Nia - Newbie Mercenary meets Nia storyline

(By the way, I'm going to call "Dromarch" with his original name Byakko, because I find his changed name in the localization retarded. Dromarch is a mythological welsh hound with multiple heads... rather than a giant white tiger, which the mythological Byakko is. I get a feeling it was changed just because they have given Nia's role to welsh woman and it would be "funny" if her blade had Wales-related name... which is just dumb.)

You did it! After months of wandering from titan to titan in the cloud sea, you finally found a job as a mercenary in Garfont village on Uraya! You parents back on Mor Ardain probably wouldn't approve of your choice, as they would almost surely rather see you in esteemed Ardainian military. Soldier's life however sounded extremely boring, forgettable, and limited, having to adhere to all those rules and discipline of the army, while you always preferred something that would give you some more freedom. You still lack a blade of your own, but thanks to your interest in combat since childhood, you have some skill with weapons.

Once you were done with the paperwork and a little combat trial to make sure if you had skills for the job, you decided to go grab something to eat and drink in the bar located in middle of the village. It is the dinner time however, and you quickly realize there are no free tables there... in fact there's just one chair left, at a table with seemingly gormotti girl, and a giant white tiger that seemed to be her blade. Without much choice in the matter you decided to have a seat opposite of her. She seemed bored before, but as you sat down she seemed to have started getting a closer look at you, probably not having seen you before in the camp, after all you just joined.

"Hi, I'm new here, it's not a problem if I sit here, right? I mean all other spots are taken." You say, not wanting the gormotti girl to think you sat with her for some kind of sinister motive

"So you are a newbie? That explains why I didn't see you before. Sure, whatever, you can sit here." Said the beige haired gormotti as she returned to eating her food, which appeared to be a Cream Orange Paratha.

"Are you a mercenary too?" You decided to ask, trying to strike up a conversation

"Huh? Not really, you can say I'm a friend of their dumb-ass leader though. Name's Nia by the way." The gormotti girl commented, before taking another piece of her paratha

"Ojousama, you shouldn't speak that way of Rex in front of others." The big tiger blade interrupted for a moment in a tone that reminded you a lot of a butler of some kind.

"Well how else do you call a guy who goes into the field without a skilled healer, Byakko? Maybe he will get Shellhead to do the healing for him now? That's one way to get everyone killed I suppose, he would be too busy posing and yelling about his eye of shiny justice or whatever." The gormotti girl replied to her blade, leaving you a bit confused who were they talking about

"Though I guess it has some pluses, at least I can rest for a bit today. Running around those hot wastelands in Mor Ardain like yesterday always makes me get all sweaty and tired. And unlike with cold climates like in Tantal, Pyra can't really help me out with that." Nia continued talking seemingly ignoring you being there for a moment, but then she suddenly seemed to get some kind of idea as a smirk appeared on her face

"Hey, Newbie! Since you are new here, there is some kinda hazing or initiation you have to go through, right?" The catgirl suddenly looked towards you again

"They didn't tell me anything about that... just a little combat trial to see if I am fit enough, and having to sign my name on some papers." You said, a bit confused why would she ask that, and how she seemed to suddenly give you a nickname already despite not even asking your name

"Actually... in Vandham's days, the newbies usually had to do bunch of tasks assigned to them by the leader on their first day. It was a good sort of preparation before the real mercenary work. Of course our current leader isn't here now, and Yew and Zuo don't seem too interested in carrying on that tradition." A burly Urayan male suddenly spoke from a neighboring table before turning back to his food

"Hmmm... I have an idea then." Nia said, finishing her cream orange paratha and looking towards you again while searching for something in her pouch

"I might not be the leader here, but why won't I give you your initiation tasks, Newbie? I will even give you this blade core crystal for a job well done." Nia said and pulled out a genuine blade core from her pouch

"Most of the mercenaries here are drivers after all, so you definitely could use a blade of your own." The catgirl added after a moment, putting the core crystal back to her pouch for now

She definitely had a point, but her offer seemed fishy at best. You barely met her, why would she want you to do any tasks for her? Byakko seemed just as confused, but didn't interrupt his driver there.

"What tasks did you have in mind?" You decided to ask before making any kind of commitment

"A foot rub for starters, my feet are sore after all the travelling around with Rex. I can't even ride on Byakko most of the time with him because then rest of our group can't keep up." Nia explained, still smirking a bit, clearly satisfied with her own idea to have you help her relax

"Ojousama I don't think it's very ladylike to just ask..." Byakko tried to say but was interrupted by his driver

"It's not like I'm forcing him, and it's just my feet. I always wanted to get a foot rub after a whole tiring day but never had anyone to ask for it." Nia said in middle of the white tiger's sentence

A little poll that might help you influence future events: https://linkto.run/p/JYH1FE7B