Morning light leaked through the clouds as Ahrie yawned and stretched.

The horse was already awake—staring at him like it hadn't slept at all.

"Let's go, sleepyhead," Ahrie muttered, rubbing his eyes.

The horse snorted.

They walked through the streets, half the townsfolk staring at the odd pair—

a rough-looking seeker and a sleek, black, blue-eyed horse that looked too proud to belong to him.

At the Seeker's Hall, Ahrie tied the horse's rope to a nearby tree.

"Ssst! Behave yourself, got it? I'll be back."

He patted its neck, then stepped inside.

The horse watched him disappear through the doors.

Moments passed.

A man, a trader by the look of his satchel, strolled by and slowed down when he saw it.

He whistled low. "Well now… what do we have here?"

He stepped closer, hand out, a greedy glint in his eye.

"That's some fine breed… wonder who left you out here alone…"

The horse's ear twitched.

Its blue eyes tracked his every move.

The man reached for the rope—

Snap.

The sound made the air go still.

The horse lifted its head, eyes cold as winter glass.

Ahrie headed straight to the second floor.

He entered the same room where he got his healer's identification.

"Oh my… you're early," someone muttered.

It was the same human examiner — the guy who gave him his license. He was scribbling something on his desk.

"Sit for a bit," the man said.

Ahrie dropped on the couch, eyes wandering around the room.

His gaze landed on a small name plaque sitting on the desk.

Dane.

So that's his name, Ahrie thought.

The man noticed Ahrie staring and smirked.

"Yeah, that's me. Dane. Level 5 Support. B-tier Healer."

He leaned back, twirling his pen between his fingers.

"I love seeing blood. Especially from a patient."

Ahrie blinked.

"…You really didn't need to add that last part," he muttered under his breath.

Dane grinned, eyes darkly amused. "Can't help it. Honesty's part of the profession."

"So the mission's in the town next to ours," Dane said.

"Embergarde. The land of fire." He said it like it meant something heavy.

Then, after a pause— "Literally."

"It's our kingdom's first line of—"

"Wait, what? Famous for blacksmithing or something?" Ahrie cut in.

"Ahh, no. It's always on fire."

Ahrie blinked. Then just shut up.

"Our first line of defense against the southern forest creatures," Dane continued.

"Apparently, Butterfly populations have gone way up. They're swarming closer—hundreds, maybe more."

"Ohh." Ahrie's eyes lit up, weirdly excited.

"Like I said before," Dane went on, "the job earns you five hundred bronze coins. You'll be stationed in a tent, healing every wounded person from the front lines."

"Can I join the front lines?"

Dane grinned, leaning in.

"After you hit your quota." Then he leaned back, smirking.

Ahrie cracked his knuckles.

"So… are you going to participate?" Dane asked.

"Heck yeah."

"Good. Fill up this form and we're good to go."

Ahrie filled it in, fast.

"That's all you need to know," Dane said.

"Is it okay if I bring another one?" Ahrie asked.

"Another healer?"

"No. A tank."

"Ohh, sure. But he'll be on the front lines while you're stuck in the tent. And his pay's not as large as yours."

"That's fine," Ahrie muttered—then paused.

Wait… how'd he know?

"Enter his name here," Dane said, sliding the paper closer. "And sign it as his proxy."

"Ah, okay." Ahrie signed, stood up, stretched his arms, and headed for the door.

"We'll head there tomorrow morning!," Dane called out.

Ahrie didn't reply—just waved lazily behind his back as he walked out.

After leaving the Seekers Hall, Ahrie immediately went to where he tied his slim horse.

The tree was gone.

No rope. No horse. Just a crack on the tree where the horse was tied up.

"Huh? Where the fuck is that shit…" Ahrie muttered, scanning the area.

He looked around—and spotted Min in the corner, arms crossed, watching him with a smirk.

"Pff… so it really was our horse," Min laughed.

"What chu mean…" Ahrie asked, walking toward him.

Min explained…

Earlier, a merchant walked up to the slim horse.

It tried to untie the rope—

The horse panicked and tried to attack.

Wham!

It missed and slammed its feet on the tree instead… which helped the merchant loosen the rope even faster.

Min grinned, trying not to laugh again.

"The horse froze there, bud."

"Pff…" Ahrie snorted and placed a hand on Min's shoulder.

"Then they threw it in a cage," Min continued.

"Then why the hell didn't you help that shit?" Ahrie asked, face inching closer to Min's.

"Yeah… now that you mention it, I froze too," Min admitted.

"After they left, I was like, 'wait… was that our horse?' So I waited for you to show up."

He crossed his arms, proud. "And I was right."

Ahrie's eye twitched. He grabbed Min by the neck and shook him.

"It—doesn't—matter—if—you're—right!"

He finally let go, sighing hard.

"Should we find it?" Min asked.

"Naaah," Ahrie replied.

He grabbed Min by the collar and started dragging him along.

"Tomorrow morning, we head to Embergarde," Ahrie said.

"Ohh, that the extermination quest?"

"Yea yea… so let's buy some supplies."

They went around the market, buying what they could—

a bag big enough for travel,

Seasonings,

and a few other random things that looked useful.

As they walked down the road, Min looked a bit gloomy.

"Are we walking all the way there?"

"Free horse ride," Ahrie said, giving a thumbs up.

Min sighed in relief.

Then—

a carriage rolled past them.

Inside, tied up, was the slim horse.

Ahrie and Min froze.

They both stared for a few seconds… then silently kept walking.

Until—

They overheard the merchant talking to his guard.

"Yeah, I found it in the open and took it. Whoever left that there's a fucking idiot."

Min turned to Ahrie, eyes wide.

"Oh… oh…"

Ahrie looked back at him, expression dead serious for a second.

Then his lips curved into a grin.

"Wanna have some fun?"

Both of them grinned at each other.

"Mweheheh…"

The air got heavier.

Ahrie rolled his shoulders.

Min cracked his knuckles.

The merchant had no idea what kind of hell was about to roll up behind his carriage.

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