Welcome to Valgaea

     Will and Charlotte readied themselves for what was to come as the rustling within the foliage drew closer, the sound growing louder. Just before the source of the rustling revealed itself, the pair suddenly realized something peculiar. They felt weight on them—weight that was not present when they were in the white void with Lahstus previously. Charlotte had been resting against a tree when her vision cleared, and Will on the soft earth of the forest floor, so they had not realized the change at first. The abrupt and absurd nature of their current situation may have contributed to their failure to notice as well. Taking a moment to look themselves over, they found that Lahstus had indeed elected not to send them into the foreign world unarmed. Latched to Will's hip on his left side was a shortsword sheathed in hardened leather, primed and ready to be drawn. And, clasped to a thick, cross-body leather belt of sorts worn over Charlotte's right shoulder was a spear with its tip wrapped tight in a rough leather binding. To her surprise, it sat comfortably on her back, the weight and size noticeable, but not bothersome in the slightest. It was as if the spear had been made especially for her, and she planned to put it to use immediately. 

     Without wasting a second, she unclasped the polearm from her back and hurriedly unwrapped the leather binding from the tip. The spear itself appeared mostly new, or perhaps as if it were simply well taken care of. There were few marks on the shaft, and none at all on the blade. It was without blemish, but not for much longer. Just before the incoming creature exited the bushes ahead, she called out to Will sharply.

     “Will! You have a weapon, right? Draw it now! We have no chance of escaping a creature coming our way in a strange forest we've never even seen before.”

“H-Hold on,” he began, clearly anxious about having to fight. “Are you sure we can't just–”

     Charlotte swiftly cut him off, leaving no room for argument whatsoever. 

     “Do it! Can't you see we don't have time for this?! Draw your weapon and fight!”

     Her words were firm, almost cold in their blatant disregard for his wishful thinking. At that moment, her primary concern was their survival. Will's eyes narrowed, the displeasure he felt for both the current turn of events and the tone she had taken with him evident on his face. Sucking his teeth, he groaned and drew his sword on the double, pointing it straight ahead.

     “Ugh, fine!” he complained, his legs shaking as he watched the creature step out at last. “Let's just… get this over with already!”

     The pair laid eyes on the creature at last as it approached from the greenery. It appeared to be a rather large wolf, perhaps twice the size of any they had ever seen in their world. Its fur was jet black, visibly bristling outward as if to make it appear even larger. Its piercing eyes, in stark contrast to the darkness of its thick coat, shone a deep scarlet. There was wild intensity in its gaze, as if it were already sizing up a target to devour between the two of them. What concerned them most, however, was the coating of blood on the wolf’s chest and forelegs, caked on and releasing a metallic odor in the immediate vicinity. It was not until the beast lurched as if hesitating to strike that Charlotte took notice of something else. It seemed to be leaning to one side, deliberately putting less weight on its left foreleg for one reason or another. It appeared to be injured, and with that new information in mind, Charlotte knew what needed to be done.

     “Hey!” she called out to Will, starting him. “Get ready! When I give the signal, you're going to finish this thing off!”

     “What?!” he exclaimed in utter disbelief, glancing at her as if she were insane. “There's no way I can–”

     Before he could voice his doubts about her plan, she put it into action. She quickly stepped to the wolf's left side, forcing it to sharply turn in the direction of its unwounded foreleg. This negatively impacted its balance, giving her a window to strike. She lunged forward and plunged the tip of her spear into the creature's neck, causing it to howl in pain. She pushed forward with all her strength, taking advantage of its worsened balance to topple it onto its side and pin it to the ground while keeping some distance between her and the beast.

     “Now!” she shouted to Will, giving him the signal to move in. “Finish it off with that sword! Quickly!”

     Her orders were simple. He knew what he had to do, yet… he hesitated. The beast thrashed on the ground with all its might, nearly shaking Charlotte off, but she held on tight and managed to stand firm despite its thrashing. She glared at Will as his feet remained planted where he stood, a look of uncertainty in his eyes.

     “You know what?” she said, not bothering to hide the irritation in her tone. “Grab the spear, and give me your sword.”

     “But–” he mumbled, attempting to dissuade her, but she cut his argument short with a shout that nearly made him flinch.

     “Now!”

     Unsure of what to do and unable to argue, he did as he was told, handing her his shortsword while he took hold of the spear’s shaft to keep the wolf pinned to the ground. Charlotte approached the wolf from the side, avoiding its face so as not to risk being bitten. With a mostly steady hand, she raised the shortsword up before plunging it into its thick hide with as much force as she could muster. She deliberately targeted just above the base of its neck in an attempt to finish it off quickly. After all, she was only doing what was necessary to survive in the moment. She was no cold-blooded killer, but it simply had to be done. With a firm push downward, the wolf's growling came to an end.

     With their struggle now over and done with, Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief, sitting down on the ground as she looked up at the sky. She felt as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, but there was an undeniable pang of guilt as well. Will let go of the shaft of Charlotte's spear after a few more seconds, his hands shaking as he slowly brought them to his face. He tried to speak, but it felt like the air was trapped inside his lungs, the words taking a moment to form.

     “Y-You…” he croaked, his voice hoarse. “I can't believe you–”

     “I know, I know. I didn't have a choice. We couldn't just run into the forest without knowing what's out there. This isn't our world, remember?”

     Regardless of how he felt, Charlotte's words rang true. He looked down at his feet, his expression downcast as he allowed that fact to truly sink in. The proof was right before him. He could not deny that what she did was the correct move. However, that was not what irritated him the most. What truly upset him was the way she regarded him when the wolf approached, with what he saw as condescension. Just thinking about it was absolutely irksome, and so he turned away with a scoff.

     After a brief rest, Charlotte stood up and took hold of her spear once again, pulling it free from where it had pierced the wolf’s hide. She wiped it clean with a cloth she'd found inside a small pouch on her waist, looking to Will once she had finished. Will had spent his time sulking, looking off into the depths of the forest as he thought to himself about what had occurred. Catching her looking his way in his peripheral vision, he met her gaze to speak.

     “What?” he said roughly, looking quite disgruntled. “Something you wanna say?”

     Ignoring his poor attitude, she replied while wrapping her spear's head in its leather binding again.

     “We need to get going. If we stay here too long, something might come for the wolf and find us.”

     “Exactly right!” Lahstus chimed in, startling them both.

     His voice almost seemed to come from somewhere far away, echoing in their minds as he spoke. Will nearly slipped from the tree he had been leaning on, flailing for a moment before quickly catching himself and clearing his throat as though nothing had happened. Lahstus elected not to call him out, though he certainly saw what had happened.

     “Ahem, you both did well for your first time battling a monster,” he continued. “That there was what the mortals here call a midnight wolf. I don't know the specifics, but I'm pretty sure they're usually a handful for your average hunter. Lucky for you two that it was injured already.”

     Lahstus seemed to laugh to himself briefly, beginning to think out loud.

     “Oh, but it was still so dramatic! Heh, I really was right about them–”

     “Uhm, Lahstus?” Charlotte said, reminding him of their presence. “We're still here, you know.”

     “Little Miss Straight-laced is right,” Will added, his strange nickname for Charlotte making her glance at him in incredulity. “Tell us how to get out of here already.”

     “Alright, alright,” he replied with mock-deference in his voice. “Let me just show you guys something first. Head over to your right for a bit and you'll get there.”

     The pair glanced at one another before shrugging and turning to walk in the direction indicated by Lahstus. But, before they could take another step, he stopped them again.

     “Wait! Before you go, I suggest you skin that big guy over there. Take his claws too while you're at it.”

     “What?!” the two exclaimed in unison. “Why?!”

     “I believe the mortals here sell those parts to some kind of guild for money,” he replied, giggling mischievously to himself before adding, “You are gonna need some money after all. Hmm? How ‘bout it?”

     Both Will and Charlotte groaned out loud, the sound nearly reaching the heavens.

     “Oh, and make sure you wrap those parts up really good,” he continued, obviously teasing them by that point.

     Several minutes later, with the tedious and grody work of gathering and stowing materials behind them, the pair walked eastward according to Lahstus's guidance. After traveling just a few minutes at a fairly brisk pace, they saw a break in the line of trees and greenery, a pleasant breeze washing over them from up ahead. Stepping out from between the trees, they saw it at last. A view of the wider area from atop a cliff. Rolling fields, faraway mountains, and a distant town could all be seen from the cliff's edge. The view was absolutely breathtaking, leaving the two of them at a loss for words as Lahstus piped up himself.

     “Take it in, you two,” he said, perhaps sounding a bit sentimental. “This is the world I want you both to protect. Welcome… to the continent of Vahlgaea. The largest continent in this world, and the soon-to-be epicenter of the worst disaster in this world's history…”

     A moment of silence was shared between the three of them as Charlotte and Will stared wistfully at the horizon. They had finally begun to understand what they were called upon to do—what they would have to fight for in the possibly near future. It was one thing to hear about it from Lahstus, but it was another thing entirely to see the world with their own eyes. Without hesitation, they both turned to him with newfound resolve.

     “Tell us where to go next,” Will said, no longer wavering as he had earlier.

     Charlotte nodded, in full agreement with him for the first time since they had met in that endless white void. Lahstus smiled, chuckling to himself before giving them their answer.

     “There,” he advised, pointing them towards the town in the distance. “That town is your first stop. There's where you'll get your start. It'll take a little while to get there, so you'd better get moving before it starts getting dark.”

     They began the trek without another word, making their way toward that town in the distance. Though they were not certain of what they would find when they arrived, it was the necessary first step on a journey that would surely be far from easy. They would work towards their ultimate goal, one step at a time.

     It was about two hours later when they arrived at the gate to the town. The night would likely be upon in a few more hours, the sun hanging in the sky, halfway to the horizon. The town's gate stood tall and strong before them, giving off an imposing air as they approached. Two armed guards stood at the gate, spears in hand and wearing what looked to be medieval plate armor. They appeared to be human, their faces only partially obscured by their helmets. The pair stepped forward without hesitation, having already come up with a story that was likely to earn them entry, and waited for the guards to address them.

     “Hey there,” Will said, his tone casual and friendly.

     “Can we come inside?” Charlotte added on, eyeing the two guards curiously.

     However, when the guards spoke, they did so in a language completely foreign to the two of them. Neither of them could understand a word they were saying. They were both rendered speechless as the guards seemingly inquired about them in confusion, receiving no immediate answer. Suddenly, they heard Lahstus's voice echo in their minds again, just as they had two hours before on the cliff's edge.

     “Oh yeah,” he began, snickering to himself from the sound of it. “I guess I forgot to give you two the ability to speak the native language here! My bad.”

     Despite his words, he did not seem to be very apologetic. On the contrary, he seemed to be enjoying the situation quite a bit, his soft laughter ringing in their heads.

     “Here you go, you two! Good luck!” chuckled Lahstus before finally bestowing the ability upon them.

     From one moment to the next, it was as if they had finally tuned in to the same wavelength as the two guards, their words now recognizable.

     “Who are you two?” the first guard asked, clearly suspicious of the pair after hearing a language he himself did not understand.

     Charlotte moved to quickly right the situation before the absurdity could escalate further, giving a curt bow to the men before replying.

     “Apologies. My friend and I are simply used to speaking our native language. We hail from a small country on a different continent, having come here to make lives for ourselves as citizens of this kingdom. Isn't that right, Will?”

     Her tone was laced with cold conviction as she urged Will to agree, looking to have her story pass without scrutiny. Will, startled by her sudden address, flinched and tripped over his words considerably as he spoke.

     “Oh, u-uhm… yes. Th-That’s right.”

     His performance did not seem to convince the guards. So, with a deep sigh, Charlotte moved to cover for his misstep.

     “Apologies for him, but we're both very tired. As we traveled on foot, we were attacked by a beast in the nearby forest. I believe it was called a… midnight wolf.”

     The two guards went pale upon hearing the name of the creature they had come across, glancing at each other before returning to the two of them.

     “Are you certain it was a midnight wolf?” the second guard asked, seemingly shaken.

     “Well,” Charlotte replied, showing them the wrapped up monster parts she had stowed away. “I have its pelt, eyes and claws right here, if you'd like to check.”

     The guards quickly and carefully rummaged through the parts Charlotte had shown them, their suspicions being immediately confirmed without question. They met each other's gaze nervously before speaking again in a more hushed tone.

     “This needs to be reported to the Guild,” one guard states, both seeming to be in agreement.

     “Come with us,” the other guard says, his tone entirely polite and possibly somewhat deferential as well.

     With that, Will and Charlotte were led into the town's walls, through the intersecting streets lined with slate and cobblestones until they arrived at a particular building. The two of them glanced up at the sign that hung from the front, just a few feet above the door frame. It took a moment to recognize the text, but as their minds adjusted to the written language, they found that the sign read “Hunter's Guild”. The two were ushered inside by the guards and walked to what looked to be a reception desk where a young woman with short brown hair was standing. She greeted the pair with a welcoming smile before glancing at the two guards curiously.

     “Hello there,” she said cheerfully, her entire demeanor warm and welcoming. “May I ask what the purpose of your visit is?”

     The guards wasted no time, their expressions dour as the first of the two explained the situation.

     “These two killed a midnight wolf earlier today. They have materials from it right here.”

     The wrapped up monster materials were placed on the counter, causing the Receptionist visible distress. With a nod, she took hold of them and replied.

     “Alright. I'll have the Guild Master look these over and prepare their compensation. We'll look into this matter immediately.”

     The guards nodded and left without another word, seemingly returning to their posts at the front gate. Once they had left, the Receptionist let out an exasperated sigh. She took a moment to gather herself before regarding Will and Charlotte once more.

     “Sorry about that, you two. We'll have your money ready in a short while. Was there anything else you were looking for?”

     The two glanced at each other briefly and shared a look of unease. Following that, they spoke in unison.

     “We'd like to register as hunters.”

     From what they had gathered upon stepping in here and witnessing the exchange between the receptionist and the two guards, they came to the conclusion that the Hunter's Guild was an organization that hired warriors and mercenaries to take requests fighting monsters and protecting people. It was the ideal opportunity to gain strength for what was to come in the future. That was likely why Lahstus had them go there to begin with.

     “Very well,” she replied with a nod. “Since the two of you defeated a midnight wolf yourselves, that should be no issue.”

     “Well,” Charlotte specified. “it was already injured when it attacked us, so we can't take much credit for that.”

     Will looked to Charlotte questioningly, likely wondering why she had not just let things pass as they were, but she held firm. The Receptionist’s expression shifted, turning more serious as she nodded again.

     “Alright then. In that case, you two will have to take on a preliminary request to prove that you can make it as hunters.”

     Charlotte nodded, her gaze unwavering, while Will simply scoffed and rolled his eyes.

     “We'll do it,” Charlotte announced, her resolve clear in her voice.

     “Very well,” the Receptionist agreed. “The two of you will have to gather two bundles of white lephoria herbs from the fields outside of town. Additionally, you'll have to bring back the horns and hides of six horned rabbits.”

     The young woman's expression shifted once again, this time to one of interest as she took note of the silent determination in their eyes. She smiled softly.

     “Let's see what you two can do.”