Hundor Hills, north of Lavista Woods, glazed with lush grass and clustering red flowers, and sculpted by the Earth to boast curves typically only seen in paintings, was home to many beasts that were the reason people missed out on the sight. Different kinds of creatures that, if encountered in herds, may muster enough strength to topple over entire villages.

Amongst them were the arisares.

With seven horns curving over their faces and dainty legs with hooves sturdy enough to crush skulls, the horse-ram mix of creatures ruled over the northern wilds of Bladewood.

Being endemic, they've been allowed to roam freely and reproduce unrestrictedly, which, owing to the vastness and abundance of Hundor, have become quite easy for the majestic beasts. Unfortunately, it is that same freedom they've been granted that has now turned said creatures to menaces for some Bladewood citizens.

As the arisare population has grown over the years, they have finally reached a point where nature itself is compelling them to extend their territory. Hence, the beasts' sightings have become common in nearby farms and surrounding city borders where they're found trampling crops and crashing into walls.

That's why Faolan, Alia, Onyx, and Kirin, have ended up taking on a quest to visit the beautiful hills and eliminate half of the arisare population in the wild.

Presently, the knights have reached Lavista and Hundor's cusp. Trees were becoming sparser and the land was beginning to slope upwards.

"I still can't get over the fact that you two already knew each other." Alia was walking between Onyx and Kirin.

"We didn't." Onyx hissed.

"Not for that long." Kirin corrected.

"Really? You guys seemed really close last night." Alia tapped her cheek as she looked up at redwood tree branches.

Last night?

At Vidal's Restaurant and Suites...

"How dare you go and leave me just like that?! You owe me so much money!"

"You lost that money yourself! Who the heck goes walking around town with coins on an open palm?! It's like you were asking to get robbed! You fool!"

"Gasp. You called me a fool again. I feel so conflicted about you right now."

...went the argument.

Onyx scoffed. "You were reading the scene wrong."

Alia blinked, obviously confused. "Is that so?"

"Anyways, this is too far of a walk." Onyx frowned. "Why in Eudon's name did you choose this quest? And why are you already bossing everyone around when it's just your first day?"

Kirin frowned back. "First of all, it's you yourself who said I could earn my money back in five days. So here! I'm earning my money back and I'm not wasting time because I barely have any. Second! I didn't even choose this quest." Kirin crossed his arms over his chest plate. "I wanted to fight jawjabbers."

"Well, then, who...?"

Faolan, following behind, scratched the back of his head. "Forgive me, you guys. I figured this quest would be quick for us. There's something I wished to test too."

"Interesting." Alia hopped and grew purple butterfly wings on her back. She glided. "I'm fine. Honestly, I thought it would have taken us longer to cross Lavista, knowing how many monsters are supposedly here. But I can already see the end of the forest up ahead."

"Wait. Didn't I tell you what Kirin did to all the beasts here yesterday?"

"Huh?" Alia twisted to fly backwards so she could see Faolan.

The man sported a jestful grin.

Alia gasped. "No way! Did Kirin get rid of all them?"

"It's correct to call you right."

"That's impressive." Alia unsummoned her wings and returned to walking. "Looks like I really did miss a lot yesterday."

"Where were you?" Onyx asked.

"Personal matters."

"I see."

"Nice. I can now see the edge too!" Faolan jogged and overtook the rest of them. "Hundor Hills! Just up ahead. Race all you guys!"

"Seriously?" Onyx groaned.

Alia giggled. "He really can be a child sometimes."

Kirin sped up after Faolan. "I'm excited to see Hundor too. I've read so much about it. I wo-- Whoa."

The living landscape seemed to breathe. Anyone would have been captivated. But it wasn't that which has bewitched Kirin.

The figure of arisares, muscles flexing as they galloped, enticed the trap's thirst for hurt.

"Right! Just to make sure we all know the mission." Faolan clapped twice. "Eradicate half of the arisare population. According to Bladewood's beastiary, there are a hundred and fifty here."

"Seventy-five, then." Onyx drew out his sword as he and Alia approached.

"That's correct."

"What's this thing you were wanting to test?" Alia asked.

Faolan gestured at Kirin.

"M... Me...? I'm the thing?" Kirin blushed, pointing at himself, then looked at a corner of his eyes. "I feel objectified."

Onyx groaned. "What can you even use her for? Bait? If so, I have no objections."

"Hey! That sounded horrible!"

"Actually, kind of." Faolan laughed.

"Gasp. You're horrible too, Faolan!"

Faolan finished with a chuckle, bringing a hand over his eyes to cover from sunlight. "Yesterday, you used some kind of taunt spell, right? Moon's Call, was it?"

"Oh." Kirin bobbed his head.

"Do you think you could use that here too and get the arisares to gather around you?"

Sparkles filled Kirin's eyes.

Faolan was offering him the pleasure of taking all the arisares' blows!

The man laughed one more time. "That look says yes. Well, then. Once the beasts collect around Kirin, Onyx and I will be taking them down until we have seventy-five carcasses. Alia, bless us strengthening magic. Please make sure Kirin stays safe too."

Alia nodded.

"Any questions?"

"Everything is clear as air!" Kirin twirled and posed with a peace sign.

"Then let's do this!"

"Right!"

***

Standing on a hilltop taller than most of the rest, Kirin gathered energy into a magic circle beneath him. He breathed in and out, in and out, over and over, until he was prepared enough to cast. "Vampire Magic! Moon's Call!!!"

An invisible ripple pulsed so powerfully that it covered all of Hundor. Soon, stampeding hooves neared from all of the other hills and gathered all over where Kirin was.

The rest of the party knew the arisares were there the moment Kirin's noises began.

"Kyaaaaaaa!!!"

"Umm." Alia fluttered and ascended to widen her view. "I'm not so sure about this plan anymore. Is this really okay? She looks like she's in so much pain."

"Kyaaa-kyaa-kyaa!" An insane smile spread Kirin's lips as he drowned in ecstasy, horns bruising him from all directions.

"I don't even think she's in as much pain as I want her to be." Onyx clicked his tongue and dashed towards the herd.

"Support, please, Alia." Faolan, flying with his crystal wings, was about to cast with a magic circle in front of him.

Alia glowed purple. "Purple Emperor's Magic! Amethyst Crown!"

A violet ring appeared and spun over Faolan.

He smirked, summoning a fiery sphere. "Sky King's Breath!"

It shot! So rapidly! It dragged five arisares down the hill. The flames engulfed the beasts, nearly cooking their meat and leaving their wool charred.

"Amethyst Gauntlets!" Alia glowed again.

Onyx leaped, purple rings materializing around his arms. He slashed, sending white crescent projectiles at the herd. After a split second, seven arisares collapsed, only to be flattened by the hooves of the rest.

Kirin wheezed. "Kyaaaaa! I can't get enough of this! I need more!"

"Guys! Kirin said she can't get enough air anymore." Alia warned.

"No, I don't think she's having a hard time breathing at all." Onyx buried his sword in an arisares' neck.

"Moon's Call!" Kirin casted. "More! More! More!"

Another ripple travelled across Hundor.

From all directions, more arisares approached.

"No. That's too many. I think we've enough." Faolan descended, sending another fire ball at the beasts.

"Idiot. Moron, moron!" Onyx grumbled.

"Ughgghh." Kirin hugged himself, totally oblivious of the arisare corpses stacking around him. "All this pain! All this abuse! I've never felt better in my life!"

"Get ready for my shit talk later!" Onyx slashed.

"Ohh! I'm looking forwar to--"

"Forget it."

"Let's just hurry before they arrive." Faolan instructed, swinging his sword left and right. "Once we finish these here, you drive the next wave away, Onyx."

Onyx growled. "Now I have to fix her mess? Crescent Blade!"

"We can't be at fault for letting this species go extinct, can we? Sky King's Claws!"

Three swipes of fire severed the same number of beasts.

"Fine."

"Sky King's Breath!"

"Lunar Pulse!"

"Sky King's Claws!"

"Moon Blast!"

Casting and hacking, they finished off every single monster that was already around them. Faolan's flames took care of two fifths, Onyx's sword took care of another, while Kirin's Thorns Aura handled the rest.

As the second wave of arisares came, Onyx took in as much air as his lungs could hold, and shouted, "Wolf's Howl!!!"

Sound waves struck all directions, compelling all creatures to pause.

At first, the arisares merely stared, as if they had forgotten what they were there for, and then turned around to scurry away from where the howl came.

Onyx fell to his knees, breathing heavy weights of air.

Kirin soon followed.

"Alright! Well done!" Faolan landed and unsummoned his wings. "Kirin, ju--"

"Do not..." Onyx tugged on Faolan. "...reprimanded her."

"Okay...?"

Alia hovered over Kirin, pouring glowing mist. "Here you are. You must have been in so much pain."

"I don't think you should be healing her either." Onyx forced himself to get back on his feet.

"Why are you being so mean, Onyx? We can't let Kirin die!"

"That's not why--"

Kirin hunched over, drool dripping from his mouth. "Not yet. I'm not satisfied yet."

Faolan cackled. "Alright, alright! Let's count how many we got just to make sure we didn't fall short."