Haruto was still reeling from the unexpected intensity of his initiation into OrionsHeart, but he quickly pushed those thoughts aside as he followed Sue out of the guild hall. She moved with surprising agility for someone of her stature, and he found it challenging to keep up as they navigated through the large, labyrinthine interior of the guild. The size of the place was baffling, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was somehow connected to Jack's powerful Domain magic.
When they finally reached the guild lounge, Haruto saw Sue chatting with some of the other guild members. As soon as she spotted him, she waved him over, her expression a mix of seriousness and impatience.
"So, this is going to be your first mission. A couple of things to remember when working with me... do exactly as I say and don't get in my way. Understand?" Sue's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Haruto furrowed his brows, feeling a bit frustrated. "I was told my movements wouldn't be restricted. Why did I get picked for this?"
"This is coming from up top. Remember the whole 'pull your weight' part? Well, this is the time for that." She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "And don't ever question the King's decision."
Haruto nodded slightly, understanding that this mission was non-negotiable. As they stepped outside, he couldn't help but notice how people seemed to give them a wide berth. The strange looks and the way people quickly stepped aside were unsettling.
"Um, is it me, or are people avoiding us?" Haruto asked, feeling the awkwardness of the situation.
Sue chuckled, a smirk playing on her lips. "Boy, it's because they fear I'll rampage. I do take after my brother, Mo."
Haruto's eyes widened in realization. "WAIT, DO YOU MEAN MOTAR THE BEAST?!"
Sue's grin widened, clearly amused by his reaction. "The very same."
Haruto shuddered at the thought. The idea of two siblings, both powerhouses in their own right, was almost too much to comprehend.
Once they were outside the guild and onto the street, Sue began explaining the mission details. They were tasked with retrieving a Solar Extremity Gem, a unique-grade item with immense power. Haruto had never heard of such an artifact, so Sue filled him in. "Solar Extremity Gems are part of a family of items or artifacts, depending on who you ask. Depending on purity, they can enhance one's magic power—specifically, their awakening stone. The one we're going to collect is so pure that it can't even be picked up by people without magical abilities."
Haruto quickly connected the dots. "So, in other words, if this gem is as pure as we think, it could raise someone's base stone by an entire grade, maybe even two. A stone reawakening."
Sue looked impressed by his quick understanding. "Exactly. And that's why they sent me—something this valuable needs serious protection."
As they walked, Haruto's curiosity got the better of him. "So, what other types of stones are there?"
Sue pondered for a moment before responding. "Well, think of most awakening stones as being derived from an element itself. A Solar Stone will likely produce some type of fire or light magic. Then you have Aqua Stones for water, Dark Stones for magic like that Sylvie girl has—hex magic, sorcery, black magic. Then there are rarer types… Beast Stones, and of course… Dragon Stones."
Haruto's eyes widened at the mention of Dragon Stones. "Dragons? But they're extinct, right?"
Sue nodded. "They are. But when a dragon dies, instead of returning to nature like the rest of us, their bodies harden into stones. No one knows why only dragons do this. They've been gone so long that even though they turned to stone, the land has reclaimed them. The King finding one was a one-in-a-million chance."
Haruto was awestruck at the thought of someone wielding the power of a dragon. "So, if every magic is basically derived from some type of element, what kind of stone uses all the elements?"
Sue glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "Hmm, I've never seen one, but it would likely be a Pinnacle Stone. Those are stones that are beyond even the normal rare ones. The origin stones—Void, Space, Time, and Matter—are only legends. No one has ever found one."
As they left the city gates, the Warlords standing guard quickly ducked out of their way. "Aye, pussies, I won't do anything to ya. Geez," Sue called out, clearly amused by their reactions.
Once on the trail, Sue unexpectedly scooped Haruto up by one arm, tucking him under hers like a sack of potatoes, and took off at a blinding speed. Haruto could barely comprehend how someone her size could move so fast. Trees and rocks blurred past as she explained that the town was a day's walk away, but at her speed, they'd reach it in just a couple of hours. Haruto felt like his head was going to spin off as they sped down the trail.
After several hours of relentless running, Sue finally slowed down, dropping Haruto unceremoniously to the ground. He was still dazed by the breakneck speed when he noticed that Sue was suddenly on high alert. She had withdrawn her axe and was scanning the surroundings with narrowed eyes.
"Hey, keep your eyes open, 720 degrees. I smell death," she ordered, her voice tense.
They cautiously made their way down the road until they reached a small village. The place seemed deserted, yet everything appeared as if it had been left in a hurry. Haruto's unease grew as they continued forward. The village was eerily silent, and as Haruto opened the door to the first hut, he recoiled in horror at the sight inside. Three mutilated bodies lay crumpled on the floor.
Sue, noticing his reaction, walked over and brushed past him to inspect the bodies with a practiced eye. "Ah geez, poor bastards," she muttered, kneeling down beside the corpses. "Yeah, Ifrits were here, alright. This black goo is their signature. But something's off… they've never been this clean. Normally, there'd be wreckage, signs of a struggle, but these bodies were all left inside. This was for fun, not for survival."
Haruto clenched his fists, fury bubbling up inside him as memories of the initiation resurfaced. He had seen firsthand what the Ifrits were capable of. "Let's go. There's no need to check the rest; everyone is dead. The town is only about another hour away."
Without warning, Sue scooped Haruto up again and began running, her pace relentless as they headed toward their destination. Haruto steeled himself, determined to see this mission through and ready for whatever lay ahead.