Aki freezes in her tracks, taking in the scene.
Unsurprisingly, the Hunter Guild is wrecked on the inside as it is the outside. Tables and boards are ripped asunder, floorboards are peeled up and broken, and light fixtures both magical and natural are replaced by the gaping hole in the roof.
Various minor patch jobs and damages swept to the side to allow a clear path to the bar counter, where two people - one behind the counter and one on the stool - look over at her expectantly.
"A vibrash and a canis? Or is the other one a narithe? Skies, either way, can a beast race have been nearby and sniffed me out? If he's a canis, he could have been shapeshifted! Now what do I do?"
Of the two, one is a lanky man wearing a torn red cloak reclining against the counter, the lazy swing of his tail and half-perked ears match his cocky expression a little too perfectly.
Behind the counter is a stocky, well-built man with bushy red facial hair lined with silver strands and a bandana tied around his head. Rather, his features fit what would be a stereotypical dwarf in Aki's otherworlder mind. Down to the way he raises his arm holding a bundle of papers.
He fits so well in fact, pain briefly wells through her mind. Yet also a sense of familiarity from his features.
A loud crack sounds as the vibrash smacks his companion, making the lanky man yelp in pain.
"Thousand apologies for that, miss. This fleabag has been saying that to everyone that's walked in all week." His voice is gruff and his eyes flash annoyance at his companion before adopting a friendly as possible gaze at Aki.
"I missed all the action, boss. Least you could do is let me have fun being a mysterious guy…" The beastman pouts, rubbing his head where he got smacked.
"You can have fun repairing the guild hall," The vibrash pushes a hammer into the other man's hands and waves him off.
"Honestly that man… a fine Hunter but an unreliable person." He pinches the bridge of his nose before remembering Aki. "Ah, now that I think of it, why've you come here? We got no work nor resources to take on a Hunter."
"Oh, that's right." Aki pulls the scroll and letter from her sink pouch and hands it to the vibrash.
He reads them quickly and nods. "So that bastard's still alive, huh? Well, normally I'd introduce myself with some proper gusto as the master but…" The vibrash throws his arms out to emphasise the destroyed building. "Seeing how things are, just call me Bark. Or, Mr. Bark if ye must."
Aki tilts her head inquisitively and arches a brow. "You're not the guild master?"
"Hah… 'fraid I can't call myself a master of anything if only two of my Hunters survived." Mr. Bark says with a short laugh but a mixture of heaviness and slight relief tinge his words and expression.
"Anyway, the funds that come, even as a reward have all been squirrelled away to pay for repairs and as…" Mr. Bark's expression darkens for a moment as he speaks. "Well, as repayment to the family's of the Hunters that were slain in that witch's machinations."
"I figured the case was like that." Aki says easily, even if she can't help but feel disappointed. The more days go by, the more she feels conflicted over trying to save Vira for a proper trial.
"Now don't go feeling down on me now, miss." Mr. Bark raps the counter with his knuckles. "There aren't any leafs to hand out but I'm sure I can offer you something to smile about."
The door creaks open just as Mr. Bark disappears into the room behind the bar counter and in walks the lanky man from before. He strides in lazily, yanking a rope tied to a levitating wide board where stacks of wood panels lie neatly in place. In his other hand, he spins a hammer lazily in time with his gait.
His ears perk up as he spots her. "Oh, still here huh? You're not thinking of becoming a Hunter after everything are ya? Well, it'll be tough but I'm willing to put in a good word if you'll buy me a drink right now."
Aki arches a brow, rubbing her wrists unconsciously as she processes this request. "That just sounds like you're trying to slack off and want to use me as an excuse."
"Hah! You got me." He raises his hands in faux surrender, flashing his sharp canines with an open mouthed smile. "More importantly, did you see the Crown of Salvation when they appeared that day? I've been hounding everyone for details but I'm digging up bunk."
"Uh, well-"
"Don't think I don't hear you Cyfrin." Before Aki can answer, Mr. Bark returns from the back room with a small box, a folded paper, and a wrapped towel. He sets the items down on the counter and directs his gaze at the Hunter. "Unless you're waiting for me to finally pay off your whole tab? The Guild could use the extra treefall."
"Haha… look at the time, I'm way too busy for any settling up!" The man named Cyfrin straightens up cartoonishly fast and throws in a salute for good measure before hustling behind the counter with the materials.
"Canis' are such free spirits, huh?" Mr. Bark frowns in disappointment. Though the twinkle in his eye tells a different story.
Aki can't help but chuckle at their relationship. Though a heavy cloud of emotions still hangs over the two, a spark of camaraderie lightens the weight that burdens their emotions.
Mr. Bark lays the two items next to each other, holding the paper back, and pushes the box toward her.
"Originally, that was to be a reward for a job from a requester on the southern border. With how things are, I'm sorry to say both the Hunter and requester fell against the witch's army."
Mr. Bark opens the box to reveal a velvety red cushion on which rests a dark brown leather strap attached to a golden crescent moon frame holding a pinkish red gemstone.
He raises the pendulum and hands it to Aki. "This is something called a rubellite. It's not as dense or colour rich as a ruby but the rubellite is much more rare and far more mana conducive. According to the previous owner, it has near perfect mana purity, so it should at the very least double your mana recovery speed."
Aki holds the pendulum up to the light, enamoured by the red-hues shining in the reflective surface. Curious, she injects a bit of mana into it and the gemstone flares brightly and beautifully, illuminating the interior with a soft pinkish red light.
Her eyes widen, their glassy dark surface full of surprise and joy. Just as Mr. Bark said, it really is super conductive. "My mana doesn't feel blocked or heavy when I try to channel it. So this is what it's like with high quality magic items. It's amazing…"
"Hey!"
A pale blue, translucent screen appears, obstructing her view of the item.
"Woah…"