License to kill.

It took jack a few moments to collect himself after such a magnificent sight. In that time Avendra had turned around again and was already off across the gargantuan stone bridge, her robe streaming out behind her and drawing his attention. Jack jogged to catch up, reveling in the fact that that sort of light exercise no longer winded him. In fact he figured he was in better shape than most the people he had ever met. His new body wasn't bulky or grotesquely muscled but instead was well toned and lithe like a martial artists from a movie. His new height was also appreciated, it meant he was no longer shorter than beautiful tall women like the half-elf.

While he pondered his new physicality, Avendra had come to a stop suddenly ahead of him, looking up at a small window above the gate to the city. The gate itself was a gigantic pair of double doors made entirely of massive slates of stone and wood all held together with metal fittings. Many intricate designs of creatures, plants, and things Jack couldn't identify littered the doors, making them seem very old and magical feeling. Suddenly a small neon head poked out from the window and a voice shouted down to the pair, "Ho there tall 'uns! Give me ya' names!"

Avendra chuckled quietly to herself and waved a hand at the small ball of vibrant pink hair that had addressed them. "Its just Avendra and a student, please open the gates Smurna!" The tiny head bobbed up and down, and then withdrew. After a brief pause, the doors shuddered in place and then began to swing open slowly. Jack silently thought that there must have been some sort of magic operating them, as they were eerily silent for such massive, moving constructions. They opened onto a wide and busy lane, abuzz with activity as people in carriages rode along with cargo and people in many different forms of dress came and went between the many houses and shops. Just inside the gates on the inner wall, a door slammed open and a small blurry figure burst from it and flew straight towards them.

It rolled to a stop right in front of Jack, and sure enough it was the neon pink thing from earlier. Smurna was a gnome, a very short (maybe 3 foot tall), but well proportioned woman with dimpled cheeks, round nose, bright pink eyes, short pink bob haircut and nice medium sized breasts for her small size. She wore only a leather bodice, and a very small and tight pair of black shorts. From her side hung a pair of daggers, and over her shoulder was slung a hand crossbow and a small quiver of bolts. "Avendra! I never pictured you as one ta' lure students into the woods, no matter 'ow 'andsome they might be~," The woman joked, looking Jack up and down with a hungry leer.

Avendra actually blushed slightly, lending a pretty pink color to her cheeks, but quickly composed herself and flicked the small woman on her nose. "Only you would be so bold! This is Jack Valent, he isn't a student YET," the half-elf retorted defensively, "He was just lost on his way to the city and I offered to show him the way." She crossed her arms under her chest, and turned to look back at Jack, "Anyway, this is Smurna Lightfoot. Appropriate name for such a sneaky little... Ahem. She's a rogue in service to the Adventurer's Guild. The guild registers anyone who wants to hunt monsters, explore ruins and labyrinths, or become famous by their own strength and talent. If you are going to be a student at the academy, you'll have to go there first and get your adventurers license. Nobody learns magic without the intent to join the guild as no matter what you end up learning and practicing you can use to make money there or gain renown. It also serves as indentification most places you will ever need go."

Smurna nudged Jack in the hip and pointed at Avendra, still grinning like a dirty old man. "Bet she didn't tell ya she's a teacher at the Academy, eh? You can see it when she rambles like that. Still lookin' pretty good for goin' on 200 though," The pink firecracker cackled, making the half-elf go slightly pink again, "whatcha' think? Would you? I would." Jack couldn't help but laugh, happy with his first genuine conversation in... He couldn't remember how long. He leaned down and whispered conspiratorially in the gnomes ear, "I would, and not just her." Surprisingly, she turned slightly red in embarrassment and slapped Jack jovially on the ass.

"Heh, y-you sure can pick em' Ven," Smurna laughed, puffing out her chest a bit more in a showy way for a moment before turning around back towards the door. "I've gotta get back to work, let's all meet up later!" The gnome concluded, swaying her hips sexily with each step for his benefit. Jack and Avendra both voiced their goodbyes and as soon as she was out of sight she turned to him with an inquisitive look.

"I have never seen her embarrassed like that... What did you say to her?" The half-elf questioned, half-smiling. "Maybe I'll tell you later, anyway, could you show me to the Adventurer's Guild then?" Jack replied with a wink. Avendra nodded and motioned for him to follow her into the bowels of the city. It took them around 15 minutes to get there even with all the shortcuts through alleys and shops that she took them down. They made small talk all the way there, and it turned out she was a teacher in the elemental magic branch of the academy and that she had only started there recently.

Finally they arrived and Jack recognized the rectangular building as the one with the massive four story sword in front of it he had seen from the edge of town. Closer up the sword was far more intimidating, and seemed to steal a bit of light from the surroundings. Aside from that though, Jack could now read the signs on the two larger than life buildings in front of them. The larger rectangular building was the adventurers guild, the sign all embroidered in exotic teeth and furs. The smaller of the two monstrositys, turned out to be the city guard barracks as well as the prison.

Avendra pulled Jack by the arm up the steps of the Adventurers guild while he marveled at the plaza and inside the open, grand dark oak double doors.