The morning sunlight filtered through the wooden shutters, casting a faint glow across the room.
I was still in a deep sleep when a sudden loud noise woke me up.
Before I could groan in protest, I felt a pair of hands shaking my shoulders with relentless enthusiasm. Blinking sleepily, I opened my eyes to see Aurora hovering above me, her bunny ears twitching and her rose-gold hair a mess.
"Wake up, wake up! I'm starving! I want meat - yesterday was so good, I want more!" - she chirped, her voice filled with excitement as she continued to push me.
I sighed, completely helpless, and tried to stand up, a long yawn escaping my lips.
"I remember locking the door... How did you get in?" - I grumbled.
Aurora grinned, puffing out her chest proudly.
"That magic! Isn't it amazing, hehe?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief, clearly enjoying her little trick.
I sighed again and dragged myself out of bed, going into the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face and shaking off the remnants of sleep. Then, I went into the kitchen, my eyes stopping at the pieces of wild boar she had hunted yesterday. The wild boar was not small at all, yet she had devoured a third of it in one go. Shaking my head in dismay, I decided to cook something different this time – a hearty wild boar stew with vegetables. I couldn't let us live on meat alone.
As the aroma of simmering meat and herbs filled the air, Aurora's nose twitched. She walked over, looked into the pot, her expression changing slightly when she saw the carrots and potatoes floating in the broth.
"oh ewww no! Vegetables again! I'm going to die!" - she exclaimed, her voice dripping with exaggerated horror.
I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head at her pickiness - though, in a strange way, it was quite endearing.
"Just the vegetables won't kill you," I consoled, stirring the pot.
After some pleading, the stew was finally done. I ladled it into bowls and set it on the table. Aurora's eyes lit up, and she dove in eagerly, muttering "Delicious!" between bites. I asked her to eat the vegetables too, and though her face scrunched up and her lips pursed, "Disgusting," she grumbled, she reluctantly complied.
The morning passed in a burst of laughter and a rare warmth - something the house had not seen in a long time. The clatter of spoons, Aurora's mischievous complaints, and the pleasant aroma of the stew filled the air, dispelling the usual silence.
After eating, it was time to move on to the plan we had discussed.
"Get ready," I said, standing up.
"We'll go to the Guild to sell the Ghost Bull you hunted yesterday. Wait here while I get the horse."
Aurora waved her hand, cutting me off. "No need! Come with me and Heilbronn—he's much faster!" Her eyes lit up with the same eagerness, and though I hesitated, her enthusiasm discouraged me. With reluctance
A moment later, we were on Heilbronn's back, the sleek black panther gliding down the trail with a grace that belied its enormous size. Its ghostly form moved swiftly, the wind whistling past us as Aurora clung to my back, her laughter ringing in my ears. But as we neared the town, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Villagers along the way turned to stare, their whispers cutting through the air like sharp blades.
"There's the executioner and his wife... Poor girl, what a bad fate," one muttered, his voice low but full of venom.
"It's a shame she has to live with that executioner," another added, his voice filled with pity.
Aurora's rabbit ears twitched, her hyper-sensitive hearing picking up every word. She tightened her grip on me, and though the rumors were untrue, she could do nothing but bite her lip and stay silent. I noticed a flash of disappointment in her eyes, but I focused on leading Heilbronn forward. The rumors spread further than I thought, like a persistent shadow following my every step.
A moment later, the Guild appeared before me - the only place where my title as an executioner did not cause fear and alienation. It was a sturdy building decorated with banners, bustling with adventurers who valued strength over lineage or profession. The stronger you were, the more respected you were. Only the newbies, clinging to old prejudices, looked at me with wary eyes, but they got used to it after a while. This was where I often traded, a rare refuge.
We dismounted and walked inside. I approached the reception desk, nodding to the familiar face behind me. "Latania, are you okay?" - It was Latania, the daughter of the GuildMaster and one of the few friends I had.
She looked up, her lips curling into a friendly smile. "Hey, Charlie! You're such a jerk - getting married without even telling me!"
"Get married?" - I blinked, surprised.
"Yeah, that girl next to you, right?" - She tilted her head towards Aurora, her tone teasing.
Both Aurora and I stuttered in protest. "No, no, that's not it!" - I said, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Not getting married! Just... traveling together!" - Aurora quickly added, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Latania smiled, waving her hand. "Relax, I was just kidding. So, what are you guys here for today?"
I placed the bags containing the Ghost Bull parts on the counter. The skin, claws, fangs, and horns were carefully wrapped inside, but the meat - tough and inedible - was thrown out.
"We have a Ghost Bull for sale. She hunted it yesterday - skin, claws, fangs, and horns. But the meat is useless."
Latania's eyes widened as she opened the bag, revealing a massive, scarred hide, razor-sharp claws, jagged fangs, and sturdy horns. A hush fell over the nearby adventurers, their chatter halting as they gathered around.
The Ghost Bull was no ordinary beast - its armored hide, deadly claws, and sharp horns marked it out as a formidable monster, difficult to take down by anyone but the most experienced. Murmurs of surprise filled the room.
"No way... A Ghost Bull? Those claws and horns are quite valuable!" - one adventurer exclaimed.
"Did Charlie actually take it down? Maybe with her help?" - another speculated, looking curiously at Aurora and Heilbronn.
Latania called out to an appraiser, who arrived shortly. After a thorough examination, the appraiser nodded.
"High quality goods. The skin is perfect for armor, the claws for weapons, the fangs for medicine, and the horns for crafting. This can be sold for 700 gold coins - not counting the meat, of course."
Aurora's eyes lit up. "700 gold coins? A feast awaits!" she exclaimed, her tail wagging.
"Thank you. We'll be right back." I nodded, taking the heavy bag of coins from Latania.
But as we turned to leave, Latania stepped forward, her eyes shining with a predatory glint, as if she had spotted a potential prey.
"Wait! Wait a minute, you two!" She blocked our path, her gaze fixed on Aurora.
"What's the matter?" I frowned.
Latania's smile widened. "Aurora, right? I couldn't help but notice your strength and that leopard. You have great potential. Would you like to join this Guild? With your skills, you will rise quickly – maybe even surpass the veterans!" She pointed at the room, her tone eager.
Aurora blinked, surprised, her ears twitching. She glanced at me, then back at Latania, who was processing the offer.
"Join the Guild? I've never been before." She muttered, her voice both curious and uncertain.
The entire Guild room seemed to fall silent, curiously waiting for Aurora's decision, and whether she would agree to join or not?