While the Codex of the Hollowed Sun had occupied their initial attention, the rest of the vault had plenty of lesser—if still astounding—treasures to sift through. Mae especially lost herself in the process of rummaging around in the storage cabinets, shelves, and drawers, oohing and aahing at each alchemical reagent she identified.

Jasper, meanwhile, had walked over to a pedestal with a glass container. He stared blankly at the three blocky shapes of silvery-blue material.

“Those are ingots of starmetal,” he said blandly.

Vivi’s attention drifted over. Sensing an opportunity to deliver long overdue payback, she walked up next to him. Eyes bored, she looked down at the bars of metal.

“Only small ones,” she pointed out.

He looked at her. Opened his mouth to reply. Closed it.

“Yeah. Just…small ones.”

“It makes for excellent silverware,” she commented, then turned and walked away.

She felt him staring at her back. “That was a joke, right? Hey, that was a joke, right?”

Rafael’s attention turned to Vivi as she approached.

“I have a situation I need help with.”

“A lesser demon would run screaming at such words,” Rafael replied. “I merely tremble, instead. How may this humble steward serve you, my lady?”

She eyed him. “I mentioned my apprentice, right?”

“You did.”

“She got into some trouble at Meridian. It’s why she was in Prismarche.”

He digested that, then said, “She fled across the entire continent? Not a small amount of trouble, then.”

“I don’t know the exact details, but no. In short, the Caldimore family got her expelled from the Institute…though maybe deservedly?” For all that Vivi knew Saffra had a good heart, it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility that she bore some guilt for what she’d been accused of. “But I doubt it. I think something more is going on. She allegedly attacked Isabella Caldimore, and was accused of other things too—I don’t know exactly what—but I suspect most if not all were fabricated. I have no proof.”

Rafael took the explanation in stride. “The Caldimores. If I made a list of five families to avoid, politically speaking, theirs would be on it. Perhaps at the top. I’ve heard no request, though. Does she have a bounty that needs clearing?”

“Nothing like that. I think, legally speaking, she was released with the expulsion. But someone she knew, a gold-rank adventurer, wasn’t happy when he heard what had happened, and—made a scene. He insulted the Duke and was thrown in a cell. He’s been imprisoned for six months, and I want him freed.”

Rafael hummed. “Duke Caldimore is not one to let slights slip past his family. A prickly man. And it sounds like he has the legal high ground. This could be difficult to resolve.” Strangely, the demon smiled. “Ah, the old days have returned in earnest. Though I’m surprised you didn’t free him yourself, Lady Vivisari, and leave me scrambling to pick up the pieces. Have you grown wiser in your time away? Or did you pity your steward for once?”

Vivi knew she was being teased, but justifiably so. Because it might have gone that way. Somewhat embarrassed, she admitted, “I went and checked on him. He was being treated well for a prisoner.” By the standards of this world, at least. “I might’ve taken things into my own hands if that hadn’t been the case.”

“I expect little else, however much I will advise you to act with moderation,” Rafael said, only seeming amused. “Now more than ever. You will not escape the repercussions of your actions in the same manner you once could. There are no remaining Cataclysms for the powers that be to justify a rogue element of your strength doing as she pleases.”

“I know,” Vivi said, though she knew she didn’t, not really. The scale of her problems was—too big to contextualize. They didn’t fit in her head. She was one of the most important people in the world now? That was much too ridiculous to be true.

“But yes. Duke Caldimore is famously touchy when it comes to his family’s honor,” Rafael said. “That said, he is a rational actor from what I’ve observed and the profile I’ve put together. He would not dig his heels in if the detriments grossly outweigh the benefits—pride or not. Thus, I believe there are a number of ways we could exert pressure. I hesitate to do so with either of our names, however, which complicates things. The time is not right to announce your return, or Vanguard’s, and my name would dredge up questions—why am I involved? A solution depends on how deep the insult offered was, or the nature of the grudge against your apprentice.”

“I don’t know the details. I’m still looking into it. But William and the Duke have interacted before. He was in the Wardens. He said something about one of his teammates not being healed after a serious injury, when the guild should’ve helped? Contractually? It upset enough people that Duke Caldimore met with him personally, though they didn’t come to a resolution.”

 “The story jogs a memory,” Rafael said, frowning. “Hm. Regardless. I imagine a properly sufficient donation would solve this problem. There should be no need to rely on political weight, much less force. Coin is a panacea for many things. Upsetting, perhaps, rewarding the Caldimores fiscally, but nevertheless the most efficient solution.” He shrugged. “If this is unacceptable, and there is need for more direct approaches, remember: you borrow the name Keresi. They are honored to stand behind you, and their influence is not insignificant.”

“If you think a bribe is enough, let’s start there.” She hesitated. “But quickly, please?” She felt awkward asking him to rush when he was doing her a favor, but it wasn’t really a favor—it was his role as Vanguard’s steward. Still, she wasn’t used to demanding things of people. “I’m worried Saffra will want to see him, and then she’ll find out what happened. She’ll blame herself, and—” She sighed and waved a hand, not wanting to finish.

“It will be handled with the utmost expedience,” Rafael said coolly.

“Thank you. And speaking of Saffra, I need advice there too.”

Rafael raised an eyebrow.

“She doesn’t know who I am. I’m debating whether to tell her. The only reason I haven’t—” Beyond her natural awkwardness and not knowing how to approach that conversation, “—is because it’ll change how she sees me. I was thinking it’s better to get to know her without revealing it.”

She would have talked with Tilly about this, but she, of course, had no idea that Vivi was the legendary savior of the world either.

Rafael considered. “Children are not my specialty,” he said. “But I see nothing incorrect with your logic. Knowing that her master is the Sorceress would, indeed, drastically alter how she perceives you. Establishing a relationship beforehand could be beneficial.” He shrugged. “Equally so, it might be seen as deception. Regardless of the rationale or reasonability of hiding your title. Emotions are not logical; children are not; people are not.”

That wasn’t the most useful advice, but of course there was no cut-and-dried answer. She could only use her best judgment…and in this case, she really did think that getting to know Saffra for at least a few days, if not weeks, was smart. It set her somewhat at ease that Rafael didn’t disagree.

Vivi’s eyes drifted to Mae and Jasper. Mae was still rummaging through the vault and arranging reagents on a shelf. Jasper had been appropriated as an extra pair of hands, obediently acting the helper while slipping in obnoxious remarks wherever he could.

“Requests have been sent to the appropriate craftsmen guilds for your project,” Rafael said. “I should have answers by noon; urgency was specified.”

“All three?”

“Indeed. Leatherworker, woodworker, jewelcrafter, as you requested.”

“Perfect. Thank you.”

“Merely doing my duty, my lady.”

Glancing over and seeing Vivi and Rafael looking at her, Mae froze with a jar of golden liquid in hand. She hastily set it down and hurried over.

“I’m only organizing,” she said defensively. “I know I can’t just take what I want. It’s for if I need to find something quickly, for an important project. Best to be ready for that sort of thing.”

“I didn’t assume otherwise,” Vivi said. Jasper walked up too, and her eyes flicked to him. “Are you joining as well?” she asked.

“Joining?” he asked.

“Vanguard.”

He froze. His eyes flicked to Mae, then Rafael, who both seemed equally surprised.

“I’m invited?” he asked incredulously.

“If Mae is joining as an adventurer, not just as our alchemist, and you’re her teammate…?” Vivi could tell she’d asked something strange. “I don’t see why not.”

“Teammates holding membership in separate guilds isn’t unheard of, though is somewhat unusual,” Rafael said, interrupting smoothly. “However, from what I understand, you two have been on a team for eight years?”

“Nine,” Mae said.

“So this is more than a short-term arrangement. Thus I agree—the offer is not out of place.”

Both Jasper and Mae seemed disoriented, and Vivi supposed she’d dropped a bomb on them. Jasper clearly hadn’t expected to join Vanguard, despite how Mae had. And it would be a significant offer, Vivi realized. Joining the guild that had been exclusive to the Party of Heroes, though that trend had been broken by Mae first, would be shocking, even for someone as irreverent as Jasper. She’d just kind of assumed it would happen, seeing how he was Mae’s teammate.

She had her problems with Jasper, but she thought he was a good man at a fundamental level. The way he’d jumped to the Convoy’s defense proved it. So he seemed like a good fit for Vanguard.

“But I would advise an interview first, Lady Vivisari,” Rafael said. “As a minimum requirement. And they have a third teammate; it’s best to discuss the topic with him too, in advance.”

“Of course.” She should have checked with Rafael to begin with; she’d spoken without thinking. “You can handle that interview now, if you want. I was hoping I could work with Mae, and we don’t need…” She glanced at the ranger-adventurer. “A distraction.”

“I’ve never been a distraction in my life,” Jasper said.

Both Vivi and Mae stared at him.

“Maybe once,” he admitted. “Twice at the most.”

“He’s yours,” Vivi told Rafael. She looked at Mae. “Assuming you’re free.”

“Free? For…an alchemy project, you mean?” The excitement in her voice was plain.

“For alchemy,” she confirmed.

Rafael ushered away Jasper, who hesitated, glanced at Mae, shrugged, and followed the tall demon-steward.

“I don’t know how much Rafael told you,” Vivi continued, now alone with Mae, “but my time away left me with memory problems.” Mae seemed concerned but not surprised, so Rafael had probably brought it up. The two had been speaking with each other for who-knew-how-long before Vivi had teleported into the guildhall. “I want to make sure I understand the co-crafting process before I work with others. I have a project planned for my apprentice.”

“The beastkin girl,” Mae said. “Jasper mentioned her.” She frowned. “How she threw herself against a Titled-rank monster without a second thought. Can’t say I’m surprised,” she sighed. “She’s your apprentice. How many thousands of times did you do that, or Orion, or Axian, or any of you?” Her expression sank, no doubt remembering those friends who had died a century ago. She visibly pushed the mood away. “Is she invited to Vanguard too, if it’s opening its ranks? I doubt Jasper was some special exception. Let’s be serious.”

“If she’s interested,” Vivi said. “Maybe. I don’t have concrete plans yet. I haven’t even told her who I am. I was just talking with Rafael about that. It’ll be a…big revelation, I think, so maybe it’s better to wait until we know each other better.”

Mae looked thoughtful. “I can see that. Even I try to hide who I am sometimes, because of the assumptions people make, and it goes without saying I don’t have a thousandth the reputation that the Sorceress does.” She shook her head, then glanced over her shoulder at the pile of alchemy reagents. “Well, never mind that. I don’t have any good advice, I’ve never had an apprentice. What kind of potion were you thinking?”

“Any,” Vivi said. “I just want to jog my memory.” On second thought, though... “Saffra does need more level-appropriate potions. Or did you want to do work on something more involved?”

Mae squirmed around, eyes shiftily sliding sideways, as if embarrassed to admit it. “It has been a century since I’ve gotten my hands on mythic-grade reagents, Lady Vivisari. But of course, I’ll complete any project you ask of me.”

“How about both?” Vivi said, entertained by this woman’s obvious addiction. “Something exotic first, then lower-grade potions afterward.”

Mae bobbed her head eagerly. “I saw some Heartwood Ichor over there. That’s not too expensive, right?”

Utterly shameless. Vivi’s lips almost twitched in amusement. “I don’t have warp anchors set in the Western Kingdom, so not too much. It’d be tedious to get more.”

“Barely a few drops,” Mae promised, hurrying over to the hoard of reagents before Vivi could change her mind.

After collecting a few more supplies, they left the vault and wound through the guildhall to the alchemy lab.

On the way, Vivi’s eyes drifted to the quest board. A new mythic-tier quest, the second stage for Vanguard’s Restoration, hadn’t appeared. Would there even be a second stage? Logic seemed to dictate so, but apparently it would be some time before it appeared. Or maybe just an hour? Or some other hidden requirement? She would have to check regularly.

Inside the lab, Mae unloaded the collection of items onto a metal table and began plucking glassware off the shelves and moving equipment around.

“So,” the elf said. “Memory problems. I’m sorry to hear that.”

After a second of not having a clue how to respond, she replied, “It is what it is.”

“How serious? Not to pry. Just so I know.” She gestured around at the lab. “Trying to understand how to help.”

“It’s worse in some places, better in others. I remember you, the guild, the campaigns. Magic is no problem. I’ve had no issues casting. But some concepts are patchy, crafting especially. I don’t remember much of the collaborative process.”

She had real ranks in enchanting, rather than collaborative ranks, and had been given extensive knowledge on how to enchant items and set down persistent effects via Vivisari’s memories. But that was because enchanting was just an extension of magic; the other crafting disciplines hadn’t been so kind as to throw themselves into her mind.

Mae hummed. “Not surprised co-crafting was the first to go,” she said with a snort. “Not like you lost much. Skills handle most of the work.” She cleared her throat. “Not to make light of anything. Memory gaps are no fun, regardless of what they are or how serious. Sorry.”

“I’m bothered less than you think. There’s no need to walk on eggshells.”

While the discordant knowledge stemming from her transmigration could legitimately be called ‘memory problems’ in an abstract way, she didn’t have amnesia or some other unnerving condition. She supposed the whole ordeal—the transmigration—was something that still made her internally panic when she considered it more than superficially, but that wasn’t a ‘memory problem’.

“You may have to walk me through a few things,” Vivi said. “Or all of it.”

“That’s usually how it works,” Mae said, shrugging. “Not to say anything too obvious, but having ranks in a collaborative isn’t the same as spending a century studying and leveling the main skill.” She paused, then shook her head with amusement. “Then again, considering the sheer amount of skills you’ve gained from—I don’t even want to imagine how high your rank is—you’re head-and-shoulders a better assistant than even a seventieth-rank real alchemist.” Her eyes started to sparkle. “Oh, I’m going to be able to make so much more, now.” She turned back to the metal table and started excitedly arranging her equipment. “It’s been a hundred years since I made a [Earthstrider Elixir], or anything half as potent.”

[Earthstrider Elixir]? A top-tier speed potion. Vivi already had some in her inventory, but she couldn’t bring herself to disrupt Mae’s enthusiasm. Not when Vivi couldn’t come up with a potion she did need brewed, barring those weaker ones for Saffra. So she would let the alchemist decide what she wanted to experiment with.

“I don’t actually have any serious rank in a collaborative myself,” Mae said, “so I’m not sure how much I can talk you through anything. But I don’t think I’ll need to. From what I understand, the skills you’ve earned should handle almost all of it. That’s the whole point of a collaborative. So that adventurers who are busy bashing in monster skulls all day can come back and work with their guild’s craftsmen without years of training. You aren’t supposed to help with the whole process, just some of the steps, and boost the end result by being there.”

That was what Vivi had interpreted from poking through the various skills, but it was nice to have it confirmed.

“Here,” Mae said, handing her a mortar and pestle with a blue, chalk-like material inside. Azurestone, she thought she recognized? An [Inspect] confirmed the theory. “Start by crushing this into a fine powder, please.”