"Certification," the official repeated, waiting patiently for Drew to produce proof. "We need those documents so we can cross reference the known guilds."
"Um..."
"After all, we want to make sure that you work for a legal guild. We've had a few run ins with Dark Guild members before."
"Uuuuummmmm...."
"... if you don't have that, proof of identification will suffice."
"UUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!!"
The official was able to read much of the story just from this conversation.
"You're not from an official guild, are you?" he asked.
"Uummm..." Drew said in defeat, slouching all the while.
"Do you even have identification?" the official asked. "If you're wandering about without an ID-"
"Okay, I'll level with ya," Drew said, figuring she may as well spill the rest of the story. "I'm a creation. I'm not sure what the term is, but I was made, not born. I only just recently left my lab, in fact. The tattoo? Not a guild mark. More like a signature. Muse likes to mark all of her work with that little symbol."
"So... you're a magic creation... and how can we prove this, I wonder?"
Well, that was an issue. How exactly does one prove that they were created? Was there a rule about it?
"Um... well... uh..." Once again, the sulk in defeat.
"Look, I'd really like to help you, I really would," he stated, "but our hands are kind of tied. Unless that signature is affiliated in anyway with a known mage, there's not much we can-"
"CROSS REFERENCE!" she suddenly cried out.
"Um... wha?"
"She probably has a passy porty thingy, right?!" Drew stated, "Look for angel devil signature! She always writes with this signature right at the end of her name! Her full name is Muse Lucem Tenebras! It has to be in there, I know it!"
"Alright, alright, we'll cross reference for that," the official stated, "Yeesh, I didn't think anyone would be this anxious!"
"I can't help it," she replied, climbing the table to speak to them face to face, "She left me years ago. Many many years! I've been a good girl and waited for her all this time! I waited because I'm a weapon, a weapon! If someone took me and figured out how to get my magic to work, they could seriously get me to do all kinds of messes, so she made me wait at home and practice my magic myself! But I've waited all of this time, and nothing, and I'm getting worried sick over her, so if I could just go out and look for her-"
"I can understand your concern," the official said, "Look, we'll see if we can find her name, but for now, could you please wait in the lobby? We have other people waiting to get their passports."
".... oh... right, I can do that," she replied, hopping off and heading into the lobby.
Now she got to play her most favorite game of the day, more waiting! And more waiting...
And more waiting...
... and... more... waiting...
"This is anxiety driving..." she groaned, "how am I going to find Muse if I have to wait this long?!"
"Who are you looking for?"
Drew looked up to the face of another woman. Aside from the cloak and silver hair and eyes, she didn't seem to stand out much. Still, she had the look of a sorceress to her.
"My creator," she sighed, thankful for the company at least. "I'm out looking for her... I was told to wait for her."
"And how long didja wait?" the woman asked, sitting next to her.
"A lot of years, actually," She replied, "She's disappeared for long periods of time before, but usually no more than maybe... ten months? I just thought I'd wait incase she came back... plus I don't know much of the outside world, so I guess I was too scared to come out into it before. Muse always kept telling me that people would try to take advantage of me if they knew what I was."
"Is that so?" the woman replied, "Seems the officials are at least willing to help out, huh?"
"Yeah, but I ended up telling them about what I am. Now that I think about it... maaaaaaybe not a good idea that..."
"They're probably calling the authorities on you as we speak!" The woman stated.
"And...?"
"That would be a bad thing," she continued, "You'd be taken into custody and stuff. Then your search would have to be put on pause for who knows how much longer."
"Yeee... I may have mucked this up, huh?" Drew chuckled nervously, "It's okay. Once I figure out my magic, I can just escape on my own."
"You seem confident in that," the woman stated. "Well, from what I can tell, you seem sincere... I normally don't do this, buuuuut..."
"Do... what exactly?" Drew asked, but she didn't get an answer. The woman just got up and went to the office. A few moments later, she came back out.
"Good luck to you," she replied simply, "You're gonna need it on your search!" Again, the woman left before Drew got a chance to get any answers.
"... what was that all about?" Drew asked. Well, no point in pondering it now. She just waited until they called her.
"Well, good news and bad news, which do you want first?" the official asked.
"Okay... good news first," she said.
"Good news, an official guild member vouched for you, so you get to have your pass port."
"Really?! Wait, who?"
"One Artemis Selene," he added, "It seemed she was willing to prove her credentials and spoke on her behalf."
Wait, was that woman the Artemis in question? Drew thought to herself. "So... what's the bad news?"
"They looked all through the archives," the official said, "No Muse Lucem Tenebras. As far as we can tell, she never got a passport or any similar kind of documentation."
"Oh..." was all Drew was able to state. "I see... But this is good news! She probably hasn't left the continent yet! She's still here!"
"Assuming she didn't leave illegally," said another official, earning an elbow to the stomach.
"Even if that's the case, you said I could have my pass port now! I can still look for her!" Drew said ecstatically. "It's still win win!"
"Talk about seeing the good in the bad," said the first official, "No wonder that Artemis girl looked out for ya. We'll go ahead and get your a passport, but be sure not to loose it. That thing is going to be your official ID from now on."
"I'll treasure it like I will everything else I own! Which is not a lot, admittedly," Drew stated casually.
"Good. Oh, one last thing that might help ya out," said the official as he set to work on preparing her documentation, "You might want to consider joining a guild." That got a look of curiosity on her face. "I'm gonna guess you don't know what a guild is?" She confirmed his suspicions. "Think of it as a group of friends and family working together for a common goal. If one random guild member was able to help you out this much, think of what a whole guild would do for you! Heck, we have Lamia near here if you wanna start there!"
"Join a guild... family, huh?" It was too easy a temptation to follow. As she accepted her pass port, she made certain to ask for directions for Lamia. She intended to learn as much as she could about guilds now. There were bound to be more than one guild, and surely one of them would suit her best! All she had to do now was find out all she could about guilds, to the best of her ability.
- Word Count:
732/100
- Final Word Count::
2107/500