“How may I help you, young man?” Arrios asked while taking a step closer to Dante. The younger tovron’s smile remained wide on his face, though he failed to actually speak before his grandfather, Arrios raising an eyebrow at such. “Hmm… you look rather familiar. Are you a higher up of the Guild?” Arrios asked, Dante shaking his head as he ughed out. “No… it’s - it’s me, Tito.” “Oh. Oh my forces. It cannot truly be.” Arrios suddenly sprinted over to Dante, the rge man having to kneel down to get eye-level with him, Dante flinching from the sporadic movement. “It is true. I’m Dante, Gerardo’s son. Don’t you remember me?” Arrios nodded, taking the boy in a one-armed hug against his chest, Dante standing still and letting Arrios hold him. “I do. I thought your request was one to fool me. But it is truly you, the son of my Gerardo. You have grown so much since I have st seen you.” Backing away from the slightly constricting and painful hug, Dante then turned his head up to Arrios, giving a slight giggle before speaking. “It really has… I work for the Guild now, as a cleric.” “You do? What do you need the thrones for? Is the family home having issues?” “Of course not. I’m just doing it to… you know. Try and do the right thing.” Arrios nodded, ughing out as he stood back up. “I see. Is everything alright with Gerardo and Zaira?” Dante gave Arrios a smile while he answered. “The family home is doing well. The Guild has mostly secured the area around them. I’ve met a few new people since I’ve left, though.” In great contrast to the gilded armor of the guards, and the artistically designed halls, the 3 of Dante’s party stood there in battle-ready, noticeably tattered clothing, Pryderi waving while Rorburn began to walk forward, Ireishil leaning against a support pilr and looking around at the ndscape paintings. “It is good to know that you have plenty to rely on. Your selection is interesting, however.” Dante stand alongside Arrios as Rorburn introduced himself, his smile faltering into a grimace as the first thing Rorburn said leave the Nitlie’s lips. “Heya, Arrios. Name’s Rorburn, one of your lovely grandkid’s band, you can see. I’m good with my sword here, but Dante’s got me recruited for some other skill - ” “Stop!” Dante said through his teeth, Arrios chuckling as he rested his arms behind his back, his cape drafting upwards a bit to reveal a rge spear that was stored under it. “Ah. It is good for camaraderie amongst your peers, Dante. There are many worse alternatives. Though…” Arrios looked Rorburn up and down, the nitlie grinning while Dante’s scowl at him toned down considerably. “I did not think you would garner such interest so young.” “I! It’s… it’s - it’s a long story, Tito. But I’m staying close to my family’s traditions, I won’t go around and engage in such debauchery.” Arrios nodded, Rorburn backing away as he went back to discuss with Pryderi, the rge Tovron’s eyes looking between Ireishil and Dante as he continued speaking. “It is good to remain clean in spirit and body. But know that the ideals of our family are not common amongst the rest of these nds.” “Yes, I definitely… figured that out rather quickly.” Heaving a sigh, Arrios step forward, going in to more personally get an introduction with the rest of Dante’s party as Dante trailed closely behind him. “What are the other’s names?” Arrios asked, Dante stopping with him before Ireishil as she looked up at the both of them. “Her name is Ireishil, and the vinnan’s name is Pryderi.” Stepping before Ireishil, Arrios stood tall in front of her, Ireishi looking up to the tovron that towered nearly an entire foot over her. He stuck his arm out, a gentle smile poking through his thick beard while he spoke. “It is a pleasure, Ireishil.” Ireishil returned the handshake while she replied. “Likewise.” Going back to walking along the artwork, Arrios left her be before walking over to Pryderi, Rorburn scattering away as Arrios looked over at his trajectory with a bit of confusion. “Sorry about that, our mutual friend can be a little talkative. Guessing Dante here already told you, but name’s Pryderi Reese, at your service.” “It is good to meet you, Pryderi. If there is any way I can help you four while you are here, do not hesitate to ask.” Feeling like he was forgetting something, Dante stood there before Arrios as Pryderi saluted him, trying for a moment to remember any other reason he’d come here. After about a minute of failing to recall anything, Dante only shrugged, Arrios looking back towards him as he spoke up. “There’s nothing right now I can think of. I simply wanted to see you in person.” “That is something I am perfectly content with. Though I have business to attend to in the city shortly. I will attempt to make time for us post your next task, Dante, though. I am sure we both have much to say.” Exchanging goodbyes, Dante walked out of the gate, the other 3 following him after a bit of dey. Walking down the staircase, Dante looked to his left at all of the people waiting at the entrance, receiving a good deal of gres as he tread down the staircase. Figuring he would get further acquainted with Arrios once the both of them had more free time, Dante stopped at the midst of the city, a wide smile on his face for what he felt to be much more pleasant times to come. “So, uh… Dante.” Pryderi asked, Dante looking back at him as they stood around by the foot of the castle. “Yes?” “He told you where to find the Guild building, right?” Dante inhaled through his teeth as he looked down at the ground, Rorburn muttering some profanities as they started their task of wandering throughout the city to find the Guild building.

  The 4-way colliding border between Tsiuc, Hospuria, Heiwan, and Yiz Guo was always a pce of intense struggle between figures of order and local renegade camps, though the coming of the Taikonai had set upon it a magic-razed, charred nd that begin to look somewhat akin to the bckened sands of the Stygian Desert, it losing all signs of life outside of beings that traveled across it. Banners hung with colors of red and white to signify the Taikonai revolution against the rule of the Heiwan alliances, red to signify the blood lost of those the revolution once held close, and white to signify the justice those that had sin the innocent will soon receive. A decent way away from the conflict within Tsiuc, two men sat at a table across from one another, the room dim and underground a small vilge, armored guards lining across the entrance to preserve their confidentiality. One man was in a gilded set of armor much like that of the other Tatezaki guardsmen, a helm with horns on it sat upon his p as he crossed his arms and rested them on the table, hunched forward while he stared at the visitor across from him. Across from him was a bigger figure with a strange-looking device covered in chains strapped along his back. His limbs were very clearly grafted, with staples in his elbows and knees connecting differently colored pieces of flesh. His face was behind a bck, slightly bloodied mask with a rge white smile on it, it worn over a dark purple cloak and a set of leather and chainmail armor. His getup made him almost look something between a bandit and a jester, with his cheerful strine accent supporting the look further. “So what you call me all the way over ‘ere for?” He asked, the gilded man across from him sighing before answering. “The Guild is… still reluctant in sending their forces to Heiwan. I need you to interfere with some of their missions. Make them think all that is between the cities is chaos.” “Well, I’m ‘fraid that isn’t specific enough. You want me to just bounce around and have a go at anyone that looks like they’re from the guild?” “Yes, that is the idea.” The masked man stood up, snickering as he leaned a hand onto the table, a couple of the guards stepping forward a bit. His arm was what looked like a salisko’s forearm attached to the elbow and bicep of a tovron, it also being enhanced with various metal reinforcements inside of its flesh. “That’s gonna be a lot of work, running around like that and getting all that heat on me back. You best have those sorts of thrones.” Looking back at his cohorts, the armored man nodded, bringing a bag full of silver coins of various shapes out, the masked man leaning over to look inside of it. “What is your price?” “Have to be 2 thousands, at least.” “Two thousand? Seriously?” He asked, standing up and sticking his arms on the table as the masked man snickered at the outburst. “Dunno what you want me to say. Could get fucked out there just jumping cunts.” “For two thousand I could found a whole cn of bandits to do it! What makes you so special?” “Special ‘nuff for you to go out of your way to come get me, I’m guessing.” “If you will not take this seriously, then leave. I will find someone else.” Shrugging, the masked man walked out, shoulder-checking one of the guards on his way out as another one walked in right after him, their body covered in a cowl and lightweight armor.

  The “room” Dante had to stay at with the other 3 was incredibly spacious compared to his st room. Unlike the barracks the Guild had the other mercenaries staying at, Dante was granted a special room in Arrios’ castle on the governor’s request. 4 sets of beds were separated by drapes that hung between the sections of the room like walls, with a cooking pot set right next to a window that looked outside to the stone city. The floor was made of sanded wood, some mats made of fine textiles put under the foot of each of their rge beds. There even seemed to be rge squares of empty space, either in anticipation of new arrivals, or more likely, because this room in the castle was meant for much more than 4 people. Laughing out while he spread out on the bed, Rorburn gave an exaggerated yawn and outwards arm stretch, his tail swishing between his legs while he id upon the mattress. Not even Ireishil was able to mask her surprise with the room they were given, her eyes wide while she paced around the interior. “Man, I dunno if I can sleep here, feels like… well, feels like this pce could be used a lot more efficiently.” Pryderi stated, Rorburn blowing a raspberry at him as his energetic outburst died down. “C’mon, cram it before Sire Nepotism here gets second thoughts. This is fuckin’ great!” Dante gred at Rorburn, pouting while he sat on the edge of his bed, undoing his boots and robe. “It’s not like I asked him to put us in this… prince’s room, or whatever this is.” “Yeah, you were too busy not asking him the question we went there to ask him.” Rorburn retorted. Kicking his feet up on the bed, Dante crossed his arms, furrowing his brow while looking upwards. Burrowing his fingers and chin through the soft bnkets, Rorburn audibly purred while he raised his legs, Dante looking gradually more annoyed as the nitlie became more audible about his pleasure. “Your granddad’s real cool, Dante. Maybe we should meet up together so he gives us more stuff.” “No. You were talking about how much of a bad person he was only days prior, anyhow.” Rorburn pulled himself across the mattress, giving a forced frown as he rested his head on his arms, staring over at Dante while the cleric tried to focus on reading through his tome. “Don’t be like that, man. I was just being all hypothetical ‘n shit. Now I know he’s a real swell guy. You were right and I was wrong. Okay?” Choosing to try and not pursue any further argument, Dante fully id down, snuffing out his candle and he putting his tome on top of the dresser beside his bed. The room closed into the darkness as the night dominated the city, just about everything turning almost pitch bck as everyone eventually fell asleep. It was a stark contrast to the booming lively atmosphere of Mauyonne. The night city of Tatezaki was calm and quiet, not a single noise audible through the open windows other than the occasional clink of a patrolling guardsmen’s armor. The long day let Dante sleep well, him almost fully under the covers as his body rested for the next day. He expected to simply wake up and tend to himself in the morning, but he instead awakened to something completely different.

  The door suddenly swung open, the scent of freshly seasoned meat and vegetables filling up the room. Dante groggily rose from his covers, rubbing at his face while servants cd in softly colored wool lined up alongside their beds, one of them standing alongside him as they presented to him the entrees they had on a gss ptter. “Er… h - hello?” He muttered out, sitting up as the servant pced it onto his p, the aroma of meat and seasoning suddenly wafting directly into his nose. “Morning, my good sire. This sunrise, you have been offered ham freshly cut the night before, topped with cumin and garlic. Is it to your liking?” Dante leaned back, toying with the food for a moment while the servant patiently stood over him, only then Dante looking up to see whoever it was that was giving him the surprise meal. A young woman of smaller stature, her skin was a glossy bck, her eyes a fluorescent white as her stringy-looking, red-accented hair flowed down behind her shoulders. He recognized her as a Heiande, faintly recalling stories about the injustices they typically endured in urbanized areas such as Tatezaki. “Yes. Thank you.” Dante stated. She nodded, walking over to the door with some other servants following behind her. Dante sat there fbbergasted for a moment, looking back over at the others to see how they handled it. Pryderi seemed to reject the meal, and Ireishil ate hers while stood by the window. Different from the others more humble actions were Rorburn, him taking enjoyment with the multiple servants tending to him. “Rorburn!” Dante yelled out, the nitlie turning his head back at the cleric as he grinned, his shoulder and neck being massaged by an indifferent-looking servant while he ate. “What?” Dante stood up from his bed, gently pcing his meal behind him before marching over to the servant massaging Rorburn. After a pat on the back and a permission for dismissal by Dante, the servant left the room, earning the ire of Rorburn. “Hey! What the fuck?” Rorburn asked, Dante crossing his arms while he went back to his meal, the room now vacant aside from the party of 4 that slept inside of it. It was an undisturbed silence for a few minutes while the 3 ate, Pryderi getting dressed and cleaning his arrowheads while the 3 finished their meal. Dante stacked the dishes on top of one another, walking over into the hallway before a passing servant quickly took them off of him, him giving thanks as Rorburn snickered, warranting Dante to look back over at him. “I don’t see you helping.” Dante said with a frown, Rorburn getting up to quickly get dressed in a red tunic and brown scks, his zweihander in a sheathe beside the mattress. “Why are you… oh, c’mon. Why are all of you being so reluctant to get relished a little? We’ve been walking through cesspits and shit, all while scuffling with hollows and bandits for the past 3 months. How about a little vacation, huh?” Rorburn asked, putting his hands up defensively. The room was silent in response, Rorburn leaving to go chase after a servant while he left the 3 to their own devices. Pryderi shook his head as he sighed, slowly walking towards the door as he put on his coat. “Yeah… this is weird.” Pryderi spoke. Ireishil walked over while Dante and Pryderi hovered in front of the door, turning her head as she began to ask a question. “Where are you two going?” Dante went to answer, his voice wavery as he was getting more frustrated by Rorburn’s antics. “I was going to go tell Ti - Arrios, to put us somewhere else. This kind of coddling doesn’t help anyone.” “I’d say. This room could house a ptoon, but it’s just being used for 4 mercs.” Pryderi said in agreement, Ireishil sticking her hand out to make a stop gesture before the two could leave. “We do not have the time. We have an escort mission to carry out soon. We must go to the Guild building and be briefed.” Dante reluctantly nodded, walking out into the hallway with the other two before realizing something. “Wait. Where did Rorburn go?” He asked, looking around as they began to exit the castle, seeing no sign of the Nitlie anywhere. “He will follow shortly.” Ireishil reassured, leading the two over to the Guild building. While they ventured to this building, Dante carried a somewhat reluctant expression to him, holding his arms together while bowing his head down. Pryderi looked back at him as they walked, chuckling before asking Dante a question. “Everything alright?” “I’m - I’m starting to doubt Rorburn’s, uhm… productivity.” “Why’s that? Sure, he’s a bit of a sloth sometimes, but he’s pretty good at swinging that southern bde of his around.” Pryderi replied. “Really?! He’s always messing around and being overly sexual! Like talking about brothels and ordering servants around and teasing me and kissing me on the lips… I don’t know.” Pryderi ughed, covering his mouth with his hand to stop his ughter as Dante gred at him. “...sorry. I guess I understand your concern, but I feel like this could be dealt with by havin’ a quick sit down with you two. Maybe if push comes to shove, Ireishil can order him to stop.” Dante sighed, rubbing the back of his head while he thought such a thing over for a moment. “Maybe… I - I don’t know, I’m just - I’m just upset that Arrios is treating me like I need to be pampered. Perhaps it’s making me irritable.” The 3 of them stopped in front of the Guild building, their carriage not having arrived yet. They stood waiting by the entrance of the paved road, a couple of Helm guardsmen standing by the wooden post exterior, occasionally stopping passing mercenaries. “So, Ireishil, who’re we fetching today?” Pryderi asked, Ireishil chortling quietly from his rather upbeat attitude about it, before looking down at her parchment, reading it off. “An individual by the name of Theodre Petsatra, a Gouzao who inherited a city a good distance from here. The city they own is known as Ancalen, which has a rge concentration of other Gouzao within it. We are to go there, pick them up, and return to this city with them.” Now lost in thought, Dante faintly recalled learning about the Gouzao, only being able to remember that they were an asexually reproducing, lithoid race who resided up in the colder regions of the north. As they sat along the edge of the road, Dante’s brief loss in thought was interrupted when Rorburn stumbled across them, waving his hands to his sides as he walked towards them. The 3 looked over towards him, Pryderi bringing a knee up to his chest while the somewhat frustrated looking nitlie walked over to them. “Hey! Why’d you all just run off without me?” He asked, Dante grimacing a bit before Pryderi answered in spite of Dante’s growing outburst. “Figured you’d catch up sooner or ter. And you did. Hope you got plenty of food in you for the road ahead.” Rorburn shrugged as he sit down alongside them, stretching out his legs as they idled in wait for their carriage. And after some time, it arrived, it an armored cart with fabrics threaded within it, a special yellow fg with a heptagram-looking symbol being flown alongside it. Ireishil nodded towards the rest of them as they got up, the parchment in her hands expining multiple times to board the cart with the yellow fg.

  The journey to Ancalen was expected to st until the midst of the night, the coachmen being a somewhat unfamiliar sight from the typical, straw hat wearing ones of the Guild. This coachman was dressed in heavy, mail armor, not even a little bit of their skin visible aside from a small line which formed between their helm and armor. Such apparel likely helped with the increasing cold, it worsening with every foot of elevation they scaled. As the increasingly cold atmosphere set in on the party, Rorburn crawled over to Dante, speaking in a shivery voice. “D - Dante…” He muttered out, wrapping one of his arms around the cleric’s legs. “Huh - what?!” He blurted out in response, kicking Rorburn in surprise. The nitlie only grabbed onto him harder in response. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to - ” “Dante, it’s cold as shit, and your robe’s way warmer than sitting on this shitty damp wood.” Dante scoffed, crossing his arms while he scooted away from Rorburn, dragging him along the floor as he did so. “Maybe you shouldn’t have worn only a tunic and one set of pants.” “Please, I’m not fucking with you, I’m actually freezing down here.” Dante looked down at him as he snuggled up with the lower end of his robe, before turning his head to face the rest of his party. Ireishil had brought a wool coat to wear over her leather and iron armor, while Pryderi sat in his typical outfit, patting at his legs while his eyes darted around the cart. “Fine. But don’t get comfortable. We’re getting you some sort of bnket or additional clothing at Ancalen.” Rorburn let out a deep exhale as he hugged his arms around Dante’s legs, sitting under the end of his robe while he leaned into its wool-linen mixed cloth. Dante felt a little awkward as he felt Rorburn squirming while under his legs. In an attempt to ignore such a thing, Dante took out his tome, passing through the various notes he took of the nearby region while the wind blew against the fabric exteriors of the cart. Dante started to feel chilly as time went on, him not having much insution outside of his robe, undergarments, and the few pieces of steel pte over it. Throwing his hood over his head, he leaned forward while he hugged his own chest, Rorburn staring up at him as he chuckled. “...shit.” Rorburn muttered out, Dante returning the chuckle as he heard Rorburn softly swear. “Why’s it so cold..?” Dante thought out loud, the other two seemingly unphased by the change in temperature. He stared between them while he rested his journal on his p, his focus being broken as he felt Rorburn starting to climb onto him. “What’re you - ” “Rex. We’re both freezing our asses off. It’s just for the time being.” The nitlie pnted himself onto Dante’s p, Dante fring up as Rorburn wrapped his arms around his chest. “C - Come now, isn’t the leg hugging already odd enough?” Dante asked, Rorburn shrugging as he leaned up more into Dante, their chests pressing up against each other as Rorburn rested his chin on Dante’s shoulder. “Yeah, whatever. Just act like I’m one of those buff guys you dream about.” “Be q - quiet, you’re not making this any easier.” Pryderi snickered as he kicked his feet out, resting his hands on his stomach while he looked over at the two snuggling with one another. Dante heaved out a sigh while Rorburn sat on his p, starting to appreciate the warmth as he wrapped his arms around Rorburn’s back. Their joined warmth grew more snug as Rorburn grew tired, his eyes slowly falling shut while his tail wrapped around Dante’s waist, the softness of the fur noticeable even past Dante’s robes. Biting his tongue, Dante moved back against the barrier, letting Rorburn’s legs spread out over his more easily while he tried and put his mind on something other than the nitlie that was sleeping on top of him. “Do you two need some music and candles?” Pryderi asked, giggling to himself while Dante’s gaze shot over to him, a fiery scowl on the cleric’s face while he responded in a hushed whisper. “Can you not make this worse than it already is?” Dante remarked, Pryderi nodding, replying in a simirly quiet tone. “Sorry, couldn’t really help myself, haha… but, I feel like there’s something you could learn from this. Rorburn’s a little weird of a guy himself, but he’s still a good part of the team. It would probably be a whole lot easier for you if you just pyed along.” Dante huffed, his scowl fading away while he looked down between Rorburn’s head and Pryderi. “I… I guess. It’s hard to get along with him at times, though. Often it feels like he does things purely to get a rise out of me.” “You want him to stop?” Dante nodded. “Yes.” Pryderi scooted towards the two of them, putting his hands together while he further inspected the two. “I’m pretty confident that you can just ask him. I know you come from a pretty, er… traditional background. And I think he’d get it if you hit him on the head a couple times about it.” “I mean… is that really such a, you know… a foreign thing?” Pryderi turned his head, scooting his quiver and bow over alongside him as he leveled with Dante. “What is?” “Waiting until marriage. I’ve pretty much been told to only really worry about love until I found someone I wanted to marry. Does noone do that out here?” Pryderi shrugged. “Well… If I’m being honest, nobody really has the time or thrones to settle down and get married. It’s something that only really gets enjoyed by nobility.” Nodding in response, Dante leaned back against the barrier, looking sideways down at the exit of the carriage as their conversation quickly lost traction. The cold breeze pushed up against his face while he slowly succumbed to sleep, the warmth of Rorburn being snuggled up against him helping in such an endeavor. Before he knew it, Dante was fast asleep, awakening by the time they reached Ancalen.

  Dante was shaken awake by Pryderi upon the cart stopping. Him and the rest of his party left the vehicle, Dante stretching his arms upwards while he looked around at his surroundings. The darkness of the night blocked a good deal of his vision, though Dante was able to faintly make out some of the surrounding city, it empty-looking outside of the perfectly symmetrical, cube-shaped stone brick buildings id tactfully across the streets, made visible by the candles through their gss windows. The sight was somewhat confusing, Dante not having seen such architecture before. Dante turned over to the other three, resting his hands on his sides while he spoke. “Alright. I’ll be off to get us some bnkets and warmer clothing, then.” Rorburn was the first to walk over to Dante, him nodding as he held up a bag of thrones. “Yeah. Let’s go, just the two of us.” Looking bewildered at the request, Dante walked alongside Rorburn as they made their way alongside the stalls. The both of them stopped in front of a stall that sold textiles, the gouzao attending it being a somewhat short, wide humanoid being made of metal and stone, their joints joined together with toothed gears. Where Dante expected a face, there was instead a ft, cylindrical sb of stone as the gouzao’s head. Most noticeably was the rge, red stone that sat in the center of its head, it reflecting any bit of light that came in contact with it. “Uh…” Dante let out, the gouzao across from him suddenly springing to life as the red stone lit up, spooking Dante. “What?” It replied, Dante giving an awkward ugh while he gripped his pouch of thrones. “Do you have any, er… long pieces of textile? Or…” “Yes, I have bnkets. Please give me 20 thrones for one wool, and please speak to me more clearly.” Dante nodded, handing over the given thrones, it tossing him a thick sheet of wool in response. Immediately afterwards the gouzao seemingly shut off, crossing its arms while bowing its head down. Without a word exchanged, the two walked back to the carriage, Rorburn stopping for a moment to wrap the bnket under his arms. After he did so, he stood still, Dante looking back at him, speaking on the nitlie’s sudden stop. “...Rorburn?” “Hey. Before we head back, I just wanna let you know that even if I fuck with you a lot, I still respect you as a person.” Dante stopped in front of him, the two stood across from one another for an awkward couple of minutes, Dante gradually making the realization that Rorburn heard him and Pryderi’s conversation. “Yes… I know. Sometimes, though, i - it feels like you’re taking the things I’m sensitive about, and using it to toy with me.” Rorburn ughed slightly, rubbing the back of his head. “I… fuck. I get it, yeah. You were taught your whole life to save yourself for a special someone. I’ll get off your ass about all that. It’s not my pce.” Dante returned the ugh, starting to walk with him back towards the carriage. “Let’s talk about this ter, Rorburn.” Rorburn nodded in agreement, the both of them eventually meeting up with the others, the governor sat down at the seat closest to the coachman as they congregated.