"But... But..." Janis felt her eyes burning and filling with tears. "What will happen to the clinic? Who will take your place? What about the patients? What... What about me?" She stepped down from the counter, placing her hands on her face.

Trying to lighten the situation and anticipating what was coming, Spes hugged his friend, placing her head on his shoulder. He gently stroked her ears, something significant for Lagomorphs. Only close people had the liberty to touch those adorable ears. He prepared himself and responded, still holding her in the embrace.

"The clinic will continue to be a reference in healing, as it has always been. The municipality will have to hire a few more Mages, but I know that under your leadership, everything will be fine," Spes said, closing his eyes, ready for the impact.

"UNDER MY WHAT?!" Janis broke free from the embrace, her eyes wide and teary. "Are you out of your mind? I have no ability to coordinate this place. I have no commanding voice, no leadership skills... No, absolutely not. You can forget about it. You're staying in Silvi, it's settled."

Spes laughed at his friend's despair, as she continued to wear a mixed expression of panic and sadness. Janis was the most competent and hardworking person he had ever met. Her only flaws were insecurity and shyness. He was confident in her ability to manage the clinic. Keun was too focused on his own work, controlling the ingredient stock and making potions. The few other Mages at the clinic didn't dedicate themselves as much, treating it as a side job or hobby. Janis was the only viable option.

"Take a deep breath, let's calm down," Spes said, gesturing with his palms. "I'm not leaving right now, in 15 minutes. It will take a few more days. I'll help you with this transition."

She shook her head, creating waves in her long, soft hair. She wasn't wearing her white cloak since it would get dirty during cleaning. Her attire consisted of a fitted dark blue blouse and light gray trousers made of lightweight fabric. She seemed calmer now, but still unwilling to accept these changes. She sighed and organized her thoughts, looking at Spes, who still gazed at her with a sweet expression. To her, Spes was like an older brother. He had taught her everything she knew about magic and treatments.

Finally, she spoke:

"I've been too selfish. I have no right to stop you from leaving," Spes was about to protest, but Janis interrupted him. "There's no need to apologize or say it's not like that. It's okay. But I'll only accept all of this with one condition," she placed her left arm behind her back and raised a finger with her right hand. "Actually, two," she raised another finger. "One: you'll teach me everything I need to do with a lot of patience, and two: you'll send me letters with news of all your adventures."

With teary eyes and a sincere smile on his face, Spes agreed to the conditions, embracing his friend once again. As he did, he glanced at the clock on the wall behind the reception desk.

"Oh, I have to go," Spes said, leaving Janis a little confused. "I need to put my plan of leaving into action. I'll come back later and explain everything properly," he added, handing a folded piece of paper to Janis as he walked towards the door. "And, remember: get in touch with one of the Mages on the list I gave you, check the scheduled patient list, and do your best. Oh, one more thing," he said, with his body outside the clinic but his head inside, his full red hair visible. "You are capable, and you are enough. Kisses!"

The door closed, and Janis smiled, blushing slightly. Their friendship was too strong to end because of distance. She was still nervous, but a little more confident after Spes' words. She picked up her mop once again and continued cleaning, humming a lively improvised tune.

***

Aestus and Orkan woke up without an alarm, preferring to fully recover from the battle of the previous day. Surprisingly, Orkan woke up before his friend but stayed in bed, going over the recent events in his mind until Aestus woke up. They then took a shower and talked while getting ready.

"So, any plans for today?" Orkan asked.

"Well, I was thinking of checking out the available hunts, see if there's anything left after yesterday," Aestus replied, pausing for a moment in thought. He then added, "We really need to improve if we want to grow in the Guild."

"I thought we were doing pretty great, taking down some strong creatures," Orkan said, sitting on his bed and running his hand through his blond hair. "But then Baruc's army came, and bam! They put us in our place."

"Yeah..." Aestus agreed, looking off into the distance. "And, well... Oh, never mind."

"What were you going to say?" Orkan asked, curious, as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"I had a thought, but it's silly. Let's go downstairs and check the contracts."

"No, tell me," Orkan insisted, getting up. "I had a thought too, and I want to see if we're on the same page."

Aestus felt embarrassed because it was quite absurd. He scratched his neck, considering whether or not to speak up, but he decided to go ahead. Orkan was his friend, and the worst that could happen was him laughing a lot.

"After seeing what Hiner is capable of, I started wondering if we couldn't stop him. I want to train hard, get stronger, so that I can put an end to him."

Orkan jumped up, bursting into loud laughter. Aestus immediately lowered his head, regretting it a little, when Orkan said, "But that's unbelievable! I thought the same thing! I was so angry with that damn guy. I want to destroy him," he clenched his right hand into a fist tightly.

"Yes!" Aestus exclaimed, with a huge smile on his face. "He has to pay for everything he's done. The world will be a better place without him."

"I'm mostly thinking about the rewards and the fame I'd gain, but what you said is good too," Orkan replied.

The two friends laughed at the situation and finished getting ready, then headed downstairs to the Guild hall. Aestus noticed that his armor was too simple and wouldn't withstand much. Since they had accumulated a good amount of money, it was time to upgrade both their equipment. The question now was how to convince Orkan to spend that money. Aestus was contemplating the best approach when he was surprised to see Spes sitting at one of the tables in the Guild. The Lagomorph waved to the two young men, who approached him.

"Good morning, Aestus! Good morning, Orkan! Did you sleep well?" he greeted them enthusiastically, getting up and shaking hands with both of them.

On the table, there were several papers with scattered notes, a map with various markings, and two small piles of contracts. Apparently, Spes had been there for a while, fully dedicated to his task.

Baitu approached to take the newcomers' breakfast order. Spes mentioned that he had already eaten and that they could choose their meals. Once everything was settled, Aestus had to ask, "What's all this, Spes? Are you going back to the world of hunts?"

"The thrill of yesterday's battle got you excited, huh?" Orkan slapped Spes on the shoulder, a bit too forcefully.

"Yes and no," Spes replied, chuckling and massaging his shoulder. "How can I explain? I picked up some contracts from the bulletin board to see if the three of us could do them together. I can't defeat these Creatures on my own, but with you two, it'll be a piece of cake."

Aestus raised his eyebrows, surprised. He had wanted to ask for Spes's help, but didn't know how to approach the subject. Now, knowing that Spes was also interested in collaborating, it felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Of course! We definitely accept your help," Aestus said, unable to hide his excitement. "You provide support, and we'll handle the attack. You teach us how to battle with the help of a Mage, and we help Silvi get rid of some Creatures. It's killing two rabbits with one stone. No offense," he quickly added.

Spes laughed and shook his head. "None taken, my friend. It sounds like a plan. We'll make a great team. And don't worry, I'll make sure to teach you both everything you need to know."

The trio sat down at the table, discussing the details of the contracts and their strategy. They were filled with renewed determination and a shared goal: to grow stronger, protect their town, and bring justice to those who threatened it. It was the beginning of an adventure that would test their skills, forge their bonds, and shape their destinies as formidable hunters in the Guild.

Spes laughed loudly, expressing his gratitude for his consideration. He then showed them the contracts he had selected and began explaining the strategies and the order they should follow. However, Orkan interrupted after looking at the papers.

"You'll have to remove some contracts from this list. We're still level two," he said, sounding frustrated and even a bit embarrassed.

"Oh, no problem," Spes replied, waving his hands as if dismissing Orkan's concern. "I'm already level five. I only picked contracts up to level four."

"Level five?!" Aestus exclaimed, taken aback.

"I used to accompany many hunts before..." Spes paused for a moment before continuing, his tone of voice barely changing. "Before my brother died. I managed to accumulate a lot of experience. I'm just a bit rusty now."

"Well, in that case," Orkan picked up the stack of contracts from the table, "let me see what we're going to do."

Spes found amusement in the Rogue's change of behavior, enjoying the sudden enthusiasm. He then explained which contracts would be the best, which Creatures would be easier to defeat, and the most efficient route to complete them in less time. It was practically a lesson for the newcomers, who listened attentively.

The food served by Baitu was incredibly delicious. This meal was the specialty of the house, well-prepared for Hunters. Aestus and Orkan ate heartily while discussing strategies and explaining what they were capable of in battle. Spes listened attentively, making mental notes. He then suggested that they purchase new armor and clothing that were more suitable for the battles they would face. New weapons would also be of great help, but Aestus mentioned that he wanted to keep the same sword.

"It has significant meaning to me," Aestus said, materializing his weapon and proudly displaying it. "I don't think I need to change it."

"Hmmmm... I guess you might not need to after all," Spes said, running his hand along the sword. "But it can be improved. I know an exceptional Blacksmith who can imbue some enhancements into weapons. No offense, Baitu," he added, speaking louder toward the reception area.

"No worries, Spes!" Baitu replied with a smile.

The three Hunters finished organizing their plans and set off. As they left the Guild, the sun was shining brightly high in the sky, and the square was crowded. Spes indicated the way to go, towards the Blacksmith's shop. When they reached the end of the block, just before turning the corner, an amplified voice made them stop. It was Tapiti, speaking from a podium in the middle of the square.

"Inhabitants of Silvi and visitors," she said cordially. On her right side were municipal officials, and on the other side stood Baruc with some soldiers. "As you all know, we were unexpectedly attacked by Hiner last night. No warning or request was made by the Warlock, choosing our beloved city randomly. As you can see," she pointed to the large tree, "the damage caused was significant. If it weren't for Baruc's intervention, it would have been much worse."

The crowd in the square applauded and cheered excitedly, venerating and thanking the inventor. Tapiti smiled, waiting for the noise to die down. Baruc simply waved his right hand slightly above his head, with a shy smile on his face.

"I must also thank all the brave volunteers who risked themselves in battle," Tapiti continued. "Without you, our city would not have held on while Baruc's soldiers were brought from Reganta."

Applause erupted again in the square, although with less enthusiasm. Apparently, Baruc deserved more applause than the residents of Silvi themselves. Apparently unaware of the discrepancy, Tapiti continued:

"Taking into consideration Baruc's interest in exploring our mines and the need for greater protection of the city, I have made an agreement with this generous gentleman by my side. Baruc has provided a security force that will respond immediately to any emergencies that occur in the city. He has also offered assistance to the local Hunters, who can rely on the support of the soldiers to carry out their Hunts and reduce the number of Creatures that surround us. I believe that this joint effort will only bring benefits to all the inhabitants of Kairos."

This time, the applause was a bit more scattered. The older residents disagreed with the mining, believing it went against the principles of their ancestors. The younger ones, on the other hand, were very pleased, imagining what innovations would arise from the abundant crystals in the region. Perhaps this was not the most popular decision by the mayor, but it certainly would not be enough to cause a rebellion among the population.

"Let's go," Spes said, catching Aestus' attention. "He's going to keep going on and on about how he's the good guy and how he'll help everyone."

The three of them headed to the Blacksmith's shop, listening to the fading speech in the background. The promises and exchange of compliments between the two leaders continued to resonate through the streets. Upon entering the Blacksmith's workshop, the door shut out the sounds from the square, replacing them with the clanging of metal. The workshop was spacious, with various weapons displayed on one wall, while the opposite wall showcased armors, vests, pants, boots, and cloaks.

Spes took the lead, explaining to the Blacksmith what they wanted. They quickly chose new daggers for Orkan, which appeared sharper and more lethal than his previous ones. Aestus then materialized his sword and handed it to the Blacksmith. He examined the weapon, praising its condition and quality. He immediately started working on the blade, hammering away and making the weapon shine. The Knight watched in awe, eagerly anticipating wielding his upgraded weapon.

The Blacksmith finished the job and handed the weapon back to Aestus. It felt lighter, easier to handle, while maintaining the same dimensions. Its blade was now gleaming, with a brighter hue than before. Without much time for Aestus to savor his renewed weapon, the Blacksmith led them towards the armors and garments. Aestus and Orkan chose new equipment that was both aesthetically pleasing and well-crafted.