We looked around the grand central college. The light streaming through the stained-glass shined upon the wooden floors that have been freshly glossed and cared for hundreds of years. Ari and I looked about and were captivated by the walls of frescos that tell the tale of Aerhyn Iceborn and her frightening wield of power, considering for so long she was just and beloved by all before her passing.
Various races walked the halls, dressed in pretty fashionable clothes for the time, different magical sectors usually represented by an item of clothing and a specific magical sector represented by an emblem. Ari looked fairly fascinated by everything present but, we were getting distracted by the frescos and the articles of clothing and I had to wander over to Ari and then say, "We have to find a professor or someone to give them the note."
"Ah, shit, almost forgot our main point of coming here… heh, sorry Joe."
"It's not a worry, come on Ari, gotta chop down everything one by one."
"Alright, did you bring the note on you?"
I shuffled through my pack and pull out the leather mobile telescope tube that I 'borrowed' from Harry when we searched his stuff on the airship, Ari nods and then we head off and looked for a professor of magical arts that could take a look at the note.
We then passed a class that was just recently let out by a well-dressed dwarven woman, fiery hair and then we entered before I asked "Madam, can we ask you a few things?"
The dwarf seemed zoned out after exhausting herself with the seminar before she shakes her head and looks over "Sorry you two, just exhausted, please, take a seat."
We nod and sit down on the seats as she comes over with her own and then says "I'll pay up the money in a few days, I'm sorry I shamed your family..."
Ari and I looked a mixture of shocked and worried "T-th-What?" Ari stammered.
"wait you're both not with the Maldier family?" she asked lazily.
"Not a lick, at all." I replied, quite surprised
"I-I'm sorry, really sorry,"
We shook our heads and then says "It's fine, it's fine..."
We were interrupted again by the fiery haired dwarf, as she then says "Maybe you both want my body?"
One more we shook our heads as we then say "Look, madam, we ain't here for either things, we were going to ask you an important question but it seems you want our help more. How much money do you need to pay off this seemingly Mafioso family?"
"I got in debt with them after going on a drinking and gambling spree to shovel away my troubles... everything was a big fun blur after my son left me... and my husband went to war."
Ari then said with a sigh "Divines, you are one fucking stupid lady, have a prominent job, and you loan shark yourself into debt because your son flew the nest and your husband went to war."
The professors shakes her head "N-no, nothing like that at all!"
I then state angrily "And now you sell your body to students and strangers because you indebted yourself to the local mafia, pleasantly shit situation... Guess you reconditioned your mind to realise how badly you buggered up."
"P-please help me, adventurers... if you help me I-I can try and manipulate the college system to help you..."
"I imagine with word and your condition catching wind, maybe you aren't held so highly." Ari declared.
"I-I can try and redeem my image, help you with whatever you require..."
I then said, doing my best to be the better person rather than being bitter at her awful state "If we help you, Miss, I expect your very best in return. How much are you needing to return?"
"One-thousand five-hundred gold pieces, sir,"
I then look to Ari, who was willing to go through with the plan as she nods to me "We have varying ancient treasures that could easily come to that amount. Tell me, if we were to sell, lets say a single ancient gold coin from the Iceborn era with Aeryhn's face on the coin, how much is that worth?"
She perked up "Alone, costs up to one-hundred gold to criminal collectors."
I nod and then give a smirk, confident with that fact since we have two chests of ancient treasure in our truck "If we give you fifteen pieces and escort you to a black market dealer or the family you owe the money to, will you do it to put yourself in the black?"
"Y-yes sir... without question..."
"Good, then let's go get you the ancient gold pieces..."
The woman lit up and then got off her chair and bowed to us on her knees, thanking us reapeatedly before I picked her up "Let's go, and also, may I ask your name, Miss?"
"Professor Alicia Meznlung, second head of the divination of ancient Magus magics."
"I'm Joseph and this is Arimia, we're adventurers on the pursuit of the legendary armour of Aeryhn Iceborn... "
"Really? Fascinating... Maybe I can help you then, but first, let us try and work these debts off me."
"Alright, follow us."
It wasn't long before we left the class with the fiery haired woman following behind as we left the grand college and headed to the hotel and our truck, it was a good few minutes walk, Ari and I chattered idly about home and what the family might be doing there.
Lest did we know what this small task for this dwarven lady might ensue, but we were more ready to take it head on.