Lunesday, 3rd of Septimus, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

The suspended carriage Claire was on did very well in providing a relatively smooth ride. Despite that, being alone in the carriage with just the young reverend Timotheus made it feel not so smooth. It wasn't even his fault.

Reverend Timotheus had thanked her for allowing him to come along. He had said he just wanted to unwind and see more of the city. Claire couldn't begin to imagine why he couldn't do it himself. But after thinking about it, having him along would be most useful.

The count had assigned a single knight to travel with them. He sat outside on the carriage, next to the coachman.

Because of her want for keeping a more subtle presence, they had used one of the plainer carriages bereft of any noble trappings. It was also a relatively smaller carriage, only fitting at most four people inside if they squeezed in.

"Still, I didn't expect that your namboru and amangboru were so prominent in the capital of this western kingdom." Reverend Timotheus smiled as he recounted what the count had told them.

Apparently, her uncle and aunt were the co-guildmasters of the Tigerclaw guild of adventurers. They were known in the capital for being composed of many foreigners, but the count didn't expect them to be headed by Halak people.

"My father did tell me that he and his family joined a group of adventurers long ago, but I never expected them to be anything famous." Claire said "But then again, I understand nothing about adventurer guilds, their rank systems, or even how they operate. We would deal with a lot of adventurers in the tavern, but we've never dealt with them for business."

"You're telling me. The concept of 'adventuring' that you have here doesn't even exist in our homeland." Reverend Timotheus said. "Back home, dungeon delving is a rite of passage all Halak warriors had to engage in, not just the specialised few. Had your brother been raised back home, he would've had his first true hunt or dungeon raid."

"I can't begin to imagine Horace doing something so dangerous." Claire chuckled at the idea. Her brother had indeed dreamed of becoming an adventurer when he was younger, but her father never truly supported it.

While he did train at times, he confessed to her that he wasn't all that talented, He said that he was barely a 'first star' aura warrior. Not that Claire would understand what any of that warrior jargon meant. She was still barely learning the basic concepts of magic.

"Oh, he wouldn't be going at it alone. Hunting and dungeon delving are communal, group activities." Reverend Timotheus seemed assured "He would've been a part of his own party of young warriors. Much like Josi and the rest."

The young reverend sighed as he said that, looking wistfully out the carriage windows. There was a small sense of longing in his voice.

Sitting directly across from her, she could see the young priest's body language. Him gazing out while resting his chin up on his hand. Something about him seemed… forlorn.

"Lord Reverend…" Claire spoke up, startling the young reverend. He was definitely out of it. He chuckled as he shook his head.

"Please, unless we're at church, just call me Bang Timo like everyone else." Reverend Timotheus said. It was indeed far easier to say. "Or maybe just abang is fine."

It seemed very familiar to refer to him as 'older brother'. But, it would seem that was the culture of the Halak.

"Okay… abang?" She tried to mimic his way of saying the word. It must've been a laughable attempt as he was chuckling. She was never any good at pronouncing things in Halak. "I'm sorry if I butchered that. I never really got a real chance to practice Halak."

"Oh no, it's fine. Just stick around us and you'll be speaking the language like someone born in the homeland." The priest was very supportive of her attempts. But there he goes again, speaking of his home.

"I've always been curious. What is your homeland like? I've only ever heard of the Halaklands from my father's descriptions, but that was over two decades ago. What is it like now?"

"Oh, so you're curious about our homeland?" The reverend corrected her. Claire lightly snorted at him.

"Lord Reverend-... Bang Timo. I was born and raised in Chessey. I've spent my whole life in Feldonia. This is my home." Claire clarified.

"Indeed, you have roots here, too, Claire. I'm not trying to deny that. Surely, a person can have more than one home."

"How could I refer to a place I've never once set foot on as my home?"

"By virtue of the blood that flows in you. You are a Halak. No one can take that away from you. And the Halaklands are home to any son or daughter of the Halak."

"I can't even speak the language properly."

"It's never too late to learn." The priest shrugged his shoulders before he smiled. Gosh, even when he was being facetious, he looked charming. "And who better to learn it from than all of us? I personally would be glad to help you learn. We can start now with the little things. I'll show you the basics of introducing yourself. It would most certainly delight your namboru and amangboru."

Reverend Timo's idea wasn't bad at all. It was better than doing nothing, and there was still about an hour to go on the trip. It sure beats just awkwardly staring at each other.

The rest of the ride was filled with Reverend Timo teaching Claire the basics of pronunciation, important words, and just basic grammar. She had to give it to the young reverend. He had the patience of a saint with the amount of mistakes she made. The worst he'd do was laugh at her and teach her slowly.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

For some reason, he called her a 'fast learner' despite the fact she only succeeded in learning how to introduce herself in Halak. Still, it was fun seeing the reverend be so encouraging, clapping and praising her when she managed to do the most basic of things.

"Alright, to better train your comprehension, I will try my best to mostly speak to you in Hata Halak. Boi do tabahen songoni, Claire?"

Claire nodded her head, trying to remember the right word to respond with. "Boi, abang."

They continued to speak and joke around until they felt the carriage stopping.

Claire looked out the carriage window and saw a three-storey, fortified manor house. The coachman had announced that they had arrived in the Tigerclaw guildhouse. The guildhouse – though it wasn't comparable to Count Lorenz' mansion – still looked significantly affluent. It even had a marble sculpture of a roaring tiger on top of its door.

What caught her eye the most, however, were the ulos cloths hung to the sides of the door. She didn't even need to ask anyone else to make sure. She knew she was in the right place.

Reverend Thomas had stepped out of the carriage first before he offered his hand to help her off. When she got out, he also handed over an ulos cloth for her to wear over her shoulder.

"Hopefully, this would show some of these people that we're friendly." The reverend also draped an ulos cloth over his right shoulder.

He wasn't wrong, either. Outside the guildhouse, she could see several dangerous-looking characters conversing with one another. They must be adventurers, right? Though, none of them looked any friendlier than the thugs that had threatened her father's tavern. Instinctively, she held onto Reverend Timotheus' arm.

One of the armed men stood up as he noticed them approaching. He was a short man, with a lanky figure, wearing a buff jerkin similar to what soldiers would use. His scarred face and one blinded eye did little to make him seem friendly. And it seemed like his remaining working eye was fixed on the young reverend.

"Is, uh… Is there anything we can help ye with, preacher?" The man asked, his eye scanning them up and down.

"Is this the Tigerclaw guildhouse, perchance?" Reverend Timotheus asked.

"Hah, the preacher's as blind as you are, Ralph." One of the other men shouted, sitting on the porch of the guildhouse "As if the tiger statue couldn't be any more obvious."

"Oy, Shut it, Danny!" The lanky man barked at the other adventurer before turning back to face them "Aye, this is the Tigerclaw guild. Are ye looking to commission us for something?"

"Oh, not at all. We're just here to meet with this young lady's aunt or uncle." Reverend Timotheus explained.

Immediately, the blind man turned to look at Claire. His eye scanning her up and down like he did with the reverend. Claire was trying her best to not think any bad of the man, but she felt uncomfortable being looked at like that. It reminded her of those horrible people trying to get her sold to a brothel. Though, at least the scary man's look wasn't any lecherous.

"And who might ye be, young lady?"

"My name is Claire." She said, clearing her throat. Doing her best to keep herself from shaking "Claire Parbulan. I'm looking for Madame Marsinta Parbulan, or her husband, Sir Marasi Parbintang. Oh, but you may know them as-..."

"Well I'll be. Boys, the boss' niece is here!" The lanky man didn't even let her finish before he turned around and alerted the rest "Danny, hurry up and let them know! They'll have yer hide if ye don't tell 'em."

Hurriedly, the other adventurers started to scatter before the man turned back again and invited them inside the guildhouse. He apologised if he came off as rude and introduced himself as Ralph.

"We received a letter from Pete–I mean yer father– saying that you'd be arriving here. We expected you to come a few days ago and got worried when you didn't show up. The boss ma'am was throwing a fit at the harbour, scouring for any information on all the usual merchant ships."

Claire gave a wry smile. She felt bad for causing some amount of worry for her aunt.

They followed Ralph inside the large guildhouse and were quickly shown to a waiting room. Just as they were about to sit down, Claire could hear a boisterous voice coming from the stairs, followed by heavy steps.

A large, muscular woman in a blue dress had come rushing down. "Where's my brother's baby girl?!" She shouted. As Claire looked at the woman, they had locked eyes. It didn't take long for the woman to realise who she was as she started squealing.

"Ahhh! My brother's beautiful baby!" It took no time at all for her aunt to rush up to her and give her a hug, even lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. It made Claire realise just how tall and large of a woman her aunt was. She was a full head taller than her.

Claire was confused, but the woman's embrace – while a little suffocating – felt warm. It was a good minute before she let her go.

"My God, you're a beautiful girl, you are!" Her aunt looked proud as she stood with her arms on her hips. She looked the part of a strong warrior, muscular forearms, tall, tanned skin with a strong square jaw like her father. Her aunt looked more handsome than she did beautiful. If it weren't for her dress, she would've thought she was a man – albeit a slightly effeminate one.

"I'm glad to finally be able to meet you. Horas, namboru." Claire gave a slight curtsy before she remembered what Reverend Timotheus told her. She held her aunt's hand before bringing it to her forehead. When she looked back up, she could see the woman practically tearing up.

"Ayamangg! (Oh my!) Not only is she pretty, but well behaved and cultured as well. I see your father taught you well! Oh! And you're even wearing an ulos!!"

Claire couldn't help but smile at her aunt's sheer amount of energy. She complimented her ulos further and gave her another hug before she noticed Reverend Timotheus standing next to her.

"Eh, and who's this? A priest?" Her aunt gave the young reverend a confused look before she noticed his ulos as well as his native features "Eh! Halak hita do ho, amang? (You're Halak, sir?)"

"Horas, nantulang. Hupatandahon jo diringku tu hamu. Au Timoteus Sigumogo, pahompu ni Raja Parhal Portibion Sigumogo, Raja ni Goria nahinan." Reverend Timotheus had introduced himself to her aunt as the grandson of the late-king of Goria. He then gave her the salim as well.

Her aunt just stood there for a while, her eyes widened and her jaw agape. It was then she laughed, giving the young priest a friendly fist to his chest. "Aih! Na margait ho, ate. Unang songoni ma tu natuatua songonnami, amang. Ise ma ho sabotulna? (Aishh! Don't joke with your elders like that, young man! Who are you, really?)"

It didn't look like she believed him, but Reverend Timotheus only looked at her with a confused smile.

"I do, nantulang. Ndang adong au margabus. Ia sitindangingku Debata Jesus Kristus, na tutu do hudok tu hamu, nantulang. (I'm not lying, auntie. God as my witness, I'm telling you the truth.)" The young reverend said. Her aunt was no longer laughing as she turned towards her.

"...It's a long story, namboru." Claire finally said with a sigh. It would appear she had a lot to talk about with her family. Hopefully she could still make it back to the mansion for the lessons. Else who knows how mad the countess would be.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.