The difference from a subway station was that in front of the tunnel was a glass wall, with water behind it like an aquarium. Three circular metal frames in the glass wall had doors that looked like airlocks. Moving closer to take a look, he saw the tunnel extended beyond both sides of the platform, like a subway tunnel. On the other side of the tunnel, he could see another glass wall with the same three doors, with another platform beyond that.
The lights illuminating the platform started dimming in a gentle strobe. It was apparently some kind of signal; the other people at the platform started getting up from benches and moving towards the glass wall. Shortly thereafter, a bullet-shaped capsule floated down the tunnel and affixed itself to the wall with clamps that gripped the three metal circles and pressed tightly into the doors. With a hiss of air, the doors slid open and people came out. The people on the platform then boarded, Jason among them.
The interior of the capsule was more like a bus than a subway car, with pairs of seats on each side. The seats were soft and plush, more like a luxury coach than cheap public transport. Jason found a window seat and watched the tunnel go past as the capsule took off. The ride had a floaty feel to it and Jason couldn’t stop himself from grinning like an idiot.
“Submarine subways,” he murmured to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. “I love magical cities.”
The tunnel outside his window was decorated in tile mosaic and lit with different coloured lights. It seemed to be telling some kind of myth, with monsters and heroes locked in epic battle. He became so engrossed in the images going past that he was disappointed to arrive at his destination.
The Adventure Society terminal was two stops from where he started and was one of several buildings in the extensive Adventure Society campus. Jason followed a sign labelled ADMINISTRATION out of the building onto what looked like a prestigious old university, all stone buildings and sprawling grounds. Jason took what he guessed was the right path and only had to ask directions once before finding the administration building.
He found himself in a large lobby appointed in wood, everywhere from the various sets of double doors to the three separate stairways. In terms of construction materials, Jason had seen plenty of mudbrick, stone, tile, bamboo, even reeds. The sudden preponderance of wood was a sufficiently stark contrast to make clear the importance of the building.
It was a vast space, which fortunately contained what looked like a reception desk, at which Jason presented himself. Behind the desk was what looked like the same paunchy, balding bridge guard who had given him directions. Only the clothes were different, the guard uniform replaced with a more civilian-looking outfit. It had a prominently stitched emblem of a sword and rod crossed over a shield. Jason had seen that emblem several times since arriving, recognising it from Rufus’s Adventure Society badge.
The uniform had a loose fit Jason had seen on most of the locals, although the man’s hefty midsection rather minimised the looseness. Jason noted there was a pencil tucked atop of one of the man’s ears.
“Do you have a brother?” Jason asked.
“Just come over the bridge, sir?”
“I did.”
“That was my brother, Bertram, sir. I’m Albert, but feel free to just call me Bert.”
“No worries, Bert. Is this where I apply to join the Adventure Society?”
“Certainly is, sir,” Albert said brightly. “I can get you started right away if you’d like.”
“That’d be great.”
He pulled out a form and sat it on the desk, then started fishing through drawers.
“Not looking for a pencil, are you?” Jason asked.
“I am, sir. Had it around here somewhere…”
Jason tapped his own ear and a look of grateful revelation came over Albert’s face as he plucked the pencil from its resting spot.
“Thank you, sir,” Albert said. “How about we start with a name?”
“Jason Asano.”
Instead of writing it down, Albert gave Jason a curious look.
“Do you know an adventurer named Gareth Xandier?”
“Gareth Xandier?” Jason asked. “Wait, do you mean Gary? Big, leonid bloke.”
“Yes,” Albert said. “The good-looking one.”
“I knew it,” Jason said, shaking his head in disgust.
“I’m sorry?” Albert asked.
“Never mind,” Jason said. “Why do you ask about Gary?”
“He’s been coming in and asking after you for the last couple of days,” Albert said. “Is it alright to tell him you’ve registered?”
“Sure,” Jason said, “although I’d rather tell him myself. Do you know where he’s staying?”
38
Just Another Adventurer
The guild district was the region of the Island that contained the Adventure Society campus, along with many other guilds and societies. Occupying the north-west region of the Island, the guild district also contained the bulk of the Island’s visitor accommodations. Staying on the Island was a relatively expensive prospect, but with price came quality. Rufus, Farrah and Gary had secured a three-room suite in Sailor’s Watch, an inn at the very edge of the Island, with exceptional ocean views.
Having returned from the Geller Estate, Rufus ran into Farrah outside their lodgings as she returned from her own business.
“How did it go?” Farrah asked.
“Well enough,” Rufus said. “Now we just need Jason to finally arrive.”
Farrah sniffed at the smell of fresh baking wafting out of the inn.
“Smells good,” she said. “Should be just about time to get some supper.”
“It should,” Rufus agreed, and they went inside.
Walking in, they headed in the direction of the dining room. There was a doorway leading directly to the kitchen, from which they heard a familiar voice.
“Now, it’s equal parts sugar and water, then flavour to discretion, and I do mean discretion. You don’t want the flavour of the syrup to overpower the cake. Once the syrup is soaking in, there’s no getting it back out again. Unless you can extricate the syrup with magic, somehow. I need to get my hands on a cooking magic skill book.”
Farrah snickered at the exasperation suddenly on Rufus’s face.
“Jason?” Rufus called out.
“Rufus! Excuse me for a moment, ladies.”
Jason wandered out of the kitchen wearing an apron marked with flour.
“G’day,” he greeted them. “Nice little place you’ve found. A bit exxy, but I picked up a decent bit of coin during our misadventures at the Vane Estate. Fighting cannibals is lucrative. I forgot to loot that woman, Cressida, though. Probably missed out on a good bit of coin, there.”
“I still have your share from looting the manor,” Farrah said. “They filched all the really good stuff before running off, but they left enough behind to be worth splitting up.”
“Oh, nice,” Jason said.
“What took you so long?” Rufus asked.
“I took the scenic route through the delta,” Jason said. “I had a good time.”
“There was some talk about someone roaming around healing people,” Farrah said. “Did you hear about that?”
“How did you hear about it?” Jason asked.
“What we heard was that he was doing it for free,” Farrah said. “The church of the Healer wasn't happy. Did you see the guy?”
Jason looked about shiftily.
“Um... yep.”
“Seriously?” Rufus asked. “It was you?”
“I have that cleansing power,” Jason said.
“What happened to splitting up to prevent drawing attention?” Rufus asked.
“What did you want me to say? ‘Sorry, Miss, but while it may seem that healing your father’s horrifying illness would cost me nothing, someone might notice.’”