The walls of Arboren were tall and made of a natural-looking stone. Governor Tebour must have either paid a fortune or already had an unusual amount of Apex Earth users to build and solidify that wall. She guessed the latter to be more likely.

  None of the other cities had gone to such extensive lengths. The previous cities had only an inner wall, with urban sprawl on the other side. The land had been safe enough that there was no need for greater defenses. The more recent towns they had passed had wooden palisades.

  Harper doubted even this wall was necessary anymore. It was probably barely used since the conflict with the efferans in past decades. This area was only considered more dangerous because of the three Domain creatures that still occasionally appeared to destroy a settlement or two on occasion. Even bandits were very rarely an issue.

  The caravan was scheduled to be here and so getting in was a quick and painless process. Harper almost set off the moment she was able to, but she hesitated. It would be rude not to say something to Laytia. After finding her and bidding her farewell until next time, she set out to find the city’s main administrative building.

  There were a few differences here compared to what she saw in Porvus. The biggest difference being the presence of atorans in the population and a variety of different church houses in a style she didn’t recognize. The chapels she was familiar with belonged to the religions of her home continent, Magnon, and the neighboring continent of Zecura.

  Of the chapels she wasn’t familiar with, they must have originated from Canjor and belong to the atoran religions. She was somewhat surprised to see them. They were infamously intolerant of any other religion than their own.

  Although, she had heard that some of the newer Mundasim branches were less rigid. She supposed it made sense, with the dominance of the Nemium branch on the Canjor continent. All the atoran immigrants she had heard about would have to be more tolerant to survive on Vanax.

  The atorans were said to have formed a colony entirely of their own in the marshland northeast of here. It wasn’t independent though. Fifty years ago, it was given the option of joining the Quilish colonies or the people being driven out. They had chosen the former. Ever since then, the atorans of Vanax had been considered to be Quilish citizens.

  It wasn’t difficult to find the city hall. Harper asked someone to point her in the right direction and walked until she reached the center of the frontier city. After she spotted it, she walked in and once again began to wait in line.

  This time the secretary was a lanky young man. The noble showed him her ring and explained that she was looking for employment under the Governor. He nodded and left the room. He soon returned and sent her in, giving her directions and handing back her ring.

  She followed his directions and walked through an open door into a room with a woman, probably an assistant, sitting at her desk. She looked up to her and motioned to the door behind her, telling her to go ahead. Harper nodded and headed in, glad she wasn’t made to wait again.

  Governor Randel Tebour was a large man. He towered over her and was built like an ox. Tetran heritage? Or just unusually large? If he is mixed-blood then it isn’t obvious. I know that better than most. He had light brown skin, dark brown hair, and piercing green eyes. He wore an elegant grey frock coat with a green undershirt. The Governor stood as she entered to greet her. “Good morning, you’re Harper of House Waspen? It is a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Good morning, Governor Tebour, the pleasure is mine,” she returned politely. He gestured for her to sit down and did so himself.

  The room wasn’t as well furnished or richly decorated as Governor Mavian’s, but in trophies, it was far superior. There was a cubursa rug on the floor, a tyrannus tooth on a stand in the corner, a stormbird’s feathers displayed on the wall, and more. Is that a cervidona antler? The illustration did not do its size justice.

  “You’re after one of my more lucrative positions then? Do you have the standard noble’s qualifications?” He questioned.

  Harper nodded and proceeded to list off the same things she did in Governor Mavian’s office. She also explained her lack of either a Domain or backing. She finished off by saying, “I know it would be a risk to take on someone with such little guarantee on a return in your investment, but I learn fast and will work hard. I believe I’m bound to get the Aerial Domain any day now.”

  Governor Tebour thought for a moment, then asked the question she dreaded the most. “Why did your family exile you in such a fashion? What could you have done that led you to be sent here, without resources, and yet, not stripped of your name and connection?”

  Harper wasn’t surprised that he’d asked. She was actually surprised when Governor Mavian didn’t ask herself. Perhaps she didn’t bother asking because of her lack of interest in hiring her. In a way, Tebour’s question could be a good sign, indicative of his consideration, so long as her mistake didn’t put him off too much.

  Harper sighed. “I am the eldest in my family and was meant to inherit leadership of the house. While I excelled in my education and training, I have, insofar, been unable to manifest a Domain. With the number of cores, I've been given to consume, it was expected for me to have one by now.”

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  The Governor raised an eyebrow. “Surely that isn’t enough to exile you without any support?”

  Harper shook her head. “No, and normally it would not have made a difference if I was a little later than normal. But my younger brother is a prodigy.”

  Some understanding shown on the Governor’s face. “Ah, and if I were to guess, the house heir is set to inherit a powerful core upon gaining the needed Domains.”

  Harper nodded. “Yes, the day he manifested the Sun Domain at fifteen, was the day I lost my chance for both house leadership and my family’s only current three Domain core, a storm dragon.”

  Harper continued after a pause. “While it is likely my family would have scrounged up another three Domain core, had I ever reached such a point, it was unlikely to be have been as valuable a creature as a dragon. House leadership was no longer in the cards for me anymore. I was shown the core of a primavis and told that it was my inheritance, and my goal.”

  The Governor nodded to her. “You smashed it?” Harper reddened and nodded embarrassedly.

  Primavis was a broad name for most two Domain birds. They were often similar enough that the specific species didn’t matter, only the second Domain type. The first was always Sky; the second could be any Domain. Absorbing the core, or more likely the prior single Domain bird core, would have practically locked her into having a bird Alius for the rest of her life.

  When she eventually attained three Domains, and her parents secured a corresponding core, it would be one of the great birds. The three Domain birds weren’t bad by any means. In fact, they were quite good. It wouldn’t be terrible to one day be a phoenix or a stormbird.

  But they weren’t a dragon.

  “While breaking a two Domain core wasn’t exactly threatening our finances, it was too much for my parents to easily let go of. They elected to send me here, only to return upon earning a two Domain core,” she continued after collecting herself.

  The Governor interlaced his fingers. “I see. It would take you a long time to save up enough for one, even if you lived off the bare minimum. That is, if you were to take a common job.” After considering for a few more seconds, he moved on. “You carry and specialize in rapiers, not exactly the best weapon for fighting creatures.”

  It was a statement more than a question, but Harper still gave a response. “It was always believed that any fighting I did against creatures would be with either my own Alius, or an Apex Domain. My parents decided that I should be more prepared to fight people. I know how to wield other weapons of course, but I am not nearly as well versed in them.”

  Harper took his continuance of questions after the admittance of her shame to be a good sign. She hoped her shortcomings were not too bad as to disqualify her. She continued her tactic of blunt honesty. Not downplaying her skills, nor claiming anything she couldn't back up.

  “Ranged?” asked the Governor.

  “I know how to use both bow and crossbow, but not particularly well. Like melee weapons, I’m best with the option most effective against humanoids, firearms. Although, as you can see, I don’t have any. My parents didn’t see fit to send me off with one.”

  The Governor waved his hand. “You will be provided with one if the position calls for it.” Harper felt a spark of hope; he was seriously considering offering her a position. Hopefully one that would pay well or lead to something that would pay well relatively quickly.

  The large man took out several sheets of paper and began to scan them. She waited patiently.

  Eventually, he sighed. “I can’t justify giving you a higher position. Even if I’m willing to take the gamble, with your lack of talent when it comes to Domains, and lack of resources, others in my employ will be upset that you started where they have worked towards for years. I can offer you various positions, but none of them pay particularly well or have much upwards mobility unless you start manifesting Domains rapidly.”

  Harper’s hopes dropped. “I understand. What were you thinking of?”

  “With your full education, you’d be suited for a handful of positions. On the less martial side, I have openings for clerks, teachers, and a general assistant. Beyond those, we always need guards. Of course, until you manifested at least one Domain, opportunities in that area would be very limited. You could also be a courier, but it has much the same issues. You wouldn’t be able to deliver outside the city with any modicum of safety.”

  The feeling of disappointment and failure ran through her. She doubted traveling to the next frontier colony would yield more favorable results. It would be fine; she’d still be able to achieve her goal. Just maybe not in the way she wanted to. She finally accepted what she needed to do.

  Harper looked back up at him. “If I manifested a Domain now, my options would open up?”

  The Governor looked back at her confusedly. “Yes?” His face turned into an expression of understanding and surprise. “You’re sitting on a Domain? One you could get at any time?”

  She nodded the affirmative. “Sea. I was hoping that I would finally get Sky.”

  “Why?”

  Harper thought over her answer, only coming up with the truth. “I want to claim a dragon’s core. Ocean dragons are both harder to come by and generally thought to be weaker than most of their counterparts. I would have liked to avoid manifesting the Aquatic Domain and making it that much harder to get the other Domains I need.”

  The powerfully built man shook his head. “Attachment to a creature outside your talents is foolish. If you ever achieve it, it will be at a much older age. Better to stick with what comes naturally.”

  Harper nodded. “I know. This is the path I have chosen.”

  He sighed. “Very well, go ahead then. Having the Aquatic Domain and being most of the way to the Aerial Domain, even if this will set it back, is plenty to qualify you for a better position.”

  Harper meditated on the sea. Any body of water would work really. The ocean just worked the best to put herself in line with the Domain. Every Domain is more than what they are called. For Sea, it includes all water and concepts associated with water.

  The manifestation came even easier this time. Possibly because I’ve accepted it as a part of me. She felt her aetherspace harmonize with the Sea Domain and her body tingled, an odd feeling as the Domain changed her in small, but important ways.

  She wasn't sure if that was from the effect of the Domain of Sea itself, or just from manifesting a first Domain. She was suddenly very, very, hungry. Her stomach grumbled loudly, and she looked down surprised.

  Governor Randel Tebour began chuckling. He rang a bell on his desk. “Let me get someone to prepare a large lunch for you. You're going to need a lot of nutrients to get you up to the baseline.”