The morning after the grand gathering at the Guild Hall, the atmosphere remained charged with the echoes of the previous night's events. Whispers of admiration and scrutiny followed Shin and Laverna as they moved through the hall.
Despite Shin's past failure with the Lichtenstein family, their performance at the party had not gone unnoticed. They had shined in their own way, proving their potential as rising Hunters.
"Didn't expect them to carry themselves so well," one guild member muttered to his companion.
"Yeah, but let's not forget, he still failed his first mission. No amount of dancing can change that," another sneered.
Shin heard them but remained unfazed. Their words were nothing more than background noise, meaningless whispers from those who had never walked in his shoes. He had long since learned to ignore such talk.
Laverna, however, was not so patient. A flicker of irritation crossed her face, and her tail twitched as she turned toward the naysayers, her lips parting to retort.
Before she could speak, Shin placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. "Let them talk. Their words hold no weight."
Laverna scowled but relented, though a spark of defiance still lingered in her eyes. "Tch. They don't know anything."
"They don't need to," Shin said calmly. "We'll show them through action, not words. Now, focus. Pick our mission."
Laverna exhaled sharply but turned back to the mission board, directing her frustration toward something productive. Her eyes landed on a particular notice: Hunting Mission—Culling a Dangerous Beast in the Eastern Woodlands. It detailed the presence of a rogue predator terrorizing small villages along the trade route. The reward was decent, and more importantly, it was a combat mission. A chance to prove herself outside of training.
She plucked the notice from the board and turned to Shin, a confident glint in her eyes. "This one."
Shin took the parchment, giving it a once-over before raising an eyebrow. "You're sure? Hunting missions are no joke. They require patience, tracking skills, and strategy."
Laverna rolled her shoulders. "I've spent the past month training under you. It's time to see if I can actually apply it."
Shin studied her for a moment before nodding in approval. "Alright. Let's get it approved at the counter."
As they approached the reception desk, Yuri, who was assisting with mission assignments, smiled as she noticed them. "Look at you two, all grown up and ready to take on the world. What did you pick?"
Laverna handed over the request slip. "A hunting mission."
Yuri's eyebrows lifted slightly, but she said nothing as she checked the details. "Rank E. Within your limit, but it won't be easy." She stamped the request with the guild seal and then extended her hand. "IDs, please."
Shin and Laverna retrieved their Hunter IDs and handed them over. Yuri scanned them quickly, verifying their ranks before handing them back. "All set. I hope you two are ready. This might be your first mission, but the guild doesn't believe in handholding. You'll be on your own."
Shin smirked. "Good. That's how we prefer it."
Laverna tightened her grip on the parchment, excitement thrumming through her veins. This was it. Her first real test as a Hunter. And she was more than ready.
"Let's go hunting," she murmured, the thrill of the unknown sparking in her eyes.
As they turned to leave, a familiar figure stood waiting near the entrance. George, the older guild veteran, was no longer dressed as the humble coachman Shin once knew. Instead, he wore the uniform of a Master Rogue—an Assassin. The dark, fitted attire, laced with hidden weapons, spoke of years of experience and deadly precision. His presence alone commanded respect, a stark contrast to the friendly, easygoing man Shin had once known.
Without hesitation, Shin stepped forward, and the two exchanged a firm high-five and a handshake, just like the first time they had met. George chuckled, his gaze shifting between Shin and Laverna, a warmth settling in his expression.
"You two remind me of my own kids," he mused, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Make sure you watch each other's backs out there."
Shin nods, still eyeing George's attire, furrows his brows. "I knew you as a coachman, but now you're dressed like a Master Assassin. What's the deal?"
George smirked, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. "I was a coachman, sure, but that was just one of many hats I wore. The truth is, I've been with the Hunters Guild for decades. Thought it was time you saw the real me."
Laverna crossed her arms. "So, why the getup now?"
George's expression turned serious. "There's a bigger hunt happening elsewhere—a Falzath, much larger than normal, is rampaging. The Guild assigned a team to handle it, calling all Rank B and above Hunters to participate in this urgent quest. Your mission field is far from it, so you won't have to worry about running into the beast, but be mindful. The region's unstable right now."
Shin exchanged a glance with Laverna before nodding. "Noted. Thanks for the heads-up."
George let out a chuckle, but there was an edge to it. "Don't go thinking just because it's not in your area that you're completely safe. The Falzath are unpredictable. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and get out fast."
Laverna tightened her grip on the parchment. "Understood."
George sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "You two really are something else. I can see it. You're not just another batch of rookies, you're going to shake things up." His eyes softened for a moment. "Makes an old man proud."
Shin nodded, a rare, appreciative smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "We'll do our best."
George smirked. "Damn right, you will. Now get going before I start getting sentimental."
As they walked away, Laverna glanced at Shin. "Did he just get emotional on us?"
Shin chuckled. "Seems like it. Let's not bring it up."
She grinned. "Agreed."
With their mission set and warnings in mind, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever awaited them in the Eastern Woodlands. However, as they walked, a lingering unease settled in Laverna's stomach.
"You noticed it too, didn't you?" she murmured to Shin.
Shin nodded slightly, his red eyes scanning the parchment once more. "There's something odd about this job order. It just says 'Culling a Dangerous Beast,' but there's no mention of what exactly we're hunting. No specifics on size, species, or previous encounters."
Laverna exhaled sharply, gripping the parchment tighter. "So we're walking into this blind."
Shin smirked, though there was little amusement in his eyes. "Looks like it. Whatever it is, we'll find out soon enough."