On the second morning back in Oran, Mina walked into the stone registry hall of the Oran Healers’ Guild to file her check petition, with Seyun and Halin. While Mina laid Master Kaelen’s signed four-year completion sheet and her bound portfolio of anonymized spirit vein case logs on the walnut counter, the senior registry clerk paused with his brass seal in hand and looked past her shoulder at Seyun.
News traveled fast down the river barges and mountain roads. Nine months ago, Seyun had stood in Oran’s largest wrestling lodge as an expelled Coal student and survived a hundred breaths against Daro Kesh. Yesterday afternoon, Instructor Yul and Master Bren had lodged their approved northern proof rolls at the city charter house, naming Seyun among the Jade defenders who had split the northern hub alongside Hall Mistress Soran.
Lowering his voice confidentially, the registry clerk leaned across the walnut counter toward Mina. Then he pushed a pale blue courtesy form beside her plain buff application sheet.
“Miss Mina,” the clerk said smoothly, “if this gentleman is your brother Seyun—and if he’s willing to sign this blue patronage voucher as a recognized Jade fighter, or attach a one-line endorsement from Hall Mistress Soran of White Heron—the Guild committee can classify your clinic as an affiliated martial sick room. That waives the three-hour blind pulse check entirely. I can hand you a provisional courtesy license before the noon bell.”
