In the hideout's wall, there was an organization chart, showing a list of officials with this information:

Q. Leader

Arnau and Kelvin - Interim leaders in Jorhalt

Ygnatzio. - Interim leader in Vulkanja

Killian and Maurice. - Interim leaders in Keligrove.

Ahmrose. - Interim leader in Rivierae.

"1". - Interim leader in Altamora.

The names of the interim leaders in Wyynhaist, Suderbia and Skarmaal were not included at the list.

The recruit with feline traits was studying that chart for the one hundredth time, while he complained about the few provisions their superiors gave to them. They were no more than a troop of three, plus their leader, Noctis. But there only was food for two or three of them.

They did set themselves at a village near their first objective: The Wyynhaist College. Disguising as a group of traders from Jorhalt searching for a new market niche for their products. Unfortunately, those products did not include food, only a few precious metals and trinkets they moved all the way from Jorhalt.

Remembering all that was setting Albert, the feline recruit, in a very bad mood. That only went even worse when his companions entered the hideout. Those two were a couple of goofs that were constantly monkeyng around, they literally were chimpanzees.

The feline backed up, just to see the angry face of his boss. Well, not really, Noctis never takes off his armor. Including his L-type helmet, that is, a helmet specifically designed for lizard heads. The only thing that the recruit felt to percieve his boss's anger was the grumbling snort of his anger echoing with the helmet.

And he was not wrong, as the other two monkeys were late once again, and with empty hands.

- Eh, boss. I know we are late, but, hehe. We have very good news. - One of the recruits said.

- We have taken down one of the objectives, sir. With this weapons it was easy as pie. - the second afirmed, while the first started thinking.

- Don't tell me... - Noctis said sarcastically with his rude, sinister voice.

- Make mine a chocolate! - The first one screamed.

- Don't tell me you both ball of idiots... killed a dragon in plain sunlight... using our secret weapons. - The leader roared. - Did you both even heard when i asked especifically to hold the greatest of DISCRETIONS!!!???

- Ah, discretion, yeah boss we have a problem with that uh... What that word means?

Noctis was ultimately upset, but he needed to double check what happened.

- So, tell me. Wich dragon of our list is now resting with Alkos?

- Uh... His name was Aenjarl.

- Aenjarl, uh? Are you sure it was not his father, Klenjarl?

- No, I'm pretty sure we killed Aenjarl, we even bring his head with us, along with the other key parts as you said.

- Not the head. I said specifically. Do not bring back the head! You monkeyheads!... And it's the head of Aenjarl. The only son of this city's great mayor. And you bring his head to our place. Well, i was considering to give you both one more chance, but as i can see, i have no option but to do this. Eh, Kitty! - He said, quickly swapping the objective by the end, to give an equally quick order.

...

After a few minutes, Albert was doing his duty. He went towards the city hall with both chimps tied at their hands, feet and tails, and gagged.

That day, he saw his partners being devoured by a dragon. Just as his boss said, once the great mayor smelt the blood and saw the head, they instantly lost any right to a judgement. That marked the feline, but not his determination, precisely. By seeing that dragon crying sincere tears, the cat's head was now filled with doubts. So he chose to not return to the hideout until he doesn't solves them. He was not even thinking in appealing to the dragons, as he was guilty of that death, by association.

Back at the base, Noctis secretly checked the weapon they gave to him. He remembered the hunting night, more than two weeks ago.

That night, the superiors made clear two things for him: First, that he was wielding a draconical gift, one that will allow him to defeat any dragon. And second, that gift was not his property, but the Tongue's, so, as far as he was concerned, he and his subordinates were property of the Poisonous Tongue since then.

And, when he came back with his head held high, moving a prey as twice as big than him, they made another thing clear... He was not ready.

For that, they sent him to one of the easiest regions. Wyynhaist was the third most inhospitable region for dragons, and generally for every reptile, like him. 

But he did not care. The only thing he wanted was to fight. He had no other motive, he was raised as a warrior, that was his only purpose in life. For that, when he grew and discovered that there was no war, he searched for any other enemy to fight. He found it in dragons.

Deep in his heart, Noctis did not hate the dragons, in fact, he admired them. But he was not allowing himself to admit it, not even inwardly. He had to demonstrate his strength, he had to defeat every single enemy he found in his way to the glory that was only felt for the most worthy warriors.

Sometimes, just sometimes, he wondered what was the point of fighting. Then he remembered the words of his master, who raised and cared of him even more than his own father. His master used to say that life itself was a constant fight, and only the strongest would gain the right to live one more day.

That was all the truth for him, a little lizard with no place in the world, with scales as dark as a moonless night. From his earliest childhood, he fought to survive, until finally, fighting became all that was in his life.

So when he joined the Tongue, he believed that he finally found a new motive to fight, one that was bigger than himself, a greater enemy to defeat. He was determined to do whatever was necessary to win that battle.

ending his sentimental but manly introspective, Noctis realized that something, or, well, someone, was missing at the base.

- Where the horns that cat is, now?