Side Story Jezabel POV: A First Time For Anything (4)

Weeks pass by in a monotonous blur. Every day is spent ravenously hunting monsters in the dungeon. Fifteen, twenty and sometimes even up to twenty-five hours of the thirty-hour day are spent collecting money to pay her debt. A monster is beginning to form. Eventually, people begin calling her the 'Bloodshot Berserker' as the lack of sleep takes its toll on her expression. Her inflamed, red eyes and gaunt figure lurk in the guild hall at all hours of the day.

While her body may not be in the best condition given her behavior, she's still in better health than before joining the guild. Her bones are no longer exposed, and some muscle has begun to form around her limbs. Lana wakes up early to prepare breakfast and stays up late cleaning. The two sisters share the burden and survive one day at a time.

"Good morning, Jezabel." Gayle greets her with a cheerful expression. Seeing this youth throw themselves into the dungeon with such rabid intensity has affected the mood of the guild. Not wanting to be shown up, more Adventurers challenge the dungeon each day. The average time spent below ground and the average amount of goods obtained have both increased as well. Everyone takes notice of the monster that has entered the building when her name is called.

"Hi," Jezabel replies. Her eyes are beet red from only having slept for three hours that night. The guild staff is always gossiping about when she wakes up and goes to bed, so this is common knowledge amongst everyone in the building.

"I was just wondering, how much money do you owe that merchant? You've been burning the candle at both ends for almost two months now. Haven't you earned enough?"

"I don't know."

"What?"

"He never told me exactly how much I owed, but apparently, it's a lot. He said I couldn't pay it back in one hundred lifetimes."

"Is there any other way to pay him back? You can't keep doing this to yourself."

"No. I'd rather die than give him the satisfaction." Jezabel's voice cuts like a knife as she responds. Gayle looks down, afraid to dig any further.

"Good morning, ladies." Completely ignoring the tension in the room, Lucius walks up to the counter next to the two of them.

"Good morning, sir." Gayle bows.

"…"

"It's too early to be arguing. Why don't we all calm down and have a chat."

"I was just leaving." Jezabel turns around to face the door. Before she can take a step, a steel vice grasps her shoulder.

"Hold it. I didn't say you could leave," Lucius says as he pulls her back toward the counter. "Now, what's this about?"

"I was just concerned for her health." Gayle begins quietly. "She's been working more than twenty hours most days, and I'm concerned for her health."

"I told you, I'll stop when I'm done paying back what I owe." Jezabel makes a mental note to never owe anything to anyone ever again. The mental pressure is almost too much to bear.

"Hmm? Didn't I tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Jezabel's eyes narrow as she glares at the Guild Master.

"That merchant has been scamming kids all around the city. He would find orphans and tell them they owed him a bunch of money to get some free labor. We even found some that willingly sold themselves into slavery to pay back their non-existent debt."

"So that means…."

"You don't owe shit. He made it all up. I meant to tell you earlier, but I guess I forgot." Lucius smiles innocently.

"I'm free." A huge weight falls from her shoulders, and her legs buckle. Lucius holds her up to prevent her from falling.

"Good news, aye? I know you've been saving up all that money. What do you plan to spend it on now?"

"I-I don't know."

"Well, you've got time to think about it. You could certainly use some new equipment, why don't you start there? Also, I've been wondering; you could have been making more money if you fought tougher monsters. Why did you only hunt rabbits? The points you got from leveling up should be enough to boost your stats quite a bit."

"I don't have a seal…." Jezabel responds softly.

"What?! What the hell is wrong with you challenging a dungeon without a seal?! You're just a little girl!" Gayle erupts upon hearing this revelation. Lucius puts his hand up to prevent her from leaping over the counter.

"I had a feeling that was the case."

"And you didn't stop her?! What kind of monster would–"

"Gayle!" The Guild Master's voice echos around the walls. She quietly shirks back to her position. After confirming that she has calmed down, he continues, "The best adventurers aren't those with the highest stats but those with the greatest desire. She may not have the best skills but Jezabel, without a doubt, has the potential to be a top-class adventurer."

"Yes, sir." Gayle stares at the ground as she replies.

"And as for you," he says as he turns back to the girl in question. "Let's get you a seal."

Jezabel smiles for the first time in months as tears pour down her cheeks. The weight of the ceiling collapsing down upon her has lifted to show a sky of endless opportunities. Everything she's ever wanted now stands within arm's reach. All she has to do is take it.

"Yes. Thank you." Lucius wraps one arm around the sobbing youth and pulls her out the door to the temple. A prodigy is about to be born.

"Sir, we have news regarding the Duke's expedition!" Hugo bursts into the Guild Master's office. Jezabel turns from her position at the window. The sight of the suns slowly dropping below the horizon is particularly beautiful this time of year.

"Good news, I hope. I was just reminiscing on some warm memories. I'd hate it if you were to ruin the mood."

"The forward operating base has been completely destroyed; there were no survivors."

"Well, it certainly isn't bad news. You're free to go."

"Yes, sir." Hugo quickly walks back out the door, leaving Jezabel to sit with her thoughts.

[The shot was heard around the world. With this, the board has been set. Now it's just up to the actors to play their parts. I wonder how the tides of war will turn?]

Jezabel picks up her glass from a cabinet near the window. She swirls its contents around several times before taking a sip of wine. The faint smile on her face rises ever so slightly.