"So we have a new guy?" Melanie asked as Junior just took a drink.

"Yeah that's right, Tukson called in a favor."

"Lame." Miltia stated as she and her sister crossed their arms. "Do you even know if he's any good?"

"Cause the rest of your guys are kinda lacking."

"In more than one category."

"That's why I want you two to show him the ropes, keep an eye on him."

"Ugh~ do we have to?"

"Yes." The twins groaned as Junior turned his attention behind the pair. "There you are, kid. What happened, get lost in the dressing room?"

"No just taking in the sights." The teen admitted before adjusting his tie. "So how do I look?"

"Not bad. Melanie, Miltia this is Gales, he's the guy your going to be looking after." The twins turned, blank expressions on their faces as they looked at the suit… and the blank expressions slowly changed as they looked at the teen. Same black suit as the others, same red tie… he cleaned up a lot better though. "What the… hey DJ, turn that jazz off!"

"I'm not playing any music boss!"

"Then where's that music coming from?"

"Hey." Gales looked down at the two girls as smiled. "Nice to meet you, Melanie, Miltia."

"Hi~" The twins said dreamyly as they stared at the teen, their cheeks flourishing as they stared at the wild-haired teen. 'Oh~ thank you Oum.'

"So if you don't mind me asking, girls, which one of you is Melanie and which one Miltia?"

"I'm Melanie." Of the twins Melanie had the longer hair and her eyes were highlighted by heavy cyan makeup. She wore a white, strapless dress with cyan lining. Her choice of accessories included a large white flower hairpin above her left ear, a white feather scarf, a silver pad with cyan and red feathers on her left shoulder, white gloves, a small silver bracer over the glove on her left arm, a bow in the center of the top-most part of her bodice, a silver chain belt, cyan wings on the lower back, and long white boots with blades at the heels.

"I'm Miltia." Miltia was the twin with short black hair and her eyes were highlighted by heavy red makeup. She wore a red strapless dress with black lining. Accessory-wise her clothes included large red and white feathers above her left ear, black fur hanging off her shoulders and held at the front by a dark gray chain, red gloves, a black bow tied around her waist, and long red boots with high stiletto heels.

"Gales, the twins will be showing you the ropes around here. Just follow their instructions and you'll be set."

"Then I'm all yours ladies." Gales flashed another smile as the twins just nodded their heads mutely. "So what's first?"

"Go out with me." The twins looked at one another as Junior palmed his face. Gales just tilted his head curiously.

"Huh?"

"What they mean to say~ is that since it's still early we don't have much for you to do around here." Junior tried saving the girls as best he could. "But I gotta get the delivery picked up from a local brewery. You, the twins and a few more of my boys are going to go grab it, understood?"

"Yeah~"

"Sure thing." Gales put his hands in his pocket as he looked at the twins. "Shall we go?"

"Not yet, I still gotta talk to these two for a minute. You mind?"

"No problem." Gales looked back to the twins one last time before doing a two finger salute and started walking back towards the club, deciding to make small talk with the others he failed to notice the Malachite twins turn on Junior like lightning.

"Now, you two -"

"You didn't tell us he'd be hot." The twins said in unison as they looked back at the teen before looking back to Junior. "I would have worn my good makeup." Again Junior palmed his face as he took a breath.

"Look, I get he cleans up well, but no. Not while you're on the clock."

"What about after?"

"… I don't care what you do after work, but for now. Get your heads together and earn your paychecks."

"Right."

Streets

'Well this is new.' Gales thought to himself as he looked to his right, and then to his left. He couldn't move his arms. He wanted to, but he just couldn't at the moment, not with two girls apparently latched on his arms. Around him were the rest of Juniors men, some giving him pitiable looks while a few others giving him ones more humorous. Beyond them though he could see a few random people looking at him, giving him an odd look, like they were envious of something. Something he couldn't quite get at the moment. The teen sighed before turning his attention as he shot one of Junior's guys a curious look. The man just adjusted his glasses with a smile, but he neither said, nor did anything to help the teen at the moment, leaving him to whatever fate this was. '… I have an itch on my cheek and I can't scratch it.'

"So Gales." Melanie began as she looked up at the teen. "Where are you from?"

"Oh, I'm from the Old World."

"The Old World?" Gales turned to Militia as he nodded.

"If a land far from here, beyond your borders."

"So, you're a foreigner?"

"Yep."

"Interesting." The twins said in unison as they looked at each other. "We're from Atlas."

"Atlas? That… one of your Four Kingdoms right; located on Solitas?"

"That's right."

"Tukson had a book on it… so you moved from Atlas to Vale. What brought that on?"

"Freedom."

"Freedom?"

"We didn't want to join the military, so we left a couple years ago."

"Join the military?" Gales blinked in confusion. "Why would you join the military? Was there a draft or something?"

"Or something." Miltia muttered.

"Of the Four Kingdoms, Atlas's Huntsmen's academy and military are pretty interconnected." Miltia admitted. "You graduate from the Academy and you're pressured into joining the military afterwards."

"Oh… wait what?" Gale stopped walking as he looked at the twins. "You join the military after you graduate from being a hunter-in training?" Gales questioned as the twins nodded. "But… hunters aren't supposed to be aligned with a nation. I mean that's how it worked in the Old World, why's it different?"

"I don't know." Miltia said as she tightened her grip on Gales arm. "Something happened in the past and all of a sudden the government thought it would be better to control its people."

'Miltia… her scent just changed…'

"Miltia and I left sometime after our first year at the Academy, when the military started trying to pressure us. We came to Vale and we've been working for Junior ever since." Gales felt there was more to the story, but he chose not to question it, not this time. Instead he and the girls resumed walking, heading towards a building. The moment they stepped inside the twins moved in an almost rehearsed manner released his arms and stepped forward.

"Melanie, Miltia, it's good to see you again."

"Bacchus." Melanie began as she looked at the older man. "Junior needs some bottles for the bar again."

"Right, just give me a moment, his crates are in the back." Gales watched the man walk to the back as he crossed his arms. He did a few trips, coming back with crate after crate as Junior's men started to pick them up. "So~ how is Junior, haven't seen him around lately."

"He's been busy, also he wants a little extra from you."

"Course he does." The man's tone shifted before he picked up a briefcase and passed it to Melanie for a moment. "Tell him that's all I got right now, if he wants more he's going to have to wait a while." Melanie just nodded her head before watching Gales lift the last crate over his shoulder. "Junior thanks you for your business."

Later

Melanie handed her boss the briefcase as he looked over it's contents before closing it. "Alright, nice work."

"So what's in the briefcase?"

"Something special, but don't worry about it." Junior stated as Gales crossed his arms but shrugged anyway.

"So what's next?"

"We still got a couple hours before we open. You can head to the back and help stock all the bottles."

"That's all?"

"That's all." Gales pouted, rolling his shoulders as he started walking towards the back. "I was hoping for something a bit more interesting."

"Not everything around here's going to be interesting." Junior countered as he looked at the teen before reaching for a newspaper. "Besides it's your first day, you didn't think I'd trust you with more important matters did you?"

"Touche." The teen disappeared as the twins looked back at their boss and crossed their arms.

"So bout the briefcase, what's next?" Junior just folded his newspaper and dropped it on the table. On it, a picture of a man with blonde hair and crimson eyes.

Few Days Later

Another day, another jog. Another morning with Pyrrha. The teen looked to the redhead as he shook his head with a light smile. Pyrrha had her hands on her knees as she took a moment to regain her breath. "Come on Pyrrha we're barely hitting 12 miles."

"I'm sorry… how do… how do you… have this much stamina?" Pyrrha asked as she looked at the white haired teen. "You're not even… remotely winded… how are you?"

"I have outrun a lot of wyverns back home, while usually wearing full armor." Especially when he bit off more than he could chew. "Helps build stamina; those guys will chase you for a good couple miles less you can distract them with something." 'Like another wyvern… or a herd of herbivores, or that conveniently placed cliff that you have to jump off and they refuse to follow you down.' Gales added silently as he looked to Pyrrha and then to the rest of the city before looking for something. "Anyway let's call it in, and take a breather."

"Thank you." Helping Pyrrha to a nearby street corner the two settled down as she took a moment to relax. "I'm sorry I'm always ruining your jog."

"Ruining it? How so?"

"You always have to stop when I get tired."

"Oh please, you're not ruining it." Gales stated as he nudged Pyrrha's shoulder. "You're making it worthwhile."

"I am?"

"I like jogging with you." The teen stated as he gave the redhead a smile. "It's not much but I like spending time with you. You're fun to be around." Pyrrha flourished slightly as she looked at the boy before messing with her hair for a moment.

"I… thank you. I wasn't too sure you liked spending time with me."

"Why wouldn't I? We're friends after all." Pyrrha's head snapped to him faster than a Snake Wyvern's jaw. Surprise on her face as she went stiff.

"We're… friends?"

"Well I see us as friends. Don't you?"

"Yes it's just… I'm not used to having friends, that's all." That caught Gales off guard as he looked at the redhead.

"You're not used to having friends? Why? You're a great girl."

"I've been blessed with incredible talents and opportunities. I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise… but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place." Gales watched Pyrrha's expression shift to one of sadness as he clenched his fists on his sweats. "Everyone assumes I'm too good for them; that I'm on a level they simply can't attain. It's become impossible to form any sort of meaningful relationship with people." Pyrrha continued as she looked to Gales. "But you; when we first met and started jogging together; you didn't even know my name and you treat me just like anyone else. You're just… someone who sees me for me." Pyrrha stated as she scratched her cheek. "Thank you… I'm happy you see me as a friend."

Gals just stayed silent as he leaned back in the street and made a noise. "You're welcome…" He… really didn't know what to say after that little speech. With their talks he knew about Pyrrha's past as Mistral's champion and her time as a mascot. But he never knew fame could be that isolating. 'Makes me think of what happens if I reach G-Rank. If I get to that level… will people start treating me differently?'

"Oh course they will."

Gales twitched slightly as he heard the voice. Seems the beast had finally chosen to resurface.

"People already see you differently because you possess the Wyvern's Eye, and for what you accomplished during your one year as a Hunter of the guild. The farther you go as a Hunter will only serve to separate you further from the people you now stand with."

'Where the hell have you been.

"With you, just as I always have."

The beast states.

"Tell me, how will you handle this situation?"

'That… is a good question.' Gales thought as he looked back at Pyrrha who was looking down.

'I've made this awkward now haven't I?' Pyrrha thought as she tried to think of something to say. 'I really shouldn't have told him all that. I've gone and made this really awkward and I don't know what to say and now it's just super awkward.' Pyrrha was actually happy when her Scroll went off, her mom telling her again that breakfast was ready whenever she came back. Her mother, the only other person she had a meaningful relationship with. "That's my mother, I should get going."

"I'll walk with you." Gales stated as they both stood and started silence quickly followed, continuing for the next couple blocks before Gales crossed his arms.

"I'm really sorry for dumping all that on you. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, it's fine. You shouldn't have to hold something like that in." Gales admitted as he gave her a loose smile. "I'm happy you chose to share something like that with me." Pyrrha sighed, returning the smile.

"I'm happy too. I'm sorry I made things awkward for a moment."

"Don't be." Gales admitted as he nudged the redhead. "Anyway is there anything else you wanna get off your chest?"

"I'm afraid I can't think of anything." She admitted as she looked off in the distance. "But what about you, how have you been; you said you started a job right?"

"Yeah it's at Junior's Club, ever been?"

"I'm afraid not. What's it like?"

"Lots of lights, plenty of space, and the drinks aren't that bad either." Pyrrha stood in front of the teen as she put her hands on her hips.

"Gales, are you drinking?"

"Nothing alcoholic." The teen stated as he raised his hands in defense. 'Yet.' "He's got these nice little beverages like soda and water. I swear, I have not touched alcohol." 'Since I've been here.'

"Good." Pyrrha stated as she and Gales went back to walking.

"Hey, you wanna grab lunch later?" Gales asked out of nowhere. "My treat."

"I'd like that."

"Awesome." Gales cheered slightly before his own Scroll went off and he pulled it out. "Oh damn it…"

"I wasn't aware you had a Scroll now."

"Yeah, Glynda bought it for me, said it'll be easier to keep in touch with me aside from waiting outside my apartment for when I have an appointment…" Gales muttered as he began to fumble with his Scroll for a moment. "Problem is I can barely work this thing."

"You don't have Scrolls in the Old World?"

"Nope."

"Here let me." Pyrrha stepped next to Gales as he handed it to her. He watched her swipe the screen with her finger before something popped up on the screen.

Glynda

You have an appointment with the Aura Specialist in 2 hours. Don't be late.

"You're seeing an Aura Specialist?" Pyrrha asked as she looked back at the teen and handed him his scroll.

"Yeah, they wanna see how my Aura's adjusting to a problem I've got."

"What kind of problem?"

"Apparently~ hm how to put this?" Gales paused in thought. "My Aura is infected with something, and it's been trying to fight it off for a while now." He looked at Pyrrha as he set the Scroll in his pocket. "It's not contagious."

"That's not what I'm worried about." Pyrrha stated as she looked the teen over for a moment, though her attention unconsciously lingered on his chest for a moment before it shot back to his face. "I've never heard of an Aura being infected… are you ok?"

"I'm fine, nothing I can't handle." The teen admitted. "Doesn't seem to be doing anything anyway." Not at the moment anyway. "Anyway after I'm done with my appointment I gotta head to Tukson's Bookstore for a couple hours. What do you say afterwards we head out for that lunch?"

"Well, sure where should we meet up?"

"Don't worry I'll find you." Gales stated as he smiled. "But first let's get you home."

He did just that; and a couple hours later, he did find her, just like he told her he would.