Once the entrance of the capital was crossed, Edward and Kain, the former with his trusted owl still perched on his shoulder, immediately headed to the center of the city, where the office of the Guild was located. Once they reached the building, they entered, and walked through the spacious lounge, teeming with adventurers of the most multifarious kinds and specialisms, as well as the familiars of mages. The walls of the salon were decorated with blue drapes, upon which the Albionian heraldry was sewn. Edward and Kain walked next to the waiting desks, making their way to the stairs, to the exclusive usage of the members, and walked up to them. At the top, they found themselves in a second hall, where they were quick to find the desk of the Guild Master, the one who handled the place, an affable men of a quite old age, carrying a long, silver beard. His coat carried the emblem of the nation.
"Hello! Crowley and Wolfwood, is it?" he asked, with a smile "What may I do for you?"
"Hello, Guild Master Wildham." Edward replied "We have taken care of the security patrol in the village of Peach Green."
"We have beaten down a troll seeking trouble yonder." Kain added "But, that aside, there were not that many problems."
"Oh, I see..." the Guild Master murmured, with a nod "Any samples of troll blood?"
"Yes, sir." the spellcaster replied, as he took his vial out of the pocket of his robe and showed it to the man "One here." Wildham observed it, stroking his long beard with his fingers, before smiling at the two adventurers.
"Excellent!" he exclaimed "You have the gratitude of His Majesty, King Richard III! About compensation, your performances are worth 20 golden coins each, plus a bonus of 5 golden coins for Crowley, as a production insurance." The two fellow adventurers bowed, respectfully and gratefully.
"Many thanks, Guild Master Wildham." Edward said, on behalf of both.
"Oh, no..." the man replied, with a giggle "Many thanks to you. Now, if you would please wait here." Then, he walked away from his desk to speak with some workers, who nodded before heading to an adjacent room. The elderly Guild Master then returned to the two young men.
"At this moment, our men are collecting your payment from the treasury of the Guild Office. A moment, please." The two waited on, and it did not take long until a man laid two pouches filled with golden coins on the desk, and pushed them towards their consignees, who picked them up. "Thanks again for your services." The two nodded and bowed once more, before walking away from the desk, heading down the stairs and leaving the building from the main doorway.
"Say, Edward..." the hunter asked his friend "Do you ever feel dirty, at times, when you accept payment for a job given by the Guild? Especially when it is a simple, even trivial task such as this..." The young spellcaster raised his shoulders in response.
"It is still a job, Kain." he replied "We are executives for the nation, servants of the nation. No more, no less."
"Of course..." Kain replied "But we are not the kind that always has money on mind."
"People that will only look at the coin that this job will yield will always be." Edward retorted "We can not do a thing about it, if not avoiding to meddle with their ilk. You do it for the sake of adventure, don't you?"
"Indeed." the hunter replied "Besides, new places to see mean more game to hunt and more meat for my father's butchery." He then brought the question back to his interlocutor "Your motives are not that different from mine, now, are they?"
"No, indeed they aren't." the mage confirmed "Every mission is an opportunity to collect material and alchemical ingredients. Yet, you know that there is more than just that, behind my dedication for the Guild..." He raised his gaze to the sky, as he went on speaking "I wish to do good with my magic, as every bearer of the name of Crowley has done before me. Through this job, I pursue the justice my father has taught me."
"Really deep..." Kain said, looking at his friend with admiration, before commenting: "Although, if you put it like that, there are those who may hold an image of justice differing from yours, and you run the risk of becoming their enemy..."
"Regrettably, you're right." Edward replied, with a nod.
"However, I will be heading home now." the hunter stated, crossing his arms upon his chest "What will you do?"
"I will do just the same." the spellcaster replied "After seeing how my father and my brother are faring."
"Very well then." Kain retorted, with a bright smile "I'll see you tomorrow, at the Guild!" "Definitely." Edward replied, smiling back at his friend. Then, the two went their separate ways.
Kain walked out of the center of the city, and eventually found himself at a courtyard, laid in front of a middle-sized abode. Once he opened the gate of the low wooden palisade surrounding the courtyard, a large dog, with auburn fur and long, pointed ears, appeared, as if from nothing, in front of him, and jumped onto him, making him fall onto his back while insistently licking his face. The hunter could only laugh, as two more dogs of the same kind appeared, placing themselves at the sides of the young hunter and nuzzling their muzzles onto his arms.
"Yes, yes, I missed you guys, too!" Kain said, managing to sit up with difficulty, and not neglecting to stroke the heads of the three canines.
"There you are, rascal!" a booming voice thundered, with a good-natured laugh. It belonged to an imposing man, with muscled arms, brown eyes and hair, as those of the youth were. On the apron he was wearing, there were stains of animal blood, clear indication of his occupation. He was just at the door of the house "I saw that you were back as I saw the blink dogs ready to jump."
"Hello, pa!" he replied, as the dogs stepped away a little, allowing their master to get on his feet, but still panting, their tails wagging with delight. A woman placed herself out the door, beside the man. She bore long, black hair and brown eyes, and was dressed in modest clothes, as one would expect of the wife of a butcher. She had a sweet smile on her face.
"Welcome back, Kain!" she exclaimed "How did your work at the Guild go?"
"Patrol of a country village, a troll down, and back home I am." Kain concisely answered his parents' question.
"Ah, well, nothing major." the hunter's father commented "No game, eh?"
"Nope, none." Kain sighed, shaking his head.
"Your friend was still able to find something useful for the workshop of his family, no?" his mother asked.
"Oh, yes indeed!" the young man replied "After all, for one like him, every thing can turn useful!" "True, true." the woman agreed.
"So, what are you still doing out there?" the butcher good-naturedly shouted "You comin' in or not?"
"No need to tell me twice, pa!" the son replied, before stepping through the house door, as his parents wrapped an arm each around his waist, entering with him.
...
Edward walked along the way of the city overlooking the flow of the Thetis river. His gaze was turned to the water, as his familiar looked around with swift eyes. On his face a peaceful smile was laid, and his mind was filled with various memories of the past, as he walked on.
Eventually, as he raised his gaze from the river flowing under him, the spellcaster met a young man dressed in a white and blue uniform. His smile widened in the instant he recognized him.
"Jonathan! Brother!" he exclaimed, waving his hand.
"Hello, Edward!" the commissioner waved back at him, with a smile of his own. In mere moments, the two were in front of one another.
"How do you do?" the red-eyed youth asked.
"So far, so good." his brother replied "Creedwood is as peaceful as ever today. You have just returned from a task on behalf of the Guild, I take it."
"So it is." Edward replied, with a nod, as the two young men began walking at each other's side along the path "While you were patrolling Creedwood, Kain and I were busy patrolling a country village."
"The local militia must have been short of men, for you to have to take care of such a task..." the young commissioner mused.
"Yes, so it was." the mage replied "They are thinking of ways to increase their numbers."
"I see." Jonathan murmured, gazing at the sky for some moments, before turning his eyes to his brother once again "As for the clerics of Chauntea, I doubt that numbers will ever be a concern for the likes of them." Edward let out a laugh upon hearing the comment.
"Indeed." he agreed "After all..." The two young men quoted together, in unison, a known saying of the country.
"In the cities, they worship the Dawn, as in the country, they worship the Grains!" the brothers laughed, as they went on walking, and their canes tapped against the floor.
"It is true, though, that theology plays its part in the construction and maintenance of the symbiotic relationship that exists between city and country in Albion." Jonathan observed.
"Truer words have seldom been spoken." Edward replied, smiling brightly "It is no mere coincidence that the cults of Lathander and Chauntea are the most popular religions in a large part of the human communities in Albion. Every cleric and theologian will describe the bond between city and country as inextricably bound to the love between the two gods." He then rose his gaze "For this reason, I cannot help but think that the bardic schools of the Ear, or even of the Sun, would have gladly sent a number of pupils to help keeping the village safe..."
"Perhaps, but it is still of bards we're talking about." Jonathan remarked "Their spirit, brimming with ardor for life, bars them from staying still in a place for too long of a time, no matter what their home school may be. At best, they may serve as temporary help, not differently from you adventurers."
"You are right, as well." the spellcaster replied. It was then that the two decided to change topic. "Tell me... How is Cedric faring?" Edward chose to ask.
"He is faring nicely, as well." Jonathan replied "He places effort in his job, and his soul is brimming with ardor for someone, as well..."
"He is still wooing Sherry, is he not?" the mage deduced.
"That is right." his brother replied, with a nod, to which Edward let out a laugh, shaking his head.
"Well, he does show remarkable persistence." he noted, with a smile. The two kept on talking as they walked along the path overlooking the Thetis river...
...
In the center of a large square in Creedwood, known as Mermaid Square, a towering and majestic temple, with high spires, lied. It was built of pink marble and richly decorated with gold, silver, and windows of stained glass. In particular, in the window of the front side the figures of King Henry III, first king of Albion to reside in the new capital, years after its foundation, and of the god Lathander, the Morninglord, protector of life, rebirth, creativity and spring, were illustrated one beside the other. The latter was portrayed as a young man with hair of the color of ears and with eyes of the color of the sky, dressed in silver clothes with trims of pure gold, with the addition of a white mantle, decorated with gold as well. At the sides of the frontage long fountains were present, and pure water flowed in them. The needy could draw on that water to drink. That majestic place of worship bore the name of Cathedral of True Dawn.
In front of the enormous central doorway on the front side of the cathedral, a man of massive build, with short, reddish hair and beard, with the back covered by an ample black robe, and holding a black walking stick in his hand, was conversing with a man bearing sparse grey hair, a short beard of the same color, and amber eyes, dressed in sacred vestments bearing the colors white, red and silver, finely decorated with pure gold, complete with a headpiece of white cloth, decorated with silver and gold, as well as a magical staff in marble and gold held in his left hand. His vestments carried the sacred symbol of the god Lathander: a shining sun overlooking fertile lands. He was Father Aurelius, Morninglord of Creedwood, and dean of the cathedral. He was smiling at the man who stood before him, and his temple.
"Ah, Lord Crowley!" he exclaimed, with glee "What good wind brings you here?"
"Hello, Father Aurelius." Derrick replied, with a smile "I have just concluded an inspection tour in the city, and I have come to pay my respects."
"And how is the workshop faring?" the dean asked.
"Today is a calm day for the workshop-" the alchemist replied "And so, I preferred ascertaining the state of the city to whose well-being I hope to contribute with my job."
"I understand." father Aurelius smiled "You have our gratitude, and that of the god Lathander."
"It was the least I could do. After all, my family has been devoted to Lathander for generations." Derrick replied "The name of Crowley is bound to the Morninglord since times immemorial."
"You have not forgotten the smile he had graced you with, and the light he had blessed you with." the head of the cathedral of Creedwood murmured.
"And we never shall." the mage replied, with conviction. Then, his gaze returned to the incredible temple. "To me, this cathedral is the testament of the blessing Lathander has so benevolently granted us, watching over us since the start of our career, both as goldsmiths, and as mages and alchemists, to our successes of today. It is a relic of the story of our family, and a monument to perennial memory of the gifts that the world and the gods grant one another, and of our purpose of giving all of our efforts for the prosperity of Albion and the peace between humans and the other creatures, as much as possible within the limits of reason." Father Aurelius turned his gaze towards the cathedral as well, while listening to Derrick's words.
"After all, the first true supreme protector that this sacred ground has ever had came from your family..." he murmured, solemnly, almost nostalgically, to which the alchemist nodded "Yet, your family was most definitely not the only one to be blessed by the god Lathander." he continued "Every single Albionian, as much as every person committed to the good of others, and to the transformation of a life into a work of art through that very good, is blessed by the smile of the Morninglord."
"We do keep it in mind, father Aurelius." Derrick replied, with a smile. His eyes were onto the wonderful cathedral. "Now, I wish not to steal any more time to your service. Please leave me be, and let me enjoy such beauty..." The high cleric nodded, and respectfully bowed, a gesture which was reciprocated by the alchemist.
"May the light of dawn shine upon you, Lord Derrick Crowley." he bid, before turning and entering the temple, which the alchemist remained to admire, as he was absorbed in his meditations.
However, some moments later, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of potent flapping of wings.
Instinctively, he rose his head, and his smile widened as he saw a majestic raven with six wings, shining black feathers and sparkling eyes which looked like spheres of obsidian. The magnificent bird lowered towards Derrick, who extended his arms, so that it could lay onto it.
"Here you are, Noctis." he murmured. The bird, turning its head towards its master, opened its beak and emitted a low caw, vaguely resembling a "Hi". The mage smiled, before looking at the cathedral once again, alongside his crow.
"Majestic, don't you agree?" he commented, to which the bird replied with another low caw, in sign of agreement. Derrick looked at Noctis once more.
"Edward is back in the city, then." he murmured. Hearing those words, the raven nodded.
"Very well." he replied, looking at the temple of Lathander once again "Let us wait for them here, before such splendor." The alchemist and his bird stood to observe the front side of the Cathedral of True Dawn, until, eventually, Derrick heard the sound of steps and walking sticks behind himself, and smiled in ascertaining that the ones to produce those sounds were to young men, one with red hair and eyes, as his were, and with an owl perched upon his shoulder, and the other with raven- black hair and deep blue eyes. They were both heading towards him with smiles on their faces.
"Father!" they called him, in unison.
"Welcome back, my sons!" the man gleefully replied, embracing them as they came closer to him. Oculus did not neglect to snuggle Derrick, as Noctis did the same with the two youths. After some seconds of warmth, the three separated.
"Today is a tranquil day, don't you think, Jonathan?" the father said, to which the black-haired youth nodded.
"Undoubtedly." he replied "It is days like this that put a man in a good mood."
"You said it." Derrick stated, smiling brightly, before speaking to his other son "And you, Edward, what do you say about your mission out of the city?"
"It was a patrol." Edward replied, smiling back at him "Besides a troll which had crawled out of a thicket, there were no problems." He then plucked the vial of green blood from the pocket of his robe "Of course, I killed it before it could as much as bite some farmer, and collected its blood."
"Excellent job, son!" Derrick exclaimed, then, ruffling his son's hair, a gesture to which the young man could only laugh.
"By now we know we can always find you here when we come back from our duties." Jonathan commented.
"Why, of course." their father replied, smiling good-naturedly, almost as if his son had spoken an obvious fact "You know what this place means to me." The two nodded, and the mage's smile widened "Now then, let us head home." The three began walking away from the cathedral.
"Jonathan, send our regards to Kimberley and the others!" Edward urged his brother. "Of course!" Jonathan replied "You send my regards to Andrew."
"Will be done." Edward replied, with a bright smile on his face, not dissimilar from that on the faces of his father and his brother. Once they left Mermaid Square, Jonathan separated his path from that of his family, heading to his own house.