--------///----Reina's POV----\\\--------

A day went way slower then i thought it could, since along the trip nothing really happened. The area around Cindal was peaceful considering how long its been there for and how much time they've had to make the area safe. Though a day in a carriage just doing nothing but walking around and talking makes things boring. Thankfully, something happened today which gave everyone the chance to stave off our boredom. We were travelling through a grassland with tall and thick green grass when the scouting team made a call out.

(Scout team member) " I'm picking up a group of people ahead! It's an ambush! "

At that, everyone moved. While the day was boring, some things did get done. We delegated a leader with the most experience and from then, different teams to make this trip as careful as possible. The scouting team consisted of members who could use air to sense the surroundings and archers to hold the carriages, the defense team was made of people who had earth and were experienced guardians to cover the carriages and the archers, while the assault team consisted of people with destructive magic, like me.

(Delegated leader) " Give us a estimate and locations, defense team, earth encasement on the carriages, archers make or use some high ground for an angle, assault team as soon as we get their location move out! We're in a grasslands so fire mages keep your flames inside! We aren't here to burn the place to the ground! "

(Mina) " It's two teams of ten! They're coming from our left and right! They're moving in now that we know. Marking their positions with water balls. "

Mina acted fast and shot out two massive waterballs that started to hover and slowly move forward which showed us where the two groups were. Though with the grass in the way, knowing where they were and doing something about it were different.The archers still didn't have any good angles on them and shooting blindly would just be a waste of arrows and energy. Though i had an idea when Endis took out some of his disposable daggers, coated them in earth and slashed towards one of the areas under the waterball. The grass ended up getting cut down and eventually made it to where that group was. There was a grunt that confirmed someone got hit but the group that got found out just started to rush.

Endis charged forward and half of the assault team went with him as they cut down some moregrass to give the archers more chances to shoot the attackers. Meanwhile the other half of the assault team took the other side and copied what they were doing. I coated my Siellas in earth and slashed out down as much grass as i could while we ran towards the other group. After a few seconds, we made contact. There were a few humans and the occasional beastkin wearing tattered gear but their weapons looked to be in fine condition. Since their element of surprise was gone, they charged back at us and we clashed.

I was up against a kind of dog beastkin that stood atleast six inches taller with a muscular frame who had breath that reminded me of the sewers. He seemed like a normal warrior but he had a greatsword that would probably do a number on me if i got cut by it. Especially with the serrated edges going along the steel blade. Though just taking a second to think, i realized that this wasn't going to be as hard as i thought. I was pretty hard to deal with at close range.

I coated my Siellas in darkness and grabbed onto the greatsword. The dog saw that and forced it out of my hands while moving back to note the damages and try to come up with a stratagy, though Endis practically beat into me that giving an enemy time to plan isn't a good idea. So i charged at him and kept my Siellas coated in darkness so i could corrode the greatsword and get rid of it. The dog didn't just stand by and do nothing since he coated his arms and greatsword in steel and prepared for my attack. Though charging forward while seeing that was going to be a dumb idea so when i got close enough, i jumped over him and slashed towards his back before i rolled to the ground.

They hit but he made a steel guard and water cushion to stop them from going too deep. He dropped them after they served their purpose and immediatley stabbed his greatsword into the ground and made steel spikes shoot out of the ground in my direction. I doged the ones that came after me and just let the others that weren't anywhere near me fly off. I ran around him and looked for an opening but he kept sending spikes after me and even caught me by surprise when water started to hold me down and made me fall.

When i hit the ground, he took his greatsword out of the ground and charged after me. I had to coat my legs in darkness to get the water off and rolled to get away from the slash. He tried to shackle me again but i covered my whole body in darkness and went directly after him. He coated his chest and parts of his legs in steel and partially covered his face and met my charge with his greatsword again. But this time i poured my darkness into my Siellas and slashed down through his greatsword. If i didn't aim for the part i already damaged, then i probably wouldn't be able to manage that.

He wasn't expecting for me to break it so he didn't have any response to that happening, which gave me time to lunge my claws at his neck where the steel helmet didn't cover and slash into his skin. I felt my Siellas tear through his skin as my darkness started to corrode his tissue. He knelt down and tried to put pressure on it but while he was trying to do that, his armor de-materialized and left him open. I slashed down with my Siellas and killed him... I didn't know how to feel about it but i didn't have time to just look at his corpse and question what i did and if it was right or wrong, we still had enemies infront of us.

I looked around and saw that there were only three fights still going on... So maybe there was time to question it... Or i could save it for later... Saving it for later sounded better to me so i just stuffed it at the back of my head. I searched the guys body and found a few copper to add to my account. After that, i checked if anyone needed help, which they didn't, so i just sat back and watched with the other members of the assault team. It took about a minute or two but everyone finished off their fights and grouped back up to head back to the carriages. Endis and his group made it back earlier and seemed to be waiting for us.

Everyone split back into their own parties and went to our own carriages. Endis had already cleaned off his daggers and looked over to me. He looked like he was trying to figure something out but i didn't figure out what he was trying to look for.

(Endis) " I was expecting a whole mid life crisis after your first kill. "

(Reina) " I'm trying not to think about it. "

(Endis) " Why? "

(Reina) " It's not the right time. "

(Endis) " When's the right time then? "

(Mina) " Maybe when we're not mid escort request? Maybe that would be a good start? "

(Endis) " ... Hmm... You've got a point... Alright. " 

(Reina) " Then after we're done with this. "

(Mina) " If you still don't want to talk about it then we won't force you. "

(Reina) " ... Thanks. "

The rest of the ride was pretty much uneventful after that. We kept going until we made it to our destination. It was a normal looking farming town that was mixed just like Cindal. After we got here, we had to head to the local adventurers guild to turn in the request for the convoy and get some information about what we had to kill for our hunt request. While we were walking, Endis kept checking around but kept looking bored with whatever he saw.After a bit, we made it to this branches adventurers guild.

It was essentially a two floored building that had the training room to the right and a room to the right that had a few people carrying items or things and just placing them on the counter in that room. The main lobby wasn't that big but there weren't as many parties here so it seemed just fine for the amount of people here. There were two people waitng at the counter at the far end which was way less then Cindal's though considering where we were it was enough.

We walked up to the counter at the far end and turned in the request to guard the convoy. After letting Mina handle everything, we got the information we were looking for and head on out to the hunt to find our target. Which seemed to be some kind of mole beast thats been digging under foundations and creating small sinkholes that have been leading people and farm animals to fall through and get severly injured if not killed. At first i thought this would be easy but fighting something that can tunnel underground started to sound difficullt. Especially after they told me i would be dealing with it on my own.

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At first i had to take a few seconds to process what they said but when i did i couldn't help but look at them like they were joking. Unfortunately, they weren't.

(Mina) " Me and Endis would make short work of this beast. You still need to get some combat experience against beasts. Now this mole might not be the strongest thing out there but with how it fights its going to make you think and come up with ideas to fight against it. "

(Endis) " That and because its weak, if anything looks like its going south, we can jump in and bail you out quickly. "

(Mina) " Weren't you all about not jinxing us? Saying that is pretty much asking for something to go wrong and having us jump in. "

(Endis) " ... Nothing will go wrong at all. That cancel it out? "

(Mina) " Haaah. Ignore him and head over to where we were told the moles burrow is. We'll be in the area just in case ok. "

(Reina) " Ughh... Ok. It's supposed to be in the small grove ten minutes away right? "

(Endis) " Yup. That place should have some low risk beasts so nothing should be able to hurt you. "

(Reina) " ... Isn't that another jinx? "

(Endis) " You know what, i think i'll just stop talking for now... Or just keep doing it intentionally. "

(Mina) " Think you should just stop talking. "

(Reina) " Second that. "

(Endis) " Tch. Get hunting already. "

I rolled my eyes at him and just went my way looking for the moles burrow. The area around the town was peaceful and essentially flatland that had animals grazing around. Though whenever i got in their general area they stopped grazing and just flicked their heads in my direction and stared at me. Some of them got scared but i didn't really have the time to take a detour since i wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. Since i wasn't talking to anyone or hearing them talk it was hard to keep my mind off of my first kill. I knew i said we'd talk about it here, but i still didn't want to have that conversation yet.

After running for ten or twenty minutes, i made it to the grove that the mole's burrow was supposed to be at. There were trees all around and even a flower field that had a nice scent to it. There was even a small pond in it that had crystal clear water and some fish and plants at the bottom. Though with all of that, i couldn't find the burrow. I didn't know how big or small of a hole i was looking for so i just had to look around and take my chances with anything i found.

I looked around the grove and even went further passed the trees to see if there was anything that would give me a hint but then the hint found me. I heard the sound of a branch snapping and turned to see a large coiled snake that had used its tail to break it to get my attention. When i turned around and saw it, we made eye contact but i didn't sense any hostility from it. Its silver slitted eyes looked from my eyes to my emblem.

(The snake) " Ssstrong ssscent. You, why here? "

(Reina) " Umm, i'm looking for a certain mole that's been causing problems. "

(The snake) " The nuissssance? Burrow that way. "

It lifted its tail again and pointed to the right. I just started blinking and looked back to it.

(Reina) " Thank you? Why are you helping me? "

(The snake) " Weak help the ssstrong. Way of the world. "

(Reina) " Oh... Well thank you again. "

I dashed over to the area the snake pointed and after five minutes of searching, i found it. There was a small hole in the ground that i would've completly missed if i wasn't searching for it. There were vines and shrubs covering it but underneath them there was a hole as big as my head that went down but i couldn't see the bottom. I started to think about what i should do and eventually decided on trying to smoke it out. I tossed some fireballs down the hole and waited a bit before i blew them up. The ground shook a little bit but after that nothing much happened.

I thought that maybe it just died but then i felt like i was in danger and my instinct shouted at me to jump so i jumped. I looked at where i was just standing and there was a spike as big as i was that would've skewered me if i didn't jump. The spike fell apart and started to turn into a bunch of smaller spikes and chased me. I decided to just avoid them and try to figure out where the mole was before using energy on destroying them and killing the mole. While i kept avoiding them, i used my earth to try to feel underneath the ground to feel for any movement, though considering the mole used earth too then it was going to make it harder to deal with.

I kept sending pulses downwards with my earth to try to feel around but i didn't have much experience using it that way so it was hard to get used too. But then i started to think differently. If i was trying to find it by sending pulses down to look for its movement, what was keeping it from doing to same to notice mines? I had that thought and decided to test it to see if i was right. I looked back to notice that the spikes were still following after me. I turned my head back amd decided to give it a shot.

I stopped running and just hit the ground and made sure that i didn't send any vibrations from doing it. The spikes kept going but then they just suddenly stopped. They floated there for a bit but they didn't change direction or anything. But now that i was on the ground, i still had to figure out where the mole was and how to bring it out so i could kill it. There were a few ways that i could try but i didn't know what the best way to do so would've been and i had no idea where to start. I could keep sending out pulses to try to figure out where the mole was but that would just take too long.

I was too far away from the initial entrance to its burrow so i couldn't just try to collapse it... Unless i just sent strong waves down and forced the earth to swallow it. Though if i did, i wouldn't have any insurance that the mole would try to surface. So i saved that idea as a last resort. I could just send darkness down towards the ground but then i'd be killing the grass and plant life in the way. So that idea was scrapped. There were a few more ideas going through my head and i eventually just decided on trying to sense the moles pulses aimed at finding me but that would need a lot of concentration.

So i did my best to just block out anything i was thinking and tried to focus on any waves of earth just coming in my direction. It was way harder then i was expecting since it was like trying to focus on finding a red candy pearl in a bowl of red pebbles. But thankfully i picked up on a weak wave that seemed to be searching for me and tried to focus on finding where it came from. I kept focusing and after what felt like a year, i found it. The mole was slowly tunneling around my area so i could force it out easier. I started to gather as much earth as i could and focused it around the area the mole was tunneling as i forced it upwards.

The ground around that area burst upwards and with it, the mole. It was a small thing with brown fur, white claws, a pinkish star nose anf a few spikes on its side. It seemed to know that it was out of the ground since it started gathering earth to make a ball to surround itself in but i dashed to it and coated my Siellas in darkness as i slashed towards it. The earth ball that the mole used for cover broke apart easily and left the mole open. I got closer and managed to impaled the mole with my Siellas. I let out a sigh of relief but that got interrupted by the death rattle that came out of the mole. That hurt to hear but i just shook my head and covered the mole in a ball of my own and started to carry it with me to turn it in for our quest. After that, i walked away for the scene and after a few minutes, i found Mina and Endis waiting for me.

(Endis) " A little quicker then i expected but still, nice job. "

(Mina) " How're you feeling Rei? "

(Reina) " I don't know. "

(Mina) " Want to talk about it? "

(Reina) " Do i have too? "

(Endis) " Yea, you do. Keeping things inside, especially when they can keep growing and fester isn't exactly the best way to cope. You gotta talk it out and let people in that you can lean on. Sure we haven't known each other for a long time, but before being a party, we're your friends first Reina. You can rely on us. "

(Reina) " ... Ok... It's just, i don't know... After training and especially after spending time with everyone... I though i'd be prepared for this kind of thing. Everyone always seemed fine but i wasn't expecting for it to weigh on me like it does. "

(Mina) " The first one isn't always easy. For me i did what you're doing now. I pushed it to the back of my mind and made excuse after excuse to not talk about it. It got to the point that my training got affected because i was focusing on not wanting to talk about it. You don't want to talk about it because you feel like if you do you'll be weak, am i close? "

(Reina) " ... Sort of. "

(Endis) " So, tell us what she's wrong about. "

(Reina) " ... I... I don't know. I just don't want to talk about it because i feel like i'd be pathetic for worrying about it. "

(Endis) " Talking about that wouldn't make you pathetic. And you gotta stop comparing yourself to people that have had literal years of experience and way more people that they could trust in to talk about this kind of stuff. Focus on being you and not them. "

(Reina) " But how am i supposed to do that? I've always done that. I've always wanted to be like them. I've always wanted to be as strong as them. And just when i felt like i was getting close to that this happens. "

(Mina) " I understand looking up to and trying to be like someone stronger, but you aren't thinking as yourself. Reina this is our adventure not theirs. Enjoy it as Reina Kurisu and not as Phoenix or Elaine or even your parents. These are going to be our memories and experiences. Let's enjoy them And work through them together. Your going to have some bumps sure but those are things that we work through together. "

(Reina) " ... I'll try my best. "

(Endis) " Now that's what we like to hear. "

From there, we talked more and it was probably the most refreshing thing i've done in months. Maybe an hour passed and we finally left the grove. We went back to the town and turned in the request for the mole and had the body verified. After that there was another hunt that we had to do. And this one was going to be something we all took on together. Though the thought of fighting a a basilisk, even if it was a juevenile, after fighting the mole sent a shiver down my spine since those two were leagues a[art. But i wasn't alone. If anything happened i knew i had people to rely on to help me out.