???: Kitoh failed, horribly. His item was recovered by the enemy as well.

The raven seemingly nods, before disappearing from its fast speeds.

???: Red. That was clever, I gotta hand it to you. We will play again soon. Count on it.

--- Chapter 17 ---

Following a night of party, everyone was called into the main hall. The master started to assign everyone into groups and give them tasks to complete.

Master: Sole, Elias, Ame, Hiro. You four will go to Tamriel. We located a shipment of rare materials that arrived there. Protect citizens from any Tenyi you find, and protect that shipment. Sole, your in charge of this operation

Sole: Yes sir.

Red: What about me?!

Master: You will stay and heal.

Red: But i'm fine! I'm ready to go!

He flexes one of his biceps and slaps it. A rush of pain goes over him but he tries to put a straight face up, a single tear flows down his face.

Master: Right. You four have safe travels.

Sole: Thank you sir.

They start to leave the guild hall.

Master: Luna, are you ready for your training?

Luna: Yes, I am.

Master: Good.

Soles group gets in Branders Cart and starts to go. Hiro starts to laugh.

Elias: What's so funny?

Hiros laughing gets more intense.

Ame: What's up with you?

Hiro: Come on now, I know you're both thinking about it.

Ame and Elias: …

Hiro: Master gave Sole the leader position and not one of you two.

Hiro continues laughing while they just look at the ground. He was right, they were thinking about it. Sole sits awkwardly in the background.

Elias: Why. Why did he make you the leader…

Hiros laughing stops.

Elias: I worked my ass off, for the past two years. Completing S-Class missions, and yet you still...

Ame and Hiro scooch away from them, and awkwardly stare at each other.

Sole: … We are almost there. Everyone get ready.

Elias sighs and gets ready. The cart enters the town's walls. This town is more technologically advanced than Termina is. Street lamps line the streets, building more modern with multiple stories that serve as apartments. A couple buildings reaching over 10 stories which was only found in castles.

Sole: alright let's find somewhere to stay for the night.

As they find a place to stay and set up camp, we find ourselves a couple miles from Termina. A group of hooded figures walk up to a wounded man lying in the grass. The cloaked figure in the front pulls down his hood to reveal his expressionless face.

Kitoh: Its you, Astra.

Astra: …

Kitoh: I know how to beat them now, they were good but I thought of a way to do it-

Astra: You failed Kitoh.

Kitoh: I- I know i just need more time!

Astra: Failures are not allowed within the guild.

Kitoh: No please I can do it!

Astra snaps his finger and Barron(The guy who has his eyes closed in monk clothes) brings a jar full of a transparent green liquid over.

Kitoh: Barron! Please brother, don't do this!

Barron remains expressionless with his eyes closed. Astra leans in.

Astra: You no longer need this.

He reaches for Kitoh’s face and grabs something. Kitoh howls in pain, before a snap can be heard. The howling intensifies. Astra brings his hand over the jar and drops something in it. An eye. Kitohs left eye, the one that can see someone's soul. Astra had taken it.

Astra: Nero, could you and the doc use this.

Nero(They guy in the lab coat): Yes, as long as we keep him fresh.

Kitoh: No please, anything but that! Please!

Astra knocks Kitoh out and nero slings him over his shoulder.