Chapter 8: The Blessed Guild and a new companion.

Back on the streets, Akira looked to Thorin in askance. "What errand do we have right now, Thorin?" He was a bit irritated, as his stomach rebelled against going longer without food.

Without breaking his stride, Thorin spoke, "Turning in these Stoma ears before they rot and foul my pack anymore than they already have." He gestured with the pouch of ears in hand.

The duo came upon a large building with a green tiled roof, and a large sign posted out front with writing stating, "Alverest's Blessed Guild, the home to adventure." Boisterous laughter resounded out to where the two stood. The duo entered to see that the building separated into two as there were people on one side queuing up to either turn in a quest or accept one. A long row of counter tops with privacy dividers between them lined the back wall, and a group of staff manned them with a professional attitude. On the flipside, a rowdy tavern with people rough housing and drinking away their pay made up the other half of the guild. Above all the noise, one could see a balcony with tables overlooking the rest of the guild. Only a handful of powerful looking individuals gathered up there, and watched the proceedings quietly sipping away at the fine drinks available to them exclusively.

Although it was loud and noisy, Akira felt the atmosphere was interesting as so many people with different personalities congregated to this one place. Looking around Akira noticed a counter labeled registration that had no one queued up for it. Approaching the counter he tapped the notice bell placed on it, and the ring of the bell caused a lot of people to glance over as it'd been some time since someone new had registered. Akira's youth must have been glaringly obvious. He could see several thuggish members laughed mockingly from the tavern exclaiming that he was nothing more than a farm boy who had no experience.

Akira gave no indication of having noticed the obvious attempts to provoke him, and just waited patiently as scrambling footsteps came from behind the closed window to the counter.

"Welcome to the Alverest Blessed Guild, and how may I help you today?" With a clattering noise, the window pulled open to reveal a halfling woman in the guild's black with gold adornments attire. Standing at about four and a half foot tall, the woman had long, curly brown hair that stopped just before her waist. Her welcoming smile was dazzling, and she cheerfully greeted Akira without pause.

"Ah, Yes I'd like to register for this guild," Akira spoke with a calm voice. The woman's eyes sparkled with delight, and her already dazzling smile grew a touch brighter.

"Wonderful! Also here's the paperwork that you need to fill out before we can proceed. You just have to fill out your full name, and which God or Goddess's Blessing you have received. Your Information will be confidential, and if you need anything I will be your guild representative from now on as long as you want unless you request a different representative," with an obvious tone of pleading and hopefulness, the young halfling was hoping Akira would agree.

Akira thought about the offer as he filled out the paperwork, and saw no harm in it. "Sure I'm happy to accept that, and am happy you offered me such a service," Akira replied with a warm smile as he found the halfling quite cute. He spoke out to introduce himself, "My name is Akira Wolfhame, what's yours?"

"My name is Celia Hayward, Akira sir. I hope to get along with you from now on. Anyway now that the formalities are over who is your God or Goddess that bestowed you a blessing?" Celia spoke with a excitable lilt to her voice, and anticipation could be seen on her face.

"My Blessing is from Skadi, Goddess of the hunt, nature, and winter," Akira answered with a proud tone.

Celia's eyes widened in recognition, before she glanced around making sure nobody else had heard his announcement. Motioning him to lean closer, and seeing his confusion she gestured once again for Akira to get closer.

Akira not seeing the harm learned down to where their eyes were level, and tilted his head showing he was listening.

With a quick yank, Celia grabbed his ear in a strong grip pulling him closer before speaking in a stern tone, "You idiot, are you completely ignorant of what danger you are in or are you just foolhardy and stupid. With the war going on I thought you'd not brazenly admit aloud to being the Blessed of one of the most hunted families on this side of the nation. Loki's spies are everywhere, and you literally just rrr....." Celia seemed to lose her cool as she lectured Akira on how exactly he was slow in the head for announcing that aloud.

Right in the middle of her lecturing Akira, a voice called out, "Hey Akira, I already turned in the Stoma ears, are you just about done being registered in the guild?" Celia's head whipped up in alarm as she noticed the dwarf rounding the privacy divider.

Thorin froze as he came upon the odd sight of Celia still holding Akira's ear, and Akira's face turning quite red in embarrassment. "Ohoho Lad I didn't think you were so quick to find a woman, and yet here you are already being lectured like a man being chewed out by his wife!" Thorin broke out into hearty laughter as both Akira and Celia's faces went bright red as both of them sputtered at denying the older dwarf's assumption.

It took some time before either of the two could get Thorin to let it go. The now trio left the guild, and headed back to where the two lodged for dinner. As they made the walk back, Akira spoke up in question, "So wait, Celia you are now coming with us?"

Sighing, Celia nodded her head before saying, "Yes as of a couple of minutes ago. I am now your guild representative, and it is my job to record your quests, and send reports on your progress as a Blessed."

"Essentially lad, she is now bound to us as your progress will also lead to her promotion in the Guild staff. Every new employee in the guild spends a decent amount of time as a representative to new Blessed. Some representatives unless sent away will follow one Blessed for the rest of their lives as it is an easy way to amass a fortune if you ignore the inherent risk," Thorin explained in more detail the way guild representatives work. He turned to Celia and asked, "Lass, I know that the guild wouldn't send a normal person to watch over a Blessed. What Blessing do you have?"

"My Blessing was given by the God Apollo, who's aspects are archery, music, healing, and the sun. My Blessing is more focused towards music and healing. I can use my lute to play music that helps our battle rhythm or disrupt enemy movements. Also I can summon a healing circle that's range and effectiveness is based purely on my mana rank," Celia states as she gestures to the lute case strapped across her back along with a bow.

"So Celia, how long have you been in Alverest?" Akira inquired as they started on the street leading to the Inn.

"I've been here basically all my life as I grew up in an orphanage around here. My income from the guild helps the orphans who are just like me," Celia's eyes dimmed a bit as she seemed to recall harder times. It wasn't long until she snapped out of it with a shake of her head, and saying, "But anyway what causes a dwarf and a newly Blessed human to group together on their travels?"

With that question they began the long story of their meeting and friendship. Just as Akira and Thorin finished retelling it, they arrived at the Inn. Celia got herself a room, and the trio sat down in the tavern to have supper.

"Welcome back! Now what would you like to eat?" The same barmaid as earlier came to take their order.

The trio ordered the house special, beef steak with sauteed onions, and a side of salad with cheese. They also ordered drinks- Light ale for Akira, House wine for Celia, and Hard ale for Thorin.

As they ate, Celia looked to Akira on her right and asked, "Akira, I know who hunts you and I need to know what you have planned."

Akira nodded and took a quick swig of his ale before saying, "Since I grew up with my uncle Curtis, I never knew my parents. But once I turned eighteen, and gained my Blessing my uncle handed me a letter from my mom. She said I should go to Valorem Academy as the Headmaster there is a family friend-"

"The Headmaster of Valorem Academy?!" Celia gasped in shock as her chair about toppled with her jerking up in astonishment. She then sat back down in deep thought.

"Is there something wrong about the headmaster?" Surprised by her outburst, Akira asked.

"You don't know how powerful that man truly is. He's one of the strongest people below God level, and is fiercely protective of his friends and family. Wait if your parents are friends with him.... Hmm Akira what are your parents names?" Celia broke through her deep thoughts to explain herself. She waited in anticipation of his answer.

"Benjamin and Julia, those are my parent's first names." Akira told her without hesitation.

"Akira, your parents are some of the biggest stars amongst the Demigods and are Loki's most hated humans. You should never let anyone else know who you are. At least until you get to Valorem otherwise you'll be hunted to death by bounty hunters who wouldn't mind gaining Loki's favor." With that warning, supper was brought to a close. The trio separated to their own individual rooms.

Akira flopped onto his bed as the past four days events flitted through his mind. He couldn't help but be amazed at the turn his life had taken, after regaining his his past life's memories it seemed to have set things in motion.

Akira's eyes finally closed and he retreated to the peaceful bliss of sleep...