CHAPTER THREE: CO-HABITING WITH A MONSTER.

"Pffft!!-" Sienna had burst out laughing from the moment Kaira had presented the note she had gotten from the Skalan capital.

"I'm sorry, oh God of Virgo! You're going to be in a weaker guild!"

"Oh, you don't say?" Kaira sighed then dropped her black leather travel bag next to Sienna's feet on their cabin's front steps.

It was evening now, a day after she had signed the guild papers for treason or whatever. All she had left were two more days.

Sienna slid a hand under her eye patch, presumably to wipe a joyful tear. Then, she re-read the document again before resuming her unnatural but highly infectious laughter.

"This, Si, this is why no one tells you things!" Kaira plopped her body next to Sienna's on the steps and let her hair tumble behind her as she closed her eyes to bask in the sunset.

"Oh, relax, you are only fifteen! You should appreciate the fact that you were even chosen." Sienna raked her short bob cut black hair then stared at the melting snow on the ground as her hair reverted to the way it had been pre-raking.

"You say that in one breath, then, in the next-."

"Of course, I was chosen straight into a stronger guild when I was TWELVE. I was scouted. I didn't even have to apply." Sienna interrupted.

"In the next, you do that…" Kaira sighed. She was exhausted. A trip from their cabin to the capital was supposed to be approximately four days, but Kaira took two days and one night. She had arrived at the capital on the first evening but was forced to spend the night in the forest because it cost way too many iches for an inn and because they had closed registration 'early.' (This is not true. Kaira was just late).

A forest which, by the way, is grossly inhabited by carnivorous birds that hunted at night. Similar to mosquitos, only stronger and with razor-sharp claws.

She completed her application for guilds on her second day of travel, then rushed all the way home and arrived the next morning only for Sienna to send her out on an errand.

-Seriously, Sienna is a monster.-

"So when is the piette going to arrive?" Sienna asked. Kaira turned to examine Sienna's face. She still couldn't believe that she was leaving and that Sienna was okay with it…worse, she was kicking her out!

A piette was a type of messenger bird. Only this specific bird is summoned. The birds appear only once to collect your response when choosing your specific guild, three days after the last day of selection. The birds are pitch black with a tiny red speck in both eyes, they are small, and they do not make sounds.

Some are convinced that the birds' lack of joyful singing was a testament to their unnatural existence. But would a teleportation bird that dies after two teleportations really sing?

Piette's were not common, especially in Skala, the furthest island from the capital. An island that wasn't even formally considered part of the 'Dian Empire.' Dia is the name of the largest human continent. It is where most guilds are and where Kaira had to go.

All piettes were summoned by a royal guild mage, Agustine Kae. The fact that he had a second name meant that it was practically illegal to ignore his summoning.

"Oh man, it's going to be really quiet when you leave here." Sienna closed her eyes and rested her head on the top stair.

The setting sun caressed her features as her breathing eased. In just a black tank top and loose-fitting black pants, one would think she looked vulnerable at the moment, but Kaira knew better. Sienna was the worst kind of prey to hunt, simply because she was flexible.

But then again, this whole guild thing had started when Kaira had begun referring to her targets as prey.

"I can just stay, I don't h-."

"You already signed the binding documents that make it treason to refuse a summoning. Besides, I'm leaving, I'm going to see King Ceres. I thought I told you this."

"I could go with you, or I could just stay here and protect the people here on your-."

"No. I want you to see the world. As you are right now, you are just a frog in a well. You think that you are strong only because you've never met anyone stronger."

"What! There are plenty of people stronger than I am. I acknowledge that. I mean, you are here-."

"Go see the world Kaira. A gift like you shouldn't live in the shadows. Go terrorize some nobles, go start a war, go…go out there!"

"And after…after I've gone out there, can I still come back?" Kaira asked.

"Of course, I mean as long as you don't pick Phthalo niche as your guild and you still want to come back, come. BUT I will only accept you back if you reach a stronger guild."

Phthalo niche was a branch of a weaker private guild in Skala, but they charged a fortune and mostly just blindly robbed people despite their weak status.

"What!? That's a condition! Love me…unconditionally."

"It's the only condition, plus being in a stronger guild is a whole other experience from a weaker guild."

"But, I thought that you'd never been in a weak guild?"

"I had friends who climbed up the ranks. They were awed by every little thing that I took for granted, so that's how I know it's a different experience."

"So what guild do you think you'll choose? If they select you, of course?"

"Black Butterflies based in…" Kaira rummaged through her pocket and picked out a notebook. She had done a little studying (Asking the woman who was administering the guild tests after the 'adorable idiot' situation) on the guilds that would suit her. "Do…me…ta? Oh, I mean Dhometra, Night gladiators in Arkedia and Sensia in Noi."

She shoved the small black book back into her pocket when Sienna opened her eye.

"Noi?" she questioned.

"Yap, do you know the place?"

"No, I guess it's a new guild. That country, Noi, was once off-limits. I guess Stephania is doing her job."

"Stephania?" Kaira asked.

"Alright, kiddo! New mission!" Sienna smiled then stood up. She turned and climbed the remaining steps, then entered the house. Before Kaira could follow, Sienna had returned bow in hand. "Hunting!"

"Me!? I'm exhausted!"

"Think of it as our last supper together, motivates ya, doesn't it?" Sienna chuckled as though she was proud of herself.

"Not even a tiny bit!"

"I want two wild boars, three willow peacocks, and one silent pig."

"A silent pig!? Those things are straight-up murderous!!"

"Don't worry, on your tombstone I'll write, 'was murdered by a pig,' you know because you don't have your second name yet, and there will be a lot of space that I'd just love to fill up."

"Oh, shut up!"

"Oh, the peach haired girl is coming with her brother, so get the fatty ones so that your big stomach doesn't ruin it for everyone!"

Kaira aimed the bow and shot at where Sienna was, but the talkative woman dodged easily.

"Oya, Oya, are you trying to kill me?!"

"You liar, I've never even been close." Kaira retorted, and Sienna smiled.

"It's almost sundown. Better get going."

"Is Haru coming with vegetables? It's a hustle heading to the grasslands just to get them from the market."

"Last I checked only potatoes. Why feeling healthy?" Sienna asked.

"I'd like to detox before joining a guild."

"Mmmm! Not buying it, what's the real reason?"

"I hear vegetables make you smart, so if I take some, I'll be able to study and know the continent more…you know like other-"

"Pfffftt!" Sienna burst out laughing.

"What? What's so funny?"

"I sh- I should have really taken you to school, huh?" Sienna held her sides as she burst into laughter. Frustrated, Kaira shot another arrow and missed.

"Forget it!" Kaira grunted and turned to the forest.

Sienna smiled at Kaira's back as she went down the slope until she was no longer visible.

She sighed then turned back to the house.

All the furnishings were wooden, except for the stove and fireplace. The couches had some red plaid cushions on them that seemed to brighten up the place. Sienna grabbed some matches and lit the candles around the living room before grabbing a large grey book with a rough-looking hardcover.

The book's title was engraved in cursive gold, ' On Hybrids and Dimensional Realms.'

After about thirty minutes, Sienna threw the book against the wall.

"F*ck! More utter garbage!!" She sighed.

Sienna stood and walked to the fireplace and then rummaged her pocket for a small whitish container. She opened it and threw the orange powder that had been inside the container on the wood.

The fireplace roared to life with bright orange and yellow flames. She closed the container and returned it to her pocket. She examined the stone wall at the back of the fireplace for a few seconds when one particular piece of stone glowed red then pushed itself slightly out of its socket. Sienna stretched her hand through the fire and pressed the stone, returning it to its’ original snug position.

The floor rumbled as the wall turned to reveal a dark stairwell. Sienna grabbed the previously abused book and descended the steps. As she did, the wall reverted to its usual form. The fire that had once blared to life simmered down, and the burning wood reverted as though it was unused.