Alica and Glenn arrived at the gates of the Glass Cannon Adventure Guild. The mood of the refugees and adventurers in the area was a bit frantic. There was, however, an air of control and order present. The people talked in loud whispers to those nearby but still formed an orderly line. Alica led Glenn to a much smaller door where most foot traffic was let through. “This way, as a member I can get us in more quickly. Especially now it looks like they need everyone they can get to keep things in order out here.”

  They reached the gate with only a few dirty looks mostly from the younger children Glenn had seen in line. He supposed he didn’t look much like an adventurer having put all of his equipment in his inventory and wearing filthy clothes.

  “Alica, Good timing, did your hunt go well?” A portly guard said as they approached.

  “Oh hi Mark!” Alica replied cheerily. “No I didn’t get any chance to fight. When I saw the forest fire I was getting ready to pack and head out. Then I ran across Glenn. He needed to be shown the way to town anyway so it seemed right to head back together.”

  “It’s too bad about the hunt, I know you were looking forward to it. You made the right call though. That fire has sent the monsters wild. We have already lost two of the villages. Brook Hollow was leveled. We kept the casualties down to just injuries though so it could have been a lot worse.”

  “We need to report our findings as well. Glenn here believe he spotted signs of a dragon den in the forest.”

  Glenn nodded sharply.

  “I shouldn’t hold you up here then. Go on in the clerk should help you fill out your report as it is your first time. Tell Molly hello for me if you would.”

  “I will and thank you for your help Mark.”

  The hall was packed. Tables normally full of raucous laughter and joy were packed with refugees waiting for carriages to take them towards town instead. It was quiet overall. The people waiting to hear if their name was called for the next carriage or wagon. Glenn could tell by the design of the room, from the easy to move furniture and lack of anything fixed to the floor that this room was used to being converted in times of crisis. He saw that some families had curtains pulled for privacy. They were likely there for when the room was used in a mass casualty situation. “Everyone seems very efficient.” He mumbled to himself. seeing for the first time what he had waited for this whole time, magic. On one hand it was real honest magic. On the other though it was healing magic he thought as he watched a man’s charred flesh slowly regain its color. His eyes went wide thinking that it was his fire that likely caused those burns. No amount of consoling would take that fact away.

  They worked their way to a large wooden counter that seemed to double as both a service counter and a bar. The counter top polished welln likely over countless years.

  “Alica I was worried” the large Werewolf behind the counter rasped. It tone deep and imposing but with a clearly friendly lilt. “When I had heard you were sill out on your first hunt alone I almost sent the pack after you. With everything going on though they were needed to search for the wounded though. I am glad you made it back safely.”

  “Molly, Mark sends his regards.” Alica waited a moment to watch the werewolf blush, her ears turning pink before continuing. “This is Glenn, He is a [Scout] but he is not in a guild, he needs to make a report though. Mark told me you could help us with that.”

  “I certainly can. She said handing over a crystal. “Just place your hand on this and remember what it is you wish to report and a copy of the memory will be transferred into the item. It may take a few tries to get it correct as maintaining a smooth image can be tricky. When you are ready to start just push a bit of mana into it.”

  “How do I do that?” Glenn asked. “This seems really invasive. What if I think about something I wanted to not share?”

  Molly eyed him carefully. “You don’t know how to move mana?”

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  “Never learned” Glenn replied. “I would like to though.”

  Molly eyed Alica to see if he was telling the truth she indicated that he was. “Glenn is a New Arrival that is part of what we need to report. I really think we may need to meet with the Guild Leader directly though.”

  Molly nodded and asked “I will see if I can get ahold of him this sounds urgent. It is urgent right?”

  Alica nodded, “Best not to talk about it in here though.” She said gesturing around them. “I don’t want to create extra stress.”

  ------------

  Guild master Vainstrom was a mountain almost literally. Two thousand pounds of granite and grit he was the reason that the guild didn't use unenchanted wood for the floors anymore. When he walked boards broke. For that reason his office was on the ground floor. It was also one of the reasons his adventurers were some of the most well behaved In Gol'dur. His office being on the first floor meant that he heard everything. He knew the plans others had thought were mere whispers. He was too smart to act on them though. Letting the children play their games. It wasn't unless the danger was severe enough, when one of his members would be directly harmed, that he stepped in. Even then though he would just issue a quest in the area unrelated to the deed he wished prevented. He didn't want adventurers that wouldn't protect their own either.

  Guild master Vainstrom had heard everything that had been said at the counter, he waited for his communication stone to light up though. "Yes," He replied curtly. "Have the Next group of wagons arrived yet?" He put frustration into his voice.

  "I am sorry sir, I have Alica here and she informed me she has a report you should hear directly." Molly's voice came from the crystal. Such a good girl he thought. " Send them in." He replied.

  "You may head in." Molly said. Gesturing the way. To a large pair of ornate chiseled stone doors.

  As they approached only one thought crossed Glenn's mind "He said them."

  -------

  Vainstom's office was sparse, formal and utilitarian. The desk a large slab of stone carved to resemble a desk. Bookshelves lined the walls Glenn noticed history and tactics books as well as some that had to do with what he could only assume was magic. He hid his excitement as well as a child on their birthday.

  "Alica It's good to see you your father would have turned me to rubble if you hadn't made it back safe." Vainstrom said getting to his feet once the doors had fully closed, on their own. He stomped forward his footfalls like thunder as he picked up Alica in a huge hug. "We were all worried. The name day hunt is sacred though and I believed you would be safe. I didn't want to ruin your chance to join the guild by sending you help. I am glad to see I made the right choice."

  Alica turning red in the tight squeeze heard here armor grind. "Stop it uncle Vainstrom." She whined. "We have business." Setting her down gently, Vainstrom went back to his desk. "So you do." he said a hint of pride in his eyes. "Please share your findings."

  "Well, while I was out hunting I ran into Glenn, when a Rattleconda attacked my camp. Glenn fought it off for me, sort of, the snake had been driven out by the fire and Glenn informed me it was a level ten. When we camped for the night I found out that he is a New Arrival and appeared near Nesting ground for Forest Rocs, a family of dragon apparently has been hunting them for their brood which has hatched Guildmaster." She stood bolt upright while making her report a marked difference from her usual nonchalance.

  "Dragons you say, that explains the fire. We will have to ensure we are ready for an air assault then." The Guildmaster thought aloud. "And you are a New Arrival" He said turning to Glenn "That shouldn't be possible. New Arrivals never happen off cycle."

  "I don't know if I am or not." Glenn replied "I woke up in a cave, Not where I thought I would be." Where did I think I was going to be again. Glenn thought to himself. It took him a moment but he recalled. "I fell asleep in my bed and woke up in a cave. All of this is overwhelming. I am having a harder time remembering things from my past. It's like it is taking longer and longer to recall the memories."

  "That's common the Second Life System puts information in your head. It has to go somewhere and you havn't been here long enough to raise your intelligance accordingly. For most folks that isn't a problem being born here anything the system puts in place just adds to what's there. For a New Arrival though things are fundamentally different. You have to start from the ground up. I will get you some memory crystals we use for reporting. Just place what you would like to record in there and you will at least be able to preserve some of your memories. I would reccomend not using any skillbooks or learning any skills until after that though. The more you add to what you know the more you will forget."

  "And if I have already used a skillbook?" Glenn asked worriedly.

  "Then the damage is already done and you have to save as much as you can."

  "I am rather busy though Alica please see too it that the line stays orderly. While I have a few words alone with Glenn."

  Alica cast a worried look but did as she was told.