Avina sat inside of the small house in Lower Jeuno where the new organization had decided would be their headquarters from now on. Sitting at the table, she twirled a quill in her hand, reading over writings on a sheet of parchment before her.

She had returned to Jeuno from Tavnazia while the others made their preparations, looking for Kahodaho and Muriru, as she still had to lead them to the camp. But she had also come back to fulfill another, final purpose. Getting the last piece of business out of the way, so to speak.

She spread out the sheet of parchment in front of her and put down her quill, and started to tap the bottom right edge of it. It was nothing but a simple declaration of what the organization was, at its most basic level. She smiled, the same confident smile she had been showing all her friends as she had talked about the organization with them. The smile that conveyed her 100% assurance that this organization was the best idea that had ever struck her mind and that there was no doubt in it's capacity to succeed.

She looked away from the document, her smile fading into one of melancholy. If only her smile, her confidence, were true.

The truth, as it were, was that Avina had grown successful through feigning complete confidence. In the end, she wondered, how different was she now back when she was consumed by gloom as a Dark Knight? In the years following that internal struggle, Avina had gradually become slightly more confident but still suffered from a strong sense of self-doubt all the same.

Almost as a way to motivate herself to keep going, as time went on, she found herself acting, almost purposefully, dumb. She filled herself with confidence, so that she could push past the skeptics, and so far… it had served her well. It felt as though as long as she kept opening her mouth and talking about success, success would follow. If she talked of something, and made it a big deal, it would be a big deal. If she approached the situation with a 'serious business' attitude, then others would follow suite.

So went her strategy. Muriru, though, dismantled it.

That day in the gathering area, Avina had been irritated about the time it was taking for the group to narrow down a name. She was being rude and discourteous, and playing it off as she had all the power in the world. And perhaps she had been expecting people to just go along with that. However the small, timid Tarutaru surprised Avina when Muriru threatened to leave the organization. Rather suddenly, Avina had found herself thrown on the defensive. Yes, she had realized. People won't stand with her if she only acts foolish.

She'd need to find a better way to strike a balance between displaying her overconfidence and her own self-doubt. What had worked in the past might, in fact, be damning in the future.

She pulled out her pocket watch and examined it. Half past 2:00 PM. Time to go.

––-

Avina stood before an Elvaan gentleman at the Jeunoan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was reading over the parchment detailing their request to be formally listed as a Jeuno sanctioned adventuring company.

The Elvaan furrowed his brow reading over the proposal, and then speaking aloud, speaking some of what Avina had written on the paper. "An adventuring company taking requests to eliminate notorious monsters, perform errands, volunteer, and investigate rumors…"

Avina nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, in a broad sense. As we grow, we may very likely expand."

The Elvaan smirked. "You plan to do all of that with… six people?"

Avina looked down at the list of members in front of her, who she had 'confirmed' would participate. Their names were…


Aurou Mhitoa (she at least seemed interested in the idea)
Avina Burkhardt (With Eisenzahn, a wyvern)
Draenen Wen (very likely, didn't specifically ask her straight up yet, but I'm sure she'll join)
Kaolla Ronpotteh
Kahodaho
Kenjii Asgard (He hasn't joined but he will)
Kirious (He follows us around a lot, he even came up with the name, so I figure that's enough?)
Muriru
Saerun Sakimoto
Zeti-Reti


"I count 11," Avina said.

"11 only works if you count all those members who you said haven't confirmed anything yet," the Elvaan said, and then paused and examined the paper more closely. "And if you count your wyvern as well… I'm sorry, but of those I can only consider six."

"I know we're small, but we're good for it! We're all very talented and I know that we can do a good job at this…"

"Oh I know…" The Elvaan said, not looking up at Avina. "I've heard all about you and your group. Wasn't it not too long ago that you were being arrested in front of the Neptune's Spire?"

Avina grew silent, unsure of what to say. The Elvaan looked up and smiled.

"Surely you must've done something pretty notorious to get the Ducal Guard after you," he said, standing up straight. "But you've done far more for the people of Vana'diel, you and your friends. Don't think that the stories of your triumphs in the three nations haven't reached us here in Jeuno."

Avina looked up at the Elvaan, somewhat stunned. "So… does that mean…?"

The Elvaan shook his head. "Were you any other bunch of adventurers, I would say six would be too small. Given your history though, perhaps you have what it will take. Between you all, your individual fame with the people here will at least give you a slight edge in getting some business. After that, its up to you."

Avina smiled, looking up at the Elvaan.

"Ah, yes," he said suddenly. "My apologies, the stamp. I hereby give the adventuring company, Siren's Sword, the official sanction to conduct business within the walls of our fine nation."

Approved.