When Zane opened his eyes in the morning after another night of meditation the first thing he saw two yellowish eyes that almost appeared golden in the lighting.

"Good morning Reaper," Merana said with a still sleepy voice.

Zane nodded back at her.

"You need to talk more Reaper," she said as she walked out of the tent.

I'd rather not . . . or would I . . . I don't even know anymore.

Zane got up as well and looked over to Mira who was still under the blanket, sleeping. He looked at her dark red hair which he found beautiful, the tip of one of her white tails that were almost as white as his own hair, the silhouette of her slim body beneath the blanket. After a short while, she opened one of her two eyes, slightly and a shimmer of light blue could be seen through her eyelashes. She stretched and yawned.

"Ah, good morning Zane," she said as she rubbed her eyes.

"Morning," Zane said.

"Breakfast is done!" Merana said from outside the tent.

Zane smiled at Mira and waited for her to get out from under her blanket, she was still wearing the armring with the Rune on it. They both left the tent and sat down at a small table that the guards had set up with lots of food on it. The two sat down with Merana and began eating. As they ate Zane took a closer look at Merana as well. Her dark red hair reached down to her shoulders, the nine tails coming from her back were each a different shade of orange with white tips, her eyes were a beautiful shade of yellow, just like one of Mira's eyes. She had a face more serious than her sister but it was beautiful in its own way.

Are all of the members in that side family so beautiful?

After they finished eating the guards packed up the tent and the table while Merana, Mira and Zane sat down in the carriage.

"We'll be there soon, we should go to Holvin immediately. He will be happy to see the bride of his son again," Merana said.

"Yes, yes. Although that might have changed by now, who would want a wife with only one hand," Mira said, trying her best to sound sad.

"Oh not that again. I already told you that he won't mind. You will get a nice replacement made by the best craftsmen available. It might not be a real hand but it will look beautiful," Merana said as she put both her hands on Mira's thighs.

"Yeah, yeah," she said.

"What about you Reaper? Are you excited to change your career?" Merana asked.

Am I excited to change my career? Why is everyone assuming that I'm going to accept? Or am I assuming that I won't? Does that even make sense . . . oh I just don't know anymore.

"Don't tell me you've decided to just go away after coming all this way together with her. That would be a shame. And Holvin would pay you so much as well. Reconsider. Please. Do it for my dear sister Mira," Merana said.

Zane just shrugged.

"Does that really mean you won't stay? B-But you promised," Mira said with a saddened voice.

"I don't know yet," Zane said.

I should make my decision soon . . .

The rest of their journey was quiet. Mira just stared out of the window, Merana lay on her bench with her eyes closed and Zane looked out of the window on his side. He watched as they passed many small huts in the snowy forest, he watched the mountain range cast its shadow over them as the sun rose to the zenith of the sky. The spruce trees were tall and the dark green needle clusters were covered in white snow and small animals were running up and down the dark trunks of the trees. After a while, they began going uphill and at that time they also started passing small huts with cut down trees beside some of them which were currently being worked on by some people dressed in furs. Others were surrounded by tanning racks or beams with dead animals hanging down, hunters were skinning them.

Guess that's where they get those kinds of things.

And as they got higher up the hill the mountain closed in on them and the path they were travelling on branched of to the base of the mountains. Through the trees, Zane could see the openings to mineshafts with minecarts and barrels in front of them. In front of a few of them were some miners taking a break, their pickaxes resting on their shoulders.

"We're almost home," Merana said with excitement in her voice.

They passed two large stone statues of nine-tailed foxes, one to each site and then the carriage stopped in front of a large gate.

"Who's there?" someone asked with a monotone voice.

"Merana Vermillion together with her sister, Mira Vermillion who was brought to her by the mercenary known as the Reaper!" one of the guards said.

For a few seconds, there was nothing but footsteps and then the sound of the large gate opening came to Zane's ears.

"Please go through," the person said.

As they drove past the person Zane saw that it was a small demi-human man with the ears and tail of a wolf. They left the gate behind them and were now on the neat stone main street of Kalwa. Each stone had been laid down as perfectly as the last one. They followed the main street for a while, driving past many houses made of wood, their ground floor made of stone. The roofs were all tilted away from the main street so that the snow would all fall to the other side of the houses. Many signs had been hung down from small wooden beams hanging from the houses, each for a different shop.

And in the distance Zane could already see it, carved and embedded into the mountain was the massive mansion of the Vermillion main family. A wide ramp led from the main street up to a large platform, that had been carved into the mountain as well, from which multiple paths branched off. One leading upwards to the main family, and one to each side leading to the mansions of the other families.

As they got closer the bells of the two belltowers at the base of the ramp began ringing loudly, announcing their arrival. It took them a short while to go up the ramp but once they were on the large platform with only a large staircase in front of them and the ramp behind them the carriage was stopped again.

Both Merana and Mira got out, Zane following behind them.

"Ah, perfect. Mira my dear I am so happy that you have returned to us, be it with a little help," a familiar voice said.

Zane stepped out of the carriage only to see a familiar person standing there. Dressed in expensive clothing, his short dark red hair reflecting the sun, his nine orange tails with their golden tips waving in the wind, holding his tummy with his hands and both of his crimson eyes focused on Mira. Next to him stood a person that was unusually tall for normal people, even taller than his father who was one of the tallest people Zane had seen outside his own family. His hair was dark red and short, his eyes the same shade of crimson as Holvin's he even wore the same clothing and his tails were the same colour as Holvin's as well.

"Mira, it makes me happy to see you again," the person said. "Are you well?"

Mira nodded, avoiding his eyes.

"Don't lie," Merana said.

"Shut it," Mira responded.

"What does she mean?" the man asked.

Merana walked up to Zane and whispered in his ear, "That's Xavier, her future husband."

"I-It's nothing too bad," Mira said.

"Oh just tell him that you lost a hand," Merana said.

"Y-You lost what!?" both Holvin and Xavier asked at the same time.

"I-It was an accident, but I'm sure you wouldn't want a wife with only one hand. So I'll just leave again," Mira said, again trying to sound sad but Zane could hear the small sliver of hope in her voice again.

"What? It does not change a thing, my dear. Is that not right my boy?" Holvin said.

"Of course father." Xavier turned to Mira. "I love you, and even this will not change that," he said.

How come Mira doesn't like him? And wasn't he supposed to be quiet?

"Well then, while you two catch up I will do the business talk," Holvin said. "Oh, and Merana. If you would be so kind as to tell the craftsmen to make a hand for her."

Merana nodded and walked away, her guards following close behind her.

"Well Zane, please follow me," Holvin said.

Zane nodded and followed Holvin up the stairs. Further up he could see Mira and Xavier walking but he and Holvin quickly passed them and entered the mansion.

As soon as they entered they were in a large hall that was multiple floors high. It had many staircases leading to the other floors and multiple doors in the wall. On the ground was a large carpet with roses and nine-tailed foxes on it. Thick pillars were holding up the ceiling that was part of the mountain itself. The walls were made of dark wood and the glass windows were beautiful, giving way for a view of the entire city.

Zane followed Holvin through one of the doors in the wall, his cloak dragging over the floor, and they entered his office. In the wall behind him was a glass wall, giving view to a waterfall that was silently running behind it. In front of the glass wall was a large dark desk with many documents on it. The heads of animals were hanging on the walls along with a few weapons and there was a window behind them.

"Please take a seat," Holvin said, pointing at the chair in front of his desk as he sat down.

Zane sat down while Holvin was looking through a few documents.

"Ah, here it is," he said when he found what he was looking for. "The public bounty was one thousand, that means you get three thousand. Now I heard that you killed a few goblins on my lands. What kind and how many?" Holvin asked.

Right.

"About three hundred small ones, ten lords, five breeders, one high sorcerer, one king," Zane said.

How many hobs were there? Ah, don't remember.

"Alright, three hundred . . . eight hundred . . . one five . . . one six . . . two. Two thousand it is. That means your payment comes out at five thousand gold coins," Holvin said. "You're making me poor," he joked as he wrote something down on a piece of paper.

He snapped and a person walked into the room. It was a demi-human woman with wolf properties. She wore a pale pink dress with a dark red vest over it. When she came before Zane and Holvin she bowed, took the piece of paper and left the room again.

"You will get your payment shortly," Holvin said as he put his hands together. "Now let's talk about the job offer."

Do I accept this? Or should I . . . But maybe this is what I need. Maybe this can be my purpose.

"I accept . . . but I want the right to quit any time I want," Zane said.

"Of course, of course. Now as for payment . . . I was thinking five hundred gold coins per month," Holvin said as he leaned back in his chair.

"A thousand," Zane replied.

"Five fifty."

"Nine fifty."

Holvin thought for a few seconds.

"Seven," he said.

"Eight fifty."

"Seven seventy-five, my last offer," Holvin said.

"Good," Zane replied with a satisfied look on his face.

Holvin leaned forwards and the two shook hands.

"Now if there is anything in terms of equipment you need you should get a discount," Holvin said.

He opened a drawer and rummaged through it.

"Here take this," he said as he held a ring towards Zane.

The ring was made of silver with golden lines on it, winding on the ring like a snake. Zane took it and turned it in his hand.

"You have a string or something like that?" Zane asked.

"A string . . . give me a moment," Holvin said as he opened another drawer. "Here we go."

Holvin took a black string just like the one that was used for Zane's necklace and handed it to him. Zane pulled it through the ring and bound it together, turning it into another necklace which he then put around his neck.

"Well then, now that this is taken care of I will go and have a talk with Mira and my son," Holvin said as he got up. "Once you decide to go to bed ask one of the servants around here to lead you to your room."

Zane nodded at Holvin as he followed him outside.

"And I am glad to have you," Holvin said to Zane with a smile before he left the mansion and turned to the right, walking along a wooden walkway built into the side of the mountain.

Zane went outside as well, looking over the city from up there.

Guess this will be my life from now on.