"So you bought two mimics to a veterinarian." The older man sat across from Jack with his hands interlinked. "Then dared to pass out, leaving the defenseless man with not one, but two Class C terrors.
Jack rubbed the back of his head. "Yea haha."
"You also lost your entire party at the beginning of a dungeon." The old man's eyes switched to the back of the room. Both of the mimics sat in chest form, holding hands. He sighed. "Retire."
"But what about Toya and Yuri?" Jack removed his hand from the back of his head. He stared down the balding man with the grey beard. "Master Yohan, please."
"What about them? I assume you are referring to the mimics!" Yohan screeched.
Jack nodded.
"Back to the dungeon where they belong. You are lucky we don't dismantle them." Yohan folded his arms and crossed his legs. "Naming mimics, who would have thought of such a thing?"
"But these mimics are different." Jack stood. His hand went to his chest. "Also, they already had those names when I found them."
"It doesn't matter if you consider them different. They are still mimics," said Yohan.
Toya listened to the men before him while his eyes flitted around the room, taking in the warm decor. Wood floors with bearskin rugs. A brick fireplace across from Jack and Yohan helped illuminate the room. A simple gold chandelier with small candles was positioned above the two men's heads.
Yohan stood. "They may seem cute to you. But mimics are a menace! So, what if they are holding hands and can speak a few words!"
Toya cleared his throat. "More than a few."
Yohan blinked. He gasped. "Did that mimic just talk?"
"Yes, Toya talked," Toya answered. A little crinkle of beastly static remained sprinkled in.
Yohan's eyes widened. He covered his ears. "That doesn't matter; they are going back!"
Toya pouted. His lid opened slightly. His tongue lay against his teeth.
Yuri released his hand and patted his arm. "No trouble them, Toya."
"It speaks!" Yohan's eyes bulged out. "These mimics are an oddity. But is it speaking or mimicry?"
Jack scratched the back of his head. "Mimicry doesn't sound like spoken word. I mean, it does. But it's horse and course."
"They have to go back!" Yohan screamed.
"I don't want to. If I have to go back, please keep Yuri," Toya asked.
"No." Yohan made an X motion with his arms.
"Yes," Toya rebutted.
"No! I'm not arguing with a mimic," said Yohan.
"But you are," interjected Jack.
"The point of the matter remains. They are what they are!" Yohan shouted.
"No," Toya shouted. "I am Toya, not the same."
"Yes, you are!" Yohan pointed at them with a raised voice. "So what if you two mimics hold hands and can claim you are different? Just wait until the novelty wears off. People already look at you with suspicion and destruction in mind. The safest option for everyone is to return and even separate you both."
Toya's lid creaked open.
Yuri rubbed Toya's arm. Her whole body gave a shake. The sounds of items tumbled in her. She tilted back and forth. "Don't." Yuri stood.
Yohan stepped back, his feet spread apart and fists in front.
Yuri bowed. "So-rry sorry for all the trouble," she gargled.
Yohan's forehead wrinkles deepened. He could almost see his culture in the creature. He huffed. "They can stay," he hissed. "But the fact remains that they are dangerous Jack."
"Yes, Master Yohan," Jack jumped up.
"I am retiring you, effective immediately," Yohan stated.
Jack frowned, his eyebrows furrowed. He took a shaky breath.
"But you are not excused from the guild. You brought them here, you look after them, and find someone to train the boy," Yohan demanded.
Tears streamed down Jack's face, and he saluted Yohan. "Yes." His voice was thick with emotion.
"Again, find someone willing to train the male one. I expect results. The guild will put up a good portion for this. If this works, we may be the only guild in history with trainable mimics. My only worry is that others may try to follow in our footsteps." Yohan closed his eyes. He sat down with folded arms. "What am I even thinking? This will be a disaster."
Jack's face lit up. He walked toward the mimics.
Yohan frowned. "I hope you are ready, because the families of those adventurers will want answers, and the mimic destroyed. I know you say it's circumstance… but the others won't look at it that way."