"She bloomed? When? I was just here a couple days ago," Ramsey struggled to believe the coincidence.
"Look," Elias was growing impatient, "I don't know the details. She came running to me yesterday morning, yelling "It Happened!" over and over," he flailed his arms mimicking her.
"You know how she is when she gets excited, those big eyes, that huge smile, and there's just no slowing her down. She already had her bag packed and was walking away from me while asking for my help," he sighed.
Ramsey had been looking forward to seeing that expression of hers, but he was expecting to be the source of it. Although genuinely happy for her, his spirits were a little deflated.
He had questions he wanted to ask her, books he wanted to borrow, antlers he wanted to sell - but honestly - he was just excited to talk to his new friend about magic.
He had known so little when they spoke before, and although not much time had passed, so much had changed. 'For her too, I guess.'
"Did she mention what her muse was?" Ramsey was curious if she got what she wanted.
"No, she was gone in a flash. No time for conversation with an old man," he placed his hand on his back and stretched up straight briefly.
"You said she went to Farion. I'm not from around here, which way is that?" Ramsey asked.
After donning the typical quizzical look, Elias eventually shook his head and pointed east, or what Ramsey believed to be east. "It's a day and a half walk by foot toward the rising sun. There's a couple safe places to hole up for the night between here and there. When you see a sheer cliff with spiral stairs, you've made it. But only magic folk are allowed in Farion, so don't waste your time."
Ramsey drew his sword causing the old man to take a small step back. He held it upright with the flat of the blade displayed.
"Treya gave me this sword. It was one she discarded that had been left to rust. It held no value to her, but it's already saved my life once, and I did my best to restore it. I was looking forward to showing her, but I thought she would be more excited to see this," Ramsey let go of Thorn, but the beautiful blade did not move.
Elias took a step forward in awe, entranced by the floating weapon. He reached out curiously and tapped one side of the cross guard, causing the blade to slowly spin. "I don't feel any air currents holding it up. How interesting."
"I haven't shown anyone else yet. I hoped Treya would be the first," Ramsey grabbed the handle and returned the sword to his belt.
"Well, I'm sure they'll welcome you in Farian if you choose to go. I've never seen magic like that.
But…" he looked down at the blade, "it's not right to carry around a naked sword like that."
The old man turned back into the house and began rummaging through items while yelling, "The reason I'm close to Treya, and her father before her, was because of shared business." His words broke between the sound of objects clattering on the floor, "After they finished a piece, they'd send the customer to me."
He came out holding a dark brown leather sheath. It was plain, with no designs outside of its intricate stitching and perfect symmetry.
"If Treya gave you that sword, then you should have this as well.
Her father used to say that every weapon deserves a place to rest between battles. It's how he promoted my business, but he cared a lot about his work, and I think he meant it," he held it out for Ramsey.
"Wow, I… Thank you," Ramsey bowed.
"If you do go to Farion, keep an eye on her. She's a tough kid, but people can be cruel. Now go, leave an old man to rest," he said as he turn back toward the house.
"I have some things to take care of first, but I will!" Ramsey yelled the last bit as the door closed.
He looked off to the east.
'A magic academy.
I could just go. I didn't leave anything important behind.
Would they really hunt me down for 20 gold?'
Ramsey sheathed his sword, fastened it to his belt, and spent a few moments looking between the two directions.
'They might welcome me in Farion, but I barely have means to feed myself, let alone academy admission.'
"I'll catch up soon," he sighed and began heading back downstream
***
It was mid-day when the young man strapped with a rack of antlers returned to town.
He wore no guild colors, but walked directly to the guild office.
Entering the foyer, Ramsey approached the dark haired girl behind the counter once again.
"You're back," she said, somehow both monotone and surprised. Looking behind him, she continued, "you can't sell those here. The guilds source their own materials."
"Oh, I'm not here for that," he handed her the summons.
"This- this is a mage summons for a debt settlement," her brows pinched in confusion.
It was then that the log book on the desk in front of her began to rise, stopping once it reached eye level. Ramsey rather enjoyed her look of bewilderment, then gently lowered it back down to rest.
"I told you I hoped to see you soon," he smiled.
"But…" was all she said for a moment before three men clad in purple coats entered behind Ramsey.
Her expression relaxed, then she raised her hand and sent a current of air through a glass tube to her left. A click was heard and the large door to Ramsey's right opened.
"The job board is just inside the left hall," she half smiled back at him. "Registration will explain the rest."
Finally the grand hall of the guild office revealed itself. Its breathtaking dome ceiling was adorned with murals rivaling those in chapels on Earth.
They were all scenes depicting magic used for humanitarian aid… growing crops, building shelters, routing water, and lighting up the darkness. It was reminiscent of Myra's Muse and the story of her father.
Ramsey wondered if this was essentially their mission statement, but people like Erron Aster were left to do as they please.
Ramsey walked slowly into the center, admiring the grand hall like the tourist he was.
To his left and right it branched off into hallways, but around the circular interior of the dome sat the offices of each guild. Ornately carved doors marked by long colorful banners hanging over them, purple and green on the right, blue and red on the left, with an unmarked door in between.
'Likely some neutral space.'
He stared briefly at the red banner of The Chosen, emblazoned with the compass.
"Excuse me, Sir, uh, with the antlers…," a hesitant man's voice called from behind.
Ramsey spun around, not realizing how dangerous that might be for anyone caught in their path.
"Whoa, haha," a small framed man with round glasses held up his hands and retreated a step. "Can I help you?"
"Sorry, it's my first time here, I got a bit caught up in how remarkable it is. I'm supposed to register and choose a job."
"That's what I thought. I'm Cerill, the register clerk today, please come with me," he motioned to follow and walked to the left hall.
Cerill turned into the first office, large enough for only a small desk among the dozens of file cabinets. Before entering, Ramsey took notice of the neighboring job board, or more precisely the job wall.
He had expected a standard bulletin board, but found twenty feet of pinned requests nearly floor to ceiling.
"Name?" The clerk said loudly to get his attention.
"Uh, Ramsey," he replied, stepping inside.
Cerill began recording in his book, "And your summons please."
Ramsey handed over the paper.
"Okay, a healing debt of 20 gold," he continued writing. "And has the differing job difficulty and compensation been explained to you?"
"Yes," he nodded.
"Your muse?" Ceril asked.
"Elorr, Sir," Ramsey replied.
"Terra or Growth?" He questioned as his pen kept moving.
"Uh, why is that important," Ramsey begged to know.
"You may not be suitable for all the jobs posted on that wall," he pointed with his pen. "Knowing what kind of mage you are is important to make sure you're fit to complete them. It may even keep you alive. So, Terra or Growth?"
Ramsey didn't answer.
Showing Elias and the girl at the front desk was one thing, but this was a documented registration.
'I guess I don't have a choice anymore.'
"Neither, Sir," Ramsey replied.
Cerill put his pen down. "Ramsey, I understand you don't want to be here. You may be thinking this isn't fair, and you may be right. But delaying your registration won't make this any easier."
"I'm not trying to. You asked if I was Terra or Growth, and I'm not.
I'm a Gravity mage."