A Sign of Friendship

"Gather the mana pearls, as of now, you have successfully completed the first objective." Before the three teenagers could celebrate.

He continued "Though don't consider that you've outdone yourselves and earned this, infact, what you've done was terrible! Such dangerously low mana efficiency?! You wasted four mana potions for what? Some measly deers!"

Seeing that the kids were about to refute, he sighed and told them to just do what's being told, while he himself went to follow the problem child who ran away to help a certain someone.

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'Oho… This is certainly interesting, a fine young man with a half-bound mutated snake.' A familiar red robed middle-aged man muttered in interest, as he sat on the branch of a tree, looking down towards two teenagers.

One had silver hair with a cloth bag on his back, while the other had black hair and was garbed in red robes. Currently, the former was on his knees with both of his hands planted on the ground.

He was unable to stand up because a certain black haired girl had her blue short-sword pressed behind the boy's neck, bringing out a thin trail of blood.

Suddenly, a frown erupted on the red-robed man's face as he wore a thoughtful expression.

In the next second, the frown on his face deepened as one of his black eyes glowed purple.

"Now that's fairly unusual, isn't it? A fine young man, having absolutely zero affinity with any of the elements, but still possesses a soul beast." He thought out aloud in unmasked curiosity.

"Haha! I definitely need to look into this." He continued with a wide grin plastered on his face.

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"Why?" I asked, trying to make sense of what was happening. I had many questions, but my mouth only let one word out.

Why?

I knew it was a person behind me, I could see her feet by moving my eyes to the side a little.

Question was, why would she harm me? I didn't do anything wrong, did I?

"Why are you here?" The girl asked as I searched my head if Ryan1 knew her. Unsurprisingly, he didn't.

"Do you not value your life? What about your family? You don't care about them either?" She continued to ask questions, as I ran my brain for answers, but that last question made something snap inside me.

"I do care about my family, more than you think." I said and ceased all resistance.

"Then why are you here? When you are so weak! When you can die any moment!" She screamed at my straight-forward answer, there was subtle anger in her voice.

"I'm alive as of yet." My mouth moved before I could process her words.

"I can kill you right now." She replied, pressing the dagger of hers a bit further, making me move my neck down by reflex.

"Will you?" I shot back, annoyed. I was annoyed at her suddenly appearing out of nowhere and pressing her knife on my neck, while also having guts to lecture me about family.

As soon as the word left my mouth, I started pushing my head back up, noticing the dagger move back to not chop my head off, I pushed further, ignoring the pain coming from the cut.

"Stop where you are!" Ignoring her words, I kept pushing. Soon enough, I was standing on my feet, with the girl behind me, pointing her dagger at my neck.

"Sigh… Whatever, die or do whatever you want to do. I apologise for even bothering." She said exasperated, and removed the dagger from my behind my neck.

"Than-

I turned around just on time to see a fascinating sight, the light blue dagger in her hand dissipated into blue motes of light and entered the black haired girl's chest.

Without saying another word, she turned around and started walking away.

"Venus, wait for a moment, we can go back together. Just give me a moment with this boy here." The red-robed man said as he jumped down from a branch 8 metres above, making dust and fallen leaves fly.

'How is he still fine after that jump…?' I half-mused myself in shock.

"As you wish, Instructor." Venus answered politely, and stood to the side.

"Now, may I have a moment with you, young lad?" He asked, facing me with a smile, as if I was an intriguing experimental specimen.

"Sure?" I replied, putting my hand on my waist, where my knife hung.

"Hahaha, easy boy. I'm not someone you can handle. I just want to ask a few questions." He declared in a nonchalant way. There wasn't an ounce of arrogance or overconfidence in his voice, just plain and simple, truth.

"Ask." I said, not willing to remove my hand from my knife.

"As you wish. First question; Have you ever used magic?" He asked as he folded his arms behind his back.

"Nope, never once in my whole life. Next, and make it quick, I've got work." I answered.

"Alright, second question; Will you be our potter? Relax, we will pay you, and compensate you for the trouble."

At first, I was surely gonna refuse 'politely', but on the thought I'll be paid, I reconsidered my options and possibilities.

"What about negotiations?" I asked after careful consideration.

"How much do you want?" He answered in a heartbeat, as if he was expecting my response.

"Actually, you know what, I need to ask my family about this. Sorry, I can't decide this by myself." I said in a way the other party doesn't get offended.

"Hmm, That's fine by me. If you do decide to join us for a while, meet us tomorrow at the 3rd quadrant, at the village gates." He replied, seemingly dejected, but at the same time kinda expectant.

"You said you will compensate me for my troubles. I'm supposed to be selling Potions tomorrow, will you buy them?" I asked as I saw him leaving.

He stopped and turned around, only for me to see him smiling.

"There's supposed to be a discount for mass purchase, yeah?"

"I guess so.." I had to admit, he had this conversation around his finger right from the start, he didn't let me get the upper hand even a single time.

"Oh and take that deer back there as our sign of friendship." He offered with a smile, pointing with his thumb from over his shoulder.

"Really? Then I will accept it graciously." I replied in a heartbeat.