(???) “Hey, guys! Wait up!”

We heard a shout behind us but I want to keep walking, so I do.

(Nox) “Stella.”

He said in a strict voice as he grabbed my shoulder and held me in place… what did I do? Why aren't we going to get foo- herbs?

I stare at Nox confused but he isn't telling me. Then a boy with red hair shows up.

(Redhead) “I’m glad I found you. Are you going on a quest now? I can help if it's inside the city.”

Who is this? He was calling out for us but the only people we know… AH, the redhead from yesterday… what was his name?

(Nox) “We’re going herb hunting in glow forest.”

(Redhead) “Oh, I still have to guide newcomers to the guild so I can't go out of the city. Oh, well. Hey, you need some kind of weapon or you’ll be in trouble. Weak monsters are still monsters.”

Why can't I remember this guys name? Wait, are they talking about our quest?

(Nox) “Layla said to go to the warriors guild to borrow one but…”

(Redhead) “It may break on you but it's better than nothing.”

(Nox) “You seem to know a bit about this.”

Is he surprised? But redhead is an adventurer too, not to mention almost as broke as we are. If he wasn't, why would he be doing quests in town?

(Redhead) “I used one when I first got here. Actually, the weapons you can borrow are all failures or come from apprentice blacksmiths with almost no experience. It's possible to find something good but not likely. That's why you can borrow it for free and no one cares if they break. The warriors in the guild use them for practice so the good blades don't get damaged. But only those who recently joined the guilds can use them.”

(Nox) “Why?”

(Redhead) “If you could use something for free, even if it's bad, wouldn't you? Well, there are people who look down on those types. There are 3 types of people in the warriors guild and 2 are easy to find. The first is someone with no skill who doesn't care about their weapon, the second is someone with skill who treat their weapon as a part of them, the third kind are the skillful people who can't find a suitable weapon so they use whatever they can.”

What happened to the information on glow forest?

(Nox) “We’re going now, otherwise I think Stella will burn a hole in me with her stare.”

(Redhead) “Alright, just remember to get a weapon before leaving town.”

(Nox) “Got it. See you later.”

And we walk away, straight to the city gate. I wonder if that means Nox is confident.

At the gate we see the same guard from yesterday… was that guy serious about the slavery thing?

(Gard) “It's you two. Remember to show your passes when you enter town next time.”

(Nox) “We will.”

(Gard) “Ok, be careful out there.”

(Nox) “See you later.”

And we walk out… that's it? Even if we ignore the slavery issue from last time, isn't going out of town too easy?

*trip*

(Nox) “What are you doing?”

At least he caught me… though being grabbed by my arm like that hurt a bit…

(Nox) “Be more careful.”

I nod… that was embarrassing, I should pay more attention to where I’m walking.

A few minutes of silence later.

(Nox) “Now that we’re out of town, let's look at our guild cards.”

(Stella) (How?)

(Nox) “What do you mean how? Just take them out and add mana to it.”

(Stella) (How?)

(Nox) “Like this.”

He made his guild card appear and then words and letters started showing up… not that we can read them…

(Stella) (Can't.)

(Nox) “Why can't you? How could you put it away if you can't take it out?”

(Stella) (Like this.)

I held his guild card between my hands… well it worked with my card. I “covered” my guild card with my mana, or hands, and it worked… Nox is staring at me like I’m some kind of idiot… but it worked…

You're the one who said I’m made of mana…

(Nox) “How are you able to use telepathy without being able to even move your mana? Wait, I guess it's possible since telepathy uses soul power but the source of mana is the soul so this doesn't make any sense…”

Nox, I can't understand what you’re mumbling about.

Then he looked at me, then in the direction of town, then at me again… just say something already!

(Nox) “Do you want Layla to teach you, or go to the mage guild? You might get laughed at if we go ask a mage but it would be better to ask a professional.”

(Stella) (You can't?)

(Nox) “The god of deaths mana being used to help you sense your own. Do you want to die?”

… He has a point, or he could be lying to escape from work. I'm not sure which.

(Nox) “We still need to see your guild card so… this might hurt.”

What is he talking aboUCH!!!

I glare at him and back away.

(Nox) “This is why it's a bad idea for me to help. Death mana hurts. The only reason you're not dead is because I gave you my feather. Anyway, here’s your guild card. I deactivated the privacy so you could see it.”

I thought this thing could only be used by the person it's made for?

(Nox) “I am still a god you know. Something like this is like hacking on Earth, do you think a god wouldn't know how to hack mana?”

Sounds weird when you put it that way… Did this guy read my mind?

(Nox) “I didn't read your mind, it's written all over your face, so stop backing away and glaring at me like I'm some suspicious person!”

Let’s see what my guild card says, because of the explanation from Layla I know that an “F” looks like but I still don't know about the others… well, let's take a look first.

#*^%*@

@%^ : F %^# : F &%# : @

*^# : $ $^@ : # $&^ : %%

#%* : & %[email protected] : $ *&^ : &

… As expected, I can't read this. Looking at Nox, he’s not doing any better. All I can see on mine is that I have 2 somethings that are F-rank.

(Stella) (Nox...)

(Nox) “W-well, let’s get our quest started.”

I want to laugh at him but I will probably be laughed at for the same reason. He can't read it so he’s panicking on what other people will see if they get ahold of his guild card. Still, I'm surprised I only have 2 Fs here. One of them must be for strength but I don't even know what other criteria are here. If magic is on here I'm kinda worried over what it might say though. I also hope mana control isn't here because I don't know how it could be listed as nonexistent.

After about 30 minutes of walking, we reach the edge of a forest that's much closer than I thought it would be.

So I start looking for the herb. Nope, nope, nope, nop- wait that one's poisonous…

I look around the edge of the forest while Nox keeps a lookout for monsters… and I can't find a thing at the edge even after an hour.

I look towards Nox and shake my head.

(Nox) “Nothing here either… it’s probably been picked dry around the edges then. I guess we need to go in further... Don't make that face, I’ll protect you.”

What kind of face am I making? I am a little scared but I can't die so that's not it… I just don't like fighting I guess. I've had enough of something like that.

Still, I reluctantly follow Nox into the forest while keeping my eyes on the ground to search for herbs.

Nothing, nothing, nothing… Half an hour of nothing… Ok, I’m tired. I break a stick to get Nox’s attention then just sit down.

(Nox) “What's wrong Stella?”

(Stella) (No food, tired. Rest?)

(Nox) “We don't even know what's poisonous out here so we’d need to hunt if you want food. Get some rest, we’ll start again in half an hour.”

Nevermind half an hour, I didn't even get 5 minutes before,

AWOOOOO!!!

*CRASH* *BAM* *BAMMM*

(Nox) “Stella, get behind a tree and hide!”

W-what's going on?!

RAAAWL

OUUUUUUUUUUUUU

*BAM* *CRACK* *CRASH*

(Nox) “NOW!!!”

Before I get a chance to move, a wolf jumps out of the bushes.

B-blood, it's fur is covered in blood to the point I can't tell if that its blood or-

*BAM* *CRASH*

The tree behind it fell but it managed to dodge. The wolf started to run but an o-ork came out from behind the fallen tree and tried to smash it with the club in its hand.

W-what is this?!

(Nox) “STELLA!!!”

I snap back to my senses and run behind the tree. Feeling it's not safe enough, I climb the tree quickly and hide myself among the leaves before I begin to watch.

I didn't see much of the wolf, just its tail retreating into some bushes away from us. The ork was about to chase but it saw Nox… Where did Nox get that huge scythe? It even has a strange black cloud wrapping around it.

*CLANK* *SWOOSH*

OOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW

While I was thinking, they started to clash. The ork rushed at Nox while Nox knocked the club away with the end of the scythe then slashed down. B-blood splashed everywhere.

Both sides stopped fighting for a second so I got a good look at the ork. It's about a meter taller than Nox so 2.7ish meters tall with pink skin? It's hard to tell because it looks like that wolf got a few good hits in, even a claw that slashed through one of the orks eyes. Most of the ork is a bloody mess but its injuries don't seem to be affecting it much, except the one Nox gave it.

That wound is-OOOOOOOOOOOQWAKKKKKKKKKK

*BAM*

Oh no! My tree!

That stupid thing charged at Nox but Nox dodged and the ork slammed into the tree I’m on! I might not fall but the tree-*CRACK* Not good!

As the tree was falling I saw another one so I took the chance to jump. I scramble onto it before hiding again and look back at what's happening.

(Nox) “Stella, you ok?”

How do you want me to answer?! I can't even be on the sidelines without getting involved and you want me to tell that thing where I’m hiding?!

*SLASH*

While I’m ranting at Nox’s carelessness he had already run up to the ork and slashed its arm off… Ah, it got mad and swings its club at him! Why didn't he slash the arm holding the club?

Nox lured it back to where they were fighting but now Nox is on the other side of the ork and I can't see him.

OOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINK

*SWISH* *SLICE*

Well, I feel completely useless. Though I reaffirmed that I’d do nothing good in close quarters combat. Even after all this time I’m still afraid of blood.

*rustle rustle*

What's that? I look towards the sound on the ground to see a shadow moving towards the battle. Is that the wolf from earlier?

OOW

*CRASH*

The wolf creeps forward as it tries to stay behind the ork. Is it aiming for the ork? Or does it not want Nox to see it?

RAWWWWOOOOO

*CRACK* *BAM*

As the fight goes on the wolf sneaks forward. At that angle it can't attack Nox, so I’ll just watch for now and warn him if it changes target later- Oh, it stopped.

OUUUUUU

*BAM* *FWOOSH*

The fight goes on but the wolf doesn't move. Is it waiting for a chance to strike? That's not the hunting tactic of a wolf, but then again this one doesn't seem to have a pack. Maybe it adapted to being a loner to survive.

Suddenly, I see the ork stumble backwards. The wolf rushed towards it and grabbed its leg. The next thing I saw was the ork’s head flying… Gross.

I decided to stay in the tree… and it looks like that was a good choice because Nox and the wolf are staring at each other in a tense situation.

I don't know what to do. All it would take to change the situation is some noise but they might start to fight.

Then Nox unexpectedly moves. What are you doing? See, the wolf is scary looking now…

Nox slashes down his scythe and cuts off the orks leg before throwing it to the wolf… the wolf grabs the leg and quickly drags it away… what just happened?

I look around for a bit before not seeing anything nearby. The fight must have attracted something so we should leave as soon as possible.

I look back at Nox and… He's dismantling the ork and letting blood… Why would a god know how to do that?

I quickly climbed down the tree and ran over to him.

(Stella) (Nox, ok?)

(Nox) “I’m fine, just a little tired. More importantly, look, I did a good job right.”

(Stella) (How, dismantling? God?)

(Nox) “I first heard about it from some hunters who died while hunting, then I asked my sister and she taught me all kinds of things about hunting.”

(Stella) (Sister?)

(Nox) “Goddess of the hunt.”

So you won't tell me her name? Well, I’d probably forget it soon anyway.

After he ‘cleaned’ the monster… I don't think it will fit in that bag…

(Stella) (Nox...)

(Nox) “I know…”

So it's no good after all. We don't even know what we have to bring back to get money from it. If people eat it we need the ribs, if people use the bones we need bones. This won't work, even if we shove the thing in it probably won't fit.

(Nox) “Stella…”

(Stella) (No!)

Yes, we have one other storage, but I’m not putting that thing in there. First, I don't know how. Second, I wouldn't be able to take it out anyways there's no point. And most importantly, third, I don't want that thing to be anywhere near me. Even if it's in some other dimension, that dimension is too close to me and that thing is gross beyond compare.

(Nox) *Sigh* “I’ll do something about it, I guess.”

*Squelch*

I decided to not look on at this god’s ways and search for our quest target… nothing in this area either. Is there some kind of special environment I’m missing here? Too bad I don't have that book… not that I’d be able to read it…

That's it, I’m going to hide behind this tree while I wait for Nox to finish… with what he's doing.

When he’s done, we can continue on and finally finish this quest, but first I need to calm down.

That was blood… and I couldn't do anything to help… again. No, don't think like that, first breath in and out, hee and hoo. I didn't even notice how fast my heart was beating…

I don't want to keep being useless, when I get back to town I’ll learn how to fight. I may not be able to help directly but if I learn magic… I want to be some kind of support mage, maybe learn to heal or buff and debuff.

I just… don't want to lose another friend.