Stunned silence greeted Klein’s revelations and hasty retreat. Jane stared at the closed door, and the priest at her. After a minute the priest cleared his throat and asked Jane to come with him. Jane followed the old man down a hallway to another office. Unlike the other buildings that she had seen this one was entirely made of stone, even the hallways. Every few metres there was a small alcove with different statues, Jane guessed that they were probably representations of the gods or saints, something of that nature. The priest pushed open a wooden door to an office that was the complete opposite of Plezie’s. Papers were overflowing on every surface, none of the drawers closed and the furniture seemed like it was going to collapse if even a single piece of parchment was placed on it.

“Please, sit.” the priest pointed to one of the two chairs that didn’t have a huge pile of paperwork on it. She still had to move a couple of sheets over to the chair next to it. “I am Father Athair but the children here call me Padre, this orphanage is in my care. This is a very odd situation, do you think you could maybe explain some of it to me?”

Jane looked at Father Athair, her head cocked slightly as she contemplated what to tell him. The truth obviously, there is definitely magic going on so truth detection might be a thing. But not the whole truth. She realised as she thought that she didn’t even know the name of the god that had stuck her here, and she certainly couldn’t describe him, or her. So part of the truth, and hope for the best.

“I don’t really know, I’m afraid. Everything I remember of this life was spent alone, in the wolds or ruined villages. I came across a [Town Crystal] just over a week ago, and I touched it. I spent a week exploring while I waited to tier up, then I headed out. I came to the Welcome Inn, cleared a [Den] to reach level 10 of [Beginner Militiaman] and came here to Rimwall and the Adventurers Guild.”

Athair looked at Jane over his steepled fingers, slight golden wisps floating around his head. After a few seconds he nodded.

“I believe you. I know that wasn’t the full truth, but enough I think to get an idea of what is happening. I won’t enquire more for now, but know that you can always talk to me and, barring world-shattering problems or the like, I will keep your secrets.” He lifted a hand to forestall any comments Jane might have had. “While I can see that you are obviously older than the usual twelve or so years old of most tier ones, I’m afraid that the law is the law. A minor is anyone who has yet to cap a tier two, and unless you can lead me to your parents or other legal guardians right now you are considered an orphaned or abandoned minor. You will be required to stay here until such a time as you cap your tier two, or a guardian comes to claim you. I am truly sorry, but any less and I would suffer the consequences, not only of the law but also the God’s.”

Jane sagged visibly as the padre talked. She had thought that things were looking good for her, what with clearing a [Den] on her own, but apparently tier 1 was less than impressive. Less than an adult even, and now she was supposed to be a ward of the state, at twenty physically, and having been over forty. She sighed loudly and steeled herself for the next answer.

“How long do people normally take to reach their majority?”

“Well, most people become tier 0 in their twelfth year for a week, around six months of tier 1 and finally between three and five years to cap tier 2. So you see, not that long!” Athair said with a smile. “You will probably be on the lower end of that as well, as a fighter.”

Jane was frozen, like a rabbit in headlights. Four years in an orphanage, as an adult. What the actual fuck.

“What if I didn’t want to stay in an orphanage?”

Father Athair frowned at Jane's words. Then he sighed and sank into his chair. When he replied he sounded older, and far more tired.

“Then, according to our laws I must send the guard after you.”

“Fuck.”

“Indeed. I will show you to your room, you will be required to share.”

Resigned to her fate Jane spent the next half an hour filling in paperwork. While she still found it incredibly annoying to be in an orphanage at least the paperwork was easy. Compared to tax returns for a forty-year-old student these people were laughably lax in their standards. It did still take a while to fill everything out and for her to receive a quick rundown of the major rules of the orphanage. There was nothing particularly strange or different about them, compared to what Jane expected from her own universe. Be “home” before dark, no joining gangs or other such organisations, no magic in the corridors without special permissions. The last one was a bit different but at least as reasonable as the ever-present no running.

The administration finished, Father Athair led Jane further into the building. The walls were no longer stone, but the typical plaster that she expected from the other buildings that she had seen. Here they were painted a bright and cheery yellow, with flowers and small animals. If she hadn’t known that she was in an orphanage she would have guessed at the paediatric ward in a hospital. There was the same sort of false cheer and overly cleaned sort of feeling to the place.

“I am truly sorry, but we don’t have individual rooms here, and we are full anyway, this is the only bed available.” Athair sounded genuinely sorry. He was standing in front of a plain wooden door with a number nine painted on it. “The odd rooms are on this side and are for the girls, the evens are on the other side and for the boys. You will be sharing with Kaimin, she is one of our oldest wards, well into her tier two.” He hesitated, his hand on the door handle. “I shall leave it up to you, as to what you explain to the other wards, I must explain somewhat your, er, unusual age to the other adults that work here. Outside of these walls I would suggest that you remain vague enough that people assume you work here. Other than the guards I suppose.”

With a short nod to himself, Athair knocked on the door, announced himself and entered the room. Kaimin’s bedroom was a riot of colours, of clothes strewn about like they had been caught in a gale, and of papers, scrolls and books all over. She bounced off her bed with a panicked look at Athair. Her eyes darted about the room frantically as she smoothed down her nightgown.

“Padre, I, uh, I was just tidying up ready for bed.” She stammered. “I, I needed to do some sorting out so that’s why everything is…” she trailed off.

Athair sighed and gently pushed Jane into the room before shutting the door and leaving. Jane took a moment to compose herself and observe the room and its occupant. The room was a complete mess, and Jane wasn’t entirely sure that there were indeed two beds in it. The girl standing awkwardly in the middle of the disaster zone was short and dainty, with a tan visible even though she was bright red from embarrassment. Her long blonde hair, so blonde it was nearly white, was probably the only tidy thing about her, neatly tied up and brushed out. Jane shook herself and decided to break the silence.

“Hello, I’m Akaisha, it’s been a long day, so if you could just make some space so that I can sleep I’ll explain tomorrow.”

Kaimin jumped and looked around frantically. In an impressive whirlwind of barely coordinated arms and legs she moved everything around until instead of a single pile that covered the entire room there were a few reasonably neat piles that looked about to fall over. Jane quirked an eyebrow at the sudden burst of activity.

“Kaimin Lizilveks, [Maid] 41.” Kaimin said with a slight curtsey. “I forget to tidy up a lot, but I am good at it. In the cupboard there is clean bedding, it’s mine but you can borrow it no worries!”

“Thank you, I’m going to change and sleep now, if you don’t mind.”

Jane swiftly changed out of the clothes that she had been wearing for so long, put on a nightshirt and slid into bed. It wasn’t the best bed, nor was the nightshirt particularly comfortable, but she was exhausted. Kaimin climbed into her bed and said light’s out. The lights obeyed, to Jane’s surprise, but she couldn’t muster up the energy to care and fell asleep in seconds.

Far too quickly she was shaken awake by her roommate. She half-opened her eyes and groaned.

“Wake up sleepyhead, you are going to miss breakfast!” Kaimin was far too awake and bubbly for whatever ungodly hour it was. Jane rolled over and half fell out of bed. She yawned and stretched. Kaimin practically threw a pile of clothes at Jane, which Jane promptly dropped on the floor.

“Come on! Put them on, quick, you’ll miss breakfast, and then you’ll be late for whatever class instruction you’ve got going on!” Kaimin was almost vibrating, she was that full of energy. “What is your class anyway? So I can point you in the right direction at least.”

“[Beginner Militiaman]”

“OK! So you are going to want to find Silah and follow him. He’s the tall thin one with the floppy hair and peach fuzz.”

Kaimin skipped down the hallway humming joyously as Jane tried to keep up. Breakfast was the same as at the inn, not really very inspiring but enough to fill you up and get you going. She followed Kaimin and took her plate and cutlery to a shelf where others were stacked.

Kaimin pointed to Silah and sent Jane off to join him. Silah was the tallest child here that she had seen, almost as tall as her even though he was probably only fourteen or so. Whip thin, but with well-defined muscles visible on his forearms and calves. Despite having a well-muscled thin body he still had a youthfully rounded face, something that he seemed to try and hide behind a fuzzy, slightly orange beard. Although calling it a beard was probably overly generous.

“Hello, I have been told that you are Silah, I am Akaisha and I am to follow you for today's, er, training or whatever.” She had started off in a strong confident voice but cringed internally as she struggled to end her sentence.

“Are you new? You look a bit old to be here. Well, come with us we are going to the guard’s training area, you are welcome to follow.” Silah half squeaked and half growled, his voice rising at the end of each sentence like it was a question. He was obviously going for the grizzled warrior look, probably inspired by the guards he trained with, but the horrors of puberty killed that idea.

Three other children stood up from the table next to Silah, two boys and a girl. All three were of a similar height and age. They looked like they might all be related, they all had a similar shape to their eyes, a way of holding themselves and a closeness that seemed to Jane to scream family. Although, she thought to herself, it might just be that everyone in this place was dressed in the same style of short-sleeved tunic that only appeared to come in three colours, greyish, washed-out green, and used to be blue.

Silah stood straighter and waved his arm to show his friends.

“I am Silah, as you know, and these are the cousins three, Munodo the [Swordsman], Nyika the [Apprentice Earth Mage] and most beautiful of the three, and Chirembo the [Healer].”

The three nodded as their name was mentioned, the girl blushing slightly at Silah’s complement. Jane rolled her eyes at the transparent and awkward flirting but decided against mentioning it.

“Nice to meet you all, as I said, I am Akaisha, shall we go?”

The four orphans lead Jane through Rimwall to a gate on the opposite side from the one where she had initially come in. The guards at the gate waved them through with a smile, no one commenting that there was a newcomer who stood out from the other four. They headed left just outside of the gate and came to a small group of buildings and a large beaten earth training field, complete with mannequins and guards already sparring. Jane followed the group over to the largest building. The four younger children lined up like they were in the army, so Jane did her best to copy them.

As soon as they were lined up the door opened and a man in dark blue leather armour stepped out. He had the golden-brown tower over his heart and a sword and mace on his belt. The guardsman was nearly as tall as Klein, and looked like his shoulders could hardly pass the door square on, they were that wide. As he stepped out the orphans snapped to attention, Jane halfheartedly copying them a few seconds later. The man returned their salute and dismissed them with a flick of his hand. The four turned to leave and Jane made to follow them when a voice barked out,

“Not you.”

Jane froze and turned back to the man.

“Akaisha Wainwright, [Beginner Militiaman], you wish to become an adventurer I’m told.”

“Yes, er, sir?”

“I am Sergent Vorn of the guard here in Rimwall, I am in charge of training the rookies, of the guard and the orphanage. Father Athair explained some of your situation. I will not speak of it but know that I will expect you to act as if you were just another orphan. You will train here on eight days of each decadi, the other two are for rest. When I decide that you are ready you will participate in training [Dungeon] dives. Is that clear, rookie?” Vorn said, his voice like two rocks grinding against each other. He didn’t sound particularly happy about her presence. Without waiting for a reply he turned and headed to where the four had gone before. After a second Jane ran after him. Vorn pushed open the door to the smallest building and led her inside.

“This is the armoury, you will come here to get equipped for the day's training and return all of the equipment in pristine condition in the evening before leaving. The arm guards pair with the weapons to make a training enchantment. Together it cancels all damage but can paralyse you if a hit or series of hits would put you out of action, this means that you can go all out and nobody dies. Now put on a pair of bracers and grab a spear.” Vorn practically growled at her.

“Yes sir, er, my [Weapon: Spear] is still at one, but I have a sledgehammer skill at fifteen, would it be better to train that instead?”

“Fifteen already? And you are at [Beginner Militiaman] ten? Well then, hammer and shield then.”

Jane threw out a salute and slid her hands into a pair of leather bracers. She took the hammer and shield offered and followed Vorn out onto the training field.

“Sir? This hammer doesn’t feel right.”

“You said that you had a sledgehammer skill? That is a one-handed war hammer, your skill won’t affect it, but the muscle memory will still work. If you prove your worth I will see about having a training sledgehammer made. Now prepare yourself.” He turned away from Jane and bellowed so loudly that Jane’s ears rang. “Norek, come here please.”

A young man with an impressive moustache in guard leathers jogged over and snapped to attention.

“Test her out.”

“Yes sir!” Norek turned and led Jane out into an unoccupied area of the field.

“I won’t ask you for any information, let us spar so that I may learn who you are through combat, go all out, please, we all have enchantments to protect us.”

Jane gripped her hammer tightly and slipped into what was quickly becoming her Akaisha mindset. She rolled her shoulders and lept, hammer raised high. She brought the hammer down smashing hard into the ground. Norek stood just to the side grinning. She swiped hard at him and he stepped easily out of reach. Akaisha frowned and swung faster, lunging at Norek. The guardsman twisted just before she hit and she ended up sprawled on the floor. Akaisha pushed herself to her feet just as a spear came at her face. She threw herself backwards just enough to nearly avoid the tip. The wooden spear clipped her chin. Her vision swam and she landed hard on the floor.

A hand appeared just above her face. She shook her head and took it, allowing her to be pulled to her feet. Norek still had a silly grin half-hidden under his moustache.

“You are pretty good!” He cheered her on, despite throwing her on her ass twice. “Are you maybe a [Warrior], about level twenty? You don’t have to tell me, but I’m usually good at guessing!”

Jane looked at Norek, his moustache twitching as he bounced up and down on the balls of his feet. She smiled at him before asking,

“Is [Warrior] a common tier two class?” Norek nodded before Jane continued. “Sorry, but no. I’m just a [Beginner Militiaman] ten.”

Norek just stood there, mouth agape.