"So, Astra, how are our students doing?" Kalia asked as Astra entered her room for their usual nightly talks.
She had finally grown somewhat comfortable spending time with Kalia and now came by nearly every night to update her on the girls' progress and inevitably fall asleep mid-conversation.
"Honestly, I'm shocked. They're learning at an incredible rate. They've grown to a level that most adventurers spend years achieving in less than six months..."
"Well, they do have the best teacher there is."
"Mm-hm, I sure am!" Astra boasted, puffing out her chest.
"Maybe it's time we take our first real quest, then?"
"I think they're ready." Astra yawned. "Training is fine and all, but nothing replaces real-world experience, after all."
"Then tomorrow, let's head into Tuugo and register our party with the guild."
"Yup..." Astra agreed, nodding off between words.
"Get some rest, Astra. You've been working really hard these past few months."
Kalia patted Astra on the head.
"...."
Astra had already fallen asleep.
"Goodnight."
Kalia whispered, pulling the blanket over Astra.
Kalia had always been a loner and spent most of her time locked in her room or working. She barely even had any friends.
But this time was different.
She couldn't deny the feelings she'd developed for the Folven mage who had wandered into her life.
"Thank you for chasing me down on that dirt road, Astra."
"Mmm..." Astra mumbled, throwing her arm into Kalia's face.
"You really are a handful..."
Kalia sighed, rolling over.
"Good morning, girls!"
Kalia walked into the kitchen to the familiar sight of the girls gathered around the table eating breakfast.
"Good morning, Master Lia!" they replied in unison.
"I thought we'd head into Tuugo today and register our party. Astra said that you've all been doing really well in your studies, and I figured it was time we took on our first quest. Are you guys up for it?"
"That sounds like fun!" Milena replied.
"I'm in. Astra's lessons are super boring," Eron added.
"Boring?!" Astra pouted.
"Haha, I don't think she meant any harm, Astra. They're still kids, after all, and not everyone has quite the same level of enthusiasm for learning as you do."
Kalia laughed.
"Hmph!"
Astra pouted again.
What could possibly be boring when you're learning about magic?
Astra finished eating in silence, still brooding over Eron's comment.
"Eron, you should apologize to Astra."
Kalia leaned over to whisper into Eron's ear.
"She's been in a bad mood since this morning."
"I guess so..." Eron replied.
Astra hadn't said a word since they left for the capital and had gone as far as sitting in the back of the cart away from everyone else.
"Astra, I'm sorry for calling your lessons boring earlier. I didn't mean it. I was just joking."
"...You mean it?"
"Mm-hm, definitely. I actually had lots of fun learning all kinds of things from you."
"Really?"
Astra's eyes brightened.
"Really..."
Eron wasn't exactly being honest.
"Yay! Then I'll teach you about the Raksa tribe and how they used earth magic to till their farms automatically. It's amazing!"
"Oh boy!"
Eron cheered without a trace of excitement.
She instantly regretted her choice of words as she sat and listened to Astra's lecture the entire ride to the capital.
"So, where do we register, Astra?" Kalia interrupted.
Please, no more history lessons...
"We need to head to the palace grounds. The guild will handle all the new party paperwork."
Astra pointed toward a squat brick building at the end of the road.
"Oh, there it is now."
"Welcome! How can I help you today?" the clerk behind the desk asked as the group walked through the door.
"We'd like to register a new adventurer party," Kalia replied.
"Certainly! Let me get the paperwork for you to fill out. If everything is in order, there's just a small fee to pay before we can give you the king's seal."
The clerk motioned toward an alcove.
"Please make yourselves comfortable."
"Sure."
The clerk returned with an impossibly large stack of papers.
"Here you are. Just fill out the marked areas and bring it back to me when you're finished."
"Just the marked..."
Kalia flipped through the stack.
"...all of the areas are marked..."
"We need to make sure you're serious. Too many people think they can just walk in here and start an adventurer party. It's necessary since official parties get special discounts at shops, and it also prevents untrained people from accepting quests because they think they can earn quick money. We don't want their deaths on our hands."
"Typical bureaucrats. Fine... I guess I'll get on it, then."
"If you have any questions, please feel free to ask."
The clerk replied before leaving with a slight bow.
"First things first... guild name..."
Kalia said, returning to the table where the others had been waiting.
"We never came up with one..."
Kalia laughed, having gotten so wrapped up in the fun of their first meeting that she'd completely forgotten one of the most important parts of forming a guild.
"Any ideas?"
"Oooh, I know!" Sarah chimed. "What about Tea Party!"
"That sounds stupid, Sarah..." Eron snorted.
"No, it isn't..."
Sarah puffed out her cheeks.
"What's your idea, then?"
"How about Defenders of Light?"
That's just as bad, Eron... We aren't starting a religion.
"I don't think that'll work either, Eron. It should represent us and not just have a cool-sounding name."
"It's better than Tea Party..."
"I know! Master Lia's Academy!" Astra shouted.
"Oh God, no..."
Kalia immediately disagreed.
"I don't want anyone getting the idea that we're a school. Next thing you know, we'll have people showing up to drop off their kids like we're some kind of babysitters. Anyone else?"
"I thought it was good, though..." Astra muttered to herself.
Milena raised her hand.
"What do you think about Northwind?"
"Not bad, but again, it doesn't really feel like it represents who we are. You're on the right track, though. It should be short and easy for people to remember."
Kalia turned toward Lucy.
"What do you think, Lucy?"
"Umm... I don't know... We're kind of like a family. So, House Waywrenn?"
"That's not too bad, but I'd like to keep my name out of it. I want it to be something that unifies us under a single name. People could mistake us for nobility, and that could invite shady characters to try and extort us for money or, worse, kidnap one of you for ransom."
"I guess you have a point."
"Uh, I have an idea..."
Fio, who had been quiet for the entire conversation, finally spoke up.
"Let's hear it, then! No need to hold back. It couldn't possibly be worse than Master Lia's Academy."
Kalia teased.
"You're always so mean to me..." Astra pouted.
"I'm just playing with you, Astra."
Kalia soothed her, patting the girl on the head.
"You know I don't mean anything by it."
"..."
Astra stuck her tongue out.
She wouldn't admit that she liked the teasing.
It made her feel special since Kalia never did it to anyone else.
"Go ahead, Fio. What's your idea?"
"Just a few months ago, I was on the verge of giving up. Everything I held dear had been taken from me, and I had been absolutely powerless to stop it. The pain in my heart was so strong that I wanted to die."
Fio closed her eyes as she spoke.
"But little by little, all of you showed me that there was still something worth living for. You brought me back from the edge of the abyss with love and kindness. All of you did. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"Fio..."
Kalia sniffed, broadsided by a wave of emotion.
"Master Lia... you found each of us."
"You helped me find hope when I had none. You helped the girls find a home. And Astra found you."
Fio drew in a small breath.
"So, I think we should call our party The Founders."
Fio finished her speech and opened her eyes to see the entire group staring at her with misty eyes.
"S-sorry. That sounds stupid. I just got caught up in the moment... Forget it..."
Fio shifted nervously in her chair.
"No, Fio, that was beautiful... I..."
Kalia sobbed, hugging the girl.
"...I think that's a perfect name..."
"Yeah, I like it too," Eron mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Me too."
"Mm-hm..."
"We do owe everything to you, Master Lia..."
The girls clung to Kalia, crying.
"We love you, Master Lia... Thank you..."
"Y-you guys... stop. You're gonna make me cry..."
Kalia wailed, holding them tight.
"I love you all too..."
"I guess that settles it, then."
Kalia finally regained her composure.
"The Founders it is."
"Here you are."
Kalia approached the clerk at the desk.
"There isn't any more, is there...?"
She'd already spent nearly four hours filling out the endless number of questions and was at her limit.
The clerk thumbed through the first couple of pages.
"Everything appears to be in order. All that's left is the registration fee of twenty thousand gold."
After all that work... you could've at least pretended to read through it...
"Thank you, and congratulations on forming your new party. Here is your seal, regulation book, and a current list of active requests."
The clerk handed over the materials.
"Once a week, we'll send a messenger with an updated request sheet. When returning a request, all you'll need is the form we provide to the client. Return it to us with their signature or stamp. All payments will be given out from here as well."
"These requests are pretty basic, aren't they?"
Kalia eyed the list.
"Getting rid of wild animals, picking herbs, eliminating weak monsters."
"Naturally, we can't give out difficult ones to new parties. As you complete requests, your rank will advance and give you access to higher-difficulty ones, among other perks," the clerk replied.
"I see. I guess I don't have much of a choice, then."
Kalia sighed.
"Is there anything else you wanted to know?"
"Yeah. How do you keep track of our advancement?"
"We use a point-based system. Each request is grouped not only by party rank but also by a scale within that rank."
The clerk pointed to the request for protecting crops from wild animals.
"See the single star on this one? It's the easiest, so completing it earns you one point. This one is worth five stars, meaning it awards five points. The regulation book will have a more detailed explanation of how many points will grant you a rank-up."
The clerk pulled out seven metal slates and set them on the counter.
"One last thing."
I swear... if it's more paperwork...
"I need to issue your party their guild identification cards. These will display each party member's basic information and rank and will be needed for shop discounts and other guild services."
"Oh, right. I guess we'd be needing those."
Kalia wiped the sweat from her brow.
"You are all set. Again, congratulations on your new party. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around. Have a good day!"
The clerk bowed before shuffling off to file the paperwork.
"It's about time, Master Lia... We've been waiting out here for hours... I'm hungry," Astra called.
"You? Hungry? No way..."
Kalia laughed.
"I am too. What about the rest of you?"
"Yeah!" they all replied.
"Well, since we're here, let's stop by one of the inns and grab something to eat."
"Ohh, yay!" the younger girls shouted.
They loved Kalia's cooking, but eating at an inn was something special.
"I know a good place! I used to go there all the time when I was traveling around. They have the best food," Astra announced.
"Lead the way, then."
"Okie!"
Astra replied, marching at a more-than-quick pace down a questionable-looking side street.
"This is the place..."
Eron sniffed, looking at the dingy inn Astra had stopped in front of.
"Is it even open?" Lucy added.
"Yup!"
Astra answered, swinging the door open.
"Welcome!" a young Assam girl called as they entered.
"Oh! Miss Astra! I haven't seen you in ages! How have you been?"
"Hi, Hoko! Sorry I haven't been by lately. I've been kind of busy."
"You brought friends?!"
The girl stared as the group entered the inn, dropping the plate she was holding in shock.
"Yup! This is Master Lia. We formed an adventurer party!"
"A party? I never thought I'd see the day..." Hoko gasped in awe.
"Mm-hm."
"Well, have a seat. I'll be right there to take your orders."
"This place seems kind of empty, Astra," Kalia whispered.
"Yeah, they don't get many customers on this side of the city. It has a bad reputation for criminals, but I promise there isn't a better place to eat in the entire city. Hoko is an amazing cook!"
"If you say—"
Kalia's thought was interrupted by the sound of a group of thugs kicking in the door.
"...so."
"Oi, we need some service here!" one of the men yelled.
"I-I'll be right there," Hoko replied, visibly shaken.
"Hurry it up! You don't want what happened last time to happen again, do you?"
The group roared with laughter.
"You weren't kidding, Astra."
Kalia sighed.
"At least they haven't noticed us... yet."
"Want me to take care of it, Master Lia?"
"Just wait a second, Astra. They haven't actually done anything yet. Remember, we're an official party now, and we can't go attacking people who haven't committed any crimes..."
Kalia warned.
This is going to be trouble...
"Oh, look what we have here, boys!"
One of the men walked up to the table where the girls were sitting.
"Hey, pretty ladies! Care to keep us entertained this evening?"
The man cackled, putting his arm around Milena and pulling her up from the chair.
"Let go of me!"
Milena pushed the man off her.
"Leave us alone!"
The man grabbed Milena around the waist.
"What's that? I don't like girls who talk back!" he roared.
"She said to leave her alone."
Kalia seethed.
"Mind your own business, devil woman! Guys, come over here! I found us some fun for tonight!"
Devil woman...
"Well done, Kane. Looks like there's enough for all of us!" another man sneered.
Milena landed a hard punch in the man's gut.
"Let me go!" she shouted.
"You'll pay for that, you little runt!"
Kane motioned for his henchmen to draw their weapons.
"Let's teach these brats a lesson in manners, boys!"
"Now can I, Master Lia?"
"Don't kill them, Astra..."
Kalia sat back down.
She wouldn't need to intervene.
These men had bitten off more than they could chew.
"Wait, Astra."
Eron answered, a fire in her eyes.
"We got this..."
"Yeah!"
Milena cracked her knuckles.
"Let's show them how hard we've been training!"
"Get 'em, Milena," Sarah added, hiding behind Imay and shocking everyone.
"That's cute."
The men circled around them.
"What could you little girls possibly do?"
Milena had been preparing an enchantment spell the entire time the men had been talking, and it was finally ready.
A bright red aura began to glow around her fists, causing the one they called Kane to recoil slightly.
Kalia leaned toward Astra.
"Is that one of the ones you taught her?"
"Mm-hm. She just mastered it the other day! These idiots don't know what they've gotten themselves into!" Astra replied with a grin.
"So you can use a little magic..." Kane scoffed, though he instinctively took half a step back. "It won't matter. There are four of us against children."
"Then come, if you're so confident."
Milena answered, the aura around her fists flaring as she calmly took a fighting stance.
"Ooh, I'm soo scared!"
Kane roared with laughter.
"Try to block this!"
He swung his axe with all his might.
"Too slow..."
Milena sighed, catching the blade with her hands.
"Were you even trying?"
Milena chuckled as she shattered the blade with a solid punch.
"What the..."
The man jumped back in shock.
"What are you guys waiting for?! Get 'em!"
The men all charged in at Kane's command.
"Sarah, look out!" Eron shouted as one of the men swung his mace.
"Imay! Help!"
Sarah called, holding up the stuffed fish.
"As you wish."
Imay encased Sarah's arms in black liquid.
As the mace came down, it was blocked by two scythe-like weapons that had formed around her arms.
"What the..."
As the man tried to pull back for a second attack, the scythes effortlessly sliced through the weapon's shaft.
"Thanks, Imay!"
"Of course, little one."
He returned to his original form.
"You little brats!"
Another man shouted, heaving his two-handed sword above his head and aiming for Eron.
"Orisa mot Setera!"
Fio finished her chant, summoning a snakelike creature that coiled around him and stopped him in his tracks.
"Ugh!"
The man gurgled as the creature twisted tighter, rendering him unconscious.
"Don't think I'm a pushover like those guys..."
A hooded man shouted from behind his fallen comrades as mana swirled around his hands.
"Let me show you my strongest spell. I'll take you all out in one blow!"
"Oh, a mage!"
Astra stared.
"I wonder what he's gonna cast!"
"Te Ato Coja!"
He threw his hands forward, sending a large lightning bolt toward the girls.
"Bahaha! That's it?!"
Astra nearly fell out of her chair.
"That is the most basic lightning spell there is!"
"Isho Malda..."
Eron's barrier flashed as the lightning struck.
"Is that it...?"
Eron sighed, disappointed at only having to use her weakest defensive magic.
"Lucy, show him how it's done."
"No way..."
The man panted with exhaustion.
"That was my ultimate spell!"
"O-okay, here I go, then."
A mass of mana gathered around Lucy like a storm.
Lucy raised her hand.
"Te Ato Coja Recta!"
A needle-thin bolt pierced straight through his hastily raised mana barrier before striking him square in the chest.
"Well done, Lucy!" Astra beamed.
"Well, I guess it's time we end this, isn't it?"
Kalia announced, finally getting up from her chair.
She approached Kane, who had been slowly worming his way toward the door.
"Kane, was it?"
"Don't hurt me..." he whimpered. "We're sorry..."
"A coward and a brute. Aren't you a walking contradiction?"
Kalia grinned, leaning over his pitiful figure.
"We'll leave... I promise..."
"No, you won't. I believe the city guard would like to have a chat with you and your friends."
"Eron, could you tend to that one's injuries?"
Kalia pointed toward the unconscious mage.
"It looks like Lucy's spell might've burned him a bit."
"Why should I?"
Eron glared at the crumpled man.
"They attacked us!"
"I think these guys learned their lesson, Eron. A healer's job is to heal, and sometimes that means helping people you don't think deserve it."
"Fiiine."
Eron held The Gleam of Dawn above the man's scorched chest.
"Amle Resze."
As she finished her chant, a soft light mended the wounds.
"Th-thanks..." the man whispered.
"Yeah, yeah. You're lucky Master Lia is kind."
"Fio, can you go get the guards?"
"Sure thing, Master Lia."
Kalia manifested some rope and tossed it to Astra.
"And Astra, can you tie these guys up?"
"Okie, Master Lia!"
"I'm really sorry about those men..." Hoko said, stepping out from behind the bar where she'd been hiding.
"We should be the ones apologizing. We've wrecked the place."
Kalia looked around at the broken furniture and scorch marks.
"No, no, really. Those men have been causing problems for months now and scared off all my customers."
"Still... we'd like to pay for the damage. It was our fight, after all."
"Really, it's fine. We should get more people in now that they won't be bothering me anymore."
"Hoko, I can see it on your face. You can't afford to fix this."
Kalia cut straight to the point.
"You're right..."
Hoko admitted after a long pause.
"I was planning on shutting the place down at the end of the month, but I thought maybe I could scrounge up just a few more customers and keep it open."
Her voice softened.
"My family has owned this place for years, and I couldn't bear the thought of letting it go. Even if you paid for the damage, I doubt I could remain here for much longer. Business has been slow for quite some time, and this side of town is no longer the busy and vibrant district it was when I was a child."
"I'm sorry to hear that..."
"It's okay... I can't say I didn't try..."
Hoko choked on her words.
"What if we—"
Kalia was interrupted by the sound of boots marching up the street.
"What now..."
She sighed, turning to face the commotion.
"Master Lia! I brought the guards!" Fio called from outside the inn.
"Good evening. What brings you back here?"
Kalia asked as dozens of guards piled into the inn.
There was no answer.
The guards simply formed two lines, allowing a hooded figure to walk between them.
All this for a few common street thugs...
The hooded man stopped in front of Kalia.
"Ah, hello. Kalia, was it?"
"Yes, that's me... What seems to be the trouble?"
Kalia unconsciously grabbed her tail.
If these guys were in the pocket of the gang, there could be serious trouble heading her way.
"Let's take this conversation somewhere more private."
The figure motioned toward the back of the inn.
"S-sure..."
Kalia mumbled, following him.
"So, first things first."
The man slowly removed his hood.
"King Modo?!"
"Shhhh... Keep it down."
The king motioned frantically with his hands.
"I'm trying to keep a low profile here..."
"Oh, sorry... What brings you out to this part of the city?"
"First off, congratulations on making your party official. I tried to catch you guys at the guild, but you were already gone."
"Heh, thanks, I guess. But how did you know we'd be here?"
"I happened to overhear one of the guards talking about some people causing trouble at an inn. I figured I might as well see what was happening since I had the royal guard with me."
Modo chuckled.
"Imagine my surprise to find you here and four thoroughly beaten thugs on the floor."
"Ehh... we didn't mean to cause such a commotion..."
"Haha, I'm not worried about any of that. The real problem is that they're part of a gang of slave traders from Shella, south of here. Recently, they've been terrorizing the countryside."
"The south..."
"Oh? You've heard of them?"
The king inquired, noticing Kalia's expression.
"You could say that..."
Kalia's eyes narrowed.
"I think I ran into some of them a few months ago. So, what would you like us to do?"
"The village chief has asked for assistance in getting rid of them, but I can't make any official moves. They have connections to Orenna. I can't afford a war."
"So, you want them dealt with, I guess?"
"I hate having to ask you like this, but Kel'asa isn't capable of fighting against such a powerful nation. We don't have the resources to deal with it, nor do we have any adventurers willing to take such a huge risk."
"We'll handle it, Modo."
"Really? Just like that?"
"Yes. We'll gladly take care of it."
"Thank you, Kalia. I must warn you, this could make you an enemy of the Empire. I will completely understand if you back out at any point."
"Orenna doesn't scare me, and I've been meaning to have a small 'talk' with that gang anyway. It's just convenient that I might get paid for it now."
Kalia laughed.
"Haha, you are an interesting one. I don't know how I could ever thank you properly for this."
"Think nothing of it, King Modo."
"I'll send a messenger tomorrow with all the details and a couple of wagons for your trip. If there's anything else you need, just ask, and I'll have it arranged."
"Is there any way you could help Hoko here? Her inn is wrecked, and it's partially our fault. I don't feel right leaving her like this."
"Consider it done, Kalia. Good luck out there. See you when you return."
The king drew his hood back over his head and departed, the royal guards filing out behind him.
"What was that about, Master Lia?"
"Modo had something for us to do, but let's head home first. This isn't the place to discuss it."
Kalia turned toward Hoko.
"Hoko, don't worry about your inn. I've asked the king to help you out."
"You're kidding! Really?"
"I said I would help since it was our fault, so rest assured, I took care of it for you."
"Thank you, Kalia. I don't know how I could ever repay you!"
"I'm always willing to help! Goodbye, and sorry again for all this mess!"
"Bye, Kalia! I'll cook for you anytime!"