Kiera_Yanagi

  Yuki moved away from the desk where the guild clerk had handed her the parchment. She had signed the contract without hesitation, her name now officially recorded. The guild's terms were simple: complete ten quests, gain access to the library. It wasn’t the first time Yuki had dealt with bureaucratic formalities. She had dealt with far worse in her past, and this was just another small hurdle to overcome.

  The quest board was right in front of her, the rge wooden frame crowded with scrolls. Each scroll was pinned carefully to the board, a detailed description of various quests avaible. Some were simple, some were dangerous, but all were meant to be completed for a reward. She was looking for summoner-reted tasks, something that would allow her to use her abilities while gaining the reputation she needed.

  As she scanned the board, Yuki’s eyes quickly fell upon the monster taming jobs. That was what she had expected to see. These were the kind of quests that summoners often took on. The idea of taming wild creatures fit her perfectly, and it wouldn’t take too long to complete them. There were six quests that caught her attention, all involving different types of monsters that needed to be captured and tamed. Some of them were low-tier creatures like goblins and wild boars, while others involved more challenging monsters like wyverns and dire wolves. The promise of a good reward was attached to each one, and Yuki felt confident that she could handle them without much issue.

  She was in the process of choosing which quests to take when a voice broke through the quiet murmur of the guild hall.

  “You’re looking at the monster taming jobs, right?”

  Yuki turned to find a foxkin girl standing beside her, her presence immediately striking in the way it seemed to blend with the atmosphere. The foxkin was slightly shorter than Yuki, her slender frame adorned with fur that shifted between rich shades of orange and soft white, the colors reminiscent of a sunset. Her rge, fox ears flicked occasionally, betraying her attentiveness as they caught every sound around them. At her side, she carried a staff, finely crafted from a dark wood that had intricate runes etched along its length. The staff was topped with a crystal that pulsed with a faint glow, suggesting an enchantment or some form of magical power. In addition to her staff, she had a small, worn book tucked into a belt loop, the cover marked with symbols of arcane origin—an unmistakable sign that she was a mage.

  Her eyes, sharp and intense, glowed with a faint inner light, their color shifting between amber and gold, like the flicker of a fme. There was a certain curiosity in them, as though she had already analyzed everything around her and now found herself intrigued by Yuki. Her tail swished behind her with quiet grace, the white tip brushing against the floor as she regarded Yuki, a mixture of energy and excitement emanating from her presence.

  Yuki's gaze lingered on the foxkin girl for a moment she didn’t say anything at first, merely nodding in response. The foxkin’s grin widened as she continued.

  “I overheard that you’re aiming to get access to the guild library. I have an idea. What if we formed a party to complete the quests faster? It’ll help both of us, especially if you’re in a hurry.”

  Yuki raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the offer but not entirely convinced. She didn’t know this girl, but there was something about her that seemed genuine. Besides, working with a partner could speed things up, and that was exactly what she needed.

  “And why would you want to team up with me?” Yuki asked, her voice calm and measured.

  The foxkin tilted her head, her ears perking up. “Well, I’ve heard that you’re a summoner, and I’m sure having a powerful summoner like you in a team will make the quests easier. Plus, I know that getting access to the library is important to you, and it’s important to me too. We both have something to gain from working together.”

  Yuki regarded her for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. We’ll form a party, but I’m not interested in any other distractions. Let’s finish these quests and get access to the library.”

  The foxkin’s grin widened, and she cpped her hands together excitedly. “Great! I’ll meet you tomorrow morning at the guild entrance. We can pick up the quests and get started right away.”

  With that, the two parted ways, each heading back to their respective locations to prepare for the journey ahead.

  The first rays of dawn filtered through the windows, casting soft light across the bustling streets of the guild district. Yuki stood at the entrance of the Summoner’s Guild, ready for the day ahead. The sky above was clear, and the cool morning air was refreshing against her skin. She had packed light, only taking the essentials for the monster taming quests—her staff, a few basic potions, and a small pouch of mana crystals to recharge if needed. With her imp at her side, who she could command thanks to the sve master contract, she felt well-prepared.

  When she turned to look around, she spotted the foxkin girl waiting for her. Her fur glowed faintly in the soft light, a mixture of deep oranges and whites, and her tail swayed in a steady rhythm. She stood with a small pack on her back and a bow slung over her shoulder, but the most striking detail was the staff she carried, adorned with intricate runes, its tip glowing with a faint magical aura. At her side, tucked into a belt loop, was a small leather-bound book, likely filled with spells or information she had gathered in her studies. The foxkin's gaze was sharp, alert, and focused as she watched Yuki approach.

  The crisp air of the early morning was thick with the promise of an eventful day. The vilge, still wrapped in the calm embrace of dawn, felt untouched, serene, yet Yuki could sense the tension that had already begun to stir within her. She stood next to the foxkin, who appeared poised and ready, her energy contagious. The first light of the sun filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the ground.

  “You’re early,” Yuki remarked, her voice quiet but carrying the weight of years of experience.

  “I like to be punctual,” the foxkin replied, fshing Yuki a pyful grin. “Efficiency is key. The sooner we finish this, the sooner we can move on to the next step.” Her smile was sharp, and her eyes gleamed with an excitement that mirrored Yuki’s own.

  Yuki’s gaze softened. “I’m not here for small talk. Let’s get it done.”

  Then the two of them set off to complete there first tasks;

  The clearing was alive with tension as Yuki and the foxkin girl stood shoulder to shoulder, surveying the first challenge of the day: a group of boar monsters. Each boar was massive, their tusks sharp enough to cleave stone, their hides thick with bristling fur. They pawed at the ground, snorting and stamping as if eager for a fight.

  “Ready?” the foxkin asked, her voice calm but her golden eyes alight with determination.

  Yuki’s violet eyes glowed faintly as she unsheathed her sword. “Let’s begin.”

  The foxkin girl raised her hand, summoning her first companion. A swirling sphere of water materialized beside her, revealing a fish-like creature suspended within. It pulsed with energy, ready to unleash torrents of water magic.

  Yuki’s imp appeared beside her, its fiery orange eyes gleaming mischievously before it vanished into thin air, cloaked by invisibility.

  The boars charged. Their powerful strides shook the ground, their snarls echoing through the forest. Yuki darted forward, activating [Mana Expel] to unch a projectile of mana that smmed into the lead boar, sending it skidding back. Simultaneously, the imp reappeared, hurling a wave of fire magic at the group, the fmes licking at their tough hides and causing them to bellow in pain.

  “Web Bind!” the foxkin shouted. Her second summon, a rge bck spider, leapt into the fray, spraying a thick webbing that ensnared one of the boars. The creature thrashed, but the sticky threads held firm. Yuki followed up, using [Void Resonance] to project tendrils of void energy that coiled around another boar, immobilizing it. The foxkin’s red wolf lunged at a third boar, fmes erupting from its maw and driving the beast back.

  Working in tandem, the summons and their masters wore the boars down. The foxkin used soothing magic to pacify the creatures one by one, her chants melodic and mesmerizing. Finally, with the st boar subdued, she pced her hand on its forehead, sealing the bond.

  The day continued with simir battles. Next came a pack of shadow hounds, their sleek bck forms blending into the forest’s gloom. They were quick and cunning, but Yuki’s [Detection TI] allowed her to track their movements, countering their attempts to fnk. The foxkin’s spider summon vaulted into the air, raining down boulders conjured with earth magic, while her fish companion unleashed torrents of water to disrupt the pack’s cohesion. Yuki used [Elemental Coating: Necrotic TI] to add a sinister edge to her strikes, weakening the hounds with each blow. One by one, they fell under the foxkin’s taming magic.

  A trio of rock trolls presented a new challenge. Their hulking frames and natural resistance to magic made them formidable foes. Yuki unleashed [Stonecrusher Arrow], the resulting shockwave staggering the trolls. The foxkin’s wolf summon darted in, its fmes scorching the trolls’ stony skin. The imp worked tirelessly to debuff the enemies, its bck magic sapping their strength. Meanwhile, Yuki’s [Harvest TII] skill ensured that each defeat strengthened her, replenishing her energy reserves. After a grueling battle, the trolls succumbed, their resistance no match for the foxkin’s determination.

  The penultimate battle was against a swarm of venomous wasps. Yuki’s [Smite TI] skill proved invaluable, holy light searing through the swarm in brilliant arcs. The foxkin’s smile monster, a bizarre and unsettling creature, unleashed psychic waves that disoriented the wasps, leaving them vulnerable. Together, they captured the queen, ensuring the swarm’s compliance.

  Finally, they faced the wind hawks. The sleek avian creatures circled above, their sharp talons gleaming and their cries piercing the air. Their speed was unmatched, making them elusive targets. Yuki activated [Hunter’s Focus TI], her perception sharpening to a razor edge. She loosed arrows with precision, driving the hawks closer to the ground. The foxkin’s spider leapt high, creating barriers of webbing that trapped several hawks mid-flight. Her fish summon unleashed torrents of water, forcing others to nd.

  The battle dragged on as the hawks fought fiercely, their wind magic buffeting the pair. Yuki called upon [Void Resonance TII], the void energy forming a cage that held the hawks in pce. The foxkin’s soothing magic worked tirelessly, her voice carrying over the chaos. One by one, the hawks calmed, their wild eyes softening as the bonds were formed.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours, they had subdued the st of the wind hawks. The creatures were tamed, their resistance finally broken.

  Exhausted but victorious, Yuki and the foxkin girl returned to the guild. Their bodies ached from the day’s trials, but they felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The clerk at the guild gave them a nod of approval as she processed the newly tamed creatures.

  “We did it,” the foxkin said, a grin spreading across her face.

  Yuki nodded, her expression calm and composed. “We did.”

  The foxkin hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “I’m Sienna, by the way. I realized I never introduced myself.”

  “Yuki,” she replied simply, her tone polite but reserved.

  As they prepared to part ways, Yuki noticed Sienna’s hesitation.

  “Do you have a pce to stay?” Yuki asked, her voice gentle but firm.

  Sienna blushed, clearly caught off guard. “I only paid for one night at the inn... I didn’t expect to be out all day.”

  Yuki considered this for a moment before offering, “You can stay with me at the inn. There’s enough room.”

  Sienna’s face brightened with relief. “Really? Thank you so much. I’d appreciate that.”

  Without hesitation, she agreed, and together, they made their way to the inn. The exhaustion of the day began to settle into their bones as they walked in comfortable silence. That night, they shared a quiet rest, knowing tomorrow would bring new challenges. For now, they allowed themselves the comfort of peace.

  Kiera_Yanagi