[NORTH KOREA – REFUGEE CAMP]
Thalia laid on her bed…body aching in places she never knew existed.
'Was that really training? It felt more like torture…I think I broke a dozen bones…at least.'
'I better get some rest…I have more 'training' tomorrow.'
As she drifted into sleep, she couldn't help smiling. Everyone she met today were extremely powerful and a bit eccentric too…but she liked it.
[A FEW DAYS LATER]
"Thalia, good you are here. Let me introduce you to someone, this is Miho Baek. She will be staying with us on the base," Hae-in Cha said with a warm smile. Next to her was a beautiful young woman with magenta colored hair.
The two girls greeted each other respectfully. They had met before…on the day Thalia and her family exited the Void Labyrinth and arrived on earth. It wasn't exactly a warm "home-coming" full of introductions.
"I have two big announcements…first, congratulations Thalia you are now officially a full- fledged member of the Hunters Association. Here is your identification card," Hae-in Cha announced as she handed over a card to Thalia.
Thalia examined the card, which read:
Thalia Lightmaiden
License Number 679054251467
Rank S
Mage
"Lightmaiden? What is that?" Thalia asked as she reviewed her ID card.
"Oh, hmm…here on earth people normally have two names. The first is their individual name, and the second is their family name…the Hunters Association assigned you a last name…but if you don't like it, you can file a request for Name Change." Hae-in replied.
"The second big announcement," she continued speaking with a slightly more authoritative voice, "starting today the two of you will be partners…so get to know each other well, you will be working together on missions from now on."
Miho nodded politely. Truthfully, she tried desperately to refuse this assignment. Her father, however persuaded her to accept it.
[…]
"Why do I have the babysit the princess? I have too much work…there's the new recruits, trainings, scheduling, running the guild is keep me way too busy!" Miho shouted at her father.
"I know you don't like it…but think about it…this is a rare, very rare opportunity. You do know she is a top priority for the IHA? Plus, she is a unique individual…potentially just as powerful as hunter Suho Sung. That alone is a huge asset for us…and I mean all of us." Yoonho Baek calmly explained.
"Besides…you work too much…it will be good for you to get away for a bit and spend time with girls your own age." He said with a concerned fatherly tone.
[…]
So with little choice in the matter, Miho accepted the assignment.
She was personally briefed by Jong-In Choi, President of the South Korea's Hunters Association.
For the next 2 weeks, Thalia and Miho cleared numerous dungeons together. For most of these missions the strike-squad was kept intentionally small (4-5 party members)…with Thalia serving as an attacker, buffer, cleanser, scout, and healer. Miho served as squad Captain.
The strike-team was frequently surprised by Thalia's wide range of skills…specially her ability to see through walls, objects, even dimensions. This helped avoid ambushes, and unwanted surprises while inside dungeons.
When they were not raiding dungeons, Miho and Thalia struggled to find things in common…so they ended up focusing on the one thing they had in common…hunting monsters. They spent hours talking and coming up with new attack combinations. Some were ridiculously impractical, others were "cool" on paper but not feasible in actual combat. Still the pair enjoyed sharing their ideas. Before long they viewed one another with respect and care.