Wizard sat in the hallway in the upper meeting rooms of the guild hall, dressed in full adventure garb. She had no quest, it had only been a day since her return from the Elvish Ruins. Her body still tender from the burns and impacts that came in that final battle. She stared into her lap gloved hands clenched together tightly. This was an important moment... her first Promotion interview.

"We're ready to see you." The sudden announcement caused her to jump her feet a bit too quickly, but she caught herself before she stumbled. She took a deep breath and schooled her features before slowly walking into the room, closing the door behind her. There was another plush seat sitting across from a wooden desk. Behind it sat the Guild girl, her expression being the usual Professional smile she gave nearly everyone who came to the guild...accept Goblin Slayer that was. To her Right was another member of the Staff, with long brown hair and a stern expression. In her hand a set of scales attached to a sword, the symbol of the Supreme God. To the left was an older man in his early 20s dressed in leather armor, a ruby tag around his neck. It took a moment to click that she'd seen him before at the Temple. "Please have a seat." Guild girl motioned to the seat across from her.

"Yes mam," Wizard said stiffly before going to sit down, upright and at full attention. The older woman covered her mouth and laughed gently.

"No need to be so tense, we're just going to go over your records and see where you currently stand. In light of your last quest there are some questions we'd like to look into." she continued calmly, but did little to ease the tension in the young mage. "I will be the main person conducting this interview but as you can see I have two observers as well. I'm sure you've seen my colleague at the desk and around the guild." she motioned to her right, the other woman nodded briefly but said nothing. Now motioning to the left "We also bring in a fellow adventurers to provide a wider prospective to our observations, he is an experienced veteran of 5 years."

"Pleased to meet you," the Swordsman said with a small smile. "I know it seems a bit scary but this isn't that bad. Just relax and be yourself." he spoke with a comforting confidence, that had Wizard letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"Okay then, let us begin with your quest History." The Guild Girl began shifting through the papers on her desk. "Over these first three of months you have been working almost exclusively with Goblin Slayer. As such you have taken on quite an extensive series of Goblin related quests of which the guild is quite thankful for." wizard felt a small amount of pride swell into her chest at the praise. "That being said He would no doubt have done these quests solo if you were not accompanying him so an argument could be made that you were coasting on a Silver's experience." it immediately deflated once more but was followed by a small spark of indignation. Coast? Her? Like she'd sit back and not do her part... before she could open her mouth to vocalize her thoughts the older woman continued. "But you are still a Porcelain so even if in a duo with a Silver you no doubt have been seeing a fair share of action... and follow ups from the clients and incidental interaction have shown you have poise and professionalism when on a quest."

"Thank you..." she managed a reply but inside her she could feel another BUT coming.

"That being said, when it comes to your fellow adventurers you have been reported as being 'Stand-offish and Difficult' and occasionally 'Rude'." she flinched and didn't immediately speak up. It wasn't wrong... she'd chewed out a couple of other new adventurers who tried to invite her on a quest after they insulted Goblin Slayer. She also tended to ignore the other members, her entire time as an adventurer had been spent either working with Goblin Slayer or locked in her room studying... it probably didn't look very good on paper.

"Trust is the most important thing valued here at the guild..." The swordsmen spoke up, "That carries off onto your fellow adventurers. If such opinions fester it could slow your advancement and damage your reputation. Please try to keep this in mind." he seemed to be speaking from his own experience, that slight hitch in his smile confirming it.

"Yes sir..." she said softly with her head down.

"That being said, on to more recent events." The older woman picked up a new paper, "The goblin quest in the Elvish Ruins offered by the council of races." Wizard pulled herself back up unsure what had and hadn't been explained in the report as she had been excused from said report so she could recover from her Overcasting and burns. "Once again you were the sole Porcelain Rank among Silvers. Overall reports noted your cooperativeness and ingenuity as high positives as well as your 'Guts'" the older woman added with a chuckle. "Though there was some note of Recklessness and rudeness once more. Would you like to clarify things from your own perspective?"

Wizard did her best to sum up the quest as she remembered it, all the while the Brown haired receptionist seemed to be looking through her offering only the occasional nod. As she got to the Ogre encounter itself she grew a bit more reluctant, the events still fresh and terrifying... How close they all came to nearly dying.

"So why did you choose to jump down and use that close range spell at the risk of overcasting and greater injury from the fall?"

"I... I panicked. I felt if I didn't take action the others would have been severely injured... or worse" she admitted. "Most of my longer range spells had a chance of failure, the Ogre either shrugging off the damage or resisting the effects." she continued slowly her mind replaying the aftermath of Goblin Slayer being knocked across the room saving her, she shook her head trying to clear her mind. "Color Spray is unique in that its more about how magic magic you put into the spell rather then your enemies ability to resist it. It blinds and disorients, easily breaking the concentration of arcane spell casters... But it's range is short."

"I see, this lines up with what the others reported more or less..." the Guild girl placed her paper down. She looked to her co-worked her relinquished hold of her symbol and spoke up proper for the first time in the whole meeting.

"There was no falsehood in this retelling, in the eyes of supreme god I see no issues." she said calmly, bringing a cold sweat to the younger adventurer. She'd been under Sense lie this whole time? it's good she hadn't embarrassed herself...

"Her actions show promise in what I would like to see in a fellow party member." the Swordsman said confidently. "Though reckless, it was in service to protecting her party. Those are the attributes we need in our community."

"As for the sheer volume of work and professionalism with clients and rescued hostages, Taking into account the opinions of the observers the guild sees no issues in awarding this promotion." the guild girl finished happily with a much more natural smile... it took a few moments for the news to properly hit.

"You mean I'm going up a rank?" she asked dumbfounded.

"Yes, you are now an Obsidian ranked adventurer. Congratulations!"

"T-Thank you," she bowed deeply unsure how else to express her gratitude. When she rose she bore an intense look. "You won't regret this decision."

"See that we don't," The guild girl said good-naturedly. "It will take a little time to finalize the paperwork we should have your new tag ready around noon. Just report to the front desk to swap your tags."

"Yes Mam,"she stood stiffly trying to be as natural as possible as she left. As soon as she was in the hallway and made sure she was alone she clenched her fists close to her chest and jumped "Yes!" she exclaimed but tried not to be too loud. That out of her system she took a deep breath and collected herself. She was an adventurer after all. The door opened again, making her flinched briefly but she restrained herself turning to see the Swordsman leaving the room. The older man offered her a smile.

"I know they already said as much but good work, One step closer to the top."

"Thank you sir,"

"Now now no need for all that formality, we're adventurers after all." he said motioning her over. "Come on I'll treat you to a meal while you wait for your tag. I'm about to get paid for being an observer and I can't think of a better thing to start with." Wizard was taken aback but slowly nodded and started to follow.

"Thanks,"

"No problem," he waited for the girl to catch up and walked alongside her. "I've seen you at the temple a few times, I was surprised. You never struck me as the religious type."

"I'm not." Wizard admitted freely, "But sometimes cold logic is the last thing I need." she struggled for a bit not wanting to ruin the nice mood with her own insecurities, much less in front of a fellow adventurer. "So I let go a little bit now and then, and Believe."

"Adventuring is dangerous life, if the gods are really deciding of fates with dice I'd rather look to the one who at least seems to look back kindly." he admitted, being a bit evasive himself. An awkward silence followed and wizard wasn't sure of a good way to get back out if it... fortunately the Swordsmen was experienced socially as well.

"Anyway, you've been adventuring with Goblin Slayer all this time."

"Um, Yes." she didn't go further unsure what this man's personal view of her odd companion was.

"It's good to see him partying, I've been worried he'd still be going lone-wolf."

"Do you know him well?"

"Not well," he admitted "I joined the guild the same day he did. Even went on a quest with him once." he passed a glance over to wizard. "Goblins, of course. He was really rough around the edges back then. Not that I'm one to talk" he forced a smile.

"He's blunt and a bit dense but he's taught me a lot about being an adventurer." she said with a small smile.

"Well considering you just got a promotion it must be working."

"Well some of that is MY hard work." she said proudly adjusting her glasses.

"Yes yes, of course." The older adventurer merely chuckled deciding not to dispute her. The two made there way downstairs into the guild proper and the promised meal. But the real gift was the unexpectedly pleasant company... the Obsidian Tag was pretty good too.

AN: So as we are following Wizard's perspective generally I thought it would be fun to trow together what her promotion exam like was, as she has fulfilled just as much criteria as priestess has to earn her Obsidian rank during this time. I don't know if every promotion has the Lie detecting staff member involved but she's shown to be working there nearly every day like Guild Girl so I don't see why not... as for the Observer I decided to keep it to known factors and use the Swordsman once more. He seems the reliable sort at this point in his career so i can see Guild girl up for including him as an observer. Also give him and Wizard some time to properly talk. Can't hurt to flesh out side characters some and get away from the regular side characteristic heavy warrior's party... I was admittedly thinking of using the Amazon but decided against it. Not sure how wizard would get on with a boisterous brawler...

Anyway next time a bit of calm before the storm... We're following the light Novel so Water Town is going to wait until a more pressing matter is dealt with first.