A Kid.

Greatness. That is what I was promised. The means to reach my ends was the agreement.

Yet, before me was naught but paperwork.

"Aristocracy was never for me," I complained. Sitting between four brick walls, a roof, and a wooden floor, well-decorated and pristine, I cursed my situation.

I pick up the pen, courtesy of the consortium itself, and sigh my irritation away.

I wish I could've been on the field instead. I thought, delving back into the pile of paper. 

I could feel it, my senses numbing... My consciousness fading... Soon, once again, I will enter back into the blur...

..

.

!

*Thump*

?

*Thump* *Thump*

Who is it, I ask myself, irritation growing.

A sudden crash, the door before me swung open. 

A wheezing man, huffing he places his hands to his knees.

His words better be of worth.

"If you do not explain yourself," I said yet facing the pile of papers, "you wil--"

"Sir!" He took a stand, saluting me in interruption. A letter was in his hand.

"Sir! A problem has occurred at the camp. His Highness wishes for you to personally oversee the process moving forward!" The man said, approaching my desk. His feet shook, hands trembling. He placed the letter before me atop the pile of paper, fear quite the display in his shaken eyes. 

Understandable fear, that was. But, for such great news, his fear was misplaced.

"Personally," I said, a painful grin displayed, "you say?"

"Y-Yes, Sir!"

"I will be moving by dawn then, send my word to the coachman," I said, putting down the paper with a smile.

"As you wish, Sir!" His fear turned to relief, the man didn't miss a second in his escape.

Joyful, I reach out to the letter.

What a beautiful thing you are, I thought removing the contents within.

And, my smile disappears. My mood was ruined. 

"So, that's why," I said, leaning back with a hand over my face.

"The ranked... You just had to answer." I cursed the change.

It wasn't something I hadn't prepared for, but a thing to tip the odds away from myself.

I will have to make it work.

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Lena sat, the cloth of the tent the only thing within vision.

She pondered the man's words, attempting to find meaning. He had talked about many topics: the results of the dragon raid, her opinions on them, the reason for her strength, and most importantly, the flow and, contradictions it brought up within Octan. She had found that the commonality in his questions always seemed to be that they were centered around her, Lena. Why was he so interested in her, was something she couldn't grasp.

"Hey, Lena," Kouko had called for her, "Would you mind coming here a second?" She smiled at Lena, patting the side of her bed.

Lena nodded and did as asked. She found no reason to deny it, and she was feeling quite meaningless herself. Octan wasn't in the tent, apparently called once more by the head of the party, it had become a daily occurrence.

"Do you miss him?" Kouko immediately started talking the moment Lena sat. "With how things were between you two, I would bet you aren't used to the separation, are you?"

Lena eyed the women, perplexed by the inquiry.

"Well, you know? Although all I have traveled with you two were a day or two, I could see how in sync you were, this sudden stillness must be disorienting, right?"

One more, Lena found the woman's words confusing.

"I guess, yeah," Kouko said. "Perhaps disappearing for a couple of hours a day isn't something to account for, never mind me."

Lena gave a slight nod.

"Anyway," Kouko sighed, finding conversing with the child(?) tiring. "I see you've been tying your hair even in the tent. I thought it was more of a traveling thing, so it doesn't get in your way, but it seems you really like it that way."

Lena lifted a hand, running it through her hair. She thought of the word Kouko had used, Like, was that what she would express the connection between her hair and herself? To Lena, she had never thought about it. All that she could remember was that this was a way of hair, it had no connection to her as a person, nor had it formed an opinion within her. Only it, and an old encounter now a memory.

Lena didn't answer Kouko.

"So even this you are indifferent to..." Kouko slouched forward. "Kid--are you even one I wonder--would you allow me the privilege?" She pointed an index at the kid's head, a sweet smile swaying the kid's mind.

Lena gave her a small nod, eyes blank and soulless as ever.

Kouko replied with an even livelier smile, perhaps in rebellion to the emptiness within the child.

Kouko took a stand and gestured for Lena to turn over with a circling index. Lena immediately answered, sitting in a kneeling position, it was surprisingly comfortable, the sheets--courtesy of the guild--showcasing to Lena the power of luxury.

Kouko ran a hand through the child's hair, the texture a surprising comfort. Perhaps the child cared much more than they showcased, she wondered. She undid the band, freeing the kid's hair, allowing it to display its true form, freely expressing its length and volume.

"What wonderful hair," Kouko openly expressed, "You have me jealous, Lena."

Lena found her words familiar, a heart-string pulled by them as they once tinged her impassionate feelings. Kouko's words were working, Lena was, for what it was worth, flustered. She slightly lowered her head, hiding her vision behind her long bangs.

Kouko, taking notice of Lena, giggles.

"Even you get all giddy, don't you kid?" A smug tone pushed Lena further. Kouko ran both hands through the brown, chestnut hair, playing and twisting it around. As if a child left on a sandbox, she let her curiosity guide her forward.

"Lena," She called, still working her hands. "Octan, he isn't your father, is he?"

Lena shook her head slightly.

"Are they..." Kouko said, her hands carefully and purposefully working, "Are they not with us anymore?"

"Yes," Lena replied. 

"Did it..." She said, her words sounding forced. "...Did it have to do with Octan?"

"No," Lena replied. "They died long ago, I don't even remember them. All I knew of them was on pieces of paper."

"Lena, you are literate?!" Kouko sounded, "It is true that the consortium has been bringing up schools throughout the continent, but you are a traveler? Did Octan teach you?"

"No," Lena replied. "Someone else did. Someone I don't know."

"Someone you don't know?" Kouko questioned her.

"Yes," Lena said. "I used to have a letter. Words which spoke of her, but I lost them along the way."

"You lost them? Something that important?" Kouko said, words warm and enchanting, bringing Lena into a sense of comfort, allowing her to freely speak words she had always buried deep within. Perhaps it wasn't Kouko's understanding tone, but rather that for once, she had a reason to sound her thoughts.

"Long ago, we had left the luggage behind within the null zone. When pointed it out to Octan, he simply dismissed the luggage, saying we could get whatever we needed at the next stop." Lena said,  her voice monotone.

"And your letter, it was there too?"

Lena nodded.

"Why didn't you tell him? Why didn't you go for it?" Kouko asked.

"I didn't, and still don't, need it," Lena said.

"But, it was a memory, something you cherished, wasn't it?"

"Memory, Cherished?" Lena questioned.

"Well, you... Cared for it, right? You... How do I say it kid, you wanted it by your side, didn't you?"

Lena was never one to understand herself. She simply took life as is. If her eyes fell on something, they fell on it. If her heart pulled at a thought, then it pulled at a thought. She was never one to categorize actions or behaviors. 

Yet, now, as Kouko explained her words, she found herself agreeing.

"Yes, I think I did," Lena answered, a weak nod following.

"You--!" Kouko stopped her careful procedure, instead ruffling Lena's scalp with both hands. "You think!" A playful show of friendliness.

"What are you doing?" Lena questioned the woman.

"Ahh! I ruined it!" Kouko sounded "Ahhh! It was going so well too!"

Lena kept her gaze down, eyeing the wrinkled sheets beneath her.

"You could at least complain, Lena. You do know this is your image I just ruined," Kouko said, starting over again.

"I could always just tie it back," Lena said.

"'Just tie it back,' She says." Kouko scoffs, "And if I don't let you?"

Lena turned an eye over her shoulder, raising a brow and questioning the woman.

"What if I take away this band, what then?" Kouko asked.

Lena returned her gaze forward, simply shrugging.

"You will find friends quite a hassle, Lena..." Kouko tapped her head. "But do not worry, I am sure you will eventually find someone who adores your silence."

Lena found her sudden tangent quite unreasonable, she had never demanded nor expected the affection of others, so why was the woman offering sympathetic remarks? Perhaps the woman was projecting? Or was Lena missing something within her words?

"Lena, why did you choose to come here?" Kouko asked, her hands still running through the child's hair. "Octan said it when we got here, that it was you who decided, why?"

Lena was half-there, her consciousness studying the patterned wrinkling of the sheets. She had heard Kouko but had no answer. She had thought of following her usual answer to people, silence, but it didn't feel right to leave Kouko without words. To Lena, the woman had become more than a person.

"I don't know," Lena said, the only thing she could muster. "I just... When I read that letter... I don't know..." She answered.

"Well," Kouko said, tying a band to finish her work. "I'm glad you did, Lena." She turned Lena over and smiled.

Lena watched her, lowering her gaze, attempting to find a wall to hide behind where her bangs should've been.

"Come now," Kouko said, dragging Lena by the hand. A corner of the tent had placed a full-body mirror sitting upright. "Aren't you adorable!"

Lena gazed at the reflection. Worn-out clothing cladding an oversized body. Her length towering over the adult next to her. A baggy tunic with extended long sleeves covering her rough, grown arms.  Brown aged trousers hiding away her lengthy, robust legs. Yet, a fragile face, lips a ripe beige, nose a slight budge, eyes an empty, detached brown, and brows an enchanting match.

She turned her head over her shoulder, and her now braided chestnut hair ran down over her shoulder. 

"I could squeeze you to death, Lena!" Kouko said, a thirsty gaze studying Lena.

Lena caught the loose braid end, fidgeting it for a second. It felt, strange, as if for once, her mess was orderly. It was a bizarre sense of achievement, an achievement which she had not brought forward. She faced the smaller woman to her side, a woman who smiled at her with careless acceptance.

"Damn the guild, I say--." A complaint sounded as Octan burst into the tent. Coming to a stop as the two girls facing each other take his interest.

Lena and Kouko turned to him, Kouko's eyes shot back in shock due to the intrusion, and Lena raised a brow.

"Making friends?" He questioned the two, taking a seat.

"I just wanted to help out with Lena's fashion choices!" Kouko said, leaving Lena's side and moving towards Octan.

"A woman's thing, I would guess." He said, floating the bucket of cold water over to his side.

"Indeed," Kouko said, wittingly joining in with Octan. "Something she would miss around you."

"Then it is something of no importance," He scoffed.

Lena let her gaze leave the two, going back to the mirror. She eyed herself, and the braided hair Kouko had left her with. She fidgeted with it and then pulled the band letting her hair loose once more.

With a quick movement, she had brought it back to its usual ponytail.

From the other side of the tent, Kouko glanced at the kid in apology, her eyes a sorrowful hollow. 

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Octan strolled down the dirt path, making his way back to the camp. His arm sword swaying by his waist. A hand rested on the peeking handle, while the other carried what seemed to be a large leather cloth, filled with obtrusive cumbersome material, over his shoulder. It was fit, bulging all over.

His long white jacket had turned red, covered by the blood of his prey.

I will have to carefully work through it once I get back, Octan thought eyeing his bloodied shoulders.

Once again, he was visited by the guild at night. This time the letter demanded his movement, they had threatened to withdraw him from the efforts if not answered. He had considered the thought of simply letting them be, allowing them whatever conclusions they wished for, but he had words to fulfill.

He never enjoyed the night. He found little nourishment in the act of rest; while his mind would grow tired, all it needed was but a moment's pause. On the other hand, his body had never demanded nor asked him for it; rather, it begged him to move, to act, and perform continuously.

Though, that is when he completely made use of his body, to push its working to the very limit. Something he never did, nor did he need to. That is why, even now, he yawns. As, the moment his body is left in a neutral state, it returns its human functions.

But, even that was something he could live with. What irritated him on this particular night, was the comfort. To sleep with others, and to live within a community. Things he swore to always stray away from. So, he accepted the letter's words and ventured alone, something he was much more appreciative of.

Octan found the camp's entrance, lit by a pair of mana-lanterns.

He walks by, the guard in a trembling salute.

He strolls through the camp, reaching the larger tent set in the middle, the one that housed the guild's officials.

He barged in, finding no reason to show respect. 

"S-Sir ranked! What are you doing here?!" A guild official spoke. He wasn't dressed in the guild's uniform, but he seemed to be in a position, as he was surrounded by others who were dressed and listening.

"Here," Octan said, throwing the leather bag to the side. "Your quest is done, another village will sleep well tonight." He turned around, leaving for his sleep.

"No, it couldn't be..." The man gestured for one of his men to search the bag, watching as Octan left the tent with a yawn. 

The man peeked into the bag, pulling out one of the skulls within.

"It does seem to be the skull of a Warmong, Sir." The guild specialist confirmed.

"But... The... A simple one-way travel alone must've taken him at least a month... Hell, that is if he had rushed... Just what monsters are The Ranked." The man fell back to his seat.

"Sir, how will we be proceeding?" The guild specialist questioned.

"...The Sage will be joining us soon, he will take over then. For now, move as planned."

With a joint affirmation, the group disbands, leaving the man by himself.

he eyed the cloth-garped pack of Warmong skulls. A chill ran down his spine, to think that a man had crossed the entire dominance, slayed a camp of Warmongs, and then crossed it back within a night.

"Perhaps the guild is something we shouldn't mess with," He mumbled to himself.