Chapter Fifty-SevenNo one pined when Harmony skipped practig [Shadowed Graves]. This time, it wasn’t a matter of trol, it was a matter of presentation. Time in the Nae’s Garden had worked out much of the kinks in how to influe to apply the desired effects. The question was when and where to introduce it. There were still rules to follow for field area effects.

  Guild mistress Thorne moved behind the desk at the small office at the training grounds reserved for private meetings. “Are you here to ask for advi defeating the bastard on the fourth floor?”

  Harmony hadn’t told anyone what she did to that guardiahorne, unsurprisingly, was at least keeping track of her progress and that she’d made it that far. After defeating it she desded rather than go to the fifth floor. “No. I have a presentation with the Grave Society and wish to demonstrate my field-type skill there. Per reement, I’m to check with you.”

  “I send ruo notify the neighborhoods affected, but are you sure that’s a good idea?” Thorne asked.

  “I feel like I’ve got the ive aspects of the skill under trol. The skill is very striking when my goal is to make a statement. If anyone respect the skill, I’m hoping it will be my fellow neancers.”

  “If you feel that is best. I try to stay out of local politics. Corre, I'm actually required to stay out of local politics, but many members choose to use that anization's services. If this goes bad I’ll have to distance myself.”

  Thor least, wasn't like Hemlock. The bodyguards, supplies, and then agreeing to take legal responsibilities for any issues with [Shadowed Graves] practice. “I uand.”

  “Good. Now that I have you here, Tyler and Len have informed me that you’d be joining us for the Deadwoods excursion?”

  “Yes, I’ve never been. They feel my presence will be valuable for them.“

  “With various spirit bonding scrolls being prizes from defeating Old Bones, we have enough to cover all the required slots. The trick is finding the right ones. You’ve had a tremendous amount of luck, and it would be good if we could get some to rub off on those poor sods who the dungeon picked to go with you.”

  [Poise and Bearing] triggered to stop a wi the mention of luck. It implied she cked agency, cked skill. Luck was being borhy. Favorable things may have happened, but she'd fought to get those opportuo get that attention.

  “I’m happy to be of assistance. I hope you’ll support me through any plications I have in my endeavor to participate in the Asdant Games.”

  “Absolutely. That is why I am here. What strehe dungeons strehe guild. I’m not one of those who use it solely for their personal gain.” Thorne responded forcefully, clearly thinking of Hemlobsp;

  “Then I’d like a few muards. I’m ed someone might use my retionships against me. Adric, Ambrosia, Bates, Hyath, and Bowe could all use eyes on them.” Too much has happeo ignore her oints [Keen Iigative Awareness] always hit her gut when she used it to focus on herself.

  “Bowe?” Thorne asked.

  “Prince Adric’s pet coatl. Sihey ’t join us in the dungeon he’ll need long-term care and security while we are in the games anyway.”

  “Of course, Lady White.”

  All there was left was to hash out some details before her speech.

  The Grave Society headquarters stood out in Naewauld, bare earth, stone, a building, and a walkway free of vines, moss, and weeds. A show of power over the rampaging rown enviro and the bes and power of nean this city, at least neancy with [Rot]. It reminded Harmony a bit too much of Hazeldown. Would it kill them to have a few isoted flowers for a tasteful bit of color?

  As she crossed the threshold with her crew, there was only a faint hint of deg matter in the air. Someone probably scoured the grounds of pnts hourly. Four bodyguards, Hyath, and Ambrosia because she wouldn’t miss this for the world, matched her pace. Harmony chose a tasteful, yet simple blue dress to address the group, with a simple metal bracelet to satisfy [Small Armor]. Night would stay in reserve. With a tailor oaff, she found herself more willing to risk simple dresses that Steven made.

  Madam Peartree waited at the rge bone-white society house entrahree stories tall, rge enough to house several hundred, which it often did. The Grave Society weled all who chose neancer as a css. But it wasn’t a charity. They charged for room, board, lessons, and access to their hiriwork for dungeon jobs and other requests. Worse was that they charged i on any accrued debts. That was because they avoided having employment tracts like Harmony had with the manor.

  You could have a very successful career there. If you were at the very top. Maxwell had all the dirt. His profession ge had improved his information-gathering skills. The Grave Society has been around for a long time and has gathered the usual set of problems. Established families, corruption, and bureaucracy. Three families essentially ruled the pce, trolling access to jobs and positions, the Peartrees, Spindarts, and Warmwoods.

  It was only a broad picture that ainted, of cliques and petition among the men and women who joihe society at a young age and lived in the dorms. Some were dropped off by disappointed families, and others had beeranced by the wealth shown by the big earners who took most of the dungeon jobs.

  The staff at Coodly Manor had made her prove herself, but ultimately she was one of a select few, all uhe watchful and impartial eye of Bates. If she had gone here, Harmony shuddered at what the potential outes could have been. Her visit here was a feather in the cap of the current head.

  “Lady White, a pleasure you could join us for a visit. Let me take you on a tour before you meet our members.” Madam Peartree greeted.

  “I’ll be delighted to see what you have to offer. I’m hoping this exge of knowledge and experience will be helpful for everyone. With one more choid my evolution approag, I’m sure we all wao go forth and do well in the Asdant Games as a representative for our css.”

  There was no promise for more than that. The Grave Society was both respected and disliked in Naewauld. Success would inspire more youths to choose the neancer css, which would increase the Society’s membership. The House of Records kept statistid there had already been a slight uptick since Harmony became a Lady.

  Bates had used that bit of statisti the behind-the-ses bargaining for this visit. While Harmony agreed at the training grounds, her staff had set up guaranteed exges to show this was more than just a social visit. A small speaking fee, private records on evolution, and skill options in exge for a tour, a speech, with a demonstration as well as a promise not to say anythiive about the Society if asked by aer.

  This being a busiransa felt better than begging for information. Pying hard to get had apparently helped iiations. When it came time she’d make sure they’d get their money’s worth.

  Peartree led the way. Smile and nod while she talks about all the heads of the Grave Society who helped make their services a fixture for Naewauld. As for famous students and members? There was an absence of them. They produced at best high-paying servants, a cushy life for the few that achieved that status.

  “We have two s. One for o their choid another for those wishing to enter service helping climbers.”

  A dozen students, all looking depressingly young, sat at twenty desks as an instructor wrote notes on a chalkboard. Skills are like muscles. Repetition and activation are key for their growth. bining skills lead to uable and dangerous effects. It is best to have those muscles strong before attempting only well-researched and uood skill-bining teiques.

  “Thibodeux?” Harmony asked, keeping any disdain out of her voice with [Poise and Bearing], as she reized her rival.

  “Yes! We find that a firm foundation i practices works to build our members up for success.”

  “I admit I must've read Thibodeux on Skills a dozen times. It has influenced my progression in a way no other has, and I’m looking forward to demonstrating some when I present.”

  “It’s Lady White!” Gasped a student. Their little chat outside of the door had not gone unnoticed.

  The instructor barked, “Students!” at the scooting chairs and turning heads

  This was one lesson Harmony didn’t care if she interrupted.

  `“It’s okay, Threnody. This way they are guaranteed not to skip this afternoon's assembly. Lady White will be speaking and demonstrating in an exge of knowledge.”

  [Keen Iigative Awareness] fred in jun with a few social skills as the underlying tone and subtle iion iree's respohey didn't seriously believe that Harmony would be tributing to their knowledge. It made seh them being an institution with hundreds of years of experiend her being an unevolved youth only here due to celebrity. Not shog but it still stung.

  The Grave Society headquarters were hey didn’t match up to the opulence of the Dragonfly Inn, but it was easy to see why you might choose them even at the cost when they advertised potential success stories. It didn’t help that the ck of greenery made the pce feel extra spartan, but that was a differen growing up in Hazeldoposed to Naewauld.

  “They’re waiting for you at the training grounds. Are you ready?” Peartree asked.

  Harmony’s eager smile was pletely genuine. Maybe Hyath was rubbing off ohe way he took joy in challenging things both bigger and smaller than him.

  “Absolutely.”