Chapter 4 – Before the Mission

Entering the town hall, the first thing that entered Aiden sight was a panel around four meters long full of announcements, petitions, and request; going from messages asking for lost children to prompts advising about the monthly recollection of tax.

That panel was called the request board and was the place where people searching for jobs or accepting commissions go with the purpose of selecting the most adequate activity for their necessities.

Though this board doesn’t possess only requests, it received its name due to them being the main number of posts in the panel, occupying almost a half of it in comparison to other announcements.

Already accustomed at the scene, Aiden and Lia walked directly to a side of the hall where a receptionist was standing with the purpose of helping to resolve any doubt, completing the process to accept a request or provide information about a situation in particular.

The reason because the town recurred at posting request for help was mainly due to the issue of lacking personal, mostly of the military type, and also because of the lack of recurses.

After all, the border city of Cali has a population of at most a few thousands, of which only around one hundred have any class of military training. And though a vast majority of this world people learn to fight at some point in their lives, normally that only means to learn how to use a stick to defend yourself. In a world where only spirits users have any future in the path of fighting, with the exception of a few mercenary groups or bandits, not many spiritless people truly learned how to fight.

Reaching the counter, Aiden straightened his body before speaking to the smiling receptionist.

“Hello, I’m here to ask about the remaining details of my request.”

Nodding to him, the receptionist answered while looking through the documents in the counter.

“How are you, Mr. Aiden? We were waiting for you. You took the request about the beasts destroying the camps at the west of the town right?”

“Yes, you are right.”

“Okay, wait a moment.”

Grabbing some documents from the counter, the receptionist entered a door behind the counter before returning with a few more notes in her hand.

“Mr. Aiden, here are all the documents related to the request. It contains information about the place where you are going, the type of beast you are going to face and the possible difficulties you could find. Please read them carefully and ask if you have any doubt.”

“Very well.”

Accepting the documents, Aiden, with Lia in tow, walked towards a table in a corner of the hall to sit and revise the documents.

Apart from information about the place and the current loses incurred, the notes mainly included information about the beast, the Giant Boar. A very aggressive variant of the boar known for attacking human beings and livestock with frequency, probably the reason because was published the request, and frequently seen in the surroundings.

Different from normal boars, giant boars have his body tempered for energy, and though they are unable of wielding it like a true demonic beast, their strength is way beyond an ordinary human, oscillating between the beginning and peak stages of a core forming realm expert.

Aiden had a bit of experience with this kind of beast because he encountered them before in some other missions. Normally they are not very difficult to kill, but if they are in groups of at least three of them, then things become difficult. Fortunately, this kind of beast acts normally in solitary, with only a few exceptions.

Thinking about the words of the old man, Aiden and Lia revised carefully every document without encountering anything out of order. Confirming that everything was well and asking a few questions more at the receptionist, the pair left then the town hall.

Walking out the hall, Aiden and Lia went towards the center of the town to buy the lacking provisions necessaries for the travel before going to the western gate of the town.

“Young master, do you think that the words of the old man are true? I didn’t see any problem with the request.”

Thinking a moment about Lia's words and remembering the warning of the old man in the old store, Aiden hesitated for a moment before replying.

“It must be. At the end of the day, that old man makes his money selling information. I don’t think he will lie about it to his customers. Besides, what reason him have to lie to us?”

Looking worried, Lia asked:

“.. Then, if young master thinks so, why you chose to continue the request?”

Seeing the expression of doubt and slight nervousness in Lia's face, Aiden could no help but laugh before speaking.

“Hahahaha, don’t worry so much Lia. Even if there is an unexpected danger, How difficult can something related to giant boars be? At worst, we will find some beast with strength around the core-fusing level, and while the beasts don't reach to the late core-fusing stage, I have confidence in us retreating safely.”

“Ooh, then I’m relieved.”

Hearing the breath released for Lia and looking her slightly calmer face, Aiden laughed once more before teasing her.

“Haha Lia, c’mon, don’t tell me you expected for me to say a cheesy line like ‘don’t worry! If something happens I will protect you!’”

“Mou young master! don’t tease me!”

“Hahahaha!”

Laughing while glancing at Lia blushing slightly, Aiden smiled from ear to ear before adding in a calm tone.

“Well, this is not like if I will not do it if the situation presents itself.”

Blushing even more deeply, Lia only nodded slightly like a timid rabbit.

“En.”

…

At the western gate of the town, Aiden and Lia presented their identification for the town guards to see before exiting the town. Once outside, Aiden could not help but exhale strongly before stretching his arms, his black jacket moving with the wind.

“Hahhh, it had been so long from the last time I went in a request with you.”

Looking warmly at the scene, Lia smiled softly before agreeing with Aiden.

“Yes, I think it was almost a year. I guess the last time was when we exterminated the rabbits.”

“Pufff, hahaha! I remember that you almost cried while killing a rabbit! Hahaha, that was hilarious!”

“Mou young master, don’t speak about it! It is shameful!”

“Hahahaha, okay okay! Don’t be angry! I will not talk about it anymore!”

“Hmph, I will no speak with you anymore!”

Increasing her walking speed, Lia pouted leaving at Aiden behind in front of the town gate.

“Hey! Wait for me! Don’t let your young master behind!”

Laughing again, Aiden jogged a bit before catching with her, looking forward and preparing himself for the coming battles.