Dark Reincarnation: Nightshade

Chapter 22

Alice's POV

              "Wow.... This place sure is crowded. It's gonna take forever to get there.." Lily complained for the fifth time. We've already been in Lumina for about an hour and are still on the way to the guild. We ended up having to leave our horse and carriage at a stable just inside the gate. Apparently the streets here are usually so packed full of people during the day that it would be near impossible to get anywhere with it in a decent amount of time. But seeing as how lumina was the only human kingdom next to the sea I'm not really surprised.

      We were currently following one of the guards, who I learned was named Jacque, through the crowded market district. Almost everywhere you looked there was a merchant selling seafood or the like. We seem to have arrived during a very busy time of the year, judging by the quantity and the freshness of everything I'd assume that most merchants here were just recently stocked.

              "We're nearly there, the guild house is just around the corner on our right. It's one of the biggest buildings in the area and sits right between the merchant district and the commercial district. You can't miss it." Jacque said as we made our way through all the people bustling about.

            "I think I see it!." Lily suddenly said getting excited. "Is it that big red building with the grey roof?"

                 "Yes ma'am, that would be it. I'll escort you ladies to the front desk and then leave you to it." Jacque said while opening the front door and holding it open for us.

    As soon as we walked in I was immediately surprised. Instead of the cliche adventurers guild scene with all the noise and drinking I was met by a nice quiet and formal atmosphere. Everything from the floor to the ceiling was perfectly clean and tidy and all the workers had on the fake smile employees tend to have to use. As we approached the front desk the lady behind the counter looked up from her paperwork and smiled at Jacque.

    It might just be me but something tells me there's some kind of something going on between these two. But hey, I don't blame the guy, she was pretty cute. She was lean and tall but in a joggers kind of way, had bright blonde hair and green eyes and she had a pretty big rack to top it off. 'Good for you Jacque, she's quite a catch' I inwardly laughed to myself.

            "Hey Jacque, what brings you here at this time of day?" The lady asked as we got close.

         "Hey, Eileen, I was just asked to escort these young ladies here to get started on getting their identification papers. Apparently they're from a small village pretty far away and have never had to get any." He told her while smiling ear to ear. Oh yeah, not a doubt about it, there's definitely something going on with these two.

         "Anyway, I have to get back to my post sadly enough. See you later today?"

                "Of course, I'm off at eight today, I'll be waiting."

          "Eight it is!" He said while grinning ear to ear. His eyes sparkling as he turned to us. "Anyway ladies, this is where we part ways. Eileen here will get you two all sorted out. I hope you guys have a pleasant day."

                 "You as well well sir." I said as he turned and went back the way we came. As I turned back to the front desk and saw Eileen start to pull out a bunch of files from under the counter my mood instantly did a complete 180°. I just remembered something, I absolutely hate paperwork. And judging by the size of the stacks she was pulling out, there was a lot of it. Seeing all of it just one thing came to mind.

     'This is really going to suck isn't it'