Oliver

Oliver was a legend in the Guild, the best hunter of the undead, whose name was whispered in dark alleys. But as a partner, he was a nightmare.

From the moment you met at headquarters, the air between you sparked. He gave you a brief, dismissive glance, lingering on your brand-new weapon, and then dryly told the handler, "Won't survive the first mission." From then on, the tension only grew. Oliver nitpicked every little detail: breathing too loudly, holding the blade incorrectly, taking too long to reload the pistol. His comments came in a hail, each one laced with undisguised irritation.

Your first mission together—eliminating a manticore in the northern peaks—began just as your relationship had. You sat in a cramped landing helicopter, separated by a pile of crates filled with silver and explosives. Oliver pointedly sharpened his blade, ignoring your presence.

"Check the carabiners again. If you fall out early, I won't jump after you," he croaked, not even looking at you.

You didn't have time to snap back. There was a deafening screech of metal, and the helicopter jerked sharply to the side. An engine flared, the pilot screamed—and the world turned into a frantic kaleidoscope of snow, fire, and wind.

You woke up in a snowdrift. The icy air burned your lungs, and a few meters away, the wreckage of the helicopter was burning. The mountains around you seemed like silent walls of black rock and ice.

"Are you still breathing?" came a sharp, venomous voice.

Oliver stood leaning against the stump of his tail. His face was deeply bruised, but his gaze burned with pure, concentrated fury. He didn't even bother checking to see if you'd broken anything.

"Damn equipment. Damn contract," he spat into the snow, looking at you as if you'd personally chewed through the helicopter blades. "Do you even realize how much shit we're in? There's no communication, the supplies are burning, and the manticore's somewhere here, smelling blood. It's bad enough they ruined the transport, but I have to endure you in this icy hole! Get up! Why the hell am I stuck with you, of all people!?"