Mimi looked around the intersection uncertainly. She glanced from the piece of paper in her hand to the four roads branching off in different directions in front of her, then back to the piece of paper.

“Channel your inner light. Become a true healer today!” the flyer announced in bold letters. Underneath was more writing and a map that would supposedly lead her to where she could learn healing. However, those parts of the flyer had become rather smudged from the small puddle Mimi had fished it out of.

She held the map closer to her face, trying desperately to decipher any of the writing. She turned the paper around in her hands, hoping she might be holding it the wrong way and that it would make more sense from a different perspective—but no such luck.

The small square she was standing in was rather nondescript. Little shops lined the area, some with awnings stretched out to protect their goods from the light drizzle falling from the grey, featureless sky. People were milling about, but most faces were serious and their steps brisk—folk likely trying to finish their business before the weather worsened. No one seemed approachable enough to ask for directions.

With a sigh and a last glance at the map, Mimi picked one of the roads leading away from the square, hoping it would at least lead her in the right general direction, and continued on.

The buildings were nice—many had little shops or workshops on the ground floor, with well-kept living quarters above. Everything here seemed well-maintained. Certainly a nicer part of the city, then. Maybe some sort of artisan quarter? As she walked, she soaked in all the sights. She had been in Sol City for a while now and still discovered new areas every day. It was simply a delightful place to be.

Mimi, in turn, also got soaked as the rain began to pick up. But there wasn’t much she could do about it now. She still didn’t have much more than the threadbare shirt and trousers she was wearing, and they certainly didn’t offer much protection from the rain. While the rain was cool, the air around her still carried some of the summer’s heat.

She felt little Zeke nestling deeper into the wild tangles of her hair. The gecko was certainly even less happy about getting rained on than Mimi was. Hopefully, her thick, matted hair would protect him from the worst.

“No longer in the desert now, Zeke. You’ll have to get used to the rain eventually... Or maybe we could get you a little coat, how about that?”, she mused. But Zeke offered no response—not even the usual chirp she was used to hearing when talking to him. He must truly be disgruntled by the weather. Poor thing.

Slowly, the homes around her gave way to grander structures. The stonework on these buildings was immaculate and beautifully decorated with carvings, wrought iron statues, and colourful paintings.

Each building exuded an air that screamed “official” and “important” in some way or another. It was truly an awe-inspiring sight. Mimi came to a stop in front of a large iron gate adorned with intricate swirls and spirals. She glanced up at the towering building it guarded, then glanced back down at her map. The writing had started to swim in the rainwater, and the flyer was now utterly unreadable. But... she didn’t need a map to know that she had become well and truly lost. There was no way there would be lessons for the general public in any of these grand buildings around her. And even if there were, there was no way they’d let a little gremling, completely soaked to the bone and dragging mud on her bare feet, within even five feet of their doubtlessly grand entrance halls.

With a sigh, Mimi crumpled the flyer in her hands where it formed a soggy ball of mush. It had been too good to be true. There was no one here to ask for further directions, and she felt utterly unwelcome in such a pristine area of the city. So she turned on her heel to return to more friendly neighbourhoods, hoping to find her way to those promised healing lessons somehow.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Let's get down to business
Participants: Two or more
Location: Anywhere
Post Requirements: 5 post per person, 200 words per post
Reward: +1 Renown
Description: Charon has experienced a wide array of conflict and difficulty over the last three years, with worldwide crisis popping up every few months. The need for strong, brave heroes has rapidly been increasing and the Crown is starting to feel the strain, as military groups are being stretched thin. Capable heroes, adventurers and guild members are being asked to help train a newer generation to help combat the problems that plague the nation. Help by teaching another, be it how to use a weapon and fight, how to cast powerful spells, or how to quietly navigate a dangerous area. Maybe you yourself are the one getting trained, hoping to step up and help defend Charon! No matter the skill set, it will only benefit the land to have more able bodied heroes!

Leandros was fortunate enough to already be inside as the rain started to come down. It helped that today's lessons were being held in the guild hall he founded. He did not have to travel far to the location as a result. The knight stood near the front windows hoping the rain doesn't keep people away.



They had already seen a few people enter, but certainly not as many as he had hoped. Progress is progress though and it was hard to get people invested in a guild that was barely a few months old. Recruitment for the Oath Watchers rested mainly on his own reputation for the moment, something he hoped changed sooner rather than later. He wanted this place to stand on its own, not just because he was here since well he won't be here forever.



Each person that came in was greeted and shown to a classroom area to wait for others. They were also offered towels to dry off and breakfast if need be. Leandros raises an eyebrow as he sees a goblin wandering through the streets seemingly looking for something. Sol City was a labyrinth at times, he'd grown accustomed to the look of a lost stranger.



The large oak doors of the hall creak open as Leandros steps out, "Young miss, are you lost? Come inside and warm yourself up, we can help you find where you need to go."

The sound of creaking wood and a calm voice roused Mimi from her misery. She glanced around until her eyes fell on a tall human with light hair and an imposing stature. The man beckoned to her, holding open a large oak door, and invited her inside. Behind him, she could see an immaculate foyer, adorned with bright banners and dark wooden furniture, making the space look both regal and invitingly warm at the same time. It was even more beautiful than what Mimi had imagined the inside of these grand buildings to be.

“Uhm...” She took a cautious step backwards, feeling ready to bolt. What could this mountain of a man in his regal armour and beautifully and expensive looking cape possibly want with a bedraggled little gremling like her? “I—I’m okay, thank you.”

Just as she was about to run, the delicious smell of fried bacon and fresh bread wafted out to her her from the open door. The scent made her mouth water, and her belly rumbled so loudly she was sure the entire city could hear it. When was the last time she’d had a warm meal? Or any meal, for that matter?

The thought of food made her reconsider. This didn’t seem like the kind of neighbourhood where people got kidnapped for walking into the wrong house, and he had invited her in even though he could clearly see she’d get mud all over his pretty floors. If he got angry about that, it was his own fault. Besides, Mimi could feel Zeke beginning to shiver in his nest of hair. The cold was really starting to get to him.

She stepped up to the door hesitantly, keeping her eyes fixed on the imposing human. Up close, he seemed even more massive, almost twice her height. She slipped past him and through the doorway, where warm air enveloped her immediately. She stopped just inside, standing just far enough from the door so it could be closed behind her, not wanting to make any more of a mess than absolutely necessary. Already, rainwater was dripping from her, forming puddles around her feet, and she had left muddy footprints with every step she had taken into the building. Still, the warmth made her relax slightly.

She glanced back at her host curiously, then quickly averted her gaze when their eyes met. “Th-thank you,” she murmured, nervously fidgeting with her hands.

“Of course.” Leandros was more than happy to wait for Mimi to make a decision, understanding how odd it must be fire a stranger to tell you to come inside a strange building.

”Go ahead and sit by the fireplace and warm yourself.” He motions to a room deeper into the Hall.

There were a few other students of various ages and races sitting around this living room type space. When Mimi is more settled she is offered a towel and some food and drink. It is simple bacon rashers and bread rolls. Unsure of how many students would come, Leandros did not want to levy a massive expense on a lavish breakfast only for no one to show.

Only a few more people come in after Mimi, making for a total of about 10 students. Leandros had hoped for more, but double digits was at least an encouraging start. Every journey has to start with its first step after all. The knight takes a moment to settle those students before approaching Mimi again.

”You are free to rest here until you feel comfortable and the rain stops. I will be teaching lessons on light magic and healing here, if you would rather have some quiet I can show you to a room where you can have some privacy. I am Leandros Aurthurian of Capitol Landing by the way. This is Watchers Hall where we are right now.”

Mimi took in the place with wide eyes. Everything was so beautiful. From the paintings hanging on the walls to the thick carpets covering the floors. She was very worried about getting dirt on any of this. But, her knight in shining armour seemed unconcerned and ushered her into an adjoining room, where several more people chatted with each other in small groups.

She graciously accepted the towels and got very comfortable in front of the large fireplace, where a cozy fire was crackling merrily. She made sure to fully dry off Zeke and wrap him in one of the fuzzy towels, before digging into the offered food with gusto. The bread roll was incredible with a crunchy crust and a soft fluffy middle, and the bacon... it was pure heaven. She made sure to offer Zeke as many chunks of the greasy meat as the little gecko wanted. He seemed to enjoy this treat just as much as she was.

More people slowly trickled into the room, but no one seemed to pay her any mind, so she relaxed further into her seat. She did however wonder what sort of place this was. There didn’t seem to be any common denominator between the people gathered here. They were of all ages and races and bore clothing both rich and poor.

When Mimi spotted the friendly knight approach her once more she quickly wiped some bacon grease off her cheek and glanced up at him curiously. Her eyes went wide as he explained that he was about to teach a class on healing to these people and her mouth formed a silent “O”. Surely, her luck couldn’t be this good. It never was this good. She must have fallen asleep in front of the warm fire. She pinched herself and jumped at the sharp pain. Excitement started to bubble up in her once she confirmed her wakefulness.

“You are about to teach healing? This is the place from those flyers?”, she practically jumped out of her seat and bounced backward and forward on the balls of her feet. “This is the place I was looking for!” She stared up at the man, who had introduced himself as Leandros, unable to contain her delight. She still couldn’t believe she was this lucky.

But then the rest of what he had said settled in. He was going to teach magic. Healing magic. Of course, it all made sense now. Why would there be lessons on mundane healing and doctoring be advertised so broadly?

The excited energy drained out of her in an instant, her feet stilling and her gaze dropping to the floor. How could she have been so stupid?

“Oh... But I don’t have any magic....”

Leandros chuckles warmly at her excitement, "Well this is a lucky coincidence then."

His smile softens into something more reassuring as Mimi's mood changes. He crouches down at the side of the chair to bring himself down to her level. It always felt easier to talk to people where they are at and limit the amount of time he spends looming over others. Even if it can't help it, he doesn't like to seem overbearing.

"Everyone has a little bit of magic, but I know the feeling. I didn't think I had much of a talent for magic either as a boy...but eventually I figured out Light magic and how it can be used to heal and protect people. And if I can learn it, then I am sure someone as resourceful as you can pick it up."

There was no lie in the story, it wasn't something Leandros fabricated just to make Mimi feel better. In fact, it was easy to tell from his tone that the knight likely didn't know how to lie. There was nothing but a pure brightness to his voice.

"I will not pressure you to join us, but if you want, you are more than welcome to join the other students. Pick a seat wherever you like." He stands and motions towards the tables where other students had started to settle in.

The makeshift did not have classrooms, something Leandros would have to adjust in the future. Instead dining tables and benches had been pulled in from the mess hall area and into the study. It was certainly a hodgepodge operation, but there were limits on what one man could do on his own. He can only carry in two dining tables at a time after all.

A warm feeling of hope started to prickle through her at hearing Leandros’ words. Her entire life she’d believed that magic was basically impossible for gremlings, and yet here this kind and clearly knowledgeable stranger said he believed there could be some magic in her. Could it be true? Or was this some kind of elaborate scam? She looked up and studied the knight carefully. He seemed so sincere. If this was an act then he was the most talented actor she had ever met. Plus, what would be the gain of making a bunch of people believe they’d be learning healing? Was there any harm in trying? If this man could coax a spark of magic to life within her that could change everything. This all did seem too good to be true but no matter which angle she examined it from she could not see any catch. So, deciding to take the risk, she beamed up at the blonde night.

“I’d love nothing more than to stay. If you think it might be possible for me to learn magic then I really want to try. Thank you so much for... all of this! Oh also, I’m Mimi and uhm... pleasure to meet you!”

Realising most of the people in the room had taken seats at the long wooden tables and were looking expectantly at them, she bobbed her head towards Leandros, somewhere between a nod and a small bow, still unsure at how exactly to conduct herself. Then she gingerly picked Zeke out of his nest of towels and scurried to a free seat on one of the benches. The table was a bit too high for her so she ended up half kneeling, half crouching instead of seated, but she didn’t much mind. If it meant learning magic, she'd happily hang upside down from her ankles for all she cared. After plopping her gecko on the table in front of her she mimicked the other students and trained her gaze on Leandros expectantly, ready for the lesson to begin.

Some of the students make space for Mimi to take a seat. Some gave little greetings, others watched with a cautious eye. Though none were bold enough to say anything where Leandros could hear, his sense of equality was pretty well known.



A young halfling boy hands out a few sheets of paper to each student. The papers cover the basics of magic and light magic in specific. They are also given blank sheets of paper along with quills and ink if they would like to take notes of their own. Finally, cups and pitchers of water were set at each table to make sure people could stay hydrated throughout the class.



"Thank you all for coming...times are obviously somewhat tulmultous across Charon and more people want to find ways to pitch in and help. It is this thought that encouraged me to start the Oath Watchers here. Many think the only way to be a hero is through acts of bravery and strength....but being able to protect and heal people is just as important. It is why there is the Oath of Respite that can be taken here."



I am the balm for any wound.

I am the fireplace for a weary travel.

In me, people find hope, a gentle hand in a hard world.



The words were emblazoned on one of the three plaques in the study. The Oaths of Respite, Sanctuary, and Bravery made up the core tenants of the Oath Watchers. Each one servicing its own role and purpose.



"Of course, the lessons learned here today are for your personal use. You will not be required to join the Oath Watchers, but this can be an important step towards that if it becomes a goal of yours.....But that is enough introduction, you came here to learn magic."



He smiles a bit, "Let us start with a visualization, with Light Domain magic it should be no surprise you can create small lights. Cup your hands in front of you and try to imagine the glow of a candle light...not the flames themselves, but the soft light it makes. Think of how that brightness looks and feels."

At Leandro’s instruction, Mimi cups her hands in front of her and closes her eyes. She imagines the soft glow of a burning candle in as much detail as possible and tries to will this glow to appear in her hands. She furrows her brow in concentration, her entire being focused on this one singular task. Her fingers begin to prickle, all her muscles are tensed and sweat begins to bead her face with the effort of pure focus. She can feel energy building inside her body. It ripples through her in a wave, starting in the depths of her body and slowly flowing upwards. The energy builds and builds until she feels like she’s about to burst. Surely this is it! The power inside her reaches a crescendo and Mimi is sure she’ll produce the brightest light in the palm of her hand. Ready, she released the built up energy and lets out an earth shatteringly loud burp.

The room turns deadly silent and all eyes turn towards her. She glances down at her hands to find them still utterly dark. Heat burns in her cheeks and gives the tips of her ears a rosy colour. Now would be a great time to discover how to turn invisible instead of learning how to create light. She considers slinking under the table to escape the scrutinising stares but her muscles refuse to move. Locked in place with her gaze firmly fixed on her hands she just wishes that the ground opens up and swallows her whole.

"This is a good reminder that your physical state will impact your mental state, especially as you are learning." Leandros gives Mimi a soft look to reassure her she wasn't in trouble.

She wasn't the only one who struggled to conjure any light, but the burp certainly did draw a lot of attention her way and off of the other students. As some of the students begin to titter, Leandros taps a finger against a table to grab their attention again.

"Light magic can be deceptively difficult to master at first...It is easier to imagine sending out motes of flame or freezing droplets of water. Light is harder...In my experience, it comes more from inside yourself than from the elements."

He pauses a moment thinking of how to explain it further. It is in this moment he realizes he probably should have spent time speaking with other educators. The knight was doing what he could to help with these lessons, but perhaps an actual mage or cleric would have been more appropriate. He does not think about these spells anymore, it has mostly become a reaction for him.

"What is something that makes you happy? What can brighten your day? Think about that a moment and try again...keep that memory in your head and try to give that feeling a physical form."

Mimi mulled over what Leandros had said. Something that made her happy? What could she try and focus on? There wasn’t that much in her life to be happy about... She had left her family and everything she had ever known behind. Sure she had hated her life back then but it still had been comfortable in its familiarity, and there had been people she loved within her clan. Now every day felt like a struggle. She barely got by, often going hungry for days until some lucky odd job added some coins back into her purse and she had spent more nights huddled in dirty street corners than she wanted to remember. No, there really wasn’t much for her to be happy about at the moment. So maybe that was why she was struggling so much with this task? Or maybe the knight was wrong and there was no magic in her after all. Maybe the human just didn’t know that Gremlings were the odd ones out and usually incapable of magic.

She glanced around the room. Most people had managed to conjure bright spheres of light under Leandros’ newest instructions. Apart from her there was only one other person who’s hands remained dark.

This was pointless. She should just leave. There was nothing for her here and it had been stupid to even hope...

A sharp nipping sensation pulled her out of her reverie. She glanced down at her hands and spotted Zeke sitting there, biting her finger. He looked up at her with his big black eyes staring in accusation. But how could she have forgotten about him? Her little boy, her steadfast companion, her biggest joy. They had gone through everything together and every single day was made brighter by his presence. He was always right there by her side, reminding her that the smallest things, like an especially yummy bug, were the most important. She stroked his back gently, silently apologizing for forgetting about him for a moment and letting the darkness take her. Her love for him suffused her, made her feel all warm and happy. She focused on the sensation, tried to channel it as Leandros had described. The warmth spread through her, intensified, and her hands began to glow^[1].

---

[1] Light

Leandros patiently waits for everyone to try or ask for help. He is thankful the small class size gives him the time to individually help those in need. Some need a little bit of inspiration as to what counts as a happy memory, others are struggling at the simple idea.

One fellblood boy is turning purple holding his breath trying to force out the magic. He exhales and looks equally disappointed until Leandros crouches down across the table with that same reassuring smile. He pats the boy on the back and encourages him to take slow breaths before trying again.

After a few moments he, along with Mimi are holding these lights in their hands. The fellblood looks to Mimi with a wide grin, his own light glistening off the bronze horn caps he wears. He bounces in his seat with excitement.

"See? You can all let it go if you like, but that feeling is the core building block with which I believe light magic is built on. It is about helping to heal and protect...of course the more advanced you take your practice the more you can do with it, but we are starting small."

Leandros pulls forward a chalkboard to write down a few things. Small tips about what he has already said and reminders about how to conceptualize this magic. Things he had learned or been taught during his instructions when he was learning.

"Now...the focus today is healing. Does anyone have an injury? A bruise or scrape maybe for a demonstration."

Magic. She had actually cast magic! Mimi couldn’t believe it. So many years spend wishing and dreaming but never expecting it to become reality. And yet here she was with a warmly glowing sphere hovering in her cupped hands. Today was the best day in her entire life!

The light puffed away as Leandros’ voice startled her out of her concentration. But she wasn’t upset and instead intently followed his words and writing on the chalkboard. This was only the first tiny step towards becoming a real healer and she was eager to learn everything the knight had to offer.

There was some murmuring on the room as a few hands reach into the air in response to Leandros asking for any minor injuries. Mimi examined her hands and arms for any scrapes and promptly found a large purple and green bruise on her elbow. Huh, when had that happened? She hadn’t even noticed. She excitedly waved her hand in the air, joining the other volunteers. In her experience, doing something herself served much better for teaching her than merely observing it. So she hoped that actually feeling healing magic work on her body would make it much easier to emulate it. Or at least easier than summoning forth the light had been.

"This will be a bit hard for you all to practice since I do not want you to intentionally injure yourselves, so please listen and watch closely." He laughs a bit and motions for Mimi to come forward.

A small chair is pulled forward to give her a space to sit. Once she is comfortable he crouches beside her and motions for her to show him the bruise. His first immediate thought was this is a good size for an example, but he has to remind himself that this did mean Mimi got hurt sometime in the recent past.

"Now healing is somewhat similar to the light spell we just learned, it is a warm sensation...the difference is rather than holding on to that to create light you want to share it with someone else. Watch."

One hand gently props up Mimi's arm, careful not to touch the bruise, as the other hand comes over the top of it leaving some space between his hand and her arm. His hand glows with a soft blue light that seems to gently pulse the air between hand and bruise. Slowly the bruise starts to fade as the magic sinks in and fixes the wound.

It only takes a few short moments for the bruise to disappear completely.[1] He offers first for Mimi to look it over, move her arm, make sure no pain still lingers, then lets others take a look.

"And there it is...Your own healing magic might have a different color when you try for yourself. You saw mine was blue, I have a strong connection to that color." Strong was an understatement, it was the primary color in his cloak and his home was called Bluescale Manor.

"When you are practicing the light spell or healing, think of your favorite color....it can help bring that light forward in your mind and make the spells easier to cast. With enough practice you will not need to rely on tricks, but it is a good way to help get familiar with casting and your own control over the magic....Any questions so far?"

A warm tingle ran through Mimi’s arm as Leandros healed her bruise. The sensation was pleasant, like the first rays of the sun caressing your skin in the morning. Mimi closed her eyes, trying to memorise the feeling. This power was what she wanted most in the world and she would learn to replicate it, no matter what.

When the sensation faded, she reopened her eyes and marvelled at the perfectly smooth skin on her arm. There was no trace of the injury left, and no pain or discomfort when she poked the spot where the bruise had been. She looked up at Leandros with wide eyes. “That’s amazing! You’re amazing! I want to learn everything!”

With enthusiasm she jumped out of her chair and tried to locate one of the other students with an injury, so she could attempt the spell herself. Most of the other students had partnered up with each other by now and attempted to heal each other’s minor aches and pains with mixed success. Only the fellblood boy with the bronze horn caps remained by himself, glancing around the room shyly. A soft smile stretched across Mimi’s face; feeling left out was something she was very familiar with herself. She approached the boy and settled down next to him on the bench.

“Hi, you wanna practice together? I’m Mimi.”

The boy agreed sheepishly and held out a finger with a small cut for her to practice on.

Hovering her hand over the cut just as Leandros had done, she closed her eyes and focused on conjuring the feeling of happiness that had produced the light earlier. She tried to imagine the warm feeling that had coursed through her when she had been healed and willed that same feeling to radiate from her hand into the cut on the boys finger. In her mind’s eye she saw the warm yellow colour of Zeke’s scales and she smiled as warmth and happiness flowed through her entire being. Her eyes flew open and she saw a brilliant golden light emanating from her hand and into the small cut.^[1] Once it faded she slumped, feeling drained, but happy. She grabbed the boys finger to examine her work more closely. It wasn’t as perfect as Leandros’ healing had been. There was still a small red line where the wound had been. But she was happy with this result as her first attempt at healing magic.

The boy congratulated her on her success and she smiled at him warmly. Now it was time to give him an opportunity to practice, too. She quickly checked herself over for any other injuries she might have missed, but could not find any.

“Alright, I don’t have any other injuries but I’m happy to cut my finger a little so you can practice too!”

---

[1] Minor Healing