Chapter Text
Gridania. Just as prickly and intolerant as I'd been warned about. Fantastic.
Kalina had dared some optimism, on the ride in. Her fellow passengers the weathered merchant and the strange floating marshmallow creature (that claimed to be invisible, no less) had proven more exuberant than xenophobic. But that cheerful welcome had not extended beyond the gates. The locals had subjected her to narrow-eyed stares, hands on weapon hilts, and now a demand that she submit to some sort of bureaucratic rigmarole to “prove” her spear would draw blood only from Gridania's enemies. Had none of her distant kin emigrated to Gridania after the destruction of Bozja, such that no one here had ever before seen a Hrothgar?
Then again, perhaps Hroth had come before, been received the same, then said “fuck no” and left to preserve their pride.
This Mother Miounne, at least, whatever her role in maintaining the rolls of suspicious visitors deserving surveillance, seemed more interested in talking Kalina's ear off about local history than interrogating her for any association with “beast tribes.” (The hells was that about, besides? What beasts went wandering the countryside commissioning wagon rides and petitioning for entry to woodland cities?) Until the time came to pen her name in that ominous ledger, anyroad.
“All that's left, then, is to conclude the business of registration. Here's a quill. Scrawl your name right there. Oh, and I would appreciate it if you used your real name─there is a special place in the seventh hell for those who use 'amusing' aliases.”
The quill was too small, and so were the spaces provided for names. Kalina gripped the pen between her claws as best she could manage, bent far over, and tried not to scowl lest she make another Elezen gasp with a show of teeth. Kalina she got down, then hesitated a moment before proceeding. With just a little bit of spite directed at this Mother Miounne's distaste for pseudonyms, and a little bit more at the family Kalina had left behind, she varied the queen's-name. Jovasch. Jova was as good as dead to her, so it wasn't that far from the truth, really. How would she know if the witch still lived, anyroad? It could well be true in fact. She laid down the quill and stood straight, giving Miounne a faintly challenging gaze.
“Kalina Jovasch.” Miounne put a hand to her chin. “It doesn't quite sound like an amusing alias.” She looked up from the book and met Kalina's eyes. “But while I've not seen many Hrothgar in person, I do know my Encyclopedia Eorzea. You don't look like one of the Lost.”
Oh, for fuck's sake. “Not all who wander are Lost; not all the Lost have blue fur. Ma'am.”
That elicited a tiny shrug. “Very well. From this moment forward, you are a registered adventurer of Gridania, nation blessed of the elementals and the bounty of the Twelveswood. The guild expects great things from you.”
She let herself feel relief for a moment. But would Gridania deign to support her in living up to their expectations? That remained to be seen.