A lit fireplace burned cosily in the corner, extending its light throughout the simple yet grand hall. The sun rose slowly, piercing through the grand oval window on the roof, not a cloud in the sky to block the ever-rising natural light. A pair of long tables would extend the length of the enormous interior, parallel with many doors that ran across the cobblestone walls, and at the very end opposite the flames, protected in a stone cage, a grand door tall enough to overwhelm the entire estate.

Next to the open blaze, sat a woman, her waist-length scarlet hair pulled into a tall, tight ponytail, held together by a golden ring. She rubbed her shimmering longsword with a clean rag, the blade smooth and attractive, a crisp sheen swimming across the metal as it was shined by the cloth. Her armour dazzled as it reflected the light from the fireplace, metal plating covering her chest and shoulders. Leather protected her stomach and arms, with more shining silver equipped at her legs and hands. A smile grew on her face as she finished wiping down her blade, thoroughly inspecting it from all angles.

Sitting across from the woman, in a grand leather armchair was a shady looking man. One side of his head was shaved, while the rest of his dark hair would flow down the other side of his head. A bundle of the patch of black that was his hair would be tucked behind his head in a ponytail, much shorter than the fiery red-haired woman’s. His face was painted in a very irritated manner, and a negative energy radiated from him naturally. The sclera of his eyes as black as his hair contrasted violently by piercing pupils the colour of blood. His clothes were simple with a white tank top and a pair of brown leather leggings, and black boots. A black tattoo outstretched from the left side of his chest towards his arm and neck, slowly crawling across his body. The youthful man also held a weapon; a dagger’s blade attached to a long, thin chain with a name engraved into it- ‘Fionna’.

Michaelis blew a raspberry toward the ceiling, sighing while glaring towards Titania, awaiting a glare back. “Titania, dearest, if you don’t mind, what on earth is taking so long to get out there and work?” Michaelis moaned, restlessly tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair, “I’m antsy to get started.”

“If you would be a little patient Michael, we are-”

“Michaelis.” He cut her off, correcting her quickly, “Mick is fine too.” He finished, sneering towards the woman in charge, his tone condescending.

“Michaelis.” She corrected herself, “Not everyone is as ready to go as you are, and there is still time before we are scheduled to leave.” Titania finished, exhaling just as Michaelis did the same, both exasperated from one another's presence. Regardless, Titania placed her cloth on a small table next to her as she raised her blade into the air, admiring her finished product.

Along the edge of her blade, she spotted another party, a large green mass approaching Michaelis from behind. “Ah, I assume you’re ready to leave now, Ilgar?” Titania greeted the green giant.

The sound of the hefty stomps encompassed the massive hall, echoing with each drop of a heavy foot. The man planted his hands on the top of the armchair Michaelis rested upon, causing him to jump with fright as he turned in his chair. A large grin slightly hidden by two massive tusks outstretching from the edges of a beastly man’s mouth erupted upwards past his cheeks.

“Hello!” The orc erupted, his arm raised in a friendly wave. With a massive war axe attached to his back, secured by a strap across his chest, armour slapped randomly across his body with most of his chest exposed. “I’m ready for fighting!”

Titania smiled, “That’s grand Ilgar, please, take a seat while we wait for everyone else.” She then gestured to a chair attached to one of the lengthy tables, in which Ilgar promptly slammed himself down on. Crunching sounds could be heard as his full seven-foot-tall body slammed down on the poor wooden chair with all of its force.

Before Titania had enough time to wince, another person would approach from her right; a young man with snow-white hair and piercing green eyes, paired with his flowing red kimono painted with white flowers across it. “Good morning Miss Titania.”

“Ah- oh- Uhm, good morning Kaze!” Titania stuttered, blushing slightly at the title of Miss, “Please, Titania is fine.”

Kaze smiled softly, his hand placed on the handle of his longsword, attached at his left hip. Michaelis stifled a laugh behind his arm as Titania shot daggers towards him with her eyes.

“Who is left to come?” Ilgar inquired, as he began walking in circles, restless.

“I believe we have two more with us today, shouldn’t be too much longer now,” Titania replied, showing a soft smile to Ilgar, while Michaelis swung his head around the room with another large attention-seeking sigh.

“Praise be to Doiteain!” A voice boomed throughout the echoing hall, enough to make all present parties jump, aside from Ilgar who cheered back with a powerful roar. Approaching from one of the many rooms planted across the two walls of the grand hall would be a man completely covered in hair, with a snout like a hound. A grey wolfman with a belt wrapped around his furry waist, and a pair of metal gauntlets covering his fists. The hound-like man twisted the wrists of the metal gloves, causing them to click into place.

“Dear Freann…” Michaelis muttered as he rubbed his temple.

“It’s a wonderful day to engage in combat for the glory of one's patron, don’t you agree?” The beastman's voice boomed once more, a devilish grin painted across his fanged mouth. Confusion would continue to flow through Ilgar’s face as he attempted to decipher the sentence and all of its larger words, with a dumb smile planted on his face as he continued to process.

“I’m glad you’re in high spirits Fenrisolace,” Titania finally mustered the calm to respond, smiling softly towards the fluff covered warrior. “We'll be leaving shortly; we're just waiting for Karrow to arrive.”

“My ears are burning.” A final voice muttered, exiting from another room, a young man approached with short, spiky black hair, with the sides of his head shaved. He bore a long black robe with sleeves flowing past his hands, and a pair of shining brown eyes.

“Ah, well that’s everyone, so I can finally explain what we shall be doing today. I trust everyone has made themselves at home?”

“I don’t think I’ve slept anywhere as soft!” Ilgar shouted with a smile, to Titania’s obvious glee, despite how she tried to hide it.

“Grand. Now, skipping any formalities; today we are hunting a Goddess, apparently located in the forest of Foraoise to the west of here.” Titania began, picking up a sheet of paper next to the cloth she set down previously, reading off of it.

“From the uppers down in Capital, we were told via a tip that a lower-tier Goddess could be found there, so it will be a good way to test whether or not you are all able to handle this sort of job.”

Michaelis scoffed, while Fenris shadowboxed, almost entirely ignoring Titania’s rambling. “I will not be handling the God themselves but will deal with any additional enemies that may be present. You are all entirely liable to die in this battle, so if you don’t take this seriously and give it your all, you can’t blame anyone but yourself when you drop. Also, look out for one another and learn to trust one another. Gods are not to be trifled with and this won’t be our last if you all happen to make it out alive.”

Kaze gupled, nervous as Ilgar squinted his eyes, mouth slowly opening as he attempted to take in all of the words Titania was dropping at once. “So with that out of the way, make sure you don’t forget anything.” She stood, stretching her arms out, and cracking her neck. “Let’s head out.”

She approached the door of the guildhall, as the five men behind her followed, faces painted with a variety of joy, excitement and fear.

-

Follow me on Twitter @DominusHunt

Support me on Patreon at www.patreon.com/dominushunt