Chapter 2

Oh... Yes... Give me more... Oh yes... More... More ale in my flask. Keep it filled- as a matter of fact, leave the bottle here. Put it on my tab, I don't care.

After all, you can't bill a nobody.

Three weeks... Twenty-three days and four hours since I arrived... and the most action I've gotten was collecting shrooms –shrooms that were refused, since the "goldenboy" actually had the contract and finished it before I got back. Wasn't even reimbursed. At least the street cat always needed help cleaning the wok AFTER FEEDING HIS GOLDEN-

Down the bottle. Just down it... No need to think of him. After all, it's been a whole HOUR since you heard his name mentioned. Just enjoy your time in this dark corner of the gathering hall, just watch as the actual hunters got their quests, got to sit at the big table and chow down on those huge, succulent- why hasn't the waitress brought me another bottle already?

"Miss," I called out, shaking the empty amber flask. "Miss? Hey. Don't ignore me."

She did... Probably for the best. My head was already spinning. Thank goodness the insect glaive serves as a nice prop, and the bug a counterweight... It was all I had left, too. The lances went towards food, great and longsword... herbs? Potions? No, wait. That was the dual blades. The Great and Longsword went to whetstones –until I found out you can pick them up like nothing out in the wild so jokes on me.

It's always on me...

"Hey."

Oh no... please... No... No no... No no no...

"Hey. Yoohoo."

… He smacked the table, shook my shoulder, took the bottle out of my hand before returning it.

"Yo. Hey. I've been looking for you."

"Who are you again?" I grumbled, looking up, seeing Mr. Gold and brass as he sat beside.

He chuckled and patted my shoulder, taking off his headband.

"It's me. Faires. We met on top of the Dah'ren."

"... I guess?"

"Hah. How you doing? Haven't seen you since then. I was hoping to run a few quests with you."

"Oh... You know... stuff."

"So I see. Hard drinking for hard work, huh?"

"... Yeah... Something like that... Nice digs. Got tired of running around in your underwear?"

"What? These old things? This was a gift from the Caravaneer. Turns out he wanted to hire me, but had to test me first."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. He had me run and make steak and potions for him. Did you know you can combine Honey and a regular potion to make a mega variation? It heals wounds twice as fast. Truly remarkable."

"I bet."

He huffed and patted my shoulder again.

"Ah, but look who I'm talking to. Master hunter extraordinaire. You finally settle on a weapon?"

"I guess."

"An insect glaive, huh? Heard that takes a lot of skill, but is a lot of fun. Haven't tried it yet, myself. Been having too much fun with the dual blades. Spinning and winning, you know."

"Not really."

"What? You mean... oh, you got to try them. Come on. Let's go do a quick harvest tour so you can."

"Not right now. Relaxing. Maybe later... How did you even know it was me over here?"

"Not many people here with cherry-red hair- er, not that that is a problem or anything. I mean, I like it. I'm tempted to dye my hair the same color-"

"This isn't dyed."

"... Really?"

"Yup. Au natural."

"That's... Do you get it from your mother or..."

"Supposedly. Wouldn't know."

"How could you not kn-"

"Miss. Miss! Don't ignore me. Get your bum over here and get us some more ale. Hey. H- dammit..."

"Have they been ignoring you this whole time?"

"Pretty much. Doesn't matter. I'm done anyways," I groaned as I stood, leaning on my insect glaive. Thank goodness for the button that opened its tip into a tripod. "I'll see you later."

Maybe.

Hopefully Doubtfully.

Ah, but of course he wouldn't take the hint. He had to follow me out, walk me to my caravan. He looked through my trunk as I plopped into the bed. My bug flew to the rafters above, buzzing its wings, watching him.

"Huh... Thought you would have a full compliment of weapons. At least the beginner models," He said, shutting it. "You really do only have the insect glaive. What happened to your Sword-and-shield?"

"Trashed," Sold for a meal last Tuesday. Actual meat.

"That was probably for the best. I tried using Sword-and-board. Could barely take down a Jaggi."

"Uh huh."

"Though I'm curious why you got rid of the longsword. Graceful, beautiful, sharp, yet so fragile-"

"Didn't like it. Preferred hammer. May be ugly, not always the sharpest tool in the box, doesn't get much attention, but it gets the job done."

"Then why is that gone, too?"

"Broke the head off. Swung too hard against a Ratholos. Smashed the head in and caught it midflight after."

"You? You took on a Ratholos?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"N-nothing. It's just... Well, you did try to take on a Mohran with a base sword-and-board."

I sat up and grabbed my glaive, my insect buzzing its wings.

"And what is THAT supposed to mean."

"N-n-nothing. Nothing at all. I'm... I'm just gonna go... Can we hunt later, per chance?"

"When I have time, I'll come find you. Until then, good night."

"Very well. Later- oh, but before I leave-"

"What now?"

He reached into his derring top and retrieved... a card...

"Here. I thought you'd like a copy. Maybe you'd like to give a copy of yours..."

"... Good night... Later, okay?"

He nodded and exited the caravan... wait... wait for it... and... screaming into the pillow. My bug joined in the assault and tore into it, gargwa feathers flying around inside the red tarp, falling on the dirt-caked planks... And... calm again... until I looked at that card and saw his smug grin plastered on its front, MIGHTY CHAMPION written across its top- and there went another pillow.

Doesn't that... that kid take a hint... Obviously not.

Next morning, bright and early, he was knocking on my caravan.

"Yo," He called in. "Permission to come aboard."

I grumbled, groaned, and rolled over, insect chirruping in agreement as it landed on my shoulder. It screeched and chattered as footsteps approached, its wings giving such a nice breeze.

"Hey," He said, chuckling. "Rise and shine. I thought we could go get in a little practice together. I'm working on my insect glaive today, and I thought I'd lend you my spare Dual's."

I mumbled into the carcass of my pillows.

"What was that?"

"I said," I... I rolled over- and fell right out of bed... smooth. I held my hand against his, and stood, grumbling. "As I was saying, I said I have no time today. I have many an errand to run."

"It won't take long," He said, crossing his arms behind his head. "We're only running a Great Jaggi. Should be nothing for the homerun hitter of Ratholos. Had the guildmarm set it all up so we can both go. What do you say?"

"... A Great Jaggi, huh?"

"Yup."

"Only one?"

"Well, depends on how many you want to do."

"And we both get paid?"

"And carves."

"Hell, sign me up. I had my eye on his armor for a while."

"Me too, but then I thought about the Velocidrome's and-"

"Velo... cidrome?"

"Yeah. You know. Blue bird wyvern. Nasty temper."

"Never heard of it."

"Well, it has some really nice armor. We'll stop by the smithies so you can see it."

"Sounds good."

Not as good as the money, but good. Maybe then I can get back my hammer –sold for new insoles for my iron boots. He wasn't kidding; the velo armor was nice... on the guy. Looked like a shoddy cadet's uniform on the girl, but the male's simply screamed "knight of fortune." I would give anything for that popped collar and helm. Far better than the beret of the Great Jaggi set, but beggar's can't be choosers. We stopped by his caravan, stationed right outside a bubbly bespectacled girl wearing a flowy green top... and tight white shorts. She waved to him as he went in.

He stopped me, chuckling.

"I hope you don't mind, but could you wait out here? It's... well, I don't want you to get hurt inside."

I simply shrugged and sat down beside the green girl's d-

"So," She uttered, giggling as I jumped. "You're the mystery hunter he talks about."

"I guess?"

"The one he saved from the top of the Dah'ren."

"Hey. He didn't save me. I could have got down just fine."

She giggled again, and offered her hand. "I'm the guildmarm, the Caravaneer's personal guild steward. I collect whatever local jobs the guild doesn't see need done and set them up for the Caravaneer's hunter –Mr. Talk, dark, and handsome in there."

"Nice... Nice to meet you," I said, shaking her hand. "I'm Ophelia. Ophelia Mornhall."

"Ah ha. Now I have something to hold over him. Thankies."

"You're welcome?"

"Oh, you have no idea. Doodle's been on the verge of tears trying to recall your name. 'The one other hunter that could go through the same trial by fire with him.' It's adorable, and now you two are finally hunting together."

"... Well, that's... not creepy at all."

"I know, right? It's so cute seeing him trying to make friends."

"Hey. I can make friends no problem, thank you," Faires said, jumping out of his caravan, a pair of iron slicers in hand. Each was as long as my arm, their tips honed to a wicked tip. "There you go. These are fine, yes?"

… I nodded and put them on my back... but his hand was still out.

"What?"

"Your insect glaive."

"What about it?"

"You can't take it with you."

"And why not?"

"... Uh..."

"That's what I thought," I handed it to him, and my bug buzzed after, nipping at his ear. "H-hey. Stop that. Stop it. Cully. Stop it."

"It doesn't hurt," He said, chortling as he went back inside and stowed the glaive. He came back out, the bug still hanging on his ear, wriggling. "Have you been feeding it any nectars?"

"O... Of course. Speed. Cully, go home. I'll get you when I come back."

"Ah... Not a bad choice, but if I may offer advice? It's best to start feeding them protein. Get them uber strong early."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"You two ready?" The guildmarm said, straightening her hat. "The popo and wagon are prepped and waiting."

"Yeah. We're ready."

"Where we going?" I said.

"To the Ancient Steppes. Best place to find a Jaggi, in my opinion."

"Yes, but what about a Great Jaggi?"

"That's... that's what I... well, I can't really see why they are called great in the first place."

"Why?"

"They're... well, you'll see."