45 Pad Thai

The Griffin lay still, a testament to Arthur's explosive power. Rachel watched him sift through the creature's remains, a knot of unease tightening in her gut.

His signature lightning attack had always been impressive, but this was something else entirely. Brutal, even. It left a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Now, reaching the same mana rank as her, Arthur's raw power was undeniable. While his control over mana paled in comparison to her meticulously trained circles, his swordsmanship more than made up for it.

A flicker of a morbid thought crossed her mind. Could she even stand a chance against him in a fight? At a distance, her light magic might give her an edge. Up close, though, it would be a one-sided beatdown.The victory tasted hollow. Yes, they'd conquered the Griffin, but a new, unsettling challenge had emerged: the power Arthur wielded, and the fear it ignited within her.

Suddenly, Arthur grunted, holding aloft a pulsating blue orb. It crackled with a faint electrical current – the Griffin's beast core. Relief washed over Rachel, momentarily erasing her disquiet. They had completed the mission."Found it," Arthur announced, tossing the core to her.She caught it reflexively, the cool energy seeping into her palm. "Good work," she said, her voice strained. Managing a smile, she tucked the core away.

"Let's go get some rest before we go and find the other 5-star beast," he said and Rachel nodded in agreement. She was a bit confused about why he wanted to rest but decided to follow his lead since Arthur had a lot of experience in this field.

"Easy win," Rachel declared, stretching as they walked away from the fallen Griffin. Her usual fiery spirit crackled with leftover energy. "Let's head straight for the next beast before nightfall!"Arthur, however, kept his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Slow down," he said, a touch of weariness in his voice. "There's something we need to do first."

Rachel's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. She wasn't one for guild formalities, especially when the thrill of the hunt still thrummed in her veins. "But the next beast could be waiting!" she protested.

Arthur stopped, turning to face her, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "There'll be another time," he assured her, his voice firm. "For now, we need to meet with Lucifer."

"Did you text him?" she asked as the two of them walked through the forest back to the guild, killing any weak beasts that came in their way. They weren't worried, after all, the strongest beasts here were only 5-star and thus couldn't threaten them.

"He didn't respond," Arthur said, his face unreadable. A flicker of disappointment flitted across his eyes. Rachel knew Lucifer wouldn't ditch them without a good reason."Busy with his mission still perhaps?" Rachel offered, trying to lighten the mood, "Let's head to a hotel and rest up. We'll figure out what to do next with clear heads."A hint of a smile played on Arthur's lips. "Sounds like a plan.""There's this cool new fusion place a few blocks down from the hotel," Rachel suggested, a spark of excitement returning to her voice. "They've got the best Pad Thai on the island."Arthur chuckled. "Always thinking about food, aren't you, princess?"Rachel playfully swatted at his arm, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Well, a warrior needs her fuel," she countered with a grin.he fusion place buzzed with activity, a vibrant mix of tourists and locals enjoying the midday sun filtering through the open windows. Rachel scanned the menu, her mouth watering at the creative twists on classic Thai dishes. "See, I told you!" she exclaimed, pointing to a section titled "Pad Thai Remixes." "Mango and coconut shrimp Pad Thai? We have to try that!"Arthur chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Alright, alright, princess. Mango and coconut shrimp it is. But I call dibs on the classic Pad See Ew. Can't go wrong with a good stir-fried noodle dish."As they placed their orders, a comfortable silence settled between them.The food arrived, a symphony of colors and aromas. Rachel dug into her Pad Thai, the sweet and savory flavors exploding in her mouth. "Wow," she breathed between bites. "This is even better than I imagined! The mango adds this amazing freshness..."Arthur nodded in agreement, relishing his Pad See Ew. "They definitely know their stuff here. The perfect balance of savory and smoky."For a while, conversation dwindled as they focused on savoring their food. The initial tension over Lucifer's absence seemed to dissipate with each delicious bite.Finally, Rachel set her fork down, a thoughtful expression on her face. "So," she began, "what do we do now? Any other ideas on how to get in touch with Lucifer?"Arthur slurped down a mouthful of Pad Thai, the spicy noodles dancing on his lips. He tapped out a message on his phone, the screen momentarily illuminating his face."Just send him a quick text with our location," he said between bites. "We can still get a head start on tonight's hunt."Rachel speared a fat shrimp with her fork. "Night? Why not hit it now, while the sun's still up?" she questioned, her brow furrowed in confusion.Arthur wiped his mouth with a napkin, the scheming glint returning to his eye. "Two reasons, princess. First, the Elder Treant's more active at dusk, apparently less grumpy when the sun goes down. Can you believe it?"Rachel burst out a laugh, nearly spraying Pad Thai sauce across the table. "A grumpy plant? You're unbelievable, Arthur."Arthur shrugged, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "Trust me, that's what the intel says. Second, night brings out the dark-type mana beasts. Easy pickings for your fire magic."Rachel's eyes widened with realization. "Smart thinking! Plus, with fewer beasts roaming around at night, we'll have less competition from other hunters."Arthur beamed, clearly pleased with her deduction. He pocketed his phone with a satisfied sigh. "Message sent. Now, about this Pad Thai…" he trailed off, eyeing her plate. "Is that the last shrimp?"Rachel playfully swatted his hand away with her fork. "Hey! I wasn't finished yet!"Their laughter mingled with the clatter of dishes and the lively chatter of other patrons in the fusion restaurant. The conversation flowed easily between them, fueled by the spicy noodles and the thrill of the upcoming hunt."So," Rachel said, pondering between bites, "what's the plan if Lucifer doesn't show?"Arthur speared a bean sprout with his chopsticks, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "We improvise," he said, his voice firm with resolve. "Lucifer isn't really needed for five-star beasts, only if we somehow stumble into a six-star beast."Rachel sighed, the sound laced with a hint of disappointment. "True, a beast that strong wouldn't be on this island anyway." She stretched languidly, her fiery spirit momentarily dampened. "So much for getting some practice with your water magic. That was kind of the original plan."Arthur chuckled, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to train after this mission. Besides, tonight's hunt could be a good warm-up. Imagine the bragging rights of taking down a grumpy ancient tree at dusk!"A spark of excitement rekindled in Rachel's eyes. Bragging rights were always a motivator. "Alright, Arthur," she conceded with a playful grin. "You win. Grumpy Treant at dusk it is. But a powerful beast like that won't be a pushover. We'll need to be sharp."The rest of their meal passed in easy conversation, the initial disappointment replaced by the thrill of the upcoming hunt. As they finished their plates, Arthur glanced at his phone – still no response from Lucifer. A flicker of concern flitted across his face, but quickly vanished, replaced by a determined glint."Alright then," he declared, pushing back from the table. "Time to get back to the hotel and prep our gear. We've got a grumpy Treant to teach some manners to, and some dark-type mana beasts to clear out."