The Ruby Magician

Sweat dripped from Wyn's brow, but he wiped it away with a calm hand. Summer was in full force, though he didn't mind. The early morning sun was pleasantly hot under the shade of the canopy outside the restaurant, children ran around playing, and adults fanned themselves to escape from the heat, all while cordially discussing their days.

It had been over a year since arriving at Alestead, and Wyn never had the time to appreciate small moments like this in the city. He was constantly training or climbing to climb higher or pay off his father's debt. Of course there was the rare few hours he had with his team to relax, but he was never able to mentally calm down as he knew he would soon have to return to the tower.

Now, though, that wasn't a problem for him. He couldn't climb anymore, so his usefulness was limited. He was still the leader of Dawn's Light, but he was in a purely administrative role. And he wasn't sure how long that was going to last, either.

"Wyn?" Arabelle asked, gently grabbing his arm. "Is everything alright?"

Wyn looked at his sister, smiling. She had her black hair braided, both to lessen the heat from the sun and in preparation for her team's training later that afternoon. Knowing they were meeting with Benedict, she decided against her climbing clothes and wore a long blue and yellow sundress that she had picked out with Tasha. She looked happy, healthy, and comfortable.

"Everything's great," Wyn said, returning his attention to the table. He picked up his glass of water before taking a small sip. "I'm sorry, I'm just admiring the city."

"That's easier to do when you aren't climbing," Benedict said, giving Wyn his usual smirk and wink. "How has retirement been treating you?"

"Well there's still business at the guild, so it hasn't been that calm. I swear we're busier than ever, so there's always something to do."

"That's not a bad thing, you know. I'm just happy you've still remembered me after becoming the most famous Climber in the city!"

Arabelle groaned. "Don't start that, Benedict! You'll give him an ego he doesn't need!"

Wyn playfully nudged his sister. "Like your ego, miss 'sister of the renowned Ruby Magician'?"

Arabelle flushed, then punched Wyn in the arm. He recoiled as Benedict laughed.

"That title helped secure more business," Benedict said after calming down enough to speak. "It was a smart play to call yourself that, dear, especially while being in the top guild in the city! I've had to hire two more assistants to keep up with the orders the Silver Step is securing after Climbers are hearing about you both from your guild and the students you're teaching. It's madness!"

"Are you still going to buy the store beside you and expand?" Wyn asked.

Benedict nodded as he drank from his glass. "I have to! Having three times the amount of business I'm used to means more items and more need for storage!"

"If that's much of a hassle we can always renegotiate our deal with you."

Benedict blanched, causing Wyn to give his own smirk.

"You know we wouldn't do that, Benedict," Arabelle said, picking up her small fan and fanning herself. "Wyn's gotten too mischievous in his down time. Have you heard back from the coalition, though?"

Benedict cleared his throat and sat up straighter. "I have, actually! They want to meet with Wyn to establish an expansion of your previous deal along with Roscoe. I really think this is the one that will set you up for future success, dear. It's not a short trip or for the faint of heart, though."

Arabelle and Wyn shared a look.

"What do you think?" Arabelle asked her brother. "Can the guild leader step away for a few weeks?"

Wyn tilted his head side to side. "I think he could be persuaded, especially if his strong, independent sister goes with him."

Arabelle stopped fanning herself. "Wait, really? You'd take me along?"

Wyn chuckled. "You're the better negotiator, anyway! I would just go to be your escort."

"Well, I do already have an escort who has agreed to join me wherever I go…"

Wyn sat up in his seat. "Adam doesn't have to go with you everywhere, Arabelle!"

Benedict choked on his pastry while Arabelle flashed a devilish grin. "That's what being a boyfriend means, Wyn. He's quite loyal, you know!"

Wyn opened his mouth to respond but just sighed instead. He knew Adam was her boyfriend, and that he was a respectable young man. He had previously asked both he and Daniel for permission before asking Arabelle on a formal date, shortly after the experience with the Faceless Four. Wyn didn't want to get in the way of his sister's life or make decisions for her. Whoever she wanted to romantically pursue was her choice. But seeing her as a young woman was even more jarring than climbing, and he knew there would only be more headaches in the future.

But that was part of being an older brother. And if he had to admit, Adam really was a good man. That still didn't mean he couldn't tease her, though. It just wasn't fair when she teased back.

"Oh, I know," Wyn said. "If he wants to go I won't stop him, but that also doesn't mean that he has to ride in the same wagon."

"Just because you'll still have your magic while we're on the road doesn't mean I need you to be my bodyguard!"

"Tell that to Daniel! He's even more inclined to make Adam go through training sessions that last twice as long and will refuse to let you go without me."

Arabelle pouted while Benedict chuckled. She picked up a small piece of bread and flicked it at Wyn, smirking while he tried and failed to dodge it.

Benedict's chuckle grew to laughter as he shook his head. "Love between siblings is a beautiful thing."

Their breakfast was practically over at that point, and soon the three parted ways. Arabelle and Wyn hailed a wagon to ride back to the guild, talking about their future the entire way. While Arabelle was determined to make it to the third tier, and had nearly been there over the rest of the undead season, they had been stuck on the eighth floor for several weeks. Wyn knew they were going to get there eventually, and encouraged her to keep pushing herself while relying on her teammates for support.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As they walked into the guild house, Arabelle said her goodbyes while Wyn took his time. He wasn't in any rush towards his office, and decided to take some time to watch the guild members go about their morning to prepare for the day. Sitting on a chair on the foyer, he casually waited while admiring the guild house.

The first group he saw made his eyes light up as the six of them all caught his gaze. The two leaders hurriedly move to hug him, and he didn't hesitate to stand to greet them.

John especially lingered, holding Wyn tight as though he was the one leaving on his cross country trip.

"Come on, John, let him breathe," Tasha said, pulling John away. "Wyn, what are you doing?"

"Nothing important," Wyn said, smiling at them and their group. "Just relaxing."

"I'm jealous," John said. "Tasha won't give us even one day for a break!"

"Don't you want to make it to the fourth tier?" Tasha asked. "We have only two weeks to go for the season and we're so close!"

Wyn laughed. He remembered but didn't necessarily long for those days.

John sighed. "Yea, she's right. We should be going, anyway. The thirteenth floor won't wait for us!"

Wyn wished them good luck as they walked hand in hand leading their new group. They looked intimidating but also well-prepared.

Voices pulled Wyn's attention to one of the wings, and he slowly walked over to listen in on the conversation.

"I know, but it would be beneficial for the guild," Cedric said, writing something on a pad of parchment paper.

"I still think adding another group will add too much competition," Nigel said. "We already have applications coming in weekly to join after going through the climbing classes. Even the added requirement of participating in at least three different classes before applying hasn't slowed them down! It's only picked up the classes!"

"So we have an influx of exposure, interest, and income," Faye said, patting Nigel on the shoulder. "That is legitimately one of the best problems to have and you're acting like it's the beginning of the end."

"That's a bit dramatic," Nigel said, folding his arms. "I know it's great for us, but is expanding the right move? Especially after we are doing so well!"

"Adding a group would be helpful in about half a dozen different ways," Cedric said, not taking his eyes off of his papers.

Wyn smiled as he watched the three talk. They had taken their roles seriously, especially since Cedric moved to administration full time beside Faye. Nigel was still climbing but had drastically scaled back to not rush through the tower. He and his team were also helping out with leading classes for rookies and more inexperienced Climbers, like the other groups. While they weren't making quite as much as the second or third tiers rewarded, they were still earning some income while sharing their knowledge and experiences with others. It was a solid payoff for everyone.

Turning back around so they wouldn't hear him, Wyn nearly bumped into a body as they caught his shoulders and held him. Wyn stood like a statue, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Are you eavesdropping?" Marcy asked, her grip on him firm but not painful and her smile mischievous.

Wyn didn't respond. She had caught him fully and completely.

"I'll take his lack of response as a yes," Daniel said, wearing an equally mischievous smile as he stood right behind and beside Marcy.

"Can I help you two?" Wyn asked, keeping his voice low.

Marcy chuckled as she let Wyn go and brushed off his shoulders. "Oh, we were just passing through, taking our time through the guild…"

Wyn raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh."

"We have good news!" Daniel said, blurting the words out.

Marcy's playful smile fell as she sighed. "Daniel, I thought we agreed to play it cool?"

Daniel rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Marcy, but it's just too exciting to keep any longer! Wyn, we've received word back from Aureus. The numbers from the past four weeks are fantastic with greatly reduced injury rates from Climbers! Along with no deaths!"

Wyn perked up at the news. "Really? That is great news! Was it because people were slowing down at the end of the undead season, though?"

Marcy shook her head. "He's actually attributing it to our teaching guild!"

"Since we've tripled our class sizes, we're getting more and more new Climbers for our classes," Daniel added. "The groups are all saying their classes are filling up, so since adding classes Aureus has said the guild officials are noting more cohesive groups while the infirmary has had less than half of their normal rate."

Wyn considered those great signs. If Climbers were doing better, that meant more efficient climbs and more people coming back healthy. That wasn't only ideal but far better than he had hoped for.

"So what does that mean for us if he's giving us the credit?" Wyn asked.

"That's the best part," Daniel said. "He's wanting to endorse us through guild officials, and he brought up the idea of including some guild officials in our classes!"

"Which we thought was a great idea to help them be better, too," Marcy added.

"I trust you both," Wyn said with a smile. "If you think it's for the good of the guild, then I'm for it."

"Not just the good of the guild," Daniel said. "But for Climbers here in the city. This is the start of something great, Wyn. I can feel it!"

Marcy raised her hands. "But before we get too mushy, you do need to sign off for a student feast we've been putting together."

"A student feast?" Wyn asked.

Marcy grinned. "With our student's success, we're wanting to celebrate them by throwing a feast! The cost should be covered by just a few classes, but Tasha and John have already volunteered to cover the costs. Cal agreed to it immediately, of course, and is pulling together some local chefs to really make it special."

"Well, don't let me stop you," Wyn said. "Just don't forget to include me in the feast!"

"Don't worry, someone has to give the speech after all," Marcy said, patting Wyn on the shoulder as she walked past him.

Before Wyn could respond the pair was already gone, walking away quickly as though that was their plan all along.

"Oh, and don't forget about your class!" Daniel called back over his shoulder.

"I haven't forgotten," Wyn said, his lips curling up in a smile. He shook his head in amusement as he walked towards the guild's training hall.

The door was already open, so he walked inside. The class was about to start, and he was glad he had timed it well. Marcy and Daniel must have known the time because they sure left in a hurry right when he needed to leave.

Stepping into the training hall, the Climbers inside were chatting to themselves but immediately quieted at Wyn's arrival. He simply gave them a small wave and smile, then walked over to the table where the stack of parchments rested. He looked through them, surprised at what he found. There were almost two dozen Climbers present already, even though the class was only supposed to be for ten of them. Which was fine, but confirmed what Marcy and Daniel were saying about the number of students coming to their guild for lessons. It likely also had to do with Wyn demanding his rookie classes be free, despite his advisors encouraging him to charge a small fee. At least still being the head of the guild afforded him final say in some matters. He enjoyed sharing knowledge and experience with new Climbers just as Daniel did for him.

Looking through the stack briefly, he was surprised to see that three of them were Ruby Magicians. That was the largest grouping he'd had so far. More people must have been sticking with their initial class choice, because that was quite the number. Considering how often newer classes were showing up, too, it only confirmed his surprise to see that many for the class.

The parchment laid out at least four new classes he hadn't heard of before. Bard was particularly interesting, and Wyn wondered what kind of abilities that Climber had. But so was Enchanter, which was clearly some kind of crafting class similar to the Alchemist that Daniel had taught a few months prior.

As the quiet turned to murmurs, Wyn guessed they were talking about him. It was becoming more apparent since he returned from his last climb that his classes were more popular than the others in the guild. That was to be expected, but he hoped the students would still be able to learn while having so many of them.

Oh, well. If he needed to stay a little longer to make sure they'd get their money and time's worth, that was fine by him. He wasn't on a climbing schedule anymore, after all.

As he grabbed the stack and walked to the center of the training hall, the Climbers stopped their talking and looked at him with wonder and excitement in their eyes. Wyn hoped they still carried that same excitement with them after his teaching.

Clearing his throat, Wyn gave the group a smile. "Thank you all for -"

The door to the training hall slammed open, and everyone turned to see who caused it. A young Climber was standing in the doorway, breathing heavily with one hand still on the door and the other resting on his knee. He raised his body to take a large breath, and then choked as his eyes went wide in realization that everyone was staring at him. Including Wyn.

"I'm…so sorry I'm late," the young man said, stammering over his words.

Wyn chuckled. "It's alright. Bring me your parchment, if you don't mind, and catch your breath. I was just about to start the class so you didn't miss a thing."

Relief washed over the man as he patted his body down to search for his parchment.

"Just close the door behind you, please," Wyn continued. "I think we have enough students for today."

The man complied, steadily closing the door. A door that held a large sign, hung to be easily read.

Rookie Climber's Class - Unique Approaches to Alistair

Do you have a class that doesn't seem to fit on a team? Are you wondering how you can help your fellow Climbers succeed while improving yourself? Maybe you're looking for equipment synergies or recommendations? Come join our special FREE class hosted once a week to discuss those topics and more, Faesdays only!

Time: Noon

Teacher: Ardwyn Thatcher, Dawn's Light Guild Leader, Ruby Magician