Chapter 7: Hunter guild

As Viktor and Kyoryn stepped into Lokistead, they instinctively moved closer together, their eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

The town was quiet, with villagers going about their daily lives.

Some stole curious glances at them, but there were no hostile glares—just mild intrigue at the newcomers.

Viktor leaned toward Kyoryn and whispered, "Stay alert. We don't know if they're friendly or not."

Before Kyoryn could respond, a tap on their shoulders made them both jump.

They spun around to see a middle-aged woman balancing a wooden bucket on her hip.

She had a weathered yet kind face, though her expression held a hint of suspicion.

"You two seem far from home," she said, eyeing them up and down. "What brings you to my porch?"

Kyoryn quickly bowed. "Apologies, ma'am. We're just travelers looking for a place to earn money—or at least somewhere to rest."

The woman studied them for a moment before dropping her bucket and pointing toward a small wooden building at the end of the road. "That's our local Hunter's Guild. They take in anyone willing to fight monsters. If you want work, that's your best bet."

Both Viktor and Kyoryn bowed in thanks before making their way toward the guild.

As they walked, Viktor glanced around, observing how the villagers paid them little mind. "They don't care that we're not human. It's… surprisingly peaceful."

Kyoryn nodded. "In my experience, most humans just want to live their lives. As long as we don't cause trouble, they don't care who—or what—we are."

Viktor sighed, his gaze darkening. "Dad, you picked the wrong ones…" he muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Kyoryn asked, tilting her head.

He shook his head and quickened his pace. "Nothing. Let's go."

She narrowed her eyes but let it go, hurrying after him.

---

The guild was smaller than expected—more like a large tavern than a grand hall.

Inside, a few rugged hunters sat at wooden tables, discussing recent hunts.

Weapons leaned against walls, and the scent of old parchment mixed with the faint metallic tang of dried blood.

At the reception desk sat a woman who looked thoroughly bored with her job, idly tapping her fingers on the counter.

The moment Viktor and Kyoryn approached, she jolted upright, quickly adjusting her posture.

"Welcome! Looking for a quest?" she asked, forcing a customer-friendly smile.

Viktor floated slightly to meet her eye level. "Actually, we're not part of any guild. Can you explain how things work?"

The receptionist exhaled and reached under the desk, pulling out three colored cards—red, blue, and green.

She placed them on the counter.

"We have three major guilds in the realm," she explained.

"The red card is for the Hunter's Guild—tracking and fighting monsters. The blue card belongs to the Mage Guild—spellcasting and magical research. And the green card is for the Adventurer's Guild—resource gathering, dungeon raids, things like that."

Viktor studied the cards. "Can we get one of each?"

The woman shook her head. "Nope. You can only register with the guild you're in. And before you ask, magic isn't allowed in the Hunter's Guild. If you want to cast spells, you'll need to travel six towns over to the Mage Guild."

Viktor clenched his jaw. "That's… inconvenient." He turned to Kyoryn. "I should warn you—I've relied on magic my whole life. I'm not exactly a skilled fighter."

Kyoryn crossed her arms, thinking. "What if a magic user assists a hunter during a hunt?"

The receptionist groaned, clearly losing patience. "As long as the registered hunter completes the job, no one cares how they do it. But the guild only recognizes the one who took the quest."

Kyoryn and Viktor exchanged a glance before nodding.

"I'll sign up as a hunter," Kyoryn declared.

The receptionist slid a paper and pen across the desk. "Fill this out, and I'll get your card ready."

The two took a seat at an empty table. Viktor leaned back, arms crossed. "Guess age doesn't matter much here."

Kyoryn smirked. "Doesn't seem like it."

As she filled out the form, Viktor found himself watching her handwriting—smooth, flowing, and precise.

Kyoryn caught his stare. "Something wrong?"

He shook his head. "No, it's just… your handwriting is perfect. Clean, elegant, easy to read."

She blinked in surprise, then chuckled. "Didn't know handwriting was something worth complimenting." Her tail swished, thumping against the chair.

Viktor rested his chin in his hand. "Most compliments are based on looks or personality. A real compliment comes from noticing the little things." He smirked. "And yours? It's honestly impressive."

Kyoryn pouted playfully. "So I'm not cute, huh?"

Viktor gave a teasing grin. "Ask me again in four years."

Kyoryn laughed. "Wow. Okay then."

Finishing her paperwork, she returned to the counter and received her red hunter's card.

She also grabbed a quest sheet and returned to Viktor, holding it up with a grin.

"Just like that, we've got our first job." She tapped the paper. "We're hunting a Wyld Elk."

Viktor hummed in thought. A large, aggressive beast. If Kyoryn is fighting up close, I'll need to support her from a distance. Category 2 magic should work well on it… if I can get away with using it.

He smirked. "Alright. Let's bag ourselves an elk."