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.

6. Chapter 5 - UNKNOWN Origins

Selena

"Everyone is here…? Good, thank you for coming," Selena said, her face growing dark and serious as she scanned the people gathered in her office with her single emerald eye. "Sorry for the short notice, but it's an emergency."

In front of her desk were standing four individuals—four hunters, judging by their attire and weapons.

"Keith," Selena began, looking at the tall man wearing a samurai-like armor set made of some sort of royal blue scales and yellow fur framing the edges. He had long, light purple hair tied in a ponytail, a large scar across his face, and a long sword hooked to his back, whose scabbard was adorned with white fur.

Everybody knew this guy just by his reputation alone. Keith was one of the most skilled long sword hunters in the East, always practicing in his dojo and teaching others his 'Way of the Serene Mind' hunting style with unwavering dedication. He had gained the nickname 'Samurai of the East' for his incredible swordsmanship and the honor code that he followed religiously. Rumors said that he was able to split the shell of a carapaceon in two with just one blow of his trusted longsword.

"Guinel," she continued, turning her attention to the bulky man in heavy, dark blue plate armor with red straps, wielding a massive warhammer that seemed almost comically large in comparison to his size. His face was concealed by a helmet adorned with a metal spike protruding from his forehead and red plumes attached to the top.

Another famous—or rather 'infamous'—hunter of Mezeporta, Guinel was feared by many for his ruthless tactics and merciless pursuit of his targets, often leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. His reputation as a former criminal turned hunter and for always getting the job done, no matter the cost, preceded him, making him a figure to be both respected and feared in the city. His proficiency with a hammer was hardly matched in the East, even among the top hunters of Mezeporta, but that was probably because he didn't think too much about it. He had the habit of hitting first and asking questions later, which fit well with the weapon he wielded.

"Frau," the blonde said, acknowledging the girl with pink hair tied in twintails, wearing a revealing set of leather armor mixed with pink clothes, a brassiere, thighhighs, and a pink scarf around her neck. Her weapon of choice was a pair of dual blades, which looked more like a pair of blue and gold chakrams than actual swords.

Her cute demeanor, seductive appearance, and outfit decorated with numerous paw patterns and accessories made one thing pretty clear: she liked cats. But behind this facade of playfulness and charm was a cunning and skilled huntress respected for her aggressive fighting style, agility, and recklessness. She was among the boldest hunters in the city, capable of diving fearlessly into close combat with her dual swords in hands with dangerous monsters such as the Espinas species or the lone wolf Midogaron, gracefully evading all blows and retaliating at lightning speed. Although she had that bad tendency of using her wits for mischief and trickery, earning her the reputation of an impish prankster.

"And Natasha," the guild master concluded, setting her gaze on the last member of the group. Natasha stood tall, her long silver hair cascading down her back, wearing a sleek and very revealing black outfit with gray accents consisting of a black leather jacket open in the front, exposing a large cleavage that left very little to the imagination and indicated that she undoubtedly didn't wear anything else underneath, as well as a dark skirt and a set of matching thighhighs paired with high boots.

It would be hard to believe that this attractive appearance concealed a highly talented archer, but Natasha's reputation as the deadliest marksman in the city preceded her. Her skills with a bow were only matched by her pride, fighting not only for the hunter's duties but also for the respect and recognition she deserved. Her piercing blue eyes met the guild master's single one with unwavering confidence, ready for whatever mission lay ahead.

Juno was also there, sitting in a new wheelchair beside Selena's desk, peacefully enjoying a cup of tea. She was still wearing the same plain blue gown she had during her stroll with Selena earlier, now loosely open on the front, revealing a bit of cleavage, and the band-aid wrapped around her chest and waist. Her legs were exposed, now free from bandages, with only the lower part of her gown covering her thighs, revealing the faint scars near her calves. Furthermore, she also wore Selena's coat draped over her shoulders, a symbol of their unbreakable bond and the trust they shared.

"For you, of all people, to call something an emergency…" Natasha sighed, feeling already exhausted by the impending chaos that was sure to follow.

"Heh, that sure is a word that sounds weird coming from you," Guinel remarked with a chuckle, knowing full well that nothing fazed the usually fearless guild master. "What is it this time? Another insane black dragon resurrection's threatening the balance of the world now?" He joked, his voice filled with amusement and sarcasm.

Selena narrowed her eye at the veteran hunter's words, a chill running down her spine as the memory of her encounter with the legendary black dragon surfaced.

"Oh, we are sooo doomed," Frau joked, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "I bet heaven's gonna fall apart and rain fire upon us! At least, that's what it would take for the Hero of Mezeporta to actually break a sweat, teehee~"

The guild master shot the pink-haired girl an icy glare, to which she responded by sticking out her tongue and winking cheekily, her smile only widening. In the mouth of anyone else, this harmless sentence would have sounded like nothing but casual praise; however, coming from Frau's mouth, it wasn't so innocent. It was an obvious provocation; the girl loved to push her buttons. She knew full well how much Selena hated all kinds of nicknames related to her past achievements, yet she kept doing it anyway, just to annoy her.

The blonde sighed heavily, feeling a vein on her temple twitch as her frustration and anger mounted, but she had to maintain her composure for the time being.

"Let's not jump to conclusions just yet," Selena began, her voice calm but firm. "I gathered you all here today because we have… a problem," she paused, scanning the four hunters carefully. "It's nothing life-threatening for now, but we have to act quickly before it's too late."

"You may have heard about the incident that occurred yesterday. Yet another monster attack hit our gates, which also transpired in our dock area. Juno here was one of the victims, and she can attest to the severity of the situation," the guild master said as she nodded towards the wyverian woman in the wheelchair beside her.

Despite how dire the guild master's words sounded and her involvement in the last event, Juno didn't seem too worried. Instead, she just sat there with a carefree smile, sipping her tea as if nothing was amiss.

"Really…? She doesn't seem concerned at all," Natasha pointed out, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"I see you're looking rather cheerful~" Frau teased the woman, grinning and poking her shoulder. "All patched up and good as new already, huh?"

Juno simply chuckled softly before responding, "What good is worrying going to do? There's no use fretting over something I can't control. Besides, I'm perfectly fine." She reassured them with a wink, her tone light and playful. "That is, as long as ma Lionne remains by my side," she concluded, glancing at Selena with a smile, causing the latter to blush.

"Uh…right. You both really found each other well," the silver haired huntress remarked, a hint of envy in her voice.

Upon hearing the compliment, Juno's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with gratitude, and she nodded in agreement.

"Ahem," Selena interrupted, awkwardly clearing her throat with a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. "Can we have a fucking serious conversation for once?" She asked, her voice tinted with frustration, glaring daggers at Frau. "I know you guys aren't used to being serious with me, but I don't have time for jokes today," she grumbled, rubbing her temple as she felt an incoming headache. "So please... Stop acting like dumbasses for five fucking minutes and listen carefully."

"Hey, why are you scolding me too? I'm the serious one here!" Natasha protested indignantly, pouting childishly as she crossed her arms under her ample chest in annoyance.

"There we go, that's more like it~" Guinel chuckled, amused by the guild master's reaction. "I was starting to get worried that you were turning into a softie."

Selena shot him an icy glare, which only made him laugh harder. "I'll fucking squeeze your stupid hammer up your ass if you dare call me a softie ever again, old fart," she threatened with a low growl, causing the bulky man to flinch slightly and shut his mouth. "Good boy," she added with a smirk.

The guild master then turned her gaze towards Frau, who was trying—and failing miserably—to suppress her giggles. "And you, you fat-mouthed little bitch, if the next words coming out of your filthy mouth aren't 'yes ma'am', I swear I will fucking shove you into a fucking cannon and fire you straight into the fucking mission area!" She threatened, her voice rising in volume as she spoke until she was practically shouting. "Capiche?!"

"Yes ma'am~" the pink-haired girl replied obediently with a playful wink, quickly covering her mouth with both hands to prevent herself from laughing out loud, which caused Selena's blood to boil even more. "Quite the temper today, aren't we?" She teased, unable to resist poking fun at the blonde again. "I bet you need a good fu—"

"Ahem..." Juno interrupted Frau before she could finish her sentence, shooting the girl a warning glare that made her freeze in place. The wyverian woman then turned to look at Selena, smiling sweetly as she said, "Breath, ma Lionne. Breath," she whispered softly, gently stroking the guild master's arm to calm her down. The touch of her hand on her skin sent a pleasant shiver down Selena's back, instantly soothing her nerves. "There's no need to get so worked up over such trivial matters. They don't know yet; they're just joking around like usual," she added, her voice filled with understanding and affection for the blonde.

Selena took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, closing her eye for a moment before opening it again. She felt much calmer now. "My apologies for losing my composure," she said, turning to face the four hunters with an apologetic smile on her face. "I've been under a lot of stress lately; many things are happening all at once, rubbing me the wrong way. So, you know... it's hard to keep my cool sometimes."

"Oh, I can help you with that~" Frau chimed in with a playful smirk, causing Natasha to elbow her in the ribs.

"Shut up already! Can't you see that this is serious?" The silver haired huntress hissed angrily at her friend, who just laughed it off without a care in the world.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Frau replied nonchalantly, waving her hand dismissively before turning back to Selena. "But seriously, though, what's going on? You're acting all gloomy and stuff; it's kinda creeping me out."

Selena sighed deeply as she shook her head slowly from side to side, trying to gather her thoughts. "Alright, moving on," she began, her voice steady and calm once more. "As I was saying, I gathered you four here to give you an important mission. Yesterday, as we were busy fending off the monster's attack, two unknown individuals sneaked into the city and kidnapped our Diva, Lyra," she revealed with a solemn expression.

The four hunters gasped in shock, their eyes widening in disbelief at this sudden revelation.

"WHAT?! Seriously? How the hell did that happen?!" Natasha exclaimed angrily, clenching her fists tightly as she glared daggers at Selena.

"And most importantly, why... her of all people?" Keith added, his brow furrowed in concern.

The guild master took a deep breath before continuing, "That's what I need you all to find out. We need to rescue Lyra and uncover the motives behind this abduction before it's too late. This shall be your mission, field team."

The four hunters exchanged glances, nodding in agreement, before turning back to face Selena once more. "Understood," they said in unison, determination burning in their eyes as they stood tall and proud before her.

Selena smiled proudly at them as she nodded approvingly. "Excellent. Now then, let me brief you on what we know so far," she began, pausing briefly before continuing. "You are looking for two... uh, let's say 'unique' kinds of individuals," she explained with a frown, giving Juno a quick glance.

"A dwarf blond guy, apparently wyverian, with dark skin and a cringe outfit that makes him look like a half-naked street performer. The other one is the exact opposite: a big lug of a man, wearing full golden armor from head to toe, not entirely human, it seems, as he sports a pair of giant wings and a big fucking tail," she added, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm herself down after describing that ridiculous sight. "It may look like they are humans, but they're definitely not normal. Both are very dangerous and have some kind of weird power that could compare to those of Elder Dragons, or the powers we extract from them to create armor and weapons."

"Wait... what?" Natasha asked incredulously, raising an eyebrow at the guild master's words. "Are you telling me that these guys can use dragon strength? That's impossible! No human can do that!"

Selena sighed heavily as she rubbed her temples with both hands. "That's why I'm asking you to be careful out there," she replied sternly, giving the silver haired huntress a serious look. "I know it sounds crazy, but trust me on this one. I made the mistake to underestimate their abilities once, and look where it got us," she explained, shaking her head sadly. "If only I had taken them more seriously from the start, maybe Lyra wouldn't have been kidnapped."

"Don't blame yourself for this incident," Juno interjected softly, reaching out to hold Selena's hand. "I made the same mistake too, so…" she added with an apologetic smile. "Beside, if you did, it would have been a tough fight, even for you. We just weren't prepared for such powerful enemies."

The guild master nodded slowly as she squeezed Juno's hand gently in return, giving her a small smile before turning back to face the four hunters once again. "As for what they are capable of... Juno, if you could explain?" She asked, glancing at the wyverian woman in the wheelchair beside her. "You've been directly in confrontation with them and witnessed their powers firsthand."

Juno nodded as she straightened her back slightly and cleared her throat before speaking. "Yes, of course," she began, her expression growing serious as she recounted the events from yesterday. "The dragon man in golden armor, named Zephyrus, is a wind manipulator. I think there is one similar species you may be familiar with... Hm, how did the guild call it? The Ku... Kushi... something ending with Dora..."

"Kushala Daora?" Keith offered helpfully, causing Juno to snap her fingers as she nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes! That's it! Thank you," she replied cheerfully, flashing the long sword user a bright smile before continuing.

"Wait... You're telling me that we're up against an Elder Dragon like that?!" Natasha exclaimed incredulously, her eyes widening in shock as she listened carefully to every word coming out of Juno's mouth. "That's insane!"

"Keep in mind that we know next to nothing about them," Selena warned them sternly, giving the silver haired huntress another serious look. "We only encountered them once, so the information we have is limited at best, on top of maybe being incorrect. But judging by what happened yesterday and what I saw myself, I think it's safe to assume that they're just as powerful, if not more so, than the average Elder Dragon."

Juno nodded in agreement as she continued her explanation. "Zephyrus is not a Kushala Daora, of course. But he shares some similarities with it, such as the ability to manipulate wind. Although his control over it seems weaker than that of the dragon, he pairs that with another unique skill—his golden dust," she explained, pausing briefly to gather her thoughts before continuing. "I assume it comes from his armor, but whenever he uses his wind powers, it also spreads this golden dust everywhere that can create crystal sprouts, which are deadly for humans. It's like a disease that spreads slowly but surely, turning people into solid, inert statues."

"In short: crystallization," Selena concluded with a frown. "We don't know much about it since it's very rare; the only known species reported causing that affliction are the Carapaceons of the Akura family, which are ranked among the highest threat levels by the guild. Our researchers only recently discovered a cure; even then, it's not perfect. Since Juno was infected by this disease, she got treated and is now recovering thanks to it, but we don't know yet if there's any side-effects or long-term damages."

"So that's what happened..." Frau mused thoughtfully, her expression growing serious as she considered all this new information carefully. "And what about that other guy? The one who looks like a clown?"

"The other one... Guan Romulus," Juno replied with a heavy sigh as she shook her head slowly from side to side. "I don't know what he can do exactly, as he wouldn't fight himself. But the only thing I witnessed from him is rather... threatening," she paused briefly as she tried to find the right words before continuing. "I'm not sure how he did it, but he managed to give an order to Clarent, a young girl I was trying to protect, and she obeyed it without hesitation. It was like he controlled her mind somehow."

Frau whistled loudly as she crossed her arms over her chest and let out a low chuckle. "Damn, that's creepy! Sounds like something straight outta some kind of cheesy fiction..." She commented with amusement.

"I know it sounds crazy, but I assure you that it is very real," Juno countered calmly, giving Frau an unamused look. "If I didn't catch onto that, it might have cost Clarent her life," she added, her voice dropping slightly as her expression darkened slightly. "He didn't try it on me, though... nor did he with you, ma Lionne?" she inquired with a frown, glancing at Selena questioningly.

"Hm? No, he didn't," Selena replied as she shook her head slightly, looking deep in thought as she recalled their encounter with the mysterious man. "I just saw him commanding without words a pack of small flying wyverns, which protected and carried him away. He never used that power on us, though I'm not sure why. Maybe it's only effective on certain individuals, or it's limited somehow... As I said, we have next to no information about this guy. We're basically blind here, and we don't have the luxury to investigate further into them. We have to save our Diva," she concluded, letting out a frustrated sigh as she ran a hand through her messy bangs.

"So we'll have to deal with two powerful foes that are potentially more dangerous than anything we ever faced," Natasha stated grimly, her expression darkening considerably as she spoke. "Great, that's just great..."

"Oh, and there's one additional thing to keep in mind," the blonde continued after a brief pause, unsure if she should mention it or not. She didn't want to worry them more than they already were, but this was too important to be left out. So, she let out another heavy sigh before explaining further: "I know very well it will sound absolutely fucking crazy, but bear with me on this one... There's a possibility that you may have to deal with artillery fire."

The four hunters stared at the guild master blankly for a moment, as if trying to process what she had just said. "Excuse me, what?!" Natasha finally asked incredulously after several seconds of stunned silence, blinking several times as she stared at Selena with disbelief. "Did you just say... artillery fire?!"

"Yep," the blonde replied simply with a shrug, giving the silver haired girl an apologetic smile before continuing. "Remember that huge floating steel fortress that was anchored in our dock, waiting for maintenance and repair? That was the HGS Mezeporta," she explained, pausing briefly to take a deep breath before continuing. "A prototype ship built for naval battles, cargo ship escorts, and coastal engagments. It's armed with a dozen cannon batteries, as much balistae as it could contain, tons of explosives, and whatever other shit they've installed since their last mission."

"So what? Are you telling us that they somehow stole a military vessel?!" Guinel exclaimed angrily, clenching his fists tightly as he glared daggers at Selena.

"Don't cut me short; I'm getting there," she replied with a glare. "The main thing to remember here is that the Mezeporta has a peculiar 18-inch experimental anti-dragon gun named 'Demolisher', based on a blueprint initially meant for city defense, mounted on the deck. It also has a secondary modified Dragonator launcher, which can fire a smaller version of the guild's anti-dragon weapons attached to a long chain for crippling purposes," she explained, pausing briefly before adding with a sigh, "That's how it can deal with marine creatures with ease, even though that's not really an approach to hunting that the guild would approve. Anyway..."

"To answer your previous question, yeah... Even though it requires hundreds of men, a crazy amount of energy to move, and weighs more than a fucking Lao Shan Lung, the HGS Mezeporta has been stolen and taken on the move. The fuck knows how," Selena added with an exasperated sigh, running a hand through her bangs in frustration.

Another silence followed, this time even longer than the last, as everyone in the room remained speechless. All of them were at a complete loss for words as they struggled to wrap their heads around this shocking revelation, until Natasha finally spoke again.

"You can't be fucking serious," the silver-haired huntress whispered in horror, her eyes widening in shock as her face paled visibly. "This is madness..."

"... Yeah. Believe me, I know," the guild master responded quietly, looking away uncomfortably as she averted her gaze, feeling slightly embarrassed by this whole situation. "I have absolutely no idea how the hell they managed to pull that off, but now that's a fact we must acknowledge, whether we like it or not. That's why..." Selena paused briefly as she took a deep breath, closing her eye for a second before turning her attention back to her audience.

"If they somehow managed to sail the ship despite the huge crew necessary, then I think it's not too far-fetched to imagine that they may also know how to use the on-board weaponry," she continued after another moment's pause, letting out a frustrated sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly. "Fortunately for us, only the Demolisher was operational at the time, so it's still the only weapon available to them right now, but it's also the one that poses the biggest threat."

Another brief silence fell over them as everyone absorbed the implications of what they'd just heard, until finally Frau spoke up.

"Well, shit, I guess there's no point in arguing anymore. This is fucking nuts!" The pink-haired girl exclaimed cheerfully with a grin on her face as she laughed loudly, clearly finding this situation quite amusing. "Man, we really hit the jackpot, huh? This is going to be one hell of a crazy adventure for sure~" she added excitedly, clapping her hands together enthusiastically.

"Did you even hear what she just said?" Natasha scolded her friend, shooting the pink haired girl an angry glare as she scowled disapprovingly at her. "We have to deal with an Elder Dragon level of threat, AND there's a freaking warship out there waiting for us! It's not funny anymore!"

"Aw, c'mon, don't be so negative about it!" Frau retorted with a pout, sticking out her tongue playfully at the silver-haired huntress. "We always have to fight strong monsters, and we usually manage pretty well. What makes this one so different?"

Natasha stared at her incredulously, opening her mouth to respond before closing it again with a sigh. "Whatever. I give up..." She muttered under her breath as she shook her head slowly from side to side as she looked away from the pink-haired girl.

"Glad to see that you are enjoying yourselves, but I'd like to remind you that we're not playing around here," Selena interjected sternly, giving Frau an unimpressed look before turning to address everyone else once again. "Your targets fled towards the east, across the sea. Uwelle went scouting alone to track down the dreadnought for now. According to her last report, they are hiding somewhere in the Forlorn region. So you need to cross the East Wyvern Sea and make contact with Uwelle; she will be waiting for you. After that, you'll be able to proceed with the rest of the mission."

"The Forlorn region...? That's quite a trip..." Guinel commented thoughtfully as he rubbed his chin pensively, frowning slightly as he considered everything that had been said so far.

"Indeed, that's why we have no time to waste. However, I want you guys to keep one thing in mind: this isn't a hunt; it's a rescue mission. Don't engage in combat unless absolutely necessary," she warned seriously, her expression stern and commanding. "I know this isn't the kind of mission you're used to, but I don't see any other way around it."

"Your priority is to find Lyra and get everyone back here safe and sound," Selena continued after a short pause. "In the event that you find yourselves unable to avoid a confrontation with those two individuals, I want you to retreat immediately and call for backup. A combat team will be ready to assist you whenever necessary," she explained, giving them a confident smile. "Given the circumstances, I won't skimp on resources or people to help you accomplish this mission successfully, so feel free to ask for whatever you deem fit. Just remember, focus on saving Lyra above all else," she added firmly, emphasizing her last sentence particularly.

"Got it," Keith replied simply with a nod as he raised his hand slightly in salute, his expression serious and determined.

"If there's a combat team, why am I not part of it?" Guinel asked gruffly, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared intently at Selena. "You know well enough that I'm much better at crushing skulls than playing babysitter," he added angrily, clearly displeased by this arrangement.

The guild master raised her hands defensively as she shook her head slowly from side to side, flashing him an apologetic smile. "Sorry mate, but someone has to protect Lyra," she explained, her expression softening as she spoke. "Think about it this way: if things get out of hand and the combat team can't handle it, then you will be the last line of defense. You guys are the best team I've got, and you're used to working as a unit. That's why... I'm counting on you," she concluded, giving him a warm smile before turning her attention back to everyone else present.

"Alright, I think that covers everything... Any other questions?" Selena asked, glancing around expectantly. "No? Good, then I guess we're done here. The departure is scheduled for early tomorrow; a ship will be ready to transport you and the other team. Good hunting, lads, and please... be safe out there," she added, giving them a nod of encouragement.

The four hunters saluted in response before heading out of the office, leaving Juno and Selena alone in silence. Once the door closed behind them, the blonde let out a deep sigh and sank into her chair, looking exhausted. Then, she glanced at her companion and smiled tiredly as she said, "Sorry to have dragged you into all this, Juno, but I needed your elements on the matter."

Juno returned the smile and nodded slightly as she reached for Selena's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as she spoke, "Non non, ma Lionne, it's alright. I don't mind helping you whenever you need it. Besides..." she trailed off, her voice dropping slightly as she averted her gaze sheepishly, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Being with you is the best medicine I could ever ask for," she confessed quietly, flashing a shy smile at the guild master.

The blonde felt her heart skip a beat at these unexpected words, her cheeks turning bright red as her face heated up instantly. As she saw her composure melt away instantly, Selena suddenly grabbed the wyverian woman's hand and kissed the back of her palm tenderly, causing her to let out a quiet gasp of surprise.

"M-ma Lionne?!" Juno stuttered nervously, blushing furiously as she stared wide-eyed at Selena.

"Thanks, Juno," she whispered softly, gazing deeply into those beautiful purple eyes as she leaned in and pressed their foreheads together affectionately.

They remained like this for a while, basking in each other's warmth and enjoying the closeness of their bodies as they embraced, until finally Selena broke the silence with a soft sigh.

"Well then, let's get you back to your room so you can rest and keep an eye on the little missy. I still have a lot of work and many meetings to attend... Ugh," she complained loudly as she got up from her chair and stretched her stiff limbs, letting out a yawn as she rubbed the back of her neck tiredly.

"Of course," Juno replied, nodding obediently as she watched the blonde stand up from her desk.

Selena gave her another loving smile before walking around to the back of the wyverian's wheelchair and beginning to push it forward to leave the office.

"Ma Lionne, I just wanted to say... please don't worry too much about Lyra," Juno said suddenly, her tone serious and solemn as she spoke. "I don't believe either of those men is planning on hurting her in any way," she added confidently, her voice filled with conviction and determination as she turned to face Selena. "They need her for something; otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of kidnapping her in the first place."

The guild master stopped pushing the chair and gazed down at Juno. "Yeah, I can imagine that..." She replied quietly as she averted her gaze. "But that doesn't mean we should let them have their way. If they do anything to her, I'm going to personally hunt them down."

Juno smiled sadly as she shook her head slowly from side to side, gazing deep into Selena's eye as she said firmly, "You won't have to. Again, I'm fairly confident that nothing bad will happen to her... for now, at least."

"How can you be so sure?" The blonde asked as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her companion. "Do you know something I don't?"

The wyverian woman giggled sheepishly, scratching the side of her cheek. "... Oh, non non~" She responded awkwardly with a nervous laugh, averting her gaze in embarrassment. "I would never keep such secrets from you, ma Lionne! All I'm saying is... I believe there is more to them than meets the eye. We mustn't jump to conclusions just yet, as there is still so much we don't know about these individuals," she explained patiently, smiling reassuringly at Selena.

Selena remained silent for a moment, looking unconvinced. She could feel in her bones that Juno wasn't being entirely honest with her, and it bothered her greatly. The blue-haired woman wasn't the type to lie or hide information, especially from her; it just wasn't in her nature, and it showed clearly by the way she acted. Regardless, before she had a chance to speak again, someone suddenly knocked on the door, followed by said person entering the office without warning.

The person who stepped inside was a young-looking wyverian lady, wearing a beautiful white gown adorned with colorful ribbons and lace trim. She had a refined, delicate face with big red eyes framed by long eyelashes, pink cheeks and lips, as well as the typical long, pointy ears of wyverians. Her figure was shapely yet petite, her bust large; however, she was also a bit chubby, and her waist was not especially thin, but her ample dress concealed it well enough. Her long pink hair, tied in two ponytails, bounced lightly behind her as she walked, holding a pile of papers in her arms.

"Meine Löwin, are you done with your meetings already? I have a bunch of reports of—" The girl began cheerfully, stopping mid-sentence as she spotted Juno in the room, her eyes widening in surprise and her expression turning sour. "... Oh my, what a pleasant surprise to find you here, Fräulein Juno," she said, trying to keep a polite tone as she spoke.

"Ah... Bonjour, Cattleya," the wyverian woman greeted politely, forcing a smile onto her lips as she looked at the newcomer. "A pleasant surprise indeed..."

The two women exchanged an intense stare for several seconds, smiling at each other politely, but the air between them felt heavy and awkward. Despite the cordial exchange and the grins plastered on their faces, their eyes spoke volumes as they glared daggers at each other, their gazes burning with hatred and animosity. It was obvious that neither of them enjoyed the other's presence in the least.

"Cattleya...?" Selena finally interrupted the silence, snapping Cattleya out of her staring contest with Juno as she turned towards the blonde with an apologetic smile. "Are those the reports from yesterday?"

"Y-yes! I apologize, Meister, but the amount is... a little overwhelming this time. I hope it's not too much of a bother," she explained sheepishly, handing over the documents she held to her master. "Here are the reports you asked for earlier; I've also completed your request regarding the supply orders for the upcoming expeditions, and I took care of the message you wanted to be transmitted to Kommandant Leila's fleet, as well as—"

"Cattleya," Selena cut in firmly as she took the pile from her secretary. "Chill. There's no need to overwork yourself; it's just a regular day. It's alright," she said reassuringly, giving the girl a warm smile. "I know it's a lot to handle, especially since Effie isn't here to take care of the majority of it, but please remember to take breaks, alright?" She added kindly as she patted Cattleya on the head, making the girl blush.

"O-of course, Meister..." Cattleya murmured, averting her gaze shyly as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I find it hard to believe that Effie can handle this much on her own without any help from the other receptionists..."

Selena chuckled softly at her statement, shaking her head slightly from side to side. "Which is why I gave her some vacations; she really needed it," she replied gently. "Speaking of break, good timing. Do me a favor. Could you please escort Juno back to her room? I'm afraid I have to leave and attend a few meetings, so I won't have the time to do it myself," Selena requested gently as she placed the stack of papers down on her desk and began putting on her coat and a black cap with an embroidered guild emblem on the front. "That'll give you an opportunity to relax a little after all this work."

Upon hearing these words, the pink-haired wyverian lady's expression instantly changed, her features twisting in displeasure as she stared at Juno in disdain, as if the blonde had just asked her to clean up poop instead of looking after someone.

"... W-What?! M-Meister... Meine Löwin, bitte, Liebling..." She protested feebly, giving her master a pleading look. "Can't you send someone else? Anyone else?! Why me? Surely you understand how—"

"Perfect! I'll leave it to you, then! Thank you for your hard work!" Selena replied without listening as she waved goodbye to the two ladies before exiting her office and disappearing out of sight.

"Bonne journée, ma Lionne!" Juno called out cheerfully after her, waving happily, but the guild master was already too far away to hear her.

Once she left, the atmosphere between the two women became even tenser as they stood in silence. Neither of them dared say anything or make any move whatsoever, as if waiting for something. After several minutes had passed without anyone moving or speaking, Cattleya finally sighed heavily and turned around with an annoyed look on her face, facing Juno fully.

"... Scheiße. Ich habe die Nase voll davon. Let us just get this over with, Fräulein Juno," she muttered bitterly as she walked over and grabbed hold of Juno's wheelchair handles, pushing the wyverian woman in the direction of the exit without any warning. "The less time I have to spend with you, the better."

"I can't deny that it's mutual, ma chérie," Juno replied calmly as she allowed the pink-haired girl to guide her away from the office and out into the hallway, her face completely neutral and unreadable. "But I must admit... I wish we could get along better than this, even if only for the sake of Selena," she added quietly after a brief pause, letting out a soft sigh as she spoke.

"That would be impossible, and I think you know it as well as I do." Cattleya countered as she glanced briefly at Juno from the corner of her eye before looking forward once more. "Selena might have forgiven you and given you a second chance, but I won't forget what you have done," she continued, tightening her grip around the handles as her expression darkened and her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Ekelhafter Mörderdrache..."

The blue-haired woman winced visibly upon hearing those words, looking uncomfortable for a moment as her lips twisted into a pained grimace before she quickly recovered her usual neutral expression, remaining quiet after that. The two women continued on their way in silence, showing no signs whatsoever of wanting to continue this conversation. Although they occasionally exchanged insults and nasty comments in their own dialect with a straight face and even a smile as they navigated through the busy streets of Mezeporta, making them seem like regular friends having a friendly chat in a language that no one around them understood.

---

Clarent, the next day

The sun rose slowly in the sky above the port town of Mezeporta, casting its brilliant rays onto the calm waters below and bathing the docks in warm light. Sailors and workers bustled about the harbor, going about their daily chores, loading and unloading cargo, and preparing the ships for departure. Among the waters, dozens of pieces of debris floated aimlessly with the current, a remnant of the previous day's incidents. Some felynes tried to fish them up and bring them ashore for further inspection and salvaging, while other people wondered what exactly had happened to cause such a mess in the harbor.

In the city itself, life went on as normal; people continued their occupations as usual, unaware of the events that had unfolded here not too long ago. Children played and laughed in the streets, shopkeepers opened their businesses for the day, and traders arrived by the hundreds with supplies and goods from across the continent. But most of all, hunters filled every corner, coming and going in groups or on their own, each one armed to the teeth and ready for their next quest.

Around the Arena district, there was more activity than usual, a sign of the upcoming annual Hunter's Festival. Many workers were busy assembling the various structures and stands required for such an occasion. Others hung decorations throughout the city or helped build temporary accommodations for all the hunters that would be visiting the city.

Among them all, a red-haired guild receptionist, Demetoria, who was in charge of the arena—and by extension, the event as well—appeared to be in a pretty bad mood today, most likely because of the sudden increase in workload, which meant less time to sleep and slack off. Thus, she was venting her frustration by yelling at anyone who came near her, ordering them about, and complaining whenever something displeased her.

It was around that time of day, when the sun's first rays began to lighten up the horizon, that Clarent finally woke up from her deep sleep.

"Miss Clarent, please wake up," a gentle, feminine voice called out softly next to her.

With a groan, Clarent stirred awake, feeling a hand stroking her cheek, trying to rouse her from her slumber. The redhead slowly opened her eyes groggily, blinking a few times as she adjusted to the light of the room. After a moment, her vision focused, and she found herself staring into a pair of beautiful, gentle brown eyes staring back at her, belonging to an equally pretty face framed by dark brown locks. The owner of these features, Effie, was smiling kindly at her as she was lying on her side next to her, seemingly half naked under the bedsheet covering both of them.

"Good morning, sleepy head," she greeted quietly with a warm smile as she kept stroking her hair tenderly, giving Clarent the impression that she'd been doing it for a while now.

"Mhmm..." The redhead mumbled incoherently, closing her eyes again as she nuzzled against her companion's hand affectionately. "Morning… Eh...?"

As soon as Clarent fully realized her surroundings, she immediately bolted upright and gasped loudly in shock, her face turning bright red as she stared at the woman in front of her, not sure if she should be embarrassed, happy, worried, or something else altogether.

"H-Huh?! E-Effie...?!" She stuttered as she frantically looked around the room, her eyes darting in every direction as she struggled to make sense of her situation. "W-What are you— W-Why are you— I-Is that my bed?! W-Where am I?!" She babbled incessantly, feeling extremely flustered and confused.

Seeing the girl in this state, Effie let out a soft sigh as she shook her head slowly from side to side, a small, amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she watched Clarent's reaction with a mixture of fondness and mild concern.

"Why, in your room, of course, silly~" The brunette replied simply, chuckling softly. "And this is exactly what it looks like~"

Clarent's jaw dropped open in astonishment, her eyes widening comically as she stared at the guild receptionist speechlessly, struggling to comprehend what was going on here.

"I must say, you certainly surprised me last night," Effie added after a few seconds had passed, her expression growing more mischievous as she spoke. "You seemed to enjoy it a lot... I didn't think you'd be such an animal in bed~" She continued teasingly as she ran her hand over Clarent's exposed neck, brushing her fingertips gently along the girl's smooth, soft skin while licking her lips suggestively.

This only served to increase Clarent's embarrassment even further. She could feel the heat rising to her face, causing her cheeks to turn even redder than her hair as her whole body started to shake uncontrollably, unable to formulate any coherent sentences. She couldn't recall what had happened, but one thing was for sure: she had definitely done something very, very inappropriate...

"EEEEH?!"

Effie let out a short burst of laughter before leaning in and planting a quick kiss on the girl's cheek, causing her to freeze instantly and stare blankly at the brunette as she pulled away and lifted herself off the bed, revealing that, in fact, she wasn't actually naked and everything was just an innocent prank. Instead, the guild receptionist was in her underwear and wearing her uniform shirt, but with all buttons open.

"Relax. Nothing happened; I was just teasing you," she reassured with a chuckle before heading over to a chair where her clothes had been neatly folded and left behind. "I simply noticed how distressed you appeared in your sleep, so I came over and joined you in the hope of soothing you," she explained calmly as she put on her skirt and adjusted her clothes accordingly, though it looked like she was taking extra time on purpose to give the redhead a good show. "But I accidentally fell asleep next to you... Or was it really an accident? I wonder~" she mused playfully, flashing Clarent another smirk before walking back to the bed, sitting down on the edge beside the young girl. "Well, anyway, I hope that helped you feel better."

Better? Clarent felt mortified and humiliated, wanting nothing short of disappearing into the ground and never showing her face again. Not only did she have another nightmare, but the poor woman had to bear witness to her distress and then got dragged into her bed... It was too much for the redhead to process. How could she possibly face Effie again? After seeing her in her most vulnerable state...

"Miss Clarent? Are you alright?" Effie asked, snapping Clarent out of her thoughts as the brunette finished dressing and walked over to the bedside to check on her.

"... I-I'm sorry for causing you trouble," the redhead mumbled timidly as she lowered her head in shame and covered her face with her hands, unable to look at the receptionist directly.

"Oh my, there is absolutely no reason for you to apologize, Miss Clarent!" Effie exclaimed reassuringly as she sat on the edge of the mattress, reaching out and placing her hand comfortingly on the girl's shoulder. "Please accept my sincerest apologies. I didn't mean to embarrass or upset you in any way," she continued, stroking her arm tenderly in an effort to ease her worries.

Clarent bit her bottom lip, hesitating for a moment, before finally nodding weakly in understanding. Why does everyone in this city keep teasing me? Is it fun? Does the idea of tormenting me bring them joy? It makes me want to dig a hole and bury myself in it. She wondered silently to herself, feeling frustrated and humiliated.

"I didn't expect my little joke to have such an impact on you..." Effie murmured softly after a few seconds of silence passed between them. She sounded genuinely sorry about what she did. "I promise, it won't happen again... And if you're uncomfortable with me, then I shall leave and not bother you any longer. Please excuse my rudeness," she added before slowly getting up to leave.

As she saw Effie begin to rise from the bed and walk away, Clarent's hand shot up instinctively and grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping the guild receptionist in her tracks and pulling her back onto the bed with enough strength to send her toppling on top of Clarent and into the redhead's embrace.

"Wait...!" the redhead cried out desperately, her grip on Effie tightening slightly, holding her close, almost possessively. "Don't go! Please... Don't go," she repeated weakly, her voice trembling slightly as tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, wetting the older woman's hair and shoulders. "I-It's true, I felt really embarrassed and humiliated... And I'm sure you find this absolutely ridiculous and pathetic, but... please, don't leave me... I don't want to be alone... Don't abandon me too..."

Effie was momentarily taken aback by Clarent's sudden action and reaction. But she quickly recovered, her expression softening, and without saying anything more, she wrapped her arms around the redhead tightly, pulling her closer against herself and burying her face into the girl's shoulder. "Oh, Miss Clarent... Of course I won't leave you," she whispered, kissing the girl's temple affectionately. "I will stay by your side as long as you wish, for it is not only my duty but also my desire. Always."

The two women embraced each other passionately for a moment before breaking apart. Effie sat back on the bed, wiping away the redhead's tears with the tip of her fingers and smiling warmly at her.

"... F-For a moment... I thought that I might really have… taken advantage of you... and then... forgot all about it," the red-haired girl admitted sheepishly, blushing intensely. "Sometime, I'm... terrified of myself. I fear that one day I'll wake up, a-and I'll be... different," she confessed as she looked away and clenched her fists tightly on top of her knees, trembling a bit as she tried to hold back the tears. "T-That's why... I panicked..."

The brunette listened quietly, her expression growing solemn as she nodded understandingly, letting out a soft sigh.

"Miss Clarent," she finally spoke after a short pause, gazing deeply into Clarent's eyes, her voice stern yet gentle at the same time, causing the girl to shiver involuntarily. "It was a poor mistake on my part. I sincerely apologize. I should have known better than to tease you like that. Please forgive me."

The red-haired girl shook her head slowly, her gaze lowering shyly as she fiddled with her hands nervously.

"It's fine," Clarent replied quietly as she averted her eyes. "You've helped me feel better, s-so... l-let's just forget about it."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Effie's lips as she leaned forward, gently brushing her lips against Clarent's ear. "Hmm~" she purred softly, nuzzling the redhead affectionately before pulling back and flashing her an apologetic smile. "Very well, I'll drop the matter, then," she conceded. "And I promise to refrain from any teasing or flirting for the foreseeable future... unless, of course, you give me permission to do so~"

The guild receptionist winked at the young redhead playfully as she spoke, earning herself a slight blush from Clarent. "Now then, Miss Clarent... Should I remind you that you are expected to meet with your new mentor today?" She added after a moment, looking up at the clock hanging on the wall nearby.

Clarent gasped upon realizing how late it already was. "A-Ah! T-That's right!" she exclaimed suddenly, jumping off the bed and hurrying over to her clothes piled neatly on the table in the middle of her room. "I-I'm so sorry, I forgot!" she apologized as she hastily began dressing herself. "... What happened yesterday again? Everything is a blur in my memory," she commented distractedly as she buttoned up her shirt dress and fastened her belt.

"Oh, nothing much, really. As I should have expected, the man was way too drunk and passed out before we could approach him properly, so we decided to postpone our meeting and have dinner," Effie explained, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice as she rolled her eyes slightly. "However, he should be sober enough this morning for us to proceed with the introduction and begin your hunter training."

Clarent paused briefly, looking confused for a split second, before returning her focus to dressing up. "H-He's not gonna be mad at me for being late, right?"

"No, of course not. If anything, I bet he will be late too. He's not exactly the most responsible person in the world, if you haven't noticed already," the guild receptionist replied, sighing deeply as she shook her head in dismay. "But that's not important right now. Just finish getting ready, and then let us head out to have breakfast before heading to the arena."

The young redhead nodded wordlessly and finished getting herself dressed and ready. Once she was done, she turned to face the other woman and bowed slightly.

"I'm done!"

"Very good. Then, shall we?"

And so, the two of them exited the room and made their way through the streets of Mezeporta to reach a local restaurant nearby. The entire time they were walking side-by-side, Effie kept a close eye on Clarent, constantly checking her expression, her mood, and the general atmosphere around her, making sure that she remained relaxed and calm, especially after the warning her master gave her about the red-haired girl. The last thing Effie wanted was to cause any kind of emotional distress to Clarent, knowing that her condition could become dangerous for herself and others if she were to lose control.

After having a nice meal together, they proceeded to the Arena district, where they met up with the man in question. On the way there, Clarent couldn't help but notice how famous and respected the secretary seemed to be, despite being so humble and reserved herself. Everyone they came across greeted her respectfully and treated her with great politeness. Even other guild employees would address her as their superior, asking for advice or guidance on certain issues. It was truly amazing how much influence this one woman wielded throughout the entire city, even if indirectly.

The duo finally arrived at their destination, where the man waited for them.

In the vast main arena, surrounded by the empty bleachers and seats, seated upon a wooden barrel and sipping some ale, was the infamous man—the drunkard that Clarent was supposed to learn hunting under. It was the only person present within the premises aside from Clarent and Effie, so there was no mistake that this man was indeed her mentor.

Clarent felt an odd sensation in her stomach, as if something wasn't right. His presence felt... off. She couldn't describe it well, but she was getting a weird feeling from him that sent chills down her spine.

The hunter was a tall, muscular man. His appearance reminded her of that of a knight, complete with blue steel plate armor, gauntlets, and greaves. He didn't wear any helmet, revealing his rugged and aged face, with long gray hair tied in a ponytail and a beard to match. Despite his rough and intimidating appearance, the old man didn't appear aggressive or menacing; rather, his eyes were calm and composed, almost serene, as he watched the two women approach him from across the sandy arena.

"Well, well, if it isn't our resident Miss Tightass herself..." the man spoke with a deep, husky voice that echoed across the empty coliseum, sounding somewhat hoarse from all the drinking he probably did. "... And a lovely young lass that I don't know," he added after taking another gulp of his ale and eyeing the newcomers curiously. "What a fine pair of beauties, if I do say so myself."

Effie gave the old man an irritated look. "Good morning, Sir Graham," she greeted curtly, keeping her tone formal as always. "It is a pleasure to meet you again after so long," she added politely, although the tone of her voice said otherwise.

"Aye, the pleasure's all mine, Effie," the hunter replied, chuckling as he downed the remainder of his drink.

"I assume you already understand why we're here today. May I introduce to you Miss Clarent?" The brunette continued as she gestured to Clarent next to her.

Clarent bowed respectfully at her senior, feeling quite intimidated and uncomfortable by his presence. But that was most likely because he reeked of alcohol, which she could smell from a distance. "I-I'm pleased to meet you, sir! M-My name is... C-Clarent," she mumbled shyly, looking down at her feet.

Graham raised an eyebrow as he inspected the redhead from head to toe, taking his time to observe every inch of her. She could feel his gaze wandering up and down her body, making her fidget uneasily under his scrutiny.

"Hm... So you're the kid recommended by the One-Eyed Lioness herself, huh...?" Graham muttered thoughtfully as he stroked his beard. "I see... You certainly don't look like much, but looks can be deceiving, after all," he continued musingly as he eyed the redhead suspiciously.

"Sir Graham... I would appreciate it if you treated her with the proper respect she deserves," the brunette scolded lightly, shooting the old hunter a pointed glare.

Graham laughed heartily, slapping his knee and grinning widely at Clarent.

"Haha, I apologize. Don't mind me. I'm just an old, grumpy old bastard," he apologized as he stood up from his barrel. "The name's Graham, but I suppose you already know that. Pleased to meet ya."

The red-haired girl couldn't help but smile at the sudden change of demeanor. She felt slightly more relaxed and less anxious now that he wasn't scrutinizing her so intensely anymore.

"Sir Graham is one of our best hunters," Effie began to explain, taking a step forward as she spoke. "He is very experienced in all types of combat situations and specializes in dealing with the larger threats that other hunters cannot handle themselves, such as large wyverns and elder dragons. He can also be quite stubborn and unreasonable at times, so I hope you won't take anything he says personally," she warned seriously, giving Graham a stern look, who just laughed off her comment and shrugged nonchalantly.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I know what I'm doing," Graham replied casually as he scratched his nose. "I suppose we should get straight to the point, eh? We've got a lot of ground to cover, after all..."

With those words spoken, Graham walked up to Clarent, stopping just a few feet away from her. His presence felt incredibly intimidating as he loomed over her, his large frame casting a shadow over her. The air also felt unusually cold, almost icy, which was quite odd considering how warm the weather was today.

"Tell me, kid. You ever held a weapon in your life?" Graham asked gruffly as he crossed his arms over his broad chest, fixing his piercing gaze upon the young girl, staring intently into her eyes as though trying to read her mind.

"Eh...? A-Ah, um, y-yes... I suppose," she answered hesitantly, looking nervous. "I-I mean, I don't remember how or why... but... I'm pretty sure I can handle it."

"Hmm, you 'suppose' you can?" The old man retorted with a scoff as he gave her an appraising look, his brow furrowed in thought. "Now that I think about it, she also mentioned that you lost your memory and that your mental faculties are damaged. That's why you can't recall anything, huh?"

"O-Oh... Yes..."

The old hunter hummed softly as he pondered for a moment before sighing deeply and shaking his head resignedly. "Well, whatever... Guess there's only one way to find out, eh?"

Suddenly, Graham spun around and walked away from her, heading toward the center of the arena. He stopped in the middle and turned back towards the two women with his arms crossed behind his back, his expression serious and unwavering.

"Effie, show the girl where the weapons rack is," he commanded firmly, glancing towards the brunette. "Pick out whatever you want, kid... And prepare to impress me."

Effie nodded dutifully, leading Clarent to the storage room underneath the stadium. The room was spacious and filled to the brim with different types of weapons, armor, shields, and other various equipment needed for fighting. Some of these things were quite ordinary and common, but others were quite bizarre and exotic-looking, which Clarent couldn't help but feel curious about. There were also a couple of training dummies and wooden practice mannequins lined up neatly in rows, as well as benches scattered about. It was obvious that many hunters used this place regularly to test out their gear before taking on challenges in the arena above.

The secretary led the redhead towards a section in particular, containing mostly practice weapons for newcomers and inexperienced hunters, and let Clarent pick the weapon she'd like to use. There were many options available, including swords, spears, bows, axes, and hammers, among others. She briefly glanced over each of the items before finally settling on an iron club paired with a shield that she attached to her right forearm. She couldn't explain why, but she instinctively chose her left hand to wield the weapon and her right for defense, despite using mostly her right hand for everything else in her daily life.

"An iron club, hm...?" Effie mused as she examined the item closely. "So you chose a quick weapon with a shield, eh? Very well, then... Shall we head back up and start the sparring, then?"

Clarent gulped nervously. She stared at the weapon in her hands as she trembled slightly, trying to calm her racing heart. The redhead had never sparred or even practiced against someone in such an environment. Not that she remembered, at least.

"Are you nervous, Miss Clarent?" The guild receptionist asked gently as she placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder, offering her a reassuring smile. "There is nothing to be scared of, you know... I will watch carefully and stop it if anything goes awry. So don't worry and focus on giving it your best," she encouraged warmly, patting Clarent's arm gently before stepping away.

"O-Okay... Thank you, Miss Effie," Clarent stuttered weakly as she nodded timidly. "I... I'll try my best..."

"Also, don't be afraid of judgment or disapproval," the secretary added as an afterthought before turning on her heels and heading to the exit. "You are here to improve your skills. The important thing is to keep improving, not to worry about whether you are doing it right or wrong," she said over her shoulder as she climbed back to the arena above, leaving the girl to her thoughts.

As soon as Effie left, the red-haired girl started to wonder what kind of training she would have to endure today. How exactly did hunters learn how to fight, anyway? Was it like a regular class or school, where everyone sat together and learned the same techniques? Or maybe it involved lots of individual work and self-practice? Perhaps it involved lots of physical conditioning as well, or something like martial arts...? She really didn't know what to expect.

It was a bit strange. For someone with no memories, her body was surprisingly well-versed in handling a weapon. Even though she lacked experience, her body moved on its own accord, as though she had done this countless times before. Maybe her instincts would help her overcome this trial and pass it with flying colors. That was the only hope she had at this point.

With that in mind, Clarent climbed the stairs leading back up to the arena floor and made her way over to where Graham stood. He was standing patiently in the center of the open space, watching her carefully as she approached. She couldn't help but feel nervous, and the feeling worsened as he stared intently into her eyes, making her fidget uneasily.

"Alright, are you ready, kid?" the hunter asked after a few seconds of silence, breaking the awkwardness that had built between them. "Well, ready or not, there's no turning back now... Prepare yourself, kid!"

"W-Wait! Hold on! What exactly are we—"

Without warning, the old man rushed forward suddenly, lunging towards her with incredible speed and agility, catching her off guard and causing her to gasp in surprise. She barely even had time to react before he had already closed in on her and was about to tackle her with his massive frame. She managed to sidestep at the last moment, narrowly avoiding his charge and nearly tripping over herself in the process. As soon as he passed her, Graham turned on his heel and charged straight at her again, attempting to ram into her with all his might. Again, she barely dodged by ducking underneath his arm and rolling to safety behind him.

She tried to get away, but she was too slow. As she rolled over on her back, he grabbed her by her left leg, yanking her closer with frightening ease, and threw her into the air like a rag doll. The redhead let out a cry as she flew through the air before crashing into the sand below with a painful thud. Before she could even get back to her feet, the hunter grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and pinned her down beneath his weight. He glared down at her with a murderous gaze as he pressed his knee forcefully against her chest, holding her in place so she couldn't struggle free.

Effie gasped as she saw the scene unfold, quickly making her way towards the two fighters in an attempt to intervene. "That's enough! Please, Sir Graham! Don't be so violent!" she exclaimed loudly, her tone filled with anger and concern. "Miss Clarent isn't used to fighting!"

However, Graham ignored the receptionist, instead focusing solely on the redhead under him. "... I don't like impostors, kid. You may have tricked everyone else, but not me. I don't believe this act of yours for even a second," he hissed through gritted teeth as his grip tightened on her shoulders. "You're a fraud, a fake. Your whole act of amnesia and being weak... I don't buy it," he growled as his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Your eyes betray you... I've seen those same eyes many times before... Those eyes that belong to murderers and psychopaths."

"W-What?! What the hell are you talking about?!" Clarent yelled back as she squirmed violently underneath the hunter, trying desperately to escape his hold on her. But he held her firmly in place, his powerful body pinning her down with ease, rendering her efforts futile. "I-I'm not lying! I really don't remember anything about myself! I swear!" She pleaded frantically as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Lies, all lies!" Graham roared as he lifted her up suddenly, only to throw her harshly onto the sandy ground once more, sending her rolling several feet away. "I can see through your façade, kid... There's no way you'd have such an expressionless, lifeless gaze if you really had no recollection of anything before."

Clarent coughed and choked as she gasped for air, struggling to breathe as the wind was knocked out of her lungs from the impact. She tried to sit up, only to find her head spinning from being thrown so violently and roughly onto the dirt, leaving her unable to focus properly.

"Sir Graham!" Effie shouted angrily, glaring daggers at the old hunter as she hurried to the girl's side. "What do you think you're doing?! Have you lost your mind?! This isn't like you at all! Stop this madness this instant!"

But the man simply continued to ignore her, walking casually over to where Clarent lay, coughing and wheezing pathetically. He crouched down next to her, his eyes narrowing menacingly as he watched her closely.

"... Hey, kid... You're gonna die here," he threatened coldly, his tone low and threatening. "Whether you actually have memory loss, it doesn't change the fact that you'll die here if you don't pull your weight... If you want to survive in this city... If you want to survive as a hunter... Then you need to wake up," he warned, his voice taking a dangerous edge. "Wake the beast inside you, kid. Wake up the monster you truly are," he urged quietly, his eyes gleaming dangerously. "I know it's hiding in there, buried deep within the depths of your soul..."

"... Monster?..." Clarent murmured weakly between coughs and gasps as she struggled to get up.

"That's enough, Sir Graham! Get away from her right this instant!" Effie shouted furiously at him, her voice trembling with anger as she stepped between them. "Do you want Master Selena to punish you?! She will be furious once she learns about your behavior!" she threatened furiously as her hands clenched into tight fists, shaking uncontrollably in a mixture of anger and fear.

Graham scoffed, letting out an amused chuckle as he shook his head dismissively, not paying attention to her threat at all.

"Hah... What are you going on about? The Lioness actually asked me to test her, and that's precisely what I'm doing here," he retorted nonchalantly as he got up and brushed the dirt from his armor.

The young receptionist froze, her eyes widening in surprise at his words as well as at the tone he used. He spoke those words as if they were common sense. Like she should have known that from the start. But this didn't make any sense.

"W-What...?! T-Testing...? This is not testing! You were trying to kill her, Sir Graham!" Effie argued as tears started forming in her eyes. "You attacked her with the intent to harm!"

Graham laughed again, his laugh sounding almost insane in nature, sending shivers running down Effie's spine as her heart beat frantically in her chest.

"Enough with the dramatics, Effie," he said condescendingly, shaking his head in amusement. "I'm only doing as instructed. Are you gonna interfere with my job now? If so, then feel free to report it to your dear Master~" he replied with an amused smirk, taunting the young woman.

Effie gritted her teeth in frustration, her nails digging painfully into her palms as she tried her best to restrain her anger and rage at his words, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her upset. But it was all pointless. All her efforts were futile. The old man's words cut deeply, piercing right through her heart, and she couldn't hold back any longer.

"I... I will...!" she threatened in a low voice, struggling to keep her composure. "I will inform her of what transpired today... You won't get away with this," she uttered through clenched teeth.

Graham merely scoffed once more at her words, waving his hand dismissively, showing no concern whatsoever in his actions. However, Clarent didn't seem to be as unconcerned about it, as the girl finally managed to recover from the brutal beating and slowly rose back up to her feet, breathing heavily as she glared defiantly at him.

"E-Effie, please don't... worry," she wheezed painfully as she forced herself to stand, wobbling slightly as she took a step towards the receptionist. "I-I'll... prove him wrong... I won't give up," she mumbled weakly as she attempted to steady herself.

The young receptionist's eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at the young girl incredulously, completely taken aback by her stubbornness and determination. Moments ago, she was on the verge of breaking down in tears, struggling to remain composed before even beginning the spar, and now... Now, she stood before her with a fire burning brightly in her eyes, filled with determination and courage.

"Miss Clarent...!" she gasped as tears streamed down her cheeks. She knew full well that there was no way Clarent could win against such a seasoned veteran as Graham. He would tear her apart without even batting an eye.

But despite all logic and reasoning, Clarent stood resolute. She refused to back down and admit defeat. She refused to let that man have his way with her. She refused to allow anyone to hurt the ones she held dear. And so, the girl raised her weapon defiantly, staring directly at her opponent, waiting for him to attack once more.

"Heh, I like that attitude... Keep that fire burning, kid. Show me what you can do... Show me the monster hidden within you." Graham sneered as he cracked his neck, grinning sinisterly as he raised his hand up into the air. He stood there, as if he were waiting to catch something. "Don't disappoint me," he taunted in a mocking tone when his lifted hand began trembling slightly.

Clarent's eyes widened in confusion when something big moved from across the arena. Something that looked like a giant warhammer was flying through the air at a ridiculous speed, as if drawn by a magnet to the old hunter's hand. She couldn't understand what just happened; one moment the thing was somewhere out of view, and then the next it was flying through the air like a shooting star, right towards the man. It looked impossible, like magic or a trick of the light. But it was real.

Effie's eyes also widened in astonishment, her jaw dropping slightly as she struggled to comprehend what she was seeing. "Wait a minute... Is that the prototype weapon that the guild is experimenting on?!" She gasped in surprise. "H-How in tarnation did you even get access to that?!"

The old hunter chuckled, smirking proudly, as he caught the hammer in midair and slammed it into the sand. A loud, earthshaking thud reverberated through the stadium, echoing off the walls and shaking the ground beneath their feet. As he lifted the heavy weapon effortlessly off the floor, he grinned confidently at the two women in front of him.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't just a mere warhammer—it was more akin to a complex mechanical contraption somewhat similar in design to the Switch Axe but much larger and heavier. The handle, two long metal shafts glued together in parallel, connected to the main part of the weapon where all the mechanisms and energy sources were located, protected by two huge chunks of bone of unknown origin forming the double-headed hammer itself, and which looked extremely durable. A curious slit was visible along the length of the two bone pieces, as though there were more mechanisms inside yet to be revealed.

"Behold the power of Mezeporta's newest weapon... based on the unique abilities of the Gougarf specie and powered by some strange scales with magnetic properties found near the Great Desert... The Magnet Spike," he announced boastfully, holding his new weapon tightly as he stared challengingly at Clarent, waiting for her next move. "I suggest you stand back and watch, Effie. I don't think I can guarantee your safety here."

The young receptionist blinked a couple of times, still unable to process what was happening. "B-But... I thought it wasn't completed yet...!" She exclaimed, bewildered. "We were informed that the development has reached a standstill and that all research regarding this project had been suspended!"

Graham chuckled. "Well, you were told wrong, Effie," he replied bluntly. "I hold the very first and only finished version of this weapon... I'm basically its test subject here, you know? Although I'm surprised the Guild Master hasn't told you about it, I wonder why."

The young receptionist gasped in surprise, her eyes widening even more at his words. But before she could say anything else, Graham pointed his finger at her. "Anyway, you should really get out of the way. This will get messy, and I don't want a civilian to get caught in the crossfire," he warned, his gaze sharpening dangerously. "Trust me, you don't wanna get involved. Run, now."

Effie hesitated for a moment, torn between staying behind and protecting Clarent from the incoming disaster or fleeing. She knew Graham wasn't kidding. If anything, he seemed even more serious and determined than before, which only served to worry her further. That said, the moment the old hunter took a single step forward, Effie quickly backed away from him. She wanted to keep an eye on both parties, but at the same time, she had to be safe. And she knew well that she wouldn't stand a chance against him.

"Miss Clarent, be careful!" She cried out, glancing towards the girl worriedly, concerned about the outcome of this match. "I'll go call for help immediately, so please hold on until then!"

Clarent remained silent, her expression grim, as she watched Graham cautiously, waiting for his next move. Graham grinned wickedly as he pulled something out of the prototype's handle—something resembling a small gun—and aimed the weapon straight at the girl. Clarent's eyes widened when the man pulled the trigger and fired what appeared like a bowgun's bullet, launching it directly at her without hesitation.

Instinctively, the redhead raised her shield, hoping to deflect the incoming projectile. But she was completely unprepared for what happened next. The moment the bullet collided with the surface of her shield, it exploded harmlessly and scattered a cloud of iron filings that immediately stuck to the metallic parts of her equipment and inside her outfit. At first, it seemed harmless enough. However, as soon as she lowered her arm and moved forward to attack, she noticed that something wasn't right.

"What in the...? I feel... slow," she murmured quietly under her breath. Indeed, it felt like gravity had increased its grip on her limbs, slowing down her movements significantly and making it difficult to move faster than a jog. "M-My body... I feel heavier all of a sudden."

Graham smirked as he put the gun back in its holster. Then he gripped his weapon tightly with both hands, preparing a swing. As soon as he did, the magnet spike started emitting sparks and crackling with energy, and suddenly, the redhead could feel herself being pulled towards the old hunter with tremendous force. Before she knew it, she was flying straight towards the man, unable to do anything to resist.

The man roared as he swung the weapon sideways like a baseball batter striking a home run, except that the ball in question was Clarent instead. He swung his massive hammer with such ferocity and incredible strength that the redhead could almost hear the whistling sound as it cut through the air and then felt the bone-crushing impact of it slamming hard into her shield, destroying it instantly and throwing her entire body backwards with incredible force. The sheer strength of his strike sent the redhead flying away from him at high speed, crashing headfirst into the far end of the venue with a thunderous boom and falling limply onto the sand with a pained groan.

But it wasn't over yet. As the redhead struggled to stand up, grunting and gasping painfully, her arm numb from the blow, she could feel herself being pulled towards him once more by an unseen force, this time with even greater intensity than before. Graham was holding the magnet spike high above his head, activating its attraction powers and pulling her in with such strength that she couldn't resist. It was a terrifying sensation. A strange, unnatural power that seemed to defy gravity itself, dragging her closer to certain doom. And with each passing second, her resistance weakened, making her less and less capable of fighting back.

"With this, I'll put you down for good, you damn brat!"

The old hunter growled menacingly as he raised the magnet spike above his head, while Clarent was being pulled towards him like a fish caught on a hook, completely defenseless.

That was when she finally realized what was going on and how he was able to pull her in so easily—it wasn't just the magnet spike's powers that made her helpless; the iron filings inside her equipment and clothes had magnetized her entire body, making her as vulnerable as an insect trapped in a bug net. That was why he fired that bullet at her at the very start—not just to test his new weapon but also to 'mark' her, per say, and render her unable to resist the attraction force.

In that split second of clarity, the girl understood that if she didn't find a way to get rid of those iron filings stuck on her body, then she was definitely going to die.

Unfortunately, she was running out of time. Graham was dragging her across the arena with incredible force, and there was no way she could escape his grasp now. Her hands and feet were slipping across the sand in vain, desperately trying to keep her from sliding towards her demise. She could only think of one solution left to save her own life—the only way she could survive this. She had to somehow remove all the iron from her body. She had to get rid of it somehow. And there was only one thing that came to mind.

Without a second thought, the red-haired girl dropped all the gear in her possession. Her weapons, her backpack, her shield—everything. Even her clothes—she had no choice but to strip herself down to her underwear in order to remove every last bit of metal she could possibly have on her body. It wasn't ideal, and it certainly was embarrassing beyond belief, but there weren't any other options left, and the girl knew she couldn't afford to be picky in this situation.

Every piece of equipment that she removed immediately flew towards the old hunter like a magnet, gliding across the air effortlessly towards him without stopping before sticking to the magnet spike itself. Upon noticing what the redhead was doing, Graham gasped loudly in surprise, clearly not expecting her to be this resourceful but also pleased at the unexpected sight of seeing her half-naked.

"... Huh?! What in the...?!" He grunted in shock, blinking rapidly a few times as he watched the girl throw her equipment and clothes off in a panic. "What the hell do you think you're doing, kiddo?! Stripping in the middle of a fight?! Are you insane or just plain stupid?!" He exclaimed incredulously before bursting out laughing heartily, finding the entire situation rather amusing. "Haha... I guess the Lioness was right to have faith in you after all, brat!"

"Ngh..." the redhead growled quietly, ignoring the old man's taunts and jeers, trying to hide her embarrassment and privates as she managed to free herself from the magnetic pull, her body finally feeling normal again. It was quite uncomfortable to stand in public wearing nothing but her underwear, especially while she was getting judged and ogled by that creepy old geezer, but there was nothing she could do about it.

"So, what now? You may have escaped the pull of the spike, but you're completely defenseless. Not only that, you're too weak to face me in close combat without any weapons or equipment to help you," the old hunter sneered as he put the weapon on his shoulder. "You've got nowhere to run, kiddo. Give up already. You'll just embarrass yourself further if you continue with this nonsense."

Clarent narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth in annoyance, glaring angrily at the man in front of her. She had to admit that she didn't really think ahead about this scenario; she'd assumed that removing her equipment and clothes would be enough to cancel out the effects of the magnetism and allow her to counterattack, but now that she was standing face-to-face with Graham once more, it dawned on her just how difficult it was to actually take on a seasoned fighter like him. He was older than her, more experienced, stronger, and more agile, and with his special weapon in hand, he could easily overwhelm her even without the use of magnetism.

Her body had been covered in sweat and dirt from earlier, her right arm was still sore and painful from the shield smash, and she hadn't completely recovered from the impact of being thrown into a wall either. She was trapped in a corner, with nowhere to run and no way to defend herself. Not only that, she was also fully exposed for the world to see, with nothing but a tight-fitting bra and underwear to hide her shame.

The redhead felt completely and utterly humiliated and helpless. However, just as she was thinking about giving up, a voice suddenly echoed throughout the stadium, startling them both.

"Clarent, catch!"

Startled by the sudden call, Clarent turned her attention towards where the voice came from and saw someone throwing an object her way. Without thinking, she reached out her hands and caught the object instinctively—a sword made of bone, devoid of any metal components whatsoever, wrapped in a leather scabbard.

Graham frowned, glancing at the sword, then at the person who threw it at Clarent, letting out a sigh. "Really? Don't you have anything better to do than butt in...?"

The redhead looked in the direction where the mysterious sword came from and saw a familiar face: the guild master herself, Selena, clad in her usual attire, a white shirt, long coat, and black trousers with brown boots, casually leaning against the wall of the arena, near the entrance that was far away from them, with her arms crossed over her chest. She had a smug grin plastered on her face, and her visible eye twinkled mischievously, as though she were enjoying the scene before her very much.

She didn't answer Graham's question and instead simply raised a hand and waved at him cheerily, her grin widening even more, before turning to Clarent and giving her a thumbs up, as if to encourage her to use the weapon she gave her. After that, the blonde threw another thing at Clarent. Something that didn't appear to be a weapon this time—a small sack, containing what looked like two square-shaped biscuits, but it didn't seem to be mere snacks, judging from its peculiar appearance and foul mushroom-like smell.

"... Taking sides, are we? I see how it is... You never change..." Graham grumbled irritably as he shook his head in exasperation before turning back to face the redhead, grinning confidently as he raised his magnet spike high onto his shoulder again. "Hahaha! Well, whatever, I don't care either way! Looks like you got one last shot at this, kiddo... The thing she gave you is a special medicine used by hunters to heal their wounds quickly during hunts. Go ahead, use it, and let's see if you're worthy of that trust the Lioness of the East puts in you!"

Clarent looked down at the sword and the two weird tablets that had been tossed at her. The weapon looked rather plain, although sturdy and durable enough to be used as a proper melee weapon. As for the tablets, she didn't really know what to do with them. They certainly smelled horrible and disgusting, making her grimace involuntarily at the awful stench, but they appeared to be edible, at the very least. And if what Graham said was true and Selena had given these things to her as a sort of healing aid, then it would be rude of her to waste them.

With no other choice but to eat the medicine, she braced herself for the worst and popped one of the tablets in her mouth, chewing on the hard and bitter tasting thing carefully until it dissolved completely. To her surprise, the foul taste quickly vanished, leaving only a pleasant sweetness behind, making it easier to swallow.

Shortly after she swallowed the medicine, the redhead felt her whole body surge with energy. Her limbs, muscles, and joints began to tingle slightly as a warm and fuzzy feeling spread throughout her body. It was strange. Something inside her had ignited, giving her strength beyond what she thought was possible. Her pain subsided as well, and she could move her right arm again without any problem.

Clarent glanced up, staring at Graham, who still waited for her to make a move, grinning arrogantly and showing no sign of concern whatsoever. This man... This old, drunken geezer was still treating this as a joke, as some silly game, when this was actually her very life on the line here. And yet, for some reason, she found herself feeling rather calm and relaxed, despite everything. In fact, she felt almost... excited. As though she couldn't wait for the battle to truly begin, to finally have an opportunity to prove herself.

It was strange, how fast her heart was racing at the moment. But Clarent decided she would embrace this feeling, whatever it might be, and use it to fuel her spirit and strength for the upcoming battle.

And so, as she gripped her weapon firmly and threw the leather sheath away, a smile formed on her lips, and some images flashed briefly through her mind. A memory. Something that seemed so distant and unreal yet strangely familiar... She saw herself training tirelessly in the wild, swinging her sword over and over again against imaginary opponents under the guidance of a mentor she couldn't quite recall. Someone who looked suspiciously similar to Selena...

The memory faded as quickly as it had appeared, however, leaving her slightly dazed and confused, unsure of what just happened. She quickly glanced up at the blonde again, wondering what that memory could mean and why she was in there with her in the first place. Yes, she had amnesia and couldn't remember anything of her life before today, but she was almost certain that she had never set foot in Mezeporta, let alone met this woman before in her life, and yet...

No, this wasn't the time to be distracted. Clarent sighed heavily, shaking her head in an attempt to clear her mind. She needed to focus on the fight. Right now, the old hunter in front of her was the only thing that mattered.

"What are you waiting for, kiddo? An invitation?!" Graham called out loudly, snapping the redhead out of her daze, his tone slightly irritated. "If you're not gonna come at me, I'll gladly attack first!"

The old man raised his weapon high in the air as it crackled with electricity, preparing to strike. Suddenly, the magnet spike emitted a wave of energy that propelled Graham forward, launching himself at Clarent at high speeds with incredible momentum, ready to smash the girl with his hammer.

The redhead gasped as the man rapidly approached, raising her sword instinctively in an attempt to defend herself. Then, she recalled what had happened to her the last time she tried blocking with a shield and immediately realized her error. She wasn't holding a shield this time, and if she tried to parry like she did before, it would probably break the sword—and herself as well, possibly. That left only one option left open for her: dodge!

At the last moment, she rolled out of the way as the hammer swung over her head. Then, she jumped backward, creating more distance between them, before starting to run around the old man, circling around him in a clockwise manner as she observed him carefully, analyzing his movements, his stance, and his patterns. She had to stay mobile at all costs, considering she couldn't afford to take a hit—not even one.

As she continued circling around the veteran hunter, he stood there patiently, following her movements with his eyes with a confident smile and not making a single move. She could tell that he was waiting for her to get closer again to try attacking him once more. But Clarent refused to give in and fall for that trap, even as the temptation of using her newly acquired strength tempted her.

"Keep running around, kiddo... Just keep running... Eventually, you'll get tired, and then I'll crush you beneath my foot like a bug... Heheh... You can't run forever, you know?" He mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm and arrogance.

But Clarent ignored his provocations, refusing to fall into the temptation of recklessness. No, she mustn't rush things. However, he was right in one thing: she couldn't keep this up for long either. She was already beginning to feel exhausted from the effort, even with the mysterious medicine giving her strength, and she was starting to pant slightly as she ran circles around the hunter. Subsequently, she decided to slow down her pace to preserve stamina and energy. She would have to attack eventually, or else she wouldn't win the spar. She couldn't keep this up indefinitely.

"I can sense your fear and hesitation... But fear is a good thing to have on the battlefield," Graham said suddenly as his eyes narrowed dangerously, his tone filled with confidence. "Fear makes us aware of our mortality. It makes us cautious and vigilant, and it forces us to remain focused... It keeps us alert and helps us make better decisions. Fear is good," he stated firmly, smiling slightly as he watched the redhead carefully, gauging her reactions.

"But in your case, fear is holding you back... I can see it clearly in your eyes... The uncertainty in your actions... The hesitation... and the lack of conviction," he continued, his voice filled with disdain. "I see a weak, spineless coward... who is too scared to attack head-on."

Clarent flinched visibly, his words hitting a nerve deep within her, triggering a pang of guilt deep in her chest as memories flashed in her head: a looming figure of a skinny man towering over her, laughing maniacally as he approached her. "A hoonter? No... You are no hoonter. You're just a pathetic coward! Look at what your weakness has caused, you useless wretch!" His voice was filled with contempt as he spat those words in disgust.

The surrounding scene was blurry and unclear, but it started getting clearer in her head. There were burning houses and screaming people running around as the shadow of a soaring beast flew overhead. The image was hazy yet distinct, and she could hear voices calling out to her in fear and despair. The sound of crying and wailing rang out loudly throughout the air, echoing through her ears. And the stench of burning flesh permeated her nostrils, causing her to gag in response. The man in front of her was too blurry for her to discern his features, but she could still clearly see his long purple hair flowing wildly in the wind as he laughed hysterically while watching the world burn.

After that, a jolt of intense, excruciating pain coursed through her whole body, causing her to gasp in agony as she stumbled back a little, struggling to regain her footing. Her vision began to waver, her head spinning violently as she swayed unsteadily on her feet, barely managing to keep herself upright. One last short glimpse of something flashed through her mind. She saw... herself, looking in a mirror, and she had this look on her face that resembled a madwoman, with crazed eyes and an insane smile plastered on her face as she stared at her reflection.

That last vision was the last straw, pushing her over the edge, making her lose control, making her lose everything... Everything...

"Shut up... Shut up... Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut Up! SHUT UP!" Clarent screamed at the top of her lungs in a fit of rage as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. "I... I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID!"

That last shout rang out throughout the arena as Clarent let out a loud cry, unleashing all of her pent-up anger and rage and all of her frustration and hatred towards Graham. Then, in an instant, she dashed forward, closing the gap between them with incredible speed.

The veteran hunter blinked in surprise, caught off guard by this sudden outburst of fury, and his eyes widened as he saw her coming towards him, swinging her sword wildly as though possessed by an uncontrollable frenzy.

However, that wasn't enough to overwhelm him. As the redhead charged headlong towards him, swinging her blade wildly at him, the old man calmly raised his weapon defensively, and as soon as the first blow connected, the magnet spike suddenly released a wave of magnetic energy that pushed Graham backwards at the same time that it parried Clarent's attack. This caused Clarent to stumble right in front of the veteran hunter, who immediately followed up by jumping forward in a magnetic-powered dash, bringing the hammer down upon her with immense force.

But the hit never connected; the redhead managed to sidestep it in the nick of time, as if she saw it coming before it actually happened. The weapon missed by a hair's breadth, striking the ground with a loud clang instead, before Graham quickly recovered from the missed swing with another magnetic dash to avoid a counterattack from his opponent.

The two combatants stared at each other silently for several seconds as they both struggled to catch their breath, neither of them making any movements whatsoever.

"You... You won't get away this time!" the redhead shouted fiercely as she took a step forward. Then, suddenly, a surge of power burst forth from deep within her as her whole body glowed faintly, an aura of white flames surrounding her figure as she leaped towards her target with incredible speed and strength.

"Heh... I have no idea what's gotten into you, kid, but I'm glad you're finally taking this seriously! Let's see what you got!" Graham chuckled, amused by her sudden turnaround, as he prepared to defend himself against her incoming charge.

The girl's eyes burned with a bright blue light as her aura grew even more intense, affecting her surrounding environment as her very presence seemed to blow the air itself away in her wake.

"HAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Clarent bellowed loudly as she thrust her blade straight forward at the hunter with all her might, launching a wave of energy from the tip of her weapon and sending a powerful shockwave towards Graham in a flash. The attack lifted a lot of dust, and for a few seconds, Clarent was unable to see if it connected, her ears ringing loudly as the sound of the shockwave echoed in her head.

When the dust settled, Graham was still standing unharmed at the same spot, but he was holding something different from what he held earlier. Instead of the giant hammer-like weapon, his Magnet Spike had changed shape completely: the head of his device had split open, the two bone chunks now extending outwards into a bow-like form, thick and sturdy, with a blade edge protruding from the slit observed earlier along the length of the bone piece. The handle was longer and thinner now, connecting both ends of the new shape like an archery string, and it was with this part that the old hunter was wielding the weapon—similarly to a two-handed axe.

It looked like the Magnet Spike wasn't only a hammer but also a versatile bladed weapon capable of switching forms at will—a highly adaptable weapon for every situation and every enemy.

"Surprised, kid?" Graham asked mockingly as he grinned widely, showing off the Magnet Spike's new form to Clarent. "The spike is much more than just a heavy hammer. With the push of a button, I can switch between the Bludgeoning Mode, to destroy armor and scales alike, and the Slashing Mode, to increase speed, defense, and maneuverability in melee," he explained briefly with an amused smile, twirling the weapon expertly in his hands.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he triggered a switch somewhere inside the Magnet Spike's handle, instantly re-adjusting its form once more, this time shifting into its hammer mode again. The entire thing folded inward, joining the two pieces of bone together and forming the solid club-shaped weapon that it was initially shown as.

"I gotta admit though... you did give me a scare with that last attack of yours, kiddo," he confessed, letting out a chuckle. "I thought you might be hiding something, but this... This is unexpected. I'm impressed. Truly, I am," he added as he nodded approvingly, his gaze never leaving the girl.

Clarent merely scowled in response, gripping the hilt of her sword tightly as she recovered from her surprise. It was true that her attack didn't have any effect, but she wasn't planning to give up. Not when she still had so much pent-up rage inside her. A little voice inside her whispered to her, urging her to destroy him, to rip him apart piece by piece, until only a bloody mess remained.

And so, she decided she wouldn't let him rest. She would continue attacking relentlessly until either one of them fell to the ground, unable to continue. Until either one of them died...

The redhead dashed forward without warning, charging towards her opponent with her blade pointed ahead. She thrust the tip of her blade at the man, aiming for his neck, hoping to catch him off guard and decapitate him instantly. But once again, Graham reacted swiftly, making his weapon change shape into its bladed form, and he blocked her attack effortlessly. The two blades clashed loudly, generating sparks that scattered around them, but neither combatant gave up. Both held their ground firmly, trying to push the other back.

After several moments, Graham finally managed to overpower Clarent with yet another surprise from his prototype weapon: a magnetic shockwave emitted from the blade, repelling her back slightly and giving him enough space to counterattack. The veteran hunter swung his blade in a horizontal slash at the girl, who managed to deflect the incoming strike with her own sword, although barely. However, as the swords connected once more, Graham activated the Magnet Spike again, this time dashing backward in a spin motion, the weapon covering his retreat in a sharp whirlwind attack.

The redhead wasted no time in pursuing him, lunging straight at him after deflecting his last strike. She unleashed another wave of energy from her blade, but it proved fruitless as Graham dodged it easily, leaping sideways at blinding speed with another burst of magnetic repulsion from his weapon. Then, when he landed safely away from Clarent, he immediately switched the magnet spike to its hammer form and launched himself forward in another magnetic dash.

As Clarent turned around to face him again, she blindly rushed at Graham with a furious roar, holding her sword with both hands forward and pointing the blade ahead in a stabbing motion. Both of them were about to clash, their weapons ready to cut through flesh and bone, when suddenly, at the very last second, someone intervened, jumping in between the two of them.

The unexpected person cut off their momentum abruptly, stopping both weapons with bare hands as though they were nothing. It was none other than the Guild Master herself, Selena, standing firm against them. She glared at each of them in turn, but especially at the redhead, before disarming her effortlessly with a twist of her wrist.

"That's enough, both of you," she said in a stern yet calm tone. "I believe I told you to spar, not kill each other..."

The blonde woman turned towards Clarent, who was apparently unable to calm herself down as she panted heavily, staring daggers at her, her entire body shaking as she trembled from the sheer rage and adrenaline coursing through her veins. The Guild Master frowned deeply, and her eye narrowed as she examined the young girl. She could sense a strange, ominous aura radiating off the girl, and that made her slightly uncomfortable.

Clarent didn't answer her words; instead, she gritted her teeth, glaring hatefully at the Guild Master with a mixture of confusion, anger, and hatred. She wanted nothing more than to slaughter both of them, to destroy them both, and to make them pay... What for? She didn't know, yet the overwhelming emotions of vengeance and fury consumed her rational thoughts.

But something else prevented her from acting. As soon as Clarent caught a glimpse of that blonde mane and eye patch, something within her shifted. A strange feeling bubbled up inside her chest, filling her heart with conflicting emotions—fear and rage, joy and sorrow, love and hatred—as tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably.

The blonde woman raised her left hand, gesturing towards Graham, who immediately understood the message and retreated from the battle, putting away the magnet spike and sitting down at the sidelines, letting her deal with Clarent. The Guild Master slowly walked towards the redhead, carefully placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, causing Clarent to flinch instinctively and glare at her. However, the Guild Master didn't back off, her gaze steady and unwavering as she stared deep into Clarent's eyes, searching for something—something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Clarent... Do you hear me? Do you recognize me?" She spoke in a quiet voice. "Do you know who I am?"

The redhead remained silent for a long moment, her breathing ragged as she continued staring intently at the Guild Master. She didn't answer, nor did she move at all, save for the occasional tremor that shook her whole frame.

Finally, she managed to find her voice.

"Yes..." Clarent croaked, her throat dry from the effort, as tears welled up in her eyes, rolling down her face. "You... You're... You're Selena, the Guild Master..."

Selena nodded slowly, a sad smile on her face as she continued stroking her gently. "And do you remember who you are?" She asked, her gaze piercing straight through her soul.

Clarent froze at those words, her eyes wide open in horror as she stared at the blonde woman before her, who simply smiled in return. She felt numb. Numb with terror and disbelief, as if her entire world had been turned upside down. The redhead's breathing became irregular and ragged as she struggled to comprehend what she heard. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down her cheeks like a waterfall, and yet, despite her fear and pain, she felt strangely peaceful and comforted at the same time, somehow soothed by the Guild Master's presence.

"... I... I am Clarent... Hunter of Rekusara Village," she blurted out without thinking. The words escaped her lips as though they'd been ripped from her mouth. They sounded incredibly hollow and meaningless to her ears, like lies, like a mere fabrication of her own imagination.

Selena didn't seem to think the same way, though. As soon as Clarent answered, the Guild Master's single eye widened slightly, her expression filled with a mixture of surprise, disbelief, and concern.

"What? What did you say...?" She questioned, sounding slightly suspicious.

The redhead blinked rapidly, confused by her own response. What the hell did I just say...? She wondered silently. She couldn't understand what had possessed her to reply like that, nor could she recall anything about herself or why she even answered the question in the first place. Was that really me speaking...?

"I... don't know..." Clarent replied truthfully, her voice trembling as her entire body began to shake once more. "I... I'm sorry..."

The Guild Master stared at her, observing her closely as she tried to process the girl's response. The redhead was on the verge of breaking down, struggling to maintain her composure with her eyes full of tears as she lowered her gaze. Selena couldn't help but sigh deeply, and she embraced her gently, wrapping her arms tightly around her shoulders. The young hunter tensed up briefly, startled by the unexpected action, but eventually she relaxed, allowing herself to sink deeper into Selena's warm embrace, seeking comfort from the Guild Master's comforting presence.

"It's alright... I'm here, Clarent," she whispered softly into her ear as she stroked her crimson hair. "I'm proud of you, my brave girl... You've done well."

Those words brought fresh tears to Clarent's eyes as she buried her face into Selena's chest, crying uncontrollably. The Guild Master just stood there, silently holding the weeping girl close to her heart, stroking her head tenderly, comforting her until her sobbing subsided.

Meanwhile, Effie ran over towards the two of them, worry written all over her face. Someone was following her: a young man with semi-long, spiky red hair, blue eyes, and a cheerful smile on his face. His outfit consisted of blue knight armor with yellow decorations and a white bodysuit underneath. He looked rather handsome and charming, but there was something about him that gave off a feeling of childishness and carelessness, which somewhat clashed with his appearance.

"G-Goodness gracious! Miss Clarent! Why on earth are you—?!" Effie cried out, her face reddening in embarrassment upon realizing Clarent's current state of dress. "What in the world happened here?! Sir Graham, what's the meaning of this?!" She asked frantically, turning to the veteran hunter sitting on the ground a short distance away from them.

"Hey hey now, don't look at me," the man said nonchalantly as he waved his hand dismissively. "She's the one who chose to strip herself, not me. Don't ask me why. That's her problem, not mine."

The red-haired man whistled as he approached, his eyes wandering around the arena and Clarent's half-naked body, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Hoo-hoo! Effie told me there was trouble here, but I didn't expect such a show, too," he laughed loudly as he placed a hand on his hip. "Graham, you lucky old bastard, you're playing dirty tricks against innocent girls now, eh? I see how it is."

"Says the guy ogling at the girl like a pervert. Don't pretend to be the good guy here, Taizo. You're not fooling anyone," Graham retorted in a playful tone as he stood up and dusted his armor off.

"Ohohoho, I'd never dare to," Taizo smirked mischievously. "So? Who do I need to beat up for causing trouble to Effie?"

"There's no trouble here, Taizo," the Guild Master said calmly as she looked at him, still cradling Clarent. "Listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you."

"Huh? Yeah, sure, go ahead; I'm all ears, boss!" The red-haired man responded eagerly.

"If you keep staring at Clarent like this, I'm going to cut your balls off, feed them to the Halks, and use you as the next training dummy for Palico," Selena said with an eerie calmness, but a murderous aura emanated from her, making Taizo shiver. "Now, since you came all the way here to help, might as well make yourself useful and go run an errand for me, will ya?"

Taizo gulped audibly before averting his gaze from the redhead and nodding vigorously in affirmation. "Y-Yeah, of course! Anything you need!" He stammered, eager to please his master and avoid any further threats.

"Good," the blonde replied with a smirk, satisfied with Taizo's compliance. "I need to see Circa, so please go tell her to meet me in my office later... Also, we might need you later, so don't wander too far." Selena's eyes glinted with a dangerous gleam as she dismissed Taizo, leaving him to wonder what other tasks she had in store for him.

"I-I'll get right on it!" He stuttered nervously, saluting her with his left hand, then hurried off to fulfill his orders.

"Effie," the guild master then addressed the receptionist who stood next to her, "Would you please go fetch Clarent's belongings and escort her somewhere private to change?" She requested quietly, her voice gentle yet firm as she spoke to the receptionist.

"O-Of course," the brunette replied hesitantly. "... I... I'm sorry, Master. I failed to keep the situation under control," she added apologetically, her head hanging low. "This is entirely my fault..."

"Effie..." Selena sighed heavily, shaking her head slightly and giving her a disapproving stare. "I'm getting really tired of telling you this... Stop apologizing on behalf of others, and stop taking responsibility for things out of your control. You can't fix every little mistake that happens in life, and you certainly can't prevent them from ever occurring, no matter how much you try," she lectured firmly, her voice stern and commanding. "In this case, you didn't even know that I'm the one who asked Graham to test her, to push her to her limits, so... if one person should apologize, that someone would be me. Not you, not Graham, but me alone."

The brunette woman nodded weakly, unable to meet her master's gaze, ashamed of herself. "I understand..." she muttered softly as she stepped away, making her way towards Clarent's discarded belongings.

Once the receptionist was gone, the blonde woman turned back towards the redhead in her arms, sighing sadly as she gazed upon her pitiful state. The girl had stopped sobbing, but she was still shivering like a leaf, trembling uncontrollably against Selena.

"I'm sorry, Clarent," she apologized, hugging her tightly. "I wanted to see how far you could go. How far you could push yourself, how far you could overcome adversity... I had to know for sure, one way or another. But..." the blonde trailed off, taking a deep breath and squeezing Clarent's shoulder reassuringly. "Maybe I shouldn't have delegated this to someone who doesn't know you already. From now on, I'll handle this myself and leave the actual teaching to Graham if you still want it."

The redhead didn't respond to her apology, however, choosing to remain silent as she simply hugged Selena back, clinging onto her desperately as she fought hard to regain her composure, her hands clutching her white shirt tightly. The Guild Master allowed her to embrace her, offering her the support and comfort she needed as she waited patiently for Clarent to calm herself.

It took some time, but eventually, the redhead managed to calm her breathing and stop shaking. After a few minutes passed, the girl pulled away from Selena, looking up at her face. Her cheeks were still flushed, but the tears were no longer running down her cheeks.

"Thank you," she said quietly, smiling weakly.

Selena smiled back and patted her head gently before releasing her completely and stepping away. She turned back to look at the veteran hunter, Graham, who immediately averted his gaze and pretended not to be paying attention to the exchange that took place between them. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and looked anywhere but in their direction.

"Well, Graham..." Selena started as she folded her arms over her chest, staring at him with an unimpressed look, "You heard me, right? No more 'testing' her. Got it?"

The old man cleared his throat nervously and nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah, got it... No more pushing the kid around, alright... But... is this fine? I mean," he trailed off ominously, his brows furrowing a bit in concern, knowing the blonde would get the underlying question without having to elaborate more on the subject.

The guild master sighed heavily in response. She understood his worries and doubts perfectly, and honestly, she didn't blame him for having them. However... "It's a delicate matter," she answered in a soft voice. "One we'll have to discuss later, in private. In the meantime, please refrain from taking it further than necessary. Understood?" She demanded, narrowing her single eye in warning as she spoke firmly.

Graham frowned slightly as he nodded again. "I'm fine with that, you're the boss," he said, his tone casual yet his expression somber.

Meanwhile, Clarent watched their interaction in silence, listening attentively as she observed their expressions. There was something about this discussion that made her curious and intrigued, yet she couldn't quite grasp the underlying implications of what they were discussing.

Suddenly, the redhead gasped softly when someone covered her exposed body with her clothes, having forgotten about Effie's existence in the arena. She blushed profusely in embarrassment as the receptionist handed her the rest of her outfit.

"Follow me, please," she told Clarent in a polite yet slightly embarrassed manner. "You can't stay like this forever, Miss Clarent. Let's go get you cleaned up and dressed."

The redhead complied without protest, accepted her clothes, and hurried to cover her upper body. She couldn't believe what she did to herself and felt utterly mortified by it, ashamed that she had to resort to such measures. She couldn't believe that she really did that in public...

Suddenly, Clarent felt an intense stomachache. The girl winced slightly, grabbing her midriff and groaning in pain as she clutched her belly. Her eyes widened as her vision began to blur, and she collapsed onto her knees, moaning weakly.

"Miss Clarent?!" Effie exclaimed in shock. "What's wrong?!" She cried out in concern as she kneeled beside the redhead, supporting her weight against her body.

"It hurts... It hurts..." the girl muttered between groans, her face scrunching up in agony. The rest of her body slowly started to burn up, and she felt dizzy and disoriented, as though she were on the verge of passing out.

"Forget about changing her clothes; bring her to the infirmary instead, Effie," the Guild Master instructed, her voice oddly calm and composed despite the situation at hand. "It's... the aftereffect of the potion I gave her," she added in a quieter tone as she stared down at the redhead with an indecipherable expression. "I should have known she wouldn't be able to endure it, considering she's still a novice..."

"Y-Yes, master!" Effie answered in an urgent tone, immediately carrying the girl on a piggyback ride, trying to ignore her feeble moans and whimpers as she struggled to stay conscious. "H-Hang in there, Clarent!" She said encouragingly as she ran towards the infirmary.

Graham and the Guild Master watched silently as the two girls disappeared out of sight. Once they were out of earshot, the old hunter turned to the blonde woman with a frown.

"Giving a Max Potion to a rookie? Of course she's going to react like that," he commented, his tone mildly scolding. "Even veterans like us can barely handle more than one... You should have known better than to give her something like that, Selena."

"Don't lecture me, Graham," she replied tiredly, shaking her head. "I know well enough how to recognize my mistakes," she admitted, closing her eye.

The old man simply stared at her silently for a few moments before turning away from her and crossing his arms over his chest, seemingly lost in thought.

"... You noticed too, didn't you?" He inquired suddenly, after a long pause. "The way she reacted to a mere provocation. How she fought with such ferocity. It was like she was fighting someone else entirely, someone who isn't even here," he muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "That's not normal, Selena. I don't know what exactly, but something's definitely off with the kid, and I don't mean amnesia."

The Guild Master sighed heavily as she ran a hand through her long blonde locks, rubbing her forehead. "Yeah... Not only that, but the way she fought... that was, without a doubt, the style of the Tempestuous Heart," she confessed, frowning deeply as she recalled Clarent's earlier outburst. "I can't fathom how a novice like her could have figured out that style so easily when it takes literal years of training for a regular hunter to learn it... And even then, we only started to teach it to other hunters a few years ago. That means Clarent mastered this style far before the East introduced it. It makes no sense at all."

"Now, that's weird, isn't it?" Graham mused.

"Then there's the fact that she somehow awakened the Ritual of Transcendence by herself," Selena added quietly, her eyes closing as she took a deep breath. "That, added to everything else, makes it rather clear to me that Clarent is more than just an average girl with amnesia," she concluded solemnly.

"Transcendence, eh...?" Graham echoed, his gaze fixed somewhere ahead. "While it did look like it, she wasn't actually using it to the fullest, though," he pointed out after a brief pause. "My guess is that she doesn't know about it and that it simply manifested itself instinctively as a self-defense mechanism against danger," he reasoned, his expression thoughtful. "That's not exactly what I expected from her during that sparring session, but... that sure makes things interesting."

As he was speaking, a grin began to form slowly on Selena's face, her single eye still shut as she listened attentively to his words. But it wasn't a happy expression. Rather, it was more of a mischievous one, like that of a child who'd just found something new to play with.

"Indeed. That certainly makes things rather entertaining," she agreed, a small chuckle escaping her lips, causing Graham to glance sideways at her in mild concern. "The more I learn about her, the less her entire existence makes sense. And, of course, the more intrigued I am about her as well," she murmured thoughtfully, tilting her head slightly to one side. "Maybe I'll have to take care of her myself after all," she continued absentmindedly.

There was no malice, but it sure seemed to scare Graham nevertheless, for some reason, especially knowing who this was talking about: someone known throughout Mezeporta to always attract trouble wherever she went, and she wasn't even sorry for it. In fact, she would rather welcome it openly, considering it some sort of game or challenge that she had to overcome. The more difficult and dangerous the task at hand was, the greater the thrill, and she enjoyed that kind of excitement. That's precisely why her friends, the staff members of the guild, and pretty much anyone in the city who knows her enough would always try to avoid getting her involved in anything serious at all costs. They weren't worried for her sake; they were worried for those poor bastards who had to deal with her, because when Selena was involved, there was no telling what she would end up doing—or rather, destroying.

So, when he heard those words coming from her mouth, Graham couldn't help but shudder slightly, knowing how much potential Clarent had and how much danger lurked within her. He wasn't sure what to expect anymore, and honestly, he was scared.

"Doesn't that fascinate you as well?" The blonde questioned rhetorically, a hint of excitement shining in her single emerald eye as she glanced back at him, smiling widely. "I'm not going to deny it: Clarent has caught my interest... She's an enigma, a mystery. Something unique and rare that should not exist yet does," she explained, her voice growing softer with each word. "But above all, it makes my instincts roar... Just like when hunting a new, unknown monster for the first time, I can feel my blood pumping in excitement already." She sighed deeply as a warm flush tinged her cheeks faintly.

"You, of all people, should be best placed to know what I'm talking about, Graham," she continued, raising an eyebrow at him. "Or have you, like Juno, become too accustomed to your little routine and peaceful life to remember what the rush of battle is like anymore?" She asked teasingly, chuckling quietly under her breath.

The old man snorted indignantly at the accusation and shot her a dirty look.

"Don't compare me to that lazy fat ass," he grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest defensively. "And I still hunt monsters for a living, you know? I haven't retired like you, and I still take care of the more challenging assignments, so I've been plenty busy lately. Thank you very much."

Selena burst into a small giggle in reply. But then, the laughter suddenly turned into coughs, which she tried to muffle with a hand to her mouth. She coughed a couple more times before she calmed herself down, and once she had finally stopped coughing, she wiped a small trickle of blood from her mouth with her thumb.

"Are you okay?" Graham asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

The guild master merely waved it off with a smirk, dabbing the blood off her thumb onto her black pants. She didn't say a single word regarding that topic either. After that, she quickly reverted to the stoic demeanor the city folk usually see in her as their symbol.

"In any case," she said as she turned away, her back facing him as she began to leave the arena. "For the meantime, I'll be leaving her in your care, Graham. Please refrain from 'pushing' her further than necessary and help her get ready for the upcoming festival. Understood?" She added, glancing back at him over her shoulder, a stern expression plastered on her face.

Graham sighed in defeat and shrugged. "Fine... But you owe me a bottle of booze later," he replied, shaking his head tiredly as he started heading for the entrance door himself, the prototype Magnet Spike attached to his back in a reduced, harmless variant of the slashing mode.

"Maybe a few bottles, you damn old drunkard," Selena agreed cheerfully before vanishing behind the large doors leading out of the arena.

Graham grumbled to himself in annoyance as he watched her disappear, scratching the back of his neck absentmindedly.

"You can't fool me, you crazy woman," he whispered quietly, letting out a tired sigh. "You're running out of time, and you know it..."

---

Selena, a few hours later

A few hours later, at dusk, in Selena's office, a knock on her door resounded.

"Yo~! You called me, honey?" Circa cheerfully announced as she entered the room without waiting for permission.

The brunette wore an office outfit consisting of a red shirt slightly open to reveal a bit of cleavage, a black pencil skirt, and a pair of black stockings that reached up to her thighs. Elegant yet simple, she was also wearing glasses with black frames that suited her well, which gave her the look of a professional working woman, but her attitude betrayed it. She looked like she was just pretending to do a job while secretly trying to find an occasion to slack off from it.

"I came as soon as I finished class," she stated happily, sitting on one of the sofas in front of her desk, laying down on it, and getting herself comfortable, propping her legs over the armrest. "So, what's the matter, hon~?" She inquired, her voice curious but also slightly excited.

Selena sighed heavily, closing her eyes. "I've told you to stop calling me that in public."

"Oh? But we're alone right now. Nobody's gonna hear me," Circa replied with a playful wink, sticking her tongue out cutely at the woman before adding mischievously, "Also, your cheeks look very pretty whenever I embarrass you by doing it in public... They always seem to go perfectly together with that frowny scowl, grumpy pouty, pissed expression~"

This got her another loud groan. Selena knew there was nothing wrong with Circa being open with her affectionate personality. She even found it endearing at times. However, she also knew that Circa always tended to overdo things when it came to teasing people. Especially her. That's exactly why she had to keep her in check most of the time.

"Whatever..." the guild master mumbled with a resigned tone as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Anyway..." she continued, quickly changing topics and getting to business. "I've called you here because I have a job for you," she revealed, folding her arms over her chest as she regarded the young woman sprawled on the couch before her.

Circa perked up, interested in what the blonde was about to tell her, and sat straight. "Oh? A job, you say? Does that mean you need my help? I'm always available to you, you know?" she asked, her voice sounding unusually serious for a second, but the mischievous grin soon returned to her face. "Oh-oh, I know~ You need me to get under your desk and—"

The blonde slammed her fist loudly onto her mahogany wood desktop, causing some of the stuff on it to rattle and quickly cutting off whatever pervy line was forming inside Circa's dirty head.

"For once," the blonde guildmaster snarled impatiently through clenched teeth. "Keep the lewd out of our discussions!" She spat harshly. "Just be fucking normal and quiet for a damn second and let me speak without interrupting me with your sexual fantasies!"

Circa simply giggled lightly in response, not at all affected by Selena's rudeness. In fact, she actually liked seeing the usually calm and collected blonde get so riled up, especially by her teasing. There was something oddly exciting about that side of her. It made her want to tease the woman even more, just to see how far she could push her before snapping entirely. She loved getting reactions from people, especially from those who usually don't show much emotion. To her, it was the ultimate entertainment.

"I'm sorry, hon," Circa apologized, though her voice clearly lacked remorse. "But it's just too much fun to mess around with you! You're so adorable when you're all worked up~" she added cheerfully.

This elicited a loud, frustrated sigh from Selena. "Ugh, why did I even call you in the first place? I should've just fucking bashed my head into the wall when I thought about it," she muttered, rubbing her temples tiredly, already feeling a headache coming up. "I don't even remember why I thought you'd behave properly and professionally... I was an idiot," she mumbled, shaking her head sadly.

"Aw, don't be like that!" Circa said cheerfully. "I promise I'm decent and mature when I'm not with you! Although I can be serious too when I wanna be."

"Then please be it right now. For my sanity," Selena replied flatly.

"Okay~!" The brunette exclaimed happily as she sat properly on the sofa, facing the Guild Master, and clapped both her hands on her cheeks, giving herself a little slap. Then, her face changed from cheeky playfulness into a forced and strained blank face that did little more than highlight how utterly awkward it felt to see the cheerful huntress attempting something similar. It almost appeared amusing in its ridiculousness, really, to such a high extent that if Circa were standing and walking about in such a manner, then one might actually suspect the woman of imitating someone overly strict for comedic purposes, except here there wasn't the contextual setting required. Selena would probably chuckle under different circumstances. Right now, though, her only concern was her incoming migraine, worsening her temper with each passing second and forcing herself not to let loose of a punch.

Furthermore, Circa's brows were furrowed intensely, her lips were pursed slightly into a small pout, and her jaw muscles were clenched tightly. Even her gaze turned uncharacteristically serious and sharp as her azure pupils, now contracted into tiny dots, stared unflinchingly back into a tired blonde woman that simply wondered just where, oh, where she did so poorly and wrong that such fate has fallen onto her... and why this idiot has been deemed trustworthy by her.

Lastly, the brunette took off her glasses, only to replace them with a pair of sunglasses—which she seemingly pulled out from her cleavage, of all places, much to the blonde's chagrin. In a strangely deep voice, the girl said, "Master, you had an official reason to call on me, if I'm not mistaken, Camus."

The Guildmaster narrowed her one functional emerald eye while massaging her throbbing temples. "What is that even supposed to mean?" She groaned, shaking her head in exasperation. "And why do you need all these weird glasses anyway? I don't recall you having bad eyesight..."

Circa merely smirked smugly in return. "I dunno, but I think they're kinda cool," she responded with a wink, pointing a thumbs up towards herself. "And I just think the glasses-wearing teacher look is sexy, so I figured I could try it for a change... Too bad I only teach children who aren't very receptive to such things, though," she admitted with a light shrug, removing the glasses and putting them back in her blouse.

Selena just looked at her with an expression akin to a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "Thank goodness you're not an actual instructor... I don't want to imagine what would happen if your students were older," she muttered under her breath before clearing her throat and continuing in a louder tone, "Well, whatever... Forget it, forget I said anything, and please listen carefully, Circa. This is really important and concerns Clarent; I believe you said that you wanted to help her."

That seemed to do the trick, for Circa's attitude changed instantly as soon as the redhead was brought into the conversation. The woman straightened her posture and placed her hands over her lap, focusing entirely on Selena's every word with a serious yet curious expression. She was all ears now.

"Today, I learned something new about her, something that might help us uncover the mysteries surrounding her true identity and origins," the Guild Master explained calmly, her tone even as she spoke slowly. "While she was sparring with Graham, something happened, which apparently triggered some memories to return to her and her behavior to change, even if ever so slightly," she continued, her eye meeting Circa's directly, who nodded along with her. "I don't know exactly what triggered it, but that's beside the point: What matters is that when I asked her if she remembered anything about herself, she said, 'I'm a hunter of Rekusara Village'."

At first, Circa stared at Selena with a blank look on her face, as though she had completely forgotten how to speak or comprehend language. But, eventually, her face broke out into an astonished expression as she realized the meaning of those words.

"... Rekusara...?" The brunette uttered pensively as she placed a hand on her chin. "Rekusara... Sounds vaguely familiar, though... Maybe I heard it before somewhere... I can't recall exactly where or when, though, it must have been a while ago now."

"That's right," the blonde confirmed. "I had the same feeling, though I couldn't quite pinpoint where I'd heard about it. So I checked the maps and records," she trailed off, pausing briefly to retrieve a scroll from the mess scattered over her desk. "And this is what I found," she concluded as she placed it over the edge of the desktop, gesturing for Circa to read it.

With curiosity written all over her face, the young woman leaned forward to pick up the parchment and unfurl it on her lap. The scroll was an official document, precisely a written report with the title 'The Incident of Rekusara Village' and dated from about a decade ago. Her eyes widened slightly as she scanned the contents of the document, a look of horror dawning upon her pretty features as realization sank in, her mouth agape in disbelief.

"This is why the name rang a bell..." The guild master spoke solemnly, with a hint of sorrow in her voice. "I read that about five years ago, when I just had become Mezeporta Square's guild master, and it was what pushed me to make major changes to the guild system and policies here..." She said with a sigh. "I probably talked about it with you at some point in the past."

The brunette looked back up at the one-eyed woman with a sad look on her face. "Yeah, I vaguely remember now," she murmured softly as she closed the scroll. "But this isn't good, hon... Not at all..."

Selena nodded silently, her expression grim. "A village, although under the guild's protection, was destroyed in one night by an unknown force that left no survivors," she said bitterly, her gaze darkening. "Even after a full investigation, the cause of this incident remains unknown, but it was ruled out as an attack from a powerful monster, most likely an Elder Dragon," she added as she turned towards the large window behind her, gazing outside. "As I dug through the archives, I found that the village had a registered resident hunter—no name mentioned anywhere though—who went missing after the tragedy, and thus, they were believed to have been killed in action," she explained slowly, her voice trailing off as her single green eye gazed somewhere far away, lost in deep thoughts.

Silence fell between them, with neither woman saying anything for several moments. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of silence, Circa spoke quietly, breaking the silence. "Don't tell me... You think Clarent might be related to that incident?" she asked quietly, her voice low and hesitant.

As the blonde turned back to her companion, she saw the uneasiness reflected in her azure pupils. Circa wasn't stupid—far from it, actually—she was quite smart, despite her often childish behavior. And her expression only made that abundantly clear; it was obvious to the Guild Master that the brunette understood where this was headed.

"Who knows? I wouldn't jump to conclusions, though," she shrugged casually before looking out the windows at the sky. "After all, Clarent seems pretty unstable right now, as evidenced by her behavior during the sparring session. She may well have been delirious at the moment she said that, so it might have nothing to do with the actual hunter who went missing."

"Hmhm..." The brunette nodded slightly in agreement, although the gesture looked slightly forced. "Yeah, that's possible," she mumbled halfheartedly, clearly unconvinced by the idea.

"In any case, that's a pretty valuable clue we've got there," Selena admitted, her expression serious as she turned back to face her friend again. "Therefore, I want to investigate it. Which is why I called you here, Circa. I need someone who can investigate this issue... discreetly. That's why I chose you."

The woman in question raised an eyebrow in surprise as she processed what she just heard, blinking twice. "Discreetly...?" she repeated, furrowing her brows a little bit as she contemplated the blonde's request.

"Yes. You see, I'm starting to understand why the guild is looking for Clarent," she said, her voice becoming cold. "I've always wondered why they're so eager to catch her, as she doesn't seem to be particularly dangerous, at least not from what I saw, but after what happened today... it starts to make sense now..." she trailed off as she clenched her fists tightly, her expression darkening slightly. "If our suspicions are correct, then... we must avoid getting her too much unwanted attention, at least until we know the truth."

Upon understanding, Circa gave her a knowing nod. "Uh-huh, I see how it is... Hehe," she chuckled slightly, a wide smile spreading across her face. "You never change, hon... Always caring more for others than yourself... But this is nice, it's exactly the kind of job I prefer!" She added, her smile brightening into a cheerful grin as she jumped out of the seat and struck a pose with one hand on her hips. "No monster to slay, no danger to fear, no need to risk my precious life... Leave it to me, hon! It's time for the great, super smart, ultra charming, and very modest detective Circa to solve the mystery of Rekusara!"

This reaction finally cracked Selena into a soft giggle, and her stern attitude lightened as well, easing off and turning playful again, despite herself. She really needed some levity. The situation has gotten her mood all messed up for sure, so seeing the usual cheerful, upbeat side of the girl had put her slightly back to a comfortable mental spot—not quite to a cheery place, but it did soothe the nerves nonetheless, at the very least.

"Well, saying that there's no danger might be a bit of a stretch," the guild master said with a small smile before going back to her usual serious demeanor. "Remember that you're still heading pretty far away from here, and anything can happen out there. But don't worry; I'm not sending you there alone. I want you to bring a partner along with you, just in case," she added, her tone firm yet reassuring. "I know very well you can defend yourself just fine, but even then, I'm not taking chances. So, if you think of someone in particular who can fit the role..."

The young woman frowned slightly, rubbing her chin as she pondered the possibility. But it only lasted for a split second before she looked back at Selena again, flashing her a bright smile that left her wondering where in the seven hell this dolt found all this cheeriness within, especially since their prior exchange just took an emotional down turn and had left a gloomy mood lingering over their heads. It was amazing, honestly, and probably a bit scary, just how quickly her mood shifted between two extremes, from being completely devastated and horrified one moment to acting like a bubbly and excited girl the next moment, and it was all just so natural too. She was definitely one of a kind.

However, Selena knew her well enough to guess what the woman had in mind when she suggested she bring someone of her choice with her, so she immediately raised a hand, effectively stopping her before she could voice it out.

"... Anyone but me."

To say that this deflated her instantly was an understatement; a surprised, disappointed expression came into being across the young lady's delicate, youthful visage in reaction. An air of mild discontent washed over her demeanor quickly after that in place of disappointment as she pouted, giving a childishly dissatisfied frown in her master's general direction while the blonde stared in utter incredulity—although still sporting that signature stoicism everyone associated with the Lioness of the East.

"Seriously, Circa?" The one-eyed woman raised her lone, single brow higher and shot the sulking hunter an almost deadpanned and dry gaze in reply, as if she couldn't believe the childish behavior she was exhibiting at the moment, and she honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Or maybe both. Yet she sighed heavily in exasperation instead, as if to say 'not this again' and rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration. "I can't believe I still have to spell this out for you, even after so long."

Circa huffed loudly, crossing her arms over her chest indignantly, and stomped her feet like an upset toddler that just had a toy snatched away from her grasp. Her bottom lip jutted outwards and quivered a little bit as her eyebrows creased and knitted together tightly, creating wrinkles along her forehead as she continued to sulk.

"Aw, man! Why?" The girl whined. "It's not like I'm asking you to come hunt with me; it's just a little investigative job, and it doesn't require any fighting or anything!" She pouted again.

This caused the one-eyed woman to put her hand on her forehead, letting out another long, tired sigh. "Are you actually explaining to me the very mission I just assigned to you? How unhinged are you, really?"

The brunette simply grinned cheekily at her question, sticking her tongue out cutely. "Come on, hon!" she pleaded, sounding almost like a desperate child begging for a favor. "A little trip like that won't hurt you! You work way too much for someone who's supposed to be enjoying retirement, you know?" she added with a wink and a teasing giggle, earning herself a groan. "I can assure you that the city's going to survive for at least a couple of days without you!"

There was something oddly touching about how Circa was trying to cheer her up and encourage her to rest, even if it was for selfish reasons, which honestly surprised Selena. It made her chuckle internally in amusement, even as her lips remained firmly pressed into a straight line. But regardless, she couldn't help but shake her head and roll her eyes at the girl's behavior.

"You're annoying, you know..." the blonde muttered under her breath, averting her gaze and looking away.

"Hehe~! So is that a yes? You'll come with me?" Circa inquired hopefully, grinning widely as she took a few steps towards her friend. "Or do I have to drag you away by force~?"

Selena scoffed, rolling her eyes again, albeit more playfully this time. "... Idiot. You know damn well I can't say 'no' to you... You always manage to win the argument, one way or another, but I'll have to decline this time anyway," she answered quietly, her voice trailing off a bit. "There are simply too many things happening in the next few weeks for me to consider leaving my position right now, even if I trust my staff. Like the festival, you know. That's not a trivial event I can leave in anybody's hands."

Circa's expression faltered as she frowned slightly. "I guess there's no helping it, huh? Fine, you win this time... BUT!" She emphasized loudly, pointing an index finger towards her, "You're not going to escape my plans next time. Once the festival is over and done with, you're coming on vacation with me. Deal?" She added with a wink, giving her a thumbs up.

Selena chuckled softly at her antics and shook her head in resignation, knowing that this was the closest thing to an agreement she would ever get from the brunette. "Be careful at what you're planning, because if Juno gets wind of this, she'll get mad at you for dragging me away," she warned with a playful smile, knowing how easily her friend could be swayed by a challenge.

The brunette laughed, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "Hehe~ Well… You know I'm not against threesomes every now and then, so… If she insists..." She teased, winking mischievously, which caused the blonde to groan and facepalm herself in exasperation, although not quite enough to hide her amused smirk.

"Of course. Why am I not even surprised to hear that?" Selena said with a slight chuckle as she let out a small sigh. Then she paused briefly and glanced at Circa from the corner of her eye. "Anyway, the mission should be fairly quiet and quick: go to Rekusara village, see what you can find that could relate to Clarent, then come back. Nothing complicated or dangerous. And no wild, random detours either," she added, sending her friend a knowing look, making sure she understood her intentions and the importance of this task, to which Circa responded with a serious nod. "I'd expect you to take less than a couple of days to complete your task, including the travel time," she declared confidently as she took a scroll from her desk and opened it, revealing a map of the western region of the continent. "Here, let me show you..."