Chapter 4: First Job

"What?" I managed to keep myself calm but my heart says the otherwise. It's beating fast and can't seem to calm down. How did he know about that? No, he must be just predicting without proper evidence or did he already knew it from the start?

"Before you dranked that potion, I was already watching you even before you stepped in the fourth floor. I saw your reaction when your eyes landed in that mission, it was quite intriguing. You're like the rarest diamond in disguise of a stone, once someone find out, they will surely not hesitate upon taking you," he continued reading the book not minding what he just said. Will he just keep ignoring me like he didn't say anything?

'You knew but why won't you take me?' I want to say this out loud but I can't. I just sat there with a lump of my throat, afraid that I might reveal some unnecessary clues about it further.

Yet, it's impossible he doesn't know what a Gardner is capable of. The information about our clan is mostly known far and wide. Our lives bring power! And everyone craves for it!

He can be the most powerful mage in the country if he kills me right now. But why? I thought for the moment he knew, he'll kill me. Is he different from others? No, everyone are the same. He probably marked me as his prey, right now.

In contrary, I don't really know what lies behind that face in his, I can't tell what he's thinking. He shows a neutral face like the thing we're discussing isn't life threatening. But the fact that he didn't make a move is bothering me somewhat.

I shouldn't worry myself about this. If he predicted, then he did. As if I have something to do in order to erase it from his memories. But maybe if I does erase it, he might just deduct it the next time we meet.

I stood up and walked on my way to the door. "Forget being an avenger," that was his words before I stepped out of the library. The door closed in an instant and I was leaning against it.

I stood outside for a moment with my hand on my chest. He knows me, he knows my goal. How can I calm down? I sighed and took a breath deeply. I opened the door to reply, "I'm living to avenge my clan and you're telling me to forget it? It's like you're telling me to die." and then I slammed the door. I mustered a lot of courage just to reply. Why do I feel something from him? Like it's my responsibility to be afraid whenever I sense his presence.

The library where they kept me was a room located on the fourth floor. I went down the stairs while my mind is flying off somewhere thinking if joining a guild would probably make me reach my goal. But considering the current circumstances, it might even affect it negatively.

I can't changs the fact that I'm also at fault here. If I would have not been that greedy getting a lot of money in my first job. Guess I should learn my lesson this time.

When I got out on the stairs and showed myself on the first floor, where everyone is, I thought everyone would resent me for what I did but they became worried about me, instead. What is this? It doesn't seem to be a joke.

"What did Knoah do to you?!" Aqua's worried face was the one who first showed out in front of me. I looked around me and noticed that everyone's eyes are seriously showing worry.

I lowered my head because of guilt. But then, Aqua's hand lifted up my chin, letting me show that no one hates me nor wants my apology.

"Most of the members here are hardheaded. They also break rules so it's normal to us if someone does it. You're just unlucky that there are 4 mages inside. Also, three of them are Elites," She explained as if she had read my mind. I suddenly remembered her helping me at that time.

"Are you okay when that white haired man who froze you earlier?" I remembered and immediately asked her. She showed me an assuring face telling me that she's fine.

"The one who froze me, he's Ice. You're struggling with their names, might as well I introduce them to you since you'll be our comrade from now on."

Comrade? No, humans don't think anyone as their comrade, a tool would be the best to describe it. They will use you until they're satisfied and got what their needed. Soon, they will just throw you away like some kind of trash whenevee they find something more useful.

Aqua then introduced me to the other persons I saw on the fourth floor. Raver, the one who imitated Amber's hair. Ice, the one who had the ice magic. Scythe, the one with the nullifying eye magic. Last, the one who killed Henry, Knoah.

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I stared at the ceiling thinking back what happened. Especially Knoah's expression, he knows my clan yet he doesn't give a damn.

He also has a clue that revenge is one of my goals. He warned me earlier. He's dangerous, better watch out for him.

For a mage to know what ability we obtain, it's rare to find someone not killing us for power. Our life can be exchanged with a huge amount of magic. It increases your magical ability whether it's for defensive or offensive.

So means, if you kill one of us, especially from our main branch, you'll gain an enormous amount of magic power, maybe twice or thrice the magic power you currently have. That's what my late mother explained.

That's why it is said to be unfortunate if you're born a Gardner. It's true, from my ancestor down to my current generation, we are being hunted by different mages in order to gain power. Until I was the only one left. It's really great that I've slowly starting to accept I'm the last. But my conscience...

I shook off my thoughts because I was about to remember something terrible. But then I suddenly felt a pain being in my nape. I caressed it, the place where the guild's crest lies. I'm really part of a guild right now.

"Mother, Father, do you think I will have a chance to get along with others? The guild members really are nice to me. They are not bad like those people who hunts us. I came to know someone who somewhat guessed right who am I. Please give me guidance in my journey and show some signs if who are the persons I can trust."

What am I thinking? As if I have someone I can really trust. I should restrain myself from making connections, it could be my downfall at any moment. Trusting is like letting someone place a knife upon your throat. I'm not an idiot to let myself killed without even moving a step forward to avenge my clan.

...----------------...

It was a nice day and since I've learned my lesson, "Don't break the rules when Knoah is around." I really got a little traumatized last time but I think that Knoah guy isn't someone to announce people's business to everyone. For now, I decided to go on a lower rank mission, choosing to follow the rules.

I just knew from Aqua that Knoah is the one in charge of punishing rule-breakers, and even I can't deny the fact that the punishment is truly scary that I hope it won't happen again next time.

I found a job worth a whole month pay for my apartment, but I still need to work everyday to feed myself. It's D-class and it's easy. I just need to escort someone and make sure that person will be back safe.

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Knoah's Point Of View

"Who went on the escorting mission?" I  asked when I noticed the disappearance of the escorting mission on the request board.

Amber answered, "Amanda, any problem?"

"Nothing."

Though it's a D-rank mission, I hope Amanda wouldn't get herself in trouble. The one she's going to escort is not excluded to those humans who's craving for the rarest diamond.

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