Chapter 4: More work less fun

The blacksmith shook his head, clearly fed up. "Kid, I can't help you. The road's closed, bandits are everywhere, and I barely have enough supplies to make a decent knife, let alone weapons for the whole town."

I clenched my fists, frustrated. Of course, this place would be stuck in the middle of nowhere with Grimm and bandits making life a nightmare. The road needed to be reopened, and someone needed to do it. Why not me?

I leaned on the counter, giving him my best "I'm your last hope" look. "What if we got you what you need? Would you make us some weapons then?"

He raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly are you gonna do that? You're just kids. What are you gonna do, talk the Grimm to death?"

I opened my mouth to fire back, but Jaune beat me to it. "Look, we may be young, but we're not helpless. I'm a huntsman in training, and Ash—well, he's got skills. We can handle ourselves. Just give us a list."

The blacksmith considered this, eyes narrowing. Then, a small spark of something—hope? Nostalgia?—flickered in his eyes. "Alright, fine. You want to help? Get me some quality metal, fire dust, and a few tools from the cave nearby. It's an hour's walk, but be careful. Bandits, Grimm, and who knows what else. Don't trust the mayor, either. He's a greedy bastard who's been pocketing the funds for years."

Jaune took the map he handed us, nodding. "Thanks. We'll be back before sunset."

I gave the blacksmith a half-hearted salute. "Don't worry, we're basically professionals at this point."

As we walked away, Jaune suddenly stopped. "Hey, Ash, I need to grab some stuff from my room before we leave. Cool?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What stuff? You planning on packing a snack or something?"

Jaune scratched the back of his head. "Nah, just some... personal stuff. Nothing major."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure, whatever. Just don't take forever, okay?"

We headed to the hotel, packed up, and were ready to go. Jaune was all optimistic, saying the cave was close and the quest was easy. I, however, wasn't buying it.

"Yeah, 'easy' until we get ambushed by Grimm or bandits. There's always a twist."

Jaune gave me a look. "You're such a downer. We got this. The blacksmith even gave us some tips—like the fire dust crystals glow red on the walls, the tools should be in a pile, and watch out for cave-ins. He was helpful."

I snorted. "Helpful? He's probably just setting us up for a trap."

Jaune sighed and changed the subject. "Hey, random question—do you have any family you think about sometimes? Like siblings?"

I blinked. "Why do you care?"

Jaune smiled awkwardly. "Just curious. You're my friend, I wanna know more about you."

I shrugged, looking away. "I dunno. Don't remember much about my past. The only family I've got is Val. He took me in when I had nothing."

Jaune nodded. "He sounds like a cool guy."

I smirked. "Yeah, he is. And I owe him big time." Standing up suddenly, I startled Jaune. "Alright, enough talk. Let's get going. We've got a cave to raid."

Jaune threw on his backpack. "Right. Thanks for waiting, Ash."

I grinned. "No problem. Friends stick together, right?"

He smiled. "Right."

We were halfway out of town when I couldn't help but ask. "So, Jaune... Why are you playing hero for this place? You don't owe these people anything."

Jaune chuckled. "It's what I want, Ash. My family's been saving people for generations. My granddad, my dad, even my great-great-granddad, all heroes. And I want to live up to that. I can't just bail on these people. I wouldn't be able to face my dad."

I paused, feeling a little jealous. "Well, I don't have any dads or granddads. So I guess I'll stick with not getting killed for a bunch of Randoms."

Before Jaune could respond, we heard a voice.

"Hey! You two!" The mayor was waddling toward us, all smug in a suit that screamed "corrupt politician." "I've got work for ya!"

We exchanged glances. This guy was definitely bad news.

He dragged us to his office, a room decorated like a bad fantasy novel with too much gold trim. Sitting behind a giant desk, he leaned forward, grinning.

"So, I hear you boys are looking for work. Well, do I have an opportunity for you!"

Jaune and I exchanged a wary look. "What kind of opportunity?" I asked.

He smiled like a wolf about to eat us. "I've got a roadblock problem. Builders are blocking the road and messing up my business."

Jaune raised an eyebrow. "That... doesn't sound like our problem."

The Mayor's grin widened. "Oh, but it is! You see, these builders? They're sabotaging me! Making me look bad! I need you two to handle it. No questions. Just get rid of them. By any means necessary."

I frowned, sensing something was off. "You want us to hurt some workers just because they're fixing the road?"

The mayor waved us off. "You'll figure it out. Pay's good, though. Just get it done. Quick."

I took the map he shoved at me, trying not to punch him in the face. "Fine, but if anyone gets hurt, I'm blaming you."

We left, trying to shake the bad vibes. "Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks that guy's a total nutjob," I muttered.

Jaune sighed. "Yeah, something's fishy about that. But hey, it's a job, right?"

I shrugged. "Look, we can clear the road and maybe make a little cash while we're at it. Two birds, one stone."

I flicked my blade to the side, sending chunks of flesh flying. The air was thick with the smell of decay and blood. Mutated corpses—humans twisted and torn apart—lay scattered around, their wounds releasing ominous blue smoke. The Sapphire Plague was back, and I hated everything about it.

I took a long swig from my flask, the burn of the liquor long faded but still oddly comforting. I needed it. These bastards were back, and that meant trouble.

I glanced down at a body that wasn't mutated. I recognized the armor. Dark green with bone trophies, claw marks on the chest plate. The Savage Exiles.

"The Savage Exiles," I growled, disgust dripping from my voice.

HATS, that annoying red energy ball with a top hat and monocle, floated lazily around the corpses. "So it seems, old friend. They're back at it. Hehe."

I scowled. "They're supposed to be dead. How are they back?"

HATS rolled his monocle. "Well, death isn't always the end, Val. You should know that by now."

I scratched my chest absently, the scar there still a raw reminder of my past. "Cut the crap, HATS. If you know something, spill it. If the Exiles are back, this takes priority over everything."

HATS yawned, drifting lazily. "Unless someone else got their hands on the formula, which, let's be real, would be impossible, then yeah, it's definitely them."

A chill ran up my spine. The Exiles were bad news. If they had teamed up with the F.E.O, things were about to get really ugly.

HATS floated closer, monocle glinting. "Val, relax. You've faced them before when they were at their peak. How much harder could they be now? Besides, you like a challenge."

I spun on him, my face inches from his red energy form. "You don't get it, HATS. They're the reason you're stuck in this... whatever the hell you are—"

Pain suddenly shot through my chest, and I crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. Sweat and tears blurred my vision as I clutched my chest. Red energy swirled around me, easing the pain for now. I looked up to see HATS watching me with a disappointed expression.

"I may be stuck here, but here, I am God," he said, floating above me. "A few mortals, clinging to divinity, are nothing compared to me. You'll win. You just need to wait."

I clenched my fists, digging them into the dirt. The rage simmering inside me was hard to suppress. "Fine. What's the plan?"

HATS floated in front of me, his top hat perfectly still. "Simple. A subject escaped while you were, uh, 'playing around' in the bunker. Your job is to make sure it gets to the village Ash is in."

I stared at him, incredulous. "You're letting one of those things loose?"

"Ash needs to learn," HATS said with a shrug. "And quickly. If the F.E.O is back, with the Exiles backing them, Ash is gonna have to step up sooner or later. I'm in no shape to find a new host, and you know how I feel about using a corpse."

I growled, frustrated. "And what about the village? People are gonna die!"

HATS smirked. "Well, that's never stopped you before, has it?"

I lowered my head, knowing he was right. It was gonna be a mess. A bloody, ugly mess. But then again, when wasn't it?

Author's Note:

Name: Ash

Level: 1

Class: Unknown

Lien: 440

Skill point: 4

XP: 40/500

Health: 125/120 (5)

Mana: 0/80

Aura: 0/10

Health potions 1/5