I lean over the table and pat Jerzy on the back, with an innocent smile on my lips all the while. Only when he gets his breathing back under control do I sit back down. Not even then do I stop with the innocent act though. I'm pretty certain the my [Bluff] skill improves a little in the process.

"What? It can't be that much of a surprise that I visit the temple to talk with Fox. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. Especially among the members of the guild. That they have issues with Rat and their machinations can't really be a surprise either."

He clears his throat. He even blushes a little and rubs the back of his head for a moment before he finally answers.

"Well, no, that's not the surprising part. I visit the temple often enough myself. It's just … Fox … Fox isn't exactly known for sharing advice or opinions freely."

He coughs once more. It looks almost natural. Almost like it's only due to choking on his beer.

"Need to know and some such."

I nod in understanding. My smile still doesn't waver.

"They obviously thought someone ought to know then."

This time around my flippant comment even manages to elicit a chuckle from the man sitting across from me.

My smile turns a little more genuine too. Probably because I can feel my [Slyd] skill improve a little after all this banter. It's weird how all other skills seem so much easier to level up. Well, it's not like I'm usually talking a mile a minute.

Finally Jerzy speaks up again.

"I guess you are right. If you aren't mistaken on the matter, and I really doubt you are, this issue needs to be taken care of sooner rather than later. Want to help out with that?"

I shrug.

"I'm not sure. If fox wanted me to take care of this myself I probably wouldn't be sitting here, talking with you, but if you insist I'll lend a hand. I'd rather get some sleep though. It's been a long day and I might just have another exciting day ahead of me tomorrow. I still want in on the adventurers' guild's mission to deal with the fungal infestation."

He sighs although he doesn't seem very perturbed overall and orders himself another beer with a cheerful wave in the direction of a serving girl.

"I guess you are right. Knowing Wiktor, he will already be taking care of most things anyway. And it's in our best interest to have someone along on that quest with the adventurers. Especially if big shots like the Dancing Embers are involved. Go and get some sleep. Maybe a bath too in the morning. Just in case. Impressions do matter after all."

There is little else I can add to that. Thus I simply empty my mug and get up. I wink at him before I turn to leave though. I just have to get in the last word.

"Try not to burn the city down before I get back."

He claps his hands over his heart, as if I had just wounded him deeply.

I'm off with one last cheerful wave. I head directly to my usual place in hopes that they will still have a room I can rent despite the late hour. I don't get disappointed. It seems that the youth I have seen on cleaning duty before gets to work this particular night shift at the front door. He simply pulls one of the few remaining keys off its hook on the board behind him, as I approach and pull a penny from my purse.

Coin and key are the only things we exchange. No words need to be spoken. I already know everything I need to know after all.

One mighty yawn and a little while later I'm up two flights of narrow stairs and I lock the door of my equally narrow room behind myself. I don't waste any time either. I just shrug off my things and wrap myself up in my cloak while using my pack as a makeshift pillow. I'm asleep almost before I close my eyes.

Morning comes around just as fast though. It's still entirely too early, as far as I'm concerned, when the sounds of the waking city wake me too. For a brief moment I lie there with my eyes still closed. Then I sigh and untangle myself from my makeshift blanket. There is no helping it. I have to get up.

A little later I make my way back out of the boarding house, among a throng of others who are getting ready for the day as well. It's still early enough thus my first destination is not the adventurers' guild but the bath house.

I'm sure there are others I could visit, but I only know one bath house first hand so far. I have no reason to complain about their service either, thus I visit the same place again. It's just a shame that I can't take the time for a nice long soak.

I take this opportunity for something else too. I pay with one of the silver shillings that found their way into my purse last night. That way I have a few more pennies on my way out. They are much more practical for everyday spending than the more valuable silver coins. It makes me wonder though if this counts as money laundering. Whatever. What really matters is that my purse feels nice and full for once, even if it's just due to small change.

Refreshed and clean I make my way into the inner city. I don't even bother with the gate today. Instead I go for a quite and out of the way spot along the wall right away. An exceptional quick climb and a jump, which once again improve my [Climbing] and [Jumping] skills by a bit, later I'm inside the wall where I quickly enter an attic I'm familiar with to climb down the house's stairs.

The streets inside the walls are about as busy as those outside, as people hurry to get to work. This allows me to blend in with the crowd without much trouble, which in turn means progress for my [Stealth] skill. Even if it isn't much, I won't say no to it.

The guild office is quite busy too as I arrive. More so than during my last visit for sure. It's to be expected though. Adventurers have to start their days at some point too.

Thankfully the counter I'm headed to is not nearly as busy as some of the others. It's manned by the same elderly gentleman as upon my first visit here. He hasn't forgotten about me either.

"Welcome back. I take it, you still want to join the guild of adventurers of the frontier lands?"

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I nod and flash him a smile while pulling the single remaining silver shilling from my purse.

"Indeed. I even managed to earn the money for the admission fee. It hasn't changed, or has it?"

He chuckles and shakes his head.

"No, it hasn't."

I sigh. That is a relief in more than one way. On one hand it means that I don't have to spend even more money. On the other hand it means that the adventurers' guild is considerably more reliable than the guard and probably a few others.

The old man in turn gets the supplies he already showed me during my last visit from below the counter after accepting the silver shilling from me. There is one additional item this time a round though, an old fashioned set of scales.

"Very well. Are you ready to answer my questions?"

I'm still a little nervous about this part, but I hope that I'll be able to make it through this interview without causing a scene. In the end I nod while eyeing the set of scales.

"How does this work? Do I need to do anything besides answer your questions?"

He smiles a reassuring smile and proceeds to explain.

"We both will touch the base of the set of scales. Then I'll ask you the questions I need to ask and you will provide the answers. Ideally your answers should not tip the scales. It's pretty simple and straightforward."

As he reaches out to touch the base of the scales I match his move. He nods, apparently satisfied. Then he focuses his attention on me and begins with the interview. It starts innocent enough.

"What is your name?"

"Viviona. Just Viviona."

He seems satisfied and keeps going.

"It may seem unnecessary since you clearly look human, but what is your heritage?"

"I am human."

My status says so, and he already said, that I very much look human. I don't let any signs of the divine whisper I receive then and there show on my face.

[*Ding!* Your skill Bluff has leveled up to level 6!]

If he is on to me he doesn't let it show either. He just keeps asking his questions.

"Very good. We are halfway done already. What class or classes do you possess and at which level?"

This time I swallow hard, as I answer.

"I'm a scoundrel. At level ten."

His eyebrows furrow a little, but he seems to take the information I just provided in stride anyway.

"Well, this makes the next question a little more important than usually. I hope you don't mind, but I really have to ask."

He takes a deep breath before he poses the actual question. The delay is enough to make my nerves flutter a little.

"Are you wanted for murder or any other capital crime like arson or inciting public unrest here in the city of Riverrun or any of the other civilized cities of the frontier?"

I blink once. I certainly can see how this question and the answer can be considered important. And considering I just admitted being a scoundrel, I can see how he considers this question all the more important. The most curious part is the actual wording though. It is very specific in some ways, especially regarding the region concerned.

Anyway, I can provide a very honest answer.

"No, I'm not wanted for any crimes, especially not capital ones, in any city of the frontier."

My answer seems to relief him. He already is about to withdraw his hand, but stops at the last moment.

"This won't go on the record, but please excuse if I ask anyway. Are you a member of any other local organizations."

I just shrug without letting go of the set of scales either.

"I am."

He lets out a sigh and withdraws his hand to quickly fill in the information I provided on the parchment.

"Thought as much. Please try to make sure your likeness doesn't end up on any wanted posters anytime soon. It tends to get messy otherwise. We really can't turn a blind eye. I hope you understand."

I nod. It really doesn't come as a surprise after all. I decide to say as much.

"I know. I learned it when I first got here. Rami, Aila and Núira checked before they even healed me when we first met out there."

The old man's face brightens up, as I mention these three.

"Oh! Do you want in on the hunt for the King Boletus? We sure could use another scout. Do you have the skills necessary?"

"Perception, Danger Sense, Stealth and maybe Survival should be the most important ones, right? I have plenty of physical movement skills too and I'm no slouch with the sword either."

It's not like I have to give all this information away, but it might be helpful, both in this case and in the long run, if I decide to do some more adventuring. I'm pretty certain after all that by now a few other people are listening in. And besides, it's not like I'm giving away all my trump cards.

The old man nods, before he starts putting my name on a plain metal tag using the hammer and the hardened metal stamps.

"That sounds pretty good overall. I'm sure most of our adventurers won't mind your class either, as long as they don't catch you with your fingers in their purses."

I snort in amusement, as I watch him work. Finally he hands me the finished tag.

"There you go. Welcome to the guild of the adventurers of the frontier lands. Just check in with that young lady over there to have your name put on the list for the emergency quest regarding that fungal infestation."

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