Yazmin the Assistant

Ensuring that the guild operated smoothly was a task that Althea had taken upon herself. There are those that would usurp the position but none understood better the complexity of running such a gigantic establishment that networked adventurers with jobs tailored for their specific rank.

Althea was their to guarantee that Elaria's guild functioned from day to day like a well-oiled metal golem. Yet even a construct would oftentimes encounter difficulties in enacting its routine, imposed by outside variables.

In this case it's about adventurers hitting a snag with the law.

"Guard Captain. A fine morning to you."

After arriving in the garrison, Althea greeted the armored moustached man, taking the seat right in right on front of his table.

"And to you as well, but I'm afraid the deeds your adventurer had conducted are less than fine." Captain Odjour reclined in his seat, preparing to deliver the news. His gaze darted to the Gorgon next to Althea. "And who might this lady be?"

"I am her assistant." Yazmin answered.

It was something that she blurted out on her own. Althea wanted for her to rest at her home and simply wait for their date later this evening, but the the snake woman insisted she wanted to know what Althea's world is like.

"An assistant, ey." Odjour twirled his moustache. The necklace she wore, the fact that she was a Warijan Gorgon inspired suspicion. Then again, Althea had been nothing but stellar all these years, one might even say that she was more amicable than dealing with her eccentric father. "I see. Let us get to it then. Do you know why you have been summoned?"

"Argon is new but he's already well known in our ranks, he's been dubbed by everyone as the 'gentle giant'. I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding." Althea argued.

"Your 'gentle giant' just dunked a man into a barrel of ale, tossed the barrel into his comrades, and taunted, 'Come and get some, you limp-dicked bastards.'"

"With all due respect Guard Captain, but tavern brawls erupt from time to time, it's hardly unfair to keep him incarcerated over this." Althea raised her point.

"It's not just the tavern brawl, it is by law that both halves of the party at fault must pay the reparations to the tavern." Ever since the law about making both parties cough up golf for the damages, citizens and adventurers alike had found themselves with an extra ounce of patience. "Your adventurer said he has no gold to cover the fees. He also kept yapping about a certain dark elf taking all the quests."

Althea sighed, "We'll cover for the damages. How soon until you can let him out?"

"You can do so now." Odjour beckoned for the the two personnel stationed near his door. "Guards, escort them into the Goliath's cell and facilitate his release."

+++

Following the armored guards in front, Yazmin spoke...

"So he's just going to release him just like that?"

"Of course, it makes no sense for them to antagonize us since they depend on us to lend a hand every now and then."

It was a symbiosis of some sort. The City Guards would ensure that the adventurers can skirt through legal trouble, in return, they would help when a situation arises that could be described as being above a City Guard's pay grade. All of them would argue that they are not getting paid enough to subdue a Beholder that escaped from a rich pompous asshole's private collection.

"The government in Warija may want nothing to do with us, I still think that you Elarians are coddling your adventurers way too much, the Guild Mistress would simply let this Goliath to rot in this prison. "

"Have you considered that it might tbe the fact that you take assassination contract's for a living? Crazy, I know."

There was truth in Yazmin's words, and they might be an organization at the end of the day, but it was an unspoken rule among Elarians that the Guild always has their back. It was a place to belong where you can get to know kindred spirits while earning gold to feed yourself.

"We're here." The Guardsman opened the gates to the Goliath's cell.

A hulking grey skinned mam with short black hair and tribal facial tattoos greeted them with a smile.

His gold dragon head necklace stood out, dangling while he's shirtless, exposing his buff body.

"Guild Mistress! Are you here to bust me out!?" The 7 foot tall man greeted them with a jovial smile.

"Not the Guild Master yet, and yes, we are here to bring you out."

"You're the only one I saw that's been handling guild affairs ever since I became an adventurer. You're the official Guild Master in my book!"

The praise was able to put a grin on Althea's face but she understood that his father had been at this for over a hundred years. He was merely laxing now since she's here.

"I appreciate the praise. Try not to get into trouble next time, or else I'm going to send my father to bail you out."

A statement that made Argon shiver. He just didn't like the wizard guy. He might appear like a regular human, but he could sense that there was something inhuman about him. What's even worse, he's a colossal asshole.

Forcing a smile, Argon agreed, "Yes, mam!".

+++

Managing a squabble between adventurers, reviewing documents pertaining to Guild expenses, an a simple sword training to end the day.

By the time Althea's duty was over, it was almost 10 in the evening. The two already too wound up to carry on their planned date, Althea apologized while they were on their carriage ride on the way to Althea's home.

"I'm sorry. Are you disappointed that our date got cancelled?"

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't. But tagging along with you and spending the whole day together, I'd take it as a win. A word date of some sort."

An answer that made Althea smile. Yazmin by her side was like a breath of fresh air, alleviating the monotony of her day to day tasks.

"And you were a fine assistant."

"You think so? I just followed you all day striking up conversations."

"That's already a enough. Believe me."

With their first day coming to a close, Yazmin would brand it as a success. But Yazmin could still push it.

"Say, why don't you let this assistant of yours give you a massage?"

Yulia chuckled, "You know physical therapy?"

"If dancing isn't available as part of my cover, then I would oftentimes take the role of a masseuse. You will be pleased to know that I am as skilled in the art as I am in dancing. How about it?"

One thing that Althea was sure about Yazmin is that Yazmin danced pretty good. Hell, she was the best dancer Althea had ever encountered. And she was saying she has massaging skills to match it?

Although Althea was intrigued, she wasn't born yesterday. A physical touch like that might lead to something more, and it's just the first day of Althea's issued ultimatum.

"Alright, but no funny business, I'm warning you."

The trap sprung, Yazmin coyly smiled...

"Gotcha."