“...Remember…quest…”

  I opened my eyes and immediately closed them due to the blinding light. I reopened them when I had finally adjusted. I was back on the bed in the carriage. I adjusted myself to look around better. Rick was on the bench on the other side of the cab, and he was… unconscious, but breathing. It looked like Mend worked when I used it on him. Sunlight was streaming through the gaps in the closed window, a tell-tale sign that it was now morning. I could feel that we were moving, and I stood and walked to the window to see who would be driving if not Rick. Luci was out there, but the actual driver was a catkin man. I noted we were in a forest, and in front of us was an open-topped wagon with a few other beastfolk riding. Even further down the road I could see a rge wooden wall and a gate in the middle of it. We must just be arriving at Lithhelm now.

  Luci, presumably hearing me open the window, turned around and looked at me.

  “Ah! You're awake now. I take it Rick's still out?”

  “Yeah. Who's this?”

  The beastman answered my question.

  “Leonidas, leader of B-rank party Instigators. Call me Leo if you want. We were out here tracking down a horde of Shadows when we saw the light from that spell you used. What was that anyway?”

  “Light Javelin. It's a 5th tier Light spell, same tier as the Mend I cast to heal Rick in here.”

  “5th tier? Impressive. Almost everyone in my party can use some light magic, but they're all capped at tier 3. I'm the dedicated Priest of our party and I can only cast up to the 4th. So, what made you guys decide to come out here to help? Assuming you did accept that urgent quest.”

  “Eh, I'd probably have to say the reward. Helping people is a reward in itself, but money and Guild points are always welcome too.”

  “For the reward? You people truly are incredible… Out of all the parties who accepted the quest, which I think were just under 20, there's only us and maybe one more. Well, you're here now too. We're starting to lose hope now. If I'm being completely honest, I think that Goliath up north may end up wiping out . I think the Guild tried to request A and S rank parties, but nobody wants to accept.”

  “It's that bad?”

  “Yeah… Maybe you can help things, that Light Javelin spell seems like it can go a long way.”

  “I hope so…”

  “Anyway…” Leo let out a long, dejected sigh, showing just how hopeless the situation feels to him. “We're almost here. Since you're the leader of your party you'll probably have to be the one to have the guards let you in.”

  “Alright.”

  I closed the shutter and walked back over to where I had my stuff. I didn't think to grab my katana when I ran out st night, so I changed that and put on my belts as I felt the carriage slowing down. Once it came to a complete stop, I made sure I had my Guild card and got out. I followed Leo up to the gate. One of the guards approached us, this man had ears like a rabbit: A sure sign that he was harekin.

  “Hey! I'm Leonidas with the Instigators, this dy and her party are here to help with the Shadow threat.”

  The guard nodded and looked to me, holding out his hand to look at my card. I activated it and handed it to him.

  “I'm Mira, leader of B rank part Cws of the Orange Fox. Everything else is on there.”

  After looking at my card for a few seconds, the harekin gave it back to me.

  “Open the gates! They're all good!”

  The man nodded to us and returned to his post as Leo and I walked towards our carriage.

  “That's a Guild-owned cart, right? I'll take you all to the Guild here if you still need me.”

  “That'd be appreciated, thanks.”

  The cat-priest once again took the reins, and we were moving towards the Guild headquarters in this city. Once I flipped the bed back and tidied up what I could, I sat down on the floor of the cab. After waiting around for a few minutes, I noticed Rick was moving.

  “Rick? You awake?”

  “Hn? Yeah. Feel like shit though…”

  “Ah.” Makes since, even with Mend he was almost too far gone to save. “You did almost die after all. I was pretty scared my spell wouldn't work st night.”

  “Right. You did save me. Thanks, I definitely made the right choice joining you're party.”

  “Maybe, but… It was kinda my fault that happened. You see… on the first night I had a fight with some Shadows during my watch, but I forgot to tell you all so we could properly prepare.”

  “The first night!? They shouldn't be that far south.”

  “Yeah. I'll have to report that to the Guild.” I could feel that we were about to stop again. “Speaking of which, I think we're here. You should meet Leo when we get out. He's the one driving.”

  “Alright. You goin’ in with Luci?”

  “Yeah. I'll come get you when we're going to our inn.”

  Neither of us spoke until we came to a stop. Once I got out of the carriage I noticed that the Instigators' wagon was already parked outside with the horse-like creatures previously pulling it now safely resting in the stables. I took a second to look around at the scenery. In my eyes, Lithhelm was a very beautiful city. The rustic style buildings everywhere created a comforting, homely atmosphere that somehow made me feel like I needed to protect this pce. As I thought this, I saw Rick already talking to Leo as Luci approached me.

  “Mira. Are we going in?”

  “Yeah. First though… I have something I need to confess.”

  “Oh? What is it?”

  Luci almost looked like an excited kitten for a second. Oh, right. I guess that probably wasn't the best way to phrase it…

  “Er, I didn't mean it like that.” Yeah, she looks slightly disappointed now, “It's about the Shadows. You see… sorry for not telling anybody sooner, but when it was my turn for watch on the first night of the trip I had a fight with some of them. I completely forgot to tell you guys, and we almost lost Rick because we weren't ready to fight them yet.”

  “Oh. Well, it's probably fine now. We didn't lose anybody, and that's what matters. You should probably report it though.”

  “Yeah. I already told Rick I would mention that to the Guild.”

  “Good thinking.”

  We started walking to the doors of the Guild, but as we were about to enter, it swung open and a muscur wolfkin man in heavy armor walked out carrying a couple of drinks. If I'm correct, I think I recognize him as being part of Leo's party.

  “Woah! ‘Scuse me dies! Say… you're the chick who cast that big Light spell, right?”

  “Yes, that's me. I'm Mira.”

  “Donovan. That was an impressive show st night, some of the adventures here said they saw a bit of it from here in the city! Anyway, I'm gonna go join Leo over there. Smell ya ter!”

  I guess Donovan is the Tank of the Instigators. That fairly one-sided encounter over with, we made our way inside and checked in with this Guild's receptionist. Oddly enough, I noticed that the staff here was entirely female like in the Dwarven Guild, but where that Guild was made of both humans and dwarves, this one was purely harekin. Not to mention their slightly revealing dresses…

  It didn't take long before we received information on our inn, and we also received a reward for our report. We were given a gold coin for our information stating that the Shadows were appearing further south now, and then another 7 gold for the elimination of two hordes.

  When we went outside, Rick was nowhere to be seen, and neither were the other two men. We didn't have to worry for long though, as when we arrived at our unnamed inn that usually caters to adventurers of at least C rank, we saw the three of them all drinking and having a good time. I guess the Guild is also allowing them a free stay at this inn since they're also taking on the quest.

  There was also a second table occupied in the tavern floor of the inn, and I could only assume then to be the rest of Leo's party since they were at the next table over. They were all women: Two catkin and two harekin. One catkin was resting her head on the p of the other, and the harekin had their backs to us and their chairs so close together they were nearly sharing. The catkin woman and the only one at the table not too busy to notice us was the first to act. She woke up the other cat-girl and made her sit up before she stood and walked over to us.

  “Hey dies. Didn't expect any beauties like you to show up today. I'm Thea, swordswoman of the Instigators. You girls should come to my room ter, I can show you a real good time~”

  She winked as she spoke. Was she trying to flirt with us? I was too surprised to respond, but Luci wasted no time in shutting down her advances.

  “Sorry. Not interested. We're here on a quest from the Guild, I assume you are too. I'm Lucindell, though.”

  The cat, Thea, responded with a shrug.

  “Worth a shot. Nice ta meetcha anyway, Lucindell! What about you? You haven't said anything yet, somethin’ the matter? Cat got your tongue~”

  That… was such a bad pun. She probably thought so too, as she started snickering the moment the words left her mouth.

  “I'm Mira.”

  “Okaaay~ I already introduced myself, but that girl over there is Morgan.” She seductively blew a kiss at the other catkin, which promptly turned bright pink in the cheeks and turned away. “Those two lovebirds there are Tristina and Elizabeth, respectively our Archer and Water Mage. They're technically sisters, but they're definitely a little too close to each other to be ‘just siblings.’”

  The girl to the right who I believe to be Elizabeth flipped Thea the bird and resumed whatever she was doing with her sister/lover. Honestly, I find that a little weird, but I shouldn't judge. It turns put that was the right option, as we spent the rest of the day hanging out and chatting in the tavern. After dinner, we all headed to our rooms. Well, except for the men. They were having some kind of drinking contest. We all ended up in rooms next to each other with the rabbit-girls on one end of the room I shared with Luci with the cats on the other. The room next over was for Donovan and Leo, and Rick was on his own at the end of the row.

  Unfortunately, it wasn't actually that good of an arrangement to me. At least, not with the moans and squeaking beds coming from both directions. It almost sounded like I heard someone being spped multiple times in Thea and Morgan's room… Worst of all, I was sharing a bed with Luci again, and I could almost feel her staring into the back of my head, expecting something. Like, sorry, but I gave you my answer already, being suddenly surrounded by women… pleasuring each other isn't going to make me remember my past fast enough to give you a different answer.