"Imagine that's your child on the other side of the fence!" The trainer yelled as three young women climbed a wooden fence.
An older woman in white robes approached the trainer and smiled, "I see the new recruits are doing well."
"Lady paladin," the trainer gasped and bowed slightly.
"No need for that. Tell me, how are they advancing?"
"Quickly. I'll be able to have them in the field soon."
"Give them an extra hour of handbook study. Knowledge is a greater weapon than any blade."
"As you wish."
The young women reached the end of the course.
"Take five ladies," the trainer ordered before returning her attention to the paladin, "I heard you will be leaving us for a while."
"Yes. I have some personal matters and a lot of vacation time to attend to."
"The master ordered it, didn't he?"
"Why else would I leave my home?"
"I wish you the best, I will keep you no longer."
The two women bowed lightly to each other before the paladin walked away.
It wasn't long before she had went back inside the main building before a druid rushed up to her.
"Lady paladin, please be careful. There are reports that the guild is more active than ever."
"The guild is no worry of mine. They are just normal humans capable of extraordinary things."
"What about…"
"Stop. I will not have my cousin's name spoken in these hallowed halls."
"I'm sorry."
"Easily forgiven, you had no way of knowing. One of the new recruits will probably become your apprentice, be ready by the end of the week."
"Thank you for the warning."
"I must finish preparations."
"Good luck."
"I'll need it where I'm going."
"Where's that?"
"The Venture compound."
"Oh my goddess, you have to be kidding."
"Nope."
"You old boyfriend is a Venture?"
"Eww, no. He's a necromancer, wait, he was never my boyfriend. Don't try to confuse me," the paladin laughed.
"Sorry, couldn't help myself," the druid smirked back.
"I have to go, like, now if I want to get the rest of my things."
The paladin began jogging up a staircase.
"Don't forget your crystal!" The druid called after her.
"I won't!"
The paladin left the druid behind and made her way to the third floor of the massive structure. Two doors away she entered a room that was cleared of everything save a crystal sphere and a suitcase.
She waved a hand over the crystal, "Are you there master?"
"Yes, my lady."
"I am leaving now, as you ordered."
"Don't think of this as a mission, more of a visit, a chance to see an old friend."
"Thank you master, I will."
"Then go and be you."
The crystal went dark and then clear again. The paladin packed it in the open suitcase on her bed. This was it, she was leaving her home for the first time in twenty years to stay somewhere she didn't know that wasn't a forest, swamp, or desert.
The paladin left her room, suitcase in hand, and hurried down the stairs. She made her way to the platform in front of the main building.
"The lady wishes to travel?" A mage asked her.
"Yes, you know where I must go."
"Then speak your name and be on your way."
"Enzeru Tomoshibi."