—{Calira's room}—
—{10:44AM}—
The windows wide open letting the sunlight in as Calira slept beneath the blankets snuggling with the pillow in her arm. She had three pillows. One under her head, one in the arms and the third between the thighs.
Most of her head was under the blanket with hair all messy and spread over the pillow. Mouth open and drooling saliva.
—{Downstairs}—
Her mother is in the kitchen making tea and some snacks. Frying something on a pan.
Mrs. Rustwood: "What girl eats fried potatoes with tea?" Hands move around as she puts the fried potatoes in a bowl and pours down tea.
"Tch, and her dad…" She pours in another cup, a bigger one. A full cup. "He drinks too much. At least he doesn't have weird snack cravings."
She goes to the door connected to the tavern and places the cup beside him and back to the kitchen without any words. He saw her. Didn't stop her.
With the tea and bowl on a tray she heads upstairs towards Calira's bedroom. Just outside, "Calira, I'm coming in." Without waiting for an answer she entered.
"Cali—"
She noticed the figure in the bed. "Oh, you're asleep…" Placed the tray on the bedside table.
"Why the heck you made me fry potatoes and make tea if you're just gonna fall asleep?" whispers to herself and careful to not wake her up.
She shifts carefully and peeks at her face making sure Calira was actually asleep. "I hope you're not acting."
She stood up.
"Fine, sleep…" Glanced at the tray, "I'll reheat them if it gets cold."
Saying that she left.
—{The Guild Hall}—
—{The Efficiency Syndicate}—
It was much fuller now than early morning. But still not crowded.
To some hunters seated close to each other.
"Hey, is it true that Rustwood came here this morning?"
"Oh yeah, she did."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"You saw her…?"
"... Unfortunately, no…"
"... Wow…"
—{The Gold Trio}—
—{From Chap 7}—
They enter the guild with the girl walking front, hands in her pocket with a long dagger hanging on her hips. She wore a sand-colored shirt, unbuttoned over a grey tee, and charcoal baggy pants that brushed the tops of her shoes.
Guy1. The one with red hair. Wearing a dark green cloak. Inside was the white outfit from before.
Guy2. The black haired. Claymore on his back. Black jacket over a light shirt. Light trousers. And 3 bracelets on both arms.
Guy1: "So, Zara… How much are we splitting?" He asked as they entered the guild.
Girl1: The one named, Zara, "I—"
Guy2: She was cut off by the second guy, "Don't bother asking her, she'll undoubtedly ask for most of it." He gave the first guy a side eye, "And you'll even allow it." (The one with black hair.)
Zara: "Hump." Pouts, "Well I deserve most of it as I contributed the most."
Guy2: "By most you mean to ruin the material by frying their insides."
Zara: She took a deep breath… "And it worked. In fact, I made it quicker."
Guy1: "Do–don't try to argue any further."
Zara pouts even more. Then something caught her eyes. She points her finger in a direction.
Zara: "Hey aren't those kids the same ones who were with Calira?"
Both turned their gaze and saw Riven and Shirin talking to a clerk.
Guy1: Clears his throat, "First of all, they aren't that young. Second, you're not much older than them. Third… Yes they are."
Zara: "Tch." Fist clenched tightly. "Whatever, let's see what's up with Calira and them."
She started to walk towards them, both guys stood behind not bothering to follow her. She noticed their absence beside her and turned back to see them just… Standing there. While the black hair guy starts walking to a different direction.
"Hey, I told you to follow me!"
She walks to them and grabs the red hair's arm. "Finn! Come on… And Silas, where do you think you're going?"
Silas, the black hair, doesn't acknowledge her and continues in his own path only to be pulled by her.
—{Riven and Shirin}—
The clerk hands them an envelope. Shirin takes it, opens it and counts the cash.
Shirin: Squints her eyes, "Why are these in big notes?" Looks up to the clerk, "Can you offer change." The clerk shakes his head to a no.
"Fine…"
"And the rest of the money after the full report, right?" To which the clerk nods.
With the envelope in hand they start to walk out of the guild.
Riven: Whispers in her ear, "Why do you even care? We get change from a shop…"
Shirin: sighs, "But that's a long way and I just want to go and take a good sleep. I already took a good bath and I just want a good sleep. And plus, we'll have to give Miss Rustwood's share."
"Hey." They heard.
Riven and Shirin looked ahead and saw Zara with Finn and Silas standing in front of them.
Zara: "You two, what were you doing with Calira?" Raises her eyebrow.
Shirin: "Um, Miss Rustwood? We—we were on a quest… mission…"
The three of them share a glance, they whisper to each other.
Finn: "Even they call it a mission…"
Zara: "In what hell why Calira worked with them?"
Silas: "..." Arms crossed, staring at the two silver.
Zara: "They were probably a liability to her."
Finn: "Don't be mean, Rusty."
Silas: "...."
Zara: Her head snapped around to Finn, her cheeks getting warm "Hey, stop calling me that!"
Both Finn and Silas suppress a chuckle, Finn bites his lip.
Zara: "Tch." Takes in a deep breath then turns back to Riven and Shirin. Sighs "Could it be that they tricked Calira to join them?"
Finn: "..."
Silas: "..."
Zara: Clears her voice, "You two. You were the ones with Calira, right?" They glance at each other and nod.
And then they notice their gold badge.
"So, why were you two with her…?
Shirin: "Oh, we? We were on a mission together."
Finn: Pinched his forehead, "Why do every youngster call it a mission." Whisper to himself and sigh.
Shirin: "Um, q–quest—"
Zara: "Same thing! Tell me how you managed to ask her out!?"
Shirin: "W–we did not…" Her hand tightly clenched and face heating a bit, "Oh, I mean… S–she agreed herself… Somehow…"
The eyes of Zara and Finn widened as they shared a glance at each other. While Silas, arms crossed, towers as well as stare down upon Riven. By a half foot.
Zara: Shakes her head "N–no. Cannot be true. Not at all. I can't believe it!"
Finn: Finger on his chin, "Neither can I."
Riven and Silas. Staring. Riven broke eye contact and looked at Shirin, avoiding looking at Silas.
Riven: Clears his voice, "Is that abnormal?"
Finn: "Calira taking on quests—"
Zara: Cuts through Finn's words, "Yes!"
Both Shirin and Riven flinched. "Of course it's abnormal. Anonymously, taking a mission."
Hearing that Finn groans, pinching his nose.
"Don't you have any idea how rare that is? Being a platinum is already a big feat but stacking that up with showing up once in a few months is of course an anomaly."
Both Riven and Shirin were stunned. Zara leaned closer and snapped her finger, "What's your name?" eyes darts between both.
"Riven Hale."
"Shirin Waverly."
"... What?" She raised her eyebrow. "... Riven and Shirin…" Zara, now being closer can be seen as tall as, just about Riven's height, "First name is enough. Not from here, are you?" They shake their heads.
Finn: Nudges Zara and whispers, "The boy is your cousin's neighbor I suppose."
Zara: Eyes widened, looks at Riven, "Really…?"
"Hey. Is your father a beast tamer?" Riven nods. "..." Turns back to Finn and whispers back, "That kid." Side-eye Riven, "He used to get bullied a lot."
"Oh…" Look back at Riven…
"By me."