Grim woke early the next morning and hurried to the bathhouse, despite already being clean from the bath the night before. The bath was deserted save for a few who had returned from a late-night delve slot. He scrubbed himself hurriedly in the washing room, then his clothes, before placing the latter on the heating rune and submerging himself in the tub. Barely half an hour later–by outside time–he strode out of the bathhouse, his hair combed straight and his clothes clean and pristine.

  ? “Looking good, Grim!” Someone called out from the outdoor seating area, giving him a sharp whistle. He enjoyed them, making his way into the mess hall for an early breakfast. Maven said she’d be ready to go by the eighth hour, which left him half an hour. He was surprised to see Maven there as well, tousle-haired and sleepy, but offering him a smile as she saw him. She beckoned him to come and sit with her, which he gladly did.

  ? “You’re up bright and early,” she said, looking him up and down. “You’re really excited to explore the city, aren’t you?”

  ? “I haven’t gotten the chance yet,” he said with a shrug, hoping he didn’t seem too eager. “You look dead tired, though. You sure you don’t want a little more sleep? I don’t want to disturb your-”

  ? She waved his rambling off with a fork. “Oh, don’t mind me. I just had a lot of paperwork last night. Apparently, we’re getting a new guild member. Orren told me they’re sending a small party to fetch them, so I had to write up the requisition papers. I’ll be ready in time.”

  ? He decided to take her word for it, though he was internally doubtful. His own routine had been simple, and even he’d taken half an hour to be properly ready. With just under twenty minutes and a meal to finish, he wasn’t sure she had enough time. But he enjoyed the company for his breakfast nonetheless, so he didn’t question it.

  ? With ten minutes to spare, Maven hurried away from the table. Grim hurriedly scarfed down the last of his eggs before also rising, running his fingers through his hair to make sure it hadn’t gone wild in the half hour since he’d bathed. New guildmate, he thought. The way the others had talked, it seemed like something that didn’t happen that often. He wondered idly who would be sent to collect the new guildmember, and what they’d be like. Maybe he’d finally have a roommate. He was intrigued by the idea, but surprisingly reticent to lose the extra space he’d enjoyed these past few weeks.

  ? Maven entered the mess hall barely five minutes later, her hair tied back into a simple bun, and wearing a plain green dress. The mantle of their guild matched it perfectly, a darker accent to the forest-green fabric. He was inwardly pleased that she hadn’t chosen some elaborate outfit for their first date, as he was still limited to the one simple set of clothing.

  ? “Yeah, your clothes definitely suit you,” she said, eyeing him up and down with a grin. “I bet you’re a real ghost when you need to be.”

  ? He tried to shrug humbly, but knew it was a dismal effort. He was proud of his skills, after all. “I’m not as good as I want to be, but I’m better than most of the people in my level. So. You know this city much better than I do. Where to first?”

  ? He turned sharply on his heel to walk beside her as they exited the guild, waving or nodding in reply to the guildmates wishing them a nice day in the town. Tapping her chin thoughtfully, she considered his question for a few seconds. “Well, there’s a lot to do in the town, no matter what side you’re on. You mentioned something about having to visit Lakeshore, right?”

  ? Grim nodded. “Well, the bank at least. My coin pouch is nearly bursting open, and I want to get it all transferred to my bracelet.”

  ? She nodded her understanding. The bracelets they all wore carried an enchanted storage space for all their coins, saving them from the need to carry piles of money. His pouch wasn’t heavy, but it was awkward enough that he didn’t want to have to deal with it. He wished that the advanced bracelets–the ones that could just siphon gold directly into themselves–weren’t impossible for him to use below level six, but even these basic versions were a massive upgrade.

  ? “Oh, if you’ve got a bit more money, you should definitely get some new clothes,” she pointed out. “I know a tailor in town. She does good work, and her prices are more than fair. If I’m with you, she’ll probably give you a nice discount when you buy a few outfits.”

  ? He agreed wholeheartedly and felt another thrill of pleasure that there was no judgment in her tone. He kept his clothes clean, but they were his only set, and they were reaching the end of their lifespan. Some new options would be helpful, and he certainly had the money to spare. He had even considered picking up a new dagger or two, but the ones Veyra had bought him in Beastwick still worked perfectly. No need to waste money when he’d have to buy new ones at level four anyway.

  ? “There’s also this small cafe we could visit for lunch,” she said, continuing in her vein of their plans for the day. “They have great muffins, and their coffee is simply divine. I try to buy some beans when I can, but my pay as an apprentice clerk isn’t that great, and I don’t have any money saved up from delving.”

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  ? He nodded along as she talked, more than happy to let her plan the day fully. He did, however, make a mental note to memorize the coffee type she liked. The occasional gift to keep him in her good graces couldn’t hurt.

  ? “Oh, and a trip to the Marshguard base wouldn’t be bad, either. Orren registered you with the city when you arrived, but you still have to go in-person to register for delve slots and form a party.”

  ? That brought him up for a second. It didn’t sound like a very good date activity, he thought. Paperwork and dealing with another guild? But maybe she had her reasons. It did seem in her nature to help him prepare these things, even while on a date. “Am I allowed to register for delve slots whenever I want? I thought I was still in my training period.”

  ? “You are,” she agreed. “But that only prohibits you from going into the wilds. As long as the dungeon you select is within the city limits, that’s okay. Orren makes it clear that he doesn’t control everything we do. He’s a great Guildmaster for that.”

  ? Grim had to agree with that point, and it made his mental calculations for reaching level four shorter by a considerable margin. Sure, he wouldn’t have to run those delves solo–Veyrah had made that clear–but even with having to split essence, he was sure he could accelerate his growth.

  ? “And then… Well, you might not like it, but we could always visit the markets. Traders always have some shiny things. You don’t have to buy anything, but it’s a fun place to visit. There are a lot of food vendors with some tasty snacks. They come from all over the nation, and even beyond.”

  ? True foreigners, Grim thought, amazed by the idea. They were common enough in Beastwick, but he was surprised to learn that they’d make it out to Ironmarsh. It wasn’t exactly the most peaceful of places. But trade finds a way.

  ? Before he knew it, they were approaching Relvan’s Gate and passing through it. He glanced over his shoulder at the carved tribute to his ancestor and marveled at how accurately the scene had been reproduced. Even the arrow he clutched in his hand as he plummeted to the ground seemed to give off magic, as if, like the original, was a bomb ready to wipe out hundreds of monsters.

  ? “You know much about Relvan the Hunter?” Maven asked, noticing his wandering attention and turning to see the statue.

  ? “N-Not a lot,” Grim said. It was technically the truth. Outside of his bloodline and those few visions, He knew nothing of the man who had been Taron’s son.

  ? “You should peruse the library at Marsh Hall when you get a chance, then,” Maven said, smiling up at the statue. “There’s a lot of history recorded about Relvan Evanstan. Did you know he was the son of Taron the Hero, the first delver?”

  ? “I did, actually. He came all the way to Ironmarsh in order to stem the flow of monster floods, right?”

  ? She nodded, an awe-struck look in her eyes. “Oh yes. Such a noble figure. Had no choice but to leave his family behind to fight the monsters, and gave his life to save hundreds of others.”

  ? Well, no choice was taking it a bit far, he thought. From his own memory, it was clear that the man had a choice in the matter. Still, he understood Relvan’s actions. He’d had a fierce pride in the city he’d helped build. If he’d lived longer, he might have become a true legend across the nation instead of just in this city.

  ? “Ah, here we are.” Maven had directed them to the right and through a side street to the Lakeshore Bank. A tall, two-story building, it was sufficiently impressive to represent the Lakeshore Craftsmen, but simple enough to blend in with its surroundings.

  ? They ducked into the nearly empty building and deposited Grim’s coins, which were converted to gold and deposited into his bracelet. Though he no longer needed it, he did keep a few coins in his pouch, just for the feeling of money there. He wasn’t quite ready for the sensation of an empty wallet to appear again. Maven clearly noticed the oddity, but thankfully chose not to comment.

  ? Next, as promised, they visited the tailor. That proved to be a little less pleasant than he’d expected. While he did relish the chances to get new clothes and enjoyed getting Maven’s direct opinion on what she thought fit him best, the tailor was far too business-like and firm with her instructions. She’d dragged him into one of the fitting rooms and ordered him to strip down to his undergarments so she could get his measurements.

  ? “Can’t I just buy outfits that have already been made?” He asked, shrinking away from the woman and her ruler. “I’m sure I don’t have to go through all of this.”

  ? She’d merely kissed her teeth at his nervousness. “You want the best. That’s why Maven dragged you here. And the best means custom fitting. Even if you bought the outfits I have, I’d still have to tweak them to your build. This part is unavoidable.”

  ? Under her unbending attitude and an arched eyebrow, he hesitantly stripped down to his undergarments. She was utterly professional in her measuring, touching him only when it was necessary–extending an arm, widening his stance–and the entire process took barely ten minutes before she ordered him to dress again and wait outside. From there, it was a storm of whirling fabric as she tested outfits and fabrics against his skin tone, with occasional comments from Maven. The woman even accepted his own input on the style of clothing he wanted, though he knew nothing about cuts or styles. When asked for his preferred style, he’d simply gestured at his own clothes, to which the woman had simply snorted before disappearing.

  ? Ordered to return in three days, she’d accepted his payment–one hundred and forty-two gold–and sent them on their way. He was surprised to see how far the sun had risen when they were finally outside. it was past noon. Maven, apparently noticing how uncomfortable he was after that endeavor, took a little pity on him. “Let’s go visit that cafe now. A muffin and some coffee will pick your spirits right up.”