Elira Phasol, The Bloodied Borough

Elira was in a good mood. In fact, she was in a fantastic mood.

She was fifteen when she got accepted as a Neophyte, the lowest rank in the standard that Mercenary Hall use. It took her another 3 years of up-hill battle to prove her worth and reach Journeyman. Last month, she finally reported the mission’s success that fulfilled the requirements for her new rank.

Elira had earned her new rank through valid missions and didn’t resort to bribery like most scions of powerful families. She was adamant in proving herself, despite the constant urging of her idiotic friend, to use her own family's influence for a quick climb in rank.

The Phasol family got the wealth and more importantly; the Phasol Constitution. This type of constitution gifted them certain talents in the way of the souls and this made them one of the more influential families in Meshiere Continent. Her Great Grandparents both held the position of Saint and Guardian Rank; that's a 5-stars rank! It seemed leagues away to her newly acquired 2-stars rank.

Elira could have saved around a year if she made use of her family's resources but she did not want to -- and she had no regrets with that.

Most people would call her a try-hard, arrogant, or even a goody-two-shoes but she did not care. She was proud of her heritage but she knew that if she wanted more in life, she had to work for it herself.

"You're wearing that look again." A familiar voice mocked her from behind, but the voice intoned a friendly attitude so she let it pass -- without a physical beating that is.

"And you're wasting your breath, again, pointing out obvious and useless things." Elira knew what look his friend was talking about because she could see it in the mirror. She was not vain, she just needed the daily affirmation that she would do well with everything for the day.

Elira’s haughty expression was reflected in the mirror, along with her other features. Her golden coloured eyes shined with the light reflected in them; it formed a good contrast to her dark grey complexion and braided dark blue hair. A pair of horns jutted behind her slightly pointed ears, the sharp ends just a bit higher than her head; it pointed to the ceiling and it stood straight and proud -- just like her. A well-proportioned face complimented everything but she didn’t have much pride in it; most humans with demon constitution possessed good looks anyway.

"Besides, what are you doing in my house? In my bathroom no less. Don't you have any sense of propriety?" She said as she turned around to look with narrowed eyes at her friend, standing outside her bathroom door.

"Oh, I had let myself in. I figured you'd be doing your morning ritual anyway, so no chance of me seeing your covered bits. Not that I wanted to, mind you." He replied, smirking with his ever aggravating face.

Elira had already donned her adventurer armour. A white undershirt with a red leather breastplate on top made from Lava Bears. Her lower limbs were protected with leather boots and greaves, while her upper limbs are equipped with bracers; they were all made from the same material. Various belts and harnesses are strapped onto her body to hold the katars, her main weapon, and some other knick knacks like throwing knives, small bombs, and poison bottles. She kept the important potion bottles separately in her belt pouch.

She liked being able to move easily so she preferred her current equipment over cuirass and other heavier full body armours. Most of her current Souls gave an advantage to movement, perception, and strength; combined with her demon constitution, she'll be able to move just as if she was naked.

Elira looked over William after double checking her equipment and she supposed he was attractive enough, despite being human that is. In fact, most people she knew was attracted to him one way or another. Years of teasing conditioned her to be irritated whenever he opened his mouth though.

William was a human without any unique constitution to his name. His ancestors did not possess any bloodline to pass on, nor did they receive any blessings. He didn't have any Elven or Demonic blood to increase his appearance's charm, nor any Drake or Avian constitution to increase his elemental affinity. He was just your plain, fleshy, soft skinned human. Despite all that, he had talent; talent to control his own energy efficiently for converting other energies. He was a Journeyman, just like her, and he had been promoted the same year as her.

"I can't believe that you're going to meet two -- TWO! of the ever elusive Fallen members! I really envy your family background; at least you finally started using your resources properly." William said as he waved his hands in the air, like most humans do; they did not have tails after all. It seemed that his breach of privacy was just to complain about her special mission.

"Nobody would pass up the chance to do a mission with a Fallen member; they are Legends" Elira said righteously while crossing her arms at her friend. "They only have 10 members but they are considered as a major power; not just in Meshiere, but in the whole world!" Her pointed tail waved behind her at her excitement.

Any of the Fallen members' achievements and power could rival her grandmother; each of them possessing unimaginable talent and constitutions. Despite having only 10 members to their guild, they could contend with the other major guilds and clans that are composed of hundreds of people.

At least according to other people and rumours. She hadn't met any of their members -- yet.

"Do you know who will you be meeting? I'm gonna die of enviousness if it's Jasmine or Jared." Elira’s tail twitched at his statement. "How did your grandmother manage to land you a mission with them anyway?" He continued, mostly to himself.

"Serath is the first member but I don't know who the other one would be. It's an escort mission so it would make sense that The Barrier Master would be joining, not to mention he is currently in this city."

Serath Meshiere could be considered as one of the well-known individuals in Meshiere; his surname made it obvious enough. Born as the crown prince to the largest empire of the continent but abdicated due to unknown reasons; he is an enigma to her as his fellow guildsmen. His barriers precede his heritage though and it means a lot when you're more famous for formations than for your royal blood.

"Serath? Dragon's balls, he's freaking cool!" William suddenly seemed more excited than before. She guessed that it was the royal blood; nothing excited the masses like a prince or a princess... then again, he would have probably reacted the same if she named any of the Fallen. Maybe except, Mary -- that would just be weird... and June, dead people could not join escort missions after all.

"Yes, yes, now get out of my way. I need to be in the meeting place in an hour and I need to leave now if I want to arrive early." Elira pushed him out of the bathroom doors and made her way to the entrance of a humbly decorated home, grabbing the prepared adventurer pack on the way out.

The house Elira lived in was located in the residential part of the city reserved for mercenaries. Most of the houses in these part of the city looked uniform, with their red brick walls and flat rooftops. The front doors of the houses are directly beside the street, with only a few houses decorating their front yard with a garden.

Elira was content with the size of her house as it’s big enough to house three people and she is currently occupying a whole house alone. It was no mansion -- but it was hers. It's located near the centre of the city and was quite close to the Mercenary Hall branch of The Bloodied Borough.

William followed her outside the house and kept staring at her with shining, pleading eyes. She could feel his intense gaze, boring through her, as she tried to ignore him and walked away from her front door. Two blocks later, she could still feel his presence so she decided to confront him.

"Why are you following me?" She suddenly turned around and William tried to act with nonchalance -- tried, being the key word. He was trying to look everywhere but her, with his hands behind him, whistling a random tune.

Elira stopped walking and just raised an eyebrow, pointed her tail at him and stared until he finally relented and replied.

"Oh, come on. Introduce me! It's not like they will kill you for bringing a friend!" William pleaded and her eyes twitched at that.

"Look -- I'm not gonna join you guys. You could just say that I accompanied you to your destination; like a proper gentleman." He continued when she just kept staring; he seemed immune to her glares already.

"I thought the 'love of your life' is Jasmine?" Elira sighed as she turned around and just continued walking on the red pavement; silently granting permission for his presence.

"She is! Have you seen her in the recent news circulation? She was modelling the most popular underwear brand right now! I saved the picture to... uhh I mean.. I wanted to show it to you that's why I saved it. Yes, that's it... I thought you would like the underwear brand!" His blood rushed to his face as he realized what he was babbling about.

Elira just rolled her eyes at him; she really didn't want to know what that picture was for. She just continued walking to her destination while William, not-so-subtly, changed the subject to more mundane news from the news circulation.

"... and they said Lyria just managed to kill the rampaging lesser dragon on the West Wardens -- Hey, you still haven't told me about the mission! I know it's an escort quest but who will you guys be protecting?" He said as he punched her gently on the shoulders while walking to get her attention.

"Me."

"Whaa-- They are escorting you?!" William's mouth had been hanging open when she turned around to face him with a teasing smile on her lips.

Elira just chuckled and replied, "Well, not exactly. I'm not actually part of the mission." He just waited for her to explain, so she continued elaborating.

"My Great Grandmother just so happened to be indulging drinks with Gerund -- YES the one who is an expert in world traveling. Gerund received news about the activation of a Wesh Root while getting drunk with her, so he hurriedly organized an expedition. My Gigi thought it was a good opportunity so she suggested that he bring one of her grandchildren for learning." she patiently explained her Grandmother’s involvement on the said mission.

"So.. long story short, your Old Granny forced him to bring you for experience?" William clarified.

"Yes. It just so happened the Wesh Root is somewhere in the End Forest, which is south-east of here, and that The Barrier Master is currently stationed here. Hence, I was the one that got chosen for accompanying them for being in this city."

"The End Forest, where a Lesser Dragon made his home?" Elira just nodded at his question.

"Tortured Demons! are you insane?!" William exclaimed in reflex.

Elira's tail made a fast whip at the ground that produced a cracking sound at his remark. The sudden action made other passersby gave a wide berth at her surrounding space. William had the decency to look apologetic at his slip of tongue so she decided not to gouge his eyes out.

Demons had been persecuted long, long ago for looking different. However, during The Triumvirate War; humans, demons, and other part-humans started to work together in pushing the Orleys back. After hundreds of years fighting together, they decided to keep the peace even after the Orleys retreated back to Praenth. Racist slurs no longer had the bite from before and they just became harmless expressions.

She still didn't like them though and he knows it.

"Sorry, it's just that it would really be dangerous, right? I'm just worried." He softened his tone and in a rare bout, gave a look of seriousness.

"Look.. We're near the Mercenary Hall so I should reassure you now before you make me look bad in front of them." They stopped walking and faced each other seriously.

"Mr Gerund knows that I'm just a Journeyman but he still accepted my Gigi's offer because we will be escorted by The Barrier Master and another Fallen member. Only the Lesser Dragon would pose a problem for them but the Lesser Dragon there is a peaceful one; this would just really be a stroll in the forest."

"But.... alright, alright, geez." William stopped his inquiry when Elira sharpened her glare at him. They continued walking in silence until they reached the Merc Hall. She settled her nerves and pushed the door open and went straight for the left staircase with William silently walking behind her.

She knocked politely on the unassuming door located on the second floor of the hall and went in -- excitement bursting from her soul for she would finally meet a Legend.

End of Chapter 2