Time Trial

Disclaimer: Monster Hunter is copyright Capcom. All the characters in this story are mine, unless otherwise noted.

Edited by: Hoenn Master96 and Thomas A. Hawk and DinoJake

The sun was just peeking the horizon as the hunters reached the base of the Training Hill. The shadows of the trees stretched long, crawling up the lowest walls of the hill, but were slowly shrinking as the sun crept higher into the sky. Most of the outcropping was covered in an orange-red light, however, making the whole hill appear like a beacon rising out of the earth.

Though the last couple months had been some of the toughest training that the Therian hunters had experienced, the last three days had been perhaps the most intense. It wasn't through Tuulikki's efforts, but rather through their own initiative that the three of them had been working so hard. As the sun was peeking over the trees of the forest, the three of them were just arriving at the hill, running themselves up and down the landmark until the sky was growing dark, only pausing long enough to catch their breaths, eat, and drink whenever they needed to.

Logan had done his training with an especially potent fervor, even compared to the last two months. Bram had to admit that he was worried though; his hunting master had been running himself ragged. The first night the great sword user had barely had the strength to return to their hut at the bottom of the village. The second night he'd made it halfway back before passing out, forcing Bram and Sonia to seek help from a pair of passing hunters to get him back. The only reason he hadn't done as bad or worse the previous night was because Bram and Sonia had both forced him to stop before he could overwork himself.

Today was the last day before the caravan was planning to take off, and the trio's last real day to complete the Training Hill.

Tuulikki, Violetta, and Leon were already at the base of the hill waiting for them when they arrived. Steward and Selene had both said they'd come to cheer them on, but Logan had asked them not to. The hunters didn't want an audience for this beyond Tuulikki herself, honestly, but it seemed that Violetta and Leon had still shown up anyway. Violetta and Leon both looked rather drowsy, but smiled at the Therians as they approached. Tuulikki had a solemn expression on her face as they neared.

"Do you think you are prepared?" she asked.

"Ready as we ever gonna be," Logan replied curtly.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait until later in the day?" Leon asked. "You'd be fully awake, if nothing else."

"It's best to get it done and over with," Bram replied, rolling his shoulder. The heat emanating from the fire phial of his switch axe felt pleasant in the cool morning air.

"Right, let's do this," Sonia nodded eagerly, adjusting the straps that kept the practice hunting horn strapped to her back.

"Very well, if you are so certain of yourselves, let us see whether your confidence is well-deserved or not," Tuulikki replied.

"Hold on a moment, if you please," a voice called out. The hunters turned in surprise at Tapio's voice, as the village chief appeared through the trees, nodding solemnly at them. "You all are quite eager to do this test, aren't you? These old bones aren't made for waking so early in the morning."

"Father? Why are-"

"I am here to see whether or not they will succeed, the same as you. It was I that gave them this challenge in the first place, is it not proper that I should be here for their final test? I am just as curious to see what Therian hunters are truly capable of as any other within our village walls." The old man strode over to a large stone and sighed as he sat down on it. "But don't mind me. I am merely here to observe. Please continue."

"Ja, ja, let's get this over with!" Logan shouted.

Tuulikki fidgeted uncomfortably as she glanced at her father, but eventually pulled the sandglass out of her pouch, tapping it a couple times to send all the sand to the bottom before holding it up. "Are you ready?"

"Just flip it!"

"Fine! Go!"

As the huntress turned the glass over, the Therians shot towards the base of the hill. It was the same as always: Sonia reached the wall a hair before Bram did, with Logan only a step or two behind. Up they went, vaulting up each ledge one after the other. They'd done this so many times, Bram felt that he nearly had every crack and crevice in the wall memorized.

After the third tier, however, Sonia continued running straight up the middle. Bram veered towards a crooked fracture off to the right while Logan's curved to the left. Each of them had found separate paths they favored; Sonia's shorter stature forced her to find closer handholds and footholds, while Bram could afford more distance between grips. Logan favored paths that were riskier in Bram's opinion, but for some reason the fragile-looking walls that the great sword user chose never seemed to crumble.

Sonia was just tapping the side of the statue at the top of the hill as Bram was hoisting himself over the ledge. The two passed each other halfway as Bram rushed to touch the statue himself, but he jolted slightly as he turned around, not expecting to see Logan already over the top ledge. Usually the great sword user was just pulling himself over by this point… had he found a faster climbing route?

Bram couldn't afford to speculate right now, and dashed towards the ledge himself. Rather than leaping off, however, the hunter dropped down and let himself slide over the edge feet-first, landing and pushing off on the tier below. It wasn't much, but slipping over ledges rather than leaping off helped reduce the impact. Logan had figured that out when trying to speed up his recovery times, and Bram had been experimenting with it the last couple days. It slowed him down a little bit going over the side, but his recovery was much faster to compensate, shaving a second or two off of his time.

Bram continued down the side, sliding over the edges one after the other until he finally reached the bottom of the Hill. Sonia was there a few seconds before him, but as soon as his boots touched the grass at the base of the hill, his eyes snapped to the sandglass. A wave of relief washed over him at the sight of sand still trickling down, but there wasn't much left. His excitement was forgotten as he spun around to find Logan. The great sword user was still a couple tiers up, sliding over the next edge.

"Come on, Logan! You can do it!" Sonia shouted.

The hunter sprinted, dashing towards the last ledge and dropping to slide over the edge. Bram winced as the hunter twisted his body slightly wrong, and his great sword scraped against the stone, but the hunter had enough inertia to continue over the edge and down the last drop. Logan's boots hit the ground at the base of the hill, and Bram's eyes darted towards the timer as the last grains of sand slipped down into the bottom.

"He did it!" Sonia cheered, dashing towards the great sword user and flinging her arms around his neck. The hunter was still wheezing to catch his breath, however, and the tackle knocked him over onto his back.

"Hoy! Hoy… Let me… let me catch… my breath, hey?" Logan gasped as Sonia sat up next to him. The great sword user remained on his back for a little longer though, sucking in air. "Mercy… Been hunting for… nearly… a decade now… and had wyvern… hunts… that was less tiring… than this…" As his breathing evened out, the hunter slowly sat up. "But I passed, hey? I beat the sandglass?"

"You did," Leon nodded. "I saw it myself. There couldn't have been more than a few grains left when you hit the ground, but I think it still counts."

"It does," Tapio confirmed. "By Lintukoto's standards, you three are worthy of taking the hunter's exam."

"That's right," Violetta nodded. "A win's a win, and you guys won! Or, you passed. Same difference. You did it! Right, Tuli? Uh, Tuli?"

Tuulikki wasn't there, however. Bram glanced around in confusion for a moment before spotting the huntress making her way through the trees several dozen yards away and making her way back towards the village.

"Hoy! Where you going?!" Logan snapped angrily, pushing to his feet and glaring after the glaive wielder. "What the hell! After all that, you just gonna walk away? Hoy! Girlie!" But Tuulikki didn't stop walking and didn't look back and the shouts, disappearing into the foliage a few moments later.

"Dang it, Tuli…" Violetta muttered, scowling in the direction of the village.

Logan continued to glower venomously in the direction Tuulikki had taken off in before Tapio sighed and pushed himself to his feet, nodding approvingly at the Therian hunters. "Well, it seems that you truly are hunters worthy of hunting in Gahiji… theoretically, of course, if not legally."

"Thinking we gonna fix that," Logan replied, and the old man nodded slowly.

"I'm sure you will make a valiant attempt, if nothing else. But nonetheless, I applaud your dedication and hard work, and congratulate you on your success. I also hope that, despite this no doubt challenging introduction, you enjoy the rest of your time in our country. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other village business to attend to. The next couple days are certain to be interesting, as word of your accomplishment spreads through Lintukoto. Oh, yes, and good luck on your exam as well, Leon."

"Thank you, sir."

The village elder nodded his head politely to the hunters, before making his way back towards the village. As he did, Violetta quickly swept in front of the Therians.

"Hmm… well, I think that performance deserves a reward, and a celebration! At least, a short celebration; you'll need to get your stuff packed and back into your wagons. Let me treat you guys to a well-deserved drink!"

Logan grinned at the offer. "Hoy, that sounds good. After the last couple months, I could definitely use a drink."

"Oh, we should definitely go to Ahti's! It's got the best food in town, and the best beer for that matter… wait, I don't think you two are old enough to drink, are you?" she asked, glancing at Bram and Sonia. "What's the drinking age in Theron?"

"Uh, eighteen?" Sonia replied cautiously. "We're both of age."

"Well that means you can celebrate properly!"

"Sounds fun!"

"Vi, I believe they'll need time to pack their things tonight," Leon noted. "It might be challenging for them to move their materials from the bottom of the ravine to the top while they're drunk."

"Ah… right. That's fair. Just one drink then. Pick whatever you want, and I'll pay for it! I recommend the Wagon Bomb. It's tasty. Just… don't try any of the Wyverian-made whiskey. Really, don't. It never ends well. For anybody. Ever. Not even the Wyverians that make it."

"It taste good, though?" Logan asked.

"Like regret and shame mixed with liquid fire," Leon replied.

"So… is just normal whiskey?"

"It's much worse, trust me."

"Can't be any worse than that 'tequila' stuff the Lost been making in Theron. That stuff ruin you day real quick, hey? Maybe I try you Wyverian whiskey, see how nasty it really is…"

"Maybe you shouldn't," Bram noted. "You have a reputation back home when it comes to drinking, Logan. Do you want that reputation in another country as well?"

"Eh… good point."

"You know, this is surprisingly soft… and much more pleasant now that it doesn't stink like a wet Popo… or blood."

Bram smiled as Sonia sighed contently, rubbing a long strip of the Kecha Wacha's pelt against her cheek. Bram had to admit that the fur was surprisingly soft for something that was durable enough to be used for armor. They'd needed to clean and dry out the fur they'd managed to gather when they'd returned from the hunt, and sent the hide off to the smith for tanning. The fur had since been returned to its original state, and the moldy and bloody scent had been cleaned out, allowing Sonia to properly admire it.

At the moment, all three Therian hunters were in Sonia's hut, helping the huntress get all her things packed and ready. Bram and Logan had both finished getting their things together earlier, and though Logan had gotten a completely new armor set and weapon during their time in Gahiji, he'd still taken less time to prepare than Sonia had. The huntress had gathered much more materials than either of them, and needed their help to get everything packed. Or rather, needed Bram's help; Logan was sitting back and providing 'motivational support'.

As Bram worked his way through the hunting goods that littered the top of Sonia's dressers - whetstones, rations, and both used and unused potion bottles - he glanced over at the huntress' armor stand, frowning and reaching forward to straighten the crooked lavender material. He couldn't help but see how battered the Jaggi scales and hide had gotten.

"Maybe you should make a new armor set," Bram suggested. "Your Jaggi armor has been getting pretty tattered."

"Yeah, I guess," Sonia replied, looking over at her lavender armor set. It was easy to see how worn out the scales and hide had become. Repair on the armor used to have it looking like new, but now each run to the smith left it looking more patchwork, with the replacement scales shining bright and new while the rest of the armor was worn and dulled. That was the price you paid making armor from one of the weakest monsters out there.

"You could make some new armor from the Kecha materials we got."

"I don't think I got enough materials for that though," Sonia sighed, flopping onto her back and holding the strip of fur in front of her. "Most of the Kecha went to the village, as per usual, and between the four of us, I think I barely got enough fur and hide to make a bright orange pair of pants, much less the whole set."

"Thinking you ain't gonna want a set from that monkey anyway, hey?" Logan chuckled, getting confused looks from the apprentices. "You seen the design? Looks like you type of armor, light and flexible, but it don't got anything covering you stomach, hey?"

"What? Why?!" Sonia groaned, covering her face in dismay. "I thought that stupid fad only existed in Theron!"

"Is the call of fashion," the great sword user laughed. "People want to show off, no matter which side of the border they on. I ain't got nothing against girlies showing off they figures, hey? Is probably the same for the boys, too; the fellas all strutting around, showing off they abs to any interested parties. Can't say is a very practical thing to do, exposing youself like that when hunting a big beastie. You waist may be a nice distraction to other humans, but the monsters won't be getting flustered at the same sight, hey?"

"Aw, man… I mean, I like flaunting myself as much as the next girl, but not during a hunt!"

"In the village is fine, though?" Bram asked.

"Well, sure. I've got nice abs, too, and I don't mind showing them off. I don't suppose I could ask the smith to tweak the design, though? Make a jacket or vest or something to go over the chestpiece for when I'm out in the wilds?"

"Good luck with that," Bram said, patting her head consolingly. "That old goat in charge of the smithy is a stubborn woman. Suggesting she alter an armor set might not go over so well. You could ask Cleyra though; she might be a bit more malleable."

"Yeah, that's an idea… Agh, but I still don't have the materials for the whole set in the first place!"

"Maybe you make half the armor set instead," Logan smirked. "See how well you do with that, and get the rest of the materials later. All those other girlies running around with just they stomach exposed, maybe you go on a hunt with only some pants and a hat on, hey?"

The great sword user laughed before getting pegged in the face with a pillow a moment later. Bram grinned as he leaned back, eager to get out of the way of the impending battle between the two, though he was sure he'd get dragged into it one way or another. He paused at the sounds of footsteps clattering down the wooden path outside the door though. Sonia and Logan heard the approach as well, settling down their fight and glancing at the door expectantly.

However, as the footsteps neared the door, Bram could hear people speaking just outside. The tones were hushed, and he couldn't make anything out, but whatever was said was said quickly, and soon the voices were gone. A moment later, one set of footsteps approached the door while the other faded into the distance. Then there was silence for nearly a whole minute, before a slow knock echoed through the hut.

"It's open," Sonia called out. For a moment there was no response, then the handle turned and Tuulikki pushed into the room.

"Ah… all three of you are here. That's… fortunate."

Bram couldn't help but notice the hesitation and nervousness in the huntress' voice as she looked between the three hunters. Her eyes darted to the ground, and Bram couldn't help but see the uncertainty in her expression. Not only that, but Ketrak wasn't with her either. The Kinsect had seemed nigh-inseparable from the glaive wielder for the last couple months, and seeing her without the insect was as though she was a completely different person.

"What you want?" Logan grumbled, glowering at the huntress before giving her a crooked grin. "You run away real quick earlier today, hey? You got something to say, now that we beat you challenge? The challenge you said we couldn't beat in two months?"

Tuulikki's eyes snapped angrily towards the great sword user, returning a familiar expression to her face for a moment. "I am not-"

The huntress snapped her mouth shut before she could finish the thought, however, clenching her teeth and staring at the ground. Bram frowned disapprovingly as Logan sneered in amusement at the glaive wielder, leaning back in enjoyment. Tuulikki was quiet for a moment, lost in thought. She kept reaching up, her hand hovering over her forehead before running her fingers through her hair, as though struggling to find the brim of her cap and never finding it on her head. Then she knelt to the ground, lowering her head until it nearly touched the floorboards.

"I apologize," she said to them, her voice pained. "I apologize for… everything that I've put you through these last two months."

Bram let out a strangled gasp of shock at the sight of Tuulikki… prostrating herself before the three of them. He hadn't known what to expect from the huntress when she'd entered the rooms, but it certainly had not been this. He glanced over at the other two, and they were clearly just as flabbergasted as he was. Sonia had dropped the Kecha pelt she'd been holding to the floor. Logan hadn't moved either, and he was still smirking at the huntress, but the expression was strained as though it had gotten stuck in that position.

"Hoy, hoy… what all this about, girlie? What… what is you…"

"As I said… I have come to apologize," the huntress replied quietly. "I was wrong… about many things. You… All of you have what it takes to hunt in Gahiji, and there is no denying that. You have overcome the Training Hill, meaning you are worthy of the title of 'hunter', at least within the walls of this village. My father… my father was right all along. I should've accepted you all long ago. I have meant to do this since… since about a week before Vi and Leon returned to the village. I meant to…"

"Then why you wait 'til now to do this?" Logan growled, leaning forward and baring his teeth angrily. The great sword user's arms were crossed and he had a strained expression on his face as he glared at her. "It been two months, girlie! Two months you been putting us down! Saying what we can and can't do 'cause we Therian! And you wait until the very last moment to say you sorry? Did Violetta put you up to this? They was someone with you outside when you come here. That was her, right?"

Tuulikki was quiet for a moment before replying. "That was indeed Vi. However, she wasn't compelling me to do this… Rather, she was giving me the courage to do so."

"Courage? What the hell you need courage for?"

"To… apologize to people who I have looked down upon and treated poorly. To admit when I was wrong, after so adamantly believing myself to be right. To admit that I have treated you like lesser individuals, based only on the country you hail from." Though the huntress' face remained against the floor of the hut, her fists clenching tightly as her voice trailed to a whisper. "I was afraid… afraid to admit my mistakes. And my pride… my ego made it hard for me. After all the harsh words and cruel things I've said, how could I so simply beg forgiveness? I couldn't… I couldn't bring myself to do this without Vi helping me. I needed her encouragement. I needed her to push me, to get me to be willing to admit the truth, when I was having so much trouble doing so.

"I don't apologize to those that I feel don't deserve one, no matter the urging I may receive from those around me. But you three truly deserve an apology. For what I've done, and how I've acted… I'm sorry. I don't ask or hope for forgiveness on this matter at all, but nonetheless… I'm sorry."

The room was filled with awkward silence for the better part of a minute after that. All three Therian hunters were left speechless at Tuulikki's meek actions, and the glaive wielder herself remained prostrated on the ground before them, unmoving. Bram's gaze remained on Logan, watching the great sword user's expression flicker between dozens of emotions, ranging from gleeful enjoyment to uncertainty to frustration. Eventually he put his head between his hands, looking for all the world like he was in physical pain before his eyes snapped open and he glared dourly at Tuulikki.

"Gah! Sit up, already!" Logan snapped, slouching back against the wall. "Seeing you like that even making me uncomfortable, hey?"

The huntress didn't move immediately, but eventually complied, pushing herself up into a kneeling position. Her eyes were still somewhat downcast, but she kept stock still like a defendant awaiting their verdict. Bram didn't know how to respond to this, however. He hadn't been expecting such a display from the huntress. More awkward silence filled the room for a long moment, with Sonia remaining frozen in place out of sheer confusion and Logan staring blankly in Tuulikki's direction and growling under his breath. Eventually, Bram cleared his throat to draw the glaive wielder's attention.

"So… if you're apologizing to us, does that mean you're fine with me using a switch axe as well?"

The huntress blinked in surprise at the question, but after a short moment the melancholy on her face vanished and was replaced with a distasteful expression Bram had seen a thousand times before as she crossed her arms. The huntress' return to her normal attitude was somewhat relieving, admittedly.

"No, I am not. Your hunting potential has been proven, but I am not taking back what I have said about technological weapons. This and that are two different things." The huntress paused for a moment, however, furrowing her brow in thought before speaking in a slower, less frosty tone. "However… weapon selection is a matter of personal choice. I will… refrain from commenting on your choice of weapons. Just avoid flaunting any such contraptions, and we should not have any issues."

"I think that's the best you're going to get," Sonia noted.

"I suppose I can accept that," Bram replied, leaning back against the wall. "I don't use my axe too much in the first place anyway. I still might want to use it once or twice when I'm here, though…"

Bram could see Tuulikki visibly grinding her teeth at the admittance, but she kept from saying anything too harsh, eventually settling down and releasing a strained sigh. "I will do my best to keep from saying anything. I only need to put up with it for another four months after all… I can consider it a test of my patience."

"Pretty sure you failed that test already, hey?" Logan scoffed.

"If it makes you feel any better, it'll actually only be three months," Sonia spoke up, getting a curious glance from Tuulikki. "Once we take the exam there, you won't have to worry about us so long as we pass, right?"

"Ah… That would be true… but I don't believe you will pass the exam."

"Because we Therian?" Logan growled.

"No, no! Nothing like that!" Tuulikki replied quickly, raising her hands and lowering her gaze. "It has nothing to do with your nationality! It's not that I don't believe you can pass the Gahin hunter's exam… I do, truly. One day. But I do not believe that the three of you can pass the exam that is coming up.

"You have been in Gahiji for two months. Only two months. Your growth has been exemplary in that time, certainly, but you already had physical training and hunting experience to use as a base for your potential. To overcome the Hill proves you are capable enough to attempt the exam by Lintukoto's standards, but it does not mean you will pass. Dundorma is a town beset by elder dragons on a greater basis than anywhere in the world! Such a city would naturally have a high standard set for those taking the exam. Even with another three months to gain experience traversing the landscape and hunting local fauna, I don't believe that less than half-a-year of hunting in this country is enough. If you continued to train here and returned to take the exam nine months from now…"

"Maybe you don't remember, but we ain't planning to be here in nine months," Logan replied. "We planning on going home 'bout a month after the exam. What so bad about us taking it, hey? If we fail, we just come back later and try again."

"Ah… that's right. I suppose that's true," Tuulikki nodded slowly. "However, if you do not pass, you will be barred from taking the exam for three years."

"Ja, ja, it's… wait, three?" Logan gasped. "Why three? Is only one in Theron."

"It's only one year in Theron?" Tuulikki gasped. "That's all?"

"Ja, it… Eh, well… Heard it used to be two years, but they was a… shortage of hunters couple decades ago, and they lowered the retake time. They ain't changed that back yet… But three years? Really?"

"As I said, the standards in Dundorma are quite high. For those that do not pass… the terms for failure is just as severe." The huntress lowered her eyes solemnly. "And three extra years… can be a very long time to remain an apprentice for those that fail. Would you three be willing to return to Gahiji after three years to take the exam, or come here and only remain at the level of an apprentice?"

Bram crossed his arms and sighed. He honestly didn't mind the thought of them failing the Gahin hunter's exam; this wasn't his home country, so he didn't imagine he'd be too heartbroken that he wouldn't be able to hunt within the borders of Gahiji. However, he knew before he even looked in Sonia and Logan's direction how they'd feel. Both of them were proud of their hunting ability, and the idea of not meeting another country's hunting standards gnawed at their egos.

But who was Bram kidding? He already knew how things would unfold. He merely had to wait…

"I'm gonna do it," Sonia said. There it was. Bram leaned back against the wall and smiled to himself. "I'm gonna take the exam."

"Your confidence is admirable, but it doesn't change the facts," Tuulikki sighed. "Overcoming the Training Hill is one thing; overcoming the Gahin hunter's exam is another. You are not yet ready to take the exam."

"You so certain 'bout that kind of thing," Logan replied with a confident smirk. "Just like you was certain that we wasn't gonna overcome the Training Hill, hey?"

"That's right," Sonia nodded. "We've come this far in just two months, just imagine how far we can go in three more. All three of us can do it, I'm sure of it!"

"Even with five months, you can't-"

"What if we made a bet on it?" Bram's gaze snapped in Sonia's direction in shock, and he had to struggle to keep his jaw from dropping. The huntress wrinkled her nose slightly before shaking her head and puffing out her chest confidently.

Tuulikki raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, however, crossing her arms. "You would wager on this?"

Sonia huffed, crossing her arms as well. "I don't like gambling, honestly. Things like the arena bother me, since betting on people you don't know is stupid, in my opinion. However, betting on your own abilities, and the abilities of your friends and allies is something else. I have faith in our skill, and I'm willing to… gamble on them."

Tuulikki stared at the other huntress for a while, with Bram watching wide-eyed. He hadn't seen Sonia act like this in a long time… Logan seemed amused by the whole confrontation, though, leering at the glaive wielder with a proud smirk on his face.

"Heh. Count me in, girlie. Gonna enjoy seeing you admit you was wrong a second time."

As the glaive wielder shot a look towards Bram, the archer merely shrugged. "I'll take the exam as well."

"I've mentioned several times that you should refrain from being overconfident," Tuulikki finally said. "Hubris leads to the downfall of even the greatest hunters. That being said, I am not afraid of accepting your bet, but what is it you would ask of me… provided you three should somehow pass?"

"Um… hmm. I don't know… ah…" Sonia scrunched her face in thought before her eyes lit up. "Oh, I know! If we all pass, I want you to teach me how to use the insect glaive."

"Really? An interesting choice…" Tuulikki muttered curiously as Logan's expression soured. "I'm not opposed to that. But why? I thought you were repulsed by the idea of boosting yourself with 'Kinsect vomit'."

"I don't know… It just seems interesting. It looked like an exciting weapon to use, back when you chased off the Seltas from the caravan. Besides, I came to Gahiji to experience things I'd never seen in Theron; what better way to do that than to train in a weapon they don't have back home?"

"Hmm. I suppose those are as good of reasons as any to choose a particular weapon. However, if you truly desire to have me teach you the glaive, you must remember that alongside the glaive itself is the Kinsect, which you will need to feed, raise, and care for. To wield a weapon is one thing, but to care for a living creature is quite another. Are you certain you can manage that responsibility? I won't accept your request if you aren't." Sonia furrowed her brows, but Tuulikki shook her head. "Take your time with your decision. It will be a long time before the hunter's exam, and you have to pass the exam besides.

"So what about you?" she asked, looking towards Bram next. The archer thought for a moment, but came to a conclusion nearly as quickly as Sonia had.

"My request might be somewhat difficult," Bram said slowly, but Tuulikki looked on expectantly. The archer sighed, scratching his head. "I want you to get me some Kinsect essences."

"Essence? From Ketrak? Again, why?"

"It's just… It's an intriguing concept," Bram replied eagerly. "An insect that can ingest scrapings of fur or other particles off of a monster, and then concoct it into a substance that boosts a human's physical abilities or even produce healing balm? It's an unheard of concept in Theron. I want to learn about it. What makes certain parts of the monster create certain essences? How is the Kinsect able to do what it does? Can its effects be altered? What else are Kinsects capable of? What if I could-"

Bram's words sputtered to a halt in his throat as he looked up, realizing that the other three were staring at him. Tuulikki looked utterly confused, but both Sonia and Logan were smirking in amusement. The young man cleared his throat in embarrassment, before looking back up at the silvery-haired woman.

"Anyway… if you could collect essences for me I would appreciate it. And if you could label them so I know which monster it came from, and what part of their body Ketrak collected the essence from… This is probably asking a bit too much, isn't it?"

"No… no, I will do it," Tuulikki replied. "If you all pass the exam, I would be willing to do that much… Though, gathering essences may take a while, and I don't exactly have any containers-"

"I have some empty coating phials you can use," Bram offered. "They're small, but should be able to hold enough essence for me to study them."

"Very well. If that's what you want, it's a more than fair wager. I can manage to give you that much."

"Also, a quick query… Does essence… expire?"

Tuulikki frowned in thought. "I am not certain. Usually I apply the essences I use immediately, so I am uncertain about how long they stay… fresh. I assume they last about as long as any other bodily fluid does."

"Hmm… Well, I suppose that's something else to investigate."

"Hoy! I hope you don't forget that we gonna be sharing a wagon, hey?" Logan grumbled. "We gonna have problems if you 'investigate' that stuff and it starts to stink! I don't wanna know what overripe bug puke smells like."

"I'll be careful," Bram replied automatically, earning a frown from the great sword user. Already his thoughts were filled with curiosity about what he was going to do once he started getting some essence… He could probably convince Sonia to gather even more for him, once she got a Kinsect of her own to raise.

Tuulikki sighed in dismay, before glancing towards Logan, withering slightly as he stared flatly at her. "And… what about you? What… would you ask of me… if you were to pass the exam?"

Logan stared at Tuulikki intently for a long time, and the huntress fidgeted nervously under his flat gaze. Bram feared that Logan might ask for something cruel, but a moment later the great sword user sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. When he looked up again, he smirked at her.

"Well, my normal fare for this kind of thing is a date-"

"Of course it is…" Tuulikki groaned, covering her eyes.

"Hoy. But, that's not what I is asking for this time, hey?"

"Thank goodness… Fine, what is it you want?"

The great sword user shrugged and shook his head. "Eh… actually I can't think of anything I really want from you right now… How 'bout we just say you give me an I.O.U. on that? Is like what Steward did: you owe me a favor that I can call in one day."

"What kind of favor?" Tuulikki asked, narrowing her gaze.

"Tch. Nothing nasty, girlie. Something like what these two asked for, once I think of something worth getting."

Tuulikki crossed her arms and nodded. "That's acceptable. To be honest, I expected something crueler from you, all things considered."

"Won't say I wasn't tempted," Logan admitted, leaning against the wall. "But I ain't one to kick someone when they down. Didn't expect an apology like that when you come in… We prove you wrong, that's good 'nuf for me right now. What kind of thing you thinking I was gonna make you do?"

"I cannot say," the huntress shrugged. "Making me… walk through Dundorma proclaiming your greatness… Or doing a lap around the city naked or something."

"Hoy! I ain't that cold-blooded!" Logan retorted with a grimace, though he paused and tilted his head. "Actually, that second choice-"

"I am not going to-!"

"Kidding! Was only kidding, hey? You ain't my type, girlie."

"You have a type?" Sonia asked, covering her mouth in false shock.

"I wasn't aware he even had standards, aside from girls like Mina and women that are already spoken for," Bram said with a sly grin. Logan shot them both a scowl.

"Both of you can shut up." His lips curled up into a wicked smirk, however, as he turned back to Tuulikki. "That Violetta girl, though… Maybe I get you to-"

"NO."

"Heh, spoilsport. That's fine, I do my own dirty work anyway."

"I've changed my mind. You need to complete the Hill in thirty seconds before I approve of you."

Logan laughed at that, while Tuulikki huffed in frustration, looking away and glaring at the wall. Logan leaned forward and leered at the huntress. "You more fun now that you ain't looking down you nose at us three."

"Really," the huntress replied flatly. "Don't forget, though you may be eager to take the hunter's exam, until you pass it I am still technically your hunting master, and deserve the respect that position entails."

"Heh, guess you haven't been paying much attention," Logan chuckled. "I is these two's hunting master too, remember? Least I am in Theron. You seen the way they talk to me?"

The huntress shot a concerned glance at Bram and Sonia, before shaking her head. "Perhaps I should remind you Therians that this is a wager, and there must be something in it for me should I win, correct? What should I have you do if you fail to pass the exam…?"

Sonia gulped nervously, but a moment later the glaive wielder sighed. "Since your chances of all passing are slim, it would be cruel of me to impose something too terrible on the three of you. I suppose I shall keep it simple… in Dundorma, there are traders that sell rare and valuable nectars for Kinsects to eat. None of the caravan traders carry those with them when they visit Lintukoto, so I can't purchase any for Ketrak…"

"So, what… we don't pass, and we gotta buy you that fancy bug food?" Logan asked.

"That right," Tuulikki nodded. Then the huntress smirked evilly. "And I want a lot of it. It's very hard to get after all, so I'd like a small stockpile." The Therians looked at each other nervously, and the glaive wielder chuckled under her breath. "Do you still wish to make this wager?"

"Heh, course we do girlie," Logan smirked. "We prove you wrong once, we do it again, hey?"

"So you say…" the huntress sighed wearily. "But I am still your hunting master… until you pass the exam or until you leave the country. That was the deal I made with my father. So it appears that if you are serious about this, I will need to continue your training between now and then…"

"You ain't gonna be lax on us just so we fail, hey?" Logan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't patronize me. I have always done your training by the book, and I will not stop now," Tuulikki scoffed, meeting Logan's gaze with a level look of her own. Her mouth curled into a dark smile. "Perhaps I will make your training even harsher than before. After all, if you truly plan to take the exam, you will be taking it before all of Dundorma, and you will be representing my ability as a teacher and the training methods of Lintukoto. I cannot have you dragging my name and the name of my village through the mud, now can I?"

"Hmm… Guess not. Do your worst, girlie."

"Uh… I think he means to do your best!" Sonia cut in. "Do your best in training us!"

"Eh, either works, hey?"

"Either does not work!"

"Do not worry, I won't be too harsh. Not to you younger apprentices, at least. If your hunting master desires a harsher training regimen, I can oblige him…" However, a moment later the huntress sighed. "But… perhaps this is a discussion that can wait until tomorrow? I am… very tired after today, and would like some rest. With all of us leaving the village tomorrow, I imagine you three could use some rest as well, once you've finished packing…"

"That's correct," Bram nodded. "There's still a fair bit of Sonia's things to get put away."

"It won't take that much longer, string bean."

"It will if you don't want your item chest bursting open while we carry it to the top of the ravine. I don't think you want all those materials you've been stockpiling to be lost to the river."

"Then I will leave you to your own devices," the glaive wielder replied, pushing back to her feet. "I have my own goods to gather up and pack. I will see you all tomorrow." As the huntress turned to leave, she paused at the door. "You have all done very well. Goodnight… and thank you."

Before any of the Therians could respond, Tuulikki slipped out the door, vanishing into the evening light. Her footsteps faded away for a moment before vanishing under the sound of the rushing river. The three of them remained in silence for a while before Logan sighed.

"Didn't expect that…"

"Me either," Sonia agreed.

"She's been getting more approachable ever since Violetta and Leon came to town," Bram admitted, "but I didn't expect anything so dramatic as this when she came in."

"Yeah… and you were nicer about that than I thought you'd be," Sonia noted, looking at Logan as the great sword user groaned before flopping onto his back.

"Ja, ja… Still don't like her, but when someone that proud bows they head like that to say they sorry… I ain't gonna rub they nose in it. Ain't no sense in holding grudges when they ain't done nothing real bad or they ain't no profit in it, that's what Momma used to tell me. I ain't forgiven her for everything yet, hey? But I is willing to play nice. We see if she willing to do the same, or if tonight was just words."

Bram and Sonia looked at each other and shrugged. "Better than nothing, I guess."

"Agreed," Bram nodded. "The last thing we need is to have you two bickering for the next four months. That aside, get off your backside and help me and Sonia finish packing. Your 'motivational support' isn't going to get Sonia's horde to the top of the ravine."

"Oh, come on, string bean. You act like I'm one of those dragons from Grandpa's books, sleeping in piles of gold and jewels."

"If your item box gets any fuller, you might as well be. Sonia Geisel, the worst dragon ever: hordes nearly-useless monster materials, and spends her nights sleeping on Jaggi scales and Seltas shells. Honestly, with everything you have, if you sold half of your materials, you could very well have a real horde of gold to sleep on."

"Or you fill a vault and swim in it," Logan chuckled.

"You can't swim through gold coins," Bram said, raising an eyebrow. "Where'd you get an idea like that?"

"It's… you know, I can't remember… Think it was something I heard when I was little? Eh, forget it. Let's get the girlie's stuff up top. We got a big day tomorrow."

Lucas was sweating. He was sweating a lot.

That wouldn't have been anything uncommon, usually. Loc Lac was well known for being hot, no matter what time of year it was. But it was late at night right now, and though the sands of the Great Desert could be particularly sweltering while the sun was up, the sandsea cooled down dramatically past nightfall. Compared to the blazing daytime, the night was practically frigid.

So it made no sense for Lucas to be sweating at this time of day. This was not the sweat of heat, of a body trying to cool itself off, however, but the sweat of fear. Lucas' stomach was tangled in knots right now, twisting inside of him as chills crept down his spine. It felt like every nerve in his body was lit up, and every single sound, every single flickering shadow down the hallway in front of him made him shake in worry.

Were those footsteps coming closer? Was that the approach of the next guard on duty? Was that a Guild worker come to drop off some documents?

Lucas pulled at his collar to cool himself down. Keep calm, he thought. Keep steady. You don't need to act afraid. You're one of the Guild security guards, complete with polished steel armor emblazoned with the symbol of the Guild, and a sword at your belt decorated the same. This is your assigned station, guarding Guildmaster Elhart's office. You belong here! Anyone who came down that hall and saw you standing here wouldn't think twice about your presence. There's nothing to worry about!

But there was something to worry about, no matter how hard Lucas tried to push it out of his head. His gaze kept shifting nervously to a small desk clock that sat on a nearby receptionist's desk. It was 11:21 pm at the moment… It was getting very close. The guard continued to sweat and fidget where he stood, shivering as he gazed down the hallway, fearful of every sound he heard. Thank mercy the floor was stone… creaking wooden floors would have given him an apoplexy.

Finally he glanced at the clock and sighed in relief. 11:27. With a nervous glance down the hallway, he reached out and grabbed the knob to the office, wincing as the hinges creaked a little but pushing himself in anyway. It was dark inside. No lamps or glowstones were lit. It was easy to see, however, as the wide stretch of windows along the back wall filled the room with light pouring down from the full moon in the sky, and Lucas' eyes adjusted quickly.

The room was neat and organized; Guildmaster Elhart was a stickler for keeping things meticulously arranged. The books on the shelves were properly stood and alphabetized, the plaques and awards on the wall were perfectly aligned, the floor and furniture were kept clean and tidy and free of sand or dust, and even the filing cabinets in the back room were immaculately organized if you filed through them. The only thing with any sign of mess was the wide mahogany desk, where a few papers and documents were scattered around the wide wooden top, but even then the desk was impeccable compared to those of most of the other Guild workers.

Two things caught Lucas' attention as he entered the room, one he expected and the other he didn't.

The former was the man near the window. He was a broad, heavyset man, the same height as Lucas but much more solidly built. He appeared to be in his late sixties or seventies and looked rather scruffy, with short brown and grey hair and an exceptional beard of the same color. His clothing was sturdy leather, undecorated and bland, nothing elaborate or special. The only decoration he wore were a collection of bangles on his wrists and a solid necklace, all of which were decorated with uncut shards of blue and violet gemstones. He was casually flipping through a large report folder, his clear blue eyes skimming the words on the pages.

Lucas didn't know the man's name. He didn't dare ask for it.

The latter sight that caught Lucas off guard was the hole in the floor just to the left of the desk. At first the guard feared that it had been damaged, but the hole was nearly perfectly square. A hidden compartment? Lucas had been in this room countless times and never seen the smallest sign of such a thing! How had this man known-

Lucas froze, closing his eyes for a second and shaking his head. That was neither here nor there. He quickly cleared his throat and stepped further into the room. "Hey. Uh… mister. It's been thirty minutes. Your time is up."

The man blinked, looking up from the file, before smiling kindly at the guard. "Ah, so it is. Thank you for telling me."

With a pleased expression, the man gently closed the report, walking over to the hidden compartment and carefully slipping the document into the hollow. With practiced movement, the man carefully slid the compartment closed, and a moment later the floor was as seamless-looking as it had ever been. For the life of him, Lucas couldn't even tell what the man had done to close the hatch, much less open it… but again he shook his head. Don't think about it!

"Now then, I should leave," the man said warmly, kindly. Like a gentle old man talking to a friend on the street. "Thirty minutes was our agreement, and I'll not patronize you by begging for more. I can see myself out."

The man took only a couple steps before Lucas let out a strangled groan, earning a concerned look from the man. The guard cleared his throat in embarrassment; the man was looking at him as though he was genuinely worried about him.

"And… and my payment?" Lucas muttered nervously.

"Ah, yes, of course." The man smiled and nodded, as though asking about a bribe was as common as asking about the weather. "Thank you for the reminder. Let me see here…"

Lucas tensed involuntarily as the man reached into his jacket. Would he draw a weapon? Killing Lucas would be a better way to silence him than money. But a moment later, the hand appeared again, and Lucas gaped at the sight. It was a precious stone… no, not a stone, but something like it, tinted a lovely light blue. Very large, very beautiful, and very valuable (though Lucas could only speculate on the last part).

"Here you are," the man said cheerfully, reaching out and placing the orb into Lucas' hands. "One… what are they called? One large wyvern stone, that's it. Oh, and since you've been such a good sport about all this…"

The man reached into a side pocket and plucked another stone from out of nowhere. This one was a pale red color - nearly pink - with a dark crimson core at the center, and Lucas shivered as the man handed the stone to him.

"One Rathian ruby. Consider it a tip for excellent service."

"Uh… th-thank you…" Lucas muttered, slipping the stones into his satchel for fear the man would snatch them away if he wasn't quick about it.

"No, thank you, young man. Now, I'm sure you're no stranger to the value of those stones. A man working for the Guild must have some knowledge of their worth, and will know who to talk to in order to sell them for a nice profit." The man reached forward and patted Lucas on the shoulder - Lucas nearly crumpled under the impact, no doubt thanks to his shaking legs - and gave him a very cautionary look. "That being said, you should try to sell those discreetly. Some heads may turn, wondering how a guard working for the Guild got his hands on such valuable materials. Maybe sell them directly to a needy hunter, hmm? Skip out on the middleman. Most hunters won't care a whit about where the stone comes from and won't ask any questions, as long as they can save themselves the hassle of hunting down the monster themselves."

"Err… right. Of course."

"Good lad. Now, if you'll excuse me, perhaps I should get out of your hair. You look rather under the weather, and I'm sure my lingering presence isn't helping that."

"I'd appreciate that," Lucas gasped, pulling a chuckle from the man.

In only a few moments the two were out of the office, and Lucas was locking the door behind him. He felt a little relieved at that, but the man was still there. As soon as the lock clicked, the man smiled politely and nodded to the guard.

"One last thing," the man said, and Lucas tensed as the man motioned towards the door behind him. "I'd suggest forgetting about that little secret compartment you saw in there. Guildmaster Elhart seems to like his secrets to stay secret. It'd be best to let that bit of knowledge just slip out of your head."

"Uh, right… of course."

The man grinned and nodded, before turning away and walking nonchalantly down the hall. "Have a nice night, lad. And good luck!"

Lucas watched the man go as he walked away as though without a care in the world. Even after he turned a corner and vanished, Lucas could hear the man's heavy footsteps continue to thump away into the distance. It wasn't until the sound vanished that Lucas finally felt himself relax. His shaking legs nearly gave out underneath him, and he was forced to stagger over to a nearby chair and slump into it before he collapsed, wiping the beads of sweat from his head and gasping for air. He reached down to pat the two stones in his satchel. Quite a profit for thirty minutes indeed! It almost wasn't worth it for the stress he felt at the moment… Profit be damned, he hoped he'd never have to do something like this again.

Well… he might. His wife's medical bills were nothing to sneeze at, and this windfall would help. Lucas frowned at the thought; had the strange man known about that? Is that why he'd been approached about this? Lucas shook his head. It didn't really matter.

With a weary sigh, the guard pushed himself back up to his feet and planted himself next to the door once again. He'd think about the rest of that stuff once his shift was over, and hope that he never saw that man again.

Outside the main Guild headquarters, the man in question was frowning anxiously as he strode away from the building.

"Damn it all… Elhart's better at keeping secrets than Stergo was… I could've used this information years ago!" The man sighed and shook his head, crossing his arms in frustration. "I suppose I should be grateful bribery works as well as it always does. Beating people senseless isn't very subtle, and I'm not built for stealth. I suppose this means the old midget was right, then. Suppose he'll be happy about that, if not too pleased that his little fortune-telling means trouble's brewing."

The man groaned and scratched his head, glancing off to the northwest side of town, where the docks and the towering opening leading out into the sandsea lay. With a sigh, he turned and quickly began striding that way, following the towering masts and sails of the sandships.

"No sense waiting any longer. She'll need to hear about this. Gonna be a long journey…"

Author's Note: Please Review! Thanks for reading this chapter about… success!

Saw Mad Max: Fury Road for the first time while I was writing this chapter. Holy crap that was a good movie. And the music fits my tastes perfectly when it comes to exciting battle music. Lots of drums and some solid electric bass courtesy of the Doof Warrior… I've always thought heavy drums were a solid necessity for the best of battle music, thus my fondness of games like Final Fantasy XII and movies like Pacific Rim.

You know, even though I had Violetta pegged with the Jungle Bongo hunting horn from the get-go, it wasn't until this chapter that I realized that I wasn't sure exactly how that particular horn sounds when used. Now the buffing songs are pretty much what you'd think from a bongo-based weapon: a mix between bongos and what I think are steel drums. But the actual attacks that you use to prep a song? It's a very… creaky, groaning sound that sounds like stretching leather… or a really deep fart. That's the Congalala hunting horn for you, I guess. I wasn't deterred though. Considering Violetta's personality, she'd probably get a kick out of it.

Playing: MH4U (I… should probably start playing other games again), Bravely Default, Batman: Arkham Knight, Fire Emblem: Awakening
Listening: Mystery Skulls, Roman Candle, Owl City, Plain White T's, Pet Shop Boys, Silversun Pickups, The Decemberists, Rainer Maria, The Divine Comedy, Wilco, The Album Leaf, My Morning Jacket, Chavez, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Macha, Mad Max: Fury Road OST, Blind Guardian, Avenged Sevenfold
Watching: Overlord, Gate, Kekkai Sensen, Mad Max: Fury Road, Pacific Rim
Reading: Overlord by Maruyama Kugane, Gate by Takumi Yanai, Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Den by Fuse, The Rising of the Shield Hero Vol 2 by Aneko Yusagi, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline