Guild House Front yard

A duo of deep blue carriages each pulled by a pair of dazzling white horses rolled up to the Guild House. "..." Following the carriages in silence was a group of Ram Force guards, who scanned the area as they neared the ran down mansion.

"What's going on here?" Gram mumbled, lifting his head from his paws to see the Ram Force standing guard around the carriages. "Huh?" The Greater Wolf was taking a nap at the doors of the Guild House but once his nose picked up something he was on alert. "That goat's here..." He sniffed out Stefon from one of the carriages.

"?" Nash was there as well tilting his head from left to right at the carriages.

"We have arrived, Lord Stefon." The coachman of the front carriage announced after coming down to the door of the carriage and with a swift bow and pull of the door out came, Stefon Ovis.

"Hmph, you haven't done a thing to this place, I see?" Stefon scoffed, noting that the Guild House looked more or less the same from the last time he gazed at the sorry sight of 'his' guild's base. "Are you coming or not, dear sister?" He looked towards the 2nd carriage after its doors had been opened.

"Step." Commanded a young girl's voice from inside.

"Yes, Lady Angelica." The coachman of the 2nd carriage threw themselves to the ground forming a human step ladder. "Your step has been prepared."

"Good..." A blue dress shoe made its way to the coachman's back followed by another. They belonged to a tiny blue-haired girl of about 10 or 11. Her hair was styled into a pair of ram horns, with her bangs covering her eyes completely. She wore a blue off the shoulder dress with a layered bell-shaped skirt decorated with all kinds of frills and patterns. To finish off her look were a pair of white gloves and a short blue cape adorned with a white ram head.

"Parasol," Angelica ordered with a light glint coming from her mouth as she spoke and held out a hand as one the Ram Force guards equipped only with parasols appeared delicately offering a rainbow-colored one. "So, this is it? Brother, I must say your taste may have fallen since your time away from home, hehe!" She sent a sweet smile Stefon's way showing a silver grill covering her teeth.

"Coming from you, I not too sure what to think of that," Stefon smirked back at his little sister coming over to help her down.

"Ah..." Finally giving the poor coachman some sweet relief.

"Now, come on along shall we." The two went to the front door after that. "Ugh!" But came to a stop as Gram rose tall and stared at Stefon. "Hel-hello, Mighty Greater Wolf, I have some words to deal with the smith...please?" Stefon slightly begged as Gram gave him a one-eyed lookover.

"That so, huh?" Gram muttered, moving his head from Stefon's face to Angelica's and sniffed. "And who's this little thing?"

"I happen to be a member of House Ovis! Who was so rudely dragged out of my home by my dear brother to see if his little guild was worth my time," Angelica answered, rolling her parasol around as she spoke. "Now then if you could stop sniffing me like the dog you are I would like to speak with your owner...unless you'd like to be mine? I haven't had the chance of getting a new pet yet." She flashed Gram a sliver grin. 

"The mouth on this one is just like yours, but she's got a lot more guts, heh!" Gram chuckled as he went back to laying down. "Just tell the one at the desk that you want to see Alpha and she'll get you to him."

"Hmm? He's gotten himself a bit of a secretary, eh? Heh, and here I thought he was an uneducated bum for the countryside." Stefon actually seemed impressed by what he heard of Blake as he went up to the doors of the Guild House and finally got to see the inside for the first time. "Hmm?"

The moment Stefon did all he and his sister were greeted to was an admittedly cleaner than usual yet still poorly kept lobby area riddled with holes in the floor, walls, and ceiling. The chairs and tables made out of random bits of wood, the weeds growing around the place, and to top it all off a Goblin was managing the front desk smoking away on a pipe.

"Hmm? Hello, welcome to the Guild House and smithy of Blake, the Smith...How may I help you?" Vasha unenthusiastically waved at the pair of Ovis before acting as if she was doing some work.

"Brother is that a Goblin?" Angelica asked, pulling at Stefon's arms while pointing at Vasha currently blowing smoke rings. "The Greater Wolf was a surprise but when you said this man was who has unique companions I did not expect this...?"

"Well...*ahem*...that's for the best, you see! If I made any useless bunch my guild, I wouldn't be allowed to call myself an Ovis, dear sister." Stefon tried to reduced any sort of doubt or belittlement from his younger sibling.

"Oh, brother! You need not worry about what I think of you, after all, you're the only one of our brothers and sisters I play with nowadays if anything I should be worried about what you say behind my back." Angelica mused Stefon as she skipped around the holes in the floor as they neared Vasha. "Now then we would like to have a word with your master."

"Hmm? He's training at the pool it's that way; 2nd room on your left..." Vasha pointed down the right side of the first floor keeping her act up while Angelica kept looking at her. "...anything else I could do for you girly?"

"Hmph, I see that you haven't been fully trained yet or is that just lack of effort on your master's side? Either way, we shall be off." Angelica turned up her nose and began walking towards the pool with Stefon following in toe.

"Rude kid," Vasha muttered as the two left her desk and went back to slacking off.

"The more I see of this place, the more I understand why you made that bet with me, brother," Angelica said as she and Stefon made their way down a hallway with the sound of splashing water being heard as they neared the pool. "But it hardly justifies making your little sister go through with it." 

"You are the one that said the winner could ask the other for anything, yes?" Stefon reminded his sister, making her stick out a tongue between her silver teeth. "How unladylike." He faked a look of disgust at her, bringing a smile to the two. "Ah, finally here." Stefon looked away from Angelica to find a large doorway where the splashing was coming from. "Now then dear sister, I would like to introduce you to my guild's leader!" With some flare, he waved hand out into the pool area.

"Alight time for the big one!" Out in the water was Blake currently shirtless and using Moco to spin some water around himself. "Hydro Ray!" Bringing Moco around for a thrust Blake sent out a jet stream of water that parted the pool, causing a sizeable wave to hit either side of it.

"..." Meaning one was headed off Stefon and Angelica. "Ack!" With Stefon getting dunked in murky greenish water while Angelica had enough time and foresight to take a step back.

"Hehe! That's a good color on you brother!" She giggled at Stefon while spinning her parasol around.

"Yeah! That's some good power!" Blake did a couple more swings with Moco then dived down and came up at an edge where Mari, Bread, Os, and Risabeel were at, acting as his small audience for his training sessions while the others were off doing their own thing.

"Excellent work, Sir Blake, you were able to stay on target this time," Risabeel informed Blake pointing over at a set of targets at the other side of the room all either soaked in water or smashed to pieces.

"Ahem." Came from a soaking wet Stefon trying to get their attention.

"That's cause I'm amazing!" Moco cheered from the gem on her spear and wiggled around a little in the middle of changing back.

"Hey! I told you to stop that!" Blake yelled, starting to lose his gills for a moment before Moco stopped.

"Aww! Come on! We've been here all day! I want to rest!" Moco whined although she was getting used to being an iron stick for a while she still liked being herself more. "Can't I get another break at least!" She bent herself at Bread, holding a bucket of fish.

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"Ahem!" Again Stefon tried to get their attention a bit louder this time around.

"Fine, but I have to let go of you fi-!" Blake let her have a break but the moment he okayed it Moco changed right in his arms making him take a dip in the water while the Merchild was held perfectly above the water. "First..." Blake muttered after coming back up.

"Hehe, sor-! Gahhh!" Moco tried saying sorry, but Blake held under with her arms and tail failing about.

"Uh, Sir Blake, do you think that is such a good idea?" Risabeel asked, seeing how much trashing was going between the two.

Blake evilly smiled at Risabeel. "Don't worry! She's fine! I'm not blocking her gills or anythi-!"

"WOULD YOU INSUFFERABLE FOOLS LOOK THIS!" Stefon finally chose to yell at this group of idiots, fuming from his ears. "Grrr!" But sadly that did nothing to dry himself off as he took wet and soggy steps towards Blake followed by Angelica hopping between his footprints.

"Hey, Ovis, are you finally here to fix this place?" Blake asked despite the look of anger on Stefon's face partly covered by some of his wet blue hair. "And who's the kid? Your personal maid or something?" He noticed Angelica appearing behind Stefon. "By the way, sorry about the wa-Gauuh!!" Before Blake could finish, a boot came down on his head, forcing him into the water.

"Hah! See how that fe-AHHHH!" Moco got pulled down again when Blake tried to keep his head up.

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A few minutes later

"So, you've got a job for me?" Blake muttered, currently drying himself off with a towel along with Stefon still sending a sharp glare at him. "...and sorry about water?"

"Hmph! If I did not need you at this current point in time, I would have you spent to a dungeon to be whipped!" Stefon warned, brushing his hair back now as dry as he could get it. "But it is true, I have come here today to have you work off the debt you owe me and if you complete it; this Guild House of 'mine' shall finally be put to its rightful glory!"

"Great! What can I do for you?" Blake was all ears and leaned on Stefon to hear what the noble had for him. "This means I don't have to fix this place piece by piece anymore and this jerk doesn't have anything over me again, heh!" 

"How eager? Good..." Stefon smirked at Blake's willingness if this fool was good for anything this was it. "...A week ago a town outside of Gorz's wall was besieged by a tribe of Lizardfolk trying to expand their territory which raised some concerns among those in power here."

"You want us to take out a tribe of lizard people?" Blake skeptically asked, not because he wasn't up for it but found it a bit too 'simple' for Stefon. "I was expecting you to tell me to go off and fight for your honor in a war or something? Not that I want to do that..."

"But that's exactly what it is you are going to be doing, Smith-knight, Blake," Angelica spoke up, spending most of her time staring at Bread for some reason. "That thing with the Lizardfolk has already been dealt with by my guild."

"Huh? A little girl like you has a guild? Is that just a thing your family does?" Blake looked at Stefon for an answer.

"Why, yes, it is! So far out of my 9 siblings; 6 of them have guilds including myself that makes 7," Stefon answered but looked as if he was a disappointment by something. "Although, I was the latest to follow the trend..."

"Huh? This girl got a guild before you could? I don't if I should laugh or feel sorry for you, man," Blake reached an arm out to Stefon but pulled it back when the Ovis held up his hand to stop him. "Come on! I'm trying to nice here, partner!"

"Oh worry not, brother, I only beat you by 3 years." Angelica was able to get a hand to Stefon's side then turned to Blake. "But now I do believe we should get down to things; you see I recently asked my brother to play with me and he offered a challenge between our guilds which I accepted on certain terms..."

"Terms?" Blake stared at Stefon with a raised brow. "Did you make a bet with your little sister?"

"Yes, we usually use our allowances on such things but seeing as we are using guilds this time around, we thought to up the stakes as it were..." Stefon half-heartedly answered when Blake didn't let up with his gaze. "...If 'we' were to win, then Angelica pays for the renovations for 'our' Guild House." He reached out to Blake, much like the smith did earlier. "Ah?" And got shot down in the same way.

"And if we lose?" Blake asked in a serious tone with his arms crossed.

"Hah? Have you decided yet, sister?" Stefon asked while nervously laughing and leaned away from Blake.

"Yes, I have," Angelica answered, stepping forward and came right in front of Bread. "This one will do nicely as a potential prize, hehe!" She declared with a hand held up to Bread.

"Huh? Me!?" Bread had a look of utter confusion and shock on his face while pointing at himself with everyone else confused as well.

"Wait? Hold on, you want the kid? Why?" Blake asked taken for a loop by Angelica's offer, of all the things this girl could have asked for he wasn't expecting her to pick his student.

"Why? Look at him! What's there not to love!" Angelica beamed at the question.

"Ah?" Causing Bread's face to brighten up at that being called kinds of thing like poor, dirty, and pathetic not too long ago before he met Blake's group.

"He looks so poor, dirty, and completely pathetic!" Each of Angelica's words sent a dagger into Bread's heart. "And I will make him mine!" She gleefully smiled with her silver teeth shining and was going in to poke Bread on the cheek.

"He's mine!" Mari grabbed the gloved hand of Angelica before she got to Bread's.

"Hmm!" And for a moment the air around them got cold and thick as the two young girls stared at each other.

"Huh?" Both Blake and Bread shared a gasped of surprise. "..." Which in turn caused them to look at eachother, one bloodthirsty while the other horrified.

"I mean as a pet, like Os." Mari corrected the two of them, giving them a blank look.

"Oh?/Oooo!/Oh..." Blake, an orange Os, and Bread all had differentiating reactions to that those being relief, curiosity and heartbreak.

"I feel the same way about him!" Angelica only made the pain worse for Bread. "Nothing's better than taking someone who's down on their luck, giving them a home, food, clothing and a sense of security..." For a moment, she seemed like a saint doing good for the needy. "...then have them be my good little doggies for the rest of their life, as they try to work off my kindness! Ohohoho!" She threw her head back with a hand to her mouth, laughing much like Stefon does.

"Allow me to explain..." Stefon offered to help the others understand. "...you see my sister has always liked taking in animals she found while outside, she would have it taken care of then made into one of her pets. Be it a cat, dog, bird, rat, or even weakling monsters. As she got older, her pets became more...complex? Now, she takes to the streets finding the poor, sickly, and misguided, bringing them home where their pasts are erased, given a new name, a new life and most importantly a new master until they pay their dues to her which has given her title; Queen of Debtors."

"And the best part is that no matter how much they try, they never come close to being free!" Angelica exclaimed, clasping her hands together with only her dazzling teeth being shown on her face. "If you're lucky you might just make it into my guild! That's where my favorite go! They only get off once they've died!"

"..." Bread went pale and backed away for this crazy chick.

"Alright, you got yourself a bet, little lady!" Blake, without any hesitation or words between his guildmates those there or not agreed to the terms of the bet. "So, do I just have beat this guild of yours, and my home gets a makeover, right?"

"WHAT!?!" Bread screamed as the one person who could throw this whole thing off went along with it.

"Oh? He's as foolish as you said, brother." Angelica was taken aback by Blake's forwardness in taking a bet that meant losing one of his own. "He reminds me of that 'one' I got last year. Weiss might have his hands full this time, hehe!"

"Hmph, of course, he is! I said my guild's leader is fearless and unstoppable! You best warn your men, that their hardest fight is coming!" Stefon wiped some sweat from his face as he was trying you act like everything went his way which it did but when his sister made her terms he was worried that Blake would argue with him on how unreasonable Stefon was. "Good, you're learning your place well, I see."

"Don't get cocky with me, goat! I'm doing this cause I feel like it!" Blake grabbed Stefon by his collar and brought him in close. "Huh?" And at the same time, a pair of Ram Force guards appeared to lift him off his feet. "Seriously, are these guys linked to you by some kind of magic?"

"Money! Ohohoho!" Both Stefon and Angelica sang out then went into a laughing fit as the guards dropped Blake to his feet. "As for the rule of this game, you simply need to defeat Angelica's guild in combat preferably with no loss of life, not that I would care what happens to you as long as you win." Stefon informed Blake what the rules of the Oivs' little 'game' was then motioned to one of his guards who provided a rolled-up map to Blake. "These are the directions to the town. I suggest you leave soon or else my sister grows bored, and I'm forced to admit defeat."

"A week at the most." Angelica gave a time limit still locked in a staring contest with Mari having the advantage since her hair covered her eyes. "I'll have Weiss wait for you there and of course your welcome to rest." She turned away after that making her way out. "Now then shall we return home, brother? I believe eldest brother offered us tea time at his estate."

"Ah...yes..." Stefon answered dejected by the statement.

"Wait? Aren't you two coming with us?" Blake asked after taking a look at the map by his guess they could make it in 3 or 4 days at best.

"Why? You're the ones fighting there's no reason for us to be there. Simply fight as you were told, smith." Stefon answered, shrugging his shoulders at the question as if it was the simplest of things before departing along with his sister and guards.

"Fucking dick," Blake muttered under his breath, but for now, he had to get ready for a fight.

"Ah, Sir Blake, are you sure this was a wise decision?" Risabeel asked after Stefon and Angelica were gone and seemed to be the only one with good intentions left as Mari, Os, and Moco were poking at Bread who was frozen solid the whole after screaming at Blake. "As fruitful as the rewards maybe....to offer Lad Nobel is a tad a bit much, no?"

"Hmm? Not like I can say no to him, I owe a debt and don't plan on turning out like the ones that creepy girl has." Blake answered, making Risabeel nod then he turned to Bread still trapped in a soundless scream only coming out of it when Blake roughed up his hat. "Hey, Nobel, you trust me, right?"

"Huh?" Bread finally came out of his daze, mostly from Blake using his real name. "Heh, like I have a choice?"

"Good! You're learning! Just listen to your master, and everything's gonna work out!" Blake promised, walking off to let the others know to get ready to move out sometime soon.

Chapter End