Chapter 57: Underground Rumble (1/2)
”So, where do we do this?” Mike asked. ”I'm assuming that we can't just start fighting in the middle of the street.
Brenden looked at him a little uncertainly, ”I think there is a service at the Guild.”
Reluctantly, Mike followed the beastman into the building and up to the front desk.
Unfortunately, the Guild was busy, and all of the receptionists had long lines waiting in front of them. He was slightly amused by his current circumstances.
[Never thought I'd be waiting in line to fight a duel. This is really a novel experience.]
While the pair was waiting, a familiar elf walked up and asked them curiously, ”Working together?”
Mike looked over at Tal, and shook his head. ”This guy challenged me to a duel, although I'm guessing it's going to be more of a spar than anything else.”
Brenden turned around angrily, ”It's not a spar! It's a destined battle for supremacy. We can finally determine which of us is stronger.”
Tal and Mike looked at the beastman like he had lost his mind.
Tal tilted her head, questioningly, ”Unclear?”
”Of course it is!” Brenden asserted, seemingly insulted.
Tal looked glanced between the two for a while before looking back at Brenden. ”Don't get hurt.”
”....” Brenden was speechless for a second, before flushing angrily, ”I'LL HAVE YOU KN-”
”EXCUSE ME!” A call came from behind him. Unbeknownst to the three adventurers, they had already reached the counter. A slightly annoyed receptionist was tapping her fingernails impatiently behind it.
”If you want to chat, I would recommend getting out of line. We have a lot of business to conduct today.”
Brenden hurried forward, bowing his head apologetically. ”Sorry about that, wasn't paying attention. We'd like to hold a duel. I was told that there is a location in the Guild for such things?”
The receptionist sighed. ”Do you want an official duel or just a sparring session? I will warn you that an official duel requires the written permission of the Guildmaster and the Captain of the Wyrport Guard. Do you happen to have it?”
Brenden quietly shook his head, not willing to speak. Throughout the receptionist's speech, both his ears and his tail had been steadily lowering, and now he looked thoroughly dejected.
The receptionist sighed again, muttering 'newbies' under her breath. ”I have the requisite forms on hand, but I can tell you right now, unless you have a legitimate grievance, they won't approve it.”
The beastman hung his head, now firmly defeated.
The young man's obvious distress struck a chord in the receptionist, her expression of exasperation morphing into one of mild pity.
”A sparring session, on the other hand, only requires that you reserve a portion of the training floor for the duration. I happen to know that there should be more than enough space available right now.”
Brenden perked up. Mike noticed that his tail was actually wagging a little bit.
”That will work!” The beastman exclaimed.
The receptionist nodded, had him fill out a few sheets of paper, and directed him to the location of the training floor.
After completing these tasks, Brenden turned around. ”Now, Mike, let us begin our duel-”
”Spar.” The receptionist called without looking up.
”...Fine. Spar, then. Let us begin our spar!”
Mike chuckled, ”Lead the way.”
Tal pulled on his sleeve as he was about to start walking. ”Can watch?”
”Sure. I don't see why not.” Mike said while shrugging.
They followed Brenden to a lower floor of the Guild.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Talin was forced to slam the door to the Guildmaster's office loudly in order to wake her up this time. Apparently, it had proven sufficient to startle her to the point she nearly fell out of her chair.
”Ah, Talin. Good to see you again. What brings you up here?” She asked while stretching languorously.
”Ma'am, I've been trying to get ahold of you since this morning. You requested that I tell you when Michael Rasmussen returned from his request.”
”Hmm, that doesn't sound like me, but I'll take your word for it. Who is this Mitchel again?”
”Michael, ma'am.” Talin exhaled in exasperation. Not for the first time he questioned the sanity of the Guild's promotion methods, which let such a woman be in charge of a major branch. ”He is the man you've tasked me with keeping an eye on, the one with the unusual soul.”
”Ah, right. I remember now. What did I want from him again?”
Talin felt like slamming his head against the table, but knew it would be counterproductive.
”To meet him ma'am. He's currently on the training floor, in the midst of a spar with another adventurer.”
”Alright. I suppose I have some time, so I'll go check him out. Talin, do be a dear and grab me a few of those sandwiches from that place down the street. I think I would like a snack while watching the events.”