Chapter 61: Rumors

Subject: Caim Location: Blightbane Guild - Residences

“This is the place. There is your bed. It’s more comfortable than it looks, shipped in new from storage. The place is a bit bare, yes, but it has been thoroughly cleaned, and it will be entirely yours from today on.”

The Administration Division employee gestured to the interior of the darkened room from out in the hallway where she and Caim stood. She spoke like she was in somewhat of a daze, probably because she’d been present during the incident. It would linger in anyone’s mind.

Realizing that the darkness was obstructing his view of the room, she walked over to a lever on the wall and pulled it down. With a soft *hissss*, blue-flamed lanterns illuminated the mostly-empty room. They were the same lanterns used by the Guild.

Rather than these gentle magic flames, the public spaces of the city were illuminated by towering purple obelisks. They made for a rather imposing walk to the city gates, but he’d probably get accustomed to the sight after spending more time in the city.

“Equipped with automatic lighting, you won’t have to worry about fueling your own lanterns. In fact, we require that open flame be kept out of Guild buildings, except where explicitly permitted. Please inform the floor guardian if anything malfunctions.” Her eyes traced the floor, ashamed. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but—”

“It’s fine,” Caim gently interrupted. “I love it.”

He really did. This was incredible. The excitement at getting his own room must have shown on his face because she cheered up a little.

“Oh! Another feature. There is a bathroom. Running water with a small amount of heating, and… well the other necessities.”

Toilets in this world were nothing to write home about. He was convinced there wasn’t proper plumbing in the city, despite automated facilities. Even so, they were better than a hole in the ground.

This woman was still fervently trying to convince Caim that the apartment wasn’t a dump, so she hadn’t realized that he was very satisfied indeed.

The blue light would take some getting used to, especially now that he had fresh memories of sprawling megacity skylines, adorned by electricity’s wondrous illumination. However, anything was better than the torment of sleeping with dozens of strangers.

The far wall looked like it led out to a balcony that overlooked the wall of the city. A transparent covering spanned the windows, like shatter-resistant glass, but thicker, and full of milky imperfections.

Come to think of it, her uniform looks very different from Mille’s.

“What’s your name? I’m sorry I didn’t ask at the start.”

Mille’s professionalism was echoed by her finely-crafted uniform, but this woman wore a plain grey jumpsuit with a single blue stripe across one sleeve.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you? I’m Hannah, an Attendant with Residential Operations. If I’ve made a mistake, I promise you I’ll correct it. I swear on the Guild’s code, I will.”

“No, no, no,” Caim tried to clarify. “You’ve been very helpful. I was only curious about your name and title. The Guild power structure is still new to me.”

Hannah tilted her head in confusion. It got Caim thinking about something, so he decided to be blunt.

“Today was a difficult day. But, as I understand it, it’s over. That Hexaline Knight is going to help with repairs and, while it will take time to understand and confirm, I think we are safe.”

“Oh, no! It isn’t about that. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t affected, but I knew what I signed up for. Maybe it was just that I’m not used to assisting anyone important. I mostly show people around the Residential Wing. I’m also new to this work, so I’ll focus on improving my behavior.”

It relieved Caim to see Hannah smile, indicating she was relaxing a little. But he needed to clarify her misunderstanding.

“What makes you think I’m important? I’m just a fresh Seeker Initiate. I’ve been called a ‘freshbane’ many times. Not in a bad way, I understand. It really does apply to me.”

Caim laughed, hoping that admission alone was enough to clear things up.

“No. Actually, I saw your Initiation, Seeker Caim. I’ve also heard the rumors from other Initiates and even veterans returning from contracts.”

“What do they say about me?” Caim asked, worried.

“They say you are a mage prodigy. Some say you’re going to get yourself killed, and some want to get on your good side while you are still weak so you’ll owe them later. With the way rumours spread, I think your name is all most of those people know. I heard some people say you carry an ornate black staff for a catalyst, but I’ve seen nothing of the sort on your person.”

“They are wrong. I’m just an Initiate. Also, I don’t know where they got this idea that I used a catalyst. I can’t afford one.”

He laughed and Hannah grinned. Rumors were like that in any world. People would get bored eventually and he would be free to train in peace.

“I don’t mean to offend you by disagreeing, but the Communications Overseer Marian spoke to you. I heard you can enhance the Infoboards with your magic. Then, two Hexaline Knights took interest in you and let you live. Then, one pulled you into a private conversation where he made you his divine agent. Now you get a personal apartment, even if it isn’t good enough for someone with your status.”

She was out of breath and very flustered after listing off dangerous exaggerations and even downright distortions of Caim’s experiences.

“First, I only learned something about the Infoboards others didn’t know. That’s all. I happened to talk to the Hexknights, yes, but they didn’t take any real interest in me. Well, it’s true that one of them did, somewhat, but all he did was ask me to work for him.

He sighed, scratching his head.

“I guess that’s where someone could have got the whole ‘divine agent’ thing, but no one saw that! And I even turned it down. I don’t plan on ever speaking to him again or anything like that. The apartment is an unexpected gift because I’ll be starting a very mundane and far from glorious part-time job for the Guild. I probably shouldn’t talk much about it without understanding what it is Marian wants me to do, or what she would like me speaking about regarding the job.”

Hannah listened, nodding along, but she didn’t seem all that convinced. Unlike Mille, she couldn’t conceal her feelings whatsoever.

“You say you aren’t important, but that’s pretty important for an Initiate. But I can see I’m making you uncomfortable, so I’ll stop.”

“No, it isn’t your fault. I was just thinking about something else.”

He was looking around his new place, trying to see how the space could fit into his plans.

“Yeah, I can probably guess your thoughts. It's a small apartment, so you probably couldn’t fit another bed in here with any other furniture,” she stated.

She was looking down at a piece of paper, pale blue ink glowing to make the foreign writing more visible.

“Oh, my party registration isn’t... That isn’t a problem, I won’t be living with anyone.”

“Maybe not now, but in the future, right? I guess some people do live separately, especially if there is a gender split, but you probably want your options open.”

“It isn’t that. I won’t be in a ‘true’ party for some time. It’s fine, though, I don’t need one.”

Caim was already reassessing his future. Beyond the terrifying forces he couldn’t hope to stand up against, there were two pressing concerns. He owed a debt, and he needed a weapon. The debt was now taken care of, miraculously, and that left him with enough coin to start looking for a weapon.

But even with the debt gone, my finances don’t leave me with much breathing room.

“Thank you for helping me, Hannah. May I leave on an errand now?”

There was too much to do to waste time lingering.

“Absolutely. I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time. Here is your key, along with a duplicate.You can submit an application with residential services to get your badge linked up so you can use that for convenience.”

He accepted the small black plates in the palm of his hand and heard the clink of the light metal surfaces jostling together. He decided he would have to find some place to store this where it wouldn’t get lost. For now, it would go in his pocket.

“Caim?”

“Yeah?”

“I have to report to my superiors. If I’m guessing right, they will want to know. Are you really satisfied with this small room?”

“It’s more than enough. Thank you for your help.”

Subject: Caim Location: Blightbane Guild - Residences

Alone in the darkened apartment, Caim closed the door and laid his small bundle of belongings against the wall.

He remembered Gwen’s pleading face and felt a twisted feeling in his gut. The amateur merchant was in a rough spot, and it haunted him. For that reason, he’d registered her in his party, though it wasn’t exactly official yet until she confirmed it with the Guild.

Caim had already done all he could for her. All that was within his current capacity. He wouldn’t revolve his life around her, but she was more than just a person in need. Gwen was a critical part of the plan.

Forget Vera and her confusing goals, he had his own, and he didn’t care if they happened to run parallel to Vera’s, occasionally.

This new collar was an annoyance, but it really did seem to stave off the headaches.

Too many goals and not enough strength, knowledge, and time to achieve them. I should go borrow some more.

Subject: Gillis, The Cartographer Location: Maliscade - Gate District

“Why did you spend so much of your precious time in there, my lord?” Jai asked.

“Good question. Why did I waste so much time? No… The real question is why doesn’t it feel like a waste?”

Gillis, the man who, until now, was overwhelmed by the weight of his decisions, was feeling a little more cheerful.

“I don’t understand. Please clarify. Do we need to adjust the plan?”

“No. Keep everything as it is. But, if you could take on one more small task for me, it would be a big help.”

“Name it and I’ll get it done.”

She saluted him in a serious manner. Gillis was grateful to have such competent underlings. None of this would have been possible without them.

“Thank you. Look up a name for me. It is that citizen, Caim. He has no family name, but he is a seeker, so there should be some record of him somewhere.”

“I take it you don’t want me to use official channels? Is there something special I should be looking for?”

It would be a disaster if she found out. This new obsession can’t be what compromises our whole operation.

“You always know what I’m thinking. Yes, I do not want this complicating my relationship with the Guild. As for your second question… Perhaps you could look for records of Caim’s education? For example… any evidence of magic and any academy records that might be applicable. He is past the age of schooling, but he might not have gone to a traditional institution. I would like to make sense of the young man.”

Caim acted like a savage, so it was easy to believe he came from those many disappearing villages on the outskirts of civilization. They would all either assimilate or fall to ruin in turn. Right now, it looked like there was wilderness enough to share, but Shroud had aims to control it all in the end.

“You didn’t want me bringing in that Bearer of Blue back there. I take it that was also because of Caim? She could have been useful to us. You’re also a young man that doesn’t make sense sometimes, my lord.”

“But only you know that, and I’ll do my best to keep it that way. I trust you with my motives, Jai.”

He grinned, but her serious stare didn’t crack.

“Your motives are my command. Your priorities are my strategy.”

“I hope you’re prepared for quite the precarious situation. As for that girl back there, it will be fine leaving her there for a time yet, especially considering our plans for the city.”

Jai turned and looked around at the buildings around them. She seemed to be imagining what it would look like when they were done.

“It is a necessity. They forced our hand.”

“Yes, I only wish the will of the people moved with it.”

“They will, my lord. They will”