Ox sighed and shook his head. “Suit yourselves. Regardless, I promise to ensure that your group receives appropriate reward for your actions. Despite our harsh accusations, we really do want the best for the kingdom. I wish you all the best in the future, and I hope that you can become a B-ranked team. It will be interesting to see how far you can go.”

Ox stood up. Ash and Ice rose alongside him, both glaring at the Happy Sunflowers. Belmont glowered back at them. The council members rose as well. Rovin bid them farewell as the three headed back into the city.

Ox gave Arek a weary smile and prodded Null in the back.

“Wake up,” Ox said. “We’re leaving.”

Null jerked upright with a snort. He shook his head, then frowned. “Sorry. I was scrying the area. It’s clear.”

The thin mage rose to his feet as well. Then he paused, his gaze flicking to Ming. The man’s head tilted to the side. The small mage’s form flickered as the mask’s magic quailed and sputtered under the man’s inquisitive eyes.

Then it gave out. There was a moment of stunned silence as Ming and Null made eye contact.

“Ming?” Null asked, his hat tilted far enough back that Arek could see the man’s dark eyes widen in surprise.

Ming’s hands clenched at her sides. “Raun, although I suppose you go by Null now.”

Ox glanced from Ming to Null, befuddled. “Null, do you know this girl?”

“I do,” Null replied, shaking the surprise away. “This is my big sister, Ming. We haven’t spoken in years. I didn’t know what happened to her.”

“That’s because you abandoned me on the streets after I left the house to take care of you, you slimy prick,” Ming snapped.

Null glanced at Ox and made a sharp gesture with his hand.

“Ah,” Ox said. He gestured for the Happy Sunflowers to stand. “It looks like we should give these two some time alone to catch up. Come.”

“No,” Belmont replied. “I don’t think we will. I’m quite comfortable where I am.”

“As are we,” Arek said, nodding to Malissa.

Ox’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not our place to interfere. Null wishes to speak to his sister. This is a personal discussion that we are not privy to.”

“My group is welcome to hear anything that you have to say to me,” Ming said curtly. “There’s nothing you can say that has any value to me anyways.”

“Don’t say that,” Null said, taking his hat off and setting it on the table with a frown. “Anyone would have done what I did, Ming! We were starving to death. The Sunflare Guild offered me a once in a lifetime chance to master my powers and actually make something of myself. How can you blame me for that?”

“I abandoned my guild training to take care of you,” Ming snarled. “You left in the night and left me a note. I sacrificed everything I had to help you, and you didn’t even bother to say goodbye in person.”

“Look, I made a mistake, okay?” Null said. “I’ve got a high rank in the guild now. There aren’t many B rank mages after all. I can get you a position in the Sunflare. I’ve been looking for you for the last five years. I’m allowed to invite a single person to the guild. You’ll never have to work again.”

“And abandon my friends like you abandoned me?” Ming asked, her eyes narrow. “I’ll pass, Null. You’ve already made it clear what matters to you. My friends are worth more than your money and power ever will be.”

“Think about it, Ming! Your talent is wasted on an F ranked group. If you wanted, I could get you that training that you lost. You could become a B rank mage, just like me!”

“I don’t want to be anything like you,” Ming replied. “I’m done here, Null. Ox said you were leaving, so get on with it.”

“You don’t understand what you’re saying,” Null said, his brow darkening. “I’m your brother!”

“I have no brother.”

Belmont rose behind Ming, his staff held protectively at his side.

“You’ve said enough,” Belmont told Null. “She doesn’t want to talk to you. We’ll be leaving.”

“Be silent,” Null snapped. “Ming is my sister. You weak fools are holding her back. She’d be better off without the lot of you.”

The air around Ming crackled with blue light. Her hair shifted and started to float as fury contorted the small girl’s features.

“Don’t threaten my team.”

“And now you throw a temper tantrum,” Null said, throwing his hands up into the air. “You’re emotionally unstable, Ming. I’m sorry for leaving you, but now is when I can repay you. You deserve better than this. I mean, look at your companions. You’re traveling with an orc!”

“I think it’s time for us to leave,” Malissa said. She stepped around Arek and put a hand on Ming’s shoulder.

“I disagree,” Null said. Purple lightening crackled to life around him. “I think I need to teach some upstart adventurers what it means to get involved with family business.”

“Null, that’s enough,” Ox said, his brow darkening. “It’s understandable that you feel strongly about this, but I can’t have you attacking random people. Release your magic.”

The thin mage gritted his teeth. The magic around him slowly faded and he sent the Happy Sunflowers a hateful look.

“Fine,” Null snapped. “Waste your life with these worthless idiots. You don’t know what you’re passing up on, Ming. If you insist on associating with these… creatures, then so be it. Just don’t come crying to me when you regret your decision.”

Null strode past them. Arek met his hateful glare and bared his teeth slightly, allowing a trickle of his battle lust to escape. The mage turned away quickly and stormed past Ox.