∼ First Commission ∼

Chapter - 066

On the winds, gliding under the warm rays of the morning sun, a red bird made its way in search of food. Dawn broke, the sun shining its light on the beautiful winged creature as it cast a small shadow across the canopy of trees, the bird chirping in tune with its brethren. Sounds of birdsong added to the calm of the forest. A morning without worry.

As the little bird flitted along with the pleasant breeze, it caught the eye of another one of its kind. A female. Maybe a potential mate?

However, any of the avian's posturing calls were cut short before they ever had the chance to begin as the bird suddenly burst into purple flames. The red songbird was incinerated to its little frail bones, thudding onto the ground as little more than a lump of charred flesh and crisp feathers. Cackling laughter filled the small forest. Trodding along the human-made path open to the blue sky that cut through the forest, one robed demon, and his human guide made their way atop brown steeds.

All the human, Ignatius, could do as they rode past the charred remains of the bird was look askance at the warlock who was seemingly having the time of his life. There is seriously something wrong with this gnome; he thought. Surely, not all warlocks were this... touched.

Whilst the human had his reservations, Nyx didn't couldn't have cared less of what the human thought of his little pastime, all too occupied with calming the agitated steed that was definitely couple sizes too big for the small demon. The stupid creature kept getting scared whenever he would suddenly fire off his magic. So paired with his little to no experience with riding, it spelled for a bumpy journey.

"Stupid horsey! This way!" He cursed, trying to stop it from veering off course and outright bucking him off.

Ignatius sighed at the sight. "I told you to get the pony,"

"Shut up human!"

"I have a name." He gritted his teeth though he did not meet the demon's gaze, eyes fixed on the road.

When Nyx finally wrestled the horse back under control, he managed to spare the human a glance. His look said as if that was the first time the human had ever heard that.

The guide just looked at the gnome for one long moment before droning out his name. "-Ignatius,"

"Ig-na... Ig-y" Nyx tried slowly, his tongue failing to form the strange word. "-Iggy,"

"See, how hard was tha- wait, what?" Ignatius quickly backtracked as he realized what the warlock had just said.

"Iggy!" Nyx smiled triumphantly, believing himself to have conquered the human's weird name.

But he shook his head fervently. "No-no, it's Ig-na-tius."

"Iggy!" Nyx insisted, not even sparing him another moment to correct.

The human's glare could've burned a hole in Nyx if he wasn't so naturally resistant to fire.

Retreating back into himself, Nyx combed over his notifications from over the last week of training.

[Through dedication and hard work, your mind has expanded, and your reservoir with it]

∼Mana: (+3)∼

[Through dedication and hard work, your body's might and physical prowess has grown]

∼Strength: (+1)∼

Status Information

Attributes Name Nyx Health 40/40 STR 15 ⇒ 16 END 4 Race Imp (Prideborn) Stamina 12/12 DEX 7 INT 28 Level 12 - (25%) Mana 9/9 (10) VIT 4 CHR 2 Class Main-Class Warlock Rank Apprentice Grade Rare Sub-Class None Rank None Grade None Traits Demonhide - (Racial), Fire Resistance - (Racial), Mark of Pride - (Demonism) Titles Bearer of Pride - (Demonism) Skills Demonbolt - [Moderate], Impfire - [Inferior], Summon Familiar - [Inferior], Wither - [Inferior] Masteries Proficiencies

Techniques Demonology - [Superior], Hand-to-Hand Combat - [Moderate], Mana Manipulation - [Inferior], Words of Power - [Inferior] None

Closing the prompts, Nyx was happy the monotonous exercise of expanding his mana reservoir was paying off. Although he was still quite a bit off with the exorbitant costs of his new spells and summoning of a familiar, having come quickly to power despite having had little time to properly develop as a mage. But he was getting there, and now with free reign to explore this world, able to kill dumb human baddies, and slaughter some foul beasties, he'd be sure to make full use of his time.

Since signing onto the commission at The Mercenary Guild, the duo had gone to rent out some mounts by the subsidiary stables as they were to head out of town, to a homestead that had requested help with a problem of monstrous nature.

It was a day-long journey, and as feverish as Nyx was to indulge in some of his more violent tendencies, he quickly became restless along the monotonous and unexciting road. This stretch of land surrounding Boreas truly was dull. They should really add some more monsters or bandits. Would make it way more interesting. Trust him. Nyx knew what he was talking about.

A day's worth of time and many unfortunate forest critters later, they arrived at the homestead at the crack of dawn the next day. It was a small farmland tended to by a handful of serfs with cattle and other husbandry grazing about pastures.

They pulled up to the homestead, a series of finely-kept buildings shaped in a form similar to that of a horseshoe. This homestead didn't belong to any minor nobility, but they seemed to be rather well off. Which made sense since the request for help made with The Mercenary Guild hadn't been made on behalf of the crown but with their own coin. Which made this request, a commission.

It was one way to make certain that help was sent immediately, and not just until some mercenaries decided on their own to take it up. With commissions, if there were no mercenary volunteers, such as Nyx and Ignatius, it would just be assigned mercenaries who were sitting on reserve or those who simply had yet to meet a certain quota of annual task completions. Each mercenary, as a condition of being a member of The Mercenary Guild, had to complete at least a certain amount of annual tasks. Additionally, all mercenaries under the rank of Master, were by law - subject to be conscripted to defend Argon if it were ever in dire need. But that had apparently only happened once in the last two centuries, one of them being during the recent Elven Invasions one or two decades ago.

Dismounting from their steeds, Nyx somehow having a little trouble untangling himself from the reins, they were met with a middle-aged, balding man in fine clothes who came out of the main building through a set of double doors.

"Hello, welcome to the Metid Homestead." He called out.

Ignatius didn't respond as he merely waited for the man to come closer.

"You two wouldn't happen to be from the Guild?" The man asked with hope although his voice carried a note of hesitancy.

Ignatius handed over his reins to an older man who came out from the stables, another serf. "Ignatius Barclay and Nyxel Brasshand," He introduced, gesturing dismissively to Nyx. "Mercenaries here to help with a commission that was put in with the Guild."

The man in fine clothes came up short when Ignatius confirmed his speculation, glancing down at the gnome in robes then back up to Ignatius, skepticism entering his eyes.

"I'm sorry... but there wouldn't happen to be any more coming? No?" He was clearly worried that he had spent his money to send out an urgent request, only to be sent people incapable. Shorthanded and unprepared to deal with the crisis. Especially with how he looked at Nyx, he clearly doubted their ability to solve his problem.

"You-" As the demon almost began growling at the indignant human, Ignatius stepped in between them.

"I can assure you. We're more than fit to help you with your monster troubles. I'm a Silver division, and he's a mage." He mediated with professional ease, though a slightly displeased glare made its way onto his own face. Ignatius wasn't used to be looked down upon, especially as a Silver-rank merc.

Nyx, however, had already shifted his demeanor the moment the human's skepticism turned into shock and panic, smiling as he felt his ego inflate.

"Oh, Sir Magi! My deepest apologies, I truly meant no offense." He said, demeanor having taken a full twist and turn as he awkwardly bowed. "I am Thomas Metid, Lord of this Homestead, and the author of the contract. I must thank you both for your hasty arrivals."

A human seeing the errors of their ways, that was a first; Nyx thought. Nyx did also note that Iggy had called him a mage, not a warlock. But even the demon nowadays understood how feared they were. So he reasoned it was probably unnecessary to make their employer fret and he'd let Iggy get away with merely calling him a mage. But to be honest, Nyx kind of liked the fear.

He shook his head of the needless thoughts. "No matter! The monster, where is it?" Nyx demanded imperiously, feeding off of the man's deference and fear as his eyes widened, wholeheartedly expecting that the human would point them in a direction and they'd be off to slaying some monsters. Unfortunately for Nyx, it wasn't as simple as that.

Thomas was slightly taken aback at the gnome mage's unusual bearing, looking at Ignatius who just shook his head. Offered to some tea and food inside the homestead, the Lord explained the nature of their problems.

"As I've reported to the Guild; A whole quarter of our livestock and two serfs have already gone missing since the monster first appeared."

Ignatius pulled out a handbook, opening to a page of scribbles and notes. "The report says the monster in question is a druggle. However, that's only based on speculation and vague sightings. Correct?"

"What's a druggle?" Nyx interjected curiously, making Thomas pause confusedly that he didn't already know. But Ignatius just waved him off and gestured to the man to continue.

"Yes... unfortunately," He started slowly, dragging his eyes from Nyx back to Ignatius. "I haven't managed to catch the foul creature in the act. And only a couple of the serfs by the fields say to have seen a glimpse of it in the forest. I myself am not learned in bestial knowledge, but we have an older serf in our employ who knows a thing or two about monsters since he has lived on the outskirts most of his life. He's almost certain it's a druggle that's been roaming the treelines around our homestead."

The mercenary snapped his handbook closed, getting to his feet. "I see, can we speak with this man?"

Ignatius and Nyx were then introduced to the crotchety old man who was working by the stables, the very same man who had taken their horses. Nyx wasn't interacting as much as he was more-so learning for the most part. From how a mercenary prepared and gathered information on a job to how he'd have to talk with the humans. Though, the demon found it mostly uninteresting and unnecessary. Just point him in the direction of the beast already! And he'd kill it, how hard did they have to make it?

There was, however, a small four-legged creature that managed to capture most of the demon's attention. It would keep barking at him. If he remembered correctly, Iggy called it something along the lines of; a dog. An interesting little creature since it had the nerve to bark incessantly at great redness.

Finally, they were taken to the pastures and left to do their work. A scowling Ignatius trudged through the muddy field. "Just... follow me, and don't go wandering off anymore!" The human was clearly miffed.

"Don't tell me what to do, human! You're nagging me!" Nyx retorted indignantly.

He whirled around. "You tried to eat their dog!"

Nyx averted his gaze, arms crossed. "So what? It was asking for it..." He muttered.

Ignatius just glared at the demon before deflated, not having the energy as he had had to keep Nyx in line for almost the whole time they had been questioning the homestead residents and its lord.

It wasn't long before they found large furrows in the ground all over the enclosure alongside blood-stained dirt wherever the monster had struck, the human guide more than happy to forget his irritation in his work. He crouched by one such spot. "That's odd." He muttered to himself.

Not one to be left out, Nyx couldn't help but ask. "Why?"

He looked back at the demon, almost as if he had briefly forgotten he was there. Scowling as he remembered his duty as a guide. "These tracks... They're all over. Probably where each animal was taken. However, none of them have a trial. They just... start and stop right in the same place. There are no other tracks leading anywhere. It's very odd."

"Is it not a drug-gel, then?" Nyx asked, finding the name of the monster a bit odd.

He just shrugged. "Not sure. The claw marks should match if I remember correctly." Ignatius trailed his hand along a bloody furrow in the ground. "Haven't ever hunted one before though."

Getting back to his full height, he dusted off his hands on his pants. "Let's head into the forest and see if we can find the damn thing."

But he paused suddenly, turning back to glance at Nyx. He weighed something in his mind before asking. "By the way, have you ever hunted prey before? Do you know how to track?

Nyx simply smiled predatorily at that.