Chrysalis

Standing nearby is an odd-looking fellow. He's a lot older than the others. Allison, Trean and Emilia are the youngest, and from what I gather, they're about as young as a person can be and get a Class. I haven't asked anyone exactly what age that is, and nobody has told me… so if I were to guess, they're… fourteen? Twelve?

I don't know! It's been ages since I was a human, I barely remember what I looked like back then!

They're young. Done.

Alis and Jern are definitely older, fully grown, probably. Twenty… ish.

But this guy, this guy is like… old. Proper old. Knee-pain old. If I were to guess….

I don't have to guess, dammit!

[Hey. How old are you?] I ask him through the Nave.

The old guy jumps and looks around, perplexed, then looks up at me and points a finger hesitantly.

[Yes, it's me talking,] I confirm. [Hi, I'm Anthony.]

[Sort of. If you think an answer at me, I'll get it.]

[Oh. Well. It's nice to meet you,] he executes a rustic sort of bow. Clearly unused to performing such an act. [My name is Bertran. Bertran Gerond. My friends call me Bert.]

[Nice to meet you Bert! How old are you?]

[Ah! Right. I'm fifty-two. Is… is that a problem?]

He looks nervous and starts fiddling with his coat as he stares up at me. That coat looks like it's just about as old as he is; I feel like it's more patch than coat at this point.

[Why would it be a problem? It's totally fine, I was just curious. It's getting hard for me to work out how old people are, and I was genuinely unsure with you. Thanks for filling me in.]

[Ah… well, it's not a problem. I mean, you're welcome.]

He gives me that weird bow again, and I poke him with an antenna, straightening him back up.

[No need for that. Who even told you that was necessary? Was it Beyn?]

[Who? Is that the priest? No, he didn't tell me to do it. I just thought some sort of respectful… gesture, would be the done thing when meeting… you know.]

[An ant? We don't need anyone to bow at us.]

[Well, no. I suppose you wouldn't. But you in particular… aren't just an ant, I suppose?]

He seems to be hinting at something but is clearly unwilling to spell it out directly. I have to think for a minute before I realise what he's getting at, then I slump over.

[I'm not a god,] I declare flatly. [Did Jern get you onto that? Or Alis?]

[Oh, well, they might have mentioned… a few things. I suppose.]

He looks decidedly uncomfortable, so I don't bother correcting him any further. I can't control what people think… although… no. No, I don't think any more thought down that particular line will be a positive experience for anyone. I cannot control what people think, so I'll just have to leave these silly beliefs well enough alone.

I mean, how do I even prove I'm not a god? Clearly, just saying that I'm not isn't enough, and now I'm out of ideas! I push the topic to the side and focus on Bert.

[Did you go through the training with the Nameless?] I ask him. [How did you find that?]

He nods and starts signing at me.

Quite difficult. Sorry… haven't been… learning this for long.

Not to mention it looks like your joints are causing you a bit of pain. Although, I'm super impressed he picked it up so quickly.

[No need to use that. Just think at me, but feel free to keep learning it if you want. You can practice with the three young ones, they're super fluent.]

[I will, then, I suppose. It's interesting learning new things.]

Looking at him closely, which isn't something I do with people much anymore, the details are all kind of fuzzy. To me, all humans pretty much look the same, with a few notable exceptions. Bert has a weathered face and scratchy-looking grey stubble over his cheeks and chin. He doesn't really look like someone who's had an easy go of life.

[What did you do before you found yourself a Templar, Bert?]noveldrama

He scratches at his cheek, looking a little bashful.

[Well, not much. I was a sort of… tinker, I suppose. Fixing pots and pans, cleaning drains, repairing this and that, whatever needed doing, really. I wandered from town to town picking up whatever work I could. Found Renewal after the… thing… and started helping out around the Temple.

[I was cleaning up one of the statues when I got the Class notification. Didn't know what it was, so I asked one of the priests, and the poor fellow passed out on the ground in front of me. I went to find another priest to help them, and when I explained what happened…]

[They passed out as well?]

[Was quite upsetting at the time. I knocked out half a dozen members of the clergy before I found a lad shining shoes who ran off to find some healer ants. It took a while, but eventually they brought me down and the Nameless took me to the Sanctum.]

With difficulty, he performed the eightfold genuflection.

[When they were done with me, they sent me here.]

Not exactly the path I would have expected, but then again, I have no idea what causes a person to become a Templar. Nor do I understand why they're all human. Perhaps there isn't a reason and it was just random chance? At least the others made a little more sense.

The three kids were basically raised by the Nameless to be fanatically devoted and trained to an extraordinary level. They can do things most people simply can't. 

Jern and Alis had a more normal upbringing, right up until they joined a crusade and fought their way through two strata and a dozen cities before being made Templars. 

Bert seems like a nice guy who was just minding his own business when the system picked him up and threw him into the Dungeon. I almost feel bad, but then it's not like I did anything. This is all Gandalf's fault!

[Well, it's nice to meet you, Bert,] I say, extending an antenna for him to shake. [How good are you at killing giant sludge monsters?]