Chapter 11 – The Irian Guild

Stone. Stone. And more stone.

Hills and mountains of grey limestone as far as the eye could see, along grassy fields filled with erratics and boulders.

These were the sights that greeted Arian as he, Elvira and Team Sandstream exited the Mystery Dungeon and into an area rather different than the undulating slopes of Rolling Hills. This was more mountainous, with the sight of the dominating Empyrean Mountains looming over the area.

These were the Karstlands. It was an area of special conservation, designated as such by the tsars of Selenia. Although the region was sparsely populated, this gave it a designation of importance, and much-needed acknowledgment after years of perceived ignorance. As well as that, worries raised by the Karstlands’ inhabitants over the endangerment of rare flora were acknowledgment by Tsar Efrem some one hundred and seventy-five years ago, and he, a Roserade and a nature lover, designated the area as a nature reserve and saw to it his policies of protection were upheld. Mostly, his successors respected the laws he put in place, and surprisingly, even Mitrofan proved to be respectful to the protections of the nature reserve.

“Really?” Arian reacted when he heard this. “I didn’t think he would respect something like that, based on what you’ve told me…”

“Yeah, s’pose it’s somethin’ in ‘is favour,” Ishmael admitted. “Still…ya look at all the other shit that’s gone on durin’ ‘is rule, and that’s only one point against lots.”

“I see…” murmured the Riolu. “So he’s still an enemy, then.”

“True. Maybe he’s not the worst person we could possibly have,” Lillian conceded. “But that doesn’t mean he’s a good leader. …A bit of a shame, too, considering…” She trailed off at the end.

“…Considering…what?” Arian prodded.

“…Oh, nothing. Don’t mind me,” the Sandslash dismissed. “So anyway. The Guild’s not far now. Just a bit more walking and we should be there.”

“…Whereabouts is it?” wondered Elvira, looking around at the stony fields. “The old guild stood out, from what I remember. But I don’t see anything resembling it around.”

“That’s because we’re underground, remember?” Axel reminded. “If the Guild was out in the open and blatant, then Mitrofan would definitely put a stop to it. We have to remain secretive, and that means keeping a low profile.”

“…I see,” came the gecko’s reply. “…What has it come to, that one of the most esteemed organisations in Selenia and all of Ardalion has to be reduced to hiding like this? Like common outlaws…It’s almost like we’ve become the very thing we swore to destroy.”

“Don’t be like that, El,” Ishmael encouraged. “Don’t let Mitt’s labellin’ of us mercs as outlaws get ya down. We are heroes, and the folk in Kamengrad know it. Yer safe in town, I swear to ya.”

“Speaking of Kamengrad…we’re here,” Lillian announced. And Arian and Elvira now saw the town for themselves.

Kamengrad wasn’t like Ozerograd in the sense of dominating defensive walls and planned structures based on the towns of the east. Its structure was more like that of a village, though it was big enough to play host to numerous vendors and their stalls. And unlike Ozerograd when he first arrived, Arian didn’t get a sense of oppression and fear, but rather a quiet, reserved atmosphere befitting a rural settlement. There certainly was no equivalent of the Thorned Roses in this town, that was for sure.

And as with what he had seen of the Karstlands so far, stone was a prevalent theme in the town. All the houses were made of it, limestone pavements had been created, some of them naturally, and a slab of stone at the entrance of town had the words ‘Welcome to Kamengrad‘ inscribed on it.

“Seems like a nice place,” Arian commented as the group walked through the town.

“Glad ya like it,” Ishmael replied. “‘Cause the two of ya’ll be seein’ a lot of this place for the next while.”

“…Because we’re located here, most of our clients are from the town,” explained Lillian. “Of course, we ask for secrecy, and many of them are happy to comply. At least that’s their way of returning the favour for doing whatever it is they want us to do.”

They continued walking down the main street. Both Arian and Elvira noticed the waves and greetings given to and from Team Sandstream, as well as the odd acknowledging nods to them. Guess what Ishmael and Lillian both said are true, the Riolu thought. And this’ll be our new location. …Eh, it could be worse. Flashbacks to the Thorned Roses’ intimidation in Ozerograd came to the fore. A lot worse than this, alright.

They came to the town square. Beyond the pedestal marking the centre of town, Arian could see a number of merchant’s stalls, not too unlike the merchant’s quarter in Ozerograd where Caitríona and Conall had set up shop. The Riolu’s curiosity was piqued, but before they could advance any further, Team Sandstream made a sudden divergence down a side street.

“Hey! Why are we going down here?” he asked.

“You’ll see,” Axel told him. “We’ll show you around the merchants later. You’ll need to know them in time. But for now, the Guild’s more important.”

“…Then why are we going down a back street?”

“Wouldn’t be a secret if it was out in the open, would it?” Ishmael reasoned. “It’s gotta be on the down low and kept hush-hush. That’s why it’s back through ‘ere, and not out in the open like a posho’s mansion.”

“…I guess,” Arian accepted.

The side street went through a number of smaller houses, and Arian was reminded of the ramshackle alleyways of Ozerograd. But the alleys of Kamengrad were tidier and more quaint, and there weren’t any signs of fearful occupants watching for any evictors. It was a sign that this place hadn’t been drawn into the evil embrace of something like the Thorned Roses.

From the looks of it, you wouldn’t think this was part of a dictatorship. It seems so tranquil and peaceful. I guess being in a rural area like the Karstlands has its advantages in a time like this. …Maybe that’s why the Guild’s located here, given that it’s so out of the way and all.

The back alley trekking didn’t continue for long, though. After a while, the group found themselves reaching a point of interest. The alley opened out into a small plaza of sorts, and in the middle of that area was…

“…A well?” Elvira observed.

“A well,” Lillian confirmed. “But a well that no one uses, really. They make use of a different one on the other side of town.”

“And that’s ’cause this ain’t really a well,” Ishmael went on. “It’s a fake look, is what it is. It looks like a well, yeah. But really…that’s where our guild is.”

“…Down there?” Arian questioned, confused. “The Guild’s…down a well?”

“I said that, didn’t I?” the Krokorok retorted. “…Well, go on. See for yerself if I’m pullin’ yer leg. Ya too, Elvira.”

“Alright then,” accepted Elvira. She and the Riolu walked forward toward the structure. It had the trappings of a typical well, with a small roof and pulley system in place, along with rope and a bucket as would be typical on a usual well. She looked down the well, and was surprised by what he saw.

A ladder was propped up against one of the walls. In fact, not just propped; it was securely fastened to the wall with what looked to be strong steel bolts.

“…The Guild’s down there,” Elvira said. “It has all the looks of a secret hideout.”

“Well, let’s not waste any more time,” Arian replied. “Let’s go down and see what this Guild’s all about.”

“Agreed. …You go first, Arian. You can see in the dark better than I can.”

“Okay.”

The Riolu walked over to where the ladder began. Tentatively, he put his feet on the first rung, getting a feel for the balance. Luckily, his fears were unfounded; the ladder was firmly attached to the wall, meaning there would be no danger of it being loose and wobbly, as he feared.

Even so…he made the mistake of looking down, and while he could at least see that it wasn’t too far to the bottom, he couldn’t help but quiver slightly. Since when was I acrophobic? he thought. I really wish I wasn’t right now…

“It’s okay, Arian,” Lillian, who had come over with her teammates, urged. “It’s not a long ladder. You’ll reach the ground in no time.”

“…Thanks,” the Riolu said, though it didn’t do much to calm his sudden nervousness. He slowly made his way down the ladder, taking breaths to calm himself as he descended. Thankfully, as Lillian said, it didn’t take long for him to reach the bottom, at which point he took a long breath of relief.

“Thank God that’s over,” he said, relieved. Looking up, he could see Elvira coming down, followed by Team Sandstream, sans Axel, who glided down with his wings.

“You okay, Arian?” Elvira asked, noticing him taking breaths to calm himself.

“…Well, I am now,” Arian confirmed. “Still…I shouldn’t be. I can’t be scared of an entrance like that, especially if it’s the entrance to our new workplace that we’ll be leaving and entering all the time,” he added, slightly ashamed.

“Hey, don’t be like that,” soothed Axel. “It’s normal to have a fear of heights. A lot of people have them, especially Fighting-types.”

“‘Course ya’d say that, wing boy,” Ishmael quipped. “Must be nice, bein’ able to fly like that.”

“For the love of…I can’t fly, Ishmael, and you know that!” the Gligar returned, in a tone of annoyance and a familiarity that suggested he’d heard this before, and was fed up of hearing it. “I can only glide. I mean, I wish I could fly, but…I can’t. We’ve been through this before, Ishmael. When will you learn?”

“…It’s a common topic that pushes Axel’s buttons,” Lillian elaborated to Arian and Elvira. “Not being able to fly is something he’s a bit sore about. …Come on, boys, wrap it up,” she commanded to her two comrades. “You can continue that chat another time.”

“I know, I know,” Ishmael replied. “Ya know me. Couldn’t resist a dig at Ax there. But I getcha. Show ’em ’round first, then I can get back to teasin’ my bestie.”

“I won’t be your ‘bestie’ if you keep that up much longer,” Axel growled.

“I said stop, you two,” Lillian sternly ordered. “Come on. Let’s not keep Arian and Elvira waiting. …So sorry about them,” she apologised to Arian and Elvira.

“It’s fine,” assured Arian. “…But as fine as that is, can we move on?”

“Of course,” the Sandslash answered, and began walking forward. Axel and Ishmael, seeing her go, followed suit, and so did Team Elpis.

Both of the latter looked around them at the passage as they walked. As they got deeper in, they couldn’t help but notice the lit lanterns hung on the walls, to give the passage some light. This passage seemed to be a manufactured one, rather than a naturally formed cave. It reminded Arian of the labyrinthine warrens of a Mystery Dungeon, and for a second, he thought they were going to head into one.

But this never culminated. Soon, the passage opened out, and Arian and Elvira were rather surprised by what they saw.

The area they had come to was a cavern. Several stalactites hung from the ceiling, and a number of stalagmites peppered the ground, though only really near the walls. But these were not the source of surprise for Team Elpis. Rather, it was that the cavern was settled and inhabited, and there were a few Pokémon going about with their duties in the main area.

One of these Pokémon, a four-legged canine with light brown fur and a white-furred collar and tail, noticed the new arrivals and instantly made a beeline for them.

“Ishy!” cried out the young feminine voice of the Rockruff. “You’re back!” She then leapt for Ishmael, and nearly knocked him onto his back.

However, evidently the Krokorok had experienced this before, and managed to catch her in his hands.

“Good to see ya too, sis,” he said to her, lowering her down to the ground. “Yer still as lively as ever, ya lil’ scamp.”

“Yeah, you know me, bro! I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t!”

“…Sis?” Arian looked between Ishmael and the young dog. “Ishmael, you never told us you had a sister.”

“Well, I do,” the Krokorok clarified. “Arian, Elvira, meet Rhiannon, my lil’ sis and helper ‘ere at the Guild. Ya’ll get used to her, don’t worry.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?” Rhiannon queried indignantly. “Are you saying I’m annoying? How rude!”

“…Yeah, ya’ve been spendin’ too much time with Serafina,” Ishmael retorted, noting the almost upper-class attitude in her indignance. “‘Sides, I ain’t wrong. Just ask Terry if ya don’t believe me.”

“Terran’s a grumpy spoilsport! Why would you ask him?” protested Rhiannon. “He doesn’t know anything about fun!”

“…Eh, can’t argue with ya there. At least’s that something we can both agree on.”

“…Anyway…Nice to meet you, Rhiannon,” greeted Elvira, choosing that moment to introduce herself to the young canine. “I’m Elvira, and this is Arian. We’re looking to sign up to the Irian Guild and become mercenaries here.”

“Oh, cool!” Rhiannon praised. “The more the merrier! I love seeing new faces around here all the time. I wish I could become a merc too…But I’m not old enough to be one,” she added disappointedly.

“…Ah. Well, that’s a bummer. But if you keep it up, you’ll be a good merc some day,” Arian encouraged, hoping to raise the young girl’s spirits.

“…I know. I just wish that day would come sooner…” Rhiannon lightly moped. “I’m not a kid anymore. I can handle scrapes and bruises just fine!”

“Registration age is thirteen for apprentices. Yer still twelve. And even then, it’s fifteen at youngest to be a full-on merc with yer own team,” Ishmael reminded. “Yer close, sis. Just be patient, will ya? I’ve already talked to the Chief ’bout this, and he ain’t got a problem with ya joinin’ up. It ain’t nothin’ personal, sis, really.”

“…” Rhiannon didn’t say anything to this.

“…So…where’s Aldebrand?” quizzed Axel. “Is he in the Chief’s office?”

“He is,” the pup answered. “Let’s tell him you’re back, Ishy. Oh, and that we have new people looking to join,” she added, acknowledging Team Elpis, before trotting off deeper into the cavern.

“Let’s follow her,” Lillian suggested, and the group of five followed the Rockruff.

As they did so, Arian and Elvira got a greater look around the cavern that was the Irian Guild’s new location. They could see a few openings to what seemed to be rooms designated for a variety of purposes. Decent lighting was provided via lanterns and luminous orbs, and altogether, it helped to give the place a sense of homeliness.

“It’s almost like an underground village,” Arian remarked.

“I agree,” Elvira replied. “I was a bit worried when I heard the Guild had taken up residence in a cave, but it seems I had nothing to worry about.”

“Glad ya like it. …It ain’t exactly a swanky place, this,” Ishmael replied. “But it’s nice enough.”

“The old Guild wasn’t exactly ‘swanky’ either,” Axel commented. “Mercs like us aren’t exactly the type of people living in luxury. Living like that won’t prepare you for the rough elements that mercs have to face on their missions.”

“As a certain top-drawer moggie had to learn on her first few missions…” mused Ishmael, evidently in knowledge of a fact Arian and Elvira were unaware of.

“Don’t mock Serafina for that, Ishmael,” Lillian admonished. “You know she hates being called posh. And it won’t earn you brownie points with her, making comments like that.”

“Yeah, yeah, Mum, I hear ya,” the Krokorok retorted. “…Oh, by the way, is she in, sis?” he asked Rhiannon.

“No, she and Natalie went out for a mission,” the Rockruff informed. “But they’ll be back this evening, I think.”

“That’s good to hear. Arian and Elvira will get to meet them tonight,” Lillian said, before turning to the aforementioned pair to clarify what they were talking about. “…Serafina and Natalie are two other mercenaries here. You’ll get to know them when they come back.”

“We look forward to meeting them,” Elvira replied, optimistic at the prospect of more friends and allies.

Soon, they came to a tall wooden door with a sign on it reading ‘Guildmaster’s Office‘. Ishmael knocked on the door.

“Oi, Aldie, it’s us! We’re back!” he called. “And we got some new faces lookin’ to sign up!”

Shuffling could be heard from inside the room. Then, the door opened.

“…Ah, Team Sandstream. Good to see you,” greeted a Turtonator. His voice implied a man of middle age. “Congratulations on your success in Ozerograd. That’s wonderful, that the people there no longer have to be tormented by the likes of Hinnerk and the Thorned Roses.”

“It was our pleasure, Aldebrand,” Lillian replied. “But credit where credit’s due, we could never have done such a thing if we weren’t helped by Team Elpis.”

“Team Elpis?” Aldebrand queried, before his gaze fell on Arian and Elvira. “…Yes…I received the Guildmaster’s letter about you two. He claims you were instrumental in bringing Hinnerk to his knees. And…” He looked over to Elvira. “…I see what he said was true. That is you, isn’t it, Elvira? Kallias’s daughter?”

“Yes. That’s me,” the Treecko confirmed.

“…Well. Let’s not leave you out in the hall, then. Come into the office,” the Turtonator permitted, and the fivesome did so, stepping into a fairly large, carved-out room. While the floor and walls were quite primitive, it definitely had the look of an office. An ash desk stood in the middle of the room, on which a stack of papers stood. A chair stood behind it, along with two chairs in front. Against the walls of the room, a few more chairs of varying sizes could be seen, for Pokémon of different sizes. Two presses were present as well, but all in all, for an office, it was humble – perhaps an allusion to the personality of its owner.

“So…the day finally arrives,” Aldebrand observed, once all six were sitting down. “Kallias’s daughter finally comes to join us. …I do apologise, though, that it has to be while the Guild is like this.”

“Don’t worry,” Elvira assured. “You did what you had to. Don’t kick yourself over what happened to the Guild.”

“But it could be better than this. It doesn’t even live up to its name of the Irian Guild,” the Turtonator bemoaned. “I mean…We’re hardly in Iria, are we? It’s more the Kamengrad Guild now.”

“Ain’t got the same ring to it,” objected Ishmael. “We’re still that guild at heart. A lot of the folks with us were in the old one, like you, Aldie. Hell, we were there too! That’s why the Chief’s still callin’ it the Irian Guild. We’re not in Iria…but we’re still around in spirit.”

“…Of course, Ishmael,” Aldebrand acknowledged. “It’s just that Kallias always used to say that he couldn’t wait for the day when his daughter signed up to the Guild. But then the chaos in Iria happened, and the Guild fell apart after that. Then, to top it off, Kallias himself vanished into thin air…Can you blame me for feeling downcast about this?”

“I getcha, Aldie,” the Krokorok replied. “But, ya know…ain’t no use dwellin’ on the past. If we want any wins, we gotta look to the future. And…I reckon these two’ll really help us from here.”

“They will,” Axel affirmed. “Sign them up, Aldebrand. We couldn’t have beaten the Thorned Roses without them.”

“They’re great to work with,” Lillian seconded. “Their heart’s in the right place, and they work well together, both as a team and with other people. …Granted, they could use some fleshing out of their skill. But that’s par for the course with rookies like them. If we help them become stronger, then they could become real assets to our cause.”

“…I’m aware. The Guildmaster was equally as full of praise for them as you all are,” Aldebrand informed. “You don’t need to convince me to make them join us. His approval alone is all we need to sign someone on.”

The Turtonator opened one of the desk drawers and brandished a form. He then laid it out in front of Arian and Elvira, and provided them with a pen.

“There is, of course, the creed of the mercenary, and the several rules they must live by if they are to go down this path,” Aldebrand listed. “Once you swear to undertake all of those vows, you may give your team name and sign your names down at the bottom.”

“…Alright. So…what do we have to swear?” Arian said, as he and Elvira looked over the document Aldebrand had given them.

The Mercenary’s Creed

1. To help those in need, whoever they are, wherever they are, with whatever they request: that is the modus operandi of the mercenary.

2. The mercenary’s priority, without fail, should always be the mission they have been assigned, and the client they wish to aid. Monetary gain, while a perfectly acceptable reason for becoming a mercenary, should never take precedence over the will to help those in need.

3. The mercenary must never take the life of another. The will to carry out justice will be marred should the mercenary stoop to the levels of the outlaws they pursue.

4. Capability of duty must be something the mercenary keeps in mind. They must know their limits and refrain from challenging missions greater than their rank allows. To elevate a mercenary’s rank, through acceptance of missions and strengthening oneself, is ultimately a matter for their Guildmaster to decide.

5. Those who wish to join forces with another and create a mercenary team must always remember the essence of teamwork, and cooperate with their partner in their missions. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link; partners should work to galvanise their collaboration skills, make up for the weaknesses of the other and overcome any differences between them that could lead to conflict.

“…Galvanise their collaboration skills, eh?” Arian noted, upon reading the fifth entry. “Sound logic. Partners that can’t cooperate with each other and have nothing in common shouldn’t really be on a team together.”

“Indeed,” agreed Aldebrand. “It’s a pity when teams break up due to differences too great to bridge. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen to you two.”

“Here’s hoping it doesn’t,” wished Elvira. “Hmm…” she murmured, as she looked further down the page.

We vow to undertake the creed of the mercenary and strive to aid the citizens of Ardalion, be they noble or pauper, with their requests. Whatever that request may be, there is no mission we would not accept in the name of helping those in need.

Below this statement lay space to place signatures and write their team name.

“So all we have to do is sign our names at the bottom here?” the Treecko asked. “And then…we’re a part of the Guild?”

“Yes,” Aldebrand confirmed. “…In truth, were the circumstances more normal, you would have to undergo a beginner’s exam. But due to how things have turned out, the process has been more streamlined. And according to the Guildmaster, your victory over Hinnerk and your completion of prior tasks more than prove your capability of teamwork and dedication towards helping those in need. He therefore feels there is no need to trial you to assess your proficiency as a mercenary.”

“Great. No need for any more waiting around,” Arian said eagerly. “Come on, Elvira. Let’s sign our names and officially become a part of the Irian Guild!”

“…Okay.” Conviction entered Elvira’s voice as she picked up the pen and wrote ‘Elvira‘ at the bottom. Then she handed the pen to Arian.

“Sign your name there,” she said, indicating to the remaining blank on the form.

“Alright,” the Riolu said. But when he tried to pick the pen up and grip it, he was suddenly reminded of a problem he’d experienced back at Elvira’s house when they were coming up with team names.

“…Oh. Right…”

“…Is something wrong?” Aldebrand asked, somewhat confused. “Can you hold the pen?”

“…Kind of. I just need a minute,” Arian replied. “…Damn paws…Can’t hold a pen properly with them.”

“…What?” a befuddled Axel commented. “No offence, Arian, but it’s almost like you’ve never held a pen before. …Can you even write?”

“Well, you see…Arian’s situation is…peculiar,” Elvira explained, while looking to her partner with a hesitant look. The Riolu, still working to find an adequate position to rest the pen on his right paw, caught her look and understood what she was asking.

Should I reveal it?

He nodded. Tell them.

“How so?” pondered Aldebrand.

“There’s…no simple way of saying this. And I know what I’m about to say may sound unbelievable…” Elvira replied, trying to predict the eventual reaction of those in the room. “But Arian…he claims that he was once a human.”

As predicted, everyone’s expressions morphed into ones of confusion at the Treecko’s statement.

“A human?” Rhiannon said, cocking her head. “…But…I thought humans only existed in fairytales. Don’t they, Ishy?”

“Yeah. …That’s what I thought, anyway,” her brother replied. “A human? Ya sure ’bout that, Arry?”

“…Yes,” the Riolu replied.

“But I thought you had amnesia?” Axel queried. “How do you remember being a human then?”

“And why didn’t you tell us this before?” Lillian added.

“I don’t know how I know that I was a human once,” Arian responded to Axel’s question, admittedly annoyed that he couldn’t produce any definitive evidence to back his claim up. “But I definitely was. I swear I’m not lying to you.”

“…A human once…” murmured Aldebrand, looking down at the Riolu. “Hmmm…I’m not saying you’re not lying, Arian. But…with respect, it doesn’t sound like the most believable story.”

“…I had a feeling you would say that,” Arian replied, slight disappointment evident in his voice. “That’s why I never said anything about it back in town. I was afraid people would think I was mad or something if I said I was human. I mean…it’s like Aldebrand said. It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Something like that could be something that could turn away allies and give enemies useful ammo to attack me with. I’d…rather not have that, especially if I’m going to be a mercenary who helps people. I don’t know if many clients would be comfortable entrusting their requests with someone who has a screw loose.”

“W-We didn’t mean it like that, Arian,” Lillian said. “We don’t think you’re mad. It’s just like Aldebrand said; it’s not the easiest thing to believe without some sort of proof.” Notably though, a tinge of guilt laced her tone after hearing Arian’s reasoning. “So that’s why you never said anything…”

“Well…the fact that Arian can’t grip a pen properly is proof enough, isn’t it?” Elvira pointed out. “Anyone in his position would easily be able to write, even a child. And yet Arian’s clearly struggling…almost as if he’s not used to holding a pen in this way. He’d be far more used to holding a pen in his hand like he once did as a human. Why would he be struggling with something so simple?”

“…Good point,” Axel agreed. “And I mean…what does it change, really? As long as you’re still helpful to us, then I don’t think it really matters whether you’re human or not.”

“Yeah,” said Ishmael in agreement. “It don’t matter at all. Yer still a good friend and ally. Might be a bit weird, sayin’ yer human, but…nothin’ wrong with it. And I bet the Chief’ll be the same.”

“Does the Guildmaster know of this?” inquired Aldebrand.

“No,” Arian denied. “Like I said, I didn’t want to say I was human in front of Melchior, for the same reasons as before. I didn’t want him to think I was a bit…daft.”

“The Guildmaster’s not like that,” the Turtonator replied, shaking his head. “He wouldn’t judge you so easily. At worst, he’ll be like we are today. But I think he’ll have no problem believing your story, Arian.”

“…That’s good to hear,” the Riolu said, a bit relieved. “But still…I’d rather not parade around the fact that I’m human. I don’t want to make an unnecessary target of myself. Maybe…don’t keep it a complete secret, but don’t go telling it to everyone you meet. I don’t want ‘being a human’ to be the only thing I’m known for. …If you get my drift.”

“I getcha, Arry,” Ishmael assured. “Don’t worry, we ain’t gonna blab about it. Yer secret’s safe with us.”

“…Thanks, Ishmael.”

“Ah…but if we could get back to this,” Aldebrand reminded, pointing to the form. “You still haven’t signed your name on the form, Arian.”

“I know,” Arian replied. “Just…give me a minute.” He went to pick up the pen, and tried his best to hold it in his right paw. It proved more difficult than expected, to the point that he had to use his other paw to balance it enough for him to write his name on the line.

“…There,” he said, after scrawling ‘Arian‘ on the form. He grimaced when he saw his signature next to Elvira. “…Ugh. That’s…not great.”

“You did well,” Elvira encouraged. “Messy or not, a signature’s a signature. I’ll handle the rest.” Arian handed her the pen and she took it, writing the words, ‘the founders of Team Elpis.’ “And with that…we’re initiated, are we?”

“Indeed, you are,” Aldebrand confirmed. “But we mustn’t forget the most important thing.” He dug into the desk drawer and brought out two small items which he slid across the desk to the duo.

“…Badges?” noted Arian.

“Not just any badges,” Elvira told him. “Mercenary’s badges. These are special badges which help us on our missions. They’re a great help in extracting people from Mystery Dungeons on rescue missions. …You’ll see them in action when we do missions.”

“…I see Kallias taught you well. You look to know their purpose already,” Aldebrand replied. “I would say wear them with honour, but…for the sake of keeping us a secret, it would be best not to do that. But keep them on your person. As Elvira said, they’re very useful for those who delve into Mystery Dungeons. You’ll be doing that a lot as mercenaries going forward.

“But I digress. Welcome to the Irian Guild, Team Elpis,” the Turtonator congratulated. “I am Aldebrand, the main cook and temporary guardian of the Irian Guild while Guildmaster Melchior is away.”

“The cook? …Well, I look forward to having meals cooked by you, then,” Arian returned. “I hope they’re good.”

“They are,” Lillian replied. “Aldebrand’s one of the best cooks out there. You won’t be disappointed.”

“Thank you very much, Lillian,” the Turtonator said in response. “…Now. Rhiannon, while you’re here, I’d like you to run an errand. Get the items on this list from the market for dinner tonight.” He handed a slip of paper to the Rockruff, who caught it in her jaws and nodded to him, before trotting out of the room.

“And as for you four…would you kindly show Team Elpis around the Guild?”

“Sure thing, Aldie,” Ishmael accepted. “Come on, then. Let’s show the two of ya this lovely place and the little posse we got workin’ ‘ere.”

 

 

---

 

 

“Now…I gotta be honest with ya,” Ishmael said, as they walked out of the office. “The guild ain’t exactly big. So don’t be expectin’ a castle or tons of secret tunnels or anything like that.”

“…That’s fine by me,” Elvira approved. “The old guild wasn’t that big either, and Dad preferred it that way.” She chuckled as she remembered an anecdote from the past. “He once complained that Iria Castle had too many hallways, and knights getting lost in them was why they were more inefficient compared to mercenaries.”

“Ha! Too right!” the Krokorok concurred. “Those stuck-up knights don’t care enough for the small man. The mercs pick up that work and get the credit, and they’re annoyed we get the praise? …Tch,” he then spat. “No wonder they were in a tizzy when the ol’ tsar bit the dust.”

“…And we weren’t?” Lillian pointed out. “There wasn’t a single one of us who wasn’t shocked to hear the tsar had been assassinated. That’s not the kind of thing that happens every day, and when it does, it’s meant to be a bolt from the blue. Honestly, if we weren’t caught off guard, that might be a bit worrying.”

“…Guess yer right. Still…” Ishmael still had a bitter look in his eyes. “If only they’d done their job properly, then Selenia wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“Well, let’s not stew about what did and didn’t happen in the past,” the Sandslash said, in an attempt to divert the conversation’s course. “Stick to the present, Ish. We need to show Team Elpis around the Guild.”

“…Right,” Ishmael replied. “…So…where to first?”

They had arrived back at the central area of the Guild. Looking around, Arian and Elvira saw multiple ways to go. Notably, though, they noticed two boards hanging up on the wall to the right, between two exits. In front of it was a desk, and behind it sat a Galvantula, who was gazing at a piece of parchment with one of its mandibles.

“Who’s that over there?” Arian asked.

“That’s Sifis. He manages the notice boards, and the missions we’re given,” Axel answered. “…Hey, Sif!” he called out to the Galvantula. “Meet the newbies who’ll be joining us!”

“Hm?” Sifis looked up from the parchment. “Oh…I saw you two earlier. So you’re part of our Guild now, eh? Congratulations! What are your names?”

“Arian.”

“Elvira.”

“Well then, Arian and Elvira,” the Galvantula said. “You’ll be seeing me and these two boards a lot during your time as mercs here. This board on the left here is the Job Bulletin Board, where people request us to help them with various tasks or to locate missing people. That’s probably where you’ll be starting. Newbies always start off with the simple, low-value requests. Then on the right, we have the Outlaw Notice Board, where the dregs of society are listed for us to hunt down and capture. Some are petty, like thieves or vandals, while others are…a bit more dangerous than that.” He cast a look toward a poster of a Toxicroak, with a sizeable bounty of 3,000P. “Yeah…No one’s willing to touch that one. It’s been up there for a while. Newbies like you wouldn’t have the slightest chance against someone like her.”

“The more pricey the bounty, the more dangerous they usually are as an outlaw,” Lillian explained. “Either that, or the crime they’ve committed is treason or something as grave as that. But those would be specially requested by the nobility or the tsar, and they’d have a special kind of classification. And because of their high stakes, it was only really the experienced teams that would have a stab at them …Obviously, given our current underground status…those aren’t really a thing any more.”

“…I see,” Arian replied. “…Hm. That’s rather convenient,” he then noticed. “That’s the exit right there.” He pointed to the nearest exit. “This is right next to the way out, so we can just pick a mission and go without much waiting around.”

“Glad you noticed,” Sifis said. “That was the way it was in the old Guild, and Guildmaster Melchior kept it on here. Good design and ingenuity – that’s what makes us efficient here in the Irian Guild. And we intend to follow the old one’s legacy every step of the way.”

“Exactly as we should. …But anyway. Let’s move on,” Ishmael said. “That way.” He indicated to the group’s right, and the fivesome walked in that direction.

“This is the mess hall, where we eat our food,” Lillian said, as they walked into what looked like a dining room, with a long table and many chairs. As it had been in the office, a number of differently sized chairs lay off to the side, for Pokémon of varying sizes.

“And back there’s the kitchen,” Axel added. “Normally, Aldebrand would be there, or out getting food for meals. But I guess he’s playing double duty now.”

“…By the way, when’s dinner gonna be?” Arian asked.

“Not for another bit,” Ishmael told him. “It’s still daytime. A bit after midday, I think.”

“…So not for another while, then. …Okay then. Where to next?”

“Well, we’ve seen the mess hall. Now onto other places.” Ishmael turned and left, followed by his fellow mercenaries. They passed by Sifis in the main area again, and went to the passage directly across from them.

Right next to that exit was a room with a wooden door. On it was a sign that read ‘Infirmary‘. Ishmael knocked on the door, and after a few seconds, the door was opened by a bipedal pink-and-cream furred Pokémon with bright blue eyes.

“Team Sandstream?” the Audino said. “What’s wrong? Is someone injured?”

“No, there isn’t,” Axel responded. “We’re showing new recruits around the base, that’s all.”

“Arian, Elvira, meet our nurse, Raya,” Lillian introduced. “If you ever need medical assistance, she’s the one to head to.”

“…Right. We’ll keep that in mind,” Elvira said. “Nice to meet you, Raya.”

“And you too,” the Audino returned. “Now then…are you well, the two of you?”

“Hm? …Um, yes,” the Treecko replied. “We’re both fine, Arian and I.”

“Are you certain?” Raya double-checked. “No aches or pains anywhere? No sniffles? No shivery feelings?”

“…No, none of those,” Arian answered, feeling a slight reluctant irritance come over him. I know she’s just checking on us, but…we don’t look in any way sick, do we? “We’re fine, really. Genuinely, we’re both alright.”

“…If you insist,” the Audino conceded, though the worry had not faded from her eyes. “But the second you feel in any way off, come to me. Don’t let your ailments worsen. And that goes for you three as well.”

“Yes, yes, we know. We’ll call ya if we’re a bit iffy,” Ishmael replied. “Good seein’ ya. But we gotta keep showin’ these two around, so if ya don’t mind…” He put his claws on the door, and moved to close it.

“I understand. I won’t keep you, then.” Raya took the door and closed it behind her as she headed back into the infirmary.

“…Well…at least we got outta that one,” the crocodile said, once they had moved away from the infirmary. “I swear, it can take forever to convince her yer alright…”

“You know she’s just looking out for us,” Lillian said. “Better her than someone who doesn’t care for our wellbeing.”

“And she seemed pretty nice,” Arian added.

“True,” seconded Elvira, before adding, “If a bit overbearing…”

“Tell me about it,” Axel said in agreement. “The living definition of a hypochondriac…That’s our Raya. But Lillian’s right. Better we have someone who cares for our health obsessively than no one at all.”

“Anyway…shall we move on?” the Sandslash herself said. “Onward to the dojo.”

They continued travelling down the path. As they travelled down it, Arian’s ears suddenly pricked, hearing a curious sound.

Is that…flowing water? …Down here?

They soon came to another notable area of the cavern. Several training dummies were laid out along the floor, and training mats lay in front of each dummy. The sound’s origin was also revealed, and it was as Arian suspected; a stream was visible from the training area, and by the looks of it, ran through the cavern.

“This is the dojo,” Axel said. “If you ever want to train to get stronger or let off some steam, this is the place to go.”

“Or meditate,” Ishmael added. “‘Cause that’s all our dojo master ever does.”

“…Where is he, for that matter?” Lillian asked. “Where’s Galen?”

“Probably where he usually is, below the waterfall,” the Krokorok replied. “We’ll go get ‘im. Luckily, there’s a path along the stream.”

“Waterfall?” Elvira said curiously.

“Yeah, there’s an underground waterfall in ‘ere,” Ishmael confirmed. “It’s to do with the perma-wotsit of the Karstlands that means rivers go underground. Ya’ll see it when we get there. It’s just at the back of there.”

They walked across the dojo and up a path. After a short walk, they came to the aforementioned waterfall. However…Arian was admittedly underwhelmed by what he saw. It wasn’t a big torrent of grandeur like he imagined, but a more modest, steadier flow through the small subterranean stream.

Notably, though, he could see a humanoid figure, a Medicham specifically, meditating beneath the waterfall. His eyes were closed, shut off to the world outside him, perfectly at peace, beautifully connected with his inner thoughts, with a feeling that no rude interruptions could possibly break this still moment of –

“Oi, Galen!”

“Gah!” The Fighting-type’s peaceful morphed to one of startlement, then fury. “I have made it clear to you one too many times; do not interrupt my meditation unless it’s an emergency! And is it?!”

“…Nah,” the Krokorok denied. “I just wanted to tell ya that we got a new team on board. They’re Arian and Elvira of Team Elpis.”

“…I can see that,” Galen returned crossly, before his gaze turned to the two new faces. “It’s good to meet you two. But I’m afraid we’ll have to continue the introductions another time, because of a certain tactless reptile who dares to interrupt my meditation.” He glared at Ishmael. “Begone, you.”

“…Fine, fine,” the crocodile accepted. “Catch ya later, grumpy-pants.” And with that, he turned and left.

“That was…pretty rude,” commented Arian. “Did he need to be so fierce?”

“Well, would you be pleased with someone if they woke you from your sleep for seemingly no reason?” Elvira reasoned. “I don’t blame him for being angry with you, Ishmael. We could’ve waited to be introduced to him when he wouldn’t be meditating.”

“…Yeah, but then he’d be annoyed ’cause he didn’t hear about the two of ya joinin’,” Ishmael countered. “That’s the kind of bloke he is. There’s no winnin’ with Galen, sometimes. That man and his meditation…”

“Still, that doesn’t mean you should give him a hard time,” chastised Lillian. “We all have things that irk us, and that just happens to be one of Galen’s.”

“…Whatever. Let’s just move on.”

By the path to the guildmaster’s office lay a passage that descended downwards. Ishmael headed down that path, followed by his comrades. They soon came to an area with multiple wooden doors.

“And down ‘ere, we got our dorms,” the Krokorok elaborated. “…That’s our room, there,” he pointed out. “That’s Team Anima’s, that’s Team Mindfist’s, that’s the Chief’s, that’s Aldie’s, that’s Sifis’s, and that’s Galen’s. And then we’ve got a few spare rooms in this lot. We ain’t got a problem fittin’ the two of ya in.”

“That’s good news,” Elvira replied. “We’d hate to impose by having to stay in someone else’s room.”

“It wouldn’t matter too much,” Axel dismissed. “I know Serafina wouldn’t mind having to bunk with two newcomers.”

“Yeah, she wouldn’t mind at all,” the Krokorok agreed. “But at least she’d be a better roommate than a certain little green tyke…”

“Oh, for the love of…Not this again, Ishmael,” groaned Lillian. “You and Terran have been at one another’s throats for ages. When will you two give it a rest?”

“When he stops bein’ a pain in the arse,” Ishmael said. “I’ll be nice to ‘im when he’s nice to me. But he’s a complete asshole to everyone! Watch out for ‘im, Arry and El. Betcha a thousand Poké he’ll treat ya like crap.”

“More like you’ll treat them like crap,” another voice scathingly responded. “Especially with the way you’re lying to them right now.”

All turned in the direction of the new voice, and Arian and Elvira came across an unfamiliar face. It was a small green Pokémon with triangular black markings across its skin, red scales on its belly, and at the minute, it had a steely glare locked on Ishmael.

“A Larvitar?” Elvira said. “Wait a minute…I know you…”

“…Well, speak of the little devil himself,” the Krokorok spat, glaring back at the new arrival.

“Says the shoddy croc,” the Larvitar countered. “What are you up to, anyway? Pulling fast ones on the newbies, are you?”

“Like ya’d do any better,” Ishmael snapped. “What about ya? Cleanin’ tables ’til they’re like freakin’ mirrors again, are ya?”

“No, because unlike you, I’m actually being productive,” snapped the Larvitar. “I’ve been preparing the rooms for these two, and just finished there. …Argh! I was in a good mood too! But you being here has completely spoiled it!”

“A good mood? Didn’t think ya knew what that was,” mocked the crocodile. “‘Sides, I’m not an asshat to everyone, unlike a certain green gremlin standin’ right in front of me.”

“Humph!” the Larvitar expressed annoyedly. “Prat.”

“Git.”

“Scalebag!”

“Shortarse!”

“Ishmael! Terran! Enough, you two! Give it a rest!” Lillian shouted, getting between the two of them before it could break out into fisticuffs. “You can continue this another time, but not in front of our new arrivals! Is that the image we want to give to them?”

“He started it,” the Larvitar, now known as Terran, responded, pointing at Ishmael accusingly.

“I don’t care,” the Sandslash replied sternly. “This isn’t appropriate behaviour, especially while we’re showing a new team around. It gives us a bad name. …Ishmael, go blow off some steam. We need one of you to separate.”

“…Fine,” the Krokorok growled. “I’ll go.” And with that, he left.

“…Geez. That got pretty heated,” Arian commented. “I think it’s best not to ask what’s exactly going on between you two.”

“…Maybe another time,” Elvira said, betraying her curiosity to know. “But anyway…it’s nice to see you again, Terran.”

“…Me too, I guess,” the Larvitar shrugged. However, Arian did notice his hardened expression soften a bit. Only slightly, but…

“Again?” Arian turned to his partner, noting what was said. “You two know each other?”

“Not really. We only met once,” Terran replied. “She’s Kallias’ kid. We met for dinner once. …That’s all. Not a deep connection.” He then turned to the Riolu. “And you’re Arian, obviously. And both of you are Team Elpis. Your room’s over there, third door on the right. Nothing special about it; two beds, a desk and a bookshelf. Par for the course for mercs. …Now then. I’ve got more duties to do, so if you could move aside…” The group did so, and the Larvitar made his way up.

“…He does not mince words,” Arian said, breaking a short silence that had developed. “I definitely didn’t expect such a…blunt delivery.”

“You can say that again,” muttered Axel. “He doesn’t like conversations, and doesn’t like it when people drag out conversations either. And there’s me thinking we in Team Sandstream were blunt. Honestly, Terran makes us three look like the most verbose nobles in the world.”

“…You’re right, Axel. He means well, but…he can be quite rude and abrasive,” Lillian admitted. “…You two will just have to get used to him, I’m afraid.”

“…I guess that’s what Dad warned me about,” Elvira then murmured. Arian noticed the expression of what seemed to be a bit of hurt.

“What your dad warned you about?” Arian inquired. “Elvira, what do you mean?”

“…It’s a bit of a long story,” the Treecko replied. “I’d like to see our room first. We can talk about that another time.”

“…Right, if you say so.”

The two walked into the room Terran had indicated earlier. Upon opening the door, they were greeted with a fairly simple room. Two bedrolls lay next to one another, and a desk lay next to the one on the right. Paper and pencils were provided for them, and two chairs lay next to the desk. On the opposite side of the room lay a small bookshelf with a few books on it.

“…Hm. Not bad,” Arian remarked, as he looked around where he would be staying. “I could get used to this.”

“It’s a bit like ours,” Axel observed. “It’s pretty much the same, only ours is a bit bigger because there’s three of us.”

“It’s not what you’d call luxurious,” Lillian cautioned. “This is the standard for us mercenaries.”

“…But that’s fine,” Elvira replied. “I didn’t want an extravagant room. Part of the fear I had of joining was that I would be given special treatment and given honours of luxury I don’t deserve, just because I’m related to Fernblade Kallias. I want the same as everyone else. No special treatment. …Thankfully my prayers were answered.”

“So…is that everywhere in the Guild?” Arian asked.

“It is, actually. We’ve shown you pretty much all the important areas you need to know,” Lillian answered. “But we’re not done yet. There’s one more thing we have to show off to you before we leave you to do your own thing.”

“And that is…?” Elvira queried.

“We’re going above ground for this one,” Axel said. ” Now…we go and tour the merchants.”

 

 

---

 

 

“They’re a lifeline to us,” Lillian was saying, as she, Axel and Team Elpis emerged from the well. “Whether here or in Iria, the Guild simply would not function without the vital aid of the merchants that are allied to us.”

“Might be overstatin’ that a bit,” Ishmael said, who had rejoined the group after his prior anger over the encounter with Terran had subsided after beating into a few dummies in Galen’s dojo. “But yeah, they’re a real help to us. We’d probably still work, but…it’d be a lot ‘arder without ’em.”

“They used to have their own shops and a street to themselves when we were back in Iria,” Lillian went on. “Here, though, they don’t have that luxury, given Kamengrad’s smaller size. But they’re travelling merchants, most of them. They’re used to having to adjust for certain towns.”

“Can’t say I blame some of them for grumbling,” Axel replied. “But just as we have to make do, so do they.”

They walked while they talked, and had reached the town’s square. Ahead of them was the street of merchants’ stalls that Arian had seen earlier. The group made their way towards it.

“So…first up,” Ishmael began, as he gestured to a tent shaped like a green chameleon that was run by two chameleons, one green and one purple, who looked just like their tent. “We’ve got ourselves the Kecleon Shop. They sell ya yer basic adventurin’ stuff, like seeds, orbs, berries and stuff like that.”

“The green Kecleon, Jacob, handles the basic necessities,” Lillian elaborated. “But the purple Kecleon, Esau, handles the selling of TMs and other rare items. They’re rather well known. They have a network of fellow Kecleon merchants that run across Ardalion. You’ll find a Kecleon Shop in most places, and sometimes you might even find Kecleon merchants in Mystery Dungeons. They have quite a reputation across Ardalion.”

“Top tip, though,” Axel said, lowering his voice as a serious look came into his eyes. “Do not, whatever you do, steal from them. Trust me; don’t even think about it.”

“I…wasn’t going to,” Arian replied, somewhat confused as to the bat’s sudden seriousness. “…Is there more to this? Of course, stealing’s a crime, but…why are you acting that way, Axel?”

“I think I know,” Elvira said. “Dad told me about this, too. …They say great misfortune befalls anyone who dares to steal from a Kecleon Shop. I don’t know what exactly happens, but…Dad had the same kind of look in his eyes that Axel has now when he told me that.”

“…You make them sound like some kind of evil spirit,” the Riolu said. “They’re not that bad, are they?”

“I’m not willin’ to find out,” Ishmael refused. “Even if those rumours are tosh, stealin’s bad, anyway. I ain’t putin’ my rep on the line for somethin’ like that.”

“Same here,” Lillian seconded. “Don’t steal from the Kecleon Shop. Period. We were warned for a reason. Let’s not ask questions why.”

“…Okay. Point taken,” Arian said, though he was admittedly still curious about the rumours about stealing from the Kecleon Shop. “…Maybe let’s move on?”

“Yeah, let’s do that,” agreed Ishmael. His attention turned to the next stall, run by what looked like a floating keychain. “Right then. Next we’ve got the Klefki Bank. It’s run by a nice fella called Alexei. He’ll store yer cash for ya if ya’ve got a bit too much on ya.”

“Klefki Bank? …There was a place like that in Ozerograd, wasn’t there?” Arian asked Elvira.

“There was,” Elvira affirmed. “Klefki Banks are like Kecleon Shops; you’ll find them in most places. Not quite to the extent of Mystery Dungeons like Kecleon Shops, but they’re still plentiful nonetheless.”

“So a bank. …Alright. What’s next?” Arian asked, looking further down the street.

“Now we have my favourite shop along here,” Lillian said. “The Kangaskhan Storage.” With an evident spring in her step, she headed towards the tent shaped like a Kangaskhan’s head, Arian recognising it from the statue he’d seen before in Rolling Hills.

“Ah, Lillian! Good to see you!” the warm, motherly voice of the stall’s owner greeted as Arian, Axel, Elvira and Ishmael walked in behind Lillian.

“Hello, Auntie,” the Sandslash returned, drawing a confused look from Arian. “I’ve got some new people to introduce you to. These two are Arian and Elvira, and they’ve just joined the Irian Guild.”

“Oh, how wonderful!” the Kangaskhan celebrated joyfully. “It’s a pleasure to meet the two of you. Are you working together as a team?”

“…Er, yes,” Arian replied, still a bit befuddled by Lillian’s earlier statement. “We’re Team Elpis, Elvira and I.”

“What a lovely name,” praised the Kangaskhan. She then noticed the queer expression on the Riolu’s face. “Something wrong, dearie?”

“…N-No, I’m fine. It’s just…” Arian looked to Lillian, and then back to the Kangaskhan. “…Are you two related?”

“Related?” Lillian said. Beside her, Ishmael and Axel both fought to contain what seemed to be laughter. “Oh no, not at all! We’re not related.”

“But…you called her Auntie,” the Riolu uttered, more confused than ever.

“It’s just a nickname, dearie. It’s what everyone calls me,” the Kangaskhan explained. “My real name’s Kassandra, in case you were wondering. But you can call me Auntie too, dearie.”

“…Okay, then…Auntie,” Arian said, finding the word a tad strange to say for someone he probably didn’t have relations with. “So you…store items here? Does it have anything to do with the Kangaskhan Rock we saw in Rolling Hills?”

“It does,” Kassandra answered. “Items stored in those rocks make their way to my storage. And those items can be withdrawn later by the people who deposited them. …It’s interesting that you bring up Rolling HIlls. I happened to receive an item from the rock there earlier today, with no idea who exactly it belongs to.”

“Oh! That’s ours, I think. It’s an oran berry,” Arian revealed. “I put it into the rock’s pouch, and it disappeared. …Is it here?”

“Indeed it is.” Kassandra broke off from the conversation to disappear into her tent. A moment later, she returned with an oran berry. “There you go.”

“…It’s the same one,” the mystified Riolu said, as he took the berry. “But how? How does that work? How does it get transported from Rolling Hills to here?”

“Sorry, dearie. Trade secret,” Kassandra apologised. “But you’re free to avail of my services anytime you wish.”

“…Okay then,” Arian said, as he turned to leave. “It was good meeting you…Auntie.”

“You too, dearie. Have a nice day!” the Kangaskhan wished, as the group walked away from her tent.

“…Now do you see why I like her so much?” Lillian asked.

“I guess,” the Riolu replied. “Still, though…Auntie. That’s going to take a bit of getting used to, calling her that.”

“…Nothin’ wrong with it,” Ishmael reasoned. “‘Sides, I’ve heard much worse nicknames people call ’emselves. At least Auntie’s a reassurin’ name that makes ya feel warm inside. She does have that kinda effect on ya.”

“I agree,” Elvira seconded. “I’ll look forward to going back to her.”

“No doubt you will,” Lillian said. “Now…where’s next?” She looked over at the next tent, and her face dropped in an instant. “…Oh. There.”

“Yeah, that’s…the locksmith’s,” Axel informed, his expression bearing a similar reluctance to the Sandslash’s. “A Banette called Julius runs it. Julius’s Appraisal, it’s called.”

“A locksmith’s?” Arian inquired. “But what particular use would a locksmith’s be to a mercenary?”

“Sometimes, when yer in Dungeons, ya come across small treasure boxes,” Ishmael explained. “Only particular keys can unlock ’em, and where better to get one from than a locksmith? Folks like Julius’ll unlock ’em for ya for some cash.”

“It’s a good service,” Lillian said, before a peeved look crossed her face. “Bit of a shame the man himself is a bit…overzealous when it comes to his job.”

“Overzealous? In what way?” Elvira asked, before her question was answered for her.

“Ah! Team Sandstream!” a sinister voice sounded from the Banette-looking tent, as the Marionette Pokémon himself stepped out from it. “Have you got any lovely boxes for me to cut open like a knife through butter? My knives have an appetite to whet, you know…” His equally eerie grin grew as he uttered these words.

“Nah, mate, we don’t ‘ave anythin’,” Ishmael replied. “Sorry ’bout that.”

“…Damnation,” hissed the Banette in disappointment. “I suppose I’ll have to return to the practice boxes again…” He retreated to his tent with a huff.

“…See what I mean?” Lillian said, once he was gone. “The way he talks about cutting upon treasure boxes like they’re something to suck the life out of…How do you not find that creepy, Ishmael?”

“He’s a good’un,” the Krokorok defended. “He ain’t like an outlaw. He ain’t got a bad bone in his body, I promise ya. Might seem a bit freaky at first, but there ain’t nothin’ wrong with ‘im.”

“…If you insist,” Elvira replied. “We’ll give him the business if we find any treasure boxes.” She looked back at the street before them, and the merchants they had passed. “…Is that all of them?”

“Well, not yet. One more place,” Ishmael answered. “It’s up a bit further, away from this lot.”

They continued a bit further down the street. It was something of a surprise to Arian that from this location, the edge of town was visible. Not an overly large town, then, he mused. But then it’s not like a town has to be large to be good.

“And here we are,” Ishmael announced, snapping Arian’s attention back to their tour. “This is the Kamengrad branch of the Tropius Carriers.”

The Riolu looked at the building before them. By the looks of it, it seemed to be a post office, with the building painted green and brown to represent Tropius’s colouration. Looking in through the windows, he could see a reception desk where a few customers stood in line to send parcels to friends or loved ones.

“Oh, this is good,” Elvira said happily. “So this is where the Tropius Carrier branch is for here. Now I know where to go when I want to send letters back to Mom.”

“Oh yeah…You did say you were going to do that,” Arian replied, being reminded of what his partner had said as they were saying goodbye to Zenobia. “When are you going to write to her?”

“Soon. Not right away – maybe once we get into the routine of doing missions and have been here for a while.”

“That’s good for you, then,” Lillian smiled. “It’s always good to keep in touch with your loved ones. Especially when they’re not living next door to you. …I should probably do the same with Mom and Dad. But I’ll take a leaf out of Elvira’s book and wait a bit before writing. We did only see them earlier today, after all.”

“Well, that’s all in the way of shops,” Ishmael said. “But…we’ll tour ya around the rest of the town as well. That way, ya get to know all the people and places to go if ya ‘ave a bit of downtime.”

And that was what most of the afternoon was spent on; Team Sandstream touring Team Elpis around Kamengrad. It was a quaint little town, one of stillness and serenity. And while Arian and Elvira were never referred to as new recruits for the Guild in respect to the Guild’s secrecy, those that knew the truth and kept it under wraps were encouraging and wished the pair well going forward.

They were a supportive, positive people, and that brought reassurance to Team Elpis. To be around such a community could only be a good thing. They would have little fear of being sold out or betrayed here, they thought.

And so, it was with a chipper mood by evening that the two descended into the Guild. The smells of tantalising food being cooked greeted the duo as they walked into the assembly area, giving the caverns a sense of homeliness.

One thought went through Arian’s head.

…I made a good choice, siding with these people.