The Ruby Magician

The croissant melted in Arabelle’s mouth, and she had to do everything in her power to stop herself from stuffing her face with the rest of it followed by six more. She never had food like this in her life, and it almost felt wrong to enjoy it.

Tasha insisted on the cafe, though, and Wyn said the cost was nothing. Arabelle couldn’t believe seven crowns for breakfast was nothing, which would have been used for enough food for weeks back at home. But this was a different lifestyle, and Wyn made more than money climbing than she could even comprehend.

His new profession was exactly what she wanted. She just had to find the time and place to tell him. He likely wasn’t going to take it well.

Before taking another bite, she reached up to the necklace Wyn gave her. Apparently it was a magical necklace, able to use a healing spell once a day. Knowing she could use something like that freely was incredibly reassuring, and it was a stunning piece of jewelry too. Besides it being magic, it was absolutely breathtaking, and she nearly cried putting it on.

The day went on without trouble, much to her relief. She wondered if Roscoe or Bartholomew would need to stay with her, but Wyn was more than enough. Everyone who even so much as offered a side glance noticed Wyn was a Climber right away and then gave them a wide berth. He wore casual clothes but included his coat and a sword on his hip. The weapon changed sizes, which was absolutely bizarre, and he normally carried it as a dagger but decided on a sword for intimidating effect. He offhandedly mentioned it was a “normal thing” but Arabelle new the truth. Any would be attackers or thieves would be heavily dissuaded from doing anything to them knowing he was a Climber. They were treated by the citizens like they were either royalty who should be revered or a dangerous pariah who should be avoided.

That was fine with Arabelle. She got to see the city while feeling far more comfortable with her brother. It was actually a pleasant day despite the late summer’s heat, though enough cloud cover helped keep them shaded when not in shops or markets.

Similar to the cafe, Tasha insisted on stopping at several shops for Arabelle to get clothes and basic supplies. She was desperate to help, and apparently needed to since Marcy refused more than once. So, the noble met them at some places and helped pick out new clothes, shoes, and home goods for her room. Arabelle was more appreciative after realizing she was missing so many things after traveling to the city, and having a personal guide who was kind and supportive made her feel loved.

That was a feeling she hadn’t felt in a long, long time. It was nice. She hoped it would happen more.

In the late afternoon Wyn and Tasha left her at the Silver Step, Benedict’s climbing shop. If Arabelle was overwhelmed before, she was nearly done in by all the gear and items inside. She didn’t know what to do, where to go, or even what to look at.

“Hello again, dear,” Benedict said. “I’ll be with you in just a minute!” He was talking to some customers beside a tall glass case that held an entire suit of armor with a brilliant teal sheen. It looked incredibly strong. And expensive.

Arabelle meandered around the shop, casually looking at the items. Some were in similar cases, protected from wandering hands or accidental touches, while others were out in the open. All of them had small plaques under them that gave the items name, brief description, and sell price. After the first few items she passed nearly made her pass out from their cost, she decided to keep her hands firmly at the small of her back. A small accident here would cost her far more than the 25 crowns she owed Roscoe.

Before long Benedict finished talking with the customers and locked the door. The place was now empty, and Arabelle knew it wouldn’t be for long. But whatever he needed to say to her was important, especially with it being her first time there.

“Welcome to the Silver Step!” Benedict said with a flourish of his arms. “I have plenty of stock for Climbers ranging from the first tier to the third, with options of entire equipment sets down to select, individual items. I also carry mundane gear climbers could use like packs, survival and training items, and more. As well as the occasional, small crafting service.” He leaned on his counter and smiled while resting his face on his hands.

Arabelle would have fallen for his charm if she wasn’t so on edge. “That’s incredible, but all of it is lost on me. I have no idea how to use or how anyone would use a lot of this stuff.”

Benedict chuckled. “That’s to be expected. I have a feeling you’ll catch on quick.”

“Thank you. So do you want me to take inventory or stock? Like catalogue some items in the back or move boxes or something?”

Benedict furrowed his eyebrows. “Why would I need you to do that? I have enchanted papers that take inventory, and I know exactly where everything is at all times.”

“Ahh. Well, that… is both impressive and terrifying.”

Benedict laughed, this time. It was hearty and rich. “Thank you, dear. No, I have something else in mind for you. I want you to interact with customers, learn what they’re looking for and convince them to purchase something. Help keep an eye on some while I fetch items, or draw in unsure Climbers to purchase something. You primarily worked in a tavern, so I imagine you had to deal with all manners of people?”

“Yes, I did. And I still got tipped the best.”

“Perfect! So you’re a people person when you need to be, able to read and possibly even predict people’s needs. That’s a useful trait. Not to mention having another pair of hands here I can trust is valuable in of itself. I can’t be in two places at once!”

Arabelle thought about that. That was pretty similar to her experience, though the clientele was different. But that could be overcome soon. If she was going to be a Climber, she needed to learn the ins and outs anyway. No better way than to interact with them on a daily basis.

“That sounds good,” Arabelle said. “When do I start?”

“Now,” Benedict said, moving to the door. “For today, just listen and help. Learn the sayings, the terms, and items. Be yourself, most importantly, and you’ll do just fine.”

Arabelle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She thought of her time at the Pig Sty, putting on a smile and catering to the patrons. The people here shouldn’t be as rowdy, but she still needed to be accommodating. If she was charming like Benedict, well, she’d earn her pay.

And learning more about climbing from actual Climbers was a great first step. The next would be finding out her class, according to conversation she overheard here and there. That would happen sooner rather than later. She just needed to figure out what to do.

*****

The night was warm but not uncomfortable, though Wyn didn’t care to stand outside too long. His formal wear was a bit more restrictive than he liked, but Tasha insisted on it. If the guild interviews were going to be held at a Gala, he needed to present himself well.

Of course she knew the exact shop that fitted him for noble’s clothes at a comparatively reasonable price of 30 crowns for the entire outfit. They were fine clothes, of course, and he felt like the higher profile people that used to hire him for guard duty.

Oh how times have changed.

The others soon joined him, all looking equally elegant. Cedric wore an overcoat with a cinched sleeve that made his missing arm stand out but not distastefully. John wore similar clothes to Wyn, and both Marcy and Tasha wore dresses with bright colors adorned with jewelry though Marcy looked a bit more uncomfortable than Tasha.

John couldn’t keep his eyes off Tasha, much to Wyn’s amusement. He’d need to try if he wanted to work the room like he said.

The Defender’s guild house was far larger than Wyn imagined. It looked more like a mansion in his opinion, and it was strange finding it just outside the housing district. There were a few streets with multiple small plots of land that held these guild houses, and supposedly the upkeep for them was tremendous. It made sense now why the guild fees were so outrageous. But this side of being a Climber was a completely new experience, and Wyn had to admit he was curious.

The building itself resembled a castle though wasn’t quite as extravagant. Stone comprised the entire structure, with a few portcullises and towers here and there to add to the aesthetic. He assumed the building would probably be able to house forty or fifty people, if not more, depending on how they arranged the rooms. It was four stories tall and wider than any other residential building he passed on the way over, easily being the largest building around. It made sense, though, since the Defenders was the largest guild in the city. It needed to be big to hold everyone, as they had almost ten groups.

Wyn remembered the times he was hired for guard duty for nobles in their castles. It didn’t happen often, but occasionally he and his company were brought in for a couple of weeks while on route to a new location in the war to provide protection. It was mostly for show and always political, as all the nobles ever did was throw parties with questionable guests while Wyn watched from afar. Now, though, he was on the other side. It was a strange feeling.

The inside of the large hall matched the outside, with the entrance being a large room where attendants took coats, gear, and checked guests. After confirming their invitations, the five continued on further the mansion. It quickly opened up into a large ballroom where there already a large number of people standing and conversing while eating and drinking from platters and glasses that were being handed around by more attendants.

“Remember,” Tasha said, “don’t drink too much wine and don’t eat too much. We need to be focused during the interviews to make a good impression.”

“And try to find each other after the interviews to let us know what to expect,” Cedric said. “I’d still prefer to stick together, somewhat.”

“Agreed,” Marcy said. She fidgeted in her dress, tugging at her waist and adjusting her bust. “I can’t stand wearing this.”

“It won’t be long,” Tasha said. “And don’t do that. It makes you look unrefined.”

“I am unrefined,” Marcy said, lowering her voice. She quickly smiled at an attendant and grabbed a glass of wine with a lace-gloved hand.

Wyn shared a glance with John and Cedric. This was going to be an interesting night.

The first thing Wyn wanted was something to hold. He felt awkward standing around with nothing as everyone else had either small plates with bites of food or wine glasses to drink. Each person that walked by holding a platter seemed to be on a mission, though, and he kept missing them.

A man walked up beside Wyn and stopped one of the waiters. He grabbed a plate and drink and handed them out to Wyn. “Care for one or the other?”

“Both, please,” Wyn said, graciously grabbing them. He took a drink of his wine and looked at his small plate of fruit before realizing his mistake.

The man chuckled and took the plate from him. “I could feed these to you one by one, if you want.”

Wyn smiled awkwardly. “I obviously didn’t think that through. I guess I’m nervous.”

“That’s alright. Look at everyone here. Does anyone look too comfortable?”

Wyn looked around the room and realized the man was right. People grouped together to talk, but seemed nervous and awkward. Not everyone was dressed formally, either, with some wearing basic clothes or even some climbing gear.

The man talking to Wyn was the worst of them. His white pants were hemmed just below his knee, laced sandals adorned his feet, and his tunic was brown. It was a chaotic mess of an outfit, and Wyn didn’t need to know fashion like Tasha to see he was going to make a terrible impression. Still, he had a confident look in his eyes, and his physique looked to be every bit of a Climber.

“I guess not,” Wyn said.

The man held Wyn’s plate out and looked around the room. “I watched your trials. You were… eccentric, I’d say. Made a lot of us look bad.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

The man nodded. “Maybe not. But what was your intention?”

Wyn looked at him. The man seemed genuine enough, but he was just another Climber. Wyn didn’t owe him anything.

Or was this the exact type of situation Wyn hoped for?

“My intention was to prove my value.”

“Prove your value. Hmm. How so?”

“Well, just about everyone I’ve met has either said directly to my face my class is bad or looked at me in pity after I told them. As far as I know, I’m the only active Ruby Magician climbing. But I want people to see that our class choice doesn’t define us. There’s more to climbing than that. And even though my class doesn’t fit an expected role in what people consider good, I can still be beneficial to my group. That’s part of the goal, isn’t it?”

The man ate one of the pieces of fruit from Wyn’s plate. “I like that. Well, you certainly put on a show. No one can deny that. Good luck tonight, Ardwyn, Ruby Strategist.” He handed Wyn the small plate of food and walked off further into the crowd.

Wyn stood there in confusion. Whoever that man was, he was definitely strange.

The night continued with some uncomfortable small talk and more awkward tension before dinner was officially served. It was an elegant meal in the far side of the large hall with enough tables and seating for everyone to have their own space. The five of them were able to sit together without anyone else join, though they didn’t have much news to share.

What they did say was that about a quarter of the participating Climbers in the trials were at the Gala, which was higher than expected. The new guild, the Stair Chasers, were wanting to fill their roster right away, and the other guilds had ample space, too. Devon and his group, with Maven, William, and the newer members, were all there to pick a guild, too. Wyn was ecstatic they were offered more than one guild choice, and knew they would do well wherever they went. If they chose Stair Chasers, he hoped the guild lasted long enough to give them additional resources and success. They deserved to be successful.

In the middle of eating a steak that was the best seasoned and cooked steak Wyn ever had, Sonya walked out in the middle of the tables. The room instantly grew quiet seeing her, knowing there would be some announcement. John kept chewing beside Wyn, oblivious. His eyes were closed while he was mentally in a far away place with his dinner.

“Welcome, Climbers,” Sonya said, her voice more reserved than before. “We’re so glad you could make it to the Gala this evening. While you continue to enjoy your dinner, we will be finding you by name for your interviews. Attendants will escort you to the proper location and the interviews will have a maximum of five minutes for individuals and ten minutes for groups. While the interviews are being conducted, please continue to enjoy your meal and feel free to mingle or wait patiently until your interviews are concluded. If you don’t inform the guild during your interview of your choice, you must notify a guild of your selection before leaving this evening or we will consider your silence a decline of all guilds. Thank you.”

“At least they’ll go quick,” Marcy said.

John finally stopped chewing. “What will go quick?”

Wyn sighed.

It wasn’t long before the interviews started, and watching others get up and leave gave Wyn anxiety. Some individuals stood from their tables and were led to other parts of the guild house, while an entire table stood with an attendant and walked in another direction.

Wyn took a long drink of his wine. He was still on his first glass since he wanted to be mentally sharp for the interviews, but watching people leave was making him want another glass. Still, he held off, and decided to distract himself by talking to their group and finding Devon’s group to talk to.

When an attendant came over to them, John and Cedric were pulled by themselves. Wyn was nervous why they were invited alone but reminded himself they had invites to other guilds, and even Wyn had invites that all the others didn’t.

An attendant walked over to their group and asked for Wyn to follow him. He shared a look with Marcy and Tasha and walked away. “Where am I headed?”

“To a private parlor,” the man said. “The Defenders are wanting to interview you.”

Wyn let out a long breath. This would be a good warm-up. He wasn’t interested in their guild, but it would still go a long way to be cordial and honest.

When he arrived in the room, it was relatively small but still elegant. Some lanterns and candles lit the space to provide a relaxing ambience, and there was a single wooden chair in the middle of the room while three people sat in similar chairs opposite it. One of them, a woman, stood up and smiled brightly at him.

“Hello, Ardwyn,” she said, and extended a hand in greeting. “I’m Mary. I’m one of the lead Climbers of The Defenders. Welcome.”

Wyn greeted each of them before sitting down in the empty chair. He didn’t know what to expect, but decided to respond instead of talk too much. They could lead the conversation.

The interview went about as he expected. They asked him a basic background question and then questions about his Climbing experience and class. His answer of being a captain in the military drew some surprised looks, while his answer on keeping his class and not choosing another drew equally inquisitive stares. Other questions came like why didn’t he have a full group, and why did his group choose him as a leader. One question by a man who seemed to be already bored of the entire process was what was his favorite place in the city.

The process felt trivial. Until they asked him why he wanted to be a Climber. He answered honestly, though kept some details private. They shifted uncomfortably and made small talk after until his time was up.

Wyn was ushered back to the large ballroom, confused. Did he say something wrong? Once he returned, he realized they never even asked him if he wanted to join their guild. It was more than odd.

The second interview with the Alistair Junkies was even worse. They didn’t ask near as many questions, instead telling Wyn their rules to join and guidelines he would have to follow to remain a member. Their first point immediately put him off, as they said he’d be placed in a group based on their own specific criteria. Then when they started going into increased fees for new members Wyn tuned them out.

It was fine. They weren’t his focus anyway.

The last interview was with the Twilight Blades, and it didn’t happen for some time. The rest of the group shared their own experiences as well. They had varied interviews so far, from awful to decent. And all of them said they still had the Twilight Blades last.

Wyn knew what that meant. They’d be interviewed together.

When the attendant came, they were all swept away for the interview. A large part of Wyn was relieved that they’d have the time to sit down and talk as a group, and he hoped the interview would go as well. The others weren’t great, and this was their desired guild.

When they entered the room, there were five chairs sat out and four people sitting across from them. Gregory was in the middle, dressed in fine clothes and looking every bit of the handsome Knight he was. The man to his left was shorter and average, though older and bald with a clean cut face and modest clothes. He looked to be at least in his thirty’s. The person to his right was younger but tall and stout. He could have passed for Gregory’s younger brother.

The last man on the end was a familiar man that Wyn did not expect. He wore a strange outfit with laced sandals, short white hemmed pants, and a brown tunic. It was the same man who talked to him when he first arrived.

“Hello everyone,” Gregory said. “Thank you for waiting so long.”

“I’m Prian,” the older man sitting on Gregory’s left said, giving a bow. “I’m a Diamond Wizard and leader of one of the second tier groups.”

The man who looked like Gregory stepped forward and gave a quick and firm bow. “Name’s Nigel. I’m a Squire and leader of the other second tier group."

“And I’m Caryn,” the other man said, nodding his head while smirking. “I’m a Commander and leader of the other third tier group. I believe Wyn and I have already met.”