"Xander!..XANDER! Wake up! It's time to head to the guild!" a petite feminine voice shouts into my ear shaking me repeatedly
"I don't wanna go mommy, 5 more minutes" I mutter half conscious,then like a blur something hard strikes the left side if my face knocking me out of my bed and onto the floor face first.
"Owww!, ugh! What the hell?! Who-" I stop immediately realizing who had woken me up, my housemate airi. I glared up at the fiery/crimson haired lairis girl (I'll explain what that is at the end of the chapter as well as the other creatures in my story) with a frilly onesie like dress on glaring back down at me with her hands on her round hips. Though she was short, she was really cute; big emerald green eyes, caramel colored skin , cute face as well as a curvy physique with quite modest assets, but the reason why we're so combative with eachother is the simple fact that she is kinda bossy, arrogant,and has a tendency to get jealous very quickly, but despite when she gets in her moods like now, she is actually a very sweet girl with a heart of gold (or a tsundere, yes she has a crush on me I can tell by the way she snaps at me, as soon as she turns around I notice a pink dusting on her cheeks.)
"Airi what was that for?!" I shouted
"You didn't get up when I told you!" She shouted back
"Since when are you my alarm clock?!" I rebuke
"Since I'm the one keeping your lazy ass from getting kicked out of you're own livelihood!, now get up and get dressed they want us there in 30 minutes there's a big announcement today"she says with less venom in her tone
"But what about breakfast?" I ask
"We'll eat when we get there, now hurry up!" she finishes and floats out of the room slamming my door behind her
"Oh boy, this is gonna be a long day" I mutter under my breath heaving a sigh, I took a quick shower, slid on my tunic shirt pants, boots, my gloves and gauntlets and thin jacket and torso armor plate, finally after all of my preparation I grabbed my two swords one a medium sized broad sword with a dragon scale hilt , the other a chokuto with a leather hilt and a ruby slitted eye on the end of it and hitched then onto my back grabbed the rest of my gear and headed outside to meet airi.
We strolled down the cobblestone walkway of my house and proceeded down the steep set of stairs that led through the city still encapsulated in the early twilight hours, it was 6 am and the sun had barely cast it's early morning orange glow over the horizon,the air was still crisp and cool and chilled me to the bone, but nonetheless survivable.
"So what was that big announcement airi?" I asked with a yawn following, still half asleep
"Well all D ranked artisans are to report to Dragon's edge for they're first assignment of the season" she explains floating just above my head
So the ranking that we get are kind of a way of judging our skill level, we all start off as F rank when we first get excepted into a guild and we build up to the highest rank which is S. Guilds are kind of like these clubs that we join with the intention of perfecting our individual skills and becoming the heroes we aspire to be ,my guild dragon's edge which is one of the highest ranked guilds with a reputation for having the highest number of S ranked artisans and has been this way since it was first established.
"And what is that first assignment airi?" I inquire my tone making it clear to her to stop beating around the bush
"A monster capturing mission" she says plainly
"W-what?!" I shout in surprise
"That's all I'm gonna tell you right now, the Guild master will fill you in on the rest, he told me he wanted to speak to you personally"
"Seriously? To me?!" I ask and start to stutter to excited to speak but when I actually get control over my mouth airi is in front of me with one of her fingers on my lips, surprised I look up at her to find that cute smile I always see on her when she knows she got me good
"Shhh, no more talk, c'mon dummy we're gonna be late!" She says and yanks me by my wrist and hauls me toward the entrance to our guild, this was the airi I liked and the side of her I wished she'd show more often...
We made it to the guild in 10 seconds flat and pushed open the large silver doors, inside everyone who we had come to know , human, beast and liminal alike were mingling with eachother, all of the "d's" as we call ourselves. I strutted proudly over to our table which was always reserved to us since were both registered under a party name, all artisans form parties with either monsters, magical beings or even other artisans but once you pledge to a party, you stay in that party, and in one you always have to have people you can trust.
I plopped down and took a deep breath loving the fact that I was part of something so awesome airi smiled and even giggled a bit at my enthusiasm. Just then a boy with spiky silver/grey hair and elf ears walked over to us
"Yo Xander how's it going man?!"
He said with conviction and warmth. It was one if my best friends from childhood; Marco an elven swordsman, he's one of those best guy friends who always has your back even at the worst of times and never leaves you in the dark, by definition you could call him a true friend despite the fact that sometimes his optimism gets the best of him. Since he has silver hair it's pretty evident that he also had red eyes, but what's strange about those eyes is that they are slitted(which I never really understood). He wears a thin black tunic shirt covered with a navy blue hoodie and a small set of armor over it he also always wears those same turquoise baggy shin length cargo pants with absolutely no armor, a large item pouch and a long enscripted knight like sword strapped to his back,(seriously does this guy have no regard for his safety at all?!)
Though now that I think about it not once had he not recovered or narrowly escaped the jaws of a poisonous monster and always seemed to be one step ahead of his opponent, his intuition was astounding..although at times he decided not to show it.
"Hey Marco!, everything's awesome! so you ready for the big announcement?" I asked while fist bumping my best childhood friend
"Damn skippy I am!, oh..and by the way there's a certain someone here who's been dying to see you again" he says rather slyly elbowing my shoulder, I internally gasp at the thought while airi crosses her arms, rolls her eyes, scoffs and pouts.
"Oh crap, is she around?" I ask him hesitantly
"Well not at the moment but she should be here in...3...2...now"
And just like he said the doors flew open and I heard a gasp then an earsplitting screech-like scream and rapid footsteps headed my direction. My blood ran cold and I tried to quickly whip around but a mass collided with me and knocked me out of my chair the next thing I knew my face was someplace dark and warm and at the same time kinda soft and plushy.
"XANDER! Oh great gods above it really is you! I can't believe it! I'm so happy to see you again!" Squeals the familiar voice of another one of my party members; Mei,
an elven Mage/archer who I hadn't seen in three years because she had gone to train in her homeland, and I am currently shoved in the middle of my well endowed teammate's ample bosom.
"S-sis, I think your little friend has had enough, he's sounds like he can't breathe" Marco says
The elf girl looks at him with confusion then looks down at the boy in her bust and realizes what she's doing, the boy was prying at her arms which were snaked around his neck in a desperate attempt to escape this cute but deadly prison "eeek! In sorry xandie I-I mean Xander, please forgive me!" she shouts embarrassed with a deep blush decorating her cheeks.
I sucked in as much air as my lungs could stand trying to regain my sight, and when I did I was finally able to get a good look at mei,(oh and if it wasn't clear earlier she is Marco's sister) she was even more of a gorgeous sight than the first time I had met her, her eyes had turned an enchanting shade of ocean blue her forest green hair had gotten longer now down to her shoulders
, her change in style was still the same a purple button down dress skirt covered with thin custom made armor designed for her figure she wore slender gauntlets on her wrists extending down her forearms, long leggings covered with shin armor and her high heel boots also had a thin layer of armor on them,her face hadn't changed a bit still that cute innocent girl with smooth, shiny porcelain, cream colored skin, her elf ears projected from her head and drooped in a way that was just too cute to process and to top it all of her bountiful hips and large bust only added on to her charm, but it wasn't her obvious assets that got my attention, it was the fact that although she was a fierce fighter, she was the most gentle, caring, sweetest most selfless girl with a heart of gold that I have ever met and always thinks of others before herself and helps any way she can, what could very well be called: "A true pure soul"
"It's ok mei it's really good to see you again, you've become quite the sight since I last saw you" I said to the now blushing elf girl twiddling her index fingers
"U-um th-thanks you know ,you've become quite handsome as well" she stutters out which surprised me, I knew she kinda liked me but she was never this open before( I'm not as oblivious to they're emotions as you think, and don't call me a player or womanizer and I for damn sure am not leading them on. I'm merely just lucky that girls as cute as them actually like a guy like me this much and I'm basking in the moment and of course I like them both equally as much, no I am not a polygamist, that's illegal...or is it? Anyhow back to our tale)
"So mei how did you're training back home go?" I asked
"Oh it was awesome!, I finally perfected my archery with my father and my mother taught me how to enhance the accuracy of my magic merely by focusing all of my energy into my brain then to my hands, see performing magic is all about having balance both mentally and physically. I trained my body and mind up to the point where I achieved bliss then used that to my advantage." She chatters on
I found it noble that she put so much effort into getting stronger since three years ago I remember it clearly too...
Flashback: 3 years ago
" Xander I need to tell you something" a young elf girl asks a 13 year old Xander, they were currently sitting on a bench on the green hill they always go to reconnect with themselves and nature and also for some peace and quiet the sunset cast a brilliant yellow/ red glow over the tips of the green expanse giving the impression that it may have been on fire.
"what is it mei? Is something wrong?" I ask with a hint of concern in my voice this wasn't like mei to be this way she seemed so upset and depressed she always had a warm, cute smile on her face now she had empty eyes and a darkened aura casted around her.
"I-I want to get stronger!" She shouts looking me directly in the eyes.
"Mei what do you mean get stronger?" I inquire.
" it's just that" she chokes out, tears brimming in the corners of her huge doe eyes" you're always having to save me from something or someone with malicious intentions toward me, and I feel horrible that you have to risk you're life for me, I'm- I..." She tries to form word but they come out as sobs" I'm useless!" She screams.
I grab onto her shoulders and look her directly in her huge vibrant ocean blue orbs "Mei, get this out of you're system because as of now, I never want to hear those words come out of you're mouth ever again" I state in the most serious tone I could muster.
"B-but" she begins but I cut her off and pull her into a tight hug "Mei, you're anything but useless, when someone has a bad day you're always there to cheer them up, when I need help or someone else does you're always there to lend the most helpful hand you can offer , and when someone needs a shoulder to cry on you're always there to comfort them and reassure them that everything will work out. If anything you're the most amazing type of person there is, the kind of heart you have is a treasure, it's what this world needs the most. And if you do feel useless, change it! Train as hard as you can and get stronger and then keep going to get even stronger than that! I have a philosophy I go by ; 'life doesn't wait or change for anyone if you want something and you're willing to fight for it then fight! Fight for you! Fight to beat yourself, and fight to beat life!' I lecture her and the look I could describe on her face was nothing short of shock and disbelief, but my suspicions that it got through were answered then the floodgates broke and she wailed into my chest wrapping her arms around me as tight as she could squeeze, I chuckled and smiled warmly and stroked the soft hair of my friend who had finally found her new purpose.
" I'm gonna do it Xander, I'm gonna get stronger, I'll beat myself! I'll beat life! And nothing is going to stop me! Nothing!" she shouts in shaky breaths trying to regulate her breathing
Back to the present
"You've changed so much mei, I'm so proud of you!" I gush to her making her entire head turn red as a cherry even her hair changed color airi just scoffed and floated away, man she gets jealous so easily, it's so cute when she pouts though.
"Dude, heads up the guild master is here" Marco whispers to me and the entire guild hall falls silent, he enters a large firmly built man with a dark grey beard tied back hair and common shirt with a breastplate attached to it an item belt strapped to his waist a huge sword on his back and one sturdy wooden leg.
"Hello kids! How are you all today?!" He asks in a husky elderly voice filled with warmth and wisdom
"Fine mister guildmaster!" We all respond in unison
"Very good! Now to get down to business, as you all should know by now you're first monster hunting mission starts today so I need you all to be on you're 'a' game! The monster you will be hunting is the infamous cockatrice!" he states and we all begin to murmur with one another we'd heard about the vicious beast before and how many an artisan who lost they're lives to it.
"It's quite the dangerous animal, one look at it alive, dead, or even with a decapitated head its still enough to turn you into stone! I want you all to take care when hunting down this demonic creature I don't want to loose any of you this early on, you may not be at a high rank yet but you all show such promise, such courage" he says to us filling us with his usual brand of confidence and self reassurance" I know you all can do this, now go give that oversized demon chicken hell! Dragon's edge chant!" He shouts
"HUUURAAAAHH!" We all shout now pumped for the task at hand. The other d ranks grab they're gear and take off out the door
"Oh Xander my boy perfect timing! Where's airi?" He stops me
"Um currently she is pouting in the corner" I gesture and he follows my finger to find airi sitting in a booth with a mug in her hand, her face already flushed
He laughs heartily and wraps his arm around my neck" Xander my boy, it's time I let you in on something...little airi there is in love with you" he states which shocks the living daylights out of me as well as mei who gasps with audible horror
"W-what did you say?!" I ask hesitantly
"Think about it Xander, has she been moody lately?" He asks back
"Well now that you mention it yeah she has been, but then again she's always moody" I respond
"Well she may be suffering from love sickness, and the only way she can express that for the time being is by being moody and bossy in reality when I introduced her to you she seemed eager to get to know you, maybe you should talk to her about it. But enough of that for now, the reason I called you here was because I have a special assignment just for you"
"For me?" I ask
"Yes you, now the cockatrice might be a dangerous monster, but I have a far more challenging quest for you, I want you and you're party to bring me the fang of a tatzelwurm"
"A tatzelwurm?! Do you have any idea how dangerous they are?!" I ask shocked
"Yes my boy I am fully aware of that,that is why I am asking you above all the rest of you're peers to do it of all of them Xander you show the most promise, I have never seen someone with skill like yours" his words hit me deeply filling me with pride and confidence
"Well I'm not that good" I rebuke modestly
"Stop being all modest Xander" Marco gushes slapping my back
"It's true, of all the sage/swordsman in the city byou are the first to be bumped from F-D class in a month!" Mei says clasping my hand in both of her soft ones.
Seeing the faith they have in me I couldn't help but agree to the guildmaster's request and so I proclaimed proudly"Alright guildmaster! Sign me up!"
"That's my boy!" He shouts "now then I also have another surprise for you"
"What's that?" I ask anxiously
"It's finally time for you to find a monster companion!"
"What?!, but none of the other artisans have even have been given separate missions yet in order to earn the right to find one!" I shout
"Well none have shown as much skill in monster hunting as you and you're party, last season you brought back some of the rarest finds in the city!, so it stands to reason that the next qualified D rank artisan should find a monster to and in ensuring the safety of his city, and offer his assistance to higher ranked artisans as well" the guild master explains
"Oh...uh, well when you put it that way.." Unsure of what to think at this point, it's all too much, I've gotten my own monster hunting mission and I have to find my own monster to add to my party, oh gods I feel like my head is going to explode!
"I knew you would say yes!, no off you go my boy you've got a lot of ground to cover
And tatzelwurms can be surprisingly reclusive and sneaky, so you'd best get on it!" The guild master urges
"O-ok, Mei, Marco you guys head for the main gate I'll catch up with you, I just gotta sober up airi" they both nod in compliance and head out of the doors.
I then turn and head for the now drunken lairis whose face is flushed red and hiccuping.
"Airi, what's wrong?" I ask the girl who gives me the best glare she can muster
"Li-like you care!" she slurs out"I bet you just loved the attention of that huge breasted half elf didn't you? You guys are all the same, see a girl with a pair of plump knockers and your putty In they're hands"
"Ah, so that's what this is, you're just jealous of Mei aren't you it?"
I ask and she then turns an even darker shade of red(gotcha!)
"N-no!, as if I'd ever be jealous of a half elf!" She stutters out
"Airi, Mei is one of my best and most trusted childhood friends, and although she is rather beautiful now, that doesn't mean that I'm taking her over you, I know we've only known each other for a shorter time but you already know how I feel about you" I say
"So?, you can be so dense sometimes and I wonder if you're even as smart as you let yourself off to be, I swear sometimes you are just so insufferable" I just smile and look her directly in the eye
"True, very true, but if you hated me you wouldn't even associate with me would you?" I ask which accordingly gets a giggle from airi and that smile she always puts on her face when she knows I got her back.
"Yeah, that's true, I don't hate you, you're just really stupid sometimes" she says and takes my hand which is already on the table, I smile and lean forward and peck her forehead.
"Come on silly, it's time to go" I say and usher her up
"Don't think you got out of this Xander, just because I like you doesn't mean I forgive easily" she shoots back to me, her bossy, prideful, stubborn side showing its colors
"I know airi" I take her hand and look down at her and we share a smile
" now let's be off"