Recruitment Drive

"Next!" called a woman behind the service desk of the guild. She wore rimless glasses and stared over them with annoyance at each new question sent her way.

"Hi, we are new to town and would like to join the guild," Gwen said.

"Recruitment ended yesterday. You're already late. Names and levels? If you don't know I'll quick-appraise you, but it will make this line go quicker if you know it."

Gwen hesitated. Her level will bring scrutiny, especially with the assassin specialty.

"Kai, you can go. I've already been appraised by Faye," Gwen lied with a smile.

Kai stepped up eagerly, gave his name and awaited his results. 

"[Level 12 Monk, Level 1 Fighter, Level 13 Total, No Specialization]. Pretty high for a new recruit, your mentor will appreciate that. And you? Be quick, girl."

"Gwen, [Level 10 Rogue, Level 2 Monk, Level 12 Total. No Specialization]."

"Oh, Gwen the female monk. Faye Highgate has opened a generous account for you… 50 Easlan Golds. It must be nice to have friends in high places."

Gwen was stunned by the news. Most food in the marketplace was sold for coppers, which were worth even less than silvers and golds. 

Why give us this after saving us? Now we are even further into her debt!

After a moment Gwen nodded and requested two gold from her account. She pocketed one and gave Kai the other as they headed toward their assigned dorms in the recruit wing.

Kai was shaking with excitement.

"I heard the mentors are very strong, Gwen! I cannot wait to meet my group! Let us meet tomorrow after training, okay?"

Gwen nodded as she headed to the female dorm.

○○○

Second floor, room 27. The air was stagnant and hot in this building, and smelled of too many moving bodies. 

Gwen opened her door and saw two other girls inside already.

"Yay! We DID get a third, Anne! Are ya excited?!" a blonde girl shouted at the sight of Gwen.

The girl with long black hair making notes in a book across the cramped room didn't respond. She didn't even look over her book when Gwen opened the door.

"Anne, quit bein' rude! Ya gotta say hi, at least!" the blonde girl continued. Her speaking voice was shrill. She wore clothes embroidered with gold leaf, and a massive bow leaning against her dresser was also decorated in gold.

Gwen looked over at the studying girl. She wore the same rimless glasses as the woman downstairs, and glanced over the top of them at Gwen.

"Hi," she squeaked before picking up her book to cover her face. She wore an all-black robe with no embellishment. Books and scrolls covered her entire bed, as well as her dresser.

An empty bed lay between the two of them, which Gwen walked over to.

"I like your bow," she remarked to the blonde girl. "And I like your robe," she said to the one named Anne.

"Thanks! I'm Petra Flitwin. My parents are nobles and they bought me these things. I'm a ranger, so they bought me this bow. I didn't really get a say in it, ya know? My dad is a ranger, my mom is a ranger, so really I had no choice.

"That's Anne. She's a wizard. Reads a lot. What are you?"

"Gwen. I'm a rogue. Nice to meet you both."

"So cool! I like your bow, too." Petra pointed at Gwen's empty quiver. "Need some arrows?" 

Gwen had forgotten that she lost her arrows going over the cliff. It was a shame, because those arrows were surprisingly well-made, and covered in a powerful poison.

"Does the guild provide arrows?" 

"Naw, but I have some for you," Petra replied with a gleam in her eyes. She reached down to her dresser and opened the bottom drawer, revealing hundreds of arrows stacked inside. She closed it and opened another, with hundreds more.

"Where do you put your clothes..?" Gwen asked incredulously.

"Who cares? Arrow space is more important," Petra said with a wide smile.

Gwen looked over at Anne, who seemed unperturbed by her roommate's stockpile - or anything, really. 

Maybe this wasn't a good idea.

○○○

Kai leaned onto his knees to catch his breath. He had sprinted up to the fifth floor - the top floor - in order to reach his room. Each floor below him was abuzz with new recruits. 

He could feel the excitement in his heart! The warriors earlier told him the importance of finding good teammates as a fighter.

"You lack range, and you can't cast spells, so find a team to complement you!" 

Their advice was wise and true. 

I hope it's a ranger and a wizard!

Kai threw open the door to room 51.

It was empty.

Have they not moved in yet?

Kai stepped in and looked around. There was nothing in the room. He looked out into the hallway and heard snickers from the stairs.

"Go back to the mountain, you monkey weirdo!" a boy shouted before running back downstairs. 

The whole floor was deserted aside from Kai.

He returned to his room and removed his armor and sat on his bed. A note was laying on his pillow. 

"Training Fields at dawn. Bring everything."

It must be a note from his mentor. At least his mentor wasn't avoiding him. 

From his backpack Kai pulled out his ragged and torn Cloud Level robe and held it close. It still smelled faintly of sweet smoke from yesterday. 

Lying on the bed, Kai folded his arms over the robe beneath his blanket, and began to sob quietly.