GONE

CORRIANDER

He was home,my beautiful boy had returned after nearly two years of being away.An uncanny thing for someone his age."How long are you staying this time?, you promised me a visit twice every four months but left and didn't return for the next sixteen months",I berated.Don't worry mother,I plan to stay a little while,but I still haven't mastered augmentation so please don't expect much."I sighed before asking,"when then?"."Soon,there is a lot to prepare; I have no money,and I plan to go to the mainland which would require a lot of preparation",he replied.Well,i guess i will prepare your clothes then."Thank you",he said with one of his rare dashing smiles before standing up and walking out the front door.He had already miraculously finished his food even though we were conversing throughout.well,I sighed with exasperation, I better get to doing his laundry, because he could surprise me and leave even today.

***

HYPERION

I took a carriage and arrived at Toa in the evening.I guess I will look for the flashiest,most vain building here and it would probably be her's.

 Before I could move further,a hand was on my neck."Have you been waiting for me for so many years,or did you just use your extraordinary stalking abilities to track when I arrived"I asked.The hand slowly left my neck and draped over my shoulders into a tight hug from behind."I haven't the time for your clinginess Ida",I said with a sneer."Oh,but I love seeing that roguish appearance that appears when you're angry".So what made you come for me after you abandoned me here?, she asked."That is a lot of self importance you have placed in yourself,but not withstanding,I did actually come here for you".I have requests I do not think we should be talking about in the middle of the street,"even though the conversation so far isn't street worthy either."

 We got to her home which was nothing short of what I expected.extremely big with what I believe would be one inhabitant due to how reclusive she was to other people.The interior decor was beautiful,a tad extravagant,but beautiful.I sat on one of the lush sofas in the living room, she sat opposite me and I finally got a chance to take a good look at her and I finally realised just how long it had been since we last met.she was taller now, almost reaching my height compared to how much of a height gap I gave her three years ago.she wore tight black leather pants with a light blue blouse that had beautiful designs and a long scarf wrapped around her neck."I know my beauty supercedes all you have seen so far,but can you stop ogling,she stopped halfway.I quirked an eyebrow and gave her a sharp gaze."Anyways,i need you to come with me.the smile she had since we met today finally faded,as she looked at me with a frown."Four years,and we begin a conversation with demands",she looked at me with disdain.My apologies,but I believed we had already acquainted ourselves with the playful banter so far,but I'm sorry if you're offended,I replied placing my hand on my chest.She looked at me silently for a time before waving her hand as if blowing away the apology".Do you need a lackey,or rather a cook,or could it be you need a guide somewhere, but I doubt you would ask me because there is nowhere i know that you don't."She began throwing absurd suggestions as she completely shed the grim demeanor she had."I need you to join my crew",I replied flatly.Wow,she said with eyes so wide. I knew she was only half surprised."I definitely didn't expect you to come for me when you finally decided to go to the city.one slight question though,I cut her off before she could continue;" my age might be a slight setback,but not one I can't overcome,."Maybe for you,since you're so tall, mature and act so serious.But have you forgotten I'm also not of legal age?,"she retorted."You certainly look old enough to pass for nineteen,plus, you're only a year short.Also,I highly doubt anything except strength really matters for becoming a huntsman".Do you really think I look that mature,she asked with a bright smile as she tucked a lock of her long black hair behind her ears.That doesn't matter,are you coming with me or not.I know you don't really have a life here,I added."You don't have to be sour about it, she placed a finger on her chin as if in deep thought."Fine, I'll go with you,but will we need anyone else?", she asked.Probably,I replied.but we might just be alone if we don't find someone barely tolerable.

"Now that we are through with that,do you have any missions here right now because we need a lot of money and I want to see how strong you've gotten",I told her."Aawww, can't you just take my word for it",she replied with a fake sadness.Let's go,I don't have the energy to argue,I retorted.She immediately hurried to my front and led the way.

***

After visiting a building were we met an aged man who gave us some information,we began heading for the forest.You know these are the third highest class right,Ida asked with a look that contradicted the doubt in her words."It's not that big a threat, plus I'm not ready to die yet,if I didn't think we could defeat it,I wouldn't have taken this mission",I replied.

 After several minutes of navigating the forest,we found an area with grass turned red with blood of several chimes.the vast number of chimera corpses left on the scene assured me it wasn't huntsmen,but a fat stronger chimera that killed them all.using my range art,I could find the chimera's sickly magical energy a distance from us And I could tell it found us too.This chimera had an above average use of range art.