"How was your brawl?" Salas grinned at two weary youngster who had just came back from semi-civilized fight. Their looks were not amused, one of them even got a nosebleed.

"I got elbowed. Are hunters always that savage? I am beginning to feel like I am joining robbers guild or something." Nila snorted and nearly spat, but she reconsidered it and decided that expressing her feeling in a more bold way didn't worth the consequences.

Salas took out a handkerchief out of her pocket and cleaned the girl's bleeding nose, "They are like that only when fighting over the quests. Other than that, you can count on them for advise and help. But don't rely on them to save your life, you have seen what they are willing to do to preserve theirs. That's why party members are usually consist of old friends or romantic partners."

"Why are you making us join the fight anyway?" Jake looked at her annoyedly, "We could just--" he glanced around and behind his back warily, "-- you know."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Salas shrugged, "I just want you know the importance of choosing quest, and taste how rough the fight for it is. I judge that giving the two of you a mere advise will not suffice." Salas clapped her hands, "Anyway, show me what kind of quest that you got."

Jake gave Salas one disapproving look before he handed over a piece of parchment, "Monster-hunting quest for one Ferro Fox. There is no Herbs-gathering quest left. That's the only quest we have managed to read thoroughly for very short amount of time." He explained.

"Now I know why Ben trained us to read fast. Three seconds after we get ourself in front of the quest board and then we were pulled back by the crowd." Nila said while still trying to fix her nose.

"This is quiet a fine quest you get. Ferro Fox doesn't attack unless you left it no room to escape. But it runs fast. Hmm, a joined commission by an alchemist and an enchanter, huh." Salas said, her eyes were still glued to the parchment. "Well, congratulation. Let's get ourself some breakfast though." She rolled the quest and pocketed it.

"We are not immediately doing it?" Nila looked at her while tilting her head.

"It will be quiet some time before we can reach the counter." Salas pointed at the long line that had formed in front of the counter. "Come on, I ate a boiled Cinder Chicken egg before leaving, but I doubt you two have ate anything yet. Breakfast in the orphanage start at the second bell right?" She walked to the nearby table and took a chair to sit.

Jake and Nila looked at each other, reluctant to join her.

Salas waved at the two, "Don't worry, my treat."

For the first time today, they smiled. Then they joined her and sat around the table.