"Mable, where did the elf go?". Mizuki asked while standing beside a man.

"Mizuki-sama, he just waved at us, pulled out his dirt colored clothes out of nowhere, wore them and walked away."

"Couldn't you stop him for a second, I brought a translator just for him, is he still around?"

"I don't think its a good idea to bother him, that guy gave me a smirk when I asked him how was he." Zeph interrupted their conversation. "It's better to leave him alone, maybe he is still in shock, also are you sure he was an elf?, I didn't see any pointy ears".

"Maybe mommy cut that brat's ears off to discipline him."

"Wooh..ho..hoo Mable, control your anti noble urges."

"Why should I Zeph? For past month we have been curing all these high borns, didn't even slept properly, and all they show us is attitude after getting healed. They think if they can throw money on our face they have right to treat us like shit."

"Don't say that, our dear genius healer is a high born herself."

"Well she is not exactly a noble, she's just a high born, it's usually people in government and royalties who have this kind of attitude."

Mizuki decided to leave those two arguing, she took the translator into their tent and showed him the metal shard. There was something written on it which piqued her curiosity.

"This doesn't seem to be from any languages I know of, although they do look like letters. Maybe this is some old language. I think you should check with an expert"

"Aren't you an expert, according to you?"

"Well, I'm an expert in modern languages spoken in society today, I meant someone like a professor."

"Can you recommend any?"

"Oh yes, there is one, he has written a book on lost history before Era Of Barbarians. His name is Yaroslav Volkov. He is also an immigrant like you, he is originally from Kingdom of Moshela. He is currently a professor and busy researching on similar things in University of Berxley."

"I'll be leaving tomorrow for Capital, thanks for you helping me out."

"Wait, you won't be able to meet him easily, you see he is usually very busy, you won't be able to get past his disciples. He is quite a famous writer and many people look to meet him. I recommend mentioning my name, he is a friend of mine."

"Ohk, I'll tell them you sent me, thank you for helping me out. I appreciate it"

"Mizuki-sama, also one more thing. I was thinking, that since I too will be leaving for capital tomorrow, would you, ...you know...., Would you like to go out to for dinner with me?"

"A dinner?"

"Yeah, I can book some good restaurant with really good authentic Gelgarian cuisine, what do you think?"

"Well see, you know I'm a student who is also in research, so, I'm sorry but I'm busy right now."

"Oh..oh..Okay, well that's fine. Okay..then I'll leave you since you're busy".

After getting rejected he walked out of the tent with his face facing to the ground. He looked like a student who's college application got rejected.

Mizuki sighed and proceeded to put the metal shard in her bag.

Zeph and Mable walked into the tent.

[Zeph Gregory] [Mable Howel]

Zeph Gregory was an A class adventurer. He is 26 years old, quite tall for this world's standards with a height of 5.10 ft. He had black hair and brown eyes. He was an irregular born with high fire mana aptitude which otherwise usually is determined by one's genetics. He joined Guild in Berxley form the age of 14. He loved his profession but was tired of the uncertainty of his work. His income was still quite unstable.

Most of the people considered adventurers just mercenaries with magic so it's not like he was in a very respectable profession. Although Guilds provided cheap services for small villages and countryside so Kingdom backed them, thus making them more trustworthy then mercenaries. Good pay only came if the requests was sent by a noble which was rare since nobles usually had knights for most of the work where violence might be needed. He could become a lackey and do all the questionable stuff and earn better money. A hired hand for some noble's or some rich merchant's dirty work but he had too much pride. And he now wanted to settle down, but settling down as an adventurer was a very difficult task. He used to think how awesome it would be to become and adventurer, but it was actually extremely difficult task. Lower rank adventurers life was really tough, many adventurer left to join mercenary groups or tried joining the army. Adventuring was mostly meant for overpowered individuals who could take on 5 to 10 men single handedly. Most of the work come as guards for travelling merchants, and sometimes getting rid of mutated animals from dungeons troubling small villages.

Richer merchants had permanent guards and town halls had knights. So only people left were small merchants and poor villages who couldn't hire permanent hand, so it was obvious why adventurers were paid so low.

Usually adventurers of only A and B class were hired by nobles, usually to escort them in parties, since adventurers of A and B class were distinguished, pretty strong individuals, nobles liked showing them off at parties. Being a jewellery for some noble lady payed more than hunting down mutated animals for some poor ass village.

Which is why he decided to leave the profession and the guild and join Special Operations Forces. Basically military. Military had everything Zeph wanted, funding, respect, stable job, and fighting battles and killing mutated animals, defending the public. A perfect job for him.

Mabel Howel too used to be a B class adventurer. She is 21 years old and joined guild at the age of 14, where she met 5 year senior Zeph and joined his party. She was very good at combat and assessing the situation, revealing hidden targets, like hiding bandits or mutated animals camouflaging in forest.

She however didn't liked being not able to pay rent anymore in Berxley and refused to move to a cheaper city or town. She instead enrolled into a hospital nurse training course 3 years ago. After a year into that two year training course she met Mizuki who was looking for people with high appraisal magic aptitude and some medical background or knowledge of human anatomy for some new program by University based on new research. She enrolled into that program too and became a high salary nurse meant to assists important healing doctors who usually either engaged in research or had nobles as patients. Although now she does misses her life of crossing swords, but she is now ready to settle.

These three have been best friends with each other for past 2 years. Zeph and Mable were able to bring Mizuki out of her cocoon, and made her realise that there is more to life then just university and dorm. Mizuki for the first time properly experienced Berxley with them, she never left her university and dorm for 3 years she had been in Berxley. Both of them were special to her.

"Mizuki you're leaving with us for capital tomorrow morning right?"

"Yes, how many times are you going to ask me that Zeph."

"Just making sure, what if you changed your mind at the last moment."

"Coming here was a disaster, I thought we could visit Miller Ville, it's a very historic town. It's highest noble, the town lord's son is Zeph's crush".

"He is not my crush Mable. He is the one giving me a position in Gelgarian military."

"Whatever, have you seen yourself talking about him? You act like some high school girl taking about some famous actor or musician."

"I don't behave like that, and unlike actors and musician, that guy actually put his life on the line to protect the innocent."

"Look, I told you."

"Those are just facts, I'm sorry if it looks like I'm in love with him."

"Hey, when are you guys free after work you were talking about?" Mizuki interrupted.

"Well, I need to visit my guild to confirm payment and paperwork for this job, then I have to meet Drystan for discussing terms of joining his unit."

"Yeah, he's the crush I was talking about", Mable teasingly said.

"Are you done yet? Anyway why do you ask Mizuki-sama?"

"Well I have to visit University of Berxley which is literally on other side of the city, I thought you guys might want to hang out, there is a professor I need to meet. We can explore western part of the city. There is a museum there too."

"Well how about on the next day after reaching there, we'll meet at Special Operation Forces Centre, say, how about 10 according to city clock?."

"Why don't you complete your work at there first and then we can hang out when you're free."

"Don't worry, I have to visit there the day we arrive, they'll tell me a list of documents to be submitted and formalities done. Next day I'll just have to submit what they asked and sign necessary forms. I have to submit guild member cancellation proof. Basically I'm free after submitting documents, it's just 1 hour work, after that from next day onwards they'll have number of physical and aptitude test for entire week."

"What about you Mable?"

"I'll be with Zeph so yeah I'll too come".

"Ohk guys, 10 by city clock, at that special centre."

===============================================================================================================

[Berxley, Gelgaria]

Miller Ville was roughly 300 km away from Capital. Journey between the two took 8 days. After reaching capital Zeph and Mable waved Mizuki bye and headed towards the guild while Mizuki headed towards her dorm.

Zeph was registered in Berxley guildhall. It was in the east of the city. Zeph originally was from a village in north and came to capital when he was 14, he had been working with the same guild center for 12 years. Mable on the other hand grew up in east capital which is why she was so attached to it.

They decided to take a horse carriage towards guild hall.

[Guild Centre of Berxley, located in eastern part of Berxley]

"Zeph, how was the job this time? Did you had fun?" Guild manager who was standing by the reception asked when he saw Zeph entering guild.

"Well it was as usual, fought against couple of monsters and escorted a cartographer for some time."

"So nothing new?"

"I actually saved an ear less elf too."

"Oh did you, did he reward you? Or was it a she? Wait, ear less?"

"Not ear less, but more like no pointy long ears, no he didn't gave me any tip, instead just ran away."

"What a heartless bastard? Every now and then one come across such nobles who takes your help but doesn't grace their helpers with gold."

"Yeah, and he was like, the most high born I have ever seen, he had everything, typical elf tallness, silver hair, even golden eyes which I have never even heard before."

"Golden eyes? Does that add to hierarchy? Or is it like a rare albino? Anyway who is this young lady with you, Mable is it?"

"Yes Gerald-sama, it's been a long time."

Gerald had been managing guild center of Berxley for past 15 years. He was the son of a legendary A class adventurer who later joined special forces. Gerald knew Zeph and Mable since they were novice and knew nothing about the world.

"Yes it has been a while, do you miss crossing swords and hunting?"

"I do but you see, I find stable income more attractive."

"Who knew that motherly instincts could change a brilliant combat, into a nurse."

Mable stepped on Gerald's feet with full force.

"It's not motherly instincts, it's the bane of your unstable shrinking guild centre giving us half ass contracts with little pay and then guild cutting their commission from scraps we get, this turned me into a nurse.

Tell me Gerald-sama, why does collection of most pathetic contracts always end up in your guild?"

Gerald shrieked in pain, "What do you mean? Why do you have to be so rude? Didn't Zeph got a really good contract of escorting some 16 year old in a party. She gave him that fancy watch he is wearing."

"That was a fluke, most of the time even A class adventurers in you're guild are struggling with rent alone."

"That is not true, take it back. I bring best contracts for A class adventurers, well maybe not the best, but they are good enough to allow them cover something as basic as rent. Even if they aren't' able to cover, this is not the problem of bad contracts, but with sky rocketing rent. Which is not my problem, go and argue with kingdom for that matter."

"Anyway, did you got Zeph's papers ready?"

Gerald looks at Zeph who was still chuckling watching him being abused by Mable. "hey, so big guy, are you sure you want to leave the guild. You are the best we have."

"Yes Gerald-sama, although I must say I enjoyed being part of the east guild a lot."

"I bet you did. One doesn't get opportunity to join elite forces like this everyday out of nowhere. You should be grateful and pay guild donations for helping you out and training you as since you sucked your thumb....the guild has done a lot.....AAHHHHAAH!".

Mable stepped on his foot again, this time with even more force.

"Yeah, I remember your "help". Zeph, why don't you ask him where the donations to guild end up?".

"You heartless bitch, you know how much I have worked for you guys? Do you know how much I'm paid? I too need to pay rent and feed a family of 4, you think "honest money" is enough for the bills? Aren't you guys leaving guild for similar money problems? Anyway, Zeph I have signed your member cancellation letter and prepared a referral full of praises. Collect fee for your last work I'll bring what you asked for in the meantime"

"Will do Gerald-sama. Thank you very much."

Zeph showed his member card at reception and an acknowledgement for completed request.

"Zeph, this is your last day as an adventurer, are you sure about this? I know despite financial issues, you really liked being independent, in your new place you'll have to follow lot of rules and orders", Mable said.

"I have made up my mind." Zeph replied.

Zeph and Mable left for special forces centre after collecting the documents and exchanging hugs with guild manager.

Special Operations Forces had 2000 members. They took orders straight from the crown as well as were answerable only to the crown. They carried out assassination missions, broke through enemies defenses, escort extremely important people. They were a very well funded and respected organization.

Mostly they helped regular military in battles. Most of the countries kept their magical warriors and regular military separate, similarly Gelgarian army's magical warriors were basically this specialized unit. After all magical warriors were mostly high born.

It had further divisions. There were a total of 100 Weyvrns with their riders. 1500 magic warriors were ground units, while 300 were in navy. And 100 special ops for assassination missions only, which included taking enemy's general head off as soon as battle begins.

Zeph wanted to join Hell Fire Squadron. When he was completing a request to fight of mutated animals he came in contact with their Second in Command Drystan Miller who later approved his joining.

[Special Forces Centre]

Special Forces Centre looked like a very rich noble's mansion located in the central city, with all the other government buildings.

Mable wasn't allowed inside, so Zeph had to leave her alone.

"I'm sorry Zeph but neither Captain nor Major is here, although Captain Miller told me to take your documents as well as tests."

"Well then I'll be in your care, Chief Warrant Officer Erwood."

Aerona Erwood was third in command of Hell Fire Squadron. She belonged to a high born noble family based in Berxley. She was also known as the 'Sadist' of special forces. A cold hearted bitch who no one wants to be left alone with.

[Aerona Erwood]

"Bring all these listed documents tomorrow and submit them together with a signed guild cancellation letter. We'll begin your tests from the next day, just 3 simple test in 3 days."

Zeph left the building, and headed to Mable's apartment with her.

"So Zeph, you're going to be in military with all those fancy uniforms?". Mable said while taking her clothes off in front of Zeph who was lying in her bed.

"Yeah, those uniforms, of course, that's one thing special forces are famous for."

"Well what do you expect from forces made out of high borns?"

Mable kissed Zeph, after which Zeph went above her and took of his shirt and threw it on the floor. They both started kissing passionately.

============================================================================================================

Mizuki entered her dorm. It was the most premium dorm of her University, but good thing was she was here on full scholarship.

[Elite Dorm, Berxley Institute of Medicine and Healing Magic]

She kept her stuff on the floor and immediately went into bath. As she was washing her sky blue hair, she thought about the elf she operated on. How much magical aptitude that elf had that he summoned clothes without using any magical crystals. Even the healing staff she used, the wand was embedded with crystals, after using it the item needs to be disposed off. The company who produced this insisted on selling these staffs without providing ability to just keep adding new crystals. They wanted us to buy a staff each time. What kind of scam is this? Why can't one buy a staff and then just keeps on adding crystals?

[Chino Mizuki]

She had met with high elves with silver hair before, her family was a very well established family of medical professionals who often took care of high born nobles, but she had never seen or heard of elves with golden eyes. And how did this metal piece ended up in his neck, in his bones, like someone opened his atlas, fixed it there, and then closed it, but for some reason there was no sign of that shard going in his body or being placed, no scars, no nothing, like he was born with it.

"Did he really didn't had long pointy ears?"