The Ascelan Vessel

Chapter 4 - The 'D' Rank Mission

Rewinding the time to two hours past :

Zen and El stood by the Mission Board of the Adventurer's Guild, silently judging the available jobs on offer.

"Personally, I think choosing is far more difficult than doing the mission itself." El bitterly complained, once again with no verbal response from Zen but it did not escape her eyes that immediately after her words fell, Zen struck out his hand and smoothly grabbed a poster and make his way to the counter.

It was a D ranked mission.

Were it under usual circumstances El would not bother to lift her delicate brows for a mission of such rank but once the suppressed murmurs from around her came upon her sharp ears, "Don't you think we should have taken an easier one?"

However, how could her slight mood swings concerning this mission from disdain to hesitation, in the past brief two minutes escape Zen's eyes?

Just as El prepared to once again be replied with silence. "-Picky." Zen finally spoke in annoyance as his brows wrinkled in displeasure but made no move to return the leaflet.

---

A short while later, the pair simply stood in the midst of a wide field, not very patiently waiting for the young master. When the guild used a sound transmission scroll to inform their esteemed client, they were asked to wait for him here as he was free 'nearby'.

Zen was solemn as usual; El however, had a compassionate look on her face as though they were here to simply snatch candy from a baby. The truth was indeed not very far, they were not here to snatch Candy but the savings of a baby slightly bigger than them.

As El wandered off to her realm of inner turmoil, distinguishing right from wrong, Zen's grip on his scabbard tightened.

"Hmph, this king requested Warriors ! After waiting for weeks I am to be greeted by a pair of brats ?" A disdainful speech was followed by a short peach brown haired young boy, half a head taller than El, who appeared from their behind. He wore neat clothes of elegant design which mysteriously seemed to allow ease of movement along with complementing his arrogant Aura.

In the end while El's eyes scurried all over, scrutinizing this new guest, Zen stayed focused at his eyes that shone more brilliantly than you would expect from a rich spoiled young master.

*Sigh* alas all interpersonal matters were El's duty, "Your elegance must be Sir Barkus Merth." El stepped forward and gave a polite smile, "I believe you requested a duel?"

"Well yes but the mission contents clearly indicated that difficulty of this job task, I have waited for months because even experienced veterans refused to battle with me, while here both of you are clearly younger than me! How can you so simply show up in greed of this King's riches and expect this King to take you seriously?"

"If you insist that you are dissatisfied with our appearance then you may renounce our acceptance of your request and wait 'again'.. for a 'very' long time to meet 'acceptable' applicants. Or you may enjoy a fight, as you so desired. If you did ask for that mission for a duel, then I must trouble you to chose between us," El was polite yet straightforward. The kind smile never left her countenance.

Barkus gritted his teeth in displeasure. He was the client, he was supposed to be the boss yet why was this little brat telling him what to do? Unfortunately for him, she spoke the truth and was polite enough thus his hands were tied but...

"I don't enjoy bullying the weak." Barkus spoke again in a bid to reclaim his lost status.

"Please rest assured. We, would not come to court death if we were not confident enough to return with your 'riches'." El smiled again but it was genuine this time.