Museum of Grimoire - 6.0 - Early Access (Patreon)

A set of gleaming silver tags rests in a cabinet. It is srrounded by multiple others of varying different metals and variations. While there is a nearby informational, the engravings on its reflective surface captures one’s gaze much quicker.

“Priscillia. Adventurer.”

“So have you given any thought to joining?”

“Hm?” Florence started slightly, the slight shaking of the carriage an irresistible lull. “Ah, apologies. I dozed off there.”

“Really?” Noire remarked, looking up from her book with a slight quirk to her lips. “Maybe you would prefer to walk next time.”

“It does feel quite a fair bit more authentic, though a break like this now and then isn’t so bad.” She tried her best to stretch out in her seat, shaking herself slightly more awake. “Anyways, could you please repeat your question?”

“Sure. Have you given any thought to joining up with the Adventurers Alliance?”

That was an interesting ask, though a relevant one given their current destination. It wasn’t a proposal without merit either, as Florence thought about it. “It is pretty typical for folks like me, isn’t it?” she mused aloud. “People with gifts, but without a direct career path to utilize it.”

“Not just those without job prospects, but also those who simply don’t fit into the establishments for one reason or another.” The historian gave a cough. “Present company included, perhaps.”

The tightness in the warlock’s chest was expelled with a slight bark, that fear and alienation just another bad memory. “Yeah. I guess that sometimes, it’s also the outcasts that make for the perfect sort of adventurer that the guild loves.” She crossed her arms briefly. “Those without connections, so they become entirely dependent on the alliance. I mean, no offense to them, but those lifers are…”

“Unpredictable,” generously supplied Noire, earning an agreeing nod from her companion. “It takes an interesting sort of character to work with the guild for their whole life.”

“It is, because you’re only supposed to be like an adventurer until you hit it big.” Florence paused. “I think. That’s how all those stories go, right?”

“Typically so. Even the hero’s party is technically considered disbanded, each of the members having gone their own ways.”

“Not that it necessarily stops them from frequenting the alliance afterwards.”

“Not in the slightest, as there’s plenty other reasons to talk with the guild. They’re far too useful.” Noire glanced out the carriage and closed her book with a snap. “It’s honestly an interesting sort of callback, when you think about it.”

“Huh?” Florence asked, curious. “What do you mean?”

“Everybody thinks only about what the alliance provides these days. But nobody really considers the history of the place, do they?” she lightly mentioned before gesturing. “So, how about we ask them directly? We’re here after all.”

Indeed, the carriage soon rolled to a halt as the two arrived at their preferred stop. A quick chat with the bemused driver sent them on their way, Noire assuring them that their service is no longer needed with pleasant gratitude. They’d walk the rest of the way to their later goal, stretching their legs a bit and avoiding being so spoiled by favor. There was surely opportunity in the future for such then.

Meanwhile, Florence studied the alliance hall from the outside. It looked fairly nondescript from the outside, fitting well with the surrounding neighborhood at a glance. But also with a single look, one could identify its presence from the simple banner that hung outside. Only one flag bore that insignia and was given even the rare allowance to fly alongside the trappings of local rulers, as theirs was the authority which remained paradoxically both within and without borders.

The Adventurers Alliance, an organization dedicated to supporting journeys across the world.

The institution was seemingly a given in any locale with sufficient population. Florence had even heard interesting jests about whatever came first, the town or the alliance. Thinking back on the earlier question posed by Noire, she really did find herself wondering perhaps if she would have been destined to pass through these doors had things not played out the way they had at the academy.

Regardless, she was now among this hall all the same- though interestingly more as patron than employee. Maybe that was a bit generous, she considered with a slight chuckle, as she really did feel more like a bodyguard at times to the archaeologist. Sometimes even minder, but it wasn’t like she minded herself. So long as this dive into history remained engrossing.

“Ready? Let’s head in.” Noire motioned and the two entered the guild, soon finding themselves in that all-too common space. One where every seeming grand tale of heroes past that Florence had read about began, an assembly of rogues that weren’t yet aware of their destiny to save the world. Yet even as her eyes moved to survey that colorful gallery relaxing and chatting at tables in the lobby space, her gaze settled on a very unexpected sight.

It usually was supposed to be those who have yet to achieve their opus. Not typically one who already had done so.

That didn’t change the fact that she was her. Nor did it stop the princess hero from noticing the warlock’s shocked gaze, those famed instincts of hers perhaps alerting her to the attention. The returning glance moved on and a grin suddenly broke out on her face. “Hey!” Whatever conversation or chat she had been having with other adventurers nearby was swiftly forgotten in favor of the future queen moving to greet the two. “If it isn’t Miss Noire! Talk about chance meetings!”

“Princess Iris.” The historian’s head bowed slightly. “Greetings. This is a most unexpected reunion.”

“Oh for sure, I’d say! Honestly,” she stressed, almost as if somebody called it into question. “I really just came down here in search of something to pass the time. Guess I found it, huh?” Iris then swapped to Florence and studied her for a moment before snapping her fingers. “Right, you’re one of Milan’s, aren’t you? Nice to meet ya!”

“Y-y-you’re-!” sputtered the warlock, taken aback. “The h-hero of the Seventh Age!”

“Just keep it short. Princess hero rolls off a lot better, trust me.” She reached over and patted her shoulder with a grin. “It’ll also leave room for somebody else to swoop in, just in case.”

“Hardly likely so,” Noire drawled with a shake of the head. “Only one ever seems to be blessed with the hero’s seed per era. It is far more likely that whatever next emerges will be crowned as the hero of the Eighth Age.”

“Aw, but I’m hoping to meet them without my own lifespan!” A thoughtful expression came over Iris. “Hmm, but maybe I can ask Milan for something like a way to send myself through time? Time magic’s a real headache, but not unheard of. Failing that, maybe Tilith can chat with a spirit on my behalf.”

“Please do not destroy the space-time continuum to satisfy your personal urges. It does make history quite confusing.”

“I’ll try not to!” She looked between the two guests of the hall with a curious glance. “So, what are you here for? Oh, don’t tell me! Do you have a quest for me?!”

The way the princess hero expressed it with such excitement made Florence falter at the unfortunate truth. “We’re…actually here about settling the results of one.” She hesitated before pushing on with a guilty expression. “It’s apparently already been completed.”

“What, really! Gah!” The hero stomped in a very crude manner that probably would leave the royal court gasping scandalously. “Ugh, I missed out? That’s annoying, considering what I’ve been doing the last few days.”

Yet barely a moment later, her expression cleared up as inspiration struck. “Oh, but you’re here to deal with the alliance, aren’t you? Then let me help out!”

Even Noire raised her eyebrow at the offer. “Are you qualified to do so? Typically, it is the guild staff’s responsibility, no?”

“Yeah but I’m an unofficial member!” she revealed with a grin. “You know, saving the world does come with some promotions. If they didn’t want me to be able to head behind the desk, they probably shouldn’t have awarded me an honorary guildmaster title.”

“I do believe that the intent lies in the title in that you aren’t supposed to utilize the rank.”

“Pft, that’s silly. The archmage would never recognize somebody they didn’t have talent in, and the saint wouldn’t say something that her gods wouldn’t approve!” With a wink, she gestured and the two traveling archaeologists found themselves swept up in the hero’s wake. A blessing that many surely envied.

Yet for Noire, who let out a sigh, she simply hoped that the boast did not prove false. It would be a terrible waste of time if the chance encounter was most unproductive.