Rise of Tyrus

Selena slouched in her chair, feeling the cushion mold to her body. The sun was slipping below the horizon in the west, and the sky was slowly transforming colors. She deduced it was about time to take a temporary pause from her responsibilities. Her gaze scanned the documents haphazardly scattered on her desk. The name of the Stonepath Orphanage flickered before her eyes, and several rows down was the name Tyrus.

“I should be able to finish in a couple of days. Stonepath is an excellent choice due to its proximity to Valier Forest and Valiedge. It's neither too sequestered nor exclusive, and they have an open-hearted approach to accepting many orphans. Because of my acquaintance with the director, having some sort of affiliation with the boy would not appear questionable.”

Everything was progressing without a hitch. The only necessary action was to speak with the director about the matter, albeit with some selective omissions. Although Greysen wasn't prone to prattling or double-crossing, it wouldn't hurt to be cautious. The essential concern was whether to veil the track that led to her or leave it exposed. If she were to accept Tyrus with no prior reason, it would raise suspicion. A certain connection was required between them.

"Well, I still have a chance to reflect on it."

Selena rose to her feet and stretched her fatigued limbs before retrieving the communication device from the cabinet. As she descended the stairs, she caught the sound of hearty laughter and animated conversation from the explorers below. No sooner had she dropped onto the first floor than a few heads shifted towards her.

They inclined their heads, and Selena responded with a friendly smile and a wave. She ambled past the contract board and stood in front of the counter. A receptionist with a cheerful smile greeted her the moment she finished her dealings with an explorer.

“Good afternoon, Branch Leader Selena,” Celeste said with a curt bow. “Are you perhaps heading out?”

“Correct. I'm headed over to Erza's shop to see how she and Ivy are doing. It's unfortunate that it has been broken into.”

Celeste nodded. “Valis has been buzzing about it; it's quite the hot topic. Who in their right mind would dare enter a magical shop, let alone one owned by Erza? The two men stopped by Geroth were fortunate that Erza wasn't the one to catch them. Their end would not have been… pleasant.”

Tapping her chin reflectively, Selena recollected all the troublesome situations Erza had been involved in. One memory resurfaced, in which she almost drowned a group of kobolds, merely because one of them grazed her cheek.

The group found it highly entertaining, as they witnessed her losing her composure and adamantly insisting on completing the eradication contract alone. The leader, Talia, put a stop to her with a single swat when they had had enough. It was a challenging feat for her to quell her emotions, and Talia was the solitary one who could restrict her. Nevertheless, after having a child, her temper decreased.

“Watch over the guild while I’m gone. Contact me through the communication orb if you need my help.”

“I've got everything handled. Wishing you well, branch leader.”

The two exchanged farewells and disappeared from each other's view. After departing the building, Selena began her leisurely saunter through the bustling capital. She seamlessly slipped through the lines of individuals, passing by the vendor booths and fountain. Smoked red bison meat and fish filled the vibrant air with a bustling energy. Although she wouldn't say no to a helping of purple-finned snappers, there was a more pressing matter to attend to.

After sauntering for a moment, she halted in front of a store that had experienced better days. The once gleaming windows adorned with white floating letters now lay shattered, leaving behind a colossal cavity. Glass shards littered the front, and the pristine walls had holes and gashes.

The interior was in utter disarray, with shelves carelessly tossed and instruments scattered about with no regard for order. A few spots had a mix of spilled liquids that brought to mind a vomited rainbow. A small crowd stayed rooted upfront, daring not to approach, settling with only hushed whispers from the mess.

Selena gently moved through the crowd and took a step inside. The moment her foot contacted the hardwood, she was alerted to a sudden surge of mana emanating from the counter. A massive orb of water raced forward, nearly splashing onto her face, but she raised her arm in defense. Flames flared to life as the sphere of water and fire made contact. A shrill hiss echoed through the room, followed by steam wafting towards the ceiling as the water disappeared.

“Hello to you too, Erza.”

A woman with lustrous golden tresses and innate beauty stood behind the counter. Selena was met with a piercing gaze of oceanic blue that seemed to delve into her very being. “You shitty excuse of a teacher! How dare you submit my poor Ivy to danger? I’d ought to cut off your head and shove it up your–“

“Mother!” said a frantic voice. Behind the counter was a door that led to the storeroom. Ivy leaped out with a broom at hand, darting her gaze back and forth between the two women. “Please don’t be too harsh on teacher. I'm certain that she would've rescued me from the rock spider just in time.”

Erza brushed off her daughter and strutted forward with a scowl. Her cerulean dress rippled to the side as she faced Selena. Ivy timidly glanced over the counter, observing the two women glaring at each other. Arms crossed, Erza faced Selena who rested a hand on her hip.

“Why in the blazes did you send Ivy to pick orange mushrooms near a beast’s lair? Did being a branch leader cause brain damage? You're fortunate I didn't slap you on the cheek earlier, Selena. My daughter changed my mind in the nick of time.”

"It's a step in the right direction," Selena said casually. “Ivy wouldn’t have sustained any injuries, that I’m sure. By the time she was pulled, I’d already arrived at the scene. A little boy rescued Ivy, so my involvement was unnecessary.”

“Don’t give me that heap of shit,” she spat. She produced a plethora of bubbles and crafted them to take on the shape of a short spear. Following that, the water solidified, leading to a drop in temperature within the room. Icicles hung menacingly over Erza as she gave Selena a withering stare. “What's stopping me from adding more holes than you already have?”

Despite Erza's active threats of violence, Selena remained untroubled. As a matter of fact, she was inwardly beaming at the shopkeeper's protective nature towards her daughter. A parent ought to display such vigilance towards their children. It was a refreshing experience to witness. Sadly, some children have to settle for merely wishing to be shown such a quantity of love by their parents. It's unfortunate that she had a close relationship with one of them. If only Fiona wasn’t so focused on that unreasonable father of hers…

“S-Stop it, mother!” Ivy set aside the broom and hugged her mother from behind. “If you do anything to teacher, I’ll ignore you for an entire week!”

The little girl's words seemed to have a persuasive effect as Erza's eye twitched. She clucked her tongue and scattered the ice away. “I’m warning you now, Selena. I won't hesitate to take you down if you pose a threat to Ivy, despite our long-standing acquaintance. Try that again and I'll make sure you suffocate underwater.”

“I will keep that in mind,” she said. “Now that it's settled, let's have a little chat, shall we? I'd be overjoyed to lend a hand in the cleanup, provided that's alright with you.”

Erza took a quick glance behind her and signaled towards the broom. “Make yourself useful and start cleaning up the mess outside. Don’t want any kids cutting themselves out there. We can chat after we’re done here.”

Selena was content with her instructions and picked up the broom. She also grabbed a small bin from the corner. Once the items were at her disposal, she began the clean-up, disregarding the gazes of the onlookers and pedestrians. It took little time to clear away the majority of the glass shards from the front and deposit them into the bin. After concluding the outside work, she made her way into the shop to start the cleaning of the inside.

Ivy and Erza were diligently sorting and rearranging the shelves. The family members talked jovially, beaming with cheerfulness. Erza's wrath dissipated as she laughed with her daughter. Selena tore her eyes away and carried on with her duties. Time had elapsed, and the moon's glow was taking over the sun's rule.

The moonbeams seeped in, and the boisterous hubbub of the streets was notably hushed. As the stalls were closing down, residents were either making their way back home or venturing out to the closest tavern. The rhythmic sound of hooves from several carriages diminished in the distance.

“Alright, I think that’s enough for today.”

Selena raised her gaze and watched Erza wiping her forehead with a satisfied expression. Under her mother's instructions, Ivy inspected the storeroom once more. Following the completion of her cleaning responsibilities, Selena ambled up to Erza and enveloped her shoulder with a friendly arm. Despite her scowl, the shopkeeper didn't deter her.

She seems to have regained her composure. Erza's character has undergone a drastic shift over the years, becoming much more subdued. Ordinarily, she would attempt to bite off the arm of anyone who approached her too closely.

“Why did you come down?” Erza asked.

Selena withdrew her arm and reclined against the wall. “I've come to apologize for my actions. I take responsibility for letting Tyrus fight alone while your daughter was in harm's way.”

Erza's brow creased, yet she pinched her eyes closed and released a sigh. “Tyrus… I heard from Ivy that a kid saved her. She's not someone who lies, but is what she said really true? It's difficult for me to believe that a kid barely ten defeated a weakened rock spider.”

“I witnessed the entire event, and he did it all by himself. I've seen what he can do and am thinking of recommending him for the Explorer Guild with my endorsement.”

The expression on Erza's face was one of shock. “You? Making a recommendation? That’s never happened before. Is he really that special?”

Selena nodded affirmatively and glanced upward at the ceiling. Tyrus was an early bloomer in terms of mana awakening. Whether it was due to his lineage as a Beastfolk or a violent awakening, she remained clueless. She was conscious of the fact that hybrids could harness mana before humans, albeit the specific reason was elusive. At best, she could hazard a guess.

His encounter with the rock spider left a profound impression on her. Owing to his solitary survival in Valier Forest and being a Beastfolk, he had an excellent physique and innate abilities. He exhibited exceptional senses, instincts, and a strong moral compass. His chief concern was to escape alongside Ivy, not to retreat alone. When backed into a corner, he fiercely fought off the beast. Tyrus showed courage and was ready to risk his life.

Those traits weren't the sole factor that led to her acceptance of him. From the instant their eyes met during their first encounter, she had regarded Tyrus as a carbon copy of Talia. They both had striking, ash-hued eyes and a slender, tapered nose. However, upon closer inspection, she discovered he possessed animal ears concealed under his tattered hat. He was a blend of Beastfolk and a human; doubt was already creeping in.

She veiled her amazement with a smile and instantly resolved to probe into it. It was crucial to find out his origins, so she masked her desires with a set of inquiries. In a short time, she uncovered Tyrus did not know of his origins. Selena raised the bar by asking about his primary affinity, to which he exhibited lightning. Immediately, her expectations were dashed, and she deduced he was a mere youngster who had a similar appearance to her.

Notwithstanding, she commanded him to retrieve Ivy in order to demonstrate his worth of receiving her aid. Fortunately, his work didn't let her down and she accepted him into the Explorer Guild. It would be false if she claimed his looks played no role in her acceptance of him.

“Are you done staring at my ceiling or do you want to help me clean it? I don't have an issue with unpaid labor in my business.”

“Do you think Talia is still alive?” Selena said out of the blue.

Erza scoffed and said, "That's a name I haven't heard in years. Why are you bringing her up?”

“I was simply curious. The final time we encountered her, she told us she was on a special mission authorized by the imperial family.”

Erza flicked away a strand of hair. “Because of her primary affinity for dark and her duty as a royal knight. I remember it well. To say I don't miss her would be a lie.”

“Does it make you wonder if she's still out there? It's difficult to believe Talia didn't make it back from her mission alive. After all, she was the strongest among Nepora and a top student in the academy.”

“Yes, to answer your question. If it's that woman, then there's no doubt she's still alive. Somewhere.”

They stood there, quiet and motionless, peering out of the store as recent rays of moonlight flowed in. Selena found solace in the fact that she wasn't the sole believer in Talia's existence. It was highly unlikely that someone as resilient as she would succumb to death, no matter the hardship. Nevertheless, it would have been desirable to seize any hints regarding her whereabouts or status.

A mellow buzzing noise shattered the hushed pause. Selena plunged her hand into her belt and retrieved a shimmering communication device from a pouch. Upon answering, a screen appeared, displaying a stern face that addressed her.

“Good evening... sister.”