Jamtara, Kingdom of Divinium, Eastern region of Rohana Federation, 2051 S.C. 152nd day
Heron stared at Richard for several minutes in a state of shock. "What do you mean, not the actual trial?" Finally, he uttered the words.
"Yes, so gathering the flowers is just the base of the challenge. It is in how you executed the challenge that the actual trial lies." Richard responded.
"I'm not sure I follow." Heron was too tired and still not fully recovered from the attack, so Richard's explanation was too vague.
"Alright, I see you are too tired, so let's make this simple. We told you to get Crossus, but flowers are just a small part of the trial's score. We also rated how you go about getting the flowers. Then we set it up so that guards would take them away before you delivered them."
"YOU WHAT?" Heron yelled.
Richard remained composed. "Sorry, Heron, but it was an important part in the trial."
"IMPORTANT? What do they have to do with anything?" Heron yelled.
"Calm down. Yes, the situation was important to see how you would handle encounters with the guard. Would you do the same as when you defended Icarus and pick a fight?"
Heron was silent.
"We tested several things, though I must say you did not perform as well as expected."
"So I still failed," Heron said silently.
"Not quite. You showed determination and willingness to reach your goals, even if that meant recklessly rushing into danger. But you missed many key things. First, when the guard banned you, you went to cry on the log. Did you not consider going out on the road and finding someone to pass the message to us? Also, I don't know how you'd expect to pass a message to us considering you don't even know the name under which we go buy. And you don't even know my full name to at least ask that route, or do you think I'm the only Richard in the whole Divinium?"
Heron was on the verge of tears, but he was holding back. He wasn't thinking straight, just rushing to do the trial, so he'd get accepted.
"Still listening?" Richard interrupted his silence.
"Y...yes."
"Good, because I have something else to say." Richard continued his lecture. "I know I've said six o'clock, but you didn't even try to bargain with me. If you had asked if it could be past noon and explained your reasoning, I'd have given you a chance to wait until morning and pick the flowers when boars were not around."
"How did you know about the boars?"
"We have our nonverbal cues. Almir told me without telling me, and I can see by your shape, you had a rough fight, so it was just a matter of which beast you ran into. And for the record, the Jamtara forest is pretty tame compared to other regions. So, you have much more training to do if you want to survive the trip to Tiwaz. Got all that, kid?"
"So have I failed or not?" Heron asked again silently.
"As I've now pointed out, you made mistakes. But you did rely on Almir and Lucia to bring flowers and you fought off boars. So, we can give you a temporary licence as we transverse through Divinium. If you fail to prove yourself along the way, you won't get the passport by the time we reach the border. And all of this is under the assumption, you are going to provide the crystal first."
"Didn't you say you'd get him there regardless, Richard?" Lucia asked.
"Oh, you paid attention. Surprising for you." Richard said bluntly.
"Why you—" Lucia wanted to rant, but Richard stopped her. "But you are right. I did say that. But Heron also didn't complete the trial at a satisfactory level. If it were any other candidate, I'd fail them. But since Heron is paying for our services, what I need from him is not to be a dead weight for the party. Soul crystals have a nice value, but not nice enough to risk our lives if the kid is not cut out for the world outside. So he gets to learn alongside us provisionally, and if he meets the expectations after, he can come to Tuska."
"You have a point." Lucia slumped her shoulders.
"So, Heron? Are you satisfied with this arrangement?" Richard looked towards Heron.
"Yes!" Heron cheered, but then pain pierced him and he grabbed himself by the neck.
"Don't force yourself too much now, Heron. You should rest now." Almir said. "We should get you back to the tavern. I'll carry you on my back again."
"Please don't; I'll manage. I just need something for stamina, and then I'll walk on my own." Heron said.
"Wait, am I not banned from Jamtara?" Heron realized.
"Don't get worked up. As I said, guards were in on it." Richard responded.
"So Crossus is not illegal without a licence?"
"Oh, it is, but luckily for you I do have a licence to collect it. So since you were working for me, you didn't do anything wrong. That reminds me to tell Irene to teach you about legal and illegal stuff while we travel."
"Who's Irene?"
"Our bookworm," Lucia jumped in. "She always bores us about what is morally right yada,yada."
"You mean she is keeping you from jail," Richard said coldly. "Irene is our level-headed member who is like me versed in laws of Divinium."
"Are you saying, I am not level-headed, Richard?" Almir asked.
"Well I would, but then you spend too much time with Lucia, so your calm demeanor falls soon after."
"Hey!" Lucia pouted. "I'm not a bad influence on Almir. Tell him, Almir?"
Almir scratched his head, chuckling.
"Almir!" Lucia yelled, surprised.
"Well, I do tend not to make the best choices when drunk. And you always goad me into drinking."
"Becuase I want you to let loose a bit."
"You try to do it in the middle of a quest."
"Because you are too stiff, and I get nervous."
"You know you are insane?" Richard broke the banter. "Now, enough chatting. Almir pick up Heron on your back and let's go."
"But.." Heron wanted to protest.
"No, buts. We don't have any potions, we'll pick up some at the apothecary, but until then you are being carried. Let that be a penalty for making mistakes during the trial."
And so Almir hoisted Heron onto his back and followed Richard as they went towards the gate.