"Glenn." Vainstrom's voice rebounded off the walls just as the doors clicked shut. "I have one question for you."

  "What are your intentions for my Niece? I can tell she has taken you in like a lost puppy. I just want you to be aware, I will crush you if you hurt her." The fire in his eyes was not imagined.

  Shaking, a feeling of overwhelming dread almost brought Glenn to his knees and then it was gone. Stammering out that he had no intention of hurting her in any way shape or form Vainstrom seemed to be appeased. "I will only tell you this once so pay attention. Alica just turned one hundred. That is the age Elves may start adventuring. The age of adulthood though is two hundred. Do I make myself clear?"

  "Crystal." Glenn replied.

  "Good." Vainstrom said sitting at his desk and handing him a memory crystal from his desk. "Record your arrival. until now."

  Glenn doing as asked took the stone and attempted to do as Molly had instructed. "I don't know how to direct mana." He said. "How do I get it to work."

  Vainstrom leaned over his eyes changing color. "No that's not the problem you are doing that right. It is intuitive, your body knows what to do. As you will the mana into the crystal it just moves. I can see the mana moving. Work on forming an image in your head picture the events and slowly progress through them."

  Doing as instructed he ran the past several days through his head. The dream when he used the skillbook was surreal casting distorted images. The claw marks in the cave, however, were clear. He stopped at the point where he met Alica. As well as where he started the forest fire. "That is what I know."

  Guildmaster Vainstrom Watched the crystal as it cast images of his memories. "Well you will have to work on submitting reports but it will do. Did I hear right that you are a [Scout]? " Glenn nodded in the affirmative. "Good good, would you mind showing me the cave you were in on your [Map]?"

  "How do I do that?" Glenn asked bringing up his map. "No wait, I think I figured it out." After willing the [Map] to be visible to the Guildmaster a confirmation window appeared Glenn selected the area to share and shared it with the Guildmaster.

  "Hum that is closer than I though." The voice like rock on rock ground out. "I think I need to get in touch with the other halls. "Tell Molly on your way out to get you set up with a room. I don't want you leaving this building until I get a handle on this situation. Is that clear?"

  "Thank you." Glenn replied nodding, relieved to have a place to stay at least. "What can I do to help though?" Glenn asked. If he was going to stay here he could at least help out. He could use all of the good will he could get right now. "I have [Eagle Eye] and [Mark] I could be helpful."

  The Guildmaster stood back up looking him over. "You aren't a member of this guild. As such I can't put you in a position where you might be harmed and we have lookouts already. That said, we can use every person we can get right now. Go see if Molly could use your help keeping things moving with the evacuation. we can talk about your future plans later."

  Glenn left Vainstrom's office, the Guildmaster leaning on his desk. My [Tremor Sense] told me he was honest. "He was hiding something though." Vainstrom said to himself. "The way he looked at Alica. He showed genuine concern for her when I hugged her. Hmm he might be alright. A New Arrival off Cycle what could it mean?"

  Vainstrom pulled a large leather tome from a shelf. "The Cycle." It read on the cover. It was a book on the past twenty merges each seperated by a thousand years exactly. Each time an accompanying Surge brought large numbers of monster waves. There was not a single record of any New Arrivals off Cycle. "Is he just the first arrival?" Vainstrom pondered. Well there was a procedure to be followed either way. If a New Arrival was spotted all cities were to be warned and institute Surge procedures. He picked up his messaging crystal and sent messages to all of the guild leaders to convene the conclave. "What a poor time." He thought. "I suppose it always is when a New Arrival is involved." He corrected himself.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Well, no matter, when the wave breaks we will see everyone's true character.

  -------------

  Glenn arrived at the Bar/reception desk. Alica Already there was getting ready to leave when she saw him. "That was quick." Alica said. "I thought he would have more questions."

  "He told me not to leave so I am sure he will have more questions for me later." Glenn replied. "For now though." He said turning to Molly "How can I help? The Guildmaster said you might have need of an extra hand."

  Molly thinking for a moment replied, teeth glistening with saliva, "Well we could use a runner to carry messages to and from the carts. When a cart arrives just let us know how many people we can fit and help usher people to them. It's not glamourous but right now that would be a huge help."

  "Ill show him the way." Alica replied. I will be helping Mark keep the refugees orderly, so I am heading that way anyway."

  "Thank you." Molly replied acknowledging. With that they said there goodbyes and headed to their assigned tasks.

  When Mark arrived. The sun was setting. A wagon had just arrived. People were unloading supplies most food and medical supplies. Many people would be sheltering in the Guild hall anyone with a class over level twenty five was not allowed to enter the town proper. By keeping all of the people in the town low level the mana would be pulled to the guild halls. This held many benefits. The most important of which was that it prevented monster spawns in town. As magical creatures they could only form in areas of high magic concentrations. That was one of the reasons a [Merge] was so dangerous. It caused instability in the mana and made it possible for monsters to spawn inside the walls.

  Glenn let Molly know a cart had arrived and then began to help unload it. Once it was empty he led those who had there names called to the cart. While he watched it leave, [Mark] accidently activated, putting a red dot in his vision. Realizing that meant he had been staring off he got back to work. He helped move the supplies inside and clear the way for the next cart. Using [Eagle eye] he watch the next cart on his way. He used [Mark] on the cart and shared the map with Molly. Who it turns out could watch it progress in real time. Molly was appreciative. Having saved some walking and with some time on his hands he went to see how Alica was doing. The line was moving slowly. Looking out he watched as the distant flames lit the sky. While staring off his [Mark] Activated again. Using [Inspect] A window popped up

  Forest Roc level 30

  25 EXP granted.

  The box was following his [Mark] he also noticed that it had updated with the information on his map. He noticed another black dot, and then another. Using [Eagle Eye] to place a [Mark] on each one he used [Inspect] each time and gained 25 EXP per marked target. When he did the previous dot would disappear but the information would stay on the [Map].

  He informed Alica and Mark of what he had seen sharing his [Map] with them both.

  "Get everyone inside the gatehouse." Mark instructed. "We don't have long before they are here." Both of you get inside too after you have the others inside. He pulled a stone from his pocket. Glenn didn't know what he was doing but he had a guess. Which was confirmed a moment later "Help is on it's way." Mark said loudly.

  Glenn had gone to the back of the line there were only a hundred or so more people who needed to move through. It didn't take too long for them all to be brought inside. It was, however, too long.

  The Forest Rocs the strongest of which were a bit over level fifty, Increased their speed. seeing the easy pray on the ground they began to dive. Alica grabbing a torch kept using [Interviene] to put herself between the birds and their pray, the birds having recently learned a healthy respect for fire would shriek and stop their dives. Glenn would pass on their locations keeping an eye on the sky while maintaining [Stealth] He knew if he was targeted he had no way to really defend himself.

  When the extra adventurers arrived they fought back the Rocs, Mark his halberd swinging was already cleaving through the birds. As the last of the refugees made it inside the gates they swung closed with a resounding thud. that was when the mages on the wall opened fire.

  From inside the gatehouse, the sound was muffled. The force of the spells could be felt rumbling through the ground and walls. He now understood that they were just in the way. He wanted to go onto the wall and watch the battle. He felt it would be rude to ask though after he had just seen several people disembroiled by birds. They were fine once the healers had gotten to them, but it still felt rude.

  All thoughts of watching fled his mind though when Mark came back in. Or what was left of him.

  His armor was shredded and torn. It was like his armor was pulled apart to get at the soft being underneath. He was covered in deep furrowed gashes. Blood fell freely to the ground. He leaned heavily on his Halberd with his one remaining arm. The other adventurers were still fighting outside as Mark slammed the door shut and collapsed.