Waking up to a bright morning, Lumina got back into a routine of getting dressed, going down to get breakfast, coming back up for a quick bath then heading getting ready. Once she leaves the inn, she jogs to the Hunters Guild in the inner ring ready to take the final examination.
Lumina enters the training grounds to see the others who passed the last test either hanging around or sitting, waiting for the examiner to come through. After a period of time, the examiner from before heads into the room all kitted out in leather armour with his broadsword sheathed to his side carrying an imposing air of momentum.
"First off, the names Newman and I’ll be your practical examiner. Now the test will be to hunt a lightning bear in the edges of the forest of silence and be aware I will not be helping you under any conditions, the tracking, mapping and hunting have to be completed by you and you alone. Are we clear?"
After saying this, everyone in the room nodded "Good, now let’s set out." Leaving the hunters guild, Lumina and the rest headed to the south gate in which Lumina arrived from a couple of days ago heading towards the silent forest.
On the way, the company started to make some small talk to each other to increase a little bit of comradery making sure that the team goes well. The swordsman decidedly introduced himself first as "Dave, exiled from the dominion of the holy sun empire, main weapons the sword but I can also handle the spear as well what about you guys?" He asked in a rather gruff tone.
"My names Sharron and studied the art of elemental magic and apprentice in earth and fire as a specialty, born and raised here." In a relatively monotone voice, Sharron answered before motioning her eyes to the cat beastkin to go next.
"Names Sheryl, thief and trained assassination under some weird old ass man in the slums nya hehehe." Sheryl was the most animated and contagiously joyous bringing up the mood.
"Ternan, scout bowman." The elf answered in short sentences revealing an arrogant tone as if telling others to ask him for more information which the others furrowed their brows towards him not wanting to play into it.
Sheryl asked in my direction "What about you?"
Pointing to herself, Lumina started to answer in a cheery tone ignoring the look of indignation from Ternan. "The names Lumina, apprentice Knife wielder and have just arrived here from the outskirts of Moraz, further in the forest of silence."
After introducing themselves to each other they reach the edge of the forest of silence. "So, what's the plan?" Dave asks towards the group of people.
"The lightning bear, a stage two magic beast that wields lightning increasing the speed and agility whilst having the thick skin and fur." Sharron speaks in her monotone revealing the strengths of the beast "Weaknesses include the earth as a lightning dampener therefore whenever it casts lightning to attack, I'll defend using earth."
"I'll use my skills as a swordsman to attract attention and possibly temporarily tank preventing it from targeting our long-distance attackers." Dave adds to the plan using his own judgement.
Lumina at this time speaks up. "Due to my skillset, I will find weaknesses and sneak attack while you grab attention and while Sharron casts defensive magic and Ternan deals ranged firepower to antagonise it. Meanwhile Sheryl should find opportunities to expand upon the wounds that it will receive."
"Ok nya!" Sheryl smiles pumping her fist in the air in an exclaimed excitement while Ternan merely grunts in dismissive acceptance.
As everyone came to this conclusion, they got into a rough formation as Ternan summoned a small bird that took to the skies using it as a medium to scout while everyone walks carefully yet tensely into the forest. However, due to my ability to sense hostility I found myself relaxing while diminishing my own presence in the group which didn't go unnoticed by the C rank hunter. She seems used to this, it may seem like she is being arrogant, but I can tell that she feels nothing nearby can threaten her, I must keep my eye on that one.
After several minutes, Ternan stops and crouches to the ground placing his hand against the earth feeling the tracks. "The targets only a couple minutes away and alone."
Hearing this, everyone tensed up and went towards the target with a sense of absolute determination. A couple of minutes later, the target was in sight, a large bear that was black with white streaks revealed here and there on its fur. Dave drew his sword about to attack and distract the bear when an arrow flew through the air hitting the bear in its side waking it up.
RRROOOOAAARRR!!!!
The beast woke up with a large growling snarl of pain turning its head in our direction. "Shit, change of plans, cover me!" Shouting out, Dave ran headlong into the sight of the bear as Sharron summoned a coat of earthen armour on him. While this was happening, Sheryl got into a defensive position in front of Sharron as Lumina hid her presence. Weaknesses are its eyes, hind left leg. Coming to these quick calculated thoughts, Lumina drew both her knife and dagger and hid behind a tree near where Dave drew its attention towards him.
Slash, Dave sliced his sword horizontally at the bear, yet its enormous size managed to dodge the attack, the white fur starting to glow, charging an attack. Now! Lumina threw the dagger towards the bears eyes and sprinted behind the bear, sliding into a crouch attacking what looked to be a severely wounded hind leg.
ROOOAAR
The bear roared in pain as the attack in its eye slightly blinded it leading blood to drip down its snout. Turning around it used its lightning to attack Lumina making her weave backwards as a wall of earth separated the lightning and Lumina. Taking this opportunity Lumina and Sheryl switched positions where she used her sickle to reach around the wall and attacked the other eye.
Dave using this momentum swung at the bears hind leg cutting it off entirely at the joint leading a mass of blood to spew out. Lumina leapt back into action towards the bears neck hoping to get a slash through but sensed a moment of hostility behind her making her dodge out the way of what was a piercing arrow shanking itself into the bears mouth. Feeling disgruntled at this, Lumina slit the bears throat leaving the bear to finally die.
"Is it over?" Dave questioned after recovering from panting.
"It should be." Lumina says after a couple of moments watching to ensure that the bear doesn't twitch. Everyone starts closing in towards the bear when Dave suddenly swings round and punches Ternan in the face.
"What the fuck were you doing, huh? you went against the plan that we all agreed to and nearly put Lumina in danger with your last antic of attacking near where she was with that misplaced arrow you arrogant prick!" Dave started shouting vulgarities in Ternan’s' face as he starts bleeding from the nose.
"Enough, everyone let’s head back as I give you a review back at the hunters guild." Cutting in, the C rank adventurer prevents the argument and personal attacks from going further while Ternan was shooting Dave and Lumina filthy looks.
After a good half an hour, the hunter’s guild was finally in sight, everyone approached what looked to be an empty room. "First of all, Sheryl, good for staying put and protecting those who needed protecting and attacking at moments of opportunity allowing your teammates to rest."
"Hehehe Nya." Feeling shy, Sheryl scratched her head while laughing.
"Sharron, good support making timely and much needed assists when necessary, ensuring teammates were safe from afar whilst they dealt the main damage." Continuing on the C rank hunter added. "Lumina, great field support alongside Dave targeting obvious weaknesses, you may need to consider situations that you won’t be able to create effective damage though, just keep that in mind."
"Got it." Lumina says with determination, taking what he says seriously as advice.
"Dave, good job under pressure taking the lead when a plan didn't go as it was foreseen coming to a quick yet effective judgement however, you may need to hold back your aggression and ensure your surroundings are safe before you decide to deck a teammate in the face." After giving a slight admonishment after praising Dave's quick thinking he finally got to Ternan revealing a serious expression that appeared unamused.
"Ternan, you put the group in danger by not conforming to the laid-out plan and antagonised the bear without checking with your teammates, then you nearly risked putting Lumina in danger by attacking her without knowing her capabilities. If she didn't dodge that arrow, it would have been a dead teammate looking at you therefore I conclude that everyone, but Ternan passes."
Ternan’s face started to fall before storming off out of the room smashing the door heavily against the walls. After his abrupt leave, everyone starts to look back at the C rank adventurer when he says, "Here are your referral notes, head to the front desk and the receptionist will give you your badges, cards and give you each a rundown on how we operate… now go."
After this he left the room leaving us be.