Spirit Hunting Union

That day, the last thing Quinn saw was a group of people approaching.

He couldn't tell who they were. Couldn't wrap his head around what they intended to do with him.

But in the end, he stopped trying so hard to stay awake. Whatever this is all about, he would deal with it when he wakes up.

Or worse, he dies in his sleep.

***

However, Quinn did wake up.

He felt a soft surface soothe his back. His stomach churned. The familiar scent of old wood settled inside him. With that, Quinn got the idea of where he was after all.

Oh God, he had been worried for nothing.

Then he opened his eyes.

It was the cheeky face of the team leader that he saw next.

But Quinn sighed in disappointment. What a bad face to start a new day.

"Oh, look who has finally woken up."

But Quinn didn't respond.

That moment, he realised almost all parts of his body had been bandaged. Well, fair enough. The Spirit placed some terrible marks on him to begin with.

Quinn slowly rose from the bed. And he looked sideways, only to see Lady Maya sitting some metres from the bed. While the golden-haired girl leaned on the wall near the door.

Lady Maya rushed closer. Holding his shoulders with a look of concern.

"Are you okay?"

Quinn nodded slowly, with a tight smile. He looked her in the face.

"Thanks for having me back…"

The woman smiled back, this time with relief.

"Good job, Quinn. You did great."

At that moment, Quinn smelled metal.

He glanced at the floor. And saw tons of blood-soaked bandages scattered by the bedside. Also a bowl of steamy, yet reddened water on the side desk. Most breathtaking of it all were the scissors and… scalpels.

Quinn hiccupped silently.

'Don't tell me they performed surgery on me.'

These had better have been used for something else!

That was when the old man came in.

"Staring at the scalpels too much…"

Quinn glanced at him, tilting his head.

"Hm?"

Silas chuckled, crossing his arms.

"Tch. If the thought of being cut open scares you that much, just wet your pants already…"

Lady Maya cut in, cautioning him,

"Silas, this isn't the time for that."

But Silas was unrelenting. He pointed at Quinn.

"What do you mean? Remember the state this boy was in when we found him. Already looking like some ready-to-grill fish. Meaning he took a lot of damage during the fight. And just kind of… got lucky to kill the Spirit. Still a little scaredy cat. Ah, how unimpressive! I was getting ready to see you as a warrior after your first trial. But see how badly you performed."

He then shifted his glance sideways with a playful frown.

Lady Maya smiled slightly. She looked at Quinn. And reassured him in a gentle tone,

"Don't mind him. We all know those grave wounds don't mean pain. But true strength. Your senior can't just believe you did so well. Besides, your first trial is most newbies' last. So, be proud of yourself. You did so, so great."

Silas glanced over, blinking. He chuckled.

"Wow, Lady Maya. You must have been a writer in your past life to be that perfect at lying." He stared back at River, chuckling again. "Imagine how she worded her statement. Should we make her an author website already?"

River's response came in a low, gentle tone,

"Maybe."

Quinn stared at River. Just that she seems a little different now. Compared to the first day they met.

One moment, he heard Silas say,

"... well, forget it. They don't make that much after all, do they?"

Quinn blinked.

He felt a need to intervene.

And he did, leaning closer. He asked gently,

"Who?"

Silas turned at him.

"Oh, you're interested too. River agreed we should make the website. But, won't that be a waste of time? In the end, authors don't make that much. Maybe we should just make a YouTube channel, right?"

Lady Maya replied faster than Quinn,

"What a surprise. It's my first time hearing you talk about how to make money." That didn't sound either like a compliment or a sarcastic remark.

Silas giggled.

"Well, maybe it's because I have got a new astonishing student."

The woman raised her brows with a gentle smile.

"Oh, you know that. Why act unimpressed at first then?"

Silas shrugged. And responded,

"Not that he did that well much, though. Average, I would say."

"Be honest."

Silas sighed.

"Okay, okay, I would say… I really didn't expect him to do that well. Speaking of that, the Spirit wasn't even some random D-ranks. Consumed quite a lot of life forces. And has got experience too. That means our poor Quinn fought someone already nearing the next level. That's more than impressive, I won't lie."

Quinn sighed. So, this old man knows how to get this serious? What a big surprise today.

… Minutes passed with the chatter. Then, at one moment, Silas questioned Quinn,

"Oi, boy… Why haven't you even asked the crucial questions? You're surprisingly quiet for someone who has just survived at death's door."

In an instant, Lady Maya smacked his arm.

"Be nice, Silas."

Quinn smiled. They make a great couple, you know.

Yeah, the old man was right. He had questions to ask.

His chest pounded faintly.

"Were you able to save my friend? The guy stabbed by—"

Silas cut in.

"Lady Maya took care of him."

Quinn looked at the woman. For some reason, she hesitated to say something. Quinn could tell when her lips parted, but no words came out.

Abruptly, she smiled and patted his arm.

Quinn held his gaze straight. He wasn't buying that. Just fucking say something!

The woman then assured him,

"Don't worry, he's all right. But…"

Quinn tilted his head.

"But?"

Lady Maya hesitated again. Finally, she let it out,

"... But I had to erase his memory. Sorry."

Quinn blinked.

"Everything?"

Before the woman could talk, Silas interrupted her,

"Just the memory of that day. I mean, that's actually a good thing. Do you want your friend to be scared to sleep because some dark-eyed man chases him in his dreams? Of course not."

Quinn didn't contemplate it at all. Because, that was right. Holding the memory would only haunt Rhen forever.

Now, onto the next important question.

Quinn asked,

"What about the Spirit? Did he die?"

Lady Maya, Silas, and River exchanged glances. Quinn knew he should be ready for something big.

He swallowed.

He recalls just seeing the Spirit fall back in the alley.

Fall. But still able to move.

Could it be…?

Silas cleared his throat. And said,

"... That…"

Quinn's shoulders stiffened.

"... is your real mission. Handle this. And you're done with the trial."