Lileen leaves her hands over Jin's eyes. Jin reaches up to remove them, but she whispers in his ear, causing him to flinch.
"Keep them closed. Me and Mar have something to show you." Lileen giggles.
After a short moment, Marim comes back in fully clothed. Lileen and Marim nod to each other as Lileen leaves her hands over Jin's eyes. Jin arms flail in the air nervously as Lileen guides him towards the door.
Once outside the inn room, Lileen and Jin wait there as screeching and shifting furniture muffles from behind the door. In only moments, Marim opens the door sweating. Jin steps in as Lileen uncovers his eyes and shows him the small celebration they had set up.
"D-Does this mean?" Jin asks breathlessly as he looks at the small cake and the little candles lit around the table. Lileen holds her hands behind her back as she smiles at Jin. Marim grins and nods as she leans against Lileen's shoulder, her hand on her hip.
"Yes, it does. Congratulations Jin! You officially have one copper fang!" Lileen praises with a small clap. Marim reaches into Lileen's side pouch and pulls out a small box. Holding it out for him, Marim grins broadly.
"Congrats Jin!" She says as Jin takes the box and opens it. Inside was a small copper insignia of a wolf fang. He rubs his thumb over it. examining the way it shines. After some help from Lileen and Marim, he gets it pinned against his shirt. Lileen dawns her blue half-cloak and Marim her black jacket as the three all show off their rankings.
"Now you look just like any other real adventurer. Congratulations, Jin!" Jin looks down at his own pin with disbelief. A slow, honest smile covers his face as joy overwhelms his heart. Small tears fall down his cheeks and the two girls look at him with soft smiles.
"You crybaby. Don't cry now!" Marim says jokingly as she pulls Jin down in the seat to see his cake. Lileen sheds a tear as she comes up to the other side of Jin. Jin looks at the two of them. His eyes seemed to brighten if ever-so-slight. This day was when Jin started to see Lileen and Marim as his older sisters, as family.
###
"You have something to report, Tokimichi?" A large muscular man says with his hands resting on his desk. He was clad in a sleeveless jacket and black pants that showed off his abundance of muscle.
Tokimichi, the man paling in size nodded calmly then presented a scrolled up parchment to the man at the desk.
He overlooked them, grinning at the sight of the results.
"Are you sure this is what really happened?" The man says. Tokimichi nods again, not saying a word.
"And he's with those two, huh? Fine, let's get them all set up. They'll be a big help years from now. When we're ready to move." The man says with a wave of his muscular hand. Tokimichi nods simply then turns to leave.
"Oh, and, get them some big quests. The other two have great potential as well." Tokimichi pauses at the door, turning his head back slightly before nodding again and leaving the room.
"Follow them closely. I want to know everything about their lives." The man says aloud in the seemingly empty room. A girl hidden in the corner speaks out in a hushed tone.
"Yes, sir." Then she jumps from the window behind the man. Rains pour in the small city of Beign as a feather-light foot dashes through the wet streets.
The city was only just big enough to have a merchant's district. The only thing flowing through this town was travelers on their way to another destination, which made it a great town for adventurer's looking for escort quests and pit stops.
Unlike Uyera village, this city was further from the empire's raids. But even this distance doesn't stop the tension in the air from the weight of the empire's gaze. While Jin was peacefully training, enjoying his new status as an adventurer, Lileen and Marim were planning and discussing their next location.
###
"May I speak with you?" A voice called to the group as they check the quest board. The one calling out was none other than Tokimichi. He looked at Jin with a neutral expression. Jin looked at him in surprise, looking at Lileen and then at Marim, expecting them to help him.
"S-Sure." Jin finally sputters out after no help arrives. Marim and Lileen smile as they continue looking at the board, discussing their options. Tokimichi brings Jin to the side as he reaches into his sleeve and pulls out a small slip of parchment. He hands it over to Jin, setting it in his hand.
"This is for you." Tokimichi says with a small nod. Jin looks down at it, the symbols unrecognized in his eyes. They didn't look like letters of the empirical alphabet that hadn't learned yet. They were more like symbols of another language he had never seen before. The empirical alphabet was straight and strict, each symbol sharp and harsh on the parchment. But these ones looked more flowery; a softer more fluid shape and easier to tie into the next shape.
"Wh-What is this?" Jin asks curiously. He looks at the symbols, trying to understand them. Tokimichi chuckles and folds the parchment over to block the contents from view.
"This is the writing of my home nation, Tomin. Specifically, these are the words for kin of honor." Tokimichi says with a ceremonial bow. Jin looks at him flustered, he reaches out and stops the man.
"Th-There's no need for bowing.. I-I haven't done anything." Jin says nervously, hoping nobody has noticed. Tokimichi nods.
"I know you may think so. But you'll understand when this slip is used. It is an invitation to come to the West Archipelago. The Great Kingdom of Tomin." Tokimichi says proudly with a hand to his sword.
"B-But…" Jin says, trying to find the words.
"Do not worry. Whenever you find an opportunity, you should come and show them this slip. Everything will be explained there." Tokimichi says with a smile.
"Additionally, I would also like to congratulate you on your new copper fang. I look forward to watching your journey." Tokimichi bows, Jin again trying to stop him.