I made my way into the guild; the glares I got were significantly less than yesterday's, looks like they knew that I was a member now. Today was pretty busy and I was denied entrance to the back without a permission so I waited like everyone else in a line. I spectated everything about the guild, from the people to the guards and finally the posters and signs. People were arguing about all kinds of things, money, deals, brothels, some were even gambling with the stock markets.
Isolde saw me waiting in line from the third floor and she was visibly furious, I told her in sign language that the guards denied my entrance; she rubbed her forehead aggressively and shouted at the guards to let me in, their faces told a thousand word when they realized their fuckup. I went to the receptionist and gave her some of the cookies that I made today, she was surprised by me gesture and tumbled on her words, she couldn't say "Thank you" without sounding like Arnold Schwarznegger. I climbed three flights of stairs and Isolde came to greet me at the corner with her hand out expecting a handshake.
Isolde: Sorry about that Mr. Claudio, I promise to deal with the incompetent guards accordingly.
Claudio: All is good. Did you wash that hand?
Isolde tensed up and made a weird sound.
Isolde: Huah? What do you mean?
Claudio: Nothing, please let's continue with our conversation yesterday.
Isolde thought, "No way he knows right? Nah, impossible".
Isolde: Follow me Mr. Claudio; we will discuss your employment with the guild master.
Claudio: Right behind you.
The guild was huge; it stood at eight floors while being bigger than the slave market, which had the size of a mall. I was even more surprised when I saw bathrooms with toilets and a functioning waste system, the janitors were constantly wiping the floors with what I assumed to be orange scented disinfectant. While walking with the bean flicker, a burning question came into my mind.
Claudio: Isolde, do you mind explaining to me how the guild works? I know that adventurers' guild uses some kind of merit system and what not; I still don't know much about this place.
Isolde: It is kind of similar, we don't have the time for a lecture but for the sake of simplification listen to this, You contributed over 60k groshen to this guild which makes you somewhat like a golden badge owner. Since you are a cripple it is difficult to gain full benefits of your membership, I want you to lay low and try not to get into trouble.
Claudio: Does that explain how everyone treated me so far? From the receptionist to the guards?
Isolde: I swear some people just don't know their place.
I stared straight ahead and flashed a smirk that went as fast as it appeared and said:
Claudio: They must've rubbed you the wrong way huh?
Isolde stopped in her tracks with her eyes wide open, she thought, "No… he… What am I thinking of course he doesn't know" she picked up the pace and retorted
Isolde: I would not describe it that way but I will deal with them if they continued to dismiss my orders, by the way, why do you speak so differently all of a sudden?
Claudio: I'm a foreigner remember? I'm still not used to this kingdoms language.
Isolde: I see…
We arrived at the guild master's office door and before we entered, I said:
Claudio: You seemed so hungry last night, so I brought you some spare sweets, enjoy.
I entered the office without seeing Isolde's reaction; all I could see from the corner of my eyes was the terror on her face. The guild master warmly greeted me and stood up to give me a handshake, he was maybe around 50 years old and he had a platinum blonde short hair and a trimmed mustache, his eyes were the same color as Violets. He looked like the word "Americuh" but instead of patriotism, he looked like corporate capitalism.
Guild master: Welcome son! The name's Ralyks, I've been hearing a lot of good things about you.
Claudio: Oh? Like what.
Ralyks: Everything, a mysterious beautiful man who can't use magic arrived at Canes Horos alongside some lost orphans, and he proved to be…
He went into lecture mode but I could tell that he was stalling so I interrupted him:
Claudio: Okay that's enough with pleasantries, do you have a job for me or not?
Ralyks opened his eyes with shock, not expecting the cripple to interrupt him all of a sudden; he smiled widely at the boldness of this kid and said:
Ralyks: Well said, I too hate wasting time. ISOLDE! COME IN ALREADY!
Isolde entered the room with her hair missed up and her lips and nose bloodied.
Ralyks: Phantom balls! What happened to you woman?!
Isolde: I am not feeling very well right now, can I be excused for today?
Ralyks: Sorry, I need you now more than ever; we were finally put on the map by the contribution of Mr. Claudio, anyways, about your employment.
Contributions? I'm not sure how sure how a pound of sugar and two pounds of silver bars can change this massive guild this much, was it perhaps because they were was from a different "realm?". Isolde sat awkwardly besides me and was too ashamed to look at my direction; I really need to go easy on the masturbation jokes for now until I am settled.
Ralyks: So, Mr. Claudio, about your job, the adventurers' guild are in a dire need of a physician. My sources say their guild master was not happy that the scout didn't inform him about you from the slave market incident because you were a cripple.
Claudio: Really? I thought the adventurers' guild were not fond of my kind.
Ralyks: You are correct son, but money is money, don't worry about me, I'm not a follower of the Canis Canem religion so I have no ill will against you, matter of fact I'm impressed that you managed to live this far with your condition.
Claudio: Thanks for your complements, but there is a slight problem, will the adventurers even listen to me? And how do I know my safety is guaranteed in the first place?
Ralyks: Now now Claudio, all of that will be settled in a minute; he should arrive at any moment now.
After 6 heartbeats of silence, the door opened aggressively and a man covered in muscles barged in unapologetically, he wore some fancy looking suit full of bizarre markings and symbols. His black hair was slicked back, and he had dark circles under his eyes.
Man: Tsk, the hells is with my luck these days, count yourself lucky cripple, if that useless scout did his job correctly you would've been my slave by now.
Oh, this is bad, my ego is acting up in front of the hulk now all of a sudden, I need to swallow my pride for now, I can't afford to fuck up.
Claudio: who is this retard?
FUCK!
He puffed up his chest ready to lunge at me, Isolde stood up ready to stop him but even I could tell that she was no match for him.
Man: What was that?! The fuck did you just say?
Claudio: Sorry my language bad, foreigner.
Ralyks could not believe his eyes, he had a poker face the whole time but I could tell that he wanted to laugh his ass off, he caught up to my save and told the man:
Ralyks: Excuse my guest Vuram, his name is Claudio and he is a foreigner so expect a language barrier to be present.
Vuram relaxed his shoulders and calmed down instantly, he is either truly slow or simply gullible, but my expectations were shattered when he actually recognized me?
Vuram: Oh… are you the same Claudio that Nola talked about? Sorry about that I didn't know, that stupid bitch always leaves out important details like you being a fucking cripple.
Claudio: Wha… huh? You know Nola?
Vuram: Yeah dipshit, we grew up in the same orphanage, though I was much older than them.
I looked at Ralyks and he had a light smirk on his face, unbelievable, everything right now went his way as if he planned and knew about this misunderstanding from the first place, this man is fucking dangerous. Let me guess, he would use Vuram to get the most out of this deal while also guaranteeing my protection.
Ralyks: Isolde, please be a dear and go handle Mr. Claudio's other business for me; I will call you when we need you.
Isolde nodded her head and quickly left the room, Vuram adjusted his suit and sat down, I was still shaken up mentally about this whole situation, Ralyks cleared his throat and got straight to business mode.
Ralyks: Vuram, I hear your guild is in dire need of a physician, what happened to old Mathew?
Vuram: Those fucking giants ambushed his squad when they were returning from the new dungeon with months' worth of groshen, not a single soul survived. I still don't know how to tell his wife and grandkids.
Dungeon? What's that? I need to ask Isolde later about this.
Ralyks: I see, sorry for your loss, how about this.
Ralyks pulled an already made contract and sled it unto Vuram.
Ralyks: Since cripples aren't allowed to register at the adventurers' guild, how about I loan our friend here as a physician while the new one you requested from the Medics' guild arrives.
Medics' guild?! There is a place like that?! I really hope they accept cripples.
Vuram: This is probably a first in history, let me see the contract and I will tell you about my final decision.
Vuram's face twisted every time he went through the contract, I know that face, his pockets are about to be molested.
Vuram: This is madness!!! You want me to pay him double what I paid Mathew while also paying you 5600 groshen per month?! I told you our guild is fucked and you dare offer me this ridiculous contract?!
Ralyks: Correct, the giants are moving in and casualties are about to increase, that is simply my prediction, and you personally know about my intuition Vuram.
Wait… do they want me to go hunt giants with them?! Hell no!
Claudio: am I expected to go to this 'dungeon' and help with fighting giants?
Ralyks: No son, that would be suicide given your condition; you will be posted in whatever camp that will be doing the missions.
Claudio: What about my working hours? How long am I expected to be away from the city?
Vuram: That would be up to me to decide, although mission campaigns usually last three to four days each time, sometimes less if we hit our desired goal. Otherwise, you will be sitting in the physicians lounge at our guild during active mission time, which is usually 10 to 12 hours.
This actually does not sound that bad? It's not perfect but it's doable.
Claudio: As long as I'm not fighting giants and gnolls.
Ralyks: So, what will it be Vuram? Don't forget that you must also provide protection to Claudio from the other adventurers.
Vuram: You don't have to remind me, fuck; I played right into your hands again huh old man?
Vuram proceeded to read the contract one last time before letting out a painful sigh; he proceeded to sign it quickly and to get this whole deal over with, after he stamped his blood on the paper, it satisfyingly vanished in the air, I can't get enough of that spectacle, it looks like those soap cutting ASMR videos.
Vuram: You will be starting tomorrow pretty boy, come to the lounge and familiarize yourself with your equipment and whatever the fuck you physicians do.
Claudio: Mhm, Ralyks I have one last question, does the Medics' guild accept cripples?
Ralyks's eyebrows twisted in a weird way before answering:
Ralyks: Hell no!
Vuram: Really? I thought you were one of their wandering members kid, how did you learn your craft?
I got up and simply ignored his question, he was silent and confused at my actions.
Ralyks read the room and quickly called in Isolde:
Ralyks: Isolde! Escort Mr. Claudio to the King's sanctuary!
I got up and thanked Ralyks for his help, Isolde opened the door and waited for me. Vuram interrupted my walk with a question:
Vuram: and why do you speak Voratrae better all of a sudden? I thought you barely spoke the language?
I was protected by a contract now; I turned to him and said:
Claudio: Go fuck yourself beefcake.
And proceeded to head out with Isolde while giving my back to the bastard, when I exited the office I caught Ralyks smiling on and off very quickly, he will lose his poker any moment now.
We walked the corridor for three minutes before we heard a large explosion that caused everyone in the building to tense up and be ready for battle. Isolde scolded me:
Isolde: What the hells is up with you? Do you have a death wish or something?
Claudio: What? I'm protected by a contract.
Isolde: You… who are you really?
Claudio: So, did you like my cookies?
Isolde instantly knew her place and shut her trap immediately, looks like she forgot about her actions the night before; she proceeded to ask him a question after 5 minutes of silence:
Isolde: How did you know?
Claudio: How could I not? When I finished baking, I heard a loud growl from the rooftop, when I turned to see the source I saw your reflection on the glass window, you could've just asked for one you know?
Isolde felt a little bit of relieve, but she had to ask one more time.
Isolde: Was that all? You are not angry at me or anything?
Claudio: What do you mean? I knew you didn't mean any harm, you were probably looking out for your prized client since he was a harmless cripple, I honestly thought this was part of the security.
Isolde took a deep breath, her face lightened and her mood was much better, "thank god he was really sleeping when that happened, I really was paranoid for nothing" she thought, little did she know that the bastard would continue torturing her with his bizarre words and puns.