The Oracle had kept her secret, not a soul outside of the faith would know of what had happened one month prior. Of the fate that awaits them all. However, there was one who had grown suspicious.

“I have heard that the weekly sermon no longer ends with the Saint’s Gem held aloft in prayer.” He always spoke in a way that sought to provoke. “For a Church so hell bent on maintaining the traditions of this nation, you seem very willing to change them on a whim at home. Unless, there is a different reason for this change?”

Councilor Solomon Dreeg, a member of the Nald Legislative Court. It was not uncommon for him to come to the Oracle and attempt to get a reaction, poking and prodding, but never getting the response he wanted.

“Damage to the Saint’s Gem has required us to store it away.” The Oracle responded, the smile she forced creating the look of a plastic doll on her fair features. “You would know this, Councilor, as I had sent word to the Court regarding the change to our weekly sermon.”

“Yes yes of course..” Every movement of his tongue dripped with his distaste. As if the mere acting of being here in this Church was a great offense to him. “The gem, which has stood as a…how would your people say it…a beacon for our nation! Has suddenly…what? Cracked? Chipped an edge? An ancient artifact from the age of heroes, scratched? Perhaps dented? Your letters to the council have always been rather vague on the details.”

“I assure you that the Saint’s Gem is not in any risk of permanent damage. Minor damage, nothing more.”

“Then surely you would be able to repair it?”

“Of course.” She replied.

“Then why haven’t you?”

“To attempt a repair on an artifact such as the Saint’s Gem requires the utmost patience and care. You and I both know that the Saint’s Gem is a powerful, ancient artifact, Councilor Dreeg. If a mistake were to be made in the process of its repair, it could cause irrevocable consequences.”

“…Including the release of what is stored within?”

“Yes.”

The Oracle bowed her head, down at the table they sat across each other from. Tea had been served, but Dreeg had left it to go cold. The lumbering oaf of a man let out an unenthusiastic sigh.

“I can assure you, councilor, that we at the church are doing everything in our power to repair it.”

“Always promises, never results. It never changes with you holy men.” Solomon scoffed, rising from his seat.

“Should disaster strike at our empire, and the power of the heroes needs to be called upon. The Gem must be ready to answer the call. If it is not? Then it will be this Church that faces irrevocable consequences.”

His threat to the Oracle had not gone unnoticed. Her head raised to watch the oaf walk out, stomping his feet like an annoyed toddler. “The Church’s responsibilities have always been known to us, please do not forget the responsibility you have as well, Solomon.”

The scowl he gave her was a painting she would hang on her wall. That thin veil of a politician pulled away to show the angry child behind it, a young boy who didn’t get what he wanted. Though he had never been the type to have self awareness, he did at least notice the act he now gave. Straightening himself.

“A pleasure as always, Catherine.” The councilor said. He lied, of course. Before he stepped out of the Church’s meeting room.

That plastic smile the Oracle held quickly faded the moment he was out of sight. A spiteful man, Solomon was.

“Siel.” She said out into the empty room, and the room answered.

“Yes?”

“Has the search bore any fruit?”

“Yes.”

From air she materialized, a woman in white, hood and cloak hiding her features, and a mask over her face. A flat, white mask that hid every feature, save for a single hole that allowed her to see from her left eye.

“A young acolyte had disappeared the same day the Gem was reported stolen.” The masked woman reached into her cloak, and from it a picture was revealed to the Oracle. A black and white photograph, taken of every new acolyte. She wore the ceremonial white robes, short hair that went no further than her chin.

Sharp eyes. The Oracle had seen this one before.

“Ophelia Horne.” She said, handing the photograph back to Siel.

“Yes.” Back into her cloak did the picture go. “Her sister, Melody Horne, had been reported missing. The same day as Ophelia.”

“And pray tell, where have they disappeared to?”

“A pair of sisters matching their descriptions was reportedly seen entering a train in Janestown. A train heading to the village of Pinewood.”

“Find them, and get back the Gem.”

“Understood.”

A slight breeze formed inside the chamber, until the masked woman had disappeared from sight. Only then did the Oracle reach for her cold cup of tea.

___

“The Adventurer’s Guild?” The pale attendant looked noticeably surprised by the latest request of his Lord Ruin.

“Yes! It would be a good opportunity. We can learn all about the nearby human town, and get paid for our work.”

“That is true, Lord Ruin. However, you are forgetting one key factor.”

..?

“You are a dragon. Humans fear dragons.”

“I do not forget you telling me that, but now we don’t have to worry about that anymore!”

It’s been only a week since the incident in the Stonescale Burrow, but in that short time a lot has changed at the temple. Chief Granite and her people have settled on the grounds, and have refurbished the old residential quarters to serve as their new burrow.

What surprised me the most however about the stonescales was their efficiency. In a single week, the handful of kobolds that first arrived worked day in and day out to refurbish the dilapidated temple into a livable space for everyone. The work of the stonescales already bore fruit, repairing the main hall of the Temple with their skilled masonry. No rain would fall through the ceiling, its floors cleaned of rubble and cracks. Instead of the ruin it had been for centuries, the temple had begun to resemble a place to live in again.

On top of their efficient work, each day brought new stonescales to the temple. Each one swearing their allegiance the moment that they arrived. The temple was lively, and the kobolds were happy to spend their every waking moment tending to my needs. I have had to command them to rest to stop their endless energy.

I do appreciate everything the stonescales have done for me, but there was one issue…

“Good morning, oh great one!”

“How can we serve you today, oh great one?”

“We have new offerings to give you, oh great one!”

“I will be your pillow, oh great one!”

It never ended!! If they had my way, I would be holed up in the treasure vault with my every need and whim tended to. I tried to ask Chief Granite if she could get them to stop, she rounded up every stonescale and told them to stop pampering me. While they did stop trying to tend to my every need…I can feel them watching me at every turn, waiting for me to give a command.

I needed to get away! Just for a bit, somewhere where I wasn’t constantly being looked to as a master to serve, and I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t interested in seeing what the adventuring life is like here in the Nald Empire! I knew I couldn’t do it myself, being the large red scaled lizard I am, but with Kane and my new ability…

“Your new power will help, yes, but there is still the risk of you hitting passerby’s, or fitting into human buildings.”

“If I can’t fit or if it’s too risky to go through, I'll just stay outside! Please, Kane. I want to go do something that isn’t sitting around the temple. Besides, you could use a proper bath.”

I pleaded like a child begging for candy from my dad, but I didn’t care in the least. Today, I was getting that candy! I do however feel bad for making Kane aware his own stench.

“…Very well, but if at any point there is the slightest chance of you being found, we will depart immediately.”

“It’s a deal!”

We met with Chief Granite, leaving her in charge of the temple to her while we were gone. She proudly puffed up her chest and gave me a firm salute.

“Yes sir, Lord Ruin sir! We shall keep the home of the Lord safe and sound until you return!…humbly.”

Then, we planned our moves ahead, and headed south. Towards the village of Pinewood.

___

Today was a quiet day, most of the parties that work in Pinewood’s Explorer Branch have already gathered the best jobs on the board and went off to complete them. Leaving only the solo adventurers and parties late to the party to pick up the scraps.

“Man…The Luna crew got that spider cave contract. Not even any good open contracts either..” Deacon said, the leader of the Dandelion company. His brown hair is a curled and knotted mess atop his freckled and tired face. Mismatched armor hastily equipped on this early rainy day, his sword’s scabbard barely kept locked on his loose belt.

“Hilda was the one who normally picked up the contracts, and now Luna has her.” Lily let out a huff into her morning coffee. Deep, dark circles under the young woman’s eyes. Auburn hair tied up in a messy bun on the top of her head. There was no time to do it properly. Her rifle leaning against the round table they sat at. The end of the barrel pointing close towards their third member.

The only of the three that seemed to have gotten a good night’s rest. Short rounded blonde hair that went no further than her chin. With sharp green eyes that focused purely on the meal in front of her. A cleric’s quarterstaff on her back, and her revolver already cleaned and loaded at her hip.

“You have some shoes to fill, newbie.” Lily said with a scowl.

“Heey! Ain’t her fault we’re down a job. Can’t expect Ophelia to do everything Hilda did.”

“…hmph.”

“Sorry bout that.” Deacon said, an awkward smile on his face towards their little company’s newcomer. “We’re just still gettin used to each other. Hilda was a longtime member of our crew. Once we get used to each other I'm sure she’ll warm up to you.”

Lily’s eyes shot a furious gaze towards their “leader”, half tempted to aim the rifle at him. Thankfully for him, she concluded he wasn’t worth the bullet.

“It’s okay.” Ophelia finally spoke, finishing the breakfast of eggs and hash that had been given to her. The cleric’s way of speech was simple, clean. No hint of character in her speak. Deacon saw it as her being shy, Lily believed she hid behind a mask. “I am new here. I do not expect you to trust me right away. I hope to earn it.”

“See? Now that’s a good attitude for an adventurin type. You’ll fit in just fine.” Deacon grinned.

“We will fit in when we have a job to work on.”

The grin quickly became a wince on his face.

“…I’ll wake up earlier next time, promise, haha!..”

The awkward laugh he gave out was not accompanied by either of his companions. His social ability was at an all time low between these women.

“…riiight.” Deacon sighed, and noted how he had to find another man to be their fourth.

Then the door to the Explorer’s Branch opened.

A tall, dark man with pale skin stood at the entrance. His long features were accented by his thin, black hair that ran down both sides of his face. Piercing red eyes scanned the room from the open door, and a pure black cloak. No weapon appeared to be on his person, a nobleman visiting the local guildhall? His stature gave him a sense of regality, but no knight or servant followed him in.

Deacon grinned, there may be an opportunity. The regal man in black had cast his gaze over the Dandelion Company, his eyes lingering on the group from a distance. Eyes locking with the gaze of one of their party, Ophelia. A silent regard, before he strode through the guild hall towards the front desk.

“Do you know that guy, Ophie?” Deacon leaned on the table towards her, whispering low. The blonde haired cleric had no answer for her, a chill ran down her spine seeing that man of black and white. Her hand gripping the satchel she wore tight.

“Ophie?”

“…huh?…Oh, no. I do not”

“…ookaaay, well, let’s do some people watching and find out.”

Their eyes all watched the mysterious man, heads turning in unison. When adventurers didn’t have a contract to work, they sure loved to poke into other’s business.

The Guild head was in the middle of preparing the next set of contracts for the board, an old, burly man who stood at the same height as the regal man. His thick, bushy mustache hid his mouth underneath. Eyes flicking upward to the gentleman that stood across his desk… Then to the door he left wide open.

“Fella if you are gonna enter a place, best close the door behind ya. It’s wet outside and nobody wants that here.”

The dandelion company shared a gossiping eye, drama! What will the stranger say in return?

“..Oh, my apologies sir.” The pale man said with a sincere smile. “Allow me.”

“Mhm.” The gruff guild lead replied, waiting as the stranger walked back, closed the door, and returned to his desk.

The Dandelions felt like they were robbed of juicy drama.

“Now,” his thick stache curved upward, returning a courteous grin. “How may I help a newcomer such as yourself?”

The stranger gave a polite bow. “I wish to partake in this Guild’s work. Would it be possible for I to sign on as an adventurer here?”

“You certainly came to the right place, with better manners than most of the rabble I get here.” The guild lead set aside his contracts and pulled out a new paper, pen in hand.

“Gonna need your name first, stranger. What do we call you?”

“You may call me…Hellsing.”

The eavesdropping Dandelions gave another glance at each other, Deacon sighed and slid a silver piece to Lily. He bet it would be something silly like Eugene.

“Hell…sing.” The man wrote it down all the same. “And are you a part of an adventuring party, Hellsing, or solo?”

“Solo-“

“Well wait a minute there sir!” The scruffy Dandelions leader came bouncing towards the desk. A long sigh coming from the Lead.

“What do you want, Deacon?” He huffed, his mere presence leaving the old man exasperated. Not that it deterred the ever social young fool.

“Mr. Hellsing, was it? Deacon Folo at your service, before you decide the whole solo adventuring thing, could I offer you an opportunity good sir?”

The messy haired goofball flashed his pearly whites, waiting for a response from the newcomer…Only to see both the tall men looking at him with blank expressions. Suddenly, he felt very short. Did he have a height complex? He let out a cough to restart his momentum.

“..ahem! Allow me to invite you to a premier adventuring party here at the Explorer’s Branch in Pinewood. The Dandelions!” He stretched out his arms to showcase the table behind him, where two women that had no idea what he was doing watched him nake a fool of himself. Still, he continued.

“We are a skilled group of monster hunters, who have since taken a new role as adventurers! Specialized in hunting, scouting, outdoor exploration and being the life of the party after a successful job well done. There is I, the leader and charisma of our humble group. Then there is Lily Daniwick, the g-“

“Lily Danewick!”

“Er, yes Dan-eh-wick! Thank you Lilly!” His awkward laugh echoing once again in the empty hall. “Lily Danewick, expert markswoman. Once shot a Junior Berserker Beetle between the eyes from a mile away. Then finally, there is Ophelia Horne!…”

He stood there, trying to think of ways to play up his new companion…and realizing how little he actually knew.

“…A wonderful breakfast buddy and super cool cleric! We’re always looking for new members to add to our company. Always better to work with a friend than alone, wouldn’t you say?”

A sales pitch for the ages, natural born salesman, way too confident for his own good, many things could be said after the performance he just displayed. In the end, all that mattered to Deacon was how Hellsing would respond! The pale man had simply watched him, though without the same contempt on his face that the guild lead had. When he had finished his offer to Hellsing, he thought about it for only a moment.

“That is a generous offer, Deacon, was it? But I am afraid I will refuse.” Hellsing’s smooth voice, with such kind words, crushed the curly haired leader’s hopes and dreams.

“Solo it’ll be then?” The Lead asked again.

“Yes.”

“Alright, two silver for the adventuring license, i’ll have it ready by tomorrow and then you’ll be free to start working Mr. Hellsing.” He replied, only to see a gold coin placed upon his desk.

“I will require accommodations for the week as well, will this suffice?”

That white mustache curled up high. “It’ll do nicely. Welcome to the Explorer’s Branch, Mr. Hellsing. Just in time as well, about to put up the next set of open contracts.”

His large hand pulled off a key from the wall, passing it on to Hellsing. After filing his application, the guild lead scooped up the papers on his desk and went to the end of the hall, where the Wall sat.

The Wall, where every adventurer finds their work. A massive, end to end board where any kind of field work that could use a skilled hand is posted. From gathering local herbs and resources, to hunting down dangerous threats to Pinewood. Any and all could be found here. All marked with a rating, from E to S. E ranks are safe jobs, with little to no risk, but the pay is little as well. The higher the rank, the riskier and harder the work would be.

Currently, what was on the board was sparse. The leftovers after all the big private contracts were picked up the moment they were poster. After the early morning private contracts, the open contracts were posted.

D Rank Request, Hylia Blossoms [15 S]

C Rank Hunt, Highland Condor. ALIVE. [28 S]

E Rank Request, Farming Labor [8 S]

C Rank Request, Town Watch [25 S]

A Rank Hunt, The Demon Wolf, Pan. DEAD. [150 G]

The Veteran Dandelion duo suddenly came to full attention, ears perked at the sound of those wonderful papers being stamped. The stamp of an A rank! It was rare to see such a high ranked hunt. Only when truly dangerous creatures appeared did an A rank hunt appear. This Pan is sure to be a dangerous beast to face against…

But Deacon and Lily’s eyes were only reflecting the gold it marked. The look they shared between them made one thing clear. They would be the ones to catch it!…Ophelia however, was taking pieces of hash from their plates while they were distracted. Wrapping it in a napkin and hiding it inside her bag.

The Dandelions weren’t the only ones who were looking at the A rank however. Deacon turned his head upward to see Hellsing looming above him. Reading out the contract himself right behind him.

“Oh uh, hey, I know that this uh, this one looks pretty cool but…You probably want to start on one of those D or E rank jobs, Mr Hellsing. Something to dip your toes into the water and all.”

The newly signed adventurer looked down at the short man who spoke to him…From this angle, Deacon did look mighty small. The poor man gulped.

“Is it required to start with weak jobs here?” Hellsing asked, the guild lead shaking his head as he finished nailing the jobs to the Wall.

“W-Well no, but A ranks are pretty dangerous stuff. Best to have a group and all, if you had taken up our offer i’d have loved to bring you along buuuut ya didn’t, so…yeah. Besides, goin alone to fight an A rank is just…eh..”

“A death wish” Lily chimed in

“Yeah that.”

The pale man looked back towards that paper, its rank stamp clearly pressed into the depiction of a ferocious wolf. You couldn’t tell the size of the beast from the paper itself, the artwork left ambiguous enough to look like any old wolf. The only thing that defined “Pan” was in the short description the paper had, which described it as a “large, demonic grey wolf”.

“If I believe myself capable, then it is my choice to do so. Is it not, sir Deacon?” The words he spoke were confident, with no hint of humor or sarcasm in his question. This man was serious, the four that stood in this guild hall alongside him eyeing his words. Wondering to themselves whether he was a fool, or had the skills to back the confidence he had.

“Y-Yes, but uh…” Deacon stammered, scratching his unkempt chin. “We called dibs, so.”

“On an open contract?”

“…yes.”

“I see, good luck with your hunt then, Dandelions.” The way he ended his sentence didn’t sit right with Deacon. Did that mean he wasn’t going to hunt it? Or was that a challenge?? Hellsing had stepped away from the Wall and departed to his quarters. As soon as the tall, intimidating, and very handsome gentleman had passed out of earshot. Deacon ran back to the table.

“We have a job, and we gotta get started now before that weirdo does something!”

Lily raised her brow. “What makes you think a fresh faced newcomer will take down an A rank?”

“I don’t know, but I am getting a feeling! Besides, we’re the first ones to see this contract. We have to take advantage before any other group picks it up!”

“Is this the same feeling you had when you thought the train attendant was hitting on you?”

“No!… We definitely had a thing going on that train ride. No, no that isn’t the point. We gotta learn all we can about this Pan today and start the hunt tomorrow. Lily, we’re gonna need bait to catch a wolf, big bait. An elk.”

“I’ll have that done by morning.”

“Perfect! Okay, I'll go around town and see what people know. If we can get its location and bait it out, we can trap it. Let’s reconvene tomorrow.”

“Is there anything that I can assist with?” Ophelia asked, the two hunters reminding themselves that they had a new third member. She was always so reserved, sometimes you barely noticed she was there.

“Right, right! Why don’t you come with me today, Ophie?” Deacon smiled. “You’re new around town so we can use this to help you meet some folk. Get comfortable with the village, maybe make a friend or two.”

“I can assist you, however, I need to get back to the inn before too long.”

Lily furrowed her brow. “Why’s that?”

“I need to check on my sister.”

“Ooh, yeah, your sister.” Deacon said. “How’s she doin?”

“She’s fine.”

“Ah, well, alright.” Deacon had seen Ophelia’s sister when they first went to the Pinewood inn. A teenager, but so thin compared to her older sister. Thin and frail. It was no wonder she worried about her.

But he shouldn’t pry, they were just adventuring partners after all.

“Okay, we got everything? Perfect, let’s go!” The bright eyed leader got back to his feet, rushing to the door and ushering Ophelia along. Lily took her sweet time to finish what’s left of her coffee, only then picking up her rifle to depart. The Old man behind the desk let out a long groan the moment they left. Now he had clean up their mess.

The near empty guild house had a handful of living spaces for its adventurers to rest and recuperate. Due to their limited number, they did come at a premium. In return, you received a far larger living space than you would with the nearby inn.

The newest member of the Adventurer’s Guild of Pinewood, the Explorer’s Branch, had just entered his room. The spacious wood and stone brick bedroom gave everything an adventurer at rest would need. A large and luxurious bed, a writing desk, a small sitting area, and a brick fireplace with a warm green couch faced toward it. It even housed a huge glass window that faced out towards the late morning sun. While it was no royal bedroom, it was the nicest a man in Pinewood could buy. The tall and handsome “Hellsing” taking a seat by the fire,

Just as he did in the main hall, he left the door wide open.

The door then closed itself.