Chosen Ones

Pouring the boiling water into the medicinal herb mixture, I took a step back to protect my face from steam. ''Hope they fix the guild's basement airing problem soon,'' I murmured.

''Sure thing,'' I heard a male voice. Startling, I turned around to see who was speaking in the basement where I should be all alone.

''Be careful! It's ah, damn, hot.'' It was Hermes and I had forgotten the boiling water I was holding because I am an idiot. I heard the glass water bowl crash when it fell to the ground, but since I literally bump into Hermes, I couldn't see what was happening.

I hurried to back off, ''Oh my! Are you okay?''

''Eh, I'll survive. Don't move, there are broken glasses everywhere.'' I looked at the floor, there are really broken glasses everywhere. Luckily, the thick glass remained in relatively large pieces instead of shattering completely.

Hermes bent down, putting a knee on the floor. Seeing him picking broken glass pieces, since I couldn't let the guild leader do all cleaning alone, I joined him. ''I'm very, very sorry,'' I said.

''Don't worry. Seeing you focused, I decided to wait until you're done, but I forgot that you aren't aware of my existence. It was my fault to frighten you,'' he said.

How long he stood there? Did he hear me talking to the fox? Did I not notice its presence because he was good at concealing or because I was incapable of noticing it? Thoughts started swirling in my mind.

Hermes took the broken pieces from me and headed for the trash bin. Watching him walking, I realized two things. Firstly, he wasn't wearing armor unlike usual, and secondly, his white shirt was wet.

''I almost think you did it on purpose,'' the fox said.

Staring guild leader's body embellished with wide shoulders that become more apparent thanks to the transparent shirt, ''Next time I can do it on purpose,'' I said to the fox.

''Please say I didn't burn you. Damn, You're soaking, I did, didn't I?'' I said out loud, I was feeling a little guilty, honestly.

Also, I was not entirely sure why or how, but the fact that he was the only wet one despite being so close to me gave me the impression that he protected me without me realizing it, which I was not comfortable with.

''I told you not to worry. My level is too high to suffer from warm water,'' Hermes said, throwing broken glasses into the trash. Then, he approached me and stood in front of me.

He was probably right but... ''I'll feel better if you let me heal you.''

He shrugged his shoulders, ''If that's what you want.''

I put my hand on his chest, on the damp shirt. I could also have a look at what he was craving for while I had the opportunity. No matter how hard I tried before, I couldn't find what Hermes hid in his heart.

It wasn't because of traps and walls that were hard to get through, it was just like he had nothing to hide. No ill intentions, no forbidden desires, all he wanted was the well being of his guild and his people. But nobody could be so simply good, right?

''Where is your armor when it needed most?'' To break the silence, I made an attempt to chat.

Hermes was too kind to ignore my effort, ''It's busy getting polished.''

I raised my eyebrows, Hermes was someone I could imagine rolling in the mud, or with a baby in his arms, but in a shining armor?

''I know, I know. It ruins my first impression, right? I am also helpless, I received a fancy dinner invitation yesterday. It has the emblem of the kingdom on it, Galen and Xander forced me to dress properly.''

Until now, the only places I have seen the kingdom's emblem were in the soldiers' armor and flags. ''Are you going to have dinner with the army?'' I guess so. I came here to offer to go together if you're invited too.

''I guess so. I came here to offer to go together if you're invited too.''

Frowning, ''Why should I be invited too?'' I asked. Really, why?

Instead of answering, he handed me an invitation made of thick fine paper. It had gilded embroidery in the form of snowflakes. I understood why Hermes was calling it 'a fancy invitation'.

''Why are they doing this instead of texting? That doesn't make any sense,'' he said.

''Maybe to show off?'' I murmured as I take the invitation.

{Greetings and regards. I, the captain of the eighth battalion commander, would be honored to invite you to dinner at the temporary military base in Snowflake Town. Although this meeting is not properly planned, it is important, please rearrange your schedule to join us.

We have made progress in the language which may be from ancient times or distant future, that we have been trying to decipher for a while. It says, ''Nature's chosen ones, open the door.''

Elders believe that 'nature's chosen ones' to be those with an affinity to the elements naturally. On behalf of the kingdom's glory, I invite you tomorrow to examine the matter in detail, and command you to join us if necessary.}

''Ah, I see. Light chose me, yeah, it makes sense to invite me.''

''But according to my observations they didn't, right?'' Hermes said.

Shaking my head, ''No, they didn't.''