Dawn's Farewell (12) "Already Done?"
Clemence, who had been waiting on the first floor, came trotting over.
"Yes, it's done. But how the hell did that mage get into city hall?"
"The mage? Our previous mage was suddenly drafted as a professor at the magic academy, so we put out an urgent posting, and she showed up."
"I see."
Isisde must've been really broke. She's the type who hates work with a passion.
"Anyway, thanks to you, it went smoothly. I appreciate it. You always help us out in every way."
"It's only natural as your guild's assigned clerk! Just say the word anytime!"
Clemence flashed her dimples in a beaming smile.
"Well, we'll be off then. And keep everyone away from the mage for a while. She's not in great shape right now."
"Y-Yes…?"
I bowed to Clemence, who was staring up at the upper floor in confusion, and left city hall.
Ornette didn't say a word the whole way back to the guild.
"Ornette."
Silence.
"What are you planning to do now?"
"Curious about my future plans?"
"Something like that. I don't know what you're thinking, but I'd be grateful if you stuck around with our guild."
"Why."
"Can I be straight with you?"
Ornette nodded curtly without a word.
"You're a mage. Mages are incredibly useful. You'd be a huge help to the guild."
"You want me to do guild work."
"Exactly."
"Will I make a lot of money if I stay?"
"Yeah."
"You like money?"
"Love it. In human society, money is everything. Without it, you can't do a damn thing."
Ornette nodded slowly.
"So that's why you treated the elf so harshly earlier."
"Nah, that's separate. She rightfully owed me money and stiffed me. That's why."
"Right."
And then Ornette fell silent again. I thought about prodding her more but held back. Watching her, it was clear she only spoke when she wanted to. Best to wait until she opened up first.
"Buy that."
Ornette pointed ahead with her finger. It was a street stall selling galettes—thin crepes piled high with sausage, onions, peppers, cheese, eggs, and more. Less greasy than other street foods, it was a snack I grabbed now and then.
"You want some?"
"Looks tasty."
"Alright. I'll get you one."
Ornette had a huge appetite too. She ate quietly and neatly, but she wouldn't budge from her seat until she'd devoured everything in front of her.
"Four galettes, please. Bag two of them separately."
As I handed her one, Ornette's eyes flicked to the bag in my hand.
"Why buy two extra?"
"Huh? Why? Obviously for Leana and Celestine back at the guild."
"I saw your desire. You're a human who loves money. I eat what you tell me to buy, but those two never asked you to buy for them."
I blinked at the sudden comment, then got it.
"Oh, so you're saying why waste money unnecessarily?"
Ornette nodded as she took a big bite of her galette.
"A few coppers are worth less than seeing them enjoy it."
"Someone else's enjoyment is worth more than money?"
"Not someone else. Family."
"Didn't know they were family. You all look different."
"Not blood family. We live like one. I don't know how they see me, but that's how I treat them."
"Why?"
"Why? They're my guildmates. Isn't that obvious?"
Ornette kept questioning, looking more puzzled.
"Why your guild? You're not the guild master. That blonde woman, Leana, is."
"It's a long story, but simply put, Leana's the nominal guild master. I actually own the guild. But keep that quiet—it's a loophole."
"Got it. But treating them like family still doesn't make sense. It's illogical."
Ornette said that and kept munching her galette. That side of her reminded me of Orlean a bit. He was a nice guy overall, but shockingly detached in certain ways—like a psychopath. That's why he chased a perfect world with all those insane experiments.
"But I don't sense any lies in your words."
Ornette mumbled through a mouthful.
"Of course not. It's the truth."
"Right."
And she quietly ate her galette again.
"If I work at the guild, do I get treated like family too?"
As the guild alley came into view, Ornette finally spoke up.
"Probably. If you stay with us. I'd pay you properly too."
"Money isn't that important."
Ornette replied softly.
"Motives are."
"Motives, huh? I've got three reasons."
I held up three fingers.
"First, you have no proven identity. You can't settle anywhere properly."
Ornette nodded.
"Second, like I said—helpful to the guild. And to you too. No need to spell it out, right?"
"Right."
"Third, you're Orlean's remnant."
Ornette glanced sideways at me.
"I killed Orlean, and he left you to me. We fought at the end, but... we were friends. His dying wish was for me to keep you in the guild."
"Yeah."
And with that, Ornette went quiet again. Sealed her lips once more. Time to ask something else.
"That illusion magic you use—what exactly is it? Just visual trickery?"
"Humans rely heavily on sight."
It sounded off-topic at first, but it boiled down to high-level illusion—even fooling the brain.
That sparked an idea. Not certain, but worth trying sometime.
"Ornette. I just thought of something…."
"Guild diiiirector!!"
I turned to see Celestine bounding toward us, her chest bouncing wildly.
"Fat girl."
"That hurts Celestine's feelings."
Celestine, who had been about to leap into my arms, locked eyes with Ornette and hesitated to a stop.
"O-Ornette… h-hi…?"
Ornette pointed to the bag in my hand.
"That. For you and the guild master. He bought it."
"Eeeh?! Is this galette?!"
I held out the bag, and Celestine grinned ear-to-ear as she grabbed one.
"Yummy, Director!"
"Eat up. One's for Leana, so don't devour them all."
We walked side by side, munching galettes on the way to the guild.
Late that night, after Celestine and Ornette headed upstairs, Leana and I sat in the guild master's office talking.
About meeting Isisde, and my guesses about Ornette from that.
Leana, who had listened quietly, spoke up.
"Amazing. An elf like that comes to our city, and of all people, she's got bad blood with you, Director."
"Tell me about it. I was shocked. If not for Ornette, I'd have missed her again."
"Ornette's a mage through and through, huh?"
"Isisde's a mid-tier mage. Controlling her with magic means Ornette's no slouch."
"She's part of a high mage's personality, so of course. So? Will she stay with the guild?"
"Haven't heard yet."
"She's not the type to crack under pressure."
Leana smiled and brushed back her hair out of habit.
"But she'll probably stay. No magic academy diploma means she can't work as a proper mage."
"Dunno. If they find out she's Orlean's personality fragment, the academy might create a position out of nowhere to snag her."
"Don't rush it. Wait and see. She's not one to stay if we force her, or leave if we push."
"True. Stone-faced and tight-lipped—impossible to read."
After that, we discussed guild operations. Knight recruitment was ongoing but fruitless. Knights had low barriers, so most were trash. Guilds earned by fieldwork, which needed more members. Blindly expanding wasn't ideal, but luckily, my demon and griffin kills were bringing in requests. Still, no randos. Better to scout actively. Our lineup: demon hunter, healer, mage. I could cover everything, but my class was too specialized—needed a knight for tanking solos or mixed ops. We desperately needed a decent knight.
Leana spoke up, reading my expression.
"Don't worry too much. It'll work out. Ornette will stay, and we'll find a solid knight."
"How can you be so sure?"
"The guild came alive after you arrived. It'll keep getting better."
Leana smiled and patted the back of my hand.
"Good work today. Sleep well—we'll see you in the morning."
She squeezed my hand firmly and left the room.
Leana. I really like that side of her.