Editing Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 7)

{{Infobox episode
|title= Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 7)
|published=September 21, 2025
|wordcount= 34,230
|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2025/09/21/interlude-halfseekers-pt-7/ Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 7)]
|previousChapter=[[Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 6)]]
|nextChapter= [[Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 8)]]
}}

'''Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 7)''' is the 101st chapter of [[Volume 10]].

== tl;dr ==
* [[Jelaqua Ivirith|Jelaqua]] arrives late to the fundraising event held by [[Melika Blackwing|Melika]] meeting with the kids of the Uplifting Wings Orphanage, she prevents a [[Scorchling]] named [[Anamariss]] from burning them all to a crisp with her uncontrolled breathe attack.
* Jelaqua and Melika go out for drinks finding themselves in a [[Turnscales|Turnscale]] bar meeting [[Mirn]], [[Rose Cinevoy|Rose]] and [[Shirka]] there.
* While leaving the bar the Flameblades show to mug the [[Selphid]] caving her skull in, she follows them to their hideout where she takes care of them before they inflict harm on Anamariss.
* While Jelaqua and [[Maughin Dulamet|Maughin]] were sleeping they come to find a [[Raskghar]] in their kitchen who has escaped from a classified facility in [[Pallass]], [[Zemize]] and Shirka arrive at the scene to handle the situation.
* [[Kevin Hall|Kevin]] and [[Rhaldon Flemmens|Rhaldon]] discuss which group they should partner up with to help with their manufacturing problem, seeing the [[Necromancers]] of [[Rheirgest]] work on their [[Undead]] have they found a group who fits the bill.
* Jelaqua obtains the tenant laws regarding Scorchlings and makes a few inquiries in ways to heal the Scorchling syndrome, with no answers all Jelaqua has left is the only way she knows to cure it.
* Jelaqua brings Anamariss and the other children to [[Grimalkin Duveig|Grimalkin's]] Gymnasium where she beats on the Scorchling girl in service of counterleveling her to her capstone which is accomplished.
* After leaving the Watch House jail, [[Maughin Dulamet|Maughin]] confronts Jelaqua on being uninformed about her plan for how else will he support her if he's blind, they have a loving Couple moment.
* Getting the permit from [Senator] [[Errif Jealwind|Errif]], Jelaqua quickly purchases the apartment from [[Inmal]] having begun restoration efforts on the building, she speaks with the tenants that she's there to help and guide not to give handouts.
* Melika is exasperated by the means and methods Jelaqua has used to get her way and the choice she is giving to the children
* With the voice of [[classes]] and levels giving her the rewards for her deeds, Jelaqua comes around to really liking it creating thinking of creating a company like no other.

== Synopsis ==
[[Jelaqua Ivirith|Jelaqua]] who's late finally arrives at [[Melika Blackwing|Melika's]] charity fundraiser for the orphanages of [[Pallass]] with one of the Wall Lady's staff admonishing the [[Selphid]] for missing the event giving her the direction to where Melika is resting. Unable to drag [[Kevin Hall|Kevin]] with her all she brought with her was two bikes and a couple pizzas to make up for her mistake eyeing the beautifully designed and well-maintained orphanage, she sees Melika surrounded by two different groups of children with a [[Scorchling]] named [[Anamariss]] who is badgering the [[Garuda]] to fix the actual problems they're facing. Anama begins arguing with another child called [[Ophala]] causing a scrap to happen between the two, Anama was about to do an uncontrolled breath attack in retaliation, but Jelaqua was able to toss her aside with Anama spewing fire through all of her orifices. The staff give the Scorchling girl a Tonic of Chill to calm the flames within her body, with that concluded Jelaqua introduces herself to the kids there dragging Anama by a chokehold as the group follows Melika.

In Melika's office, Jelaqua speaks with the Garuda about her operations with the orphanages, the problem surrounding the [Landlord], Anama's behavior and her association with a gang, and the deformities some of the orphans are dealing with. Jelaqua goes on to meet with the orphans talking about their future prospects and the group Anama is in learning what type of gang the Flameblades are.

After a few hours with the kids Melika and Jelaqua go out partaking in the horrible drinks of a bar the Selphid found, there Jelaqua talks about what makes a true [[Adventurers|Adventurer]] in her eyes and then recognizes the barkeeper as [[Mirn]] and notices [[Rose Cinevoy|Rose]] nearby calling the girl over. Rose introduces herself to Melika making a faux pas by calling her stepdaughter a bitch to her face retreating back to Mirn, Melika afterwards was talking about her troubles with her stepdaughter but then everyone quiets down as someone wearing a cloak enters the bar ordering a drink. Jelaqua greets [[Shirka]] vouching for what it's worth to Mirn that the [General] is alright to have around continuing to talk with the others sighing that she just doesn't have enough to do. Melika—getting thoroughly hammered—shares about her past in [[Baleros]] and her mindset in choosing Pallass as a place to journey to, she shifts to having trouble raising the orphan when they give up on being exceptional and knows that it's difficult for them living in a place indifferent to their plight doing what little she can to help them.

Jelaqua and an unsteady Melika leave the bar walking through the streets in a circle until the Flameblades catchup to mug them, Jelaqua lets herself get knocked on the noggin by the gang member behind her waiting for them to leave but Shirka arrives at the scene knocking out the Flameblades taking Melika and Jelaqua away. The Selphid complains that her scheme was interrupted by the General's heroism and soon leaves following the gang back to their hideout, as soon as [[Morrton]] and the rest of the beaten gang arrive there they begin to berate Anama for the faulty information she provided about to make her pay as retribution, but Jelaqua enters the abandoned building and quickly takes care of the Flameblades. Jelaqua grabs Anama telling the Scorchling to cool down from her flames by taking a bath explaining that the reason why she wasn't taken out the rest of them was because she's still an idiot child, in angry Anama snaps back that she wouldn't understand since she's rich and privileged but that only makes Jelaqua wrothful reminding the girl that she's a [[Halfseekers|Halfseeker]] before leaving the girl alone to stew in her misery. 

Returning home Jelaqua sees that the party at her house was still going on, she explains what happened to [[Maughin Dulamet|Maughin]] needing a new body hearing how thing have been going so far from the others at the party. [[Kevin Hall|Kevin]] and [[Rhaldon Flemmens|Rhaldon]] left for their engine-thingy and [[Grimalkin Duveig|Grimalkin]] sharing that his gymnasium is adding a boxing ring to it before he and [[Pryde Ulta|Pryde]] leave, at the end of the day she and Maughin lay in bed with Jelaqua having trouble sleeping thinking over Anama's situation. In the middle of the night the two of them are woken up by a noise coming the kitchen, Maughin barges into the kitchen after hearing the sounds of fighting seeing Jelaqua pinning down a [[Raskghar]] and tells him to call for the Watch and [General] Shirka. [[Zemize]] arrive telling the Watch and Selphid to keep everything secret but Jelaqua is having none of that and demands to be told of the situation, Zemize complies that this is the only one that escaped. The cage for the Raskghar arrives as well as Shirka who's blatant with Jelaqua about the current purpose of the Raskghar knowing that it's not a good idea in the first place, Jelaqua goes back to sleep with Shirka not wanting to think about what [[Chaldion Oliwing|Chaldion]] originally wanted to do with them.

The next day for Jelaqua wasn't any better as she thinks over the special units that nations specifically make for war with what's happening to the Raskghar in Pallass but decides it's not her problem; she receives news from her body broker that her new body is ready and makes her way. Arriving at the mortuary she speaks with [[Ciorg]] about the state of the body he recently got and informs her that while it's fresh it's not free of visible marks, Jelaqua freezes as she sees a body of a Scorchling that's presented to her thinking for a moment that it was Anama. Asking about how the Scorchling died she learns that the woman's heart stopped suddenly, Jelaqua notices by the desperate scowl on the woman's face that she had been fighting to stay alive in her last moments.

Kevin wasn't having a good day either as he had to deal with trapped dead skin under his healed burn marks and other annoyances, he meets with Rhaldon at [[The Wandering Inn]] with them going outside discussing their manufacturing problem and trying to find a group they can work with that won't try to bully or strongarm them. Kevin tells Rhaldon about his fallback plan of using the [[Goblins]] from [[Goblinhome]] with the [Alchemist] being openminded yet queasy about the idea with the recent eyes on [[Rags|Rags']] tribe, they enter [[Rheirgest]] noting the interesting architecture of the homes of the [[Necromancers|[Necromancers]]] there. Passing through the town they see [[Dorkel]] and [[Likenost]] showing each other their designed [[Undead]] for underwater fishing giving Rhaldon the thought that they might have been going about their engine problem the wrong way, they run up to the two [Necromancers] with their idea causing the rest of the villagers coming out of their homes interested in the project.

Jelaqua finds Kevin and Rhaldon jovially talking with around fifty Necromancers to make Rheirgest more unappealing to others to keep the factory a secret, she asks Kevin for some [[Healing Potion|healing potions]] and get pointed to [[Dalimont]]. Kevin and Rhaldon wonders what's up with Jelaqua and if she's having her own Solstice Event, back to the [Necromancers] they express that with their engineering and a lot of prototyping they are able to build things—with enough time and resources—that only high-leveled people can create which makes the villagers giddy to see what's possible

After obtaining forty healing potions from Dalimont, Jelaqua inquires a [Scribe] about tenant laws for Scorchlings in Pallass receiving the Health and Safety Act KM 344 and a summary of the length document. Reading it she can see that the most recent provision was an attempt to pigeonhole undesirables out of certain areas but reading further she sees that the original law—dating back from the [[Creler Wars]]—was in favor of a 'Sootling-only zone', she puts the book aside for now as she arrives at the Uplifting Wings Orphanage greeting the kids there with Melika rush to meet and thank Jelaqua for not involving the Watch but that she's no longer considered a guest to the orphanage any longer. Jelaqua just smiles as she digs for information about what gang Ophala is in and other oddities which makes Melika agitated arguing back with the Selphids about the manner in which she dealt with the problem of the Anama's gang. Leaving the orphanage Jelaqua moves to the inn to talk to [[Montressa du Valeross|Montressa]] and [[Valeterisa Imarris|Valeterisa]] about [[Isceil|Isceil's]] recipes or other manner of aid for Scorchlings that they might have but both of them have no answers for her.

After Jelaqua obtains the location on [[Inmal|Inmal's]] apartment from the Landlord's Guild of Pallass she arrives at the place inspecting the poorly maintained housing and speaks to one of the residents through their window getting a better picture of the situation, returning back to the orphanage Jelaqua barges her way through to talk to Anama about a surefire method the Halfseekers have develop to mitigate her condition. She brings Anama and the other children to Grimalkin's Gymnasium taking the Scorchling to the boxing ring and after asking a few question Jelaqua explains that she going to hit her as hard as she can until she lands a punch. Jelaqua begins to pound on Anama to the horrors of the crowd there with Grimalkin's [Apprentices] trying to stop the Selphid from continuing and failing in doing so, Grimalkin arrives at the scene quickly assessing that Jelaqua's goal was to counterlevel the girl asking if what she did was necessary. Jelaqua conveys that she could've done a different way but the way she did is more efficient as the only cure there is for a Sootling is leveling. While Grimalkin gives a lengthy explanation to the audience Anama wakes up sharing that she has obtained the [Fireproof Scales] [[skill]] from her capstone, Jelaqua offers any of the children there to the same treatment with Melika outraged requesting Grimalkin to stop her. Grimalkin professes that nobody here is able to stop the Gold-Ranker, piqued by the claim Pryde enters the ring only for her ego to be blown out tending to her wounds minutes later. Jelaqua strolls out of the gymnasium to be arrested by the Watch.

Outside of the Watch House Maughin meets with Jelaqua worried about what happened with her giving an abbreviated tale of her helping a girl counterlevel as they return back to their home, hearing that Maughin plans to take their proposal to [Senator] [[Errif Jealwind|Errif]] tomorrow Jelaqua begins to write a letter thinking what else she needs to do. At that moment Maughin gets her attention with him starting to make dinner which makes Jelaqua worried that she's failing as a wife, but Maughin clears that notion out of her mind by asking her to share her plans with him because how else would he be able to support her if he doesn't know what's going on. He shares his feelings on the matter showing that he trusts he with what she is doing, that night they both wake up to their [[system messages]] of their new skills and a [[class]].

Jelaqua visits ''Steelforged Loaves'' to ask [[Vhiren Dulamet|Vhiren]] where she can find Landlord Inmal but leaves after she sees that she made an impropriety by thinking a [[Dullahan]] would know where another of their kind was, walking through Pallass she speaks to a number of people with [[Ishkr Silverfang|Ishkr]] coming by to see if she needs any backup as they all walk towards Errif's office. As Errif signed the paper for the new forge he notices a second paper for a permit outside of his district unwilling to sign it until Jelaqua's shouting made him happy to sign the permit getting glares as they left. Jelaqua stands outside Inmal's personal residence as she explains to a Guard what she's doing, Inmal comes out of his house immediately refusing to hear her out unafraid of her threats, Jelaqua only smiles as she shares she has obtained a permit to house Scorchlings but also points out that there's nothing to worry about unless someone was failing to upkeep their property in accordance with the law.

After buying the property from Inmal, Ishkr arrives with a a duo of level 30 [Cleaners] who introduce themselves explaining how they've reached their levels under [[Silveran|Silveran's]] lead, they begin working with [[Mithy]] going down the well to cleanse it and [[Simon]] entering the apartments to clean them out. As the gate to the apartment is being removed Jelaqua speaks to [[Merry]] on how to advance in his [Rouge] class while telling the tenants there that they'll be evicted if they're selling dangerous stuff or do heinous crimes. Melika flies in witnessing Jelaqua lecturing the tenants on how to advance their level with a choice being in adventuring, the Garuda questions the means and methods the Selphid used to get her way with Jelaqua explaining that she is giving them the choice to face hardship and suffering if it's a means to being something more.

Standing in the plaza of the apartment Jelaqua tells the tenants that she isn't there to give handouts but help and guide, she talks with Anamariss the difference between the aid Melika provided—of kindness and care—versus the one that she's offers—of hardship and death—to them. Asking about the gang Ophala and the two other are in Jelaqua learns that they've been working for [[Zemize]] the whole time beginning to chuckle as thing become more interesting in the [[Walled Cities|Walled City]]. That night while Jelaqua was asleep, the voice of class and levels ponders on what sort of advancement to give to the woman, at last the voice came back satisfied with what it gives her with Jelaqua astonished of never hearing about Class separation before. Thinking on her new class Jelaqua begins to like the idea of having a company like no other leading children going back to sleep.

== Characters ==
( * = First Appearance)
*[[Achevv]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ama]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Anamariss]]*
*[[Bilth]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Calidus Reinhart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Chaldion Oliwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ciorg]]*
*[[Consillir]]*
*[[Dalimont]]
*[[Dorkel]]
*[[Elosaith Soulbound]]
*[[Erin Solstice]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Errif Jealwind]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Felkhr]]
*[[Ferkr Shallenside]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Fetohep]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Garen Redfang]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Geneva Scala]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Grimalkin Duveig]]
*[[Halassia Evergleam]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Hedault]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Inmal]]*
*[[Isceil]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ishkr Silverfang]]
*[[Jelaqua Ivirith]]
*[[Journe]]*
*[[Keldrass]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Kevin Hall]]
*[[Laken Godart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Leiithe]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Likenost]]*
*[[Linteca Dulamet]]
*[[Liska Silverfang]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Lyonette du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Magnolia Reinhart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Maughin Dulamet]]
*[[Melika Blackwing]]
*[[Merry]]*
*[[Milden Dulamet]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mireden Raithland]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mirn]]
*[[Mithy]]*
*[[Montressa du Valeross]]
*[[Moore of Raithland]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mordol Dulamet]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Morrton]]*
*[[Mrsha du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Niers Astoragon]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ninssa]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Nokha]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Numbtongue]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Octavia Cotton]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ophala]]*
*[[Pelt Dooristone]]
*[[Perorn Sadiluc]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Pisces Jealnet]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Pryde Ulta]]
*[[Qissa]]
*[[Ragathsi]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rags]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rhaldon Flemmens]]
*[[Rinli]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rittane]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rose Cinevoy]]
*[[Rufelt Owelt]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ryoka Griffin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Saliss Oliwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Salkis Blackwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Seborn Sailwinds]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Shirka]]
*[[Silveran]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Simon]]*
*[[Taletevirion]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Teriarch]]/Demsleth ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Termin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Thill]]*
*[[Typhenous]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tyrion Veltras]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Valeterisa Imarris]]
*[[Vhiren Dulamet]]
*[[Werdin Blackwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Xif]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Zemize]]
*[[Zeomtoril]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Zevara Sunderscale]] ''(Mentioned)''
*? -  Voice from Window
*? - [Necromancer] with Bone Mask
*? - Flameblades [Rouge]
*? - Flameblades Gang Member
*? - Grimalkin's Drake [Apprentice]
*? - Melika's Staff Member
*? - Old Grandmother Necromancer
*? - Pallass' Landlord's Guild's [Receptionist]
*? - Pallassian [Scribe]
*? - Raskghar
*? - Unnamed Deceased Scorchling ''(Mentioned)''

== Groups/Organizations ==
* [[Halfseekers]] ''(Mentioned)''
* Uplifting Wings
* [[Players of Celum]] ''(Mentioned)''
* Flameblades
* Second Army of Pallass ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Four Great Companies|Great Companies]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Maelstrom’s Howling]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Ulta Lands|House Ulta]] ''(Mentioned)''
* Pallass City Watch
* Eyes of Pallass
* High Command of Pallass ''(Mentioned)''
* Necromancers of Rheirgest
* [[Ullsinoi]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Flooded Waters Tribe]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Steelfur Tribe]] ''(Mentioned)''
* Pallass' Landlord's Guild
* Pallass' Engineer's Guild ''(Mentioned)''
* Silveran's Cleaners
* [[Silver Swords]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Griffon Hunt]] ''(Mentioned)''

== Locations ==
* [[Izril]]
** [[Pallass]]
*** 4th Floor
**** The Orphanage
**** Turnscale Bar
***5th Floor
****295 Brasswing Way - Inmal's Apartment
***6th Floor
****Scribe Booth
***7th Floor
****''Steelforged Loaves''
***8th Floor
****Maughin's Home
***Mortuary
***Landlord's Guild
***Grimalkin's Gymnasium
**[[Floodplains]]
***[[The Wandering Inn]]
***[[Rheirgest]]

== Creatures ==
*[[Undead]]
**Shark That Walks v3.5

== Items ==
* Tonic of Chill
* Flame Balm
* Engineer Oil ''(Alcoholic Drink)''
* Health and Safety Act KM 344
* Icerune Cloth
* Healing Potions

== Statistics ==
=== Statistics Revealed ===
==== [[Ciorg]] ====
* '''Skills:'''
** [Reverse Decay: Fifteen Minutes]

==== [[Anamariss]] ====
* '''Class/Levels:'''
** [Thug] Lv. 6
* '''Skills:'''
** [Fireproof Scales]

==== [[Jelaqua Ivirith]] ====
* '''Class/Levels:'''
** [Loving Wife] Lv. 13 (+2)
* '''Skills:'''
** [Swift Errand]

==== [[Grimalkin Duveig]] ====
* '''Spells:'''
** [Air Cushion]

==== [[Mithy]] ====
* '''Skills:'''
** [Cleaning Blast]

==== [[Merry]] ====
* '''Class/Levels:'''
** [Rouge] Lv. 14

=== Statistics Obtained ===
==== [[Jelaqua Ivirith]] ====
* '''Class/Levels:'''
** '''Class Separation:''' [Mercenary] Reassigned
** '''Class Change:''' [Mercenary] → [Company Commander]
** [Loving Wife] Lv. 14 (+1)
** [Company Commander] Lv. 26 (+3)
* '''Skills:'''
** [Lover: Buffed Boots, Buffed Speed]
** [Gruelling Taskmistress]
** [Company: Check Condition]
** [Motivating Presence]
** [Company: Bonds of Fellowship]

==== [[Maughin Dulamet]] ====
* '''Class/Levels:'''
** [Dutiful Husband] Lv. 3 (+3)
* '''Skills:'''
** '''Synergy Skills:''' [Lover's Embrace: Rhythm of Steel]
** [Lover: Perfect-fit Armor]
** [Locate Lover]
** [Lesser Resistance: Bludgeoning]

== Quotes ==
* ([[Kevin Hall|Kevin]] to Himself): “Okay. My turn, Erin. It’s a Kevin Hall moment. A Hallmark—fuck.”

[[Category:Chapters]]
[[Category:Volume 10]]
[[Category:Interludes]]