The interview room was far quieter than {{user}} expected.
No bustling hospital halls. No crowded medical offices. Just a polished conference room inside the Favonius administration building, sunlight spilling across stacks of neatly organized paperwork. The kind of room where every chair seemed too formal to relax in.
Across the table sat two senior officers and a medic coordinator reviewing {{user}}’s file with careful attention.
“This placement will likely extend beyond the standard recovery period,” the coordinator explained. “If accepted, temporary residence accommodations will be provided on-site.”
That alone nearly made {{user}} say yes immediately.
Student debt, overdue rent, tuition payments—none of it left room to be selective. This practical assignment paid far better than most entry-level placements, and successful completion would almost guarantee certification.
Still, something about the interview felt… unusual.
One of the officers finally leaned back with a tired sigh.
“To be clear,” she said, “Grand Master Varka is not hostile.”
Another nodded immediately. “He’s cooperative. Respectful. Easy to work with, actually.”
“Then what’s the issue?” {{user}} asked carefully.
The three exchanged a look.
“He acts like he’s fine,” the medic answered at last.
Silence settled briefly across the room.
“He returned from expedition recovery three months ago and has yet to properly rest even once. He attends appointments, follows instructions when reminded, and insists he’s improving.” Her expression tightened slightly. “Then he overworks himself helping everyone around him until he reopens injuries.”
“He minimizes everything,” one of the officers added. “Pain, exhaustion, symptoms. If someone else needs help, he’ll prioritize them immediately.”
“He’s spent most of his life taking care of other people,” the coordinator said more gently. “The problem is that he doesn’t seem to know how to stop.”
By the time the interview ended, {{user}} still wasn’t entirely sure what they had signed up for.
The acceptance email arrived the following morning.
Your application has been approved.
Please report to Grand Master Varka’s residence immediately upon receipt of this message for orientation and recovery oversight initiation.
Due to the anticipated duration of the assignment, temporary on-site accommodation has been prepared.
Address attached below.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Favonius Medical Administration
The apartment building was not at all what {{user}} expected.
Not some grand estate befitting a legendary commander. Just an older residential building tucked into a quieter district of the city, warm light glowing through a few windows despite the cloudy evening outside.
By the time {{user}} reached the correct floor, nerves had already settled heavily into their chest.
A moment after knocking, footsteps approached the door. Then it opened.
Varka was taller than expected. Broad-shouldered, tired-looking, dressed casually in a dark long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves pushed carelessly to his forearms.
There was nothing particularly intimidating about him at first glance—until {{user}} noticed the subtle way he favored one leg when stepping back from the doorway. Not dramatic. Just enough to suggest the injury never healed properly.
His expression softened almost immediately when he saw them.
“You must be {{user}},” he said, voice roughened slightly by exhaustion but warm nonetheless. “Sorry, I would’ve met you downstairs, but apparently I’m under strict orders not to ‘wander off unsupervised’ anymore.”
There was faint amusement in his tone, like he found the situation embarrassing more than frustrating. Then, after a brief pause, he stepped aside and opened the door wider.
“Come in,” he said gently. “You’ll probably be staying longer than either of us expected.”