"S-grade?" Brutus asked, "That doesn't sound good."
Maria shook her head. "No, no! It's actually perfect!"
Brutus raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by perfect?"
Maria smiled. "Well. It's the highest possible score you can get, so..."
Brutus's eyes widened. "Wait... really?"
She nodded. "Certainly!"
He held his chin, "But... how? Is it because I beat the slayer in a spar?"
She looked down at the page. "Actually... no, it's because of the first test."
He gave her a questioning look.
"Well." She thought for a second, "The way that test actually works is we gauge how the monster responds to the individual once they step inside the cage."
"But, it seemed like there wasn't even a monster inside, so how did I get such a high grade?"
"There actually was a monster inside." She paused, "but it just didn't show itself to you."
Brutus scratched the back of his neck. "Why didn't it try to attack me then?"
Maria shrugged. "I don't know, but if the monster inside shows fear like that, then the test taker gets a high grade." She turned to walk away. "Wait here, I'll just go pop in and get you your badge."
"Okay..."
Brutus was left alone at the lonely desk. "What the hell?"
A few moments later, Maria returned with a small metal badge. "Here." She handed it to him.
"This is your official slayer badge." She sat back down behind the desk. "Due to the high grade you scored, your slayer rank is at 'D'; therefore, you can take on any mission that's ranked 'D' or lower."
Brutus gazed at the little, slightly rusted badge with the letter 'D' carved on it. "What if I want to take on a higher-grade mission?"
"Simple." She looked down at some documents on the table. "Rise in the ranks, or have someone that's at least the rank of the mission grade in your party."
He rubbed his thumb over the bumpy, hammered dimples on the badge's surface. "And how do I get to a higher rank?"
Maria flipped a page over. "You can take an advancement exam on the first of every month and try to promote yourself by passing."
He traced his eyes around the shield-like shape of the badge. "Where do I accept missions?"
"Here, or any of the mission boards around the city, just tear the advertisement off the board and contact the contractor directly through the information on the page."
He flipped the badge over, the same regular pattern of dimples on its back. "Hmph." He huffed, a smile forcing his lips to part. "Okay... I think that's all the questions I have. Thank you." He said, still smiling.
Maria waved him goodbye, still monitoring the documents. "Okay, good luck with your slaying."
He began walking away, but he stopped suddenly.
"Actually..." He turned, "Where can I find some reliable lodging? Preferably without a scammer running the place."
She finally tore her eyes off the pages. "Go to the 'Blue Fish Inn', they're pretty good." Back to the documents she went.
Brutus also turned back, "Okay, thanks."
He walked out of the association, but unbeknownst to him.
High on the tallest floor of the building, behind a tall window framed with dark black wood, a lone figure stood, hands clasped behind his back as he observed Brutus exit the association.
"That one." The figure murmured, his voice low and steady. "Is that him?"
A second later, a man stepped through the shadows. Rowan bowed his head.
"Yes, sir, that's Brutus. Seraphina Valeronds' son."
The figure slowly turned to look at him, his sharp jaw momentarily caught in the light "Good." The figure breathed. "I want his every move monitored."
Rowan bowed with respect. "Yes, sir." And left the chamber, without another word.
Left alone, the figure turned back to the window. He traced a finger along the glass, as if outlining Brutus's silhouette below.
"Brutus Valerond..." The name rolled off his tongue.
"Your time has finally come."
...
The sun had already begun to set, casting rays of orange that refracted in the clouds.
"Hmm," Brutus rubbed his chin, in the middle of a crossroads. "Dammit, I should've asked where this damn inn was."
He turned to look at the paths that ran away from him, each constricted by houses on either side and indistinguishable from the others.
"Damn! Which one did I even come from anyway?" He itched his neck.
He looked between the paths some more before sighing and heading down the one to his left.
He grumbled as he walked. "Is there no maps around here or something?"
The streets he travelled through gradually grew narrower and more crooked, a subtle smell of blood lingering in the air, accompanied by pure silence.
Brutus's hand itched for his sword. "Why... is it so quiet?"
The scent of blood grew more sour.
He clasped his sword tightly, and his breathing slowed.
The sound of mud mushing beneath a boot sounded behind him.
He whipped around, "WHO'S THERE?!"
But there was no one.
Brutus stood alert, his eyes darting around. "What the..."
Another sound behind him, Brutus tried to turn again, but he felt a bite into the side of his arm.
Blood seeped out of the cut.
"ARGH! Whoever you are, come out here!" He roared.
"Are you sure you want that?" A sly voice echoed through the alley.
Brutus looked around him. "I really don't have time for this." He murmured under his breath.
The wind howled as it rushed between the tight houses.
A rustle behind him, he turned around, swung his sword, but a blade bit into his back, carving a deep cut across it.
Brutus staggered, breathing hoarsely. "Damn... where is this asshole?"
The sly voice gasped, "Such foul language!" It teased.
He growled. "Shut up! Come out here and face me!"
The stench of blood filled his nose.
'Why can't I hit him?'
The wind slowed, a rhythmic dripping from a gutter annoyingly masking the sound of footsteps.
He forced himself to focus, listening not for movement, but for intention.
More wind rustled behind him, but he just focused on where the next slash would come from.
The attack would come from the front.
An impact slammed into his chest. Instead of moving away, he moved toward it, the clash of his armour and steel creating sparks.
Lighting the attacker's hooded face for a split second.
A sharp gasp, "What?!"
Brutus grinned, feral, "I got you now."
He growled through his teeth as he whipped his sword sideways, the attacker narrowly jumping out of the way.
A cut dressed Brutus's cheek.
Brutus pursued relentlessly, striking downwards. The attacker's blade barely blocking it.
A kick to his leg nearly knocked him off balance.
His knees almost buckled, but adrenaline forced him upright.
He swung diagonally. Feeling the attacker's intention to block, he switched the trajectory to a thrust at the last second.
The attacker's eyes widened, his body shooting back to avoid the blade.
But Brutus felt his sword kiss flesh.
A sharp hiss escaped the attacker's lips.
He leapt backwards, landing unevenly, hurt, but far from beaten.
"You..." The voice growled lowly.
"Damn right." Brutus grinned, weakly leaning against his sword.
A tense moment passed.
Then the attacker clicked his tongue, looking to the side.
"Tch. Not worth the effort." He put a hand over his chest, "I'll finish this another time." He growled.
Before Brutus could strike again, the attacker was gone.
He stood there, trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline, his arm and back leaking vital blood on his clothes.
Brutus forced himself to listen to intention again.
Nothing.
Except for a slow and steady clap that sang behind him.
He spun around, his sword already up.
"Well," A clap interrupted. "Done!" another clap. "I didn't expect you to actually scare that little rat off!"
Brutus's legs trembled as he looked at the figure behind his sword. "And you are?"
The figure walked into the light, turning into a tall woman with ivory white hair.
"I'm the owner of the Blue Fish Inn." She spoke.
His eyes widened. "How can I know you're speaking the truth?"
She shrugged, "I don't know. I guess you'll just have to trust me, won't you?"
Brutus blinked, "Do you think im stupid or something?"
She smirked, "Kinda, yeah."
He stared at the tall, white-haired lady. "...Why?"
She flicked her thumb towards a building squeezed between the row houses, "Because you've been fighting right at my doorstep."
He squinted his eyes, finding a small dilapidated Inn with a sign reading 'The Blue Fish Inn' above its door.
"But how did you know I was looking for your Inn?" He slowly lowered his sword.
She turned around, her silver hair shimmering in the pale moonlight, "Just a hunch."
Brutus tilted his head up and groaned. 'Why is no one in this city normal?!'
And followed the strange woman toward the Inn.