Peek: Pushing Papers (Patreon)

The young elven woman pants from the exertion as she watches the foes fall, ink and viscera strewn about the tunnel in equal measure. She's much more used to using her ink and quills on parchment than to fight for her life, but if she wants to get further in the Dungeoneer's Guild, she needs to advance her class past a simple scribe.

"Hah! And they said you'd need help delving!" exclaims the smug elven man, glaive over his shoulder as he surveys the damage. He takes a few long seconds to appreciate the denizens slowly diffusing back into the mana of the dungeon before he continues. "You gave them a lot more than just papercuts. I've never seen a scribe do that before. Usually they like to inscribe runes and unleash magic like that. You have kinetic, not arcane, don't you?"

She glowers at him before straightening herself. "I don't see any reason to reveal such information."

He snorts. "I can feel the kinetics. I have it too, you know. But sure, fine, you're not obligated to share anything. I'm just here to help you get some levels. I think you'll be wasted behind a desk, even if you can handle forms as easily as you handled those Lamprey Moles."

"There are plenty of delvers, Olander. So many that the Dungeoneer's Guild has trouble keeping up with the information they require. I will help people more by dealing with the bureaucracy than by dealing with denizens."

Olander laughs. "Why not do both? Sure, these denizens are a similar level as you, but I've seen dedicated delvers struggle fighting at parity."

"Which is just another reason to ensure they get the proper information. And... I don't enjoy delving. Toyboxes are interesting, but belligerents are just so... messy."

He smirks at her admission. "Good at it so you don't have to do much of it, eh? I guess that's fair. I'm like that with the paperwork. Corrections having to be filed in triplicate is a great incentive to get it done right the first time." He shudders at the memory of having to resubmit various inspections over the course of his career. Though she finds him prideful and annoying, she can't help but feel sympathy for him in that.

"I believe I'm getting close, only a couple more levels before I can advance," she says, resuming her trek through the tunnels with the elf at her side.

"Care to spill what you're going to advance to? I know a lot about the paths open to me, but I have no idea how scribes go. Master Scribe?" he suggests, his eyes roaming the darkness, alert despite the lightness in his tone.

"That is the usual advancement, yes."

"But not what you're after."

She eyes him without turning her head, deciding if she wants to share. "...No, it is not. A Master Scribe is best suited to transcribing and translating shelves and shelves of books. A worthwhile class, but not what I need."

"Maybe some kind of battle scribe?" he suggests before freezing for a moment. She waits for him to nod before answering, following the experienced delver's instincts.

"No. Some Inspectors pursue similar classes, but I have no ambitions to inspect. If I'm lucky, I won't need to step into another dungeon for the rest of my life."

Olander gives a derisive snort at that. "What sort of Dungeoneer doesn't want to delve? The only ones that don't are... eeugh." He shudders and gives her a suspicious look, which she smiles at.

"A Bureaucrat? That is, indeed, what I'm planning to advance to. I'm aware how many inspectors chafe under the rules of the guild, but without them, there would be no guild, just as you'd have no glaive if there were no smiths or miners."

He shakes his head at her. "Such natural skill wasted on paperwork, tsk. I guess the guild's not paying me to critique your build, but help you get there. Still, if this might be your last time in a dungeon, I should make sure it's memorable."

She glares at him, wondering what he might be up to, before he pauses and holds up a hand. "One step back," he orders, all teasing gone, and she swiftly obeys. Her personal feelings about his attitude aside, he's an excellent inspector. He's even rumored to be in the running to be the next Inspector to the Crown.

A Lamprey Mole bursts from the tunnel floor, spraying her with dirt and drool, and the fight is on. It's only one this time, so it goes quickly, but her robes are coated in far more grime than before the fight started. She glares at Olander, who grins at her in return.

"Come on, Telar! We both know you get more experience if I don't interfere too much. I'll keep you safe, but I don't have to keep you clean!"

She resists the urge to grind her teeth at him, and instead takes out her annoyance on the next group of denizens unfortunate enough to cross their path. Each fight sees her pristine robes stained with more and more unpleasant things. It wouldn't be so annoying if Olander's armor wasn't still gleaming and polished by the time she gets to advance and leave the capital dungeon.

She doesn't speak to him the entire way back to the guild hall, nor does she say anything as she authorizes his payment, including the bonus for the speed of their delve together. No, she simply registers her advancement and looks for a proper place to transfer to, preferably one far away, where someone like Olander will likely never bother her again.

This place sounds good. Far to the north, bustling port trade, with rather mild dungeons. Fourdock. Not the most prestigious posting, but she's not in the Dungeoneer's Guild for the prestige.

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Inspired by Hello! and Purpleninja, who wanted to see some things from Telar's perspective, and why she wasn't too happy to see Olander when they first met.

If you have access to the nudges, don't forget to ask questions and make suggestions, and don't be afraid to repost ones you may have had in previous nudges, too. There's a lot of good ideas for peeks in there, as well. Thanks for reading and supporting!

Khenal