Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Adventurer’s Guild (Part 3)

The Hero Became a Mousegirl
Chapter 12: The Adventurer’s Guild (Part 3)

 

I studied Gwayn, his stance, the wooden sword he held with both hands in front of himself. He stood still, waiting for me, watching me with the eyes of a hunter. Every subtle movement I made was reflected in Gwayn’s eyes, every breath I took was observed. 

Digging my foot into the stone floor beneath me, I launched myself forward, sweeping out with my short sword. Gwayn met my blade with his own, halting its advance. Twisting my body, I swung the dagger in my off hand toward his torso.

In a single fluid motion, Gwayn switched to a single-handed grip and swept his sword downward, knocking my dagger away. Turning himself slightly Gwayn brought his blade to the ready faster than I could respond and began a downward arc. 

Leaping backward I avoided Gwayn’s sword, retreating to the distance we’d had between us when the fight began. He was more than a meathead with a sword, Gwayn was a battle-hardened warrior, and I’d come to fight him in a dress. 

If I push myself, I might end up ruining Myra’s dress. I grumbled internally. Would she be mad with me? 

“You could always use the Holy Raiment spell,” Eyrina cooed inside my head. “I could help you hide its activation, they’d never know.” 

“I’m not going to cheat!” I shouted back mentally.

“Only you and I would know.” 

“It’s not happening. I’d rather lose, and have my dress destroyed.”

Charging forward I repeated my earlier advance. The moment Gwayn’s sword met mine, I leapt. Pirouetting above him in the air I brought my dagger down atop Gwayn’s head. His muscles tensed and Gwayn jerked to the side, the blade of my dagger missing his shoulder by a hair’s breadth. 

Twisting I landed on my feet and attempted to press my advantage only to catch my leg on the hem of my skirt. Not one to let an opportunity pass, Gwayn regained his composure and went on the offensive. 

We matched blades as I stepped back, refusing to allow Gwayn to close the distance between us. The wall behind me crept closer as we continued our dance of blades, it wouldn’t be long until Gwayn had me cornered. 

With a wild swing of my sword, I drew Gwayn’s attention to his left side and then leapt forward, rolling past him. Tossing my dagger at Gwayn’s torso, I ran from him, turning and readying myself once I’d reached the arena’s center. 

“We could call it here,” Gwayn noted as he strolled forward. “You’ve proven yourself, Caelan. We don’t have to continue.” 

“Would you be happy with that?” I grinned. “Can’t be every day that you get to spar with someone like me.” 

“It would be unfortunate,” Gwayn chuckled. “But I figured I’d offer. After all, it doesn’t appear as if you came dressed for a fight.” 

“Blame my sister. She had to have known what was coming, and still insisted I wear this. I want to see our duel through to the end.” 

“So be it,” Gwayn charged forward. I matched his blade with my own, relying on my agility to overcome his brute strength. Each time his blade came down I would match it and backstep, then respond with a swipe of my own. 

We continued matching blow for blow, until I finally started to feel the creeping claws of fatigue, reminding me that my strength wasn’t all that had been reduced during my rebirth, my vitality had been lowered as well. If I allowed the fight to carry on much longer, I would lose.  

With a desperate swing, I once again took to the air twisting forward as I’d done before. Having seen the move already, Gwayn brought his own sword up to catch me, falling right into my trap. 

Curling my legs tight against my chest I dodged Gwayn’s blade and then struck out with both feet. The soles of my feet met the flat of Gwayn’s blade, knocking it aside. With his form broken, I swung my own blade out and struck a blow to Gwayn’s chest right before I landed hard on the arena floor, head first. 

My vision was clouded by a burst of light as nauseous dizziness overtook me. I laid there, just breathing for a moment, letting my vision clear. Then Gwayn’s hand appeared before me, taking it with my own I was pulled forcefully to my feet.  

“You alright?” Gwayn asked, patting my back.

“A little dizzy, but still breathing.” 

“You’ve got grit girl,” Gwayn laughed. “I’ve never seen someone fight so desperately for a win. I could see it in your eyes, that fire to survive. As long as that fire burns in your belly I feel bad for any creature or demon unlucky enough to cross you.” 

“Thanks.” 

“Now then, Sir Gwayn,” Maria walked over to us, her face looking a bit pinkish. “Please head up to the lounge. I need to conduct Caelan’s magic test.” 

“You’ve got some incredible martial talent, and you can use magic?” Gwayn raised an eyebrow at me. “Kid, I’m impressed. I bet you’ll be the Guildmaster’s favorite before year’s end. Assuming you aren’t freelance. If you are, you’re going to cause her no shortage of headaches.” 

“Why would my status as freelance cause the Guildmaster headaches?” 

“Because you’re supposed to get the dregs that our in-house adventurers don’t want. But with strength like that, well she’s going to want to come to you first for anything big. It’ll mess with the guild’s politics, and thus create some headaches. Still, you do what is right for you, I’m not trying to sway your opinion.” 

With a final wink and thumbs up in my direction, Gwayn left the arena behind. Only once he’d vanished up the stairs did Maira turn to me and narrow her eyes. 

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“I’m not your mother, Miss Kubarev,” Maria sighed. “But if she were here, I’m certain she would’ve been livid to see you fighting as you did. Multiple times in your fight your underclothes were on full display. If you wish to leap and turn as you were, might I suggest wearing clothing better suited for it.” 

“My sister was the one who told me to wear this dress.” 

“And I’m certain she will have a hearty laugh at your expense later. Assuming she is aware of your fighting style I can only infer that your attire was a prank on her behalf.”

“I’ll dress better next time,” I hung my head as the horrors of what I’d done fully registered in my mind. My face suddenly feeling quite hot. 

“Now then,” Maria cleared her throat. “I’ll create a half dozen targets for you.” 

Holding her hand upright, Maria clenched her fist and the ground shook. Rising up from the stone on one half of the arena were six soldiers made out of dirt and rock. 

“When you’re ready, use your fire magic against these targets as you see fit. There is no need to destroy them, just display your abilities as best you can.” 

I gazed at Maria for a moment, looking for her band, though it was skillfully covered with a loose sleeve. Only those who had magic themselves, who needed to undergo this trial would ever know she had magic of her own. But what of the other guild representatives?  “Are all representatives skilled in earth magic?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. 

“Not all,” Maria smiled. “If you were being overseen by one of us without the ability to create the needed targets, we would just switch out.” 

“Ah, that makes sense.” 

My curiosity sated, I moved a safe distance away from Maria. Twisting my fingers through the air I released trails of mana, giving it form with my magic, causing tendrils of fire to stream behind my fingertips. From there I began to spin, causing the streams of fire I’d created to blend together into a swirling storm of flame. My spell complete I stepped backward through the wall of fire, willing the swirling current of flame forward into the earthen soldiers. 

Fire struck stone, and one by one the targets crumbled. By the time my flame ran out of mana and extinguished, all six soldiers were gone. “Was that good enough?” 

“Yes, Miss Kubarev,” Maria replied gazing toward where her stone soldiers had once stood. “It’s rare that a new applicant has obtained such impressive control. Knowing your status I should’ve expected this, but seeing it with my own eyes is really something. How did you gain such power, as young as you are?” 

“My father was an exceptional warrior,” I smiled wryly, looking down. “My power comes from chasing after him, I guess.” 

“We all have those we idolize,” Maria said beckoning me up the stairs. “Just remember to work within your own capabilities. You can’t succeed your father if you’re dead.” 

“Yeah.” 

After we returned to the lounge, Maria and I finished my enrollment into the guild. Following Myra’s advice, I informed her I planned to be freelance, causing Gwayn who was sitting nearby to collapse in a fit of laughter. Apparently, he enjoyed seeing the Guildmaster in distress.

With my enrollment complete I was handed a badge with ‘A0’ written on its surface, in addition to my name and the guild branch. Returning to the common room with my card in hand I was suddenly reminded of Jiri and Zeke and felt myself tense up. The tension lasted for only a moment, however, as the first person I laid eyes on once I returned was Myra.

“Did you pass?” Myra asked as I ran up to her. I could see Jiri and his friends still sitting where I left them, but they weren’t looking at me. The eyes of the boys were on Myra and they looked uncomfortable. Perhaps she had a reputation she’d failed to inform me of? 

“Of course I did,” I held up my new guild card. “I wish you would’ve warned me about the item identification test, that was stressful.” 

“Sorry,” Myra giggled. “But I brought you something special to celebrate your admission to the guild.” 

“Oh?” 

“Yes,” Myra reached into the pocket of her cloak and pulled out a pastry, holding it in front of my face. “Here we go Caelan, say ah.” 

“I’m not going to let you feed me here!” I retorted, my face heating. 

“Why not?”

“Because… people are watching us.” 

“And? You’re a cutie, Caelan. I’m sure they’ll not say anything bad about you.” 

“Still… “

“Alright, well then, I guess you don’t want it. I’ll have to eat it myself before it gets cold.” 

“Hey wait!” If I could see my own face I was certain I’d probably turned red as a tomato, but I wasn’t going to let her take my reward away from me. Leaning forward I took a big bite from the pastry, a stream of chocolate dripping down my lips, coating my chin. 

“So cute!”