Valin wore his best smile, trying not to show how absolutely, utterly, completely, and irrevocably mortified he was. He couldn't be uncouth to his savior; that would ill suit him as a prince. A prince of a fallen nation, yes, but a prince nonetheless. So, Valin put on a brave face, and pretended not to notice the horrifyingly abysmal state the so-called "Adventurers' Guild" he'd had to join was in.

"It's quite..." He gestured with his hand, trying to find a word that conveyed something positive. "Quaint."

An uncontrollable urge to sneeze hit him, and Valin barely stopped himself from doing so, covering his mouth with his elbow. The place was so dusty. His nose crinkled as he lowered his arm, and he did his best to ignore the cobwebs hanging in the corners, the cracks in the walls, the water damage, and the peeling wallpaper.

Valin cleared his throat, his cheeks a light pink. "I have nothing to offer for your trouble at the moment, I'm afraid, but should I manage to secure some funds, I will, of course, pay you back."

The last bit came out a bit defensive. He didn't want this adventurer thinking him a leech, after all. Even if the place was not up to...well, any sort of reasonable standard, really, with ramshackle lodgings, simplistic meals, and drab equipment, it was better than sleeping in the streets and getting beset by thugs again.

Not that he couldn't defend himself, but he was one man and the thugs had been ten, and armed. He found himself glad that the only person there to see how far he'd fallen had been this unassuming adventurer.

"But yes," Valin continued, giving another practiced smile that belied none of his disgust. "Thank you. For saving me, bringing me here, and having me join your, ah, party." He had no idea what that entailed, exactly. But he was good with magic, and a bow, so surely he would be a competent adventurer. "Incidentally, I couldn't help but notice this file says our first job is...'rat hunting'?"