Barthos looked at Orkan with a very serious expression, his eyes disappearing beneath his furrowed thick eyebrows.

"But Barthos, hold on," Aestus said, a bit frustrated but trying to calm things down. "We can come to an agreement, take on a slightly more challenging task, can't we?"

"Rules are rules, Aestus. And if there's one thing I value in the Guild, it's safety! I know that better than anyone." Barthos said, pointing to his knee. "If someone had cared about me, I wouldn't be here behind this counter now."

Aestus and Orkan exchanged glances, feeling a bit embarrassed. The Knight walked up to the notice board and took the ticket requesting the elimination of giant flies. It wasn't what he expected, but at least it was something. Barthos took the paper from Aestus's hands, appearing calmer.

"Great choice, boys. It says here that you should head to Mrs. Geris's farm and introduce yourselves as Guild's representatives there to help her," Barthos explained, returning to his friendly demeanor.

Orkan took the contract and tucked it into his vest, heading towards the exit. Barthos bid farewell to the young men, jotting something down in the registry book. Aestus followed his friend, waving to Barthos with a smile on his face.

"Is this serious, Aestus? Giant flies?" Orkan asked, sounding exasperated.

"Relax, Orkan. Let's see it as a warm-up. We'll finish this hunt quickly, and then we can come back and take on a better one. We'll definitely be at a higher level after this job. Besides, think about how happy Mrs. Geris will be," Aestus said, lightly punching Orkan's shoulder, a smirk on his face.

Orkan couldn't hide his frustration, huffing. Anyone could eliminate giant flies without much effort. Didn't Mrs. Geris have a neighbor to help her?

"Let's go, we don't have much else to do anyway," Orkan said, throwing his arms up in resignation. "At least we can test these Materializers since they weren't cheap."

After about 15 minutes of walking, the friends arrived at their destination. Aestus was quite excited, while Orkan had already accepted their low rank in the Guild. The farm was a small property with simple wooden fences and a vast green lawn. A few sheep could be seen peacefully grazing while a short old lady sat under a leafy tree, observing the animals.

The two new Hunters passed through a gate and approached the elderly woman. She saw them coming and stood up, dusting off her cotton pants with one hand while holding her staff with the other.

"Good day, Mrs. Geris. We are Aestus and Orkan," the Knight introduced themselves, and Orkan quickly saluted.

"Oh, how prompt. I posted the request just yesterday!" Geris exclaimed, looking at the young men with curiosity. "A Knight and a Rogue, I presume. A great pair. I'm a Light Mage myself, but not very skilled in magic. I can only heal minor wounds and create weak shields. I'm much better at taking care of animals."

Geris chuckled as she shook their hands. She thanked them for their willingness to help and instructed them to be careful. The bites from the giant flies were more painful than people thought. Aestus and Orkan jumped over the fence and entered the small grove behind the property.

The spacing between the trees didn't hinder their movement much, but it was enough to obstruct their view far ahead. The two men walked forward, unsure of where to go. Aestus was about to ask Orkan for suggestions when the Rogue placed a hand on his shoulder.

Orkan brought a finger to his lips and then pointed it towards his ear, indicating that Aestus should listen carefully. Aestus didn't hear anything, though. He remembered that the senses of Rogues were much sharper than those of Knights. Orkan gestured in the direction they should follow, and they proceeded cautiously.

After a few meters, a clearing came into view. Aestus could now hear a faint but constant buzzing. There was a group of approximately 20 giant flies. Aestus had seen these insects before. Some of them would escape from the forests and invade Comanse. He had defeated one of them two years ago, so he felt prepared.

"There are 17 of them," Orkan said, waking Aestus from his thoughts. "We can handle them easily, no problem."

"Okay, what's the plan?" Aestus asked.

Orkan looked confused at Aestus. What plan?

"Don't we just charge in and start killing?" Orkan asked, extending his arms.

"If three of them attack you simultaneously, they can cause serious damage," Aestus crouched down and drew an imaginary circle on the ground. "I suggest this strategy: I'll go in from here, initiating the attack, and you come in from this side, catching some of them from behind. They are quite agile, but I believe you can take down several of them."

Orkan agreed to the plan, feeling somewhat insecure but trying not to show it. The flies were larger than he expected, measuring approximately 70cm in length. They had an iridescent exoskeleton, partially covered by two pairs of translucent wings. The best place to attack them was at the junction between the thorax and abdomen, where their bodies were thinner and more fragile.

Aestus remained in his position while he waited for Orkan to arrive at the designated spot. He decided to test his Materializer to avoid being caught off guard without his sword. Aestus made a gesture with his right hand, where the Materializer was equipped, turning it outward, focusing and channeling energy into his palm.

Instantly, his sword materialized in his hand, appearing out of thin air. Even though it went as expected, Aestus was amazed to see that it had worked. This invention was truly useful, sparing the Hunters from carrying their heavy weapons up and down.

Aestus looked at his weapon with pride. It was a two-handed sword, heavy but with finely sharpened edges. At the base of the sword, Aestus had embedded a blue crystal he had inherited from his mother. She said it was a crystal without any magical energy, just a family heirloom with little commercial value. After his parents passed away, it was a way for Aestus to remember them and honor everything they had done for him.

Aestus snapped out of his memories, noticing movement at the opposite end of his position. Orkan was already positioned at the entrance of the clearing, waiting for Aestus to take the initiative. The knight firmly gripped his sword with both hands, looking towards the Creatures. He chose the one closest to him as his target and ran towards it.

Most of the flies hadn't noticed Aestus' presence when he struck the first one, hitting its weak spot with his sword. The fly was instantly cleaved in two, falling to the ground and evaporating shortly after. Two small crystals could be seen where the creature had fallen.

All the flies turned and headed towards Aestus, with a group of five already closing in on him. Aestus let out a war cry, boosting his strength and endurance. He swung his sword horizontally, defeating two more flies while being attacked by two others, getting bitten on his forearm and rib.

Orkan instinctively materialized his daggers, leaping into the clearing right after. His heightened agility allowed him to reach the flies before they could react, easily dispatching three of them stealthily. The remaining Creatures then divided, with four focused on Orkan and seven on Aestus.

Aestus shook off the two flies that had attacked him, paying little attention to his minor injuries. He could see that Orkan was already engaged in battle as well. There wasn't much time to think as two more flies lunged at him. Aestus spun around his axis, slashing the flies horizontally with his sword, easily killing them. A third fly attacked him immediately after, but Aestus managed to defend against the onslaught with his sword.

The other four flies converged on Orkan simultaneously. He skillfully evaded their attacks, leaping over the last two flies and landing blows between their wings. Meanwhile, Aestus was attacked again, managing to grab the fly before it could bite him. He threw the creature to the ground and impaled its abdomen with his sword.

Orkan didn't wait to be attacked this time, charging at the flies and striking their heads with rapid blows. He was now free to help his friend. Aestus was lifting his sword, caught off guard with his defenses down. Three flies lunged at the Knight at once, launching a surprise attack. The creatures struck his torso in a single strong blow, throwing him backward. Aestus fell onto his back, dazed and without his sword.

In an instant, the flies were upon Aestus, attempting to attack him. He tried to defend himself, bringing his hands to his face, but one of the flies bit his legs. Aestus thought quickly, materializing his sword and managing to strike the creatures that were on his legs. However, the last two flies were positioned over his head, in an unfavorable position for Aestus.

The creatures headed for Aestus' neck, one on each side. He braced himself for the bites, anticipating the pain that would follow. However, the two flies dissolved, with crystals falling onto Aestus. He rose to his feet, confused, looking around. Orkan was gazing at his friend with a cocky expression on his face, materializing the daggers he had thrown at the flies attacking Aestus.

Orkan helped his friend up, assessing the wounds he had suffered. Nothing serious, it seemed. Aestus expressed his gratitude for the assistance, appearing somewhat embarrassed. It served as a lesson to him: never underestimate his enemies.

The boys collected all the crystals left behind by the creatures, pleased with the outcome of the hunt. It wasn't a substantial amount of money, but it was certainly more thrilling than milking cows. They then made their way back to Geris' farm, walking and chatting excitedly about the battle.

They quickly reached the fence, finding the friendly lady awaiting the Hunters' return. They informed her that the job was done, having eliminated 17 giant flies. Geris jumped gleefully, visibly pleased with the resolution of her problems. She then looked concernedly at Aestus.

"You're injured, young man. Come here, I'll help you with that."

Geris extended her left arm, palm open toward Aestus. She closed her eyes and concentrated, murmuring an incantation. A soft green light traveled through Aestus' body, swirling around his limbs and torso. The wounds closed within seconds, disappearing along with the pain they had caused. It wasn't the first time Aestus had been healed by a mage, but that didn't stop him from being surprised once again. A sense of freshness and cleanliness emanated from his body. Aestus felt rejuvenated, as if he had just woken up from a nap.

Geris opened her eyes, blinking rapidly. She seemed a bit drained, swaying slightly. Orkan quickly put an arm around her back, concerned. The lady leaned on the Rogue, soon returning to normal. She shook her head, letting out a sheepish laugh.

"I told you I'm not a very good Mage. My power is very low; I wasn't born for this," Geris said, pressing her lips together. Not all people of the same Class are equal. Some show more aptitude, while others develop more skills. Everything can be improved, though, with training and dedication, but some people have an easier time. Geris was one of those individuals with very limited magical power.

Aestus expressed his gratitude for the healing, looking at his armor with regret. It was stained with blood in some places and had holes caused by the creatures. At least the crystals they collected would be enough to pay for repairs at a Blacksmith's. Geris requested the contract for the hunt so that she could sign it, thus confirming that the job had been successfully completed. After obtaining the signed contract, Geris thanked the boys effusively, and they, in turn, expressed their appreciation for the opportunity. It felt like a long time had passed since the two of them were complaining to Barthos about the job. They returned to the Guild feeling proud, running instead of just walking as before.

Orkan reached the Guild first, slamming the door open. The loud noise caught the attention of the Hunters who were seated at the tables, having lunch. They looked the Rogue up and down with little reaction and returned to their meal. Aestus arrived shortly after, panting, placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath. Orkan dramatically fixed his hair and took out the envelope with the contract from his pants pocket. He held it out in front of him, with his arm extended, showing it to Barthos. The Guild's commander had his arms crossed, wearing a mixed expression of surprise and admiration. He knew Aestus would be a great hunter, but he didn't think Orkan would have as much success in the field. It seemed he was wrong, and he was very happy about it.

"Mission accomplished" Orkan said, puffing out his chest, heading towards Barthos. The young man handed over the signed contract, which was verified by the commander.

"Looks like Mrs. Geris was very pleased. She even left a note here in the corner. 'Very agile and helpful,' along with a little smiley face drawn. Congratulations, boys. You exceeded my expectations" Barthos spoke.

Aestus reached the counter, still catching his breath. Keeping up with a Rogue running was not easy at all. Barthos was already jotting down details of the hunt in his book and updating the profiles of the two new hunters. Aestus was already looking at the notice board, eager to take on new contracts. Orkan was fidgeting in place, impatient. After endless minutes, Barthos stood up, placing a small bag on the counter. He looked at the boys and said:

"Here's your first payment. Congratulations on the job!"

Aestus glanced at the bag, feeling a bit disappointed. Even though the amount was specified in the contract, he had still hoped for more. He looked at Orkan, fearing the explosion of anger that was about to come. However, surprisingly, Orkan was staring in disbelief, with his eyes gleaming and his mouth slightly open. Aestus tried to decipher what was happening, but his train of thought was interrupted by his friend.

"I would need to work nearly a whole month to receive this... I'm rich!"

Orkan snatched the bag from Barthos' hands in a swift motion, as if there was a risk of losing the payment if it stayed in someone else's possession for another second. He held his payment as if it were a newborn child, with utmost care, protecting it with an almost maternal instinct. Aestus felt relieved, exhaling with a chuckle. The other Hunters momentarily diverted their attention from their plates, finding amusement in Orkan's reaction, which he didn't notice at all.

"Alright, what's our next hunt? I'm ready!" Orkan exclaimed eagerly, looking at the notice board.