Alonzo hesitated ever so slightly before replying, "From nowhere."

"Nowhere?" Jamie questioned, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"He's from the south. Far south," Thyra interjected, her tone edged with a hint of exasperation.

"Ah! I know this one! I know this one! Wait. What was it again?" Jay exclaimed, leaping from his perch on the table.

Alonzo took a steadying breath, before explaining. "To the south, far to the south, there isn't an established kingdom," he began. "Only a few city-states survive, clinging to the edges of the vast desert."

"Alright," Jamie nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

"Currently, there are three major cities," Alonzo continued. "Each one is vying to form a kingdom and absorb the others. That's why we're constantly embroiled in battles. But because of the desert's harshness and the monsters that dwell within it, none of us has managed to form a real nation."

'Clear motivation, aligned justification,' Jamie mused. 'I still need to read his legend, but there's one more thing I need to verify.'

Leaning forward slightly, Jamie clasped his hands together. His gaze shifted between Alonzo and Thyra, both of whom seemed to bristle in each other's presence. "I can't have two people on my team who can't be trusted to work together," he stated plainly. "So I need to ask you: why do you two hate each other?"

"I don't hate her. She's just annoying and hates me," Alonzo replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

Thyra shot him a sharp glare, her icy blue eyes narrowing with indignation.

"And why do you think that is?" Jamie inquired.

"Because she's going to have to marry me," Alonzo blurted out, seemingly oblivious to the tension his words caused.

Jamie noticed Thyra's expression hardening. A mix of frustration and something deeper flickered across her face. It was clear there was more to the story than Alonzo was letting on.

The bard decided to focus on his immediate task.

"[Legends of the Future]," he whispered under his breath, activating his unique ability.

A soft melody seemed to fill the air around him as soon as he did.

The reckless prince just longs to fight, But to be a king, he must gain sight. He'll need to look beyond his pride, And see the wisdom by his side.

'Why was it so easy to read his legend? Why did it form so readily?' Jamie pondered. 'Nothing troubling, and it confirms his story.'

"Welcome aboard, Alonzo," Jamie said warmly, extending his hand to the young man standing before him.

"Thank you very much, sir," Alonzo replied, grasping Jamie's hand firmly.

As their hands parted, Jamie mused internally, 'Interesting. For a noble, he certainly knows how to keep his pride in check. So which pride was that rhyme referring to?'

Turning his attention to the young woman beside Alonzo, Jamie continued, "Now, your turn, Thyra. Why did you choose to join the Golden Fiddle?" His gaze rested on her.

Thyra met his eyes without flinching, her posture poised and confident. "I came from the north to accompany this hardheaded fool," she explained, casting a sidelong glance at Alonzo. A hint of exasperation colored her tone. "When I saw what he was getting involved in, I decided to sign up as well."

Jamie considered her words, a flicker of concern crossing his mind. 'Not a particularly strong reason, that could be a problem,' he thought. 'But if she's determined to stay with him regardless, perhaps that's motivation enough.'

"North?" Jay interjected with a note of surprise. The ethereal feline perched, his eyes wide with recognition. "North! I know her, she's my cousin. Oh! And your cousin. Distant cousin, but still family."

Jamie fought the urge to react, maintaining an even expression. 'If I haven't acknowledged any connection to her until now, this isn't the moment to start,' he reminded himself, focusing on the matter.

He cleared his throat softly. "And why are you following him? Better yet, why do you harbor such animosity toward Alonzo?" Jamie inquired, his gaze shifting between the two.

Thyra sighed lightly, brushing a stray strand of her golden hair behind her ear. "Because we've been betrothed since childhood," she admitted, a mixture of frustration and resignation evident in her voice. "I've known him for years, known he's reckless. When his father informed me that he was coming to the Academy, I took the opportunity to come along." She paused, drawing a deep breath before continuing. "The reason for my anger is that this stubborn oaf never waits for me. He always makes decisions on his own and rushes off. Whether it's training in the desert, attending the Academy, or applying to the Golden Fiddle."

Alonzo's expression softened, his eyes reflecting a newfound understanding. It was as if, for the first time, he truly saw Thyra, not just as a childhood friend or a betrothed, but as someone whose feelings he had overlooked.

Jamie observed the exchange thoughtfully. 'At least they're not on the verge of killing each other,' he mused, suppressing a wry smile. 'Relationships like theirs can be troublesome, but they're both quite powerful. I'll have to take the chance.'

He nodded slowly, accepting that while they might pose challenges, they weren't an insurmountable risk.

[Legends of the Future]

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The ice-cold witch has a heart of flame, Too bad her foes will freeze in pain!

'Not bad, not bad,' Jamie thought.

"Well then, if you both agree to work together, welcome to the Golden Fiddle, Thyra," Jamie said, extending his hand toward the young ice witch. Thyra hesitated for a heartbeat, studying him intently as if weighing his sincerity. Then, with a subtle nod, she reached out and clasped his hand firmly.

'Only two more to go. Let's finish this,' he thought.

"On your way downstairs, could you please ask the other two to come up?" Jamie requested Alonzo and Thyra. "Oh, and don't leave just yet. I have some plans I'd like to discuss with everyone." Both nodded in agreement, their earlier tension seemingly eased.

Moments later, the heavy oak door to Jamie's study creaked open once more. Dieter, the seasoned swordsman, entered first. He was followed closely by Emyr, the diminutive gnome engineer whose curiosity was matched only by her ingenuity.

As Dieter approached, he unslung the longsword from his back. He placed it carefully against the side of an upholstered chair before settling himself into it. Absentmindedly, he stroked his grizzled beard. Scars crisscrossed his sun-weathered skin, each telling a story of survival.

'He's the eldest among the recruits,' Jamie mused. 'His experience could help train the younger members.'

Emyr climbed into a chair opposite Jamie's desk, her feet dangling above the floor. Her bright, emerald-green eyes peered over the brass rims of her oversized goggles, which she pushed up onto her forehead, causing her wild tangle of copper curls to spring free.

"These two. We won't be able to read their Legends. Not right now, at least," whispered Jay.

I expected as much, Jamie replied in his thoughts, his expression giving nothing away.

Clearing his throat softly, Jamie began the final interview. "Dieter, what made you decide to join the Golden Fiddle?" he asked, his tone inviting yet measured.

"Security," Dieter replied after a moment's contemplation. His voice was deep, carrying the weight of years lived hard. "I've been running with small groups for a long time. It gets dangerous after a while. I saw a chance here for something more stable."

"Security?" Jay interjected skeptically into Jamie's mind. "Is a newly formed company really the best place to find that?"

Jamie paused, considering his point. He leaned forward slightly, his hands folded on the polished mahogany desk. "Why is security so important to you now?" he probed.

Dieter met his gaze steadily, eyes the color of steel reflecting a lifetime of hard choices. "I'm not as young as I once was," he admitted. "I've got family here in the city. I want to be around for them."

Jamie nodded thoughtfully. 'Short answers. Makes it hard to get a full read on him,' he mused.

"You can assess him later with your Blessing, when you've rested," Jay suggested, her tail swishing slowly.

'Right,' Jamie agreed silently.

"Well then, Dieter, welcome to the Golden Fiddle," Jamie said aloud, standing and extending his hand across the desk.

Dieter rose to his feet, his full height apparent as he clasped Jamie's hand in a firm handshake. "Thank you," he said simply.

As Dieter and Jamie clasped hands, sealing their agreement, Jamie turned his attention to Emyr. The gnome sat quietly across from him, her petite form barely filling the large, cushioned chair.

"I'll leave you both to it," Dieter said, giving a quick nod. Before Jamie could respond, Dieter had already made his way out of the room, the door closing softly behind him.

Emyr remained, her gaze fixed downward. The remnants of the recent confrontation were still evident on her face; her lips swollen from the blow she'd received, and cuts etched across her cheeks.

"How are you feeling?" Jamie asked, his voice sincere.

Emyr looked up slowly, meeting his gaze. "Better," she replied in a quiet voice that belied her usual exuberance. The fatigue in her tone was palpable.

"What happened out there?" Jamie pressed gently. "Why were they trying to... kill you?"

Emyr let out a heavy sigh, her small shoulders rising and falling. "There are some kingdoms, especially to the east, where they believe all gnomes are thieves," she began, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Some ancient stories and grudges held over generations."

He nodded thoughtfully. 'At least she didn't actually steal anything,' he mused silently.

Jamie shifted the conversation. "What brought you to the Golden Fiddle?" he asked.

At his question, Emyr's demeanor transformed remarkably. The shadows lifted from her face, replaced by a bright, animated expression. Her eyes sparkled with renewed enthusiasm, and a wide grin spread across her face.

"It's a bit of a long story," she exclaimed, her voice suddenly lively. "You see, I suffer from terrible insomnia." She chuckled softly. "One morning, I decided to rise even earlier than usual and take a walk. Being small has advantages; I can slip through the city unnoticed, go places others might overlook, and even venture into the Lower Quarter without drawing attention."

Jamie raised an intrigued eyebrow, surprised by her sudden change in mood.

"I was walking near the city walls early one morning," Emyr began. The gnome inventor leaned forward in her chair, her small hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke. "Usually, at that hour, it's just the occasional noble's carriage rushing toward the gates, eager to enter the city. But this time was different. Instead of heading into the Merchant's Quarter or the Noble District, the carriage veered into the depths of the Lower Quarter."

Jamie listened attentively, intrigued by the fervor in her voice.

"I followed it, of course," Emyr continued, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "When I caught up, I saw that the carriage had been altered. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen! An engineering marvel, a carriage designed to pump gases into a building. Who would think to use such a mechanism as a weapon?"

She paused for effect, her gaze sweeping the room before settling back on Jamie. "Apparently, the mercenaries of the Golden Fiddle," she declared, her voice brimming with admiration. "I realized then that I needed something like that. A muse, an objective to push my own inventions further. That's how I began developing my bombs. But now... I crave more. I'm utterly captivated. It's like an addiction!"

With a dramatic flourish, Emyr stood from her chair and, in a theatrical gesture, dropped to one knee before Jamie. "I need to join the Golden Fiddle!" she proclaimed, her voice echoing with fervent determination.

Jamie and Jay exchanged glances, both momentarily stunned by her impassioned plea.

"Well..." Jamie began. "I suppose I can say you're most welcome." He extended his hand toward her.

Emyr's face lit up with a radiant smile. She grasped his hand firmly with both of hers, her grip surprisingly strong for someone of her stature. "Thank you!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with unbridled enthusiasm.

"Now then," she continued eagerly, releasing his hand. "Who came up with the idea for that carriage?"

Jamie chuckled softly. "That would be me," he admitted. "But you'll have to wait a bit before we delve into that. First, let's join the others downstairs."

He rose from his seat, gesturing for her to follow. Together, they made their way toward the staircase that led to the tavern's main floor.

At the center of the common room were all members of the Golden Fiddle, gathered around a large, scarred wooden table.

Ten individuals, each unique in appearance and bearing, turned their attention to Jamie and Emyr as they approached.

"Welcome, everyone," Jamie addressed the group, his voice carrying a note of authority that commanded attention. "You are now officially members of the Golden Fiddle. But our day is far from over."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle.

"Now comes the exciting part," he continued, a subtle smile hinting at secrets yet to be revealed. "Let's discuss a plan."

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