It took the four of them about an hour to skin the fallen wolves, carefully stripping away the valuable pelts. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the earthy aroma of the forest, but they worked efficiently, their blades moving with practiced ease.

  Once they had finished, they divided the pelts evenly.

  “And there we go. Ten each,” Severus announced, tying his bundle securely.

  Nova slung her own share over her shoulder, adjusting the weight.

  “You two heading back to the guild, then?” Everah asked, brushing stray strands of purple hair from his face.

  “Mhm,” Nova nodded. “We took on a few more quests in the city—finding a missing cat, dealing with the rats in the sewers, and that bear problem from earlier.”

  Severus raised an eyebrow. “You two are busy.” Then, after a brief pause, he added, “What do you think about forming a party? Everah and I have been looking for more members so we can take on bigger quests and earn more coin.”

  Nebula glanced between them, arms crossed. “You guys are bronze-ranked, aren’t you? Why would you want to party up with copper ranks?”

  Everah let out a short laugh. “Rank has nothing to do with talent. A royal knight could start at copper if they joined the guild late. Experience is what matters.”

  Nova smirked slightly. “Funny you should mention that. We were actually looking for bronze-ranked party members.”

  Severus grinned. “You were? Well, that works out perfectly! So what do you say? Team up?”

  Nova exchanged a glance with Nebula.

  “I don’t see why not,” she said.

  Nebula shrugged, smiling. “If you’re cool with it, I’m in.”

  “Awesome.” Severus extended a fist toward them. “Let’s head back to the guild, make this official, and then knock out those quests before you get hit with a penalty fee.”

  Nova and Nebula bumped fists with them, sealing the agreement.

  “We have to find some nightspheres first for the herb quest.” Nova told him.

  “Ah, we can help you if you’d like. Shouldn’t take long, I heard they sprout near the center.” Severus spoke.

  “They do, but only during the rain.” Nebula told him.

  “We should be fine finding them, come on let's go.” Nova motioned as she started walking.

  High above the clearing, hidden in the dense canopy, a cloaked figure crouched on a thick branch, watching them with a distinct frown beneath his hood.

  He had expected the wolves to kill them, perhaps injure them, but instead… they had been wiped out.

  Silently, he moved. Tree to tree, his form barely a blur against the bright daylight filtering through the leaves as he made his way back to the city. Upon reaching the noble's estate, he slipped through a high window, landing soundlessly inside the grand halls.

  His footsteps carried him to the study, where the noble sat behind an ornate desk, flipping through papers, the sunlight streaming through the large windows casting sharp shadows across his face.

  "Lucas, the wolves have been taken out by a group of adventurers. The wolfkin twins you were after were among them," the cloaked man reported, his voice low and measured.

  Lucas exhaled through his nose, leaning back in his chair. "So Rachel was right after all…" He tapped his fingers against the armrest, deep in thought. "Fine. Tell her I'll wait this time. The experiments should be completed before we move forward, not rushed. I was a fool. That means stealing shipments will have to wait as well."

  The cloaked man shifted slightly. "That will cost you. Rachel needs more materials, and you still haven’t paid us in full for capturing those two mutts."

  Lucas let out a quiet chuckle, pushing himself up from his seat. "Ah, yes. Almost forgot."

  He strode toward a large painting hanging on the far wall. With a smooth motion, he pulled it aside, revealing a hidden safe embedded into the stone. He turned the lock with practiced ease and retrieved a pouch of gold coins, tossing it carelessly toward the cloaked man. "Here. That should cover it."

  The man caught the pouch with ease, feeling its weight before stowing it away. "When do you want us to take the girls?"

  Lucas grinned, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Whenever it’s most convenient for you. But the sooner, the better—I’m itching to have some fun with them."

  The cloaked man remained impassive. "If they resist or escape, do we have permission to maim them?"

  Lucas waved a dismissive hand. "Do your best not to damage them. But if killing them is the only way to keep them from slipping away, then… do what you must. We can’t have loose ends."

  The cloaked man gave a small nod. "Understood. We’ll handle it."

  With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Lucas to his twisted thoughts.

  “I will leave this town in ash when I am done and head to the next one.” Lucas mumbled to himself.

  The party finally made it back to the city, heading straight for the guild to claim their rewards and register their party. As they stepped inside, the hall was noticeably busier than usual, filled with adventurers returning from their quests, sharing stories, and collecting their payments.

  When they approached the front desk, they were greeted by the same cheerful receptionist who had helped them before. She greeted them with a bright, welcoming smile.

  "Gooood morning!~ How can I help you four today?" she chimed.

  "We’re here to turn in some quests and register our party," Nova said, placing the completed quest sheets on the counter.

  Severus smirked and tossed a bundle of wolf pelts onto the desk. "The trade route should be safe for now—at least until people let the wolves repopulate again."

  Nebula held up a satchel. "And we gathered the herbs for the clinic. We’ll drop them off on our way out."

  The receptionist nodded, quickly marking the quests as complete before handing them their rewards. "Wolves and herbs, got it! Just make sure to take those herbs to the clinic, alright?" she reminded them with a wink.

  "We will, don’t worry," Nova assured her.

  Nebula stretched, adjusting her pack. "Alright, let’s keep moving. It’s already noon, and we’ve still got two more quests to finish today—and one lined up for tomorrow."

  The receptionist tilted her head. "Wait—you mentioned forming a party, right?"

  Nebula blinked before chuckling. "Oh, right. Almost forgot about that."

  The receptionist pulled out a registration sheet and quill. "What’s your party name going to be?"

  The four of them exchanged glances, taking a moment to think.

  After a brief silence, Nova smirked. "How about The Crimson Blades? We all have red eyes, and we carry swords. It fits."

  Severus scratched his chin. "That does have a nice ring to it."

  Everah’s gaze flicked between them before he chuckled. "Now that you mention it, we all do have red eyes, don’t we? But yeah, I like it. I’m in."

  Nebula smiled. "Sounds good to me. It fits us perfectly."

  Nova nodded. "Then it’s settled—The Crimson Blades."

  The receptionist beamed. "Great!~ I’ll get your registration finalized. Give me just a moment, and your party will be official!"

  With their party registration finalized, the four set out to complete their two remaining city-based quests. Splitting up to cover more ground, Nova and Severus took on the task of finding the missing cat, while Everah and Nebula handled cleaning the water drains.

  For the cat search, Nova and Severus began at its last known location—the Northern District, home to nobles and the well-off. As they walked through the pristine streets, Nova noticed the lingering stares directed at her, no doubt due to her wolfkin heritage. But she paid them no mind, keeping her focus on the job.

  It took nearly an hour of searching before they finally spotted the cat—a small, scruffy-looking thing—tucked away in an alley. Unfortunately, catching it was another matter entirely.

  What followed was an exhausting chase through narrow alleyways, over crates, and even through a shop at one point before they finally managed to corner and capture the little menace.

  Meanwhile, Everah and Nebula made a quick stop at the clinic, delivering the herbs they had gathered earlier. The healers thanked them profusely, expressing their gratitude for the much-needed ingredients.

  With that errand out of the way, they moved on to their second task—cleaning out the city’s clogged water drains. Thanks to Everah’s knowledge of magic, the job was done in less than thirty minutes, making it far easier than they had expected.

  Once finished, they returned to the guild hall to wait for Nova and Severus.

  When Nova and Severus finally arrived, Nebula immediately noticed the fresh scratches covering Severus’ face. His usual confident expression was replaced by an annoyed scowl.

  Everah raised an amused brow. “Cat not a fan of you?”

  Severus shot him a glare. “Shut it. You know damn well animals don’t like me.”

  Nova let out a tired sigh, rubbing a sore spot on her arm. “That thing was a menace. Didn’t want to get caught and clawed us to hell and back. But, we got it in the end.”

  Nebula smirked. “Sounds like a real challenge.”

  Nova crossed her arms. “I assume you two are done? Ready to deal with the sewer rats?”

  Nebula made a disgusted face. "If you're asking if I'm ready—absolutely not. I do NOT want to go down into the sewers."

  "I don’t either," Nova admitted, "but if we want to rank up, we have to finish as many quests as we can."

  Nebula groaned. "I know, I know… but gods, it reeks down there!"

  Severus chuckled. “Don’t you two have a heightened sense of smell?”

  Nova let out a defeated sigh. "Unfortunately, yes. So, you’ll probably get to watch us gag until we get used to it."

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Severus smirked. "Well, at least you won’t need a bag."

  Nebula shot him a look, unimpressed. "Oh, how comforting."

  Everah stretched. “No point in stalling. The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can get out of there.”

  Nebula sighed heavily but finally pushed herself up from her seat. "Fine. Let’s just get this over with.”

  As Nova, Nebula, Severus, and Everah descended into the sewers, the thick, humid air carried the scent of rot, mold, and something far worse. The tunnels stretched ahead in damp, winding corridors, the faint trickle of water echoing off the stone walls.

  Nova gagged. “Gods, this is worse than I expected.”

  Nebula coughed, pinching her nose. “This is an actual crime against my nose.”

  Severus, unfazed, unsheathed his sword. “Well, you’ll have to suffer a little longer, princess. I doubt the rats care about how bad they smell.”

  Everah smirked, eyes scanning the dark tunnel ahead, where movement stirred in the shadows. “Speaking of which… we’re not alone.”

  A low, guttural screech echoed through the sewers, followed by the distinct sound of skittering claws against stone.

  From the darkness, ten giant rats emerged, their beady, glowing red eyes fixed on them, sharp yellowed fangs bared as they let out hungry chittering sounds. They were the size of dogs, their diseased fur patchy and matted, their long, whip-like tails slithering across the floor.

  "I've never seen rats this big before... That's just disgusting." Nova grimaced, her ears twitching in revulsion.

  "I feel like I’m going to need a trip to the clinic after this..." Nebula sighed, already regretting their decision.

  Severus smirked, unsheathing his sword as he stepped forward. "Oh, come on. Don’t chicken out now."

  Nova shot him a glare. "Oh, piss off." But despite her complaint, she was already charging in after him.

  "I’ll provide support!" Everah called out, raising his hands, energy crackling at his fingertips. "Just try not to get bit!"

  Nebula groaned, tightening her grip on her sword as she watched them rush ahead. "I’m going to regret this…" she muttered before taking off after them, falling into step with the rest of the party.

  Severus met them head-on, his sword flashing as he stepped forward, swinging in broad, heavy arcs.

  The first rat came in low, trying to latch onto his leg, but he was already moving. He stomped down, his armored boot crunching through its skull, sending bone fragments and brain matter splattering across the filthy stone floor.

  Another lunged for his side, fangs bared.

  He twisted sharply, his sword coming down hard, severing the beast clean in half. Its lower body spasmed, guts spilling onto the floor, mixing with the filth and murky sewer water.

  A third rat leapt onto his shoulder, claws digging into his armor as it tried to reach his throat.

  Severus snarled. He grabbed it by the scruff of its matted fur and hurled it into the wall with all his strength. The sickening crack of bones echoed through the tunnel before the lifeless body slid into the muck.

  One rat rushed Nova, its jaws snapping toward her arm.

  She let it get close—too close—before stepping aside, her blade flashing. She sliced through its front legs, sending it collapsing onto the floor, screeching and thrashing.

  A moment later, she thrust her palm forward, and flames erupted from her fingertips.

  The rat burst into flames, its flesh crackling and melting, filling the tunnel with the stench of burnt hair and rotting meat. Its screeches turned to gurgles before it finally stilled, its charred body collapsing into a smoking husk.

  Another charged her from the side, leaping toward her torso.

  She spun, slashing mid-air, her sword tearing through its belly, sending intestines spilling onto the wet stone as the beast collapsed in a heap.

  Then she felt claws scraping at her back.

  Damn it.

  She turned just in time to see another rat latching onto her shoulder, teeth sinking into her armor, trying to tear through to the flesh beneath.

  A pulse of heat surged through her veins.

  With a growl, she grabbed its face, ignoring the rancid saliva dripping onto her hand, and unleashed a surge of fire directly into its skull.

  The flames cooked through its head instantly, eyes boiling and bursting as it let out a final shriek before turning to ash in her grip.

  She shoved the charred remains off her and whirled around to look over at Nebula.

  Nebula had two rats on her—one snapping at her legs, the other circling her left side, looking for an opening.

  She exhaled sharply.

  In one fluid movement, she sidestepped the first one’s lunge, bringing her sword down in a brutal arc, cleaving through its spinal cord. The body twitched violently before going still, but she was already moving.

  The second rat lunged, but before it could reach her, she twisted her fingers, and a pulse of frost spread across the ground beneath it.

  Its paws slipped on the ice, and in that split-second of vulnerability, she lashed out, driving her blade straight through its open maw, piercing the back of its skull.

  It went limp instantly, blood and frozen flesh coating her weapon.

  Another rat sprang from the side, but she simply raised her palm, her fingers curling as a spike of ice shot from her fingertips, impaling the creature through the chest.

  Its corpse hit the floor, frozen stiff.

  She turned toward Nova. “You good?”

  Nova smirked. “Yeah, I’m doing fine.”

  They both turned toward the remaining three rats—but before they could react, Everah struck.

  While his team fought up close, Everah stood back, calculating, waiting for the perfect moment.

  His fingers sparked, the air around him humming with power as he gathered energy.

  The moment the last three lunged forward—he struck.

  A single bolt of lightning shot from his fingertips, but it didn’t stop at the first rat.

  It jumped—arcing between the three beasts in a chain reaction.

  The rats convulsed violently, their bodies locking up as electricity burned through their nervous systems, their fur catching fire from the sheer force of the spell.

  They twitched.

  They smoked.

  Then they collapsed, their lifeless, charred corpses falling into the sludge.

  Everah let out a slow breath, flexing his fingers as the static energy faded from his skin. "Well, that was disgusting."

  The sewer was silent once more, save for the dripping of water and the stench of blood and burning fur.

  Nebula wiped blood from her blade, her face twisted in revulsion. "I need a bath. Immediately."

  Nova sheathed her sword, shaking rat guts off her glove. "Seconded."

  Severus stepped over a smoldering corpse, rolling his shoulders. "That was nasty, but at least it was quick."

  Everah adjusted his coat, kicking a still-smoking carcass with his boot. "Disgusting, but efficient."

  Nebula let out a long, suffering groan. "I swear, if our next quest involves more filth, I’m quitting adventuring and becoming a merchant."

  Nova smirked. "Oh, please. You’d die of boredom."

  Nebula scoffed, looking away. "Fuck you..." she muttered before sighing. "But you’re right."

  Nova chuckled, stretching her arms as she turned toward the tunnel exit. "Alright, let’s get out of here. I need a bath before this filth permanently seeps into my soul."

  As they started walking, Severus glanced at Nova, his expression unreadable. "Your swordwork could use a little refining."

  Nova raised a brow. "Oh? I thought I was doing just fine hacking apart rats."

  Severus smirked. "You’re good at fighting animals, sure. But what about bandits? Monsters are predictable—people aren’t. Have you ever been in a real fight against someone with actual skill?"

  Nova shrugged. "We’ve fought bandits and people a few times, but most of our experience has been with monsters. I wouldn’t mind some training after we finish the bear quest tomorrow, if you’re up for it."

  Severus nodded approvingly. "I’ve had my fair share of fights against bandits. I wouldn’t call myself a master, but I can hold my own. I’ve also got a few martial techniques I can show you—might help balance out your swordplay."

  Nova smirked. "I’m all for getting better at stabbing things."

  Meanwhile, Nebula turned toward Everah. "Think you could teach me a bit more about magic?"

  Everah grinned. "Yeah, I’ve got a few spells you might like. You two already handle magic well, but I can show you how to control it better in combat."

  Severus glanced between them. "So we’re all training tomorrow, then?"

  Nova nodded, a spark of determination in her eyes. "Sounds like it." She cracked her knuckles, flashing a grin. "Alright, after we take down that bear, we’re grinding our skills next."

  After escaping the sewers, the Crimson Blades made their way back to the inn, desperate to rid themselves of the filth and stench clinging to their bodies. Without hesitation, they grabbed fresh clothes and headed toward the outdoor bathhouse, eager to scrub away the grime.

  Upon entering the women’s section, Nova immediately noticed another bather—a lone demi woman with vibrant green hair, reclining in the steaming spring, eyes closed as she soaked in the warmth.

  Ignoring her for the moment, Nova and Nebula set their belongings aside and began washing off the sewer’s filth at the rinse station before stepping into the bath.

  Nebula groaned as she scrubbed furiously at her skin, frustration creeping into her voice. “Ugh, it’s like this crap doesn’t want to come off. Nova, help me out?”

  Nova sighed, struggling with the same issue. “You’re not the only one suffering here…” She walked over, grabbing a handful of shampoo. "Hold still. I swear, if this stuff doesn’t come out, I’m burning this damn shampoo and getting a new one."

  The green-haired woman finally took notice of them, tilting her head curiously. “You two must have fought something nasty.”

  Nebula let out a tired sigh. “Yeah… sewer rats. Worst decision of my life.”

  The woman blinked. “You actually took that quest?”

  Nova shrugged, still working the shampoo into her sister’s fur. “Trying to rank up. Earn some coin. Once we have enough, we’re sending some back to our village.”

  She rinsed off Nebulas back. “Alright, turn around. Let me get the front.”

  Nebula did as instructed, still grumbling. “We better rank up after this… But I guess I can’t complain too much—Everah and Severus made things easier.”

  The woman sat up slightly, watching them with intrigue. “Not to pry, but… it’s not every day I see wolfkin, let alone as adventurers.”

  Nebula let out a short chuckle. “Yeah, we’ve been getting a lot of stares lately. Not that it’s a big deal.”

  Nova frowned slightly, rubbing her hands through the soapy water. “It’s a little creepy, though.”

  The green-haired woman simply smiled, swirling her fingers in the water. “People fear what they don’t understand. But hey, at least you’ve got some admirers, right?”

  Nova rolled her eyes. “Yeah, real flattering.”

  “I haven’t seen you two at the guild before. You must be new?” the woman asked, glancing between them with mild curiosity.

  “Yeah, we started… what, two days ago?” Nebula looked over at Nova for confirmation.

  Nova shrugged. “I wasn’t keeping count, but that sounds about right.” She eyed the woman for a moment. “Do you work at the guild?”

  The woman’s lips curved into an amused smile. “You could say that.” She leaned back against the edge of the spring. “I’m actually the guildmaster.”

  Nova blinked. “Seriously?”

  “The name’s Sarah Von Minhouse.” She smiled, resting her arms along the edge of the spring.

  “Nova.” Nova replied, still working the shampoo into her sister's fur.

  “Nebula.” Nebula added

  Nova shot her sister a look. “You do realize you’re doing me next, right?”

  Nebula sighed, already expecting this. “Yeah, yeah, I know.” Her gaze flicked toward Sarah. “You’re a demi-human, right? What’s the other part of you?”

  Sarah’s smile widened slightly. “Wolf.” She let the word linger before shrugging. “Sorta wish I was full-blooded like you two, but hey—can’t have everything.”

  “Okay, I scrubbed the shampoo all over you, see if it got the crud out of you already.” Nova sighed as she rinsed her hands off.

  As Nebula rinsed off, she watched the last remnants of grime and sewer filth swirl away in the water, finally leaving her fur clean. She let out a sigh of relief. "Alright, fine. Turn around."

  "Oh, thank the gods it came out…" Nova muttered, shifting to face forward as Nebula started scrubbing her back.

  Sarah, still lounging in the hot spring, tilted her head. "So, how many quests have you completed so far?"

  "Four, if I’m not mistaken," Nebula replied, working the shampoo into Nova’s fur.

  Nova hummed, counting them off. "The cat, the rats, the herbs, the wolves—oh, and the drains. So, actually, five."

  Nebula let out an exaggerated groan. "Geez, and here I thought I had it bad. Didn’t you cast fire magic on yourself at one point?"

  Nova shrugged. "It was either that or let the rat bite my face off."

  "Ugh…" Nebula sighed, shaking her head.

  Sarah chuckled, leaning back against the rocks. "Well, if you complete just one more quest, you two should be able to rank up to bronze—especially at the pace you’re going."

  "Really? We’re actually taking on a bear quest tomorrow," Nebula told her.

  Sarah nodded. "If you finish that, I’d say you’re guaranteed a promotion."

  She stretched, then stood up, water cascading off her as she stepped out of the bath. "Anyway, I should get going. I’ve soaked long enough—my sister’s probably wondering if I drowned or fell asleep."

  Nova raised a brow. "Your sister?"

  "Mhm, she owns the inn." Sarah said, grabbing a towel.

  Nebula tilted her head. "Huh. Now that you mention it, you two did look kinda similar."

  Sarah smirked. "Yeah, we get that a lot." She wrapped the towel around herself and gave them a parting nod. "Well, I’ll be seeing you two around."

  As she walked past, Nova instinctively glanced her way, her eyes following Sarah as she moved. The guildmaster must have noticed the stare, because she turned slightly, catching Nova’s gaze out of the corner of her eye.

  She simply smiled, then disappeared into the changing room.

  Nova blinked, then snapped back to reality as Nebula patted her back. "I think I got everything back here."

  "Huh? Oh—thanks." Nova turned, stretching her arms. "Alright, now get the front."

  Nebula groaned. "Ugh, fine…"