Rewards

The years of dance paid off with my footwork as I danced around the fast few cutting and stabbing. I kept doing as Hazel said with circling around the hoard and picking off the stragglers little by little. Hazel kept throwing me stamina potions til she was out of them but so was the hoard.

Out of breath and overheated I stumble to a clean patch of the woods and lean against a tree. Breathing in the cool air hurt. I did my best to slow my breathing only to begin coughing horribly.

Hazel was down wind setting fire to the corpses. It was a strange fire for it only clung to the zombies and not to the pine trees. 

"Here." Hazel throws a bag at me.

It hits me hard in the stomach as I catch it. What the? I open it to find it filled with gold and silver coins.

"Uhhh." is all I could muster to say. 

"You earned it." She says pulling a bag big enough for coins from a corpse. "These things are gross." 

...........

We made it back to the fort Phil was at after I recovered from loosing my stomach contents. We ate a decent soup of wild game and root vegetables from the area. Hazel did take a small "donation" for herself as she calls it from the money that she gave to me.

On the way back to the fort she questioned why I had that sudden burst of confidence. She did poke a bit of fun at me when I told her the whole time I thought this was a dream. 

I filled her in on my childhood of beating up everyone that looked at me til I was bullied. I believe I hurt people because I was scared after my dad left the household. I had to survive living with my mom. Food was scarce but dad did pay for me to continue my dance classes. 

I did get filled in on we will continue up the northern route the next day just to make sure the route is clear. Hazel gently answered my question on will I ever go back to my home. That answer being I could and Aba has the power to put me back into my world and time-line like I never left. Hazel has never went back to hers though.

...........

A few months later maybe even close to a year. I'm sure Aba could tell me yet I'm not interested in knowing how long I have been here. I do miss my sister, goats and cows though. I could easily come back but at the same time I don't want to leave this place. There is so much to do and everyday is different . I do have a nice coin stash now so what little shopping I do is easily covered.

I rent a room out of Hazel's house. She has a new trainee since I can go out on my own for a little while now. We went on so many requests from random folks and Aba sent us on a few missions to help people that didn't even know we existed. 

A golden scroll pops into existence mid air in front of me while I'm sitting on my bed. My reflexes grab it before it hits the blanket.

Thou are needed for a rogue hunt. Thou shall be accompanied by others. Gather by the southwest pillar in the square immediately.

~Aba

Mission time. Never have been on a rogue hunt though. Let's gear up and go see Chelsea and Matilda to top off arrows and potions. Oh I do need a few spears. I haven't used them much once I got good with a bow. 

Hazel figured out my problem on day one of bow training. Turns out I don't have a dominant eye so I just have to close my left one to be able to shoot straight.

..........

I get to the designated spot and look around at the three other people gathered here. I have never met them. 

The first one was a tall older man dressed in priest clothing and was reading a book. His dark blonde hair was kept shorter and he had a clean shaven slightly chiseled face.

The second was a very handsome dark haired guy with his facial hair trimmed to outline his facial features. He looks like he could be 10 years older than I am though. He is dressed in shiny armer with a sword and shield to his side.

The third one reminds me of Matilda. She is wearing a pointed burgundy with black design hat with long dark brown wavy hair. With her robe matching her hat's design. Her staff was a pale wood with a giant green glass globe that seemed to have mana swirling inside it.

I kinda stand with them but not real close. I spot Hazel as she pops out of the crowd and walks over to us. I give her a huge wave and smile. She just gives me a sad smile in return when she sees me. What's wrong? Hazel walks to the group and speaks before I could ask her if she is alright.

"Looks like we are all here." She starts. "No one likes this but we have to put the person to rest so let's not waste time."

"This is John." She points to the priest. He nods to me. "He will be keeping a barrier up so we can have shelter while in the field."

"This is Tilly." She points to the witch. At least I think she is one. I will have to ask. "She is our healer and support with mana recharge."

"Hi-ya!" She says peppy with a wave to me. I smile back.

"This. Stay away from this. It lies. He will be out front and hopefully keeps the minions at bay." She points to the armored man. Hazel turns and walks to the waypoint.

"Tsk. I didn't want to be partnered with you anyway." He says. He turns to me and puts on a gentlemanly act even I could see through. "My name is James."

He grabs my left hand kisses the back of it. I can't pull my hand free.

"You can call me Jay." He winks.

"I'm okay." I break my hand free and bolt for Hazel. I hide behind her. Tilly and John hide their chuckle from James.

"Looks like Samantha has a good sense of judgement." Hazel scuffs at James.

"Tsk." James clicks.

Everyone is on the waypoint now.

"Dark forest." Hazel speaks firmly.

I blink to find us standing in a dark woods. Gnarly tree roots and branches stretch everywhere. Hazel steps off and starts leading us slowly toward our destination.

After what feels like hours we take a break. I sit beside Hazel.

"You alright?" I ask the usually talkative happy go lucky woman.

"Oh. Um. Do you know what a rogue hunt is?" She asks.

"Figured something big since the letter said there was going to be a group of us." I explain.

"Aba. Imma kick your back side when I get back. He didn't explain anything again." She rubs her face while saying that then runs her hands up and down her legs before talking. "A rogue is a hunter that has disowned Aba as the leader. Meaning they don't follow the code of being a hunter."

"So we are going after one of our own?" I ask.

"Yes. We are going after the person that trained me." There was sadness in her voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I say. I keep quiet after that because I don't ever say the right thing so I let her be.

We take off again and find ourselves at the edge of a small clearing in the woods. It seems peaceful. The trees block the wind and the colorful flowers soak up the sun. Near the other side of the field stands a woman with a bow. Her skin has a blue tint to it.

"Everyone protect John while he gets the barrier up. Thin the hoard following her first and then i will take her on." Hazel commands.

She begins to let arrows fly and black figures start falling from the trees. The ones strong enough to keep running do.

James says a chant and a white cloud circles him than dissipates in the air. He goes head to head with the black figures cutting them down with ease.

Tilly has a snow flurry around her and John. He is sitting chanting. She is protecting the back of us with blasts of ice taking out the figures there.

I feel the immense mana building in the woman in the field. This will not be an easy fight. I let loose some arrows packed with so much mana they explode in a 5ft radius on contact. They take out a few groups of figures.

The woman calmly knocks an arrow.