The Way of the Sword

It was a peaceful day on Amber Island, business as usual, some might say. The members of Dies Irae, the guild that had made this place it's home, were going about their daily lives, this, of course, also including one of the two Ambassadors. Johann von Weiss was, as it was so often the case, sat in his office, ever-so-industriously chipping away at the seemingly endless onslaught of paperwork and legal obligations as one of the guildmasters of a legal guild. Had he known that, in contrast to his position with the West Fiore Trading Company, this job would be even more work than before ... perhaps he would've mustered the courage to tell the Council to stick their "job offer" where it wasn't supposed to go. It couldn't really be changed now. He had responsibilities, an entire guild to take care of these days, of course, remaining where he was. He'd just have to deal with it one way or another. At this point, the man was, naturally, unaware of the new arrival within the guild hall.

The guildmember of Dies Irae addressed by the unknown face, dressed in the white and red militaristic garb of a Soldier, stopped for a moment, turning his head with a weak smile. "Ah, a newcomer huh? You'll find the Ambassador in his office in the West Wing". The man would gesture towards a hallway to the one side of the Throne Hall. "It's hard to miss, just follow the hall until you reach the large set of double doors at the end of the hallway. Make sure to knock before you enter". The member of Dies Irae would muster the man for a second before giving him a polite nod and turning back, hurrying off to go back to his personal business.

Johann's hearing, whether he wanted or not, would pick up the subtle steps on the cold marble hallway floor outside, getting closer to his office. The Ambassador, with a somewhat practiced motion, scribbled his signature onto a white sheet of paper before setting the form aside and putting down his pen, folding his hands and waiting for the knock. The person wouldn't disappoint, the gentle knocking on wood following suit, as did the man's command. "Come in".

The door would open slowly before closing again, Johann laying eyes on what seemed to be an elegantly-dressed, yet foreign-looking young man who seemed to have a preference for a style the Ambassador would assume was most likely Midian. It wasn't like Johann knew too much about things like that, it was rather the Midian fashion itself that would bear fault for that circumstance. It was rather distinct from, for example, the ones of Fiore and Minstrel, and it didn't take a genius to figure that out. Not an uncommon occurrence, considering Amber Island's closeness to Midi. His gaze sought that of the unknown newcomer, his own dual-colored eyes of crimson and steel hues respectively meeting the amethyst-colored ones of the man. His lips curled up into a soft smile. "Greetings", the God of Ishgar's words were soft, his voice relaxed. "I assume you have business with me?". Of course the other would, why else would he have sought the Ambassador of Dies Irae out. "How can I help you?"

For but a few moments there would be silence before the other lowered his head to a bow before the Ambassador, continuing with what appeared like an introduction, an explanation for his presence and a justification for a ... misdeed from the past? The man, Kiyoshi Ashiya he said was his name, seemed to hold no regret for striking down who he mentioned was his cousin. That certainly was quite the way of presenting oneself, Johann thought. Well, it wasn't like the man could exactly fault the other for killing an attacker. It would've been hypocritical to pass judgment on the young man when he himself had been more indiscriminate in his actions, though, the question remained, the boy explained that he had done so before a member of the Rune Knights. Johann couldn't help but acknowledge the fact that such an act seemed foolish, even to the Ambassador of Dies Irae, who normally held little qualms about matters such as these.

The Rune Mage shook his head slightly, closing his eyes for a second before opening them again, his oculars resting on the new arrival. "I see, Ashiya-san ...", he quickly recalled the honorifics the other man from Midi he had met had taught him. Johann couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Haruyuki Takenaka, the man who had joined the Trading Company. It was no use, he quickly pushed that thought aside. "... Though, does Dies Irae truly follow the Bushido code? There are certain rules I need you to keep in mind at all times if you truly wish to become a mage of Dies Irae". The Ambassador's smile had vanished from his face, an expression of calculating cold replacing the polite patience.

"Firstly, I realize that the guild's way is eccentric to some, drastic to others, despised by many, but even we have our limits: Do not kill indiscriminately. The innocent are to be protected under any circumstances. Dies Irae exists not as a tool to enable you to go unpunished, it is a weapon aimed at those that seek to harm Earthland and its inhabitants. Disregarding this rule will make you no better than those that harm others, elements that are to be removed. I hope we understand each other". The man would give the other a nod, pausing for a second before continuing. "Secondly, while on Amber Island, or anywhere outside of Midi, Dies Irae respects the local culture, their customs, and most importantly their laws. While in Midi your move might have been legal, in Fiore it is more than just frowned upon to kill one's family members in a duel. If you still wish to join the guild, I must politely ask you to follow this rule. Anything unclear?", the Ambassador quickly asked. the young man seemed ... a little rough around the edges perhaps, inexperienced maybe, but not like a bad person. The silver-haired male would wait for an answer before making his decision.

Johann closed his eyes for just a second, his paraphrasal seemingly triggering a reaction from the other. It wasn't this specific situation, of course, that set him off. Johann could care less about anyone's cousin, though it remained a matter of principle. At least, he though, at least the other seemed to accept the conditions he had outlined. Johann was about to speak up once again when the door swung open, a being made of more snack than human entering the office. Of course, Sivvy and Joh shared the space, and the silver-haired man had wondered where she had disappeared to, the snacks in her arms serving to answer that question. He gave the woman a warm smile that shifted into an awkward smirk when Sivvy fetched the pail from the closet, setting it down before the newcomer in an almost comical way. Johann had to stop himself from giggling out loud, the grin still curling up the corners of his mouth. "I don't think that'll be necessary ...", the Ambassador began, trying to remain serious, "... but I appreciate your honesty, friend. This is Sivvy, by the way, also Ambassador of Dies Irae, in other words, your new boss". Johann opened one of the drawers on his desk, pulling out what seemed like a vial containing an almost sanguine liquid. "As long as you heed the laws of this organization, Dies Irae accepts you as a member of the guild. Where would you like your guild mark?", he asked, uncorking the small vial in his hands.

Johann gave the other a nod, the sanguine ink floating out of its glass container with a fluid motion of the God of Ishgar's hand and over to the designated spot on the man's chest, the liquid seemingly seeping into his skin as soon as it made contact, forming the cross that served as the guild mark of Dies Irae before, finally, changing its color into what the man desired. The introduction would be complete and the man, though a Neophyte, was now an official member of the guild.

Johann wanted to run over the whole "Welcome to Dies Irae" thing, but it seemed that his partner was faster than that, as usual not holding anything back. Sivvy was direct as ever, her explanation hopefully sufficient to enlighten the other about the guild's practices. At first, the girl seemed to have had her doubts, but she had grown into her role and the two Ambassadors now worked rather well together, did they not? "Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves ...", Johann grinned a little awkwardly. "... For now, you best settle in first", the man opened another drawer on his desk, pulling out what appeared like a single key, a small plaque with a number on it attached to it before handing it to the newcomer. "This is the key to your room in the East Wing, where the Living Quarters of Dies Irae are located. You will also find a selection of the regular uniforms of Dies Irae. The uniform is our standard dress when on duty at the guild or on jobs, so please follow the dress code. Any other question or concerns?", Johann asked with a neutral tone.