Choosing a Quest

Max entered the room, closing the door behind him.

The anxiousness he felt before wasn't there anymore, knowing that he was going to meet with a person he was already acquainted with.

He turned around after closing the door looking for Bryce and after a short while noticing him on the bed, his head slightly inclined so that he could watch the person at the door.

"Oh, Max! I wasn't expecting you to come so soon" He admitted before getting up, lightly stretching his body before continuing.

"I thought it was going to take at least a few days before you will go to the group hall… seems like I underestimated your eagerness," Bryce said while looking at Max who didn't move closer from the doorstep.

"I thought of selecting a mission as soon as I could, noticing that I currently have some spare time" Max replied, thinking of the increased difficulty when training during the day.

Bryce began walking toward Max and the latter seeing this he unrolled the paper he signed at the reception. Max extended the paper toward Bryce and once they were close enough, he took the papers from Max's hands.

Seeing that Max was already aware of the reason he was here Bryce chuckled lightly before inspecting the paper thoughtfully.

Nodding approvingly Bryce spoke "It's a fine quest, it has a hefty number of points as a reward and it won't require you to move somewhere far," He remarked before handing back the paper to Max, the latter taking it and rerolling it for a better grip.

"It's a good quest but I'll need help in order to complete it," Max said bluntly after hearing Bryce, he knew there was no way for him to defeat a Medium-Grade beast alone.

"About that, you don't have to worry. We weren't thinking of leaving you alone on your first quest even for a herb gathering request." Bryce told Max, who felt reassured after hearing this but once again thinking something was missing.

"This is just a test of your strength and capability; I should tell you not to think of us as secretive guys." Bryce then continued after seeing Max's expression shift from one of gratefulness to a questioning gaze.

"Thanks for not feeling offended and I hope you can understand me… after all the first thing I have come to know about this group is that it's hiding some major things from newbies"

"I get you, but believe me when I say this; being oblivious to this is the best" Bryce advised Max one last time, and with those last words Max left the room, walking directly out of the second-year dorm and heading toward the first-year dorm, stopping only after entering his room.

'I am getting too curious about this' Max thought, feeling nosy into a business that not involved him yet.

'I think it would be better for you to concentrate on the mission and not on whatever secrets they hold' Matt recommended after hearing Max talk to himself like that;

'I think you are right…' Max said exhausted. It was barely noon but all the events from today exhausted him mentally.

He got on the bed before laying down, drifting asleep shortly after clearing his mind of agitating thoughts.

A few hours later Max woke up once again. Looking out the window he realized that the moon was out, the clear sky showcasing it in its full glory.

It was a full moon tonight and each star lighting up the sky dimmed in comparison to its gleaming.

'I should start training' Max thought while looking out the window, at the peaceful scenery only present late at night; no activity and no sounds being heard anywhere in his close vicinity.

It took him a few minutes to revert his glued gaze from the window, his mind being calmed by the soothing feeling the moonlight gave as it hit his body.

***

Just outside of the dorm where Max stayed were two individuals clad in black capes, hiding in the dark.

"How is the recruit?" One of the individuals asked the other, interested in what he had to say.

"Not bad, though he is highly curious and talkative" The second individual replied, thinking back on the interactions he had with him so far.

"I'll have to meet with him as well soon… meeting new people is so annoying" The first individual complained, thinking of what his leader assigned him to do tomorrow.

"Stop complaining, it's not that bad." The second individual said, stopping for a few seconds before continuing "Did you know that the dogs recruited someone as well?"

"They did? Do we know who it is?" The other asked surprised by what he just heard, the displeasure from before being replaced with curiosity.

"We haven't been able to identify him yet but we know that they did, some of our people spotted them walking around in packs while inside the academy. This is a sign of recruitment happening" He stopped, the anger getting the better of him.

"And you know what? We searched the whole academy! The whole academy I tell you! There was no one transformed, not even someone new bearing their scent!" The man revolting continued, his voice growing in intensity and distortion as he tried to keep himself in check.

A low thud was heard right behind him the moment he stopped talking, until turning around three more thuds resounding.

"I don't know what bloodsuckers like you are plotting here but I think you should take your little chat somewhere else." A dark humanoid shape stood up as he said those words in a deep and hoarse voice.

The creatures were easily two meters in height, two of them being covered in dark-brown fur while the other two were covered in black fur, covering the entirety of their body. Sharp claws were present on both their hands and feet, scraping the ground as they slowly advanced towards the two robed individuals.

"Don't you have to chase after a stick or something? Disappear from my face, you're ruining the view" The first individual retorted to the monster's insult, disgust being present in his expression.

"The only sticks I see are the two of you and if you don't want us to play 'Who snaps first' then you'll carry yourselves back to your progenitor before suffering limb amputation." The black-furred creature in front said while growling, the last argument getting on his nerves.

The second individual snorted before turning around, already walking away from the confrontation.

"Let's go Jae, there is nothing interesting to see here anymore" Signaling for the other to leave he said.

'He is so hot-headed' He thought, if they were to fight then it would be highly disadvantageous to them, being only two against four.

"Seems like you aren't going to make fun of yourselves tonight," The other individual said before turning his back on the four creatures.

"THAT'S IT!" The creature snapped, leaping on the first individual, not being able to keep his rage in check anymore.

***

Max turned his gaze from the window before going back to his bed. He sat in a meditating position before closing his eyes.

'Let's start' He thought before once again clearing his mind, entering a state of total concentration on the magical particles around him.