May Terrin frowned as she stood in the guild hall of Nova Apex with the Magic Council representative. Silently she listened as the representative told her the situation.
"Look Master Terrin, we understand that your S class ranked mages are out on jobs. But the council really needs you to step up here. Think of it as a fantastic opportunity for some others to get experience. Also, don't forget what we did for you a couple of months ago."
Mays frown deepened and creases appeared on her forehead. Silently she was glad that none of the guild members were immediately present. It was too early in the morning for them. She prided herself on always smiling and having a bright and optimistic attitude. She nodded, but rebutted to the councilman
"I have not forgotten how you helped us clean up after...Barons rather tragic experiment."
She shuddered as she remembered one of the guild members, Ruten Baron, user of dust make magic, accidentally conjure a swarm of dust warriors who went rogue and couldn't be dismissed, attack everyone in the town. She continued.

"But this is a very serious matter, which has the potential to be very dangerous. All our most powerful and proficient members are out right now, as you said. I will not put some of my more junior members into the possibility of harms way. We have no idea who, or what, is causing this phenomenon."
The spokesperson nodded and retorted.
"As you say, we do not know much. And we are already spread thin investigating this. We need to be seen as in control. We need a second party, Nova Apex specifically, to investigate. All we are looking is for some reconnaissance. Find and if possible follow, but not engage. They find out something, report to us, then we can send in the heavy hitters."

May went to say something when she heard the creaking of a door. A smile suddenly jumped onto her face as she turned.

===

Merlan Excal slowly drifted into the main hall. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his right arm was covered in bruises. He looked up at his guild master and her visitor.
"Oh, sorry Master Terrin. I meant not to intrude."
Upon realizing the visitor was a council member, he suddenly shot up straight and saluted.
"Greetings councilman. please pardon my appearance. Simple training."
He watched as May put up a hand, and her smile turned genuine.
"There is no need for such formalities Merlan. The councilman was just leaving. And I will see what I can do for you and...your situation."
Merlan remained saluting as the councilman left. once the door closed, he exhaled and let himself slump again.

May Terrin floated over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Merlan, you need to stop pushing yourself so hard. You have nothing to prove. You will blossom in your own time."
Merlan nodded, then shook his head.
"I need to get stronger, and I need to do it now. I have to stop the Crimson Sand. It consumed my sister. She's one of the ones who was swallowed up by it and hasn't been found. I need t be stronger so I can do something about it."

May sighed.
"What if I said I had a mission pertaining to finding out information regarding this incident?"
Merlan shot up again.
"Please let me take it Master."
She put up a hand again.
"Not alone you won't. I won't go losing one of our shining knights."
She smiled and ruffled his hair. She looked up.
"Let's wait and see who else turns up..."

"That was an interesting exchange." a disembodied female voice said from out of nowhere before a hooded figure clad in black shimmered into existence hanging down from the ceiling. Maho dropped down in a neat flip, landing on the floor without making it as much as creak. The grin on her face was apparent even though a scarf obstructed the lower half of it. She just managed to not be seen by a goon of the magic friggin council. True, they employed lackeys of various levels and he probably wasn't looking, but a message like that usually wasn't carried by complete losers. The Master probably knew, but if so, paid it no mind. Perhaps she wanted her to overhear?

"I wouldn't mind tagging along. Following and listening is what I do best. How much are they paying?" she asked cheekily. If the council was in a pinch, they should milk some dosh out of it. Maho wasn't too familiar with this Baron thing, but she figured if the council didn't help, they would have looked bad as well. If her life experience told her anything, it was that no one did anything out of the goodness of their hearts, least of all people in power.

It hadn't been long since Sif joined the Nova Apex guild. Around three months, and in those three months, she had learned much. She'd managed to talk to those in the guild, and make new friends, and have a lot of fun. On the other hand, she also took quests of many types. Quests of working in a cafe, quests of being there and showing her magic off to people, or quests of felling monsters. Halfway through the first month, she had returned with what looked like a sword double the size of her. At the end of the second month, she had returned with a tooth the same size as her, and to today she never bragged that the quest should have really been an S-class quest. And inbetween, she returned with whatever she could get. It wouldn't take long for anyone to work out she was looking to be an S-class mage.

For the past two weeks, Sif had been gone on a quest to eliminate a 'group of bandits'. Finally, she had returned, out of breath, and feeling battered. Slowly, the girl walks to the front of the guild hall, and pushes the door open before stepping in. It was still early in the morning, but she felt the need to get back into the hall. She was surprised to see three of the members of the guild already there. Master Terrin, Merlin and Maho. Sif felt a smile melt onto her face. "Hey guys! I'm back!" She says, giving a wave, completely oblivious to the previous conversation that had been going on. She walked her way to them, careful not to stumble and expose her injured state. It wasn't all that bad, it would stop in a day or two. "What's going on?"

Klisa did what she did almost every time this week. She woke up early and tidied up the a part of the guild building. this week she was down in the storage basement cleaning and organizing their wares. It was exactly her job or her responsibility but she was happy to volunteer, even when no one asked. She found the steady process of cleaning and organizing such large spaces calming and nostalgic. There was something nice about getting into the guild while it was dead silent and empty and take a moment to just be alone and working with her hands in the vast quite of the empty building. It made the warmth of all the familiar friends and faces that would eventually fill it up all the more pleasant.

Besides, it gave others a break from often hated chore, which they would likely do half heartedly anyhow. People don't always understand how important it is to keep places that see alot of traffic well kept, large places will quickly fall into disrepair and chaos when left untended or done so poorly. Klisa was something of a practical thinker in that manner, though she would hardly identify as such. She had just finished up with the task and was walking back up to the main hall to return the mop and broom she had borrowed, only to find several people already in the guild. It wasn't odd that there were guild members already in, especially since she had been down there for what was likely a couple of hours. But There was the Guild Master, as well as a Stranger. The unknown presences naturally made the young girl a bit more anxious, all the more for the rather official appearance of the individual. She hoped no one was in trouble.

"Oh, ah...Hi, sorry to interrupt, Just don't mind me I'm passing through."