The Primal Hunter

Jake hadn’t set foot in a dorm for years. Counting time-dilation, close to decades. This wasn’t the dorms of the old world with underfunded shitty facilities and shared bathrooms and only one washing room for several people, and every time you had to wash clothes, all the laundry machines would be taken, and even if they were not taken and you got the rare chance to start washing your clothes, some absolute asshat would stop the machine and take your clothes out halfway through the cycle.

No, it wasn’t that kind of dorm, but the dorm for those with bronze tokens. It was significantly nicer than what those with white ones got, as far as he knew, but even the white token ones had to be better than the shit Jake lived in for a few years back in university. All in all, the Order tended to be pretty generous with accommodations, even if he was a bit biased as a black token himself where he got his entire huge residence.

When Jake first stepped through the gate to enter the dorm, he found himself in a circular room with eight exits leading into long hallways. Each hallway had nearly ten meters to the ceiling and was made of marble-like rock with bronze engravings and setpieces placed here and there. It looked damn good for dorms, that was for sure.

Many individuals went and came from the different hallways, walking towards the wall with gates on it or into the different hallways. No one took note of Jake as he stood there and tried to figure out where Reika’s room was.

Checking the address Reika had given him, he saw it said “4-121,” and it didn’t take long before he understood what it meant. Each hallway was numbered, and then each room also had a number. It was a simple system.

Going down the fourth hallway, Jake quickly found the right place. It also quickly became clear as he walked through the hallway that behind every door wasn’t actually a room but more like a small pre-set gateway. He also felt severe distortion of space, likely meaning that each chamber was spatially expanded. Which they would have to be considering there were only three or so meters between each door on both sides of the hallway, and with thousands of rooms in each of them, each room would be mega small if not for space magic.

Jake raised his token to the door and pressed the doorbell, so to say. A few seconds passed before it opened, revealing a large living room with Reika walking over to invite him in with a beastfolk woman behind her peeking curiously.

“Hey, glad you could make it,” Reika said with a smile as she invited Jake inside.

“I was beginning to think he wouldn’t come considering he said five minutes more than half an hour ago,” the beastfolk commented. Jake got a good look at her and saw that she had some kind of cat heritage. Very shiny golden fur too.

He was a bit surprised at the comment, though, as he looked at Reika. “Didn’t you say at least five minutes? I got the feeling you kind of wanted it to be more than five, so I stayed a bit longer and had a drink with a friend.”

“Ah, yeah, no worries,” Reika said, a bit embarrassed.

The beastfolk was about to speak up again as Reika cut in. “So, what brought you here, by the way? A meeting of some sort? What about?”

“Maybe we should talk more privately?” Jake asked, nodding towards the cat lady, who seemed very interested in their conversation.

“Alright,” Reika agreed without hesitation. The beastfolk didn’t protest but just shrugged and waved them off.

“Have fun!” she said with a suggestive grin.

door behind her, activating the seal on it. Feeling they were isolated, Jake finally spoke freely. “So, how have you been enjoying being in the Order of the Malefic Viper so

the entire place. She had a far more raw experience without any real help, and Jake genuinely wanted to know how she was doing. The old swordsman had also asked him to check in with her, so

been… better than expected?” Reika answered. “Not to be insulting, but I had expected things to be far worse and even less professional if that makes sense? Everything feels above board. Well, ignoring the fact that there seem to be far fewer restrictions on everything compared to the old world. I also do not particularly enjoy the fact that I have had a dozen people so

have its issues, true,” Jake

return is some labor by selling some things I crafted,” Reika continued. “I

came today was actually to ask you if you wanted to participate in a mission with me and a few others, so that should earn you

looked surprised when Jake pulled out the paper detailing the mission, but she instantly shook her head. “This one is designed for late D-grades… I am not

right? That counts. The dungeon itself just requires the one entering to be D-tier, and all we will need of you is your alchemical knowledge,” Jake said. He was already pretty determined that if Reika didn’t wanna go, they would just do

that?” she asked, concerned. “Who are they,

it is me, Draskil, and Irin going,” Jake

would assume she had already completed the dungeon or has she truly never done it before? And even if she hasn’t done it… why go now? She is not an alchemist as far as I know, nor a

bring her along. “And I actually think your how and why are related. Why would she have gone before? The only reason now is because Draskil

answered, clearly a bit unsure. “So it will be the

pretty good before you went to the Order. I would rather work with you than some random,” Jake shrugged. “Draskil also doesn’t know shit about alchemy, so

Reika said and nodded in confirmation, a bit more assured. “It would be my honor to attend then as

in three days” Jake smiled, not giving Reika time to comment on the short notice. Jake

She is also an alchemist and rather talented. A bronze token like me, and I think she will upgrade to silver within a few years at most. Where she came from, no one really taught her anything making her progress fast after entering the Academy. She is a

he got a brilliant idea. “Do

to what?” Reika asked,

“The dungeon.”

bring along two bronze

“Just try to convince her to come so we fill the group. Not to brag, but I would probably be able to do most

try. Anyway,

“It was in this giant space station of sorts, and I think it may

were fine back on Earth. Reika herself began talking more about her experience in the Order, how she had felt incredibly insecure initially but had begun to find confidence again

own residence. He got quite a few stares from Bastilla when he exited the room, and he saw that other people who shared the living space had also shown up to glare. Jake didn’t particularly mind as he headed home for some more alchemy and to prepare for

that Bastilla was in the dungeon group. Didn’t take much

be a surprise at all, Irin didn’t even know Draskil had asked Jake and was more than pleased to hear he would come along. She also didn’t mind the two tag-alongs and sent