"Here you go," I say while dropping three coppers into Axel's hand.

"Hmm. Splitting an F-ranked quest between three people is... sad," he says, staring down at the little coins. "Did you give your sister her share yet?"

"No, not yet. I'll give it to her after school. Although, I doubt she'd need it."

I've seen the pouch on her hip and the one Hilda was carrying. If anything, Aisha's the one who needs to give me money. The purses are fat enough that if it were food it would be able to feed a starving bear for the week.

"Don't you think that was a little cold of him?" a hushed voice comes from behind.

"He was probably tired from the fight," another says. "And don't talk to loudly."

Axel's mouth twitches into a smile, "Hey Rai," he says, but I'm busy listening to the two behind us.

"Maybe he has some sort of grudge against her." it's the first voice, "He was forced to be her partner."

"He was probably hurt during one of their sparring matches too. He's not a good fit for this class."

Do these two think I'm deaf? Are my ears hiding behind mountains of hair? Perhaps they're assuming I'm some sort of idiot.

"That roluk isn't good either. She can't even control her magic. There's been far too many accidents already."

Strangely enough, I start to curl my fingers into a fist. It's so early in the morning and I'm already losing my patience. I need to calm down. Getting angry here won't help either Blue Hair or myself. They're simply doing nothing more than speculation and speculation only leads to bad places. Let them think what they want.

"ACHOO!"

Momentarily stunned, I stare at Axel. He wipes his nose and laughs.

"That was loud."

"Not sick again are you?" I ask. The conversation behind me stopped.

"No, I don't think I am." he sighs, "Rainen, if you think someone's sick every time they sneeze then you'd think everyone was sick."

"Har Har." I respond sarcastically, "You were the one with a cold recently."

Axel shrugs and goes to his seat. I take mine and wait for Miss Ein to arrive. I focus my attention behind me but the two are no longer talking. Other conversations rise in volume and more interesting topics appear. Finally, I hone into one. It's about adventuring.

I only catch snippets, stronger, corrupted monsters, deaths, guild... new system. A new system for the guild? The current systems that have anything to do with monsters are quest difficulty, average monster strength, rewards, and adventurer rank. If they throw a new system into the mix, I imagine a multitude of problems arising considering the time they're choosing to unveil it. But it's most likely a response to the... "crisis" and unnatural growth in the monsters.

It'll only be a short while until the guild starts to reorganize and adventurers are able to adapt to the strength of monsters. Interesting that so many students in this class seem to be talking about it. Are nobles as enraptured with the concept of adventuring as peasants are?

I receive no answer, however, a little redhead pops into my mind... Yep, I think they just might be.

The picture of crimson locks is pushed out and quickly replaced with an ocean blue. Blue Hair and her friends enter the room. A few people stop talking and stare at the group. They're ignored and the three move to their seats. I sense a glare as they pass my row despite being on the opposite side of the room.

Thankfully, no confrontations emerge. Stealthily, I send a sidelong glance at Blue Hair. She's happily doing what everyone else in the room is doing, talking with their friends. I'm glad she's not being bothered by anyone.

"Ah."

Iris raises her hand to reveal a pink glove. So she was able to give it to them. Good for her.

-------------------------------------

"Hello."

"Yes, it's good to hear from you again... Mr. Rune." the man on the other side of the magical link responded. "Have you made any progress on finding the object or any on the supposed Oddity?"

Mr. Rune frowned, "No. Unfortunately, I have made no progress on either one other than learning that the object may, in fact be related to the library." he clenched his fist, "I've been trying to gather information about the boy but his partner is too useless. Her personality is too much of a hindrance."

"Hmm. That's a shame. I had expected better results."

The man on the other side of the link paused and Mr. Rune held his breath.

"Regardless, find out where it may be immediately. Keep a tab on the Oddity and his habits, favorite places, strengths, and weaknesses. I'm assuming you've heard of recent events of strange beasts appearing correct?"

"I have," Mr. Rune said, "What do they have to do with us?"

"They're an issue. If the guild doesn't handle it soon, the number of adventurers that deal with them will dwindle thus creating a problem for kingdoms and empires. It looks good to us but if we're forced to divert any of our own focus to the beasts then we'll only be set back." the man on the other side took in a deep breath. "Find out whatever you can in the next three days. We're sending Jux, Havel, and Illuant."

"W-what?" Mr. Rune couldn't find the right words to say. Jux, Havel, and Illuant were all members of the Nine Wings, a group of mercenaries like Krestfall. They, however, focused on individual strength in members rather than a planned approach like Krestfall.

The Nine Wings started gaining prominence in the eastern continent of Seluran working as gatherers for hire. Wealthy nobles or dwarven craftsmen would gain their assistance in collecting various precious metals and material in dangerous areas such as the many caves that plagued Seluran.

Their work became violent against others when adventurers and other for-hire groups vied for their jobs. Slowly, through the elimination of competing parties, they were forced into the underground in which they came to Ouruan in an attempt to rebuild their reputation.

"Three days is what you have," Mr. Rune's superior said coolly.

"W-wait! What about Krestfall?" he asked.

"They're still working for us. They were able to complete their task, despite losing an important item." the man flipped a few pages. "An attack is going to happen soon on the capital. Krestfall will lead a raid not dissimilar to that of what happened there recently and will be rescuing their comrades before the empire is able to interrogate them. And, from my sources, knights have been sent to the Green City. Things are moving. That's why they'll be joining you shortly."

"Understood sir."

"Good. We will not accept failure."

The line died and the scroll rolled back up.

----------------------------------------

Garret entered his home. Nostalgia enveloped all his senses. The furniture was new but in the same places. A few chairs and couches placed around a small coffee table resting atop a blanketed floor. The old stairwell leading to the second floor no longer had its broken handrail and instead was changed with a new one. The distinct smell of his mother's favorite flower flowed through the living room. Its bloom released a pungent, peppermint-like aroma. Strangely, it was one of the few flowers that bloomed during Winter.

"I'm home." he called. Garret had informed them of his pending return a week earlier.

"Garret!" his mother ran to give him a hug. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."

She was a small thing. Around fifty years of age, she still qualified as being younger than middle aged. Garret returned the hug.

"Are Brian and Jocelyn still around?"

"No. They left just like you did." she gave him a sad smile. "But they still visit more."

"Sorry about that," he said, "Is dad here?"

"Working," she said, "He got a job in the merchant's guild. He should be back soon."

"How soo-"

The door behind Garret opened to reveal an older, muscular, man slightly worn by hours of hard work. He wore a white woolen shirt covered by a brown overcoat. His face held visible signs of his older age, such as his wrinkled forehead and obvious laugh lines along with a beard.

"Well shit," the man said. "Welcome home."

"Hey dad." they exchanged a brief hug.

"Is Anne with you?"

"No. She's still in Aurora City."

"Shame. She's a good girl." he remarked as he took off his coat and placed it over the couch. "Are you both doing well?"

Garret nodded, "We're healthy. Our jobs are fine too."

"You say that but why are you here then?" his mother joined. "We thought you weren't really fond of this place. Considering all you did when you were younger."

Garret sighed, "I just-just needed to see some family again... It's complicated."

Garret's father stared at him a while, "Are you tired?"

"Very."

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Sleep then hon." his mother pointed upstairs. "Your room is still the same."

"Thanks." Garret replied as he trudged himself upstairs. His legs seemed to get heavier with each step. Reaching the top and taking the last door on the right, he fell onto his untouched bed. He let his hand wander, feeling the soft blanket and rolling himself up in it.

------------------------------

Garret awoke the next morning, finding himself on the floor rolled up like dough. Drool stained his cheek and his vision blurred as he attempted to stand. Wiping off the dried saliva and batting down his chaotic hair, Garret left his room. The smell of cooking meat blasted him as he opened the door. His mother was already up and preparing breakfast.

He readied himself and went downstairs and took a seat next to his father. They exchanged a swift greeting and said no more except for the occasional question about Garret and his current lifestyle.  Finished with the food, his mother passed it out and took a seat herself.

"Dad," Garret said, "What kind of work do you do for the merchant guild?" as long as Garret could remember, his father was always much more of a handyman, fixing things for those who needed him. He also had no issues with assisting the city in construction projects. He was quite curious as to the new occupation.

"I'm a consultant and desk worker at times along with carrying inventory." he replied, biting into his meal.

Garret wasn't surprised to hear his father still had ties with the construction business. His father wouldn't pass for a master builder or craftsman but he'd certainly do a fine job with keeping people on task and certainly knew many good techniques.

Emptying their plates and gaining a few pounds, Garret's father left for work while he and his mother cleaned the dishes. They were so perfectly clean that the light from the sun almost blinded him.

"I'll be heading out for a little bit," Garret said, as he opened the door.

"Goodbye." she responded. "Be back soon."

Despite being there for his family, the underlying feeling of dread lurked within the back of his head. Thoughts of darker times and a shattered future would not leave. Somehow, the simple mention of the name Yeran brought back so many repressed memories.

It was no mystery to him why they'd surface their ugly heads now of all times but the way they clung onto him left nothing but anxiety. An anxiety that refused to die, like a cockroach with its head chopped off. Endeavoring to relieve himself of the horrid sense, he traveled around the city.

Lost in thought, Garret's mind wandered back to the invasion. He, Hannah, and Adrian were on their own mission and had the pleasure of escorting Heclan, the one Hannah, Henry, and the Thirteenth captured to the capital. During that time, Garret also had a similar feeling to the one currently plaguing him.

If only he had turned around, then maybe then Henry could've been saved. If only he had requested the break he wanted earlier.

Garret gave himself a slap. No, he shouldn't be the one feeling that way. The Thirteenth, one of the youngest members of the Twelve probably felt worse than all of them. He was the only one who was able to take action and the one who had to make that difficult choice.

Carlyle had been hard on the Thirteenth, Garret knew that but he didn't say anything as he also knew Carlyle was dealing with Henry's death in his own way. It wasn't hard for him to understand just how hard the Thirteenth was being on himself. Unlike either of them, he had a weaker connection to Henry.

Over the course of the Thirteenth's rampage of justice around the city, Garret wondered if he should thank him for saving Anne. If he hadn't chosen to save her, who knows what would've happened. He held no trust for the cloaked figure that Anne claimed to have saved her. He'd still thank him if he saw him, however, as it was, it made no sense for the man to flee the scene.

The weight of Henry's death must have weighed heavily on the shoulders of the Thirteenth. His somewhat playful attitude in the warehouse had died down in the following weeks and he was showing up more for patrol. He wanted to tell the boy of his gratitude because if Garret had to make the choice, Anne would've been saved as well.

"We'd like to request a meeting with the head of the house," a fully armored man said, holding a parchment of paper.

Garret took a step back to analyze the situation. Five knights, KNIGHTS, were standing in front of a noble's house with a piece of paper. Somehow he had gotten himself into an odd situation. Nobles always brought trouble and with five knights along with a suspicious roll of paper, there was surely some sort of arrest or investigation occurring.

A young boy with red hair stepped out along with a well dressed woman greeted the knights.

"Good morning sir and Madame," one of the empire's enforcing knights said behind his visor, "Are you Millicent and Dylan Yurfray?"

"Yes." the woman, Millicent, responded. "We are. What business do you have with us? I was under the assumption that the trial for my parents was not until next month."

"We are not here to talk about them Madame." the paper holder said, "We're here for an Aisha Weaver, or currently, Aisha Yurfray. Bring her out please."

Aisha Weaver. Garret kept stored the name along with the unnerving thoughts in the back of his mind. Surely it'd stick like those did.

The boy, Dylan, shook his head, "She's not here right now."

"Where is she then?" the same knight asked. "We'll need to question her immediately."

Dylan opened his mouth to speak but the woman stopped him.

"Under whose orders is she to be under investigation?" Millicent glared at the one with the papers, "Despite the recent events, we are still nobles of the empire. Simply knocking on our front door without permission from the right people will cause an outrage."

The man in the back, wearing a painted helm along with shiny embroidered gauntlets spoke up, "Athen Caldor, official for overseeing the activity of the ones known as the Twelve-" Garret's ears perked up. "-In all cities has sent us here with his written permission." he signaled to the paper holder to do his job.

Millicent studied it for a minute, "Fine," she said, "However, I do not see how she is involved with any of this."

"We have reason to believe that one of the members of this city has gone rogue and was instrumental in the attack on Aurora City." he held up his hand to halt Millicent's protests, "The ones who captured her a few months ago were members of this group called the Twelve. Whether you knew this beforehand does not matter. Her whereabouts, now." he ordered.

"No." she replied. "Leave this instant."

"We shall not," he said, "This is your last chance to comply."

"We know just as much as she does," Millicent said, raising her chin. "Which is nothing. If you wish for answers, ask my parents. You do not need to know their whereabouts."

"Arrest them." the knight with the colored helmet ordered.

"Guards!" Millicent called, "Throw them out!"

Garret could already see this going badly. Guards, if they even listened to her commands, were unlikely to defeat the knights. Garret doubted his own ability to take one down.

The guards, ten of them and strangely loyal, rushed to confront the knights. They held their spears out in front while the knights were stuck with swords. Snorting, one knight easily sidestepped the guard's wary attack and knocked the weapon from his hands. Seeing this, the others raised their defense while also becoming aggressive.

"Don't hold back," the one in charge of the knights said. "They're all under arrest now!"

In no time flat, weapons were broken and men thrown onto the ground. The five knights handily defeated defense of the nobles. Garret weighed the pros and cons of assisting them.

Suddenly, the ground shook and screams came from the front of the city, echoing through.

"It's begun."

Garret turned his head. Somehow, without him noticing, standing behind the guards was the cloaked man from before, the dine and ditcher, the one who claimed to be Yeran.

"[Stone Bullet]"

The knights dodged the attack.

"[Rupture]"

It exploded.

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Author's Note: Honestly, starting off these chapters and continuing to write them is getting harder and harder for me. I think I'm in some sort of depressed state of writing right now. So, if anything, it'd be nice if you're willing to take time out of your day to write a review or a comment.

I'm sorry that this chapter took so long and that last week's wasn't posted. I'm just a little out of it. Hope you guys enjoyed.