"Good morning, Dame Torisetti." Katrina curtsied, stationed at the quest board. "The Wildlife Control Office has already sent out a scout. You'll be receiving the reward tomorrow."

"Oh. Umm." Kirin let out a short embarrassed laugh. "That's fine. I wasn't actually coming over to ask for it."

"Oh? Are you taking another solo quest?"

A portal appeared to spit out Master Chrisholm

Ugh. That man! With that same emptiness still lingering upon his gaze and his lean body, not even denying that it regretted having to move. He was the one reason Fable Eclipse was facing its current dilemma. Now nothing more but an asshole in Kirin's eyes. Supposedly. Supposedly he should have just been an asshole in Kirin's eyes. Yet, if anything, he just became more attractive. Imaginary stars! Shimmering within his eyes! Smoke sizzling off of his chest, neck, and shoulders! Kirin could have mistaken him for steak and taken a bite.

Darn it.

He's an asshole, he's an asshole!

Though that might just be the reason Kirin's even more into him. Seriously. His pressing of Kirin's party is like the guild master equivalent of choking Kirin's neck. Not that Kirin would ever enjoy Master Chrisholm doing that to him. No. Not at all.

"Oh, hi, Kirin." The master greeted.

"Kyaaa!!! No! Not at all! No, sir!" Kirin stiffened.

"What's wrong with you? Ahh. Nevermind. Katrina, I'll be in my office again. There are barely any people these days."

Katrina nodded once and surveyed the guildhall.

Occupying the seats were but few cloaked men with staves, and Coral Crown, still pretending they weren't paying attention though were obviously camping to wait.

"If there's any trouble, call me so I can watch." Master Chrisholm yawned and disappeared back into the portal.

Katrina bowed and then returned her attention to Kirin. "Now then. Which quest would you like to take? We are currently out of reds, but we do have plenty of orange ones that can still be enjoyable."

Orange quests, huh? Those that were given less priority because they posed no immediate threats to the citizens. Some examples were the collection of opaleozoan carcasses from Tearstone Caves, the gathering of rare ingredients from the perilous Redfang Redwoods, and the hunting of phantom tails for bottles of rabid hollows from the Towering Willows.

Kirin hupped for air, pointed at a sheet, then started speaking loudly to make sure Coral Crown could hear. "YES, Katrina! Fable Eclipse would like to take this QUEST because it sounds absolutely DEADLY and will probably EARN a bunch of MONEY."

"Alright...?" Katrina looked left and right as if searching for an escape. "To collect rabid hollows after slaying phantom tails, you must make sure to have handy corkable empty bottles that can siphon them. You may purchase such bottles from Elmer's Crafts along Ydra Street."

"Clear as air, Katrina! I'll be purchasing bottles to COLLECT the RABID HOLLOWS after slaying PHANTOM TAILS to--" Subconsciously, Kirin shielded his sack from Katrina's eyes. "Did you just say I'll be needing to spend money for this?"

Katrina affirmed. "You'll have to in order to do the quest."

Kirin screamed. "Fine! I'll just have them give me more for my cut. I'm taking the quest!"

"Alright, then!" Katrina laughed awkwardly. "You better hurry and go now. Before the day ends. Good luck! May Eudon bless you with a safe journey."

"It's just past nine."

"Oh no. You're really running out of time. Hurry, hurry! Bye-bye!"

***

Kirin plodded. "Seriously. I just hope these bottles aren't going to be that expensive."

Troops of trees have evenly spaced stores flanking the empty street of Ydra. A bridge was arching over a whooshing creek. Over doorways were wooden signboards that announced sales for emerald accessories, durable pans, special spices, and numerous other items that were definitely not what Kirin should have been keeping an eye out for.

Behind, following from about sixteen meters away, Coral Crown wasn't exactly stealthy, ducking behind wagons, barrels, and sometimes potted bushes.

"Yeesh." Shivers spiked on Kirin's shoulders. "Could anything ever be creepier than being followed by a child with goons? I know they've been there ever since I left the guildhall, but I really shouldn't have looked just now. I was better off with the benefit of the doubt."

Thank heavens, Elmer's Crafts wasn't that much further away! Kirin could finally take a quick break from the stalking.

A small shop had been shyly tucked behind tan-barked evergreens. It had a small door with a rounded top and a dusty square window working just enough to display blurry images of necklaces, braces, and other fineries. Inside, there were two men. One with copper-colored hair and dressed in a soot-blown apron over a blue shirt with sleeves folded to his elbows, and the other a guy whose long, silky black hair drooped with a shine down to his knees.

"Welcome!" The man in the apron greeted, clapping dust off of his gloved hands. "I'm Elmer Bhala, the craftsman. How can I help you?"

"Good morning." Kirin waved curtly. "I'm looking for glass bottles. The kind that can siphon rabid hollows."

"Ahh!" The man nodded and gestured at a shelf. "They should be among those. I think. Probably. But I can't remember which ones."

"Umm."

"Yeesh. Get it together, Sir Bhala." The long-haired guy scowled but snickered. "I was just leaving."

"Just one more?" The craftsman puppy-eyed.

The guy's black hair swirled as he shook his head even though he didn't seem to be refusing when he took two careful steps towards the shelf and picked out a corked bottle, shaped with claws at one side. "What would you have done if I wasn't here? Tsk. Here you go, miss."

Kirin accepted. "Thank you. I'll be needing five. How much are they?"

"Oh, umm." Sir Bhala coughed into a fist. "Three...algium? But maybe...five."

The long-haired guy gasped. "You even forgot the price?! For goodness' sake. What are we to do with you?" He turned towards Kirin. "Forgive him. He makes these goods but forgets about them the moment they're for sale. I come here to assist him sometimes. My name's Ely."

The trap lowered to perform a half curtsy, holding the bottle tightly. "Kirin Torisetti! The Vampire Paladin."

"Ooh. Never heard that title before. You must be new." Ely reached for four more bottles off the shelf. "These are four amalgium each. "

Amalgium?! How sad. Kirin was kind of hoping they were only gonna be a few algiums worth. Still, he opened up his sack and produced twenty amalgium, leaving him with only twelve after also purchasing breakfast for that morning.

Bladewood was really squeezing him dry!

Ely took the coins from Kirin's reluctant palm and passed them to the craftsman.

Murmuring, Kirin stored the bottles in his sack. "That reward better make up for this cost."

"Thank you for doing business with Elmer's Crafts!" Ely and Sir Bhala bowed.

Kirin waved again as he left through the door.

Ely followed out.

"Oh? Did I forget change?" Kirin blinked.

Was he going to be getting some money back? Oh please, oh please!

"Sorry." Ely snickered, shook his head, and pointed at the end of the street. "I'm just about to head home."

Oh. Of course.

Of course, Kirin wasn't getting money back.

"I see." The trap sighed and offered an embarrassed smile.

"Good luck with your quest!" Ely waved another time and started to go his own route, only to pause as he met up with Coral Crown's members up ahead.

Suddenly, hatred and a somewhat eerie breeze filled their midst.

Kirin couldn't notice, as he had already begun to walk away.