Maggie wiped the sweat from her brow while her eyes roamed the crowd. Her wooden trinkets covered the stall she set up in the early hours of the morning. The easy to recognize items were at the front while all her original creations sat behind them on slightly raised podiums. She adjusted a few that were slightly off-center, smiling at the crowd the whole time.
One minute passed, she felt her smile fade.
Two more minutes passed, she started yelling into the clamor of the early morning market-goers.
Three more minutes and she was holding her head in her hands. Her smile had turned into a frown that wrinkled her plain features. She shook her head, short black hair following her movements, as she parted two fingers to stare at her merchandise. Memories of her labors made her hands throb in pain. She had stayed up well past noon to finish everything on display, set up her stall before anyone else had woken up, and even put on the only clean dress she owned. She had put her all into earning some gold for her family today, yet it was all for not.
She let her arms fall to her sides while gazing out at the other stalls in the market. Most sold food, clothing, or something else people would buy for practicality. But there were still plenty of peddlers selling obvious junk that customers stopped to buy. A tiny glass ball, some poor quality wooden swords, you name it.
People ate that stuff up, but no one batted a single eye at her handcrafted work! They wouldn't know quality if it stabbed them in th—
"Miss."
She quickly looked up at the sudden voice, her frustration fading as quickly as it came. She was filled with fear. She felt her spine shiver, her legs get weak, and the entire atmosphere around her turned cold and oppressive. She felt an urge to hug herself for comfort, yet the prospect of a single move being her last kept her perfectly still.
The...stranger stood in front of her stall, one of the wooden statues held in her hands. Her black gloves matched the rest of her clothes making her more intimidating than her height already did. Maggie only came up to her chest with the stranger's body blocking out the sun. The stranger's breasts were barely noticeable beneath the restrictive clothing she wore, but if she was bothered by this she didn't show it.
The stranger's sharp, yellow eyes turned to look directly into Maggie's. The stall owner yelped in unconstrained fear with her body shaking under the gaze of the strange woman. The woman picked up two more statues before speaking again, "How much?"
Maggie's eyes darted around the market, looking for a guard or anyone who could help her here. Thankfully, a few people had stopped to stare and whisper at the event happening at her stall. She saw someone break from the crowd towards the entrance gate which filled her with a small sense of relief. She gulped again before stuttering out an answer, "T-th-thirty."
She preemptively flinched as the stranger brought up her right hand. Maggie shut her eyes involuntarily as the hand came down and...nothing happened. Cracking one eye open revealed the stranger's fist held out with her wrist held up.
Maggie slowly opened her eyes, her pupils flicking between the stranger's wrist and her covered face. The stranger followed her eyes the two of them becoming locked in an awkward "dance" of sorts.
It was a few minutes before the stranger's eyes shot open in surprise. She pulled her arm back while hastily saying, "Oh, yes! You mean thirty...thirty gold coins, correct?"
"Y-yes," Maggie didn't know what else to say. One minute the customer almost gave her a heart attack, now she was hastily reaching into her coat. The bag she pulled out jingled as she reached in to take out the gold.
Maggie could've sworn the stall shook when the stranger placed the coins down. The two of them clumsily gathered up their respective items at the same time. Maggie stood up with the gold coins held in her arms, desperately trying to keep a smile plastered on her face, "Th-thank you for your purchase!"
"Y-you are very welcome, Miss!" the stranger shouted back while backing up into the crowd. The townspeople made way as she disappeared into the crowd just as two guards appeared. The moment they did Maggie felt her legs give out. She fell to the ground with the coins still in her shaking arms.
As the guards began questioning everyone she started mumbling to herself about looking for better employment.
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'Stupid, stupid, stupid!'
The Huntress did her best to keep her appearance neutral. She kept her presence as minuscule as possible to blend into the crowd around her. She matched her pace with the citizens, tilted her head down, and kept her arms at her sides.
'Why did I do that?!'
She felt her hands start curling into fists, feeling the wooden texture of the statues in her right hand. She placed the trinkets into a coat pocket to protect them while moving with the crowd.
'Of course she meant the coins! What else would she mean?!'
The Huntress resisted the urge to slap herself, instead vigorously shaking her head at the huge mistake she made. Various peddlers attempted to get her attention as she passed them by, but even the most persistent couldn't stop her from marching onwards.
'The plan was to go up to her, strike up a conversation, and get to know her! Connect with someone in this New World that can guide you, help you, and maybe even become friends!'
The Huntress unconsciously dodged around a woman carrying a basket filled with produce, while the memory of her failed attempt at conversation kept replaying in her mind. Eventually, she shrugged.
'Oh well. I'll just have to try again...
'...where the result will be the same.'
The thought made her freeze in place. Her eyes widened as her head swiveled around, taking in the whole area surrounding her. The buildings that were nowhere near Yharnam in terms of structure, the people who wore modest clothes and went about their business as if a war wasn't literally happening right outside their walls, the one or two guards who would be posted up on the corners of the street, and the way people spoke to each other in an easygoing, carefree manner. All of it coalesced in her mind into a single question: How could she communicate with these people?
She didn't want it to be true but that "exchange" made it completely evident. The horrors she witnessed in Yharnam weren't as easily forgotten as she wished. She may have gotten out of the city alive, but she did so a changed woman. She had forced herself to be quiet, withdrawn, and taciturn while fighting her way through the Night of the Hunt. It was the only way she could survive. And every time she opened her heart to someone, they either died, went insane, tried to kill her, or a combination of the three.
Thoughts of fellows lost to the horrid Night flashed through her mind as she felt the world begin to recede around her. In its place were cold, oppressive shadows that swallowed up everything they touched. The town, the people, all were devoured by the darkness until she was alone in a sea of black.
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She didn't break her stride.
'You built yourself into an unfeeling machine in Yharnam.'
Her footsteps echoed in her ears.
'Do you truly believe you can overcome that within one night?'
She could hear her teeth grinding against each other.
'Cease this farce. You know what you are.'
Her heart beat faster, and faster, pounding against her eardrums as her fist clenched so tightly she could feel her nails ripping through the silky gloves.
'You're a killer. A Hunter. And a Hunter must—'
The Huntress punched herself in the face. Hard.
Her surroundings returned to normal as she righted her head. She rubbed her chin with her left hand, swallowing any blood that came from the strike. A few people had stopped walking to observe her but they soon moved on with their heads down when her gaze shifted to them. She sighed while placing a hand on her forehead, looking around to find a place to rest. She needed some time to get her thoughts in order before moving on.
Her gaze fell on a square, wooden building to her right. Loud voices came through the two open windows next to the entrance door. Right above it was a wooden sign that displayed a mug filled with what the Huntress guessed was alcohol.
'An inn. How convenient.'
She straightened out her clothes, took in a deep breath, then proceeded to walk towards the door.
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"Are you fucking insane?"
Jet flinched at the question. He felt sweat trickle down the back of his neck, half from the heat of so many people gathered together in the inn and half from the stone-cold glare from Sentinel's solid grey eyes. The bald, beast of a man called for another three tankards of ale, his slightly baggy brown tunic bunching up around his muscles.
Jet gulped audibly, placing his hands on the table while forcing a weak smile, "Come one, Sen. Don't be like that. The job's easy, promise."
"That's what you said about the last one," Sentinel scoffed, narrowing his eyes at the thinner man.
"And we finished it easily."
"No, me and Blitz finished it. We had to rescue you from the Succubus you were 'comforting'." The man's eyes scanned the room to ensure no heads had been turned towards them at the mention of a monster.
Jet's reply died in his throat as the barmaid came by with their drinks. His eyes were glued to her chest as she set the foaming cups on the table. He followed after her as she walked away, blood rushing somewhere other than his head. A sharp pain shot through his right leg, making him jump up and hit his knee on the table edge. A short burst of laughter came from the patrons close enough to see his blunder.
He nervously waved to the chuckling people, before turning his head to glare at the third member of their group. At the back of the booth, in between Jet and Sentinel's seats, was the diminutive form of Blitz. The girl had her head down, her sun hat blocking her expression as she reached forward and grabbed one of the tankards with a small, calloused hand.
Jet pushed a hand through his curly brown hair while leaning back in his seat. He turned to Sentinel, "And the three before that went off without a hitch, didn't they?" Neither Sentinel nor Blitz replied, causing Jet's grin to get wider, "I thought so."
Sentinel grunted in reluctant agreement, chugging his ale so fast the foam got into the grey beard covering his chin. Jet joined him, drinking at a slower pace to keep his faculties sharp. The cool liquid felt refreshing as it hit his stomach, making him sigh thankfully when he was finished. He scratched at his collar still not used to the leather jerkin he was wearing. His sharp, green eyes swept the room as he spoke, "I can see why you're worried though, Sen. This job isn't our usual fare."
"We're bounty dogs, Jet," Sen sighed while slamming his tankard on the wooden table making it shake, "people hire us to kill a monster, we find it, we kill it, and hope the Order doesn't send any inquisitors to stomp us out." The stare he directed at their leader was hard as a rock, "We don't do rescue missions."
Jet raised a finger in protest, "Ah, but we do do large sums of gold as compensation for risking our lives. And that's exactly what our client is offering. Plus, it's all under the table. The Order won't know a thing."
Sen scowled, scrunching up the scar across his left cheek, but proving that he was starting to come around. The bulky man crossed his arms, "I suppose you have our client's guarantee on this? And that they know what we're likely to find?"
Jet nodded along with the questions, "Yes and yes, my overly cautious friend. But our client truly hopes in her heart of hearts that her precious child is still alive and well."
"I say we go for it," Blitz pushed her now empty tankard to the center of the table. She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. The pearl white skin of her arms contrasted with the slight bulge of muscle beneath it.
"I've been keeping an eye on our funds," she spoke with a voice devoid of mirth and laughter, "between food, getting our equipment fixed, travel, and donation to the Order, we're going to be broke in three days. How much is she paying us?"
"Three-hundred thousand," Jet wiggled his pinky as Sen whistled at the extravagant reward, "How long will that keep us for, Blitz?"
Blitz took a moment to reply, "If we're smart, 5 years. If not, 3 or less."
"Well, Sen, what do you say?" Jet placed his tankard on the table, scratching his slightly crooked nose, "You in?"
Sen scowled at his friend for a few minutes. Then he sighed while shaking his head with a smile, "Sure, why not? Not like you two could do it without me anyway."
"What makes you say—," the feeling of two glares burning into him made Jet cut his question short. He heard the door to the inn open, looking out the corner of his eye to see who came in. It was difficult at first due to the dark lighting of the booth they were in, but he managed to catch a glimpse of a figure making a b-line towards the bar. Jet made a note of them and turned back to his two companions.
"So, what will we be up against?" Sen leaned in closer, lowering his voice to prevent curious ears from listening in. Blitz did the same, holding her hat up with one hand to prevent it from falling off.
Jet looked between the two of them, leaning forward while licking his lips, and spoke, "According to our client, the day her son went missing, was the same day they heard something about a pack of Werewolves near here."
"Werewolves?" Sen whispered as his eyes went wide, "As in more than one?"
"One monster is enough trouble," Blitz replied, "But we can't take on a pack. Especially one that got a Hero. Do you know how many there are?"
"Not...exactly," Jet felt more sweat fall down his neck.
"And you didn't mention this before, why?"
Jet chuckled nervously, "Because I...figured you two wouldn't want to take the job then. But come on! Three-hundred thousand gold! You said it yourself, Blitz, we'll be sitting pretty for a long time after this."
"That's if we manage to come back," Blitz corrected, "The three of us can't handle a pack of monsters."
"She's right, Jet," Sen said while tapping a finger on the table, "My magic will help, but if we get overwhelmed then…."
Jet could feel his friends' drive waning, along with the reward slipping through his fingers. He briefly remembered his time living in the slums, surviving off scraps until Sen found him. His eyes darted around the inn while his mind raced to find something he could use to convince them. His gaze fell onto the bar..and the form of the newcomer sitting there.
"What if," he began, his mind working overtime to make his suggestion sound convincing, "we recruit a new member?"
"What?!" Blitz and Sen looked towards each other then back at Jet.
Jet continued, "You're right, the three of us would be no match for a pack of monsters. But four of us…"
Jet looked towards Blitz, knowing she'd be the first to understand him. She paused for a bit before answering, "It...would improve our chances. How much depends on how skilled the recruit is. And we'd have to split the reward, but even then that's seventy-five thousand each."
"So?" Jet smiled as his vision of the gold started reforming.
"...It's worth a shot." Blitz concluded after a few minutes of silence.
Jet looked to Sen, who simply shrugged, "If Blitz says it's ok then I suppose…"
"Then it's settled!" Jet clapped his hands and quickly stood up from his seat, "I've got just the person in mind." He moved before either of his comrades could raise any objections, heading straight towards the newcomer sitting at the bar.
Sen sighed while watching the young man take a seat next to a black-clothed stranger at the bar. He leaned back in his seat and looked towards Blitz, "Well, Blitz. What do you think?"
She answered the big man in a matter of fact tone, "I think we're walking into something that we shouldn't be. Another member might mean more firepower, but it also means someone else who could blab to the Order. We'll have to be on guard until we're sure whoever Jet brings can be trusted."
Sen nodded picking up his tankard as Jet came back to the table with the newcomer in tow. Both he and Blitz watched as Jet gestured to the stranger, "Sen, Blitz, allow me to introduce our newest member!"
The newcomer bowed slightly, her voice high pitched yet low, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I look forward to working with you all."
Blitz simply nodded while Sen kept his eyes on the newbie. His brows furrowed as his eyes roamed her body. The same question kept ringing through his head as Jet scooted into his seat with her following suit:
'Why can't I sense any Mana from this girl?'
He briefly thought of bringing it up, but as Jet began to explain the situation, he decided to forget it.
He was probably just getting old.