Jenni and Steen had been fighting for hours until they collapsed onto the damp and soft grassy ground with leaves shattered all over, their bodies weary from exhaustion.
"Good fight, but next time I will kick your butt," said Jenni as her body struggled to stand up.
Steen replied with a soft smile and said, "I will like to see you try criminal."
As Jenni got up, the leaves rustled in the wind, carrying the scent of pine and the distant sound of birdsongs. Jenni, Steen, and Hugo breathed a sigh of relief as they knew the battle was finally over, at least for the time being.
Hugo looked at them with a furrowed brow and a hint of concern. "You both need to get some rest," he said as he saw them struggling to rise.
"Don't worry, I will get up soon," said Steen, with a faint drowsiness in his voice.
Jenni stood before Hugo and reached out to grab his right arm. She clutched tightly to his arm, hoping to sense his powerful muscles, but all she felt was a bony frame. Her expression shifted to one of concern as she continued to feel it, letting out a disappointed sigh.
She tried to imagine Hugo swinging a sword, but all she could imagine was him flailing feebly as if he were a wounded bird. (It doesn't seem like he has enough strength to lift even the most basic sword. It wouldn't be right for him to start any physical combat.)
"Remember what you saw today, Hugo," she said in a steady yet heartfelt tone. "In what we do, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to defend yourself or someone you care about. I've met people who underestimate the full breeds or even the S.S.U. and lose their lives, even if they appear harmless. Always stay focused, even when you believe you have won. I wouldn't want you to die out there."
A vibrant blue jay soared gracefully above, its wings flapping rapidly as it swooped down from the clear blue sky to land delicately on the grass next to Hugo. He glanced over and noticed the bird sitting on the ground, observing its surroundings, and then he leaned down to get a closer look.
"Well, hello there," said Hugo softly to the bird.
"Is this your first time seeing one?" asked Jenni.
Hugo turned towards Jenni and answered her question. "Yes, I've never seen a bird like this before. It's quite stunning."
The sunlight glinted off the blue jay's feathers, catching Hugo's eye as he noticed a small piece of parchment paper tied to its leg. This bird was no ordinary creature; it was a messenger bird, carrying important news from afar.
Jenni skillfully reached out her hands to untie the parchment paper from the bird's leg, feeling its soft feathers brush against her skin like a gentle breeze. She then held onto the bird, feeling its squeezable body in her hand and gently releasing it, causing its wings to flutter and creating a sound like a thousand whispers as they beat against the air.
"What's the paper about?" asked Hugo.
Jenni stared at him and replied, "We'll just have to wait and see."
With a curious gleam in her eye, she opened the fragile paper and read its contents. Her expression shifted from puzzled to annoyed as she absorbed the words written on it.
"What is this bullshit!?!" Jenni yelled, letting out a groan.
She turned towards Steen and said, "We have a new mission."
Steen suddenly woke up from his daze and nervously replied, "Uh-Huh...what is the mission about?"
"Dragon Eye Necklace Mission," she muttered angrily as she crumpled up the paper and hurled it at a nearby tree.
Steen watched Jenni with a dumbfounded expression before responding, "Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm not really interested in that mission."
"Well, I'm not exactly thrilled about this mission either, but since we're stuck with it, we might as well give it our all and get it done as fast as we can. Let's put in our best effort and wrap up this damn thing quickly, okay?" She observed Steen carefully to ensure he was on the same page.
"I'm sure we'll manage to finish this quickly, but what is the dragon eye necklace?" asked Hugo calmly as he glanced over at Steen.
Steen said nervously, as if he had reverted back to his introverted self, "T-the Dragon Eye Mission... is a necklace that was gifted to some villages in Anse la Raye by the King of Babonneau centuries ago... This d-dragon eye necklace is said to g-give people powers... B-but..."
"Hey, stupid! Spit it out already. What's bothering you, huh?" Jenni nagged at Steen and explained to Hugo that the dragon-eye necklace, believed to possess special powers, was actually just a regular piece of jewelry. Thieves attempted to use it in a battle against the S.S.U. but were quickly caught. The myth surrounding the necklace was revealed to be a fabrication created by the ancestors of Anse-la-Raye to prevent raids. Many avoid the mission to retrieve the necklace, considering it foolish.
"So now we have to finish this stupid quest because our dumb contact decided to take a higher payment from them. I really don't want to do it, but we have no other choice." Jenni mumbled with clear frustration in her voice.
As soon as Jenni fell silent, Steen wasted no time and quickly excused himself to retrieve both their horses from the bushes. The sound of hooves echoed through the still air as he led the animals back to the group, their sleek coats glistening in the afternoon sun. With expert skills, Steen swiftly prepared the horses for their journey ahead while the others lounged lazily under the shade of a nearby tree, their chatter barely reaching Steen's ears.
Hugo asked Jenni, "Are you and Steen dating?"
Jenni's eyes widened in shock as she firmly replied, "We're definitely not a couple! ... Why would you even think that?"
With a calm demeanor, Hugo explained, "I simply asked based on what I have observed."
Jenni growled, "Argh, look, Steen isn't my type, and frankly, he's quite odd. For some reason, he finds other women more attractive than me, and at one point, he tried to arrest me when he was working for the S.S.U. But he was outmatched."
After a brief pause, a gentle smile graced her face as she reminisced while looking at the grassy ground. "He was so wounded by the fact that I was just as strong as him that he couldn't bear to remain in the S.S.U. I remember him following me around, not even allowing anyone to beat me in a battle."
She chuckled and continued, "He was so fixated on wanting to beat me in a fight that he started doing missions with me just so he could challenge me to a battle afterward. I understand that we might seem close, but we are just two rivals traveling together."
After a few minutes had passed, Steen quietly approached Hugo and Jenni, like a mouse, to inform them that the horses were ready for their trip.
Hugo and Jenni stood up from the lush grass, their silence blending into the evening air as they made their way towards the waiting horses. The horses stood patiently, their breaths creating a comforting warmth.
Steen mounted his horse with ease, as though he had done it a hundred times before. Meanwhile, Jenni and Hugo exchanged a silent nod before he settled in behind her on the saddle.
"Let's hope this mission isn't too boring," Jenni muttered under her breath as Hugo wrapped his arms around her waist. Jenni and Steen kicked with their feet, urging the horses to trot forward. The horse reared up, and they clung on for dear life. The trio set off in perfect synchrony as the sound of the horse's hooves clattering against the forest soil echoed through the tranquil meadow.
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