"Now that this is done, eat the food while its still hot" Saito said. Lily nodded her head and started to eat. The moment she put the food on her mouth, she had the same expression they had when they first ate it.
She then started to eat li a wolf hungry for months. She soon finished the food on the tray and everything was empty. "That was fulfilling....." She said.
Saito smiled, "Well, happy you like you it" he said. She smiled brightly like an innocent child. Minos then remembered something and he asked, "By the way, where is she going to stay?".
Everyone was silent. Lily said with a smile, "It's not a problem, I'll stay in my home near the slum area". These guys are willing to take care of her like their own sister so she's greatfull to them.
Saito said, "It's fine Lily, you can stay here and I'll book one more room for you to stay".
She was taken back and she said, "No its fine! You don't need to waste money on someone like me". Saito let out a *sigh* and said, "Look here Lily, you are not a "someone" anymore alright? You are one of us now and don't worry about the money, we got ton of it" the rest smiled upon hearing this.
"But still......." Lily hesitated. Saito then asked, "Lily, do you....not trust us?". She immediately said, "Of course I trust you brothers! You all saved me when I was in danger even though you don't know me, I will never doubt you for that!".
Saito smiled and said, "Well then, isn't it fine to stay here then?". Lily thought for a bit and said, "Well if you insist that much then....... Can I stay here?" she looked at him with innocent eyes. 'I can die peacefully now' Saito said in his mind.
'Don't worry master! As long as I'm here nothing shall befall on you! I vow on my life!' Nirashi's voice sounded in his mind. 'That was a metaphor Nirashi and I don't plan on dying that quick! If I died that easy then what will my ancestors in Heaven or Hell will think of me? A weakling in their proud family line? Not happening in a million years!' Saito replied her in his mind.
Even though Nirashi didn't get much of a screen time, they both talked with each other time to time. The reason is because he can't just summon a spirit which turns out to be his sword out of nowhere can he? If he does that then it will be really a pain to handle it.
'Kyaaa~! Master is same as your ancestors! Really courageous and won't back down from a fight! Well even though there were sometimes when they got beat up black and blue, they are still heavenly warriors! So have faith in yourself master!' Nirashi said. His face dropped as he said, 'Did I really lose faith in myself for you to say that? You didn't have to that cruel you know?'.
'Ah! Sorry master! I got carried away! Please forgive this insolence me!' She said.
Back in reality, the four of them looked at Saito who was lost in thoughts and looked dull. "Saito, you alright? Is there something wrong?" Herjar asked. Saito said, "No, nothing's wrong just some idiotic voice in my head". (Author: RIP Nirashi)
Minos face changed as he said, "Someone isn't playing tricks with your mind, are they?". Saito turned to him and said, "Like I said, there really isn't nothing". They didn't pry any further and just bruised it off like he had finally gone crazy.
Saito went down and asked Dory for another room and she immediately said yes. Well more rooms means more business and more business mean more money so there is no reason not to accept.
Saito then returned back to the room with the room key and saw them getting along. Saito smiled and said, "Glad to see your all getting along and well". Minos said, "Well since we are all comrades in arms now, its only correct if we get along".
Vik nodded his head and said, "Yes, Minos is exactly right about that and she is more or less like our little sister now". Herjar said, "Wow, didn't expect I would end up with guys like you even in my dream and I'm glad I did". They laughed and Saito said, "Allow me to introduce ourselves, my name is Saito Araya, a Samurai and that Dark elf over there is Herjar, a Dark Elf Assassin and the black robe dude here is Minos, a Necromancer and that Goblin guy over there is Vikkendi or you can call him Vik like everyone and he's a Goblin Knight and this is our party".
Lily nodded and said, "My name is Lily and I'm from the black cats tribe and my job class is thief! Nice to meet you all". Four of them smiled and Minos asked, "By the Lily, what happened to your parents?".
Lily's face looked down when she heard him. "Minos, that's enough" Herjar said. Minos apologized, "I'm sorry Lily, curiosity got the better of me".
She shook her head and said, "No no, it's alright! After all.... I will tell you brothers about them sooner or later anyway". They could feel her feelings and her troubled heart by the look from her eyes.
She started talking, "My mom and dad were both adventurers once and that's how they met and fell in love with each other, they were really great parents! After getting married and getting kids, they quit being adventurers and opened up a bakery later, they were always happy and I also have a big brother and big sister too! They were the happiest when I was born! And then one day those thugs came to our bakery and started to trouble us and then they wrecked our bakery, then our parents got some loan and turns out that those thugs were the ones who the guy who gave us loan hired and wrecked our bakery! He then put on more interest for the money we got and my parents had to become Mercenaries because he have the contract my parents made with him and now, my siblings left us and my parents died in the battle with demons the day before yesterday and I'm trying to settle back the loan by being a Mercenary and earn money, that's my story".
They were all silent. She must have gone through a lot despite being a kid, they respect that. Herjar then remembered something and asked, "Say Lily, you said you are a thief right?".
Lily nodded her head and Herjar said, "Do you want to become my student and train under me?". "Eh?" she was surprised by Herjar's suggestion. Saito gave it a thought and said, "It's not a bad idea Herjar, what do you guys say?".
Minos said, "It's not bad". Vik gave it a thought and said, "Hmm..... Since it's Herjar, I believe she got a great teacher and I heard dark elves are the most suited to be Assassins than the other races and since thief is the basic class for Assassin, it would be for the best if you get Herjar to teach you".
Saito looked at Lily and said, "And what do you think about it?". She said without the slightest hesitation, "Please teach me the way of Assassins!". Her voice, her look and her everything looked serious.
'Hmm...her resolve is strong, I better go all out in honing her to bones' Herjar thought. "Then I'll teach you the way of an Assassin and you will be the only trainee Under my guidance" Herjar said with a smile. "Thank you so much! I'll make you proud!" she glittered with happiness and it made their hearts warm for some reason.
Saito clapped his hands and said, "Well now that's aside, Lily, here's key to your room" he gave her the key. She still hesitated a bit but accepted it at the end due to Saito being insistent.
She went to the room and she was in awe. It was pretty bigger than the one she was already living in and very clean too. She happily jumped on the bed and started sleeping the next second.
In the other room, Saito, Herjar, Minos and Vik were all sitting in the same place as before. Vik asked, "So, what did you want to talk about?". Saito said, "I'm thinking of making a Mercenary group, what do you guys think?". The three of them were surprised by this.
Herjar said, "I already decided that I will go along with whatever you do". Minos said, "I'm all up for it if Vik is good with that". The three of them looked at Vik at the same time and Vik said, "What are you all looking at me for? Don't you already know that I'm OK with anything?". "And so there you have it" Minos said with a smile planted on his face.
Saito smiled and said, "Then we will go to the guild first thing tomorrow, now get rest". Everyone nodded and went to sleep.
The next morning, everyone woke up and started to get ready to go to the guild. The five of them ate at the Inn and went to the guild.
When they reached the guild reception, Layla was surprised to see one more addition in his group. "Who is this new addition to the group, Mister Saito?" Layla asked with a surprised face.
"Ah, this is our new member and I would like to create a new Mercenary group, can you help me?" Saito said. "Eh? Your making a Mercenary group?" Layla asked with surprise all over her face.
"Making a Mercenary group?"
"A new group?"
"Hey, aren't they those weird party?
"Hey is that a black cat girl? Are they retarded to add her?"
All sorts whispers were heard. Lily was feeling very uneasy and Saito couldn't hold it in anymore, "Yes that's right! She is our new member and we got five people so we can make one right? Or is there any problem!?". The last line was meant for everyone who were whispering. Layla said, "No, its no problem and I'll get it done right now" she said with smile.
She took out another form like the one they used for registering as mercenaries and a huge small book. She asked, "Now then you got five members and meet the requirements for the creation of a Mercenary group and so can you give a name for your group to register? We can select a symbol for it after that".
Saito tried thinking and looked at the other four for suggestion. They all turned away from his gaze. Useless!
Saito tried thinking hard for a name but no use. He asked, "Say Miss Layla, can I choose a symbol before the name?". She smiled and said, "It's all fine, it happens like this sometimes anyway".
She opened the small book and showed it to him. The book had a lot of symbols in it and a lot of those symbol were stricken out. She explained, "The symbols that are stricken out means a Mercenary group is using them".
Saito nodded his head and looked at the symbols. Dragons, wolves, wyverns and a lot more monsters and plants were there as symbols. At the end of the page, something caught his eyes and he looked at it.
A red clover like flower with five petals instead of four with a wall for each petals (look at the cover pic). He said, "I choose this as our symbol and as for the name, I'll go with "Red flower Mercenary group" is that fine?" he looked at his companions and they all nodded their heads.
Layla smiled and asked, "Then let's finish all the form work, shall we?". Saito nodded his head. They started filling up all the forms and finished them quickly.
"Congratulations on creating a new Mercenary group Mister Saito! We expect great things from you!".