It was quiet and still. Candlesticks burned brightly as it lit up the long table, filled with wine goblets and platters, the whole room overwhelmed by the anxiety in the air. Aaron, Eric, Lisa, Laurence, and Lina sat on the table with the woman they have yet to know. She was the only one unaffected by this atmosphere, as she seized the goblet before her and drank the wine, coughing and laughing.

She breathed out merrily. “Wine tastes good after a long day, don’t hold back now!”

“Enough!” Eric slammed the table shut, forcing everyone, even the maids to be caught by his attention. “I know you saved us and all,” he sighed, trying to calm himself down. “But could you please explain the situation now that we’re all here.”

The woman pointed the goblet to Eric. “That’s not how you talk to a lady,” she saw him sat down, tapping the wooden table impatiently. “But you’re right, I’ve held you too much. Those questions inside your head must be anxious.”

“So?”

“I’m Venna, fifth generation of the pureblood Roveau witch hunters. Feel free to ask me anything. Oh, and don’t bother introducing yourselves, I’ve heard everything I need to know from your friend Lisa, I assure you – everything.”

Eric was about to raise his mouth when Aaron interrupted. “Why did you help us?”

“Perfect question,” she beamed. “Two reasons – We got a contract to take care of you for a year. I got to say, that woman paid a fair amount of gold!”

Aaron arched an eyebrow. “Any idea who she is?”

“Never got the chance to ask her. She was masked and secretive but paid half in advance so I decided to accept the offer. But that's a story for another time. Lastly, the reason was you,” she pointed at Aaron, then Eric all the way to Lisa at the farthest back. “all of you, were to become witch hunters – which is part of the contract as well.”

Aaron didn’t want to end the conversation just here. “But aren’t witch hunters supposed to hunt witches? Not be some caretaker for random… kids?”

“Oh no, you’ve got us wrong,” she chuckled. “We’re still mercenaries, but more on killing monstrosities instead of humans. If there’s gold, we’re more likely to accept it if it’s in our favor. Though unlike mercenaries, we don’t participate in genocide and war between kingdoms. In other words, we’re pretty much neutral.”

Eric snorted. “You can break the contract by killing us now, after all, you’ve got your gold. How am I supposed to believe you?”

“We’re safe here – with her,” Lisa said at the farthest corner. Her voice was like a mutter but echoed enough throughout the room. Her expression seemed to match the murky swamp – glooming. "I told her we're from another dimension, that five of us were transported here by a spell.

"Yes, exactly," Venna nodded. "But a little more detailed. Plus, I don't need you to believe. Just need to train you to become a witch hunter and survive for a year, as per the contract."

Aaron leaned back. “And you believe Lisa?”

“Don’t take me for a fool! There’s proof – show your back to me.”

Aaron flinched. “What?”

“Oh, just do it!” Venna waved her hand as she drank another cup of wine. “There’s no harm.”

Aaron did what she said and took off his shirt.

“Yeah,” she muttered. “I’m gonna have to mold your muscles before taking on the real thing.”

“Mind if we hurry up?” Aaron smiled. “It’s kinda embarrassing.”

If he has muscles and abs, then Aaron would feel proud. But that wasn’t the case since his appearance matched his real physique. He doesn’t go to gym nor exercise every morning, so his physique isn’t that good.

“Oh, there it is,” Venna touched Aaron’s back, just below his nape. “These lines, so it’s true.”

“What do you see?”

Eric glanced, his eyes widened. “It’s a barcode.”

Venna shifted her attention at Eric. “Barcode?”

"In the other world," Eric paused. "We use the barcode to identify objects."

“I have it too!” Lisa interrupted. “Some girls in the bathroom saw it and told me about it. So, it really is a barcode…”

“Really?” Aaron looked at Eric. “I thought for sure it was a tattoo I saw on your back.”

Venna grinned. “Well, that explains why my ring,” she flashed her silver ring, coiled around her fingers. Carved on it were something like glyphs connected to each other. “…reacts. You see, witch hunter rings only flicker when certain spells are active. The brighter it glows…”

She elevated her finger to Aaron’s barcode. “…the stronger the spell is.” The ring released a crimson light so vivid, shadows around the hall quickly hid behind their goblets and platters.

Laurence, who had been quiet this whole time, spoke up. “Sorry to interrupt the epic moment guys, but Amy just called me.”

Lisa’s impatience made her lean towards Laurence, her eyes glassy and her voice… weak. “What’s the news?”

“She said she was sorry and that… she’ll explain everything once we get back.”

“Get back?” she said stiffly. “You mean log-out? When?”

"Ehem!" Venna made a fake cough. "Get some sleep now, we'll talk all about it tomorrow. Maid, guide them to their room."

Everyone quickly stood up, as if they wanted a rest. Aaron too, was exhausted after this amount of confusion swirling around his head. But there was one thing he still wanted to ask Venna, so right at the footstep on the door, he stopped. “I’ve one more question before I go back.”

“Go on.”

“Do you trust us?”

Venna burst out into laughter. “No, dear, no I don’t,” she said firmly. “It’s gold I trust.”