Chapter 11

A crunch echoes in the night, Orphnaeus mistakenly steps on a branch.

Please don't turn around! Please don't turn around! 

The scream of a high troll, loud and guttering. It sees us. I quickly pull the reins,

"Ha!" 

Orphnaeus dashes back where we came from. 

I'm not letting us die!

In the distance, Duke Alaire's forces are marching towards us. They are heading to the next town over, in pursuit to capture me.

"Ha! — not if I can help it," an idea hits me.

I'm such a genius, really.

I glance back to see the troll on our tail, readying to cast his spells. 

"Weave boy! Get to the people ahead of us!" I yell.

The troll raises the staff in one of his arms. It summons boulders and hurtles them toward us. I pull on the reins right and left, helping us weave the attacks. 

"Ha!" I exclaim. Orphnaeus dashes faster.

"Something's coming this way!" a guard sounds the alarm, blowing a horn. 

The troll swings his club, we evade. A mix of stones and dirt fly around us. A part of the debris hits my face.

"Argh!" I wipe away the blood, trickling down my face.

Come on. Come on. Almost there!

"Stop! Don't come this way!" the guards cast a magic barrier.

"Sorry not sorry," I laugh dashing past them.

The troll has its eyes set on them, simultaneously casting magic and swinging its club. The guards try to fight back, but it is of no avail. The troll is abundantly stronger than the men. I take my opportunity to steer back on my path towards the next town over. 

I begin to laugh hysterically at what I have just done. I pull out the vial of health potion Mary had given me. I chug it down and throw the vial away. 

"That felt nice– hearing their screams," I sigh in satisfaction, "how beautiful it was to hear." 

Rejoicing, we slow down seeing no immediate threat nearby. Without stopping to rest, we reach the next town by daybreak. 

The guards at the front gate stop me and ask for proof of identity.

Shit.

I tell them scurrying away from a high troll is all that I could think. 

"I'm sorry I can't go back to grab it now. I was running for my life," I plead, showing my injuries.

They look at each questionably, then back at me.

"Right…and we are supposed to believe, someone as scrawny as you…powerless, survived a high troll?" suspicions arise.

"Dismount, we need you to come with us," the second guards tell me firmly.

Oh come on!

I dismount and walk with the guard to his supervisor. His supervisor, big bellied man, lazing around with an ale in his hand.

"Huh?" he grunts, "Just let her go," he waves his hand.

Hopes at the hands of an absent minded sloth. Wonderful.

"But sir–" the guard handling me, annoyed with the supervisor's behavior, is suddenly interrupted as another guard comes rushing over. 

"Sir! Sir!" he's screaming, waving his hand to get the supervisors attention.

"Argh, what is it now James?" he groans lazily.

"I'm sorry sir, but I received word of casualties. A high troll sir, the men sent from Duke Alaires have died," James, huffing and puffing, relays the report.

The other guard looks at me,

"I apologize ma'am," he bows.

"Uh… no it's alright. You were just doing your job– assuming I'm a liar," I shrug.

He is deeply embarrassed, his cheeks flushing.

How refreshing, I've never seen an upright like him.

The supervisor gets on his feet and tells James to gather investigators and healers. He scratches his head,

"Let her go will you, Leon, we've got other things to worry about now," he sighs deeply.

"Yes sir!" he salutes, and lets me off.

As I walk away, Leon calls out,

"Ma'am!"

I turn around,

"What is it now sir?" I click my tongue.

He clears his throat, and apologizes again,

"I'm truly sorry for not believing you when you are injured," he continues, " I just want to let you know, you must get an identification tag at the sub location of the Hunter Association guild in this town."

I turn around and wave my hand walking away. A hoard of soldiers, investigators, and healers gather, while I hum my way towards the Hunters Association.

"Where is it again?" I stop, glancing around to see if someone can help me.

Oh yeah, I have a map.

"I'm such a dummy," I say gleefully as I pull out the book, and write down Hunter Association guild. 

I climb back on Orphnaeus and hum my way to the guild. The day seems brighter,

"Is this what people call joy?" I talk to myself.

I dismount and tell Orphnaeus to wait, while I obtain my identification card. I walk into the guild and puff out my chest, hoping to look confident, unlike my body composition. The guild is similar to the information guild, people everywhere.

People fighting for the same job, some looking for a party, and others getting ready to be dispatched. I stand in line, waiting for my turn. I take in the moment, watching people showcase their abilities. Looking around the place, 

It's a tower. 

Higher the floor, higher the mission, greater the price.

My turn eventually arrives. I request the receptionist for an identification tag. I tell her about my apparent situation, exclaiming my injuries. 

"Ok, what is your name and your rank?" she asks.

"My rank– right…um.." I get close to the counter, "ahem– it's the lowest rank," I whisper.

She doesn't look up from what she is doing and continues,

"And name?"

"Asphodel" I say in confidence.

She tells me it will take a moment and to pick a job from the board while I wait. I walk over to the job board, pondering, 

"Hmmm which one seems easy?"

"None, at least for you," someone sneers at me.

I roll my eyes and walk away, not wanting any attention to myself. Thankfully the receptionist is back, but before she hands it to me another problem arises.

"We need to add your picture on the card," she says.

I freeze.

"Please follow me this way," she gestures to a room. 

I force an awkward smile and follow.

Oh no! I need to think! What do I do?

 My heart is pounding louder with each step.