Darkness and Hellfire

Chapter 46 Next Of Kin

“I feel like we are forgetting something.” Isaac told Lenna as they sat down at Celeste’s bar for breakfast.

Lenna was silent for a moment in thought before she realized what it was. “The man from C.A.S.T.” She reminded him. “He wanted you for something.”

“Oh yeah. I wonder what happened to him.” Isaac thought aloud.

“He’s hanging around the Guild Hall.” Celeste told them and sat a pair of drinks in front of them. They gave off the smell of rich fruits that made their mouths water.

“How do you always have something different?” Isaac asked and took a sip of the juice. “Is this plums?”

Celeste nodded with a self satisfied grin. “I know people.” She replied. “Trade secret.” She added with a wink. “You really shouldn’t make the Guild Representative wait too long. He is probably here about your tags.”

“We’ll get right on that.” Isaac assured her.

“After breakfast.” Lenna added.

“Excuse me, if you do not mind, I would be happy to get this over with while we enjoy this establishment’s spectacular cuisine.” A slightly familiar voice said from a handful of feet behind them.

Isaac turned to see the same scholarly man from before. His hair was a shiny blonde now that all of the road dust had been washed out of it and everything about him had simply gotten cleaner, especially his shaved face. “It would be rude of me to turn you away now, though I hope you won’t be ruining my breakfast with an unpleasant conversation.” Isaac replied diplomatically.

The man seemed to hesitate for a moment before he nodded with a smile and took a seat close to Isaac. He left one seat in between them and sat his Bottomless Bag on it. “I also hope that this does not ruin your breakfast, um, mister?” Charlie began with a question.

“Lord.” Isaac replied.

“Ah, yes, I believe I remember something along those lines. My apologies, Lord Wexler. As to the reason for my visit, there was a problem with your guild tags.” Charlie continued. “Unfortunately the Guild is not in the habit of simply trusting that a person is capable without documented proof, not that I am implying that you are incapable.”

Isaac nodded. “Alright.” He said so Charlie would continue. It was at that time that their breakfasts arrived. The syrup infused sausages and freshly baked bread made Isaac’s stomach rumble so he dove right in. Lenna was right behind him.

“The problem arose because of the, rather large, string of question marks on your guild file.” Charlie explained. “The guild branch master is capable of bending the rules of promotion in most cases but the rank of Double Platinum requires proper vetting, you are the pride of the guild afterall.”

“You won’t be Identifying me.” Isaac said simply between bites.

Charlie nodded. “I assumed as such.” He replied. “Which in this case is fine, because I was, rather fortunately, able to witness you and your companion engage in battle with Lord Judgment, a registered double platinum adventurer of the highest order.”

“He’s registered?” Isaac questioned.

“But of course.” Charlie said like it was common knowledge that every strong person was registered with the guild.

“So… do I just get my tags now?” Isaac asked.

“Almost.” Charlie replied and slid his clipboard towards Isaac. On it was a form full of legal jargon.

Isaac read over it while he finished his breakfast. It amounted to a simple clause that if he broke any guild rules he would be subjected to guild punishments as he would be officially recognized as a guild employee instead of an outside hire. This also meant that he would be afforded a degree of protection from local governments as the guild cared little for country borders. He was required to sign his full legal name and list a next of kin that was not an adventurer or member of a military or government. “Why all the restrictions on next of kin?”

“A number of reasons.” Charlie began. “A guild employee is not someone who is allowed to be tied down by governments or their interests. The guild is one of the oldest existing organizations on the planet. It is even argued that it is older than the drow empire.” He said the last bit with a nod towards Lenna.

Lenna didn’t look convinced. “The drow empire has existed, in its current iteration, for at least two dragon surges, maybe longer.” She replied.

“That is as far back as our guild records go as well. There is a blank area that begins around the two hundred year mark after the dragon surge before our most recent one.” Charlie explained. “We are unsure if the guild is older than that however. Too much is lost during the dragon surges and their ensuing chaos.”

Lenna nodded in acknowledgement. “It is certainly old but the empire is older than any dragon or demigod on, or in, the planet.” She assured him.

Charlie nodded deeply to her to cede the point. “Back to our original topic, the restriction on next of kin is also to help ensure that they will still be alive in the event that something happens to you. Usually adventurers and soldiers are the first to be put into the dragon’s mouth as it were. Additionally, people in power have a much higher risk of being assassinated.” Charlie continued to explain. “The Guild Leader has found that finding a more traditionally normal next of kin, for such matters as leaving inheritance, is simply generally a good idea.”

Isaac nodded in understanding. “What about former adventurers?” He asked Charlie.

“I am afraid that there is no such thing as a former adventurer.” Charlie replied with a consoling smile. “Adventurers will always find their way into harm’s way, retired or not.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” Celeste chimed in.

“Damn.” Isaac swore. “I was honestly kind of hoping to leave you as my next of kin.” He said to Celeste.

Celeste stopped cold. “What?” She said more in shock than as an actual question.

“As far as my family goes, I am sitting next to all of it.” Isaac explained. “You and Sera have looked after us as if we were your own on more than one occasion but with both of you out I’m not sure who to pick.”

Celeste smiled warmly at him and patted his hand. “You are sweet.” She told him. “But usually it would be your child for things like this.” She informed him. “So you’d better get on that.”

“Celeste!” Lenna exclaimed. Celeste started chuckling and left to continue serving the other patrons. The breakfast rush was kicking up around them the longer they were there.

“I’m hesitant to choose anyone else.” Isaac said to Lenna with a frown. “This is an important decision.”

“A non-government, non-adventurer, non-military person who is close to us…” Lenna started thinking aloud. “This is hard.”

“Stan, Jessica, the brothers on a technicality… I can’t think of anyone else.” Isaac continued.

“Well, for now, as long as you sign this I can give you your tags and move on to the other person on my list.” Charlie told him. “You can fill in the next of kin and their information anytime before I leave or you can travel personally to the capital’s branch of C.A.S.T. if you need to change or update it at any time.”

“Next person on your list?” Isaac questioned.

Charlie nodded. “Yes, um, just a moment.” He began and dug through his Bottomless Bag until he found another clipboard. “Lenna V’Nova.” He read. “Do you… excuse me miss but I do not believe I have seen another dark elf in the city, I know it might be rude of me-”

“Yes, I am her.” Lenna cut him off.

“Ah, I see.” Charlie said simply and nodded before he passed her the clipboard. “Are there any questions that have not already been answered?”

Lenna took the clipboard. “Just one, well, two, but they are connected.” She began. “What happens if we put someone that does not officially exist? What method would be used to contact them?”

“Ah, that is an interesting question.” Charlie acknowledged. “Someone like myself would be dispatched to follow the instructions you have left in order to find the person in question. If they cannot be easily found then we would ask around and in some cases enlist the aid of the local officials. After sufficient effort has been made, if they cannot be found, we would call it off and everything related to you would be kept by the guild until someone who could prove to be your next of kin arrived to claim it.”

“I think the brothers would be fine.” Lenna told Isaac. “I have nothing against Stan or Jessica but I don’t feel like we have that kind of relationship.”

Isaac nodded. “Agreed. The boys, specifically Lenny, feel like younger siblings or even children at times.”

“Then I think we have made our decision.” Lenna said and then looked at Charlie. “Do you have a pen?”