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Chapter 2 - Old acquaintance

CORRIANDER

He was home,my beautiful boy had returned after more than three years of being away. An uncanny amount of time away from home for someone his age. "Can you stop staring at me with those pitiful eyes and let's go inside, I'm starving",he said as he walked in. "Well,luckily you came when I had just cooked white rice and beef sauce". He raised his hand in an exclamation of joy as he rushed in.

"How long are you staying this time?, you promised me a visit twice every four months but left and didn't return for the next thirty eight months,it got to a point where I was worried, depressed even. Would you have liked it if I started having suicidal thoughts?",I berated in a playful tone even though I meant it. "Don't worry mother,I plan to stay a little while,but I still haven't mastered magical enhancement techniques,most of the areas I visited were just a bunch of peaceful towns with basic knowledge of magic. That's actually why I came back. I'm here to see you before heading to the mainland. I'm not staying for as you want me to,so please don't expect much from me, I'm sorry",he said. "When then?",I asked with a sigh. "In a couple of days. I'm leaving for Toa right away to go pick up an acquaintance, we'll stay here a while,and then leave.",he replied. "Oo, you have a friend,I guess all those adventures yielded something beneficial after all. So, is it a boy or a girl?", I asked. "It's a girl,and how could you make jest of my years of adventuring. She's actually just like you. Zany and overenthusiastic",he said with one of his rare dashing smiles before standing up and walking out the front door. He had already miraculously finished his food even though we were conversing throughout. Well,I sighed with exasperation, I better get to preparing his luggage,because he could surprise me and leave even today.

***

HYPERION

 I took a carriage and arrived at Toa in the evening. "I guess I will look for the flashiest,most extravagant building here and it would probably be her's",I thought to myself.

 Before I could move further,a hand was on my neck. " Seems you have improved your stealth since the last time we met,but do know that I intentionally let you get this close. Anyway,have you been waiting for me for so many years,or did you just use your extraordinary stalking abilities to track when I arrived",I asked. Her hand slowly left my neck and draped over my shoulders into a tight hug from behind. "Of course,I know I can never one up you,but is that how you want to start our conversation even though it's been years?",she tightened her grip. "I haven't the time for your clinginess Ida",I said with a sneer. "Oh,but I love seeing that roguish appearance that appears on your face when you're angry". So what made you come for me after you abandoned me here?, she asked. Abandoned is a bit of a strong word,we just parted ways and you decided to stay here. Also,that is a lot of self importance you have placed in yourself assuming I'm here for you,but not withstanding,I did actually come here for you.I have requests I do not think we should be talking about in the middle of the street".

 We got to her home which was nothing short of what I expected;extremely big,with what I believe would be one inhabitant due to how reclusive she was when it came to anyone besides me. The interior decor was beautiful,a tad extravagant,but beautiful.I sat on one of the lush sofas in the living room, she sat opposite me and I finally got a chance to take a good look at her and I finally realised just how long it had been since we last met. She was taller now, almost reaching my height compared to how much of a height gap I gave her five years ago. She wore tight black leather pants with a light blue blouse that had beautiful designs and a long black scarf wrapped around her neck. "I know my beauty supercedes any you have seen so far,but can you stop ogling".I quirked an eyebrow and gave her a sharp gaze before ignoring the statement. "Anyways,i need you to come with me. The smile she had since we met today finally faded,as she looked at me with a frown."five years,and we begin a conversation with demands",she looked at me with disdain. "My apologies,but I believed we had already acquainted ourselves with the playful banter so far,but I'm sorry if you're offended",I replied placing my hand on my chest in penitence. She looked at me silently for a time before waving her hand as if blowing off the apology "Do you need a lackey,or rather a cook,or could it be you need a guide somewhere, but I doubt you would ask me because there is nowhere i have gone to that you haven't". She began throwing absurd suggestions as she completely shed the grim demeanor she had ad was grinning."I need you to join my crew",I replied flatly."Wow",she said with eyes so wide. I knew she was only half surprised."I definitely didn't expect you to come for me when you finally decided to go to the big city. One slight question though",I cut her off before she could continue;" I'm well aware that my age might be a slight setback,but not one I can't overcome",I stated. "Maybe for you,since you're so tall, mature and act so serious. But have you forgotten I'm also not of legal age?,"she retorted."You certainly look old enough to pass for nineteen,plus, you're only a year short. Also,I highly doubt anything except strength really matters for becoming a huntsman". "Do you really think I look that mature",she asked with a bright smile as she tucked a lock of her long black hair behind her ears."It seems you have evolved your talent of only listening to parts of a conversation that interests you. But that doesn't matter right now,are you coming with me or not.I know you don't really have a life here,and I'm sure you'll have fun",I added."You don't have to be sour about it, she placed a finger on her chin as if in deep thought."Fine, I'll go with you,but will we need anyone else?", she asked. "Yes",I replied. It will be way better if we do this alone.

"Now that we are through with that,do you have any missions here right now, because we need

some money to get to the mainland,and I want to see how strong you've gotten",I told her."Aawww, can't you just take my word for it",she replied with a face of mock sadness."Let's go,I don't have the energy to argue",I retorted. She immediately hurried to my front and led the way.

 After visiting a building were we met an aged man who gave us some information about a chimeras around Toa,we began heading for the forest. "You know this is the third highest class of chimeras right?",Ida asked with a look that contradicted the doubt in her words. "It's not that big a threat,and I'm sure you know that from the confidence that's basically radiating from your body,plus I'm not ready to die yet. If I didn't think we could defeat it,I wouldn't have taken this mission",I replied. After several minutes of navigating the forest,we found an area with grass turned red with blood of several chimeras. The vast number of chimera corpses left on the scene assured me it wasn't huntsmen,but a far stronger chimera that killed them all. Using my range art,I could find the chimera's sickly magical energy a distance from us And I could tell it found us too. This chimera had an above average use of range art.

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