Gently trying to remove her fingers failed. With more force I pried them loose and pushed her to an arm's length. "Listen, I don't think you understand me. I'm an adventurer not an enchanter."

Her grip doubled in strength as she switched from vying for my collar to clutching my wrists. Yvonne leaned closer, her eyes blazing, in the dimly lit tunnel.

"Such wasted potential! Adventuring is admirable work, but with a skill good enough to replicate an enchanter's work so perfectly…You must apprentice under me."

A glance around me revealed Myol maintaining a scowl but with the corners of her mouth threatening to give way to the mirth in her eyes. Sereza made no such attempt and had her arm wrapped around her stomach as she stifled a cackle.

Traitors, all of you.

"No thanks. I'm happy fighting monsters for a living."

"With such a talent, you could retire in five years time!"

"Enchanting is an expensive hobby."

"As my apprentice you'll have most of those expenses covered!"

I tugged my wrists free and backed away from her searching fingers. "I don't need money."

"Then you will exalt in refining your craft you are so clearly suited for! Pride, that's one of your traits, yes? Then worry not! Having your signature and the backing of my mentorship will have your work praised in the highest circles!"

By now, Sereza crouched, covering a maniacal grin as I pressed against Myol's barrier. Half tempted to summon Magnus and attempt to absorb the skill, I pointed my spear at Yvonne's stomach.

She didn't stop approaching.

Gah! I'm supposed to be the crazy one, lady!

Forced to lower it, I at least held it out, barring her from moving closer. "I'm already split between adventuring and the healer's guild. You'd have to pry me from the head healer."

The statement got Yvonne to pause. Her eyes narrowed and the sigils dimmed for a fraction of a second before her all-too wide smile settled into something else. Now it was determination that hid inside her gaze, more akin to a warrior going into battle.

"If I must, I shall. I'm sure I can work something out between the two of us, she would after all help you in refining your mana control." Her eyes widened and the grin returned albeit more subdued. "Yes, that's perfect. With her help, it'll fast track the laborious process of improving your mana control. You'll be able to move onto advanced enchantment even faster!"

This…

Sturmrorex mentally puffed up and sent the impression of blowing her away like an annoying bug off your arm.

A laugh escaped and I pressed the spear forward, silencing the enchanter. "Trust me. The last thing I need from somebody is how to control my mana. Take your insults somewhere else."

I grabbed Sereza's arm and pushed past Yvonne. She turned but I ignored her and stopped at the edge of Myol's barrier. I knocked once and waited, internally sighing in relief as the barrier dropped and allowed us through.

As we started down the tunnel, I heard rapid shuffling behind me and braced.

"Wait," Yvonne called out.

"I already told you no. I don't need your help, and I don't need your resources."

"At least hear me out."

I almost sighed, but her tone was different. Far more subdued and with less mania than before, I already felt the regret building as I pictured her expression. Slowly, I turned and found the enchanter almost normal looking.

She retracted her mana, keeping it bound to her skin and no further. Even her eyes had dimmed, the sigils unmoving as she tracked my movement.

"I already said no."

She bit her lip and nodded. Then she did something completely unexpected.

"I apologize for the disrespect." Yvonne bowed. "I let my excitement get the best of me, for that I apologize."

I waited until she exited her bow and regarded her. She looked sincere. Hell, she looked like a prim and proper noble showing difference to a superior. That was… Wrong.

"Apology accepted. But I'm still refusing your offer."

She met my eyes and sighed. "Yes. I see that now. I haven't seen many of your fights, Mordred. But I recognize that one as skilled as you would never be a true crafter. So I will make another offer, one I believe will benefit the both of us."

My eyes narrowed but I let her continue. She smiled at my nod and collected herself, standing straight.

"I retract the offer of apprenticeship, instead I would like to formally invite you into the enchanter's guild." She produced a small pin, a coin the size of my fingernail with a flat surface made of black metal. Yvonne tossed it over and I caught it, lifting it to the light. "That pin will allow you past the gate, and will afford you official recognition as a friend of the guild. You will be allowed access to personal requests, trading of knowledge and runes as well as limited access to the public workshops."

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I pocketed the pin and crossed my arms. "And what do you want?"

"An opportunity. I assume you have some knowledge of runes, as well as enchantments? You said that you have no master and you only recently acquired the skill, but…"

After a moment of hesitation, I slowly nodded. "I have some runes, but not enchantments. I do have some enchanted items that could perhaps be studied."

Yvonne's features softened. "Good. Then please seek me out when you're ready. I believe there is much we can learn from each other. And while you say you have no need for an apprenticeship, I believe I can help you start correcting the absence of knowledge regarding enchanting. Mutually, of course. Whatever runes and secrets you want kept private, I will respect and I expect the same from you."

"Deal. But it will have to wait till after the tournament. At least," I warned.

"Acceptable." Yvonne turned to Myol and pulled her hood over her head while glancing back down the tunnel where a group of fighters awaited entry. "I'll run a final check over the enchantments in the arena. Three minutes, and the next match can begin."

"Took you long enough," Myol muttered.

The enchanter approached the other end of the barrier and strutted through the confused fighters. Once glance at the arena master sent them scrambling and yet they refused to move closer.

"I think that's our cue to get out of here. Someone might soil themselves if we wait around any longer," Sereza whispered.

"I'm not an insane monster. The match is over, they're fine," I retorted.

She patted my back and dragged me along. "Suuuuure. Let's see what the others have to say about the big fireball."

I kept the grumbling to a minimum as we headed toward the booth.

***

Teddy waved at our return. "Do we need to leave?"

"One. No faith in me. Two, no," I said.

Teddy smiled and opened his mouth to say something but Isaac appeared between us.

He extended his arm and brandished the sandwich like an accusing finger. "You're not banned? Dragonshit. You broke the arena. Again!"

I shrugged. "What can I say? She likes me."

Sereza shook her head and plopped onto the couch. "He almost got arrested. Did something stupid and messed with one of the enchantments. He's lucky the enchanter's guild wanted to recruit him."

Her statement started a chain of mixed reactions. Eodyne and Igas looked bored, only barely paying attention as they played a game of marble chess. Isaac grinned like an idiot while Khrem leaned forward along with Teddy.

While I observed the room, I undid my skill and ceased empowering Spirit Lord's Invocation. Sturmrorex appeared long enough to raise his head smugly before he swam into my chest and settled inside.

Celenae perked up. "You're finally exploring your skill?"

"No. Yes? I'm not doing anything for now. But the crazy lady gave me this pin and invited me to visit after I rejected her offer."

Teddy extended his hand and I handed him the coin.

"What was the offer?" Khrem asked.

"To join the guild, become her apprentice and give up adventuring."

"And you said no?"

"For multiple reasons that would have been a horrible idea."

"Catastrophically terrible," Isaac cut in.

"For the best," Sereza agreed.

"Are you sure you guys are my friends?" I grumbled.

"We're just agreeing with you!" Isaac taunted.

Sereza nodded along with even Celenae looking relieved.

Traitors. The lot of yah.

Teddy tossed the pin over and whistled. "She truly wanted you. I advise avoiding making deals, even with your ability to skirt around soul contracts, the guild might take that as an attack and cause a commotion. Typically, runic knowledge is kept contained, especially if you're requesting an enchanting work. But congratulations. An in with the guild affords you more options than most will ever access."

"That good?" I said.

"You seriously have zero concept of how odd you are, Cyrus," Sereza said. "Not even my father would be able to acquire a pin like that. Well, he probably could but it would take more than he'd be willing to give."

"It's true. Not all noble houses have access to the guild. Not so directly. They are forced to make more broad-stroke requests either from petitioning other connections such as friends or other nobles, or relying on the commerce board. Even my parents only have a specific pin that affords them access to a set of enchanters," Teddy explained.

Studying the pin revealed the minute enchantments expertly weaved into the black metal. Usually mana had a specific color to its glow, but whatever empowered the runes was nearly invisible on the color spectrum. The only rune I did manage to recognize through the brief scan was the one that it shared with the pin from the healer's guild. The enchantment was simple, serving as an identifier toward the pin's authenticity.

Something, something… Identity. Something.

With a flex, Chomperz appeared and sucked in the pin along with my spear.

"We'll see. And yes, before you ask, I'll have Galarion make a memory orb later. Now can I sit and munch in peace? I did get physically tortured, you know. My mana channels are a little sore, too."

"It's from my understanding that healing from Áine takes little to no toll on the body in regards to nutrients. Has that changed?" Khrem said.

"No. But I'm hungry and I feel like it."

Teddy and Celenae shared a look but they usually did whenever I said something they found even mildly strange.

Khrem chuckled and grabbed himself a sub from the table. "You're certainly as lively as I remember you being. I doubt other adventurers live such chaotic lifestyles. I'm looking forward to adventuring with you."

It happened again. A subtle disturbance at the back of my thoughts caused a distorted ripple along my mana channels. Only this time, I felt it reach further than before, morphing from undetectable to something expanding inside my soul realm.

Before I closed my eyes, the feeling disappeared and evaporated, leaving behind a gentle ache inside my chest.

Once was ignorable, but twice isn't. Was it something they said?

I blinked at the blurry snout invading my face and leaned back. Chomperz grabbed my cheeks and pulled them closer.

"Yes?"

He opened his jaw and lowered it toward my nose before releasing my face and diving into my chest.

Okay. Definitely something I can't ignore. But later, tonight when I'm alone and have time to process this.

As I absently chewed through the mystery sub, I tuned into the tail end of Sereza's retelling of events.

"Luckily, I knew he'd do something crazy and show off. I mixed some of the new poison you gave me with the Uron's Lilly extract. Very effective, but I think we can shift the ratios further. Less extract and more niddlervak toxin can increase the subtly."

"It'll have to wait until I can set up the equipment inside my room, but that should be doable. Titrating the extract can increase the potency and reduce the amount needed," Khrem said.

"You're lucky you're not a piece of grilled meat," Isaac commented.

"True, I didn't prepare for the extended explosion. It's surprising really. You hardly ever combine your familiar's attacks."

"A mistake we'll be correcting when we can. He's still adapting to Zagreus' form as well as Galarion," Eodyne said.

"I'm right here. Literally, sitting right here," I groaned. "And all I did was add more oxygen into the fireball."

"Stop trying to break the arena, then you can talk," Isaac teased.

Alright. Enough of that.

"Hey, Eodyne. I was surprised when we saw the enchanter. Yvonne's probably the only other person from the storm plains I've seen so far. I do think your electricity looks far cooler than some golden tattoos."

My ears popped as the wind in the room howled in a low whine.

"Describe her," Eodyne said coolly.

I relayed the information and the wind calmed. Eodyne looked, perturbed? Relieved? I wasn't sure, but Teddy leaned over and mouthed 'later,' so I let it drop.

Thankfully, the awkwardness lasted only five seconds. The announcer's voice boomed throughout the booth.

"Fighter's to your places! Audience members to your seats! The second free-for-all is nearly ready! Will it be as explosive as the last?!"

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