We went back into the hall and Hiroaki had one of the receptionists taking a break register me. She had asked me to write down my name and the current ranks of my Stigmata. They only wanted the Physica and Magical ranks and seemed confused when I told them I had others. The receptionist waved it away and said something about the Vocations not needed.

When done, she brought back a corded leather neckless with a white plate with four black gems. Two gems were placed on each side, with the center space blank. She caught my look and said it signified I was a Rank B, Classed Bone Adventurer. A blank tag would mean Rank F, while each gem meant Rank D to A.

Finished, I asked where the healer, Vylria, was located. I was pointed to the door to the side of what I was told were the Quest Boards. I walked into the door to find the cute blond sitting behind a desk and examining something under what looked like a primitive microscope. Hearing the door open, she looked up and gave me a smile before pointing to a curtain at the side. I walked over and moved the curtain to the side to find Luin, snoring peacefully on a large cot.

“I was able to fix her tongue. If she could speak before, she should be able to again, with a bit of practice. You said she was a Kobold, right? It’s the only thing that makes sense with what you said about an alpha and her blood. I had to give her some medicine to cure her of what I believe were intestinal worms. I’ve only ever seen that in Kobolds and Goblins, who don’t always cook their food. I’ve never seen a Kobold with those colors and markings before, though.”

“She is, and she’s a bit special. Are you sure I don’t owe you anything?

“Oh no. I’m The Guild’s healer on duty. If you’ve registered, then my services are free as long as you maintain your license with us.”

“Thank you. I’ll wait till she wakes up if you don't mind?”

She nodded and pointed to the wooden chair next to Luin’s cot. I sat down and dosed off. My body may have been healed from the training, but my body felt exhausted.

“Papa! Papa! Lookie, Look!”

I was awakened by Luin poking my side and pointing to her mouth. I grabbed the Kobold, startling her, and gave her a tight hug. The noise attracted Vylria, who pushed the curtain to the side and smiled down at us.

“Luin, was it? Let me see your mouth. Open up, please.”

I watched as she had Luin move her tongue to the side than other.

“You should be well off now. Your food may taste funny for a bit, but that goes away after a while. If anything bothers you, just have Zeal bring you back, and I’ll take a look for you.”

“Yep, yep!”

“Adorable,” Vylria said.

“Try not to shout, Luin. I know you’re excited.”

“Yep, yep. Luin, sorry,” she said much quieter.

“Thank you again, Vylria.”

We left what I could only describe as The Guild’s Nurse’s Office. I asked one of the receptionists where the best place to buy daily clothes would be, and she graciously wrote down the directions for me. We left the hall and followed them. Luin pulled on my pants and pointed to a food stall halfway there.

“Smells good,” she said.

We made our way across the street and over to the food vendor. I fished out a few coppers and paid for a few sticks of the roasting meat. Luin was right; it smelled heavenly. I gave Luin three of the skewers and watched as she took one and snaked her tongue around the top piece and pulled it off. She made a face of delight as she began chewing it. I guess her tongue was working perfectly.

We came to the building the receptionist had told us about a while later. Inside were rows and rows of folded articles of clothing. It reminded me of one of the malls back home.

“How can I help you?” a young Human woman came out of the backroom.

“I require a few pairs of normal clothes. Underwear and some sleep ware.”

She studied me for a moment before asking if I had any preference in color; I did not. She went about the store and began stacking items on the counter. I counted three pairs of pants, four undershirts, four different button shirts in various colors. She went towards the back and returned with socks and underwear.

“Do you like cotton or silk for your sleepwear?” she asked.

“Cotton, please.”

She then laid a red pair of pants and shirt on top of the other items. Before she began to pick up each item, show me and tell me the price before folding it once more and piling them up in a new pile. I gave her three gold coins and said she could keep the change. I placed everything inside my magic pouch and asked her where I could get a decent pair of boots.

We left and headed over to what she called the cobbler’s store, a block down. There I was able to get a great pair of fitted books. My old loose pair, going into the cobbler’s trash. I decided to explore the town, and we left to do just that.

Luin had us stop at a few food vendors along the way. I swear she had a Void pouch in that gut of hers. We had been walking down a street when Luin’s ears seemed to twitch, and she ran in front of me and stopped at the edge of the stone wall. Getting close to her, I could hear children’s laughter, and when I passed the edge of the stone wall, I could see it was a nice open park, with what could only be a jungle gym at the center with kids playing around it.

I had to remember Luin was basically still a child, even tho she had evolved three times into what I guess was a young adult’s body. “Go play. I can sit and meditate.”

She looked up at me in surprise, and I shoed her away. I watched as she dropped to all fours and began to run over to the other kids of various races. I found a nice sunny spot and sat down to meditate. I watched Luin begin to play tag with the others, drawing a massive smile on my face.

I closed my eyes and began to meditate, clearing my mind and sorting through the ordeals of the past few weeks. A memory seemed to snap into my mind that I couldn’t recall having. I was screaming as I watched a wave of something wash over a young child, no a Dwarf? I was crying at the loss of my companion. I felt my burning rage reach new heights as I turned to see the back of the fleeing… I was awakened by the crying of a child in the distance.

I opened my eyes and looked over at the kids staring at one of the Beastkin children on the ground, screaming at the top of their lungs. I shot up and was at the group of kids in the blink of an eye, who were now circling the smaller kid. I pushed my way through and could see the kid had fallen and broken his arm. It was at the wrong angle.

One of the other parents who had seen what happened had run over, giving me funny looks. He kneeled and told the child it would be alright. He told the kid to bite down on the strap of his bag, and the man pulled his arm straight, the kid going unconscious. I then watched as he placed his hand on the arm and could see his face scrunch up in concentration before the area glowed green a bit.

The man opened the kid's mouth and looked at the strap where the kid had almost bitten thought. The man signed and put the bag back over his shoulder. “What rank are you? You moved faster than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

“B, Bone,” I said before looking for Luin. I didn’t remember moving that fast or using my Speed Aura.

“That’s some incredible speed for one at your rank. I thought you were coming to heal the boy.”

“Sorry, I don’t know any healing spells yet.” I spotted Luin a momment later, chasing another Beastkin around the trees. I looked over at the man, who was still staring at me.

“Sorry, I’m Zeal.”

“Sanja.”

The man seemed to look for his child, seeing him. He went back to his park bench. Odd, he just wanted my name? Oh well. I went back over to my spot on the grass and began to meditate again. I tried to remember the memory I was living before but couldn’t grasp any of the details.

Sometime later, I was being poked at my side. I opened my eyes to find a tired-looking Luin. “You know, you can just call my name instead of poking me? Your claws are sharp, you know.”

She looked down at her clawed hands then poked herself in the side with a wince. “Sorry, papa, no more poke, poke.”

“You done playing?”

“Yep, yep. Luin had too much fun. Luin is very tired.”

I got up, patting her head, and we began walking back to the inn. I used my magic map a few times, but it wasn’t long before I led Luin upstairs to our room, where she jumped up on the bed and passed out.

I locked the door and went back downstairs to the crowded common room. My seat had been taken, so I found an empty table in the back and flagged down one of the barmaids. She returned later with a large mug of the wine and my dinner. I finished the roasted meat and what tasted like mashed potatoes, but purple quickly.

I ordered another mug of the wine and just listened in on the common room's various conversations. Many of them centered around the possible war with the Akhusite Kingdom and the dungeonless towns to the west.

Another group talked about taking their entire party and going up north to the town of Kirjour for the trials. I was interested in that conversation but couldn’t garner any details from their discussion.

After a few more rounds of wine, I told the man at the bar I didn’t need the bathtubs tonight and went up to my room and moved the snoring Kobold over, and promptly passed out.

***

The following day when the bells rang, my head was splitting. I nudged the blue snoring pile, and when she stirred, I dressed in a set of my new clothes, tossing my old set in my bag. Well damn. I never got into my new sleepwear last night. I just passed out in my old pair.

Luin was still in bed with the pillow over her head, so I picked her up and placed her over my shoulder before walking downstairs. Again, the common room was bare this early, and I sat in the same spot as the previous morning. The owner came out a minute later with our tray of food.

“Sorry, but I never got your names. I’m Zeal, and this groggy mess is Luin.”

“I’m Obbah, and my husband is Throlk. He’s the barkeep you met the other day and typically works later in the evening.”

“Well met, Obbah.”

She nodded and went back to the kitchen. I finished my meal and looked over at the empty bowl in front of Luin. We got up and left and headed back to The Guild. The hall wasn’t as packed as yesterday, and when one of the receptionists spotted us, she pointed towards the backdoor.

Outside Hiroaki was already yelling at other adventurers as they shot arrows at targets on the back wall. “Hold! Retrieve your arrows!” yelled the Sugar Glider Beastkin.

I walked over, and Hiroaki spotted me. He pointed to a table with a few bows and quivers, full of arrows. He shouted for the group to begin firing again and then took me off to the side and began showing me the best way to stand and draw the bow.

For the next few hours, I and the others would empty our quiver until he yelled for everyone to hold, then retrieve our arrows. He would shout out anyone's mistakes, and the man often used my name. After the fourth bell rang, he had everyone retrieve their arrows and move the targets back to the corner of the room.

Hiroaki moved everyone over to the benches to show them how to take care of the bows with the provided oil and rags and reminded everyone always to unstring the bow when not in use or not in a position where the bow needed to be ready. He instructed two of the better archers to show us how to salvage any arrow and fix those that could be salvaged. I was disappointed my arm never burned with a new rune for Bow during the training.