You'd already gotten through the window and now it was just a matter of deciding on what to take.

Carna scampered around the room excited, 'quiet' was a concept she somehow understood enough to teach, but not enough to do. While you made your way through the darkness trying to catch her and calm her down, she managed to find a candle and light it giving the dark room a dim light. You catch her sneaking in out of the kitchen through one of the doors and follow behind her, doing your best not to knock anything out of place.

"Look! Look! He's got so many jewelerys! I bet he wouldn't notice if we took one." Carna excitedly waved the candle around in front of a glass cabinet filled with some of Wilheim's pieces. The way they were spaced and organized, you had a feeling she was wrong about her notions.

"Maybe we should leave..." You sheepishly suggested.

"Nah, if we left now then we'd have come here for nothing!" Carna set the candle down on a table and started tapping against the glass, peering around to find where it opened from.

You sighed and looked around, trying to find something less conspicuous to take. Your eyes narrowed on a crate in the corner, several swords stuck out of it, each one identical and unevenly kept.

"Hey Carna, we should take one of those instead."

"Why's that?"

"Merchants don't use swords, so if he has a collection they must be for trade."

Carna tapped her chin a few times thinking over your suggestion, "Alright, let's do it."

>CONT

You sigh in relief having tricked the gullible girl into not getting the two of you into any bigger trouble. Awkwardly, the two of you hefted the blade out of the room and into the kitchen, Carna held it by the hilt and you managed to find a woollen towel to make a questionable sheath out of.

Carna climbed onto the kitchen counter first so you could pass the blade to her, then you climbed up after. Similarly, she popped out the window first so you could pass it down to her.

Happy with her quarry in hand, that you'd later have to return when her father discovered it in the morning, the two of you dragged off the weapon chattering about what a successful heist it was.

You didn't know at the time, but the childish theft would later on be your first of many.

And so the dream ends.

>CONT

File: 1397434983129.png-(31 KB, 600x400, librarianquest.png)

31 KB PNG

>Year 484 of the Raschan Calendar

Neither Masoch nor Kran were very timely teachers. The stern older gentleman would arrive on class just as it was set to begin most days, save for a few where he'd stumble in minutes late with an annoyed look on his face. Kran even worse would sometimes not arrive until nearly an hour in, sometimes dragged along by her demon Graps.

In your third month with The Seekers, you found your new teacher to be a different sort. He was certainly there well-ahead of class, but you'd be iffy on calling him timely.

"...do you think there's a bear in there?" Yu'yen whispers to you, standing just behind your seat.

A tent had taken up place in the middle of the classroom, a little bird perched on the podium and turned it's head between you and your classmates every few seconds, keeping a careful watch on each of you. Empty bottles of liquors and mismatched books were strewn around the stand where your teacher was meant to preside.

Your class was flabbergasted by the strange scene they'd walk into, but everyone knew well enough to just take a seat and see how things played out. Some minutes before your lectures were meant to get under-way, a familiar middle-aged Lunese man crawled out of the tent. He stood up with a yawn, stretched his arms out and placed his hands on the podium. There was a bit of a slam, but the bird didn't seem bothered.

"Alright... let's get started." The man said.

>CONT

Some days ago you met the odd-ball while eating with your classmate Sheryl, 'Kita' as you later learned his name to be warned you about the dangers your friend Yu'yen had run into. After you'd arrived to help Yu'yen and taken some injuries, Kita returned with his fox companion Gin to help patch you up. Somehow he'd done a good enough job that you managed to be back in class by the start of the week to catch the last of Kran's lessons.

Scratching the stubble on his chin and taking a long look around the room, Kita made way back to his tent, opening the flap and speaking into it, "Hey Gin, you handle the introductions. I have no idea what I'm supposed to say."

"Useless human," A fox stepped out of the tent before doing a short hop into the podium, "I'll handle this."

Taking a deep breath, the orange-furred canine spoke, "Hello young Seekers, my name is Gin and I will be the assistant teacher to your third month here. That bum behind me is Kita, the would-be espionage teacher. Whether or not you seek to become Black Cats or White Cats, it is imperative that you know where to stay your tongue and where to toss it. We will begin getting into things shortly, starting off with a little field exam. First off though, let's get some questions out of the way."

With that, the room has been passed to your class.

>Ask about Kita
>Ask about Gin
>Ask about the bird
>Ask about the tent
>Ask about espionage

>>31457777
>Ask about the bird

>>31457777
>Ask about the bird

Although the fox has introduced himself and who you assume to be his contractor, there's still the identity of the bird to ask about.

"So... what's with the bird?"

"Ah him," Gin looks over your way, his tail standing up high, "That's Rum. He doesn't really say anything, but he's a demon in contract to the bum behind me... oh, I am as well if you weren't aware."

The bird Rum does a short hop off the podium and flaps over in front of your desk, looking at the small pigeon in front of you, you notice a certain sharpness to his feathers and a brown tint on the tip of his beak. After taking a good long look at you, he flies over your head and proceeds to scan the rest of your classmates.

"Well, if that's all then let's get on doing some work. Get up Kita, you need to do some actual teaching." Gin turns around to face Kita.

"Yeah yeah, I'm on it... c'mon, we're going to the city." Kita pulls himself up from a reclining position on the floor and drags himself over to the door, one by one your classmates follow behind him.

>CONT

>>31457286
Do we have a name?
I kinda don't remember it being said

On your way into the city, your slovenly teacher lit up a pipe that in contrast to his otherwise ragged appearance, looked quite expensive. Standing around in the square, Kita began to give out his instructions, "As you well know, the most important job of The Seekers is bringing in knowledge. You'll find yourself crawling through old tomes and breaking into guarded temples to unearth what the rest of the world doesn't want you to see... I guess it's kind of my job to teach you about that."

Kita reached inside of his dusty jacket and produced six slips of paper, holding them in his palm. His bird Rum flaps by and swoops them up, before presenting you and each of your classmates with one.

"Typically you'll need to do a little bit of questioning to find ancient tomes of magic, but I'm going to be having you find some more mundane things written on those notes. Before you ask, each of you has a different item to acquire and yes, you may work together. Other than what you're getting, the note will also give you a rough idea of where you can find it, you can thank me later."

You open up the slip of paper, and it seems you've been tasked to... steal a bottle of Masoch's prized liquor?

Peering around, you see your classmates making confused looks. It seems that they've been given some curious goals as well.

>Team up with Yu'yen
>Team up with Leona and Rein
>Team up with Sheryl
>Team up with Anlak
>Go out alone, it'll be not to have to help someone else as well

>>31459666
>Go out alone, it'll be not to have to help someone else as well
I'm up for solo work if anybody else is

>>31459666
>Team up with Sheryl

>>31459666
>Team up with Sheryl

>>31459666
>Team up with Sheryl

You approach Sheryl, the two of you have been bonding nicely over her dog Chance lately and it seems like this would be a good opportunity to see her at work, the elven girl had generally been the best in class and it'd be nice to follow her example.

"You want to work with me?" Sheryl eyes you as cautiously as ever, but gives you a quiet nod, "I guess if you do the talking I can help you out." Sheryl holds her slip of paper up to show you what she was tasked to bring, 'Daktori Premium Fireseed from Renfel's Spices, Calico District'.

What.

"I don't understand this mission but..." Sheryl sighs and begins her path to the Calico District, it seems she intends to get her job done before helping you out with yours.

"I'll wait for you all in The Archives, bring everything back around nightfall." Kita yells to you as you follow behind Sheryl.

>CONT

The Calico District of Deneb sits on one of the corners adjacent to the entrance, you haven't often visited it due to it's distance from The Archives, but it looks to be a quiet little place. A small school for the few children in the city welcomes you with a colourful sign as you enter, and an open square much more peaceful than the one dead centre in the city quietly sits, leaves falling off the nearby trees onto the otherwise clean streets below them.

It doesn't take long to find 'Renfel's Spices', the building has a well-decorated store front with plants hanging out the open windows, a large sign is nailed over the entrance with the shop's name scrawled into it. The most distinct thing about the place are the sweet smells that drift off of it.

Stepping inside, you're greeted by a Daktori woman leaning over the counter, dark skin and dirty blonde hair. Her clothes are colourful but thin, "Welcooome, haven't seen you two around before. Are you looking for something?"

"Daktori Premium Fireseed." Sheryl answers.

"Ah sorry, we keep a short stock of that and only sell to regulars. Stuff's too dangerous for most."

"We'll pay, just hand it over." Sheryl approaches the counter and begins to take out her coin pouch.

"Sorry, Raschan law. Fireseed used the wrong way can cause some serious injury, I can't just hand it over."

Sheryl grumbles and makes way back over to you, "This is stupid..."

>Ask the woman for more information on Fireseed
>Suggest stealing the seeds to Sheryl

>>31460409
>Ask the woman for more information on Fireseed

>>31460409
>Ask the woman for more information on Fireseed

Rolled 11

>>31460409
>Ask the woman for more information on Fireseed
Find out who the regulars are, assuming one is a Seeker get them to vouch for us.

"Why is fireseed so dangerous exactly?" You inquire at the counter.

"Well, originally fireseed was just another spice, but you know how in Daktori the fields are tilled with the undead? Turns out that with enough years, the residual magic starts seeping into the soil and turns up all kinds of crazy mutations in the plant. The Daktori Premium Fireseed is what some lunatic came up with, planting cursed crop back into the soil and then sticking magic into it until he got a flavour he liked. It's tasty enough, and hot as any desert but sometimes people will start shoveling it in their mouth until they start spitting fire."

You raise an eyebrow at the description, "Any chance a Seeker could have a go with them?"

"We sometimes sell to the chef at the dorms, but if you're implying that you're bringing it back to him I'll need a written note. The Paladins don't have much presence in Deneb, but I'd prefer to play it safe." The lady shoos you off after her explanation.

Outside of the shop, you and Sheryl try to figure out what to do next. You've got plenty of time to get both jobs done but you'd rather not waste it doing nothing.

"There was a draft coming in through the back, we might be able to sneak in through there... I'd rather not steal from her but a job is a job." Sheryl takes her classes very seriously.

>Go get permission from the chef
>Wait for an opportunity to snatch the seeds
>Suggest that you do your job first and come back later

>>31460754
Considering we just asked for more info about it we can probably say something like our master at the seekers need it masoch seems well known we could use his name

>>31461004
>Suggest that you do your job first and come back later
It'd be awfully expected to steal immediately after asking about it, and in the bright of day. A good idea will come while we pursue our task

>>31461004
>Go get permission from the chef
Also, the longer we wait for our job, the drunker Masoch gets.

>>31461116
Good point seconded

>>31461116
I was under the impression he doesn't actually drink ... well at least that it's more complicated than that.
Mostly because last time we were there talking to him he had a full glass with ice, and when the ice had melted the bartender without a word from either side took Masoch's glass and replaced it.

"Let's go see that cook about getting permission."

You and Sheryl make your way back to the dorms and into the kitchen, you consider looking into your job right now but with Masoch, full attention is probably required.

The quiet chef raises a brow at you when you ask him about the Fireseed, he doesn't respond immediately but just blankly stares while rubbing his short beard. Now that you think about it, has he ever said anything?

"Doh, okay. I been thinking of grabbing some anyways. But if you want me to help you, you gotta do something for me too." His voice is pretty high for a man of his sturdy build.

"What do we need to do?" You ask.

"Kitchen been a mess for weeks now. Somebody been bringing in new ingredients and dog food, leaving them around. You won't happen to know something about that do you?" The chef knowingly eyes Sheryl, "Anyways, clean up kitchen, get fireseed."

It's a simple enough job, but it could be unexpectedly time-consuming, "Is there another option?"

"Guess so. There is a book I could use... 'Most Beautiful Cat Breeds on Rascha'. You heard of it? Been thinking of getting the miss a cat."

You weren't aware the chef was married. You know where you could get the book quickly, but it might require some hard negociation.

>Clean up the kitchen
>Get the book
>Write-In

>>31461691
>Write-In
How about we clean the Kitchen, while Sheryl sees what she can find out about Masochs liquor

Why do I have a feeling were getting this guy some dinner?

>>31461859
Seconding

>>31461859
This

Yech, refreshed the tab awhile ago and didn't notice it dropping my trip.

"I'll clean the kitchen. You see if you can figure something out about Masoch's liquor collection." You suggest.

"What?"

You show your instructions to Sheryl, she puts on one of many confused faces today but nods before exiting the kitchen.
Stepping into the back, you see the food stock that Rein has generously paid for with who knows what money as well as the hefty bag of dog food for Chance just lazily pushed up against a wall, bits falling out of it.

You sigh and get to work, the chef peeks in every few moments to tell you where things go. You learn in the tiresome hour here that he's happily wed, hoping to have kids soon if the world is so kind and enjoys afternoon strolls through the woods. His name doesn't ever come up.

Once you've reorganized the shelves, carefully assuring that Rein's purchases are well-seperated from the dorm's supplies and not a piece of dog food is out of the bag, Sheryl returns. The chef gives both of you a sandwich for your work, and you begin to discuss her findings over a quick bite.

>CONT

"It seems that Masoch spends most of his nights in The Archives, but he does have a house in Deneb. His liquor cabinet should be there," Sheryl explains, "According to Silvest we've got to watch out for his wife but we probably won't run into him."

"Masoch's married?" You imagine him to be as stern a father as he is a teacher.

"Silvest says so." Sheryl says before taking nibbles out of the sandwich. You thank Sheryl in your head, the information will probably save you a good amount of time, you can visit Masoch's place on your way back from getting the spices.

After finishing your meals you don't waste any time getting back to the store, the woman appraises the note from the chef carefully before taking a quick breath and grabbing a jar of red seeds and spooning them carefully into a linen bag, "Don't chew these casually, alright?"

Sheryl drops a sizable amount of coins onto the counter and exits, mumbling something under her breath.

Your eyes catch a familiar scene as you go to exit The Calico District, two snot-faced boys surrounding a smaller blonde child with knife ears. They're shouting names at him, and you don't think 'Demon Bastard' is very affectionate.

Sheryl seems to have noticed this too, she walks towards the kids with an angry look on her face.

>Let Sheryl deal with them
>[Alacrity] Stop Sheryl and try to sort them out
>[Cunning] Stop Sheryl, you want revenge on these kids

>>31462277
>[Alacrity] Stop Sheryl and try to sort them out
It was due time we succeeded at something that wasn't fighting demons

Rolled 1

>>31462277
>[Alacrity] Stop Sheryl and try to sort them out

Forgot to note it but roll 1d12 on [Cunning], [Alacrity] and [Tenacity].

>>31462420
Good thing it's best of two now!

Rolled 1

>>31462277
>[Alacrity] Stop Sheryl and try to sort them out

>>31462460
>>31462413
I am so sorry

>>31462460
Oh dear god why. We were finally going to succeed at something. Welp lets see where this takes us

>>31462277
no help her deal with them option?....jolly cooperation

>>31462500
Theory : We are subconsciously repressing our full potential when we aren't dealing with demons.
Or the dice like sphagehtti.
Remember that time we got elbow dropped in a bar by drunken female? Good times, Good times.

>>31462277
>[Cunning] Stop Sheryl, you want revenge on these kids
Racists? AND bullies?
Let's crush their testicles and make them into eunuchs.

>>31462277
>Let Sheryl deal with them
seriously with these rolls we need to just stand in the corner an not touch anything.

You tap Sheryl's shoulder and when she turns to look at you, you shake your head and go on ahead of her.

"Hey. Stop that!" You step between the kids and do your best to look imposing. But, like how thrice now Rascha failed against the Belgran winters, history repeats.

Perhaps recognizing you, the bullies pick up stones and begin chucking them at you. You could dodge, but you need to shield the elf child behind you. The speech about bullying you had briefly tucked in your mind is knocked out by a stray stone, you swear one of them hit you where the demon ripped you up previously.

Unlike last time, Sheryl doesn't come to your aide. She stands there watching with the blank look on her face until a teacher comes out and the kids begin running scared. While you get your head together, Sheryl makes to talk to the teacher about what just happened.

A small hand pats you where the rock met your head, you look up to see the teary-eyed elf child, "Thank you." He says with a strained smile on his face.

>CONT

I love these rolls.

Handing you some bandages, the teacher sees you off. Without asking, Sheryl had offered to take the kid home, but you don't fell compelled to disagree.

"Thanks Sheryl, mister." The child stares at the ground timidly as you walk him back, you and Sheryl each hold onto one of his hands. The last time you came across him, Sheryl took him back to his father and it seems she got acquainted in the mean-time.

"What's your name?" You ask the kid, doing your best not to let the pain your jaw bother you.

"Denoch." The boy quietly responds. You ask him a few more questions about his situation, and gather that although he was friends with all the children most of his life, they suddenly started bullying him a couple years back over his demonic inheritance. Sheryl doesn't join in on the conversation.

"We'll take him back to The Archives before we get the rest of the job done." You tell Sheryl, calling from memory where she took him last time.

"That won't be necessary. We can pick up that bottle while we're dropping him off." Sheryl responds and comes to a stop, you look up to see the back of the pub placed in the town square where you and Leona had an interesting night out. The boy pulls a small key out of his pocket and unlocks the back door before entering, Sheryl follows. While you put your thoughts together, she pokes her head out the door again, "Are you coming in or not?"

Behind the two elves, you step into the door and close it.

>CONT

"Selma, watch the counter would you?" You hear a woman's voice as you take a seat in a small living room behind the bar. Sheryl sits beside you and Denoch places a basket filled with bread on the table between you before taking an opposite seat. You spy a glass cabinet filled with liquor bottles on the wall behind Denoch, but you don't dwell on it for long, the mature bar-woman steps through the open door beside the cabinet, undoing an apron and tossing it over a chair-arm as she takes a seat beside Denoch.

"I didn't think we were having guests today." She brushes hair away from her face, revealing brown eyes identical to Denoch's.

"We had a class in town and found Denoch here being picked up so we decided to walk him home," Sheryl leads the conversation, "You're Masoch's wife?"

The woman leans forward with her elbows against the table, she holds the back of her hand upwards and stares at the ring on it, "That's right. I don't believe we've met," She says to Sheryl before turning to you, "And we've met but I don't think I introduced myself, I'm Deneb. Named after the city, not the other way around."

"The rest is yours." Sheryl gestures over to you.

You'll have to ask about the liquor eventually, but it might be better to ease into the conversation first.

>Ask about Deneb
>Ask about Denoch
>Ask about Masoch
>Cut straight to business
>Write-In

Feel free to vote for two.

>>31463175
>Ask about Denoch
>Ask about Deneb
So do we mention her sons problem with bullies?

>>31463175
>Ask about Masoch
>Ask about Deneb

>>31463175
>>Ask about Masoch

>>31463175
>Ask about Denoch
>Ask about Masoch

I guess this means Masoch is a contractor.

>>31463429
We saw that in a earlier thread his eyes were like a orange red I think

"About Masoch... and well, Denoch." You try to figure out how to ask about a sensitive topic.

"You don't need to continue, I know what you're wondering. Denoch, fetch out guests some tea would you? Stay below the counter." Deneb says, and Denoch nods and exits into the bar.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but our kid here is an elf. At the time we had him, Masoch had only just made contract with his first demon. I guess we thought that if we did it soon enough we could come out looking like all the other kids but it turns out the taint sets quickly... don't get me wrong, I love Democh to the ends of Rascha but raising him carries it's own difficulties. Sorry, I'm rambling." Deneb takes a short breath, "I have to thank you for helping him out. Denoch's been having a lot of trouble with the other kids. If you could just say hello to him when you see him it'd be great."

"I heard Masoch doesn't come home often?" You inquire more about your teacher.

"He's always been bad with children, and having his son come out an elf must've been a shock. Some of the other folk around here have seen his demons and they don't take kindly to them, he doesn't want to get us involved. Anyways, there's a lot around here he can see but not touch so it can be difficult for him."

You decide it's best not to press further, you should get to work now.

>[Cunning] Tell her you need to bring a bottle of liquor to Masoch.
>[Alacrity] Tell her you need a bottle for class.

Rolled 7

>>31463656
>>[Cunning] Tell her you need to bring a bottle of liquor to Masoch.

Rolled 2

>>31463656
>[Alacrity] Tell her you need a bottle for class.

>>31463656
>[Cunning] Tell her you need to bring a bottle of liquor to Masoch.

>>31463681
>>31463713
Just to make it clear so it doesn't affect your decisions. The result of the best of two will be taken regardless of what the end-vote is, so don't be afraid to vote Alacrity just because the Cunning vote is better, both are at +3 and will be 10s.

>>31463656
>[Alacrity] Tell her you need a bottle for class.

Denoch returns to the table with a small tea set in hand, he sets it down and pours for everyone seated, bringing the heavy topics to a stop.

"Well ah, while we're here. Masoch has been wanting us to bring him a bottle of his favourite liquor. Could you help us out with that?" You mention before taking a sip.

"Has he? That's odd... I guess he must've thought it'd be inappropriate to ask the counter. Strange though..." Deneb makes way over to the cabinet and opens it up, looking over the bottles carefully before picking one out, "No idea why he'd want one at The Archives but I suppose they're going to waste here." She places the bottle beside you before returning to her seat.

"Well, I need to go mind the bar again. No need to tell me when you leave, just make sure Denoch locks the door for you alright?" Deneb gets up and exits, for the better part of that afternoon you and Sheryl get to know Denoch a little better. When the sun starts to set, the two of you exit with a quick promise to see him again some time.

"You were surprisingly playful." You mention to Sheryl as you make your way back to meet the others.

As usual she takes some time to think over her answer, "Surprisingly huh. I had a brother so it's just natural." Sheryl picks up her faces, you stumble on behind her with the heavy bottle in hand.

>CONT

The others have beaten you back, their marks laid in front of the tent seated in your classroom. You go from classmate to classmate to see what they were told to bring in.

Yu'yen was tasked to steal 'a set of Lunese Sha Silverware'.

The sisters Leona and Rein had to bring in 'a crate of Belgran dire-rabbit meat' and 'a fresh bundle of Raschan vegetables from The Shepherd's Gardens'.

Anlak just flashed you his note when you asked, 'Daktori spark-iron by Rascha's Grandsmiths'.

Setting down the bag of spices and the bottled liquor next to the other items, you quickly figure out how everything comes together.

"Hey, did you honestly just have us spend our afternoons fetching you ingredients?" Rein glares at the teacher Kita annoyed.

"Well, they're rare and expensive. And silverware, not an ingredient." Kita pulls a bag out of his tent and begins to shove the pieces inside.

"Your dinner better be something great if we actually wasted our time with that." Yu'yen sighs.

"Eh, it's alright. I figured it'd be too easy to have you gather regular meats though." Kita stands up and makes way for the exit. Gin and Rum follow behind him. It's quite awhile before anyone moves.

"I'm going to go eat." Rein picks up her things and exits. Leona follows behind her.

"I'm going to get back at that dog-kissing bastard!" Yu'yen dramatically kicks off and runs for the door.

Sheryl and Anlak exit quietly.

>Join Yu'yen
>Join Rein and Leona
>See Masoch
>Write-In

>>31464457
>Write-In
>[Tenacity] Excersise the flesh is weak

>>31464503
Oddly enough exercise has never been on the menu. Besides lots of leisurely walking and ass kickings of course. We should bro it up with Yu'yen for this.

>>31464457
>Join Yu'yen

>>31464457
>>Join Yu'yen

>>31464503
I wanna be stronger like corded muscle that doesn't show much at all...surprise those belgran ladies always beatin on us

>>31464457
>Join Rein and Leona

>>31464457
One of these
>[Tenacity] Excersise the flesh is weak
>Join Rein and Leona

Has Rein forgiven us for getting her sister drunk? I feel like we should try and fix this.

>>31464756
>>31464750
>>31464457
>>31464737
>>31464663
Guys do we have a name?

If not I vote Magnus

>>31464847
I suppose the OP will bring it up when it's relevant.

You don't want to deal with any more of this teacher than you have to. Other than the stoning today, your wounds over the last while have healed up nicely between the rest you've taken and Masoch's weaves.

You're a ways behind on combat training after missing so much of Kran's classes, you have a sword, it's time to give it some age.

Making way into the gardens between The Archives and the dorms, you gather up some of the fallen logs and begin to swing at them. It isn't a particularly well-thought exercise, but it's reaching night and you'd rather not make another trip back to town right now with all the running you've been doing.

Carna and you used to play with mock swords this way, chopping small twigs in imitation of her father. The retired adventurer was said to have once split a demon-possessed tree in two with one swing of his axe, he'd often watch you two play and criticize your motions. You wonder what he'd say now.

"Straight down, you're swinging at an angle. Watch your step, if that log wasn't... a log it would've tripped you five times now."

You turn your head to spot Kran spying on you.

>CONT

"Geez kid, with the number on that demon you did the other week I had figured that you'd be lazing around in your free time." Kran moves over to you and adjusts your arms one at a time with her hand, "You must really want to get out of here quickly."

You swing down the blade again, the wood splits much more smoothly, "I need to get stronger."

"And why's that?" Kran takes a seat on one of the nearby benches, watching you work on the logs.

"Someone's waiting for me."

The teacher turns her gaze around the gardens scanning the area carefully, then says just loud enough for you to barely catch it, "Karma right? Or, Carna?"

You slice through another piece of wood, the remains topple down unevenly. You give the woman a hard look.

"Don't give me such a scary look, we're The Seekers after-all kid. Our job is to know where you were so we can know where you are."

"Do you know where she is?"

Kran takes a pause before answering you, "If you suddenly ran off right now you might get branded a Stray Cat. Or, kitten as the case would be. I'll let you in a little secret though... normally our most secret secrets are just for the higher ups, higher than me, you gotta be Masoch's rank at least. But if you complete your training, the Grand Librarian will answer one question you pose to the best of your ability."

Kran gets up and pats you on the back as she walks past you, "No one joins us without a purpose in mind, we do our best to help."

>CONT

As of today, you've about six months left before the end of your training. Ten years ago you lost her, Carna; who never understood the meaning of quiet. Now ten years later, you know there's a lead. But another six months of her waiting for you is time you can hardly bare...

You train longer, trying to put your thoughts together. It's just a little longer, just a little bit more until you see her again. You hope as hard as you can.

Yu'yen passes by you with his clothes singed and feathers in his hair, he nods at you once then continues onto the dorms. Rein walks behind you coming from the dorms, you see a small book of alphabets in her hand but she seems to speed up a little when she catches you spotting her.

There's still a little time left in the day, and your arms are slowly coming off from how hard you're swinging your blade.

>Return to the dorms and kill some time there
>Spy on Rein, that was awfully suspiciously
>Try to find more answers by pursuing...
>...Kran
>...Masoch
>...Silvest
>...Kita
>Write-in

>>31465218
>>Spy on Rein, that was awfully suspiciously

>>31465218
>Spy on Rein, that was awfully suspiciously
Black Cat powers ACTIVATE!

>>31465218
Hangout with Anlak or get some reading done

>>31465251
This. Do I smell a successful recovery? We are almost as good at recovering from trouble as we are at getting into it

>>31465218
>spy on Rein, that was awfully suspiciously
I bet she can't read

You decide to follow behind Rein. If she's doing nothing, you will apologize to her again over the isuse with Leona. If she's doing something suspicious and you're caught, you will use apologizing to her as a pretence for your presence.

Keeping paces with her and ducking behind trees whenever you suspect her to suspect you, you follow. In front of the door you see her running into Kita and his pets, you see the pigeon Rum belch fire, nearly singing her orange bob and you then you see Kita and Gin apologizing. She doesn't take time to give either of them a punch, there's definitely something wrong. You follow her into The Archives, passing by your teacher without a word.

At the front desk she stops in front of the chairs and spends a moment thinking about something. She ends up running past them, wherever she's going, getting their cautiously is more important than getting there fast if she's skipping the convenience of magical chairs. You greet the old woman at the counter quickly as you run past.

Rein enters the library ahead of you, the crystal lights are only slowly coming on as the sun sets, the place is as dark as it ever gets. What could she possibly be doing at this time...

You peek around the corner of a bookshelf, where Rein takes a seat and places the book she's been protecting on the table, opening it up so that it'd be upside-down from her perspective.

"Alright, let's work on animals today."

You can't quite make out who's opposite of her.

>CONT

>>31465439
Oh, desert guy can't read

"Alright, and this is a caaat. Say it after me. Caaaat." Rein playfully pushes the book forward, her smile matches her gestures. Whoever she's talking to, they don't say it after her. You try to sneak in closer.

"And this is a dog. Remember Sheryl's dog Chance? Doooog."

Did she adopt a child? Maybe she hid one in her luggage! That'd explain all the weight when Yu'yen was carrying it, as well as her motherly tendencies. Or perhaps she decided to teach the only uneducated homeless man in Deneb, the libraries did open to the public recently. You lean in closer to try and get a look, spotting only the heavy leather boots of the figure.

"And this one is a pegasus. We have them in Belgrand. The one beside it is a horse."

"Sorry... Miss Rein. But I know what these animals are, I've ridden a horse before. If you just give me the book I can match the letters to the name." Anlak sighs as Rein tries to teach him, your classmate leans back in his chair.

"Oh just let me have some fun with this." Rein flips through the pages. Anlak frowns.

"I know I asked you to keep this a secret, but that's really enough. I can learn on my own." Anlak begins to stand up.

"If you were learning on your own time you would've done it long ago, sit down, we're working until you get this." Rein commands, and Anlak follows.

You watch the curious scene unravel before you, and...

>Reveal yourself and offer to help.
>[Cunning] Leave as quietly as you can.
>[Tenacity] Hold your laughter, keep watching.

Rolled 2

>>31465613
>[Cunning] Leave as quietly as you can.

>>31465613
"You guys seem busy, so I'll catch you all later."

Rolled 5

>>31465613
>[Cunning] Leave as quietly as you can.

>>31465613
>>[Cunning] Leave as quietly as you can.

You quietly exit the library, if Anlak wants to keep things a secret then there's no reason for you to make it harder for him.

Making way back to the dorms, you think about the events from the day. Things were slower than usual, and by now you're well and comfortable with your teachers and classmates as well as the city around you.

Slowly, you're making progress in finding Carna. You've been thinking a little less about her lately, but she's always in the corner of your mind. It's just a little bit longer until you can find her again, and it doesn't matter how many demons or small children you have to face to do so.

In the main halls of the dorms, Leona helps pluck feathers out of Yu'yens hair. When you approach them, Yu'yen tells you the story of how the demon bird Rum nearly set him on fire and pecked at him while he tried to put himself out. Sheryl passes by on her way to take Chance out, she's started to acknowledge you recently without you talking to her first. Rein returns and joins your group, Anlak passes by awhile later.

'No one joins us without a purpose in mind' Kran's words pop into your head.

There's a quiet peace that you've come to find here, but you can't forget, you're training to become a Seeker, to uncover the secrets of the world.

And so life goes on.

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114 KB JPG

It's getting late so I'll leave it there. Really slow session today, but I'll pick up the pace next time. Was worried we were dead at the start of the thread, but thanks for playing.

My schedule has simultaneously become more open, as well as more messy. Basically, I can probably run more often than I have previously but my run time will be more erratic, so my apologies in advance.

>>31466022
Thanks for running. I was a little indisposed when you started.