That’s when the woman from the party collapses, the old man catching her in his arms. The three men flash their metal plates and they all begin to walk in with Joseph.

“So, what happened to her?” Joseph looked towards the old man concerningly.

“Oh, it was probably just the stress of the situation, she does this a lot I’m afraid.” The old man holds her skillfully as evidence of the many times he must have carried her before.

A voice came from behind the group, “Are you all really going to act as if that thing isn’t some monster!”

Joseph spun around, “What is your problem with her, she has done nothing to you!”

The girl’s hooded cloak dropped to the ground to reveal her topless figure. “You call this nothing?” Her body had large claw marks that spanned her chest and stomach, one mark ran directly over her right breast. “That thing's kind mutilated and orphaned me, my fiancé left me because of these hideous scars, see, you can’t even look at me.”

The old man was the first to speak up, “I think you have the wrong idea about this giant child… I don’t believe he has ever seen a woman naked before”

Joseph hid his eyes behind his hands, his face reddening as his heart rate quickened, “Please, put your clothes back on.” ‘The image of her naked body, it’s burned into my memory and I can’t stop thinking about it.’

White looked at Joseph her head cocked to the side as she examined him.

Realizing what affect she was having on Joseph she quickly picked up her cloak, feeling embarrassed she had exposed herself. ‘Does he really see me in that way. I didn’t think it possible for a man to… not with these scars.’

Joseph heard the two men’s voices from behind him, “Don’t worry you can stop covering up your eyes now. If it wasn’t for how you acted just then I would have a hard time seeing you as someone so young.” The shorter man spoke up, “Man I wish I was that lucky when I was young, to have a woman show off like that to you, and not a bad looking one at that!”

Joseph uncovered his eyes to see the short woman back in her cloak, her face redder than before. His eyes seem to be able to see through it and he stared at the figure he now knew lied beneath it. It took him a minute to pull his concentration back from it but when he was able to he spoke, “I’m sorry about what has happened to you, but I promise you White won’t harm anyone that isn’t trying to harm her or I. I can prove it to you if you come with me.”

Everyone including the woman was shocked. Earlier it seemed like he was going to kill her and now he was asking her to join him. Joseph didn’t notice any of their reactions though, he walked to her stopping just in front of the woman she stared at his chest and then looked up to him.

Looking down at the woman, Joseph couldn’t help but think, ‘She is actually not that short compared to everyone else here, she might even be the tallest besides me.’ Joseph kneeled before the woman now looking up to her, “I give you my word. As long as you don’t try to harm White, she won’t hurt you.”

One of the men leaned over to the old man, “He sees her breast and he’s already proposing to her.”

The old man scowls at them, “Do not be deceived by his innocents, this is still the same child that could have wiped us out earlier, do not anger him.”

The men fell silent.

The woman who was much older than Joseph regained her composure and spoke, “You would have me come with you? Why?”

Joseph smiled and stood back up, “you have a fear of wolfs. Being with me and White could help you get over it. I’m in love with you. Also, I know you have some strength of your own and would like to learn anything you would teach me.”

Once again everyone was shocked silent. The men behind the old man could be heard, “We were only joking.”

After a moment the woman spoke up, “What was that again?”

The old man nodded to himself, “She is in denial.”

Joseph spoke again, “I would love to learn anything you would be willing to teach me.”

The old man nodded to himself again, watching their exchange all while still holding the woman, “And the child is clueless.”

“No, I meant before that.” The woman threatened to lose the little composure she had left.

“Oh, I love you.”

The woman fainted on the spot and Joseph caught and lifted her up to his chest, “Old man, is fainting something all women do?”

“No dear child, I think that is because of you.” The old man chuckled to himself.

Josephs face contorted, “Did I do something wrong?”

“No Joseph, I do not believe so.” The old man motioned his head, “come on now, I’ll take you to the adventurers guild.”

As they walked Joseph thought to himself, ‘After I take down God, I’ll take her up the mountain to the village. Then after she meets my parents I’ll ask for her hand in marriage. Why do I have to wait though? I should ask for her hand, then get married and then I can take her to my family as my wife. Yes, I’ll marry her and once I defeat God I’ll take her to see my family. I can’t wait for her to meet my little brother.’

Walking into the guild Joseph was careful not to hit the woman’s head on the doorframe. The receptionist looked up seeing two men walking in carrying women in their arms. “I see you have a protege, Alfred.”

“This young man here would like to register with the guild.”

“Young man?” The receptionist looked up to Joseph’s face, “Oh dear he is indeed. What is your name?”

Joseph stepped forward, “I am Joseph.”

“Joseph, what would you like to be known as?” The receptionist waited for his response, seeming board.

Alfred came to Joseph’s side, “It’s like a nickname Joseph, something that people will refer to you as.”

Joseph looked down, “What do you think it should be?”

Alfred, the old man, smiled, “Joseph of the great wolf. That way people won’t always be surprised by your companion everywhere you go.”

The receptionist wrote it down without Joseph confirming it but he didn’t mind. “Alright, Joseph of the great wolf, the board is over there. We’ll get you your wooden plaque tomorrow. Any missions listed as F rank or below you can take.”

Joseph stared at the board for a second before announcing, “Yes, I’m sure of it now. I can’t read.”

Alfred sighed, “That will have to be dealt with on another day I’m afraid. I’ll find you an inn to stay at first.”

“Who’s that in his arms?” Joseph turned around to see the woman Alfred was carrying standing and awake.

“Thank you for all the help you have given me but this is all that I needed. I plan to sleep outside these walls. Again I thank you. Oh, and this is my future wife.” Joseph walked out of the guild with everyone, even the receptionist, dumbfounded.