Phoenix

S-Class

"Lady Emiko!" Lector yelled as he flew full speed into her arms.

"Lector, what's wrong?"

Sting spoke up from behind her, making her jump, "He just missed you."

She smiled at all her friends before stretching and saying that she should go speak to the master. Emi approached his office and was called in just as she was about to knock on the door.

"I see you've completed your request. The children were very excited to hear that we now have our first S-class wizard."

"I appreciate you doing this for me, Master Rue."

"I figured it would give you a good excuse to leave town suddenly when needed. Nobody can accompany you if they aren't S-class, so you won't have to worry about others in danger. Plus, you have proven to be more than capable of holding S-class."

"Thank you, sir."

-------------------------------------------------------------

"Lady Emiko, you have to join us for a job request!"

Emi looked up from her book and questioned the dragon slayer and exceed on what it was.

"It's just an escort job for some important merchant traveling through the forest near Malba City. Pretty easy job for our new S-class wizard like yourself."

"When do we leave?"

"Whenever you want."

"Good," Emi said, laying down. "I'm taking a short nap."

"...Here?"

"Obviously not," Emi stated as she sat up under the tree. "And Kira is having a weird 'hype day' or whatever where she just jumps around the apartment and makes these weird noises, so the only other place is the guildhall or your apartment. And I would like to take off my cloak while I sleep."

"So...my place?"

"How nice of you to offer!"

Sting rolled his eyes before pulling Emi up and leading her to his apartment. Emi raced to and jumped on the bed as soon as they walked through the door. Sting chuckled before flopping on the couch with Lector.

"Your apartment is filthy again," Emi remarked from the bed.

"Aren't you supposed to be taking a nap?"

"How can I possibly sleep when I'm surrounded in a mess?"

Emi got up from the bed and started to walk towards Lector's pile of vests.

"No! Go take a nap. We'll clean later."

—————————

"Okay boys, let's head out!"

"How can you have so much energy, Lady Emiko?" Lector groaned. "We've been cleaning for the past two hours."

Emi wagged a finger at the two, before scolding them, "We wouldn't have to clean if you two kept your apartment decent."

"Let's just get this train ride over with."

——————————

"It's nice to meet you, Mister Oli. We'll be escorting you through the forest."

The group started their journey into the forest as the sun went down. Oli and Emi had engaged in light conversation as Sting and Lector followed close behind. Emi and Sting stopped walking when they heard something running through bushes.