Three days had passed since her training. Now here Maisie was, marching up and down her room in a spaghetti-strapped white dress. Kalthona had been avoiding the elf like the plague, most likely because she was embarrassed by her drunken outburst. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock, and the elf zoomed towards the door. Kalthona stood there with a sheepish look on her face and a plate of biscuits in her hand.

"I'm sorry." The axe-wielder apologises, hanging her head down in shame as she moves the plate forward. The elf softly laughed and took the plate. She then ushered the flame user to come in, welcoming her. Kalthona thanked Maisie and took a seat on the edge of the bed. She then looked around, impressed with what Maisie had done with the place. "It's nice." The girl remarked. Maisie placed the plate of biscuits on the table, then walked over and took a seat next to Kalthona.

"Thanks,"Maisie said. The two girls then began chatting. Kalthona spoke of different restaurants that they could go to, the flame user's favourite being a beef stew place three roads down from the tavern. A soft knock interrupted their conversation, and Kalthona stood up to see who it was. She swung the door open, and with widened, lilac eyes, an excited squeal left her mouth. The girl had launched herself onto a tall figure. Maisie stood up, confused, as she tried to figure out who it was. Kalthona finally let go of the person and stepped out of the way, giving Maisie a proper look as to who it was. It was a tall, well-built man with pale skin, a black and white wolf cut, and red, sharp eyes. A white fang earring hung from his right ear, and a gold chain encircled his neck. The man wore a black, long-sleeved compressed shirt and a pair of black joggers with tai chi shoes.

"Scarlet told me I could find you here." He spoke. His voice was warm, inviting, deep, and gentle, and Maisie found herself being dragged in. Kalthona turned back to the girl and grinned.

"Maisie, this is Hide. Hide, this is Maisie," she introduced. The elf walked closer, extending her hand out for him to shake. Hide looked at her; more so, he looked at her ears, and she started feeling self-conscious. However, this all washed away when Hide cracked the biggest grin and took her hand, shaking it vehemently.

"I'm glad to meet you. Fairwood elves have always fascinated me as people, and now I get to speak to one up close and personal."

"Oh, I'm not from this world." Maisie replied awkwardly. Hide blinks, and Maisie blinks back.

"Huh?" Hide was questioned and confused. Kalthona stood there, cackling.

"It's a long story, Hide. A long story." The axe wielder explained.

"I've got time." He replied, his interest piqued at the revelation. So the three of them began conversing as Maisie explained her situation. She watched as Hide's expression went from confusion to fascination. The young elf finished the explanation with Kalthona's backing and simply waited for his answer.

"It's rather unfortunate you were brought here as a Fairwood elf." He said this, placing a finger and a thumb under his chin as he examined the white-haired girl's features.

"That's what Isaiah said," Kalthona said. Maisie, however, let out a breath of frustration. It looks like she was in for a ride, campaigning against the smearing of the Fairwoods' name. "He's also going to scold you for not reading up on your history." The tall man shuddered.

"Anyways," Hide stood up from the wooden chair and quickly changed the subject. "Are you ready for the annual job?" He asked. Kalthona nodded, standing up from the bed.

'He's so damn tall.' The elf thought, feeling dwarfed by him.

"We have to wait for the gang to return, though." She reminded him.

"They're already here." The red-eyed man said, a grin growing on his face as he watched Kalthona's eyes gleam with excitement.

"Umm, what's an annual job?" Maisie spoke up, raising her hand as she asked the question. She came off more timid and awkward than she would have liked. The two looked down at her.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to explain jobs to you." Kalthona sat back down and faced Maisie. "In the guild, you're expected to complete four solo jobs. Some jobs take a day; others take weeks. I usually take jobs that would take three days max, since I'm lazy. After you have completed those four jobs and your designated team has done the same, your team then takes a single job that usually takes months to a year max." Kalthona explained.

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"Within that single job, some will work on side jobs during the journey, as a kind gesture. That's what our team does anyway."Hide added. Maisie took the information and then nodded, confirming that she understood what they said.

"Hide here was on a three-week hunting spree, dealing with bandits and monsters alike. After all, he is the best when it comes to that stuff." Kalthona gloated, jazz-handing him. Hide bowed, his face flushed from the flattery he received.

"You're not bad yourself." Maisie complimented. Kalthona's face went red, and she stood up, leaving the room abruptly.

"Did I do something wrong?" Maisie questioned, shock written all over her face. Hide shook his head, a soft smile present on his face.

"Nope."

Kalthona stood behind the door, leaning on it. A small smile broke out on her face as her heart beat rapidly. The flame user loved compliments, but compliments directed at her skills really did something to her. She felt less like a failure each time her techniques were complimented. Kalthona got out of the door just as Hide opened it.

"Maisie said she's getting dressed. She'll meet us at the bar." He said.

*******

Maisie entered the bar, looking for Hide and Kalthona. The elf was wearing a white, floor-length dress that was synched at the waist with a large blue gem in the middle. Its sleeves were long and flowy, with a cut going down the side, and the wrists were cuffed with gold bracelets. A white hood was sewn on the dress, covering all her hair and parts of her forehead. Scarlet had created this outfit and a couple more, which Maisie was grateful for.

Her eyes then landed on the two conversing with two other people. Maisie walked over to the group.

"Hey guys." Kalthona looked up and patted the empty space next to her. The elf graciously took a seat and then focused her attention on the two unfamiliar faces. It was a young woman and a young man. The young woman had light brown skin with long red hair. She wore a satin blindfold and a deep purple bodycon dress with a gold waist chain around the middle. Her nails were painted black and long. Her plump lips had a deep rouge colour painted over them, and a gold hoop hung from her nose. The air around her was wild.

The young man, on the other hand, was pale with shoulder-length, light blonde hair. His eyes were emerald green. He wore a gold and white knight's armour with a dragon crest on the chest plate. A white cape hung from the back of the armour, as did a zweihänder. The two's attention soon landed on Maisie. Unlike the wild air that surrounded the woman, an air of arrogance surrounded the blonde-haired man.

"Hi there. I'm Bonney." The woman introduced herself; her voice was deep and husky. Maisie introduced herself as she shook the woman's extended hand. The other man, however, turned his attention away and ignored the elf. Maisie, however, didn't miss the words he mumbled to himself.

"Like hell, I'm touching a fairwood." He knew who she was. The young woman wanted to launch the knight out of the tavern, and judging by Kalthona's horrified expression, she probably wanted to as well.

"Don't be fucking rude, Lyon." Hide reprimanded. The blonde sent a glare the tall male's way.

"If she's coming on the journey, then count me out." He pushed back like a petulant child. Bonney smacked him across the face, shocking everyone, including Maisie.

"The number one rule of this guild is to treat everyone the same, despite their origin. You will adhere to that." She warned. Lyon held his cheek, listening in shock as she continued. "You have a past darker than any rumour made up for the Fairwood elves, and you should remember how we accepted you despite that fact. You'd be wise to do the same."

"Well, about the job," Kalthona spoke, trying to drag the focus to something lighthearted. "We've decided to take the royal job."

"What does it include?" Maisie asked as she stopped glaring at the man before her.

"We have to go to Milhania and retrieve a healing orb for the prince, who's really interested in it," Hide explained.

"The only problem is it's in the dragon kingdom, and they don't take too kindly to people taking their things," Bonney added, looking at her nails.

"It's also a three-month journey there. If we take side jobs to fund the journey, it'll easily take an additional two or three months to get there." Kalthona said.

"So we'll be gone for almost a year?" Maisie asked.

"Yes." Bonney, Hide, and Kalthona replied.

"Is there no sense of urgency from the king?" The group, minus Lyon, shook their heads.

"Then what are we waiting for?" With Maisie's eagerness to go on the job, the group planned to set out in the afternoon. Lyon blocked out the group's voice and focused his attention on Maisie. He flashed back to a memory of a Fairwood elf standing over his dying breath as he lay on the muddied ground with rain dropping over his body. The elf's blade was firmly placed on the knight's neck, and a dark and sinister expression was plastered on her face. Piles of corpses surrounded them. All of them were his comrades. He'd never forget, nor would he forgive.

'I'll finish you're kind. I swear by Maribel, I will finish you all.'