“Just a moment,” Russell said. He was looking over a blue and white marble tablet of a kind Jason had seen before. Farrah had checked an identical one when they were looking up Jason’s essences.
“Here we are,” Russell said. “Dark, blood, sin and doom. Affliction specialist, no restriction. You're all good to go, Mr Asano.”
“Thanks, mate.”
“Very well,” the official said, writing on his own clipboard. “You’re cleared for field testing. Should you successfully complete field testing, you will be allowed to take up membership with the Adventure Society, with all privileges and responsibilities that entails. Field testing takes place at the start of every month and you can sign up at the administration desk.”
“There is the matter of registering your individual essence abilities,” Russell said.
“I’m going to give that one a miss, sorry mate,” Jason said. “I would, but I have a friend waiting outside. Lovely to meet you Russell, Gabrielle…”
He turned to the official.
“…guy.”
“How did you know my name was Guy?” the official asked.
“Seriously? I’m on a roll, today. Bye, all.”
Jason sauntered out of the room.
“What an unusual man,” Russell said.
“I thought he was fun,” Gabrielle said.
“I thought he was on drugs,” Guy said.
The other two looked at him, then nodded.
“That would make sense,” Russell said.
“Will that be a problem for his membership?” Gabrielle asked.
“No,” Guy said. “If we banned that kind of thing, we’d have to kick out half the alchemists.”
39
Training
“As you hopefully recall,” Rufus said, “there are three elements to improving your abilities.”
“I'm pretty sure the middle step was to eat a delicious sandwich,” Jason said.
“Could you take this at least a little seriously?” Rufus asked.
“I’m about to learn magic kung fu, so… probably not.”
Jason had rented a suite room on the same floor as the others, right across the hall. It was smaller, or, more accurately, less large. Being on the other side of the building, it didn't have the same ocean view, and he spent much of his time in their suite. They were having iced tea out on the balcony, overlooking the ocean.
“There’s nothing wrong with having some fun along the way,” Gary said. “As long as the work gets done, why be so serious about everything?”
“He says that sipping iced tea on a balcony,” Farrah said. “He turns into a slave driver once the training starts.”
“Even I think it’s a bit much,” Rufus said.
“No, you don’t,” Gary said.
“No,” Rufus said with a malicious grin. “I don’t.”
“What’s kung fu?” Farrah asked. “I don’t think your ability translated it.”
“It means a skill developed through discipline and hard work,” Jason said. “Anything can be kung fu if you're diligent about it.”
“Actually,” Rufus said, “that’s a good attitude.”
“See?” Gary said. “You’re not at Very Serious Academy now, Rufus. Hard work is easier to get through if you find a way to enjoy it.”
“Gary may have fun,” Farrah said, “but you probably won’t. Don’t get carried away, Gary.”
“When do I ever get carried away?” Gary asked.
“Remember Angelina?” Rufus asked.
“Are you ever going to let that go?” Gary said. “How was I meant to know she was evil?”
“The first time we met her she tried to sell us poison,” Farrah said. “We were in a church. And not one of the bad ones.”
“I think we should keep our attention on the task at hand,” Rufus said. “Tomorrow we'll do everything together, just for the first day. After that. we'll split up. You won't be able to keep up with us when we're pushing ourselves. Gary will be in charge of your basic physical training, I'll be working on your combat skills, and Farrah will help you with mental training and meditation.”
“We had to go out so you could get more clothes today,” Gary said, “but normally we'll begin bright and early. For the first week, I'm just going to run you until you can't run anymore.”
“I figured it would be something like that,” Jason said. “I was thinking we could run over the bridge and into the Old City.”
Gary looked over at Rufus, who shrugged.
“Works for me,” Gary said. “Doesn’t really matter where you run to, as long as you run.”
All four of them ran from their lodgings to the bridge in the early light. They weren’t the only ones out, with others also running on the Island’s wide, well-paved streets.
“Adventurers?” Jason asked.
“Those are the good ones,” Rufus said. “As with most things, the best results come through diligent effort.”
“On the other hand,” Farrah said, “if you use magic cores to advance, you get to sleep in.”
“Don’t tempt him into bad habits,” Rufus scolded.
There was very little early-hours traffic on the Island, although some tradesfolk were making their way with carts and wagons. These, like the expensive carriages Jason had seen, were propelled by magic rather than pulled by animals.
“Not allowed to have drawn vehicles on the island,” Rufus explained. “Makes it more expensive for working people, but they make up for it in prices. On the Island you’ll pay twice, maybe three times the price you would for the same thing in Old City.”
At the bridge, they had to show their access permits. Jason had taken lodging at the same inn as the other three, which earned him a temporary residence permit for the Island. The guard checking their permits turned out to be a familiar face.
“Bertram, right?” Jason said.
“You can call me Bert,” Bertram said. “You meet my brother at the Adventure Society?”
“He helped me with my adventurer registration.”
Once they had crossed the bridge, the streets of Old City were considerably busier. The four stood out, weaving through teamsters and merchants as they maintained a running pace.
By the time they reached their destination, Jason was exhausted. He leaned against a wall, dragging in heaving breaths. The others looked up at the sign over the door.
“Broadstreet Clinic,” Rufus read out loud. “Shouldn’t Broad Street be two words?”
“One word,” Jason said. “It’s the actual name of the street.”
“It’s called Broadstreet Street?” Gary asked.
“Broastreet Boulevard,” Jason said. “How am I telling you this? You’ve all spent much more time in this city than me.”
“We don’t spend a lot of time in Old City,” Farrah said. “The Island is just nicer.”
“You know someone here?” Rufus asked, nodding at the clinic doors.
“Met him on my way into the city,” Jason said. Having recovered his breath a little, he stumbled in through the doors, the others following after. Inside was a waiting room crowded with people and a reception desk with a young woman sitting behind it. Jason leaned onto the desk, using it to keep himself upright.
“Sir, if you require emergency treatment—”
“I’m Jason Asano,” he panted out.
“Ah, right,” the woman said. “Are you alright?”
“I will be.”
The alchemist Jason had entered the city with, Jory, emerged from the back room. He was leading an elderly lady who carried a small bag.
“Now, only take the medicine right before bed,” Jory said.
“So I should take it with dinner?” the lady asked.
“No, you’ll pass out at the table. Right before bed. Seriously, right before you climb into bed.”
“So, when I sit down for my evening wine…”
“No, right before bed.”
“Would it be easier if I took it during the day?” she asked.
“I’m just going to take that, for a moment,” Jory said, retrieving the small bag from the lady.