“You’ve got your compass?”

“Yeah.”

“Knife?”

“Yes.”

“Potions?”

“Relax Ben. I know what I’m doing.”

The two siblings bickered at one another. It had already been a day since the royal hunt was announced and thankfully for them, it wouldn’t take place until next month. 

George stood there in front of the mirror only, he didn’t recognize the person that looked back. It wasn’t like he changed a lot but it wasn’t like he didn’t change at all either. 

“Are you nervous?” Fafnir whispered. 

Which made him flinch. 

“What does it matter to you if I’m nervous?”

“Well, it matters because it’s insulting to think you find mere beasts scarier than me.”

“And what are you exactly?”

“A god.” Fafnir replied coolly. Her voice was unwavering as she said so. 

“If you were a god you wouldn’t have been injured in the first place would you?” To which Fafnir immediately took action. George immediately felt his throat seize up as he felt his feet leave the ground. “I—will not! Be spoken to like that. One more snarky remark out of you and you’ll see why I am the red maelstrom of catastrophe. Do you understand?” She declared. George meanwhile was blue in the face, nodding with what little energy he had left. 

“But just in case.” She started and struck a heavy blow to his gut, knocking the wind out of him.

He was then dropped to the ground, falling with a loud thud which might alarm the siblings and sure enough. Amy came barging through the door, finding George coughing, struggling to breathe, colour slowly returning to his face.

“What… happened?”

“Nothing.” George lied, giving her a thumbs up as he stood up wobbling to his feet. 

But Amy wasn’t having it at all. She looked around for anything that might have looked suspicious but… nothing. There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. No signs of anything being knocked over or any signs of forced entry. She had always thought George was strange. Talking to himself at times but she figured it was just something he did. But this was too strange to overlook. But she knew better that drilling George wouldn’t get her anywhere. 

“Looks like she’s catching on.” Fafnir whispered, a single invisible claw ran along his face. “Remember George. Tell anyone about me and I won’t hesitate to end you and everyone you love.”

Ever since the royal hunt was mentioned. Fafnir had changed. She wasn’t any bit playful as she’s always been. Everything seemed to push her off the edge. She no longer hesitated to get physical. Didn’t even bother with pretending to be the benevolent lord she claimed to be.

George wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed but he knew now more than ever that he probably shouldn't do anything that went against her demands. 

The three of them left for the adventurer’s guild not long after the altercation. With Amy glancing back at George from behind her pink hair. Her womanly intuition seemed to tell her something else was at play but she couldn’t know for sure.

“Ah, welcome back. You’re just in time.” The receptionist said as she reached down the counter and placed a red clock perfectly folded along with a triangular emblem. 

“Is that mine?” George asked as he walked forward. Examining the cloak with great care. It wasn’t light, not by a long shot yet when he didn’t feel the weight when he put it on. 

“Thanks but we’re here for something else.” Ben said.

“Something else?”

“We would like to take another mana beast quest.”

“So soon? But you just got back from one. Is this about the royal hunt that’s a month from now?”

“Yes.” George interrupted. 

“You’re thinking of applying? All three of you?”

“Yeah.” Ben replied, his bandaged face hiding any expression on his face.

“Alright, I won’t pry. All the available mana beast quests are up on the questboard. You’d have to hurry since they are selling out like hotcakes.”

As Ben and the receptionist continued to talk. George couldn’t help but notice the guild members all acting differently. They were more rowdy than before. The questboard was beyond crowded with brawls breaking out over the quest paper. 

“Let’s go and have a look.” Amy told George which snapped him back to reality. 

“Oh, right.” He said, following behind her. 

“That’s mine you bastard!”

“No, I called dibs.”

“You can’t call dibs.”

“Yes I can.”

Two men were arguing in front of the quest board with a crowd forming around them. 

All the quests were almost emptied out save for the weird ones that no one really wanted like delivery and herb collecting.

“Hmm. This isn’t good. There’s almost nothing left… wait a minute. A hah!” Amy exclaimed as she suddenly reached for the quest paper at the same time as someone else who just so happened to be the brown haired girl that helped George during the tests.

“It’s okay, I’m sure you didn’t mean to do that. You can go ahead and let go now.” Amy said, her grip growing stronger.

“Hah. Not a chance.” The brown haired girl replied, not budging an inch.

“Let go—”

“No you let go—”

The two of them fought over the parchment which miraculously held up despite being pulled in different directions.

“You’re going to tear the paper. Let go!”

“You first!”

Surprisingly, the brown haired girl was the one to concede after a long pointless struggle.

“Fine, you can have it.” She said, her hand still holding onto part of the paper.

“You can have it but you’ll have to bring me along.” She demanded. Her eyes were unwavering.

“No, we’ve already got three people. The reward isn’t big enough to go around.”

“You can keep it. All I want is to apply for the royal hunt. If you agree to bring me along, then I’ll let go.”

“That’s all you want? Are you sure?” Ben suddenly appeared behind them. 

“Yeah I’m sure.” The brown haired girl replied.

“Alright then. It’s settled. You can come along but you won’t be getting a single coin.”

“That’s fine by me.” 

“What? I’m not fine with that!” Amy interjected. “You didn’t even ask if I’m okay with it!”

“Leave it Amy.” Ben said, walking away with the parchment in hand.

The atmosphere was suddenly charged as the two girls butt heads. Shooting death glares at one another.

“Honestly, the nerve.” She mumbled under her breath as she followed behind her brother.

“Hey.” George tried to say but she left before he could get another word out.

Something told him that this was going to be a long quest.