The adventurer’s guild buzzed with chatter, like any normal day with nothing going on. All the low ranking requests were cleared out, leaving only the medium and higher ranked requests to be dohe receptionist did their usual jobs of receiving requests and marking them in their systems, although one was doing something else as he was walking with aed pace through the halls.

  His gaze lingered on the papers in his hands, he flipped to ane as he fihe current ohen so forth. His pace slowed as he neared a door, only taking a gnce up to read the room number. Once he mentally checked if it was the right one, he opehe door and walked through.

  “Good m, Sirs. I hope you find your drinks satisfactory.” He said to the two men sitting on a couch, oable in front of them two mugs, one was pletely full, the other was empty.

  “Thank you for the drinks, mine retty good.” A young man with short blonde hair responded with a smile. He was donned in browher armor, a short sword leaned against his thigh. He was leaning backwards with his arms spread far along the couch’s back.

  “Thank you, as well, although I don’t like this type of drink.” The other man, whose hair was a dark brown, responded in a monotonous tone. His particur type of clothes painted him as a wizard, he was wearing a brown robe, and a det sized staff rested on the arm of the couch. He sat with his back straight and his arms were crossed.

  “That’s great to hear, Sir Alex, aime we will make sure to aodate to your tastes, Sir Tim.” Thran said with an uanding smile. He walked towards the other cou the opposite side of the table ahe papers down.”Now that the formalities are out of the way, you two wao take on a subjugation request, and you o find other members, correct?”

  Both men he one iher armor crossed his legs before he said anything

  “Yes, although I don’t uand why we need extra members; they’re just goblins, one of the lowest ranking monsters, if not the lowest. Us two would suffice.” He said with utmost fidence. His words caused Thran’s smile to crabsp;

  “Well, yes I uand your fusion here. However, you’ve only hunted slimes and giant rats, goblins are something else and they e in much rger packs.” Thran expined, he then pushed one paper forward so they could read it. “You read all about them on this, I guara will make you uand why.”

  Alex pushed the paper bad shook his head. “Sir Thran, everyone knows how goblins are, they may e in packs but, their feeble minds and weak stitutions are unlike us; they won’t stand a ce.” During his statemeted his trusty sword.

  Thran sighed before taking the paper back. His frustrations started to grow when listening to Alex. He uand his fidence, but he has seen many adventurer’s like him. Even if they hold themselves in a fight, uimating monsters be the main cause of someone’s life fading away.

  “I uand that, but please do not rush in blind.”

  “We’ll be fine. Nevermind what we’re hunting, do we really need extra members?”

  “You do, it’s a required dition uhe adventurer’s rulebook, to take on subjugation requests you will need a minimum of four party members.”

  Alex and Tim looked at each other for a moment before shrugging their shoulders. her of them read the ey of the rulebook, so they had no evideo disprove Thran’s cim.

  “If you say so, but we don’t know ao join us, do you know if we find any?”

  “I already have two to join you, you find their information owo sheets.” Thran expihen he passed two sheets with familiar names ohe twos’ faces sched as they reviewed the information on them. A slight disgusted frown could be seen on their faces ohey read the sed sheet. ‘I am sorry, you two, you will have to deal with these ones for the time being.’ Thran closed his eyes, he readied his ears for protests that never came.

  During his meeting, both Fei and Lu prepared for the day. As usual, Lu waited outside of the house, this time he fiddled with the dagger he bought nearly a week ago. His smile was reflected onto the bde. Today was different from the others, he donned a dark long sleeved shirt, with a dark pair of pants.

  The sounds of the door opening to his side signaled for him to put it away. He turned his head to see Fei stepping through the doorway. She didn’t wear anything special today, just a simple blue shirt and a white skirt, trasting her skirt she wore a pair of bck tights. In her free hand, she held her staff.

  “Took you long enough.” Lu said to her with a teasing tone.

  “I-I’m s-sorry…” Fei responded while l her head. “I-It took me a, a b-bit to find s-something t-to wear.” She eborated, her hands tightened arouaff. And her ears lowered to the sides.

  “I-I was joking, we have time before we o see Thran.” Lu quickly expined, his attempt to make Fei feel slightly better worked. “Are you ready to go?” He asked moments ter when he saw Fei’s grip loosen and her ears perked up to their normal.

  “Y-Yes.”

  They made oop before heading to the adventurer’s guild. Lu slightly hesitated before opening the door to the shop.

  “Ay, wele back you two! It’s been a bit since I saw her.” The shopkeeper weled them as usual, his ter ent caused Lu to stiffen up. “Anyways, how I help you two? You looking for new gear?”

  “Y-Yeah, we o buy some warm gear.” Lu said. He felt a sudden temperature drop behind him. ‘He o work on what he’s saying!’ Lu internally cried out.

  “Lu…” Fei called out his name in a low voice, sending an intense shiver down his spine. “What does he mean by that…?”

  “N-Nothing! We haven’t been here for a while, that’s why he said that!”

  Fei gred at him, obviously not buying what excuse he just said.

  “It’s true! Isn’t it?! Right?!”

  The shopkeeper merely shrugged and turned his head.

  “Lu...Ci... An, tell me the truth.” Fei’s iion of her words made Lu stumble backwards. The cold air around her grew. “You’ve been ag weird about this pce every time we e here. And ever since we first came here, you’ve been leaving the house every three days…”

  Lu gulped when he felt his back hit the ter, the frigid air around Fei worsened. His breath was visible when Fei was just a few inches away from him.

  “A-ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! I’VE BEEN ING HERE JUST TO LOOK AT THINGS! I SWEAR I HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING OR BOUGHT ANYTHING!” Lu yelled, his entire body shivered in fear due to Fei’s anger… And the freezing air enveloping him. The shopkeeper watched this odd sight, just a meter or two further away. He silently wished he had something to sna just to watch this entire fiasbsp;

  ‘You reap what you sow.’ He thought before turning away.

  “Hm…” Fei eyed Lu for a few moments before stepping back. “I don’t believe you, but I’ll accept that excuse.” She tinued.

  ‘Good save…’

  “However, if I hear the full truth from,” she poi Lu. “You,” she poiowards the shopkeeper keeping her eyes glued on Lu.. “Or him, I won’t five you.” Her procmation struck his heart.

  “O-O-Okay…” Lu nodded quickly, his heart raced upon Fei’s insanely serious expression. “I-I’m sorry…”

  “Hmph…” She huffed while crossing her arms.

  “You two are very lively today. You said you were looking for warm clothes, right?”

  “Y-Yeah, we are.”

  “Give me a moment, I have some garments in the back.”

  The shopkeeper left the room, leaving them to each other's pany. Normally, Lu would try to start a versation, but he felt it would be odd to do so; Fei pletely had her head not fag towards him, rather she stared at the ons lining the walls.

  “Ah, you better try to cheer her up, you won’t have a good day if she stays like that.” The shopkeeper said as soon as he got back with a couple pieces of clothes on his arms. “What? Don’t give me that look, I’m just giving you advice.”

  “I guess. Fei e on, pie out.”

  A few more calls ter, Fei finally listeo him. Eventually, she decided on a bck coat. Following his own words, Lu decided on a grey coat. After getting the total, Lu forked over 8 s.

  Ohey set foot out of the shop, they put on their coats. Fei rather looked cute with hers on, it was too big on her, it fell just ohighs and the colr g half her neck. This tempted Lu to tease her, but he didn’t have a death wish. There was only one fear he had, angering Fei. He has do so many times ever sihey met, each time he felt the same fear.

  Yet again, they stayed silent. Evehey stood in front of the guild.

  “Hopefully, Thran didn’t lie this time.” Lu’s thoughts were blurted out as he stared at the doors. After the st hunting escapade, Thran’s trustworthiness dwindled in their eyes.

  “H-Hopefully…” Fei agreed on his words. Her ahat she felt subsided, bringing her back to her old self. ‘Will we be good enough, if it was true…?’ Fei thought, her ears began to twitch slightly. She switched her view to her staff, looking at it with hesitance. ‘I haven’t used this… Will I be able to tribute in any way?’ Her inner demons were silenced by the door opening.

  “Are you ready?” Lu looked at her with a smile. Fei felt a hole in her chest, when looking at him. “We’ll be fine, I’m sure Thran won’t give us anything hard since we’re still new.”

  “O-Okay…”

  Thran stood at the receptionist table, he as usual was signing papers with a bored expression. His posture and expression ged ohey stood in front of him.

  “Wele back, are you two ready for your first subjugation request?”

  “Yes, and just for crification; are you being serious about it?”

  “I swear, you won’t be huntiables this time. Follow me to the bad I’l inform you what you’ll be hunting today.”

  Stepping out from the ter, he led them to a door. That door led to a hall that had tless doing into different rooms. It looked extremely extravagant, windows sparsely poputed the walls. Lamps sat oher side of every window, illuminating the hallway whe darkened. A red carpet separated the middle of the walkway, which Thran had them follow on until he found ay room.

  Inside, he sat them down on a couch. As per the guild’s design, every room held a space for the receptionist, or representatives to talk to adventurers. Two couches sat fag each other, and a table separating them. Of course, there was more to this room but Thran poiheir focus on the couches.

  “I already talked to the other members you will be joining…” Thran fished in his clothes pocket, then pulled out four folded pieces of papers. “These two will be information on them.” He tinued after s them out. He slid two to them. “It’ll tell you everything about them, preferred ons, level and who their representative is and more.”

  “Tim and Alex…” Lu mumbled the names ohen showed a curious Fei.

  “Yes, I reend you familiarize yourself with that information.”

  “Thank you, what else do we o know?”

  “This, you will be hunting goblins. I reend again that you familiarize yourself with them. Here is the information on the subjugation request, it will take all day but the rewards are worth it.”

  *A small goblin vilge has been sighted outside the kingdom’s borders; the location is north of the capital, in the small forest. The rewards for finishing this will be split equally amongst the brave adventurers who plete this task.

  tributions to the total reward: 10 coppers per monster core, 5 coppers per pair of goblin ears.

  Upon submission, the rewards will be handed out.*

  “Our intel estimates there to be around 20 goblins. Although it may not be much, goblins reproduce at an arming rate so there may be more when you get there.” Thran eborated, he tapped on the paper during so. They heir heads in unison, clearly uanding his worries.

  They left the room after talking for a bit lohran had them follow him into a separate room. The two men he had a meeting with sat in the same room, Alex’s leg moved up and doidly signaling his impatience. On the trary, Tim was iing his staff with an intrigued look.

  “Ah! Sir Thran wele back, are those the two you talked about?” Alex excimed when he heard the door snap shut. He looked at the three, his frown clearly portrayed his emotions. “Wele aboard you two, I hope we get along.” He raised his arm to wave at Lu and Fei, his lips curled into an unnatural smile.

  “Thank you for having us, and we hope so too.” Lu spoke up.

  “My pleasure, by that sheath on your hip, I assume you use a dagger? Ah, nevermind answering that, we have to get going; let’s talk on our way there.”

  Alex bolted out of his seat and rushed to the door, pushing Fei slightly out of the way. Unwilling to wait for everyone else, he briskly walked down the hall with the rest of them falling behind his pace.

  ‘I ’t keep up…’

  Fei tried her hardest to keep up with the pace, but the distance kept growiween her and Lu. Sweat beads formed on her forehead the lohey weually her breath began to fail her.

  A realization struck Lu moments ter, he turned around and dashed towards Fei. Her face was sticky with sweat, and her breathing was bored. Fei, although she walk for a few hours, it was due to her speed; it wasn’t her fault, her strides were smaller due to her short stature and her race pyed a key factor.

  He forced her to climb on his back, she ed her arms around his ned her legs ed around his waist. Just for extra safety, Lu kept his arms uhem.

  —--------------

  “Ah, you’re finally here, took you two long enough? She couldn’t keep up, huh? That’s to be expected.” Alex bluntly said when they caught up to him. They stopped at the southern gate, the closest gate to the guild. “Seeing as to how far the destination is, good luck carryihe entire way there.” He tinued in a mog way.

  “Maybe we should slow our speed down, remember what the papers said; these two are rookies, they’ve been with the guild for a little more than a week.”

  “Whatever, let’s get going already.”

  They left the gate, thankfully at a slower stride. An embarrassed Fei tried to motion for Lu to put her down, but he ig due to the quiet bored breathiill heard.

  ‘Please… set me down!’ Fei internally requested Lu. Her heart pou her chest, this wasn’t the first time he did it; in fact he’s do many times when they o rush pces. Her embarrassment stayed the same every time. Her silent protests went nowhere until she kicked Lus rips slightly.

  “Alright, alright, o kick me.” Lu chuckled after feeling her kicks.

  “You’ve got some strength, kid.” Alex ented. Only thirty minutes passed sihey left the gate. He watched them silently, not once did he see a bit of strain ing from Lu. “What did you do before being an adventurer? Bcksmithing or?”

  “I’ve only worked odd jobs.” He responded. His voice was monotonous, underh his irritaowards Alex hid. Lu had met people like him before, only friendly towards him and the plete opposite to Fei. Ohis day was over, he’d rather work with others.

  For the hour, Alex pestered him with personal questions, his insistencreased with every short answer he got. Both Fei and Tim listened in for eai.

  ‘When is he going to stop?’ Lu groaned inside, his ears felt like they were going to burst after non-stop questioning. His prayers for peace were answered after twenty more minutes.

  “Aha, that’s the destination before we make this final stretch, let's take a small break.” Alex suggested when turning to the rest. Collectively agreeing, all sat on the grassy field.

  On her p, Fei caressed her staff. She felt a small smudgen of excitement to test it out. Along with that, she felt scared and worried if she isn’t patible with it. Nor did she know if she could use it, her magic was an anomaly. Most magic users would need a catalyst- the crystal that was melded to the tip was ohey would o pour their mana into it to cause a rea.

  A t was necessary for the spell to be pleted. If it wasn’t done, nothing would happen. She was different, ever since she was little she never had to do a t for her magie forth. Lu asked her many times how she did it, every time she never had an answer.

  “Have you ever used a staff before?” Tim asked her. “If you haven’t I show you a little bit.” He smiled a bit, seeing her nervously shake her head. He raised his personal staff, he then expined, “pour your mana into the base of the staff.”

  Fei followed his instrus, a slight mist formed oaff.

  “Good, you know that much about your mana. Now, try to move it to the crystal.”

  His staff’s crystal glowed a warm green color. He watched fei expeg nothing to happen.

  What he hadn’t told her, getting to do that was iough. It felt like pushing against a stone wall, nothing budged no matter how hard she tried to move it. She kept trying until she was stopped and told to take a moment. Going back at it, she finally moved her mana slightly, then more until it reached the crystal which glowed a bright baby blue.

  “Impressive.”

  Lu gave her a thumbs up, followed by a proud smile.

  “That’s nothing to be proud of, let's see if you actually cast a spell.” Tim pointed in the dire of the forest and tinued, “aim over there and cast your spell.”

  Mumbling plete gibberish under her breath, she pleted her “t” with a “I-I-Ice .” As a result of her inexperience, she felt a crushiion oail. Her spell pletely backfired as her ice s, which looked patheticroached her tail’s personal space.

  Ten mier, they stopped her training and he forest. The first to enter were the two guys, Lu followed in toe.

  “We’ll be fine, e on.” Lu turowards Fei with a tent smile on his face. “I promise you won’t get hurt.” He gave her a thumbs up in reassurarust me.”

  “O-Okay…” Fei mumbled. Ohe darkness of the forest swallowed her, her fear increased hundreds fold.

  Silently, they maneuvered through the forest.

  “Shhh, that’s the goblin vilge.” Alex put his arm out.

  5 tiny huts were built in the clearing. The appearance of the popuce fit the description on the paper. Long-pointed ears, crooked noses like a bird's beak, sunken in yellow eyes, rotteh-small stature and almost skin and bones. Both Lu and Fei gulped at the sight of the goblins.

  Quickly ting the amount, like Thran had ehey do reproduce quickly as the numbers surpass the twenty mark.

  Alex suddenly rushed towards the goblins with his sword drawn. All the goblins sheir necks at the view of the sudden intruder. Nearly all of them grabbed the ons that liheir huts and rushed back at him.

  “That dumbass.” Lu gritted his teeth before following his as. He drew his knife spriowards the hoard. He raised his foot and shot it forward at a goblin’s head. Striking its mark, the target goblins body flew backwards into a few others

  “Good save!”

  Alex proceeded to swing his bde madly, a few unfortunate gobli each swing with their bodies.

  Lu took a few steps back as the gobli turheir focus towards him. With a on in each of their hands, they rushed towards him swinging their ons like madmen.

  Seeing no opening Lu could only stay out of their way, hoping to exhaust their stamina.

  Before losing his footing, s of ice slowly were created from the floor. With one she others stared at the formation with bewilderment.

  ‘Good work Fei!’ Lu internally excimed as he seized the moment.

  Appearing just before them, he jammed the dagger straight into the ensnared goblin’s neck

  Warm, green blood spurted from the wound, and its mouth. It slumped backwards soon after its life was lost.

  Not giving the rest a ce, he stomped oo the ground and pierced its heart in one swift motion.

  “LU WATCH OUT!”

  A loud screetered his ears as a cold feeling swept the side of his forearm.

  From afar, Fei watched the entire se happen. Lu hobbled backwards, blood poured from his forearm. She raised her staff and poured mana into the tip, and focused on the goblin closest to him.

  The st goblin he faced let out a mighty roar and luowards him.

  s made out of ice caught the goblin just a few inches from him. It tried to move its arms wildly, yet the s locked it down in pbsp;

  Its voice died down as he gave it the same death as the first goblin.

  “That son of a b… O…” Lu grunted. He put pressure on his wound with his other hand, causing blood to pool iween his fingers.

  It looked surface level, but the pain of the cut jabbed at him. He took a sed breather before plug his dagger from off the ground and joined Alex on the frontlines

  The number of goblins quickly dwindled, majority from Alex as he swung his sword in wide arcs, splitting the skulls of the many goblins in front of him. A devilish grin stered on his face as blood pooled and spttered on the ground around him.

  As the st few goblins cowered, they wobbled backwards as Alex stepped forward. A loud scream broke his attention.

  “GET DOWN YOU MORON!” Tim screamed before pushio the ground. An arming yelp came from Fei as her body crashed to the ground. He raised his staff and ted quickly. “Barrier!” He excimed. A beautiful golden wall formed in front of him.

  Tink! Tink! Tink!

  Arrows shattered into millions of splinters on the wall.

  “KILL THOSE ARCHERS! THIS BARRIER DRAINS MY MANA!” Tim yelled. Sweat immediately caked his entire body. “DON’T JUST STAND THERE! DO YOU WANT YOUR STUPID DEMI-HUMAN TO DIE?” His words removed Lu’s stupor.

  With Tim's guidance Lu located the goblin archers.

  He struggled to hem, the trees around him worked as his cover when he expected them to shoot.

  He gripped the first goblin’s head, and smmed it into a nearby tree. Its body slid down the base, along with blood marking its trail.

  He moved to the side as the goblin shot an arrow in his dire. A sed arrow whizzed by, causing another cut to appear on his arm.

  Sug his teeth, he dispatched the goblihe st with retive ease. Afterwards he fell to his knees, clutg his injured arm. His breath wavered, as he gritted his teeth. Fighting living monsters felt different than what he had expected, he was expeg to kill them with ease; he was wrong.

  He looked at his bloody palm, the sounds of the sword cshes stopping brought his attention babsp;

  “Are you done over there? We have to collect the goblin ears.” Alex called out to him, he sounded chipper as if he’s dohis multiple times.

  “Yes.” Lu responded, once he eheir view they threw a bag at him. “What’s this for?” His question warraupefied looks from the two guys.

  “You obviously use them for the goblin ears.”

  “Right…”

  Rounding up the corpses, they cut the ears of each goblin and tossed them into the bags. During their colle, Alex cut the chest of a deceased goblin open and dug around for a moment.

  “Hm… Nothing.” He muttered before wiping his glove off.

  Not b to ask, Lu tinued his desecration of the corpses. His bag quickly filled with the ears of each goblin. The final t of his gathering, around 30 ears he rounded up. Fei watched him yet again from the side, her ears were pletely ft.

  Once everything was gathered up, they set off back to the guild. During their trek back, Fei used her mana i and froze Lu’s wounds. At first he flinched and tried to call out her name, but quickly shushed once he uood.

  Thran weled the four ohey ehe guild. Lu and Fei wondered if he was the only active receptionist, every time they got back he was there. They submitted the request. As proof they opehe bags filled with ears to Thran who looked at it with shobsp;

  “Good work you four, you mao 32 goblins down!” Thran excimed, his tired look from before was repced with a proud smile. “That will be 160 copper in total, 40 for each of you.”

  “Wait, why are they getting 80? Most of it should go to Tim and I, they practically did nothing!” Alex excimed, he smmed his fist onto the ter. “That useless, whatever his name is, only killed 9 goblins, and his demi-human she only ensnared a few! Out of the etle only a few! Nothing else!”

  Ign his qualms, Thran slid a small pouch to Lu. As Alex threw his fit, Lu took the bag from under his nose and turo leave with Fei.

  “THRAN ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?! HOW DARE YOU REWARD ThEM THE SAME AMOUNT!” Alex’s screams tinued until 20 minutes had passed.

  “Sir Alex, Sir Tim I know you do not like the idea of equally sharing the rewards, but the request clearly stated it will be split amongst everyohran eborated while showing them the request. “You agreed to the terms, aime read it fully.”

  The two guys huffed and stormed off after getting their share of the reward. Thran turned and submitted the pletion form, then he pulled out a notebook and quill and checked a part off before setting it back down.