Ch 64: The Next Job

Baldeur took his time returning home after the festival. He enjoyed looking up at the night sky seeing the seven different Source Winds dancing above him.

The next morning he had planned to sleep in but was woken up to his communication disc beeping. He immediately picked up the connection when he noticed it was from Renie.

"What did you do to my sister?" She immediately asked him.

"Nothing I swear. I had a pillow in my lap and everything." He blurted out in his tiredness.

"What?"

"I mean… I was a perfect gentleman. Did something happen last night?"

"Once she got home she locked herself in the family workshop. She hasn't come out or let anybody in since last night."

"Oh, well, I might have given her some inspiration on a Laksulm design."

"Ugh, you have no idea what you've done. You better hope our father doesn't find out it was you that inspired her. He never likes it when she gets in her designing moods, even though he is the exact same."

Their father was a human that had Laksulm as a Source which is where Anika got her Source from. Their mother, like a lot of beast-kin, had Anodular as a Source. That was Renie's Source as well.

Even with a human father, they weren't considered half breeds though. Beast-kin children were almost always the species of the parent they shared a gender with.

Since their mom was a bunny-kin, both daughters were also bunny-kin. If they had any brothers they would have been fully human.

"Well I'm at least glad you didn't try to kill each other." She said.

"So am I. Though why'd you set us up if you thought that was a possibility?" He said.

"Oh, just a bit of a hunch." She cut the link after that.

Baldeur laid back down but his communication disk went off again before he could even close his eyes.

This time it was from Ulmira, their mother. He didn't panic too much since she was his boss's secretary. This was most likely a work call.

"Hello."

"Glad to see you are doing well. Master al'Ramara will need to see you just after lunch today. He has another assignment for you."

"I'll see you then."

"And I'm also interested in learning how your date with my daughter went last night." Ulmira cut the connection after that comment.

Baldeur groaned and got out of bed. After a slow shower, he got dressed and headed into the office.

Outside Master Volundr's office was a small waiting room that contained Ulmira's desk. Sitting there were two other people, a young half dwarf woman with a large build and short pink hair, sleeping in the corner with her arms crossed.

The other person was someone he had trained with the last few years, Jin.

"It's good to see you again. How's acquisitions treating you?" Baldeur asked.

"It isn't as exciting as what I've heard you've been up to. Mostly short trips to well established trading worlds." Jin replied.

"Are you here for a new assignment as well?"

"Yes. I was about to head through a gate when I got the order to return for this meeting."

"Do you know anything about our other friend here?"

"I've seen her around in the training areas. I think she's a part of the security team for the world branch auditors."

As they were talking Baldeur's division boss Noemi walked into the waiting room. After looking around the room she approached the office door and entered after a quick knock.

"Are you ready for us or are you trying to be dramatic?" Noemi asked as she entered the room.

Ulmira and Volundr could be seen eating while going over a few papers.

"I suppose we can start. And I'm no more dramatic than you. I just like to have a bit of flare, unlike some people." Volundr said.

"Alright kids, get in here." Noemi said.

The woman in the corner got up without further prompting, joining the others in the office.

The three younger ones sat on one couch while Ulmira and Noemi took the one opposite them. Volundr took a chair between them.

"Well get straight to it then. Jin and Hyun-Jung, the two of you will be temporarily transferred to special operations for this assignment and will be directly under Noemi until its fulfillment. This mission isn't directly related to trade but will help us increase our image on the world of Xie' Lun.

"The gate there is located in the middle of a valley surrounded by large mountains. A martial arts sect has control of the mountains and having good relations with them gives us greater freedom in trading with the rest of the world.

"The world has Mana, QI, and Psychic Sources. The sect focuses on the martial arts related to all three Sources not just one. Every few years they hold a tournament with the surrounding sects and invite factions from the City of Gates to participate. The three of you will be our representatives in the lower division of the tournament." Volundr paused to allow the information to sink in.

"Going forward you will be training under my guidance to make sure you have an adequate rank." Noemi said.

"Questions?" Volundr asked.

"Are we allowed to use multiple Sources?" Jin asked.

"Yes, that's actually why you and Baldeur were chosen. Most of the other contestants will be on the border of the lower and middle third in terms of power. That's the divide between the lower and upper divisions of the tournament." Volundr said.

"How long do we have to prepare?" The young woman Hyun-Jung asked.

"You leave in six days. In the past we'd have longer to prepare but the organizers didn't decide who from the city would be allowed to send participants until just recently. My guess is they were getting embarrassed by how well our people were doing." Volundr said,

"You know, I'm more of a ranged attacker. I'm not sure I'd do well in a tournament that focuses on melee combat. Unless I'm allowed to fight from afar." Baldeur said.

"Unfortunately, there are rules about what types of ranged attacks you'll be able to use. But I'm sure your father has trained you in a few styles of combat." Volundr said.

"I'll help you prepare any Combat spells you might need to make up for the difference in styles." Noemi said.

"Here's a brief history of Xie' Jun, items of cultural importance, as well as a list of the tournament's rules." Ulmira handed each of them a packet of papers.

"I expect all of you to be ready in the training hall when the sun orbs light each morning before we head out." Noemi said.

After a few more words of encouragement from Volundr their meeting ended. On their way out, Ulmira placed her hand on Baldeur's shoulder.

"Anika wanted me to give you her communication runes. I think she wants to meet you for dinner. What exactly did you do to get her attention? I would have thought she'd light you on fire on sight." Ulmira handed over a slip of paper with a series of runes.

"I just showed her a spell I came up with and I guess she got inspired." Baldeur said.

"Well, you don't need to do that thing where you wait a day or two to contact her after the first date. I doubt you'll have much time in the coming days for socializing." Ulmira said.

"I highly doubt she wants a second date. Probably just wants to say thanks for not being a total creep."

"And do you want a second date? Because you could always ask."

Baldeur gave a brief pause that caused Ulmira to smile. "I don't think we're that compatible. But I'll still reach out to her."

Right outside the waiting room Baldeur gave Anika a call. She didn't have much to say but asked him to join her for dinner tonight at a place not too far from the trade company. He agreed since he didn't have much of a reason not to at this point.

"I hear you'll be starting a grueling training regimen soon." Baldeur jumped as once again Arisha showed up right next to him without any warning.

"I really would like that walk through a park sooner rather than later. Especially before you become obsessed with your new girlfriend." She continued.

"Anika isn't my girlfriend. And if I wasn't going to be so busy I'd take you anytime this week but that will just have to wait." Baldeur said.

"How about right now? You still have the day off and I'm finished with my reports for the day." Arisha already wrapped her arm around his and was leading him down the hall.

He just sighed in resignation and allowed her to pull him along.