The man repeated the guild name and Karol stared at him dryly. Yes, the Hunting Blades. There was no way that he hadn’t heard of them. They were a big deal! At least, Karol knew them to be. They were, while not one of the five master guilds, a very important guild to the Union- that meant everyone had to know them, and that he had to do a good job amid their members. This was it- his chance to prove himself, to be someone despite his–
So he couldn’t get caught up with the knights.
He felt his brow twitch as he looked him over. Was he trying to start something? He didn’t look disingenuous, all things considered, but there was just something implicitly wrong about anything coming from a knight. That smile… maybe Karol was just expecting him to be mean, and that’s what was putting him off. Weren’t knights like, notoriously awful? Other than actively shooting at Karol (well, the monster behind him, but), this guy actually…. seemed pretty nice. That was not to be trusted. He took a half-conscious step back, eyeing him warily.
“Mind telling me why the Hunting Blades are all the way out here? There’s a few things I need to get checked out in the area, and I’d hate to interfere with your guild.”
Oh man, here was his chance to show off what he knew. He put a hand on his hip, shouldering his axe and grinning. “Well this is the time of year where the barrier blastia in Halure weakens. We’re protecting the town!” It happened every year, just when the tree was about to bloom in full. The monsters took full advantage to attack the town, and the Hunting Blades were there to act as defense! But… He kicked at the dirt a bit. “But the tree’s kinda decaying. So the blastia’s weakened…” After a moment, he perked up, grinning and announcing, “Nothing t'worry about though! I’ve got an idea for how to bring the tree back!” And that was why he was out here- there were Eggbear in the Quoi Woods. If he could snag a claw, he could make a panacea bottle and save the tree- save the town! Then he’d be a hero, then he’d be able to show Nan the blossoms, and then she would like him too and he’d be happy and successful and–
But he had to fight an Eggbear for that.
He gulped at the thought, then shook his head. “S-so I’m headed to the woods!” I’m headed there- not the Hunting Blades. This was something he was going to do…. but why was he even telling this guy that? It wasn’t like the knights cared about the wellbeing of their people- that was the whole issue…