Feru is hard at work on a chalkboard writing the theoretical alchemical makeup of her new metal. Ren slowly peeks over a counter while Feru is hard at work.

  “You’re trying to make an innately magical metal.” Ren says.

  “Yep.” Feru says.

  Feru doesn’t stop writing on the chalkboard, even when Ren critiques her new plan.

  “That takes a lot of strain and effort off the user for more power, but demand would effectively be set by you alone.” Ren says. “A good idea in concept, but difficult in practice. It’s certainly much harder than just making a metal strong enough to endure a bullet.”

  “But with something innately magical, it can have more uses and maintain the ability to hinder bullets and other projectiles in the air.” Feru says.

  “Dooley said the expo is in an octant. 8 days.” Ren says. “Do you really think you can do it?”

  “I’m already done.”

  Feru sets down the piece of chalk she was writing with before stepping back and observing the concept of a new and never before seen metal. The chalkboard had complex magic symbols and a variety of other complex alchemical and magical formulas and notes. Ren looks over Feru’s concept.

  “It could work, but production is expensive.” Ren says. “Not as expensive as adamantine or oricalcum. Still, it should work, assuming you can actually get and use any of these. The materials proposed would be difficult to get.”

  “I have almost everything I need.” Feru says. “I just need a material with a silver type trait. Preferably from a fruit.”

  “If you’re sure.” Ren says. “I can ask around the adventurer’s guild to see if anyone knows anything.”

  “The new one or the old one?” Feru asks.

  “New one?” Ren says.

  “Yeah.” Feru says. “A group of mercenaries, I think they were called the Helgen Swords, started an adventurer’s guild. They’re looking for clients and promise to be better than the guild run by Crane Baross. This mornting they were going around the neighborhood and talking telling everyone that they’re here in the industrial district.”

  Ren gives Feru a blank stare.

  “I’m going to the Crane Baross guild.” Ren says. “When Lucia gets back, tell her to wait for me here.”

  Ren starts to head back to the adventurer’s guild, or at least the one Crane Baross runs. Ren rushes through the door. The guild is in a rush. The only time Ren had seen the guild this lively was when she found out about a conspiracy taking advantage of a parade.

  “What’s going on?” Ren asks.

  “Ren!” Alliot calls out. “Hey! You’re just in time. We just caught wind of another conspiracy. You free right now?”

  Ren pauses for a moment before asking a question of her own.

  “What happens if there’s a conspiracy and I have a quest in progress?” Ren asks.

  “Oh. So you’re busy.” Alliot nods. “Honestly, I would recommend you just handle your quest. You’re with the newbie Lucia, right?”

  “Yeah.” Ren says. “I’m helping someone with an exposition at the castle next octant.”

  Alliot begins to wildly blink at Ren’s words.

  “So… we found out that someone is trying to steal stuff from the castle next octant.” Alliot says.

  There is a brief pause as the words sink in. They are likely talking about the same event.

  “Want to come?” Ren asks.

  “YOU FUCKING KNOW IT!” Alliot cheers.

  The guildmaster, Crane Baross, catches sight of the two and heads over to the two.

  “Just what are you two doing?” Crane asks the two.

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  “Hey boss, I just had an idea.” Alliot says. “Don’t we have people asking for help with the expo? You think we can get in with some of those?”

  “I don’t see why not.” Crane says.

  “Great.” Alliot says. “I’m going to look through all our quests and see if we can’t put together parties to help everyone showing up there.”

  “Not all quests posted will say that they’re for the expo. Be careful.” Crane says.

  “I got it, I got it.” Alliot says.

  Alliot rushes off to look at the quests the guild has available.

  “Hey guildmaster, do you know about any fruits that can be used in alchemy?” Ren asks.

  “A few, yes.” Crane says. “It’s a bit a ways out of town, but I think you can make it.”

  “Cool. Thanks.” Ren says.

  Ren rushes off to fetch Lucia and Feru. The three manage to head out of town to collect the fruits without any issue. Once again, the issues and problems only sprang up upon their return. Feru went back to work at her atelier using fruit and various other things to make a metal that is magical. Ren and Lucia return to the adventurer’s guild to find that there seems to be a dour mood. This was starkly different from what Ren saw earlier in the day.

  “What happened here?” Lucia asks.

  “There’s a rival adventuring guild in the city now.” an adventurer says.

  “A lot of our clients are trying out the new place.” another adventurer says.

  It is at this moment where Crane Baross speaks up.

  “Forget them.” Crane says. “They’re making big promises, but talking big and making good on their promises are two different things. It is unfortunate, but there isn’t much we can do about it now. We can only wait for them to fail to deliver on those promises.”

  “What do you mean?” Lucia asks.

  “They promised to clear the city sewers of vermin at the price of 1 million gold and 8 hours.” Crane says. “If I had to guess, they left out the part where the sewers survive. Expect the city to malfunction after they botch that.”

  There is a brief pause. Lucia gives the guildmaster a strange look.

  “How do you know that?”

  “Do you think this is the first time someone tried to set up a rival adventuring guild?” Crane asks. “How about causing even more damage than you guys ever could? If you think adventuring is easy, then you’ve never been on a true adventure. One where you turn a side quest into a whole questline. Where you see a problem through to the end for better or worse.”

  Lucia gives Crane a long stare and can only blurt out a single word.

  “Wow.”

  “My guess is, they’ll run out of money and give up. They always do.” Crane says.

  From the doorway, Alliot rushes back into the guild.

  “Checked it out, boss.” Alliot says. “Loads of guys you kicked out or denied membership have joined up with this new guild. Jokers took in our refuse and think they can kick up a stink.”

  “Yes, I figured.” Crane says. “Nothing but greedy louts and hearts of ice. They’ll eat each other alive. I worked hard to curate and nurture everyone under this roof.”

  “It’s not just that, boss.” Alliot continues. “Remember Kanady Vouscherpell? The woman who got away from the last conspiracy?”

  “Vaguely. Why do you ask?” Crane asks.

  “I checked it out and it turns out that the guild doesn’t own the land they set up on.” Alliot explains. “None of them are citizens with landownership rights by the Irvan Kingdom. Kanady is. She’s the one who owns the building they’re using.”

  At those words, Ren inserts herself into the conversation.

  “Can I stab them until they tell me where Kanady and her co-conspirators are?” Ren says in her dull tone of voice.

  “Yeah! Let’s go!” Alliot cheers.

  Ren grabs Lucia by the hand and starts to drag her off while Alliot prepares to rush out too. Crane stops them from leaving by grabbing both Ren and Alliot by their respective belts.

  “No you two. We cannot stab them all, even if I wanted you to do so.” Crane groans.

  Ren remains stony faced, but does slump her shoulders. Alliot frowns while also slumping his shoulders. Both his cat and elf ears also go a bit limp too. As the two shrink down at their simple solution’s rejection, a familiar woman begins her approach. It is Xue.

  “What are you two trying to do?” she asks.

  “Stab all our enemies.” Ren says bluntly.

  “Bring the enemy house down.” Alliot says playfully.

  Xue groans at the two responses.

  “I wish you were both joking.” Xue says. “Anyway, I just confirmed that I can gain entry into the expo. It cost me dearly. I hope it is worth it.”

  “I understand. If nothing, I doubt that she will make your… repayment displeasureable or dangerous.” Crane says.

  “No. It’s just troublesome.” Xue says.

  “Oh Xue, get this!” Alliot speaks up. “Kanady is the owner of the new adventurer’s guild’s building. A lot of people going to the expo are also getting them into the venue.”

  “Wait, isn’t the venue the royal castle?” Xue asks.

  “Yeah. What about it?” Alliot asks back.

  “They just gained access to a highly secure area with lots of sensitive documents and important people.” Xue says.

  “Eh, seems like a pretentious kind of place to me.” Alliot says.

  “That’s the definition of a castle.” Xue says.

  “Eh, whatever.” Alliot says. “Place was a dump anyway.”

  Xue gives Alliot a long stare.

  “When did you visit the castle?” Xue asks.

  “Oh yesterday.” Alliot says.

  “You forgot to mention before that visit you snuck in and punched a wing of the castle to rubble.” Crane says.

  Xue is unsurprised and gives a sigh. Alliot just gives a thumbs up.

  “Anyway, is it just me who can enter the building on the day of the expo?” Xue asks.

  “No, these two have a quest lined up to take them there.” Alliot points to Ren and Lucia.

  “The other chaos enthusiast and…” Xue pauses for a moment. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met.”

  Lucia is visibly startled after being addressed.

  “Ah! Hello! I’m Lucia! I’m new here.” Lucia introduces herself.

  “Good to meet you.” Xue says. “If you ever feel lost, please feel free to ask for me.”

  “Oh, uh. Thank you, miss.” Lucia stammers.

  “Aren’t you always busy and stuff out of town?” Alliot asks.

  At Alliot’s words, Xue pokes him in the neck with a finger. He briefly yelps before falling to his knees and falls silent.

  “I’m serious about feel free to ask for my help.” Xue says.

  Lucia looks at Alliot stunned on the floor. Then she looks back to Xue. Then she looks at Ren. Then she looks back to Xue. Then she looks back to Crane. Then finally back to Xue one final time. Lucia gingerly steps forward to Xue and gestures that she wants to whisper into Xue’s ear. Xue leans forward a bit and Lucia brings a hand to cover her mouth and she whispers a question to Xue.

  “Ren is strong and all, but she’s a bit strange.” Lucia whispers.

  Xue whispers into Lucia’s ear.

  “Yes, she is.” Xue whispers. “You should be able to just tell her how you feel. She’s a nice girl at heart. She’ll leave you alone if you only ask her.”

  “But I’m afraid of being alone.” Lucia whispers back. “She gets into all these wild adventures, but I don’t want to be alone again.

  “Even then. You can be honest with her.” Xue whispers.

  Lucia pulls back from whispering and takes a moment to pause.

  “I- I’ll try.” Lucia says.

  Xue gives Lucia a pat on the head and gives her a nod of approval.