. To my knowledge, there has never been a legionnaire arriving from Earth before the year 1000.”
SJ’s head spun at the information from Dave. ‘But Darren was from my era?’
“Yes. But have you ever asked him what year he died?”
She hadn’t. At no point had she even considered that legionnaires could be from different periods and had automatically assumed that any new legionnaires were transitioned in order. SJ felt lightheaded at the thought.
“I think you should sit down; your pathways are in overdrive,” Dave said, concerned.
SJ hadn’t realised that her breathing had quickened, and she felt flushed. Moving to the side of the street, she leaned against the wall of a building, gathering her thoughts. Eventually, after several moments, she steadied her breathing and stood upright again. No beings had paid her any attention, and she slowly continued towards the Black Griffin. Her mind reeled as she did. After all the time she had been on Amathera, the concept of time had never really been a consideration, and now that she knew that legionnaires were not time-bound, the opportunities that it may bring could be dramatic.
‘Dave. What year is it now on Earth?’
“It’s still 2024. Nearly 2025, the exact date, I believe, is December the 30th.”
‘So I am from the most advanced Earth period?’
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
‘That may explain why I have seen so few things from Earth on Amathera. If legionnaires aren’t from the same era, the technology that they would know about would be vastly different.’
“Definitely.”
‘That means that if I brought some of Earth’s technological ideas to Amathera, they may never have even heard or considered them before. I had always assumed that it was because of restrictions, but that isn’t the case, is it?’
“There are certain restrictions, but in general, because of the influence of mana and magic, it replaces technology.”
‘Yes, but certain scientific and engineering breakthroughs may be viable and just never considered?’
“It’s a definite possibility. Why?”
‘I need to look at the schematics for the new buildings in District 3.’
“What for?”
‘One of my ex-boyfriends minored in engineering and architecture. I used to spend hours discussing building designs and structural properties. I haven’t considered the way the buildings are built, but the reason for the use and need for magic, which is costing a fortune, may be able to be overcome if designs were changed. It could allow for much taller and cheaper buildings. Also, the materials they are using to build them.’
“Oh. I hadn’t considered that. It’s not a bad thought. I bet you could make some decent coin as well.”
‘Decent? Do you know how much the construction industry is worth on Earth?’
“Erm. If the information I have is accurate, it is expected to be worth over fourteen trillion by the end of this year.”
‘Exactly.’ The opportunities that her basic knowledge could potentially bring to Amathera were astronomical. She couldn’t believe that she had never considered it until now. ‘There must be other legionnaires from Earth that have brought technology or knowledge with them?’
“There probably are. I’ve never met one, though, apart from my parachutist.”
The usual suspects were standing at the entrance arch to the Black Griffin, their massive troll forms providing the necessary deterrence for patrons wishing to cause problems.
“Haven’t seen you in a while,” a troll said as she walked towards them.
“Only recently got back to the city,” SJ smiled back.
The pair had gotten used to seeing SJ come and go from the Black Griffin during her previous visit and knew she had been Jay’s promoter.
“Are you looking for some fight action?”
“Unlikely. Jay is away currently.”
“Shame. Some of the regulars still talk about his return fight.”
SJ walked through into the bar. At this time of day, it was pretty busy, and the usual eclectic group of beings filled the premises. After ordering a coffee, SJ moved to a table at the far end. Two gnomes were already sitting at the table, and she asked if they minded her joining. Both looked worse for wear and smiled at her. She moved to the end of the table and sat down. She opened her display and checked her map. Carlito was in the inn and looked as though he was in the main area. She followed his dot as it moved until it stood directly over her. There was no one near the table, though, which surprised her. She then noticed the dot move further past and back away from her. It was strange watching his movements on the map.
SJ realised that he must have been upstairs, and she saw his dot appear in the corner of the room where the stairs were located. Several beings were either heading up or coming down, and SJ couldn’t tell which one of them Carlito was today. He could be any of them; the dot wasn’t perfect, and it took her by surprise when a voice spoke behind her from the shadows, making her jump.
“Nice to see you again,” Carlito’s smooth voice crooned in her ear.
“Damn. You made me jump,” SJ said.
The female elf sat at the table next to her.
“I haven’t seen this form before.”
“I fancied a change,” Carlito shrugged. He wore standard attire but carried a dirk at his waist.
“You look more like a rogue today than usual,” SJ smiled.
“I am off work currently. If I were working, I wouldn’t appear like this,” he smiled.
It was so strange to think that this dragonling worked in the Black Griffin as various servers and was also the city’s most prolific assassin.
“Does your appearance never get questioned?” SJ asked.
“Why would it? I usually work two shifts and have two different forms. Neither shift ever works at the same time, so there are no issues with them both being required at the same time.”
“Do they know who you are?”
“What do you think?” Carlito’s female elven smile spoke of mischief.
“I’ll take that as a no, then.”
“I wouldn’t be very good at what I do if they knew who I really was, would I?”
“I suppose. Could you point out Master Garshaw to me?”
Carlito shook his head before sighing. “I suppose. If you look to the other end of the bar, the man with brown hair and wearing the green hat.”
SJ turned to look across the bar. Master Garshaw wasn’t what she had expected to see. He was dressed more like a minstrel or bard than someone who oversaw construction work. He looked to be in his thirties, with brown hair to his shoulders and a youthful face for his age. The hat he wore reminded SJ of Robin Hood, and it even had a yellow feather in it. He was laughing at one of his companions’ comments.
“He isn’t what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“I’m not sure, but I had a mental image of something completely different and older.”
“He is a half-elf. He is much older than he looks. He keeps the hat on to cover his ears.”
As with Darren, it was apparent that he was half-elven due to the shape of his ears. It was the one telling sign of the race. Elven features were easily distinguished not just because of their ear shape but also because of their build, eyes, and general facial shape. Dryads were a little trickier to confirm but usually had a rounder, fuller face and build, although they still had pointed ears.
“I think I will go and introduce myself,” SJ said, finishing her coffee and going to stand.
Carlito reached out and placed his hand on her arm. “One final word of advice. Don’t gamble with him, whatever he offers.”
SJ frowned, wondering what Carlito meant by that, and pushed her way through the crowd.
