Author's Note: Dang, this felt like one long chapter... Still trying to get the pacing right but this is one mother of chapters... Good luck reading it!

DISCLAIMER: The following is a fan-made fiction based on the Monster Hunter series. Monster Hunter is owned by Cash- *Cough*Capcom. And sadly, I'm not Capcom.

Please enjoy and review!

"Again!" Yelled the two of them. "ONE! TWO! THREE!" Pulling one last time, the fish was unable to resist them as he was immediately catapulted over the water, flying overheads into the grass. They had succeeded in their attempt to catch the man-sized fish at the cost of their fishing pole which, sadly, broke in their final effort. It was, nonetheless, a worthy and noble sacrifice.

And so it continues...

Chapter II

A True Weapon - Bone!

That day had been the happiest day in Max's life. He had done it, he had earned the right to be tested as a hunter. All that remained now was the Exam itself, more of a thing of protocol rather than practicality, it was something he was sure to ace with little effort if he managed not to screw up horribly. 'If'.

"Dad?" Said Max as they arrived back in the village, fish in one hand and broken fishing pole in the other. "I just wanted to thank you. I was so scared that you were gonna make me choose something else, I thought I was gonna die. I'm glad you changed your mind" He smiled genuinely, all his hatred gone for good now that he saw the future ahead of him. Life was good, extremely so.

His father seemed to share some of this happiness as he too had not stopped smiling and laughing ever since they had managed to catch the fish. To him, this day was special as well and he was proud and happy for his son.

He said, "Y'know kid, one of these days you and your old man are gonna go on a hunt together. Then I'll teach you how to catch the really big fish."

The two of them smiled in agreement just before they were interrupted by a young man, as tall as Max, who had walked up to them. He wore a hunter's armor with ease and he seemed quite used to its weight too.

"Happy birthday, Max. Judging by that smirk I take it you've heard the news." He glanced at Rick looking for confirmation. He got it in the form of a slow nod. "Then I guess you won't mind if I talk to you for a sec?" He turned back, marching across the street.

Max gave his father a hug one more time before handing him over the Wyvernfish. "I'll be home in a minute." He then left to follow the teen. He was lead to the front of the General Shoppe were they both stopped, just by the counter, away from the small crowds filling the street. "What's up Drew, what do you need?"

His childhood friend smiled, the scales on his Giaprey Armor shining in the sunlight. "It's not about what I need, Max. It's about what YOU need. You do know the Exam's tomorrow, don't you?"

Max seemed confused by this question. His blonde friend knew he wouldn't miss it. So what might possibly be the problem?

"I do. But what do you mean 'what I need'? If you mean equipment then I suppose I'm a bit unprepared but I was gonna borrow Dad's stuff anyway so it's no biggie."

"No, you weren't." In a sudden change, his friend's sharp, gray eyes were now threatening to cut him down right where he stood. "I thought I told you hunters don't 'borrow' equipment unless they are both experienced with it. You need armor and a weapon of your own. Some do borrow some equipment but it is rarely something they know how to wield and it ends up badly for them. Can you wield a Sword and Shield half as well as your father?"

Max was seeing Drew's point now. He was an awful SnS user. He never knew with which arm to hit his opponent. And never mind Dualswords, his father's second weapon of choice. Max would just end up stabbing himself multiple times if he tried those out. His father had taught him how to hunt with a Bow but he had a hard time hunting anything faster than a Popo.

"I- I suppose my Dad's arsenal isn't exactly tailored to my tastes. But there's lots of stuff I can use. Don't you have any Longswords with you?" The Longsword was his favorite weapon, he had tried it only once under the guidance of Alvor, one of his uncles, who was an expert Longsword wielder but it had been an amazing experience. He could still remember the blade's weight in his hands, feeling heavy, yet light after considering its size and the massive amounts of damage he had been able to inflict upon the mannequins at his uncle's house.

"Not really, no. I've never really been much of a fan of those. What else can you wield?"

And then, Max froze. His dad had no Longswords and neither did Drew. Lucia was working in the forge and all of his Longsword wielding friends were out doing Quests. Worst case scenario, he would have to shadowbox all night to prepare for the coming Exam.

"I… don't think I know how to use anything else. Can't I just bring SnS and hope for the best?" To hell with acing the Exam, he just wanted it done.

"Not if I can help it. You're going to pass with flying colors, no matter how. I've put a lot of money and faith on you man, you can't fail me now."

"W- What? You betted on me? I didn't even know you did that in the Guild!"

"Well, we do, now get over it. Listen, I'm gonna help you out this time but only because we're friends, alright? I'm gonna need some zeni to buy a weapon for you, I just need you to pay half of it since I'll be paying the rest, OK?"

Max looked suspiciously at his friend's face, trying to guess what was going on in his head. Probably the much larger sum he would receive if he won the bet.

"Why can't you pay all of it? I thought a pro like you would be chockfull of zeni by now. Was your first year really that bad?" He asked sarcastically. "Besides, you know I'll probably pay you back once I get Questing."

"Max, buddy, my friend, hunting is a very rewarding profession but there are also lots of expenses. Armor repair, the Quest fees, resources, it's all pretty costly if you don't manage it well, not counting your home expenses." He was joking, but he wasn't lying either. Hunting WAS costly business. Drew then put up a warm smile. "Seriously now, take the money, talk to Lucy's dad, he'll make you a discount for sure."

Before Max could accept or refuse Drew's offer, he felt a hefty weight being dropped onto his uselessly open hand. The loud jingling of coins told Max there must be more than enough in it for a basic weapon and its weight certainly confirmed it.

"Drew… how much zeni is there in here?"

"Enough for an armor set and a weapon. Or half of one. We're buying it all so it's slightly more than if we had the materials but at least you'll get it immediately. Now we just need to decide on your weapon choice."

"Where the hell did you get all this money? And, besides, I don't even need armor!" He protested.

"Yes you do, now shut up and take my money! I'd give you one of my own sets but most of them are too large for you and, besides, your dad probably wears different sizes too. Now stop worrying and start buying!"

He had no choice now. He didn't want to accept a large sum from a friend who was likely in need of it. Yet, he could not deny the money would be a major help if he wanted to play efficient and quick. He took it.

"Thanks Drew, you know how I hate being in others' debts. I will put it to good use, I promise."

His friend seemed somewhat relieved and his eyes were peaceful now. He extended an arm towards the Armory.

"Shall we?" He asked. Max nodded in agreement and turned after him, following his lead. "Tell me, Max. I know what armor you should buy but I wanna know more about what kind of weapon you might want. Is it really just Longswords?"

Max quickly did a mental check and then replied, "Yeah, just those. I mean, I'm not too horrible with a Hammer but I never had much training with one."

"What about Lances?"

He shrugged. "Too heavy."

"Gunlances?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Bows?"

"I'm awful with moving targets."

"And Bowguns?"

"Only if you want me to shoot you."

"Not even Greatswords?"

"Nope. Too slow."

Drew sighed heavily. He had hoped for something else other than Longswords (everyone used those nowadays but few were actually good at it) and a Hammer could be dangerous to the team if left in inexperienced hands.

"You know what, Max? Longswords are fine." They had arrived at the Armory; however, Lucy's dad was nowhere to be seen. Drew took a quick look over the counter and called out to check for anyone who might be inside. No answer.

He turned to Max and said, "We'll just have to wait. It shouldn't take too long for-"

"Good afternoon." Said a somewhat tired voice coming from within the shop. "Shop's closed today and we can't take any more requests either, we're full." Emerging from the darkness behind the counter, came Lucy's head, slowly rising above the counter as she noticed her two visitors.

"Oh, you two." She immediately turned to Max. "I told you I was busy today. If you tell me what you need quickly then I might just get it done but you need to hurry."

Drew quickly took over for Max and explained their need. "We're here to buy a Blademaster's Leather Armor Set and the cheapest Longsword you have. Max needs it for tomorrow's Exam."

Her eyes burst wide open at the news. She looked shocked and speechless at his statement but she soon recovered from it.

"It'll be 2500 zeni. I'll go get them right away." She disappeared behind the shop's small curtains as fast as she had appeared. They heard her as she rummaged through the various carefully arranged pieces of equipment kept inside the shop while they waited outside with excitement. She eventually returned, Armor Set neatly folded inside a deer hide bag and a long staff-like bone in-hand.

Max paid the correct amount but asked what the staff was for and where was the Longsword. Lucia answered, "This is Bone. It is the cheapest Longsword we have available." She held the staff in front of them and explained, "It may not be very visible, but this 'staff' has a blade-like edge. I suggest you just whack your opponents either way though, it's not very sharp."

It was true. One side of the staff featured a slightly sharpened blade made entirely from of the bone itself. Max was dumbfounded by this small twist of events. He was happy he now had a weapon of his own but it could hardly be called a weapon. He took the staff and checked it for a hilt and as expected, he found none.

"I suppose this will do. I can't back down from the Exam just because I'm not as well equipped as I wished I was. Though, this IS pushing it a bit too far." He looked at Lucia over Bone and said, "Anyway, thanks Lucy, I'll try my best tomorrow, you can be sure of that."

Hearing Max's words, Drew added, "Speaking of which, will you two be on the same team after the Exam? If so, I should tell you that it is better if you team up with two others to join you tomorrow. That way, you'll know who is a worthy ally, and who isn't. If someone manages to impress the both of you, ask him to join you. If not, kick him out. Making friends in the Guild is essential to any hunter, especially if they are strong." He crossed his arms in a knowing manner. "It is much better to face the dangers of the outside world with someone you can trust. I'll try and join you in a few Quests, but I won't always be there."

Max nodded. "You're right. We need at least a third party member. But I we'll just find out who, tomorrow." He spoke to Lucia. "Thanks again, Lucy. I hope you're as ready as I am."

She kept her face emotionless, like a mask she feared might break if she were to smile. It was unnerving but she did it all the same, almost like she simply didn't care for others' reactions.
While she did have colorful eyes with their fiery-amber tones, it was always impossible to guess what she was thinking. She simply nodded and answered shortly, "Don't worry, I am."

Grabbing his newly bought armor and ridiculous staff, Max was getting ready to leave when Lucia added, "Oh, and happy birthday, Max. Don't waste it."

"Huh, thanks! I guess I won't!"

As they left, Max turned to Drew and asked him, "What if Lews joined our team, Drew? You've hunted with him before. Is he strong?"

His friend's face twisted into an uncomfortable grimace as he carefully said, "Lews is… not exactly the best hunter I've ever met. He might have improved since the last time I saw him, though."

"Huh? And when was that?"

"Around 4 months ago. Yeah, haven't seen him in the Guild Outpost for a while. And he was never there for very long." He said in a very matter-of-fact manner.

This was a bit worrisome for Max. He wanted to form a team with his one year older cousin but if he really was that bad…

Back in the house, more specifically in the kitchen little more than two hours later, Max was trying on his leather armor with the help of his father as Jeanne watched them go about it while she cooked the day's catch. It smelled good.

"No, no, no. This goes here, I'm telling you! Now let me just find an angle to push it into that…"

"Dad, you've tried that like five times already! Back off! You're gonna break it if you keep pushing it that way!"

"Kid, shut up and trust your dad on this one, alright? I know what I'm doing."

Or, at least, they had been trying to. Max had forgotten to ask for a specific size and so, quite naturally, Lucia had provided him with the L size. Which was large, granted, but it was a little too small for Max's above standard height. By the time they had managed to fit Max into the leathery outfit with its tight, uncomfortable boots and undersized chest armor, both Rick and Max were covered in sweat all over their clothes.

"Y'know, you don't look too shabby in that. Fits you like a glove!" Rick said as he proudly took a look at his son in his new outfit.

"The hell it does! I feel like this might explode if I make a move!" Max did seem rather uncomfortable in his armor but his father insisted it was just Max's inexperience with armor that was manifesting itself. Tired as they were, they had no choice but to just go with what they had so they got Max out of the Blademaster Set and sat down at the dinner table, where the now perfectly cooked Wyvernfish was expecting them. They ate. A lot. The fish was too large to be cooked in one go so only a quarter of it was actually eaten but it had proven to be more than enough for anyone's stomach to handle.

They talked about how proud they all were that Max was to become a hunter just like his dad. They also talked about how things were going to get once he got hunting. The hunting seasons, the armor maintenance, the resource management (both the economical and the everyday material expenses) and also the geography of the Land. Rick even told the family about the one time when he found a legendary Elder Dragon's shedded skin, hidden in the Snowy Mountains. They spent a long while like this, just talking. They talked about the other hunters in the family, Max's cousins most of them, and how they were all doing.

"So Dave is already a Rank 5?! But Dad, aren't you a Rank 5 too?" Dave was the eldest of Max's cousins, he was smart but reckless. Most of the time he was determined to do as he pleased, and not as others wanted. He was popular, though, he had a strong group of hunters his age who stood behind him on every Quest he did. They trusted his rash behavior and clever judgment and no one questioned his methods. Quite unlike him was his younger brother, Lews, who had always lived in his shadow, earning for the respect of his older brother, who rarely gave it. Theirs was a complicated relationship.

"Yeah, I am. But a lotta hunters get stuck on Rank 5 and Dave is smart, he'll stay there if he knows what's good for him. That's what I did." He turned to his wife, smiling with his perfectly clean teeth. "I got married."

"That means nothing. Dave has a girlfriend and Kari hunts WITH him." Max objected.

"Well, then I take back what I said." Said Rick, turning to face his son. "Your cousin's a fool. Only a fool taunts death. And more so if he brings his loved one along with him. Rank 5 is no joke." Rick had a serious look on his face now, he appeared worried. "I haven't heard much about Lews for a while now, have you asked your brother?" He asked, looking back to Jeanne.

"Alvor says he's been in a bit of trouble. Ever since he joined the Hunter's Guild he only goes out on Quests with David and his group. I've never heard of any others joining him. Even Drew and others his age avoid him. Alvor's worried he's not cut out for the job." She bit her lip, obviously worried about her nephew's well being as well. "Poor child."

Max then stood up slightly, remembering what Drew had told him in the afternoon as they returned from the Armory. 'Lews is… not exactly the best hunter I've ever met…'

"I- I heard that people avoid him because of his hunting abilities. They say he isn't very good." He stopped himself for a second. He was fond of Lews, he had always been a good friend of his and a loyal one too despite all his failures. But… "But I don't care, I still want him to join my group. He's my cousin, and I trust him. Because that's what family means!"

His parents stared at him, their mouths slightly open. As Max's slight outburst slowly died down, they both started smiling. Soon enough, they were laughing.

"W- What? What did I say? Don't you guys agree? Hey! Stop laughing!" They didn't. Not for a while at least. They certainly agreed with Max but, to them, his reaction could either be interpreted as being seriously ridiculous or ridiculously serious. They went with the second option since they didn't want to ruin the present mood. He was young, he shouldn't be worrying about such matters.

They sent Max to bed after they had cleaned the dishes and soon went to bed as well. As they fell asleep, however, Jeanne couldn't help but worry about her son and the trials he would have to face the next day. After all, she wanted what was best for him. She got up.

The next morning was as beautiful as one might ask. The summer warmth was still intruding in the current spring, bringing unwanted heat to the Pokke settlement. Pokke villagers wore a set of clothes that were extremely effective at warding off the cold. Wearing these clothes in the mountains made them impervious the chilly winds; however, this also meant they were not well prepared for the hotter seasons.

Luckily, Max's leather armor was nowhere near being a set of warm winter garments due to the lack of sufficient heat conserving materials on it, such as fur or wool. As Max got up, he immediately remembered the Exam was set to open within a few hours. He needed to hurry, so he went across the hallway and into the kitchen, hoping to find his armor. As he entered the kitchen area, however, he noticed the armor was not only out of place but also laid out in a strange position on top of the kitchen table, surrounded by sewing tools such as needles, thread, cloth and sewing shears. He went to the table, looking to grab the armor for a closer inspection. He grabbed it, examining the work that had been done to it and he saw the armor was now slightly larger through the use of extended catguts and larger wool sections. He marveled at how quickly this miracle must have been born to be ready in the morning. From the hallway, he heard his mother approaching him and so he turned to her.

"Did… did you do this?" He was still amazed at how fast one would have to work in order to complete the task in one night. Jeanne mustn't have slept at all!

"Of course I did. I couldn't let my child go on his first hunt with defective equipment. How could I not fix it?" She smiled weakly, it was obvious she was still tired from her overnight endeavor. Max could tell. "Now hurry up and eat breakfast, you are going to need it today."

She was right. The best way to pay back her efforts was to make it all worth it and right now, he had to get moving if he wanted to be by the Outpost before its doors opened. "Alright, I'll hurry but you need to get back into bed, you look like you need it." He pushed her back into her room were an oblivious Rick appeared to be asleep in a very strange position, his back on the floor while his legs stood uselessly up straight over the bed. The man slept like a rock but he definitely made himself sound louder than one. Small wonder Jeanne had trouble sleeping.

As Max tucked his mother back in bed he could hear birds chirping outside. He had to be quick now. "Oh, and Mom? I just want to thank you. You're amazing, you know that?"

She smiled again, this time more firmly. "Just go. The Exam will be a piece of cake for you, and you know it. And don't forget to make us proud." She closed her eyes and seemingly fell asleep instantly, though not before smiling one last time. Max did as she asked and left for the kitchen.

Not too long later, both he and Lucia met outside the Outpost's Gathering Hall. She was wearing a female Gunner's version of his own armor and she carried a bow and quiver on her back, she seemed more than prepared for the Exam. Both of them did. Out of the 20 other few hunters waiting outside the building with them, only 5 wore a complete armor set and, even then, only they wore something other than the village's trademark Mafumofu hunting clothing.

"Wow! You look great, Lucy! I didn't know you could use bows!" It was a simple, low price compound bow, something not too high level for new hunters. Its many mechanical parts allowed for easier transportation and less force would be needed to bend its limbs, in comparison to other bows. It was composed mostly of cheap materials such as bone, iron and Anteka pelt. It still looked miles better than Max's makeshift Longsword, though.

"Yeah, I can use bows. Are you good with Longswords?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, I only tried them out once or twice but, how hard can it be?"

She didn't react. It wouldn't be too long now.

"Hey, you think anyone's gonna join our group? They all look like they've already got groups of their own." He frowned; no one had joined him up until now and even though he did plan on going with Lucia, he had hoped someone would join them. Oh well…

"Oi! You guys got a group yet?" Both of them staggered for a moment as a boy their age approached them. He wasn't as tall as Max but he didn't seem frail either. "I'm sorry! I haven't been able to find a group yet and the doors are almost open! Can I join you?" He looked friendly. He had straight, shoulder length black hair that covered his eyes almost completely and his face looked sincere. His eyes appeared to be gray but it was hard to tell through his hair.

Max wasn't going to pass on this opportunity to have someone join his group. The teen looked pretty solid, especially in his complete Mafumofu armor set. But Max had to make sure he wasn't going to be a nuisance to him or Lucy. So he nervously asked, "Oh, huh, I guess you could but, we kinda need to know what weapon you brought if we are gonna let you join us. Are you good with it?" He tried to see exactly what it was he was carrying on his back. It looked like a really large Bowgun but he couldn't be sure.

"Oh, this?" The boy said, pointing to his back. "It's a Gunlance, can't you see?" He then pulled it off, managing to point it away from the other two so as to avoid any incidents. "Sure, I'm good with it. But are YOU good with your weapon?" He folded the massive cannon by dropping its tip in one carefully controlled movement. He wasn't bluffing about being skilled.

"Yeah, we're pretty good." He lied. He didn't want to lose a potentially strong team member. "I'm Max and she's Lucia, what's your name?" He asked as he extended his hand for a handshake. "We've never seen you in the village before."

The boy seemed a bit lost for a second but he quickly recovered from it as he put up a smile. "I'm not from around here, I'm actually from a nearby settlement. I'm Corr!" He then took Max's hand for a friendly handshake. Max could see his eyes now, they were a steely blue. They looked kind. "Pleasure to meet you both. And, if you don't mind me asking, are you two dating?"

Max blushed lightly, it wasn't the first time someone had asked him that question but it was the first time someone had the nerve to do so in front of Lucia. He took a moment to look over his shoulder towards her and, to his surprise, she had turned a very bright red and it was extremely noticeable. He mumbled, "N- No! We're not! We're just-"

"Friends, I know! I was just teasing you." Corr laughed at their expense. Max wasn't so sure about the 'kindness' part, now. To him, Corr was pure evil… "It's just that both of you look so serious, I wanted to loosen you up! So, what-"

"ALL HUNTERS ARE REQUESTED TO DIVIDE INTO GROUPS OF 2 OR MORE! WE WILL CALL YOU IN ONE BY ONE SHORTLY! PLEASE DO NOT WANDER AWAY FROM YOUR GROUP OR YOU WILL MISS THE CALL!" The loud voice seemed to come from the entrance. Hunters were starting to gather around the door. Corr grabbed Max's shoulder before he went as well.

"Wait for the majority of the hunters to go in. We'll just get crushed in there. We'll go once it clears up a bit." Max nodded, he agreed with the plan. Getting stuck in a tight crowd of Mafumofu wearers in a hot day didn't seem so good of an idea right now.

Once most of the crowd had already gone inside Max and his group stood up and went in as well. Inside was quite warm, not unbearably hot but it was a noticeable difference from the outside. As soon as he got in, the first thing Max noticed was how large the Outpost's Gathering Hall was. It would've been large enough to host twice or maybe three times as many candidates yet, strangely enough, only a third of the original candidates remained. Perhaps the others had already been sent on their way? It was likely.

Before Max could properly admire the hundreds of pelts, antlers and horns decorating the Hall's walls, or even the huge table in the middle of the room, he felt someone pushing at his sleeve, trying to get his attention.

"Come on, Max. It's our turn." Corr called. "Over there, by the counter."

As Max finally returned to his senses he slowly looked towards the counter. Behind it was one girl dressed in a simple pink clerk dress and two more empty chairs that were likely meant for the other two staff member who would hand out higher level Quests. She was waving her hand in the air, expecting his group to come closer. They approached.

"Hello there! You are the last group to do the Exam today, I think. So once I'm done with you, I can finally get back to bed! On with it then!" She seemed very young. Extremely so, judging by her short height. No one said anything as she got her papers ready and cleared her voice.

She then spoke in an overly dramatic tone, "I am here to brief you on the basics of hunting with the Guild. We are not the same as those part-time amateurs! We're the real deal! So pay attention to the rules 'cause I won't be repeating myself!"

Again, nobody said anything, they just nodded. "Right then! First off all you need to know that this is where you will be receiving your Quest contracts, right here by the counter. There will always be two more members of the staff waiting here to give you Quests. Additionally, you can also join an already taken Quest contract by looking it up in the Quest Board over there but, remember, you must first speak with its original hunter to be allowed to join his Quest! There is also a contract fee you must pay before establishing a contract." She took a moment to pause for breath as she prepared for another onslaught of information.

"To better help you complete your contract you will be graded in Hunter Ranks which will allow you to take only on Quests your level. Promotion may occur if certain conditions are met. Your Guild Card, which will act both to identify you as a hunter and to give you access to certain areas, will also identify your Rank. Higher Rank Quests yield more money but are also more dangerous. Each Quest also has a certain timer depending on the client's will. Most Quests will give you about two days or so to complete the contract but some extermination Quests have been known to extend for a week. The Guild will always provide you with resources such as a map of the area and rations but it is recommended that you take your own items as well."

She took another deep breath. "That is all, for now. Please go sit by the rest of the hunters. You will soon be called for your very first Quest, after which you will be driven back to the Guild. Do your best!" She smiled hugely and jumped out of her chair as she walked out of the Hall. She really was something…

Max barked something about 'dedication and laziness' but Corr soon cut him off.

"Okay guys, I guess we have to wait a little while longer. I know you must be burning with anticipation but we need to be patient. Why not take a look around the Hall while we wait?" He moved towards the item shop opposite to the entrance while Lucia stayed back to check out the main area and the large table. Max didn't go with either of them and instead decided he wanted to go look at the Quest Board right next to the item shop. As he approached the board, he took another small look at the area.

The atmosphere was quite welcoming. The Hall was sure to be warm even in winter, its large fireplace certainly ensured it and the numerous torches placed in wooden torch holders were sure to illuminate the place as well. Observing the walls of the Hall, Max noticed many of its material were hunt-related. Pelts were spread across the walls, held by numberless monster teeth and skulls which were essential to a hunter's everyday life. Even the candle chandeliers in their wooden crosses would be a substantial heat and light source. Max couldn't help but day dream of nights spent here, drinking with his hunting comrades and friends after a difficult Quest. The pay would be good, he could meet all kinds of people, see all kinds of places and, best of all, he would be free to explore the world. This was the life he was meant to have.

Reaching the Quest Board he immediately noticed that what was posted was not Quest contracts but group lists, featuring the names of today's candidates. Oddly enough, about half the names were slashed with single horizontal stripes. It could be marking the ones that had been through the Exam, after all, there were less than half a dozen candidates left and there were still more hunters being tested. Max quickly found his yet unmarked name, Max Rickson. After some searching he found Lucia Azmaria and Corr… Fitzroy? Max had never heard a name like that before. Perhaps it was foreign. In Pokke Village, everyone's surnames always ended with the suffix "son" after the father's name. The exception were the women who inherited their mother's names with the prefix "az" or "a".

"Fitzroy" was, therefore, a strange case. Where exactly did Corr say he was from? It was hard to remember. Max quickly took a moment to think about it. Was he rich? Poor? Nobility? The bastard son of a foreign king? Or a thief? A cold-blooded killer, having escaped the justice in his country, seeking refuge in a faraway village? Max's imagination saw no limits, possibly a consequence of the many stories he had heard from merchant's bodyguards who would gather in the tavern to boast and drink.

If this boy was to join their team permanently, there could be trust issues. There was much Max didn't know about him even if he felt like he could trust him. True, there was no malice in his taunts and he didn't seem the cowardly type but there was no knowing what he might do…

There were a few names Max recognized from friends in the village but these were less than the ones he didn't. Other immigrants perhaps? He had no knowledge of any nearby villages. He turned back to find his two partners expecting him.

"It's our turn, Max. The time has finally come." Corr said with a large smile on his face. "Our very first hunt!"

It was true, the Outpost was empty if not for them and a single man, a member of the Guild staff no doubt, who was expecting them by the exit. Max smiled back at Corr, unable to stop himself. He had waited too long for this moment and, with or without this foreigner's help, he was still going to fulfill his dream, no matter what. He could bet his life on it.

Post-chapter Note: Next chapter we finally get some action! Hopefully, probably, I think...

Oh and please review!