Iden.
Yes?
How long until we get there again?
Pfft.
"M-missy."
"Yes, Daegon?"
"Is it fine... if we take a break for a moment?"
Renkai looks over and notices how exhausted Daegon is. He is barely holding onto Grey, whom he had been carrying the entire way. It has been an hour since they started traveling back to town. The wagon was burned to ashes, and the horse Grey had rented was killed during Artelia's surprise attack.
"Of course, Daegon."
You still have around seven kilometers left.
The group settles down next to a couple of trees. Deagon sets Grey against a tree, allowing him to sit up. Renkai begins to rummage through the ground, picking up sticks and stones.
"Missy, what do you plan on doing when we return?"
She is silent, purely focused on gathering. She only responds when she has filled her arms with as much as she can carry.
"Why do you ask?"
Daegon watches as she creates a small circle using the stones. She places a few of the sticks on the inside and leaves a few on the outside. She grabs a handful of leaves nearby and throws them into the pile of sticks in the circle.
"That dragon talked about a dungeon. You wouldn't perhaps be thinking of going alone, would you?"
Renkai grabs the flattest stick from the pile and, using the remains of her greatsword, creates a small groove on the side of it. She then grabs another stick and holds it vertically over the flat one. She holds her hands over the stick and begins to rapidly spin it.
"What if I am?"
The smell of smoke becomes slightly prominent.
"I would hope I could advise you against it."
Small clouds of smoke begin to rise from the stick.
"I'm not open to suggestions, unfortunately."
She moves the top stick and begins to gently blow.
"It's unlikely you'll do well on your own in a dungeon of all places, missy."
The tiniest of fires begins to emerge from the stick. Renkai slowly moves the stick into the circle of stones, onto the small patch of leaves. Smoke slowly rises into the air.
"Daegon. Artelia didn't tell me I would need a party. The only thing she told me to grab was her scales. Which implies that I, alone, am enough."
A couple of leaves catch on fire, followed by sticks a couple of seconds later. The small layer of snow around the circle begins to melt.
"Now, move Grey closer to the fire, as well as yourself."
Daegon hesitates for a moment, then listens.
"She's got you wrapped around her finger, doesn't she, Daegon?"
"Clear that insulting thought."
The group is silent for a while, their minds focused on the way the campfire crackles and burns. A few minutes pass, and the first one to get up is Renkai.
"Anymore resting and we'll end up returning by nightfall."
Daegon doesn't say anything. He gets on his feet and carries Grey. The group continues on its way once more.
The falling snow slowly increases, eventually covering their past tracks after just a couple of minutes. Renkai movements don't slow, maintaining a steady pace as before. Daegon follows suit, staying on a similar pace as Renkai despite carrying Grey.
They follow the trail, now layered in snow. They continue to walk in the same direction, feeling the snow slow them slightly with each step. Daegon changes the way he carries Grey every ten minutes, allowing him to continue carrying Grey. An hour passes, and they finally begin to see the Town of Meomina in the far distance as they finish climbing a small hill.
Time left?
You're really asking me that, considering the town is right in front of you? How hopeless would you be without me? Twenty minutes to reach the gate, twenty-three to reach the guild.
"Daegon, can you carry him for twenty-three more minutes?"
Daegon changes the way he carries Grey for the final time and gives her a nod. Renkai returns the nod, and they pick up the pace slightly. As they approach the gates, the guards notice the way Daegon is carrying Grey and quickly approach.
"You three, are you part of the guild? What happened to him?"
Daegon looks at Renkai, wondering how he should respond. She gives him a look, clearly telling him not to tell all the details. He lets out a sigh as he turns back to the guards.
"We ran into a little trouble during our mission. We lost one of our members, and this one is critically injured. Could I trouble you to take him to a healer?"
The two guards look at each other for a moment before turning back and nodding.
"Leave him to us."
Daegon slowly shifts Grey off of him, into one of the guard's arms. He quickly runs off.
"Do the two of you require any assistance?"
Daegon turns towards Renkai, who shakes her head.
"We should be fine. Thank you."
The guard nods, returns to his post in front of the gate, and signals the guards on the walls. The gates begin to open slowly, while Renkai and Daegon watch. Upon the gates fully opening, they're met with desolate roads.
"Why is it that the roads are almost always empty?"
"It's because people are more focused on surviving on this side of the Great Lake, Daegon. Especially those not accepting missions or small jobs from the Guild."
The two walk through the streets. Occasionally, they'll pass a vendor selling odd goods or children playing about. The street begins to narrow as they get closer. The only sound that fills the streets is the laughter from the Guild.
"Are you planning on staying a while, Missy?
Renkai stays silent for a while. As they pass through the streets, she notices a couple of people giving her looks of disgust. Only when they reach the Guild does she speak up.
"No. You should already know why, considering you were insistent on stopping me."
Before Daegon can respond, Renkai is already walking through the doors. Daegon quickly follows after her. The Guild is filled with tables full of rowdy adventurers, enjoying their time and drinks. There's a large board on the left wall for missions, and directly across the room is the receptionist desk to accept or turn in missions. As the door behind Daegon closes, making a loud noise, the mood changes. All their gazes are now focused on the two who just entered. Once they realize Daegon and Renkai are fellow adventurers, they go back to enjoying themselves.
Renkai and Daegon begin to approach the front desk. Though most of the groups are enjoying themselves, Daegon begins to realize that a few adventurers are whispering amongst their tables.
"Isn't she the cursed one...?"
"She's still alive?"
"Why hasn't the Guild done anything about her?"
Renkai glances back and clearly notices how uncomfortable Daegon is. He's about to speak up, but she stops him. He looks at her confusedly.
"Save your breath, Daegon."
"But Missy, you of all people don't deserve to be-"
She glares at him. He immediately shuts himself down. A few adventurers take notice of this and begin to gossip.
"Are they arguing?"
"Did she just threaten her own party member?"
"She's so pathetic."
Renkai ignores them and continues to the front desk. There's already someone there, so she waits patiently behind them. Daegon follows, slightly angry with the gossip filling the building.
Looks like it's your lucky day. Look who's handling missions today.
She looks past the person ahead of her and recognizes the receptionist. The person in front finishes their business and exits the Guild. The receptionist's face immediately lit up with glee upon seeing Renkai.
"Renkai! I'm so glad I got to see you again. It's been a few days since I last saw you."
"Good afternoon, Elvia."
"Are you here to accept or turn in a mission?"
"Turn in."
Renkai turns around and extends an open hand to Daegon. He's confused at first, then realizes she's asking for the mission contract. He hands it over to her, and Renkai hands it to Elvia. She begins to look over the contract, and her eyes widen slightly.
"Investigation of a dragon sighting? Was there an actual dragon, or was this a false report?"
Renkai reaches into her pockets and pulls out a few red scales. Elvia's eyes widen even further.
"A-a-a red dragon? You're kidding."
She glances at Daegon and then back to Renkai.
"Was it just you two?"
"No. We lost one of us; the other is currently receiving treatment from a healer. Though he'll never be able to walk again."
Elvia stands there in awe. She immediately rummages through some papers and places one in front of Renkai, as well as a quill.
"I'll need you to write a report. Will it be all right if I take one of these scales as proof?"
"Of course."
Renkai begins to summarize the events of their investigation, aside from the conversation she had with Artelia. She hands it to Elvia, who begins to scan through it. She prepares a sealed container and places everything inside.
"The two of you are free to leave for now. The two of you will potentially receive a promotion from Iron to Silver. Your tags should be ready in two to three days. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a long process to deal with."
You'll miss your chance for that permit if you let her go back there, by the way.
Before Elvia can go into the back, Renkai quickly stops her.
"Wait, Elvia."
She quickly turns.
"What is it?"
"Would it be possible if I could apply for an investigation permit?"
Elvia looks at her, slightly confused.
"You? You want to apply for one? I don't see why not."
She sets the container aside and rummages underneath the desk. She pulls out a document and places it in front of Renkai, alongside a quill.
"Just fill in your details, alongside your rank, and I'll have it processed along with your contract."
Renkai quickly jots everything down and pushes the paper towards Elvia. She picks it up and places it on top of the container.
"It was nice seeing you again, Renkai. Hopefully, I'll be the one who'll greet you in a couple of days."
With those final words, she enters the back, and another receptionist takes over the front desk. Renkai and Daegon exit the Guild and stop next to an alley.
"What are your plans now?"
"I'll be going home."
She begins to walk off, but Daegon stops her.
"Missy, wait."
She stops and turns towards him, tilting her head.
"What is it?"
Daegon doesn't speak up, but it's clear he has something on his mind.
"You can ask a receptionist if you have any questions about me. Stay alive, Daegon. You're one of the few people who can properly do their job."
With that, she begins to walk off.
"Missy, take good care of yourself now!"
Renkai ignores his words and continues to walk through the gates of the town. She follows the road from the gate down a different path, away from the woods they had arrived from. She passes by a few rivers, traveling merchants, and shepherds. Eventually, the road shifts from dirt to gravel, and she sees the stone walls of her town in the distance.
The usual guards are in front, but a certain someone is standing directly in the middle of the entrance.
Renkai peers into the distance and notices several figures and carriages traveling from and to the village. She looks towards the middle and notices the figure Iden was talking about. He's clad in armor and looks around to be forty-five. That's when it comes to her.
Why is he there?
You're asking the wrong person. Surely you didn't think he wouldn't have noticed that you snuck off.
Renkai flips her hood on, hoping the man wouldn't recognize her. She stays to the side of a carriage entering the village. She notices the man staring at her, but eventually, he gazes in the opposite direction. She lets out a sigh once she believes she's in the clear.
Suddenly, someone grabs her from the back of her cloak and lifts her. She's turned around and is face-to-face with the man. His face clearly shows he's upset.
"And where do you think you're going, Renkai?"
Pfft.
"I'm home... Diantel."
He pulls her closer.
"Now, why would my adoptive daughter feel the need to sneak out of town?"