New TuRais Quest

“Where’d you say you’re from?” The clerk asked. A cute little thing with shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. Average to her core. She was of course from Teor, It was the city you found yourself in. At least, according to your story you just found yourself there.

No point in lying. I’m from inside the Tryskan Empire. One of the three pillars, and I look the part. Black hair tied and stuffed into the back collar of my Cuirass and tunic. Blue eyes and light skin. Nice body… You let your thoughts trail off and finally just answered.

“Cheshire.”

“Really? That’s a long way to go for someone who doesn’t already have their Guild emblem.” She commented. Your face went pale. Paler than usual.

I didn’t think about that! How did I end up here!? As you were panicking, the girl smiled politely and bowed her head. She clarified something for you.

“I’m not grilling you, I’m just making conversation. It doesn’t concern me if you are from elsewhere, or how you got here. It’s simply not my job.”

You sighed with relief. “Thanks.”

“You know…” She eyed you closely, then lowered her voice.

“If you just want to buy a basic emblem, that's possible for someone from a wealthy family.” She leaned back once she noticed your expression of disgust.

“I only say…” She tried to sound polite.

“That way, it’s impossible to fail.”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. I’m scrawny and don’t look like much, but I won't fail, besides, I can’t get by with just a basic emblem.” You eyed the clerk.

“This is a job, right? No gossiping or judging or whatever?”

“None at all!” She looked at you expectantly.

“I need to get into incursions.”

“That’s unfortunate.” She said brightly.

“Don’t sound so pleased…”

“I’m just happy that such a cute boy won't end up dying so soon.”

You blushed. “What’ll you give me if I get a better emblem?”

“Kiss on the cheek?” She offered in a bemused tone. She was so sure, or she just didn’t care that much.

“Don’t go back on your promise.”

The emblem system was created and upheld by the Kingdom of Teoran and issued through the Merchant’s Guild. It was also colloquially known as the ‘Hero System.’ It was called the hero System because regardless of Nation, Species or Status a figure with a high enough emblem had a pass to enter most areas within most territories that were acknowledged to have problems. Those with emblems were licensed to use their skills to solve problems that typically just required an excess of ****. The emblems had five tiers; Basic, Novice, Bronze, Silver, and the Emblem that was synonymous with the title of Hero, Gold.

The basic emblem that the Clerk was trying to sell was good enough to get someone out of an emergency curfew, or other local decrees that existed for public safety, which is why many young nobles bought off the Guild to have those given to them. The emblem you were after was Bronze. The three gilded emblems, aside from looking cooler, were considered the entry pass into other nations' territories. Bronze was the exact midpoint and offered all the benefits you wanted with a much lower profile, and you were positive you could get that emblem easily enough.

You were led into a wide open training yard. It was dusty and people had stopped training to stand around a circle drawn in the middle with thick rope. As you stared into it you saw signs of a recent fight. Very recent.

Someone was being tested before me? Makes sense, though, do that many people show up every day? You stared at the few observers. They seemed to have just witnessed a good show. It rubbed you the wrong way.

Will I be judged by different standards if someone put on a good show beforehand? You set that thought aside for now.

“What do I have to do?” You saw that the Clerk was gawking at someone. A tall blonde woman in a plain white tunic and tight pants with cavalry boots walked out of the crows with her sword. She was wiping sweat from her face.

“Uhm, excuse me a moment, sir.” The Clerk bowed to you and went up to talk to the woman. You watched idly, observing the woman. She was a bit old to be a tester. She also looked quite good.

That’s probably the one that’s going to do the assessment. A woman, huh? You shrugged and waited patiently for the Clerk to return. The woman came back, a light sweat dripping down her brow. She managed to keep her customer-service smile, however. You stared at her, wondering what was up.

“If there’s no issue, this person will carry out the assessment.” The Clerk motioned to the the blonde with the ponytail. The woman was already walking back into the circle, which gave you a good look at her glutes.

“Wow…”

“Sir?” The Clerk asked insistently.

You began walking. “Why would there be a problem?”

“J-just a reminder, you do not have to win! Please do not overdo it, sir!” She begged.

You glanced back with a smirk. Goodness, she’s really worried. I bet she assumes I’m some noble boy that’ll cry to mommy and daddy if I get a few bruises. That’s not gonna happen. You stepped into the circle, keeping one hand in the pocket of your trousers. The other drew your longsword and pointed it towards the woman. You watched in real time as she cocked her head to one side.

Shit! That’s… A pretty specific style, isn’t it? Does it matter? Why would this person even know?

The woman smiled and nodded once you took a step, leading with your right, which was the same as the arm that gripped your sword. Then, she disappeared and only the hint of dust being kicked up to your left drew your eye to the fact that she was right upon you. Instead of trying to move out of the way you took a note from your prior training and lowered your posture while turning and lunging forward. Her body came back into few, fading in from being a simple blur of white and gold and black. She was stopped at the full extension of your sword, but wasn’t retreating. Instead she tried to slap it away. You smirked.

Trying to attack from the front means you obviously have no clue. That’s good. The sword moved before she could hit it and your footing adjusted forward. You slid and flicked your wrist. She blocked, but that was to be expected. You pulled the non-committal strike and flicked your wrist again. Block. Again. Block.

Hold up… You gritted your teeth.

“You can’t just block everything!” You shouted.

“Hehe!”

Did she just giggle? It gave you pause.

“Sorry, it’s just that I’ve never seen someone so young using Glasian Sword techniques. Are you from Reonglas?” She paused, casually jumping back as you got close, using a different technique once she realised what you were doing. You got in close while curling your sword back over your left shoulder. The concept was to get a strong strike at short range, which would typically require more of a wind-up and more room in general. As you swiped horizontally she deflected your sword up over her head and gasped excitedly.

“No way! Those are Highlander Techniques, now~ You must be from-”

“Stop-” You gritted your teeth, wheeled left while lowering yourself and brought the pommel down to just behind your hip.

“Fucking around!” You shouted, jabbing up. It caught your eye before that she had mostly just kept an eye on your sword. She was watching it, mostly because that was the only thing she would need to worry about. It was clear to you that she had Soma, so she wouldn’t get caught by anything else, unless someone she was facing had Soma.

Just like before she easily stepped back from the strike. It was only a millisecond but she did not track you releasing the sword completely with your right hand. No, the fact that you had already released your sword by the time you had jabbed. Your balled fist slammed into her stomach just above her pelvis. Her eyes went wide and she made a satisfying groaning noise. You smirked.

“Serves you-” You gulped as you could only perceive and not do anything about the leg wheeling around to kick you.

“Right?”

When you awoke next the Clerk was fretting above you. You looked left, then right, then down. You realised you were embedded in the wall of the training ground. As you awoke she began to get teary eyed.

“Oh thank god…” She breathed.

“S-sir… For your efforts we have already prepared your emblem in accordance with the results of the test.”

I kind of got her with a cheap shot… Probably did me as a novice or something as payback… You squinted, noticing the colour at first. The vague colour to your bleary eyes could pass for bronze but when you opened them further it was definitely Gold.

“W-what the ff- How!?” This was not what you wanted. You eyed her.

“You don’t gotta increase it just because I got slapped around. I… I probably deserved it.”

“Uhm… Sir, it’s not that. It’s due to the consideration of your performance in the test.”

“I landed literally one hit against some guild jobber…” You grumbled.

“It was a cheap shot, too.” Looking up, there were gawkwars eying you up. Most of them seemed like they had just watched a good show.

“No, sir. The person you landed a hit against was a Royal Knight of Teor.”

“Ah… A Royal Knight.” You felt dizzy.

“The Commander of the Royal Knights of Teor.”

You smiled numbly. “Why?”

“We…ll, you see, before you arrived she came down to spar with a friend. The person that would have tested you, her friend and our guilds Branch Captain was injured when things got a bit serious so she offered to do the assessment instead. And… You landed a hit. While you were passed out and being stabilised we all decided that you are around where most Gold emblem holders would be. You’re a Hero! Isn’t that great!” There was a round of cheers.

“No!” You held your head in your hands.

“Wherever you go, people will know your name!”

“No no no!”

“You’re being very unhappy for some reason!” A vein appeared in the Clerk’s forehead.

“Downgrade this please.” You handed it back.

“Bronze.”

“Can’t.” She stated firmly.

“Why!?”

“To be frank, we don’t even offer an emblem after one test. You are a provisional Gold, which could reduce to Silver, Bronze or even Journeyman or Novice depending on your performance.”

“So you’re saying they’re still a chance?”

“I don’t get what you’re saying at all, sir. Your name and performance have been marked in guild records as having heroic potential. Performance will raise or lower that assessment. For your provisional emblem, what is the name you would like to put on it?”

You thought for a moment. “Fin.”

“Very well, sir! Congratulations. Since this is a provisional emblem you are effectively a Journeyman, so don’t make any plans, okay?”

You glared up at her. “Worst of both worlds, huh?”

“I promise I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

You picked yourself up, dusted yourself off and collected your provisional emblem. Just as the Clerk suggested, it was a Gold emblem, but with big, unmistakable letters bigger than even the name on the emblem spelling out PROVISIONAL. You were essentially stuck in Trysk, which meant no land outside Cheshire, Reonglas and Teoran would have any reason to humour your requests to enter into their Incursion Zones. In fact, with Journeyman clearance you would never even be able to enter Incursion Zones in any of the territories of Trysk.

“Hero?” You heard a soft, feminine tone behind you. Expecting another Clerk you turned, but instead of being greeted by a cute girl in a Guild uniform, with the mini-skirt, the high stockings and their cute vest it was a robed woman. From the hood you could make out wisps of red hair. Her red lips were curled up into a friendly smile. You turned back around.

“Sorry, you must be mistaken.”

“H-hey… I’m definitely not. You’re a Hero. Everyone said it and I overheard it.” Annoyance was creeping into her light tone.

Without looking back, you flashed the emblem. “See this? Provisional. It means there’s a mistake. I got lucky and there’s a bit of time before it gets adjusted to my actual level. So no, you are mistaken, as is everyone else.”

She seemingly ignored everything you just said and read the name under the text you pointed out.

“Fin. So your name’s Fin?”

You furrowed your brow, drew the emblem back and looked at it. “Yeah…” She noticed the way you were staring longingly at the name and got closer. You abruptly brushed her off.

“Hey.” You stopped, turned and looked at her closely.

“Back off. You smell like wet dog. Why’re you wearing a cloak? Hiding the fact that you’re ugly, doggie? Woof. Sorry, I’m into girls with good looks and a soft voice isn’t enough for me, honey. Bye bye.” You stuck your tongue out at her and waved goodbye to her, hoping your abrasiveness would get her off your back. You used dog insults because you could tell she was a beastfolk.

We’re in Teoran, not Cheshire. Teor isn’t a port so she’s isn’t gonna be a cat or a rat. Bigger ears, too. Bigger tail. Probably a dog. They ha- You paused mid thought, seeing her blush. She was dumbfounded by your outburst.

I guess some of them are into that…

As the woman was opening and closing her mouth and her lips were curling and uncurling as she tried to decide whether she should be angry or not, you spotted the blonde Knight in far more official gear walking into the Guild hall flanked by other Knights.

“Shit!” You looked around desperately for something you could duck behind the figure was blocking you at the moment, but it would not work forever. She noticed you fretting, a smirk crossing her lips.

“Hmm?” She unclasped her cloak and without a word wrapped it around your shoulders, then pulled the hood over your head so that it was hiding both your hair and your eyes. She clasped the cloak.

“Those were a lot of mean words that you couldn’t have possibly meant, Hero.” She said Hero with particular emphasis and volume, as if she was invoking it as a way to attract attention.

“You-” Pausing, she was right. Getting a good look at her without the cloak she was tall, at least half a foot taller than you. Her hair was full and long enough to fall half-way down her back; it was a striking crimson tone. Her ears were taller than any dog beastfolk or cat beastfolk you’d seen before. They were tipped with white and had soft white fur within them, like puffballs. Her tail was too long, as well. Far too full. It had the same striking crimson tone with a white tip on the end like it was a paintbrush that had been dipped. Her body was lean around her stomach and arms, but incredibly full where it concerned her hips, ass and breasts. She was toned, but in ways that did not seem to imply exercise but… activity. Defined, but not strong. There was still a softness about her. Most concerning, her lip curled quite deviously and seemed almost Deamonic with the red tint, and her eyes were a striking gold colour, flecked with black.

She wore tight brown shorts and heeled sandals that wrapped up her calves. She wore a harness around her lower half that was like a belt just below her waist which strapped down, with leather around both thighs. There were a few small pouches latched firmly to them at different points. Around her torso she wore a plain white tunic. Well, it was plain except for the fact that it was tight to her chest and showed off much of her belly and back. In fact, only the front seemed to be covered. There were more straps running up around her neck to a piece of white fabric, then around her back. The piece connected to long white sleeves that extended down to her wrists. You could make out tufts of fluffy white coat poking out from the sleeves around her wrists. Her hands were delicate, and at the end of each finger was a small, sharp claw that was painted red. She lifted a claw to her lip and traced the bottom lip in a circle as she thought out loud.

“Goodness… the HERO is right here… What should I do about this HERO?” She smirked, glancing back over her shoulder as the Knights walked further in, getting closer and closer. You got closer to the woman and said through gritted teeth.

“Stop it!”

She feigned surprise. “What? Stop mentioning that you’re the HERO that everyone’s talking about? The prospective new recruit that is sure to be DRAFTED into the King’s army the moment he’s captured?” She winked at you, showing her true, sly colour. It was almost a relief to see that this woman was far less soft than she sounded at first.

“Tee hee~”

“What do you want?” You whispered.

“I want you to come with me.

“I don’t even know your name.” You protested.

“My name is Kara. Problem solved. Come with me, H-” She was about to say it in direct earshot of the Knight. Your mind raced ahead.

Maybe I’m caught. I don’t actually think I’ll be drafted. I don’t think… That being said, maybe that woman is looking for me in order to settle a grudge. Maybe it’s nothing? This odd woman wants me to follow her and she looks… devious. A devious creature up to no good. But- You paused, eying her. The word was still on her lips, but she found time to wink as you eyed her.

I could take her. Maybe.