Jack stirred in his sleep as the distant sounds of voices filtered through his dreams. Slowly, he opened his eyes and realized it was morning. The guild members had returned from the hunt, their tired voices and the clatter of equipment filling the air.
Rising quickly, Jack threw on his clothes and hurried out of his room. As he made his way through the guild, he saw several hunters nursing injuries, some worse than others. Without hesitation, he moved to help them, assisting with bandages and applying ointments where needed. The camaraderie of the guild was strong; even in their exhausted state, everyone pitched in to care for the wounded.
Once everyone was settled and resting, Jack noticed Master Kai slipping away to the training ground. His brow furrowed in concern. After ensuring the others were comfortable, Jack followed Master Kai.
As he approached, he found Master Kai standing alone in the middle of the training ground, his back to Jack, his posture tense but controlled. Despite the brutal fight he'd just returned from, Master Kai was already preparing for more.
"Master Kai," Jack called out, his voice quiet but firm. "Aren't you tired? You need to rest after fighting hundreds of Fury Fangs."
Master Kai didn't turn around. "I am tired, Jack," he replied, his tone steady. "But rest can wait. A warrior's strength comes from discipline, and discipline doesn't take breaks."
Jack fell silent, absorbing Master Kai's words. As he watched his mentor, a thought occurred to him. Now might be the perfect time to ask Master Kai about the Wish Dragon—the creature that gloomy eyes had mentioned could grant any wish, even the one Jack desired most: to reunite with Hana. But as quickly as the thought surfaced, Jack pushed it aside. This wasn't the right moment. Master Kai was exhausted, and the last thing he needed was to be bombarded with questions.
"Alright," Jack finally said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'll leave you to it, Master."
Master Kai gave a slight nod, acknowledging Jack's presence, but said nothing more. Sensing the conversation was over, Jack turned and headed back to the guildhall.
With the morning sun now fully risen, Jack decided to help prepare lunch with the guild's chef. The aroma of cooking food soon filled the hall, and as the hunters began to wake from their brief rest, they were greeted by the comforting sight of a warm meal.
By the time lunch was ready, everyone had gathered in the dining hall. The atmosphere had shifted from one of exhaustion to one of celebration. Despite their injuries, the hunters laughed and exchanged stories of the hunt, their spirits lifted by the food and the company.
Jack couldn't help but smile as he watched them. This was what he had come to appreciate about the guild—how they could face danger together, endure hardships, and still find joy in moments like these.
As the lunch party continued, Jack sat back, enjoying the sense of belonging that filled the room. He knew that there were still challenges ahead, and questions that needed answers, but for now, he was content to be part of something bigger than himself.