“Elara…” Seraphina looked up from her desk as soon as she saw me. There was now another desk in this enormous office. One just a little bit away from Seraphina’s. Placed just close enough for me to feel a bit of the cold that her presence brings, but just far enough to not shiver.

  She had put thought into this.

  “What is this sudden thing about an Ice Division in the Ashen Gryphon?”

  “You’ll work with me,” Seraphina got off her desk, picked up a few files from her place, and carried them over to the other desk in the room. She pulled the chair back, gesturing at me to sit on it.

  “This… I am an F-Ranked Hunter. I didn’t even renew my certificate yet, what do you want me to do?”

  The door was knocked on at that very moment. Seraphina frowned, then pressed a button (on the desk that was likely to be mine) and the door to the office buzzed open. I froze. A strange air pressure pressed down on my body. It was overwhelming.

  The sheer presence, every single step that it came closer. The presence of something miles ‘above’ another person. It was an effect most hunters of lower ranks had felt in their lifetimes, but never to this extent. People, citizens, hunters, everyone had to stop and stand still when faced… by an S-Ranked Hunter. It was avoided around Seraphina… but.

  I turned back and faced the woman approaching. Black hair that looked a tint of dark crimson on the inside, her skin was clear yet full of small scars, scars that only made her look sharper. In her thirties or nearing her forties, the leader of the Ashen Gryphon.

  Gloria Sherban. The Ashen Gryphon herself in the flesh, and a bold opposite of Seraphina.

  “I came here since I hate that meeting room. You are finally starting your own team, huh?” Gloria said to Seraphina. I couldn’t do much in the environment. For some reason, Seraphina started walking over and stopped closer to me, the same thing that Gloria Sherban did, stopping right in front of me, meeting my eyes.

  She glanced to the side for a split second, seeing Seraphina also protectively close up, then looked back at me. She was almost an entire head taller than me, towering. She looked down, her eyes observing me from top to bottom.

  “Elara Klein. Wasn’t it?”

  I gulped. It was her presence that was stopping me from speaking. Right then, I felt a hand on my wrist. Seraphina had grabbed me from the back. It was that sudden touch that made my head clear up and got me back into the present. I nodded, firmly.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  If I were going to be put into a position like this by Seraphina, then there was no time for me to be weak. I had to be by her side to make sure she was getting better, or it would all be for nought.

  And the safest way to ensure that we could stand side by side was to make an impression in front of the leader of the guild.

  “You got it right. Pleasure to meet you, Hunter Gloria.”

  “Hoh?” Gloria smiled. Suddenly, her eyes changed shape. Her iris turned orange while the pupil circled more, narrowing down into me, like an Eagle’s head. The gryphon was using her abilities. “I do understand why you would be the perfect choice for a second-in-command. You were a part of the guild's strategy team before, weren’t you?”

  I gulped. Seraphina also looked at me, not privy to this information.

  “Elara Klein, the genius who designed a zero-casualty dive into an A-Rank gate. You stopped working in the team a year before the National Raid. Seraphina, how did you end up spotting this talent and convincing her to join us again?”

  “She was… already a member of the Ashen Gryphon.”

  “A hunter associated with us, yes,” Gloria said. “You wanted to work in the field, there is no better way than this.”

  I nodded. To think she knew so much about me.

  “And you seem stronger too,” she said. “I have already approved this, but according to the guidelines of the Hunter Association, I can’t have a person with an unrenewed license work as a vice-leader. Whatever it is you two are doing, I would recommend finishing that first.”

  “What… about my rank?” I asked. “An F-Ranked Hunter working in such a position?”

  “Elara,” Seraphina said in between. “It’s fine, trust me.”

  “But, the Hunter Association doesn’t allow that as well—”

  Gloria grinned at those very words. “I only listen to the Hunter Association as much as I want to. I think you are a great addition, and this is a very sound outcome.”

  She turned back, her eyes slowly reverted to normal again. “Two days. Go and renew your license. You can use the training grounds as much as you want. Drop everything and focus on getting as high a rank as you can. But, it’s okay even if you are just F-Ranked.”

  Leaving those words, just like a storm, Gloria waved her hands and left the office. It was over.

  Seraphina and I were alone in the room again. She left her grip on my wrist and gently let go, stepping behind. I didn’t move too far from her and instead grabbed her hand again.

  “Seraphina,”

  “Y-y-yeah?!” She said, surprised by the sudden touch.

  “You have to help me. Teach me ice magic.”

  “What…? You can do ice magic—?”

  “Yes,” I nodded. “It is a symbiotic bond, right? I didn’t know this was a part of the skill, but apparently, I can share some skills with you. Ice magic is it. Teach me.”

  Seraphina nodded again.

  “If that is the case… leave it to me. Within two days, I will teach you enough so that we can renew your license.”

  I smiled. It was perfect.

  Now, all I had to do was get stronger.

  [Ding!]

  [Emotional Resonance has sharply increased]

  [Bond can now be raised to the next level.]

  She had let go of my hands. That was why I was the only one seeing this.

  [Do you want to raise the bond to Level up?]

  [Requirement: Please consume a part of bodily fluids to increase the level of the bond]

  Oh fuck me. Not this perverted skill again.