Placing the box down, I brushed my hands off as I stepped out of the small storage room.

The room didn’t have a door, so I didn’t need to bother closing one. I headed down the hall, and wondered what I should do now.

I’d spent the last few hours helping Gerald out with a few things, stuff considering those kids he had adopted somehow. He could have gotten other employees, or even other members, to help him but I think he’s still conscious over the fact he had unintentionally brought in a bunch of human children into the Society without meaning to.

Not that I cared much. I preferred having something to do, even if just something monotonous as bringing supplies in or helping set up a new set of apartments for them. But I wasn’t sure yet what to think of the kids, though honestly I knew better than to really expect anything from them. Like the young girl I’d recommended, Mistle, they were things that either worked out or didn’t. And even when they did, at best they only existed inside the Society for a few generations. Like that one woman who had daughters Sing and Song…

Wait, had Renn met them yet…? I probably should make sure she has before we leave…

In fact that might be something worth doing right now. I’ve dealt with everything asked of me; even the issue with the Summit was now handled. So all in all it was finally time for me to leave. Or at least, it was the second chance I had to leave. If I dawdled too long, like before, more requests would arrive before I got the chance to do so.

Should we just leave tomorrow then…? Lilly would like that. The blasted owl had refused to head back west without us. Or well, without Renn. Renn had interpreted it as Lilly’s love and compassion, but I had seen through it and saw the truth.

Lilly was afraid of going home alone without Renn. She was hoping, betting, on Renn to help salvage her relationship with her children. At least, the ones who she was on the outs with. Like Crown and the traveling siblings, Trunk and Seed. I also think Lilly was worried about returning home with Lellip in tow, in a way.

Honestly I had a lot of praise for the owl. I couldn’t have imagined her to ever allow such a thing before. Inviting others into her family? Allowing a whole location to be built not far from her nest? Asking someone else for help concerning her own family problems…? Each one was so non-standard for Lilly that it almost made me wonder if something was wrong with her. As if she was sick and dying or something. But the reality was, Lilly was likely just desperate. Desperate enough to force her own maturity.

But I’d not complain. Not only was I glad that Lilly had finally matured, I was also glad it was Renn that such maturity was centered around. Out of anyone in this world for Lilly to rely on for such things… well… I couldn’t think of anyone more suitable than Renn.

Where was she anyway…?

I paused in the middle of one of the main hallways, where it connected and diverted to all the different departments in the Animalia Guild. I spent a moment just… listening, and looking. No one was near me, but down the halls in nearly every direction I could see and hear activity. People walking around, and talking. Working hard at whatever they were doing.

In a few hours the building would shut down, and grow quiet. Which usually meant the inner housing area got loud, if but for a short time as they all made dinner and ate together.

I wasn’t sure if anyone had noticed yet, but this place was growing livelier. And not just because it had gotten busier thanks to all the new business ventures they’ve begun. Magdalena either left to visit her new romance, or he came over here. Less and Tundra were often here, though for different reasons. And I’d begun to notice occasionally Less brought others with her, not just the excited wolf. Today I had noticed three familiar robed individuals walking around, though hadn’t been able to place names to their faces.

It made me wonder if in time, maybe sooner rather than later, this place would become obsolete. Like at Telmik, would this company eventually just merge with the cathedral? Or would they continue to remain two separate locations…? If Brandy and Gerald had their way, they’d remain separated, but I knew better than to think they had much say in it. Especially as many members here started getting involved with those of Light’s group, like how Magda had. Though maybe it didn’t matter if they remained separated. This place was big enough that well over a hundred people could live here comfortably, as it had originally been back in the day.

A part of me should be happy… that the Society was getting lively again. But I couldn’t help but fear for the worst.

So many new members meant there’d be a lot of opportunities for discord. There’d be issues with relocation, and setting up new homes. There will be small fights and discord amongst the members as they settled, as they all learned who they could live with and who they couldn’t… not to mention the members who would inevitably cause issues with the humans, too.

I sighed, since all it did was make me think of the first few decades, back when I had first joined the Society. Half of my time had been running around handling such disputes and issues more than anything else.

Honestly I wasn’t looking forward to having to deal with any of that again, even if it was actually a positive thing. My having such tasks to handle meant the Society was once again growing, once again being active and healthy. That wasn’t a negative thing, and I shouldn’t be upset over it.

Yet here I was. So annoyed over it that even after only a few weeks I wanted to run away from it all.

Really. Where was my adorable wife…? I needed her to distract me from my thoughts, before I actually thought something I’d regret later.

Oddly I couldn’t find her. I couldn’t sense her either.

Maybe she had left the building. To either go visit Lilly, or her human friends? Or maybe she had gone to the new cathedral… or even just out to walk around, or go shopping or something. We did plan on leaving soon, maybe she had gone to get supplies?

“Hey Vim!” Pierre and I walked past one another, but he seemed busy so I only nodded in greeting as we did. Afterwards, while walking around Gerald’s office area, I noticed several of our members. Most were getting ready to end their day, either by tidying up their work areas or shutting the entrances to the building as to keep new customers out.

Yes. She was likely not here. Not only could I not sense her, I had also not seen Merit in some time too. Which meant she was likely out and about with her.

Which was fine… I guess…

Slowing a little, I reached up to rub my chin. I did it as if to hide a small smirk, though I had no real reason to do so.

I was upset. That she was busy. Too busy for me. When had I become so greedy, I wonder?

“Vim.”

Turning around, I nodded at Less who was carrying a small basket. The wicker basket didn’t have a smell coming from it, so I figured it wasn’t full of food. “Less,” I greeted the badger, and glanced around for her noisy companion. Tundra wasn’t here, it seemed.

“Tundra’s with your wife and Merit. The girl has finally understood she’s not welcomed here, and so took it upon herself to return before nightfall,” Less said, noticing my thoughts.

“Had something happened?” I asked.

Less gave me a soft smile. “She tried to make friends with a few of those here… it didn’t go well. The girl has a lot of pride in her strength, but is far weaker of heart than she realizes. It’s one of the reasons Light has high hopes for her,” Less explained.

Ah. She must have scared someone then. Less would have told me, or someone else would have, had it been too big a deal. I wonder who it had been? “She’s just young,” I said simply.

Less scoffed at that, and shifted the basket she held. “Light’s back, by the way. I don’t know if she’ll come back here tonight or not, having so much to do at the cathedral, but yeah…” Less said.

My eyes narrowed as I realized what that meant. Tundra had left with Renn and Merit, likely because Renn had gone to see Light. Just great. “So why are you still here?” I asked. Less wasn’t just one of Light’s bodyguards; she was one of her closest confidants.

“To get these,” Less said simply as she lifted the basket a little.

I had no idea what was inside the basket, but I didn’t need to. For all I knew it was just clothes or something. “I see. Well, when you see my wife remind her we’ll be leaving in the morning so not to stay up all night,” I said.

Less smirked at that. “I’d laugh and tease you over treating her like a child, but I now know how serious such a warning is. She really would stay up all night talking, wouldn’t she?”

I nodded and sighed. “Regrettably.”

“Well, I’ll let her know if I see her. I have a few stops to make before I go back, so I might miss her.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Stops…? This late in the day? Wonder what she needed to do. I didn’t ask though, as to not get involved. “Hm. I suppose I should ask, since we may not see one another again for a while. Anything you need of me? Or do you know if anyone else does?” I asked. She would be a good one to ask, since she was considered one of the elders of Light’s group.

Less frowned as she thought about it for a moment, and then finally shook her head. “I don’t believe so…? I’d ask Light though, she’d know better.”

I wanted to groan at that. That had been why I had asked her, so that I could possibly avoid having to ask Light instead. I kept such a thing to myself as I nodded. “Hm…”

The badger studied me for a moment, and then smiled. “You’re still the same, Vim. Even after all these years.”

“You mean my aversion to saints…?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Well, it’s a habit I’ve had for longer than you know. I doubt I’ll ever be able to shake it,” I said with a shrug.

She chuckled at that. “And hopefully you never do. It’s kind of comforting to know even time can’t change some things.”

Was it? “Sadly I feel like I’ve been changing a lot lately,” I said. I wasn’t going to tell her why I thought so, since the last thing I’d noticed was my greediness concerning Renn’s presence. Not only was that kind of private… it wasn’t something I wanted to readily admit aloud. There were many members in the Society, even here, who would grow concerned if they thought I was blatantly prioritizing Renn over them. Even if it was somewhat expected, what with her being my wife, it wasn’t something that should be admitted aloud.

“I’d disagree. You not only look the same, you seem to be acting the same. Although you’re a little odd when with your wife, but that’s to be expected I guess…. Oh, Ronalldo wanted me to ask you something,” Less then remembered something, and glanced around real quick. Once she confirmed we were relatively alone, she stepped a single step closer and whispered. “He’d like to know if he can rename the ship? The one you gave him?” she asked quietly.

I frowned at her, wondering for a moment why she was whispering such a question… but realized it likely wasn’t the question itself she wanted to be kept secret, but the meaning behind it. “I don’t see why he can’t? It was his originally, anyway. Or well, his mother’s. It flies under our banner, as does he, but the ship itself is his,” I said.

Less nodded and hummed a little. “He seems worried to do it, all the same. Should I ask Brandy for him?”

“He’s too scared to ask himself?” I asked. Ronalldo hadn’t seemed that cowardly of a man.

She smiled at that. “He takes orders and whatnot Vim, but he doesn’t see them as his commander. He sees you as his leader, not them.”

Ah. Right… “Well, go ahead and ask Brandy. When you do, slip in that I said there was nothing wrong with it. She might throw a fit over it, but I can’t see her actually doing anything about it,” I said. The worst it’d do is requiring some new journals and tax documents to be made, with the new name and all. Nothing too big a deal.

Less nodded. “Thanks Vim. I don’t really see the point, but it’s a big deal to him I guess. Enough to bother him, at least,” she said.

“Hm… How is he by the way? Or rather, how is it going? Do you plan to let Light know?” I asked.

Ronalldo was likely what, or who, she planned to stop and see on her way back to the cathedral. I should have realized that earlier, not sure why I hadn’t.

Less gave me a warm smile as she nodded. “We’re fine, Vim. I plan to have him move in with me. He’ll still captain his ship and all, he likes doing that, but I’ve asked him to leave the long ventures to Kevin for a while… for obvious reasons,” Less said with a small shrug.

I nodded, and knew better than to say the reason aloud. She was pregnant, but I don’t think she’d told anyone else yet. “Well… I’m happy for you. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you two,” I said.

The badger seemed to soften a little as she nodded. “Thanks Vim. Really. Renn also congratulated me, and was really nice about it too. She asked me to invite you two to the wedding, but I fear I’ll not be having one,” she said.

“Why not?”

“I’m a nun, Vim,” she said.

Well… “Yes…? But you’re also getting married, aren’t you?” I asked. Wasn’t that what we’d talked about the other day? In fact I think she herself had used the phrase to be wed, not marriage. Plus it wasn’t as if nuns couldn’t get married.

“I, we, are. Yes. But I don’t plan to have a ceremony. I don’t like them. He’s okay with it too,” she said.

Huh… so she just likely wanted Light to grant them permission, nothing more. Maybe she had simply worded it that way because there was no better way to phrase it. “Well, all the same. Congratulations. Renn will likely give you a wedding present either way, though it might be some time before she gets it to you. A few years, maybe,” I said.

Less giggled at that. “That’s fine. I’ll look forward to it. Okay, I’ll be off then else I’ll too late and Light will get upset with me,” she said as she stepped back and away from me.

I nodded and waved her goodbye as she turned and left. She headed down the hall that led to the exit, and I sighed as I turned away and went the opposite way.

If Renn was at the new cathedral, there was no need for me to search for her anymore. Nor did I plan to go there to find her. If I went there, while Light was there, I likely would only end up getting more requests… which meant we’d not be able to leave anytime soon. So it was best if I just stayed here and waited.

I’ll just walk around, I guess. Maybe I’ll go make some snacks for Renn, or something. It was almost time for dinner though, which meant the kitchens would get busy…

Eventually I found myself at the bank. Or well, the hallway behind it. It was empty, being the first section of the guild that shut down and locked up. A few guards were already stationed, all sitting at a table in the center of the main hallway. It looked like they were having tea or something.

The place smelled like coins, and reminded me of Renn’s recent worries over how much she cost the Society. It was a cute worry, but an unneeded one. The Society had more wealth than most nations, her occasional expensive meal at a fancy restaurant or abundance of trinkets she purchased along our journey didn’t even make a dent in the mountain of wealth it possessed.

“Hey Vim!” a happy voice made me turn and smile at Sofia. She carried a small bag of coins in her arms, likely because it was heavy, and she looked a little tired.

“Sofia. Done for the day?” I asked.

She nodded and gestured with the bag of coins. “Taking these to Brandy. I think they’re fakes,” she said.

“Fakes?” I asked.

She nodded again. “One of the nobles deposited them. They smell different, and feel a little off. I think they’re not actually silver,” she said.

Ah. “Gold is hard to fake,” I said knowingly as I turned to join her down the hallway. We headed for Brandy’s office, passing Lawrence’s as we did. I didn’t offer to take the small bag of coins, since it didn’t look like it was that heavy and she seemed to be enjoying the way she was holding them. She was basically hugging the bag.

“Right? Also, I met your little human today! Mistle? She came here with a cat on her shoulder! I almost couldn’t believe how well behaved it was!” Sofia said happily.

Oh…? I see. So they planned to put the young girl to work in the banks, beneath Sofia. Interesting. “It is a rather odd cat, isn’t it?” I said. I could imagine that little thing just obediently following Mistle around as she worked here, staying out of everyone’s way as it did.

“It’s adorable, so I think I’ll allow it. The girl will be fine, as well. She needs to learn how to read and write, but every human does in the beginning. I hear she’s not living here but outside of the guild though?” Sofia asked as we rounded a corner.

I nodded. “Renn asked those pirates to look after her, I guess? She’s worried your home is already crowded, what with the new additions,” I said.

Sofia sighed but nodded. “It is a little, to be honest… but she’s such a tiny thing I don’t think it would have mattered. Maybe once she settles in and grows a little older she can just move in here, but oh well,” Sofia said simply.

Glad that Sofia thought in such a way, I looked forward to letting Renn know that Mistle was in good hands. “Well, all the same, thank you for putting up with her. Her family had been rather brutally eaten right in front of her, so I feared she would have been traumatized but it seems she’s doing fine,” I said.

“Humans, especially the young ones, seem to always bounce back faster than we do. I mean, look at Tosh! Took him nearly a century it did!” Sofia said.

Well… “You’re not wrong…” I mumbled as we neared the hallway to Brandy’s office.

I stopped walking as Sofia turned to head down the hallway. I gave her a small nod and smile as I waved her off. “I’ll go get in trouble elsewhere while you handle that,” I said.

She giggled at me. “So much trouble, sure!” she teased as she nodded back and left me behind.

I watched Sofia walk for a moment, and wondered if she knew yet that Merit planned to leave. Something told me she didn’t, since she hadn’t said anything about it or acted odd. Sofia was really old, and thus sometimes indifferent or unaware of her immediate surroundings, but she wasn’t so detached that she’d not grow emotional over her good friend leaving. At least, I didn’t think she’d do so.

Maybe Merit really did plan on waiting until the place up north was built…? If so that meant it could be years before she actually left.

Renn wouldn’t like that. But maybe it was for the best… So many were planning to head north with us, maybe it was for the better that they all didn’t do so at the same time…

Speaking of that, when should I go get Berri and her family…? Narli’s condition was still a worry, even if Stance’s death had cured her of whatever had ailed her. I had promised to get them when I could. Then of course Nebl’s family… they planned to at least wait and see how Lellip’s love life went, but I knew better than to think it’d go bad or take time to go well. Like Less and Ronalldo, Magda and her partner, and so many more… our kind usually fell for their partners very swiftly, almost to the point it was weird.

Although Renn always brought up the fact we had not done such a thing, and used it as a way to tease me, she wasn’t realizing the truth. We had fallen for one another quickly. We, or well… I, had not been willing to accept or admit it. Not until it was undeniable.

And…

My eye twitched as I realized my mind was drifting off into weird places again.

No matter.

Turning away, I sighed and decided to go find something to do. I was thinking about too many things that I shouldn’t be. I needed something to distract myself.

Wasn’t sure yet what I’d find to accomplish such a thing, but anything was better than nothing.

Maybe I’ll go clean Renn’s bathroom or something. She’s been so busy lately she’s kind of neglected it herself. I had noticed the other night when we’d bathed that some of her hair and fur were everywhere, from all her own baths she’s taken not just the ones with me.

No one would be upset with her if we didn’t, but it was still a courtesy to clean up after ourselves. Especially concerning something like that.

Plus it’d let me tease her about it later…

“Yes. Cleaning the bath,” I decided happily.

It’d give me a good excuse to lure Renn into it too. If she even came back tonight, that is…

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