A Meeting of Destined Soul's

As May and Ignis are walking through the corridor, the door at the end of the hall opens. Valeria, Elaine, and Stella stride down the hallway.

"Good evening, Guild master," May greets them as they approach.

"Ms Elaine, Thank you for before." Ignis bows his head lightly his eyes lingering on the three.

"That's quite alright," Elaine smiles patting him on the shoulder. "You did a good job, drawing all those Kobold's away from the shelter like that. Just keep your own safety in mind next time, alright?"

"I'll do my best," Ignis turns to the girl with Silver hair. "My name is Ignis Empyrion, are you a new hunter as well?"

Stella blinks a few times, "Yes, I just got my Hunters License. My name is Stella Lunaria."

"Oh, so you have the practical exam next? Good luck." Ignis gives her a impish grin, "I'm heading for the training area."

Valeria sneezes twice, after a sniffle, she smiles, "Due to her just awakening, we're going to be holding off on the Practical Exam. May could you show Stella around the guild as well? I've got another meeting soon."

"Of course," May responds brightly, "My name is May, It's nice to meet you Stella. If you don't mind I can show you around the guild with Ignis?"

Stella nods, turning to Elaine, "I don't mind, will you be coming as well Elaine?"

"I must go to the meeting alongside Valeria, maybe you can give me a tour of your favorite places next time?" Elaine responds with a light smile.

Valeria nudge's Elaine, "We really have to be going now, so pardon us. I hope your tour goes well."

"Alright, Have a good meeting!" Stella smiles, walking to stand beside Ignis. "How'd you end up here?" She asks Ignis, as may leads them to the elevator.

Ignis chuckles nervously, "Well I awakened 7 days ago, and one day while I was training I noticed a gauntlet formed on my hand. So I kept trying to figure out how to use it, and a gate opened while me and my little sister were getting ice cream. I told her to run to a shelter, and while she was running for the shelter I fought 2 kobolds. I managed to take one out, but eventually they started climbing the walls of the alley. so I ran with them chasing me. Since they were focused on me, I lead them as far from the safe zone as I could."

"That was reckless, but I suppose that was the best course of action," Stella comments nodding lightly.

"Yeah, It was going great, until I ran out of breath. I decided to make a stand, but there were like 15 Kobolds chasing me. That's when Jerald, Elaine, and Eric showed up. Now I'm here," Ignis shrug's. "What about you?" he turns to look at her with a smile, that melts away as soon as he sees the look on her face.

"I'd prefer not to talk about it..." she turns her face away from him with a sigh.

"Of course, I didn't mean to remind you of something painful..." Ignis trails off awkwardly as they ride the elevator down.

"Just a word of advice to both of you, but it's not always the best to ask how someone ended up at a Hunter's association. Especially not younger people, most of the time it's not as good of a story as yours was Ignis."

"Well, she asks so I figured it'd be okay to ask..." Ignis scratches the back of his head. "I didn't mean to put you in a bad mood, Stella. Is there anywhere in the training area that you're interested in?" he attempts to change the subject, "I want to try and learn swordsmanship from someone. What about you?"

Stella looks up at Ignis with a smile, "I suppose I'd like to learn what my Yin and Yang nature can do, and how to use my Solar Ray. I was in the Archery club at school, so maybe I'll try and learn a weapon proficiency."

"Woah, you get to fire off a solar laser? That sounds awesome," Ignis nod's his head. "I want to know what the limitation are to my Fiery Regeneration. Like how long it takes to heal small wounds versus moderate ones."

"That sounds amazing, can I see you try it out?" Stella says with a bright smile, May laughs.

"You can show off your skills to each other when we get into a training room, please don't use any skills in public outside of a Gate Defense or Dungeon Delve." May cautions as the elevator door opens, stepping outside she leads them down the hallway.

Eric steps out of the door, a towel over his shoulders'. His clothes sticking to his body with sweat, "Oh, If it isn't Ignis. Finally done with your practical exam?"

"Yeah, you won't believe what the guild master did!" Ignis says jogging up to Eric.

"Ah, What did Valeria do?" Eric says in an amused voice, "Did she come watch your Exam or something?"

"Well yes, but she sent a Rank B Construct out to fight me," Ignis says with a big smile on his face.

Eric raises his eyebrows into a frown, "May, Is that True?"

"I'm afraid so, although the next part will probably be more astonishing then that." May shrugs letting out a long sigh.

Eric turns back to Ignis, "So, how was fighting something at B Rank? Did you get your butt kicked, or what?" he laughs touseling Ignis's hair.

"It was really intense, but I managed to split it in half." Ignis proudly exclaims, thumping a fist on his chest.

Eric stares at him, his mouth hanging open. "I-Is that so? Well, I expect nothing less from our fearless Kobold Slayer!" he pats him on the back. "I take it your showing them both around the training area's?" Eric asks May gesturing to Stella and Ignis.

"Yes I am, although Ignis had something to ask you," May nudges ignis with her elbow while giving him a look.

"O-Oh yeah, I got so excited talking about the exam I almost forgot." he turns looking up at Eric, "Can you help me unlock swordsmanship, and show me how best to train it?"

Eric smiles to himself, "Hmm, I dunno, It might cost ya."

Ignis looks around, "I guess I'll just find someone better at swordsmanship then, If you don't think you can teach a genius like me." Ignis shrug's lightly in defeat, "Let's go May."

Eric runs a hand through his hair, "I should've know I couldn't tease an upstart like you." He plants a hand on Ignis's shoulder, "I'd love to teach you, Ignis. Hell everyone in the training area is willing to teach you young hunters. After all the more of us that are better at our job, then the more likely they are to save lives and close gates."

Ignis nod's along, "Of course, Of course. Now the excuse's come out," he laughs mischievously with a wink.

Eric sighs, "You'll learn swordsmanship, even if I have to beat it into your thick skull now."

"Uh, Excuse me." Stella waves a hand at Eric, "My name's Stella Lunaria. Do you know anyone who could help me with Archery?"

"Yeah, of course. Are you aiming to just unlock the proficiency? We have a target area, both for stationary and for moving targets." Eric explain's, following along as May continues' walking through the training facility.

"I'd like to just unlock the Proficiency before learning hot to hit moving targets, unless it's better to learn with moving target's first." Stella leans forward, looking up at Eric.

"Well, I don't use archery. I'm a Magic swordsman, but i can probably introduce you to someone better suited to explain. They should be able to outline the pros and cons much easier than I could." He shrugs, "I'll try and find someone who'd be willing to teach you during this week, I can let you know later. I've got a Press conference I need to attend in an hour, so I gotta run." Eric waves, meeting Ignis's eyes he becon's him over.

Ignis jog's over, "What's up Eric," he inquire's as they continue walking away from May and Stella a bit.

"Ah, I don't have anything going on tomorrow. If you'd like to start training meet me here at noon, make sure you eat an hour or two before we start. Wouldn't want you hurling in the middle of practice," Eric explains, "Also look out for that girl. A lot of time's new Hunter's are assigned to the same squad, especially since they end up training together. I'm not saying it's set in stone, but a good relationship builds a strong team."

"I know, I've looked up to hunters all my life. Most of the information I know, My father taught me. Even though I wasn't awakened he still took the time out of his day to train me. I guess that was in hopes that I'd awaken one day." Ignis shrugs lightly, "I'll see you tomorrow though, have a good press conference." Ignis walks back to May and Stella, waving over his shoulder.

Eric watches his retreating back, a smile playing on his face. Jerald's meaty hand slaps down on Eric's shoulder roughly, "What do we have here, a bonding moment with the fiery little Ignis?" Jerald teases with a laugh, "We've gotta hurry that press conference got moved up by half an hour."

Eric nod's laughing at Jerald's teasing remark, "I'll be helping him train swordsmanship starting tomorrow. You jealous he wants my help, meat-head?"

Jerald responds with a hearty laugh as they leave the training area, "I knew you were two peas in a pod. You're the only two who called me a meat-head right after saving your lives after all."

"That didn't take long," May smiles, "Anything important~" she teasingly clings to Ignis's arm.

"Ah, no just wanted to set up a time to train and asked me a few other questions." Ignis turns his face away from the two girls to hide his scarlet cheeks.

"Teehee," May giggles, "If you say so~" she sings to herself, skipping down the hall with Ignis and Stella trailing behind.

Ignis lets out a sigh, shaking his head, "Why do all these people have to tease me like this?" his question directed at no one in particular, but Stella answers anyways.

"Well, maybe it's because they enjoy your reactions." Stella smirks up at him, "You do react quite shyly, which is adorable."

Ignis rolls his eyes, "This coming from the girl who's younger than me." Ignis nudges her playfully with an elbow.

"Just because I'm younger doesn't mean I'm shy!" Stella stomps her foot on the floor indignantly.

"Hoohoohoo, I think I'm starting to understand," Ignis folds his arms over his chest, rubbing his chin with his thumb and index finger thoughtfully. "To see such a cute little huntress so embarrassed, does seem to have perks."

Stella's scurries away after smacking Ignis on the arm, the red tips of her ears not escaping his notice. Following after her with a giggle, they move up to where May stands.

The side of the training area opens up into a large yard, Targets on the far end. On the right hang bows of varying design, Arrows resting in large baskets. "This is where you can practice your archery on still target's, why don't you give us a little show?" May gesture's to the bows on the wall, "These are all free to use. Just report any broken arrow's to the main desk and make sure you leave the bows back where you found them. You don't have to worry about calling a cease-fire either. There is a mana barrier on each side preventing stray arrows from crossing to other lanes."

Stella walks over to the bows, cycling through them before picking one that fits her best. Walking up she pulls one of the many arrows from the basket. Stringing it and holding the bow pointed towards the ground, she breathes slowly with her eyes close.

Pulling her left hand up to aim, and her right thumb along her cheek at the same time, she pauses for a moment before releasing the tension with a twang. The arrow whistles through the air hitting two circles above the bullseye.

A slow clap resounds from behind Stella, Glancing over her shoulder she sees Ignis and May smiling and clapping. "That's cool, maybe you should show me how to shoot a bow sometime," Ignis's smile growing mischievously. "I couldn't ask for a cuter teacher after all."

Stella's face turns red again as she looks away, "I'll show you as long as you stop making fun of me like that."

Ignis falls silent, glancing over her shoulder at him, she sees him looking at the ground between his feet. "I suppose I can do that," Ignis shrugs lightly.

May smiles at the two clapping her hands together, "Alright you two, I think that's most of the practical training area covered. There's a weight room downstairs, as well as an indoor public bath one floor up from us." She points at the ceiling, "I doubt you two would need that considering you live in the attached quarters, but it's there in case either of you need it. It is separated by gender," May turns to Ignis wagging her index finger at him.

"Why are you looking at me? I feel like your the one more likely to peep on me, after all you've said today!" Ignis protests scratching the back of his head, "Ah, whatever, I should go see if Amy and Minnie are back anyways. Plus is dinner time," he smiles stretching out. "I'll see you two around I'm sure." Walking down the hall, Ignis waves over his shoulder, smiling as May and Stella say goodbye.