Phil, his face totally deadpan, stared at the old man for some seconds. “How do I know they’re safe?”

“Do not question our authority, otherwise you’ll have worked for us for naught. Dismissed.” The man shooed Phil away and despite his clear irritation, he could do or say nothing.

Phil left, walking along some alleyways until he tottered into quite the lonely alley. He went into an old house that looked like it was afflicted by the wrath of a storm. I thought it was abandoned at first. Slipping through the walls, I saw a tear escape down his face and he gnarled, slamming his fist against the wall. “Fucking trash!” he raged, clenching his fists and slumping down, sliding down the wall and sitting on the ground with a hopeless look in his eyes.

I sat down on a chair at the side of him then removed Voidwalk. He threw a dagger in reflex. It flew by my head, rustling my hair. I should thank Tarit for Avatar of Lightning…

Phil’s hand remained extended whilst he glared at me. “How much do you know?”

I grabbed two cups from his table and conjured some wine into it, handing one off to him. “If I say ‘everything’, will you kill me?”

“Is it everything?” he took the cup, not at all taking his eyes off my movements.

I sat back down and allowed some quiet to fill the house, then sipped the wine. A good draft was my thing, but I pegged him as a sophisticated man. Eventually, I shook my head, “Nah. I know that that old guy wants the RC head’s head. I know that he has some kinda leverage on you.” I placed the cup down on the chair’s armrest and leaned forward. “What I don’t know, is why you didn’t turn to First Flight for help. Scarlet would probably mow down North Sun and Onyx Heart for you.”

He sipped his wine, and exhaled wearily, even chuckling a bit. “First Flight can fix all of my problems without a doubt. I have absolute faith in them.”

“Then, why?”

“It isn’t their problem. And I don’t mean to sound like a child who can’t open his hand for help,” he squeezed the cup, “I just don’t think anyone in First Flight deserves to be mixed up in my problems.”

I stood up and perambulated along the walls, admiring the landscape paintings. There were a lot of them scattered in a corner of the house as well. “You’re, kind of a cunt, aren’t you?” I asked, my eyes glued to a particular watermill painting.

“Well,” he scoffed, “that’s rude.”

“Can I ask why you obey that man?” I turned around, giving him a look that said it wasn’t a request.

“My wife and son…” he squeezed, breaking the clay cup with his bare strength. He apologised for wasting the wine.

The smell of breakfast wafted through the house, coming from somewhere outside. It reminded me of eating with Flynn and Mary. When they came to mind, so did Tacari. I’d wished that Dawn was able to see him. With a sigh, I dismissed those thoughts and instead focused on Phil again.

I weaved a bit of light magic on his hands and closed the little cuts he got. “Phil, if I found out that god had my family hostage, I’d make a deal with the devil just so I could ensure their safety and happiness. My wife is pregnant with my kid. If someone was to take her, I’d raise hell. I’d kiss ass. I’d commit murder. I’d beg like a dog. Whatever it takes for her to live and be happy, I would do it. Don’t get me wrong,” I downed the rest of wine and filled up again, making a glass for him, “I’m not so narcissistic as to think every man should do what I would do. I’m just going off of your reactions to that old man. It looked like you hated being unable to help them. So, this is why I say,” I cleared my throat, “ensure your wife and son’s safety. Beg Scarlet if you have to. Plead for the entire guild’s help if you have to. Ask me to end their lives if you have to. Just do what it takes. I’m putting a Light Link in you again,” I cast the spell, “so think about what I said. If you still disagree with telling the truth and seeking help, then break the connection. If the sun sets and Light Link is still active, then I will hear you out.”

He kept quiet through all that, so much so that I wondered if he even listened to my words in the first place. “Best of luck in whatever you choose, Phil,” I placed the cup down and Voidwalked out the house.

“Hmm, wife and kids, huh? But he’s so young.”

Yeah, wasn’t expecting that. I wonder if Scarlet knows?

When I returned to the guild, I learnt that Scarlet opted out of doing dungeons for the day. August fell asleep leaned against the giant wolf. Most of the other guild members already grouped up and left. Freya and Scadia were chatting in the foyer. When Freya noticed I returned, she pestered me to teach her a spell like I did for Phil. She even asked for tips. “Do you think I need to change my weapons or style as well?” she asked, one of many questions that bombarded me.

I was more than happy to help her, but I rubbed my chin in puzzlement. “Didn’t August suggest anything?” I asked. She iterated what he said, that he wasn’t confident in teaching others.

“Who said I wasn’t confident?” the blacksmith’s voice wiggled its way into the conversation. “I said Eric would be the best person to ask.”

“Well, there you have it,” Freya said, eagerly awaiting my advice. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what improvement could be made for her. She simply wasn’t talented despite being S-rank. There were other A-rank, or even B-rank tanks that were better than her. Recalling their movements and comparing it to her, I began seeing where the differences laid. I squatted down in thought.

After a few minutes of rubbing my forehead and considering how to tell her she simply sucked as a tank, it clicked to me. The other tanks, despite being heavily plated, were extremely quick to react. They were able to match the patterns of enemy attack and predict what would come next, or at least make an educated guess. They would shout at group members whom they were too far from to protect and advise them about what to look out for.

Freya lacked in all these departments. Her physical strength and sturdiness were up there with the best tanks I’d seen, but because of her slow reactions and bad communication, her ability to constantly keep everyone safe suffered. “This is a bit of a stretch…” I finally came out of my mind. “But you should quit tanking.”

August spat his morning mead out. Murmurs from other guild members floated through the air. “I won’t hold back on telling you what I think. And I think you’re pretty bad at it. You’re talentless. Sure, I can tell you what to do, give you the direct instructions. But there are some things that can’t be taught by others. Some things you just have to learn for yourself.”

She looked down, anger seeping through her voice, “You’re telling me to quit?” she asked, a low rumble denoting a reaction I should probably try to clear up.

“Being a dungeoneer? No, of course not. I’m advising you to quit being a tank. More specifically,” I noticed her tense up and glare at me with eyes of a beast, “a heavy-armoured tank.”

The ire that filled her eyes drained a little as a bit of curiosity was poured into the mix. “Huh?” she retracted a little.

“Oh, you were thinking about that too?” August laughed, “I feel a bit of relief now. Thought my idea was stupid.”

“If you thought of it,” I sighed, “why the hell did you make me go through the whole process of evaluating her fighting style?”

He shrugged, “Dude, you’re the magic boy. How could I suggest that when I can’t even properly teach her to use magic?” He went on to explain to Freya that I wasn’t trying to be mean. “You should become a sorceress. It suits you. Not all spells are meant to be used as attack. A good magic-user can replace every single role in a dungeon. So, learn defensive spells and ‘tank’ the monsters’ damage that way instead of having a big shield in close combat.”

In the distance, someone’s voice swirled into the conversation, probably unbeknownst to them. “Replace every single role…” the person reiterated what August said. Her eyes were dampened by August, and thoroughly soaked me in subsequently.

T-this is awkward! Donna could already feel that I wasn’t going to give her the attention she sought. The last I knew, she was mad at me for being a womaniser even after waking up in bed with me and kissing me good morning.

Oh, let me clear that up. We didn’t have sex. She crept into the bed Donna and I slept in for the night of the party, yet she suddenly became mad at me for being a “womaniser”. What sound logic that was! She had one foot in but was afraid to submerge, and I hated that type of attitude. As far as I saw it, she truly wasn’t worth any of my women’s time.

“That’s fine and all, but she’s still a member of First Flight. You still won’t help her?”

Why? She’s a double-S rank. After August and I, she’s the strongest person in the guild and probably in Yunaris. There are others more deserving of my time.

Donna came out and pulled Scadia aside to talk to her about something. August gave me a weird look, and I shrugged. I ignored that and thought about what kind of spells would best suit Freya. Seeing that August was my beloved, I included him as well and started off with Frost Trap.

In the blink of an eye, night had fallen upon us. But Phil had neither appeared before us nor broke off the Light Link. His location was far away from Starfall Temple, so I knew he wasn’t trying to kill Bruno Ulyen under the idea that he’d come to us for help. However, it appeared I simply worried over nothing. He came back to the guild soon enough. Other members had left, but I’d asked our usual group to stay back for a little while.

He entered, his Invisibility on. We were lazing around a table playing some card game, and he eventually appeared. Scarlet jumped, and her jumping made me jump.

“Why are you startled?” Phil questioned me.

“Scarlet overdid it, okay?” I spat out a quick excuse.

Freya giggled, “Aw, someone’s a chicken, huh?” she patted me on the shoulder as if trying to comfort me. “Come play with us,” she invited Phil to have a seat.

The man laughed, snowballing into a near ceaseless cachinnation. “I overthought this, huh?”

“Yup,” I answered snappily. This atmosphere told him clearly that we were all friends, that his worries weren’t needed. He felt like his situation wasn’t as dire as he imagined it.

“Scarlet,” he became serious, and she pouted a little, not wanting to lock eyes with him. He bowed his head and apologised to her. His sincerity rooted out any remaining anger in her heart. I don’t think she could’ve fought it if she tried. Looking to the group of us, he asked us to help him, then went on to explain the issue with his wife and son. In fact, he explained way more than I’d known.

Apparently, his family were born to be servants of another aristocratic family called Aubec. The Aubecs and his family had a mutually beneficial relationship, despite there being your usual disputes and discrimination. That all changed though, after his father impregnated the woman he served. They tried to hide the fact as long as they could, but the Aubecs eventually found out. Phil’s entire family was either executed or imprisoned when he was around ten years old.

They absolutely detested him and forced him into doing a lot of backdoor dealings for them. Some were thefts, robberies, kidnappings, and seldomly, murder. The thirty-two-year-old man – yeah, I thought he was in his early twenties at first – eventually met a woman and married her, but he kept her secret. He had his son and wife far away from the eyes of the Aubecs, in another town. But eventually, they found out. A family was a hard thing to hide. Explaining all this, he tried his utmost to keep his choler from flaring out too much.

“I, need help,” he finally admitted.

“Mine’s already assured,” August volunteered, his wolf giving a soft bark afterward as if understanding us. And as if the rest of us were domino pieces, we all fell in line, offering our help as well. But, not Scarlet. After all, she just found out he had a wife.

She sighed, unfolding her arms and standing up, “The Aubec family is one of the most influential. How are we going to assure his safety after we do whatever we’re going to do?”

“There’s gotta be something even they fear. Or want,” August pointed out and Freya readily agreed.

I leaned back on my chair, throwing an arm over the backrest, “I don’t wish to do this, but the use of force and fear is an option as well. Scadia is a double-S rank. And at this point, Phil is probably double-S or triple-S. In terms of power, I doubt the family can do anything about First Flight. We need only announce our allegiance to him.” I stood up and stretched, “Do you know where your wife and kid are?” Phil shook his head. “Do you know where that old man would be then?”

“Home,” Phil said, “awaiting news of Ulyen’s death.”

I squatted down and rubbed my chin, “I’ll go to that house then. You’ll go to Starfall Temple. I’m sure the Aubecs are tracking your movements. This way, it will look like you’re still compliant to them. Once you feel my Renew spell through Light Link, it means your wife and child are found and safe. I’ll put Invisibility on everyone here except Phil. You’ll all go to Starfall Temple. Protect Bruno Ulyen from further attacks; we don’t know if the Aubecs may have someone to replace Phil. You are all very strong dungeoneers, I acknowledge that. However, do not hesitate to rely on August. Understand that despite his playful demeanour, he’s the only person I know that can kill me.”

August smiled, “You’re in commander mode, aren’t ya?” he chuckled, causing Donna to do the same. “Well, I don’t hate it.”

“S-sorry. I didn’t realise…” I sighed, and finally stood up. “Is everyone okay with that plan?”

Aug’s wolf barked, as if answering for everyone. The rest of them nodded in agreement. To be honest, it didn’t feel right to poke my head into others’ business like this, for what I was about to do to the Aubecs wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t the friendliest act either. I’d have much preferred to gather more information on them, to act as my moral compass of sorts.

Phil and the others began their journey to Starfall Temple. It would be no more than a ten-minute walk from the guild. And the Aubecs’ residence was no more than a minute of fast flight. Trespassing through the mansion, the old man who blackmailed Phil into assassinating Bruno Ulyen was having dinner with his family. The long table was packed with food, as well as people. At least fifteen people, children included sat around the table, with a few guards stationed outside, a couple inside, and not to mention the servers. Talk about being rude, interrupting them like I was about to do. But compared to murder? Hah…

Kurzen Aubec, his name, laughed innocently with a glass of wine saddled in the palm of his hand with his family. My eyes slewed together the other members of the family in the same disgusting practice that the old man so loved. But that was stupid thinking. They could be innocent. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, I told myself, calming down and tackling this problem in a much less virulent disposition.

I removed Voidwalk, and I could tell those that had their backs faced to me recognised my presence as fast as those who physically saw me did. “Ladies, gentlemen, please pardon my intrusion,” I greeted politely and wasn’t interrupted by anyone. They probably wished to keep their decorum about them in the face of family. “Esteemed Kurzen Aubec, I hail from First Flight. There has been a development that requires your immediate attention. Might I trouble you for a word in private?”

“This, development, cannot wait?” he asked, his eyes glaring lightning at me.

“I’m afraid not,” I replied with a smile. He nodded, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and stood up. We stepped out into the hallway and walked a bit away from the guards.

His expression went from normal to angsty. “You’re one of the X-ranks from First Flight. What could you possibly want from me that you would trespass and disturb the Aubec family?”

“I want you to hand over Phillip’s family to me. If you do not comply, I’m afraid I’d have to resort to force.”

“Threatening me?” He scoffed, “First Flight must be losing their marbles.” With a snap of his fingers, two guards rushed to us, almost as if appearing before me.

“I advise you not to take this route. Please understand that you’re being allowed to choose the path that sees your family alive at the end of the night.”

Still, he didn’t let up. “Guards…” he said and the men brandished their weapons, ready to dismember me. Frost Trap and Hydrotendrils stopped them. An above average Mind Break afflicted him. His body wobbled and he fell to his knees, his pants becoming wetter by the second. I stooped next to him, “Where are they?”

With mechanical movements, he pointed downward. Activating Life Perception showed two people in the basement of the mansion. I vanished from the old man’s sight and began flying through room after room with Voidwalk, until I met them in a basement. They were weakened, bruised, battered, and bloody. The way they repelled from just the door opening was disheartening. Their minds were on the brink of shattering from whatever the Aubecs were doing to them.

I opened my palms and didn’t approach close to them. The only spell I bothered casting was a simple Candlelight. “Greetings, ma’am. I am here on behalf of Phillip. Please, be at ease. It’s all going to be okay now.”

She had her son clutched tightly into her bosom, trembling at my appearance. But after a while, she finally calmed a little. “Who are you?”

“My name is Eric. I’m a sorcerer from the guild, First Flight. Our guild master has learned about your situation from Phillip and so, it was decided that you and your son are to be given protection.”

She could hardly believe it. The only reason she accepted the situation was because her mind was begging for some sort of salvation; starved for it. After a few minutes of conversing and explaining what Phillip would be forced to do if I couldn’t secure them, she agreed to having me at least touch her bare feet. Renew coursed through her, and subsequently, her son. Mana Perception showed that nothing was out of the ordinary, so potions weren’t necessary.

Once I convinced her to come back with me, I sent the Renew through Phil’s Light Link. I clutched onto them tightly whilst soaring through the air on Gale. Phil began rushing back to the rendezvous point, that being his house. He was finally reunited with his family.

An easier mission than I imagined it to be. The rest of the guild came as well, and the house was pretty damn packed. Whilst they had their heartfelt reunion, August and I leaned against the wall and chatted a bit.

“So, remember the status window?” August asked. “The wolf is my familiar,” he said, not waiting for me to answer his question. I raised a brow, not knowing what that meant when it came to the rules of this world. “When the system thingy asked me if I wanted him to become my familiar, another message popped up after I accepted.”

I was following along, super curious to find out where August was going with this. “So, the gist of that question had to do with him level and primary attributes. I could basically accept him at his current power – which I assume would be great for low level dungeoneers who befriended high level monsters – or, I could allow the system to make him match my power.” He turned to me and winked, “Wanna guess which one I picked?”

I turned away and pouted, “I won’t be happy unless you say you picked me!”

“Sorry, Melissa is way sexier. Anyway,” he folded his arms, “that wolf is probably the strongest living creature in this world, excluding us of course.” He looked toward Phil, “Hey, Phil! You interested in a family pet?”