"DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!" The crowd chanted, pounding their fists on tables or stomping their feet. Their attention directed to two short men chugging from barrels of beer. Money passed hands as it became clear the end was close.
With heavy gulping one of the men slammed his barrel down, splintering it from the force. "Raaaahhhhh!" He roared in victory as the first to finish.
The second man slammed his down only a moment after the first one giving a bubbling belch that reeked of liquor.
Parts of the crowd cheered while others gave jeers at the results of the drinking match. Spike clapped his hands from his position above on the second floor. "Hurdy and Gurdy really know how to put down drinks." He complimented, nudging an armored figure next to him. "Remind me not to drink with them any time soon." He joked.
"Shouldn't you go tell Eris to charge them for the beer?" The figure questioned, looking over the crowd of people. They adjusted their lean against a poll, a set of hammers swinging lightly at their hips.
"Pshhh!" Spike waved away. "They have a contract that connects their tabs with their bounties. As long as they work they get paid and don't have to worry about leaving a bill." Spike answered before taking on a teasing tone. "Which reminds me. It's been a while since you took a job Mister Hotshot or did that barmaid really get a leash on ya like the rumors say?" He teased, making a whipping sound towards the man.
Shoving with a hand at Spike the man blushed. "Shut it! If you weren't my boss I'd kick your ass..." He complained, glancing at the wolfish smile Spike still had on. "But yes, I have saved enough. I can just focus on Lizzy and I's relationship." He sheepishly added much to the Guildmaster's enjoyment.
Clapping the man on the back Spike's smile grew. "Ahh, you know I only joke. I'm happy you found someone to try settling down with. Most S-ranks let stuff like that slip their minds until it's too late. Which reminds me! How is your team doing Magner?" He asked, calling the man by his name.
Rolling a hand Magner leaned against the railing. "You know better than anyone how things are when a team is S-rank for a while. We all are trying to relax for a little. Get back to level ground ya know?" He said, tapping the side of his head.
Nodding sagely Spike rubbed at his chin, his clawed hand slightly visible, catching Magner's attention. "Yeah, spose I do know what you mean." He replied before looking at the man. "Just make sure to know when to call it quits in this job before you lose the important years of your life." He advised in such a way that Magner knew instantly there was underlying experience to the words.
The two continued to chat before a loud bang came from the entrance of the inn at the door blew off its hinges. Swaggering in came a cocky man with a more calm individual right behind him. The guild all readied themselves for a fight as the two stepped fully into the building. A sharp whistle came from Eris causing all the guild members to immediately lower their weapons.
"Whaaaaat? Is this how adventurer's are treated trying to join this guild?" A man with a multitude of knives and crossbows of different sizes scattered over his form complained, a cocky grin on his face.
"I do hope you have the coin to pay for that door Sir. That was made of Gravewood you know." Eris spoke up from her usual position at the bar.
The man's eyes lit up as he teleported to the bar. "Heyyy tuts. How's about you help me get a meeting with the Guildmaster and a date with ya?" He suggested, reaching a hand out to grab hers.
A dagger slammed down between the man's finger tips, stopping his hand. "Suggest ya pull back that hand lad. Unless that lady tells you so best only touch yaself." A mountain of a woman warned, deep scars scattered over her visible form.
"Terry thinks it would be good to focus on what we came here for first Spend." A large dog-like man suggested a slime attached to one of his pointed ears.
Eris' eyes narrowed slightly at the man as he pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry but our Master is terribly busy at the moment." She explained, the slightest head turning towards Spike's position just above her. "If you'd like I am eligible to accept any requests you may have and deem proper processes." She added, looking the man over.
Spend went to answer but was tapped lightly on the shoulder by Terry. "We wish to join this guild as we have heard one can grow further then in any other. We are both S-rank if that helps anything." Terry answered.
On that answer the room turned into an uproar of laughter. When Spend whirled around asking them what is so funny Spike nudged Magner with a clear signal. 'Show them a good time'
Rolling his eyes Magner walked down the stairs and towards the two. "Hey Eris, since they say they are S-rank could you pull up their info?" He asked, giving a relaxed smile as he stopped in front of the two.
"Terry does not know you, stranger." The large dog man stated, grabbing the slime from his ear and holding it like a plushie in his arm while dipping a finger into it.
Eris quickly pulled some papers from the air and handed them to Magner. As he flipped through them he leaned against the bar. "Let's see here...Spend Thrift, S-rank. ok not lying there. Top shot and highest known record of assassination missions for special monster requests." He muttered loudly while flipping a few more pages. "Terry...That's all you got for a name?" He questioned loudly, looking to the dog man with a side stare before chuckling. "Also S-rank and a known genius when it comes to alchemy but has a habit of blowing up your workshop from experiments. OH! As an addendum also has a pet slime named Gibby, fully licensed monster pet." He continued to speak to himself. After a moment he slapped the papers on to the bar top. "Good enough for me. You two follow me. I'll test you ya and see if you are worth enough to join this guild." He ordered happily, rolling his shoulders while moving away from the two.
Spend moved in front of the man, getting his face close to the larger man. "An' who do you think you are ordering us around?" He demanded, jabbing at Magner's chest.
Smiling softly down at the man Magner's form sizzled lightly. When his eyes opened a small flow of what seemed like lava flowed from them. "I'm Magner the Magma Demon. One of the S-ranks from this little guild. You want to really show you are S-rank then what better then a little bout with me ey?" He answered with the same smile, patting Spend's cheek.
Spike couldn't help spit out his drink as he and a few others laughed at Spend's step away from him. The room emptied in an instant as they followed the three outside to the back of the guildhall. Magner stepped slowly towards a wide hole in the ground. Spend and Terry stopped just short of the lip of the hole while Magner just stepped off to fall inside. Landing gracefully he gave a twirl as two cuff like objects were tossed at him.
Terry and Spend lowered themselves slowly into the hole before asking "The hell are those things?" Spend pointed at the red cuffs Magner locked onto his wrists.
Holding his arms up Magner twirled. "Oh these little things? They are just so controlling my power output. Ya know so I don't burn ya to a crisp." He explained, striking a pose with a peace sign closed to his head.
For the first time since showing up Terry's form bristled. "Are you looking down on Terry?" He growled, his hand being placed fully into the slime Gibby while his other hand pulled out some vials.
"Oh no no no. Would never do that. It's just you guys wouldn't be able to handle my heat. Only the Guildmaster can handle them and he's a special case." Magner waved away, stretching. Giving a 'come here' gesture He smiled at the two. "Whelp, whenever you are ready you can come at me. We'll see if you fit here." He ordered.
Grinding their teeth the two rushed forward, spreading to either side while Magner laughed. "Shut up!" Spend shouted, firing a cross bolt at Magner's head. It got a foot away before melting away in the air. A second bolt with an icy tip slammed into his cheek turning his smiling face away. A shudder ran down his back, his instincts screaming at him to dive. Throwing himself to the side a wall of flames exploded from where he once was.
Terry threw a vial landing just a few feet away from Magner, splashing across the ground. "Good, good! Split apart and force me to watch only one at a time but.." Magner coached, clapping his hands as he looked down towards the blue liquid on the ground. "Shouldn't you try to hi-" He started to suggest before being engulfed in a ramp of ice coming from the puddle.
"Terry wins!" Terry yelled happily, waving Gibby around. "Terry gets to join the guild and become more famous!" He cheered. As he danced around Spend couldn't help call out to him.
"Hey buddy uhhhh...How hot can that ice last against?" Spend questioned with a gesture to the block of ice slowly steaming.
Looking at the person he came in with Terry gave a scratch at a slightly damaged ear. "Uuuuhhhhh about a thousand degrees why?" He replied, looking at his friend. As if on signal the ice erupted as Magner tore chunks from his now flaming armored form. "That's not ho-" Terry mumbled in shock, being interrupted by a rushing fist from Magner.
Shaking his body Magner cracked his neck as his simple smile twirled devilishly. "Very good! You took the hint about my name to create a counter. Just one bit of advice." He complimented turning unnaturally towards Spend. "I get a little hotter than a thousand degrees." He chuckled, a wild look entering his eyes.
Shakely taking a step back, Spend stuttered out "H-how much-much hotter...?" He asked.
Taking a flaming step towards the man Magner waved a dripping hot hand towards the terrified man. "Last time we measured I broke the scale around ten thousand degrees." He answered, striking across the large field in a flash of speed like a wall of flames consuming the world. His fist raised towards the man who had collapsed to his knees. Bringing it down to slam into the kneeling man he gave a maniacal laugh.
A dark shadow appeared behind Spend rocketing a fist forward into Magner's chest sending him rocketing into the wall across the floor. Eris appeared next to his body as it fell out of the hole in the wall. A bucket appeared in her hands, pouring onto the molten man. An eruption of steam came off him as she dropped the bucket on him. "Dunk your head for a sec Magner. You were just supposed to test the pair. Not kill them." She reprimanded, walking towards Spend. Getting close enough she reached a hand out. "Come on sweetie get up now." She commanded.
As he was pulled up he hung his head. "I-I'm sorry for acting like I was tough. The rumor's are right you guys are monsters." He apologized. "I'll get Terry and we'll leave...after we pay for the door." He added moving to grab Terry who was still unconscious with Gibby laying on top of his face. Eris smacked him on the back of the head, making cry out. "OW! What was that for?" He whined, looking back at the maid.
Folding her arms Eris glared at him. "And where do you think you are going huh? You won't be able to pay for the door if you don't take some jobs." She lectured. When he looked at her dumbfounded she softened her tone. With a wave to the crowd watching them she explained "Each and every single person you see here was in some situation. Debt, bad families, dead end jobs. One thing they all have in common though is the drive to keep climbing. To become the best they can be." She looked back to the man. "We at the Purple Dragon Inn accept any and all who come." She added.
His eyes widened slowly. "So does tha-!" He started, getting cut off at her glare.
"What this means is you were accepted the moment you wanted to join. Just know we have two bits for you to always remember no matter what." She continued, looking at the crowd for a certain person. When she found him she explained further. "You most always strive to improve yourself even if you think you are at the top AND!" She shouted at the end glaring back at him. "The moment you get too big for your britches there'll be someone to knock you down a few pegs. Got it buster?" She finished, jabbing at the man.
Saluting Spend straightened out his posture. "YES MA'AM!" He shouted, shaking slightly as he watched the same shadow arms like the one that punched Magner away appear around her.
Patting his cheek lightly Eris smiled sweetly. "Good boy, maybe if you talk with some of our more refined members we can fix that attitude of yours and get you a woman." She teased, disappearing in a puff of black smoke. The crowd clapped as she appeared at the top of the hole. "OH! Before I forget that by joining our guild you forfeit your rank from your old guild. You get to start right back at the bottom. So if you want to pay back that door you best start ranking up fast." She shouted down at the stunned man.
A groan from Terry made Spend rush to his side. "Uugghhh...Terry doesn't feel too good." He moaned, rubbing at his head where Gibby was.
The two helped each other out of the hole only to be surrounded by the guild members who dragged them into the building to celebrate them joining. A lone figure hopped into the hole to stand next to the downed Magner. Kicking at his prone form lightly he chucked. "You always were a hot head when you found something interesting." Spike teased.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmm" Magner groaned, his face in the ground.
"Ha! Tell me about it. She hasn't lost her touch since I fought her the first time." Spike laughed, kicking the man lightly some more.
A gentle voice called from on top of the hole. "Um, excuse me mister Guildmaster? Could you please stop kicking my fiancé?" Looking up revealed a simple dressed feline woman with a basket in one arm and red hair in a bun.
"Lizzy dear! Perfect timing! Maggypoo here just finished work. He's all yours." Spike called up to the woman. With a snap of a clawed hand Magner appeared at the top of the hole next to Lizzy. "Be sure to treat him well. He got a little crazy and Eris had to step in.
Reaching down the woman easily lifted the man up into a lean on her shoulders. "Of course Guildmaster." She replied. As they walked away Spike could hear her lecturing the man. "Now Magner you know it's a bad idea to annoy miss Eris now don't you..."
Chuckling to himself Spike jumped to the top of the hole, strolling slowly into the building full of noise. "Just a little bit louder then before huh?" He spoke to himself, closing the door behind him.