The Guilds Demoness

He became the center of attention the moment he stepped into the courtyard—juvenile beasts weren’t exactly an everyday sight. Duranta reached him first, gently scooping up the bear cub—a Stonemaw—with practiced ease and happy eyes.

Tokko, Che, and Mello drifted over to coo at the two Flamefurys.

The owl—Whisperwind Owl—took a perch in a nearby tree with his nod. He’d left a note before vanishing, so no one panicked about his absence.

Still there were a bunch of questions about the newly gained creatures. With light answers skirting around the details the buzz finally thinned. He grabbed a fast bath, then headed into the living room where new faces met him.

First was a small, stubby man downing an ale. “Hey, I’m Joseph, a new guild member… Brolin, right?”

With foam clinging to his beard, the dense muscled arms slammed the sturdy cup down. *bam*. Letting out a deep burp, the eyes wandered his way briefly before turning to the more important thing, the barrel of ale to his side.

“Yeh, yeh. Anything else?” With a clear disinterest in anything besides the ale, yet a notable hint of deeper thought in every movement, Joseph moved on. ‘Well, a dwarf’s a dwarf I guess, Han told me to expect as much.’

With eyes peering at him from across the room, the next moment they vanished, a figure now standing in his path.

“Joseph, right?” with a refined, feminine voice entered his ears. Joseph looked up slightly to the tall woman with pointed ears. With thoughts flowing through his head, her lips curled.

“‘A one-man machine overflowing with creativity, talent and drive, with a unique outlook on life.’ You must be quite the special one for the Guild Master to speak like that.” Having exaggerated like she was rehearsing in a play for that first part, his face tightened as he didn’t particularly like that description of himself.

Bending over slightly to be face to face, her eyes and lips soured slightly, her polite voice changing. “Do you have any idea how annoying it is to be told that daily while trying to focus on your own work?”

Joseph blinked, unfazed. “What others think of me is irrelevant. If the Guild Master thinks that, then so be it. Doesn’t change anything. The same goes for your friendship, how you speak to each other is not my business.”

Her lips curled again, clearly liking the answer as she stood straight, hand on hip. “How rude of me not to introduce myself. I’m—”

“Thalia. Thalia Sunfire,” he said, flat as a readout. “Vice guild leader. Demoness of the guild.”

Thalia’s smile narrowed into a death stare. “…And where did you hear that?”

“Who knows.”

Her eyes shot around the room, an unknown invisible aura spreading out. Immediately a few other members tensed up, averting their gaze while hers immediately swung for the bar, but relaxed as she noticed no one there. Clicking her tongue, Thalia’s lips curved in amusement.

Her sun-bright orange hair, pointed ears, and not especially modest body in a skin light leather adventuring outfit— was hard to miss. Letting out a light laugh, she put her hand on his shoulder. “Watch yourself.”

Giving him one last look, Thalia walked off at a normal pace. Sighing, he looked around the room noticing Osric’s characteristic smile being cast his direction. Rolling his eyes, he easily located the last person he had to introduce himself to.

The last one sat apart, half-hidden under a heavy cloak with a thick, old book in their hand. Skin like polished onyx; not a human shade—closer to the monsters he’d fought.

“Hey.”

They didn’t look up. A soft, frayed voice: “He… hello.”

He recognized the manner in an instant. ‘Introvert. Social outcast. Nerd.’

“Joseph.”

Startled by the singular word, the voice came again from the dark cloak. “Z… Zalrock.”

With a nod, Joseph walked away, emerald eyes watching him in confused silence.

With the introductions done, he slipped back outside, fenced a small space in the garden for the creatures, laid out food and water, and then crashed right after dinner.

…

He slept later than usual—yesterday had been a marathon after all. He didn’t rouse Tokko, similarly, letting her rest and decide her own schedule. He wasn’t going to baby her forever; now that she’d caught up, this was a test of whether she could maintain momentum on her own.

Downstairs, the creatures were fine—and Osric was already sitting with them in the yard. Not saying a word he grabbed some food and sat inside as a voice trailed his way.

“Good morning, Joseph. A successful hunt yesterday?”

Rolling his eyes Joseph replied. “Good enough.”

Osric smiled as the Flamefury’s nuzzled into his cold hands. “What darlings you are. Where did you find them?”

Sighing, Joseph grabbed his food and went outside knowing the conversation wasn’t going to end so quickly. “I’d have thought you would know everything in the surroundings by now.”

With a chuckle Osric replied. “Maybe I do.” Turning to Joseph, still wanting an answer, Joseph sighed and entertained him. “The tall tree’s area, just beyond the forest.”

Osric’s eyes moved, briefly. “The Gloomwoods? Wow, look at you already expanding out. Must be pretty confident to head there so soon.”

Joseph shrugged. “It’s whatever, I have a favourable advantage, so it wasn’t that hard.”

“Yes, I suppose you would.”

Silence ensued as he continued to munch down on the meat filled bread. “How did you tame them? I sense the use of magic? A skill perhaps?”

Swallowing his food Joseph repeated what he told Han. “Spirit power. I don’t know anything else.”

Nodding in understanding Osric closed his eyes and hugged the small creatures, their faces letting off a happy expression as they playfully warmed him up. Joseph eyed the things, surprised by how drastically their mood has changed.

Letting go of the Flamefury, it ran off with its sibling into the garden to play, Osric looking at them peacefully. “I’m sure you don’t need help from someone like me, but I would just remind you to be cautious when taming beasts. I can’t say I know everything, but there’s a reason why even professional tamers limit the use of their skills.”

Joseph’s eyes flickered, noting it down but also not thinking too deeply on it. “I know when to stop if it feels wrong… an army of creatures sounds pretty useful though.”

Osric smiled and stood up, a nearly full jug of tea and an unused, empty cup left on the floor. “Have a good day Joseph, remember we’re here to help if you need anything.” Nodding back, Osric entered the house, bringing his own cup with him.

With a sigh, unable to get a read on him, Joseph helped himself to the tea, long accustomed to Osric’s cryptic ways. When he finished eating and drinking, he cleaned up and ordered the animals to behave.

With a quick check on his stats, comparing them to before the long hunt, he headed off, sighing at the lack of skill advancement and only level increase.

Name: Joseph

Class: Lesser Elemental Spirit Ranger [C+] (+3 Spirit, +2 Dexterity, +2 Agility, +1 Magic)

Title: Survivor of the Unsurvivable, One Who Consumes Enemies Hearts

Level: 31 > 36

Vitality: 10
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 86 > 101
Agility: 86 > 101
Magic: 97 > 122
Spirit: 97 > 122
Wisdom: 42 > 77

Available Stat Points: 25 > 0

Active Skills: Channel Spirits(C), Spirit Sight(C), Magic-Spirit Communion(C), Condensed Fireball(C), Concrete Creation(C), Bursting Shot(D), Piercing Shot(D), Mana-Spirit Shockwave(E), Rippling Water Barrier(C), Electrostatic Discharge(D), Shadowmancy(C), Mana Thread(D), Magic Echolocation(C), Spirit Sense(C), Lesser Spirit Summon(C), Contract Spirit(C), Mana Sense(C), Adaptive Film(C), Magic-Spirit Arrow(D), Spirit Taming(E)

Passive Skills: Survivor(C), Spirit’s Affection(C), Exploit Weak Point(D), Mana Control(B), Concealed Presence(C), Silent Steps(C), Focused Hearing(C), Guardian(E), Structure Master(E), Sixth Sense(D), One with Nature(D), Analysis(D), Focus(D), Commune Spirits(C), Elemental Affinity(C), Control Elements(C)

Tames: Juvenile Flamefury ×2, Juvenile Stonemaw ×1, Juvenile Whisperwind ×1

He knew the route by heart now and thirty minutes later, the Gloomwoods swallowed him. He swept targets with magic echolocation, moved, struck, harvested—roasted hearts included—and moved again.

Four hours in, a new presence streaked toward him—fast, impossibly fast, and aimed straight at him. Before his eyes could dilate and adjust to the adrenaline surge, a hand was already on his shoulder.