Noran whistled appreciatively as Sinika finished her tale. Two big hunts wrapped in one. Fleeing the Nargacuga was a show of humility and raw survivalist instinct. The fact that she recognized it for what it was was credit to her. But she'd been a spectator at the arenas a few times. The telltale shriek of the shadowy flying wyvern was something she would never forget. She'd made a point of attending the arena fights regularly. Tigrex, Rathian, Rathalose, Duramboros, and Barrioth... she knew all of them and more, even if only by their roars.
"Our employer will be none too pleased to hear that even after clearing out his pest problem, he'd come to house one of the more formidable predators of the south. But this is fine. No doubt, the guild will make that their personal mark. Nargacuga is a menace to every outlander from the snowy north to the flooded south. It won't stay in that farm for long before it is seeking its next meal. Unlike a nargacuga to play a scavenger, though..." the former hunter mused. Sinika shrugged.
"Perhaps. But nonetheless, it allowed me to take on the Great Jaggi myself. Perhaps it was wounded? Maybe humbled by whatever chased it from its southern home?" She added to his thoughts. Noran nodded, though again, Sinika was blind to his affirmation. The silence that followed was brief before Noran realized his inconsideration.
"Probably. They're cunning. It wouldn't be beyond them to adapt to such an experience. Perhaps it was even an unfinished mark for another hunter?" he continued the train of thought. Sinika shook her head.
"That's the most probable reason."
Yu-Yian cleared his throat, having sat quietly by as the two passed ideas back and forth. Sinika turned her head to him, opening her eyes to cast her unsettling opal gaze on the room in his direction. She could sense his breath halt for a moment as her gaze had the affect she intended. "M-Miss... Did you manage to get any parts out of the ordeal?" he submissively inquired. Being bird wyverns, their bones are light and porous, and their hides and scales are flexible and light. It was excellent for light armors. A telling smile crossed Sinika's face. He had been as excited for the parts as she had. Jaggi parts are cheap and readily available, but it became evident that he had begun to understand why she wanted to hunt for herself. There was a certain pride that came from making your own gear from the ground up. Any smith could purchase parts from hunters. But where was the fun in that?
"I'm afraid not. Not one scrap. They were pretty butchered to start with, though. I hadn't realized how badly the sawtooth blade would tear apart the usable parts. It proved handy with the Great Jaggi. The paralysis bought me plenty of time to deal with his harem, but Nargacuga is a little out of my league," She said with a chuckle. Noran chuckled at something unseen to Sinika, and she perked her ears slightly.
"No. N-no. I don't mean you should have stayed around. I don't want you to die... that is... I... errr... well..." Yu-Yian stammered out. Eventually, he sighed. "Just... you're worth more alive, I guess..." Sinika somehow doubted that was the extent of his concern. Without warning, she stepped up to him and put her hand on his cheek. It was hot to the touch. He was blushing! He didn't move as her work-worn hands touched his cheek, but she spared him further embarrassment by withdrawing her hand. She didn't say a word, and Noran burst into a full on guffaw. She could hear her apprentices heartbeat hasten. She shook her head. At least she could rely on his loyalty. It was comforting to realize his interest in her went beyond her knowledge of her former trade.
"You're right," she said, lips curled into a half-smile. "My bonesmithing secrets are worth a lot to you, aren't they?" she prodded, playing with his nervousness, either in an effort to alleviate his anxiety over the revelation of his feelings, or else to make him squirm more. It could have gone either way with him.
"Well.. of... of course! Naturally," he muttered. Apparently it had gone the latter. His heart was pounding as loudly as ever. She almost swore it was beating in her own neck. Even she became a little uncomfortable with it. That's the problem with having superbly fine-tuned hearing. You experience some of the more intense emotions whether you want to or not, and the only way to wash them away is to plug her ears. Noran cleared his throat. He was an old man, and was thoroughly amused by the two, but he'd been in Yu-Yian's shoes once before, and used his sagely experience to spare the poor lad.
"Anyways, this hunt should definitely improve your standing in the Guild, Sinika. Running away from a hunt is not always viewed as cowardice. 'Live to hunt another day,' is an expression not lost on the questatrixes. You survived a Nargacuga. Enough said..." he said and guffawed. His amusement was evident in every hearty laugh. Yu-Yian chuckled. He appreciated the diversion from his own awkwardness. Sinika was relieved to hear Yu-Yian's heartrate return to normal, and shook her head with her signature half-smile.
"We'll see. You still owe me a Royal Ludroth. Don't forget that," she pointed out. It was a lighthearted gesture. Noran's hearty laugh died away to a few last chuckles and then a sigh of contentment.
"You'll get your Ludroth. Do you have a weapon in mind for that hunt?" he asked, voice brimming with good-natured warmth.
"Lance for sure. That spongey mane is too valuable to risk my sawtooth greatsword on, and its hide is to tough for my sword and shield. If I can get at it's spine with a good jab, that'll put it down quickly and easily," she added. Noran nodded. He never would learn how much such motions were lost on his blind client.
"You've got plans. That's enough for me. I'll leave you to your apprentice for now. I'm going to mingle at the Guild hall. I've got rumors to start and tales to tell," he said, taking his hat off and putting it briefly over his chest in his signature departure. Without another word, he was gone. Yu-Yian cleared his throat and, summoning some bolstered confidence granted him by Noran's contagious laugh, he turned to Sinika.
"So... about those bonesmithing secrets of yours. Mind sharing a few?" he asked, a broad and unseen smile crossing his face. Sinika smiled, relieved that the tension was gone.
"Of course. Let's get started with basic machalite saturation..."
As the sun stood high over the shelter of the forge, Yu-Yian was soon busily at work, practicing on the remnants of the gen bones under Sinika's stern guidance.