In spare room within the Adventurers guild a small meeting took place.

“Thank you for gathering so quickly” Gisele started addressing rest of the group “We asked you to come for we are about to head on quest with high difficulty level, and we found you to be best suited for this very quest.” “Why is that so?” Marika complained a little “I have just ended one quest two days ago and I hoped that I could rest for quite some time…” “Marika, sunshine, we are rarely having meetings while forming a party, let Gisele tell what is this quest all about in first place.” Aloizy calmly pointed out “Thank you, Mir, actually, Marika, we want you not only because of your skills that may be more than handy and the fact that you… know that area, but also because of your personal motives. The quest was never shown on Quest board, it is not very official in the first place… We are about to terminate Hydra from Violet Swamps. Rank A+ raid quest.”

Marika wanted to say something more as Dragoness was describing quest, yet as she heard last part her mouth shut.

“You are kidding right?” She broke the silence “I have been asking for it for past three years… yet I was told over and over again that as the beast has settled down it proves no danger and no one would risk humans life for revenge… And when I finally gave up, when I focused on helping others than helping myself… what changed?!” “We don’t know what happened, but monster is active again. It already killed dozens villagers. Every day it is leaving swamps to destroy nearest villages, coming back to its lair only for nights. And as it seem to be enraged, that it will bit stop on destroying villages, soon it may target merchants routes and small weakly fortified cities. We received permission to act.”

Fairy nodded in silence few times before she raised her voice again

“Where is rest of the raid? You told that yourself. Raid is about 24-30 adventurers, I see only six…” “Seven, dearest child, seven.” Jericho that stood in silence supporting his body on wall spoke “… I may be old, but simply ignoring me is rude! Youth these days…”

Rest of the adventures looked upon each other.

“You are kidding right? As guild master you can’t simply…” “Go on quests? And focus on administration only? Oh! But That’s exactly what I am doing! There is no quests for killing Hydra! No such appeared in records and never was put on the quest board. I am merely traveling to another guild branch west from here and taking you with me as my entourage! Yet it is convenient that shortest way to the city of Agrah leads through Violet swamps, is it lads?” “So… why are we even needed? Dragonslayer himself is more than enough to…” “Shut your mouth young man.” Jeremy raised “…that is exactly why I won. You think that I killed higher adult red dragon because I was stronger? No! In the very best case I was half as strong as him. But that’s exactly why I won. He underestimated me and made openings three times. Because of that I won. I doubt I could ever win with adult dragon again, and trust me, I am not mad enough to push my luck. Never let your guard down, not even if you are under protections of stronger than you. Never. That’s how you lost to weaker than you. Now, someone wants to resign? I already know that Zari and Gisele are coming. Aloizy, Gerwazy?” “No! That’s the point of adventure! We would follow Gisele even to gates of hell!” Brothers cheered “Ah, if only Miroslav could come with us…” “I am afraid it’s out of question. Disappearing of so many highest rank adventurers would be more than suspicious, remember lads, it’s ain’t official. We would have problems if we would get caught. Nyx?”

Hooded and masked person only raised his/hers thumb up.

“Marika?” “Do you even have to ask? I have been waiting for this day for too long. There is no way I would let it go. Tsh. If you would kill it without me, I would turn yours life into nightmare. When do we go?” “At evening. But, as everyone has agreed to form that party… Zari has something to tell you about himself, isn’t that right?”

White haired boy moved on his chair uneasy, gather his thoughts for a moment before finally beginning to speak.

“I think that I was not completely honest with you about myself. I have been keeping my own small secret and I hope that you would keep it to yourself. I am not… exactly… human. I think that’s something that you are aware of, as you have heard stories of Mrogul, Loki and Marika. I am… devourer…” “DEVOURER!” Gerwazy jumped from his chair “… I…! I have completely no idea what it is.” He then said sitting back. “But I do.” Marika said calmly “… an omen of tragedy. Being that comes back to the world every few millennia. It is said that each time he awakens a war is bound to happen. There are few that worships him, and lots that wants to kill him, especially as he is young, for by eating him enemies he gains stronger, and stronger becomes his appetite. It is said that if he won’t be stopped he shall consume the world… wow. It wasn’t what I was expecting.” “I merely want to point out that what you have just said is mostly a propaganda!” Young mage raised his voice “… What else did you heard about me? That I bath in virgin’s tears? That earths is rotting under my feet and that trees bleed when I walk by? I ensure you, I have no desire of eating the world, and the fact about war is quite opposite too! I have my own theory! It’s not me that gives start to warm but war is the one that gives start to me! Devourers are being born when world is in conflict and needs a common enemy to be used as scapegoat! But that’s what you will never hear, for in the end history is being wrote by victorious with the blood of defeated. I am not going to start, nor participate in any war at all, I assure you!” “I never claimed this to be truth!” Mariak raised her voice in defense “… I know you Zari! We all know you and we would never turn our backs to you…” “Mostly as we would be afraid of getting stabbed…” Aloizy joked “… but would you mind why you told us about that now?” “I will fight with everything I got, which means that I will show but uglier face of mine… if on the battlefield you would saw a monster, that looks like nothing you have ever seen before, don’t attack it, that would be me.” “It’s enough for now…” Jericho stopped discussion “.. I hope all of you got the point. Start preparing. Dismiss.”

The door opened and six adventurers and one former adventurer left the room. Rus that talked with Mike by counter saw it all happened and her curiosity grow.

“Adventurers are often having such meetings? What was it all about?”

Mike only smiled on youngest adventurer

“Sometimes they make one while they are discussing harder quests. Possible strategies, leaders, schemes of actions. But to be honest… looking at available quests there is none requiring such preparations. Especially as you take into consideration who was on that meeting. Only B A and S ranks… plus Zari. But Zari is in league of his own. Apparently they are about to head on unauthorized quest. In that case just avert your eyes and pretend you saw nothing.” “What do you mean?” “Simply that they are doing something that they are not supposed to do. There must be a reason, so just let them work.” “How do you think…” “Rus. I don’t. Trust me, we saw nothing, nothing happened. That will be better… Greetings master Jericho! How can I help you today?” Young man cheered as soon as owner of the guild stepped by. “Ah, greeting Mike. We are about to go on delegation to Agrah. Me and six other adventurers. Note that down. Until my return Alesia shall be in charge here.” “Very well, normally you would get there in three or so days. Should I sent a letter informing about your arrival?” “No, on our way there I am taking them on… training camp. It may take few more days to reach our destination. Don’t bother yourself. We will simply stay in some inn until they would let us in.” “Sir, yes, sir! Prepare something? Carriage? Prepare some delegation founds?” “Carriage would be nice. We will take care of rest. We are departing hour before the dusk.” “Very well, I will have it prepared within two hours!”

Old man left the reception.

“And by knowing this, we can be more than sure that they are going to do something that they are not supposed to.” Mike smiled “But of course, in very same time, what do we know?” “N…Nothing?” “Very good!” “But, how do you know that they are up to something illegal?” “One – they are not heading straight to their destination. That means that they have to do something on their way there. They don’t want to use guild founds. Normally, guild leader wouldn’t pay for such travel by himself, yet then he needed to document all his payments. And by checking his founds we could tell where he was. That’s something that he wants to avoid… There are many things that you could tell about Jericho… good things… but also he is one old skinflint. And finally – he takes best of best with himself. Whatever it is…” He went silent for a moment as Jericho passed them by one more time, this time leaving the guild. “…No way…” He only whispered “Something wrong?” Rus titled her head. “You saw what he was wearing?” “Some old armor and glaive, why?” “No girl. Armor and weapon are something more than just an equipment in hands of Jericho. It’s a message.” “What kind of message?” “Shit is about to get real – message.”

Evening. Zari’s POV

Medicines? Check. Food supplies? Check. Determination to keep living? Should be laying somewhere around… Well, I would eventually find it someday. Until then I have to work with what I have.

I walk down from living section to the main hall, said my goodbyes with Mike and start heading toward the city gate, where rest of team should gather. They were already sitting in the carriage.

“Took your sweet time, Zari?” Marika was overstrung. I am pretty sure that she has been waiting since the afternoon. Can’t blame her. I would also be nervous if I was about to face monster that killed everything I treasured. “Was pacing medicines. Asshole is venomous. I though you want to live long enough to see bastard dead?” “…I am sorry, I am just…” “Stop. Don’t. If there is someone in position to be in weird mood, that’s you. I think we are ready?” “Yeah. Have been waiting just for you.” Gerwazy called “… saying that, Master Jericho! All ready here!” He yelled to driver.

In next moment we moved, heading toward west.

“We should get there about 30 hours of ride.” “Monster living bit more than a day by carriage from capital, and no one even wanted to intervene?” I name my doubts. “Monster like monster. Kingdom was supposed to be in peace for next few hundred years. Even more, monster was keeping bandits away making routes around the swamps safer. Paradox, is it? There is a monster, so it is safer…”

We kept talking for next few hours, discussing how we should deal with creature. And after five or six hours since we left the city. Someone sneezed.

“Bless ya, Marika” Gerwazy said “It wasn’t me!” “It was definitely a woman! Gisele is driving with Jericho so… Zari, are you sneezing like a woman?” “The hell are you looking at me!?” “Maybe… NYX?!”

Denying by head’s movement…

“…Must have been a wind…”

Another sneeze.

I got up, walk to the barrels that supposed to store our food, took off the lid, grab intruder by collar and pick it up in the air.

My, my…

“FOR GODDESS SAKE! RUS! THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” Marika yelled.

Carriage stopped and within few seconds guild leader and dragoness joined us.

“What is this commotion all abou… FOR GODDESS SAKE! RUS! THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” Jericho yelled. “Exactly my words!” “Calm down everyone!” it was my time to raise my voice “…let the accused speak.” “I…I…I was talking with Mike when you left the room… a…and he told me that apparently you are heading into some secret quests… Y… you are best of best… s…so I thought that if I would see you in action… I could become better… OUCH!”

I hit her with open palm in the backs of her head.

“Why did you do that?” She whimpered. “Crime and Punishment. Dostoyevsky approves.” I pointed my non-existing eyes at Jericho “… what are we going to do with her?” “We can’t turn back. People are dying. Best solution would be leaving her in some village on our way there, and then picking her up as we would be returning…. IF THERE WOULD BE ANY! Young lady! What were you thinking? Tsh!” “We could always leave her in the village by swamps as we would go hunting…” “One. Beast can attack village when we would be exploring swamps. Two. We could all die and then beast could attack the village… I promised Rus’s father that I would keep her safe…” “If we would die, then what can he do to you?” “Trust me. For Rus’s father hiring a necromancer is nothing. Not mentioning that I simply owe him. Young lady! Couldn’t you just simply ask me?!” “… I was afraid that you wouldn’t take me with you if…” “ARE YOU NUTS?! OF COURSE WE WOULDN’T! But there are other quests! Far less dangerous!”

Our quarrel last for quite some time. In the end we continued our ride onward, yelling at Rus every once in a while. The quest just turned even more difficult.