Hunt 15: The 4th Member
Zedept, Lyra and Raylin have been on the Southern Continent for 5 days now and they arrive at a town. "Where are we?" Lyra asks. "Tavenbast." Zedept replied. "And it's a?" Raylin asks. "Training and blacksmith town." Zedept replied. "Do they have a guild here?" Lyra asks.
"A small one. Let's see if they can house us for a few nights while we restock." Zedept said to them and they head towards the guild. A messy black haired male looks at Zedept. "So that's the white double-edge greatsword once used by Karusai. Looks like I've finally found it." He said with an evil smile on his face.
Tavenbast Training School
Link, a 14 year old male with flat yellow hair and brown eyes is in training with his class. "Next up is Link." A male in Blackbelt armor says. Link stands up and is in Genpray armor and has a Bone Axe (Switch Axe). "Ok Link, hit all of the wooden dummies without being hit." The male instructs Link. "Ok." Link said as he pulls out his switch axe. Link swings his switch axe around and then falls on his back and gets hit by the wooden dummies. The class is laughing at him.
"You fail again Link." The male said. Link gets up and walks back to his seat. "Ok everyone, that's it for today. Your final tests will be in 4 days, if you pass, you'll become hunters." The male said. "Yes, about time." A male student said. "I've always wanted to be a hunter." A female student said. The class then gets up and leaves. As Link was about to leave, his teacher calls him over. "Listen Link, I know you can do it." He said. "Easy for you to say Teacher." Link said. "Just trust in yourself, ok?" The male said. "Ok." Link said. Link then left the room. As Link was about to leave the school, a messy black haired man stops him.
"I know how you can get stronger." He said. "How?" Link asks. "There's a white double-edge greatsword that's at the guild, if you can get it and bring it to me, I can teach you how to use it." He said. "Will it help me pass?" Link asks. "Of course." The male said. "Ok, then I'll get it and bring it to you." Link said. Link then left the school as the male has an evil smile on his face.
Tavenbast Guild
Zedept, Lyra and Raylin are eating at a table. "It was nice of Moke to give us some extra money." Raylin said. "Now we can afford to restock on supplies and get a sand boat to take us to Garetaten." Lyra said. Zedept is drinking as he looks at a map. "Figuring out our route?" Lyra asks. "Yeah." Zedept said. Link walks in a spots Zedept's Shikaiza. "He must be its owner." Link said in his head. He waits for his chance to take it. Zedept, Lyra and Raylin finish eating and a guild waitress takes the empty plates and cups. "I'm going to ask about what routes to take." Zedept said. "Ok." Lyra and Raylin said in unison.
Zedept gets up and walks over to the information counter as Lyra and Raylin talk. "Now's my chance." Link says in his head. Link sneaks over and grabs Shikaiza and starts running. "Hey kid! Bring that back!" Lyra yelled. Zedept turns around. "What's going on?" He asks. "A kid just stole Shikaiza." Raylin said. "We better catch him." Zedept said and they run after Link.
After running around town for 30 minutes, Raylin and Lyra meet back up at the guild's entrance. "Any luck?" Lyra asks. Raylin shakes her head and replies. "None." Zedept arrives back at the guild. Lyra and Raylin sees Zedept without Shikaiza. "I see no luck with you two either." Zedept said. They both look down.
"We should've been keeping a better eye on it." Raylin said. "It's ok, we'll find that kid." Zedept said. "But, it was dad's greatsword." Lyra said. "I know, I know." Zedept said. "Are you 3 looking for someone?" A male townsperson asks. "A kid in Genpray armor stole his greatsword." Lyra said. "That's not good." The male said. "Any clues will help." Raylin said. "If the kid was wearing Genpray armor then you want to try the training school, all the students there wear Genpray armor." The male said. "Thank you." Zedept said. They headed to the training school.
Training School
Zedept, Lyra and Raylin arrive at the school. "Where do we start?" Lyra asks. A male in Blackbelt armor appears. "Need any help with anything?" He asks. "A kid in Genpray armor stole my greatsword and we were told that all students here wear Genpray armor." Zedept explained. "That's not good." The male said. "Did a kid with yellow hair come by here with a white double-edge greatsword?" Lyra asks.
"Not that I've seen but you're welcome to search the school." The male said. "Thank you." Raylin said. They started to search the school. After 10 minutes of searching, they open a door and find Link with Shikaiza. "That's him." Lyra said. Zedept walks over and takes Shikaiza back. "Why did you steal my greatsword?" Zedept asks angrily. "I, just." Link said hesitantly.
Zedept slams his right foot down. "Tell me now!" Zedept said angrily. "Whoa there Zedept, you're scaring him." Raylin said. "I'm sorry." Link said scared. "Sorry doesn't cut it." Zedept said, still angry. "Back off Zedept." Lyra tells Zedept. "Tch, fine." Zedept says as he walks to a corner of the room and leans against a wall. "Ok now, please tell us why you took his greatsword." Lyra asks in a sweet tone.
"Well." Link said and then explained the situation. "So a messy black haired guy with evil looking eyes told you that if you stole his greatsword that he will help you pass your final test?" Raylin asks. "Yes." Link replied. "Do you know anyone that matches that description?" Raylin asks Lyra. "No, I don't." Lyra said. "I do." Zedept said. Lyra and Raylin look at Zedept.
"Who is it?" Lyra asks. "His name is Dr. Floss." Zedept said. "I think I heard that name before." Raylin said. "He's the leader of the underground hunters, they hunt illegally and sell monster parts on the black market as well as rare weapons and armor." Zedept explained. "Rare weapons, like your greatsword?" Lyra asks. "Yes." Zedept said. "I'm sorry, all I wanted was to pass my final test and become a hunter." Link apologizes with his head down.
Lyra and Raylin look at Zedept. Zedept sighs. "Stand up kid." Zedept said. Link raises his head. "Huh?" Link asks. "I said stand up!" Zedept said in a raised voice. Link gulped and quickly stood up. Zedept walked over and punched Link on top of his head. "What was that for?" Lyra asks. "That was for stealing my greatsword." Zedept replied.
Link looked up at Zedept. "When is your test?" Zedept asks. "4 days." Link answered. "We'll train you in the remaining 3." Zedept said. Lyra, Raylin and Link are surprised by what Zedept just said. "Are you sure about this?" Lyra asks. "Yes and what's your name kid?" Zedept asks. "It's Link." Link replied. "Get plenty of rest cause I'm going to train you hard tomorrow." Zedept said. "Yes sir." Link said. Outside of the room, Link's teacher overheard everything. For the next 3 days, Zedept trained Link from dust to dawn with little breaks.
Training School
The day for Link's final test has come. Zedept, Lyra and Raylin are in the classroom when the students start to enter. "Ok class listen up, we have with us today hunters that have traveled from the Eastern Continent and has been in the Northern and Western Continents as well." The male said. The class was in awe. "If you would please." The male said to Zedept.
"I heard that today is your final test before you become actual hunters." Zedept started. "If you believe in your own abilities." Raylin said. "As well as your partners' abilities." Lyra said. "You will have nothing to fear and you can hunt any monster out there." Zedept said. The class applauded. "We will now start the final test." The male said. They all went to the arena and one by one, the students took the test.
"Last is Link." The male said. Link stood up and entered the arena. Link looked at the class that was in the stands. He then looked at Zedept and Zedept nodded. Link took a deep breath and pulled out his switch axe. The gate opened and out came a Great Jaggi. "Hold on, a Great Jaggi isn't supposed to be in this arena." The male said. "Let him hunt it." Zedept said.
"But a Great Jaggi is too strong for a student." The male said. "Can't you see the determination in his eyes?" Lyra asks. The male looks at Link's eyes. "Alright then." The male said to her. "Link, begin." The male said and Link charged the Great Jaggi. The Great Jaggi goes to bite him but Link dodges and slashes with his switch axe. After hunting for 3 minutes, Link is starting to slow down. "He's slowing down." Lyra said.
"But he's not giving up." Zedept said. Link then switched his switch axe to sword mode. He then charges at the Great Jaggi. The Great Jaggi starts to limp. "Now is my chance." Link said. He charges the Great Jaggi and stabs it in the chest and is still running while pushing the Great Jaggi towards the wall. He slams the Great Jaggi into the wall. "Now, Discharge!" Link yelled as part of his weapon opened up and a blast came from the opened part.
Link pulled out his switch axe and the Discharge killed the Great Jaggi. The class was silent at what just happened. Zedept looked at Link's teacher. "Announce it." Zedept said. "Link." The male said. The class and Link looked at their teacher. "You passed." He said. The class cheered. "Way to go Link!" "Great job!" They said. Link looked at Zedept, Lyra and Raylin. Lyra and Raylin applaud. Zedept gives a thumbs up with his right thumb.
Later That Day
Zedept, Lyra and Raylin are walking to one of the exits. "Are you sure we should leave?" Lyra asks. "Yeah, we spent more time here than necessary." Zedept said. "I hope Link does well as a hunter." Raylin said. "Hey! Wait!" A male voice said. They turn around and sees Link and his teacher. "I wanted to thank you for everything." Link said. "Glad we could help." Lyra said. "I have a favor, please take Link with you on your journey." Link's teacher said. "Why?" Zedept asks. "I believe that his skills will improve a lot if he goes with you." The teacher said. "Damn, I don't want to bring a complete rookie with me." Zedept said.
"Why not? I was a rookie when I joined and look how mush I've improved." Raylin said. "Having a 4th member can't hurt us." Lyra said. Zedept realized that he was being teamed up on. "Ok, fine, he can come with us." Zedept said. "Thank you Zedept." Link said. "Whatever." Zedept said. "Here Link, take this switch axe with you." His teacher said.
They see Link receiving a Bolt Axe (Lagiacrus' starting Switch Axe). "Thank you Teacher." Link said. "Good luck on your journey." The male said. "Let's go shrimp." Zedept said. "Name is not shrimp." Link said as he catches up to Zedept. "Now the group is complete." Raylin said. "Yes it is." Lyra said. "As long as he doesn't slow us down." Zedept said. "I promise I won't." Link said. "Good, now off to Garetaten." Zedept said.