Chapter 38

"What are you doing?!" The infuriated voice of a guild receptionist rang out. Her piercing voice drew the attention of nearby adventurers.

Autumn, who had just closed her jaws on the eel paused in fright.

'Uh oh,' she thought, immediately releasing her hold on the half-dead creature.

With a small splash it plopped into the water and slowly sank to the bottom with a trail of pink blood.

The receptionist gawked silently, before reaching over and snatching both Ember and Autumn by the scruff of their necks.

"When I find who's irresponsible enough…" she mumbled, stalking to the middle of the room, where the main desk sat.

The main reception desk was a large and circular, perfect for the busy central hub.

Ace looked up from his paperwork as he sensed their arrival.

"Ah, thank you for returning them. I assume they haven't caused any trouble?" Ace asked innocently.

"T-That," the receptionist paused, and with a great sigh, "…no, they haven't."

She set the two down on the desk, walking away while occasionally turning to glare fiercely at them.

Autumn grinned, her snout still dripping from the aquarium water.

She shook out her fur, causing droplets of water to land on Ace's papers. The fur of her muzzle stuck up in tiny spikes, which was the image Ace saw when he turned towards them.

"…Just going to check out the building?" He lifted an eyebrow.

"And the aquarium," Ember replied, "we aren't quite done yet, so we'll be going now. No need to worry about us, we won't fall in."

Ember turned on her heels, flicking Autumn with a swish of her tail. "Come on," she hissed.

"On second thought," Ace sighed, "you two are staying here. If I let you wander again, Katherine will have my neck, Phantom or not."

"Ah?" Ember's jaw dropped in disbelief. "But we'll be here forever!"

"You can use this time to reflec-"

"It was Autumn!" Ember interjected, "she's the one who was fishing. Look, she's like a drowned rat!"

"Huh?!" Autumn exclaimed. "YOU wanted to eat them! And who's a drowned rat?!"

Autumn leaped toward Ember, knocking her over on a small pile of papers. Ember jumped back up, running to Autumn and causing the paperwork underfoot to fly into the air.

As they tussled atop the desk, several adventurers and guild workers paused. Ace held his forehead in disbelief, which quickly morphed to nervousness when he saw Katherine angrily approaching.

The door slammed loudly behind them as Ember, Autumn, and Ace were collectively kicked out.

"Come back when those two are gone," were Katherine's parting words.

Autumn stared sheepishly at Ace. "But aren't you glad we're done fighting?"

"It wasn't fighting as much as it was needless destruction," Ace sighed. "I've contacted Sage to come get you. He's not as easygoing as I am, so I'd advise you not to push his buttons."

"Of course not. Why push buttons when we can push limits?" Ember asked curiously.

Autumn snickered in response.

Ace shrugged. "I warned you."

Shortly after, Sage arrived to take the rambunctious pups away, as Ace returned to the central hall and his paperwork.

"I've already been informed about your…fishing adventure…if it can even be called that," he mumbled to himself. "Since you like fishing so much, I'll take you two."

Sage's smile shone brightly, his white hair like an angelic halo, yet ominously foreboding.

Their fears proved true when they were led to a shallow river filled with ugly looking fish.

Their odd, misshapen bodies were akin to moving stones, and the thick layer of slime coating them was enough for the gluttonous pups to lose their appetite.

"I think I'll pass. Such a…" Autumn paused as she searched for the best word to use. "A beautifully…lovely—no, unique fish can not be eaten."

Ember continued as eloquently as she could, "and such beauty must be preserved."

"Such righteous words. I am in awe of your love for nature. But, it seems that these fish are invasive and must be removed. You'll help, right? As you both care so much for the environment."

Autumn's gaze darkened as she glared at Sage. If she could, she would go back in time and kick herself for ever thinking Sage was angelic.

A grin appeared on her face as an idea came to mind. "You'll help too, right?"

"Unfortunately, I can't quite display the same fishing skills as the two of you. I won't be much help, so I'll watch."

Autumn muttered insults under her breath, turning towards the eyesore of a fish that swam her way.

The fish were obviously used to being ignored. Perhaps their hideous appearances served as a defensive mechanism.

It proved easy to close her jaws around an unsuspecting fish, but the slimy residue left behind caused Autumn to gag.

Ember had likewise just pulled up her own fish, and sat coughing on the grass.

"Oh, hello." Ace's voice drew their attention. "Why are you catching the Guild's fish?"

"They were lovely enough to help catch dinner. You know how much of a headache it gives them."

Autumn blinked at the injustice. "You-"

Before another fight broke out, Ace tossed two items at Autumn.

Autumn caught them, examining them curiously.

"What is it?" Ember walked over.

"Our team badge."

It looked identical to the one Ace and Sage sported, a snake curled around a dagger. On the back, in small print, read 'Phantom.'

Autumn pinned it to her cloak, before helping Ember with hers.

"To store mana, just direct it to the badge. Mana only responds to the original owner, so you needn't worry about someone stealing it."

Autumn's stomach growled loudly, "If the fish is your dinner, can we have ours?"