Guildmaster Allen lifted the four finished silver badges from beside the diagnostic apparatus, each plaque gleaming with the freshly engraved placement numeral that would govern its bearer's official standing.
The municipal administration would consider revising those engraved designations only after years of verified high-risk expeditions forced an institutional update through the central council.
The veteran examiner presented the initial silver badge toward Elise, who leaned forward before he could complete the formal extension of his arm.
"Your official credential, Elise Veyron," Allen announced solemnly, resting the silver token in her open hands.
"Guard it with vigilance," the old master advised with a stern look over his spectacles.
"Commissioning an official replacement demands an exorbitant fee and an ungodly mountain of bureaucratic paperwork," the elder warned with a dry chuckle.
