Project UNKNOWN - Lost in the Dark

by levieux

Follow the story of Clarent, a young huntress hit by a strange amnesia phenomenon as she was traveling to Mezeporta in search of clues about a mysterious black flying wyvern. Story based on Monster Hunter Frontier, less focused on hunts and more on characters and the secret behind the birth of the most peculiar monster in the series: the UNKNOWN. Rated M for explicit content.

4. Chapter 3 - Calm after the Storm

Selena

The storm began subsiding gradually after several minutes, allowing moonlight to shine brightly upon the city once more after being shrouded in darkness for so long. However, the streets remained eerily silent, save for occasional thunder rumbling in the distance. No living souls wandered aimlessly outside anymore, cowering within their homes, seeking shelter from the raging tempest occurring above their heads.

The chaos died down at the southern gate, where hordes of wyverns had previously swarmed over everything and are now gone. The defenders managed to fend off the monsters successfully, preventing them from breaching the walls and spreading into the residential areas. Although rumour has it that the tide of the battle shifted considerably after a mysterious archer single-handedly shot down every largest threat before they even came close enough to attack. However, nobody could confirm nor deny this claim; it remained unknown whether it was true or just mere gossip circulating among soldiers to explain the sudden shift of fortune.

The situation at Mezeporta's docks was different. The air was heavy with tension, so thick you could cut through it with a knife, even after the rain stopped completely. Amidst the warehouses and cargo containers, a lone person stood alone against two others, each staring down at one another, neither willing to back down anytime soon. Meanwhile, an unconscious redhead lay motionless nearby, completely oblivious to what was happening around her.

"Respecting Aether's wishes, thou say...?" Guan Romulus mumbled under his breath as he contemplated Selena's proposal carefully. After a few seconds, he let out a chuckle and shook his head. "That fool hath grown soft after spending so much time among you mongrels."

"Juno wishes for peace between us," Selena remarked calmly, maintaining eye contact with the emperor at all times while she cradled the azure-haired woman close. "She thinks that your so-called 'curse' is actually a blessing that can lead to better understanding between us. So that one day we can settle our differences once and for all... in peace."

"A blessing?! Preposterous! We hath never desired this accursed appearance! A curse, inflicted upon our soul from that treacherous snake!" Guan roared angrily while clenching his fists. "This appearance hath caused us nothing but misfortune ever since! It ruined everything we ever hoped to accomplish, costing us everything! We will not rest until we have regained our original form and destroyed that foul monster responsible for all this misery!"

"The snake you're talking about... Oneiros, isn't it?" Selena guessed, raising an eyebrow inquisitively at Guan. "Interesting," she whispered to herself while narrowing her single eye, pondering silently for a moment before continuing. "It seems that I'm not the only one with a personal beef against that dipshit."

"Do not mention that name in front of us!" Guan bellowed in fury as he clenched his fists even harder, shaking his entire frame visibly due to anger welling up deep inside his chest. "The mere sound of that abominable wretch's name is enough to drive us insane! We shall destroy everything and everyone connected with this evil! And if thou art allied with that filth, we shall not hesitate to crush thy puny existence as well!"

"Allied? Oh hell no," Selena protested, shaking her head vigorously as she spoke those words. "I happen to have... some unfinished business with him." As she spoke, she pointed to her right eye, the missing one hidden beneath an eyepatch. "I haven't repaid him in full for his kindness yet." She stated it bitterly before glancing towards Juno, lying in her arms.

Guan stared blankly towards Selena for several seconds in silence, unable to respond anything to her words, although a faint hint of understanding appeared on his face shortly thereafter, indicating that he knew exactly what Selena was implying here. However, instead of responding any further, he merely snorted coldly under his breath and averted his gaze elsewhere.

"It seems we share a common goal, buddy," Selena addressed the duo once more, resuming her earlier conversation with them. "You know what they say: the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? So how about you..."

"Silence!" Guan Romulus suddenly roared as he raised a hand towards Selena, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Do not presume that we would ever consider cooperation with such inferior filth! We shall eliminate anyone and anything who stands in our path of vengeance! That treacherous scum will die at our hands!"

"Alright, alright... You don't wanna engage in jolly cooperation? Fine, your call," Selena scoffed, shrugging nonchalantly as she adjusted Juno's position within her arms, tucking her closer to her bosom for protection. "Then it's time to get serious. This is your final warning. Release the girl you captured and get the hell out of here. Otherwise, you'll be facing the consequences of your actions."

"Consequences? Pah! We shall not allow such threats to deter our mission," Guan declared defiantly as he pointed at the lone female human standing before him. "What harm can a single mortal do against our combined might? With hands full, carrying Aether's useless carcass, thou art no threat at all! Lord Zephyrus! Dispose of this insolent wench immediately!"

Zephyrus nodded obediently at his master's command, turning his attention towards Selena and preparing himself for battle again. However, before he could do anything else, Selena suddenly spoke up once more.

"Bold words coming from someone in bowgun range," Selena remarked with a defiant grin, challenging them to take the bait. "Besides, who said anything about me fighting you guys? I have other things to worry about."

As soon as those words left her lips, a gunshot echoed throughout the docks, coming from somewhere else, startling both men. A bullet zoomed past them, just barely missing its intended target, although it did manage to scratch Zephyrus' golden armor as it flew past. Guan quickly glanced back towards where the bullet came from, trying to determine the source of this projectile.

A lone figure was crouched low atop one of the many containers stacked throughout this area, wielding a long-barreled heavy bowgun equipped with a scope. It was too dark for them to identify exactly who it was, unfortunately.

"Master! Master! Are you alright!?" someone exclaimed frantically as she rushed towards Selena before placing herself in front of her, unsheating her weapon, and assuming a defensive stance immediately afterwards.

It was a young woman with blue eyes and light blue hair tied up in a ponytail. She had a gold headband similar to a crown on her head, which was connected to two saucer-shaped ear covers on both sides of her head. On her body, she wore a set of light ceremonial armor decorated with intricate designs, resembling a knight's armor but much more revealing and lightweight, exposing her bare belly and cleavage under a bustier made of leather and metal plates, which only covered her chest and shoulders. Her bottom was more appropriately protected by a pair of knee-high plated greaves and dark blue pantyhose, as well as a matching plated skirt. Her arms were also well protected by vambraces reaching up to her shoulders, plated with silver-colored metallic pads.

Her weapon was a massive Switch Axe that seemed ridiculously big and heavy for someone of her size. Still, she handled it expertly, as if it weighed nothing at all. It was currently in sword form, with a broad, thick edge emitting a bright, vibrant blue light shaped like an extension of the blade.

"You're late, Chloe," Selena commented casually as she looked at the blue-haired girl. "I almost had the time to die from old age waiting for you here," she added in a joking tone, yawning dramatically afterwards.

However, this kind of humor didn't go over well with Chloe, who immediately glared back at the blonde, huffing in annoyance as she lowered her Switch Axe to rest on the ground. "Hmph...'You're late'... Don't give me that crap, you absolute dingus!" She snapped back, shooting daggers towards the one-eyed woman. "Who's the one who suddenly disappeared without telling anyone, huh? And where do I find you? In the middle of fucking troubles again, of course! What part of 'stop being reckless' do you not understand!?"

Instead of replying, the blonde burst out laughing heartily at Chloe's rant, finding her frustration extremely amusing for some reason.

"Stop laughing, dammit! This isn't a joke!" Chloe shouted angrily towards Selena as she stomped her feet on the ground. "You make me look like an idiot when you're the one pulling all those reckless stunts!"

Meanwhile, Guan Romulus remained quiet while watching this little comedy act unfold in front of him, completely stunned by this absurd situation taking place right under his nose. Even Zephyrus couldn't believe his ears, staring dumbly at these two women arguing among each other as if he weren't there in the first place.

"Your Majesty, should we strike while they are distracted?" The golden knight suggested, after recovering from initial shock and turning his gaze towards the emperor, who still seemed confused and lost.

Guan hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat and regaining composure. "No. As much as it pains us to admit it, we no longer possess the advantage here. These ants will just keep coming if we continue wasting time here. Let us retreat for now while we have a chance to escape. Lord Zephyrus, cover our retreat."

"Very well," Zephyrus nodded in response before taking a step back and raising his wings to their full extent. Guan snapped his fingers in return, summoning forth his personal wyverns as his escort. Once all were gathered, he turned away and ordered his minions to take flight immediately, carrying him away into the distance without another glance back.

As the emperor departed, the sharpshooter atop a container immediately fired at him several times in rapid succession, trying to shoot him down while they still could. Unfortunately, Zephyrus responded faster than anyone anticipated as he flapped his massive wings with immense force, triggering an enormous gust of wind to sweep through the entire docks, forcing everyone except him to brace themselves against it, even if barely. Then he flew upwards rapidly into the sky above and unleashed a carpet of crystal bombs upon the entire area below, scattering them all across the docks as he passed by above them.

"Take cover!" the sniper exclaimed as she leaped from her current spot before landing gracefully on the ground, taking cover behind one of the warehouses. She barely made it in time before a barrage of explosives rained down everywhere around her, blasting holes in several buildings nearby and damaging anything within close proximity of impact. The shockwaves from the blasts also threw several cargo crates flying in random directions, knocking over nearby structures as they collided violently with whatever stood in their way.

Meanwhile, Chloe panicked and froze completely as she realized she couldn't react fast enough to avoid being struck by these dangerous projectiles, ultimately dropping her weapon on the ground in fright before crouching low, trying to shield herself by using her hands. Selena, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed by everything happening around her; she was still carrying the unconscious Wyverian woman, nested securely within her embrace as she held her position, watching where the fleeing emperor went off to.

"Stay sharp and come close, Chloe," Selena commanded in a stern tone, still keeping her eye on Guan Romulus. Chloe immediately obeyed and rushed toward the one-eyed woman, clinging tightly to her arm without uttering a sound.

The blonde didn't move a muscle while being pelted with crystal bombs from all sides, standing firmly in place despite being in plain sight of Zephyrus' aerial assault, as if she had expected this exact scenario to happen from the very beginning. Nevertheless, not a single blast came even close to hitting her, almost like she knew where every single one would land even before they detonated. Or maybe it was just pure dumb luck on her part. Either way, they managed to survive the bombardment unharmed, although Chloe was shivering uncontrollably from being so close to such powerful blasts, hugging tightly against the taller woman and hiding her face against the blonde's shoulder.

Once the bombardment ceased, Zephyrus attempted to make another aerial assault against Selena and her group; however, as soon as he drew near, a barrage of bullets and cannon shots from various directions intercepted his path, forcing him to retreat quickly or risk being shot down from the sky. Numerous soldiers and hunters arrived at the docks right as the golden knight finished his bombing run, providing much-needed support to their companions while they laid down heavy suppressing fire against Zephyrus, making it impossible for the enemy to advance any further towards their position.

"Don't let him get away! Take that thing down!" someone from the crowd cried out amidst all the gunfire.

The sudden appearance of reinforcements caught Zephyrus by surprise, making him pause momentarily mid-flight as he tried to figure out how to deal with this new situation. Without warning, one of the hunters yelled, "Flash bomb away!" before chucking a small white ball straight in Zephyrus' direction. Seconds later, a blinding flash of light exploded in the sky near him, blinding him temporarily as well as confusing his senses.

The golden knight struggled hard to regain control of his balance as he spiraled uncontrollably through the air due to losing sight for a minute. While he was unable to see anything, he desperately tried to concentrate on his sense of hearing as he attempted to evade whatever attacks might be coming his way next. However, instead of panicking further, he simply let out a powerful roar, forcing everyone in range to clutch their ears in agony. Most of them fell to the ground, writhing in pain from being deafened momentarily, with the only exceptions being Selena, Chloe, and the sniper.

Meanwhile, Selena intended to follow the fleeing emperor but stopped herself when a familiar face approached her: Leah, the captain of the guard.

She was a tall and imposing woman with long black hair and black eyes, clad in a mixture of thick fur garments and heavy plate armor dyed black. She was also wearing a curious headband adorned with two long, devilish red horns, and the emblem of Mezeporta's elite unit, Legend Rasta, was proudly displayed on her shoulder plate. Her weapon of choice is a giant greatsword, bigger than herself, carried on her back with a special sheath designed to hold it properly.

"My Liege, thank goodness you're okay," she uttered in relief as she kneeled respectfully before the blonde, bowing her head low afterward. "Please consider telling us where you're going next time before disappearing out of the blue again."

The sharpshooter from before approached as well, putting her heavy bowgun on her back and coming back from her hiding place. She was a blonde young woman with red eyes of average height, dressed in a modest brown leather outfit composed of a vest, a plated breastplate, and a skirt, along with knee-high tights and boots. Her outfit was decorated with tartan patterns and scarves hanging around her hips and neck, as well as a pair of goggles placed on top of her head. Outside of the heavy-looking weapon she was carrying on her back, she also had a rather big bag strapped to her belt full of ammunition.

"Please forgive us for the delay, Selena," she said as she walked beside the captain and bowed respectfully toward the blonde. "We've lost a considerable amount of time looking for you."

Selena sighed loudly, shaking her head in disapproval while looking down at the kneeling girls. "Alright, alright, I get it... Good work, Uwelle. I appreciate it," she admitted with a sheepish smile, unable to hide embarrassment. "Leah, stop that already, stand up. I've told you countless times that there's no need to bow for me. I'm not your damn princess. We're friends, remember?"

"Yes, my Liege... I apologize," the black-haired woman replied instantly as she bowed even lower before finally lifting her head and getting back to her feet. Leah was always like this: very formal and overly polite with everyone, so Selena knew that nothing she would say would change that fact, no matter how much she insisted. Though, curiously enough, she acts completely different when she's fighting something... It's like she becomes another person altogether—scary, rude, and probably more aggressive than the monsters they hunt on a daily basis.

Uwelle, on the other hand, remained silent and didn't budge an inch when Selena addressed the captain. She was a very quiet, humble, and diligent young woman, so most people mistake her for a shy girl at first glance. There was nothing really remarkable about her personality except when it comes to cooking, which is disastrous enough that it's better not to mention it.

Chloe pouted, letting go of Selena in the process, clearly unhappy with how things played out today, which resulted in her not being able to shine at all. "Hey, why am I the only one being scolded for arriving late? They showed up even later than me! It's totally unfair!" she protested with crossed arms, puffing her cheeks in anger as she spoke those words. "I'm... doing my best here too," she grumbled under her breath shortly thereafter.

"Anyway, Juno needs medical attention right now," Selena continued, as if Chloe hadn't interrupted her at all. "She's suffering from heavy crystallization, so I'm taking her to the clinic immediately. Leah, you're in charge here. Those two guys are a serious threat, and they captured the Diva, so please don't let them escape."

Leah stood up and saluted before responding respectfully. "Understood, my Liege," she said as she turned her back on Selena, rushing toward her comrades without hesitation.

Selena turned to Uwelle and Chloe. "One last thing, there's an injured civilian here," she told them, gesturing towards the place where Clarent still lied unconscious under a pile of debris. "Chloe, go fetch her. Uwelle, give them support. I count on you, don't let anyone die here."

Uwelle nodded with confidence. "I'll take care of it," she assured Selena with a slight nod, while Chloe simply glared at the blonde and crossed her arms in frustration.

Noticing the blue-haired girl's reaction, Selena rolled her eyes in annoyance and sighed tiredly. "Yes, yes, Chloe, I heard you. You've done well too; good job. I'm proud of you," she praised reluctantly, patting the girl's head gently before adding, "But it's not over yet, so stay sharp."

Chloe instantly grinned brightly after hearing that, looking more motivated than ever to finish her task as quickly as possible. "Leave it to me, Master!" she exclaimed confidently before running off in Clarent's direction, following after Uwelle.

Selena looked at Juno, resting peacefully within her arms, before nodding to herself. "Sorry to make you wait, sweetheart. We're leaving now," she whispered tenderly, then walked away slowly in the opposite direction, carrying the wounded Wyverian woman securely within her embrace.

Clarent

After what seemed like a long, unending nightmare, Clarent finally awoke in a somewhat familiar room, completely exhausted. She found herself lying on a bed under a blanket, wrapped in bandages, and wearing nothing else besides her underwear. Her clothes were neatly folded on top of the table in the middle of the room, along with several items and medicines. She noticed a window nearby but couldn't make out anything from her position, only seeing the light of the morning sun seeping through the curtains.

Clarent rubbed her eyelids groggily as she tried to sit upright in bed. She felt sore all over, but aside from that, she was completely fine. There was no pain whatsoever, which was odd; she could swear she remembered being severely injured just before losing consciousness. However, as soon as she tried sitting up, she felt a slight twinge of discomfort in her abdomen area, reminding her of where she actually hurt. She gasped in surprise but otherwise kept herself still for a while as she waited for the discomfort to fade away on its own. Once she managed to relax again, she decided to try moving a bit more carefully this time.

"Huh, I feel like... I've already seen this situation somewhere before..." Clarent murmured weakly, scratching her chin pensively as she struggled to recall where this feeling came from.

After a few minutes of trying and failing, her train of thought was suddenly interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching, followed by someone opening her door carefully without knocking first.

"Oh, you're awake. Good morning." The person greeted her cheerfully with a warm smile. Clarent's cheeks flushed red upon realizing who this person was: Selena. The kind and friendly one-eyed blonde woman she met just yesterday—or was it really just yesterday? Clarent wasn't sure anymore, as her memories of those events were rather hazy yet again.

The blonde woman was wearing something different from before: instead of her casual sport outfit, she was now dressed in a fancy outfit definitely not made for women. She had very simple underclothes on: a plain white, loosely buttoned shirt revealing that she wasn't wearing any bra underneath—not that she needed to anyway with such a flat chest; black leather pants with big boots; and a long, heavy-looking coat seemingly made of some monster's hide, adorned with epaulets. She still had the same hairstyle as before, tied up in a messy ponytail, with the frontal bangs left free to cover her eyepatch. Overall, this attire gave off an intimidating aura, like some kind of pirate captain, especially when combined with the eyepatch, which added to her already tough appearance.

"G-Good morning," Clarent replied meekly, averting her gaze timidly toward the blanket covering her lower body.

"Do you remember me?" Selena asked gently as she took a seat next to the bed. Clarent flinched instinctively at the sudden question, eliciting a chuckle from the blonde woman afterwards.

"O-Of course I remember you! You're that nice lady who helped me before." Clarent answered honestly, glancing up nervously at Selena once she regained some semblance of composure. However, as soon as her azure eyes met Selena's single emerald eye, Clarent quickly averted them away again. Her cheeks reddened further, and she swallowed audibly as her gaze returned toward her blanket once more.

Selena laughed quietly to herself upon hearing Clarent's response. "I see. Good, at least your memories haven't been affected," she stated reassuringly, grinning slightly afterwards. "Although this is the second time you got yourself injured, you know. Seriously, how could you get into this much trouble in such a short amount of time?"

Clarent flinched again at being teased so blatantly, causing the blush on her cheeks to deepen noticeably. "S-Sorry..." she apologized automatically without even realizing she did, clasping her hands tightly together and pressing them tightly against her chest nervously. She stared intently at the floorboards underneath her, refusing to meet eyes with the blonde again. "I...I don't know why..." Clarent mumbled under her breath. "It just... keeps happening to me."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, silly," Selena chuckled softly, reaching forward and placing a gentle hand on Clarent's shoulder comfortingly. "I know you didn't do it on purpose. I was just kidding. You can relax, you're safe now."

Clarent nodded slowly without saying anything further. After several seconds of awkward silence between them, Selena suddenly spoke up once again. "But... 'Keeps happening to me?'... Hold on, do you remember what happened before?" she inquired, leaning closer to Clarent inquisitively. "I thought you lost your memory or something."

"I..." Clarent began, biting her bottom lip before shaking her head slightly. She wasn't sure why she suddenly blurted out that information, and honestly, it scared her a little bit. "I'm... I don't know how to explain, but... I'm not sure myself... I'm sorry... I-I'm really confused right now."

"That's alright, I'm not blaming you. Do you... remember what happened yesterday, at least? You know, at the docks? How did you get hurt so badly? It seemed pretty serious back there."

Clarent frowned, looking down at herself in confusion as she tried to remember. "D-Docks...? Uhh..." She murmured hesitantly before closing her eyes in concentration.

A brief moment passed until something flashed within her mind. Something happened in the docks, yes, and it involved Juno. Something important. She tried recalling exactly what, but it felt fuzzy in her head, like there were holes in her memory.

"J-Juno... I remember Juno... And that creepy, huge golden thing, too... B-But..." She stammered quietly as she tried to recall more. "I... I'm not sure... It's all blurred, somehow."

"Don't strain yourself. Just relax," Selena comforted Clarent, gently caressing the redhead's arm soothingly. "It's okay if you don't remember the details."

The redhead sighed deeply before nodding slowly, still averting her eyes downward in shame. However, after taking several deep breaths, she suddenly gasped as an important detail flashed through her mind. "W-Wait! Juno! Where is Juno? Is she okay?" She exclaimed in distress, staring fearfully towards the one-eyed woman for an answer.

Selena stared at Clarent's frightened expression before letting out a long sigh, closing her eye briefly. Then she spoke with a solemn voice. "Juno is resting, currently. She's alright, don't worry," she answered gently, offering a comforting smile afterward. "And I'm cutting you off before you ask; you can't visit her now. She needs to rest after all that happened yesterday."

"B-But..." Clarent mumbled sadly, frowning deeply towards the blanket. Selena frowned as well, noticing her obvious displeasure with her answer. After a brief silence, the redhead shifted her gaze elsewhere before speaking again. "So...you know about what happened then? The giant golden guy? The crazy, weird things?"

The blonde kept quiet for a moment as she contemplated whether she should answer or not. Eventually, she sighed deeply, giving up her inner battle with herself, and spoke again.

"Hmm... Are you feeling well enough to walk? If so, how about continuing this conversation in my office? We have a lot to discuss." She proposed while standing up. "I don't mind carrying you on my back, if needed."

"Eh...?" Clarent gasped in surprise, looking up at Selena incredulously. "Uhh, w-wait a sec, uhh... I'm not sure about that... I mean, it's just that... I..." she stuttered awkwardly as she struggled to find her words, blushing bright red from embarrassment.

Selena chuckled upon witnessing this kind of reaction from the redhead, shaking her head slightly afterward. "Don't worry, I won't bite—at least not if you don't ask for it." The blonde teased with a playful grin, winking flirtatiously at the young girl, making her turn even redder. "But seriously, now, are you fine with that? I think everything will make more sense once we get there. Trust me."

"U-Um..." Clarent mumbled nervously while biting her bottom lip, blushing profusely as her eyes darted around frantically in search of something, anything, to distract her mind from her embarrassing predicament. "N-No need, thank you... I think I can manage," she stated shakily before slowly rising to her feet. Her legs trembled slightly at first, but eventually steadied themselves as she regained full control over her body.

"Alright. Well, just take it slowly, then. You recover fast, but don't overdo it, or else you might collapse again," Selena advised her, walking towards the door and glancing back briefly. "I'll wait for you outside."

"Sure," Clarent replied automatically, watching the other woman leave. Once Selena closed the door, she let out a long sigh while clutching her chest tightly.

After several deep breaths, she proceeded to dress herself properly, taking a few minutes to get used to standing up properly. It didn't take long, as it seemed her body had already recovered well. Soon after she finished, she finally stepped out of her room, meeting the morning sun shining upon the open-air hallway of the dorm.

Upon leaving, Clarent found Selena waiting right outside her door, leaning against the wall with crossed arms. The blonde smiled at the young girl upon seeing her come out of the room before gesturing towards her. "Ready?" she asked as she moved closer and offered an arm, which Clarent shyly accepted. "Okay. Follow me."

The two started walking along the hall, heading toward the end opposite of where Clarent's room was located, towards an open staircase that connected multiple levels of the dorm together. After going downstairs, they found themselves directly outside, on the street in front of the building.

Without wasting any time, they made their way through the city in a certain direction. The blonde seemed to attract quite a few gazes as they passed through the streets; although they weren't hostile in any way, most of them were simply curious ones directed at Clarent. Some people even greeted the pair cheerfully, calling the blonde 'Lady Selena' or something along those lines, and some even bowed to her. Clarent was surprised to receive so much attention from complete strangers, as well as the amount of respect these people seem to have for Selena; it made her curious about her host, as she barely knew anything about her.

Clarent was intrigued by many things regarding Selena; however, she found it hard to ask any questions due to how intimidating and serious the older woman seemed most of the time, not to mention the fact that they had only just met.

"Say, Clarent... Do you like Mezeporta?" Selena suddenly spoke after walking silently for a while, snapping the redhead out of her thoughts. "How's the city treating you so far?"

"Huh...? Ah, y-yes!" Clarent blurted out in surprise at suddenly being addressed, causing her to stutter a little. "It's... really nice, I guess. It's not like I have anything to compare it to, though." She admitted, looking down towards the ground. "But I...feel comfortable here...and everyone seems really kind," she added, glancing up towards the blonde woman with a shy smile. "That's more than enough for me."

Selena hummed in approval before returning a gentle smile in kind. "Glad to hear that," she responded, staring ahead thoughtfully for a second before resuming their conversation. "You know, we're not so different, you and I," she confessed, catching Clarent's interest.

"E-Eh, you and I...?" The redhead questioned uncertainly, stopping in place to stare at the back of her guide.

The one-eyed woman also stopped, turning around and flashing another kind smile at her guest. "Yes," she confirmed, stepping closer towards Clarent and leaning down slightly so that she could meet the other's gaze better. "We both have no memory of who we used to be, to some degree. Although we don't really share anything beyond that," she trailed off, gazing upward toward the sky pensively for a moment.

"One day, I found myself in a world I didn't know, without any idea of who I was or where I belonged," she continued after a brief pause, turning her attention back to Clarent. "However, I didn't let that bother me. I fought for my beliefs in a world that wanted me dead and eventually earned the right to stand where I am now," she stated with conviction, furrowing her brow in determination as she spoke these words. "Even if I lost all of my past memories, it doesn't matter anymore. Because now I know who I am, what I stand for, and where my life is headed."

Clarent remained silent for a moment, staring at Selena intensely as she pondered her story. Then her lips curled into a sad smile, and she hung her head low, shaking it slowly. "That's amazing... I wish I could be like that too," she said, her voice almost breaking when she finished talking.

Selena smiled in response before patting her shoulder encouragingly. "Hey now, you can be. Don't underestimate yourself," she assured the redhead gently. "What I wanted to convey with my story was... Sometimes we just need to find something worth believing in and fight for it. If I could find mine despite being a nobody, so can you."

"Something to believe in, huh...?" Clarent muttered under her breath as she gazed back towards Selena with a serious expression.

"Indeed," the blonde replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter how insignificant it looks. As long as you believe in it, it will always be a cause worth fighting for. And even if your memory fails you," She paused, placing a finger over Clarent's chest. "This will tell you what you must do. Your heart is the strongest weapon you possess, so never lose faith in it," Selena stated firmly, poking lightly against the spot where Clarent's heart is supposed to be before withdrawing her hand.

The redhead blushed faintly at being touched so suddenly by Selena; however, she listened attentively to the blonde woman's advice, her expression slowly changing into one filled with confidence and resolution. "What... do you believe in then, if you don't mind me asking?" she asked hesitantly after contemplating Selena's words, her cheeks flushing bright pink once she realized how bold her question sounded.

The one-eyed woman was caught off guard momentarily, blinking a few times before chuckling heartily at her guest's curiosity. "I don't mind at all," she replied warmly, smiling as she looked away from the redhead. "My reason to fight..."

As she pondered for an answer, suddenly, someone appeared in the blonde's back, jumping at her and wrapping her arms around her neck before placing a hand over her only remaining eye in an attempt to cover it.

"Heehee~ Guess whoooo, Selena!" the person sang teasingly as they hugged the one-eyed woman from behind, causing her to let out an annoyed groan in response.

"What the hell? Get off me, Circa!" She whined as she tried to pry her assaulter off, although she was obviously not putting too much effort into it. "You really have nothing better to do?"

The mysterious person, apparently named Circa, giggled mischievously while hugging Selena tighter. "Heheehee~ As expected of my beloved, you guessed right on the first try!" she chimed happily, planting a quick kiss on Selena's cheek before releasing her grasp on the blonde.

Clarent recognized that name; it was none other than the girl she bumped into before meeting Selena for the first time, and it made her feel uncomfortable for some reason, although she still couldn't figure out why exactly. The redhead knew her name already before even setting foot inside the town, as if she had already met her somewhere—or at some time, rather.

The girl was dressed differently from the other time Clarent had met her: instead of that Guild-looking armor from before, she was wearing something more casual, consisting of a red sleeveless dress reaching down to her thighs, revealing her shapely legs in black thigh-high tights and ankle boots. Unlike her previous appearance, this outfit did little to hide her attractive curves, especially her generous chest; even though she had no cleavage, the tight fit of the dress emphasized her breasts and slim waist wonderfully. Her coppery brown hair was still in the same princess-cut style, tied loosely in a single low, breaded ponytail resting over her left shoulder, with a few bangs left hanging loose at the sides of her face.

"Hehe... Sorry, my dearest~ " The young woman giggled innocently, placing a finger over her lips in a playful manner. Then, with a more serious tone, she added. "I just couldn't resist seeing you with your guard down like that... It's not everyday I get to catch you unaware, you know~"

Circa ended her statement with another giggle and a wink towards the one-eyed woman, earning an irritated sigh from her friend in return.

Selena huffed indignantly at the brunette, folding her arms and pouting at her, her cheeks blushing slightly pink from embarrassment. "H-Hmph, whatever..." she muttered while averting her gaze away, attempting to hide her bashfulness. "You idiot… Did you follow me around just to mess with me?"

"Oh, I'd never!" Circa laughed while placing one hand on her chest dramatically. "I just happened to pass by~ Or maybe it was my sixth sense guiding me unconsciously towards you again~ " She added in a joking tone, winking suggestively toward Selena, who merely rolled her eye in exasperation at the other girl's antics.

"Yeah, sure. Just admit you were bored and stalking me for fun," the one-eyed woman scoffed sarcastically as she shook her head. Even though she sounded annoyed, she wasn't angry, nor did she seem to dislike Circa's presence in any way. In fact, judging by the slight blush on her face, she almost appeared happy to see her friend, even if she didn't want to admit it.

Upon witnessing this scene, Clarent didn't need to hear Selena's answer anymore to understand what she believed in. It was obvious from her interactions with Circa that her reason to fight was definitely the people she cared about and treasured. This realization made Clarent smile inwardly, as it helped her realize what she should focus on.

"Ruuuude!" Circa retorted back immediately, feigning to be hurt while pouting back at Selena. "Anyway..." she changed the subject abruptly while glancing over towards the redhead standing silently beside them, eyeing her from top to bottom with obvious interest before gasping in surprise. "Oh, I remember you!" She exclaimed with a surprised expression, causing Clarent to jump in fright while the blonde shot an incredulous glare toward her. "You're the cutie I bumped into before, right?" The brunette asked cheerfully as she approached Clarent. "What a pleasant coincidence to meet you again!"

Clarent backed away immediately when she found herself cornered by the brunette's approach, hiding behind Selena instinctively as she glanced warily toward her. She still didn't feel at ease around Circa, even though she was unable to pinpoint exactly what caused her so much discomfort. It was a strange feeling of familiarity combined with guilt, shame, and fear.

Circa blinked upon noticing this reaction, tilting her head slightly to the side in confusion. "Hey, you're not gonna run away again, right?" She questioned, looking concerned now as she extended her hand towards the redhead hesitantly, who seemed rather distressed. "Look, I don't know what I did to scare you off, but please, give me a chance."

The redhead stared at Circa's extended hand with uncertainty for several seconds before looking up at Selena's face with an uncertain expression, silently seeking advice on what to do. The blonde was quiet as she considered things for a brief moment, but then sighed before nodding reassuringly to the redhead.

"It's alright. You can trust Circa. She's a good person." Selena spoke gently, reassuring Clarent's doubts while gesturing towards the brunette, who smiled cheerfully as a response. "Actually, she's the person I trust the most here, if that says something about her," she added, turning towards the brunette again and gesturing towards the redhead. "Circa, meet Clarent. She arrived here a few days ago in an accident I'm investigating."

"Heehee, you sure know how to flatter a girl, dear." The brunette commented, a shy smile appearing on her lips as she scratched her cheek bashfully. "And Clarent—what a pretty name! It's a pleasure to meet you, sweetheart~ I'm Circa, as you know already." The girl greeted the redhead cheerfully, extending her hand once more in Clarent's direction, who was still hesitant about accepting her greeting.

"I'm a hunter charged with keeping the people of Mezeporta safe and sound, and I also work as a teacher at the academy in my spare time. I may not look like it, but I'm pretty good~ Right, Selena?" Circa boasted with confidence, grinning smugly while doing a weird hand gesture as if imitating a gun being fired at the blonde, who simply rolled her eyes upon hearing the brunette's antics.

"Eh, that remains to be seen. Should I remind you that you almost failed at the last festival? You're getting rusty, playing teacher with kids too much, dear." The blonde responded nonchalantly, making Circa pout in disappointment.

"H-Hey, it wasn't my fault!" The brunette protested indignantly. "It was Frau's stupid prank that almost got me eliminated!" She complained, pouting towards the blonde afterwards, who chuckled at her reaction. However, she quickly regained composure, clearing her throat before addressing Clarent again.

"But seriously now... If I really did anything that made you so uncomfortable, then please forgive me. It's never my intention to hurt others." The brunette said with an apologetic smile towards Clarent, who blinked in surprise at Circa's sudden seriousness.

The redhead bit her lower lip anxiously while looking at Circa with conflicted emotions before finally relaxing a little. "Uh, s-sorry... I just..." She muttered as she tried to gather her thoughts and figure out exactly what was troubling her so much about the brunette. "Y-You... didn't do anything wrong... I just," she struggled with words, not knowing exactly what she wanted to say in the first place. "I'm just..."

"It's okay, don't force yourself to remember. It can wait for another time," Selena interrupted gently, placing a hand on the redhead's shoulder in reassurance. She glanced at her with uncertainty before nodding timidly afterward.

The redhead sighed quietly while lowering her head. "I... I'm really sorry... It's not like I really dislike you or anything... I just..." Clarent mumbled timidly before looking toward Circa again. "I just... feel so... weird when I see you. Like, I did something terrible to you in the past, but...I don't even know if that makes sense, I just..."

Circa stared silently at Clarent's nervous, shy behavior as the redhead stuttered her explanation nervously. "Sorry, what...? No, it does make sense, but..." Circa blinked repeatedly before averting her gaze away, deep in thought for a while, as if trying to remember something herself. "I mean, if a cute redhead like you really did something awful to me, I definitely wouldn't forget it."

After a long pause of silence, Circa finally glanced towards Clarent again, offering a friendly smile afterwards. "You're just imagining things, sweetie. Don't worry about it so much," she added reassuringly. "Whatever it was you're feeling about me, it's probably just because of your shyness towards strangers, I suppose... Right, Selena?"

The blonde didn't reply immediately. Instead, she kept silent while staring intensely at Clarent, studying her closely. She seemed to be analyzing Clarent's every expression and movement, as if trying to decipher something hidden beneath the surface. Maybe she knew something the two others weren't privy to?

"Yes," Selena finally spoke with a serious voice, glancing toward Circa afterwards with a neutral expression. "But enough about this, Circa... We were supposed to go to the office. I think we wasted enough time already."

"Ah, right. Sure." The brunette replied with a slightly confused look. She quickly shrugged it off afterward and offered a cheerful smile. "Well then, allow me to escort you to your destination, ladies," she declared proudly as she puffed out her chest with pride, earning an exasperated eye-roll from Selena while she took Selena's arm and clung onto it possessively.

However, before any of them could walk further, a loud growl could be heard from the stomach of Clarent, who immediately covered her abdomen while blushing bright red out of embarrassment. She hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning, after all.

"Oh dear..." Circa chuckled upon hearing the sound coming out of the redhead. "Someone seems hungry."

Selena stared dumbfoundedly for a few seconds before sighing tiredly afterwards. "Right, you must be starving... I forgot about it with all that commotion. Please forgive me, Clarent. Let's have a proper breakfast before moving on."

"B-But, I'm fine, really... I can eat later..." Clarent protested shyly before being cut off by Circa's excited interjection.

"Great idea!" Circa exclaimed with a big grin. "Let's have breakfast together! And don't you worry, Clarent! I'll treat you this time. As an apology for whatever happened before," she offered cheerfully while patting the redhead's back heartily. "I know just the right place~ Come, come, follow me!"

The brunette started dragging the redhead by the hand in another direction before either of the other two could even say anything. Selena let out another exasperated sigh upon witnessing her behavior, but eventually followed behind nonetheless with a slight smile on her lips.

[newpage]
It took several minutes of walking, but soon enough, they finally reached their destination: Circa's favorite place to have meals: the tavern known as 'The Howling Cat' in a certain corner of town near the square. Unfortunately, Selena had to leave the other two girls to handle an important matter that had suddenly come up, so Clarent found herself left alone for a one-on-one breakfast date with Circa, much to her nervousness.

The tavern was built inside the basement of a large building that also served as an inn. A stairwell descended down into its spacious underground level, where patrons were seated at wooden tables and chairs placed randomly all around the room. When entering, they would first find themselves on the opposite side of the room, across from the main counter, on a short ledge crossing through the middle of the entire place that served as a dividing line between the restaurant area on the right and the entertainment section on the left side, which consisted of several small round bar tables, a billard table, and a stage at the back.

There was also a big fireplace situated on the right side of the room, behind the tables, where customers could sit down near a warm fire and enjoy some drinks while relaxing. The actual bar counter itself stood at the opposite end of the entrance, at the other end of the room, right across from where people entered, on the same level as the short ledge in the middle, with stairs on both sides leading down toward either of the areas.

This establishment seemed mostly run by felynes, noticeable by hearing the constant meowing coming from the kitchen on the other end of the place. However, the waiters were all human males, and quite handsome ones at that too, which could be one of the reasons Circa seemed to like this place. After all, which girl doesn't like gazing at attractive men?

Since it was still relatively early in the morning, it didn't seem to be that busy, but a few customers were already seated here and there, enjoying their meals peacefully.

One of the waiters greeted the pair as they entered. "Ah, Miss Circa. It's a pleasure to see you again today," he said with a polite tone as he bowed respectfully toward them. "Please, have a seat, ladies."

"Good morning!" The brunette giggled happily in reply before dragging Clarent along by the arm toward a vacant table in the corner, next to the fireplace.

The two sat down in their chairs opposite each other as the waiter placed menus on their tables before departing to leave the two girls alone. "Okay! So, what will you eat today? Don't you dare skimp on it now~ I'll treat you to anything you want! Feel free to order whatever you'd like~" Circa grinned as she eagerly pushed one of the menus toward the redhead.

Clarent blinked as she glanced down at the menu with uncertainty, hesitating before accepting it with trembling hands. "Um, well, if it's okay... then..." She mumbled nervously, opening the menu and skimming through its pages with curious eyes.

As the waiter returned to their table to take their orders, Clarent eventually chose what she wanted: "Hmm... I-I'll take this, and this... and this, plus this... Oh, and also this and that too, please," she asked timidly, pointing at the respective items on the menu, earning an impressed whistle from Circa. Indeed, Clarent seemed to be a big eater for such a tiny figure.

"Wow, that's a lot! Are you sure? You really are hungry, aren't ya, cutie?" Circa giggled, giving a nod toward the waiter before he went back to the counter again to deliver the order. "You're eating more than most hunters usually do, you know. Oh, but don't feel ashamed of that or anything; it's great to see someone with a healthy appetite like yours!" She exclaimed cheerfully while leaning back on her chair and placing both her feet on top of the table.

The redhead blushed slightly as she placed the menu away. "O-Oh, n-no, I mean, I'm sorry if it looks like I'm taking advantage of your generosity, I..." She muttered apologetically while lowering her head shamefully. Circa simply smiled, waving dismissively towards her.

"Hey, relax! I offered it to you myself, right?" The brunette assured her cheerfully as she placed a hand on the table in front of the redhead. "But enough with the apologies already! Tell me more about yourself! I'd love to learn more about you~" She requested excitedly while clasping her hands together eagerly. "What brings you to our lovely city, Clarent? And most importantly, who are you really?" She questioned the redhead, leaning closer towards her with a wide smile on her face.

"Ah, uh... Well..." Clarent stuttered as she tried to compose herself before eventually relaxing somewhat and starting her tale, or at least the bits she could remember. She told Circa about her sensible situation—how she couldn't remember anything and had no idea why she came to Mezeporta or what she was doing before arriving. She also mentioned Juno, the Wyverian woman who helped her before getting involved in the incident at the docks with that big golden monster guy.

Meanwhile, the waiter returned once more and started serving their orders as Clarent talked, and Circa listened with interest, nodding her head in acknowledgement while eating some of the dishes she had ordered.

"Oh dear... That must have been awful," the brunette stated with a sympathetic look on her face. "I can't imagine how terrible it must be to forget about everything, even the most important people and memories from your life. It sounds like you lost a part of yourself that can never come back," she continued in a serious tone while frowning slightly. "And now you're here, trying to piece back together the remnants of what was left behind, all by yourself." She concluded, shaking her head afterwards as she sighed deeply. "You're so strong, Clarent." She suddenly praised her with an earnest smile.

Clarent froze when she heard the compliment, looking up to see Circa staring at her. Her eyes widened in surprise before blushing furiously in embarrassment. Before she could stammer anything, the voice of Juno echoed through her mind—or rather, a phrase she said—as if it were a distant memory. 'You're stronger than you realize, jeune fille... It takes courage to admit when you're scared and helpless. It takes strength to stand up again and continue moving forward despite the fear and pain. That's what true strength is.' The wyverian woman's words resonated deeply within Clarent's soul, filling her heart with hope and determination as she recovered her composure and returned the brunette's gaze with renewed confidence.

"I suppose," Clarent responded simply before smiling sheepishly. "But thanks, I appreciate that," she added gratefully while rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment. "And... sorry for being such a nervous wreck..." She mumbled bashfully as she looked away again.

Circa grinned broadly in reply. "Nah, that's alright! I'd be freaking out too if I were in your place." She replied while chuckling lightly. "But dear, if there's one thing I learned in life, it's that there's always hope! Even if it feels like the whole world is against you, remember that there are always people who believe in you, even if you yourself can't." The brunette continued cheerfully, offering a reassuring smile towards the redhead. "I know that for myself, at least. That's why I'm even here now, actually... It's because of someone important to me, a special person I owe my life to, and that gave me purpose again."

As Clarent listened attentively to the brunette's story, she suddenly noticed how her smile changed to one filled with melancholy. "And you know what? Despite all the terrible things that happened in the past, that same person gave me a second chance. She believed in me, even when everyone else doubted me, even when I had doubts about myself. And that's why I'll always cherish her—more than anything else in the world." Circa explained solemnly, glancing towards Clarent with an uncharacteristically serious expression on her face.

Clarent stared silently at the brunette with a surprised look, noticing the sorrow in Circa's voice as well as the strong sense of longing she held deep inside her heart. Then, once again, an image flashed through her mind, showing Circa sitting alone in the corner of a dimly lit room, with her knees drawn up to her chin and arms wrapped tightly around her legs as she gazed out into the darkness, her face showing nothing but complete despair and her eyes empty, devoid of any light whatsoever. The scene disappeared as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind only a strange feeling of emptiness within Clarent while also intensifying that strange sense of familiarity and guilt she felt towards the brunette. Clarent thought she saw a reflection of herself within those dark eyes, and it pained her immensely.

"I see..." Clarent finally responded as she broke the silence between them, smiling weakly towards Circa while she spoke, trying to suppress that unpleasant feeling deep inside herself. "Thanks."

After this exchange, Circa and Clarent started eating their respective dishes while talking cheerfully. It didn't take long until they finished their meals, even Clarent, which was quite a feat given how much food she ordered. The two girls even managed to drink a cup of coffee while conversing amicably, getting to know each other a bit better. Circa seemed to enjoy this little interaction a lot, and she kept making jokes and asking random questions in the hopes of making Clarent feel more comfortable.

"So tell me... What do you plan to do now, Clarent? I know you can't remember anything about yourself, but still... do you even know what to do next?" The brunette inquired with genuine curiosity in her voice as she leaned forward, resting her arms over it.

Clarent stared silently at the brunette as she pondered the question, but quickly realized she didn't know what to do anymore. After a short while, she answered the brunette truthfully: "Not really," she replied hesitantly before frowning slightly as she added, "I... I think I was supposed to look for something... or someone. I'm not sure what, exactly, but... I just know I had to go somewhere important, like I had an obligation to complete." She explained vaguely with a slight frown while staring intently toward the empty mug in front of her.

"Hmmm... Well, I can't help you much there, unfortunately," the brunette admitted apologetically. "Don't you have it written somewhere? You know... a notebook, a map, a diary...?" she inquired curiously. "Maybe there's a hint of something or other about your goal there," she suggested.

Upon hearing Circa's proposal, Clarent instantly recalled her diary, the book she always carried with her that contained important memories. "Oh! I... I guess so," Clarent mumbled bashfully, reaching out to her bag on the ground to fish out the said book. "Actually, I was meaning to check on it before coming here, but I... kinda forgot." She laughed awkwardly, scratching her cheek sheepishly while she looked down at the book in her hand, running her finger on its spine.

"Ah, there you go!" Circa giggled cheerfully before pausing briefly. "Um, may I see it, please?" she asked hesitantly. "I mean, if it's okay, I know it's something very personal, so you can refuse."

"Oh, uhh... I..." Clarent hesitated slightly as she looked towards Circa before smiling shyly and offering the book to the brunette, who gladly accepted it with a grin on her lips. "Here," she said simply, before sitting quietly in her seat, waiting for the brunette to read.

"Hehe, thanks! I'll take good care of it, promise," Circa stated in a reassuring tone while glancing toward Clarent before looking at the book in her hand with eager curiosity. "Now, let's see if there's any embarrassing secrets here." She added jokingly before starting to read.

At first, Circa was quite entertained reading the diary. Clarent seemed like an innocent person with a rather optimistic attitude, despite having suffered such misfortunes in the past, which the brunette thought was very cute of her. However, after several pages, Circa noticed the growing anxiety and desperation within the redhead's entries. At some point, Clarent's diary entries became extremely concerning, filled with incoherent thoughts, fragmented memories, and occasional bouts of paranoia that led Circa to believe something truly terrible happened to the redhead in the past, something far worse than mere amnesia.

Sometimes, the diary entries became disjointed, almost as if written by a completely different person, but the writing was definitely Clarent's, no doubt about that. There was also mention of recurring dreams of her being lost in the dark with a mysterious black flying wyvern hunting her relentlessly. The whole thing became almost disturbing, even terrifying to read at times. Circa's curiosity grew as she kept reading further into the diary. Then she arrived at the latest entry. There was no date listed for it, only the word 'UNKNOWN' scribbled in messy handwriting, followed by a short sentence hard to decipher: 'Mezeporta is my last chance. Strife is waiting...'

Clarent became visibly anxious when Circa's expression changed into a more serious one while reading her diary. The brunette frowned slightly while flipping back and forth between pages, trying to piece together whatever it was she saw in those entries, before looking at the redhead with a worried expression.

"Um, well..." Circa muttered hesitantly as she scratched her cheek nervously, returning the diary back to its owner. "I... uh... I didn't expect something this heavy." She admitted with a nervous smile on her face. "I can understand why you don't feel like reading this often."

Clarent was unable to speak, merely staring silently at her diary and biting her bottom lip nervously. After several long moments passed in complete silence between them, Circa sighed heavily as she spoke again: "Well... You definitely came here for a reason, and whatever it is, you were determined to finish it."

The redhead nodded slightly in acknowledgement before finally speaking, "Do you think I could've come to Mezeporta because... I was looking for someone?"

"Hmm, perhaps..." Circa shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly while leaning back onto her seat with both arms crossed under her ample bosom. "I'm by no means an outstanding sleuth; I can barely find my own things sometimes... But I think there is one clue, though." She added in a serious tone, staring intently at Clarent, who seemed surprised by her change in attitude. "That name you wrote there. 'Strife'... Does it ring any bell for you?" She questioned curiously, causing Clarent's eyes to widen as she flipped through her diary to confirm the name written on the latest entry.

Clarent remained quiet for a brief moment while she thought about what Circa had just said. The redhead thought for a moment, wondering who exactly this 'Strife' is, before eventually shaking her head in response. "Not at all." She spoke honestly before continuing. "But somehow, it sounds really familiar. It's a strange feeling."

Circa looked at Clarent intently for several moments without saying anything else. After what seemed like an eternity of awkward silence between them, the brunette eventually stood up from her seat before patting the redhead's head with a big smile on her lips.

"Alrighty, we have a new clue then!" she announced cheerfully before extending her arm towards Clarent with a playful smile on her lips. "Judging by your last entry, we know someone called Strife was waiting for you here... So now you have something to do. And you won't be doing it alone, either! I'll help you, of course! This 'Strife' person has some questions to answer," the brunette stated with a bright smile, looking straight toward Clarent, who smiled happily in return.

Clarent accepted Circa's hand, holding it firmly as she stood up as well, before returning the brunette's cheerful expression. "I... thank you. Thank you, Circa. You're too nice," the redhead said honestly as she blushed slightly.

"Nah, don't thank me..." The brunette muttered with a faint blush on her face before waving her hand dismissively towards Clarent. "It's my duty and my pleasure as a hunter of Mezeporta~" She declared proudly as she put one of her hands on her waist. "I'm also very curious about your story... After reading your diary, I can't help but want to know more about you. I want to get to the bottom of this," she confessed as she walked over towards Clarent's side, patting the redhead's shoulder gently afterwards. "But for now, let me escort you to the guild office! Selena is waiting there for you already," the brunette said as she guided Clarent towards the exit.

Clarent blinked in surprise upon hearing Circa mention the Guild Office, causing her to frown slightly in worry. "H-Huhh...? Why there...? Selena didn't say anything about it." She inquired nervously while looking around frantically, as if trying to find a way out of the situation. "A-Actually, I think I should probably go back to my room before..."

Before Clarent could even finish her sentence, Circa immediately interrupted her, holding Clarent firmly by her shoulder to prevent her escape. "Hey, calm down, cutie..." The brunette reassured Clarent as she patted her shoulder gently before leaning closer to whisper directly into her ear. "It's alright. The guild master is a nice and comprehensive person; she already knows about you," she assured her, making Clarent's eyes widen in surprise as she stared at Circa with disbelief.

"W-What...?" The redhead stuttered in shock while looking directly into Circa's eyes.

"I know too, now. But relax, I wouldn't betray your trust like this. Nothing will happen, and we won't judge you, I promise. So just go along with this for now, okay?" Circa insisted with a wink before she began dragging Clarent away by her arm again, much to the redhead's protest. "Selena didn't tell you anything, huh? Well, I think you're up for a nice surprise, Clarent. Trust me~" She explained casually, waving goodbye at the waiter and leaving the tavern as quickly as they had entered it.

Circa and Clarent exited the establishment, walking outside and down the street leading to the main square, which was bustling with people coming and going about their business. It seemed that the city had already begun to recover from yesterday's incident, returning to its normal rhythm once again, albeit slightly more peaceful this time around.

The two girls proceeded towards the center of Mezeporta, heading directly towards the massive structure towering over everything else in the city. It stood high in the middle of a plaza, atop stairs made from white stone blocks leading up to its entrance. This place looked very similar to an ancient temple: its white marble walls shining brightly even during the cloudiest weather; its elegant, tall columns decorated with intricate patterns of various monsters; its imposing stone staircases leading up to a gigantic double door engraved with depictions of various legendary creatures and monsters; and its two majestic stone dragons guarding the entrance of this colossal edifice. The emblem of the Hunter's Guild was proudly displayed above the entrance in golden metal.

Once they reached the steps of the massive structure, Clarent suddenly stopped, her gaze glued to the towering entrance as if transfixed. The redhead was awestruck by the imposing building's magnificence. Her heart was pounding loudly inside her chest, beating so strongly that it felt like it wanted to break free from within her rib cage, making her tremble uncontrollably with a mix of both nervousness and excitement.

There were a lot of people moving in and out of the building, mostly hunters clad in armor and equipment. A few of them seemed to be doing errands of various sorts; others looked like they were returning home; and some seemed like they were preparing to depart on a quest. Two guards armed with long halberds and greatshields stood at the entrance of the guild's office: the Guild Knights, whose duty was to keep everything in check and maintain the peace of the city. Those two were like statues, standing perfectly still, not even flinching in the slightest as people walked around them without a single glance in their direction. They didn't need to speak; just having them present alone was enough to make people feel intimidated enough to avoid any sort of trouble.

As soon as the pair stepped closer towards the entrance, Clarent immediately froze in place when she saw one of the Guild Knights look towards her, and then to Circa, before giving the latter a short nod.

When they were close enough, Circa tapped the redhead's shoulder, breaking the girl's trance-like state and bringing her back to reality. "Everything's going to be okay," she told her, giving the redhead an encouraging smile, before taking her arm and guiding her towards the entrance. Clarent stared in silence as they entered, her expression blank, while she nervously glanced towards Circa, who was humming happily while guiding her inside the building.

Clarent was immediately struck by how different everything looked in the office's interior compared to the exterior. The entrance was huge, almost as if it were made to impress the guests coming inside with its grandeur. Statues of various hunters were placed neatly along the walls on each side, each one holding different weapons and armor, representing their class. There was a wide flight of spiraling stairs in the center of the hall that led up to the second floor, where most of the main offices and other facilities of the guild were located, and another set of stairs to the right that went straight to the basement, where the storage rooms and archives were kept.

At the other end of the main hall, past the staircase leading towards the upper floors, stood the reception counter, where visitors would check in with the receptionists, who were dressed in fancy uniforms. The counter itself was a huge piece of carved marble or stone, with red velvet covering it on top. Several decorative plants, paintings, and ornaments adorned the entire room as well, giving it a luxurious yet cozy atmosphere. There was also a big notice board hanging on the wall next to it, containing all the quest postings available for the hunters of Mezeporta to see and take, as well as a couple of smaller bulletin boards for announcements and general notices. Some tables were placed around the room too, with hunters relaxing at them while discussing their future adventures with each other or waiting to speak with the receptionist about their reports.

Behind the counter stood several receptionists, all female, dressed in matching uniforms consisting of a long dress reaching down to their ankles, a bow tie tied around their waists in their backs, and black stockings reaching all the way up to their thighs. The color and the rest of their attire varied depending on their preferences and assigned working area; one wore blue with yellow accents, another was dressed in pink with white highlights, one of them wore black and orange, while the last one was wearing white and light green.

As Circa led Clarent across the lobby, she spotted someone familiar leaning leasurely behind one of the counters. "Huh? Is that... Demetoria?" the brunette mumbled quietly before quickly approaching the Guild receptionist, dragging the redhead along. "Good morning!" Circa greeted her with a bright smile while waving her free hand towards the other woman. "You're certainly up early today! Is something special going to happen today?"

Demetoria was one of the four main receptionists who worked at the main desk. She was a young woman with deep scarlet curly hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. She was wearing the same long dress as the other receptionists, but blue, with the lower part open in front, showing her short yellow skirt underneath, and her legs clad in black tights high up to her thighs. A big yellow bow tie adorned her back, and her arms were covered by white elbow-length gloves. Her hair was tied in two elegant low, drill-styled tails, resting on either shoulder, while she had a blue headband around the top of her head with small yellow bow ties on its sides.

The woman's expression was apathetic at best as she looked toward Circa with boredom. "Morning." She smiled half-heartedly as she rested her head in the palm of her hand while staring blankly at Circa. "Well, our lovely leader requested for me to be here earlier than usual today, so yeah. Something special, I suppose." The woman sighed tiredly as she closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. "I can only speculate, but I assume it's about planning another event soon."

"Oh, I see," Circa answered, sounding slightly surprised, before gasping as she realized something. "Wait... Wait, wait, wait, hold on... Don't tell me." The brunette exclaimed with widened eyes and a shocked expression. "It's that time already?! Ughh, dammit!" The brunette cried out while placing a hand over her forehead. "How could I have forgotten about this?" She mumbled angrily toward herself.

Upon seeing Circa's reaction, the redhead immediately felt concerned. "U-Umm... Circa? What's going on? Is something wrong?" She inquired hesitantly, looking a bit confused by this unexpected outburst.

"Ah, sorry!" Circa exclaimed with an apologetic expression as she noticed Clarent staring towards her. "Don't mind me! I just... I totally forgot about something important. It has nothing to do with you," she explained, giving a weak chuckle to Clarent before glancing towards Demetoria again. "Say, is she busy? She asked to see Clarent here," she asked casually as she gestured toward Clarent with a thumb.

Upon hearing Clarent's name, Demetoria looked at the redhead, examining her from head to toe before speaking. "Ah, yes, the lost girl. Why, hello there, dearie. Welcome to the Hunter's Guild of Mezeporta," she greeted with an uncharacteristically sweet smile directed at her. "The Guild Master was indeed waiting for you, but she had some unexpected matters to attend to. I don't know if she's done yet, though, so you can go upstairs and check yourselves," the receptionist continued with the same pleasant expression, gesturing toward the staircase in the center of the room. "I assume you know the way already, right, Circa?" she asked the brunette with an inquiring glance.

Circa nodded in reply before turning back toward Clarent and offering a reassuring smile. "Alright then! Follow me, Clarent," she said cheerfully as she began heading towards the staircases, pulling Clarent by her hand along with her.

Clarent simply complied with the brunette's instructions, following behind her as they ascended towards the second floor, which housed the administrative offices and conference rooms. As soon as they stepped onto the landing, they were greeted by a long, brightly lit corridor lined with doors on each side. At the end of the hall stood a huge wooden door with golden trimmings. A few people were walking about the place, talking among themselves. They were mostly staff working for the guild, but there were also some hunters walking around as well, going about their business.

Circa guided Clarent down the hallway toward the big door at the end of it before suddenly stopping in front and turning toward Clarent while grinning widely. "Okay, so, here we are!" She exclaimed with enthusiasm, clapping her hands together with excitement. "Are you ready, Clarent?" She asked cheerfully before placing her hand on the knob. "Relax. It'll be okay, trust me~" She said with a wink.

However, she stopped herself upon hearing the voice of someone familiar ranting loudly from inside the room: "...This has to be a fucking joke! I must be fucking dreaming!" The voice roared with a mix of rage and disbelief, followed by a loud slam on wood, as if the person hit the table with both fists, causing Clarent and Circa to flinch slightly in response. "Someone, please fucking slap me awake already, 'cause this is the stupidest shit I've ever heard in a while."

"My deepest apologies, my Liege. I shall take full responsibility for this." A second voice responded, though it was slightly muffled from being too far from the door.

"Master, please calm yourself." A third voice joined in, sounding calm and composed. "You will break the table at this rate."

"Sorry, I know it's not your fault." The first voice answered, now sounding more collected than before. "I just can't fucking believe this development... Not only did they get away with Lyra, but they also fucking stole my fucking battlecruiser, which was not fucking operational in the first place! How the fuck...? Why? Argh! These fat sacks of fucking flying Lao-Shan turds... I swear when I get my fucking hands on them..." The person cursed vehemently, with another loud thud following afterwards, like they hit the desk again. "Shit, I'll have to call back Leila..." The voice sighed heavily in resignation.

"My Liege, please allow me to lead the hunt," the second voice pleaded, sounding determined. "I shall make amends for my mistakes. You have my word," it said firmly with conviction.

"Leah, please, this isn't even about your fault. I trust you," the first voice said in a softer tone than before. "Nobody could've predicted this kind of shit. I'll think of another plan; in the meantime, you focus on reinforcing Mezeporta's defenses. We need to keep the people safe and make sure this doesn't happen again." The person spoke with authority, but without arrogance, just a strong sense of purpose.

The second voice responded quickly, sounding more relieved now: "Understood... Thank you, my Liege."

The first person sighed once more after the reply. "Don't worry, Leah. It's my fault anyway. I shouldn't have underestimated them," the person confessed while sighing loudly afterward, before adding, "Yeah, who would've thought that some fucking dragons capable of fucking flying at will would bother with a fucking ship in the shipyard at that!?"

The frustration in the first person's voice was palpable as they continued, "I'll handle this myself... There is no need for anyone else to risk their lives in vain."

"Oh no, I don't think so!" The third person interrupted immediately, sounding adamant. "Master, this is not your job anymore! You won't move your butt from that chair unless there's no other choice! It's for your own good!" The woman scolded loudly. "I'm not letting you get away again!" She added with a stubborn tone, which caused Clarent to blink in surprise at the sudden change in character from this person.

Circa could only smile sheepishly and shrug apologetically towards Clarent as she knocked on the door and opened it.

Upon entering the room, the two girls saw the three occupants: Selena was seated behind the large desk at the other end of the room, looking extremely dissatisfied as she leaned back in her seat and rested her forehead on the palm of her hand. The other women in the room were standing in front of the desk, with their backs turned towards the newcomers. One of them was carrying a large sword on her back, almost bigger than herself, and had long black hair flowing freely down her back, with a curious headband adorned with two long, red horns. She was wearing a heavy armor set mixed with fur elements, mostly black and dark browns, and seemed rather intimidating with her imposing stature.

The other woman was shorter than the previous one and seemed quite younger as well, wearing a dress similar to Demetoria's outfit but with longer sleeves and a different color scheme of light purple and white. Her brown hair was tied into a long ponytail with a purple beret atop her head. It was easy to tell that this woman was a Guild receptionist from her uniform.

The room itself was rather spacious, with several large windows allowing the sunlight to pour into the office from behind the desk and multiple shelves filled with books and documents lining the walls on either side. In the middle of the room, there was a small coffee table surrounded by two comfortable-looking sofas facing each other. On the desk stood a stack of papers, along with a couple of quill pens and an ink bottle, as well as a small sign that read simply 'Guild Master.'

Selena raised her head from her palm upon hearing the knock and smiled softly at Circa. "Ah, Circa and Clarent, welcome back," she said while trying to appear composed as best she could.

Clarent gasped quietly as she realized who the guild master was. "H-Huh...?" The redhead exclaimed with widened eyes as she looked up to Circa with an incredulous look before quickly averting her gaze from her towards Selena again. "H-H-Huuuuuhh...?!" Clarent stuttered loudly in complete disbelief. "S-S-Selena?! Y-You're... S-Selena...? Y-You're... Y-You're... The... The... I-I... Huh? Huh?" She continued mumbling incoherently with a flustered expression, completely bewildered by the situation she found herself in.

Circa patted her shoulder gently in response. "Hey, easy there. Breathe deeply, alright?" The brunette chuckled, amused at Clarent's reaction. "I did say you were up for a nice surprise, right~?" She teased while winking toward Selena.

The Guild Master chuckled quietly as she nodded in reply to the brunette. "Indeed." Selena grinned with her head leaning on her fist before returning her gaze to Clarent. "You didn't expect the woman you've been talking to so casually yesterday to be such a thing, huh?" she spoke with a confident smirk on her lips before standing up and walking toward them with her hands crossed behind her back.

"We already know each other, but allow me to properly introduce myself again," she said in a gentle, polite tone as she extended a hand toward the redhead, which caused the girl to tremble slightly, though she quickly took a hold of the hand and shook it. "My name is Selena, the current leader of the Hunter's Guild in this city." Selena introduced herself as she shook Clarent's hand, offering another friendly smile towards her. "I'm also the one managing the city and its resources, so I guess you could say that I'm the equivalent of a governor of sorts around here," she explained in a rather proud tone, but not at all conceited. "But I don't like the formal titles much...so just call me by my name," she concluded before taking a step back from Clarent.

"Ah, w-w-well, I..." Clarent began stuttering again as she blushed bright red from embarrassment while avoiding Selena's gaze. "M-M-M-My name's Clarent! I-I-It's an honor to meet you, M-M-Ma'am!" She blurted out after forcing herself to meet her gaze, resulting in an even darker shade of red covering her cheeks as her body began trembling more visibly.

"Please, relax." Selena chuckled quietly in amusement at the girl's flustered state. "No need for such formalities." The woman assured as she patted the girl's shoulder, who simply nodded slowly in return without looking up again. "In fact, I'd appreciate it if you'd treat me like you did before—just as a normal person," Selena continued in a slightly quieter voice while giving Clarent a soft smile. "I don't really like it when people treat me as something more than I actually am; you see, I prefer to keep things simple and friendly."

Upon hearing those words, Clarent seemed to regain her composure somewhat. She calmed down enough to be able to speak normally again, though her voice remained rather timid and shy as she responded with a meek nod. "Ah, yes, A-Alright, I understand..." she mumbled softly, unable to stop herself from trembling slightly as she stood in front of the older woman. "I'll... I'll do my best, ma—uh, um... M-Miss Selena?"

"Just Selena is fine," the one-eyed woman answered as she sat down on one of the sofas in the middle of the room with her arms spread wide along the backrest.

"Now then, Clarent, please take a seat," the Guild Master offered with an inviting gesture toward the couch across her, where Circa settled while Clarent awkwardly did as she was told. "Alright, ladies. May I ask you to excuse us for a while?" Selena said politely, turning her head towards the other two women standing next to her. "I'd like to talk privately with our new friend here, so could you leave us be? You know what to do, Leah."

The black-haired woman named Leah bowed deeply toward the guild master before heading towards the door, while the brown-haired girl approached the blonde woman to speak.

"Should I bring some tea, Master?" She inquired kindly, giving a small curtsy before she moved her gaze toward Clarent and offered a friendly smile. "Clarent, right? Welcome to Mezeporta, dear. I am Effie, the guild master's secretary, at your service. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you." The woman spoke in a professional, yet cheerful, manner as she introduced herself.

"Oh, yes! I'd like a cup of tea too, Effie," Circa added immediately as she raised a hand. "How about you, Clarent? A cup of tea?" The brunette asked with a friendly smile on her lips.

The redhead nodded slightly in response while looking away from Circa shyly. "U-Um...yes, please..." She mumbled quietly before glancing back at Effie and nodding again. "T-Thank you..."

Selena chuckled quietly at this exchange before turning towards Effie. "I'll have some tea as well, thank you," she said politely before waving her hand dismissively toward the secretary.

After hearing the request, Effie smiled and bowed slightly once more. "Very well. Please excuse me," the secretary stated politely before leaving the room.

Selena turned back toward the brunette, smiling gently. "Circa, when I asked for you ladies to leave us, that also included you." The one-eyed woman spoke in a gentle voice but also with an underlying tone of seriousness in her words, which made Circa's smile instantly disappear from her face as she pouted at the Guild Master.

"Awww, but Selenaaa...!" She whined quietly in response, "Clarent's my friend! I wanna help too, please. Pretty please?" The brunette pleaded while leaning forward in her seat and looking straight at Selena with a puppy face, her cheeks puffing out. "I don't mind going if Clarent wants me to, though. It's okay," Circa added after a brief pause.

"You've just met this girl, Circa... How can you already call her your 'friend' so quickly?" Selena asked with a sigh of exasperation and an amused smirk on her lips as she placed her chin on top of one hand.

"I knooooow..." Circa answered with a childish tone and a pout. "But Selena, did you ever meet someone you felt immediately connected to? Like, instantly knowing that you two will become best buddies?" She inquired excitedly before continuing. "That's how I feel about Clarent! Somehow, I feel like we're meant to be friends, you know? Like... I don't know, it's weird," she explained while scratching her cheek nervously. "It just works, I guess."

Selena stared silently at Circa with a deadpan expression for several seconds before eventually sighing heavily once again in resignation as she gave Clarent a questioning glance, who simply smiled sheepishly at the Guild Master in response.

"Fine. You can stay," Selena answered, making the brunette cheer excitedly before quickly settling down again. "You're impossible sometimes," she muttered in resignation before turning her attention back to Clarent, whose nervousness seemed to increase at the attention directed at her.

"So, Clarent, let me first start with saying this," she began as she leaned forward slightly, placing both elbows over her knees as she intertwined her fingers. "You are lost, confused, and scared. I can see it clearly in your eyes and in the way you behave. I understand that you have some... issues with the guild, but I want you to know that as long as you stay here in Mezeporta, you're safe."

"Heehee... That's right! I told you everything would be okay, right?" Circa exclaimed with an impish grin on her lips as she winked toward Clarent before turning towards Selena. "What kind of issues, though?" The brunette asked curiously, tilting her head slightly to the side.

"Hush, Circa. Don't make me change my mind." The Guild Master reprimanded the brunette in a stern tone, who simply huffed childishly and shrugged nonchalantly, sticking out her tongue afterwards.

"You have nothing to fear. If you don't have a place to return to, you can consider this city your home; the room you've been staying in is yours now," Selena continued as she leaned back onto her seat again while looking straight towards the redhead with her single eye. "If you don't know what to do, then we will help you find out; if you have troubles remembering things, we can help you too; and if you feel lonely or scared...well, I believe Circa here will gladly keep you company, among many other people who would love to befriend you, but... I'm sure you will find someone special among them," she added while smiling softly towards Clarent, who blushed at these words.

The redhead stared silently at Selena for several long seconds before finally speaking up: "I... thank you so much...but..." She paused briefly before continuing with a bit of hesitation. "But why...? Why are you so kind to me? I'm nothing but a stranger to you." The redhead asked with genuine confusion in her voice as she looked down at her lap. "I mean, you don't gain anything from helping me like this... You don't know me... You don't know if I'm going to be useful or not," she mumbled quietly while avoiding eye contact with anyone else in the room.

"Not this again..." Selena groaned while pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "Clarent, look at me," she ordered, causing Clarent to flinch at the tone before slowly looking up towards the Guild Master again, meeting her gaze.

"We already went over this, Clarent. If you don't remember, then it's fine; I shall remind you," she stated. "But I'd like you to stop thinking that way. No matter who you might be, no one deserves to be treated like trash or thrown away without care because they're useless. Everybody has worth in this world," the woman asserted with resolution before relaxing, resting her back against the backrest of the sofa, and crossing her arms over her chest.

"That's how Mezeporta was built," the blonde continued. "It wasn't made by the Guild, or some kingdom, or any sort of powerful organization like that... It was created by ordinary people working together, collectively, for one sole purpose: to survive in this harsh place we call 'The Frontier'." Selena paused for a moment to take a deep breath before adding. "By giving people a chance, by accepting those who've suffered, and by uniting as equals regardless of status, race, or gender, people managed to thrive and create this beautiful city," she declared with pride and admiration in her voice. "So, you see, it's not strange to extend kindness towards someone who needs it, whether you know them or not, because it's simply the right thing to do."

Silence fell inside the room while Selena finished talking; neither Clarent nor Circa dared to interrupt her. After waiting for a while to make sure they're done listening, Selena proceeded to continue: "I hope that answers your question. There isn't any particular reason, really. All I can say is, 'It's human nature,'" she concluded with a chuckle, causing Clarent and Circa to nod in acknowledgement as they kept silent.

"Ah, and by the way..." The one-eyed woman added, taking notice of their lack of response and raising an eyebrow toward Clarent. "I get that you have amnesia, and I truly wish for you to regain your memories someday...but you better drop that self-pitying act you seem so fond of having, or I won't be so lenient with you. I hate when people play the victim card to get out of trouble. You hear me?" She stated firmly while narrowing her gaze.

"I-I'm not... Uh... S-Sorry..." Clarent apologized quickly while staring down at her own feet again, feeling ashamed of her actions.

"Again, you don't have anything to worry about here." Selena continued with her lecturing, ignoring Clarent's apology. "Not even the guild, if that's what bothers you. Here in Mezeporta, I am the Guild, and if I tell you that you are welcome here, then nobody will argue about it." She emphasized her point by pointing at herself with a thumb before finishing her sentence. "That's why... Please relax and enjoy your time here. I hope that you will find peace within yourself. Because you deserve happiness too, Clarent, just as everyone else." She smiled gently as she said these words.

Clarent stared intently at Selena, speechless, while processing her words. The redhead lowered her gaze again afterwards, deep in thought; it was evident that she still felt conflicted about her own problems and circumstances. But despite her inner turmoil, she nodded silently in understanding at the Guild Master's reassurance.

"And in addition to my last answer," the blonde added, a faint blush rising to her face as she glanced aside for a brief moment before looking directly at the redhead again. "What I hope to gain out of this is a healthy, happy, and fulfilled girl who can enjoy life the way it should be. I want to see you smile sincerely, Clarent, and not because you feel obliged to do so. By getting rid of all your doubts, worries, and fears, I want you to learn how to love yourself...and then, becoming stronger than ever before, to protect what matters to you. This is what I want and expect from you. It's all up to you, Clarent, I won't force you into doing anything." She finished speaking while closing her eyes briefly before opening them again with determination shining within their depths.

The silence between the three continued until it was eventually broken by Circa. "Wow, Selena... What's gotten into you today?" The brunette joked while giggling under her breath as she watched the blonde woman with a wide grin on her lips. "Can you stop with those bangers already? Seriously, I can only get so horny here~" She teased further while giving the Guild Master an impish wink afterwards.

Selena merely scoffed at this comment, shaking her head lightly before clearing her throat and composing herself again. "A-Anyway!" The blonde started awkwardly, trying to change topics as she crossed her arms and leaned back against the sofa again. "I didn't invite you here just to preach at you, Clarent. I believe you came for another reason, correct?" The blonde continued after regaining her usual stoic expression.

Clarent was still busy digesting Selena's words, so it took a moment before she realized what the Guild Master was asking from her. She lifted her gaze upwards towards the blonde woman and nodded slowly.

"Yes... Um, actually..." The girl stuttered nervously as she fiddled with her hands before swallowing hard and answering. "I was hoping you could tell me more about the incident," she requested timidly, avoiding eye contact with Selena. "I mean, I-I got involved somehow, but... I don't remember anything about it. It's weird; it's not like my usual memory loss," she explained hesitantly while glancing sideways towards Circa, who simply gave her a reassuring smile and a thumbs up in response.

Upon hearing Clarent's request, Selena furrowed her brows and narrowed her gaze toward her. "I see. And what exactly would knowing the details accomplish?" The Guild Master asked unexpectedly, causing Clarent to flinch, feeling intimidated by Selena's straight-forwardness.

However, the girl regained her confidence once again shortly after and looked up towards the guild master. "It's... I just..." She mumbled weakly, struggling with finding the right words.

She clenched her fists tightly, fighting against her own nervousness for a few moments, before finally letting out a sigh of defeat and averting her gaze to the floor again. "S-Sorry..." The girl whispered apologetically, feeling ashamed of her inability to express her thoughts coherently.

"Clarent, I already know everything about you." Selena stated bluntly, startling the girl. "Well, not exactly everything, of course," she corrected herself with a smile towards the redhead, noticing how flustered she seemed by her previous words. "I meant everything since you arrived here and the events you were involved in. Juno has already told me about the details, so I know enough to understand the kind of person you are." The Guild Master clarified casually, making Clarent freeze in place, wide-eyed.

"Oh, by the way, Selena... Did you...read her diary?" Circa questioned curiously, sounding slightly concerned as she stared directly toward the one-eyed woman. It seemed like she was still bothered by whatever she saw in there earlier.

"No, but Juno did," Selena replied quickly as she looked directly at the brunette. "She told me about the important parts, so I don't need to read it myself. That book contains your personal life, Clarent... It's something we have to respect," the blonde explained with a frown, shooting a disapproving glare at Circa.

"Y-Yeah... of course!" Circa exclaimed with a forced laugh, looking slightly guilty under Selena's glare.

The redhead slowly relaxed her shoulders and allowed herself to breathe normally again as she listened to their conversation. She was glad that she didn't have to explain herself anymore. After a brief pause, the sound of the door creaking open caught the trio's attention, interrupting them.

Effie peeked inside with a tray in one hand and a curious look on her face, as if wondering how long she should wait outside. She smiled and walked in when she noticed that everyone was staring at her. She placed the tray, holding three steaming hot cups of tea, a tea pot, and a plate of cookies, down onto the coffee table before quietly taking her leave with a slight bow towards Selena.

As soon as they were alone again, the Guild master cleared her throat softly before continuing the conversation: "So, with that in mind... I'm asking you again, Clarent: What do you hope to gain from knowing about that day?" Selena inquired patiently while observing the redhead's reactions. "Wouldn't it be better for you to just stay in ignorance about it and move on with your life? What do you intend to do with that knowledge? Do you really need to relive the pain and suffering?" She insisted relentlessly as she waited for the girl's reply, staring at Clarent with unwavering determination.

The redhead didn't respond immediately; instead, she looked down at her lap as she contemplated the guild master's questions thoroughly. "I... don't know," she mumbled after a few seconds of silence before glancing towards the guild master. "Maybe you're right. Maybe there's nothing good to come from knowing, and I'm just wasting time and energy trying to find an answer that doesn't even exist in the first place." She confessed with a dejected look in her eyes, appearing defeated as she gazed downward, away from the two other women. "But...still..."

Her hands trembled slightly as she placed them on her knees, gripping her skirt tightly, causing Circa to notice her nervousness and reach towards the redhead, resting a hand on hers in support. The redhead smiled weakly and shook her head towards Circa, signaling to her that she was okay.

Selena watched attentively as Clarent took deep breaths before continuing, her expression growing more resolute. "I want to know the truth, even if it hurts." She stated firmly as she raised her head and met Selena's gaze. "I know it's selfish of me, but... if there's even the slightest chance that it may help me solve the mystery, even if only a tiny little bit, then it's worth the risk... or so I believe." She explained with conviction in her eyes, although her voice was still shaking slightly. "I'm tired of being a weak coward, always running away from my problems and letting others take care of them instead. I need to know, because only then...will I be able to move forward... I have to," she declared boldly, holding onto Circa's hand as she did so.

The guild master stayed quiet, maintaining a neutral expression throughout the entire duration of Clarent's speech. Eventually, after what seemed like forever, the blonde woman sighed loudly before nodding towards Clarent. "Well, I guess it's pointless of me to try to gatekeep you from your own memories," she admitted with a wry smile as she scratched the back of her head with some embarrassment. "I can't blame you either. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably do the same thing," she said as she shrugged her shoulders and sat upright, leaning forward to pick up a cup of tea.

"However, Clarent, I will have to ask you to promise me something first," she requested with a serious tone, staring straight at Clarent, who gulped loudly at the sight of her intimidating gaze. "You must swear on your own life that you won't attempt to seek revenge, no matter what happens from now onwards... Are we clear?" The one-eyed woman asked in a low voice that left no room for discussion as she slowly brought the cup of tea towards her lips and took a sip of its contents.

The redhead flinched at the unexpected question but quickly composed herself again with a firm nod towards Selena. "I...understand." She answered as firmly as she could, though her voice quivered slightly, betraying her nervousness.

The Guild Master observed Clarent for several seconds in silence, analyzing her behavior closely. "You're a civilian, Clarent... So it's only natural for me to try to protect you from unnecessary danger and sorrow. Even though I'm pretty confident you wouldn't become reckless enough to seek out the source of the incident, I still had to make sure. Just in case, you know?" Selena said with a warm smile and a casual shrug. "Speaking of which... I heard you were a hunter before, but I assume you have no recollection of that either," she continued after putting down the empty cup of tea back onto the coffee table, glancing curiously towards Clarent, who only blushed faintly in response.

"About that..." Clarent hesitated, feeling anxious as she scratched the back of her head. "I know that I was a hunter, yes. But I don't have any idea how I became one or what kind of hunter I used to be. I only know what was written in my diary, and... that's not much, to be honest." The redhead admitted sheepishly while avoiding eye contact with anyone present.

The guild master frowned slightly at this response, though her expression softened after a few seconds of silence. "Hmm... Well, you certainly have the metabolism of one, judging by how fast you healed from your wounds." Selena pointed out thoughtfully, which made Clarent look up at her with confusion in her eyes. "Those injuries you sustained were no joke; most people would require at least several weeks of recovery after such trauma, yet here you are, acting like nothing happened after only a night's rest," she explained casually as she crossed her arms over her chest. "So, I believe that's enough evidence that you're definitely a hunter, or at least you have the potential to be one." The blonde added, sounding pleased.

Upon hearing this, Clarent's cheeks flushed a light pink color, which she tried desperately to hide from everyone by averting her gaze shyly.

Selena stood up from the couch and walked toward the bookshelf on the wall opposite where the girls were sitting. "That reminds me... Clarent, there is something I'd like to show you," the guild master said while reaching towards one of the shelves, pushing on the edge of a particularly thick book, which caused the whole thing and the one next to it to shift and rotate around a hidden axis, revealing a secret section behind the now-opened shelves.

The secret compartment itself was filled with all kinds of weapons hanging on display on wooden panels and racks, mostly swords of varying sizes and shapes, with some lances, hammers, and bows here and there, all made with varying materials. There was one thing in common, though: all these weapons radiated power. It was like the air in the room had suddenly changed, and Clarent began feeling a bit dizzy the longer she stared at them, overwhelmed by the sheer pressure of their presence.

In addition to those weapons, there was also a singular armor stand in the middle with a set of full-plate armor, but there was something off about them: they didn't seem to match properly with each other, even though they looked somewhat similar in design and color. It was like someone assembled various pieces together and hoped that they fit somehow. Nevertheless, it was an intimidating sight, especially the helm, which featured a large mane made of golden fur protruding backwards, two long horn-like spikes sticking out on both sides of its skull, and a face plate covering the wearer's whole face, leaving only a few holes carved like a beast's face. If that armor belonged to the guild master, Clarent could easily understand why Juno had nicknamed her the 'Lioness'.

Selena picked up one specific sword from its rack, which looked to be a longsword, taller than the guild master herself. It's sheath was colored black and purple with intricate golden designs embedded on the hilt and pommel. The one-eyed woman carefully carried the sword back toward the girls and presented it to Clarent, who was staring wide-eyed at it as soon as she noticed its shape.

"We found this sword with you when we discovered you unconscious, after the first incident you were involved in," Selena explained calmly while keeping her eye fixed on the weapon, waiting for Clarent's reaction. "Juno told me this belonged to you. Is that true? Do you recognize it?"

Clarent swallowed hard as she reached hesitantly towards the weapon, touching its hilt tentatively. The contact felt oddly warm against her fingertips, almost like there was something alive inside it. It also felt familiar, like she had seen and held this blade countless times before, yet nothing came to mind. Nothing at all.

She closed her eyes to focus better and concentrated on trying to recall anything related to this object, but there was absolutely no information inside her brain aside from the fact that it definitely felt right in her hands. It felt like an extension of herself—an extra limb that just happened to be attached to the hilt, waiting to be used. However, it remained a mystery as to what purpose this particular item served for her.

Suddenly, an image flashed through her mind: the silhouette of a blonde woman, likely Selena, but her features were obscured by the darkness enveloping her. She was injured, bloodied, and panting heavily, clutching tightly onto the very same sword in her hands while using it to support herself as she struggled to stay standing. Clarent didn't understand why she was seeing such an odd vision, but it lasted only a brief second before disappearing into nothingness.

A strong sense of foreboding gripped Clarent's heart, making it hard to breathe, but she quickly shook off her discomfort and focused on the present. As soon as she reopened her eyes, the redhead found herself staring intensely at the weapon she was currently touching with her hand. The girl blinked twice as she wondered where the strange image came from, but she quickly decided to put that aside for later and focus on the matter at hand.

"Clarent?" Selena called out softly, catching her attention again. "Are you alright? You've been spacing out for a minute," the blonde woman noted with a worried expression, causing Clarent to turn her head towards her with a perplexed look.

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry," the redhead apologized hastily. "I was just... thinking." She explained with an awkward smile on her lips before focusing her gaze back on the sword and removing her hand from the hilt. "I... I'm not sure... It feels kinda familiar, yes. But I can't remember anything about it." She confessed reluctantly, receiving an understanding nod from Selena.

"I see... Hmm..." The guild master hummed thoughtfully before giving Clarent an encouraging grin. "Alright, I believe you. However..." She trailed off briefly as she looked down towards the weapon, admiring it once more. "I have... a slight issue with this," the blonde woman continued in a serious tone. "You see, this sword is actually unique, made by none other than the Legendary Artisan himself... It's one of the nine treasure weapons in existence, known as 'Murakumo', one of the strongest longswords ever made," she explained solemnly, making Clarent gasp in surprise while Circa whistled impressed.

"The power of this blade is incomparable, just like the other eight treasured weapons. It is said that a master swordsman once managed to cut a Shen Gaoren in half with a single strike of this sword, and it's a fucking giant rock of a crab monster with a shell thicker than a castle wall," the Guild Master narrated, emphasizing the impossible feat.

Upon hearing this, Circa let out a short snicker, followed by an exaggerated coughing fit as she quickly covered her mouth in an attempt to disguise her reaction. Selena simply shot her a quick glare before returning to her monologue.

"Many blacksmiths have tried to recreate it, but none have succeeded. Nobody knows what kind of materials the artisan used or how he forged it. There is only one such weapon in the world." Selena continued as she placed her hands on her hips, shifting her attention towards the redhead with a frown on her face. "And I happen to own it."

Clarent froze at those words, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under Selena's intense stare. "H-Huh...? U-Um, I, uh..." The girl stuttered while sweat formed on her brow as she attempted to find the right words.

Circa intervened by raising her hand in the air like a school child, gaining the Guild Master's attention. "Hey, Selena, what are you saying? Are you suggesting Clarent stole it or something?" The brunette asked innocently as she tilted her head, a small pout visible on her lips.

The Guild Master simply shook her head towards Circa as a reply before turning her gaze back at the weapon in her hand. "No. I'm saying that what I hold here is technically impossible," the blonde explained cryptically while tapping the tip of the sword's handle with her finger. "This isn't a replica or a counterfeit of Murakumo; it's the real thing. But... Unless I'm missing something here, it can't be. I own the original; it's right here, in my collection, and it hasn't moved." Selena continued while gesturing at the secret room where all her treasures lay. "Yet here it stands, in my hand, exactly the same as the one I possess. That doesn't make any sense," the blonde finished with a sigh, evidently troubled by the situation.

At this point, Circa could only stare at Selena with a dumbfounded expression, unable to process the implications of her statement. Meanwhile, Clarent stood speechless, unsure what to do or say. She wasn't sure whether she was supposed to feel honored, frightened, or simply confused.

"And since you don't seem to remember anything about it, I can't ask you for answers either," the blonde continued after a short pause as she turned her back towards the girls, placing the sword on top of her desk. "This is very complicated, Clarent; I apologize." Selena declared with an exhausted expression before turning towards her guests again, flashing them a small smile.

"I don't know what to think of this situation yet or if I should return it to you." Selena stated while frowning towards the sword. "However, for now, I'll hold on to it." The guild master declared firmly as she looked at the redhead again. "Not because I don't trust you or anything, but... I need to investigate this matter further." She clarified with a smile, easing Clarent's nerves somewhat. "Don't worry, I'll return it to you eventually." She paused for a second, deep in thought, before adding, "Hm, actually..."

Selena stopped for a moment as she examined Clarent from head to toe, seemingly pondering something. "How about this...?" She proposed, drawing the girl's attention once again. "Let's make a deal, Clarent. I believe you have the potential to become a hunter, despite lacking memories of such training. Your body remembers it well enough," she suggested while looking at Circa, who simply shrugged nonchalantly without replying. "So... did you decide on which job you'd like to go for?" The one-eyed woman asked, returning her gaze toward the redhead. "Because if not, then... perhaps you should consider becoming a hunter again."

"You serious!? That's awesome, Clarent!" Circa exclaimed excitedly while pumping both fists above her head, cheering excitedly.

"Is...that really okay?" Clarent questioned nervously, not convinced of this proposition. "I mean... Aren't you risking too much just because of this? I don't want to cause any trouble." She argued, unsure of whether she should accept the offer.

Selena simply chuckled at these words before patting Clarent's shoulder in reassurance. "Do I need to repeat myself? I am the Guild. If I tell you that it's possible, then it's possible, simple as that. You shouldn't worry too much about it," the Guild Master explained with a cheerful tone, which prompted Circa to throw her arms around the redhead's neck and pull her into a tight embrace. "Plus, we need hunters right now," Selena added as she glanced toward Circa, who pulled away from the hug quickly with an embarrassed smile.

"Yep, that's right!" The brunette confirmed happily while giving Clarent a playful wink. "We've got loads of work to do these days, so having you onboard would be a huge help! What do you say? Wanna give it a try? I bet you'll have fun!" She added with enthusiasm and a thumbs-up towards the redhead.

"I... I suppose..." Clarent responded with a hesitant tone as she scratched her cheek awkwardly. "It's the only thing I know how to do anyway." She mumbled under her breath, which earned another laugh from Circa.

"Then it's settled!" Circa exclaimed, clapping her hands together in glee. "I'm so excited to work with you, Clarent! You and I are going to make a great team!" She continued with an eager smile, only to be interrupted by a cough from Selena.

"Not so fast, Circa." Selena warned with a serious tone, causing the brunette to shrink slightly under her stern gaze. "Did you forget about our rules already? She still has to pass the examination first in order to obtain her hunter license," the one-eyed woman reminded firmly, making Circa pout petulantly in response.

"Oh, that's right..." The brunette muttered quietly with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Examination? Am I going to have trials?" Clarent asked nervously as she looked back and forth between Circa and Selena.

"Indeed," the blonde woman answered with an amused chuckle. "Let me explain the system."

The Guild master sat down onto the couch in front of Clarent and Circa again, taking a cookie from the plate before continuing: "Normally, the Guild doesn't require hunters to undergo an official examination in order to register, but here in Mezeporta we are very strict about who we let become a hunter. Since the monsters of the Frontier tend to be stronger than normal, every recruit has to prove themselves worthy before they're granted a license."

"Furthermore, hunters who already possess a license aren't exempted from the rule," Selena added with a smirk directed at Circa. "Every hunter has to be tested on a regular basis to ensure that they're still capable of fulfilling their duties. We do it annually as a part of what we call 'The Hunter's Festival'. Everyone who wishes to remain active has to take part in it."

"O-Oh, really?" Clarent stammered as she gulped audibly. "And what exactly happens during this festival?" The redhead asked timidly while glancing toward Circa.

"The Hunter's Festival is both a tournament and an evaluation. It's a major event that attracts a lot of people from all over the continent to witness the mightiest hunters who gather to participate. This is an opportunity for young recruits to show their worth and for veteran hunters to renew their license," Selena explained briefly as she munched on a cookie before continuing with an explanation: "Not only that, but this is also a chance for active hunters to get promoted to higher ranks and for the Guild to examine and evaluate their skills, allowing them to receive better assignments based on their abilities."

The redhead nodded in understanding after listening carefully. "So, basically, it's kind of like an annual performance review?" Clarent summarized, earning an affirmative nod from Selena.

"Of course, this is not the only time we allow new applicants to join us, but it's the easiest way to earn a spot among our ranks," the Guild Master added. "And fortunately for you, the next Hunter's Festival will start in about a couple of weeks, which is the perfect opportunity for you to participate."

"Whaaaat!?" Circa cried out in disbelief with wide eyes. "No waaaaay! Why so soon!?" She complained loudly.

"Circa... Don't tell me you forgot about it again, did you?" Selena scolded the brunette with a sharp glare towards her.

"Hehe, I... may have forgotten," Circa replied with an embarrassed chuckle as she scratched the back of her neck sheepishly.

Selena merely sighed tiredly as she rolled her eye towards the ceiling before continuing, "Why are you even a hunter again...? You should just stick with teaching kids and leave the monster-slaying to people who actually care." She commented under her breath with a tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Hey! I heard that, ya know?" The brunette shouted while puffing up her cheeks, obviously flustered by the remark. "I care about my job! I'm just...too distracted sometimes, that's all." Circa protested defensively, earning a chuckle from Selena in return.

Clarent observed their banter silently, finding herself smiling along with the guild master's laughter. She was surprised by how friendly they were towards each other despite being superiors and subordinates. She had always imagined Guild Masters to be cold and distant, not having much time to interact with their employees unless it was to bark orders and demands at them. Yet, the atmosphere here was surprisingly cozy and relaxing compared to her expectations. The two women appeared more like close friends than colleagues working together.

"Sorry, sorry, I couldn't resist..." She teased playfully with a smirk, eliciting another groan of annoyance from the brunette. "Anyway..." The blonde resumed her talk with Clarent. "As I was saying... During the festival, there will be numerous trials, ranging from team battles against captured monsters to individual matches between participants and instructors. The main goal of this event is to provide entertainment for the audience and the citizens, so we try to keep the trials exciting and engaging for the people watching," the guild master finished explaining while crossing her legs elegantly.

"W-Wait... Are you really making hunters fight each other? Doesn't the Guild prohibit this kind of practice?" The redhead questioned incredulously while staring at Selena, who just shrugged nonchalantly at her concerns.

"Why, yes, it does," Selena confirmed casually while taking another bite of her cookie. "I'm surprised you even know that, considering your situation." She remarked curiously. "However, here in Mezeporta, we don't really follow the guild's policies that much, which explains why this city is so different from the rest of the world. Don't fret, though; everything is handled safely and in a controlled environment, and nobody is forced to take part in it. It's purely for entertainment purposes; you won't be penalized if you refuse to compete. It's just a spectacle, after all." She explained calmly, reassuring the girl. "Although you would miss out on some pretty good rewards, depending on your results, but again, that's entirely optional and won't affect your results in the examination," she added while finishing up her snack.

Clarent didn't say anything in response; she simply nodded slowly towards Selena as she processed all the information given to her.

"In any case..." The guild master continued after finishing eating the sweet treat. "The deal I offered is this: If you're able to successfully pass the trials during the upcoming Hunter's Festival and obtain your hunter license, then I shall return this sword to you without any questions asked. After all, you will have proved yourself worthy of wielding this legendary blade," Selena explained with a smile. "If, however, you fail, don't worry; you'll have another chance in the future. Your weapon will stay here with me, safe and sound, until you're ready to retrieve it. How does that sound? Do you agree with these terms?" She offered, standing up and looking down towards the redhead, extending her hand out for the girl to shake.

The redhead looked down at the outstretched arm, contemplating the proposal for several seconds, before eventually standing up from her seat as well and grasping the Guild Master's hand with renewed determination, as if she just had her spirit revived.

"A-Alright... I accept. I'll take your challenge," Clarent stated with confidence while gripping Selena's hand and staring straight into her eye.

The one-eyed woman grinned widely at this answer and nodded approvingly at the redhead. "Good, I like that spirit. I'm sorry if it sounded like I was forcing you, but I had to make sure you would take this seriously." She explained with an apologetic tone, though she still wore a big smile on her face.

"It's not like I have the choice anyway." The redhead mumbled under her breath while looking away bashfully, blushing a bit upon realizing what she said. "B-But, yeah, no worries... I'll try my best," she added, hoping that the Guild Master didn't catch on to that remark.

However, Selena's expression darkened slightly as she frowned towards Clarent. "You always have a choice, Clarent. Please don't ever think otherwise." The blonde woman whispered in a low voice that sounded like a warning towards the girl, causing her to flinch in surprise at the sudden change in attitude. "There's always another option. Just because I'm telling you to do something doesn't mean you have to obey me... This is the very definition of freedom: being free to make decisions and choices based upon one's own will and desire," she declared firmly before releasing the girl's hand from her grip and returning to her usual stoic expression.

"For example, in this situation, if you don't want to agree with the terms I set, you can just refuse them and instead choose to take it by force," Selena continued with an unreadable expression on her face while staring intently at Clarent, whose eyes widened at the mere suggestion. "But then... you'd have to face the consequences," she concluded, a confident smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

Clarent's body trembled slightly under Selena's piercing gaze, her mouth agape at the guild master's words. Her mind raced frantically in search of something to respond with, but the words failed to escape her throat. Thankfully, Circa took that chance to intervene, breaking the tension between them as she jumped up from her seat and stepped next to Clarent.

"Whoa there, Selena, take it easy, will you?" The brunette spoke with a slightly worried tone while wrapping her arms protectively around the redhead's shoulders. "It's a bit too early for that kind of flirting, don't you think?" She joked lightheartedly in an attempt to lighten up the mood, earning a laugh from Selena, who quickly regained her composure.

"Hah! Sorry, sorry, I got a little carried away there," the Guild Master admitted with a hearty chuckle as she scratched her cheek with mild embarrassment. "I was joking, of course. But my point still stands, Clarent," she insisted while looking towards the redhead again. "Never do anything that goes against your beliefs or principles; always choose what you want over what others expect or demand from you. Only then will you truly live life to the fullest. This will be your lesson for today," she added with a wink toward the redhead, who simply nodded.

With that, Selena finally turned her attention away from Clarent, walking towards her desk, picking up the sword again, and returning it to the secret compartment.

She closed it after storing the weapon away before heading back towards the girls while speaking. "Now then... all this talk about you, little princess, has made us deviate from the initial topic," the Guild Master stated casually as she sat behind her desk.

"I think we've talked long enough for today, and you must be tired. Let's end this conversation here for now," Selena announced while leaning back comfortably in her chair, resting her hands over her stomach with a satisfied smile on her face. "We'll meet again soon to continue where we left off."

The one-eyed woman suddenly raised her voice, calling out towards the door. "I'm sure you heard everything, right, Effie?" Selena asked loudly, causing a surprised squeak to come from beyond the door. A few seconds later, it opened slightly to reveal the secretary girl, peeking timidly through the crack in the doorway with flushed cheeks.

"Y-Yes, I... I overheard a bit of it," Effie confessed shamefully with her head down, unable to make eye contact with either of them. "Please forgive my rudeness... I am ashamed of myself." The girl pleaded dejectedly with a sad puppy look, making Selena laugh in amusement at her reaction.

"No worries, Effie. You didn't do anything wrong. I knew you were listening since the beginning," the blonde revealed with a knowing grin before waving her hand towards her. "Please come in; I have some tasks for you," she ordered cheerily, beckoning towards Effie to step inside the room.

Effie obeyed promptly, closing the door behind her and stepping forward carefully, still looking very guilty and nervous. She bowed politely towards Selena. "Yes, Master. How may I assist you?" The secretary asked respectfully.

"I would like you to guide Clarent back to her room, please," the one-eyed woman instructed Effie as she gestured towards Clarent. "Explain everything she needs to know about the city, how things work here, and such." She added with a warm smile towards Clarent. "Also, since she has memory issues, you may stay with her and help her remember anything she wants to know," she continued, making Effie look towards Clarent in confusion. "You'll basically be her personal assistant for a couple of days."

The request took both Effie and Clarent aback, especially the former, who stared back at her master with wide eyes full of astonishment.

"U-Um... Pardon me, Master, but...are you...dismissing me...?" Effie stammered hesitantly while biting her lower lip as she fidgeted in place awkwardly.

Selena blinked owlishly at the girl, tilting her head in confusion. "Huh...? No, I'm not 'dismissing' you or anything... Clarent just needs a guide and somebody to assist her, and you are the only person available at the moment," she explained plainly. "I'll find someone else trustworthy to help her out later, but until then, please stay by her side and take care of her," she requested with a soft smile while resting her chin on top of her entwined hands.

"You can consider it a break from your usual duties, a change of pace, if you will. Also, that includes keeping an eye on her," the blonde added with a serious tone. "Clarent here has quite the knack for getting involved in dangerous situations...so please watch over her to make sure nothing bad happens again." Selena stated with an apologetic smile to the confused redhead, who simply smiled hesitantly in return.

Effie hesitated for a few moments before finally nodding obediently towards Selena with a relieved expression, grateful that her master didn't intend to replace her. She glanced towards Clarent with a faint blush on her face. "Thank you very much for your consideration, Master. I will gladly perform this task." The young woman answered proudly while bowing deeply towards the guild master again. "However, I hope that you don't intend to take advantage of my absence to escape the office duties, Master, right?" She asked suspiciously with narrowed eyes, staring intensely at her master's expression, which quickly turned sour.

Selena smiled awkwardly at this inquiry before chuckling nervously, rubbing the back of her head as she averted her gaze elsewhere. "Haha, no, of course not, I promise." She answered quickly, though her voice was shaking slightly as she spoke.

"Very well then..." The secretary accepted, apparently satisfied with her boss' reply, even though she clearly didn't believe it completely. "I will ask Yunis to keep an eye on you in the meantime. You know, just to be safe." Effie added with a sweet smile, but her tone was filled with underlying threats, which caused Selena to swallow hard as she felt cold sweat running down her spine.

"A-Anyways, girls, it's been a pleasure. Now, shoo, it's almost noon, and I have work to do!" Selena announced as she waved her hand towards them dismissively. "I look forward to meeting you again, Clarent. Until then, please make yourself at home and relax," the guild master wished with a sincere grin towards the redhead, who returned the gesture with a timid smile. "Ah, and Circa, please stay here for a bit longer... I need to speak with you."

Circa stood up abruptly from her seat with a bright grin on her face, saluting energetically towards her superior. "Yes, Ma'am!"

Meanwhile, Effie approached Clarent and gestured toward the door politely. "Miss Clarent, please follow me," the woman urged kindly, leading her to the exit of the office. Clarent complied with no hesitation whatsoever, glancing one last time towards Circa, who simply grinned widely in return, before following her new companion out of the room.

The two of them left the office, leaving Circa alone with Selena, who immediately let out a loud sigh once the door closed, revealing her true feelings. "Shit, this was exhausting," she mumbled quietly while leaning backwards into her chair and covering her face with a palm. "I'm not used to being so formal for this long... And there's still the mess of yesterday I need to take care of," she continued, complaining in a low voice. "My head hurts... Circaaaaa... Bring your ass over here; I need a hug," she called out weakly.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming~ " Circa sang joyfully, skipping towards the depressed woman, before jumping onto her lap and wrapping her arms around her neck.

"Awww, poor honey, being forced to act all strict and responsible... when all you want is to slack off and fool around..." The brunette cooed softly as she gently caressed Selena's hair affectionately. "You can relax now, I'm here to take care of your needs." She purred seductively while stroking Selena's head, who hummed approvingly in response.

"You can say that again... What I'd give just to go out and fight something; I'm craving some excitement," Selena sighed, her voice filled with longing. "I miss the thrill of the hunt, the adrenaline rushing through my veins, the weight of my weapon in hand... It's been too long since I've had a real challenge."

"Hmm~ Sorry about that, but that's not happening anytime soon~ " the brunette replied, giving a light, playful poke onto Selena's nose with her finger. "You know you can't, even if you wanted to. Your body wouldn't endure it, it's too risky," she warned, evidently worried about her friend's well-being.

Selena shook her head reluctantly, even though she understood the truth in her words. "Yeah, yeah," she murmured, a hint of frustration in her voice. The brunette smiled softly, placing a comforting hand on Selena's shoulder.

"Don't forget the reason you have to save your strength, honey." Circa reminded her, holding Selena's gaze for a moment before continuing, "Your time will come. Until then, please enjoy your moment of peace and leave the rest to us~ You have done enough for us; now it's time for the people of Mezeporta to give back to you."

Selena sighed, her single eye reflecting a mix of gratitude and weariness. "Oh, I haven't forgotten, don't worry," she replied with a determined tone, her single eye fixated on Circa's face, although it seemed like she was not really looking at her but rather at something distant. "That piece of shit won't get away next time…"

Both of them kept silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts. Even Circa lost her usual cheerful demeanor, her brows furrowing with concern. Selena's words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the unfinished business that lay ahead.

Eventually, the brunette broke the silence after clearing her throat awkwardly. "I-In any case, I have exactly what you need to satisfy your craving," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief, before leaning forward and planting a peck on Selena's cheek.

Selena's cheeks flushed slightly at the unexpected gesture, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She appreciated Circa's attempt to lighten the mood, even if just for a moment. It was a welcome distraction from the weight of their conversation and the uncertainty that loomed over them. With a soft chuckle, Selena replied, "Well, I need a break, so... Show me what you have in mind, little minx."

Later, the guild employees working in the building reported hearing muffled sounds from the top floor, but none of them bothered to investigate further, assuming it was probably just some birds chirping outside.