The village gates came into view, and I couldn't hold it in anymore. My whole body buzzed with excitement as I picked up my pace, practically jogging ahead of Luce and Amber.
"HOME SWEET HOME!!!" I yelled out and pumped my fist up in the air.
"Sky! Wait—" Amber's voice barely registered before I slipped past the gates, grinning ear to ear.
I was back. And I had a story to tell.
"You won't believe what happened out there!" I called out to the nearest guards, my voice carrying over the bustle of the village. A few beastmen turned their heads, intrigued. Good. "A giant, bear-like monster—easily over twelve feet tall! Its claws were massive, and its whole body was covered in jagged rock-like armor! It came out of nowhere and attacked us in the woods!"
One of the guards raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A giant, bear-like monster, you say? How big are we talking?"
I grinned, chest puffed out. "Easily over twelve feet tall. Its claws were massive, and its body was covered in jagged rock-like armor."
The second guard's eyes widened, and he took a step back, his voice low. "Twelve feet? That's... that's not something we want lurking around here." He glanced toward the woods, his posture stiffening. "Are you sure it's still out there?"
I nodded, trying to keep my excitement in check. "Yeah, it's still out there. we should send a retrieval group for the body while we can."
The first guard smirked, shaking his head. "You sure you didn't exaggerate, Sky? A twelve-foot beast, huh? You sure it wasn't more like eight feet and a little... extra dramatic?"
I shot him a playful look, rolling my eyes. "You know I don't exaggerate... that much."
The second guard chuckled, elbowing his partner. "Guess we better start planning the retrieval. Wouldn't want to take any chances with Sky's 'giant beast.'"
I waved without turning, still focused on the guards. "Yeah, yeah! Just letting them know about the body, alright?"
Only then did I realize Amber's voice had faded into the background. I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see her and Luce walking off toward the chief's house.
"Sky, we're gonna go ahead and meet the chief!" Amber called back, exasperation clear in her tone.
I just waved a hand in her direction. "Yeah! I'll catch up!"
Luce let out a quiet chuckle, and I saw the two of them disappear into the village. I frowned slightly but shook it off. There was still so much to talk about, and I wasn't done here yet. I turned back to the guards, eager to keep the conversation going.
"What do you guys think? Should we form a retrieval party and head out there?" I urged, barely containing my excitement. As I quickly explained where we'd encountered the beast, my eyes landed on someone familiar passing behind the guards.
"Ingo! Hey!" I called out, cutting myself off mid-sentence and waving him down.
His ears flicked, and he turned with a look that screamed, 'What now?'—like he already regretted making eye contact.
I jogged over, the perfect idea sparking. "Ingo, let's gather some adventurers and haul back this beast we took down."
Ingo sighed, rubbing his neck. "Sky... this isn't another 'giant monster with fangs the size of trees' story, is it?"
I shot back, "No! It's real! Ask Amber and Luce if you don't believe me!"
At Luce's name, his expression shifted. His eyes narrowed briefly before he muttered, "Huh."
The guards exchanged glances, noticing his reaction.
"Alright," Ingo said, arms crossed. "But if it is some overgrown lizard, you're buying our drinks."
A grin split my face. "Deal."
Ingo turned to the guards. "You, get a cart and some supplies—ropes, tarps, everything. If the beast's half as big as he says, we'll be hauling it back in pieces."
One guard chuckled. "Ingo, you're really going along with this?"
Ingo smirked. "Call it a hunch. Plus, someone's gotta keep this guy out of trouble." He thumbed toward me.
The other guard sighed. "Alright, but you owe me a drink if this is a bust."
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't drag your feet."
As one guard left for the supplies, the other waved us off from the gate. Ingo and I started down the path toward the guild.
"So," Ingo started, "what were you even doing out there?"
I scratched my neck. "Uh, just gathering some herbs."
His eyes narrowed. "Herbs, huh?"
I sighed, caving under his stare. "Okay, fine. I was training. In the forest."
"And Amber?"
"She came with me. Said she was worried I'd break something and needed her magic to patch me up."
Ingo's lips quirked. "Sounds about right."
I looked away, my voice dropping. "I just… I need to get stronger. Dad's a legend. And Lyle's already catching up to me—and he's just a kid. I…" My throat tightened. "I don't think I'll ever measure up."
Ingo's pace slowed, his gaze softening. "Sky—"
Before he could finish, a shout rang out from ahead. Someone sprinted from the guild, panic in their voice.
"Oi! Ingo! Trouble's brewing!"
I felt the tension spike in my chest.
Ingo's eyes met mine and we broke into a run.
Ingo and I pushed through the guild's crowded entrance, the air thick with chatter and the clink of tankards. But one voice cut through the noise—angry and raw.
"You bastard!" a man's voice snarled.
I turned to see a brawny adventurer—his eyes bloodshot, his knuckles white—lunging at a younger, cloaked figure.
Ingo's ears flicked. "Tch. Here we go."
The cloaked figure, his voice cold and sharp, muttered, "Maybe if you were stronger, he wouldn't have died."
The air felt heavy, and my chest tightened. My mind flashed back to the beast's crushing presence—the cold terror of knowing Amber was behind me, counting on me. I gritted my teeth, that familiar whisper of doubt clawing at my confidence.
I look back to the adventurer his face twisting with grief, roared and charged. Chairs scraped, a table toppled.
I shot forward, heart pounding. "Hey—!"
But Ingo was faster, his arm hooking around the man's chest, holding him back.
"Easy Klay," Ingo said, his voice firm but low. "Don't do something you'll regret."
The man struggled, his fists shaking. "He doesn't get to say that. He doesn't know—"
I stepped beside them, eyes narrowing at the cloaked boy. "Who the hell are you?"
The boy's cold gaze met mine briefly, then he turned without a word, walking away.
Ingo's grip loosened, his brow furrowed. "Real piece of work, huh?"
I felt my nails dig into my palm.
Ingo and I walked side-by-side, the tension from the encounter with Klay still lingering. I caught him glancing back toward the door where that cloaked guy had left.
"Never seen that guy around here before," Ingo muttered, his ears twitching with curiosity. "Wonder what his deal is."
My hands clenched at my sides. "I don't like him," I said, my voice tight. The memory of his cold words to Klay still burned. "Whatever. Let's just find some adventurers and get this job rolling."
The guild hall buzzed with chatter and the clink of tankards. Ingo's face lit up when we reached the front desk. "Rachel," he greeted with a lazy grin, leaning on the counter. "Miss me?"
Rachel smirked, barely glancing up from her paperwork. "Miss the peace and quiet when you're not around, maybe."
I rolled my eyes. "We're posting a retrieval job. Need a team to help haul in a beast."
Rachel nodded, taking our details. Ingo, of course, didn't miss a beat. "By the way, Rachel, you free after—"
"Busy." She cut him off with a smirk.
I chuckled, but my smile faded as I noticed a familiar figure lurking near the board. Ingo saw him too, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Hang on a second."
Without waiting, he jogged over to him. I felt my fists tighten again. Why was he still here?
I stayed back, watching. Whoever this guy was, he wasn't just some passing adventurer. And something told me our paths wouldn't be separating anytime soon.