And… we’re back. Ended up being a liiiiiiiittle longer than a moment? I actually ended up just doing some Untitled Battlegrounds gaming till the night passed, since, y’know, the thought occurred, the Tamer’s Guild would in fact, be closed during the time I’d intended to show up! Buuuut, we’re back in business now! Now… Jasper, Jasper, Jasper.

I’ll give her just a little longer to decide on what she’s gonna do. I’ve got to actually head over to the Tamer’s Guild either way, so I can wait for her answer until we actually arrive and I get back down to… what was his name? Oliver? Mason? Matthew? Matthew, right? Definitely. From the top now. Ahem, back down to business with Matthew! I’ve got two monsters to sell after all.

“MmmMmm.”

Or maybe I should keep one, keep some conversation for Jasper?

“I see…”

Or maybe not? I can probably pick up some other monster on the way? Nature Sprite doesn’t sound like too terrible of an option given, but it’s clearly a lower quality monster than Jasper to begin with. It’s got some healing ability, but that’s… about it. Once again, that’s not much of a concern for me at the moment when it comes to the early game. Maybe later, once I’m more progressed? But right now it’d just be an experience deficit. Also known as, I’m not doin, allat.

So, yeah, probably selling them. It’ll be good to figure out how much money monsters are generally worth so I can know if it’s a good way to farm or not. Now on that note, onwards! Towards the Guild!

—

The front of the Tamer’s Guild looms overhead, within lies the eye of the storm, the moment of truth, the… Ehhh I don’t got one for this, I’m a let down. It’s where the big important event will occur. Is that good enough? Yes? Okay, cool.

Pushing open the doors, I clear my throat as I begin to put on my best bargaining face, that being the most unbelievably fake smile I could possibly manage. You know, one that doesn’t inspire fear in the hearts of the masses.

Nobody is at the front desk as of the moment oddly enough. Not quite sure what’s going on there? But I’m sure somebody will be here soon enough.

“So…” I haphazardly mumble through the mind connection thingy this class has going on as I lean against the front counter. “What are you going to do?”

There was really no more time for her to put it off. I’d avoided speaking to Jasper for about as long as I could to give her as much space as I could, but, the time’s come. I need an answer.

“...”

“If you say nothing, I’ll leave you here.” I lay down that simple fact right out of the gates. If her heart isn’t in it with cooperating with me, then I might as well be going off on my own. She might not be operating at peak condition, or listening to me very well, and if worst comes to worst she might very well get herself killed. I honestly don’t think she’ll manage that, but I’d rather not take risks on that front. Even if they’re only an npc, their death will be permanent.

“You have until somebody gets here to answer.”

“.....”

“...”

“...What?”

That… was a new face in the conversation. The… Nature Sprite, I do believe? They’d been speaking with Jasper earlier. Well, “speaking” as best you can with her anyways. I’d be selling them in a moment, but if they had anything to add to the conversation… I suppose that’s fine?

In a deep rumbling voice not unlike that of a stereotypical wise old man, the Sprite began to speak.

“I believe you should go.”

“...Mmm?”

Yeah, right? Who the heck is this random giving you advice? This is a complicated emotional problem of grief and longing here. What the hell?

“It is natural for the creatures of the forest to seek growth. Their destinations are bound to the world outside the forested walls. Do not allow yourself to be constrained to the ground beneath your paws.”

…So did I like, pick up the wise sage just in the middle of the forest? Is that just a sprite thing? Didn’t me and Jasper literally beat this thing half to death about thirty minutes ago? Why is it just spouting sagely advice now?

“Mmm…”

And she’s hearing it out??? Alright, what do I know about common logic? Go argue to my benefit nature spirit thingamajig. Godspeed!

“Seek new lands, leave your old roots behind.”

And… they shut right up. Really? You’re just gonna go all Grand Forest Tree wise man and then be silent? That’s really all you had to say?

…Alright Nature Sprite, you do you. Still selling you though.

“Not to rush…” I interjected once more as I craned my neck over the counter after hearing a door creaking. “But it’s time to choose, for realsies this time.”

“Ah, Mr. Koth, how good to see you. What can I help you with this morning?”

You know, he doesn’t say it, but it reeeeeeeally feels like he’s expecting me to return Jasper. I’d love, if for nothing else, to be able to tell him “no actually I’m not they’re staying with me” but that’s not really my decision to make here. Just gonna have to hope, I guess! Let me be petty, please, Jasper?

“I’m here to sell some monsters before I leave town.” I nod curtly as I raise an arm to the air. I don’t actually… need to do that to [Summon] them and everything, but doing it with a movement feels more natural. You know, add a little flair.

“Mmm…”

And speaking of [Summon]ing, here we are!

[Summon], [Summon], aaaaaaand [Summon].

A Shrubling, Nature Sprite, and Jasper appear one after the other. The small cabbage creature plops onto the floor quietly, the sprite hovers above the ground with ease, and Jasper touches down on the hardwood floor with grace, as per usual. Is… is that why she has a stat called grace? Cats always landing on their feet and what not? That’s… kind of a lazy joke… eh whatever.

The Shrubling hasn’t even made a peep since I initially tamed it, it simply seemed to be content waiting around, the Nature Sprite got along well enough with Jasper, but it’s quiet for the most part as well. Jasper is quiet in the verbal sense as per usual, but… her body language is much more… subdued.

Every time I’d laid eyes on her before, she was always rolling with each step. Her entire body bounced with whatever she was doing, her movements now in comparison seemed… much more subdued. Slowly she paced towards me, moving forwards with what I’d describe as a nigh limp.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Ah, if you intend to sell Jasper, I only offered to take her back should she prove to be too much trouble…” Matthew immediately began to explain with an apologetic smile, but for my part I was much more fixated on the rather pitiful sight before me.

“What will you do?” I ask one final time, continuing to look down upon my hesitant monster. I’m not trying to force them to come with me or anything, because I have a feeling that if there's no sincerity on her end then things won’t end well, but… I RRRRRREALLY want them to come with me. So ppplease please please please please please please puhleeeeease, please decide to not stay?

“Mr. Koth? Is there some sort of problem?”

Still no response from Jasper… I suppose it can’t be helped.

With a sigh, I turn to face Matthew once more, the utterly fake smile fading from my face, replaced by a barely repressed scowl.

God damnit. Even as understanding as I tried to be, I guess it just wasn’t enough… She can’t come to a proper decision, and with the way she’s been acting prior to this, I’m almost certain that’s going to end up in unfortunate occurrences. I need her to be ready to listen to me no matter what, and if she can’t decide on something like this… then there’s no point.

“Not Jasper.” I shake my head slowly. “I’m not here to sell her, just the other two. How much would I get for a level one Shrubling and level two Nature Sprite?”

“Ah! I see, in that case, I can offer you fifty copper for the Shrubling, and a silver for the Nature Sprite!”

You have lost: Resiala Forest Shrubling (LVL 1)

+50 copper!

You have lost Resiala Forest Nature Sprite (LVL 1)

+1 silver!

Immediately, it felt like some sort of connection snapped. It wasn’t painful or anything of the sort, just… one moment, something was there, the next it vanished and scattered into a million pieces. My monsters didn’t vanish or anything, they still had to be actually moved away, but the previously quiet yet still omnipresent rumblings of the two monsters had vanished.

So… earlier on he was going to sell me three Shrublings for two silvers… and I got to sell one for fifty copper. That’s… actually not that bad of an exchange rate is it? Huh… that’s… pretty nice actually. The whole trip took me like thirty minutes to go from the forest to the guild (not counting “side quests”) so I could probably repeat it a few times in a day at a higher level and make big bucks real fast with better monsters, do it even faster when I get more agility with more monster capacity… yeah, that’s not bad! Now…

Time to rip that bandaid off.

“Anyways… I did come here to settle one other matter before I left.” I continue with that same miffed scowl. Even the prior good news doesn’t do much to lift my mood here. This’ll be a hit to my progression, but oh well… There's not much I can do about it. I could try to hold onto Jasper all I want, but if she takes too long to get along with, she’ll end up getting me swamped by players and progressing will be a genuine nightmare. So… it’s time to bid her adieu.

“Oh? What would that be?”

“I… hm?”

Before I could properly word my thoughts, a furry head brushed against my leather leggings. Obviously… It was Jasper. Pressing herself against my leg much like you’d expect from a common housecat. Obviously as in it was Jasper, not that she was doing… that.

I dare not jinx it, I dare not! So, I don’t rush it, I don’t raise any flags, I simply ask…

“...Yes?”

“...”

A moment later, they sit down on the floor maintaining the same contact, and to my further surprise!

Exclusive quest (1/1000), Wild Hunt’s Faith-complete!

+???

Determining rewards.

Wait, what?

You are the first player of server 64 to complete an exclusive quest!

+5 Luck!

You are the first player to complete exclusive quest “Wild Hunt’s Faith”!

+1 Jasper skill level!

“Mmm.”

… :D

Wait, oops-

“M-Mr… Mr. Koth…?”

“Ahem…” I lightly rap my chest as I attempt to recompose myself, forcing down the wide grin that had quickly replaced my previous scowl. “What I meant to say… was I’ll be letting you know that Jasper will be staying with me. No need for her to return, she’s fine with where she is.”

Even still, I can barely prevent a twitch from breaking through the proverbial mask I’d put on. And as I struggle, the good news just keeps on coming!

Rewards determined!

+1/3 Exclusive Class (Unique) requirements fulfilled.

+Class change opportunity for Jasper!

+Communication LVL 1->Communication LVL 2!

Wild Hunt (Epic)

Usage difficulty: * * * *

Note! The more stars a class is rated, the harsher its use conditions and skill requirements are considered to be! The maximum number of stars is ten!

Manifest phantom attacks and summons that pack a punch in order to quickly defeat your opponents! Lay armies of enemies to waste in tandem through an unrelenting offense.

Holeh moleh-I actually can’t I’m gonna freak out-

Turning away and covering my face with a gloved hand, I try my very best to not let the corners of my smile curve past my fingers, giggling madly to myself much to the confusion of Matthew, who at this point is, in my professional opinion, weirded out.

“Just-khmhmhmmm… give me… a momehe-he-he-hent.” I manage out through my fits of manic laughter.

I might need a little more than a moment.