Solo Panicking

A Differing of Perspectives

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I don't know about you guys but this week has blended into one massive day and I am in a state of eugh... ANYWAYS!!

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The conference room was bathed in soft fluorescent light, casting sharp reflections on the sleek black table that stretched across the room. Around it sat a group of high-ranking individuals, their identities obscured by the low light and the shadow of authority each carried. Their tailored suits and measured tones spoke volumes, even as their faces remained unreadable.

A large monitor dominated one wall, displaying an image of a young woman with an unassuming smile. Beside her profile were minimal details: name, age, occupation, and a current S-Rank Hunter designation. Beneath that, a handful of blurry images captured during recent public appearances, including one where a faint golden butterfly hovered near her shoulder.

"Second," a gravelly voice broke the silence, the speaker leaning forward with a faint smirk. "She's only the second one we've seen with actual familiars or at least confirmed, isn't she?"

A woman at the head of the table adjusted her glasses, her expression neutral. "Correct. The first, Amina Etienam, remains an enigma to most. But even she was extensively documented before her debut as a hunter. This one–" the woman gestured to the image on the screen, "is practically a ghost. Barely any combat records, no known affiliations with guilds or organizations before her ranking, and only a sparse personal history."

"How does that happen?" someone else asked, the irritation in their tone poorly concealed. "She's a S-Rank. People don't just fly under the radar at that level."

"She wasn't always S-Rank," another voice cut in smoothly. This one was younger, sharper, like a blade honed to perfection. "She was reevaluated only recently. Prior to that, she was practically a civilian, a baker, of all things. Hardly the sort of career that breeds notoriety."

A low hum of intrigue rippled around the table.

"And yet," the woman at the head continued, "she possesses familiars, two familiars. Not summoned creatures tied to mana or temporary constructs but independent entities. Her primary one, what do we know about it?"

The monitor shifted to display a crimson-scaled drake with gold-tipped horns and sharp, curious eyes. The creature stood just below her knee height in the photo but appeared alert, even intelligent.

"It's still young," the gravelly-voiced man commented. "Crimson scales suggest high elemental affinity, highly likely fire-based. And from its behavior in public sightings, it seems... self-aware. Observing combat rather than mindlessly attacking, following her lead without direct commands. That kind of bond isn't something you can fabricate."

The woman with glasses tapped her pen against the table. "It's similar to Amina's Tawa, but not the same. Amina's hoopoe functions as both a tracker and support in combat, enhancing her abilities. This dragon, on the other hand, appears more... offensive in nature. Its growth potential could be enormous, depending on how it's raised."

"Interesting," the sharp-voiced individual murmured, folding their hands. "And yet, we have no records of her obtaining such a creature. There's no known dungeon associated with it, no gate log, no guild documentation. It just appeared with her."

Another silence fell, heavy with unspoken questions.

"What's our play?" someone finally asked, cutting through the tension. "How do we know it won't be like another Kamish?" the name seemed to have drew in cold air, that was a concern that lingered on the back of many minds.