After our lunch, we go to the guild and walk up to the secretary.

  Rayla leans over on the desk and asks, “Soo…How is the investigation going? Do you think we’ll be able to work tomorrow?”

  “Yes, it seems the guildmaster has concluded his investigation. Apparently the guildmaster in Rostock has made quite the case for all the reasons why what you did was more than justified. This paired with reports of staff who saw and reported what actually happened made you get xxx. Though, between us, I don’t recommend coming back to this branch any time soon. There were a lot of people here that made witness reports that were contradictory to what actually happened. The only reason it was easy to disprove them was because they all claimed different things and their accounts differed from staff accounts. If they were a bit more organized and staff hadn’t seen what was going on you would probably be in court or demoted.”

  “Well…It’s a good thing we got lucky then…Can we also register Sher Aka and John here for our party? We are planning on going together on the escort quest tomorrow.”

  “Sure, I can do that. I just need your guild cards.”

  We hand over our guild cards and get registered.

  Looking into a little booklet, the secretary adds, “It says here you don’t have a party name yet, I recommend thinking of one by the time you all reach D-Rank. Party names are an important calling card for adventurers and make it more likely for you to get recommended for better jobs.”

  “Alright, we’ll try thinking of one. Say, do you happen to know an archery range in this town besides the one the guild uses?”

  “Yeah, there is an archery club uptown and another one I don’t recommend.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s in the ghetto, though looking at the company you keep you might be fine. It’s definitely cheaper, so if you want, you can check it out. It’s in the knife street.”

  “Alright, thanks. One last thing, where is the meeting point for the escort quest tomorrow?”

  “In front of the south gate.”

  “Alright, see ya.”

  We then leave the guild and once outside, Rayla sighs loudly, “Man, the people in the capital sure aren’t very welcoming, huh? I mean she totally looked at you two when she was talking about the ghetto.”

  “Eh, it’s fine. We’re used to it, if the dumb broad wants to be a dumb broad let her. As long as it’s not affecting me.”

  “Even though I don’t agree with the way John phrased this I do agree with the sentiment. Most people like this probably don’t mean any harm, they are just uneducated.”

  Looking at the both of them, I ask, “Ehm, I’m not sure I get it, was she mean to you guys?”

  Sher Aka gives me a warm smile, “A little but it’s not enough to worry about. Anyways, let’s talk about something more positive on the way to the range. Do you have any ideas for a party name yet? Personally I’d like something elegant sounding.”

  John interjects, “Hmm, well it should represent us somehow right? So perhaps something we all have in common would be nice.”

  Rayla gets a cheeky smile on her face, “We could also just be the four tailed fox and call it a day.”

  “Bruh, now that’s just representing you.”

  “What do you mean~ It has four in the name, we’re four people.”

  “Yeah…And only you have tails.”

  Speaking up myself, I interject, “We all have wishes we want to come true right? So, how about we call ourselves ‘The Shooting Stars’?”

  Sher aka seems pleasantly surprised, “That…Seems pretty sensible, that’s a great first suggestion Thoma Ahad.”

  “Who would have thought that you would be the more sensible of you two.”

  “Hey! Just because Thoma is better at naming things than me doesn’t mean he’s more sensible!”

  “Oh? Can you come up with a suggestion that’s not a joke then?”

  “I…Uhm…Gaaaaaaaah.”

  “Fascinating, you can practically see the gears turning in her head.”

  “Gosh, shut up John! Okay, how about this, we could be the ‘Northern Lotus’.”

  “I like it.”

  “Thanks oki.”

  “Aren’t you just copying a better adventuring group with that though? I’m not sure I’d call that a good suggestion, how about you Sherry?”

  “Well it’s certainly xxx. So far, I like Thoma Ahad’s suggestion the best. Let’s keep it in mind and see if we can find something better by the time we get to Rostock. If not, I suggest we go with his idea.”

  We then keep walking towards the knife street we were told about and come to a little area with a lot of Half-Elves and a few Elves. Most of them seem to have Woodelf blood judging by a lot of them having a bit more pointy features and many having green hair. The streets here also look quite foreign, most signs are written in what I assume is Elvish and people dress differently here, wearing a lot more wide dangly robes and dresses and plant shaped jewelry. They seem to be a bit wary of me specifically, probably because of the mask, but they don’t seem to pay us any mind otherwise.

  After a bit of searching, we come up to the before mentioned archery range and it seems to be in good use. There are a lot of Woodelves training right now, using similar moving archery tactics that I’m practicing. For that purpose, they seem to even have areas made for that style specifically. As we reach the entrance, a Woodelf man with long green hair and a small leather hat with a feather on it greets us and looks at John and Sher Ka, “Greetings, I’m guessing you guys want to practice?”

  “Uhm, actually I do, I don’t think they know how to use a bow.” I answer.

  “Oh gotcha. Say bro is there a reason you’re hiding yourself? You don’t need to worry about that sorta stuff here.”

  “Oh, no I’m actually masked because this is my clothing for work. I need to practice with it on, so I get used to it.”

  “Ah gotcha, what style are you using kid?”

  “Uhm, I’m not sure what it’s called. Auntie just calls it moving archery.”

  “Hmm, there are multiple styles for that too…How about this, lemme watch you train a bit and I’ll tell you what it’s called.”

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  “Oh sure, sounds good.”

  I start my training and about twenty minutes in, the guy calls me back over, “Yo bro come here.”

  “Did you figure it out?”

  “Yeah, you’re currently just using the core style. It’s basically the beginners version before you specialize into the more xxx styles. I do think you’re good enough to start developing a style soon though, what are you going to use your archery for?”

  “Basically I need to use it while dancing.”

  He looks surprised, “Dancing? Are you an entertainer?”

  “Oh no, I’m an adventurer.”

  “Then why would you need to use archery while dancing?”

  “It’s part of my fighting style, it’s the same as the Dancing Ballista.”

  “Hahaha, well good luck with that. Look kid, we all want to be famous but you shouldn’t copy her like that. Her dancing actually has a use, it's not just to look cool.”

  “I know. I’m learning it from her.”

  He sounds extremely dismissive when he says, “YOU are learning from THE Dancing Ballista? Please don’t make brags that even an idiot would know aren't true.”

  “But it is true!”

  “Then prove it.”

  “Fine, I’m still learning though, I’m not nearly as good as her, I only know the first form.”

  “Sure, sure, let’s see it.”

  I then start the ritual determined to prove him wrong. He seems to be a bit skeptical at first but once he sees me dance, his facial expression rapidly changes. A lot of the older Woodelves around the area also begin to stare at me and one of them starts to sing,

  “In embrace of his Darkness, ever sublime

  Nox King of Darkness, spends all of his time

  Formless and weightless like a dark veil he sleeps

  Will no one awake him to tend to his needs?

  The Dark King is lonely has no one to play

  He's sad and he's broken but perhaps someone today

  Will wake him and help him so we all say

  ‘Please dance with us until your sister awakes,

  We can't go for long but we're still here to play’.”

  And shortly after he starts to sing others chime in as well singing in unison ever repeating that song while I dance. It’s my first time hearing it but somehow it feels like it is leading me. I don’t seem to have any problems this time with the rhythm and almost like in a trance I focus solely on dancing. The orbs then gather around me effortlessly and almost like my mouth is being moved by someone else I say, “Nox, Spirit King of Darkness, hear my plea. Put a crown of darkness on my head so that I may be fit to be in the presence of kings. Dark Crown.”

  The orbs then move towards me and a black crown of absolute darkness forms on my head as my vision changes. I can now see people and animals a lot more clearly while everything else is somewhat see-through. I can still see the shapes but it looks like they’re all hollow and I can look right through them. I can even see through the walls. Also magical items seem to sparkle, John’s staff almost looks like it’s covered in glitter. Then, as I stop my dance and take a deep breath, I hear a deep voice from behind me, “I enjoyed myself, the king would be pleased. As a reward for this performance, let me teach you, Deafen.”

  Then as if I suddenly remembered something I had long forgotten I learn how to cast the dark element spell called ‘Deafen’.

  I look behind me to see who said this to me and watch what looks like a goat person wearing a suit slowly melting into my shadow and disappearing. Just from its size alone I can tell this must have been a higher ranking spirit than the ones I’m used to seeing. But I can’t think about it too long because shortly after the goatspirit disappears, the green haired range owner goes down on one knee with his hat to his chest and his head lowered.

  “My apologies for doubting you. I’m honored to have Shara Seleen’s disciple in my training grounds.”

  “You don’t need to kneel or anything. It’s alright, I forgive you.”

  Before I know it, I get surrounded by many happy looking Elves that were participating in the singing during my dance.

  “Ey good job! I’m glad to see a priest out here of all places!”

  “Who taught you?”

  “Yeah I want to know too!”

  Proud, I answer, “My auntie. She’s the Dancing Ballista.”

  “Holy shit, really!?”

  “Woah, so cool…”

  “Can you please take off your mask? We’d love to see what you look like!”

  “Yeah me too!”

  “Uhm sure, it’s not really a secret.”

  I take off my mask and suddenly the happy faces of the Elves around me turn to shock and then anger. One of them then pushes me away, while another spits in my face.

  “Hey, what are you doing!?”

  Then suddenly someone hits me in the back of the head, if I weren’t strengthened by dark magic right now I might have passed out from the blow. Some others then push me again.

  “What a disgusting liar.”

  “Hasn’t your kind stolen enough from us!? Never come here again, monkey.”

  Confused and scared, I ask, “What are you talking about? Why are you suddenly acting like this!?”

  Thump. An arrow suddenly lands in front of my feet as a few of them pull out their bows.

  “The next one won’t miss, monkey.”

  Scared and confused, I stumble backwards and fall to the ground while Rayla in full combat mode runs in front of me growling at them like a wild beast. Sher Aka, shortly after, positions herself in front of me, sword and shield drawn while John holds out his hand to me, “Come on Thoma Ahad, let’s go!”

  “But…What’s happening John?”

  “I’ll tell you once you’re safe, you’ve got to go now.”

  I take his hand and we just start running, my dark crown long faded and gone from lack of concentration everything just seems like a blur. After running for a while John tells me to sit down so I do.

  “I’ll be right back. Stay here, I’ll get the others.”

  “Okay.”

  —--------------------------------

  Meanwhile in the archery rage, shortly after Thoma Ahad left.

  “Grrrrrrr, how dare you do this to my brother. Put down your bows! I can rip out the throats of at least four of you before your arrow will hit me!!!”

  “Why are you protecting this man!? Are you his property!?”

  “What!?”

  Out of anger Rayla buries her iron claws into the ground, cracking the stone beneath her hands.

  “Rayla, stop. If you don’t calm down you’ll do something you’ll regret.”

  “But-”

  “Don’t worry, I know how you feel. I’ll handle it.”

  “Fine.” Rayla takes a deep breath and relaxes a little but stays in her combat stance, ready to pounce at any moment.

  “Why were you threatening the kid? You even hurt and spit on him, why?”

  “What do you mean, why!? He’s obviously a slaver and a liar! I don’t know how long you would need to torture a priest to force them to pass down our sacred ritual. I don’t even want to imagine what he did and despite all that this dirty monkey entered our grounds just to taunt us!”

  “Exactly!”

  “Death to the monkey slavers!”

  Staying calm and poignant, Sher Aka answers, “Nice theory you have there, do you have any proof whatsoever of this?”

  “What are you talking about? How else would he know!?”

  “He told you, didn't he? The Dancing Ballista taught him. Do you have anything that disproves his claim?”

  “Sure I do, the Dancing Ballista would never teach a monkey our most sacred ritual!”

  “And how do you know that?”

  “Because it goes against our customs! A Highelf like you might not know this but we only teach our own!”

  “If you only teach your own then how come he fluently speaks elvish, knows the Woodelven moving archery technique and has learned the sacred ritual of yours? Would a slaver go through all this trouble to immerse themselves in elven culture only to come here, show it to you and then reveal their face?”

  “How would I know how the twisted mind of a slaver works!?”

  Sher aka emits calm rage, as she continues, “Oh? A few seconds ago you seemed pretty sure about how the mind of a slaver works. If you really want to check, why don’t you go to Rostock? The Dancing Ballista is the guildmaster there, go ask her.”

  Looking away, the range owner answers, “I don’t need to bother her over something this obvious.”

  “Then all you’re doing is acting on assumptions based on his race. You all are nothing more than accursed racists so hurt by your own experiences that you have become what you hate. You’re no better than a human supremacist.”

  “Hold your tongue you foul wench! What do you know!?” An older Elven man yells.

  “Sixty years ago. The slave uprising of Moritan in Skar. Have you heard of it?”

  “I have…”

  “I was the one that led it. Murdered the slave owner with my own two hands. Ask any survivor if they know Sher Aka. They’ll confirm it.”

  “Even so, if that’s the case why are you defending a human? You know what they are capable of.”

  “You mean like attacking an innocent kid without warning? Spitting in their face, calling them racial slurs and pointing their weapons at them solely due to their race? Oh I have seen what racists are capable of.”

  “...”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the Dancing Ballista will hear of this since you’re too much of a coward to tell her yourself. Come on Rayla, it’s time to go.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I have made myself more than clear.”

  Rayla fletches her fangs at them one last time and together with Sher Aka leaves the archery range to meet up where John is waiting for them.

  “How is Thoma?”

  “I’m not sure, I think he’s in shock. I made him sit down somewhere safe for now. Come on, I’ll show you the way.

  —----------------------