Editing Huntsong Chapter 17 — Cara, Haeight (section)

==Synopsis==
[[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] spends her days doing the same routine: performing at the Synphasia, meeting with Seraphel, then hanging out with Rolare and Yoitha. The [Singer] has become the Synphasia’s second-best act thanks to her new [Uplifting Performance] Skill, which literally revitalizes the audience. On the other hand, Yoitha has become more depressed and starts thinking of leaving, as the theatre’s regular attendees have started avoiding coming to any performances featuring the Dwarf’s routine. The other performers try to convince Yoitha to stay, mostly because her repairs are the only thing keeping the Synphasia standing. Cara tries helping her find a new routine, starting with acting lessons. She teaches Yoitha Macbeth’s dagger speech, but the Dwarf has a hard time pretending to be someone else. Cara suggests imagining she’s guilty. In the middle of her speech, Yoitha begins improvising her lines to alter the speech about her as a [Smith], pulling raw emotion from her traumatic past where a forge accident in [[Deríthal-Vel|Dwarfhome]] “ruined a generation of us.” Yoitha’s performance leaves the watching theatre members speechless, but she is emotionally shaken afterward, as her guilt was too real. Cara darkly notes that Yoitha definitely needed to find something to do, as based on her emotional reaction, she can never go back to smithing. 

An emotionally-stricken Yoitha recounts her story while lying on her bed. She was a line-smith in [[Deríthal-Vel|Dwarfhome]]. Years ago, they received an order from the King of Destruction. Due to laziness, the smiths didn’t bother checking for quality, which led to an incident where hundreds of people were killed. As a result, the masters were exiled. While Yoitha wasn’t held to account, she left Dwarfhome out of shame and guilt. She came to Merenome to find another calling, but failed, being only good at hammering. Trying to be supportive, [[Rolairenes|Rolare]] points out that she has years to find something, speaking from experience. However, Yoitha is disgusted, retorting that he has “eternity to pleasure himself with his pasttimes.” Thoughtfully, [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] asks Yoitha if she’s tried drumming. The [Singer] is surprised to learn that drumming is not considered a musical pastime in [[Terandria]], being only used during war or sending messages. However, the [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] is intrigued by a sketch of a drumset, and claims she could probably make them herself. Jeoired is more than happy to give Yoitha time off, especially after securing a royal engagement for the Synphasia at the palace. Cara borrows money from [[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]] to help pay for the drums, but accidentally gives her own money along with the loan, leaving her with an empty money pouch. 

On the third day of [[Haeight|Haeight’s]] indulgence of sloth, she goes to the Adventurer’s Guild to try to secure an audience with Duchess [[Greina]]. However, the [Receptionist] is skeptical of Haeight’s claim of being a childhood friend of Greina. She promises to send a note to Greina about Haeight, but just throws it away after the [Huntress] leaves the Guild.

[[Haeight]] is amazed on how famous her friend has become. Often adventuring with Princess [[Telleis]] of [[Samal]], Greina has become a rising star and is the third-most eligible bachelorette in [[Terandria]]. As the leader of the Gold-ranked team Nobel Spirit, she travels around Noelictus, hunting down undead like a [Hunter]. At a desk selling famous adventurers’ illustrations, Haeight sees Greina’s among other Named Adventurers like [[Elia Arcsinger]], [[Lehra Ruinstrider]], and [[Saliss Oliwing|Saliss of Lights]].

Later, Haeight sees her opportunity when Greina and her team make an appearance at the Adventurer’s Guild. However, she is dissuaded by a crowd of rabid fans, who are just as eager to see the Gold-ranked team. By the time they disappear into the Guild, Haeight is lying on her back, having been punched, knocked down, then trampled over. She tries three more times over the next two days with the same results. Dismayed, she decides to go back home to rest, wishing they could meet once more.

Hungry and penniless (again), [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] is in a bad mood while walking back to the Synphasia. However, her attention is caught by a female Helpful Servant being chased by two servants calling her “Elena”. The servants are trying to get [[Elena Othonos|Elena]] to return back to their employer, Lady Batiseva. The Lady had slapped Elena, which violated the terms of their contract. The two servants try bribing Elena, but the Helpful Servant states in a mild tone that further attempts to impede her would result in Batiseva’s permanent removal from the Helpful Servants’ services. After the servants leave, Cara tries to get Elena’s attention, but the other girl refuses, claiming that a different client reserved a priority slot. Desperate, Cara shows Elena her phone. The Helpful Servant recognizes it, becoming excited before her face changes to fear and dread, then a blank face before back to her default smile. Sensing something deeply wrong, Cara physically tries to stop Elena, fully aware that this is not a good look for her, especially when a [Guardsman] appears. But then Haeight arrives on the scene.

As [[Haeight]] is recovering from her near-death experience with [[Greina|Greina’s]] fans, she is run over by [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]], while she is chasing after [[Elena Othonos|Elena]]. The Helpful Servant is calling for help in a monotone voice. Though initially hesitant, Haeight intercedes, invoking her authority as a [Hunter]. A nearby [Guard] comes over, and threatens to arrest Cara if she doesn’t release Elena. Helpful Servants are a rare sight in Haeight’s hometown, so she isn’t used to them. They are known for working hard for a fraction of the normal prices, and blank-faced when not working, which is part of of what makes them professional. However, Haeight finds Elena’s emotionless behavior to be off-putting, just as much as Cara’s desperation to get Elena to stay. To prevent the situation from going out of control, Haeight volunteers to pay Elena’s fee for the week using her Hunter’s Card, which Elena accepts. Cara is thankful, and recognizes Haeight as the person who nearly ran her over on horseback the previous week. She is slightly passive aggressive when Haeight introduces herself as a Dedicated Hunter. Though offended, Haegiht becomes aghast when Cara explains that she was present at the undead attack in Afiele, an event where Hunters failed to show until a month later. Even the [Singer] takes a step back when she sees the look of Haeight's face. She gives the [Hunter] half-off tickets to the Synphasia as thanks, and offers her any favor. Struck by inspiration, Haeight asks the [Singer] to contact Greina and let her know Haeight’s presence in Meronome, theorizing that the Duchess and her team would probably go to the theatre at some point. Though skeptical that Greina and Haeight are childhood friends, Cara promises to try.

[[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] is ashamed of her abrasiveness towards [[Haeight]] after learning she was a [Hunter], but all of her attention is focused on [[Elena Othonos|Elena]]. She introduces herself as a beautician from Greece, all the while switching between her “Helpful Servant demeanor” and a little of her true personality. Cara tries grilling her for information, and asks about her previous employer, Lady Batiseva, but Elena is reticent due to client confidentiality. Using [One True Falsehood], Cara claims to have the Hunter’s Guild authority, to which Elena’s Helpful Servant side acknowledges. She reveals that she became a Helpful Servant after teleporting to the streets of Merenome. Her classes are [Helpful Servant], as well as Level 13 [Hairdresser] and Level 4 [Cleaner]. When giving Cara sass about her messy room, Elena’s full personality briefly emerges from her Helpful Servant persona. Cara knows something is very wrong, but at the same time, ''something'' is pushing at her to treat it as normal. While helping Elena clean her room, Cara asks her about the Helpful Servant organization. Much to her relief, physical interactions with the Helpful Servants are banned. However, they encourage people to share how they are feeling. Cara tries to get Elena’s full personality again, but the Helpful Servant claims it’s not possible, and instead offers to fix the [Singer’s] hair.