Inside the adventuring guild, Lumina sat at one of the side tables with a disappointed demeanor. They had watched the fields for 3 nights straight and no sightings of the Jackal or theft of cattle had occurred. It was almost as if the elusive beast knew it was being hunted. Leaning back into her chair, Lumina briefly closed her eyes and let sleep start to overcome her tired body. She had taken a nap during the days they had done their night watch. Her body however, wanted more sleep. She was jostled awake when she heard someone sit across the table from her. Opening her eyes, she saw Eldin release a long yawn. It was apparent to Lumina that her friend was also suffering from sleep deprivation.

  While it was true that Eldin was also tired, his demeanor was more relaxed. Unlike his impulsive friend, Eldin was happy that they hadn’t come across the mysterious beast. He rather enjoyed how his life was going. “I talked with Stephen earlier. Apparently, he is going to have guards posted at the borders.”

  “Huh.” Lumina replied with little interest, offering the brief confirmation that she was in fact listening. She had hoped to fight the Jackal. As the farmer’s called it. She wanted to continue testing her abilities.

  Eldin continued, “Since this Jackal hasn’t been heard, seen, or stolen any livestock since we started trying to find it, Stephen hopes that it’ll go somewhere else if he has some troops watch the forest line.” Another yawn escaped his mouth, “The job board has a unique request that I took.” He set the paper with the information on the table in front of Lumina.

  Picking it up, she read the posting, “Wanted, substitute speaker for a class on elemental manipulation at the RMA association.” Reading further down, she paused when she saw how much it paid. “25 cryst for a 1 hour lecture?” She nearly shouted in disbelief. Woodvale lumberjacks made 30 crystal for an entire day of hard labor. To make a little less for 1 hour of talking seemed ridiculous. “It’s not a scam?” She asked.

  Eldin took the paper back from his friend, “Nope. But it is a very competitive request, most of the wizards in Gildale are all trying to get the job. The speech is tomorrow night at the RMA (If you don’t remember, RMA = Runefal Magic Academy) guild building.”

  Lumina shook her head still not wanting to believe it. “You’re going to apply then?” She half asked, half told Eldin. She still couldn’t believe how much the request was paying.

  Eldin grinned fully confident that they would pick him for the job. Afterall, Elementalists were considered wizards of the highest caliber. Why wouldn’t they pick him?” Granted if it came to a contest of raw power, Eldin wasn’t sure he would be able to keep up with a veteran wizard. After all, the only requirement to be an elementalist was to use four elements simultaneously. “I was about to head off to the RMA building, did you want to tag along?” He asked.

  As curious as Lumina was to see a different guild hall, she wasn’t sure she wanted to deal with the malicious complaints against her. Not to mention, heading back to the Gorging Gorgon for a nap sounded divine. “I’ll explore the building another day, I am literally about to fall asleep right here.” She replied with a yawn in between her words. “You can handle it by yourself?”

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  Eldin watched as Lumina got up from the table and made her way out of the Adventurer Guild and back towards the inn they were currently staying at. If he wasn’t so intent on applying sooner rather than later for the job, he would have joined her.

  After re-informing Raymi about the post he took, Eldin left the structure to head for the RMA Association. As he walked through the streets, he couldn’t help but think of how people would react to his elementalist badge. Making his way through the busy throng of pedestrians, Eldin eventually found himself standing in front of his destination. Interested in being surrounded by like-minded wizards, he was sure that he would fit in.

  Entering the building, he found a spacious welcome lobby with a singular desk and attendant in the middle. Doors lined the first floor and Eldin could clearly see the roof and warm sunlight that filtered in from above. Looking around, he saw almost everyone had a plain light blue mantle with a minimalistic ship embroidered on it and badge of their own. He greeted the receptionist as he approached. “Hello. I am here about this request.” He stated as he handed the women the paper from the Adventurer Guild.

  Looking over the parchment and quickly reading it, she confirmed that it was a legitimate request and pointed him to the side where many other men all wearing mantles sat and waited.

  Thanking the lady before leaving, Eldin walked over and found an empty seat among the other wizards. As he approached, he couldn’t help but notice their stares towards him. Once he sat down, Eldin could see many of them had either confused, or aggravated faces. While some of the men were indeed much older than him, a few of the disapproving stares were from others who had to be near the same age as him.

  One of the older wizards approached, “Young man. Where did you find that badge?” He asked pointing to the one on Eldin’s mantle.

  “Find? I earned this badge.” Eldin replied. Those close enough to hear the answer chuckled, obviously not believing him. He couldn’t believe how they all were reacting.

  The one man that had asked Eldin about the badge first continued, “You know what that badge is. Right sonny?”

  It was obvious to Eldin that this elder man’s questions were simply to fuel the ridicule from the others.

  Finding the entire situation humorless, and shocked at the blatant disdain against him. Eldin decided to make them eat their words. He easily conjured four spheres the size of large marbles. One of Fire, Wind, Dark, and Water. He let the orbs slowly circle just above his hand long enough for everyone to see it before allowing the display to harmlessly disperse.

  The laughter had stopped, and many of those looking on immediately turned away pretending they were never part of the issue. The older wizard that had initially questioned Eldin still stood in front of him with disbelief. The man couldn’t even process what he had seen, eventually sitting back down in is chair.

  Happy that his supposed peers were finally leaving him alone. Eldin couldn’t help but feel awful from the reception he had received. It was at this point that the simple warning from his father right before he had left home finally sunk in. “Be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Don’t let anyone say otherwise. You earned that title.”

  As Eldin sat there contemplating what had transpired in the first few minutes of sitting, a nearby door opened and one of the other wizards waiting was called in.