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The first thing you heard was the constant beeping noise. Over and over again. Dang alarm clock. Though you could hear movement right beside you.
“Grim…” you stretched your hand out to your alarm clock… and touched nothing.
“Aww, hey is that the cat lookin’ monster Theresa mentioned?” A voice called out… that was not Grim.
“WHAT THE- WHO ARE YOU??!??” You sat up immediately looking at the… fae that sat on the edge of your bed. Deep brown skin. Black and gold curly hair tied into a ponytail so you could see their long pointed ears. And deep green eyes that stared into your soul. They- no she had an impressive build, it was clear she worked out often. Did she break into- wait… this wasn’t even Ramshackle…
The walls were a plain grey with dull lights. This bed you were on was more like something you would find at a hospital. You could hear your heart beating as your breath raced.
“Oops,” the fae put a hand to your chest. “Calm down, hey listen to my breathing. Deep breath in.”
You copied her.
“Good, deep breath out.” She smiled at you, “must have freaked you out, huh?”
“Who are you? Where am I? Where’s Grim?” You asked, trying to make sense of the situation. Just wait till Ace and Deuce hears that you're missing… you’ll never hear the end of it from them. Just like when you got back from S. T. Y. X.
“My name is Lyra, Lyra Fortune.” She offered you an apologetic smile, “sorry hun but that’s all I can tell you. NDA after all, however I can bring you to Theresa. After all she was the one who found you after a monster attack.”
“Monster attack???” You were even more confused, “Grim done nothing wrong!”
“Oh not that cat thing,” Lyra shook her head. “Something much more… bigger. You should be glad Theresa was there or else that thorn dragon thing would have killed you both.”
You had no idea what she was talking about. The only thing you could really remember was… frost? Something cold… freezing you to your core. “Who is Theresa?”
“Someone you do not want to get on the bad side of,” another more sharp voice called out.
“Oh hey Cat!” Lyra said cheerfully waving at the newcomer.
“For the last time it’s Catalina,” a tall woman with pink hair tied in a bun said. “NRC student,” she addressed you. “Can call me Needle.”
“Last name basses,” Lyra sighed standing up. “Well do you have the clothes for them?”
“Of course I do,” Needle raised her arms up with something on them and put them on the bed. “Put these on and meet us outside. Do not dwindle.”
She and Lyra left you alone in the room.
What… What just happened? You slipped off of the bed. Wait till Ace and Deuce hear about this…
Where were Ace and Deuce anyways, were they back at NRC? Were they here? What was the giant monster Lyra referenced?
You tried thinking about what happened. There was the freezing cold… but also… Hornton screaming your name in pain.
Clutching the fabric in your hands you almost feel back onto the bed. What was that?
You fumbled trying to get the uniform and boots they left you on. Why was he screaming your name?
You could hear your heart beating rapidly again.
Was Hornton okay?
Biting the bottom of your lip you looked at the door, those two would be waiting for you.
You took a long deep breath in. You’ll find out what’s wrong. But for now you put the uniform on.
And you stepped out of the room.
“Oh great!” Lyra pulled your arm, “let’s go. Theresa is expecting you.”
Needle walked ahead of the both of you nodding at some people or beastmen walking by. Like the three of you they also wore the same uniforms.
“So I have a question for you,” Lyra turned to look at you. “Is it true you know Lilia Vanrouge?”
A shock ran through you as you imagined the laughter of a certain red eyed Fae. “You know Lilia?!?”
“Of course I do,” Lyra laughed. “I used to be a knight before joining this organization.”
“You where?” The look you gave her said it all.
“Yeah! Though it has been a while… what has it been… hmmm hundred years?” She laughed, “it would be a pleasure meeting him again. Last I heard he raised a human, yes?”
“Oh Silver? Yes he- ah!” You turn left, almost walking right into a skull.
Though not a human’s. It was far too big to be a human. Over five times the size of you. More like an animal but not one you have ever seen before. It seemed to be put into the wall. Mounted?
“Like it?” Lyra ran her hand along what was left of the things's massive beak. “The one was caught over… fifty years ago?”
“What… is it?” You asked, looking into its empty eye sockets.
“Oh well I suppose it does make sense you wouldn’t know. These aren’t necessarily common and when they are it’s usually in the unknown territories,” Lyra winked. “It and its many kin are called Terástios and-”
“And Ms. Duchess will explain the rest,” Needle cut Lyra off with a glare before marching on.
That’s when you realize there were more skulls in the walls. Each seemed bigger than the last.
Lyra whispered into your ears, “this is where we keep the smaller Terástios skulls.”
“Wait smaller? How big do they get?!?!?”
“We’re here,” Needle stopped in front of a mechanical door and pulled out a key card. “Apologizes for the wait, Commander.”
“Catalina, Lyra, it’s good to see you two.” A voice called out.
You followed the voice into… an office. A large wooden desk. The walls seemed like chiseled stone. Showing different things like a woman, a giant boar, and much more. There were also furs and scales that seemed to belong to something… unnatural. In fact on the desk there seemed to be oddly shaped bones as well.
And at the center of it all sat a woman. Short platinum hair, icy blue eyes. An impressive build. Scars littered her face. She wear a coat built of different animal furs.
“My my my and this is the infamous student from Night Raven College,” she sent you a warm smile. “Lyra, Catalina, please leave us for a few. We have much to talk about.”
“Of course, Commander.” Needle bowed and walked out.
“Bye~” Lyra sent you both a wave before leaving.
“Come along,” the woman walked towards the back of the room. “My name is Theresa Duchess, the leader of the Hunter Institution.”
She pulled out a pack of papers and a pen. “But before I tell you anything else you need to sign a NDA.”
You thought back to your short time at S. T. Y. X. “Fine.”
…………………………………
It took a few minutes to sign all of them. Theresa rattled off on something about hunting. That’s when you noticed something. Tucked into her coat were two large ice picks. And one of them had a blue mage stone… that was almost black… with blot.
“Fantastic!” She suddenly clapped, “you’re done at least. I was worried for a second.” She tucked her coat back in. Obscuring the ice picks. “Now at long last, questions?”
“What is this place?” You asked, unsure. In reality you needed to ask about Grim. But you had to make sure what this place was first.
“I’m so glad you asked!” Theresa motions to the walls. “Have you ever heard of the Queen of the Hunt and the Great Hunter?”
“No, I can’t say I have,” you stared up at the women in question who held a bow and arrow ready to shoot.
“Well back during the Age of Myths there was a goddess, a goddess of the hunt. No man nor beast could stop her. She even formed a group of hunters with the Fae and went about their hunt. Victorious in all their pursuits. However one day a mortal king angered the goddess.” She pointed to the large boar, “she sent a giant boar to teach the foolish king a lesson. That is what is considered the first Terástios. Soon the Great Hunter came and slain the great beast.”
She paused and looked at you waiting. “Uh… then what happened?” You asked, looking away from her. Her eyes reminded you of Jade. Sharp, expecting, just like a predator.
“The Goddess, impressed with the Hunter, sent down more. Eventually the Hunter died as humans do. So the Goddess tested her descendants and soon enough the Hunters Institution was born. Formed to hunt down Terástios and protect humanity. Sometimes providing aid to S. T. Y. X.” She smiled, “and that is where we are now.”
“Wow…” you mumbled, unsure of what to do, until you remembered the Fae’s words. “Say, Lyra mentioned Grim. He’s here right? He’s a cat… looking being with flaming blue ears. Where is he?”
“Oh right him,” a darker glint filled her eyes. “See he is here. In fact he’s in the research facility right now.”
“Really?!? May I please see him?” You almost begged.
“No,” Theresa walked away from you, completely aware of the way your hopeful expression fell. “Or at least not yet. You’ll need motivation.”
“Motivation? For what?!?” You had to stop yourself from yelling.
“For what comes next after all,” Theresa chuckled. “See we here have a… problem of sorts. Usually Terástios appear three at a time and are quite rare. However now there are twenty two of them all at once. You saw one of them, the giant thorn dragon.”
Thorns wrapped around you and Grim. Trying to pick you up. Trying to take you away but it was too cold and yet you looked into its hollow eyes… fireflies???
“What does this have to do with me or Grim?” You looked at her as she smirked.
“Quite simple, I like you. You seem like so much… fun. I want you to hunt,” she almost purred.
“You want me to hunt giant monsters?!?” You couldn’t believe what she just said.
“Of course,” Theresa smiled gently and rested her hands on your shoulders. “I won’t force you though. That would be far too cruel for someone such as myself.”
You’ve heard similar words before… “Really?”
“But if you ever want to see that monster again then I suggest you take my offer,” her grip tightened as her eyes sharpened. There was no warmness in her ice cold eyes and the gentle smile froze into something else. “I mean imagine that?” She leaned into your ear, “leaving him, abandoning him, you wouldn’t do that would you? He’s still asleep, do you want him to wake up so hungry and alone? If you do then he’ll be… dealt with.”
What?
Winter vacation.
“I remember wakin’ up hungry and alone.”
Alone…
You couldn’t escape her grip nor her eyes. You could feel your heart pounding against your eardrums as if it knew there was no escape.
“Of course I won’t!” You said quickly, finally freeing yourself from her stone cold grip. “I would never do that.”
“It was real cold. I was waitin’ out there for someone to come and get me for ages.”
“Fine! I’ll hunt the monsters but please don’t do anything to him.” You couldn’t stop the crack in your voice.
“Perfect!” Her eyes seemed to warm up again, “don’t regret your choices.”
You didn’t speak, staring at the ground.
“However, since you agreed,” she moved, pulling out more paper. “You need to sign the forms for consent.”
“Did I not just sign them?” You asked puzzled.
“No no you signed the NDA paperwork, you can’t talk about this place nor people anywhere else. The consent forms on the other hand are for the actual work. I wouldn’t make you use them first because you didn’t agree yet,” she leans back to you, a smile sharpening her lips. “After all, it is your choice in the end.”
Was it just you or was she placing an emphasis on your?
“Come on dear,” she laughed. “You do not have all day.”
She handed you the pen and… contract… something reminding you of someone you knew at NRC.
“Are you done yet, Theresa?” Lyra entered through the door, “did they agree?”
The Fae sounded so eager, her long ears perked up as she eyed the pen in your hands. “Well?” She giggled looking right into your eyes, “what are you waiting for? Sign it!”
“Yes,” Theresa said, mimicking Lyra’s happy go lucky voice. “Oh, won’t you sign it?”
The pen dipped down onto the paper as the two women looked on in anticipation.
“Pardon my intrusion, Commander.” Catalina entered the room as well. “But I’ve heard from Marco that the alarms in the Kingdom of Roses went off.”
“Well then,” Theresa smirked, looking right at you. “Welcome to Hunter Institution.”