Within the inn/tavern in Honeycomb village, Kak-Yak was laughing and talking to the townspeople, who all gathered here today to celebrate his success after yesterday.

"Wait wait wait, you're telling me that you went inside, came across this spirit thing, found its ring, and it just gave you its home from when it was still alive?"

"YEAH!! It's true! But um, more technical things had to be explained to me by the spirits husband."

"Sure lad, suuuure."

(Protagonists pov.) Man!! I never expected simply helping with a ghost problem would've gotten me this much recognition. Well, ain't like I DON'T like the attention hahaha!!

My ears perked up at the sound of the tavern door opening up.

"Hey Ninthara, stopping by to check up on everyone. Dang hero's association is at my neck right now."

Turning her attention to the counter...she sets her eyes on...me!!! Wait, this isn't a villager. Yeah! I ain't never seen her before. Oh!!! That rough expression, those glistening eyes! Yep, this here's a Wolfian folks.

"..."

She slowly makes her way over to the counter, making sure to take the farthest seat away from me. Rude!!! Maybe she's just not that fond of sitting BY A STRANGER! I mean using basic logic she DID say she was quite on quote, checking on everyone. So she HAS been here before.

I go back to basking in the warm atmosphere of the tavern, listening to the many conversations within, although I can't help but glance over at this stranger here and now.

I notice Nithara appear from behind her private room in the back, looking surprised to see the Wolfian. This surprised expression is immediately replaced with a smile as she goes to greet the Wolfian. Wait...did she say something about hero association?! Pfft, she's definitely a hero then, but one of those snot nosed ones. Wait!!! Don't go judging Kak-Yak!! You know nothing of this woma-

My thoughts are immediately haltered at my ears twitching. Not at the sounds of villagers though...but at the stranger.

"Hey Ninthara. Long time no see."

"Ah, Lyra! It's always so nice to see you again."

Hmmm...Lyra...Lyra Lyra Lyra...unique name...interesting, wait, why am I paying any attention to this complete stranger?!! Stop being weird Kak-YaK!!

(No pov.)

"So how's everyone been? No monster sighting or bandits right?"

Ninthara nods. "Yes, which is very fortunate for us. We are situated somewhere where most monsters and evil doers never even visit, mainly due to the seclusion and lack of any value over here."

"Hmmm." Lyra sighs. "You guys rarely get travelers. What's with him?"

"Oh. He's a hero who recently journeyed here yesterday. He actually helped us with our ghost problem last night."

"What? Ghost problem?"

*nod* "One of the owners of the run down home must have passed away, so their spirit stuck to the home, crying and wailing at night over and over for a ring. Well, that's at least what Kak-Yak told us."

Genuine confused stare. "Kak-Yak? That's his name? Seriously?"

*Giggle* "Yep. Remember, all intelligent species name one another differently after all."

*head shake* "You said he's a hero huh? He doesn't look like one from the city."

*shrug* "City or not, he's a joy to have around the village. He brightens up this little place, and he's only been here a day. Did I mention he helped patch up little Masons wounds? He had hurt himself outside the village chasing butterflies."

"He did huh." She glances at him before returning her gaze to Ninthara. "The stranger aside, how's been the village? Everyone ok? Good on supplies and food?"

"Oh yes very!" *Bright smile* "Please Lyra, you don't have to worry about us." *Smile is replaced with a serious, yet worried expression.* "What of you dear? I know your work is hard after all, I don't want stress to take its toll on you."

"I'm fine. It's just that the recent spring in monster activity near the city has got the association tense. And you know lower ranking heros can't fight S rank and higher monsters."

*nod* "Which leaves higher ranks like you needing to fend them off. Hmm, I know, let me do this to perhaps cheer you up a bit." She closes her eyes, hums a tune for a bit. Everyone within the tavern takes note of this, enjoying the sweet sounds blessing this place at the moment. Eventually Ninthara stops and replaces her worried look with that of a cheery one. "My my, sadness isn't good for the heart. So let's fix that stress with some good old food, some nice drinks and friends! Remember, the village will always be here for you Lyra."

The Wolfian nods, a small smile present. "Yeah, you guys always know how to cheer me up. Especially with you playing your little humming melody's."

And so. The tavern continued with its bustling activity, everyone laughing, singing, and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of such a peaceful community. Unbeknownst to everyone inside, just an hour later, a stranger would make themselves known.

The doors to the tavern swung open as a middle aged human entered, looking pretty mad.

"Excuse me, everyone!! May I have everyone's attention!"

Sure enough everyone turned to look at the stranger.

"Thank you. Now, ahem, although the chances are very slim, is anyone here a hero by any chance? I'll pay!"

*Sigh* "I am, si-"

(POV change.) "Not to worry good sir!!! For I, Kak-Yak the fearless is a hero! Ready to smite down any evil doers and destroy any monsters who dares harm the peace!!"

I posed epically, as usual hehehe.

"...Ok. Well, good hero, a blasted Rock troll has stolen my bag filled with valuable documents!! I need them for important business within the city!!! I will pay handsomely for you to get it back!"

"Hehehehe, don't worry sir! That Rock troll will regret stealing your documents!!!"

My ears hear a groan!! But from where the source! Well none other than the Wolfian!! Who doesn't really look too pleased at me. What did I do wrong?!

Before I could speak up, the strange, oddly dressed man spoke up. "Ahem, anyway, if you've a map hero I shall mark the approximate location of where those brain dead buffoons took off with my stuff!"

Buffoons? So multiple rock trolls?! This just gets better and better. Before i could even get back to reality, he had already marked the location on my map. I watched as he went to sit down and take out a book. Maybe to read? What kind of question is that dummy, obviously?!

"Psst. You."

I immediately turn towards the voice! And it comes from...wait...the Wolfian?! "Oh!! Hello ma'am!"

"...Yeah...hello." *Sigh* "So you're a hero huh?." *Crosses arms* "Which school did you attend?"

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"School?! What, like school school?"

*Look of annoyance* "No, I meant the school you took to become a hero."

"Oh...uhhh...well, I mean I DID take a hero school. It was the school of the warrior!!

"..." *Quick sigh* "What rank are you then?"

"...What?! Rank?" The heck's a rank?! Oh!! Could it be like a thing to show off with!! Probably. Yeah, probably.

"Are you serious?" I could see she was getting a little angry. "How can you be a hero but don't know your own rank?"

I give a quick shrug. "Because a hero doesn't need a rank. Duh!"

"You cannot be serious right now." She holds her head. Huh. Wonder why. "Are you a dropout? Is that why you have zero clue what hero ranks are?"

"Yep!! Dropped out because all the stuff was pointless!"

"Gods, you're actually serious." *Long, annoyed sigh. Despite this she maintains a professional attitude afterwards* "Ok, hero. How about I join you, in case a situation arises where another hero's help is needed. Ok?"

"Help?!" Smirk. "Well, another hero joining me WOULD be helpful, so sure!!! Man, I've always wanted to do a job with another hero."

"Welp today's the day, now c'mon, those trolls aren't going to slay themselves."

And with that, me and...Lyra?! Yeah, Lyra!! Me and Lyra set out for the location these blasted trolls were!!!

On the path forward, I speak lots to Lyra! Mainly about my wonderful stories i hold within my brain! Eventually an actual question forms in my little noodle!

"Hey, you aren't just tagging along because you think I'm not that good!? Right?!"

*Side look* "I will not lie. You say you are a hero, but you have not graduated the school you have taken. You could have learned some valuable hero skills during your time within said school, yet you could also have dropped out before any actual meaningful skills and knowledge was taught to you. So in conclusion, yes, I am tagging along to make sure you don't wander into a rock trolls den and get crushed to death. However, if you have the skills to back up being the hero you claim to be, I would gladly observe you."

"Hehehehehe, oh don't worry!!! I'm gonna show off ALL of my tricks! Wait...hmm...now that I'm thinking about it, from what i know, rock trolls aren't normally aggressive. So why would they randomly go out of their way to attack someone?"

"Who knows. If a peaceful solution can be won over with words, we shall use that." She looks to me once more. "You'll be doing the talking though. Hero's need both combat skill, as well as diplomatic skills."

"And you think I don't have diplomacy skills?! Pfft, watch! As the great Kak-Yak comes to an agreement with the Rock Trolls!!!"

Me and this so called Lyra proceeded to the trolls approximate territory!!! I mean we were already walking, just thought I'd confirm it hahahahha!!!

Yada yada yada bla bla bla, much BORING walking later we arrive!! Man this place stinks. Stinky cave.

"Hehehe, now watch!! As I lure the Rock Trolls out of the smelly cave. HEY!! Kind kind Trolls, I come to talk!!!"

*Crosses arms* "This should be good."

Around three Rock Trolls exited from within the cave. Man!!! Rock Trolls look so friendly!!! "Hello!! I am Kak-Yal!!! I have come to discuss the release of some documents, that you all have stolen from a well dressed man."

The three trolls look to one another other, then back to me. "N-no!!! Man da one, who shine light at troll!!"

"Yes!!! Trolls, no like flashy flashy lights!! So we scare man!!!"

I nod. "Uh uh uh huh, so why take his bag though? It's supposedly just boring papers inside! Papers ARE boring."

"Food!!!"

"Yes, food!!! Smell food inside bag, so we takes it!!!"

"Yes!!! Man run in fear and drop bag bag! So we take bag for ourselves!!!"

"I see I see." Uses max brain power to determine a peaceful outcome. "So friendly trolls, will you three be willing to hand over the bag? You can keep the food of course haha, I just need the boring papers and the bag itself."

I see one scratch its head. "It bag. Bag boring."

"Very boring."

"Taste like dirt!!!"

Hahahaha, I love these trolls already. "Yeah!! Bag taste nasty, like burnt rubber! So you'd be willing to hand over bag right?"

They all look at one another before back to me. "Do favor, fo trolls! We give bag after!"

"Oh, uh, sure! What's the favor?"

The three rock trolls discuss in what they want me to do in exchange for the bag of documents. Man oh man, this is definitely one of my weirdest moments. I mean I'm talking to rock trolls?! And people say all monsters are bad.

"Kitty kitty! Trolls, come up with favor!"

"Yes yes!!"

"Kitty and wolf, go and help trolls with problem. Stupid stupid thing annoying at night!! In troll cave and make loud noises! Multiple! Troll too slow to deal with. Wolf and Kitty BAM annoying bug!! And troll give kitty and wolf nasty bag!!!"

Silent laugh. "Alright alright, we'll BAM this little bug problem of yours!"

They all looked at one another before giving...um...troll cheers? I dunno it was weird. They pretty much went back into their cave to do whatever it is trolls do. Oh!! Maybe they have their own little troll games or something! That'd be rad.

(No POV.)

Kak-Yak turned to face Lyra. "See?! What did I tell ya!! I CAN be diplomatic. If I can reason with rock trolls, I can reason with anyone!"

*eye roll* "Not anyone. Rock Trolls are dumb, but can still be reasoned with. Their basic levels of intelligence only allow for basic communication and understanding, which allows them to easily be negotiated with. Also means they don't typically lie often. So that's a bonus, I guess."

The two spent a good while trying to find this so called bug problem within the troll's cave. Eventually Kak-Yak and Lyra stumbled across giant holes within the caves floor, with large marks clawing at the exiting. Our hero goes up and studies the marks.

"Hmmm...from the markings...yep, definitely giant Mantises."

*Lyra looked to him* "For someone who dropped out, you know your monster marks well. Yes, these are indeed giant mantis Markings."

He laughed proudly, placing a paw over his heart as he posed. "Well I'm not the great Kak-Yak for nothing. Hehehe."

Looking through the rough and stoic expression, there was the ever slightest hints of a smirk on Lyra's muzzle. She kneels down, examining the markings more closely. "Giant mantises can't cut open solid ground like, so this leaves only one explanation, we're dealing with armored Giant Mantises." *Sigh* "Just my luck."

*Clicking sounds*

The two snap their gazes to the noise. Crawling from out another hole, is a giant armored mantis. Slowly standing up, Lyra quickly digs into her waist bag and takes out a device. "When I say run, you run, got it?"

"Oh, uh, yea, sure."

Arming the device, Lyra chucks it inside the nearby hole. "Run!"

The two hero's make a beeline for the entrance to the cave, a loud explosion ringing throughout the cave. Reaching the entrance, the two take a collective breather.

"Man that was about to get bad." He turns to Lyra. "You coulda collapsed the cave on us or something! Why'd you use a bomb?!"

"It was a controlled explosive, dummy. One specifically designed for clearing monster dens and nest." Her expression hardens, turning her gaze behind her. "I only managed to destroy only one nest though. If there's one, there's bound to be more. Some of them are definitely still kicking."

Sure enough, multiple Armored, giant, and really mad mantises rush for the entrance.

"What big noise is?!"

The three rock trolls from before return, only to see that their home has been infested with Armored mantises. Doing what they do best, the three rock trolls engage the mantises.

*sigh* "C'mon, we need to help clear these things."

"Right!!"

Kak-Yak unsheathed his blade, ready to fend off the cruel monsters! As for Lyra, instead of any weaponry, she instead cast a magical barrier spell on herself and Kak-Yak as she fires off some spells towards the Mantises.

"Hehehehe, thanks for the barrier Lyra!!"

Using a mixture of speed and power, Kak-Yak fearlessly vanquished one after another of the armored creatures, occasionally mixing in a variety of fighting styles.

Lyra stared in both bewilderment and admiration as this Suxarine, who she hasn't even known for a day, fearlessly vanquish one after another of the mantises. What really caught her off guard was his unique ability to swap between fighting styles effortlessly. Most hero's just stick to a single style...but this complete, random stranger she's just met already looks like he has years of experience, despite having dropped out of his own hero school.

"HAHAHAHAHA, come at me buggers, just because you've got some armored bodies doesn't mean you're safe from me!! Hehehehehe, oops!! Missed me didn't ya, oops! Missed again, hehehe."

Soon, after countless fighting, the swarm ceased as a pile of vanquished armored mantises littered the area. Almost immediately, Kak-Yak rushes inside to speak to the trolls. As for Lyra, she just stands there, thinking deeply.

Eventually our hero steps outside, holding up a bag. "Hey!!! I got the bag! And yes, the trolls didn't eat the documents. I mean yeah they're a bit stained but they should still be good!"

"As long as they are intact, that's all that matters. Now c'mon, getting sick of breathing in troll smell."

And thus began the two hero's journey back to honeycomb village. As Kak-Yak told stupid and obscure stories on the way back, Lyra kept on thinking back on something deep in her mind. The strange fur and color patterns that Kak-Yak has. Surly he couldn't be...no, it's too low of a chance. After all, one had already existed before. But that doesn't mean there couldn't be another...right?