//------------------------------// // Chapter Six: Age 19: First Job // Story: The Immortal Hero And The Nightmare Queen // by Gravitiaxis //------------------------------// Your first job came to you where first jobs usually did. You were sitting around the Red Barrels Inn drinking and lounging around. You were also discussing tactics that would allow you to gain the most prosperous and reputable jobs before others began seeking them as well, but often the most useful conversations would give way to the more useless ones as the night went on. “What do you believe would be the best route for us to take, Aetherrant?” Linnan asked taking a large gulp of ale from her glass. Rarely did you have on your thinking face, but tonight was one of those rare occasions. The three of you wanted to figure out what would be the best way for you to earn money and secure a solid reputation. Fenris wanted to start things off slow and build experience from the small jobs, while Linnan wanted to take jobs that would allow you to gain the most money and the most notice as quickly as possible. “If we take jobs that will assure us a solid reputation then we can worry about gaining experience later. I’m pretty sure we’re capable of taking on anything that stands in our way.” Linnan said. You could tell she wanted to pull you over to her side, but you remained neutral in the debate. “What need is reputation if our skills aren’t polished enough to attain it. You may be fine with dying but I’d much rather be prepared for the jobs that we’ll take in the future, thank you,” Fenris spoke calmly as he took a sip of his wine. “but either way, it’s Aetherrants decision to make, not ours.” Taking a large gulp of your own drink you came to your conclusion. “Fenris does make a valid point. We should gain experience now and think about gaining a reputation later. That way, it may lower the risk of us actually dying.” You said initialing a sigh from Linnan and gaining a nod from Fenris. You reasoned that starting from the bottom and working your way up to the top, will be better than starting at the top with no experience. Understanding the importance behind what you were saying Linnan grudgingly nodded her head. “If you say so. Just think about the amount of money we could make if we volunteer to protect some noble ass or go off to search for some lost ancient item, but if you want to play it safe, then by all means that's fine by me.” Linnan shrugged, earning two narrow glances from you and Fenris. The rest of the night passed like every other one. The most important conversations were rolled over by more entertaining and useless ones. This repeated for another week until finally a royal caravan guard from the capital of Cantorlot, your hometown, came into the tavern and began complaining that The Princesses royal caravans have been getting robbed between the town that you were in and Cantorlot. "I am looking for a well abled body group looking for a job." The Guard said watching as most people turn their gazes back towards their drinks. Others let out hearty laughs before doing the same. "I'll pay anyone who can help me." And surprisingly, your group was the only one who responded. "What is your problem good man?" Fenris asked, being the first one to respond. Seeing your companion take interest, the guard quickly walk over to your group and began to converse. "Thank you for listening to my plight." The young man said exchanging handshakes with the three of you. “Don't mention it. Now what is the nature of your job?" Linnan asked politely, as she poured the man a glass of ale. "Thank you.” The man said swallowing the entire drink whole, giving you the impression that his problem must be serious. You look over the young man trying to determine a few things about him. The man was about your age if not older. He had a certain aura of freshness that floated about him, he wasn't a veteran yet he wasn't really a novice either. The way he speaks and his small accent told you that he must have had some type of noble background, indicating that he was most likely born in Cantorlot like you were. "Gentleman and gentlewoman , I am private Jade ace of the Royal farm." he said saluting the three of you, prompting a small guy acts from each other. "I am Aetherrant, and these are my two companions Fenris and Linnan." You said nodding your head. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Now the three of you might not know this but lately there have been recent attacks on the Royal Caravans." "Royal caravans? The princesses keep those things well armed and protected. How are they being attack so easy?" Linnan asked. "I don't think that is the question we should be asking Lin. We are at war with the other countries, so before we agree to any job, we want to know whether or not we will be up against trained military specialist or against bandits and thieves." Fenris acct putting on an emotionless face that she told no secrets as to what he was thinking. Jade rubbed the back of his neck and began to look around the room almost nervously. "Eye witness accounts say that they were attacked by bandits, but the higher ups have reason to suspect that Equestria's enemies are present them to attack. The Royal Guard would like to ask you to take care of the bandits that are attacking our caravan, and if possible destroy the entire group all together. We will surely pay you extra if you do so." Jade said slowly jingling a coin purse in order to pick your attention. "This seems like a major problem for the kingdom. Why haven't they sent more so just to protect it?” You asked. "Majority of the most well trained soldiers are out in the battlefield with Princess Luna, while the new recruits are being trained back at the castle by Princess Celestia." Jade answered. "Most of the guards who are placed on a transport duty are under trained and timid." “Much like yourself, right?” Linnan joked. Jade laughed at her joke. "In a sense yes, but I've been a part of the army for 4 years now.” The young man answered. “If so why do you act like a fresh new recruit?” Fenris asked. “That's just how I am.” Jade shrugged. “So will you guys be taking the job or not?” You had no problems with the job, it seems like a pretty good deal when you thought about it. All you had to do was pick out a few bandits and that money would be as good as yours. “Seems fair enough,” you nodded, you outstretched your hand and gave Jade a firm handshake. "So we have a deal then? That's great. At the outskirts of the city there is a fake caravan that you will use as a decoy against the Bandit." "When do you want us to go?" Fenris asked taking a small sip of his drink. Jade shook his head no and he told you that you were to take the caravan in the morning. You were tasked with transporting the caravan to a set destination. The destination was surrounded by a thick woods. It made an attack from the bandits much more likely and a lot more deadlier, but since you were there all you needed to do was defend the caravan and all would be well. After talking with Jade, you and your group went home so you could get ready for your first job. That night you could barely contain yourself, as positive and negative thoughts entered in and out of your head as you thought about the outcome of tomorrow's job. The next day you woke up feeling refreshed and ready for a good fight, as well as both of your companions. You met up with Jade on the outskirts of town. Jade wouldn't be accompanying you himself, he gave you some pointers on to how to deal with the bandits when they were to arise. His intel on the group states that the bandits are a small, organized group. The group is made up of mostly Griffons and is led by a young but feisty woman named Gilvina. She was a skilled warrior with a love for fighting, she likes to overwhelm her opponents with a barrage of attacks. Jade told you that she was a cunning leader and would most likely be bringing a lot of her bandits with her during a raid. So when you meet her make sure to challenge her to a one on one fight. Griffons had strong sense of pride and if they were challenged to a test of might, they would often feel obligated to fight you on a even playing field. Most of the traveling was silent. You kept it this way just in case the bandits were watching you. If you were to talk and become engrossed in conversation you feared that the bandits would take advantage of this and ambush you. After a few hours of walking you eventually arrived at the place. You made it look like you had stopped to rest, giving any of the bandits who were watching you a chance to attack, but surprisingly they didn't attack out right. Instead, they casually walked out of the woods to confront you. "Um, Aether." Linnan said tapping your shoulder in order to alert you of the bandits. You really didn't sense any hostile intent coming from them, they seem to just want to talk to you. About what, was anyone's guess. “Hello there travelers,” The one who appeared to be the leader said, greeting you with a friendly smile and a handshake. As you walked passed him you spotted four other bandits, each of them were armed and looked ready to fight if necessary. The Bandit pack leader looked ahead of you as well and looked at the caravan. “I see your escorting goods for the princesses.” “That we are friends. Such is our job, to defend this caravan until our very last breath.” You said folding your arms as you watched the bandits began to tighten their grips on their weapons. “Hmm, I suspected as much. Are you mercenaries? I can see that you're not wearing the proper armor to be a real soldier.” You looked at Fenris and watched as he nodded his head. “Yes we are. The Princesses have been losing too many men to your bandit attacks lately and she’s starting to grow concerned.” You informed the man standing in front of you. “You seem like nice folk, but I can tell that we won't be able to talk you out of this shit, will we?” The Bandit asked looking genuinely hurt when you shook your head. He inhaled deeply before quickly sighing. “Oh well, what can you do?” “You could turn around and forget your lives as bandits before... You know..." Linnan started. "...You lose them.” Fenris said stepping forward in order to be side by side with you. “Lose my life? How will I lose my life, you're the ones who are outnumbered?" The man said, his grin growing wider. “3 against 5? That seems like perfectly good odd to me.” Linnan responded while looking at you. The bandit leader let out a small chuckle. “I think you've underestimated our numbers. I think it's more like 3 against 20." “3 against 20?” You quickly thought. Fenris, sensing that something was wrong, looked towards the direction of the woods. Within them he could see the humanoid figures emerging from out of the bushes. Half of them held onto bows and arrows for the others held onto swords and axes. “This is bad…” Fenris whispered just barely enough for you to hear. “I know, me and Linnan felt their presence before they arrived.” You whispered back. “You sensed them and you didn't tell me about it?” "Don't worry about it. I have a plan." “I hope so…” Fenris said backing up a few feet in order to let you talk to the bandit in front of you. “Judging by the way you act and talk, I can tell you are the leader of the group. Perhaps the second in command maybe? I heard that the leader of the group was a female and since you're not a woman, I take it she must be hiding deeper into bushes.” You stated causing a lot of the bandits to look at each other in confusion. "Very observant of you." A feminine voice said emerging from the trees. As you looked up and saw a woman with large golden brown wings, slowly descend towards the ground in front of you. "I am Gilvina, the leader of this fine bandit group." As you looked at her you could tell that she was born of Griffin blood. She had abnormally sharp teeth and nails for a regular human. You had no ill will toward those of Griffin territory, but they seem to have a great deal against those of yours. "Fine is an ill proper word if I ever heard one.” Linnan said with sarcasm reeling behind her voice. "Watch what you say. On the outside these men may seem like brutal savage people, but on the inside they are of the nicest and most respectful people you could ever meet.” She said shooting a glare at Linnan. “Judging by your type of trade, I highly doubt that.” Fenris said following with a snicker from Lin. You shushed the two of them and went back to talking with Gilvina. “I would like to say that you seem like respectable folk. I mean none of them have stabbed me or shot me with an arrow yet, so that's good, I guess.” You said tactically. “It is, isn't it? It took me a while to get them to stop doing that. Sometimes I like to give my prey a chance to save themselves before I kill them.” She said looking at you with a certain hunger in her eyes. "How noble of you." “Tell me, are you leader of this three man band?” Gilvina asked walking around you. “Yes.” You said. “No.” Fenris followed up by saying. “We’re a democracy.” “Of course you are. Now give me one reason why I shouldn’t break custom and kill you all right now?” “Because I heard how honorable you are, plus you can’t resist a good fight.” You said gaining her attention. “Do you perhaps have a deal in mind?” she asked. “A one on one fight. Your strongest fighter against ours and whoever wins, gets to do whatever they want with the leader and group.” You said causing Fenris to pull you aside. “Are you out of your damn mind? How dare you put our lives on the line like that?” He said with anger and rage boiling within his voice. “Your lives were forfeit the day you decided to choose this job. Don’t you dare bitch out on me at the first sight of danger.” You said lightly gripping his hand and throwing it off of you. “Are you not confident in my abilities?” “No. I’m not.” He deadpanned. “I have much better faith in my own abilities, than yours.” “Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re actually better.” “You specialize in necromancy, they’re aren’t any dead bodies around that you can use, and their probably aren’t any animals around that you can use to fight with you. All you have is conjuration.” He stated. “Then how about we ask Linnan?” The two of you then looked towards your third companion. “I’ve seen both of you fight, and I have to say that I’m all for my Aetherrant, fighting this fight.” She answered bringing a smile your face while causing Fenris to frown. “What? Why?” “This fight isn’t a magical fight, it’s a physical one. It’s going to be close quarters and Aether is much more efficient in these types of fights. In a ranged fight you would win, but in melee I don’t think so.” Linnan said shaking her head. “I still don’t think he should fight, but fine, if he loses… so help me…” Fenris warned. You shook your head at Fenris’ distrust in your abilities and looked back at Gilvina. “Will you fight?” You asked. “Of course. Which one of you are willing fight me?” You began to think. Who would you choose to fight? You, Fenris, or perhaps Linnan?