Daresh POV
Daresh was looking out the window in his office on the second floor of the Adventurer's Guild. He saw the young man in a wooden mask and dark cloak step out on to the street. Daresh watched him walk in a carefree manner, completely unaware that he was being watched before losing sight of the boy as he went around a corner.
KNOCK — KNOCK
"Come in Senni" Daresh said, already guessing what she wanted to talk about with him. "Close the door behind you"
He took a seat at the only desk in the room, before nodding at Sennika to take a seat as well. He snapped his fingers and a shimmer appeared around the two of them, isolating the noise inside the bubble from any potential prying ears from outside.
"Were you listening Guild Master?" Sennika verified as she placed a stack of papers on his desk.
Daresh drew the stack closer and thumbed the top corner without reading it yet. "I was, except for when the both of you went into the basement." Daresh confirmed with a nod.
She lowered into the chair, arms folding. "Something felt off when he first walked in, so I changed the test and increased the difficulty. Funny thing was, he did not seem to be aware what the standard protocol was — did not complain even once" Sennika shared her initial observation.
"What are your thoughts?" Daresh wanted to know her point of view rather than voicing his own thoughts first.
"Could he be an agent sent by either Vesperia or Ironhold? It's not the first time they have tried something? Though there were some things about him that did not add up" Sennika said.
"I don't think so, I could hear his heart beating like a war drum when he stepped into the building. Neither side would send someone that inexperienced" Daresh countered. He thought for a bit before adding "Besides, each side already has soldiers registered. Though they are being closely watched."
It was not prohibited for military to join the Adventurer's Guild, but they were usually closely watched and were not permitted a rank higher than Silver. Soldiers were permitted to earn extra coin when they were not in active military duties. Additionally, the guild also avoided giving any administration role to anyone from the military to ensure the guild stayed neutral.
The adventurers operated more like mercenaries and the guild controlled what missions were posted. The guild made sure that the missions were related to monster exterminations, escort missions, or the occasional bounty on bandits or criminals that have massacred commoners.
"What if it was an independent noble house from Vesperia that sent in an agent, running their own mission independent of the crown?" Sennika suggested.
"Hmmm, that could be possible. Did you find out what his affinity was?"
"Yes, it was surprising actually. He has a lightning affinity. I provided four options for the test. Offense, Defense, Detection, and Mobility. You would think that he would go for the Offensive test first given lightning's destructive tendencies."
Daresh lifted his eyebrows at that remark "Which one did he go for then?"
"He went for Mobility and Detection, and would have passed both as well if not for his habit. He was surprisingly quick, probably using his lightning mana to augment his body somehow. And it was the first time I've seen a Lightning Mage with such a good Detection capability" Sennika explained.
"How so?" Daresh asked.
"He seemed to be able to detect moving objects even when blindfolded, but his range seems limited. He wasn't aware when I changed position and changed the angle of my attack. That's what caught him off guard."
"His offensive spell also seemed a lot more destructive, he could have a High or Greater affinity" Sennika added.
"Hmmm. But that rules out any independent Vesperian noble family. The Crown would not let a Lightning Mage evade military service. Especially for an unsanctioned mission." Daresh countered.
"What threw me off was his name and where he claimed he came from" Sennika gestured at the papers.
"Damian?!? From High Moor?" Daresh chuckled, knowing that was not a High Moorian name coming from High Moor himself.
"That's the weird part. Whoever sent him knew enough to suggest High Moor since the clans there usually kept to themselves. But did not think to ask him to use a more appropriate name. They should also know where you came from, if it was anyone worth their salt" Sennika shared her confusion.
"Can you look into it?" Daresh asked.
"That's what I thought you would say. I've told him it'll take a week to give him his guild plaque. That should give us enough time" Sennika said as she got up.
"Thank you. I saw him heading further into town. He should still be around."
Daresh looked through the papers Sennika had left on his desk that evening. They had detailed out the notes from Sennika's extended assessment and some additional observations. The main branch had also come back with their registry of mana signatures and it came up empty. Daresh had seen his fair share in life, and while things did not add up for the young man, he had a feeling the masked stranger meant no harm.
Daresh had hailed from Karnvael clan, one of many who called the mountains of High Moors their home. People were right to call their clan reclusive. Most do not wander beyond their own territory, and few ever leave the mountains to roam the world.
It had been many years since Daresh had returned home, but he doubted much had changed from the days when he was a young man himself. If not for the fact that the mountain his clan lived on was one of the few that bordered Ironhold's empire, he might have stayed in the mountains as well.
He doubted the young man came from the empire. The young man lacked the blood thirst that was typical of the empire's military. Daresh had crossed swords plenty of times with the empire's men in his younger days.
The empire had initially set its sight on the High Moors after they had conquered the neighboring kingdoms within the valley that they were in. After a few years of skirmishes with the Karnvael clan and other clans nearby, the empire had decided there were easier targets to go after. The Gilded Reach with their riches, Lower Vallen with their farmland, and Vesperia with natural resources were all easier and better targets for the empire.
If not for the brief cooperation with the countrymen of Lower Vallen during one of their skirmishes, Daresh might have returned to his clan mountain and never set foot out of High Moors again. That brief encounter had opened his eyes to the much bigger world — against the advice of his clan elders he had joined the Adventurer's Guild and life had never been the same again.
It had been close to a decade now since he had taken on the role of guild master when the previous one retired. He had progressed to Green by then and knew the years were catching up to him — the people were kind and he decided it was his way of keeping the town safe.
For now, he would leave Sennika to investigate. Whatever decision he would make in the coming days, he would do so with the safety of the town in mind.
"So, what did you find?" Daresh asked as he poured a second cup of tea for Sennika. They were seated at his desk in his office. Sennika was dressed in her usual receptionist uniform instead of the black overalls he saw her in last night. She had come back late last night after two full days of investigation, but he thought the report could wait and told her to get some rest.
Sennika took the cup but just held it in her hands. "I followed him home the same day he came to register. He was too careless, he showed no signs that he was aware of being tailed" Sennika shook her head, indicating that she was disappointed with what she found.
"It was an orphanage. The Riverside orphanage run by Matron Marta"
Daresh raised his eyebrows in surprise for the second time that week. "Really? You sure it was not just a stop to throw you off his tail?". Though if it is the Marta he knew, it was unlikely that she would allow one of the kingdom's agents to use the orphanage as a base of operations.
"Yes, I am sure" Sennika just rolled her eyes before she continued with her report. "He took off his mask and cloak. I saw him play with the kids and have dinner together. I doubt someone planted there would have that kind of relationship with the rest"
It had seemed like Daresh's hunch was right. But there were still many things unexplained.
"Wait, if he's staying at the orphanage, it means he's not even 12 winters old yet. He might be tall for his age but that is still explainable. How does he have a core that is so developed?" Daresh voiced his thoughts.
"That's where things don't add up." Sennika passed over a copy of documents she had made this morning. "His real name is Asher, orphaned when he was three and had been at the orphanage since then. He's only supposed to be 9 this year"
"What?!? Does Marta know the boy is awakened?" Daresh immediately felt concerned about Marta and the kid's safety.
"I spent the second day looking into things more. I have a feeling not only does Marta know, she has been helping him to hide his tracks" Sennika explained.
"How so?" Daresh's shoulders relaxed, leaning back into his chair after hearing that.
"So the kingdom had apparently reduced the stipends to the orphanage a few years back when their war with the empire intensified. Riverside orphanage was not the only one affected. However the kids there seemed to be doing very well. They had more than enough food and they were well clothed. It did not look like the orphanage was short on funds" Sennika explained
"Rumor is that Marta has been getting more donations from passing hunters when she helped heal their wounds. But the amount she's been getting is unusual. But I think the real hunter is living with her." Sennika shared her hypothesis.
"You think this Asher boy is the one that has been hunting the beasts and passing them off as donations by hunters" Daresh finished her thought.
"What I still do not know is how he evaded the Royal Inspector's evaluation. The expanded evaluation this year should have tested him as well even if he was not of age yet. Unless the inspector is in on the cover up too"
Daresh shook his head "No the inspectors are usually carefully selected so that they would not be bribed even by the nobles. It does not make sense, especially for a boy from an orphanage. A lightning affinity mage like him would be shipped off to the Royal Academy immediately"
"Should we report this to the Crown then? Let the military handle this to keep our hands clean" Sennika offered.
"No, then Marta would also come under scrutiny. If Marta is in on it then I'm sure she has her reasons. We can keep an eye on him first. See what he does and the missions he takes to see if he actually has a sponsor. Though I have a feeling he might just be an anomaly" Daresh suggested instead.
"So I guess I should pass his guild application then?" Sennika confirmed
"Go ahead. He can't do much with just Bronze rank so there's no harm. Might be easier to keep an eye on him if he spends more time at the guild. But if he applies for Steel Rank then let me know"
Sennika nodded in acknowledgement "He should come back in a few more days then. I'll take note of the missions he takes". She got up to gather the documents she passed to Daresh earlier.
"Leave it, I'll hold on to it. Good work on this" Daresh complimented as Sennika headed out and back to her usual responsibilities.
Daresh gathered up the documents and rolled them up with a leather cover. He tied it with a string before placing it in one of his drawers. He'll keep an eye on the boy for now, only time would tell whether he was an asset or a threat to the town of Hollow's Reach.