(A/N: This chapter contains a bit of an info dump, but I tried to keep it short and concise. Things may not make too much sense for anyone not too familiar with the Monster Hunter games, so please bear with it. Everything will be explained in due time. Thank you.)
People watched as an ecstatic duo sped down the city streets. One was a boy with white hair and an excited smile, while the other was a grey felyne clinging to the boy's shoulders for dear life. It wasn't a comfortable ride for the felyne as the boy had a large brown bag on his back and was jumping around due to his jubilant nature.
"Good morning, Velk!" A middle-aged man greeted the boy warmly.
"Good morning, Velk. I wish you good luck at the rally!" A young woman said, wishing him luck.
"Ey' Velk. . . ! Hey, wait! Where are you going? Slow down!" A young boy, roughly Velk's age, called out to him and began chasing after him.
"Good luck, Ash!" a young girl yelled to the felyne on his shoulders while holding her mother's hand.
Velk happily nodded at everyone who greeted him, and Ash. . . well. . . almost everyone. He completely ignored the poor boy who had tried to get his attention. He didn't have time to stop and converse with his friends. Knowing that the boy had also started running after him, Velk was confident his friend would soon catch up and join them.
Rak-Al-Faar, the city he had lived in for the past ten years, had just over seven thousand residents. Velk had always been a little explorer; he had come to know many of the denizens. Although the number of residents was moderately small compared to larger cities in the Old World, Rak-Al-Faar was a relatively new city. It was founded just over sixty years ago in the New World and situated away from the coast on the fringes of explored territory.
Populations of humans, wyverians, troverians—a shorter, stockier race of people with a penchant for living underground—and lynians—a race of sentient beastman that felynes categorize—began immigrating to the New World in search of adventure, research, opportunity, and every conceivable reason people might leave their homes to start anew.
Initially, the Hunter's Guild dispatched the Research Commission to explore the New World and uncover the mysteries surrounding an event known as The Elder Crossing. This organization comprised elite guild members, including hunters, scholars, and engineers, all of whom had to endure rigorous tests to gain entry into the commission.
Guild personnel arrived in fleets made up of hundreds of different individuals. The First Fleet's ships had crashed into jagged rocks along the shoreline, and they used them to establish the outpost known as Astera, the current capital of the New World and the headquarters of the Hunter's Guild. Many in the First Fleet faced significant challenges. Almost everyone had returned to the Old World by the time the 5th fleet arrived.
Every fleet thereafter arrived ten years after the previous one. The Second Fleet consisted of numerous engineers and technicians, while the Third Fleet was composed of scholars who traveled to the New World in a flying research base.
The Fourth Fleet consisted of support personnel sent by the guild to oversee the various guild outposts and camps. They also managed the hunters who hunted the monsters and maintained order. They introduced the Handler system to the new world, enabling easier and more 'organized' exploration for hunters.
A handler is a Guild Receptionist personally assigned to an elite hunter to assist in managing their activities and resources. Guild Receptionists serve as the direct link between their assignees and the guild, specializing in their various duties. They act as agents, lawyers, managers, consultants, researchers, therapists, and quite literally everything else their hunter needs them to be—the principal pencil-pusher behind the guild's most essential hunters.
The Fifth Fleet's population was significantly larger than any of the previous four fleets and primarily consisted of hunters. They were dispatched to the New World to track a colossal elder dragon named Zorah Magdaros, protect the settlements, establish infrastructure, and either slay or capture monsters for researchers to study. The guild also hoped that the Fifth Fleet would finally uncover the mystery behind the Elder Crossing.
After constructing a second base named Seliana in a snow-covered region northwest of Astera, the Research Commission promptly began expanding deeper into the New World and established numerous outposts and campgrounds. These outposts were built in various terrains and environments to give the guild a more comprehensive understanding of the wildlife they encountered in those areas.
The Sixth Fleet was used to stabilize the new structures and brought a diverse group of Research Commission personnel. With the Sixth Fleet, the guild began to properly build upon the groundwork they had laid for the past sixty years. Only after stable laws were established and multiple experiments were conducted did the guild consider allowing prospective immigrants to migrate to the New World. Even so, the guild remained uncertain about how things would turn out, but tensions were escalating too high across seas, and the only way to alleviate the situation was to permit just that.
Welcome, the Seventh Fleet, the largest of all past and future guild-managed fleets. With a population exceeding thirty thousand individuals, each seeking to settle in the new land and grow their businesses or raise a family outside the Old World, the population of known humanoids in the New World increased by over five hundred percent.
The migrants traveled throughout the New World, leading to settlements springing up in all directions. As many of them settled in both Astera and Seliana, these areas expanded to over triple their previous size and became sprawling cities within the New World.
Laws, of course, needed enforcement to keep the local monster and plant populations in check. Numbers had to remain stable, as they were threatened by the influx of human activity. Balance had always been critical to the Hunter's Guild, and they ensured it by employing the appropriate number of guild knights and sending them to new towns and settlements.
Guild knights were employed to hunt down and either kill or capture criminals for the guild. They also protected settlements from monster attacks and other individuals. Poaching monsters that did not pose an immediate threat to one's life was illegal, so they were often dispatched to either find and eliminate poachers or bring them back to face their punishment.
Eighty years have passed since the arrival of the Seventh Fleet. With fifteen fleets having already landed and one hundred and fifty years of development in the New World, the settlers have achieved much. However, new regions, monsters, animals, and plant life are continually being discovered. With monster attacks consistently on the rise, new hunters are perpetually needed to restore 'balance' to the ecosystem.
Velk, Ash, and their short, brown-haired friend followed closely as they quickly ran toward the city center, where the guildhall was located. Rose had built her house near the guildhall, so the trio would not take long to reach it.
As he ran past, Velk could see many people going about buying their daily necessities. There were numerous stalls and shops to choose from, and no one ever felt as if they were missing anything. Multiple street performances showcased men and women playing instruments and dancing. He could also see many guild banners and ribbons hung on various buildings, posts, and signs. These were there to inform the citizens that a rally was taking place soon, inviting everyone, even those not affiliated with the guild, to attend most of the events.
The city always had a festive atmosphere during rally time, and people enjoyed the free food and drinks, leading to large crowds. The rally typically began with a meet and greet, where the Hunter's Guild members were expected to engage with the community. Guild personnel were prohibited from missing a rally unless absolutely necessary. This rule was in place to maintain order, prosperity, and unity while keeping track of who was alive and well.
The meet and greet would last about two hours, from ten to noon. After the meet and greet, the guild will provide information about new subjects of interest. This includes new monster variants, locations, and discovered plant or endemic life. They would also commemorate and reward guild members who accomplished great deeds or worked hard enough to earn recognition. This portion will also last two hours. To conclude the first part of the rally, they would hold a mass funeral to honor and recognize those they have lost over the past three months.
Not many achieved greatness, but almost everyone received a short speech about the work they had put in and the achievements they had earned. Even hunting something veteran hunters considered easy prey, like a Great Maccao, was honored. The funeral would last about an hour, concluding the main event around three in the afternoon. However, this would transition the rally into the second part, which included the recruitment process and various events hosted by the guild.
The events included a variety of social gatherings and arena contests against fierce wyverns and other hunters. The event changed every three months, ensuring that no one would ever grow bored of attending, and the prizes available to be won were very enticing.
Of the two times Velk attended a rally, one event was "Find the Poogie," a game where hunters and guild staff searched the city for a pig dressed in a bright green frog costume. They were allowed to sabotage each other to gain an advantage, as long as it did not damage others' personal property or health. Anything went.
Velk also witnessed a straightforward drinking game in which the aim was to see who could endure the longest time-consuming alcohol before passing out. Neither of the two events was particularly enjoyable for the spectators present, but the participants always found them entertaining.
Velk would not have attended any rallies if he and Maeve had not been so insistent on going. The first time was out of curiosity, while the second served as a reward for Velk's good behavior. Though not antisocial, Rose did not enjoy attending the rallies for unasked reasons. Additionally, Maeve always grew impatient whenever they went, and after the second time, she decided she no longer liked them.
Wacky Stomach Noises~!
"I guess I probably should have eaten before I left," Velk mused to himself. He was just so excited that he forgot to eat.
Ungrateful Cat Stomach Sounds~!
"That goes for you too, Ash. We'll grab something to eat once we reach the rally. How does that sound?" Velk asked as he kept running.
After a short while, the brown-haired boy finally caught up with Velk. He was slightly younger than Velk by just four months. He could join the Hunter's Guild in six months if that was what he fancied. The boy had short brown hair and wore glasses over his hazelnut-brown eyes. Small for his age and dressed in cheap, wrinkled clothing with messy hair, all of this made him look like an orphan—something Velk knew to be untrue, as he had two loving parents who were moderately wealthy, so perhaps it was just his style, or lack thereof.
Velk felt someone grab his shoulder, so he turned to look in that direction while slowing down and saw his friend right behind him, sweat running down his forehead.
"Huh. . . huh. . . Velk. . . You got. . . huh. . . to slow down next time. . . ." his friend said while panting.
"Mmm, have you ever attempted to be faster?" Velk teased.
The friend groaned in annoyance. "You know I don't want to become a hunter like you. I want to study the monsters, not fight 'em. Anyway, where are you going? Seems like youw're in a hurry."
Squinting his eyes, Velk flicked his head in confusion before asking, "Where do you think I'm going?"
The friend responded with equal amounts of confusion in his actions. With a slight shrug and a puzzled smile, he asked, "Why would I know?"
Velk dramatically threw up his arms, causing Ash to hold on tight once again, and exclaimed, "Do you not see the banners? It's today!"
His friend looked around to see several guild banners and ribbons strung about. It took him only a moment to understand what was happening. He glanced back at Velk and nodded. Velk flashed an infectious smile that seemed to spread to his friend, who returned an awkward grin and a drawn-out "Oh~."
"I'm going to the rally with you. I have nothing planned for today, so it should be fine. Plus, I will join as an apprentice in six months, so I should probably get used to the crowds." Velk's friend began to laugh while holding the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Well, we better move quickly, then. I don't want to miss the beginning," Velk expressed.
His friend, taking Velk's words quite literally, quickly grabbed Velk's hand and started to pull him at a faster running speed than Velk had been going. Ash had to hold on even tighter, while Velk had to make sure he was not bumping into people.
"Sylvas, maybe you should be the one to slow down this time!" Velk could not understand what was going on in the boy's head, and he understood even less how such an unathletic boy could run and maneuver so quickly through a sea of people and stalls without trouble.
Velk had never seen Sylvas engage in serious exercise a day in his life. It was surprising to witness his friend accomplish such a feat while guiding another person through the crowd. Both Velk and Ash could only laugh in excitement and join in.
(. . .)
It did not take long for the trio to reach the spacious guildhall, adorned with various guild flags and banners. Several paths wound around the building, leading to places such as the guild blacksmith and a botanical garden. Each area featured distinct structures, each tailored to its specific purpose.
The guildhall's door was wide open today, allowing many guests to enter and exit the building. Several individuals dressed in different armor and carrying various weapons could be seen roaming the premises as they mingled.
"Ahh, look at that!" Sylvas shouted—loud enough for the people nearby to hear and turn to him. He was pointing at a man clad in armor. It was a heavy-looking set of blue with a few green blotches on the helmet, shoulders, arms, and feet. The helmet featured two giant horns, making him resemble a rhinoceros beetle. Additionally, two large spikes jutted from his pauldrons. Overall, it gave the impression of being able to withstand multiple substantial hits without much difficulty.
"Do you know what it's made of?" Velk asked curiously. He had never seen any armor that looked like this and couldn't recall a monster resembling it from any of the books he received from Ethran. Although the texts covered many different monster types, they never described any variants or more dangerous monsters. They were primarily cheap books for beginners who wouldn't have to worry about such matters until later, or for those who were simply curious about the world around them without experiencing it firsthand.
"Yes, it's a set made of brachydios. They're a um. . . a large brute-wyvern that specializes in secreting a gel-like substance that explodes after some time. It licks its arm to prime the gel for further explosions, and I read that it packs quite the explosive punch." Sylvas punched the air with bravado.
Velk always valued his friend's extensive knowledge of various monster species, even though it could sometimes be a bit overbearing. Although Velk himself was knowledgeable about the subject, his understanding was never quite at the level that Sylvas brought to the table, but he appreciated that.
Velk, Ash, and Sylvas stopped staring at the heavily armored man and entered the guild hall. Once inside, they saw many famous hunters from the city and the surrounding area. Each key town was designated as a district to ensure that guild personnel never had to venture too far from their homes. This also simplifies the guild's process of assigning quests to specific districts depending on where the monster or material was found.
Looking at the massive clock in the middle of the room, Velk saw they still had thirteen minutes before the rally was set to start. The two decided to sit on some stools arranged around the large hall. Nothing significant ever happened during the meet-and-greet; it was primarily used to ensure that everyone was in their place and that city officials could take time to talk to the VIPs.
The trio decided to wait out the meet and greet while silently eating and conversing until the next event started.