The next morning, Guff uncurled himself and roused his guests with the loud slamming of doors and clanging of pots and pans.

Lilaf proved to be a particularly heavy sleeper as waking her up took the combined might of Guff, Stoggie, and Pob.

Guff shouted in her ear, whereas Stoggie volunteered to tickle her feet at Pob gently prodded her legs with a toilet brush.

After around 15 minutes of this, Lilaf awoke, bleary-eyed, and enquired about whether or not her breakfast was ready.

This caused the other two to similarly enquire, with Lilaf stating that failing to provide them with sustenance would be akin to child cruelty.

Guff reluctantly agreed, not wanting to add any more pain to his pre-existing headache, and took them all to The Plumber’s Plunger for the breakfast special consisting of two gort sausages, scrambled legs, and half a slice of stale bread each.

On account of their age, Guff polished off the free ale that came with each, and, as it was time to leave, was in a slightly better mood as a result.

Upon reaching the government office, Guff’s protests fell on deaf ears.

“You signed the papers, sir, any violation of the agreement now will put you on shaky ground, legally speaking, that is. A few weeks ago a blacksmith took on an apprentice and bolted. He was found the next town over and imprisoned, I’m sure you wouldn’t want that would you?”

“No, of course not! Why would want that? Isn’t there something we can do, perhaps change it to a non-live-in arrangement?” Guff cried.

“I’m afraid all the apprenticeships are being offered on this basis, that’s why the bursary is so high, you see, it's for their food, etc.”

Guff sighed, and as he did, took a glance at his three apprentices all awaiting him on the other side of the room. 

Pob cowered in a corner at the sight of an old man with a lazy eye.

Stoggie flittered around the room at an incredible speed, turning over anything he could as he went (including the toupee of said lazy-eyed man).

Only Lilaf was calm, as she sat still half asleep and unwittingly propped up against the elderly man.

“You’ve signed up for six months, currently, so you’re going to have to tough it out for the moment I’m afraid.” The man stated, neglecting to look Guff in the eyes.

“Fine… fine, I guess I’ll see what I can do with them, then.” Guff sighed as he walked to the door and gestured they all did the same.

 Outside, the increasingly harsh morning light stung Guff’s sleep-deprived shriveled eyes.

“So, what's it gonna be, Wiz?” Stoggie enquired with a grin.

“You’ll… all… be staying with me for a while, it seems.” Guff commented, to which two out of three cheered (Pob was too busy trembling from the sight of a street dog in the distance to pay attention). “But let’s get this straight, you’re all going to work, OK? No freeloading, no free meals, and you’ve got to muck in at the house, cleaning duty is on rotation, do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” Lilaf replied, “so what’s next?”

“Well, first we go to see about putting you all to good use. We’ll make a stop at the guild, see what jobs are available, then afterward… I suppose we’ll have a training session.”

“Rabbit trick?” Stoggie asked as his eyes bulged with excitement.

“Certainly not!” Guff replied as he stormed ahead down toward the guild as the others quickly followed.

Upon arrival, as Pob glanced up at the guild, his hairs stood on end like blades of grass being shouted at by their mother earth. The shabby, poorly put-together building with a crumbling dark brown wooden facade had an undeniable aura of danger about it.

Upon entering the main hall, the smell of sweat, the jangling of swords against belts, and the stares of the scarred, bearded men that littered the room were enough to send anyone bolting for the door, which Pob did.

Catching him by the scruff of his collar, Guff whispered: “Don’t let them bother you, eyes front, we do what we’re here to do, and then we leave, simple as that.”

Pob gulped and nodded as he clenched his fists and somewhat surprisingly walked directly to the front desk himself.

On his way, he accidentally walked directly into one of the largest men in the room, a swordsman known for his ruthlessness and savagery: Glorn of Glostglardenglorn. 

“Oi! Ooh yew fink ya are?” Glorn bellowed.

“I-I-I-I I’m terribly sorry, sir, it was a mistake, I wasn’t watching where I was going, you see, and I accidentally pushed into you, I’m terribly sorry!” Pob quivered in fear.

“Oooh don't ye worry, mistake’s ‘appen, don’t they, on you go,” Glorn replied, making a path for Pob. Aside from his savagery, and luckily for Pob, Glorn was also known for being a thoroughly nice and polite chap.

Guff quickly whisked Pob away with him, nodding as he went, toward the front desk.

“Do that with someone that isn't such a lovely man and we’ll all be dead, Pob.” Guff muttered to him quietly.

“Well well, if it isn’t old Guff, s’been a long time SNORT,” the pigman by the name of Truffle behind the desk chuckled upon seeing Guff, “close to starvation are you? Thought you said wizards were too good for the guild!”

“Well, you know, trying times and all that.” Guff replied through clenched teeth while wishing he could cut off a slice of bacon. “We need work, me and my three apprentices.”

“I see, what can they do?” Truffle asked in a mocking tone.

“Pob, show him.” Guff stated firmly, leading to Pob’s face slowly morphing into a fish.

“That it?” Truffle asked.

“Yep,” Guff replied dejectedly.

“REEEEEEEEEEaahahaha!” Truffle squealed in delight. “That won’t do, come back when you’ve taught ‘em something else, will ya?”

“Very well,” Guff replied, shuffling the three out of the building.

“What do we do now, then, Mr. Luk?” Lilaf asked upon returning to the dusty street outside.

“Well… I guess I’ll have to teach you something,” Guff replied, “so let’s go back now, it's almost lunchtime anyway.” 

It wasn’t even close to being lunchtime.