Off to the side, Claire struggled to keep a professional smile. The poor Elf was having a rough time and desperately wished she could have a break or even some help. But alas, she was scheduled to work all day or until everyone was signed up. It was times like this that she so tremendously hated her job and wished she had the courage to be out on the front lines. But even though she was blessed, it was by a Minor God of Light, which was just a blessing in name only. The only skill given to her was Lucem, which was very useful, but the main problem was that she was scared of getting hurt and harming others.

If I’m not able to actually go out and do good, then I at least want to help those who can. That’s why I want to be a Warden receptionist. That was her line of thought when she made up her mind years ago. It took a while, but she finally achieved her dream.  However, when it came to times like this, she couldn't help but regret every choice she made.

“Hello there, I assume you’re here to be assigned a mentor?” asked a nice old lady sitting behind the glass window. There were eight windows for eight people, but only four were in charge of finding mentors. The other four were for those wanting to accept a quest.  

“Yes, I am. My name’s Momo,” said Momo to the nice old lady. Servi stood behind her in line. Once they made it further inside, the single line split off into four smaller ones in front of four windows. Servi and Momo decided to go into the rightmost line since it was the shortest.  

“Great. May I see your ID?” 

“Sure.” Summoning it, Momo handed it to the old lady. Servi leaned in while she was looking at it and saw that her name tag read ‘Estela.’ 

Estela glanced at it and looked up. Her old and experienced eyes were hidden behind a pair of glasses that were maybe a bit too big. A set of retainers went through them so that when she took them off, they hung on her wrinkled neck. She sported a simple and formal outfit. A long-sleeved, collared blue shirt complete with a simple and elegant design, black pants, and a pair of slightly heeled shoes. A classy brass ring was on her left ring finger. If Servi had to say a single word to describe Estela, she probably would’ve chosen ‘professional.’

 "I’m going to ask you some questions. I’m sorry if they get too annoying, but we want to send all of our Rank 10s to the perfect mentor. Just to confirm, You are not blessed, correct?” Estela handed Momo’s ID back to her, and she dropped it to the ground.  The dust it produced from the impact scurried to her body.

That info is on the ID, so why does she need to ask? I don’t get it, Itarr muttered.  

“Yes, ma’am. I’m not blessed,” answered Momo. Estela took a sheet of paper and wrote down Momo's answers.

“What weapons do you use? And have you learned any skills?”  

“I use a sword,” Momo drew it and held it up so Estela could see it. “And I know Dazzler, Dirt Skin, Feather Fall, Lurk, Magic Missile, and True Aim.” 

“True Aim? You use a bow?” 

“I’ve been learning, ma’am.” 

She glanced up and smiled. “From who? Do you already have a mentor?” 

“No, ma’am. My friend, Servi, has been teaching me in our spare time,” Momo looked back and smiled at Servi, who returned it.  

“I see. I assume you two are in a party together?” 

“Yes, ma’am, we are.” 

Estela took a moment to write all this down before glancing over it. “Which would you rather learn, the sword, the bow, or both equally?"

“Both equally.” 

“What about skills? Are you more into the attacking skills like Magic Missile, debuff skills like Lurk, or miscellaneous skills like Feather Fall?” 

“I guess a mix of attacking and debuff skills. I bought Feather Fall, but I only had a chance to use it once when I hopped off a small rock.” 

“Okay. Good. Now, how many and what kind of quests have you completed, and what type do you prefer?” 

Momo racked her brain, trying to remember how many total quests and she couldn’t.  

“If you can’t remember the exact number, then give me a guesstimate.” 

“Umm….umm….probably fifteen or so quests. We’ve done exterminating, collecting, and escorting, but my favorites are extermination and collection. For me right now, escort quests a little bit too stressful.” 

“Why is that?” 

“Because I always worry about the client. 'What if I’m not strong enough,' and 'what if I’m not fast enough...' Those two things occupy my mind, and I find it hard to focus.” 

Estela nodded while she wrote. “For a Rank 10, that is pretty normal. The moment you accept an escort quest to the moment you finish, you are in charge of protecting your client. Now, you have certain positive or negative feelings about any race?” 

Momo was a bit confused. “I don’t get the question?” 

“I’m sorry, let me clarify. Are there any races you hate?” 

Servi thought this question was a bit out there, but Momo shook her head. “No, ma’am, there isn’t.” 

“Good. Good. Thank you for answering. Let me go over this, and I’ll get back to you in a moment,” Estela said. She got up out of her chair and walked over to a large filing cabinet. It took around three minutes for her to cross-examine Momo’s answers with whatever was in the large cabinets.  After she was finished, she picked a card from the cabinets and walked back to her chair.

“Here you go, Momo. This card has the address of an Elf named Dineria. A bit of an unusual one, if I say so. Most Elves love the bow, but she’s rather fond of the sword. Just like you, she has an aversion for escort quests. I do believe she would be the perfect mentor for you,” she said upon sitting down. Sliding the card through the opening at the bottom of the glass window, Momo took it and held it like it was the most priceless jewel in the world. 

“I’ll be over there waiting on you, okay?” Momo said. Her tail wagged fast, and Servi could tell she was as happy as a clam.

“Alrighty. See you in a few minutes,” Servi replied back. Momo turned around and walked to an empty bench with a hop in her step. Servi watched as the pink ponytail got further away before turning to Estela.  

“And your name? Oh, I need your ID,” Estela said in the same kind voice she used with Momo.  

“Here ya go. My name is Servi.” 

She took out a new piece of paper and started scribbling before handing the ID back. Servi dropped it, and her body absorbed the dust it turned into.   

“Are you blessed?” 

“No, I’m not.”  

I mean, technically, you are, by me, but it’s a good idea to keep it a secret. Besides, I have adjusted your ID to where it looks legitimate. All Primordial skills, and those that are higher than Rank 10, are hidden. Itarr explained.

“What weapons do you use? And have you learned any skills?” Estela asked.  

Servi raised her left arm. “I use this shield and the sword inside. As for skills, I use Decoy, Lucem, Thunder Snap, and Protection.” 

“What about the bow? That young Singi said you were teaching her. Is that correct?” 

Servi nodded. “It is. But I haven’t used it in an actual quest.” 

“I see. Any other weapons?” Estela asked, with one eye suspiciously raised.  

“I have a bit of experience with pretty much everything. Spears, axes, lances, throwing knives, daggers, maces, and staffs, but I stick with the sword and shield.” 

“Are you lying to me?” She immediately barked. The person Servi thought was a sweet old lady was, indeed, not one.  

“No, I’m not. Ask Momo. For the past few weeks, we’ve been in the training room. I have a little experience with them, but I’m not perfect. I’m no more than a novice.” 

Estela sighed and muttered. “If that’s what you say.” 

This woman is making me angry, Itarr growled. 

“I assume you’re the tank?” 

“That’s right,” all respect and kindness in Servi’s voice had disappeared. Though she knew deep down that Estela had a reason to be wary of a Rank 10 who claimed to be experienced in many different weapons, Servi was pissed off.  

“Do you want to focus on the sword and shield or any of the other weapons you claim to know?” 

“I didn’t claim to know anything. I just said I have a little experience. And sure, put me down for the sword and shield.” 

“Any hated of the various races?” 

I just dislike the old Human in front of us... Itarr thought what Servi wanted to say.

“No.”  

“Favorite quests?” 

“Exterminating.” 

“What skills do you want to focus on?” 

“Defensive and tank related.” 

“Give me a moment.” Not even smiling, Estela stood up and went back to the large filing cabinet. Unlike with Momo, the old bat spent all of six seconds before coming back with a random card.  

“You know, it didn’t even take you ten seconds,” Servi complained at the old lady's lack of effort when it came to her.

“Maybe I would’ve taken my time if someone wasn’t lying and being rude. Here, Fisher Jin is your mentor—” 

Servi’s red eyes flared alive, and she moved to grip the table. Forcing down with eight fingers and gripping up with two thumbs, the wooden desk slowly cracked and deformed. The tips of all of her fingers snapped, but her anger dulled the pain. She was going to kill him, and she was going to feel good about it.  

“—and he’s in the city guard’s headquarters. Be warned, he’s someone who’s a big fan of tough training. There’s quite a reputation of the harsh and horrible training he makes his men go through.” 

Calm down. Servi, this could be our chance to kill him. But we have to be calm. Can you do that for me?   

“Here, take it.”  

Servi?! Please, it’s me, Itarr.  

It was like the fire from her red eyes died down and became just a shade darker. Her body jumped a little bit, and she remembered where she was at. Warden, getting a mentor. Who happened to be Fisher Jin, the number one guy on her kill list.  

Servi snatched the card away from Estela and turned around. Her enhanced hearing picking up Estela cursing her and calling her an ungrateful lying child, but Servi ignored her and walked towards Momo, who happily stared at her card with Dineria's information.

Are you okay now? 

“I’m fine. Thanks, Itarr. I can always count on you to bring me back from anger. I love you.” 

I love you too.

Reaching their friend, Servi apologized to Momo for the wait, and she shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. Who did you get?” 

“Fisher Jin. That guard guy that came in a while back.” Just uttering his name in a somewhat friendly fashion meant to disguise her hatred felt like a mountain was falling on her.  

“The one in the black armor?” 

Servi nodded.  

“Wow, he’s like the captain of the guard or something, right? I didn’t know he was in Warden.” 

Hearing Momo praise him so gleefully brought more anger to Servi’s heart, but then a soothing coolness flowed over. It must’ve been Itarr’s doing.  

“I didn’t either. Where do you gotta go?” 

“Apparently, there’s an Elven shop somewhere in Canary. That’s where Dineria is at. I got the address, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find. What about you?” 

“The city guard’s headquarters. Don’t really know where it is, and there’s no address. If I ask around, I should be able to find it. Shall we head out?” 

Momo nodded, and the two friends walked through the somehow ever-shrinking free space of the lobby and squeezed in between the two lines of people who have yet to be helped.  

Seeing a passing guard wandering right in front of the Warden building, Servi took a moment to ask him where the headquarters was.  

“I heard rumors he signed up for it, but I didn't know it was true.  You’re the Captain's mentee?” 

“I am,” Servi replied.

“He’s a hard one, you know. The training regimen we guards have to do is almost like hell itself. Anyway, head down that way,” he pointed to the right. “And keep going until you reach the third intersection. Take a left and keep going straight. You should start seeing signs. Follow them, and you’ll get there in no time.” 

 “Then, do you know where this place is at?” Momo asked, showing him her card.  

He nodded. “Head down that way,” he pointed to the left, “and wait until you get to the fourth intersection. Take a right and keep going straight for two more blocks, then a left. You’ll be at a shopping center. The store you’re looking for is called Levadia Woods.” 

Servi and Momo both thanked him.  

“You’re very welcome. We gotta look out for each other, ya know? We’re all citizens of Canary." The guard then continued his patrol with a hop in his step.

We gotta look out for each other, huh? Maybe if I used words instead of going straight for my blade, then…. When she shook her head, those thoughts left her head faster than Servi expected them to.  

“He was quite nice,” Servi said.  She wanted to break the awkward silence that had grown when the guard walked away. 

“He was. I guess this where we go our separate ways?” Momo said, but there was a whimper in her voice, produced from an inexplicable sadness that came from walking away from her best friend.

“Don’t say it like that. We’re still friends, and it’s not like we’re leaving for good.” 

“I know. But still…” Momo looked down. Some of the light and brightness had left her eyes. Being with such a strong pillar of support like Servi had done wonders for her self-confidence, but at the same time, it made her dependent on Servi. The forthcoming time would be the longest the pair of friends had been apart since they met. Even during the previous month, they did almost everything together. That included eating, adventuring, doing laundry, and buying supplies. It was like a farewell, in a sense, and Momo hated that. Even though she knew she would see her friend later, it was a hard thing to process.

“Look, we can still have dinner and breakfast together. Tell you what, when we get back, we’ll get Claire her chocolate.  Then we'll come back and give it to her together. Okay?” 

Momo’s eyes lit back up again, full of life, and she nodded. “Okay. It’s a promise?” 

“I promise.” 

“Alright then. Good luck!” 

Servi nodded and smiled at her friend. “Thanks. Good luck to you as well!”  

And with that final farewell, the two friends went their separate ways.

Servi, I swear I’ll get stronger. I’ll become someone who'll be able to watch your back.  I'll become powerful enough to jump in and protect you if you need it. Dineria... I know we haven't met yet, but I promise to be the best mentee I can possibly be. I have to for... Servi's sake. Come on, Momo!

Unlike the pumped-up positive good feelings that Momo experienced, Servi felt the complete opposite.  

Why did it have to be him?! WHY??!!!! But hold on….. If I play this right, I can inflict such terror and pain upon him that would be several hundred times where he did to Seka and Seko. Hmm… But for that to work, I need to get close to him. I need to work out the rest, but I think I have a good plan…. 

Their two thoughts couldn’t be further different if the Gods themselves came to interfere. One was hoping to become someone worthy for her friend, and the other’s thoughts were filled with nothing but thinking about the best way to get revenge on Fisher Jin.