"I'll have a mug of ale." said the girl before sitting down next to Azen.
A puzzled look appeared on Azen's face, and he glanced at the other hunters around him. All attention was at the girl and on himself. It was apparent that the other hunters were wondering why she picked to sit beside him when there were a few other vacant seats available, an empty table even. It's already apparent that either Azen himself asks, or someone else has to step up. The girl grumbled as she shot each hunter a glare, and all of them returned to their own business, however keeping a low profile.
"So, kid. How old are you?" asked the girl as the waitress put her mug of ale on the table.
"I'm 17 years old. And don't call me kid, we look about the same age." replied Azen with a scowl.
The girl smirked and took a sip of her ale before turning her head to look at Azen. Once she made eye contact, her orange eyes pierced through Azen's eyes, and it interested Azen greatly. They stared at each other for a while until the girl flicked Azen's forehead with her index finger.
"What was that for?" Azen asked, rubbing his forehead.
"Oh, nothing. You were staring at me so intensely that I was afraid you got petrified." said the girl. She took out a map from her backpack and slid her slender fingers down the map, trying to look for the last mark that she etched into the map. Azen looked at the map and immediately saw Pokke Village. He pointed to it.
"You are here." Azen stated.
The girl put the map away, as if she didn't want Azen to see the other contents. She got up from her seat and walked out of the gathering hall, and into the village. It was nice and bright, with snow patches here and there. Shopkeepers telling people to buy their products, the smell of cooking meat coming from the houses. The girl smiled slightly as she walked with the villagers of Pokke village. She saw a Popo being led around by a man, and the clanging noise of the blacksmith filled the air. The villagers were having their usual chats, while the children chased each other around the great Machalite ore of Pokke.
"Hey!" Azen called out to the girl, "What's your name?" he said after walking to her side.
The girl cast a glance at Azen and walked back into the gathering hall. Azen was puzzled. There was no one like her in Pokke. If one asked a villager in Pokke for their name, they'd give it gladly. Azen, belatedly, concluded that the girl must be a foreigner or a traveler. At least, she's not from Pokke.
For 16 days, the girl stayed. She was either always on a quest, or she's walking around Pokke Farm. Azen kept a watchful eye of her, wondering what could she be interested in the farm. She always gathered mushrooms and mined for ores, and occasionally sent a cat with a yellow helmet off. Azen couldn't figure out where she could possibly sleep. According to his knowledge, the girl has not made any friends with any of the villagers. Azen always asked the hunters in th Gathering hall if the girl sleeps there, but they always shake their heads.
Azen sighed. The skies were getting darker. Perhaps it was going to rain. He went to the blacksmith to get his mafumofu coat repaired, then went to the Gathering Hall to wait the rain out. He greeted his fellow hunters as he sat down by his usual seat. Azen smiled as the Branch Leader served him a plate of Anteka steak. The Branch Leader ruffled Azen's hair.
The Branch Leader was young and motherly. She always had a brilliant smile, and was very protective of the hunters of Pokke's Gathering Hall. Her name was Kaori, she was 27 years of age, and Azen's sister. She worked for the Hunter's Guild as an intern and a shopkeeper when she was 18, then worked as one of the contract givers when she was 24. Only three years ago did she become the Branch Leader, but she was well accepted by the hunters. They loved her a lot.
"Thanks, sis." said Azen as he started eating.
Kaori looked up as the girl walks into the Gathering Hall. She was geared. She talked to one of the contract givers and immediately took off. Azen paid no attention to her as he ate. He always thought that when his sister makes him food, he better give his 110% into eating it, therefore he should be concentrated. It was the only way that Azen could think of to show extended gratitude to his sister, because despite being busy with paperwork and other things, Kaori still found the time to take care of Azen. After Azen was finished eating, and after Kaori has fixed his plate and utensils, she retrieved a box from one of the contract givers.
"Happy Birthday, Azen." Kaori said as she extended her arms and presented the box to Azen.
Azen took the box and opened it, and revealed the dual blades, Hidden Ones. Azen looked at Kaori with surprise.
"Sis! This is... this is great and I am really thankful, but isn't this really, really, really expensive?" queried Azen.
"Oh, that's okay. Anything for my baby." she said and giggled.
The other hunters started gathering around Azen and cheered him on. Azen was the youngest of hunters in Pokke Village. He was treated as a younger sibling by all of those who stay in the Gathering Halls. According to a Rank 7 Hunter, he gathered the materials for the Hidden Ones. And all the others say they pitched in to pay the blacksmith to create the said weapon. Azen thanked everyone and hugged his sister tightly, then carefully wore the Hidden Ones on his back.
Near the summit of the Snowy Mountains, Azen was sitting down on a rock, picking off leaves from a mountain herb. His Mafumofu Coat was repaired and made even stronger since he had saved up the armor stones that the men who want to marry his sister gave to him. 'Why won't she tell me her name...' he thought of the girl and her constant rejection to disclose her name. It was starting to get dark, and he had to deliver 20 mountain herbs by sunset. He quickly got his backpack and started heading down, when he felt the ground rumbling. Azen feared an avalanche, and quickly started looking for shelter.
By the left entrance to the summit, there was a small tunnel leading to a secret pathway to the summit where the shed skin of a Kushala Daora lay. He took shelter in the tunnel and stayed there. The rumbling only grew more intense, and eventually, he could hear a fight between monster and hunter outside. Azen really didn't want to get involved right now as the hunter probably can handle this on their own, but Azen was curious. He went to the secret tunnel and climbed a few walls to get to the Kushala Daora skin. He was surprised to see the girl, but even more surprised to see a Tigrex after the girl.
The girl was trembling, not only from the cold, but from fear. Her exposed legs were shaking and wet from the melted snow. She struggled to keep her shield up. The Tigrex slammed its claw onto the ground and sent multiple blocks of ice hurling towards the girl. The girl fell backwards and shut her eyes tightly as she awaited the imminent doom. However, no impact was felt. She felt hot air by her mouth, something felt like cloth. She opened her eyes to see Azen on top of her, their faces merely inches apart. The expression on Azen's face was enough to tell what happened. Azen jumped down from the high cliff and rushed to protect the girl.
"Wha... What are you doing? Do you want to die?" yelled the girl.
Azen pushed himself up and looked at the girl, "Good to see you're alright..." he said as he stood up.
The girl stood up after Azen and gulped. The Tigrex was already raging towards them. She ran the other way as fast as she could, hoping to take shelter in the icy caverns. She looked back. Azen was there, standing, looking at the Tigrex as if trying to stop it with his mind. Fear gripped him. He couldn't move his legs, or his arms. The girl watched as Azen was hit with the Tigrex's tail and was slammed hard against the mountainside. She was angry at herself for watching a young boy sacrifice himself for her safety. She started running towards the Tigrex, her Raven Blade raised and ready to attack.
The Tigrex swung its claw at the girl, and she blocked it with all her might. She skid back a few paces due to the momentum, and carefully approached the Tigrex with her shield raised. She was no longer afraid. If Azen could stand and face the Tigrex without fear, so could she. Also, she felt guilty as Azen was lying on the ground, snow gathering on top of him. He was moving, undoubtedly trying to stand.
"Raaaahhh!" The girl yelled before slashing at the Tigrex's tail. The tail was sliced clean off, and the Tigrex fell on its face. It was struggling to stand and balance itself.
The girl ran to Azen, but before she could reach him, he was already standing. Blood soaked his mafumofu coat, and also dripped from his chin. There was a small area of slush made from Azen's blood and the snow. In Azen's hands were his Hidden Ones. The determination in Azen's eyes were strong. The girl blushed slightly as she admired Azen's eyes to herself. She shook her head and pointed to the Tigrex.
"I don't know how you plan on beating that thing..." she said.
"Easy. We slice at it until it doesn't move!" Azen replied.
The girl's mouth was agape. How could a boy like him speak with such confidence? Certain death was imminent, yet he could still stand and fight? Azen glanced at the Tigrex. It was slowly starting to get back on it's feet. Blood flew out of Azen like a river, as the blades of his Hidden Ones were soaked with blood, and was dripping from it's tip. The girl could not imagine what kind of madness has occurred to the boy, but one thing completely took her breath away.
Azen smiled.
