Chapter 1

Val Habar.

At long last I grace your ports, your bustling bazaar and, of course, your world-renown gathering hall –where all hunters, all legends begin. Moga, Tanzia, Yukumo, Pokke, and, of course, Dundorma; all the world will open up to me, if I can just...

I was next in line, backing up a step. What awful taste in armor. How could he bare to be seen in that get-up. Oh, but I did love his sword: a great sword, easily twice my size, its green edge barbed. That thing reeked of poison, bestowed upon it by the monster it was harvested from, the rathian, the queen of the land... Ugh... Even thinking of it...

I want to hunt one so bad.

"Next?" The clerk said, straightening her yellow blouse. She tilted her head and beamed as I approached, clasping her hands. "Oh, my. I don't think I've seen you around here."

"No. I just arrived."

"Well, Val Habar is more than willing to accommodate hunters. Always work to do. I am the steward for low rank quests," She motioned to her right, to the one in blue. "She takes care of all high rank missions."

"If you make it this far, make sure to remember I said hi," The blue clerk said, bowing her head.

The yellow clerk motioned to the girl in red beside. "She takes care of all arena quests."

"Piss off, scrub."

"Don't mind her. She is simply upset she doesn't get as much traffic. Isn't that right, Janine?"

"Fuck off."

"See? Now, if I may see your guild card to add you to our rosters."

… I cleared my throat, giggling. "Well..."

"Oh... Oh my. Well, you see the gentlemen down at the end of the bar? The one in the cowboy hat? You will have to talk to him about registration."

"Lemme save you a bit o walking. No can do," The little man said, guffawing as he straightened his hat. "Though I'd love to see a fine lass such as yourself run around here, we simply aren't accepting any more hunters. Check back in, oh, three years, and we may have an opening."

"Well, you heard the man," The yellow clerk said, patting my hand. "Buck up, though. There's always work to do around Val Habar to keep you busy. Who knows? Maybe a hunter will die and open up a spot. Check in every so often, and have a nice day, okay?"

"... B... Bu," I... 'said.' "Bu..."

"I don't mean to be rude, but could you please move to the side. There are others waiting behind you."

"Bu... But... B..."

"Oh, darling. I know this must be hard on you, but I must beseech you. Please move to the side."

"But... Bu..."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," The red clerk exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Piotre. Garland. Get her out of here."

"T... that won't be necessary," I mumbled, slinking away, tears wavering. "I'm going..."

Eight years.

I collapsed against the alley, sobbing hard, one puddle of sick already spilled beside.

Eight years I saved, I toiled. Eight years, I saved for this trip, saved for these... "weapons." I only had the sword-and-board at the moment, but, in my "home", I had a trunk filled with one of each. The strength of the greatsword; grace of longsword; brutality of dual blades; adaptability of sword-and-shield; ferocity of hammer; complexity of hunting horn; strategy of bow; reach of lance; the boom of gunlance; dominance of switchaxe; the intricacies of chargeblade; the bond of insect glaive; how could anyone simply choose one? Who wouldn't want to learn and master all of them...

Guess it doesn't matter now. Guess I can simply sell them to other hunters-to-be... How could I be so stupid? Uncle Owen was right. I should have simply became a farmer's wife. Who would want to hire a tall, thin huntress- as if I would have gotten that far. He was right; I was a stupid girl just following her stupid dream with no stupid idea of how stupid it w-

Was that a gong?

I stumbled to the end of the alley, and was almost decked by a passing lance –worst part was it was a basic iron- and almost hit by a brachy bell... Come back! Where were they all going, anyways? Can't they see the... dust storm...

Why am I still standing here?

Oh, I could simply giggle and cackle and dance right now, but I had to focus, had to keep going, to get ahead of everyone. This is my chance; if I can simply stop that behemoth, that Dah'ren Mohran... Where's my "home", my caravan? Blast it. Commandeer a boat. It's the only w-

I don't need one.

The Dah'ren Mohran reared, bellowing. Sand flooded the street in his rise, filling my iron boots, sparking against my shield, bowing under the thing's weight as he landed. I stuck my blade in his chi-

BAD IDEA. BAD. IDEA. WHY DID IT HAVE TO ROLL! Wait... is it... it can't be... Did I really...

The crowd below clapped and cheered, the guildmaster, himself, awaiting at the bottom, grinning from ear-to-ear. What... what do I do? What do I say? This... this has to be a dream. Right? Oh, damn it if it is. Might as well revel in it.

"That's right. Cheer," I exclaimed, holding my crumpled shield high. "This won't be your last time, either. For I, Ophelia Mornhall, shall become the greatest hunter of all-"

"Hey."

I looked behind, and a hunter in his civvies offered his hand, his mahogany hair billowing in the air, dancing across his dark green eyes.

"Need help?" He said.

"W-what are you doing-"

"Well, the hunters in the Gallant and Nostromo are about to start carving."

"Wha? But... this... Their k-"

I pushed him to the side, and saw... multiple... harpoons...

"So do you need help, or..." The man said, rolling his wrist.

"... I guess..."

"Name's Fariel, by the way. I'm new, too."

"I'm... I'm not-"

He tapped my shield, chuckling before tapping his. "Dead giveaway, though yours has suffered quite a bit of damage. Nothing the local smithy can't fix, right? Of course, that depends if you want to go sword-and-board. You may just want to trash it."

At last we reached the tail, and he shut up a moment to jump off onto a ship. He turned and held out his hand, but I simply jumped down beside, groaning, wiping off my iron top before folding my arms over it. A man in bright red patted the man's arm, guffawing.

"That was mighty fine work, fella," He said, his voice gruff, matching his grayed beard. "Not many can hold off a Dah'ren, and ya even got my hat back. Come find me in town when you have a chance, eh? No rush. You and your lady friend have fun."

"Sounds good," He said, saluting him before the man turned and disembarked the boat. People gathered before the ship, cheering this... this...

Jerk.

He huffed and smiled down at me, offering his hand.

"So, you good from here?"

I rolled my eyes and stormed by him and down the ramp, pushing through the crowd. He called behind, his voice getting closer with the people ahead until they formed a wall...

"What?" I said, wheeling on him.

"Hey. The least you can do is say thanks."

"Thank you. Happy?."

"Not really. I didn't even catch your name."

"W... Bu... I yelle..."

"You did what now?"

"I yelled it from the top of that whale."

"You did? I thought you were yelling for help. Hard to here over the cheering. Looks like we left an impression, huh?"

"You mean y- yes. Yes, we did."

"Got to admit, it takes a lot of guts to stare down a rampaging Dah'ren Mohran."

"R-really?"

"To me, anyways. Remember, I'm new. Speaking of... have you been to the gathering hall? I need to register my guild card here, and have no idea where to go."

"... Yeah... I've been to it."

"Great. Show me the way –please, of course. If you will. Oh, can I see your card to add it to my list? Er, please? Sorry."

"Maybe... maybe after we get there."

"Sounds good... So..."

"Hmm?"

"Your name?"

"... Maybe you'll get it after we get there."

Val Habar.

At long last I grace your ports, your bustling bazaar and, of course, your world-renown gathering hall –where all hunters, all legends begin, and here I am, playing tour guide for an idiot.