B2 Chapter 224: Payment, pt. 1
byWatching the guild administrators across from him, Kaius tried to work off some of his tension by balling his hands on his trousers. They’d done it. Shared that they had Aspects.
It had been tough, but the right decision. Now he was just waiting in silence for the guildmaster to deliver his verdict.
Rieker was silent, staring at them with a stoney intensity as he digested his words. His expression was schooled, not giving them the slightest hint on whether he was thrilled, shocked, or furious that two of them had already unlocked Aspects.
After they’d had a small dressing down—where Rieker had made extra sure that they were aware of what they’d done wrong about the boggling hunt—the guildmaster had requested they start with their little secret. He’d thought that it would be best to do so if they thought it was likely to impact their plans moving forward.
That, at least, was undoubtable. Rieker was thorough, and Kaius would be surprised if learning of the achievements up for grabs wouldn’t radically alter his choices on their missions—let alone the fact that Porkchop wanted the man’s direct help.
Inwardly, Kaius couldn’t help but wonder if they’d be able to crack his composure as the conversation continued. Aspects were one thing, but he hadn’t even gotten to Honours yet.
The silence continued for a moment, Rieker chewing through the news they had given.
“So, the two of you have unlocked your Aspects,” he said, nodding at Kaius and Iamus. “This is a grand development—a few others in the program have started to feel a resonance, but nothing concrete. If you’re able to share what you’ve learned, we might be able to accelerate things. I do wonder why you waited so long to share.”
Kaius cleared his throat—this was the moment. They had that information, but they needed to tell him about Honours.
“We can—but there’s something else tied to it. Another…way of gaining power that is applicable to everyone who has the strength and luck to grasp them. Unfortunately, some of them are limited, so at first it made more sense to monopolise the resource.”
Rieker narrowed his eyes, leaning in. The intensity of his focus was palpable, raising the hairs on the back of Kaius’s neck as he felt like he was a ten year old staring down a direbear. Ro wasn’t much better, her eye’s thinned to slits—he could only hope that their secrecy wouldn’t lead to her disapproval.
“And this mystery power, would it be the source of your unnatural strength?” Reiker asked.
He nodded, keeping his expression schooled.
“It is, they’re called Honour’s—”
Ro hissed, slamming her palm on Rieker’s desk with enough force that the wood screamed in protest. Kaius jumped at the sudden noise, the woman too fast for him to react to.
“Bullshit.”
“Sorry?” Kaius asked, not expecting the reaction. He’d expected incredulity, but for Ro to just disbelieve them upon even hearing the name of the system’s rewards was outside of his expectations.
Ro held firm, glaring at him. “The oldest guild records mention Honours—the source of the Observed’s strength—so yeah, bullshit. The records of their strength are well known, you don’t even come close to matching up.”
“You already know of Honours?” Porkchop asked in surprise. “That should make things easier.”
“You persist with this farce?” Ro said, flicking her attention to his brother. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but—”
“Calm, Ro.” Rieker said, cutting her off with a raised hand. “We both know the old records are spotty, we only know the name, not what Honour’s are. Besides, those records are tightly held—how would they have learnt of it otherwise?”
The guild manager huffed, but held her tongue and slowly lowered herself back into her seat.
She still stared at them with narrowed eyes, but it was clear that they’d at least have the chance to explain themselves—thank the gods.
As Ro settled back down, Rieker nodded, before turning his attention back to them.
“Saying you have Honours—that by that very nature, are Observed—is an extraordinary claim. As I mentioned, the records are spotty, but they’re clear they were the source of the Observed’s unnatural strength. A strength, mind you, that you do not have—nothing you’ve done comes close to those impossible feats.” Rieker said slowly, before he fell silent.
Ianmus cleared his throat, drawing the room towards him.
“That, at least, is easy to explain. There are clearly many Honours—Kaius and Porkchop helped me gain one, but have a lot more themselves. It’s also a scaling bonus.”
Rieker and Ro looked at Kaius, curiosity and surprise in their eyes.
“Is this true? You shared the strength with him?” Ro asked.
Kaius nodded. “It was the easiest way to ensure his loyalty, and make it so that our secrets were also his—it would have made long term cooperation impossible otherwise.”
“Hmm,” Rieker hummed, rubbing his chin. “You’ve got some sense, then—but please, don’t dangle the answer to the oldest mystery in the guild. What do they do? How do they work.”
Kaius took a breath, and started to explain. The Honour’s they had discovered, the different tiers to their strength, and the bonuses that could be acquired for achieving them alone, or being the first to do so. That, and the rest of the small secrets they had kept. The truth of their classes, and their experience in the Depths. The one thing he’d held back is their role in the phase shift, and their subsequent brush with the divine.
At first, Ro and Rieker had been clearly skeptical, with small frowns and furrowed brows. As Kaius continued to talk, that slowly changed.
By the end of it, the guild administrators were leaning in with their hands clenched tightly around their armrests—hanging off his every word.
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“Fascinating…this could change everything. Sure, it would be more effective the earlier you started, but even Ro and I could benefit from this. A fine gift you have brought me, boy—especially after the disappointment of missing out on Aspects.” Rieker replied.
“I’ll say—you’ve convinced me Greenhorn. I’m in your debt for this secret you have gifted us.” Ro said, following up from the guildmaster.
The guildmaster fell silent as his fingers drummed a staccato beat on his desk, providing a brisk tempo to his thoughts.
“I doubt you did this out of simple good will though—tell me, what do you hope to gain? And how does this relate to Aspects?”
Kaius nodded. “Simple—the Aspects come with an Honour for being in the first five to found one. Ianmus and I already have it, and Porkchop is right on the cusp. He was hoping that you’d be able to assist him—he’s certain that he needs to persevere in the face of physical adversity to get over the final hump.”
Turning to Porkchop, Rieker gave the meles a long and calculating look.
“Done, we’ll discuss how at the end of our meeting—if it’s urgent I can clear my schedule for the afternoon. However, I doubt that’s all of it.”




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