Raiders

Inside Mark´s apartment were five people sitting on the couch discussing the formation of a new guild.

"So about the payment. Do you want a simple cut from the resources you gather or a fixed amount per gate cleared? We can also combine these two options if you want." said Lucy.

Allen and Ava turned at Hal and Rick, waiting for an answer.

"What percentage are we talking about? How much would we get for a raid?" asked Hal with his hands intertwined.

Mark who was sitting at the dining table trying to upgrade the grimoire on his laptop while listening to their conversation, spoke up. "500 per gate or 12,5% cut for each member."

"Thank you." Lucy told Mark. "That would be without tax, though. We are talking more like 400 or 10%"

"Yes, that is acceptable." Hal said, trying to look serious.

"If I may?" said Rick.

"Hmm, what is it?" asked Lucy.

"We have a deal with Mark about him making us some magic weapons. I even have our equipment here."

"Yeah, go on."

"Could we get that on paper or something? It´s not like I don´t believe you, Mark. I just want to make sure." said Rick.

"No problem." Mark answered flatly looking at his laptop.

"Ok, what was the deal exactly?" asked Lucy.

Mark looked at the ceiling and thought for a moment. "A handmade piece of magic equipment created by me for each member."

"That sounds about right." agreed Rick.

"Now that we´re talking about this can I borrow your crossbow for a minute, Allen?" Mark asked.

"Sure, man." Allen handed him the weapon.

Mark started looking for a place where to put the runes on the crossbow, turning it over and feeling it with his hands.

Seeing the whole group watching him Mark told them. "What are you looking at? Continue."

"Yeah, right. We still haven´t decided on the guild name." said Lucy.

"Does that really matter, though?" asked Mark.

"It doesn´t if you plan for the guild to only have 6 members. Not many people would join if it had a silly name." she responded.

"That´s true. It needs a good name to attract new hunters." said Ava.

"I disagree. I would have no problem joining a guild called Butt-Cheese if the contract was good." objected Allen.

"Alright, but you are an exception in a lot of areas." said Hal.

"How about Merlin guild? You are a magician so wouldn´t that be fine?" asked Lucy.

"I´d be embarrassed to be a part of that guild. I don´t want to name it after myself, like your father. Isn´t that just a bit weird?" asked Mark.

"What would you say about Arcane guild then? That doesn´t sound too bad, right?" asked Rick.

"That sounds fine." said Mark.

"Yeah, but that´s already taken." Lucy retorted after looking up the name on her laptop.

"By who?" asked Allen.

"Take a look. It´s a guild from Utah." she said turning her laptop for others to see.

"Well, fuck." cursed Allen.

"No you don´t." said Rick with a smirk.

Squinting his eyes Allen turned to Rick. "I´ll remember that."

"I have to strike back sometimes." he retorted with a smile.

Mark turned to the group and asked. "What if we call it the Raiders Guild? We´re raiding dungeons so why not?"

"That actually sounds pretty good." said Lucy.

"Yeah, but wouldn´t that already be taken?" asked Ava.

"No, apparently it isn´t." she said looking into the monitor.

"Then now it is. I´ll go try something with this thing." said Mark going into his bedroom with the crossbow in his hands.

He grabbed an essence stone from a drawer and put the crossbow on his table.

'First, the magic arrow will have to appear in the groove. How many centimeters is the arrow even supposed to be long?' Mark asked himself and started taking measurements.

[Two hours later]

The group of five already stopped their discussions a solid hour ago. Now they sat on the large couch just watching TV and waiting for Mark to come out of his room.

[Let´s face it... I am hotter than you.] sounded from the TV.

Hearing the TV Allen started laughing out loud.

"Can I change the channel?" asked Hal, rolling his eyes.

"No, man. This shit is comedy gold. Just watch it." retorted Allen.

The door from Mark´s room opened and he came out holding the crossbow covered in blue lines.

"So what took you so long?" asked Lucy.

"Sorry, I´ve got absorbed into working on this thing. Allen, can you try it so I know it works even for you?"

Allen stood up from the couch and grabbed the crossbow. "What am I supposed to do?" he asked.

"Touch it on the foregrip as if you were aiming."

"Like this?" he asked listening to Mark´s instructions.

In the flight groove, a blue translucent arrow appeared.

"Great, it works. I was worried that maybe you couldn´t use it because you as a ranger wouldn´t be able to input mana inside the circuit so I just made it so the circuit sucks the mana out of you."

"That´s nice and all. I won´t refuse it sucking something out of me, but what else can it do?" Allen asked jokingly.

"The arrows are of course stronger than normal arrows. They dissipate after you hit your target so the monsters will bleed. When you hold the trigger it reloads and shoots automatically. Be careful with that, though. It will probably cost you a lot of mana in the process. That´s about it. I´ll make the other equipment when I can."

"While you were making that thing we resolved everything. The only thing that´s left is your signature on the form." said Lucy.

"Whoa, you´re fast. Where should I sign it?"

"Right... here." Lucy pointed to the paper.

Mark then signed it with a pen.

"That marks the establishment of the Raiders guild. Well, I have to take it to the FBH, but still." said Lucy.

"I´m formally not unemployed anymore!" Mark sarcastically cheered.