Thia, as you aks around the new Veiled Valour headquarters, you quickly learn that Wilhelm is still running things here, but he's since taken a more administrative role. A brief visit confirms that he's looking healthier, though the bags under his eyes are still there, now a result of endless meetings with the city administration and political envoys from distant lands, making sure to secure the long- term future of the Veiled Valour as an organisation across the continent of Corphyra. He lets you know that Alexis is also nearby. Since dealing with the poisoned Cyreans, they have made a greater effort to focus on training others in the basic tasks of patient care, and over the last week or so, Alexis started to draft plans to start a teaching programme for future diagnosticians, surgeons and apothecaries, which they are very eager to share with you. Although they don't say it in as many words, they clearly hope to have you aid in the teaching of some of their selected hopefuls. The instruction plan looks very practical, focussed primarily on either common or dangerous ailments and simple ways to either prevent or treat them, so as to be most practical, even in the face of low funds and next to no materials. Not being ready to immediately make a decision, you let Alexis know that you'd like to take a copy of the plan and think on it for a bit longer. They quickly hide their bright smile at your words and eagerly dash off to write out a copy for you, while you're engaging other attendants to inform you about the whereabouts of Gyselle and Corti. You're quickly informed that Gyselle hasn't been in in the last few days. After inquiring further, you learn that she had started to seek out various places of worship around the city. Duskrock being what it is, she was referred to the Outer Ward, where the Cyreans still hold their gatherings, as much a religious rite as a political assembly. More worryingly, the attendants at the church haven't heard from Corti since the early morning either. When she left, she was visibly nervous, saying something about "veteran's affairs".

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Gyselle, entering the large tent, you quickly draw some looks from the gathered congregation. While it's clear that you've come to the right place, it seems that you've walked in on a gathering of a more political nature. Having grown up in the army camps of the Bronze Marshal, you know how territorial groups can get, and you feel their eyes upon you, clearly weary of saying more in front of a foreigner. You bless the gods that your priestly garb doesn't help them in connecting you to the Garronian armies that had robbed them of their homes a generation ago. Still, the temptation to run is growing strong, as your question goes unanswered for several seconds. Then, with a low voice, brimming with empathy and understanding and a deep sonorous bass, one of the elders begins to speak. "Yes, frightened one, this is such a place. I'm O'kobetu Mlungisi, the lawspeaker, but you may call me Brother Kobe. It is sad that you only see as gather as we do here, in this tent, and not in the temples that our forefathers built. Please, sit." The man gestures to an empty spot on one of the laid- out pillows in the front half of the tent. You wonder for a moment how a blind man could know that the pillow was empty, but before your thoughts reach a conclusion, O'kobetu continues: "Our presence here is hard-fought, our worship in every act we undertake. Nearly destroyed for our culture and creed, our every breath and action is in testament to our gods and a form of worship. At the same time, our very existence serves as a reminder to our enemies, that we cannot be eradicated, that we have the same right to exist. So you see, it is fitting that our gethering is at both times a spiritual and a political endeavour, since our future rests in equal parts on both." Taking in his answer, he waits patiently for a few seconds, before adding: "Is there anything you wish to know from me? Or are you simply here to pay hommage to your gods, as we do to ours?"

Thia definitely grew to appreciate Wilhelm’s efforts on the behalf of the Veiled Valour, maintaining the long hours of administration. She’d always address him with respect and listen with intent. The same went for Alexis. Without both of them, this place wouldn’t be what it is, nor function as well as it does. It was thanks to them the artificer had the freedom to come and go as she pleased. This was not something she’d take for granted. And having been presented with a draft of a formalized plan, Thia couldn’t help but feel some pride well in her heart. Along with that pride also came that sense of responsibility when asked to teach. Was she ready? That’d mark an end to her apprenticeship in a sense. Instead of being the pupil, she’d be the master… It was indeed a lot to think about… and felt almost impossible without Corti at her side…

Thia apparently had already briefed Gyselle. And with her deciding to investigate the varying places of worship around the city, it didn’t feel like a difficult decision to make. Considering her options, and her point of focus, the artificer really wanted to find Corti. Hearing that she was visibly nervous when she left, added a flutter of anxiety to her heart. Deep down Thia knew Corti had to be okay. She was smart, always mindful and calculated when making decisions. She wasn’t reckless and her instincts were top notch. Thia had to trust in that. She knew to trust in that. And with that hope, she carries herself forward to make her way to veteran affairs. Hopefully she might be able to locate her so she could bring her to Arc for him to explain himself and clarify the whole situation.