The Master Corps

Disclaimer: I do not own Monster Hunter. The game belongs entirely to Capcom. All characters that appear in this story belong to me, unless otherwise stated.

Edited by: dashboardgecko

Chapter 10- Upturn

Wes slowly blinked his eyes open, realizing he was lying in a soft bed. With a pained groan he sat up, stretching the soreness out of his body. Glancing down, he realized that part of his chest and upper left arm were bound tightly with fresh bandages, as well as a small cut across the bridge of his nose covered with a white tape.

Where am I...? Is this the medical ward? he thought, gazing around the white walled, wood floored room.

A table was set up beside his bed with some papers strewn about it, accompanied by a small wooden chair with a clean white shirt hanging off the back. To his right, bright sunlight flooded the room from a medium sized window, through which Wes could see the Master Corps HQ building.

A couple light knocks on the door incited the hunter to look over to the corner, where the door of the small room slowly creaked open to reveal familiar face of Snow.

"Oh, you're awake! How're you feeling, Wes?" she asked cheerfully, stepping into the room. She must've just returned from a job, as she was fully dressed in her G-Rank Barioth robes.

"I'm fine, just a little beat up," he replied, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "How long was I out...?"

"Three days, actually."

"Three days?"

"Yeah, you had us worried! Tara told me about the job when you all got back... I'm sorry about Curt."

"He... I guess he wasn't such a bad guy after all, even if he was an asshole about everything," the hunter remarked, beginning to recall what had transpired three days before. "What about that Arroyo guy? I didn't see him almost at all."

"Tara said he fished you out of the lake after finishing off the Duramboros. I don't really like him, though..."

"Wait wait wait, he finished it off? Alone?!"

"Yeah... Tara told me you could hardly tell it was a Duramboros after he was done with it. It was basically a charred wreck."

"Geez... What about the ruins? There was an explosion, wasn't there?"

"That's what put you in a bed for three days, yeah. The bombs were built into most of the walls; the whole place was blasted apart. Doctor Connor said it was a miracle you didn't lose an arm or a leg in the explosion, given how roughed up you were."

"Then... If the place was destroyed..." Wes slowly fell back onto his bed, fully remembering the final events of the job.

All six of them are dead... I killed all six of them... If I hadn't knocked them all out, his lackeys could've at least escaped...

"Wes? You okay?" Snow asked, snapping him out of his dark thoughts. "Did something... happen in the ruin?"

"We... We ran into a bunch of bandits who were trying to loot the place... They captured Tara and me, and I had to fight them while we were escaping... I tried to knock them all out to avoid killing them, but... I stabbed one of them right through the eye..."

"Oh my god, that's horrible!" the huntress gasped, pulling a hand over her mouth in horror. "They didn't hurt you too much though, right? Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm better than they are now..." he mumbled, peeling off the bandage over his nose. The wound below had already scarred over, though it wasn't a very noticeable mark. "At least I managed to get out of there alive."

"Wes, I get that it's hard, but you are not in the wrong for what you did," the white haired huntress consoled. "You defended yourself, and even if you had attacked first, they were... they were bandits who refused your offer of mercy. They didn't want to negotiate. It isn't easy to take a life, I understand, but no one will think badly of you because of this."

"I will," the dual blade wielder replied. "The only comfort this could possibly give anyone is Viper, since I'm pretty sure one of them was the guy who killed his father. But... how do you understand what it's like?"

"Oh, uh, I- I just meant that I get that it's not easy... I don't think anyone could feel good about it, at least, and-"

"Yo, Wes! It's about time you returned to the land of the living!" Wes and Snow both turned to the door where Viper stood holding a cup of noodles. "How was the nap? Any fun dreams?"

"Viper, now's not the time for jokes..."

"Aw, come on! A bit of good ol' fashioned laughter never hurt anyone!"

"I was trying to make Wes feel better about what happened in the ruins, dummy! You were there when Tara told us what happened!"

"Exactly! Why do ya think I'm here?" the archer replied with a laugh, downing the contents of his noodle cup and tossing it into a waste bin as he walked over to Wes' bed. "Look bud, I know how rough you had it in that ruin, but lemme ask you somethin'. That guy you killed, he had a Bullfango pelt cape on, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because that's the same thing my father's killer wore. You gave him the justice he deserved; after you tried to settle things peacefully, of course. You avenged my dad. And sure, I would have liked to see the guy publicly hanged or something for what he did, but I can't help but feel a little better about everything knowing that son of a bitch finally got what was coming to him!"

Wes was almost shocked at how much more jovial the golden eyed archer was. How can killing a person make someone so happy...? Maybe... maybe if a person doesn't want a second chance, and they are a threat to others, maybe it might be okay... But I won't become a killer! That's not who I am...

"Wes! You're okay!" The blue- and green-eyed hunter barely had time to glance up as he saw a white armored huntress leaping through the air towards him. The hunter let out a surprised yelp at the sight before Sapphire landed on him, embracing him in a tight bear hug. "You had me so worried! Are you okay? You look okay, but are you okay-okay? Or just regular okay?"

"Sapphire... Watch the ribs...!" he choked out, the blue-haired huntress' embrace making it hard to breath. She loosened up a moment later before pushing herself upright, putting her face uncomfortably close to his. "Could... you please get off of me...?"

"Answer my question first," she said, smirking and refusing to budge.

"Er... I'm okay..."

"Good!" The Lagombi armored huntress leapt off the bed immediately, allowing Wes to catch his breath and fix his flustered expression.

"That was quite the entrance, Saph," Viper laughed. "How many more of Wes' bones do you think you just broke?"

"Oh, I didn't think I'd-! I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine, nothing else is broken... I think," he replied, tugging at the bandages around his torso. "So, did I miss much while I was out?"

"Not really, no," Snow answered. "It's just been business as usual, though Viper reclaimed his title from Emerald yesterday."

"And it was glorious!" the archer shouted triumphantly, raising a fist into the air. "I've gotta tell you how it happened, bud! Okay, so-"

"Excuse me, but I must interrupt," a voice behind Viper stated. The archer stepped aside as Connor walked into the room holding a clipboard. "He is awake, correct? Ah, good to see you are conscious, Wes. I am a little pressed for time right now, but I will inform you that you can stay another day here if you wish."

"Thanks, but I think I'd like to get out and move around a bit," the dual blade wielder replied, lifting his feet over the side of the bed. "The hospital setting doesn't really do well for me."

"Very well, if that is what you wish. You will not be partaking in any assignments for the next two days, though, and you should refrain from further injury in that time."

Ugh... What am I going to do for two days? "Alright, thanks, doc."

"Of course. Your equipment is in your room, in case you were wondering. I wish you well."

With that the black-haired doctor stepped out of the room to go check up on the other injured hunters in the hospital, while Wes pushed himself to his feet.

"Good to see my legs still work," he chuckled, stretching a little and grabbing his white shirt off the chair. He didn't feel all too sore, though a few parts of his body were definitely aching, his torso in particular.

"I think it's better that you're not in a coma, bud," Viper said, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm sure the ladies will all be happy to see you moving around again too! You're pretty popular with them, you know that?"

"Don't remind me..."

"Hah! Don't worry, I won't mind taking some of your harem off your hands if you'd like!"

"Shut the hell up," Wes chuckled, knowing that despite his joking around, Viper was actually serious. The archer had a few fans of his own, which he had pointed out to the dual blade wielder once, but Wes still found he had a few more admirers. This had sparked a sort of non-serious rivalry between them to see who'd be more successful, though Wes secretly wished most of his 'fans' would pursue Viper instead.

"Well, glad to see you're all better, Wes," Snow said with a warm smile. "I gotta go and see how Frost is doing. He took a nasty blow to the leg during our last job, and I need to make sure he's not too badly injured. See you guys around!"

The huntress went on her way and Viper departed as well, stating he had to make a supply run, leaving Sapphire as the only visitor left. Wes pulled his boots on as Sapphire waited idly, smiling cheerfully as he stood up.

"All better then?"

"Yeah, I think so," he replied, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows. "Definitely better than being unconscious, I suppose."

"I think anyone would agree with that," the huntress laughed. "Oh, but I'm forgetting something! I made you a get-well-soon gift!"

"Uh… A gift…?"

"Yup!" she replied, opening up the small red pouch hung at her side and pulling out a small square shape wrapped in brown paper. The huntress handed it over to him enthusiastically, and Wes reluctantly accepted the small package, feeling quite awkward about the whole situation. "I was actually working on it for a little while, but I only finished it yesterday. Go on, open it!"

"Erm… Okay then…"

Wes slowly ripped the wrapping away, revealing the back of a picture frame beneath. He fully removed the rest of it as Sapphire's insistent gaze urged him to continue, and the dual blade wielder turned the wood framed object over to see what it held. He gasped at what he saw.

It was a picture of him. Not a simple one either, but an incredibly elaborate and detailed sketch of him in his hunting gear drawn using nothing but a pencil. His facial features were almost spot on, his eyes holding the determined gaze he so often had during a quest and his mouth splitting into the same confident grin he wore on hunts. His armor was spot on as well, as were the swords; his appearance in the picture was that of his combat stance, with his feet spaced at shoulder length distance from each other and both blades in his grasp. The one thing Wes noted was out of place was that his hood was down, though he passed it off as Sapphire wanting to focus on his head and face.

"Do you like it?" the huntress asked, leaning in a bit closer.

"Like it…? Sapphire, this is awesome!" he exclaimed, staring intently at the sketch. "Where in the world did you learn to draw like this?"

The huntress giggled a little, a barely noticeable blush lighting up her cheeks. "Well, I had thought about maybe going into an artistic field when I was younger, so I decided to teach myself how to draw as well as I could! And sure, I love hunting, but I think art is a great thing too, and if for whatever reason I have to retire from hunting I'm thinking I could be an artist instead!"

"So, wait, you're… you're self-taught?"

"Yup, took me about four years to get that good!"

"…Geez, you could probably retire now and make a killing off of drawings like this," Wes mumbled, continuing to look the picture over. He had to admit, while he wasn't exactly an art critic –or artist, for that matter- Sapphire's drawing had been well and beyond every other drawing and painting he'd ever seen before. There was only one lingering question that remained in his mind. "Why'd you draw me though?"

"Oh, uhm, well… I just thought you… your outfit looked the coolest out of anyone else's!" she replied quickly, stuttering a little over the words.

"Well… I mean, my suit is nice… You drew it pretty damn well on me, that's for sure."

"Well, I'm glad you like it," the huntress said cheerfully. "It's not the best I've done, but I'm still happy about how it came out."

"Considering I can only draw stick figures and smiley faces, I'm okay with it," Wes replied. "Still, when did you find the time to get my exact stance down? This is spot on!"

"It is the most common pose you strike, so I thought it'd be the best to do! I mostly got it from watching you during hunts."

"...Why were you watching me during hunts?"

"Because you looked- oh, uh, no reason!" Sapphire replied sheepishly. "Oh, that's right! I almost forgot, Balestra said he wanted to meet with you!"

"Huh? Why's that?" Wes asked, hiding his relief at the change of subject.

"I'm not sure... He said something about a job later in the week or something, but I didn't really hear much of it..."

"Guess I'll have to find out for myself then. Thanks for the info, Saph. Oh, and the, uh, the drawing too."

"Don't mention it! Want me to go with you back to your room, in case you're still feeling sore?"

"Eh... No, I'm alright, thanks for offering."

"Well, I still have to go up to my room too, so I can still walk with you, right?"

"Erm..."

"Sapphire! Where are you?" a voice in the hall called out. The two turned to face the door as Ruby poked her head around the corner. The red haired huntress gave Wes a sour look before turning to her friend.

"Don't you remember? We have a job today!"

"Oh, woops! I completely forgot! Sorry, I gotta go, Wes! I'll see you around!"

The blue haired huntress made her way out of the room hurriedly, while Ruby shot one more glare at Wes before departing herself. Before she moved completely out of view, though, Wes spied a pair of handles poking over her shoulder.

"Dual swords, huh? Wonder why she dropped the hammer..." he mumbled, shrugging to himself and walking out of the room.

A few knocks on his door incited the Corps head to look up from the document he had been reading, closing the document and setting it aside before responding.

"Enter."

The hunter Wes stepped through the door, shutting it behind him once fully inside. Balestra noted a new, almost invisible scar across the bridge of the hunter's nose, along with bandages wrapping around his torso and left wrist beneath the collar of his shirt and his rolled up sleeves.

"Ah, Mr. Wes. I wasn't expecting to see you up for another day."

"What can I say, I heal fast," the blue- and green-eyed hunter replied, pulling a seat over and seating himself.

"No doubt another trait you inherited from your father, it would seem. Wounds that would incapacitate someone for a month would only keep him down for a week."

"How do you know that...?"

"You may be surprised by the amount of information I hold on those under my jurisdiction. For instance, I know that your acquaintance Viper lost his father to a botched robbery attempt four years ago, and that you slew the perpetrator of the crime on your last assignment. I also know your father runs a home-based equipment crafting business in Moga Village, and that your mother has a similar occupation with cooking."

"Is there a reason you're telling me all of this?" Wes asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I understand that you were confused by the team I assigned you to three days prior," Balestra replied monotonously. "All four of you had clashing personalities that would appear unfit for any sort of collaboration. Yet despite the loss of a teammate, and the separation from another one, you still succeeded."

"Okay...?" Wes said, not seeming to fully understand what the crimson-eyed man was getting at.

"I told you all specifically to do what you could to ensure the others' survivals. You managed to prevent your team from being killed by a boulder trap, Mr. Arroyo kept the Duramboros from attacking the explosive-filled ruins you were all trapped in, Mr. Curt ensured your survival when he could not escape his fate, and Ms. Tara led you both out safely after retrieving the magma ruby."

"I wouldn't exactly call getting caught in an explosion and being knocked unconscious for three days 'safe'."

"Not many would. However, you did survive, as did the majority of your team. I knew specifically that each of you had experiences with losing a teammate before, and would try to ensure the others made it out in the end. I knew full well that not all of you would make it out alive, considering the hazards within, so I made the precautions to ensure at least half the team would make it. Fortunately, three of you survived."

"Wouldn't it have made more sense to get everyone out instead of just half?" the hunter inquired bluntly. "I'm pretty it'd be more important to consider that everyone has a life, not just a few of them."

"Unfortunately we live in an imperfect world, Mr. Wes. We must make do with what we can, despite the tragedies caused by the inevitable loss of lives. Imperfect solutions are all we as humans can muster, try as we may to strive for perfection. Mr. Curt's sacrifice was certainly not in vain, as he ensured that his comrades could escape his same fate."

"It just isn't right to condemn people from the start though!"

"No one was condemned to die, it was just expected that not everyone would make it back alive. Were it that you all returned safely, I would have been far more surprised."

"…Alright, what does any of this have to do with why you wanted to talk to me?" Wes blurted out, which Balestra knew was because the hunter couldn't get much farther in an argument with him. "I'm pretty sure you weren't hoping to make small talk."

"You would be correct. As… intriguing as the events of your last assignment were, there is something of far greater importance you will be taking part in."

"Connor said I shouldn't go on any assignments for two days."

"Then it is good that you have a full week to prepare. What you will be participating in is not an assignment, but more of a… demonstration, if you will. The Master Corps' reputation has begun to grow immensely, and the Guild would like a firsthand observation of our hunters at work."

"Firsthand? We aren't bringing reps along on a hunt, are we?"

"No. You will be partaking in an arena hunt against a new creature never before seen in the world, one that never had rumors or legends shrouding it. The Guildmaster, the city council, and the whole of Loc Lac will be treated to the spectacle of both the beast's unveiling… and the hunters who will close the curtains on its life."

"Wait… the whole city will be watching…?" Wes asked, not believing what he had heard. Balestra could easily tell that Wes was seeing images in his mind of fame and glory, the young hunter smirking to himself as if it would all be his soon.

"Mr. Wes, I do not have time for you to waste daydreaming in my presence," Balestra said, pulling the dual blade wielder from his thoughts. "As I was saying, the entire city will be watching this event. As such, I had to choose from among the best qualified hunters in several different categories and skill sets to determine which of those under my command would be ideal for this particular task. It was your ability to think on your feet that has helped you succeed in many of your past assignments, and I trust you will be able to do the same for this one."

Wes chuckled a little at the last comment, seeming to have some lingering thoughts on his dreams of success. "So basically what you're saying is that out of all the hunters here, I'm the most adaptable?"

"Do not think that because you have been chosen for a particular assignment, you are entitled to believe yourself above your peers," the black uniformed man said sternly. "It was a very long, grueling process of elimination deciding who to pick, and I will not hesitate to trade your spot for another hunter who is more apt than you, Mr. Wes. This is not a game, there are no 'first place prizes'; there are only results. I've received some complaints about your glory-seeking from a few other hunters here, so you'd best be watching your complexion."

The dual blade wielder frowned irately, but sighed in acknowledgement. "Alright, fine, whatever." The Corps Head saw the young hunter open his eyes suddenly, as if something had clicked in his mind. "Wait just a second…"

"What is it now, Mr. Wes?"

"You said this 'monster' was a complete unknown, right? No legends or rumors or anything?"

"That is correct."

"Then how does the Guild or the Corps have it in their possession for an arena hunt inside the city? There's no way-"

"Mr. Wes, such questions are not what should be troubling your mind now," the crimson eyed man stated, cutting the hunter off. "What you should be more inclined to focus on is healing yourself and preparing for the task later this week. You have seven days in which you can hone your skills further and ensure you are ready for the challenge, and I do insist you spend them wisely. Do not ask me how this creature came into our possession, only know that you will be faced with it soon enough. Am I clear?"

Wes stared intently at the man for a few moments, but Balestra remained adamant. Eventually the hunter relented, though the Corps Head suspected he still kept the question floating around his mind.

"…Alright, fine. Is that everything then?"

"Yes. You may go about your business now. Good day to you, Mr. Wes."

The hunter stood up and abruptly shoved the chair he had been seated on back into place before heading out the door, grumbling to himself as he went. As the door slammed shut, Balestra returned to reading over the dossier he had set aside, labeled 'Frost'.

I do wonder what secrets this man holds… He and his sister only appeared in the Loc Lac database a year and a half ago, meaning that everything from before then is a complete mystery… Perhaps I should do a little more digging on these 'Tundra Twins'…

"Bah, you got me again!"

"Well, you have gotten a touch better at this, Corrin. This bout ended 15-11, still in my favor."

"One of these days, you'll see that I'm the one hitting 15 before you, Trance."

The brown haired officer chuckled as he removed his mask and shook his friend's hand respectfully before the pair made their way to the bench beside the strip and began to remove their protective clothing.

"So, how goes adjusting to your new hand?" Trance asked. Corrin held up his right arm, showing off the black gloved hand to him.

"To be honest, it works great. If I wear this, it's like nothing ever happened! Well, aside from being unable to feel a thing with it, but still…"

"I'm more surprised that it works so well. That is your sword hand, and after spending a month in bed you managed to improve your fencing skills somehow! I swear, I'll never get how those scientists managed to create a fully prosthetic, working limb…"

"I think I overheard one of the doctors saying it was put together using Meldspar Ore, Baleful Gigginox hides, and a Lagia Sapphire. Apparently those lightning slugs' skin can be treated in such a way that it essentially becomes an extension of the nervous system, which they graft the metallic hand onto. They put the sapphire in the palm as an added power source, and boom! New limb!"

"Yeah… I really don't want to know how they managed to figure all of that out down in the science wing… Or wherever that monstrosity was concocted. What does your woman think of it?"

"Eh… She says I should keep the glove on."

"Thought so," Trance chuckled, finishing packing his gear into his bag.

"Say, have you heard about the arena spectacle Sir Balestra is putting together next week?" Corrin asked, shouldering his own pack. "Apparently he's gonna have some hunters demonstrate how the Corps handles things to the entire city!"

"Oh, really? I haven't heard about this. Where'd you learn it from?"

"That guard by Sir Balestra's office that no one seems to pay attention to. I swear, he's got the easiest job ever… Anyways, he told me that he overheard Sir Balestra having a meeting with someone yesterday about it. He's gonna use that new monster they've got penned up down under for the show!"

"Wait, wait, you mean that… 'Gear Rex' thing?" Trance asked, keeping his voice low. Gear Rex was still a classified creature, so none of the hunters were to learn about its existence. Even the ones who had captured it, despite the unusual wounds they received from it, were bound to secrecy, lest they be imprisoned for revealing confidential information to the public. If Balestra was planning on having the hunters fight that, then clearly the researchers must be close to finishing their studies.

"So it would seem. I think it's because they can't afford to keep it penned up down there anymore. The amount of sedatives those egg heads have been putting into it would be enough to put a Jhen Mohran to sleep by now."

"I figured it would get to that point before too long. It'll definitely be a show, that's for sure," Trance stated, walking into the HQ building with Corrin. "But wait… Didn't they say it could use acid capable of destroying solid steel? The arena is made out of stone!"

"I was down under earlier," Corrin replied, striding up the steps with Trance following behind him. "One of those alchemists managed to brew up a kind of coating they can apply to the walls that prevents excess damage. It also can't bend its… launcher thing up very high, so they crowds should be safe too."

"I hope you're right… Last thing we need is that beast going on a rampage through Loc Lac. Did you see if they've gotten the access tunnel to the arena finished? If we're gonna be all hush hush about this, Sir Balestra is almost certain to want to use it."

"Yeah, they were just adding the final supports today. I swear, for four hundred meters that tunnel seemed like a lot of effort just for transporting monsters to the arena."

"The Guild said they'd be using extra cages down there to store other arena quest monsters as a trade off, so it's not like it's a one-time deal. That'd be a huge waste of resources, and you know how much Sir Balestra despises fruitless efforts."

"No kidding… Still, not like we don't get rewarded for good work, right? The pay we get is phenomenal!" Corrin said with a chuckle. "I was actually worried going into this that I wouldn't earn as much as regular Guild employees do, but I get almost double that! Five-hundred gold per hour, eight hour work days with lunch included, I swear, this is a dream!"

"Not to mention the hourly breaks, too… It's a good life, isn't it?" Trance agreed with a laugh. "We keep this up, we'll be able to retire young!"

"Hah, wouldn't that be a treat? You got any aspirations after your run in the Corps, Trance?"

"Eh… Well, aside from the classic 'find a nice woman and settle down' answer, I got nothing. Maybe I'll get more into competitive fencing, since that's been on the rise for the past few years too."

"That's all? Come on, I was at least expecting business manager or something!"

"What, with my brains? C+, remember?"

"Ah, right… Maybe you could be a security contractor. VIPs are always looking for cheaper ways to get across the country without having to go through the Guild processes, considering how long –and expensive- it all is."

"What, you want me to be a security guard? I might as well become a member of the city council with your suggestions!"

"I would not want you presiding over one of these districts, if that makes you feel any better."

"It really doesn't. Anyways, what about you, Corrin? Any goals?"

"Hmm… Maybe I'll go into management, open my own store or something. Guild contacts are always a boon to have when establishing a reputation among hunters. There's that sundries company that opened about… What, fifteen years ago? They've been doing really well, and I hear the owner was in good with the Guild when she was a hunter."

"I can imagine you sitting behind a desk all day filing reports!" the brown haired officer chuckled. "Still, it isn't a bad way to go. Anything to provide, right?"

"Of course. Heaven forbid I don't get a job. I don't think I'd last long on the streets, in all honesty."

"Hey, you could always work as a security guard."

"I meant that as a joke, Trance."

"Jeez, Pa, what did you send me this time?" Wes wondered aloud, eyeing the large box on the floor of his room. He'd only just gotten back since recovering from his injuries and his meeting with Balestra, so the package was an unexpected surprise for him. The hunter eagerly strapped one of his wrist blades on to pry the lid off with, jamming the blade into three separate spots in order to open it.

Slowly lifting the top off the crate, Wes curiously pulled out a long, somewhat heavy object wrapped in cloth bindings. Based on the shape, it seemed to be a sword of some kind, which the blue- and green-eyed hunter was more than willing to open up first. Still, he refrained from doing so in order to see if his parents had sent anything else. Aside from a number of rope darts, throwing knives, and a storage tin full of food (which Wes already considered to be on par with whatever gift his father had gotten), there was nothing else, so the hunter went to read the letter attached to the inside of the box.

Wes,

Sorry for the delay in this letter, but I've been pulling the few things you asked for last time together. Metalworking hasn't been as easy to do as of late, considering a lack of resources. Still, the extra knives and darts will help. Your mother saw fit to pack some grub for you as well, so try not to go through it as fast as you did last time, eh? She's half of our income over here.

Now, I'm pretty certain that you've already seen the big bundle I got stored in there, and knowing you, you've probably been debating opening it this entire time. Not to worry, it isn't booby trapped or anything, so you won't have to worry about this present blowing up in your face. Speaking of… I'd like to consider them as a sort of early birthday gift for you. I know it's a couple months away and all, but you might need these before then, so better safe than sorry, right?

I've been working on those schematics you sent me a few months back as well, though it's more of a side project than anything. I'm low on metals that would help in the forging process, and between the training school and fixing all the crap the villagers bring in my hands a pretty full. If you can find some chunks of Fucium Ore, I'll be back in business on those swords. Until then, enjoy the pair I sent.

As always, stay safe, make smart choices, and remember to eat breakfast.

Love, Pa

P.S. Your mother says hi as well, but she was busy making a few orders while I was writing this. I'm sure you know her whole routine, but stay out of trouble with women, don't do drugs, yada yada yada.

P.S.S. If you do end up/are already getting into a relationship, I can at least cover for you on this end.

Wes tossed the letter back into the crate before going to the cloth wrapped bundle lying on his bed. The object was about three feet long, almost the same as his current swords. The hunter eagerly untied the wrappings around his gift, revealing a brand new pair of dual swords within.

Unlike his old swords, these blades had a much more noticeable curve to them, to the point that they could be considered scimitars. They had wider, heavier blades that gleamed from being freshly polished. The handles were shorter than his other blades, with only enough space on each leather-wrapped hilt to accommodate one of his hands. A rounded gold pummel adorned the bottom of each handle, and a curved handguard of the same color extended around the handles where the wielder's knuckles would be, with a noticeable 'bulge' near the center.

Wes wrapped a hand around the hilt of both swords, lifting them out to get a feel for them. They were noticeably heavier than his other long-handled pair, and had wider blades better suited for slashing and inflicting deep cuts. Wes could immediately tell that while his attack speed would suffer a little, the damage he could inflict would be greater, making even larger monsters easier to wound.

"Kinda wish I had these when we ran into that Duramboros…" he mumbled, swinging one of the blades in the open space of his room. The hunter grinned as the sword gave off a satisfying whish mid-swing, the sharp, shiny blade reflecting the light from outside his window. "Maybe I should test these out on some targets..."

The dual blade wielder went to his equipment chest, garbing himself in his mixed-material armor, strapping his wrist blades on over his bracers, and sheathing his new swords across his back.

As long as I try not to overdo it, I think I'll be fine," he thought, shifting uncomfortably as he felt a slight ache in his chest.

His gaze turned back to the chest, though, and the small leather box that lie within. After a few moments, he decided to grab the case and find Viper.

He seemed way calmer about everything earlier… Maybe putting his father's killer six feet under had more of an effect than I thought... Hopefully he'll be responsible with this, but I should keep a close eye on him just in case... I'll lose this before too long if I don't get it to him. And he'll have to learn how to use the thing too… He better not take a finger off when he tries it out.

Wes placed the rest of the contents of the package into his chest before heading to the door, pulling his Barioth pelt hood up as he went. He stopped before reaching the door, however, almost forgetting that Sapphire's gift was still in his pouch.

"Better leave that right here," he mumbled, pulling the drawing out and setting it on the corner of his table. He gave the picture another look, shaking his head and chuckling in amazement at how detailed it was and stepping into the hall. He saw a pair of Guild officers walking up the stairs to his left, conversing about something he couldn't hear, but aside from them the hall was empty. Wes still made sure to check behind the potted plant in the corner in case his blue-haired admirer was hiding out for him, but she wasn't there, so he made his way down a level to Viper's floor.

"Hey, Viper, you in there?" he asked, knocking on the archer's door.

"Yo, just a second!" a voice inside replied. Wes heard a loud thud from within and a few footsteps before the door opened, revealing the golden-eyed bow wielder. "What's up, bud?"

"What're you doing in there?" Wes inquired, noting Viper's disheveled appearance. He looked like he'd been in the midst of a workout routine, with small beads of sweat rolling off his brow and a few quiet gasps escaping his lips.

"Pull ups! I gotta keep my arms in shape to use a bow with a string as tight as mine, after all. I put the bar in yesterday, since the ones in the yard are always being used when I get out there."

"Where'd you get a bar? And how did you get it set up, for that matter?"

"Adrian's shop has a lot of things for sale, bud. As for how I set it up, I just jammed it into my wall. Not that hard."

"…And that seemed like a good idea? Does it even have an anchor?" Wes asked.

"No, ain't those what they use on boats?" Viper replied somewhat dully.

"Haven't you ever hung anything on a wall before? Heavy things need extra support or else they-" A loud crack and a metallic clanging sound inside the room caused the archer to spin around in surprise, and Wes to peer around him. A large metal bar had fallen to the ground along with a large chunk of the wall still attached to it, and other small bits of debris were still falling down around the iron pole.

"Aw shit, not again… Okay, that didn't happen," Viper said quickly, stepping outside the room and shutting the door abruptly. "So, what did you need, bud?"

"Well, I figured it was about time I gave this to you." The blue- and green-eyed hunter held the small leather box out to the archer, who curiously took it and shook it a little.

"Just to be clear, this isn't gonna blow up in my face, right?"

"No, don't worry, I've opened it once before."

"Good. My dad used to pull those tricks on me, and they got kinda old after the fourth time," the archer stated, chuckling a little and beginning to open the box.

Guess that makes two of us, Wes thought to himself, watching as the golden-eyed hunter tossed the lid to the ground and pulled the dark metallic grey device out, eyeing it curiously.

"What is this?" he asked, peering into the open slot on the front of the compartment. Wes quickly pushed it away, fearing the hunter might brain himself with it.

"That would be the wrist blade my Pa made for you. Remember the Lucent Nargacuga hunt a few months ago?" he said in response to Viper's raised eyebrow. The archer's visible eye seemed to light up at the mention.

"Oh, right! I completely forgot about that! Geez, took him long enough to get this thing put together, huh?" he asked, looking it over again. "Mind helping me get this thing on? I want to try it out now!"

"Sure, which arm do you want it on?"

"Eh… Probably my left arm, since it could fit well below my armguard there."

The dual blade wielder helped show the archer how to properly strap the object to his forearm and elaborated on how the mechanism worked to Viper, who still seemed a little clueless at the end of the explanation.

"So basically I just flick my wrist, right?" the golden-eyed archer asked simply, understanding enough of the convoluted device's workings to get how to deploy it. Wes nodded in confirmation, and the archer immediately tried it out, extending the pale silver blade from his wrist with a quiet metallic noise. It came narrowly close to slicing his ring finger, but his hand moved at just the right moment to avoid any harm, and Wes sighed in relief. "Okay, this is frickin' awesome."

"Yeah, just make sure you do what I said to do next time with your hand placement. You almost lost a digit there, Joker."

"Ah, sorry, bud. Y'know, I kinda want to try this thing out now! Were you heading out to the training yard?"

"Yeah, I got a new pair of swords I'm gonna try out," Wes stated, placing a hand on one of the gold-hilted blades strapped to his back. "I can show you how to use that thing properly too, at least when it comes to attacking with it. But let me be clear on something; that is for use on hunts, not on people."

"I wouldn't have even thought of that," the archer assured, raising his arm as if he was swearing an oath. "Still, maybe I should use one of my knives at the same time too, considering I just got one blade on my wrist," the archer laughed, drawing one of the thin bone daggers sheathed on the back of his belt. "Never really used these before, actually."

"Hey, whatever works, right?" Wes chuckled as Viper retracted the blade and sheathed the dagger. "Alright, c'mon, bow boy. Time for another lesson."

"You gonna charge me for this one too?" Viper asked dryly as they made their way out to the training yard.

"Now that you mention it…" Wes laughed as the archer groaned irately, though Wes hadn't actually intended to charge Viper for this one. He already had to give Pa enough money, so why not. The pair approached the dummy practice grounds, and Wes quickly set up a few of the targets for them to use.

"You ever wonder why they made people shaped dummies for us to practice with?" Viper asked, eyeing the four targets before him. "I mean, we hunt monsters; animals, if you will. Why not make those into targets instead?"

"Huh, I never really thought about that. Maybe it's because we've got our vulnerable spots too, just like monsters. We have organs, limbs, and the like, so maybe it's to train us to look for vulnerable spots in monsters that we'd see in people too. I can't imagine anything surviving a neck wound for long, and chopping a limb off would make a monster way easier to take care of."

"It's as good a guess as any, bud. You sure you'll want to use these things, though? No PTSD or anything, right?"

"These are just targets, Viper. Not people."

"Fair enough. Alright, so, gimme a run down here; is it just swish-swish-stab?"

"Basically. You're blade is a bit wider than my ones, so slashing with it is a better option. Of course, it's a bit shorter as well, so stabbing won't be as damaging. Still, hit a vital spot and anything'll drop without a fuss. Go on, give it a try."

Viper grinned as he extended the blade, keeping his fingers away from the pale lucent blade as it appeared from the compartment on his wrist. In the same motion he drew one of his bone knives, tightening his grip around its cloth-wrapped handle as he stared at the targets intently.

"Alright, here we go!"

The archer lunged for the first target with his wrist blade, driving the silver blade directly into the dummy's throat. Instead of pulling the blade out, though, Viper turned and ran his dagger into the side of the next target's head. Prying his wrist blade free, the golden-eyed archer used his dagger as a sling, pulling himself towards the other two dummies and freeing the bone blade in the process. He ran full speed into the third target, driving the wrist blade precisely into the center of the target before leaping over it and bringing his dagger down onto the top of its head, leaving the blade stuck there as he released it.

"So, how was that?" he asked, again retracting the blade. "I'd say those would all have been kill shots!"

"Not gonna lie, I'm impressed you got the hang of it so quickly," Wes replied, nodding at him in confirmation. "More so that you could manage to hit all those spots without messing up once, and with only a few seconds to prepare too!"

"Hey, it's like setting up a shot, bud. Find where you want to hit and lay it out in your mind how you'll hit the next one in the sequence. I guess you could say I marked each one in my head before moving. Call it a superpower if you want."

"Alright, Mr. Deadeye, no need to say you've got magic powers now," the blue- and green-eyed hunter laughed. "But lemme show you how it's done!"

The archer pulled his dagger free from the last targets head as Wes took position where Viper had moments before. Extending both blades, he quickly rushed the first target, slashing its neck with one blade and driving his other into its head. With a quick spin, he drove his elbow into the second dummy's head and twisted around, stabbing his right blade through the back of its head. He threw himself at the remaining two targets, leaping over the first and stabbing its neck. He used that dummy as a stepping stone to leap onto the next, knocking the last target to the ground as he drove a blade into its throat.

"Hah, wow! Nice jump move at the end there!" Viper applauded, laughing as he clapped his hands. "I'll have to remember that one!"

"Told ya, there's nothing to it," Wes replied, grinning confidently as he pulled his wrist blade free and retracted it. "Now then, let's see what these swords can do!"

"Hey! Wes, Viper!" The pair turned towards the source of the voice, seeing Snow jog over to where they stood. "How's it going? I didn't think I'd see you out on the fields so soon, Wes!"

"What can I say, nothing keeps me down for long," he said, grinning and adding a bit of flourish by raising his arms in an exaggerated shrug. "I was just giving bow boy a rundown on how to use his new weapon."

"Oh? I don't see anything new on him," the huntress commented, glancing over the archer's shoulder and at his waist. "What, does he have an invisible sword now or something?"

"No, not invisible: hidden," the archer replied, bringing his arm up and extending the blade for Snow to see. "Not a bad piece of work, eh?"

"Wow… Why does it catch the light like that?" the short sword wielder asked, peering at the silvery blade curiously as it seemed to glow.

"It's made out of a Lucent Nargacuga tailspike. It used moonlight to turn itself invisible when it was still kicking, and I guess this is what it does in the middle of the day."

"It's actually a pretty good fit for you too, Viper," Wes said. "You can apply a bow coating to it through that opening on the back to use any status effect you can. Poison, paralysis, sleep… You've got them all right there."

"Hot damn, this thing just gets better and better! I think I might want to practice with it some more, actually, and-"

"Hey, dumbass!" The three turned to see Emerald standing by the shooting range, crossing her arms irately. "You think I'm just gonna take that loss yesterday lying down?! Get your ass over here so I can take my title back!"

"I never could resist a challenge," the archer grinned, brushing his black hair away from the eye it covered and making his way over to the range. It quickly fell back into place after he took a step, leaving Wes and Snow chuckling as they began to hear the two shouting at each other competitively.

"I guess you were right about one thing, Snow: they really are exactly the same," Wes stated, smirking in amusement as he watched the two archers move into position for another shoot off.

"Well, hey, maybe I will end up winning our bet!" the huntress replied with a short giggle. "Oh, and speaking of…"

Wes immediately paled as he realized what Snow was getting at, dreadfully recalling both the first and second bet he made with her four days previous.

Shit.

"Uh… Yeah, uh, I-I think we should-"

"Good, so you do remember! C'mon, let's go get something to eat! You're buying!" she replied, cheerfully grabbing his wrist and pulling her along behind her as they headed out of the district.

I'm gonna die… Wes fearfully thought to himself, barely managing to keep up with Snow as the white haired huntress continued dragging him through the streets of east Loc Lac to the tavern they frequented. Upon entering she made her way to a table set on the far side of the tavern, away from most of the other patrons and abruptly seated him down, taking the bench opposite him and smiling cheerfully.

Shit, what the hell do I do now?! He thought, glancing around nervously. Wes felt his face redden a bit as Snow chuckled from across the table, though if it was out of embarrassment, anxiety, or attraction, he didn't know.

"Well? Aren't you gonna say something?"

"Oh, uh… Absolutely, uh, I was just… wondering if… uh…"

The white haired huntress giggled as he struggled to find the ability to put words into a coherent sentence, only flustering him further.

"I'm guessing you aren't used to this scene," she said, smiling a little as he let out a long sigh.

"Yeah… Not really…" he sighed, allowing his head to fall onto the table. Well, that went about as well as I thought it would.

"Well, I suppose I can stop teasing you about it now that I've got you here." Wes glanced up in confusion as the short sword wielder smiled at him. For some reason, it seemed more friendly than attracted, though Wes wasn't exactly sure what the second looked like.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, pushing himself up from the tabletop.

"Please don't take it the wrong way, but I wasn't really interested in the whole 'romance' thing. All I really wanted was to talk with you," Snow replied, smiling apologetically. "I just thought it would be easier to do it this way. I… didn't really expect you to be so nervous about this."

"Eh? I wasn't nervous, I was just- you… you caught me off guard is all." Secretly, Wes breathed a sigh of relief large enough to fill an airship's blimp, feeling as though a massive weight had just been lifted off of his shoulders. I don't know if I could take that the wrong way, all things considered…

"I'm so sure," she giggled. "You aren't really my type anyways!"

"Geez, if that's how you felt, then why did you lead me on this whole time? I practically had a heart attack!"

"Well, I thought it was funny seeing how you reacted to this. I... guess I might have taken it a little far, huh?"

"No, not at all," Wes replied wryly. "At least I didn't get stabbed in the chest like all the other guys who get into these situations."

"No need to be snarky, Wes," Snow chuckled. "Still, this technically is a date, so you're still treating me."

"Let's… not make a habit out of this, okay?" Wes sighed, pulling his hood back. "Anyways, what did you want to talk about? Obviously it must've been important enough to go through that entire set up to get me alone with you."

"Well, I guess, but why not just get acquainted with each other first? Break the ice, y'know?"

I'm really starting to hate that phrase… "Alright, well… you said you and Frost were from the Tundra area, right? Which town?"

"It doesn't exist anymore, actually, but it wasn't too far from Hearth; the two had a brisk trade going between them. You ever hear the old stories about Kalvata Village?"

"I think I heard a few of 'em when I was younger… Isn't that the place everyone claims the devil lives under or something?"

"That's not really the story, but yeah. I basically grew up hearing those tales."

"Huh, you'll have to refresh my memory on those ones."

"Do you really want to hear it? It's just an old legend," Snow said coyly.

"Just tell me, I like hearing stories," Wes replied with a short chuckle.

"You don't have to say that if you really don't want to listen."

"Alright, come on, this stopped being funny after the first time."

"Alright, fine, I'll tell you, but only because you want to hear it..."

"Snow, seriously."

Snow paused as a waitress came over to their table and took their orders before getting back to the conversation.

"Okay, okay, so it goes like this… A long time ago, there was a really old Barioth living high in the mountains. She was one of the most powerful creatures to have lived in that area, actually having been able to drive off a Deviljho all on its own. The people of Kalvata lived in fear that it might attack them one day, considering they lived at the base of the mountain. And… well, fear makes people believe things they shouldn't.

"Eventually the villagers decided that they wanted the beast slain, so they hired a group of hunters to go out and kill her. It took a while, but eventually a few hunters from that area signed the contract and off they went, heading up the mountain and into the cave the Barioth lived in.

"The village waited all day for word from the group, not hearing anything until the following morning. Out of the four hunters that had departed, only one survived. Yet, there were two others with him; a pair of children wearing nothing but Barioth pelts!

"At once the villagers began to drill the man with questions, asking who the kids were, what happened to the others, and, most importantly, if the Barioth had fallen. Despite how weary he was, he managed to relate the tale of his hunt. He confirmed that yes, after a long fight, the Barioth had eventually fallen. Unfortunately, two of his companions had been killed as well.

"'But wait,' the villagers asked. 'If only two were killed, then where is the other hunter?'

"The hunter's reply was one that shocked them to the core: he had been the one to kill the third hunter. Before they could ask why, though, he answered the question for them.

"'He had tried to kill these two.' The hunter gestured to the kids, which only brought up an even greater question in the people's minds: who were the kids? Well, if they had thought this guy was crazy before, then this should have cemented that. He said that the kids were the Barioth's pups!

"The hunter said was that the Barioth was a mother… She had two baby cubs she had been protecting from harm and feeding. But… after she fell, the other hunter and him found them. The other hunter argued that they would grow up to kill humans and that they should just kill them now, while the man who made it back believed they were responsible to look after the cubs.

"Unfortunately, the two disagreed so strongly that they came to blows, eventually ending when the surviving hunter threw the other off the mountain. He said that the mother's spirit had been watching the quarrel, and that upon seeing his virtues she willfully gave her cubs over to him. But what he hadn't been expecting was the two cubs to become humans, just like you or me!

"Needless to say, the villagers were pretty skeptical about the whole thing. Who'd ever heard about a monster becoming a human before, except in fantasy stories? But, after a long debate, the village decided to accept the kids- and the hunter- as one of their own. Everything seemed fine... for a while.

"Only a few months later, Kalvata began to experience even worse conditions than normal. Excessive snowstorms, hail the size of fists, frost covering the insides of homes even! The village head initially believed it was just a cold front, nothing more… And then it lasted for a week. A month. Half a year. The weather was so horrible for so long, it was like the land itself was under a spell.

"At first, no one thought much of it. Then, as time went on, their superstitions began to get the best of them again. The villagers turned their hatred and fear on the hunter and the two children, believing they had been the ones who brought the 'White Devil' upon them. No matter how hard they tried, though, they couldn't convince the townspeople of their innocence, and they were driven out into the wilds.

"No one really knows what happened to them. Years passed, but no record of the hunter ever showed he returned. Some say he died in the Tundra, others say he still lives in one of the caves with those Barioth-kids, and still some believe he's actually become the devil's right-hand man. Somehow, though, the bad weather passed with their departure, and the people rejoiced at having saved themselves. That is, until another cold spell hit the town.

"This one was even worse than the last, bringing death and ruin to the entire village. Many people evacuated to avoid perishing, while others refused to leave their hometown. I was lucky enough to have been one of those who ran; my dad -a veteran hunter in his own right- took Frost and me to Hearth before the village was frozen over. Still, to those who stayed, a far worse fate came to them.

"Some say it was the ghost of the hunter they had driven out all those years before. Others, that it was like an army from hell came upon the village. When the spell ended, and some of the villagers returned to the remains of Kalvata… and found that everyone else was dead. Not by freezing to death, but by sword wounds. One of them had even been sliced clean in half! It was like… like some kind of reaper came upon them and just devastated the whole town. There was only one survivor, and he died soon after due to his injuries, but when he was asked who did this to them, he only gave one response…"

"The White Devil."

Wes had been on the edge of his seat for almost the entire tale, and when Snow finished he felt as though it was one of the greatest he had ever heard in his life. The hunter sat back a little and stretched, having been so intent on listening that he hadn't moved in… who knows how long, though the fact that the sky was beginning to redden outside meant it must've been a long time.

"Geez, you sure know how to tell one hell of a story, Snow," he stated, shifting a little in his seat. "So, you and Frost are survivors from Kalvata? How old were you when that all went down… that 'White Devil' part?"

"I was… I think I was seventeen. After all of that, though, our dad died, so we had to travel around a lot to make ends meet. Just me and Frost… We both became full-fledged hunters when we were eighteen, and eventually we got a message asking us to come to Loc Lac to join the Master Corps. After that, well, here I am."

"That's definitely one heck of a tale… Not sure if I believe the whole 'Barioth-kid' thing, but for some reason I don't think that would surprise me much."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"See, my pa was a great hunter way back when; still is now, actually. He'd tell me stories about how he went off on hunts with his friends and my ma, and all the adventures they had… Some of them were borderline fantasy, even. He told me that there was a time that he had to fight his old friend after slaying an elder dragon, because the dragon possessed his dead friend's body. I know, pretty crazy, right? But get this; he was never more serious about a tale than that one. He almost sounded sad at the mention of it all. It's the one story I can without a doubt say I believe in wholeheartedly, so yes. Barioth people are not the weirdest things I'll have heard about."

"Hah, sounds like your dad's a great person," Snow laughed. "I'd love to share stories with him sometime, that's for sure. But we got kinda off track with the whole story thing, didn't we? Where are you from, Wes? Moga Village?"

"Yeah, the last stop the Righteous Law made when it was picking us up," Wes answered. "Lived there all my life, but my parents took me out to Loc Lac a couple times, mostly to visit my uncle or my grandparents. I've also seen almost every hunting ground there is, except for the Misty Peaks. I'm really hoping I get a job assignment out there sometime, or when I'm off work next I can take a Harvest Tour in the area."

"It's actually really nice there, but I really can't describe it to you; it's something you have to see for yourself to be impressed by. You mentioned having family in Loc Lac?"

"Sorta… Aunts and Uncles, and also my grandparents on my ma's side. I haven't seen them in a while, so maybe I'll pop in and say hi to them next time I have the chance. My uncles both still hunt, so I'm not sure when a good time would be for them, but my grandparents don't do much anymore since they retired."

"Seems like quite the family! What about your dad's side? Any grandparents there, or have they passed away?"

"Y'know, I never met them before. My Pa told me that his father- my grandfather on his side- passed a sword down to him as a sort of inheritance when he was younger, but he never told me any stories about him other than that one. I never heard about my grandmother, either… He had to have had parents, but I've never seen or heard about them."

"Huh, too bad. Maybe there's some way you can trace your lineage back?"

"Hah, and maybe I'll be able to relive their memories someday! Yeah, it's probably not gonna happen. Still, maybe I will find out one day, just not one day soon."

"If everything happened immediately, life would be awfully short," Snow laughed, which Wes joined in agreement. After a few more minutes, their meals arrived, and the two eagerly dug in, finishing the food in what seemed like seconds.

"Hoo boy, nothing like a well done meal to go with a long talk," Wes said, dropping his fork onto his plate. "How was that Lagiacrus tail?"

"It was great, actually. How about your steaks?"

"Eh… Coulda been better. Somehow the cook managed to make one part rare, one part well done, and another part burnt," he replied, sticking his knife into a large burnt piece of meat. "I opted out of that part."

"Hopefully they can get some tips someday, huh?"

"Hopefully," Wes said, glancing up as the waitress placed the bill before him. He eyed the prices on the meals as he made his way down the slip, his breath practically catching in his throat as he saw the enormous cost the dinner was.

"God damn…"

Author Notes: Ah, another happy chapter! This one was actually a relatively quick write, despite it being a bit longer than the previous "plot" chapters. Still, I feel it turned out quite well, especially the supposed 'date' I'm sure you all were looking forward to so much. Pulled a fast one on you all, huh? Yeah, expect those kinds of things to be common; this is a very well thought out plot, after all! I expect you all to be confused about a few things, at least! Don't worry, though; everything will be answered in time.

Speaking of time, I've decided that in order to more efficiently resupply my store of chapters, I'm going to switch to a biweekly release schedule to give myself more time to write between releases. I know this may come as a disappointment to you all, but hey, it's a necessity. Don't want me to fall behind, right? Not to worry, this'll only last until I get a couple in reserve. Well, don't forget to leave a review of what you thought, and I'll see you all next time!

Playing:MH3U, Assassin's Creed 3

Listening to:The Offspring, Paramore

Watching: 20 Animals that Will Kill You

Reading:The Official Dictionary of Sarcasm, The Lost Civilization: DLC