Chapter 48: Rejected #36

“What’s happening here?” Marissa dashed to her boss’ side, weapon in hand. “Are you hurt, Astrid?!”

Helen also joined them, calmly strolling. “I haven’t heard that cry in a while…”

“Change of plans, everyone!” Astrid announced. “You’ll all be sparring against me! I’ll measure your value myself! And you!” She pointed at the startled newcomer. “You’ll be the first, for arriving late! You’ll face me while I’m full of energy. Come to the backyard, NOW!”

The crowd quickly shared whispers, watching the pelican’s owner rush to keep up with Astrid’s pace.

“Hi, Shooting Star’s Guild Master!” the young woman said joyfully. “I’m Brenda Hannes, and I—”

“I remember you,” Astrid interrupted, gritting her teeth. “Or better say, I remember your bloody bird. What are you doing here? You have your mount back, right? Or are you looking for compensation?”

The young woman, with auburn hair tied into a side ponytail, and green eyes was at a loss of words. “N-No! I’m here for the same reason as everyone else. I’m looking to join your guild!”

“Why?” Astrid halted to confront her. “Are you here to ransom me? So you can keep quiet about what you saw?!”

The startled Brenda raised her palms. “I-I think there’s a misunderstanding here!”

“Yeah, right,” Astrid muttered before throwing a punch. Brenda managed to dodge it, jumping back.

“W-Wait!” Brenda cried. “I’m telling you the truth! I’m just here to apply!”

“And I said that I’ll be testing your worth!” Astrid shouted, jumping over her.

The resulting stomp made the ground tremble and created a 10-feet wide hole. Brenda looked at it from a safe distance, knowing she could have died there. “All right, I’ll treat this as a test, then! But shouldn’t we equip ourselves first?” she asked, sweating cold.

“You’re right. Go ahead and put on your best gear,” Astrid said, emanating a red aura. “Or you won’t stand a chance.”

“Dammit, how did it come to this?” Brenda muttered as she manipulated her User Interface. In an instant, a set of armor materialized over her body. She then blinked, astonished, looking at Astrid changing into regular spandex workout clothes. “Aren’t you going to…?”

“How unlucky you are,” Astrid said, dashing and getting in front of Brenda in a second. “Because I’m in a very bad mood right now.” Astrid threw a punch, which Brenda managed to block. “Oh… Interesting. Where is your weapon?”

“T-These are my weapons,” Brenda said with clenched teeth, using all of her strength to push Astrid back in vain.

These gauntlets? Astrid thought, examining them up close. There’s something strange about them… No… It’s her. A strange energy is flowing through her palms.

Astrid grabbed the applicant by the back of her neck and attempted a knee strike to the stomach, but Brenda blocked again using both hands. Astrid then head-butted her, making Brenda retreat. The bar displaying her HP got cut in half.

I knew it. Her Vitality is not that high, and yet, something is strange about this gal, Astrid thought, giving Brenda precious seconds to recover.

“If you’re trying to impress me, you’re doing a terrible job,” Astrid teased. “Come on! Give me everything you have!”

Brenda stared at her, bleeding from her forehead. “I can’t! At least not yet!”

“A Conditional Skill, huh? How about this, then?” Astrid said in a soft voice, as she gathered mana into her fist.

Brenda opened her eyes wide and stretched out her hands forward.

She’s not casting.

“You’re fully prepared to receive this, huh?!” Astrid continued, laughing out loud. “I won’t hold back then! Quick-Dragonfist!”

A pillar of fire, taking the shape of a dragon’s head engulfed Brenda’s entire body, and continued traveling towards the Headquarters outer fence. The fiery attack was then stopped by a force shield, preventing it from getting to the street.

You really shouldn’t have come here, Astrid thought, turning back.

“What was that all about?!” Tamara cried, dashing to her side.

“Oh, Tammie, were you watching?”

“That was totally excessive! Even for you!”

“We need the best of the best, don’t we?” Astrid grimaced, looking away. “Her level was 79, so she should have known what she was coming to when applying for a spot here.”

“Astrid…” Tamara whispered, watching the still-lit flames in her leader’s eyes.

“Whatever. Bring the next one.”

“I can keep going!” a voice cried behind them.

Turning back, Astrid found a still-standing Brenda. Although her entire body fumed and half of her armor had been burned to ashes, she still had the energy to smirk.

Even Tamara tilted her head, frowning. “How did she…?”

“Did you use a Unique Talent?” Astrid asked aloud.

“Y-Yes… I can absorb any elemental magic coming my way, or m-mitigate any physical attack… As long as I’m on my guard, of course…” Brenda replied, sounding exhausted. “I-I can keep fighting! D-Don’t kick me out just yet!”

“The simple fact that she withstood that it’s impressive, Astrid,” Tamara whispered to her boss, who strolled forward.

“Can you absorb ANY elemental magic?” Astrid asked.

“Any element… Although I don’t have any experience fighting Light and Dark—”

“You’re in,” Astrid interrupted, reaching out a hand.

The girl’s eyes shone like jewels. “Seriously?! Oh, man! Thank you, Guild—”

“On one condition,” Astrid added in a deep voice, pulling her closer. Their eyes were inches away. “Have we met before?”

“Y-yes… Back in—”

“WRONG. This is the first time we speak to each other, got it? I’ve never been to Icebard, and you never lent me your Mount. Understood?”

“Y-yes, Guild Master…”

“Sorry about your armor. We’ll provide you with a new one later, okay?” Astrid said while studying her face. “Why do you want to join us, anyway? You were already in a guild.”

“That’s because…” Brenda began shyly, before slapping her own cheeks and kneeling in a knightly fashion. “You’re the strongest warrior I’ve ever seen! And this combat practice has proven it! I’ll follow you to the deepest corners of hell if you ask me to!”

Astrid narrowed her eyes at her. “…Okay?”

“Should I sign a contract expressing what I just said?”

“L-Later… Now, outta my way! I have others to test! Tamara, tell the rest to save in the Training Room. I may end up killing a lot of them.”

“Yes, Guild Master!” Tamara saluted, before smiling at Brenda. “Welcome to Shooting Stars.”

“T-Thanks! I’ll do my best!” Brenda beamed, watching them go. She could scream with excitement right there and then, but her shoulders dropped. “T-That was close. Why didn’t the Guild Master let me save first like the others? But it’s okay! What’s important it’s that I entered! Yay, me!”

“Yay, you. Should we celebrate?” a voice whispered in Brenda’s ear, jolting her.

“W-Who’s there?!” Brenda cried, immediately adopting a fighting stance, but the honey-blonde girl in front of her only snickered.

“I heard all about it. You just got in, right?” Marissa said, inspecting Brenda from head to toes. “Should I show you around?”

“Does that mean that you’re my superior?” Brenda gasped, and quickly saluted. “Pardon me, ma’am! I’m Brenda Hannes, nice to meet you! May I have your name?”

“I’m Marissa Laflamme. And I’ll be in charge of training the rookies, so it’ll be in your best interest to listen to whatever I have to say, got it?”

“Understood, Ms. Laflamme. I’ll be at your charge.”

Not even a couple of seconds passed before Marissa burst into laughter, making Brenda frown. “Sorry! I couldn’t resist pulling your leg! It’s just that you’re too formal! But it’s true what I said about training the rookies.” Grinning, Marissa grabbed Brenda’s hand. “Follow me. Are you hungry? Our NPCs prepare the best chocolate muffins in all The Novus. They’re to die for, and a good remedy for a broken heart.”

Brenda stopped in her tracks. “What do you mean by that?”

“You just got rejected and you didn’t even notice,” Marissa replied, smirking. “What you just did right now? About swearing your allegiance to the Golden Comet? Bullshit. You came here because you fancy Astrid. Admit it.”

Brenda’s mood darkened in a second. And with a quick wrist movement, got rid of Marissa’s hold. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Unfazed, Marissa shrugged it off immediately. “Aww, don’t give me those puppy eyes. You’re too cute to look that gloomy!”

“And I’d appreciate it if you stop teasing me.”

“Why? I’m just telling the truth.”

“Stop it, please!”

A few feet away from them, a concealed Helen snickered. “So you got a new pet, huh?”

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