Eloise had broken her contract. She was the Dark Wizard— an S-ranked mercenary who had been hired for a secret escort mission back to the Kingdom of Kal. It was disguised as a convoy of cargo. But in truth, her job was to bring a guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild back to the [Hero King].
She didn’t question it. She was a professional. When she was given a job, she got it done. There was no point in poking around when it was none of her business. She would do what she needed to do, then receive her reward.
Unfortunately, for the very first time ever, Eloise had gone against her creed and broke a contract. She was supposed to guard Guildmaster Evan with her life, but she surrendered. And now, her reputation would be ruined.
There was no way to explain it. Not to the Mercenary’s Guild. Her unblemished record was forever tainted. However, she had no other choice.
No— it wasn’t about choice. Even if her life was on the line, she would have done her hardest to see her contract to completion. But it wasn’t that she didn’t want to die. There was another reason for her failure.
It was because of him.
Eloise raised her head, eyeing a hooded figure standing at the corner of the alleyway. His face was covered— shadowed over by his magical cloak. So any passersby who tried to peer at him wouldn’t be able to make out what was underneath. And more than just his face, it was meant to mask his most distinguishing feature.
His pointed ears.
He was Jax the Forsaken Archer. An S-ranked adventurer. An exiled elf who had come to Laxo because he had been banished by his people.
He was the reason why Eloise had surrendered. The moment she saw him, she gave up. And she had done so for a variety of reasons.
The Dark Wizard shifted back as she bit her lower lip. She wanted to approach him. But each time she drew close, he glanced back at her, and she turned away. Once again, she took a step forward, before his gaze flickered towards her.
She recoiled, lowering her gaze. But this time, instead of ignoring her, he grunted.
“What do you want, woman?” he asked brusquely.
And that made her blink. Eloise pointed at herself as she stammered. “M-me…?”
“Yes, you.” He glared at her, stepping further into the alleyway where she waited. “You’re Eloise the Dark Wizard, aren’t you? You’ve been staring at me for the last hour. What do you want?”
She stared at him for a moment, wide-eyed. “Wait, you have heard of me?”
“How have I not heard of you?” Jax shook his head. “I keep track of every S-ranked in the world. So I know who’s worthy of being challenged. But…”
He frowned, eyeing her dismissively.
“You’re weak— not really worth my time to challenge,” he said simply.
Eloise’s shoulder immediately sagged. Her mouth bobbed open, but she couldn’t muster up anything to say. His words had practically slapped her across the face. When she could finally speak, all she said was…
“Oh…”
She didn’t know how to feel about it. On one hand, she was glad to know that she was not a target of the Forsaken Archer himself. But on the other hand, she felt disappointed. She felt upset with herself. Because she felt like she wasn’t good enough.
If anyone else had called Eloise weak, she would not have cared. But this was Jax— the Forsaken Archer. One of the highest-leveled adventurers in the world. And also…
He was the one who saved her life when she was only a little girl. He was the reason why she had even become S-ranked in the first place.
And not only did he not remember her, he didn’t even think highly of her.
That was why Eloise just stood there in shock and silence.
—--
I found Jax waiting outside of the inn at a nearby alleyway with Eloise. Well, he wasn’t with her. She stood dejectedly off to the side with a shadow cast over her gaze while he just leant against the wall. I approached him with a raised brow.
“What’s going on with her?” I asked, gesturing at the Dark Wizard.
He shrugged. “Who gives a shit— are you done?”
“Not yet. I need to ask for her help.” I shook my head, and the elf groaned.
“Let me know when you’re finished,” he grunted.
“Sure.” I took a step away from Jax, walking up to the S-ranked mercenary.
She looked like she was sulking— I was pretty sure she was biting her thumb out of frustration for some reason. But when I drew closer, she realized I was there and quickly steeled herself.
“Yes?” she cleared her throat. “Did you need something?”
“You’re a mercenary, right?” I asked, nodding at her.
“Indeed I am. Although—” Eloise bit her lower lip. “I am unsure how the Mercenary’s Guild will react to my failure to complete today’s mission…”
“Well, I don’t really care about that.” I waved a hand off, before pointing a thumb back into Brynn’s inn. “I want to hire you to escort Evan back to the Council of Adventurers.”
“You mean the guildmaster?” She blinked back at me.
“No, I’m talking about some other Evan— of course I mean the guildmaster,” I said flatly.
The Dark Wizard pursed her lips. “I believe that the Clawed Hands have already been hired to complete that task. I have already gone against one of my creeds as a mercenary by breaking my contract just earlier. I shall not break another one by stealing a closed-contract that has already been taken.”
“Well, I’ll hire you to ensure the Clawed Hand doesn’t fuck up then.” I rolled my eyes as Eloise blinked. “It’s that simple, right? Just escort the escorts— they nearly fucked up once anyways. So it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“...right.” She didn’t look like she was convinced, but she acquiesced. “Very well, then. I shall carry out this contract for you. As for payment—”
“Here,” I cut her off, handing her ten gold coins. “It’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got on me right now. I’ll pay you the second half when you actually get the job done. You can find me at Bucky’s Out of this World Restaurant in Wolfwater.”
“But we haven’t agreed on the payment yet!” Eloise protested.
I started away from her as I gave her a dismissive glance. “We can discuss the second half if you don’t fuck up, alright? I mean— considering your track record…”
She just stared at me, before slowly nodding her head. The Dark Wizard took in a deep breath and headed back into Brynn’s inn.
“I shall see that this job is done.” With that, she vanished behind the door to the small building.
And then it was just Jax and I standing in the alleyway. The elf had his arms crossed as I walked up next to him. He looked upset for whatever reason. I raised a brow.
“What’s up?” I asked casually.
“Hmph, it’s nothing,” he harrumphed as he turned away from me. “I am simply waiting to leave this dreadful city.”
I swept my gaze over the barren streets of Windrip. “I mean, I get that it’s kinda dull here, but dreadful is pushing it a little too far.”
Jax didn’t respond. He just continued looking away from me as I frowned.
“Did something happen?” I pressed him further. “We’re not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong.”
I felt like a mother talking to her child who was throwing a tantrum for no reason. And while Jax certainly acted like a child at times, he was very much a grown man. He scoffed as he crossed his arms, barely even meeting my gaze.
“It’s just that…” He took in a deep breath, before sighing. “I never even got a chance to show off my brand new Skills. By the time I arrived to aid you, the battle was already over. And I could not show you how much I’ve improved since we last met.”
“Oh.” I just stared at him, deadpan. I wasn’t even sure how to react to that. Out of everything that could have bothered the elf, he was upset about that.
I wanted to laugh. But that would have been rude— and it would have only upsetted him more. So I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to reassure him.
“I mean, you did impress me when you didn’t scream on the trip here… for a little bit,” I said as kindly and sincerely as I could.
Jax folded his arms across his chest. “And yet, I did end up screaming. In a rather humiliating fashion too. I do not see how that is supposed to be remarkable in any way.”
“Well, everyone else has screamed over much shorter and slower trips. But I had to actually move faster to get you to actually scream. So… you’re much more impressive than them?” It sounded stupid to say aloud. I wasn’t even sure if this was the right thing to say.
But somehow, it was the right thing to say. The elf uncrossed his arms, facing me fractionally. “Oh? Am I truly the first individual who has bested you in this regard?”
“I wouldn’t really say ‘bested’ is the right word—” I started, then caught myself when I saw Jax turning away from me. I quickly corrected myself, coughing softly. “And by that, I mean you’ve thoroughly outclassed me in this regard. I was stumped by your tenacity. Honestly, on the trip back to Wolfwater, I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t scream at all!”
I almost felt like I was overdoing it. And yet, Jax still took the bait. He grinned as he raised his chin, nodding at himself.
“I assure you, this time around, I shall not scream,” he said challengingly as he spun around to face me. “In fact, not even a sound shall leave my mouth. I will endure this task with ease.”
I stared at him for a moment— I saw the way he instantly shifted from being disgruntled to sneering at me. He really needed to be treated like a child. The thought crossed y mind, and I sighed.
“You recovered way too quickly,” I murmured, before proffering him a hand. “If that’s the case, then let’s get going, shall we? Are you ready?”
Jax smirked. “I am always ready.”
And with that, the both of us left Windrip behind, heading for Wolfwater. The farming village that I had made my home.
MelasD
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Eloise had broken her contract. She was the Dark Wizard— an S-ranked mercenary who had been hired for a secret escort mission back to the Kingdom of Kal. It was disguised as a convoy of cargo. But in truth, her job was to bring a guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild back to the [Hero King].
She didn’t question it. She was a professional. When she was given a job, she got it done. There was no point in poking around when it was none of her business. She would do what she needed to do, then receive her reward.
Unfortunately, for the very first time ever, Eloise had gone against her creed and broke a contract. She was supposed to guard Guildmaster Evan with her life, but she surrendered. And now, her reputation would be ruined.
There was no way to explain it. Not to the Mercenary’s Guild. Her unblemished record was forever tainted. However, she had no other choice.
No— it wasn’t about choice. Even if her life was on the line, she would have done her hardest to see her contract to completion. But it wasn’t that she didn’t want to die. There was another reason for her failure.
It was because of him.
Eloise raised her head, eyeing a hooded figure standing at the corner of the alleyway. His face was covered— shadowed over by his magical cloak. So any passersby who tried to peer at him wouldn’t be able to make out what was underneath. And more than just his face, it was meant to mask his most distinguishing feature.
His pointed ears.
He was Jax the Forsaken Archer. An S-ranked adventurer. An exiled elf who had come to Laxo because he had been banished by his people.
He was the reason why Eloise had surrendered. The moment she saw him, she gave up. And she had done so for a variety of reasons.
The Dark Wizard shifted back as she bit her lower lip. She wanted to approach him. But each time she drew close, he glanced back at her, and she turned away. Once again, she took a step forward, before his gaze flickered towards her.
She recoiled, lowering her gaze. But this time, instead of ignoring her, he grunted.
“What do you want, woman?” he asked brusquely.
And that made her blink. Eloise pointed at herself as she stammered. “M-me…?”
“Yes, you.” He glared at her, stepping further into the alleyway where she waited. “You’re Eloise the Dark Wizard, aren’t you? You’ve been staring at me for the last hour. What do you want?”
She stared at him for a moment, wide-eyed. “Wait, you have heard of me?”
“How have I not heard of you?” Jax shook his head. “I keep track of every S-ranked in the world. So I know who’s worthy of being challenged. But…”
He frowned, eyeing her dismissively.
“You’re weak— not really worth my time to challenge,” he said simply.
Eloise’s shoulder immediately sagged. Her mouth bobbed open, but she couldn’t muster up anything to say. His words had practically slapped her across the face. When she could finally speak, all she said was…
“Oh…”
She didn’t know how to feel about it. On one hand, she was glad to know that she was not a target of the Forsaken Archer himself. But on the other hand, she felt disappointed. She felt upset with herself. Because she felt like she wasn’t good enough.
If anyone else had called Eloise weak, she would not have cared. But this was Jax— the Forsaken Archer. One of the highest-leveled adventurers in the world. And also…
He was the one who saved her life when she was only a little girl. He was the reason why she had even become S-ranked in the first place.
And not only did he not remember her, he didn’t even think highly of her.
That was why Eloise just stood there in shock and silence.
—--
I found Jax waiting outside of the inn at a nearby alleyway with Eloise. Well, he wasn’t with her. She stood dejectedly off to the side with a shadow cast over her gaze while he just leant against the wall. I approached him with a raised brow.
“What’s going on with her?” I asked, gesturing at the Dark Wizard.
He shrugged. “Who gives a shit— are you done?”
“Not yet. I need to ask for her help.” I shook my head, and the elf groaned.
“Let me know when you’re finished,” he grunted.
“Sure.” I took a step away from Jax, walking up to the S-ranked mercenary.
She looked like she was sulking— I was pretty sure she was biting her thumb out of frustration for some reason. But when I drew closer, she realized I was there and quickly steeled herself.
“Yes?” she cleared her throat. “Did you need something?”
“You’re a mercenary, right?” I asked, nodding at her.
“Indeed I am. Although—” Eloise bit her lower lip. “I am unsure how the Mercenary’s Guild will react to my failure to complete today’s mission…”
“Well, I don’t really care about that.” I waved a hand off, before pointing a thumb back into Brynn’s inn. “I want to hire you to escort Evan back to the Council of Adventurers.”
“You mean the guildmaster?” She blinked back at me.
“No, I’m talking about some other Evan— of course I mean the guildmaster,” I said flatly.
The Dark Wizard pursed her lips. “I believe that the Clawed Hands have already been hired to complete that task. I have already gone against one of my creeds as a mercenary by breaking my contract just earlier. I shall not break another one by stealing a closed-contract that has already been taken.”
“Well, I’ll hire you to ensure the Clawed Hand doesn’t fuck up then.” I rolled my eyes as Eloise blinked. “It’s that simple, right? Just escort the escorts— they nearly fucked up once anyways. So it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“...right.” She didn’t look like she was convinced, but she acquiesced. “Very well, then. I shall carry out this contract for you. As for payment—”
“Here,” I cut her off, handing her ten gold coins. “It’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got on me right now. I’ll pay you the second half when you actually get the job done. You can find me at Bucky’s Out of this World Restaurant in Wolfwater.”
“But we haven’t agreed on the payment yet!” Eloise protested.
I started away from her as I gave her a dismissive glance. “We can discuss the second half if you don’t fuck up, alright? I mean— considering your track record…”
She just stared at me, before slowly nodding her head. The Dark Wizard took in a deep breath and headed back into Brynn’s inn.
“I shall see that this job is done.” With that, she vanished behind the door to the small building.
And then it was just Jax and I standing in the alleyway. The elf had his arms crossed as I walked up next to him. He looked upset for whatever reason. I raised a brow.
“What’s up?” I asked casually.
“Hmph, it’s nothing,” he harrumphed as he turned away from me. “I am simply waiting to leave this dreadful city.”
I swept my gaze over the barren streets of Windrip. “I mean, I get that it’s kinda dull here, but dreadful is pushing it a little too far.”
Jax didn’t respond. He just continued looking away from me as I frowned.
“Did something happen?” I pressed him further. “We’re not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong.”
I felt like a mother talking to her child who was throwing a tantrum for no reason. And while Jax certainly acted like a child at times, he was very much a grown man. He scoffed as he crossed his arms, barely even meeting my gaze.
“It’s just that…” He took in a deep breath, before sighing. “I never even got a chance to show off my brand new Skills. By the time I arrived to aid you, the battle was already over. And I could not show you how much I’ve improved since we last met.”
“Oh.” I just stared at him, deadpan. I wasn’t even sure how to react to that. Out of everything that could have bothered the elf, he was upset about that.
I wanted to laugh. But that would have been rude— and it would have only upsetted him more. So I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to reassure him.
“I mean, you did impress me when you didn’t scream on the trip here… for a little bit,” I said as kindly and sincerely as I could.
Jax folded his arms across his chest. “And yet, I did end up screaming. In a rather humiliating fashion too. I do not see how that is supposed to be remarkable in any way.”
“Well, everyone else has screamed over much shorter and slower trips. But I had to actually move faster to get you to actually scream. So… you’re much more impressive than them?” It sounded stupid to say aloud. I wasn’t even sure if this was the right thing to say.
But somehow, it was the right thing to say. The elf uncrossed his arms, facing me fractionally. “Oh? Am I truly the first individual who has bested you in this regard?”
“I wouldn’t really say ‘bested’ is the right word—” I started, then caught myself when I saw Jax turning away from me. I quickly corrected myself, coughing softly. “And by that, I mean you’ve thoroughly outclassed me in this regard. I was stumped by your tenacity. Honestly, on the trip back to Wolfwater, I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t scream at all!”
I almost felt like I was overdoing it. And yet, Jax still took the bait. He grinned as he raised his chin, nodding at himself.
“I assure you, this time around, I shall not scream,” he said challengingly as he spun around to face me. “In fact, not even a sound shall leave my mouth. I will endure this task with ease.”
I stared at him for a moment— I saw the way he instantly shifted from being disgruntled to sneering at me. He really needed to be treated like a child. The thought crossed y mind, and I sighed.
“You recovered way too quickly,” I murmured, before proffering him a hand. “If that’s the case, then let’s get going, shall we? Are you ready?”
Jax smirked. “I am always ready.”
And with that, the both of us left Windrip behind, heading for Wolfwater. The farming village that I had made my home.
MelasD
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