New God?

"What this time?" Larian felt exasperated at the thought of something else happening.

"A Destroyer is apparently making its way towards the Gelian Kingdom. It will be here within a week. We have to get out of here." Pena's report had been answered with less than good news. Her master told her to secure Larian and his apprentice. Then to await transportation back to her country.

"What's a Destroyer?" Jane asked, D sitting beside her had wondered the same just not enough to ask.

"By the nine choirs of angels, how can you be so ignorant?" Pena gasped out in frustration.

Jane was debating on throwing her quill's inkwell at the monster-girl when Larian interrupted. "A destroyer is any of the ancient weapons left over from the old war." Seeing Jane's confusion he continued. "You know the old war? Really child what do they teach you?"

"I'VE NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL!" Jane exclaimed, upset.

"Oh right, I forgot you were a peasant. D control your pet. Anyways. The old war refers to when the mortal races fought against and killed the first god. You know, it caused the birth of the wastes. The destruction of more than half the world. Rise of monsters." Larian ranted off watching the girl's face for some sign of comprehension.

Jane shifted her aim from Pena to Larian as she reached for her ink well but was interrupted by D. "Why would such a thing come here?"

"Well, that probably means the new god is close to being born," Larian answered while D and Jane looked shocked.

"New god?" D asked.

"Well yes. Why do you think Gelian has had such good times lately. Del Denote gave birth to the last god and we are still thriving. If Gelian manages to birth a new god they will keep growing more prosperous." Neither D nor Jane looked like they believed his story of Gelian being prosperous.

"Actually… You know D I wonder what happens if you feast on a god." Larian had a feverish look on his face that D recognized as him planning to do something absurd.

"Wait, Go back. What do you mean a new god is going to be born?" Jane asked.

"Well, just that. The Gelian royal family has spent generations making sacrifices. Gathering the required offerings etc. It was all to give birth to a new man-made god. Really calling it a god is a bit silly. Since it is artificial in nature it has little will of its own. But the power of even a false god is incredible. Look at my own country." Larian puffed up his chest some, looking proud.

"So this destroyer thing is coming to kill this god then?" Jane asked.

"Probably. They were made for that purpose. The Gelian Kingdom has been destroying any they find for a while, trying to protect their investment." Larian nodded.

"What's a destroyer look like?" Jane asked.

"No idea! They could look like almost anything. But if it is classified as a destroyer, not a monster it must be pretty powerful. Oh well, I guess it was nice. D do you have your stuff packed?" D stood up from the tiny table and headed towards his pack. Pena who'd listened in silence expanding her own limited knowledge looked relieved.

"Wait! You can't leave!" Jane again burst out annoyed.

"Quit your whining girl. D you can bring your pet but only if you control it." Larian added and Jane glared at him with a mix of annoyance at yet again being referred to as D's pet, a flutter of excitement at being referred to as D's, and finally a spark of joy at the thought she wouldn't be left behind.

"She doesn't belong to me." D rasped out annoyed, getting a glare from Jane to his back.

"Well fine don't bring her along. I don't really care but we should get going. I've no intention of tangling with a Destroyer. Although I wonder what happens if you were to…"

Pena let out an exasperated "NO!" Cutting off the mad mage. "I've already sent a message to my master. Arrangements are being made, we can leave immediately." She turned around leaving the room, she had her own packing to do.

"I guess I should go get my stuff together as well." Larian headed out leaving Jane and D alone.

Jane fidgeted not sure what to do when D's raspy voice interrupted her worries. "Don't you need to pack?" Relief flooded her and she was never so happy in her life to own nothing but the clothes on her back.

"I don't have anything to pack… I'll just wait here with you." She told herself it was just easier that way and not that she was afraid he might leave, abandoning her. D just shrugged while putting everything he owned into his pack.

**********

D and Jane were making their way towards the teacher's dorms, D with his oversized pack and Jane with nothing but the clothes on her back. They spotted Larian with a pack of his own but he wasn't alone. Too late they realized he was with the Royal Ranger, the large man glancing in their direction causing Larian to turn towards them. When he motioned for them to come Jane's heart began to pound while D wondered if having fourths at dinner might have been a mistake.

"I told you, Ranger Dean, I'm not a citizen of this kingdom. You can't conscript me no matter how hard you try." Larian repeated himself as the two younger companions came up beside him. Dean glanced over the two, his eyes settling on Jane for a moment before he turned back to the mage.

"Seems you are all packed as is your apprentice. So, I'll cut to the chase as it appears you know what is going on. A Destroyer approaches our kingdom. A mage of your level would be a tremendous asset. We aren't asking you to fight for free, you will be compensated. The Gelian Kingdom is not cheap." Dean struggled to hide his smile as everything was going just as he planned, better even with the boy showing up now.

"And I keep telling you, I've been called away for a family emergency." Larian squeezed out a tear. "My poor dear father seems to have fallen unwell while on a trip to the country of Melay. I must be by his side, I just must! Otherwise what kind of son would I be?"

Dean let out an exasperated sigh as if he was flustered yet inwardly he was grinning. He'd done his research of the mage and knew there was no love between him and his father. In fact other than himself the mage seemed to care about no one else, with one exception. His apprentice. This boy D, a common-born orphan who'd been taken in by a group as a Monster Hunter apprentice. Only to recently be made a full-fledged Monster Hunter, a Gelian Monster Hunter.

Turning to the boy Dean noticed for the first time he was completely at ease in his presence unlike the slightly trembling girl behind him. He filed that bit of news away for later having not paid the boy any attention before while focusing on the more dangerous mage. "Monster Hunter D as a Gelian agent I hereby conscript you into the fight against an enemy of our great Kingdom. Your participation is not optional." Dean's face was perfectly serious yet mentally he was grinning as he said 'Check mate'

"Now wait one moment, you can't conscript him, he is just a boy. And I have dibs on him, we even spit on it!" Larian stomped his foot like an unruly toddler getting his toys taken away.

"I have every right. He is a licensed hunter regardless of age. A Gelian License is a privilege that comes with responsibilities as well." Dean sounded cheery as he spoke.

"Bah, you are just trying to force me to help by making my apprentice go. Isn't that a bit dirty Royal Ranger Dean?" Larian glared at the man who seemed un-phased.

"Anything in service of my kingdom. It is good you are already packed then boy. We leave immediately." Dean couldn't help but grin feeling victorious. 'Now that bastard will come along. And if not, I'll just interrogate his apprentice. It was already part of the plan anyways.'

Before Larian could respond or D to move a voice sounded out "NOOOOO!" Rushing out from the corner of the teacher's dorms was Pena who threw herself to drape around D. "Please don't take my D away. We are in LOVE!"

Dean glanced from the overly dramatic girl, to the stone-faced boy with just a hint of annoyance creeping into his expression, then to an angry-looking Jane. "What is going on here?"

"Please Royal Ranger, Don't take my love away from me. He is so weak and delicate, you can't make him go off and fight! PLEASE!" She wailed the last so over the top Dean wasn't sure if she was actually acting or just mad. Since the boy showed little response he glanced at Jane, while he wasn't sure if the girl draped over the boy was acting or not he was pretty sure her anger was real.

"Sorry girl. But he has a duty to fulfill. Now away with you!" Dean's priority was to get the mage to agree to come. He had no time for some girl's hormonal madness.

"Then I'm coming too! You can't separate me from my love!" Again she wailed over dramatically. 'Damn it. Master's orders were precise, I have to keep these two idiots safe and get them away. Maybe we can escape later. For now, I just need to stay with them.'

"Listen to the girl! You wouldn't come between true love and desire would you?" Larian slipped into his drama mode easily. "Such young love torn apart by frivolous conflict? Would you do such a thing?"

"Yes! Now come along boy. Since you aren't coming I'll have to ask you to leave, Arch Magus Larian." Dean called his bluff.

Pena locked her arms around D's neck in a death grip. "I'll not leave my one true love's side! Never shall we be apart, right my love?" D's eye twitched in annoyance but suddenly Jane grabbed his free arm.

"Let him go! I'm coming with him, so you don't need to worry! I said let him GO!" Larian used the moment of distraction to add fuel to the chaos.

"Very well I guess I'll accompany my apprentice. I can't have you marching him off to face this ancient threat. So heartless. Look at the boy! He is obviously torn at the thought of leaving the two women who love him so dearly." Larian motioned to D who looked more annoyed than torn.

Dean hesitated, he hadn't planned on bringing along others. He didn't want to drag along the innocent servant girl and knew nothing of the other student. But his primary goal was met, he figured he could send the others back once they were on the road. At that time Larian was plotting how best to murder the Royal Ranger once away from the capital. While Jane just wanted to keep the clingy monster girl away from her D. Pena was worried about failing her master's orders. While D just wanted everyone to stop touching him.

"Fine then." Looking at D he's face was serious. "You'd better take good care of these girls. Their safety will be your responsibility since you are the one dragging them along."

D just grunted. "Who is dragging who?" Both girls tightened their grip on him annoyed at his words.