There was a considerable amount of material to consider for Niera and Tia. As much as one floor could hold, there was another above it that held just as much, and another above it.

Niera tried speaking a few words into the board but it didn't amount to much. Hoping it was a matter of the words "elder" and "dragon" being too limited to properly search all the material, she followed Tia and her example.

Tia was working her way across each floor reviewing everything. There wasn't one sheet she ignored and was methodically reviewing each one. It was remarkable her persistence and attention to detail in this regard. Niera could barely keep up with her and she was just skimming through the subject lines, reading a handful of seemingly useful notes that didn't amount to much.

But though there wasn't much for Niera since the notice of the elder dragon hunt, there were other items of note. Human affairs were posted for one, something foreign to elf intelligence and Niera took note of what she could. The other was a large repetition for recruitment in 8 guilds.

There was recruitment for other guilds mixed in but the amount these 8 had up, vastly outnumbered them. Most notable for Niera was that one involved Isis, stating she was involved with guiding one of the guilds.

As said by one of the advertisements, if one joined the guild and believed in her existence, they would be met with great fortune.

Niera enjoyed the company of the crystal moon Isis on many nights but never would expect others to interact with her presence in this way.

It was truly bizarre.

The others Niera was less familiar with. Buri, Yahweh, Chronos, Ra, Isis, Rhea, Meria, and Freya were names that appeared in similar frequency and style to the adverts involving Isis.

Truly bizarre.

Still, the abnormality in the posts seemed to have nothing to do with Niera's current mission and goals so they were ignored to the best of her abilities. It was just that the frequency and volume of their posting made it difficult to do so completely.

Niera continued looking, but after 18 floors of searching lost hope in finding more. It looked like the only item involving an elder dragon was the first that John had found. There wasn't even a request to do anything in its area.

Tia on the other hand showed no change in expression through the entire process and had no signs of slowing down while she remained by Niera's side. Niera was even skeptical if Tia had blinked once since the first floor. After floor 20, Niera was sure she hadn't...

Floor 25, 30, 40, and finally the last, floor 63 was searched. It was exceedingly tedious and tiring but they successfully managed to review it all.

Taking the gravity lift down they ended their little excursion now finding themselves with a new problem.

Since the beginning the two had been eyed, increasingly so the longer they stayed. Walking on 63 floors after walking past every merchant stall and the diner was enough to showcase their exotic 'assets' to practically the entire hall.

Niera, though clearly human, did not distinctively match the ancestral traits of those around her who were already a mix of various ones themselves. It was like a Brazilian supermodel walking through central London, in an alternative timeline when England held every race except Brazil. It turned heads and inspired a wide range of reactions in people while they soaked in her beauty.

Tia on the other hand was exotic in her own way. With possessed-looking eyes and her outfit covering most of her face, many were guessing as to what she was hiding under her mask. Her pink loft of hair and eyes portrayed a sense of innocence that was being devoured by her attire.

Both were in outfits that didn't hide their body's curves which definitely didn't help in avoiding notice.

Eventually a crowd of bold individuals crowded their path, successfully impeding their forward process.

Tia and Niera were reluctant to break through them by any means of force given Rak's earlier appearance. They could only push themselves closer together as the crowd got closer and closer.

"Please join my group!" "-my guild" "go out with me" "tell me your beauty secrets" "little girl, how did you get those eyes?"

Questions and requests poured out from the crowd with no end in sight.

Niera not knowing what to do eventually called for a spell, "vine defense!"

It was a Leafy spell and responded by growing vines seemingly out of thin air. The vines then began wrapping around them both, squeezing them together until they had no room to move while continuing to grow to a thick pod like seed.

Disturbingly though, the crowd didn't stop. They continued their approach by ripping through the vines. For them, Niera wasn't getting away that easily.

Niera was in a panic not knowing what to do and it was likely because of this that she choose the wrong defensive spell. Yes it was defensive and fast acting but it was not designed for a situation like this. This was an impact reduction spell.

Used properly, the created shell would absorb the impact from high impact attacks or falls. It was designed to be destroyed in place of the host after absorbing the energy. It was not designed to resist being ripped apart like this. Moreover it would get as close to the body as possible so that no jarring could take place.

Every part of Niera and Tia's body was pressured by the vines as they found their way against every square inch and pressed down for decent contact. Niera couldn't even shut it off as it was an automated spell meant to be activated in an emergency. It was designed to run its course then self-terminate from a lack of mana or unrecoverable damage.

Luckily the spell vines were porous or they would of suffocated.

The two both thought of using powerful attacks but if one of the individuals nearby was struck by accident, they would not be able to handle the consequences.

For now they were stuck though at least separated from the crowd who was attempting to dig through the regenerating vines for less than noble reasons.

It was an extraordinarily large commotion that eventually drew John and Mirajia's attention with Addy in tow, her two paw-like hands atop John's hand to keep it in place on her head.

John had attempted to remove Addy's hold but to no avail and this wasn't a place he could forcefully get rid of her.

In any case, he was at a loss though in regards to describing the situation when he arrived.

In the middle was a green seed like structure that was growing. He recognized the spell as a nature spell but didn't see a reasonable reason for its use. It was a terrible choice and somehow he knew it was Niera that was inside. As she was now a strong nature mage and had limited practical experience with her abilities, a mistake like this was possible.

"Mirajia, can you use mist and mirage skills?"

"Ah? You're familiar with water mage abilities? Yes, yes I can. What is it you are thinking."

"Deploy a mist, then reflect the seed-thing somewhere else in the room."

"Hmm, well I don't mind. It's an opportunity for you to see my skills."

John was ignoring her comments but she didn't notice. Instead he turned to Addy.

"Addy, I see you like getting petted. I'll do it properly for a bit if you shred only the vines in front of use quickly."

Addy looked up with eyes as big as the moon before ecstatically nodding her head.

Mirajia began her spells, "open the gate of water and may a cloud of most come forth, mist! May the illusion of hope aid me in my plight, water mirage!"

Mirajia pointed her staff somewhere and the splitting image of the vines appeared somewhere along where she pointed while the mist leaked out across the flow and lowered vision.

Someone yelled, "they moved!" Clearing away the individuals around the large seed. Addy then glowed white before after images appeared in the mist all over the vine.

In a flash, Addy overwhelmed the spell and had it collapsing to reveal Tia and Niera in complicated states. She really was strong.

Addy promptly returned to John's side and awaited her reward which John was now obligated, by his own words, to uphold.

The mist and mirage disappeared while Mirajia prepared to speak. Her voice boomed, "these two ladies are now with me, if anyone has a quarrel with this they can take it up with me, Mirajia Redknight, vice commander of the guild Paroxysm!"

There were a number of grunts, moans and other noises of discontentment but no one came forth.

"Well that ends that, are you two ladies ok?" Mirajia offered a hand but it was John's they used to get up.

"Ah? John do you know these two?"

Niera got up with Tia gripping her waste to join her.

"Mirajia, this is Tia and Niera. Niera and Tia this is Mirajia and Addy." Addy was oblivious in her state of bliss under John's hand.

"Niera is the individual I was travelling with," John continued "and Tia is a friend from outside First."

"I see, so you're not really in First alone."

"Well, not for the moment it seems."

Mirajia felt the hopes of recruiting John suddenly hit an abysmal chance of success. But that wasn't enough for her to give up.

"So, John. With this business with the red dragon hunt going on, how about Paroxysm hires your service as a mercenary force under Paroxysm? You wouldn't have to travel to Trent and would still receive similar rewards."

With this, Mirajia could get John involved with Paroxysm and when it came time for payment he would have to report in. That would give her another chance at recruitment as this one was clearly failing.

John pondered, it was a good deal. There was going to be a large number of individuals present at this hunt and by doing this, the name Paroxysm would show up instead of John Ryder on registration. Also, there didn't seem to be any reason Paroxysm would double back on their word and maybe he could acquire different rewards that suited him better through this method.

John turned to Niera, "this sounds like a good deal, do you want to take it Niera?"

"If you think it is John then I would like to join."

Mirajia was slightly taken back by how dedicated and loyal Niera's words sounded to John.

"If that's the case then I accept Mirajia."

"What about Tia and Addy?"

"Hmm? They aren't really travelling with me though."

"I. Accept. Going. Trent. Waste." Tia replied.

"Nya... I'll follow John until I die." Addy finally said something other than cat noises... Sort of.

Everyone looked at her though. She had said some pretty heavy words with relative ease.

"Addy, don't you think it's a bad idea to follow me?" John asked.

"Does John hate me for wanting to follow?"

"I don't, but this is kind of sudden."

"Is there a reason I can't follow? There are many that fear me, is it something like that? I can do something about that."

Addy began chanting a spell, "From the book of beasts that we learn our way, I sight a passage so that this man-"

John covered her mouth, "don't you dare finish that spell!"

He was sweating profusely because that was a spell no one should ever use. Had she finished it, Addy would of surely become his responsibility. It was the kind of spell that made the caster forcefully obedient to the target. A careless use of words could send her to her death or worse and at the same time would influence her actions to find him if separated. The spell was one that should never be used!

"But it would work."

John took his hand off her head which she didn't like and flicked her hard in the forehead which she didn't like more.

"Here's another. Repeat after me. I, Addy the beast queen, defile my words and dishonor them before the book of beasts so that they may never hold me. I hereby toss aside the book of beasts and adhere to its origins and intents. The way of the beast is my way, and will never change."

Addy repeated it exactly, though not exactly of her own will as John had returned his hand to her head. Her words were spoken within a blissful state where she didn't actually care about what she was saying.

The magic activated and Addy glowed for a moment while John sighed in relief.

John had made the human-beast bond in Addy purer, making her stronger, while also taking away her ability to bind herself to others.

John removed his hand.

Addy was none the wiser, just happy for the contact while Mirajia was mesmerized by his depth of knowledge and skill.

Knowledge of beast men, water mages and scouting was definitely unusual, most only knew their own and not in detail. In addition to that, being looked up to by such commotion starting individuals only grew her desire to have him the join the guild. She would pull out all the stops on the next attempt to bring him in.

Mirajia however still had her responsibilities in the present. She needed to leave them now or major problems would erupt.

"John, it was a pleasure to meet you in First. Until the next time we meet, I hope you keep yourself well."

"Thanks Mirajia, I wish the same from you as well."

With this, she left the four of them there and returned to the table, doing last minute arrangements prior to leaving for Trent herself.

Seeing Addy would not leave, John squatted a little in front of her. She was stuck to him now whether he liked it or not.

"Addy, are you familiar with Gaia contracts?"

"Not particularly."

"They are contracts governed by First itself. If fair they will hold and cannot be broken but if unfair will bend to circumstances. The only way to exit one is for the parties in question to agree to end it. As you were prepared to initialize a beast contract, I believe yourself mentally prepared for this."

"Yes, I understand. Please initialize the contract."

"Addy, I hereby under these conditions allow you boarding passage on the Icarus.

1. You will not divulge any information you acquire about me or those related to me without my agreement, this includes Icarus and everything within her.

2. You must respect those related to me, you are not to fight or bring them harm unless it is consensual or to their benefit.

3. You will be honest about important things and will not lie.

If you agree to these 3 things, swear by your soul that you will follow them."

"I accept and swear by my soul to follow these things."

John put his hand on her head in appreciation.

"It's done."

"Nyah!"

Addy became very happy.

Tia was still around and watching. "John. Ship. Icarus?"

John nodded.

Tia pointed at herself. "Tia. Ship. Black Scorpion."

"It looks impressive, treat it well," was John's reply.

"Yes." Was Tia's last words before walking off. As she rounded the corner she said a few more, "see. John. Hunt."

Now it was just the three of them. "Well Niera, sorry for adding one more but I won't kill her to make her go away."

"It's alright John, though I can only question her character at this point. If she becomes I will help you with her."

"She won't be, Gaia contracts are no joke. The only reason I bothered putting her under one is because she is far too into her cat side and I don't want to kill her. Someone could probably get her some catnip and have her spill everything, willingly or not."

"That hurts John, I'm more reliable than that," Addy interjected.

John moved his fingers a little faster. "Nyah!" And she was no longer paying attention.

Niera looked at Addy, not knowing what to feel towards her but was leaning towards pity. Maybe it would be nice to have someone pet your head, though not if you were going to act like that.

"Niera, let's head back. We'll finish with our tasks on the Icarus and leave. I know where the elder red dragon's territory is so we'll head there. When advent makes their final plans we can slip in with the first wave and stay inconspicuous. That way we can find a good hiding spot for Icarus before she becomes a spectacle amongst the other incoming ships. We'll then rejoin the main force with Icarus under the cover of everything in mobilization."

"Yes John, I'll follow your lead but the elder red dragon... can Advent really kill it?"

"Conventionally? No, but this is Advent. I have never known them to fail and they are all exceptionally strong, by my standards no less."

"I see." Niera was getting gloomy.

John looked at her with serious eyes. "Niera, at the start of your journey. What was your chance of success? If anything, between then and now it should of taught you that the future is unpredictable and that you shouldn't get down because it looks grim. Keep moving forward and see for yourself what happens."

Niera met John's serious eyes with her own, the life within them reigniting. "Yes, John."

"Good, now let's be off."