《No Longer a Game》 -Prologue- PROLOGUE A dark-skinned man looked out the window of his room while he relaxed on his bed. ''Another day in paradise.'' he thought happily, as the sun warmed his face through his bedside window. His room was unusually clean for a man his age. A twenty-three-year-old would at least have a shirt on the floor or a can of soda nearby. On the other hand, Brandon wasn''t your typical twenty-three-year-old. Since the moment he was born, he had been blessed. Ushered into the world as the product of two Olympic gold medalists. In the beginning, Brandon had been raised as a relatively normal youth. He had loving parents, multiple friends, and several admirers at school. He''d even managed to get himself a sweetheart that he would often spend time with. Unfortunately, on his thirteenth birthday, the life that Brandon had grown accustomed to came to a crashing halt. It was the day when his rigorous training, which would sculpt his body for a future of Olympic gold and glory, began. Hours of free time and leisure was replaced by strict schedules and uncompromising micro-management. The loving parents he thought he knew had turned out to be undercover Spartans, and their mission was to turn their son into the ultimate physical specimen. He would never forget the first day his friends were turned away at the door. *FLASHBACK* ¡°Why can''t I play with my friends?¡± he asked. His mother had closed the door before he could even get a chance to see them. ¡°It''s a significant time for your body right now, Brandon. You''ll have all the time in the world for friends...¡± she said with an apologetic look in her eyes. They were the same eyes that had seen the view from the top. The same eyes that had witnessed countless athletes break at crucial moments. She knew the price of gold, and she knew the advantages of an early start. Above all else, she was determined to open a path for her son. Not even his cries would sway her. Resistance was futile. *FLASHBACK END* It took him only a few days to realize the severity of the situation, and when his mother wouldn¡¯t listen, there was just one path to salvation. *FLASHBACK* ¡°Dad, can I go outside?¡± Brandon asked innocently, hoping his father was too distracted by watching TV. ¡°Oh? You want to do a couple more laps around the block?¡± his father replied with a hint of surprise. Though his eyes were still glued to the screen. ¡°I just want to see one of my friends¡­¡± ¡°Is this friend a girl?¡± ¡°Well...yeah¡± Brandon replied somewhat bashfully. Yet, that was only on the surface. Inside, his heart was pounding. ¡¯A chance!?¡¯ he thought. This was his last gamble. All he could depend on for even a glimpse of freedom was the special bond between the desperate son and the loving father. It was with a heavy, remorseful sigh that his father finally turned to him and said, ¡°My son, when we''re through with you, babes will be lined up around the block trying to get a look at you. Just you wait, I know things are tough right now. Trust me, I''ve been there. But for now, the girls can wait. If you have time to go see a girl, you have time to hit the gym or those books.¡± *FLASHBACK END* When not even his soft-hearted father had given in, Brandon knew he was in for trouble. His friends that were turned away at the door soon disappeared altogether. As if that wasn''t enough, his sweetheart had moved away shortly after his birthday. In under a week, his world had been changed completely. School became a different place. The friends that had given up on him were ignored. While the admirers, who had been smitten by Brandon''s charisma and charm, couldn''t find the boy they knew in the face of the cold adolescent. Apparently, all work and no play made Brandon a miserable boy. In those days, he would curse his parents, only to regret his words as soon as they left his lips. He loved them too much to mean it, yet the hate for their actions pulled his emotions into a vicious cycle. As time passed, he would often find himself more confused than anything else. That turbulent time lasted for four long years. By the end of it, Brandon was starting his senior year. Thankfully, his training had gotten to the point where he only trained to maintain his peak physical condition. Finally able to enjoy life, his sunny disposition returned in force. Standing at six foot one and a hundred and eighty-five pounds(1.85m and 83kg), the handsome and charismatic youth was hard to ignore. The quiet guy that sat in front of the class had started to open up. He made new friends and reconciled with those he had overlooked. His admirers couldn¡¯t resist for long, finding every opportunity to flirt, but only after a fateful encounter did Brandon get a girlfriend. Despite all these distractions, none of his grades had ever fallen below a ''B''. He was the definition of a student-athlete. It was around spring that year that Brandon had taken an interest in football. On the day of Varsity tryouts, he came to realize that all the training he had done had been in preparation for that day. There was no position he couldn''t play on that field. He could block, throw, run, and catch. Whatever his mind commanded, his body obeyed. The coaches had argued over where to put him all pre-season long. In the end, they started him as the quarterback. Suddenly, a team that no one had cared about became a force to be reckoned with. Game after game, Brandon led his team to victory, and as the wins piled up, so did the attention. On the day of the state championships, scouts from all across the country had their eyes on one player. Not that it mattered to him. Brandon had a focus that couldn¡¯t be shaken. On that field, the only people he saw were his teammates. On that day, nothing else mattered. *FLASHBACK* The last play. The Norfolk Warriors were six points down with ten seconds left on the clock. Brandon looked at his friends as they huddled for the last time. His hands were shaking, not from nerves, but from the sheer epic moment before them. Yet, he could see defeat in the eyes of some of his teammates. In the final charge to the end zone, such thoughts would not do. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. "Brothers, why do I see the frowns when I look upon you?" He put his arms around the two players closest to him. All the players looked at each other. They knew this side of Brandon well. Whenever the team fell into crisis, he would bring them into a world of their own. In that world, they weren''t high school football players, they were warriors on the battlefield, soldiers of Rome. In moments, they all visibly relaxed as they returned their gazes to their general. "Our enemies have prepared the stage for our victory, yet I see the shadows of defeat upon your faces..." Brandon continued as he looked around the huddle. "Our men are tired. The walls won''t hold much longer." a youth spoke up. He was the center of the offensive line, the one Brandon depended on the most for protection. The ¡®walls¡¯ he spoke of, were the other members of the offensive line. They were on their last legs after a long, tough game, and the situation wasn¡¯t in their favor. Brandon grabbed the youth¡¯s face mask and brought their helmets crashing together as he roared, "Damn the walls! If they are to fall then so be it. I don''t ask that they hold forever, but they will hold for Caesar." The team had unanimously named the ball Caesar. For on the field, the ball was everything. "This is what we have trained for!" Brandon roared again, releasing the center to look the others in the eye. "In this final battle, in this final moment, we will show everyone what lies in our hearts. But it has to be now! For your families and for your brothers beside you!" Brandon walked around, slapping the sword emblem on each of their helmets. Every hit lit the fire within them. One last charge, that¡¯s all it would take. Seeing the glint in the eyes of his team, Brandon knew he had them, but they needed one more push. "But remember¡­¡± Brandon''s voice lowered, the intensity drowned out the roar of the crowd. ¡°In the end, all is for the glory of Rome." The final words were like lightning, charging their fatigued bodies with power. Then they all gazed at the end zone thirty yards away. The final destination. "Warriors! Cut a path for Caesar!" Brandon roared once more. The others raised their voices in unison, and their battle cries could be heard all the way at the top of the stadium. Just as the referee began to make his approach, the warriors returned to being players. All traces of defeat had been wiped from their very souls. ''Now that''s what I''m talking about!'' Brandon grinned, satisfied. "Caesar''s Chariot! On three, ready!? Break!" Brandon commanded, and the team left the huddle and set up for the final play. The play that followed was nothing short of incredible. The ball snapped, and Brandon rushed for the goal line. The offensive line, his impregnable walls, had given him plenty of time. His receivers blocked as if their lives were on the line. After rushing through the wide open path, he broke two tackles before he was brought down. *FLASHBACK END* Touchdown. That''s what the headlines of the local newspaper read the following day. Praises came from every direction for Brandon, but they couldn''t compare to the beaming faces of his parents. All they had ever wanted was for him to be happy and successful. Little did they know, that success was around the corner. Not long after his game, a scout had come bearing unbelievable news. With his parents¡¯ consent, Brandon was drafted into the NFL right out of high school. Although he didn¡¯t get to play for two years, he had practiced and trained with the team until they felt he was ready. However, Brandon never neglected his studies. When he was off the field, he was earning his associate degree through online courses. Finally, at the tender age of twenty, he made his debut in the starting line-up. Unsurprisingly, it was a disaster...for the other team. Once Brandon hit the field, he could not be stopped. He had continued to make headlines as he blazed a trail through the National Football League, astounding anyone who watched him play. He broke multiple records, set examples for every quarterback to follow, and even led his team to two consecutive Super Bowl victories. He couldn''t help but smile as he looked out his window with his two Super Bowl rings sparkling as they caught the sunlight. "How you doing superstar?" a voice interrupted his musings. Brandon looked toward the doorway to find a familiar face poking through. He smiled and replied, "Another day in paradise, Curtis." The man that walked in was a condensed version of Brandon. He a little shorter, but he made up for in width. His muscles rippled and flexed under his short sleeve shirt, as his dark skin tone gave off a healthy glow in the sunlight. Curtis waltzed in and knelt beside the bed. "So, your parents are coming today. When do you plan on getting ready?" "Well, I was thinking about taking a bath soon...care to join me?" Brandon said, with a wry smile. "I think I got some time for that." Curt laughed, then he scooped Brandon up like a princess. As he turned to the door, there was a sound of metal hitting the floor. It was one of Brandon''s rings that slipped from his finger. Curtis paused and made a motion to pick it up, but he was stopped. "Leave it. It barely fits me anymore anyway." Brandon said solemnly. When he looked down at the ring, the memories of his first Super Bowl came rushing back to him. He could remember that game like it was yesterday. Curtis knew better than to comment, so he hugged Brandon closer to his chest and walked out the door. "Alright, one bath coming up." "Try not to be stingy with the soap this time," Brandon grumbled. "Hey now, I''m a professional!" Curtis retorted, pressing a button on the wall to close the door. On the closing door, there was a sign that read-
202 Patient: Brandon Welding Injury: Paralysis Lead Nurse: Curtis Julius Lead Physician: Dr. Alexander Dixson
Chapter 1: Ends and Beginnings ENDS AND BEGINNINGS Brandon was laying down while watching some TV. Truthfully, it was the only activity available to him at the moment. The only difference was the familiar young woman lying beside him on the bed. She had her arm under his head while selfishly using the only pillow for herself. Her red hair was dyed black at the end, giving her naturally wavy hair an air of seduction that complemented her fair skin, and her long legs wrapped in denim stretched out over the bed. Although her outfit, a low-necked t-shirt, and skinny jeans, was nothing special, her womanly curves naturally drew the eyes. The young woman¡¯s name was Rose Lawson. She''d known Brandon ever since he was a young boy. Although they were close in their middle school days, they didn''t get to spend much time together until their senior year in high school. Their reunion had been a pleasant surprise. *FLASHBACK* "Rose Lawson?" a voice called out her. Rose had been putting her books in her locker when she had been called, so she could only guess who it was. No doubt it was another boy trying to hit on her. Her family had just moved back to their old hometown, and since the start of her senior year as a transfer student, not a day had gone by where there wasn¡¯t some guy trying to get her number. "What?" she huffed, not even turning around to acknowledge the person. "I was wondering if you would hold up the end of our agreement," he said. ''Agreement?'' She didn''t remember making any promises recently, especially not to any of the jerks that populated the school. She wasn''t interested in the least, but she was curious. This guy, whoever it was, sounded annoyingly confident. "What agreement?" she probed, still not having turned around. "That we''d continue our conversation from before, of course," he said. He was smiling now. Rose could hear it in his voice. "What? I don''t have time for games!" Grabbing the rest of her books, she closed the locker and walked away. "You dropped something..." he said hurriedly. Rose sighed as she turned to face the mysterious jerk who came to bother her. He was obviously lying, it was a simple ploy to get her to turn around and give some attention. Unfortunately, the off chance that she actually had dropped something took priority. It could be something important. Leaning against her locker was a tall, dark-skinned youth. His black v-neck shirt hinted at the chiseled chest that lay beneath. He had his hair cut low, and it had been brushed and groomed until neat waves circled his head. Soft, gentle eyes gazed at her expectantly, and there was devilish grin spread across his full lips. She admitted that he was quite handsome, but still annoying nonetheless. His first impression had squarely placed him on her ¡®Do Not Associate¡¯ list, which was growing longer by the day. "Where is it?" Rose looked around near the boy''s feet for the supposedly dropped item. "I lied. I just wanted to see if you''d remember me if you saw my face. Forgive me, I won''t bother you again..." the boy apologized with an embarrassed smile. Yet, his voice carried a sorrowful tone that was difficult to suppress. Without wasting another second, Rose walked away in irritation. She turned the corner to head to her teacher''s office, but not before she stole a glance behind herself. When their eyes met again, he winked at her with another devilish grin on his face. It looked that way from the outside, but Rose couldn¡¯t explain why she felt the smiled didn¡¯t reach his eyes. She racked her brain on the way to her teacher''s office. The boy claimed to know her, and she had a sneaking suspicion that he was right. ''I''m pretty sure I''d remember a promise like that. Besides, I don''t have many black frien-'' It wasn''t until she was standing outside the teacher faculty room that she had an epiphany. The memories hit her like a sack of bricks. The memories were so precious that they were impossible to forget. It was as if she had sealed them away to preserve every second. Only now did the seal break to return the memories to her with perfect clarity. She knew that boy. She knew him very well. Even though they only shared one class in middle school, they had talked a lot and often hung out after school. The growing feelings she felt at that time were evident, and she still remembered them clearly to this day-lapses not included. First loves were never forgotten. The scene of their final meeting replayed instantly. --- The two teens had been sitting on a park bench watching the sunset. They had made plans in class today and decided to meet here after school, and they had been talking in soft tones for a while for no reason in particular. It could have been merely a habit since it was often just the two of them. That day, however, the mood had been set just right. ¡°Have you ever been kissed before?¡± the boy said to her. Rose had turned away, embarrassed. The question had completely caught her off guard. She silently prayed that her heart wasn¡¯t skipping as loud as she thought it was. ¡°No.¡± she whispered. ¡°That has to be a lie.¡± the boy protested. ¡°It''s true!¡± She had turned around to face to the boy, only to find his face inches from hers. She held her breath. Although she was almost a year older than the boy, when she looked into his eyes, she felt a maturity that went beyond his years in the calm, steady gaze. A trait she found extremely attractive. ¡°Well, I guess that gives us something else in common. I''ve heard that you''ll always remember your first kiss, but I''ve also heard that it can be wasted on someone you''d rather forget.¡± the boy had whispered as he looked down, releasing Rose from that gaze of his. She let out a shaky breath and tried to recover her composure, but the boy didn''t give her a chance. ¡°Would it be so bad to remember me Rose?¡± he whispered. This time, she could hear the quiver in his voice at the end. Rose didn¡¯t dare breathe. She had never thought she be in such a situation anytime soon, with their lips close enough to feel the heated breath of the other. An unusual tension fell between them. In the unbearable, exciting moment, the sound of her rapid heartbeat continued to assault her ears. As they both leaned closer, the world seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. ¡°Brandon!!¡± a shrill voice had called out in the distance, breaking the enchantment. Just like that, the magic was gone. ¡°Mothers have the best timing¡­¡± the boy sighed, shaking his head. He stood up to leave but looked back at her. ¡°I''d like to continue this conversation later if that''s alright¡­¡± he looked at her expectantly. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Rose replied. ¡°Promise?¡± a devilish grin appeared on his face. She nodded, but it wasn''t enough for him. ¡°I''m gonna need a verbal agreement.¡± ¡°I promise.¡± Rose blushed. She had pretty much promised her first kiss to the boy. The boy smiled mischievously. It was a contagious smile, spreading across the girl''s face in turn. Two teens with a secret promise, made in the quiet park, in the last light of the day. ¡°Brandon!¡± the boy''s mother called again in the distance. ¡°Uh oh!¡± the boy had said as he jumped, ready to bolt. Rose grabbed his hand before he had the chance. As she felt the sweat on his palm, she smiled. There was a hint of satisfaction from the fact that he had been nervous as well. ¡°Happy Birthday,¡± she said. ¡°Until we meet again¡­¡± he smiled, then he sprinted home. --- Rose cursed her lousy memory as she ran back the way she came. Rushing to get to her locker, she nearly knocked over the young man in question as she turned the corner. "Whoa, slow down. No need to rush." he laughed, catching Rose before she fell. "Brandon..." she said breathlessly. There he was. The young boy she had promised in the park had grown up splendidly. Tall, dark, and handsome. Her face flushed with guilt from her first thoughts after their reunion. Brandon raised his eyebrows in surprise. "So you do remember! And here I thought I''d have to chase-" He never got to chance to finish before Rose closed in for their first kiss. *FLASHBACK END* ''I''ll never forget again.'' she thought as she looked down at her sweetheart. The past year after his incident had been hard, but as long as he was alive, it was enough. --- Brandon was watching ESPN with a heavy heart. He had decided that today would be the day. He sighed heavily for the umpteenth time. The inevitable moment weighed on his mind as well as his body. He was a powerless Atlas with the world mercilessly placed upon his chest instead of his back. "Want me to change the channel?" Rose said as she stroked his head lovingly. She had mistaken his sighs as a signed of depression. Watching football certainly left a bad taste in his mouth, but she was ultimately mistaken. ''God she''s beautiful'' he thought as she snuggled closer to him. Her fragrance lingered around him, giving him a rare sense of calm. It was always a comfort to have her near, but it only made what he had to do harder. "I only want you to be happy..." The crushing weight of his heart forced him to whisper. Rose tensed up immediately. She never liked it when he talked to her like this. Every word was loaded with dangerous implications. She leaned over him to look into his eyes, letting her long hair separate them from the world outside. "I am happy," she reassured him. "Not as happy as you could be..." he countered. ''She could have any man she wants if she tried. She deserves to be loved one hundred percent.'' It was with these thoughts that Brandon steeled himself. Rose didn''t miss the subtle change in his gaze. The gentle, loving eyes from moments before were lit with a fire of determination. She knew exactly where this was going, and it scared her. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she reined them in. She would fight this. "If I was concerned about what could be, I would have left you the moment you fell down the stairs." She said. Brandon could feel the underlying rage in her every word. She only brought up his incident when she was seriously agitated. It had been a dark day for the NFL, and the entire sports world had been shaken. Brandon ''General'' Welding, the unstoppable rookie that led his team to consecutive Super Bowl championships, had fallen down a flight of stairs. The resulting injury ended his promising career. ''I¡¯ll accept your anger with open arms if the alternative is a life shackled to me.'' Brandon thought. He knew he could only waste away in this hospital. He refused to have her share the same fate. "Well, the fact is, I don''t want you here," he replied coldly with practiced ease. It was a white lie that was hard to see through. "You can''t stop me from coming to see you." Rose forced the words out of her mouth with difficulty. She was cornered and desperately struggling now. Her throat clenched with a sob she forced down. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "I can actually. I have the right to refuse visitors." Brandon countered with a matter-of-fact tone, leaving no room for negotiation. The words were said lightly, but each one seemed to cut through her. The tears she had held back were streaming down her face. Rose knew without a doubt that he was planning on following through. He was serious. This was it. "Isn''t it enough that I love you?" she cried desperately. Her plea may as well have been cast into the void. "You can love someone else..." The reply was flat, toneless. Oh, how she wanted to hit him! To beat him senseless until he realized the error of his ways. Yet, she could only muster the strength for a few pathetic taps on his shoulder. The shoulder that once carried the weight of the world had become smaller, and couldn''t even feel her fists. She knew that he''d never be the same, now she was forced to accept it. Rose lay her head on his as she cried. She cried so he could see it. So that he could witness the pain he was causing her, she cried. Brandon never turned his gaze from hers, even as her warm tears dropped into his eyes. He accepted them stoically with a blink. She cried for a few more minutes before she quietly got up and walked out the door. Only a few seconds passed before Curtis walked in. "Brandon, what happened!? I just saw Rose-" "Is she gone?" Brandon asked quietly. "She was running down the hall in tears man." Curtis lied. Rose was, in fact, huddled down just outside the door. After catching the end of their exchange, he figured she deserved to hear some more details. "Good. No need for her to be stuck with me..." Brandon sighed slowly as if he wanted to breathe his last breath right there. "But why? She''s stuck with you all this time." Curtis truly did understand, but he asked for Rose. "Do you know that she''s the reason I fell?" Brandon whispered. Silence fell on the room. "After winning my second Super Bowl, I went straight back to the hotel. That night, I had three rings in my possession. Two for me...and one for her." Just outside the door, Rose caught her breath. Brandon had never told anyone what happened. But this was beyond her expectations. "That day I would''ve asked her to marry me. I was so excited that I took the stairs to the twenty-third floor like an idiot. I took the stairs two at a time, desperately running to ask for her hand... but I was careless." Brandon sighed as he recollected, then he closed his eyes. He could still feel the warmth from Rose''s tears. "I could go after her, bring her back..." Curtis offered. "No. I can no longer love Rose the way she deserves. I gotta let it burn." Brandon smiled, but there was no joy in it. ''So heavy'' he sighed once more before he let the weight he''d been carrying for so long, crush him. His strangled sobs turned into cries of despair as he was utterly broken. In-between every few sobs he would scream in rage, cursing himself for his circumstances and what his love had forced him to do. After the first few minutes, Curtis had walked out the room and closed the door. He waited with Rose and explained the situation to any of his co-workers that came running because of screams. He knew the pain of a man who just tore himself apart wasn''t something that should be witnessed, let alone disturbed. All the while, Rose cried quietly. She was just as torn. The revelations that had come to light made her want to run back into the room. However, she knew it wouldn''t change how he felt. Hearing his agonized cries had somewhat relieved her. It not only confirmed his love for her, but it also showed that his decision wasn''t made lightly. Yet, she cried. She cried because she hadn''t been strong enough to look toward the future. Just moments before they talked, she had been reminiscing about what was. Instead of planning on what to do for the future. She cried for the life they could have had. She could already picture Brandon running up the steps with his heart fitting to burst from joy. She could imagine his devilish grin as he dropped down to one knee, holding a ring in his hand. But fate preyed on the careless. Her thoughts lost color as she pictured the man miss a step, succumbing to a tragedy at the happiest point in his life. It wasn''t fair. It wasn''t fair at all. --- A year passed in a blur, and Brandon did the only thing he could do, watch TV. Although he maintained his sunny disposition and unshakable will, anyone that knew him could tell that something was missing. It was on one such day that Curtis walked in with a box and a huge grin on his face. "Brandon, man. Do I have a surprise for you!" "Bubbles and candles for my sponge bath?" Brandon chuckled. "Even better," Curtis said as he tapped the box in his hands confidently. "I got you a new body." Brandon turned his attention to the box for the first time, craning his neck to get a better look. It was a Sonsoft Dark Chariot. He had heard about two competing game companies merging, but he hadn''t paid much attention to it. Though he had seen the commercials for their Full Consciousness Submersion System, or FCSS. "Virtual reality, huh. Will it work?" Brandon couldn¡¯t help the hopeful tone in his voice. "Only one way to find out," Curtis replied as he set to work opening the box, eventually bringing out a jet black helmet. After securing the device on Brandon''s head, he began hooking up some extra cords to the television. "What''s all that for?" Brandon asked, watching the scene through the somewhat transparent lens. "It''s so I can watch. The doctors paid for everything under the guise of a scientific experiment." "And what will I be playing?" "That''s the next surprise. It''s a game that came out with the device." A knowing smile spread of Curtis¡¯ face. "This better not be a damn goat simulator..." "It''s called Chaos Online." Brandon raised a brow at the name. "That actually sounds pretty vicious." "Right!?" Chaos Online, having been released along with the Dark Chariot a month ago, has been critically acclaimed as the next level of virtual reality. Players experience seventy-five percent of the pain, and the gore was made to look as real as possible. It became known as the world''s first ¡®Hardcore¡¯ VRMMORPG. "Shit...seventy five percent?" Brandon winced when he heard the details about the game. "Yeah. When you get stabbed, it pretty much feels like you''re getting stabbed for real." Curtis could only nod. "And people voluntarily play this?" "You''d be surprised. The level of realism gives the whole game a lot more tension. Can you imagine facing a dragon knowing you''ll feel almost everything? It''d be intense." Curtis said as grabbed the remote and switched the TV channel to the appropriate input. "So you''ve played it." "I try to when I find the time." Curtis shrugged, not bothering to reveal how often he actually played. "Have you died yet?" asked Brandon curiously. A shadow fell on Curtis'' face as he recollected. "I was ravaged by wolves on my first day. It hurt like hell, but the system knocks you out after a certain point. Sonsoft doesn''t want people dying in real life. Still, they were chewing on me for about three minutes before I was knocked out." "Whoa." Brandon sucked in a cold breath. He couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom how it would feel to be eaten alive. "I know. I don''t even feel comfortable calling it a game anymore. Everything feels so real. I even got laid in-game..." the sly nurse tried to be nonchalant as he said it, but a smirk slowly appeared on his face. ''You had my interest, but now you have my attention.'' Brandon thought secretly. Certain needs had been unfulfilled for far too long. Watching Curtis refusing to speak more, he could only endure for a short time before he asked, "So how was it?" "You won''t even know the difference." Curtis laughed. "Yeah, set me up." Brandon nodded with a stern face. Curtis pretended to hesitate for a moment. "You sure? I understand if you don''t want to pla-" "Turn this damn thing on!" Curtis laughed hysterically as he struggled to find the switch. When he finally found it, the Dark Chariot hummed to life.
Scanning...
A new user has been registered.
Would you like to launch Chaos Online?
Although impressed by the silky voice in his ear, Brandon commanded, "Launch."
Welcome to Chaos Online.
There was a bright flash of light, causing him to shut his eyes from the glare. When he opened his eyes again, he was in a white room.
You will now create your avatar to represent yourself in-game.
What race do you wish to be? Chaos Onlin-
"Human!" Brandon said hurriedly. Just the thought of returning to the body of his glory days had him genuinely anxious to start.
Name?
"Thadius." It was a name he had often used that name in the games of his childhood. Soon, there was another flash of light, then an image of himself appeared.
This is your avatar. Would you like to make any changes?
Brandon examined his avatar ''Thadius'' carefully before he spoke, "Add fifty pounds(22kg) of muscle, please. Evenly distribute it." The system complied, and the image of Brandon instantly changed. What appeared was a mirror image of himself before his incident. "That''s perfect."
Choose your starting destination.
A map appeared in front of him, highlighting the available starting locations. After taking a moment to read the topography, he made his decision. "Yune, Todos Kingdom." The light faded, replaced by the grey sunlight of a cloudy sky. Chapter 2: Gods and Geezers GODS AND GEEZERS Thadius suddenly found himself in dire straights. His most loyal soldiers died left and right. His beloved queen was murdered before his eyes in the early battles of the war. Then, as if his suffering wasn''t enough, he had even failed his king and forced him to take refuge in his castle. When had it all gone wrong? How had he come to fail so completely? It was all due to carelessness. What had started as a simple game of chess against an old man, had quickly turned into a struggle for survival. ''This is bullshit! I should have known that playing against an NPC was the same a playing against the computer!'' Thadius groaned as he lost another piece. He should have noticed the first signs of defeat when he saw the old man playing against himself. It was a strong indication of someone with knowledge of the game. Yet, Thadius hadn''t seen that. All he saw was a lonely elder with no one to play with. Little did he know, that the old man had only run out of challengers. "We don''t get many Travelers in these parts, especially not youngins like yourself." the old man held back a chuckle as he made his move, but his overgrown beard betrayed his mirth as it quivered. ''He''s toying with me!?'' Thadius thought as he desperately analyzed the field for a way out. ''There!'' He moved his knight beside his king to protect him at all cost. With that, he could survive another turn and find some way to salvage the situation. Unfortunately, Thadius realized his mistake too late. After a second glance at the board, his fingers trembled. "My God, what have I done..." "Youngin'', I''m afraid it''s time to end this." the old man said as he sent a knight to infiltrate the castle, assassinating Thadius'' king with ease. "Checkmate."
DEFEAT THE VILLAGE CHESS CHAMPION The old man is still undefeated. You''ve failed this time, but he will welcome your challenge whenever you''re ready. DIFFICULTY: C REQUIREMENTS: Offer to play against the old man. REWARDS: Exp. + Title: Yune Chess Champion
"Don''t take it to heart youngin''. I haven''t lost in a long time, ho ho." the old man chuckled and reset the board. "What''s your name, old man?" Thadius asked. Despite the crushing defeat, he still had a favorable impression of his opponent. "Round here they call me ''Old Man Tony''." "I will defeat you Mr.Tony, but until that day comes, keep that title warm for me." Thadius said, then started to rise up from the table when Tony suddenly stopped him. "You just got here, didn''t you? If you wouldn''t mind my company youngin'', I could show you around." Old Man Tony offered. Since he had literally appeared out of thin air before encountering Tony, Thadius didn''t see any reason to refuse. "I''d like that." The two set off to explore the town while the sun was still high in the sky. Although it could be called a town, Yune was more like a small city. As such, it provided all the basic necessities for Travelers like Thadius. This was extremely important since Yune was quite a distance away from the larger cities. Everything was centered around the fountain in the central square, with the rest of the buildings spread out from there. The first building was a blacksmith for armor, weapons, and repair. The second was the tailor''s shop which was right next door. On the opposite side was an inn with a restaurant, and beside it was a potions shop. The rest of the square consisted of small stands and vendors to fill the gaps. After the central square, the city was mostly small houses and residential establishments. Yune wasn''t that developed, but the people had all they needed. During the tour of the central square, Old Man Tony started talking about the local tales and lore of the city. One such tale involved the largest mountain of the nearby range, the Mountain of Yune. It told of how the Goddess of the mountain protected it, which was why no monsters had been seen there in years. These little bits of legends and lore made the game more exciting and gave it flavor. Thadius wasn''t the least bit interested, but he remained quiet and let Tony do the talking while he enjoyed the sensation of moving again. The end of the tour brought them to the tallest building in the city. It was a white two-story building with open windows that let fresh air in. Besides the intricately carved mahogany doors, the milky-white stone made it look quite dull. The feature that stood out to Thadius was the young maiden selling flowers in the front. "What is this place?" he asked after Tony had finished one of his stories. "This is the city temple. We don''t have the money to be buildin'' churches for every single god, so this is all we got." Tony replied. "You mind if we...take a look?" he asked innocently. He tactfully left out what he wanted to take a look at. Old Man Tony''s overgrown eyebrows furrowed, and he stroked his long, white beard as if troubled by something. Yet, he agreedin the end. "Alrighty." As they walked towards the doors, Thadius made sure to cross paths with the flower girl along the way. Her head turned to them sharply as they drew near. "Excuse me! Would you like to buy some flowers?" the girl said as she shuffled toward him with a flower held up. She looked roughly fourteen or fifteen years old. Her platinum blonde hair, angelic face, and blue eyes were a timeless combination, but upon closer inspection, Thadius could tell something was off. She looked in his general direction, but it was as if she couldn''t find him. Her eyes wandered to and fro, looking at everything and nothing. ''She''s blind.'' Thadius though sadly as he examined the flowers in question. Sure enough, the flowers were in a poor state as they had probably been in the sun for too long. Even the flower in her hand was a little droopy. He knew no one would buy these flowers now, no matter how long she stood here. Yet, he wondered if the girl continued to hold here despite that. "I''m sorry, but your flowers are wilted," he told her honestly. "Y-yes...I''m sorry." the girl said sadly as she moved to return the flower to her basket. Seeing her crestfallen expression, Thadius couldn''t let the matter rest. Try as he might, he couldn''t ignore the whispers of his big heart. He shook his head and sighed as he reached for his for his coins. "How much for the rest?" "Oh! It¡¯s only fou- no, three coppers sir!" the girl shouted excitedly. Thadius made a wry smile when he heard the price. Travelers of Chaos Online started with five copper, five pieces of bread, and a canteen of water. Thadius was about to hand over half his fortune to flower girl on a whim. He was already off to a bad start. ''It''s worth it if it brightens her day.'' Thadius thought as he shrugged off his reluctance. He grabbed her hand that held the flower and replaced it with the correct amount, but he let her keep the basket. After tasting the coins for authenticity, she was overjoyed. "Thank you, sir!" she smiled brightly. Feeling chivalrous after a good deed, he said, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Thadius." "M-my name is Christina." she curtsied clumsily with her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She had been ready to stumble home as quickly as she could without even asking the name of her benefactor. "How you''d end up selling flowers here Christina?" Thadius was curious as to why a blind girl would sell flowers so desperately. "I-" "Thadius...let''s go inside." Old Man Tony cut in with a sullen expression. ''Why had he interrupted her story?'' The whole situation had only strengthened his curiosity, but he turned to follow Tony into the temple. "Wait!" Christina cried as she reached out. Thadius stopped in his tracks as she found him and cautiously raised a hand to his face. He could guess what she wanted. "May I?" she paused. "Sure." She smiled again as she traced his face with her fingertips. After a few moments, she seemed to be content. Then as she reached down to pick up her basket, she leisurely slid her hand down his torso. ''Did...didn''t she just cop a feel!?'' Thadius stared uncertainly at the seemingly innocent girl. To his surprise, Christina had a small smirk on her lips, and her face flushed a deep red all the way to her ears. ''Guilty!'' Thadius'' jaw dropped. "Thank you for your purchase!" Christina said hurriedly. Then, she quickly turned to make her escape. As the blind maiden shuffled her way in the opposite direction, Tony called out to him again, so Thadius went to his side so that they could enter the temple together. When they entered, Thadius was shocked to see how much better the plain temple looked inside. It reminded him of modern churches back home. There were neat rows of wooden pews and a stage in the very back. On the stage was the pulpit, where the preacher would give his sermons. The same white stone as the outer walls covered the entire floor, worn by traffic over time. "This way," Tony called out as he made a sharp right. There was a staircase on either side of the double doors. Taking extreme care to hold onto the handrail, Thadius follow after the old man. The second floor was littered with statues and people bent over in prayer before them. The sculptures varied in sizes, with the three largest statues standing in the middle of the room. It was also where the majority of the people were gathered. "They are the three Greater Gods: Thena, Braumas, and Arka," Tony said, following his gaze. Upon seeing Thadius'' interest, he proceeded to go into the lore. Thena was the Goddess of Wealth and Beauty. Braumas was the God of Order and Strength. Arkas was the Goddess of Reason and Intellect. The Greater Gods were celebrated widely across the continent. No matter where you went, or who you asked, there was a high chance of finding someone who worshiped at least one of the three. Below the Greater Gods were the Lesser Gods. They were more or less worshiped by specific professions or families. Bo, the God of Metal, was an obvious choice for blacksmiths. Tern was another favorite Lesser God as the God of Harvest. All year round, the farmers and their families prayed to him for a plentiful crop and good weather. While Thadius listened to Tony and walked around, he noticed statues only a few feet high lined up against the walls in the back of the room. "They are the Lower Gods. People only pray to them out of their own personal interest." Tony answered his curious look. The Lower God statues were apparent victims of neglect because they were all covered in a layer of dust. When he pointed this out, Tony went more in-depth. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The statues were enchanted to reflect the power of the gods. So the more significant the statue was, the more power that god had at their disposal. Following this trend, the statues received treatment that reflected their status. Should a god get more powerful, their statue would change to reveal it, then the initiates of the church would attend to it accordingly. The two slowly made their way to the very back of the room, murmuring until they stopped at the smallest statue they had seen so far. It was covered in more dust than the rest of the statues combined, and the cobwebs were hanging from it in thick layers. The Lower God wore a tattered sleeveless dress and an apron. She also carried a broom in her hand as if she were sweeping. Anyone would think she was a poor servant, much less a god. "Who''s this?" Thadius asked. "Tegaia, she is known as the Goddess of Poverty..." Old Man Tony sighed heavily. ''Tegaia? No, Gaia. Like Mother of Earth? That Gaia?'' Thadius'' extensive knowledge from his favorite fantasy sitcoms had him skeptical. "I don''t believe there would be a Lower God with such powerful name..." he said. Tony was silent for a while before he replied. "Christina was trainin'' to be a priestess of this temple. She was devout, and she worked hard. Every day she would clean and maintain the statues, then she would pray to them. All of them. Prayers give them power you see." There were well over a hundred statues in the room. Not only had Christina cleaned all the statues, but she also prayed to them in her spare time. Thadius sighed in amazement. "The High Priestess came to commend her for her duty one day and saw her prayin'' to Tegaia. She went into a rage, grabbin'' a pitcher of holy water and throwin'' it in Christina''s face. Then she was accused of treatin'' Lower Gods as the equals of the Greater Gods and was told that they would punish her for it. Sure ''nough, Christina''s sight started to worsen until it was gone completely. I don''t want to remind her of it. That''s why I stopped you from askin¡¯ earlier. But there''s a reminder when she wakes every day, so I suppose it''s useless..." Thadius¡¯ expression was rigid. Even if it was an overreaction, to take someone''s sight was too much. Tony continued, "She was denied further trainin''. So as penance and offerin''s to the gods, she decided to raise money for the church by sellin'' flowers." "Hadn''t she been seen praying to the Lower Gods before?" Thadius questioned. "They did. But it was because Christina prayed to Tegaia that she was punished. Though...no one suspects it." For such misfortune to befall a young girl over this unassuming goddess, Thadius knew there was something going on. "What''s the story behind this goddess old man?" he asked, his voice suddenly serious. Old Man Tony was quiet for a while this time as if he were deciding whether or not to tell him. When he spoke again, it was in hushed tones. "When I was a youngin'', Tegaia was seen differently. Back then, she was the Goddess of Love, War, and Humility. But she has fallen far since then." Thadius'' eyes lit up. ''Goddess of Love? If that''s the case...'' Thadius took out his canteen and wet the sleeve of his tunic. Then he began to wipe down the statue with care. He wiped off all the dust and cobwebs that had accumulated until he could clearly see the stone underneath. He heard gasps of surprised visitors coming from behind him, but he ignored them. Once he was done, he turned to the old man beside him. "Mr. Tony, you said prayers give them strength right?" "Yes." Tony nodded. "Alright then." Thadius nodded in return. Then took a deep breath and thought back to a year ago. Instantly, the image of a woman with red hair and tears streaming down her face was as vivid as if it were yesterday. Holding onto that vision, he gathered all his feelings in his heart and dropped to his knees. Then, he put his hands together in prayer. --- In the Heavens, the Tower of the Gods stood majestically, overlooking the Plains of Peace. The entire structure had been forged of godsteel, which gave off the same divine radiance that the gods did. On the lowest floor of the tower was a woman in a tattered sleeveless dress and an apron. She was very tall for a woman at six foot four(1.9m). Her shoulder-length auburn hair swayed gently when she moved, and her piercing grey eyes were focused. For the most part, she''d been having an ordinary day, sweeping the Tower of the Gods as she usually did. Anyone who didn''t know better would think she was a spirit: some human who had died, gone to the Heavens and served the gods in the afterlife. Who would suspect that she was Tegaia, Mother of Creation, Goddess of Love, War, and Humility? She was, for the most part, a Fallen God. She had been stripped of most of her power and forced to sweep the tower for the rest of her days. Most of the mortal world had forgotten about her, and those who remembered were just as powerless as she was. Even the gods that knew her thought it was unlikely that she would ever return to her former self. Tegaia once believed, and hoped, that she would be powerful again. She wanted to purge the Heavens of the usurpers, and rewrite the injustices that had taken place in her absence. Yes, Tegaia had hoped for many things. But as the years passed, she had come to accept her fate. It was because she had lost all hope that she was startled when a surge of power erupted in her chest. "Hah!?" she cried as she braced herself against the wall. The sensation had truly overwhelmed her. Just as she was wondering if she had imagined that familiar feeling, a voice echoed in her mind. *Goddess...my name is Thadius. Although I am a Traveler from a different world, I believe I have been your humble servant for a long as I can remember.* Tegaia was brought to her knees by another surge of tremendous power. Remembering the sensation, she closed her eyes, and the vision of a young man in prayer appeared before her. ''A Traveler! They''ve finally come!?'' Tegaia had heard whispers of their imminent arrival all throughout the tower. The gods were wary, to say the least. Those with foresight had seen the coming of beings who would be beyond death, thus beyond their control. Anything beyond the control of the gods could only be dangerous. ''That a Traveler has prayed to me...'' Tegaia was genuinely excited, but she listened attentively. She was curious as to what such a man would want from her. Suddenly, a wave of emotions racked her body and a sob escaped her lips. Then an uncontrollable torrent of tears streamed down her face. It was an emotion she knew well, remorse. The voice of the young man returned even stronger, but his emotions were also stronger. So strong that they had risen to the Heavens and influenced her. *''Goddess...I ask for your forgiveness. I have selfishly cast aside a woman who loved me, for peace of mind. I pushed her away even as she pleaded to remain by my side. All I wanted was her happiness, and I caused her pain hoping she could obtain it. You see goddess, in the world I come from, my body is dead to me. How can I love someone when simple gestures, such as holding hands or embracing one another, are entirely one-sided. How can I protect her from harm if I can''t even rise from my own bed...* The young man hunched over, fighting the tears and sorrow that threatened to take over. Tegaia cried in his place. *Goddess, I also ask for your blessing. I ask that you bless my love and all those who resemble her. I know your strength has not yet returned, but as soon as you are able, please bless them.* The vision Tegaia saw shifted to an image of a fair skinned woman with red and black hair. She had a smile that warmed the heart. *Bless them goddess. For I wish the woman I love, and anyone who reminds me of her, happiness from the bottom of my heart. I thank you in advance. I am forever your faithful servant.* As the prayer finished, the surges of power subsided. Tegaia stood up and wiped the tears from her face. ''Such passion from one so young...'' she sighed in amazement. It had been a simple prayer, but the results were enormous. Tegaia flexed her muscles. There was power in her limbs that she hadn''t felt in years. Yet, if what Thadius said was true, that he was her follower from another world, then there was plenty more where that came from. She quickly picked up the broken broom, which had not withstood her powerful grip during the prayer, and looked around the room. Thankfully, no one had witnessed what had transpired. If she was going to recover, then she would do so in secret. A wry smile appeared on her lips as the subtle, godly light returned to her eyes. War was coming to the Heavens. But before that, there were things that needed be done. --- "Phew." Thadius sighed heavily. He had almost broken down into tears in the middle of his prayer. Thankfully, he didn''t. He was a man that preferred to do his crying in private.
Your earnest prayer has unlocked the ''Faith'' stat. +1 Faith
Your prayer has moved the goddess Tegaia to tears. Your emotions have reached her and she has granted you the forgiveness you seek. +10 Faith
''Thank you, goddess.'' "That was a good prayer youngin''," Tony said as he walked up and patted him on the back. "It''s not polite to eavesdrop you know." Thadius shook his head helplessly. Old Man Tony stroked his beard. "Ho ho, I know. But seein'' you prayin'' so earnestly got me thinkin''..." "What''s on your mind?" "I have a request. I want to see Tegaia like she was when I was a boy. After what I just saw, I think you could do it." Tony said. The eyes hidden under his brows had a gleam of hope.
RESTORE TEGAIA TO HER GLORY ''Old Man Tony'' has asked you to return Tegaia to her status as a Greater God through prayer. You will fail if you don''t pray once every three days. DIFFICULTY: Unknown REQUIREMENTS: Befriend ''Old Man Tony'' and pray to Tegaia with him as a witness. REWARDS: Unknown IF FAILED: Loss of intimacy with ''Old Man Tony''
Eyeing the vague quest description and the unknown difficulty, Thadius smiled. "That was my intention from the start."
QUEST ACCEPTED
Chapter 2.5: Winter Coat WINTER COAT When Thadius and Old Man Tony left the Grand Temple, the sky was darkening and the temperature had dropped considerably. "Mercy! If I''d known it''d get this cold. I would have gotten some clothes instead of buying flowers!" Thadius shivered when his lungs filled with frigid air. "The cheapest coat runs for ten copper, ho ho." Tony laughed and took a swig from a bottle he pulled out from his shirt. The old man didn¡¯t even seem to be bothered by the cold. "Old Man Tony! Can I have a coat!?" Thadius pleaded. He could already see his breath in the air. "I don''t have any extras, but I have plenty of pelts. You can go down to the tailor and have somethin'' made. ''Til then, you can stay at my place. You''ll be out of the cold at least." Thankful for the offer, Thadius followed Tony back to his house and arrived before nightfall. As soon as the door was opened, Thadius rushed in while rubbing his arms for warmth. Old Man Tony¡¯s place was a cozy little hut with two rooms. The first space seemed to serve as a living room and kitchen. There was a fireplace with a kettle for cooking, and a small couch was pushed to the corner. The other room was hidden in the back. There was no bed out in front, so it was safe to say it was Tony¡¯s bedroom. "Make yourself comfortable youngin''. I''ll see if I can find those pelts." Old Man Tony said and shuffled into his room. Thadius sat down in the chair by the fireplace. A chill had settled in the house in Tony¡¯s absence, so he looked around for a way to start the fire. Before he could find anything, the old man returned with a bundle in his arms. "Here, I won these in a game a few months back. The man would''ve bet the clothes on his back if I hadn''t stopped him, ho ho!" he chuckled. Thadius couldn''t help but smile helplessly. He had a competitive spirit too and could understand the unfortunate man. He had probably wanted to play until he won against the old man, but ran out of stuff to bet. "Alrighty, move aside and I''ll get dinner started!" Tony declared as he moved to strike a fire. Almost immediately, a flame had burst to life and spread its warmth throughout the room. With only five pieces of bread to munch on, Thadius wouldn''t deny an invitation to a warm meal. It was a curious thing for him though, eating inside of a game. The mystery as to how they replicated the flavor of food intrigued him. While the stew was being prepared, Thadius challenged Yune¡¯s Chess Champion again and lost a couple more games of chess. The fact that he lost didn¡¯t him upset him much, it was the fact that he wasn''t even a challenge for the opponent that made him clench his jaw in frustration. After his third loss, the stew had cooled a bit and was ready to be served. Thadius took a bite and was pleasantly surprised.
GOOD OLE STEW A hearty meal of meat and vegetables. For the next 24 hours: +2.5% health regeneration
Thadius nodded his head in approval and took another spoonful. "This is pretty good Mr.Tony." "When a man lives alone, he picks up a few things here and there." the old man smiled while getting his second helping. "You keep cooking like this and you might not be alone for much longer." "Ho ho!" They shared a few laughs and swapped stories while they ate. Tony gave him a few chess tips while Thadius tried to explain the game of football. After a few hours, Tony got up to go to bed. Thadius on the other hand, wasn''t tired at all. Tony pointed to the corner. "That couch is as good as any bed you''ll find at the inn. Make yourself at home, I''ll see you in the mornin''." "I don''t feel very tired though. You wouldn''t happen to have any books would you?" It had been a while since Thadius enjoyed a good book. Rose used to read to him in the hospital, just to give him a break from watching TV. It had been a long time since then. Tony shook his head. "The only books I have are about old stories and myths. You might not find it very entertainin''." "That''s fine. It''s just to pass the time until morning." he replied honestly. He could log out, but he enjoyed feeling the sensation of his arms and legs too much to leave. Tony nodded and went into the back room, returning with a small stack of books. There was an especially thick book at the bottom titled The Untamed Continent. Thadius grabbed that one first. ''This should keep me busy till morning.'' he thought. Then he settled down in the chair and cracked open the book. As it turns out, the Central Continent was the largest on the planet, as well as the most dangerous. It was surrounded on all sides by smaller land masses, making it a prime target for expansion. Unfortunately, the continent was littered with dangerous monsters and hidden dungeons, so if the wildlife didn''t kill you, the environment would. There isn¡¯t a single place on the Central Continent that isn¡¯t treacherous. For years, the various kingdoms had tried to establish a foothold. Since the Central Continent had easy access to all the lands surrounding it, if a nation managed to tame it, they would have an abundance of land as well as all their enemies within arms-reach. Therefore, the kingdoms were all competing to be the ruler of that untamed land, and the competition wasn¡¯t always peaceful. Thadius read page after page, piling on the knowledge. To his surprise, the book also mentioned Travelers. It stated that the Travelers, whose arrival was prophesied by the Gods, would be the key to expanding the territory on the central continent since they didn''t know death. With them leading the way, the monsters would be quelled and the dungeons plundered. The few chapters after that went into detail about the dungeons and monsters that had already been discovered. The book went over the lay of the land and how to survive the harsh conditions of specific regions that had been properly surveyed. Thadius took in as much as he could because he had a feeling he would use it in the future.
+1 Intellect +1 Wisdom
During his reading session, Thadius received a few points toward his wisdom and intellect. This continued all the way until the sun had come up. As the birds began their song, Tony shuffled out from his bedroom. "Mornin''." "Good morning. How''d you sleep?" Thadius asked, finally closing the book. "Like the dead. I swear I''m not gonna wake up one of these days, ho ho!" They shared a laugh and had breakfast. While Thadius was reading, his satiety level had dropped. He didn''t feel starved, but he could eat. So, without a moment of hesitation, he dug into the pancakes and sausage. After breakfast, Thadius was ready to head to the tailor¡¯s shop. Old Man Tony saw him off at the door before setting up his chess set on the table outside. Looking at the scene, Thadius shook his head at the thought of the countless lives that had been lost on that board. Then with a full stomach and a bundle of pelts, he quickly made his way to the tailoring shop. Thankfully, he remembered the way and found it easily. It wasn''t until he was standing outside the door that he remembered something important: his financial situation. ''Hopefully, I can work it off somehow.'' he thought as he opened the door. Upon entering, he suddenly received a surprise. Behind the counter was a young girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, and an angelic face.At the sound of the door,she displayed an inviting smile. "Welcome to the Needle and Thread, how may I help you?"sheresponded promptly. "Christina?" Thadius said. "Thadius!?" she exclaimed excitedly.Immediately recognizing the voice, she turned to shout, "Father, come and see! The man from yesterday is here!" A man that looked very similar to Christina appeared from a room in the back. He had the same hair and eye color as his daughter, but there were streaks of silver here and there. Despite that, he looked quite young, and he seemed to carry himself with an air of nobility. Seeing Thadius, he marched around the counter and shook his hand with a smile. "I heard you bought my daughter''s flowers yesterday. You have my thanks. She''s been having a rough time of it as of late. The name''s Marshal." "I was happy to do it. Selling flowers isn''t the most lucrative business." Thadius smiled. "That''s what I told her, but the girl won''t listen." Marshal sigh dramatically. "Father!" Christina slapped her hands on the counter. "So, Thadius is it? What brings you to our shop?" Marshal continued, ignoring his daughter''s protest. Thadius showed him his bundle. "I need some winter clothes. I have the materials, now I just need a skilled hand to make something of them." Marshal took the bundle from his arms and examined the pelts. He flipped them over and ran his hands through the fur. "They''re low quality, so it won''t take much time to make something simple. But you only have enough for one piece. How about this. Since you helped my Christina, I''ll teach you how to make a coat. No offense, but you don''t seem to be rolling in coin at the moment." "None taken, I appreciate the offer." Thadius certainly wouldn¡¯t pass up the opportunity to save money. "Come, my workshop is in the back." Marshal led him behind the counter and into his workshop. There was a multitude of fabrics and leathers strewn about. In the corner of the room was a long desk and a couple of chairs. "This is where it all comes together." Marshal spread his arms wide in pride. "Now, first things first. We ne-" Before they could get started, Christina walked in. "Father, Ms. Jackson sent word for you. Her husband found a big wolf den in the forest." "Excellent!" Marshal cried. Then he started to rummage around his workshop. He found what he was looking for soon enough, pulling an intricate bow out from underneath a pile of cloth. "Christina, show Thadius the basics. I should be back soon." He rushed out of the shop, without so much as a glance at the stranger he had left with his only daughter. Christina walked over to the desk after her father left. She must have memorized where everything was because she moved without hesitation or guidance. "Shall we get started?" she said as she pulled out the other chair. Thadius agreed and put the pelts on the table. "First you''ll need a pattern. It''s like a building blueprint or a weapon schematic. Then you''ll need the materials." She handed him the pattern she pulled from out from the front counter. She had verified it as a basic coat pattern through Thadius. When he touched it, a message popped up saying he had learned a new pattern. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Christina continued, "Now just follow the pattern. You could make your own pattern, but that requires a higher level of skill. So for now, let''s start with cutting the pelts into shape." She reached out for his arm and handed him a pairof scissors. Thadius could have sworn that she had squeezed his arm to feel his muscles, but he took the scissors without a word and set to work. The whole process was a little more difficult than he anticipated since he had refused the automated guidance. Even with the shears of a professional tailor, the pelts proved tough to cut through. However, he succeeded eventually. The edges of the pieces weren''t perfect, but they would do. The next part was the sewing, which was also the most entertaining part of the experience. Christina would place her hands on his to guide him through the motions and for feeling the stitches for mistakes. Her ¡®hands-on¡¯ approach was much more than just simple guidance, and it was sometimes excessive. Thadius could tell that she attempted to be subtle, but with every success, she grew bolder. In the end, her hormones eventually got the better of her. He had been stitching the arm of the coat when she leaned over him to check on his work. As she slid her hand down his arm towards his hand, he felt her breath against his neck. Taking advantage of the closeness, her lips brushed his cheek, ever so slightly. Needless to say, the temptation was real. On the verge of being molested by the blind maiden, Thadius couldn¡¯t remain silent any longer. "If I didn''t know any better, I''d say you''re after my body Christina..." "I don''t know what yo-" she stammered. Her face immediately flushed. "You''re blushing scarlet, and your advances weren''t as subtle as you thought. Not that I mind. Your groping was very entertaining." Thadius chuckled softly. "I-I didn''t mean any harm! I just..." her voice trailed away and she went silent, blushing even more. "You''re what...fourteen, fifteen? Even if you''re blind, you can still be curious about a man''s body..." Hearing it put that way, Christina hid her face behind her hands in embarrassment. ''Is it because she''s blind that she went so far? She''s been deprived of eye candy at this crucial stage in her life.'' Thadius mused to himself. Then he pondered on what to do next. If he had been a predator, Christina would have been in trouble a long time ago. She had to tone it down or she would wind up in an unfortunate situation, but he had to bring her down gently. "Christina..." he whispered and stood from his chair, taking her by the hands and pulling her closer. "There are more things to look forward to from a man than his touch..." He placed her hands on his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer. Watching her shyly grasp his tunic, he continued, "Men are physical creatures, Christina. You have to be very careful. There are those that do not know restraint like I do. Until you come to trust and care for someone, I strongly advise you not to test them as you have tested me today. Your beauty would overwhelm them. Do you understand?" She nodded with a downcast look on her face. Thadius didn''t intend to end with a lecture. He raised her chin and put his lips inches away from hers, just enough so she could feel his breath on her skin. In seconds, her breathing quickened. The sound was clearly audible in the silent workroom. "Now, if you don''t find such a man in the next few years..." he left his sentence unfinished. Promising nothing, but implicating everything. He''d done it now. Even he was caught in the mood. His blood rushed as he observed her quivering lips, and listened to her rapid breaths. The air was heavy with anticipation, and the wolf within him smelled it. It foamed at the mouth and licked its chops, just waiting for the next morsel. Fortunately, Thadius had tamed that beast long ago. He released Christina and returned to the desk. When he looked at her again, the corner of her mouth was turned up in a sly smile.
Your seductive actions have unlocked the Charm stat. +3 Charm
She had returned to her mischievous ways, but she didn''t go overboard. Anyone that witnessed it would simply believe it was because she was blind. As far as Thadius was concerned, he had achieved his goal. Within the next hour, he managed to finish the coat. Just as Marshal returned.
You''ve made a Patchwork Winter Coat. Would you like to learn the tailoring trade?
"Might as well." he shrugged.
You''ve learned Tailoring LV.1 Novice
After learning the trade, Thadius analyzed his work. It was a shabby brown coat with no defense and low durability, but it was warm when he put it on. Marshal approved and congratulated him on his success. While saying goodbye to Christina and thanking Marshal, Thadius saw himself out. Yet, he was stopped just outside the door. "Thadius." Marshal said quietly from behind him. He had a serious look on his face as he closed the door. "Yes, sir?" Thadius immediately tensed after seeing his expression. "I appreciate the fact that you didn''t take advantage of my little girl. I also respect the fact that you tried to teach her something. She''s at that age now, and I don''t want her to have a bad experience..." Knowing he¡¯d been seen in that situation, Thadius could only admonish himself silently as he replied, "You saw that, huh?" "Did you think I''d leave her alone with some man I don''t know? I came backunder five minutes with my bow taunt and my quiver full." Thadius had dodged a bullet, or arrow in this case, and he didn''t even know it. Marshal sighed, "Though I don''t approve of your method, you were trying to guide her. That''s something I can appreciate. Come back anytime, I''ll teach you a few tricks of the trade." "I will." Thadius nodded. He was a bit interested in the craft. "And the next time you touch my daughter like that, I''ll put an arrow in you..." Marshal glared daggers at him, and Thadius knew then that this man would carry out his threat to the fullest. "I understand." he nodded. "Good." Marshal nodded in approval. They shook hands again then Thadius went on his way. Following the way he came, he was back at Tony''s house within minutes to show off his new coat. The old man appraised it with a smile. "Not too shabby. It oughta keep you warm enough at night." "Thank you. I worked hard on it." Thadiussmiled. "You need a place to stay for the night? I got the fire goin''." the old man offered. Thadius refused."I''d take you up on that, but I don''t think I''ll turn in just yet." On his way back to Tony''s house, Thadius had an idea as gazed up at the mountain in the distance. It was something that he hadn''t done in a long time. "You said earlier that there aren''t any monsters on the mountain right?" he asked.His gazewas on the peak that disappeared in thelowfloating clouds. "They haven''t been seen up there for years. You goin'' hikin'' youngin''?" Tony asked. "I want to watch the sunrise from the top. It might take me a few days to reach the summit though. You mind if I take some of that leftover stew?" Thadius asked hopefully. He had planned to use his magical canteen as a container. Tony shook his head. "I''ll do you one better. I got some jerky dryin'' out back, should last you for a week at least." "I''d appreciate it." Thadius smiled and followed Tony out back. It had been more than two years since Thadius had gone hiking. Every year his parents would go. Obviously, due to his injury, he had been left out on more than one occasion. ''Not this time.'' he thought. The mountaintop, obscured by clouds, called to him. Being able to see the view from the top wouldn¡¯t be a small matter for him, who had been spending his recent days in bed. In no time, Tony helped him gather the supplies while he put them in his bag. When he was finally ready to go, night had fallen and the temperature had dropped again. Old Man Tony pointed to a spot at the bottom of the mountain that was hidden in shadows. "There''s a path the hunters use that goes up about halfway. If you take it, it should save you half a day''s worth of hikin''." "I''ll keep an eye out for it. Thanks for everything old man." Thadius smiled and slung the bag of supplies over his shoulder. "Mmmhm." Tony grumbled before shuffling back inside where it was warm. Thadius said a quick prayer to Tegaia, and stretched his legs before he set off. With the moonlight to guide his way, he set a brisk pace. He was used to jogging in real life, but it had been a while. He wouldn''t miss the opportunity to test the limits of his new legs. Cutting down the hiking time in the process wouldn''t hurt either. He jogged to the outskirts of the city, breathing through his nose and out of his mouth like he''d been taught. By the time he made it to the foot of the mountain, he had earned a new skill.
In light of your ability to regulate your breathing, a new skill has been unlocked. Controlled Breathing LV.1 Novice
Controlled Breathing LV.1 Novice Stamina consumption when moving with Controlled Breathing active is cut by 5% Stamina regeneration with Controlled Breathing active in increased by 2.5%
Thadius¡¯ eyes lit up as he read the description. ''Oh? That''ll go up on its own if I just stick to it.'' It didn''t take him long after that to find the trail, so he checked his bag one more time to make sure nothing fell out. Being new to virtual reality, Thadius wasn''t familiar with the inventory. He''d played RPGs before, so he knew its potential. However, he was still skeptical that the small bag could hold more than it looked. ''I really hope nothing falls out.'' he sighed. Then, after surveying the trail ahead, he began his jog up the mountain. Chapter 3: Ascent ASCENT The Mountain of Yune wasn''t the tallest mountain on the continent. It wasn''t even the tallest in the kingdom. It was, however, the coldest. Yune was on the northern edge of the Todos kingdom. The kingdom itself was located in the far north of the continent. The temperature could easily drop below freezing every day. Therefore, Thadius was very fortunate that he had made his hike during the spring instead of fall or winter. Not only would it be below freezing around the clock, the snow would make it nearly impossible to travel. In Yune, once the snow set in on the mountain, no one would go up. Anyone trapped on the mountain after the first snowfall was considered dead.
+1 Strength +1 Stamina
Thadius had gotten a few of those messages as he jogged up the mountain. After the first few minutes of his relentless climb, his stamina hadfallen dangerously low. He hadn''t experienced any fatigue, but he had a feeling that completely depleting his stamina wouldn''t be a good thing. With that in mind, he would slow down to a determined walk or sit down for an hour to recharge beforepicking up the pace again, buthe wouldn''t wait until it was full. In fact, his stamina hadn''t been full since he left Tony''s house. With every message, he could go a little longer before he needed to rest, and the hiking became easier. So he took in the scenery along the way. The forest all around the trail was alive with wild life. It clear that regular animals weren''t counted as monsters. Yet, no matter how far he went, he didn''t see a single predator. Were carnivores counted in the monster category? While lost in thought, he received this message.
A mysterious pressure is being exerted. Stamina consumption will be increased by 10%.
Just when he had settled into a rhythm, this sort of message pops up. Thadius sighed in exasperation. ''I can only keep going.'' Thadius reached the end of the trail after about 15 hours. If that mysterious pressure hadn''t hindered his progress, he might have made it sooner, but Thadius wasn''t to type to dwell on it.
You''ve reached the end of the Yune mountain trail. Beyond this point, the air thins gradually. Stamina consumption will be increased by 2.5%. The penalty increases in correlation with altitude.
Thadius sighed again. It was bad enough that some mysterious pressure was making it harder to progress, but now the air he breathed was working against him. He was thankful that this was a game. Going at the pace he was with only a few short breaks, would have been extremely taxing in real life. If at all possible. ''Those stat gains really helped out.'' he thought as he chewed on another piece of jerky.
DEER JERKY A quick snack for a weary traveler For the next 3 hours: +15% stamina regeneration
While thanking a certain old man, he pressed on. But he hadn''t gone far before his troubles increased.
A mysterious pressure is being exerted. You are getting closer to the source. Stamina consumption will be increased to 15%.
''There shouldn''t be any monsters, but has anyone actually checked beyond the trail? They wouldn''t claim it was true without checking the entire mountain, right?'' A seed of doubt had been placed in Thadius'' mind. As a level 1 player, an encounter with anything that could survive on the mountain would be hazardous at best. He wanted to get to the peak, buthe now had to consider whether or not it wasworth dying for. Thadius looked back the way he came, then he looked toward the misty peak. ''I''ve already come this far, and I am a little curious about where this pressure is coming from.'' He set off again at a moderate pace. He couldn''t jog with all the penalties working against him, so instead of trying focusing on speed, his new goal was to simply keep moving. With the evening sun on the horizon, he knew the cold would assault him as soon as he let his body cool. Fatigue finally set in after several grueling hours. His stamina was still in the green, but it was mental fatigue that plagued him. -Hey, Brandon. The doc has been nagging me about getting you out of there for some grub. Just say ''logout'' "Logout." There was a bright flash as he was taken back to reality. The lack of feeling below his neck was an immediate reminder of his harsh reality. "So, how was it?" Curtis greeted him with a smile as he took off the Dark Chariot. He had been watching the playback footage, buthe wanted to hear about it from Brandon. "If felt good. I never thought I''d get another chance to walk or run. Thanks, Curt."Brandon said with a satisfied smile. Curtis shook his head and patted his head. "Don''t thank me. All I did was make a suggestion. It was better than having you watch T.V. all day in my opinion." "Definitely better than T.V." Brandonquickly agreed. "And now that you''ve experienced it for yourself, do you have any questions?" Brandon had plenty of questions, but the rumble of his stomach interrupted his train of thought. "Ah, that''s right. Let''s talk while you eat." Curtis brought over the tray that had a hearty looking meal on it. Thadius was ravenous afterChaos Online had awakened his long-lost appetite. During the meal, the two conversed between every spoonful. Though Curtis did most of the talking, Brandon was surprised by how little he knew about the game. "So all I have to say is ''status'' and I can see my progress?" he asked. "Yeah. It shows you everything, from your class skills to stats." Curtis nodded. "And how do I get a class?" "Depends. I''m a Squire right now, which is categorized as a pre-class. I got it by volunteering. If I fulfill the requirements, then I''ll become a Knight. At least I hope so, the guy I''m serving is an asshole." Curtis sneered as hementioned his in-game lord. One of the main selling points of Chaos Online was its class system. In most games, once you pick a class, it''s disadvantageous to switch. Sonsoft went the extra mile and developed what they call the ''Lawless'' class system. While the game supports a full roster of beginner, hidden, rare, and unique classes. The Lawless class system introduces hybrid classes for even greater chaos. Hybrid classes are exactly as they were advertised. They''re classes that are born from a specific combination of classes and abilities. A Mage that has learned a specific number of spells and switches over to a Soldier has the possibility of unlocking the Spellsword hybrid class. Most people would think that a Spellsword wouldn''t be able to cast spells like Mage or fight as well as a Soldier. With the Lawless system, that way of thinking is incorrect. A Spellsword is both a Mage and a Soldier while also being able to learn all the abilities of both classes. The Spellsword also has the benefits of said classes. Unfortunately, the requirements for getting a hybrid class are hidden, and the skills from classes outside the formula, cannot be used. Most importantly, once a hybrid class is chosen, the player can no longer switch classes. So if the Spellsword also learned Healing from the Priest class, the skill can no longer be used since the Priest class was not included in the pre-requisite classes for unlocking it. "But wouldn''t that just cause people to get a bunch of classes and level up the skills?" Thadius asked after Curtis had finished his explanation. "No. Unless it''s a hybrid class, using skills from different classes won''t be as effective. You can still use them, but you won''t have the benefits from the class, and the skills will level up slower than normal." "But a knight throwing fireballs is still dangerous..." "But a Spellsword throwing fireball is deadly." Curtis countered. "So hybrids are better?" "Of course, but they''re hard to get since you''ll never know the requirements. Not only that, if you plan on getting a super hybrid, you''ll be spending most of your time playing other classes anyway." "Super hybrid?" Brandon frowned. The number of new terms he just learned was beginning to overwhelm him. "It''s just a term people came up with for hybrids that have advanced or rare classes a pre-requisites." "You can combine any class!?" "No. Unique and pre-classes likethe Squirewill never be pre-requisite classes for hybrids. That has already been confirmed." "But the rare and advanced classes can?" "Beginner classes too. I just told you I''m a Squire right? Knight is the next level, so it''s an advanced class. If I switch to a Mage and advanced to a Black Mage, I could probably get the Dark Knight hybrid class." Curtis explained with a thoughtfulexpression. "Nice." "Right? But I have no idea if the class even exists. I''d basically be playing by faith alone. So even if hybrids are powerful, getting them is a pain in the ass. And if you jump the gun and get one early, you might miss out on a better one or cut yourself off from classes and skills you''ve already learned." "So it''s basically an investment." Thadiusthought outloud. "A blind investment." Curtis nodded in agreement. "With enough time though, it really will be Chaos Online..." Curtis laughed. "That''s what I said!" They had talked for about an hour after they had eaten. Brandon was excited about the possibilities and was anxious to get back in the game. "Set me up. I''m going back in." "You sure? You haven''t even slept. I mean, you could sleep in game, but you''re probably dead by now..." Looking at Curtis'' playful smirk, Brandon suddenly feared for his in-gameavatar. "Explain." "When you log out, your body stays behind. Most people wait till they can find an inn before they log out." Curtis replied as he put the Dark Chariot on Brandon''s head. "What!?" "Happy travels. Say hi to Christina for me!" Curtis turned on the machine before Brandon could form any response. He could hear a chuckle in the background as a bright flash clouded his vision.
Due to the cold, your health dropped below 15%. Max stamina has been reduced by 50%. Stamina regeneration has been reduced by 50%. Your condition will worsen until body temperature has stabilized.
"Mercy!" Thadius roared hoarsely through numb lips. It had only been about an hour and a half in real time since he had logged out, but over 6 hours had passed in-game.Thadius was on the verge of his first death, and had it been a little colder, he would have had frostbite. If it had been snowing, he would have been dead hours ago. Dying in Chaos Online forced you to log out for 24 hours in real time. ''I really would have frozen to death.'' Thadius cursed silently. Although the sun had been up, and his coat had sustained some of his body heat,hestill felt that his body had turned into a chunk of chocolate ice cream. He slowly got up and walked to get his blood pumping. Thinking back on his conversation with Curtis, he looked at his stats."Status."
No Title
CLASS None
NAME Thadius RACE Human
FAME: 0 LV. 1
HEALTH 356/1000
MANA 1000/1000
STAMINA 217/1250
VITALITY 10 STRENGTH 23
DEXTERITY 10 WISDOM 16
INTELLECT 18 LEADERSHIP 0
CHARM 3 FAITH 12
MAGIC RESIST 0
-50% Stamina If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.-50% Stamina Regeneration
"View skills." he called out with chattering teeth.
Controlled Breathing LV.7 Intermediate Tailoring LV.1 Novice
"Intermediate? View Controlled Breathing." he called out again.
Controlled Breathing LV.7 Intermediate Stamina consumption when moving with Controlled Breathing active is cut by 8.5% Stamina regeneration with Controlled Breathing active in increased by 9.5% +Stamina regeneration doubled when not moving with Controlled Breathing active
''Did it upgrade my rank because I was already using it that way? I thought it corresponded with the level...Would''ve been nice to get a notification though.'' Thadius complained silently as he movedhis body. A few minutes passed before he warmed up enough to drop his penalties. So he stretched and continued his ascent. It wasn''t long before his stamina plummeted, but thanks to Controlled Breathing, he shortened his wait time for regeneration. Though he still had to stop often. Only a few hours had passed and he sat down to take another break. It was then that the mysterious pressure penalty spiked to 35% stamina consumption. If it had been the pressure alone, he could have persevered. Unfortunately, it was a combination of the atmosphere, the pressure, and the increasing grade of the slope. After another hour of struggling because of the slope, Thadius was forced to crawl. It was surprisingly easier than walking and allowed him to go for a longer stretch of time at the same pace. That all changed when he came to a 20ft(6m) rock face, with an inexplicable fear washing over him.
A mysterious pressure is being exerted. You are extremely close to the source. Stamina consumption has been increased to 50%.
You''ve been intimidated. Attack power -25% Attack speed -25%
"Mercy!" Thadius cried as hepounded the groundin irritation. At this point, many peoplewould turn back or find a way around. Thadius wasn''t one of them. "I got this!"he muttered before sitting down to catch his breath. For the first time since leaving Old Man Tony''s, he completely recharged his stamina. Then he jumped, grabbing hold of a small ledge and securing a foothold. The burden on his stamina was tremendous. Merely holding himself in place was draining, forcing him to take risks to climb higheror drop from depleted stamina. Minutes later, Thadius pulled himself to the top of the rock face.What appearedturned out to be a wide ledge that stretched out and curved around a bend. Below the ledge was a long drop with sharp rocks at the bottom. Beyond that, the view was breathtaking. There was an ocean of green as far as the eye could see. The grass swayed in the wind, making waves of jade and emerald. More mountains lined the horizon with slopes vanishing into the clouds. Thadius sat down and took it all in. It was still quite a ways to the summit, but if the view was as beautiful as this, he had no problem making the journey. After an hour to fill up his stamina bar to a decent level, he walked the ledge cautiously. He still couldn''t explain the terror that gripped him, and his body screamed at him to turn back. He stopped when he came around the bend. A man was sitting on the ledge, gazing out into the distance. He was dressed in an all-white robe that matched the color of his hair. Despite the wrinkles that etched his face, he seemed to be full of vigor. He was quite tanned as well. Almost as if he had never spent a day inside all his life. The most striking feature, however, was the plain sword on his lap. Thadius broke out into a cold sweat at the sight of him.
A strange man is giving off a heavy pressure. Due to your proximity, stamina consumption is increased to 75%.
You''ve been paralyzed by fear.
It was all very confusing to Thadius. He didn''t want to be afraid, but that didn''t stop his body from reacting. To get any closer to the man made him feel that jumping off the cliff was safer. Yet, Thadius was a man on a mission. He wanted to get to the top regardless of the risk. The paralysis wore off and he slowly made his way forward. That was until the man moved. With a solemn expression, he picked up his sword and brought the point to his abdomen. The image of a samurai flashed into Thadius'' mind. "Whoa!" He had leaped forward, trying to take the sword from the suicidal man.
-100hp
The sword he had reached for was suddenly at his throat. It had been turned on him in the blink of an eye. Rage was clear on the man''s wizened face. "Who are you!?" he rasped. Thadius slowly raised his hands. It was the universal sign of non-aggression. "Old man, I don''t know what you''ve been through, but is it so bad that you have to throw your life away?" "What I do with my life is my business! Who are you to interfere!?" the man snapped in reply. "If you were so prepared to end your life, why wait for someone to come before you go through with it?" Thadius countered. "I don''t need a witness!"
-100hp
"I didn''t say you did. I dothink you wanted me to stop you though..." Thadius statedwhen he locked eyes with the man. The ever-present dread seem to increase a few folds when he did. ''Could this be an event?'' he thought. No matter how helooked at the situation, it was as if the man had been waiting for someone to stumble along. Anyone that came to investigate the mysterious pressure would have eventually found the old man. Though the game was already a month old,Thadius foundit hard to believe that no one would explorethe localmysterious mountain that didn''t have monsters. A few moments passed in silence before the old man moved the blade from his neck. "You''ve soiled my blade." He grunted as he tossed the sword to the side. "After all I''ve accomplished, I can''t even die as I wish. Is it too much to ask for, extinguishing my life on the battlefield?" Seeing that the man was no longer hostile, Thadius tentatively asked,"Can''t you just go off and fight somewhere?" "It''s not that simple! If I wanted to have a sword plunged into my chest I''d have...." The man sighed and looked off into the horizon,"I want to face a man as my equal. To fight at my full strength. Then, if that man should prove greater than I, my life would be his to take." He looked back at Thadius."That is the death I seek. The taste of steel after thefinal battle of my life." "Have you searched everywhere? There''s bound to be someone out there." The man laughed, shaking his head."Where do you look when all around you are recognized as the strongest?" "Then teach som-" "I''ve tried! There is no one that will stay. They all cry like women and run off. I can''t even pass on my knowledge, my strength..." he said as he looked down at his rough hands. They were covered in calluses from years of holding a sword. Thadius knew what it meant to be recognized as the strongest. Football fanatics across the country were calling him the greatest of all time. In merely two seasons, he had broken records that had inducted veterans into the Hall of Fame. His future had beentoo bright. In his heart, Thadius knew his decision had already been made. With an unwavering gaze, he said,"Teach me, old man. I have nowhere to go and nothing but time on my hands." The man looked him up and down then stood up. After walking around him, he patted Thadius down, feeling his muscles. Then he grunted as he put his hand on his chin in thought. "Show me your status card." theswordmaster said after a while. ''Status card? Must be like an ID.'' Thadius for a bit beforeanswering honestly."I don''t have a status card but....show status." A bright screen popped up in front of the man. His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets."You''re a Traveler!? I''d heard, but...maybe. And your name is Thadius?" "Yes, sir." Thadius nodded. Recovering from his shock, the swordmaster straightened his back and introduced himself. "Thadius, my name is Corban. Do you have what it takes to survive my training?"
YOUNG DRAGON Learn everything that Corban has to teach you. You will fail if you leave the mountain. The quest cannot be retried. DIFFICULTY: Unknown REQUIREMENTS: Stop Corban from committing suicide within 3 days of feeling his pressure. Offer to be his student. REWARDS: Unique class
"My body is ready..." Thadius declared.
QUEST ACCEPTED
"Good, now try not to faint." Corban suddenly commanded. "Wha-"
You''ve been targeted by an overwhelming pressure. Stamina consumption is doubled.
You''ve been weakened. -25% Strength
You''ve been paralyzed by fear.
Hyperventilating. Stamina will not regenerate.
Thadius immediately crashed to the ground. All the strength he had accumulated was useless before the swordmaster. He struggled to breathe, and every fiber of his being screamed run. "Fight it boy. Don''t just take it lying down." Corban called out as he watched Thadius struggle like a fish out of water. ''Fight this!?'' Thadius complained in his heart. He couldn''t even lift a finger, let alone fight this monstrous pressure. Watching the futile struggle, Corban crossed his arms and stroked his beard with a thoughtful look. "Hmm...it seems I got a little too excited. I had already forgotten you were only level 1. My apologies." The pressure was gone in an instant, or most of it.The state of the airhad returned to the previous level of intensity. "What is the purpose...of such...an exercise?" Thadius gasped for breath. "You don''t have Fighting Spirit. Without it, you won''t survive." Corban stated. "I...understand." Although he didn''t know why heneeded it, he couldunderstand that Corban was trying to help him obtain it. "Good." Corban nodded. The pressure returned, but this time Thadius was ready."Gugh!" He barely managed to keep himself upright as the paralysis dropped him to his knees. He tried desperately to think through the fear that controlled his every sense, but it was as if a thick fog clouded his mind.''This will not defeat me!'' "Aaah!!"A shout of defiance was all he could muster as he fell to the side. Screaming while hyperventilating was a bad idea. His shallow breaths weren''t enough to get the oxygen he needed. His vision started to darken.
You screamed defiantly in the face of overwhelming power. Your tenacity has unlocked the Fighting Spirit stat. +10 Fighting Spirit
Before fainting away, he could hear a satisfied chuckle above him. "There it is. You''re officially my student now."
You gained the unique pre-class: Disciple of the Iron Dragon +100 Fighting Spirit +Weapon Mastery skills gain x10 EXP
Thadius fainted. Chapter 4: Day 1 DAY 1 Thadius silently ate his breakfast of plain, white rice. His surroundings were just as plain; wood from wall to wall. Even the chair, bowl, and spoon he was using was some type of carved wood, table included. While enduring the desolate atmosphere, he could only ponder his new master''s sense of style. After he was rendered unconscious, he was carried to a large compound near the top of mountain. Being that nearly everything in the compound was made of, carved from, or had a percentage of wood, he wasn''t surprised when he first looked around and didn''t find a fireplace, but it did bring up a very important question. ''How does he survive winter up here?'' Thadius thought while he chewed.If he was going to live here for the foreseeable future, he needed an answer. Fortunately, he wouldn''t have long to wait. "You finished?" a voice sounded out near him. Thadius nearly jumped out of his skin when the old man appeared directly beside him. ''When did he get there!?'' "Y-yes sir, I just finished." he responded. Corban smiled with an amused glint in his eye. He would enjoy sneaking up on his new student in the future."Good. Today will mark the beginning of your training, and if you are to survive the winter, you''d better learn quickly. Come with me." Corban''s compound was separated into two sides with a large training hall in the middle. On one side was the residential area where they just left. This housed the kitchen, dining room, his master''s bedroom, and a few guest rooms. The other side of the complex had Corban''s private office and a massive storage room. Thadius called it the ''business'' side. They were heading that way now, crossing the grand training hall as a cold wind blew through the open doorway. There were no doors in the entire compound. There was also no glass or shutters for the windows. Saying that the complex was drafty would be an understatement. What about thieves, or wandering animals that found their way inside? The answer was surprisingly simple. No living creature was dumb enough to ignore such heavy pressure, and the location was a natural thief deterrent. Not to mention that the compound had a renowned sword master as a security guard. The frigid breeze ruffled Thadius'' tunic and goosebumps rose on his skin. It only served to remind him of how dumbfounded he was to find that Corban had confiscated his coat. ''It won''t help you here.'' was the only response he got on the matter after asking about his first crafted piece. Once they arrived at the storage room, Corban stopped him just outside the door and went inside. He came back moments later holding a bunch of stone slabs. Then with a peculiar look, he asked,"What do you think these are?" "Stones for heating the rooms?" Thadius guessed hopefully. "It''s a training aid of my own design. Well, I had a bit of help, but it was my idea." Corban declared proudly. "What do I do with it?" Thadius asked as he was handed the stack of slabs. It was at least 100lbs(45kg). "You wear it!" The swordsman laughed. "For the next year, this armor will be closer to you than anyone you''ve ever known. It''ll be your best friend, your wife, and your mistress!" he laughed again, giving Thadius a hearty pat on the back. Then he reached out and attached each piece for his student in turn. The armor completely covered Thadius'' arms and chest. There were pauldrons, gauntlets, and a chest piece, with the weight evenly distributed. The peculiar thing about the ''training aid'' was that it was strangely adjustable. Additional stone slabs could be added or moved atop each other like magnets. There were also some large stone rings that Corban had retrieved, and he lockedthe rings around each of Thadius'' wrists before adding extra slabs on his back and shoulders. Fortunately, Thadius wasn''t a stranger to weight training since he had done much of it throughout his life. So with expectations toward the nature of his first training session, he was obviously shocked by what he heard next. "Just so you know, you won''t be able to take this off without a key..." Corban said from behind him. A cunning smile was slowing spreading across his face. Thadius froze at his master''s words. Then, as if on cue, there was a low humming sound. The armor slowly morphed to match the contours of his body and barely moved after that. While he still had a full range of motion, it was as if the armor had become a part of him. Thadius was overcome with a sinking feeling in his heart as he said, "You make it sound like I won''t be taking this off at all..." "That''s correct..." There was no hesitation in the response."You could get a mage to undo the enchantment. Of course you''d have to get to the capital for that since there are no mages in Yune. Then, if you do make it, you''d have to find a master enchanter." Thadius wasn''t even concerned about leaving, but there were obviously more pressing concerns about the arrangement. "It''d be pretty difficult to bathe in this thing." Corban just chuckled mischievously. "That''ll take care of itself. Besides," he gestured with his open arms,"I''m sure you''ve noticed that my place gets quite the breeze. Now follow!" They walked around to the back of the complex to a gigantic staircase that seemed to go all the way down the mountain. The surrounding forest was dead silent as the afternoon sun broke through the trees. It could be easily be mistaken for the view outside of some secret mountain temple. Thadius was already panting by time they arrived at the staircase. The stone armor had matched its shape to his chest, but didn''t allow his lungs to fully expand. He could still use his Controlled Breathing, but with Corban''s pressure, the thin air, and the rock armor, his stamina didn''t last long at all. Corban waited patiently for him to catch his breath before they descended. "Who taught you such a breathing technique?" Corban asked as he watched his student. He was curious since previous pupils had all fainted on the first walk. He had been prepared to take the armor off at a moment''s notice, but Thadius had not only managed to stay conscious, he had kept pace. "My parents." Thadius gasped. "Are they soldiers? Or are they adventurers?" "They''re athletes...they compete...in a world tournament...every four years." Thadius was struggling with every breath. He timed his words so that he only spoke when he exhaled. "A world-wide tournament?" "Yes...sir." Thadius replied. "What do they compete in? The sword? Archery perhaps?" Every step down seemed to knock some air out of his lungs, but Thadius proundly replied, "The tournament...is comprised of many events...My father is a gymnast...and my mother...is a swimmer." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. "I''d like to hear more about this ''gymnast'' later. You say your mother is a swimmer. Did she teach you how to swim as well?" Thadius just nodded. He decided to conserve his breath on yes or no questions. Corban smiled. "Good, I''d like you to teach me the form during your stay. I''ve become considerably interested in the world of Travelers." They chatted as they went down for almost an hour. Then Corban turned onto a small path in between the trees. After a few minutes, Thadius began to hear sounds of rushing water. The forest path eventually gave way to picturesque view covered with a light mist. There was a crystal clear pool with a waterfall rushing from an overhanging cliff. Fish could be seen between the scattered rocks and boulders that lay just beneath the surface. Sunlight cut through the mist as a rainbow and scattered over the rippling water. "Quite beautiful isn''t it?" Corban asked as he too admired the pond. "It''s quite cold too..." The mist had clung to Thadius'' skin, turning the brisk wind into an icy blast. Corban''s tone had suddenly turned solemn as he replied, "That''s why we''re here, Thadius. Should you prove successful today, you should be able to bear the chill." "And i-if I''m un-unsuccessful?" Thadius shuddered involuntarily. "I''ll fish you out and have you try again until you are. This is the most important skill you will ever learn from me. I developed it myself, and not many people know of it. Even fewer have actually learned it. This is where most students turn from me Thadius, show me your resolve." After meeting Corban''s eyes, Thadius shook his arms and gave the freezing pond a hard stare. "I''m ready." Corban nodded and pointed to a boulder beneath the waterfall. "You''ll stay there for as long as it takes. Fight the cold. Fight the hunger." Thadius shook his head in exasperation as he looked at what could possibly be his future grave. The pool that looked so peaceful and serene moments before suddenly turned deadly. Taking as deep a breath as his armor would allow, Thadius took a step into the pool. "Gah!" he gasped as ice cold lightning shot through his body. His second foot followed with the same result, and it only seemed to get colder as he waded deeper into the waist-deep pool. The cold penalties popped up, but he brushed them aside. Thadius steeled himself before he climbed onto the boulder and sat beneath the waterfall. The frozen heavens crashed down upon his shoulders and the shock had him gasping with much shorter breaths. It was minutes before he settled back into his breathing technique. Then he focused on the words of his master, ''Fight the cold. Fight the hunger''. If those were the only words, then he had already been given the clues he needed to succeed. The first was getting the Fighting Spirit stat. ''The two events might be similar. If that''s the case, I can''t just tolerate the cold or hunger. I have to resist it.''Thinking of his first encounter with the swordmaster, Thadius organized his approach. Minutes turned into an hour as he sat, forcing himself to concentrate on warmer thoughts, and willing away his hunger.
Your focus and fortitude under severe conditions have unlocked a new skill.
Concentration LV.1 Novice 10% boost to senses and mental abilities while the skill is active
Your tranquil thoughts, focused on improving your physical condition, have unlocked new skill
Meditation LV.1 Novice 2.5% Mana and Stamina regeneration when used. The skill can only be used outside of combat.
With the effects of his new skills in place, Thadius received a small boost to his stamina regeneration. Yet, it did absolutely nothing to combat his freezing body.
Your body is experiencing extreme cold. Your health has dropped below 10%. Maximum stamina and mana have been cut by 75%. Stamina and mana will not regenerate until body temperature stabilizes.
Death by hypothermia in 00:00:02:59
Imminent death. That''s the most important piece of information he received from the messages. ''What am I doing wrong!?''Thadius roared inwardly. He once again thought back to when he first obtained Fighting Spirit. Even as he was about to faint he gave everything he could to stand up. He had felt fear then too, but he had fought it down. So courage had to be a part of it. He had been angry as well, angry at the weakness that assaulted him, and the paralysis that reminded him of the future he''d lost. There was also hope. In the moments before he passed out, he had hoped fiercely that his body would miraculously rise up and stand. Anger, Courage, and Hope. It was a strange combination, but in the midst of battle, would they really be out of place? Thadius focused again and let the emotions take over. That''s when he felt it, the small ball of warmth in the pit of his stomach. While he focused on his emotions, the warmth slowly spread throughout his body.
Due to the unorthodox training of ''Iron Dragon'' Corban, you have learned the hidden skill Fighting Aura.
Fighting Aura LV.1 Novice Manipulation of Fighting Spirit. Can be used in place of mana for some skills. Max Fighting Aura is equal to Fighting Spirit. +100 Fighting Spirit +99% Cold resistance
Fighting Aura can now be regenerated with Meditation
The additional effect was immediate, and the duration was considerable. Using Fighting Aura to block the cold cost one point per minute, so could currently use it for a few hours before he would need to meditate. If he worked on it, he could definitely keep it up for a full day. ''This is an amazing skill.'' Thadius thought as he slipped down from the boulder. Steam could be seen rising off him into the air. Corban smiled at the sight. "I expected you to finish soon, you seem to catch on quicker than the others." he said as he helped the weary Thadius out of the pool. Then he explained how they would spend the next year on the way back to the compound. --- Brandon had logged out after Corban turned in for the night. Curtis was sitting in the corner watching the livestream. The nurse turned his head as the stream ended. "So, how was it? That old dude looked pretty intense." "More than that..." Brandon explained his schedule to Curtis as it had been explained to him by Corban. He would wake up at dawn and run stairs. He would go down to the trail leading to the pool, then run back to the complex. After a few reps he would train his new skills at the pool until Corban comes for him. This would repeat until he was able to sustain his Fighting Aura for 24 hours. Once his Fighting Aura was at a sufficient level, his stair repetitions would increase. Eventually, instead of going to the pool, he would begin preparations for combat training. There would be a 9 hour rest period everyday, which would obviously include meals and sleep. "Stairs...." Curtis grimaced. Brandon frowned as well. "With absolutely no handrails. It''s bullshit." "That sounds like a lot of time and effort for a single class. You really gonna do it?" Curtis asked while removing the Dark Chariot from Brandon''s head. "I really have nothing else to do, and isn''t a year in-game 3 months?" "Yeah, but it really feels like a full year in game." "I don''t mind. The problem is my sleeping and eating out here. That''s going to throw a wrench in the schedule." "You can sleep in game, remember? The Dark Chariot cuts out REM sleep. You''ll sleep like the dead, but it''ll balance out time wise. I strongly recommend you ask for a day off every week though, just to get a full night''s rest. You know, with dreams and stuff." "What about meals?" Brandon frowned, just as a noise was heard coming from his belly. Curtis smiled. "30 minutes out here should be enough. We could shave it down to 15. Even less if we switch to a liquid diet every so often." "What would I do without you?" "You couldn''t even wipe your own ass." The two shared a laugh then Curtis went to grab a quick bite to eat for Brandon. --- Thadius went to sleep after logging back in. The hellish schedule would begin at dawn. Chapter 5: Day 30 DAY 30 Thadius was silently eating his so-called breakfast of plain, white rice. Again. On this particular morning, however, his master had come to join him. Now was a perfect opportunity as any to file a complaint. Thadius put down his spoon and look up with a determined look. "Master." "What is it?" Corban asked cautiously after seeing the look on Thadius'' face. "I''m going to ask you a question, and it''s imperative that you answer truthfully..." Corban was truly curious now. Most of their mornings were spent in silence since they started the training schedule. What could prompt such an expression from Thadius? He gestured for his student to continue. Thadius looked like he would break out into a cold sweat soon. It was the expression of a man who feared for his future livelihood. "Master, are you only able to cook white rice?" Now it was Corban''s turn to feel a cold sweat trickling down. He had had this conversation many times before. No matter how long they stayed, every pupil he had taken eventually complained about the food. ''So the time has come.'' It pained him to admit his inadequacies, but his star student had asked him for the truth. He wouldn''t run from it. "Unfortunately, I didn''t study the culinary arts as much as the sword." Corban admitted, shaking his head. Thadius let a sigh of relief. "Well that''s fine. If the lack of variety is a matter of skill, I''ll be happy to take over from here." "You can cook!?" "Indeed," Thadius replied with his signature devilish grin. "Do you remember the woman I told you about? I used to cook for her quite frequently." Corban knew about the woman he spoke of, but he hadn''t expected such a turn of events. His favorite student continued to amaze. There was only one problem. "I don''t have many ingredients..." "If you manage to catch some fish in the pool, I''m sure I could whip up something. But I''d prefer to have a full range of ingredients and spices at my disposal." "I''ll go down to town immediately!" Just the thought of a proper meal had Corban rushing to secure sacks for a trip. ''He''s not even worried about me running anymore.'' Thadius shook his head, smiling as he rose from the table. The first few weeks had been gruelling, but he finally managed to keep his Fighting Aura active for a full day. His days of repeatedly freezing and meditating all day had come to an end. Today he would increase his stair time and prepare for the next step with Corban. Thadius went back to his room with his stone armor grinding as it matched his movements. Not only had he gotten used to the sound, the weight wasn''t nearly as bad as before due to the numerous strength increases everyday. His progress had him excited for the end result. The daily schedule had fallen into a simple pattern; eat, pray, train, eat, sleep, and repeat. It reminded him of what his life was like after his thirteenth birthday. If the results from his current training had similar results, he''d be quite happy. When he had reached his bed, he dropped to his knees. He had been praying daily since he started. Today would be no different.
+1 Faith
--- The sun shines eternally in the Heavens. Today was yet another beautiful day. Thena, Goddess of Wealth and Beauty, sighed as her golden hair simmered in the sunlight. She was bored. There was peace in the Heavens and the world below, but that was it. Even with the arrival of the travelers, nothing eventful happened. "Too peaceful..." she muttered to herself, bringing her delicate finger to her full lips in thought. Boredom was something she could handle with a trip to the mortal world, so she didn''t worry about it. It was more like something was happening beneath the surface, like something was being hidden from her. No. This boredom she felt now was more foreboding. It was as if her days of lounging around would come to an end. Thena''s intuition guided her thoughts to a certain Goddess that she hadn''t checked on in a while. Today she would pay her a visit. She descended to the lower floors of the Tower of the Gods. Godsteel glittered all around, marveling all with its beauty that matched the Gods themselves. When she had found her target, Thena felt something she hadn''t felt in many years. Dread. The Goddess before her was her only rival in beauty. A golden luster had returned to her hair and the Godly light had added a subtle glow to her eyes. Her once tattered dress and apron had mended, shimmering softly in the light like fine silk. Though what alarmed Thena the most was the rippling of her supple muscles as she swept, and the dangerous smile that greeted her. Right under her nose, her enemy was returning to power. Tegaia, Goddess of Love, War, and Humility. The Mother of All Creation was regaining her strength. Thena resisted a shudder as the voice filled with with overflowing divinity reached her ears. "Thena? What brings you here on such a fine day?" Tegaia greeted her confidently. She had been expecting a visit, though she had hoped it wouldn''t be this soon. "I''ve merely come to check on you, dear. You''ve been ever so quiet lately..." The words may have sounded sincere but her eyes were narrowed in suspicion. "No need to worry. I won''t be quiet for much longer..." Tegaia made no effort to mask her threat from the Goddess who had taken everything from her. ''Let her see my power return before her eyes. And let her see that there is nothing she can do about it!'' A ripple of apprehension flashed on Thena''s face, but it was quickly masked with a smile. "In any case, make sure you get the corners. The filth likes to gather there in secret." "I''m well aware of the specks of dust that have gathered in the Tower of the Gods, Thena. I''ll deal with them soon enough..." Tegaia returned a smile that was three parts elegant, one part savage. At that point, the fear was firmly seeded in Thena''s heart. Her only thought now was to flee and prepare. "Well...I''ll leave you to it." "Always a pleasure, Thena." Tegaia nodded before going back to her chores. It had been a short exchange, but intentions had been made clear. Thena had been absolutely furious by the time she returned to the top of the tower. Her children were waiting for her beside the Hallowed Throne. They both shared her blonde hair and fair features. Two pairs of silver eyes watched her walk furiously into the room. Anyone who saw them all together would immediately recognize them as relatives. "Mother what''s wrong?" Braumas, the God of Strength and Order, called out to her first. "Nothing is wrong now, but soon, everything will be." Thena sneered. "Tegaia..." Arkas, Goddess of Reason and Intellect, lived up to the source of her name. Quickly pinpointing the source of her mother''s sudden distress. Thena nodded. "Her power is returning." Her son was clearly incited by that declaration. "But we watched her followers like you asked! No one has prayed to her! If so, we''d have dealt with them like the others!" "Peace Braumas," she whispered soothingly to her devoted child,"We still have time before she returns to full power. All we need to do is find the mortals that pray to her. However, there may be a larger problem..." Thena looked to her daughter that usually echoed her thoughts. "There could be Travelers that pray to her as well." Arkas answered promptly.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "Precisely." Thena had always been proud of her daughter, though her beloved girl showed little emotion."Travelers are not of this world. Even if we orchestrated their deaths, they would return. Persuasion would be a better means." "Why don''t we just go to Tegaia now and end this!?" Braumas roared. Any threats to his mother obviously needed to eliminated sooner rather than later. "You would face the Goddess of War in combat Braumas? Remember your place! Even in her weakened state, she would destroy you!" Thena scolded ruthlessly. Braumas flinched from his mother''s fury while she walked up the steps to the Hallowed Throne. "First, we find those that worship her. Once we find them, we''ll decide on how we proceed. Now go summon the Gods. This is not a task that we can do alone." As her children set off to do her bidding, Thena smiled wryly. She had gotten more trouble than she bargained for, but her boredom was long gone. ---
Controlled Breathing has leveled up.
Controlled Breathing LV.16 Intermediate
Thadius just finished his last climb up the stairs, and was headed back to the compound at a brisk pace. He was surprised to find Corban waiting for him when he walked through the front entrance. "Finished?" Corban smiled. "Yes sir." "Good, I wish to test your cooking skills immediately." Corban was seated on the ground, surrounded by five large bags filled to the brim with ingredients and spices. Thadius looked through a few of them and took one to the kitchen. There was a small kitchen in the back of the residential side. There was a wood burning stove that Thadius had initial hoped was magical, and could somehow provide the whole building with heat. He had been mistaken that day. He lit a fire and began to prepare his ingredients while he waited for it to heat up. He tasted every spice to determine how he would use them. There were staple spices like salt and sugar, but there were also spices he''d never even heard of. After the seventh taste test, he received a message.
Your attempt to verify various herbs and spices has unlocked a new skill.
Herb Identification LV 1 Novice Used to verify herbs and there properties. More information will be available for identified items as proficiency increases. Success rate will increase with proficiency.
"Identify."
Failed.
Failed.
Sugar A substance that adds sweetness to a dish.
Pous A herb with restorative properties. Has a bitter taste.
He identified the rest of the ingredients that he could and began to cook after the stove had heated to an acceptable temperature. "It''s Cookin'' Time! Today''s dish is homemade mashed potatoes, asparagus, and breaded baked chicken." Thadius enjoyed cooking for his imaginary audience. When he entered the kitchen, he became the host of his favorite show, ''Cookin'' Time''. He started by peeling the potatoes, ignoring the prompts and guiding systems that popped up. After he peeled the potatoes, he started on the chicken. He washed it, seasoned it, and coated it with a layer of his own breading and popped it into the oven. He mashed the potatoes while he boiled the asparagus to kill any germs. It may be a game, but Thadius wasn''t taking any chances. He purposefully kept chunks of potatoes mixed into the mash and heated them up after throwing in some butter. He kept time with an hourglass while he tried as best as he could to keep a constant temperature in the oven. After an hour of preparation and an hour of cooking, the meal was ready. Thadius arranged the plates with some culinary artistry and was ready to present the meal when...
Your wonderful meal has unlocked the cooking skill. You''re prior knowledge of the skill has awarded you a boost in the skill''s level and rank.
Cooking LV.15 Intermediate Enhances the taste of meals. +Beneficial effects are increased by 22.5%
"It''s always nice to have my skills recognized."Thadius smiled to himself as he walked into the dining room. Corban almost jumped out of his seat as the smell reached his nose. Thadius set the plate down with a smile. "Enjoy." Corban wasted no time to begin onslaught. Thadius dug in too, and they ate in silence as they devoured the food. After they were done, Corban was in high spirits. "Now that was a meal. Superb Thadius!" "Thank you." "Now we can begin to prepare you for combat training." Corban rose from the table, gesturing Thadius to leave the plates as he headed for the business side. Outside the supply room was more pieces of the stone armor. Corban picked them up and handed the pile to him. "That''s the lower portion of the armor." Thadius put it on and it was promptly locked in place. The stone reshaped to fit his legs just as the upper portion had done. "Now in preparation for combat training, you''ll be mastering your presence. I could teach you the ''Dragon''s Path'' sword style, but I''m afraid it would hinder your progress unless you learned this first." "What do I need to do?" Thadius asked eagerly. "Put this on." Corban smiled slyly and handed him another piece of stone. Unlike the previous slabs, it was a helmet. The only alarming feature was that there were no spaces for the eyes to see. "I think I can understand how this will help me sense the presence of others, but what about walls or other objects?" Thadius frown at the helmet. "You''ll be using your Fighting Aura to hone your spatial awareness." "That sounds fine too, but I''m still concerned about the stairs..." Thadius hated stairs, the bane of his existence. He could tolerate it for his training, but this was on another level. "There are weeds growing all over the stairs. They''ll help you along, you''ll see." Corban''s smile widened until his eyes practically wrinkled over. Thadius sighed and put on the helmet. It immediately molded to his head and sealed his vision. "Now instead of just using your Fighting Aura, let it flow from you. Imagine it spreading out of you to envelop the surroundings." Corban instructed. Thadius did as he was told. His control of his Fighting Aura had improved, allowing him to move it freely. Though it was a little more difficult spreading it outside his body. He let it stretch out to the limit, which was a few feet at best. Then he focused on giving it shape, letting his Aura form a dome around him. After a few seconds, he felt something close to him. It was similar to knowing where your hands and feet were with your eyes closed. He just felt it. He knew where the wall was and the general area where Corban was standing. The wall cut into his dome while there was a space where Corban was standing. It was impossible to make out minor details, but he was successful. "Do you feel it?" "Yes." Thadius smiled. The feeling the skill gave him a truly mystical feeling. "Good. I want you to sense my presence now. Fill in the gap of your Aura. Fill it with the sound of my heart, the heat of my blood, and the energy of my life. Use all your available senses to create another." ''Easier said than done!'' Thadius thought desperately, trying with all his might to find something within the gap of his Aura. After a minute of struggling, Corban''s voice could be heard grumbling in the darkness. "Hmm, I am partially hiding my presence. So it might prove a tad bit difficult. Hold a moment." As soon as the sentence was finished, Thadius sensed a huge difference. Corban''s presence was suddenly too hard to ignore. All his senses were drawn towards him, as if he had his own gravitational pull. Thadius thought he was successful, and was patiently waiting for the signature sound. Just then, goosebumps appeared on his arms, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. An intense heat was coming from behind him. It was strange to think of it in terms of temperature, but that was exactly what it felt like. He turned around in an irrational panic, only to hear his master chuckling. "You''ve adapted to my pressure, but when you feel my presence you panic? Ha!" "When did you get there!?" Thadius called out, trying to calm down. "It''s no fun having everything explained to you. You''ll learn how it''s done in due time."
You''ve learned how to feel the energy of life around you. A new skill has been unlocked.
Sense Presence LV.1 Novice Sense the life energy of living things. Range and clarity increase with level. Mana use decreases with level. Sense all life within a 10ft(3m) radius for 1 mana per second.
"This skill uses mana. Is it possible to have it use my Fighting Aura instead?" Thadius stared at the windows that suddenly popped up in his vision. "So eager this pupil of mine!" Corban laughed,"Of course it''s possible Thadius. Use it the way I just taught you. Sense the presences within the gaps of your Aura. Once you''ve done that for a while, it''ll happen on its own. For this phase of your training you''ll be spending most of your time at the pool, sensing the presence of the fish and leveling your skills. That''s after you do your stairs of course." Thadius nodded. He wasn''t going to neglect his physical training. At some point, Corban can come closer to pat him on the shoulder. "Now it still noon, so go to the pool now. I''ll fetch you later." "Yes sir." "Oh, one more thing Thadius," Thadius had started to walk off, testing the new weight of his armor, when Corban stopped him."You be using the entire staircase from now on. No more pleasant walks to the pool." Having just been told that he would have to climb up and down the mountain with his eyes closed, Thadius exclaimed, "Master!? Have mercy!" "Mercy is for the weak." Corban''s cold retort sounded out from deeper in the compound. Thadius sighed as best as he could manage with his rock armor. His schedule had tripled in difficulty in a single day, and he had only been here for a month. Chapter 6: Day 60 DAY 60
Due to your use of Sense Presence and Fighting Aura, Sense Presence has been absorbed. Sense Presence is now a sub skill of Fighting Aura and will use it instead of mana.
"Finally!" Thadius shouted in joy as water cascaded down his chin. For an entire month, all he had done was run stairs and train his Sense Presence along with other skills at the pool. "View ''Sense Presence''."
Sense Presence LV. 23 Intermediate Uses your Fighting Aura to sense nearby life. Range and clarity increase with level. Cost 1 point of Fighting Aura every 19.5 seconds. Sense all life within a 34.5ft(10.5m) radius. +Hide is less effective against you as level increases
After his success at the pool, he made his way up the stairs to his master''s compound. Thadius had come to realize that the pool wasn''t even a fourth of the way down. Consequently, he had spent the first week and a half raising his stats in order to lessen the burden of his stone armor. After he was able to complete his repetitions in a reasonable amount of time, he had ample time for going to the pool. Thadius made his way up the stairs using his newly upgraded Fighting Aura to guide him. The tax on his Aura had increased, but it was above and beyond trying to use mana. Thadius had to repeatedly meditate to recharge his short mana supply. A gruff voice greeted him as he walked through the entrance. "Finished already?" "I can use my Aura for Sense Presence now." "Good. What''s for lunch?" "Really!?" Thadius sighed in disappointment. He had expected some form of praise. Yet, his master had brought up an important topic. Even with his Fighting Aura sustaining his hunger, he''d suffer tremendously if he was starving when it was exhausted. The likelihood of that happening had just increased with the recent upgrade to his Aura. "I''ll whip something up." Yes, Thadius even managed to cook blind. He used Herbal Identification to choose his seasonings and vegetables. There was a metal box in the corner of the kitchen where the meat was organized. The temperature had dropped considerably in the past few weeks, so the box served as a cooler. "Welcome to ''Blind Cooking''! I''m your host Thadius, and today''s dish will be personal pizzas!" Thadius declared to his imaginary audience. His show had taken a sudden twist when it was revealed that the main host had been gradually losing his eyesight, and was now completely blind. His cooking skill had risen as he continued to cook despite the difficulty. However, Thadius tried to make dishes that didn''t heavily rely on his sight. Pizza was about as far as he would go in that department. After taking the two pizzas out of the oven, Thadius received a message he had been expecting for days.
Your cooking skill has ranked up!
Cooking LV. 34 Advanced Enhances the taste of meals +Beneficial effects are increased by 34% +Your food increases max satiety by 10% + Your food can relieve some status ailments
''About time'' Thadius had been anxiously waiting for his cooking to rank up to Advance. He had hoped that trying to cook blind would lead to a breakthrough. Thankfully, he wasn''t disappointed. Thadius served the food and the two ate. It was going to be another quiet meal, but Thadius was too excited to keep silent. "So what''s after this?" "Hmm?" Corban had been too distracted by the pure pleasure that assaulted his tongue. "What''s next in my training?" "Oh," Corban cleared his throat, "now you need to learn how to hide your presence. It should be much easier now that you''ve had some understanding." Thadius wasn''t so confident, and it showed on his face. "You doubt me? You could learn it right now, while we eat! You feel your own presence don''t you?" "Yes." "First, bring your Aura completely into yourself. Trap it within, then shrink everything." ''You make it sound so easy!'' Thadius wanted to shout. But if history had taught him anything, it was that Corban knew what he was talking about. Thadius reigned in his Fighting Spirit so that it was solely within his body. Then he began to slowly draw his Fighting Spirit from his fingertips. The cold immediately nipped at his exposed flesh. Using his heart as a focal point, he withdrew the warmth, or at least he tried to. The further he tried to draw in his spirit, the more difficult it became. He concentrated, and the warmth moved a little further. He couldn''t get his Aura past his knees and elbows, but he could keep it there.
For reducing your presence, a new skill has been unlocked. Your prior knowledge has unlocked the skill at the Intermediate rank.
Hide Presence LV.1 Intermediate Reduces your presence to hide in plain sight. Effectiveness increases with level and rank. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.+You won''t be singled out in crowds.
The thing Thadius liked the most about the skill was that it was free. "See? Simple. Now, when you get really good, you''ll be able to hide your presence by completely separating it from you body. You''ll be able to sense everyone while no one will be able to sense you. At least no one who''s equally skilled at sensing presences." "That sounds impossible. I can''t even understand how my Fighting Aura counts as my presence in the first place. Aren''t they two separate things?" "Your Aura is the manifestation of your Fighting Spirit. And your Fighting Spirit is apart of you. It is you. Don''t complicate it by over thinking." "Yes sir." "Now you do have your work cut out for you, I''ll admit. Since it getting colder by the day, you''ll have to learn it backwards. Instead of drawing the spirit in, you''ll have to push it out. That will take a bit of time to master, but at least you''ll stay warm." Thadius'' worries had been laid to rest in one conversation. As expected of his master. "I guess I should get started then." He had long since finished his pizza. There was no time to waste. "I recommend you walk deep into the forest nearby. The animals and trees are dormant, but it should still be able to level your new skill. You''ll continue your stair exercises moving forward, but instead of going to the pool, you''ll walk the mountain. "Understood." Thadius walked out of the compound in a hurry. He couldn''t rush his master, but he really wanted to get to his sword training. ''Is this why no one sticks around?'' Thadius sighed as he used the surrounding vegetation to guide him into the forest. --- The Tower of the Gods was buzzing with excitement. The Lower and Lesser Gods had been summoned by the Greater Gods for a celebration, and everyone was in high spirits. Everyone except Yuna, Goddess of the Mountain of Yune. Her sleep had been disturbed by the summons and she wasn''t the least bit happy. The fact that they had woken her up was bad enough, but they had made her come all the way to the top of the tower for a boring party. There was no one to play, and everyone just stood around talking. Yuna wasn''t happy at all. She was a Lesser God, born from the hopes and prayers of the local villages that wanted safe passage on the mountain. She was small for her age. Although a God''s power was reflected in their appearance, their reflective ages were determined by what they governed. Since Yuna only had control over a single mountain, her appearance was that of a child. The color of her ankle-length hair changed to match the seasons on her mountain. It was a simmering emerald in summer, violet in the spring, then every shade of red and brown in the fall. Today, in accord with the season, her hair was as white as snow. And as all Gods, her eyes were a silvery grey, glowing with a light of divinity. Yuna went to sleep whenever her hair tuned white. Not because she needed rest, but to pass the season. To her, winter was a lonely time. The people of the villages didn''t visit her mountain once the snow set in, and most of her animal friends went to sleep. So Yuna decided to follow their example. It had been during this particular nap that she had heard the voice of Thena calling her to the heavens. That was how Yuna came to be standing amongst the various Lower and Lesser Gods as Thena address them from the Hallowed Throne. "I''d like to thank you all for coming on such short notice. Today, my children and I have decided to have an official celebration for the arrival of the Travelers." ''That''s stupid!'' "Now, I''m sure some of you have already met some of them for yourselves and may have even asked some of them for assistance. They are quite capable aren''t they?" There were murmurs of agreement all around. Most of them had indeed met Travelers. Yuna had yet to meet one as her mountain was very far north, and was a considerable distance from the larger cities. She didn''t even know what Traveler looked like. She was curious, but she had given up on seeing one all together. "I''m sure you all know my daughter Arka." Thena gestured to the Goddess at her side, "She came to me with an interesting idea. She proposed that we get to know the beings that share our world by disguising ourselves and communicating with them. She believes it would benefit us to get a better understanding of them. What are their intentions? What can they do? What do they believe in? Who do they believe in?" There were curious murmurs in response to the last question. The fact that Travelers could pray to them wasn''t a secret, but the fact that Thena cared raised a few eyebrows. "After all, we wouldn''t want them to believe in those that would use their power against us." Thena smiled at the crowd below. Her tone was sweet, but those that knew what she meant whispered amongstthemselves. "Could she mean the Dark Ones?" "She''s obviously talking about Tegaia?" "It has to be about her, why else would she care?" "This is definitely about her, remember that fight a while back.." "Shh....she''ll hear you!" Yuna had heard the stories about the Higher God that fell from grace. It had happened before she was born, but she had been warned many times not to be like Tegaia, the Fallen Goddess. Thena clapped her hands for attention. "Let''s not darken the this day with tales my friends. For today we celebrate, and tomorrow we go down to learn more about our new guests." "She means, ''Go and make sure they aren''t worshipping Tegaia.''" "Shhh!" Yuna listened curiously to the Gods in front of her. She didn''t think anyone could worship a Fallen God. It was a widely known fact that it wasn''t possible. But if these Travelers could worship them somehow, maybe they were scarier than she thought. After Thena''s speech, the party commenced while Yuna slipped away at the earliest opportunity. She wanted no part in such a boring party. After leaving the Heavens, she sighed as reached her domain. It was tiny cave in the side of the mountain. She''d only be able to sleep for a little longer before she''d have to go looking for Travelers. So she didn''t waste any time going back to sleep. Chapter 7: Day 100 DAY 100 Spirits are curious by nature. They¡¯ve passed on from the world of the living, and when they aren''t serving the Gods, they''re wandering between their previous world and the afterlife. Today, the spirits on the Mountain of Yune had found something they had never seen before. "What is it?" "I don''t know! It looks like a statue though..." "Statues don''t move..." "Doesn''t it kinda feel like a spirit?" "I''ve never seen a spirit that looks like that!" The little specks of light argued back and forth while they hid in their homes. They lived in the trees on the mountain, and on Yuna''s orders, they helped the plants grow, kept the water clean, and helped her keep monsters away. These guys were basically agents of the Goddess, so anything out of the ordinary was reported to her. Needless to say, she would need to know about this new development. "Go get the Goddess!" "But she''s sleeping..." "So!" "You do it then!" "Fine!" The spirit rushed off to wake the Goddess from her slumber. --- Yuna had been sleeping for over a month after she had returned from the Heavens, and she had planned to sleep for a few more. Unfortunately, she wouldn''t get the chance. "Yuna! Yuna wake up!" "Huuh..." she mumbled, peeking through her hair at the loud spirit. "Yuna! You gotta see this! There''s some kinda spirit statue thingy!" "A wha-" "Come see! Come see!" the spirit said excitedly, rushing back into the distance. Yuna stood up on wobbly legs and half closed eyes, using the the wall of her favorite cave to guide her to the entrance. She was more of an afternoon Goddess. By time she had reached the location of the anomaly, the spirits had returned to their argument. "Look! It has arms and legs right? Maybe it''s a person?" "Nope, nope, nope. People don''t feel like spirits." "But we don''t have arms and legs!" "It might a super spirit!" "There''s no such thing as a super spirit!" "Yes huh!" "No there isn''t..." "Shh!" Yuna quickly hushed her agents. She had just seen the so called ''spirit statue'' and wanted complete silence for her analysis. The spirit statue was made of stone from head to toe. So the statue theory had to be seriously considered. Yet, it really did have arms and legs, so the spirit part had her sceptical. "Where is it going?" she asked. "It just walks around..." "It''s a mysterious spirit statue!" "Shh!" Yuna hushed them again before they could get too excited. Though she had to admit, it was pretty exciting! "Let''s follow it..." she whispered. Her drowsiness had disappeared completely, so she was in full play-mode now. Nothing would stop her until her curiosity was satisfied. She stepped out from behind the tree, planning on following the mysterious spirit statue. But it had vanished without a trace. "Where''d it go?" "Hello. Are you looking for me?" Yuna jumped as she looked behind her to find the very statue she had been planning to tail. "Run away!" "It''s a talking-mysterious-spirit-statute!" "What about the Goddess!?" "Just run!" Her spirits had completely abandoned her to her fate. Yuna gulped as she looked up at the enormous statue. She barely came up to its waist. "It''s rude to not respond when someone greets you..." "A-ah yes! Hello.." "What''s your name, child?" "Yuna..." "Yuna huh? Were you named after the mountain?" the statue asked curiously. Yuna was still surprised it could talk. She took a good look at its face, and was surprised that only half of it seemed to be stone. It had no eyes, but the statue looked at her as if it could see. "Yes, I-I''m the Goddess of the mountain." "Oh? A Goddess? That does explain your appearance." "What''s wrong with my appearance!?" She questioned as she puffed out her flat chest. Her makeshift leaf dress rustled in the wind. "Aww, so cute." the statue said as it patted her on the head. Yuna blushed as she glared at the statue. She hated when people made her feel small. She was a Goddess after all! She grabbed the statue''s hand, preparing to bite it, but it was surprisingly soft and warm. So she studied the hand instead, flipping it over and poking it. It felt like skin, but this was a statue, right? The statue had remained completely still during her examination. "Something wrong?" It asked after she finished. "Umm...w-what are you exactly?" "Ah, excuse my rudeness. My name is Thadius, and I am what you would call a Traveler." It bowed as it introduced itself. It completely towered over her. "A Traveler!?" Yuna had completely revealed her excitement, but she regained her composure quickly. Even if it was a Traveler, it was still strange. "Aren''t Travelers supposed to be...living beings?" "You felt the warmth of my hand didn''t you? What about now? Do you feel my presence?" There was a shift in the way the statue¡¯s presence felt, and the difference was huge. The giant statue felt even more intimidating than it had before. Though the feeling was gone as soon as she felt it. Yuna couldn''t resist a shudder. It definitely wasn''t a statue. That much could be concluded. "B-but what about your appearance!?" she criticized, pointing at stone attire. "You mean my armor?" "That''s armor!? But you can''t even see!" "It''s specially made to strengthen my body and senses. Even now, I guide myself through the forest by sensing the life around me." "That''s impossible!" "Yet, here I am." Yuna couldn''t deny the facts. A Traveler was walking around on her mountain. A strange man in armor. "Actually Yuna, I''m glad you''re here." the man continued, interrupting her train of thought. At least, she thought it was a man. This was the first Traveler she''d ever seen after all. "You''re glad I''m here?" "Yes. I''m quite bored, you see. I was wondering if you''d play with me." "Okay!" Every other thought went out the window. Play-mode activated. "Do you play hide and seek?" "Yes!" she cried. Yuna was the undisputed champion when it came to hide and seek on her mountain. She''d never been found. "Let''s play then. The winner will be the first one to count in the next game." "But that means I''ll always go first..." she said with a puzzled expression. "Wait a minute now. Are you trying to say that you''ll win every game?" "Of course!" she declared proudly. "Then how about we have a little wager. If you win then-" "I get to ride on your shoulders!" she said excitedly. She wouldn''t miss this chance to see what it was like to be tall. She could almost taste the air up there. "Then if I win, how about you be my friend?" "Deal!" "Alright. Then I''ll begin counting. One..." Yuna ran like the wind, leaving absolutely no trace of her passage. After a few minutes of running, she picked a spot in a tree as her hiding spot. ''He''ll never find me now!'' she thought. Yuna had never lost. She played with the spirits and the animals all the time, and they¡¯d all given up before she could be found. Her confidence was well founded; however, she had grossly underestimated her opponent. As soon as she settled into her hiding spot, she saw the man walking in the distance. He was walking in her direction with no hesitation in his footsteps. Her heart began to race at the sight of him. In mere minutes, he had already become the greatest challenger she''d ever faced. No one else had ever gotten this close! Yuna''s eyes widened as the man continued to walk in her direction. Soon, he was standing directly beneath the tree. "Where are you hiding Goddess?" the man asked kindly. Yuna wasn''t fooled by his sweet tone. She knew she was being hunted. Her heartbeat went into high gear. She''d never experienced the thrill of the hunted. "I can smell your fear..." the man said as he looked directly at her. Yuna had to cover her mouth to keep from screaming. The game wasn''t over until he had declared that he found her. Just as she thought that, the man turned his head like he''d heard something. Then he walked off in another direction, calling out to her like before. ''That was close!'' she sighed as she got comfortable. If he couldn''t find her when she was that close, then he never would. Her victory had already been determined. She watched in the direction the man had walked in for several minutes. Then she decided to go and find him instead. In her mind, she had already won. She turned around to climb down the tree, only to bump right into the man she was going to search for. He had been laying down next to her on the branches. "......!" ".............." ".............." He was dozing off apparently. All this time she had been watching for signs of him and he''d been behind her! She knew she had been toyed with. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "Hey!" she said as she poked him hard in his cheeks. "Oh? Finally realized I was here did you? Good job. You can start counting now. I found you." he said with a devilish grin on his face. Yuna puffed her cheeks in anger. She had lost fair and square. She accepted that. What she couldn''t accept was that she was found so easily. ''I''ll just have to find him faster!'' she thought as she closed her eyes to count. "One....two.....three." The man dropped down from the tree and disappeared. She didn''t even hear him hit the ground. After she finished counting, the hunt began. Yuna looked high and low. She tried to hone in on the presence she felt earlier, but there was no trace of him. The man was just, gone. She stopped in the middle of a clearing to ponder her next move. "Give up?" she heard a voice ask from behind her. "Hah! I fou-" she turned around and found no one there. "Maybe I''m over here?" Yuna looked into the direction of his voice, but still couldn''t see him. "No fair! I can''t even see you!" The man was laughing as he appeared in front of her. "It''s not my fault that you can''t see me." he said, waving a hand in front of his face for emphasis. "Now, do you admit defeat?" Yuna sighed. How could she win if she couldn''t even see him? "Okay..." "Good. From now on we''re friends. Okay?" "Oka- wah!" The man had suddenly scooped her up and placed her onto his broad shoulders. "Wow!" she exclaimed as she hugged his head, her leafy dress crackling against his helmet. The man just chuckled."Shall we go for a walk?" "Yeah!" They walked and talked for a while, enjoying the sights and scenery of the forests. Well, at least one of them did. Yuna was quite proud of herself. She had provided a safe, clean environment for the people that prayed to her. She had fulfilled her duty as a Goddess. After thinking that, she was reminded of an important topic. "Thadius?" "Yes ma''am?" "Do you pray to the Gods?" she asked, her long hair covering his head as she bent over to look at his face. She was convinced that he could see her. "I pray to my Goddess everyday." "Me?" "Unfortunately not. I pray to Tegaia, Goddess of Love, War, and Humility." Yuna froze. She remembered what she''d heard about that Goddess. None of it was good. "But isn''t she a Fallen God?" "...I''m not so sure." "But all the other Gods say she is! They say she''s a bad Goddess!" "Have you actually met her?" "No...." "Well until you get all the facts and actually meet her in person, try not to think too badly of her. "But..." "She is the Goddess of Love. But should anyone threaten the ones she loves, she''ll become the Goddess of War. Then, if all else fails, she''ll give herself to protect them, whether they''re a God or mortal. That is the Goddess I believe in Yuna. Does that sound like a bad person to you?" "....no" The sun had started to set while they were talking. Thadius came to a stop. "It seems it''s time for us to part ways for today." he said as he set Yuna on the ground. Yuna was quite satisfied. Today had been a very fun day. She had even made a new friend. "Will I see you tomorrow?" she asked hopefully. "That''s a strong possibility." Thadius smiled. "Then see you tomorrow!" she said, running off in high spirits. She hurried to get back to her cave. She had a lot she wanted to talk about with her agents. Especially the fact that they had abandoned her in the face of danger. --- When Thadius felt the tiny Goddess¡¯ presence rush off down the mountain, he sighed. Such cuteness was a rare thing to see, yet he had been robbed of his sight for the unforeseeable future. "Oh, well." "Quite an interesting conversation." a gruff voice said from beside him. Thadius nearly jumped out of his skin. "How long have you been there?" "I actually participated in your little game of hide and seek. Both of you ultimately lost..." Thadius just shook his head in disbelief. He had known something was off, but he had never guessed it would be his master. His Sense Presence and Hide Presence had leveled up and were ranked at Expert and Advance respectively. Now he had absolutely no trouble finding his way around. "You''ve progressed quite nicely Thadius. I do believe it''s time I taught you the sword." "Finally!" Thadius couldn''t contain his excitement, much like the tiny Goddess he had met not so long ago. Together, Thadius and Corban made their way back to the compound, stopping in the grand training hall. "Now Thadius, I must ask. What weapon do you plan on using?" "The shield and sword." he answered without hesitation. Thadius had been given plenty of time to think about it. "Really? I figured you for a two-hander. Well, no matter. You''ll be learning all the forms of the Dragon''s Path regardless." Corban walked away into the supply room and came back with two objects. "Now, there are a few things you should understand before we begin." Corban continued as he handed Thadius a large wooden shield and short-sword. "The first thing you''ll need to understand is that weapon mastery skills mean absolutely nothing. Yes, they give bonuses; however, without proper training, you may as well be an idiot that swings a shiny stick. Thadius nodded. He had guessed that much. "Secondly, the entire Dragon''s Path sword style relies heavily on your Fighting Aura. You are at your weakest when you fight without it. Right now your Aura increases your strength, stamina and dexterity by 50%. However, the effect can also be extended to your weapon, increasing attack power exponentially. You know this?" "Yes sir." "Unfortunately, it can only be one or the other at any given time. Just like how a ghost cannot possess two bodies at once, Fighting Aura cannot be split between objects or people. Even if they''re touching. We''ll go over how to utilize it as you progress." "I understand." "Lastly, don''t practice without my instruction. I don''t want you picking up any unnecessary habits." "Yes sir!" Thadius was ecstatic. He was eager to get started. "It''s earlier than I anticipated, but you''re ready to begin. From here on out, your training will consist of stair sets, pool time, and afternoon sessions with me. That will be your schedule until you''ve learned all that I need to teach you. Understand?" "Yes sir." "Good. Now, the shield and sword form of the Dragon''s Path is called ''Dragon Scales''." Corban went through the motions. He was patient as always, slowly guiding his pupil through everything. "Now, try that a little faster." Thadius obeyed. Though he did it at full speed in his eagerness. "What in the hells was that!?" "I don''t know what-" "That''s nothing like how you moved a second ago! It''s like you didn''t even think about your swing!" ''Is he talking about the assist system?'' Thadius quickly turned everything dealing with combat styles to manual control and tried again. ".......better." ''So that''s what it was... Thadius was hardly surprised. Almost everything he had learned from Corban required manual control. So the fact that he was actually going to learn how to wield a sword, didn''t surprise him in the slightest. "Ah! I knew I forgot something..." Corban said as he rushed back into the supply room. Thadius could hear the sound of grinding stone. He groaned. "You didn''t think it would be this easy did you?" Corban chuckled, "As soon as you get used to the weight, we''ll go heavier. So while you adjust, practice your swings at a reasonable speed. Swing fast enough to get a feel for it, but slow enough to let your body remember it correctly." Corban attached the stone rings to the armor as he explained. Thadius now had three rings on each arm and two on each ankle. "Well at least I''m almost done with the weight training, right?" "What are you talking about Thadius? That''s the lightest training armor. After stone you''ll move to steel. After steel comes mythril. Only then will you be done, my clueless pupil." Thadius was stunned into silence. He was no where near finished. In fact, it was as his master had said, he was ready to begin. "Back to the lesson. The reason why you''ve learned to control your presence is for this sword style. Using your presence control with the movements I teach you, will allow you to create lethal feints and invisible attacks. A simple lunge, filled with presence and fighting spirit, cannot be ignored. Yet, the moment your opponent reacts, they''re doomed." "Feints turn into killing blows and vice versa..." "Precisely..." "I''m ready master." "I know you are. Continue..." Thadius continued swinging until late in the night. Chapter 8: Fallen Gods FALLEN GODS A young girl was freezing to death on the coldest mountain in the Todos Kingdom. She had gotten lost in the blizzard that blanketed the mountain in the first snowfall of the season. Naked and afraid, she crawled desperately against the howling winds. Her white hair had lost its brilliant luster, and her eyes had lost their Godly light. Yuna had been cast out of the Heavens, stripped of her power, and left to die on the very mountain she''d governed. She cried and screamed for help, but no one in their right mind would climb the mountain in such weather. Not even if they heard the cries of a Goddess in despair. Tears froze the very instant they left her eyes. Frost covered her lashes, and her lips had gone blue from the cold. The strength she used to know in her limbs was long gone, every passing moment was a step closer into oblivion. Fatigue tugged at her senses. When she couldn''t possibly go any further, she collapsed in the snow. It was then that a shadow fell over her. With the last of her strength, she reached out. She didn''t want to die, so reached for the last thread of hope. She couldn''t make out the figure with the edges of her vision fading in darkness. She blacked out at the feet of a giant stone statue. *FLASHBACK* Yuna couldn''t find Thadius at all. She had searched for him in the forest they first met, but he was nowhere to be found. So she went to look for him. She knew the mountain like the back of her eyelids, so she quickly found the mysterious house near the top of the mountain. She had always stayed away from the top since it was scary. But if Thadius lived there, it might not be so bad. When she found him, he was in the middle of his physical training. He was climbing up and down the staircase that went down the mountain. "Thadius! Come play!" she yelled excitedly, running up to him in high spirits. "I don''t think I''ll be able to play for a while Yuna, forgive me." "Oh...." It was winter after all. Nobody wanted to play with her in the winter time. She was crestfallen. "But how about a ride instead?" "YUSH!" Pure excitement slurred her words as Thadius lifted her up. And so it was, that Thadius and Yuna established their steed and rider relationship. She rode Thadius as he did his stairs. When he went to the pool, she splashed in the water and talked to the fish. The cold never bothered her, she was a Goddess after all. When it was time for him to go home, she''d always made him promise to play again the next day. Thadius would say ''Okay'' with a smile and pat her on the head. She hated being patted, but she didn''t mind it so much when Thadius did it. Afterwards she went back to her cave and talked to the spirits. Then when the sun came up, she''d start the process all over again. Yuna was very happy that she had someone to play with during the winter. After a few weeks had passed, Yuna had received another summons to the Heavens. Curious as to why they would call her, she went immediately.. She was in a much better mood since she was already wide awake, and skipped happily into the Tower of the Gods. She wasn''t looking were she was going though, and bumped into one of the spirits that swept the tower. "Ofh!" "Oh my. Are you alright child?" Yuna quickly picked herself up. "I''m sorry!" The spirit laughed. "Such a polite child. What''s your name?" Yuna looked at the spirit for the first time and was shocked. The woman was extremely beautiful. She was tall too, even taller than Thadius. Yet, what really surprised her was the woman''s lustrous auburn hair that reflected gold in the sunlight, and the Godly light in her silver eyes. "You''re a-" she started, but the mysterious Goddess silenced her with a finger to her lips. "Shh...it''s a secret." she whispered. Her smile was dazzling. Yuna blushed and nodded. "Now, what''s you name young one?" "Yuna!" "Of the Mountain of Yune? I have a friend there..." "Me too! He plays with me everyday and he wears this heavy armor....." Yuna excitedly talked about her friend Thadius. When she had finished, the mystery Goddess had a serious look on her face. "Did he say anything about the Gods?" She asked.. "He said he worshipped Tegaia. I think she may be a bad person, but Thadius said she isn''t so I believe him!" The Goddess beamed when she said that. Yuna smiled too. The happiness of the Goddess was contagious. "Ah! I have to go now...miss...um." "My name is Tegaia..." Yuna had a confused expression in her face. "What is it Yuna? Do you still think I''m a bad person?" Yuna was torn. She had heard a lot about Tegaia, and none of it was good. But then she remembered Thadius'' words in the forest on the first day they met. She had indeed met the Goddess in person, and she believed from the bottom of her heart that she wasn''t as bad as the other Gods said she was. So she shook her head. "Good. I don''t want you to think bad of me because of something you heard from someone else." Tegaia said happily as she combed her hand through Yuna ''s hair. It had been disheveled when she fell. Yuna felt a warmth spread from her head to her toes. "Now before you go Yuna, will you do something for me?" "O-okay." "You must keep our friend Thadius a secret. There are people here that want to take him away from the mountain. Is that what you want?" "No!" "Then it''s a secret." Yuna nodded and said goodbye, running up the staircase that lead to the top. When she arrived at the throne room, Thena was sitting on the Hallowed Throne, watching her as she approached. "Good afternoon, Yuna I believe?" "Yes..." Yuna was shocked at how cold the Goddess seemed compared to when she saw her at the party. "Yuna, you were present at the welcoming party for the Travelers, were you not?" "Yes." "Are you aware that you are the last one to report in?" "Ah! I...I was sleeping before the party so-" "So you went back to sleep? I understand." Thena said, waving her hands as dismissing something trivial. "So now that you''ve woken, do you have anything to report?" Yuna was in a difficult position to say the least. Had she not run into Tegaia before coming here, she would have told the Goddess everything. However, she made a promise to keep her friend a secret. Yuna kept her promises. "Uh...nope!" "Are you sure?" Thena''s hard gaze pierced her. "Yep!" "I find that odd, because according to this fellow," Thena held up a glowing ball,"you have great deal to tell me." Yuna immediately recognized the spirit from her mountain. It had been one of the three that ran abandoned her after Thadius had introduced himself. She was at a loss for words. She could try to escape punishment by coming clean, but she stayed silent. She had a feeling that Thadius would be in trouble if she talked about him here. Thena wasn''t pleased. "So you''ve decided to keep silent. Doing so aids my enemies, which makes you an enemy. Don''t you think so?" She asked the spirit. "...yes" "I think so too." She looked back at Yuna. There was an indescribable coldness that came from her. Yuna trembled in fear. "As a Lesser Goddess, your existence is a privilege at best. You spat on that privilege the moment you decided to lie to me. So how about I give that privilege to someone more deserving?" Chains of Godsteel sprang from the floor and restrained Yuna. Thena came down from the throne to stand before her. "By my authority as a Greater God, I strip you of you power..." Yuna screamed as her Godly essence was taken from her. Silver light was transferred from her body to Thena''s hand that held the spirit. The weight of the chains increased in proportion to the power stolen from her. Only those with Godly essence could bear the weight of Godsteel. Before long, Yuna was completely pinned to the floor. "Yuna, from this moment forth, you are no longer welcome in the Heavens." At Thena''s command, the chains pulled Yuna through the floor. *FLASHBACK END* --- Thadius was in the middle of his stair exercises when he received a message. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The Goddess that has protected the mountain has fallen. Weather patterns will return to normal. Animals will become hostile. Monsters may appear.
"What!?" He had wondered where Yuna had gone. She usually came to play at the start of the day. He never expected to receive such a message. Concerned for her safety, Thadius searched the forest. He was hoping to find the spirits she talked to, or find a trace of her presence from yesterday. The blizzard started up soon after. Without the Goddess to restrain it, the full fury of winter was released upon the mountain. The presence of nearby trees and grass started to dim, making it extremely difficult for him to navigate without his sight. Regardless, he pressed forward, trying to retrace his footsteps to the place they first met. Thadius had been searching for almost an hour when he sensed a weakening presence in the snow. With his Sense Presence at the Expert rank, he could tell the difference between plants, animals, and people. He could also determine the general state of the presence. He could tell that whoever it was, had their life hanging by a thread. He approached with caution, the snow had piled up, which threw off his spacial awareness. He had come close enough to assess the situation as a hand reached out to him. It was in that instant that he recognized the presence he came to know in the last few weeks. Though something was off, the usual strength of her presence had completely diminished. He picked her up and slowly made his way back to the compound. He transferred his Aura to her, exposing himself to the elements. "Master!" Thadius cried desperately as he reached the entrance. Corban was at his side in an instant, sensing his pupils distress. He looked at the young girl in his arms. "Take her to the kitchen and light the oven. It''ll help at least. You''ll freeze in her place if you use your Aura like that." "She needs blankets and clothes. I can''t feel her dress." "I''ll make something out of the furs in the storage room." "You have the tailoring trade?" Thadius had only intended to ask Corban for materials. "A man needs a hobby. Go, I''ll be there shortly." Thadius nodded and rushed off to the kitchen. The cold had seeped into his bones, making every action feel sluggish. He lit the small oven and sat near with Yuna cradled in his arms. It proved difficult with the rings on his arms getting in the way. After a few minutes, Corban came in with a thick blanket that he immediately wrapped around the frosty Goddess. The small oven heated the corner of the room, and Corban''s Aura was enough for the three of them. With the warmth returning to Yuna and himself, Thadius'' was able to relax. "I''d have figured you for a blacksmith if anything." He said as he took turns passing his Aura between Yuna and himself. Corban shook his head. "Not many monsters drop ore, and it seemed a waste to ignore all the material. Besides," he smoothed out his pure white robe,"it has its advantages." "You made that!?" "Surprised?" Corban laughed. Thadius sighed."I should be used to your surprises by now." "Look at it this way. Its one more thing I could teach you." "Right..." Thadius looked down. The tiny Goddess had settled into a peaceful slumber. "In the meantime, what do we do about her?" "We''ll have to hear her out first. Something must have happened, she feels completely different from yesterday." "I thought so too." Corban had confirmed his suspicions. Just then a thought came to him."Could she have become mortal? I''ve never seen her react to the cold..." "Not to mention the sudden change in the mountain. It fits, but I''ve never heard of....wait a moment. There, on her chest..." "What is it?" "It''s her status. Next to race it says God(Fallen)..." Thadius remembered the message he received early. He had completely forgotten in his worrying. "So she was cast out. She has no one but us..." "Hmm...her stats aren''t too far from yours, and she even has Fighting Spirit. With training, she could be quite something." "She''s a child..." "She''s a Goddess, though fallen she may be." Corban had a point. He often let that fact slip his mind. "Then she trains?" "I''ll take any student that is willing, and with her starting stats, she has a lot of growth to look forward to." "What level is she?" "Level one. Its been reduced by her Fallen status." "What about her skills?" "That''s the surprising part. Says here that she mastered the ''Hide'' skill." They both shared a chuckle. The Hide skill hid the user from sight, but did nothing to hide their presence. "No wonder she was so confident." "Indeed. She also has Sense Presence ranked at Intermediate. If she applies what she knows about presences to her Hide skill, she could possibly master Hide Presence Master faster than you." "She just might if you told her she could win at hide and seek..." "Ha!" Thadius shook his head. Things were about to get lively around here. --- The last thing Yuna remembered was reaching out to someone in the blizzard. So when she woke up wrapped in a blanket on a soft bed, she quickly guessed that she had been saved by that person. She looked around as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. There was a familiar statue seated in the corner. "Thadius?" "Good morning. How are you feeling?" Yuna shrugged her shoulders. Then she remembered what happened. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I was....hic...kicked..out..." She couldn''t speak coherently as she sobbed. "You were cast out of Heaven..." Thadius finished for her. She nodded. "I figured as much. I won''t ask what happened, but if you want to ta-" "Ah!" Yuna exclaimed as she jumped up on the bed stark naked. "I saw her!" "Settle down now. Here put this on." Thadius passed her a small shirt and pants. They resembled beginner gear. She''d freeze if it weren''t for his Aura, but plans had already been made regarding that. Yuna hurriedly put on the clothes, completely unfazed by her nakedness."I saw Tegaia!" "Really!?" "Yeah! She was even taller than you! And she was pretty and..." Yuna went into full detail about her encounter with the Goddess of Love. Thadius listened intently. "Then she told me to keep Thadius a secret, but..." Yuna looked down, tears welling up once again. "So it''s my fault..." He had a general idea of what happened. His devout worshipping of Tegaia seemed to upset some people upstairs. And when Yuna kept silent about his existence, punishment was unavoidable. What he couldn''t figure out, was why worshipping Tegaia resulted in such harsh treatment. Christina was stricken blind, and a Goddess had been cast out the Heavens for hiding a single follower. Thadius felt guilty, but Yuna shook had in earnest. "It''s not Thadius'' fault!!" "Well, you don''t have a place to stay now. So how would you like to live here? But if you do, you''ll have to wear this?" "Why" Yuna said with a confused face. "Because only my students can stay here." came a voice from the doorway. Yuna turned in surprise to find an extremely tanned man leaning against the door frame. Yuna slowly backed towards Thadius in fear. The man was extremely scary. "Your first impressions aren''t very good master." "You''ll know how it feels soon enough. And so will she..." Yuna was even more confused. "Yuna, do you want to stay here with me?" "Yes!" Of that she was certain. "Then you''ll have to get stronger like me. That means wearing this, and listening to the scary man." "Hey!" "Do you understand?" Thadius completely ignored his master. "I''ll be strong like you?" "This man taught me how to play hide and seek." Yuna''s eyes went wide as she turned to the Corban. "Teach me too!" Corban laughed. It went just as Thadius had planned. "Alright then, I''ll take you as my student." Thus, the number of the Iron Dragon''s pupils increased to two. Chapter 9: The Hunter and the Huntress THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTRESS Joseph had prepared himself for rejection ahead of time, but he wouldn''t let the fear of it stop him from trying. Today he would definitely ask her out. For weeks she''d come to the gym to train. She worked out like a woman possessed, rarely stopping for rest. Seeing such a fire in her eyes, he offered to teach her boxing on a whim. She readily accepted. It had started then, the road that had led him to this day. At first, he trained her to keep himself busy. Working at the local gym as a boxing instructor didn''t bring as much business as he expected. He only intended to show her the basics and let her go at it herself. That''s when she started showing progress. Her punches were sharper, and her footwork was impeccable. He started to train her in earnest. Not just to get her to the next level, but to get to know her. He''d never seen a woman with such drive. It had been somewhat of a failure the first time he tried to talk to her. He had successfully found out that she was a college student studying Game Design at a nearby college. He told her what he did for a living. Instructing at the gym wasn''t just some part-time job, and he was proud of it. Her response had been cold. ''How do you work at a gym, and not lift?'' Joseph had injured his shoulder during his career, but he didn''t want to say it. It would just sound like an excuse. So he took the L and pressed on. As their training sessions continued, she opened up a bit more. Her frosty attitude would melt into a small smile at his corny jokes. When he asked her questions, he started getting longer answers, like she wanted him to know. It gave him confidence. So after a few more weeks, he discreetly probed for information about her relationship status. ''If you spend all your time here, your boyfriend will get lonely, you know.'' He was surprised when she just laughed. ''Boyfriend?'' ''Girlfriend then?'' He had to know. He wasn''t going to back down now. She had laughed again.''No'' He didn''t press for more information. He had gotten the intel he needed. After finding out she was single, he began to set groundwork for asking her out. Going over what he''d learned about her so far, and formulating a strategy on how to further reveal his interest without seeming too eager. When he felt confident that he had earned some level of friendship with her, he asked her a probing question. Though he had to phrase it carefully. ''I can only believe that a woman such as yourself is single by choice. And in my experience, its the last guy''s fault. So what happened? If you don''t mind me asking.'' ''He ended up paralyzed from the neck down and broke up with me so that I wouldn''t try to take care of him'' she''d said, without an ounce of hesitation. Joseph had been stunned. He had expected a half-assed answer at best, but he got the undiluted truth instead. The truth that had dangerous implications. ''But you would have taken care of him...'' ''Right down to the shit stained diapers...'' she''d said with a straight face, throwing an unnecessarily strong hook at the sand bag. ''She still has feelings for this guy huh?'' He could tell that much. It was bad news, but he wasn''t ashamed to say that the guy posed no threat. If he couldn''t even get out of the bed, the only way they''d get back together was if she went back to him. The fact remained that she came to the gym everyday. It put him in an advantageous position since he was the only one she spoke to. He felt good about his chances. He''d woken up early that morning, and had combed through his dark locks a few extra times for good measure. He had to at least try to clean up, for today would be the day. He waited until the end of their training session, it provided time for both of them to escape quickly in case of his failure. No one wants to stick around in awkward situations. After working on her combinations, her body was dripping in sweat. Her blood red hair clung to her face. ''God, let her say yes!'' He''d ask her out, but he couldn''t wing it. His intentions needed to be clear. What he wanted was a relationship. "Rose, we''ve been at this for a while, but I''m interested in getting to know you...outside the gym. I know a great place for food that''s just down the street..." He let his sentence hang. He didn''t set a time frame or an actual date as he didn''t know her plans for the evening. She was silent as she unwrapped her hands. Joseph was nothing if not patient. "Okay, I''ll take a shower and get dressed." "Yeah?" Joseph couldn''t hide his smile. SUCCESS!! "Yeah." Rose smiled in return. --- 8 months later. Rose woke up to the sound of ESPN on the television. -Tom, I''m telling you, Without Welding, the Centurions are a lost cause. -Here we go again folks, the die hard fan. -I''m serious! Just look at the man''s record coming out of the gate. His passing average is through the roof, nearly doubling the record for passing yards in single season! I truthfully, don''t remember him missing a pass. Then if wasn''t enough, he was a Quarterback with rushing averages at the top of the league! Even if we ignore the back to back Superbowl Championships. He still had two Pro-bowl victories under his belt with both a MVP and Rookie of the year award for his starting season. Yes, he''s only a single player, and football is a team sport. But the Centurions without Welding, is like an army without it''s General. No drive, No directi-. Rose turned the channel and sighed. It had been a year and a half since that day, and she still couldn''t shake her feelings for him. After the break-up, she had immersed herself in her studies. But the time slot that she used to visit the hospital needed to be filled. She also needed an outlet for her raging emotions. So she took one last tip from her beloved. She hit the gym. She worked the weights, the treadmill, and the yoga classes. Yet nothing seemed to work. Every activity gave her time to think, and thinking led to anger and sorrow. It was anger that festered from having accepted his foolishness without a fight. No visitors? She could have just gone to his mother. There was no way in hell that he''d have stopped his mother from coming see him. Then there was sorrow for their lost future. They had been so close to the final stage, only to have it taken from them. She was happy that he was still breathing. Yet, Brandon had seen the regret that would surface, and she cursed herself for not focusing on what was right in front of her. If he had died the day of his fall, she would have been truly lost. Just the thought of it- Rose quickly pulled herself from that train of thought. The tears she had refused to shed almost fell from her eyes. It wasn''t long after she started to visit the gym that an instructor offered to teach her boxing. She had finally found her outlet. All this time she just needed something to hit. How could she miss such a simple solution? Eventually, she was consumed by it. Taking every lesson in stride. Her life had fallen into a rhythm, and she had finally started to take a step forward. That was until she got her degree. She had gone to her parents to ask if she could stay with them until she settled down in her career, and found an a place to live. Not long after, she found an apartment, and proceeded to put up the money for the down payment. That was when she ''found'' the money in her bank account.
Current balance: $1,002,546
She immediately called her parents to confirm her suspicions. They were a family of terrible liars. ''Mom, where did this money in my account come from?'' ''What mon- oh, OH! T-that was a graduation present from us. Enjoy!'' *click ''Lies...all lies She knew damn well that her parents didn''t have that much money laying around. But she knew someone that did. She''d nearly lost it that day. Brandon had not only kept tabs on her, he had continued to try and take care of her. He''d told her to find love and happiness with someone else without any intention of moving on himself. He''d pushed her away just to love her from afar. ''You don''t do shit like this when you want someone to forget about you! Who the hell gives someone a million dollars as a graduation gift!?'' She wasn''t happy at all, but Rose wasn''t the type to return such a large sum. She bought a house and a one room flat that was down the street from her job. She kept the rest as emergency funds. Things had started to look up after that. Brandon hadn''t pulled anymore fiascos like the grad money, and she had returned her focus to her boxing lessons. That''s when her instructor started asking questions. She couldn''t help making comparisons, and had been unintentionally harsh on their first exchange. There was no helping it. For years she had been exposed to the pinnacle of the male physique. Anything less was just...less. Yet, he didn''t give up. So she answered his questions honestly. And when he asked about her past relationships, she told the flat out truth. There was no need to hide it. Then the day came when he asked her out. Thinking about what to say, she hesitated. She didn''t want another relationship until her feelings for Brandon had died down, but she just couldn''t see that happening in the near future. Brandon had wanted her to move on, did she want too? Yes, Brandon had wounded her. But in many ways, he had been merciful. It was a quick knife to the heart. No hatred, no goodbyes, just the end. If love was a battlefield, then they had been warriors fighting against fate. Instead of watching her suffer at the hands of it, Brandon had driven a knife in her chest while concealing the grievous wounds underneath his armor. ''But I would have suffered gladly.'' she thought to herself as she rose from Joseph''s bed to get a glass of OJ from the kitchen. Their relationship so far had been steady, but that was it. Once again she found herself making comparisons to her first love. She knew that every relationship was different So to be fair, she waited it out. Still, the comparison were made. When Joseph cooked, the meal was tasty and she ate it gladly. Only to be reminded of how Brandon would put a rose petal on the plate. She used to think it was so over the top, until the day he didn''t do it. When she asked him where it was, he flipped. ''I know right!? I specifically told him what time I''d come by the shop! I go everyday, at the same time! But for some strange reason he''s suddenly out of stock!? YOU COULDN''T EVEN WARN A BROTHA!? You know what? I''ll be back. I need to find a new supplier. Oh, and excuse me for shouting, that was unnecessary...'' Rose shook her head as she sipped her OJ. Things were very different with Joseph. It felt weird starting over. Here they were, already spending so much time together and they still hadn''t conquered the fart phase. That hidden phase in a relationship when you try to hold it cause you don''t want to embarrass yourself. That phase. Taking another sip, Rose reminisced. Brandon had completely skipped over the fart phase early on. *FLASHBACK* Brandon had cooked some food for them after school and they decided to watch a movie. It was a romantic comedy, and they had made it to one of the sex scenes. Needless to say, they were restless. At least she was. "You want to try something like that?" The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "W-what!?" she had been completely caught off guard. "I mean we can, as long as you don''t mind the demons..." he said, with the most serious face she''d ever seen him make. "Wha-!" Then right on queue, he ripped one. "BEGONE DEMONS!" *FLASHBACK END* Rose spat out some of her OJ as she choked in laughter. It still cracked her up whenever she thought about. From that day on, her parents hated when she went to the bathroom. ''DIVINES! GIVE ME STRENGTH!'' The food? $10.59. The movie? $1.50. Waging a holy war every time you take a shit? Priceless. Rose sighed again after she finally caught her breath. Brandon had always been a fool, and she still loved him from the bottom of her heart. How many times was she going to dig up old memories? How fair was it to Joseph that her heart wasn''t in the relationship? "You know what? To hell with it..." She was going to the hospital. Today. She was going to use the money Brandon gave her to buy a fancy wheelchair and haul his ass out. If she needed back up, she''d call his mother. She and Mrs. Welding had been cool from day one. But first, she would have to break the news to Joseph. Things had been going smoothly for the past few months, but after all that time, her thoughts still went to Brandon. A few hours later, Joseph came back with an excited look on his face, and bags in his hand. "Hey, I picked up something that I think you''ll like!" "Wait a minute, Joseph. We need to talk. You''re not going to like it, so I hope you kept the receipt for whatever is in that bag." "Oh....you''re breaking up with me right?" He had guessed it. She didn''t want to hurt his feelings, but such things were inevitable in these situations. She nodded. "Well, I figured it would be sooner rather than later. You looked like you were trying a little too hard sometimes..." "Was it that obvious?" "I wouldn''t say it was obvious, but," he made a difficult face," sometimes when you look at me, you''re not actually looking at me. You know?" Rose winced. He was right on target. She had truly tried. Not to forget, but to move on. Joseph had been a lot more patient than she gave him credit for. "But enough about that. Just consider this a parting gift cause I''m really sure you''ll want this." Joseph pulled out two Sonsoft Deep Dives from the bags. Rose had certainly heard about the device coming out along with the ''hardcore'' Chaos Online. There were open positions in her department specifically made for researching the game. Unfortunately, because of the high pain ratio, few actually applied. "Now I understand if you want to take this home and play, but I''d really like us to play together for now and register as friends. I''m not to big on games myself so...'' She couldn''t deny him such a simple request. Now that she didn''t have school, she had a fair amount of free time. It wouldn''t hurt to play a few hours here and there. "Alright, just give me a few minutes. I want to do some research before I play." "Sure." Rose pulled out her laptop and started scouring the internet for useful information for beginners. Then she looked up additional info for classes she was interested in. By the time she finished, she knew how she wanted to build her character, what city she wanted to start in, and what race she wanted to be. "Okay, I''m ready." They both put on the jet black helmets. preparing to dive. "Make sure to pick Hammerrun in the Sigurd Kingdom as your starting place." "Okay."
Scanning...
A new user has been registered.
Would you like to launch Chaos Online?
"Yes"
Welcome to Chaos Online
There was a bright flash of light, and Rose was immediately taken to the character creation room.
You will now create your avatar to represent you in-game.
What race-
"Nor"
Name?
"Rosemary" An image of her avatar appeared. The Nor were a race of warriors that lived in the southern continents. The barely looked any different from humans, save the fact that they all had marks on their faces. The marks symbolized which tribe they belonged to, and as a Traveler, Rose was able to create her own mark. She changed her hair color to match it in real life, and created a bright red semi-circle around her left eye. Then she look over her avatar once more. She had gotten quite toned over the past few months of hitting the gym. She could see the growth from her boxing sessions as well, and she looked rather intimidating with the mark over her eye. "Grrr." she laughed as she flexed. The avatar matched her motions.
Would you like to make anymore changes?
"I''m done"
Choose your starting destination.
"Hammerrun, Sigurd Kingdom." The room flashed white as Rose was transported to the capital city of the Sigurd Kingdom. She received a message as soon as she arrived.
You have been blessed by the Tegaia; Goddess of Love, War, and Humility. Her most devout follower, Thadius, has asked the Goddess to bless any and all those who resemble his lover, whom he cast away out of love. As his actions were done purely for her happiness, the Goddess agreed to his request. His lover was described as having fair skin with wavy hair that darkened from blood red to black, as dark as a starless night. All EXP. +10% EXP
Rosemary read and reread the message. She grit her teeth as a tear rolled down her face. The description was too familiar to simply be a coincidence. She could clearly picture Brandon on his knees, praying to the Goddess of Love for forgiveness in earnest. And from what she just read, he was probably praying everyday. "Most devout follower huh? We''ll see." A man walked up to her. He resembled Joseph, except he was a little taller with a few tweaks to his face. "Hey." he greeted her as he walked up smiling. "Hey. What''s your name? Lets add each other now while we have the chance." "Oh, its Crushing Fist." "Alright, come on. I need to go to the temple first. After that we''ll get started." The city of Hammerrun was like a giant stone garrison. Everywhere you looked was grey. Even the overcast weather matched the wall that surrounded the city, blending into the horizon Various shops lined the perimeter with Travelers and NPCs selling their wares. The further into the city you went, the bigger the buildings became. Rose asked the nearest NPC for directions to the temple. Within minutes, they had arrived in front of a building with a giant statue out front. From what she read online, the temple of Hammerrun mainly worship Braumas, the God of Order and Strength. The statue in front must be him. Rose led the way as they walked into the building, asking a wandering priestess where the statue of Tegaia was. "Who?" The priestess looked seriously confused, then her face lit up. "Oh! This way!" The priestess led them further into the building, leading them down multiple corridors until they were brought to a shabby looking door. The statue of Tegaia had been hidden away in one of the back rooms of the temple. The statue was almost as large as the statue of Braumas outside. There was no way that they could have fit it in through the small door. "Why is it back here?" Rose asked the priestess. She had read that the statues were enchanted, directly reflecting the power of the God. That fact that the statue of such a powerful Goddess was lock away was strange, to say the least. The priestess just shrugged her shoulders. She said she had found it while cleaning, and was told to just leave it alone. ''I smell a quest'' Rose knew there had to be some lore that explained why this Goddess was neglected, and that Brandon was knee deep in it. "My turn..." she said as she dropped to her knees. She summoned all the feelings that she had ever felt for her ex. --- Tegaia was having a very pleasant day. She was sweeping the Tower of the Gods as usual, humming a tune to herself. She had received Thadius'' prayer hours before, and felt dangerously close to the power she needed to proceed with her plans. She knew Thadius'' prayed in the morning. So when a fresh wave of power washed over her, she was truly surprised. Using her power, she immediately located the subject. It was the young woman with red and black hair that Thadius had shown her. *Goddess, I come to you now asking for your assistance and your mercy. My name is Rosemary, and I believe we know someone in common.* An incomprehensible rage gripped Tegaia, but the words that followed it made her laugh. *I ask for your assistance in finding this man, that I may show him the error of his ways. Then I ask that you be merciful with my punishment when I punch him in the face!* The woman took a deep breath to quell her anger. Tegaia could feel her passion, and was reminded of the first time Thadius had prayed to her. *As the Goddess of Love and War, I trust that you can understand my frustration in falling for a fool with a heart for brains. Now and forever, your humble servant. I thank you in advance. Oh, and please keep my existence a secret from him because he''ll run.* If anyone had walked into the lower floors of the tower, they would have found a Goddess laughing hysterically. ---
Your earnest prayer has earned you the faith stat and the ''Priestess Initiate'' pre-class. Would you like to train to become a priestess?
"Yes"
You gained the pre-class: ''Priestess Initiate'' +100 Faith +Holy skills gain 10% additional experience
Rose looked up to the statue of the Goddess with a satisfied expression. But now she had to make other plans. "Alright Crush, I need to log out for a second. I''ll be right back." "Sure." "Logout." --- Rose reached for her phone as she took off the Deep Dive. She had an executive decision to make. "Hello? Yes, I''m calling to apply for the Chaos Online research division..." Chapter 10: Day 550 DAY 550 Hephtas was tired. He was tired of the all the political ploys and power struggles that went on in the Tower of the Gods. So, he buried himself in his forge, and refused to come out. He refused to make anymore weapons for the Gods to kill each other with. He refused to answer prayers of his followers. Hephtas wanted no part in the new world the Gods had made for themselves. Hephtas was the Grandmaster blacksmith of the Heavens, and the only blacksmith that could forge Godsteel. Even his son, Bo, wasn''t able to grasp the concept. The weapons of Hephtas were legendary, and he absolutely refused to make another. Although he''d make anything else for them, it was his weapons that were wanted the most. The Gods were furious, but they could do nothing but beg. Hephtas sighed as he struck his hammer to the anvil. His dark hair and soot covered face catching the light of the forge. To him, all the Gods had fallen, and the Heavens were not what they used to be. Soon, he would give most of his Essence to his son, and lay down his hammer for good. He felt like his purpose in life was finished. That was until he received a very special visitor. "Hello old friend..." ".....!" Hephtas looked up from his work to find a face he''d never thought he''d see again. "Tegaia...what are you doing here? I thought you''d..." "They couldn''t be rid of me that easily." Hephtas shook his head as he laughed for the first time in years. It seemed his hammer would see more work before the day was through.. "What can I do for my favorite Goddess?" "I need a new weapon and armor." "At once!" Hephtas cast aside his vow without hesitation. The Goddess of War had come. Anything made by a lesser smith wouldn''t hold against her fury. And he knew, whatever her cause, it was just. "I need it as soon as possible, I want to be long gone before they notice I''m missing." "Where have you been all this time?" "I''ve been sweeping the lower floors, bidding my time." "Sweeping floors!? How much humiliation must the so called Gods deliver before they''re satisfied!" "Peace Hephtas. Their time will come. Would I be standing before you were it not true? "Indeed, but where are you going?" "Do you truly wish to know? Gods have been cast out for knowing less information. I don''t know what they''d do to you..." "Let them come. The only wrath I fear is yours." Hephtas said with a look of resolution in his eyes. Tegaia nodded, Hephtas had always been fearless. "I''m going to find our friends. Thena may be in power, but she can''t strike without cause. And I don''t intend to give her one unless I know I''ll emerge victorious." "Wise as always...." "Flatte-" Tegaia''s words stopped in her throat as she looked at the wall of the forge. There was a sword hanging from it. It was a simple sword, yet there was an elegance in its simplicity. The polished Godsteel shined like a mirror in the light of the forge. Tegaia reached out with trembling hands. When she touched it, tears streamed down her face as memories and emotions washed over her. Hephtas watched in silence. His own eyes threatened to brim over. A weeping Goddess of Love had that effect on people. "Where did you find it?" She whispered. "After the battle...if you want it...." Tegaia shook her head. "No, let it rest as he does." "Aye." Tegaia sat down in the corner of the forge as Hephtas set to work. A forgotten fire had been rekindled in her eyes. The Godly light in them shined brighter than it had in years. ''Your time will come, Thena. As sure as the sun sets, your time will come!'' --- Far north, in the Kingdom of Todos, was the Mountain of Yune. Near the top of the mountain, hidden in the forest, was a waterfall gathering into a clear pool. The waterfall was half frozen, and in the pool was an elderly man swimming on the surface. He ducked underneath the water, then flipped, and kicked off the wall into the opposite direction. It was a scene of serenity, completed with a statue under the waterfall. The statue depicted a warrior clad in full steel armor, with a combined set of twelve rings on its limbs. The serenity wouldn''t be complete with that alone. It was the child on the warriors shoulders that completed the atmosphere. The child, in similar armor, clinged to the warrior under the falls. If anyone saw the statue, they would think of a father and his son, training in meditation. Unfortunately, truth is stranger than fiction. Truthfully, anyone seeing the old man would think he had a death wish, swimming half naked in freezing water. They wouldn''t know that the reason the water hasn''t frozen already was because of him. If anyone looked closer at the statue under the waterfall, they would clearly see steam rising up from it. Then the fact that it was actually two statues would flair the curiosity of onlookers, drawing them closer. Only then would they realize that they weren''t statues at all. They were a man and a child, enduring the pounding of the waterfall. Who would suspect it to be a scene into the daily life of a legendary swordmaster and his pupils? After learning how to swim from Thadius, Corban set out to use his new skill as his students trained. Though after a few hours, he called for them to come out. Thadius climbed down from the boulder, the steel bands of his armor rubbing against one another. Yuna clung to his head with her hair falling down to his waist. He was thinking about the conversation he had with Curtis yesterday about his stats. He had looked at them for the first time in almost two years in-game. "View stats and skills."
No Title
CLASS Disciple of the Iron Dragon
NAME Thadius RACE Human
FAME: 0 LV. 1
HEALTH 7700/7700
MANA 1350/1350
STAMINA 12540/12540
VITALITY 770 STRENGTH 1572
DEXTERITY 1042 WISDOM 21
INTELLECT 18 LEADERSHIP 0
CHARM 34 FAITH 502
*FIGHTING SPIRIT 2932
MAGIC RESISTANCE
ICE 99% FIRE 0% EARTH 0% DARK -5%
WIND 0% LIGHTNING 0% HOLY 5% WATER 0%
+Weapon mastery skills gain x10 EXP
Passive: Sword Mastery LV. 100 Master Shield Mastery LV. 100 Master Dagger Mastery LV. 48 Expert Dual Wield Mastery LV. 52 Expert Cooking LV. 73 Advance Tailoring LV. 1 Novice Active: Fighting Aura LV. 72 Expert Controlled Breathing LV. 100 Master Meditation LV. 42 Advance Concentration LV. 76 Expert Sense Presence LV. 90 Expert Hide Presence LV. 81 Expert Slash LV. 12 Intermediate Dragon Claw LV. 22 Intermediate Dragon''s Path Completion 64%: Dragon''s Scales Mastered Dragon''s Tail Mastered Dragon''s Fangs 49% Mastery
Thadius still couldn''t help being a little disappointed. Curtis told him that most stats maxed out at 9999, with the max level rumored to be 1000. Even his highest stat was something commonly found among higher level players. In the end, the only thing he could be proud of was his Fighting Spirit and Faith, which were passive stats. Since passive stats can''t be raised manually, they max out at 999. *FLASHBACK* "Your Fighting Spirit is at what!?" Curtis asked after he told him. "2932." "Jeez, I''d heard about ''broken'' stats, but that''s ridiculous." "''Broken''?" "You have a star next to your Fighting Spirit stat right? That means it ''broken''. ''Broken'' stats have had their cap removed, so they''ll continue to rise forever." "Whoa..." "Yeah. It''s pretty rare too. Though I''ve never heard of a passive skill being ''broken''. Most of them aren''t that useful to begin with." *FLASHBACK END* Thadius walked back to the compound behind his master as Yuna rode on his shoulders. She didn''t like training at the pool because it was boring. So Thadius told her that she could sit on his shoulders while she trained. She would have never gotten the Fighting Aura skill otherwise. After they arrived at the training hall, Corban went straight into combat training. "Alright my young pupils, today is a very special day!" "Uh oh." Yuna whispered as she hugged Thadius'' head. She had grown a bit, and had to bend over a little to grab it. Her immortality had apparently been stripped as well. "Is it a good surprise?" Thadius asked. "It is indeed Thadius! Today you both receive your final set of training armor!" Yuna and Thadius groaned in unison. Corban went into the supply room, and came back out with two small bundles. He unlocked the steel armor, and both Thadius and Yuna had to shield their eyes from the blinding sun. Thadius looked down at the bundle he had sensed. It was the Mythril armor set. He picked up the chest piece and was truly surprised at how light it was. Each piece was milky white, and had a radiant gleam. They were thin too. Any thinner, and he could use them as aluminum foil. He put each piece on obediently and Corban locked them into place. Yuna watched him cautiously. If anything strange happened, Thadius would be the first victim, giving her a chance to escape. After a few minutes, Thadius was fully clad in his. new armor except for one piece. "Where''s the helmet?" "Do you still need one?" "I suppose not." "Well that''s it. It''s quite beautiful isn''t it? I once had an armor set of Mythril once. Had to give it up though, I kept forgetting that I had it on!" Thadius was surprised. He had thought Mythril was going to be extremely heavy. ''So this is like graduation armor?'' He looked down at Yuna to share his joy, but Yuna was wide eyed as she watched Corban pull out a scroll from behind his back. "Graviga!" Corban shouted. Runes of light littered the armor. Thadius dropped to his knees as the armor gained weight. "Mercy!" "Oh? I think he likes it Yuna. Yuna?" Yuna ran like the wind. Desperately trying to outrun fate. Thadius could only watch as Corban bolted through the doorway to catch her. When he came back, he was carrying Yuna by the feet. "Master please! No!" Corban pinned her down and strapped her into the Mythril set without an ounce of remorse. Then he used another scroll. Yuna fell to the ground when she tried to stand. She struggled to sit up while Thadius stayed where he was. The armor was that heavy. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. "The beautiful thing about mythril is its incredible compatibility with magic." Corban smiled as he looked down at his pupils. "Now, on to today''s lesson. I will be teaching you another special technique." That got Thadius'' attention. "What is it?" "After a swordsman learns a skill. He no longer ''uses'' the skill. A sort of bloodlust takes over. Not only does he shout out the name of the skill for the world to hear, he loses control between the beginning and end of the skill." If he was talking about the assist system, then Thadius knew exactly where this was going. "You''ve developed a way to control a skill in the midst of combat..." "Not just control Thadius! I''ve developed a technique that allows you to execute the skill as it should be performed, freely. The skill allows for maximum speed, power, and most importantly, control. The only downside is that, in order to utilize it, you must physically be able to perform the skill." "Such as?" "Can you imagine being hit with the ''Hundred Blades'' skill by someone who is actually fast enough to slash you one hundred times in three seconds?" "So I could potentially put my full strength into every skill?" "That and more. One of my greatest strengths is that every movement had the potential to suddenly unleash a sword skill." "I''m ready but..." Thadius looked at Yuna who was still laying down on the floor, breathing heavily. "She''ll require extra time, but she''ll get it. Now try it with Dragon Claw. Simply perform the skill as if you were in control of every slash." Dragon Claw was a skill that created four slashes from one swing. Thadius tried to remember how he moved as the assist system kicked in. ''Four slashes in quick succession? There''s only one way to find out.'' Thadius stood up. The weight of the armor would hinder him, but Corban didn''t seem to mind. Thadius made a move to slash downwards, but as he made the first cut he flicked his wrist back to perform another. When he did, time around him seemed to slow down. He flicked his wrist again and again as if nothing happened. He knew he was on the right track. When he finished his last slash, a dragon''s roar could be heard. Four lines of red light hang in the air where he had slashed. "Nice.."
You''ve learned Manual Execution
Manual Execution LV.1 Novice Combat skills can be performed without assistance when triggered through specific movements. To learn the movement of a skill, say ''trace'' followed by the name of the skill.
"Trace Slash." A red image of himself appeared performing the skill. "Marvelous isn''t it?" his master said, coming over to stand beside him. "It is, but couldn''t anyone figure this out?" "So sharp this pupil of mine! Of course they can Thadius! This is previously why I told you weapon masteries mean nothing! An Advanced will swing a sword with less power and speed than an Expert. But if the Advanced is a master of a sword style, or has learned this skill, then speed and power become useless!" "Then shouldn''t you have more competition? If two master''s of a style with sword mastery fully ranked clash, it should be a pretty good fight right?" "My dear Thadius," Corban said as he put an arm around his prized student. "I am a Grandmaster in sword mastery, which can only be achieved through years of precision. The difference between a Master and a Grandmaster is heaven and earth. You also seriously underestimate the might of the Dragon''s Path sword style." Thadius came to realize, yet again, that he was being trained by an amazing person. "Now let''s continue with Dragon''s Fangs. Yuna! How long are you going to lay down there!?" Training continued until late in the night. With the addition of Yuna, training time had been extended so she could learn properly. Despite her childish demeanor, she grasped the concepts of Corban''s teachings, given enough time. But now that Thadius had entered the final stages of his training, he had time on his hands. He usually spent most of his sleep time on extra training, which was beginning to bear fruit stat wise. But since he wasn''t allowed to practice the sword without his master''s guidance, he was at a loss. He tried to think of some way to utilize his time as he prepared dinner for the night. "Good evening everyone! I''m glad you all could make it, but.....does anyone happen to know what time it is?" "Cooking time!!" Yuna responded enthusiastically. Thadius finally had a live audience. "That''s right! And tonight''s dish is my personal favorite....beef stew. But unlike most recipes for beef stew, mine has a special secret ingredient..." Thadius paused for dramatic silence. Yuna''s eyes were wide in anticipation. "...you." "Me!?" "That''s right! Eating delicious food with friends and family makes whatever you eat taste a little better. Even if it''s terrible..." "Ha ha!"
+1 Charm
Yuna got a kick out of watching Thadius cook. Cooking time was her favorite time of the day, right after riding Thadius'' shoulders. After they ate, it was time for bed. Yuna always came and snuggled next to Thadius, and he would usually wait until she fell asleep before carrying her back to her room. But tonight, Thadius would not be going to bed at all. Instead, he sought out his master who was in his office. Corban felt his approach. "What is it Thadius? Can''t sleep?" "To tell you the truth master, I only need sleep once every four days. I''d usually go to the pool or do some more stairs, but they aren''t as efficient as they used to be at raising my stats. I feel like I''m reaching the limits of the training." "I figured it was something like that. For the first few weeks, I''d thought you were planning to escape!" Corban laughed as he reached into a drawer of his desk. Corban''s office could be compared to Marshals workshop back in Yune. There was all sorts of materials lying around, and Corban''s desk was just as huge. There was also a large bookshelf in the corner. "Here," Corban said as he interrupted his thoughts, handing him a small box. "It''s a tailoring kit. You can work on that after training, but for now, how about a game? Are you familiar with chess?" "I''ve played before, but I suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Yune''s Chess Champion." "So Old Man Tony is still kicking huh?" "He is, and I promised that I''d defeat him one day. But he''s pretty strong." Thadius wasn''t the last bit surprised that he knew the old man. Corban sighed,"I''m sorry Thadius. In my haste to teach you the sword, I''ve neglected the sharpest sword of all. Hold a moment. If you don''t need sleep often then I have just the thing. Corban went over to the bookshelf and came back with a pile of books. "These are on war and tactics. Every night, we''ll have a few games. Then you can study these. I think you''ll be needing them in the near future." Thadius nodded and gratefully accepted the stack. Now he had something he could read to Yuna to help her fall asleep. Corban grabbed his chess set and laid it on the desk. After choosing colors, they made their opening moves. Thadius favored his queen, positioning her in an advantageous position. It prompted a question from Corban. "Tell me more about your queen Thadius. What was she like?" "Rose? She was quite tame when I first met her. But she evolved into a vicious creature. She''d be just as likely to curse as to kiss me." Thadius made another move, cutting off His opponent''s bishop. "The funny thing is, her flaws were more endearing than her virtues. They highlight them. Like when she wakes up first thing in the morning, she''s ruthless. You say anything to her, anything at all, and she''ll nag about something I did yesterday or last week." Corban made his move, using a pawn to threaten. "But as soon as I put some food in her it''s ''Good morning handsome!''" Thadius laughed as he made another move."And I don''t think I''ve ever seen such a jealous woman in all my life. I winked at another woman once, and when I came home, all the meat in the house was gone. I said ''Rose, where''s the beef?'' and she goes ''Ask the girl from yesterday, I''m sure she''s eaten it at some point in time'' "Ha!" "It wasn''t funny when it happened! For some reason she thought I''d pick up any woman of the side of the street. So I went the extra mile everyday to prove otherwise." "Sounds tedious." Corban said as he cornered Thadius'' queen. "And worth every second. What about you master? Any old flames out there?" "I could set the kingdom ablaze with my old flames..." "Hoh..." "But there was one that shined brighter than the rest." Corban looked out into the distance, looking into the past. "What happened." "I killed her..." he sighed heavily."She was a knight in service of a government official. I''d met her in a tournament, of which I won of course. It was many years ago, and I wasn''t as disciplined as I am now." Thadius made a move to protect his queen. Corban moved a knight in pursuit. "She was a soft spoken woman, but you could feel the passion in her every syllable. I''d never seen a woman handle a sword the way she did. I was absolutely enchanted, so I courted her. Thadius defeated the knight, only to be led into a trap. "I found out later that the official she served was corrupt. So in order to save her honor, I stormed his house. I cut a path straight to his chambers, I wanted to gut the pig while he slept. But there she was, fully armored, ready to give her life for the filth." Thadius watched in horror as his queen was slain. "I was angry....and jealous. I was there for her honor and she pointed the sword at me? I cut her down where she stood. Then I walked over her corpse and killed the man she just gave her life to protect. I replay the moment in my dreams Thadius. The moment when I walked out the door and glance back to the blood stained tears on her face." Thadius made another move, but he had lost heart. His queen was gone. "After I cooled my head, I realized what I had done. She never wanted to raise her sword at me, but her duty demanded it. I could just have simply knocked her unconscious, but..." Thadius looked at his master. He''d never seen him with such a pained expression. "I''m glad it was you who stopped me that day on the cliff, Thadius. You''ve experienced more than I did at your age. I know you won''t make the same mistakes." Corban cleared his throat. His eyes glistened as he moved his queen into the heart of Thadius'' formation. "It''s getting late Thadius. I think I''ll turn in for the night...We''ll finish this game tomorrow." "Yes sir." Thadius quietly left the room, taking the books and tailoring kit with him. Corban sighed again as he put away the chess set. The dust on the shelf triggered a cough and he covered his mouth with his sleeve to prevent him from breathing more. There, on the corner of his pure white sleeve, were small specks of blood. Corban made a difficult face as he looked at his stained sleeve. He would do his best to train Yuna and Thadius, but he was running out of time. Chapter 11: Day 1200 Day 1200 Dawn. That moment just before daybreak, when the birds sing to usher the first rays of the sun. The stillness just before the first beam of light kisses the earth, like a mother kisses her newborn babe. The time when the animals stir in their homes and prepare themselves for another day. On the Mountain of Yune, a very different dawn approached. There were no birds to herald its arrival, and a subtle tremor upset the air. The animals buried themselves deeper into their homes, hoping that the danger would soon pass. Deep in the forest on the mountain, is a crystal clear pool. Steam rides the surface as the water escapes the chill of the thawing waterfall. The forest is silent as the dawn breaks on the waters that flew from the overhanging peak. A young dragon has been born..
Due to your excessive fighting spirit, you have gained a new skill.
Ambient Pressure You exert pressure on your surroundings in proportion to your Fighting Spirit. Single targeting is still possible. Hide Presence can lessen the effects.
Thadius opened his eyes, and a devilish grin appeared on his face. His Fighting Spirit just hit 4000, giving him the same skill he had felt when he first climbed the mountain three years ago. He was troubled at first. His fighting spirit was raising a lot slower than it had in the beginning, and he''d thought he''d never make it. But after Corban told him it was possible, he made It his new goal. He climbed down from the boulder and ran at full speed. Then he slowy took each stair one at a time and made his way to the compound. His mythril armor gleamed in the morning light as he walked through the doorway. He had left earlier that morning, so Yuna and Corban were still eating the breakfast he''d prepared. "Put that thing away Thadius, I could feel you all the way from the pool." "Really!?" "Don''t sound so happy about it!" Corban chuckled as he took another spoonful of oatmeal. Yuna was looking down at her plate with a heartbroken expression. She had yet to touch her food. She''d reached a growth spurt over the past year, and looked roughly 14. Her violet hair swayed gently at her hips. ''Does she not like it?'' "What''s wrong Yuna? Aren''t you hungry?" "I am, but....he''s smiling at me." On a whim, Thadius had arranged the pancakes, eggs, and bacon into a smiley face. It was complemented by a side of oatmeal. Yuna obviously had some problems about eating things that could express emotions. ''Bless her heart. I hope she doesn''t find out where the meat comes from.'' "He''s happy because he can feed you, see? He''s still smiling." Thadius demonstrated as he snatched a piece of bacon. "Hey! That''s mine!" Yuna quickly jumped up onto her chair, trying to take back the stolen food before Thadius could put it in his mouth. Without the chair,she only came up to Thadius'' chest. "Settle down you two. There''s training to be done. Thadius, let her eat so we can get to it." Thadius bit off a piece of the bacon and gave the rest back to Yuna. As the two finished their food, Thadius tidied up the kitchen. It was another lively morning. When everyone finished, it was time to train, both Yuna and Thadius were ready to bolt out of the doorway. "Hold on you two." Corban called them back,"The both of you seem to have gotten used to the mythril armor. At the end of today''s training, you''ll be officially done with weight training. Thadius and Yuna looked at each other with joy. For them, this day couldn''t have come soon enough. "You have both grown exceptionally. Thadius, with your mastery of Dragon''s Grip, you''ve successfully completed your training for the Dragon''s Path sword style. However, don''t think of this as the end. Think of it as the beginning. You''ve mastered the forms, but that doesn''t make you a master of the style, understand? Only by gaining experience through application and experimentation can you call yourself a true master." "I understand." Thadius nodded. Corban then turned to Yuna. "Yuna, you''re almost there. But you must remember to utilize all of your skills; otherwise, there would be no point in learning them in the first place. Now, start your exercises. I need to talk to Thadius some more." "Yes master." Once Yuna was out of earshot Corban turned towards Thadius with a grim expression. "There is one last thing I must teach you Thadius. Yuna isn''t ready, and truthfully, I don''t think she has the heart for it. The poor girl won''t eat smiling breakfast, even when she''s starved. I''m afraid only you will be able to learn this skill." "What kind of skill is it?" "It''s a unique skill. An accumulation of all my knowledge and prowess. Learning it won''t be easy, and I strongly recommend you spend your every waking moment from now on mastering it, because once you get out there," Corban nodded towards the open doorway,"you won''t want anyone to know this is in your arsenal." "A secret weapon." "And It has never failed me." "Shall we get started?" "Yes, but know that this is it, Thadius. After this I''ll have nothing left to teach you. So let''s see this thro-" Corban coughed into his sleeve and turned around towards the table. "You all right master." Thadius said as he moved toward him. "I''m fine. A stray oat caught me off guard. Go to the rock face you climbed to get here. You remember the one?" "Yes sir." "Good. I''ll meet you there after I get something to drink." Thadius headed off in the direction mentioned. He clearly remembered the ledge where he met his master. He hadn''t seen the emerald sea in years. Corban watched him go, then looked at the sleeve he had hidden. There was even more blood this time. ''Dammit! Just hold on for a bit longer!'' --- When night had fallen, Thadius and Yuna returned to the compound for more combat training. Though it was more for Yuna now than Thadius. After this they would finally take off the mythril armor. Yuna had a happy expression. It had been another profitable day for her. Thadius, on the other hand, had a vacant expression. His master''s final skill had truly opened his eyes. Thadius and Yuna grabbed their weapons and stood opposite each other. Their combat training had started to include sparring matches when they both had enough control to hold back. Although the weapons were dull and wooden, they still hurt. So, both of them had earned the endurance stat in the process. Yuna raised her long-sword, gripping it tightly with two hands. Thadius raised his shield, resting his short-sword atop it. The Dragon''s Tail versus Dragon''s Scales. "Begin!" Yuna lunged, thrusting her sword at Thadius'' face. He leaned to the side, guiding the blow past him with his shield. The main purpose of the Dragon''s Scales form was to quickly shave the enemies stamina by guiding the attacks instead of absorbing it with the shield. Yuna tilted her sword immediately, along the shield dead center with the pommel. The Dragon''s Tail form was designed to keep the opponent off balance, finishing them with thrusts and spinning cuts when an opening presents itself. "Excellent!" Corban shouted in applause. But Thadius had seen through the blow with his concentration, pulling back his shield to match the timing of her strike. Right after her blow, Thadius charged his Fighting Aura and aimed a slice at her shin. Yuna took a step back, falling for the bait as Thadius hid his presence and pivoted for an arcing slice in the opposite direction. Yuna released her aura, desperately trying to search for him with her spacial awareness. He could hide his presence, but not his mass. By the time she felt the arcing slice aiming for her neck, it was already to late. "Finish her!" Thadius turned his short-sword to the flat of the blade and a smack rang throughout the hall. "Argh!!" Yuna dropped to one knee as she rubbed her neck. "Yuna, you need to be faster. If you can''t, anticipate. If you can''t do that, then have your Aura out whenever you feel unsure. Understand?" "Yes master." she said as tears threatened to brim over. "Good. A fight can end in seconds, you won''t live to see the next day if you hesitate. Again!" Corban had them spar for a few more hours, giving out tips and inductions after every bout. Both students were doing sweat by before he called the session to a close. "Alright my pupils, let''s get you out of that armor and into something a little more stylish!" Corban unlocked the mythril armor for them. Then after returning the training sets to the supply room, he went into his office. When he returned, he was carrying two pure white robes. Stolen story; please report. "These aren''t meant for battle, but they should make do until you get yourself some real armor. And I''m sure you''ll want a proper bath after all that time." Yuna and Thadius sighed in relief as they admitted their fresh, clean clothes. A bath would be just what the doctor ordered. Their beginner clothes reeked, and had seen a few years of wear and tear. Thadius was surprised that his had lasted so long. The went down to the pool one at a time to wash. After they were both bathed and dressed. Corban called them so he could admire his work. The design of Thadius'' robe was very similar to Corban except for the collar. The collar extended up to his jaw, and made the upper portion feel sleek. After the waist the robe flowed openly to his ankles, revealing a pair of white straight-fit pants underneath. Yuna''s robe was a little more elegant, and had three pieces instead of two. Her outer wear was similar to Thadius'' but it stopped just after her hips. Underneath the outer wear was a sleeveless dress that was slit down the middle in the front and back to let her legs maneuver. The dress ended just after her knees, revealing the same white pants. "I do good work don''t I?" "I think I could make a few modifications.." Thadius smiled. "Don''t you dare!" "Whoa master! I was joking!" Corban had exerted his pressure. Both Yuna and Thadius broke out into a cold sweat. It wasn''t as bad as before, but it was still effective. "Hmph.." Thadius and Yuna looked at each other, and then at their master. Then the three of them shared a chuckle and headed off to bed. Thadius and Yuna walked over to the residential side as Corban headed into the direction of his office. He''d been going there to sleep more often than before. "How do I look?" Yuna asked as she stopped beside Thadius'' door. Thadius thought she looked absolutely enchanting. Especially the way the cloth wrapped her curves. "It looks good on you." He said as he turned toward his room. "You did it again!" she accused him as she pulled his arm to turn him around. "Did what?" "You keep treating me differently just because I''ve grown a little..." she said as she looked down, poking her budding chest. "You''re growing into a young woman now.." "So! I don''t care about all that stuff you and master talk about!" "Stuff?" Thadius raised an eyebrow. "You know.....''stuff''." "Well you don''t have to worry about any ''stuff'' from me." Thadius could practically hear the prison bars closing on his cell from even thinking about touching the tiny Goddess. He walked into his room to lay down. Yuna followed. "Whoa! We just had the ''stuff'' talk and you still want to sleep in my bed? No ma''am." He said as he turned her around into the hall. "But who''s gonna tuck me in?" "You will." "Who''s gonna read me my bedtime story." "You will." "Who''s gonna ride on your shoulders?" "You wi-" Thadius couldn''t stop himself fast enough. "You said it! Shoulder rides for life!" she shouted as she ran into her room. Thadius had the sneaking suspicion that she had planned the entire conversation. ''Clever girl...'' Thadius walked into his room and sat down at his side table. He had been burning the midnight oil on Corban''s books, and was planning another night of reading.
+2 Intelligence +1 Wisdom
One hour turned to two as he read. He had just made it to the end of the page when he sensed a presence at the doorway. He looked up to find someone he''d never thought he see again. She was dress as a priestess, her all white robe reaching down to the floor. "Ro-" He had risen out of his chair in surprise, but she was faster. She placed a finger to his lips and leaned in for a kiss. The woman he loved had tracked him all the way to the mountain. Thadius had never expected such a conclusion. The feeling of her soft lips had the wolf within pacing in its cage. Thadius set it free. A low growl escaped his lips as he effortlessly lifted her to his waist. His hands glided along her thighs to her hips, finding that she wore nothing beneath robes. ''Nothing!?'' She gasped in pleasure as Thadius spun her around and placed her on the bed, letting his hands explore the hidden recesses of her robe. "Thadius w-" she whispered breathlessly. Thadius had let go of his control, immersing himself in the taste of her skin at the nape of her neck. "Thadius!" her soft cries did nothing but encourage the the beast. A firm hand was placed on his shoulder. The monstrous grip allowed Thadius to rein in the beast for a single moment. ''Was she always this tall?'' "Thadius..." The voice whispered again. It echoed unnaturally. One coherent followed another as Thadius analyzed the situation. Her skin was as smooth against his lips, and tasted faintly of honey. What alarmed though, was the lingering scent of divinity. Thadius cautiously looked up into the silver eyes of a panting Goddess. "Your hands Thadius..." Thadius reluctantly peeled himself of his Goddess, guiding his hands back down the living silk of her thighs. He kneeled on the ground, noting the hint of moisture on his hand. He had no doubt that it was the dew of the divine fruit. ''FOCUS!'' the wolf growled in his ear. Thadius watched as Tegaia spread out on his bed, covering her bare legs with her robe. "Goodness, Thadius. I only meant to tease you a bit. Yet , you try to push down your Goddess?" "I have no excuse..." "I too am to blame. It''s been quite some time since I tempted a man. Perhaps I should have chosen someone you aren''t completely comfortable with. Christina perhaps? Maybe Yuna?" "Not Yuna..." "Well, no harm done. You made this immortal heart skip a beat, quite the achievement..." Her eyes glowed playfully. Thadius looked away. Mortal men had their wills tested by the beauty of Goddesses. Many had failed. "What can I do for you Goddesses?" "Right, to business then." She stood up, and in an instant the robe was swept away. What replaced it was armor that shined like a mirror. It was exceptionally beautiful. Thadius made a motion as if to touch it. ''DON''T TOUCH ANYTHING!'' the beast snapped in his ear, it wouldn''t retreat until the goal was achieved. Tegaia looked down at him with an eyebrow raised. Before her he was a child, and she was the mother daring him to steal another cookie. He''d done enough touching for one day. "What I need Thadius, is your help. In the near future, I''m going to dethrone the current Gods and restore order to the Heavens. For that, I need to be at my full strength. For that, I need my church restored. Well you help me?"
RESTORE THE CHURCH OF TEGAIA The Goddess herself has asked you to restore her church so that she may return to full power. She will not proceed with her war until the church is established. DIFFICULTY: D REQUIREMENTS: +600 FAITH From praying to Tegaia REWARDS: EXP.
The quest fell in perfectly with the one he received from Old Man Tony. Not to mention the fact that Christina and Yuna had already suffered at their hands. There was absolutely no reason for him to refuse this quest. "By your will, it shall be done."
QUEST ACCEPTED
"Thank you Thadius. I knew I could count on you." Tegaia turned to walked out the door. "Goddess, do you write?" "No, why do you ask?" "Well, if this is to work, I''ll need a book written by your hand..." Thadius explained his plan to her, and her eyes lit up. "A book you will have Thadius. Though it will take some time." "I should still be here." "If not, I''ll find you. Will you miss me?" She said with a mischievous look in her eye. The Goddess of Love, a prankster. Thadius just chuckled. "I''ll keep the bed warm for you." "Such a naughty child." she whispered as she disappeared. Thadius sighed heavily as he went back to sit down at his side table. He licked his fingers, and turned the page with a devilish grin on his face. Chapter 12: End of Days END OF DAYS Thadius was looking at what used to be a 20ft(6m) wall. After learning his master''s last skill, he was tasked to carve out the rock face with it to improve speed and precision. He had finally succeeded. He proudly climbed the staircase that he had been forming for the last 6 months, using the natural hand holds every few feet for safety. Then he stopped at the top to look at the emerald ocean. He stood in the same spot he had first stood almost four years ago. If anyone had told him what he''d find up the mountain, he would have gone sooner. ''And now it''s done'' he thought as he watched the grass dance in the winter wind. Even in the cold, the scene was as beautiful as ever. He continued along the ledge, lost in thought. His feet carried him to the entrance of his master''s compound in minutes, and a gruff voice called out to him inside. "You''ve come just in time Thadius, I was about to come for you." Corban said from his favorite seat on the middle of the training hall. Yuna was off to the side sweating and gasping for breath. Corban had been giving her extra lessons since he was off doing his training for the final technique. When her eyes met his, a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "I take that something good happened?" "Yuna has just mastered Dragon''s Grip. Give her a test run would you? I want to be sure..." Yuna took her stance in the hand-to-hand form of the Dragon''s Path sword style. It was a style created as a last result. Corban believed that a swordmaster without a sword should still be just as deadly. What resulted was a martial art based on crippling grabs and bone breaking strikes. Thadius settled into the Dragon''s Tail form as he removed his sword from his hip. The deadliest part of the single-handed Dragon''s Tail form, was that it easily incorporated moves from the Dragon''s Grip form. Yuna released her Aura and Thadius did the same. They were at the point where they couldn''t give each other any room to breath. A split second of indecision would lead to a bruise our a smack to the back of the head. "Begin!" Yuna ''Vanished'' from sight. When she mastered ''Hide Presence'', it had fused with ''Hide'' allowing her to turn invisible. Thadius spread out his Aura to fill the room. He found Yuna quickly as she tried to circle behind him. He reached out to grab her, only to find his arm grabbed in return. He dropped to the ground immediately, intending to slam her into the ground.
-5 hp
Yuna lashed out with a strike at his bent knee and triggered a reflex to throw off his timing. This gave her ample time to roll to the ground and reassess her approach. They circled the training hall, never taking their eyes off the opponent. Yuna rushed in again, but Thadius was ready. He sent a spin kick to her abdomen that broke her invisibility and launched her to the wall. She kicked out to reposition herself to use the wall as a springboard. She leaped right at Thadius as he swung down to catch her mid flight. She twisted to catch the blade between her hands, using it as a pivot for her momentum. She flipped over Thadius'' head and launched into his back. From there she could snap his neck.....if she was fast enough. "Stop, I''ve seen enough." Corban called from his perch. Thadius and Yuna went to stand in from of their master. He looked down at both of them with pride. "Kneel." They obeyed. They were always humbled in the presence of their master. "I can finally say that I have nothing left to teach you. Both of you have absorbed my techniques and have withstood the training that no one else but myself has completed. I''m proud of you. From this moment forth, you can call yourselves swordsmen.
YOUNG DRAGON After almost four years of training, Corban has nothing left to teach you. You have succeeded in learning everything from him. Your class, ''Disciple of the Iron Dragon'' has advanced to ''Sword Scholar'' +1000 Fighting Spirit +500 Intelligence
Sword''s Path As a Sword Scholar, your body overflows with Fighting Spirit. The Mana stat had been deleted. Skills that use mana cannot be used. Sword Skills that use mana, will adapted to use Fighting Aura instead atonly 10% of the original cost.
Burden of the Strong - No experience from lower level enemies +50% EXP from higher level enemies +100% EXP and from solo boss kills
Sword Insight Sword skills can be learned through observation, regardless of class. All swords can be identified. Sword level restrictions are ignored.
Innate Sword Talent Points added to Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence are doubled.
"Show stats."
No Title
CLASS Sword Scholar
NAME Thadius RACE Human
FAME: 0 LV. 1
HEALTH 15700/15695
STAMINA 20540/20540
VITALITY 1570 STRENGTH 3052
DEXTERITY 2042 WISDOM 912
INTELLECT 1598 LEADERSHIP 0
CHARM 67 FAITH 677
FIGHTING SPIRIT 5077 ENDURANCE 147
MAGIC RESISTANCE
ICE 99% FIRE 0% EARTH 0% DARK -10%
WIND 0% LIGHTNING 0% HOLY 15% WATER 0%
+Weapon mastery skills gain x10 EXP
Thadius was absolutely dumbfounded. The a penalties were harsh, but the benefits more than made up for it. "You can learn any sword skill?" he whispered in surprise. "Don''t dwell on it too much. I''ve survived all these years without learning any foreign sword skills, So you probably won''t need them." "Y-yeah." His master had denied the possibilities, but Thadius was already thinking about the various sword skills he''d heard about. "Now, I don''t have any children, and the number of people who would actually want to live here are few. But I want the both of you to think of this place as yours, and everything in it will go to Thadius for safe keeping." Corban looked at Yuna as he said it, she offered up no argument. She wasn''t the type to argue over possessions. "Good. Take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow will be the start of the rest of your lives. Your first stop will be the blacksmith in Yune. Give him this, and he''ll know what to do." Corban handed Thadius a letter. He was about to remove it from the envelop. "Don''t read it!" "Oh..." Corban just shook his head. "Then after that you should head to the Capital. There''s a mage there named Beth, she''s the one who helped me create the training armor. You find her, and she sort you out. Now off with you!" Corban dismissed them as he went back into his office. Yuna followed him, talking quietly about her new ''Sword Maiden'' class. Thadius went into his room. At long last, he would be leaving the mountain. He layed down and logged out to tell Curtis the good news. --- Brandon looked around to find Curtis watching a movie on the flat screen. "Anything good on?" he called to his nurse. "Not since you almost gave to the Goddess." He chuckled as he turned around in his chair. "Hey now.." Curtis raised his hands in defense. "I was going to change the channel if anything went down, so you don''t have to worry about peepping Tom''s. But seriously, a Goddess? Spill..." "Even if I described it, you wouldn''t understand." "Damn. I might have to find me a Goddess to worship then. How goes the training? It''s been almost a year out here." "I''m a Sword Scholar now." Thadius smiled as he went over his unique class. "Shit! Any sword skill?" "That''s my understanding. If I observe them using it, I''ll be able to perform it. Though I''m not sure how magical sword skills are going to work." "That mana penalty is bad news. You''re set up for a mage beat down in the near future..." "Come again?" "You have nothing in your arsenal that defends against magic, or helps you at attacking enemies from a distance. The first serious mage you come across is going to eat you alive." "I''ll just chase them down. I have the speed." "Okay. Just you wait. You say that now, but the versatile weapon that is magic, isn''t something you just ''chase down''." "Noted." "Now do you want a bite to eat while you''re here? The chefs just finished cooking, and is been a while since you''ve had a decent meal." "Sure." Curtis and Brandon chatted some more over a warm meal. But after it was done, Brandon logged back in. He was excited, about what tomorrow would bring. "Happy travels!" Curtis said as he turned on the machine. "We may run into each other now that I''m free." "I doubt that. We''re on opposite sides of the spectrum." Brandon didn''t get a chance to question him further as a white light flashed. --- Thadius woke up to a Yuna shaking him. Tears were steaming down her face as she called out to him. "Thadius!! Wake up!! Please wake up!!" "Yuna!? What''s wrong!?" Yuna just sobbed in relief, she''d been trying to wake up him for the past hour. Thadius slept like the dead. She pulled him up and quickly led him to Corban''s office. Night had fallen, and the compound glowed with the light of the moon. Thadius sucked in a breath when he walked into his master''s office. Corban lay on the floor with blood over the front of his robes. He was on the floor, leaning against the bed that he had moved in. "Master..." Thadius whispered in a trembling voice. There was no response. Then Corban lifted his head and pulled open the front of his robe. Underneath the pure white folds were huge black wounds. They looked like claw marks. "A poisonous curse. Compliments of the black dragon Morticul." "We''ll get a healer." Thadius whispered, he had never seen his master so haggard. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "It''s incurable..." "Then the gods-" "Even the gods don''t trifle with dragons. Before their might, they are merely flesh and bone. No different than mortals." "How long?" "Twenty years. It''s weakened me considerably, but I''ve still got some fight left in me..." Corban declared as he raised from the floor. Yuna helped him back onto the bed. Thadius watched in silence as his master was reduced to a sickly old man. He would spend the rest of his days on the mountain, waiting for the curse to claim him. Then he would die in his bed. There would be no one at his side with himself and Yuna gone. No one would even know he died. Thadius knew what he had to do. He grabbed Corban, bringing an arm over his shoulders and walked him to the training hall. Corban didn''t argue, his coughing fit had tired him out. When they reached the hall, Thadius dropped the him in the middle of the floor. "....!" "Thadius! What are you doing!" Yuna screamed as she reached down to help Corban. Thadius released all the pressure he had strengthened over the years on her. She dropped to one knee and looked at him. She had never been truly afraid of Thadius until that moment. "Move away from him Yuna. He dies today..." Thadius said as he tossed a wooden sword to Corban''s feet. Corban first looked at Thadius with surprise. Then with realization. He wore a serious expression as he grabbed the sword. "Stand back Yuna. Watch what happens next closely." He patted Yuna on the head He stood up with renewed vigor, and matched Thadius'' unwavering gaze. "So it''s come to this...Don''t disappoint me now Thadius. I won''t hesitate to kill you. I know about the Travelers resurrection ability." "I wouldn''t have it any other way." Thadius lunged at his master. ''Come on, master. Show me something!'' Corban lunged in return, sliding his sword between the gap of Thadius'' shield and sword.
-3400hp
The wound had barely nicked him, but nearly a third of his health had been taken. Corban was obviously at a higher level. Thadius stepped back and unleashed a Dragon Claw. Corban calmly side stepped the cuts and erased his presence to aim for Thadius'' neck. In mid swing he stiffened, and Thadius bashed him with the shield to send him rolling outside into the snow. Had the pain not stopped his master, Thadius knew he would be dead. He would have to fight cautiously, while taking advantage of any weaknesses. Exactly as he was taught. They danced for hours under the moonlight. Thadius was shown just how vast the gap between master and grandmaster was. Whenever he cut, Corban''s sword was a deadly shadow gliding over it to attack. If he pressured Corban with a feint, it was always seen through. If he erased his presence, Corban still watched him like a hawk. He continually had the edge over Thadius. But then pain would strike him, temporarily giving Thadius the upperhand. Before long, they had arrived at the ledge where the first met. It was ironic that the place of their first encounter would also witness their last. Corban unleashed a blinding slash that broke through Thadius'' guard, sending his shield arm flying up. With Thadius'' vitals exposed, Corban moved to stab his heart. That is, until a crippling wave of pain gave him pause. Thadius capitalized on the moment, charging forward with his shield to break opponent''s stance. With Corban unable to react in time, he unleashed the sword that had been lying in wait behind his shield. Thadius screamed as his sword plunged into his master''s chest. It had hurt him as much as stabbing himself. Corban looked down at the sword in his bosom and dropped to the ground. Thadius expertly removed the wooden blade and caught his beloved master before he could touch the ground. "Sloppy Thadius...to kill a man, you need to aim at his organs.....ngh..not miss them entirely..." Corban gasped in pain. "And deny my master his last words? Perish the thought." Thadius chuckled weakly. Tears were already falling from his eyes. Yuna came running up to them, having seen the battle come to its conclusion. "Your heart will get you in trouble...later Thadius. But....it''s also why you''re so strong....." Corban smiled as he put his hand to his heart. Blood from his wound was dying his robe a deeper red. He didn''t have long. "I know I wasn''t the best opponent you''ve ever had." but-" "Hush Thadius. You''ve.....given me an opportunity to experience the legacy....that I''ll leave behind. That alone is enough." Yuna dropped down beside them in tears. Thadius pulled his master closer and rocked back and forth. "Thadius, that Goddess of yours....sounds nice." Corban voice was barely a whisper. Both Yuna and Thadius could feel the fighting spirit leaving his body. It was a massive flood that trickled into the air. "Want me to put in a good word?" "I''ve never been... religious..." "I know, I know. Just..." Thadius rocked again. The grief was raw, but he needed to stay in control."Just bow your head. I''ll take care of the rest. Corban rested his head against Thadius'' shoulder. It was the best he could manage. Thadius bowed his head in prayer. "Tegaia, I come to you in a time of great need. My master, though not a man of faith, has asked for you to accept and embrace him as he passes to the next world. He''s strong, Goddess. Strong enough to help you in your endeavor when the time comes. So please-" Corban breaths were becoming shorter. The light was leaving his eyes. "Please Tegaia!" Thadius looked down at his master one last time. Corban''s eyes were wide in shock and a single tear told down his face. Thadius thought he had failed, that his prayer wasn''t fast enough. Then he heard his master whisper his last word. "Sophia?" "Thadius...he''s...he''s.." Yuna was choking on her sobs as she grased her late master''s robe. "I know..."
The Iron Dragon has died. As his first graduate, the title has passed to you.
Iron Dragon You gain fame from kills. The higher the fame or infamy of the foe, the greater the gain. Must be a solo kill.
.....
Thadius ignored the messages as hunched over the body of the man that had taught him so much. The body that was once filled to the brim with fighting spirit appeared old and frail in comparison. Who would''ve guessed that such a small man had been fighting death for 20 years? Thadius'' tears were those of joy and grief. Corban was gone. But in his last moments, someone he loved had come for him. He gave thanks to his Goddess as the sun rose over the emerald ocean. --- Thomas Lanyard sat in the waiting room of the Challenger news station. He was the public face of Sonsoft, and had been called to do damage control for resent events. His suit had the sheen of silk, and his hair had already been looked at by the stylist. All he had to do now speak in front of a live audience of millions. No pressure. Within the first year of its release, Chaos Online had quickly become one of the world''s most popular VRMMORPGS. The player base was much lower than the next largest game, but that didn''t stop millions from watching. Compared to other VR broadcasts, Chaos Online had a gritty, dark edge. A simple quest that wouldn''t have many people excited to watch, would have viewers on the edge of their seat if it was being completed in Chaos Online. A bandit raid would draw in startling numbers when every cut, slice and slash could be seen, the audience knew that every player could really feel the pain. They felt the tension of every battle. Chaos Online: uncut, uncensored, and uncompromising. No one could deny the appeal, so streaming stations all over the world added it to their after hours time slot. Unfortunately, in a game do close to reality, real world problems began to enter the equations. Players had given in to their desires, and Chaos Online was in the midst of a spiraling crime rate. After witnessing some of these atrocities on screen, the public wanted answers. And that''s were Thomas came in. "Mr. Lanyard, they''re ready for you." the receptionist called from the door. "Showtime." Thomas was led down the hall and into a stage where the anchor sat. She was a popular anchor for the Challenge news network, which boasted the highest concurrent viewer rate to date. Thomas would have his work cut out for him. "Ladies and gentlemen, our next guest is the social manager for Sonsoft, Thomas Lanyard." On cue, Thomas walked out and sat at the table. There were no smiles or hand shakes. She intended this to be a lynching. "Mr. Lanyard I''d like to get straight into the heart of the discussion,"she stated with a superior look on her face."What can you tell us about the skyrocketing crime rate in Chaos Online. Our viewers are worried about the content of future broadcast." "That''s a broad question, so I''ll return in kind. Sonsoft has no control over the players actions. We have no intention to constrict a player''s free will." "So the plan is to do nothing." "Something is already being done by the players." "The results are minimal at best, while the crimes increase in frequency. There have been multiple reports of torture, sexual assault, slave trading...the list goes on. Crime syndicates have taken root in every continent. There''s also a guild calling themselves ''Paradise'' which encourages these behaviors. Not to mention talks of a massive war brewing in the north... Is Sonsoft really going to stand by and do nothing? Let me remind you that you''re here to answer questions Mr. Lanyard." She clearly wanted to drive him into a corner. Thomas waited as if he had to gather his thoughts. In truth, he had been fully prepared to answer. "I''d first like to point out the case of sexual assault, as it seems to be the most pressing issue. Sanza Cambridge, age 19, was allegedly attacked on air. I''d like to thank the station for their quick response to the situation, cutting the feed before the audience witnessed such an atrocity. However," Thomas looked directly at the reporter."have you heard from miss Cambridge?" "We have reports-" "You mean the police report filed by her parents? Yes we have that. Not only was the report filed by someone other than the victim, Sanza herself refused to give a statement. Do you know why?" "I don''t..." "Young Sanza a.k.a ''Ghostkilla'' spent an entire week locked in her room after the incident. From our records, she systematically killed the same four players. Now I say that to say this. In a world where such crimes are possible, vengeance and justice are sure to follow, unlike most cases in reality." "That still doesn''t explain-" "Do you play Chaos Online?" "No but-" "That explains why you underestimate the mental fortitude of our players. You said something about torture? Tell that to the warrior that was torn limb from limb by a mountain troll. Did the viewers care then that he felt the loss of three of his appendages before the game shut him out? Our players are exposed to ''torture'' on a daily bases, by choice." "......." "Slave trading, crime syndicates..... These things take time to counteract, and in the end, they will always be there. Or are you going to lie to me and say that there is no such thing as organized crime in reality?" "......" "When I say that the players are working on it. I mean that the best and brightest are banding together. They encourage each other to travel in groups, they''re organizing guilds for the sole purpose of guarding cities and fighting crime." "So Sonsoft would just let the players take everything into their own hands? That''s-" "Chaos? My dear, that''s precisely what we advertised...." Chapter 13: The Wrong and the Righteous THE WRONG AND THE RIGHTEOUS Sonsoft Studios - 46th Floor Thomas Lanyard was having another bad day as he walked down the halls of the development department. His black hair was disheveled, his face wasn''t shaved, and the bags under his eyes gave him a haggard look. Memories of the past two weeks filled his head as he looked down at the same slim-fit suit that he wore to the Challenger''s interview. He shook his head in disgust. That interview had been the start of his bad luck. When all hell broke loose for Sonsoft, they had sent Thomas to do damage control. Unfortunately, the damage, and the problems that followed, had already spread across the globe like wildfire. So by the time they sent Thomas, it was much too late. Lawsuits were a daily occurrence and protesters marched outside, clamoring for the game to be shut down immediately. The only saving grace had been the timing of the Ghostkilla broadcast and the fact that the entire situation was unprecedented. Prosecutors argued for the victims that had suffered trauma and emotional scars. They claimed that such an atrocity shouldn''t have been possible in the first place. Sonsoft''s lawyers countered with cold hard facts. Since the very beginning, Chaos Online was advertised as a game that could provide an ''authentic'' fantasy world experience. It had been repeatedly stated that the game supported independent, free-willed AI, and that there had beenabsolutely no restrictions to NPC behavior. They had created a living, breathing world fraught with every danger and peril that went with it. Sonsoft argued that they had hid nothing from the players, and that all of the victims had subjected themselves to the environment while being fully aware of the possibilities. Inside the packaging of every Deep Dive is a user agreement that states that Sonsoft is not responsible for the actions of other players. Had an NPC sexually assaulted a player, Sonsoft was prepared to take full responsibility. Yet, the fact remained that every single case against them had been because of the actions of a human being, not an AI. Sonsoft claimed that their only crime was that they''d mistakenly held players, who were all 18 and up, to a higher moral standard. After weeks of fighting in the courts, Sonsoft offered solution. While they couldn''t do anything for those that had already suffered, they could implement a program to prevent further attacks within a week. The announcement took some of the heat off Sonsoft, but it didnt do much for Thomas'' image. The repercussions of Sonsoft''s lapse in judgment had even affected his personal life once he came into the spotlight. As the face of Sonsoft, Thomas had become a target for the all the hatred and rage of the victims while the rest of the world hammered him for answers he didn''t have. With all the stress, Thomas was having trouble keeping his temper in check. He had been one of the first to start asking questions of Sonsoft. If they were going to throw him to the wolves, he wanted to be prepared, but the only answer he''d received was the same silence that had enraged the populace. Thankfully, that silence would end today, and he would finally get answers. With his schedule freed up, he had time to go to the source. It was with this state of mind that he walked over to desk of one of the games programmers. "Chad. Tell me you have good news." Thomas asked as he pulled up a chair from an empty cubicle. Chad, his favorite Japanese American and comrade in arms, turned around in his chair with a small smile. "I got good news, but I have bad news too. What do-" "The good news." Thomas interrupted, God knows he needed it. "We have an update that''s going down in a couple of hours that should alleviate some of the problems." "But not solve them?" "That''s for next week. We''re releasing what we can right now to show the players and the public that we''re doing something." "What the hell is taking so long! This should be a simple fix!" "We''re being asked to create a program that detects distress and ill intention from players. You''ll have to excuse us if it takes a while to translate human thought into code. Do you even know how long we''ve been working on this!?" Chad replied in frustration. "I know Chad, is just...," Thomas sighed heavily as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "how didn''t you guys see this coming?" "''Don''t start that shit! I wasn''t apart of the roundtable of idiots who thought it was okay to have sex in a VR without taking precautions! I said we should push it back do we could set some type of safeguard, but all we got for our concern was deadlines. The fat cats didn''t care!" Chad threw his hands up as he recollected. We covered our asses though, even if weren''t the ones making the final decisions. The so called ''solution'' that Sonsoft''s been telling everybody about would be no where near finished if we started when shit went down. Remember the patch that stopped players from logging out in dungeons?" "The patch that was released in order to stop the new players from dying so often?" "That''s being taken out since its part of the problem. Let the noobs die for all I care." Chad sighed as he rubbed his eyes. He couldn''t even remember the last time he had a day off. "We were so close to finishing this thing under the radar. The shit hit the fan two months from launch. You know what happened two months ago don''t you?" "Todos declares war on Naleng..." "Fucking Todos! They kicked in the front door with players right beside as they ransacked and pillage everything in sight! Thank god for guys that talk to the broadcasting stations. Cause if they had focused on what happened after the battles, I''d be looking for a job right now. And while the guys upstairs are popping bottles saying shit like ''War huh? That''s so cool!?'', everybody down here starts losing their fucking minds! Everybody starts getting on there phones to call home cause they knew, they knew right then that shit got real! We all knew it was about to be nothing but late nights and overtime until we dug Sonsoft out of their own fucking graves!" Thomas just sat quietly while his friend ranted. Watching him rage was as gratifying as releasing his own pent up frustration. "Now mind you, we all wanted authenticity. You don''t like slavery? Grab your sword and shut down the markets. You don''t want the army to pillage? Then take command and say ''That shit ain''t right bro''. We wanted to draw out the hero''s, you know?Yeah you do. You''re a hero if I''ve ever seen one. But when they got the opportunity-" "Players joined in instead of stopping it...." "And when they found out what they could do in-game, they fucking lost it! Just like I knew they would. Jesus, man. Even I almost got caught." "What!? When!?" It was news to Thomas. He did what he could to keep his guild members safe. "That sadist bitch Longfingers and two of her goons cornered me in a labyrinth on central." "Paradise..." Thomas grit his teeth. Not a day went by when he didn''t hear the name of that cursed guild. "They waited till I was deep in the dungeon and couldn''t log out. I had to make a suicide run to the boss room..." They both sighed heavily and went silent. They''d encountered Longfingers'' handiwork before. She''d kidnapped players and NPCs alike for her ''fun''. Players were spared by the system after a certain pain threshold was reached, but not the non-player characters. Chad leaned back in his chair after he recounted his narrow escape. Thomas changed the subject. "Tell me about this program. How does it work?" "We call him Jeeves," Chad said as he sat up and pulled up the information on his computer. "He''s going to be Chaos Online''s ''etiquette coach''. He''ll hone in on a player''s distress, then he''ll observe the situation to see where it goes." "So he''ll just watched what happens?" "No. He steps in before the situation gets out of hand. Worse case scenario, someone''s clothes get torn. We have him observe so that he doesn''t take action when he''s not needed. Players are going to be in distress when they fight bosses, but we don''t want him jumping into those situations, right? We''ve worked out what he needs to look for and when he needs to jump in, but that brings us to the bad news." "What is it?" "Jeeves can catch players who attempt to assault another player. Once they''ve been caught the first time, they''ll go on his shit list, and will then be specifically monitored by him around the clock. The listed players won''t be able to attack other players or NPCs after that." "But the players who only go after NPCs fly under the radar..." Thomas had hoped for better results, but the players were the priority. "For the most part, but with the update that releases today, our hunt becomes a whole lot easier." "Do tell." "We''ve buffed passive stats, and added an alignment system. The first tier is purely based off of behavior, so it changes often. Tier two is reached when a player exclusively performs certain actions and quests on that side of the spectrum, or has a high level of certain passive stats. Knights with high Honor will be Good, and Assassin''s with high Kills will be Chaotic. I''m not to sure about Diabolical or Righteous players. I wasn''t working on the third tier, so I don''t know the details." "Will we be able to tell them apart?" "Yes. The second and third tier has benefits as well as cosmetic markers. Chaotic players will have neon red eyes, and black will look really dark on them. Think, abyss black. Good players will get perfect smiles. They''ll look pretty boss in white too." "Perfect smiles?" Thomas raised an eyebrow in skepticism. "You know, like the toothpaste commercials." "Why not eye color?" "The alignment system will reward players for killing someone on the opposite side of the spectrum starting at tier two. We made it harder for Good players to be detected on sight. In exchange, Chaotic players get more points for killing a Good player." "So as long as Good players don''t wear white, they can''t be distinguished?" "Pretty much." "That''ll certainly narrow down the list of Paradise suspects." "Not only that, we''ll be able to kill on sight without any consequences." "It brings an interesting dynamic to the table. If I find myself standing next to a chaotic player once that update releases..." "If it''s Ghost, nobody would bat an eye if you two went at it. You''ve been at each other''s throats since day one." "Yeah..." Thomas made at difficult face at the mention of Ghostkilla. "You haven''t logged in since the interview have you?" Chad didn''t miss his grimace. "I''m not avoiding her. I just haven''t had the time..." "Well, if she doesn''t kill you outright, it''ll be a miracle. The chances she hasn''t recognized your face on t.v. are slim." "Then it''s about time I faced the music." Thomas said as he rose from his chair. "Good luck. I''ll just be here, saving the company from damnation." Chad muttered to himself. After saying goodbye, Thomas raced home to log in for the first time in a weeks. He needed to prepare his guild for the upcoming changes, and he also needed to make a few adjustments to the recruitment criteria. He logged in to find a blade at his throat. "Welcome back Marius..." In the darkness of the room, he could barely make out the woman with short cropped hair. Though he immediately recognized the voice. "Ghost, wai-" he was interrupted by the force applied to the blade. "You know Marius, you look an awful lot like that guy on t.v..." Marius had chosen an elf has his starting race, but had made no adjustments to his face. From now on, he''d be immediately recognized by anyone who followed the news. "I was going to tell you..." "When?" "Upon my return." "To late for that..." she whispered menacingly. The two stared at each other in silence. Neither one wanting to escalate the situation. "What do you want me to do Ghost? Tell me..." he whispered in return, using hushed tones to calm the enraged Shadow Stalker. "I want you to fucking care!" she hissed. Her world was in turmoil, and the one person she wanted to be there for her had disappeared, reappearing on television as a suit for Sonsoft. The blade at Marius'' neck trembled, digging into the flesh. "You think I don''t care?" Marius cautiously reached for the blade and grasped the hand that gripped the hilt. He held her gaze as he moved the blade from his neck to his heart. Then he slowly pushed the tip of the blade into in chest. Ghostkilla froze. "You think I don''t care that I wasn''t by your side that day?" Marius questioned as the blade easily pierced his tunic. Phantom Edge dealt burn damage if it pierced the target, immediately prompting a few drops of sweat on his brow. ".......!" Ghostkilla moved to remove the knife, but Marius was much stronger. "You think I don''t care that the world knew what had happened before I did?" He pushed the knife further still. It was millimeters away from his heart. The moon cast it''s light from the window, revealing the misty eyed assassin as she desperately tried to remove the knife with both hands. Like a true ghost, she had haunted his room to wait for his return. She''d watched to interview and wanted to hear what he had to say for himself. She should have known he''d do something drastic. He always did. "You think I don''t care that I wasn''t beside you when you hunted them down?" Marius'' voice was filled with sorrow and pain as his beating heart nicked the blade. "Yes, I work for Sonsoft. But that has nothing to do with my feelings for you. I care. If you don''t believe, then do what you came here to do...." Marius spoke as he let go of her hand. Ghostkilla''s hands had stopped trembling as she looked down at him. They had both suffered apart. All that mattered now was that they were together. She tossed the blade to the side as she fiercely put her lips to his. She ran her fingers through his hair, trying to grab hold of a part of herself that had been missing until that today. Then she embraced him as the white light cut through the darkness. "Boyfriends are supposed to be there when it counts...." she cried in frustration. "Forgive me." Marius hugged her tightly. Even if he was forgiven, he''d never forgive himself for not being there for her. "And you don''t log out without telling me first." "Okay...." They embraced for a few moments before Ghostkilla detached herself, wiping the tears from her eyes. It had been a rare moment of sentiment for her, but no one would blame her given the circumstances. "The Guild''s been waiting for you. Fourscore said something about finding a level 400." "Good, I need to talk to them anyway. There''s been a slight change in plans. Go. I''ll be there in a bit." They never arrived together. They had a reputation of hating each other''s guts. Ghostkilla vanished and walked out into the halls of the guild house. Marius whispered a healing spell as he got up to equip his armor. After what he''d learned from Chad, there were preparations to make. Passive stats were going to be a lot more powerful, and he needed the strongest if he was going to bring trouble to Paradise. He needed a party that wouldn''t lose to anyone, and today would mark the beginning of his search. --- Two youths sat, overlooking a funeral pyre as the morning sun shined down on them. They were both masters in their own right, having been trained by the strongest swordsman that ever lived. A man sat on the left of the pyre with one arm resting on his knee. His dark brown skin complimented his pure white robe in a striking contrast. He had a simple, neat buzz cut, and a clean shaven face that accentuated his strong jaw. There was no devilish smile on his thick lips. The warm brown eyes that usually danced with joy, were brimming over with tears. On the opposite side of the pyre, sat a young woman. She had her chin on her knees while her snow white hair shrouded the rest of her body. Her large silver eyes were overflowing as she cried. Streaks of tears covered her face, running down her button nose to soak her pure white trousers. The two sat in silence, but the roaring of the flames filled the air. They watched as the body of their master burned. Refusing to bury him, they let the flames, that burned like his Fighting Spirit, carry him off to the emerald sea in the distance. Thadius sighed as he looked at the messages he''d missed. After killing Corban, he had leveled up to 26. Yet, he had received so much experience, that the game had given him a buff instead of further increasing his level.
Due to excessive experience, the maximum EXP. needed for the next 52 levels will be reduced by 10%.
He sighed again. His first kill had been his master, and it had been far from a fair fight. Corban had been weakened from years of fighting an affliction, and he had taken advantage of it to deal a killing blow. Thadius grieved, but he didn''t regret what he''d done. Instead of leaving Corban to waste away on the mountain, he had given him a clean death. It was what his master had wished for when he had first met him. Still, the last words of his master replayed in his mind, telling him that his heart would lead him to trouble. Thadius couldn''t help believing his words. After all, this was the second time that his heart had lead him into making a painful decision. He looked over at Yuna. He could still make out her crying face even with the heat haze distorting his view. They could stay a little while longer, but there was a whole world waiting for them below the mountain. It would do both of them some good to get away from the mountain as soon as possible. As he got up to go over to her, a metallic glint caught his eye. Near the edge the pyre was a small rectangular piece of iron. Thadius touched it gingerly, expecting it to burn him. It was surprisingly cool, and as he flipped it over, small words magically scrolled the surface. ''A status card!''
Monster''s Bane, Dragon Killer, War Hero, Mass Murderer, Immortal Blade, General, Love''s Killer, Bully, Violent Child, Inquisitive Child, Moon Baby
CLASS Sword Scholar
NAME Corban(Deceased) RACE Human
FAME: 210,746 LV. 432
ADVENTURER RANK SSS
TODOS ARMY General
HEALTH 0/10320
STAMINA 0/23040
VITALITY 1032 STRENGTH 1732
DEXTERITY 2002 WISDOM 5088
INTELLECT 4972 LEADERSHIP 437
CHARM 74 FIGHTING SPIRIT 6523
ENDURANCE 333
MAGIC RESISTANCE
ICE 99% FIRE 0% EARTH 0% DARK -99%
WIND 24% LIGHTNING 0% HOLY 0% WATER 20%
-Cursed: Vitality, Stamina, Strength, and Dexterity cut by 66% +Weapon mastery skills gain x10 EXP - No experience from lower level enemies +50% EXP from higher level enemies +100% EXP and from solo boss kills
Thadius clutched the status card tightly. Even at a third of his strength, Corban had been formidable. There was also a small chain next to where he found the card. Thadius wasted no time as he pulled the chain through the card to hang it around his neck. It would serve him as a small momento. "Yuna...it''s time to go." he said as he walked over to pat her on the head. The young girl looked up at him. Her eyes were red, but she had stopped crying. After standing up and brushing herself off, she silently followed Thadius back to the compound where a woman waited for them at the entrance. The woman had auburn hair that simmered gold in the sunlight as it fell just above her shoulders. Silver eyes, the signature color of Gods, looked down on them as a small smile spread on her lips. Her every feature complimented another, forming a natural balance that could only be called perfection. "Goddess..." "Hello Thadius, I''ve come to give you my condolences, as well as to give you this..." Tegaia lifted the book she was holding. The cover was plain leather, yet the pages glowed with a holy light. Thadius took book, opening it to a random page. Yuna jumped back in surprise and shielded her eyes."Why is it so bright!?" "Only those who have gained high faith from praying to me can look upon it."Tegaia answered. Then she turned to Thadius. "Does this fit your specifications?" Thadius skimmed a bit. The glowing pages highlighted the scarlet letters, and the content seemed to fit the bill. Yet, something else bothered him. "Is this your blood, Goddess?" "It is indeed. It seemed an appropriate medium for what you hoped to accomplish with it. The blood of a God is quite powerful. Speaking of which..." She turned back to Yuna, who was still recovering from the binding light. "Yuna, I''m sorry for what happened. Had I known what Thena planned to do, I wouldn''t have asked you to remain silent." "It''s okay...Thadius saved me after all." She replied with blushing cheeks. "It''s not okay. You''ve been wronged Yuna, and I will do all that I can to set it right." Tegaia''s words were underlined with fury. Thadius was shocked. It was his first glimpse at Tegaia, Goddess of War. "But enough about that," she continued,"I''m sure you two are anxious to be on your way." "Goddess, about Corban..." Thadius was hesitant to ask, but he needed to know. "He has been guided to the Plains of Peace. Though I don''t know where. The plains hold individual instances for every spirit that arrives. Once there, they are subjected to their own happy endings, and any spirit that knows them can be a part of it. I wouldn''t be too concerned Thadius. I''m sure he wouldn''t mind if I take my time to find him." Tegaia smiled knowingly. She knew precisely who had come for the sword master. "Now I must be going. There is much to do." Thadius and Yuna agreed. They still had to sort through what they could take with them before they departed. After saying their goodbyes, Tegaia disappeared while the two explored the compound. Although that was the plan, neither Thadius nor Yuna had many possessions. They collected the books and materials from Corban''s office, as well as the ingredients from the kitchen. They''d perish eventually in Thadius'' inventory, but it was better than leaving them to rot on the mountain. They searched the supply room last. After all their years on the mountain, it was the one room they''d never entered. Corban had made a point of being the only one to go in. It was time to find out why. Thadius opened the door wide before they stepped in. The inside was neat and orderly. Piles of training gear were stacked neatly near the front. Further in the back were more crafting materials, which Thadius tucked into his bag. All in all, it was an ordinary storage room, except for the mysterious door in the back. As Thadius approached, he a also noticed a small wooden chest in the corner. He opened it first, but he didn''t know what he was looking at when he opened it. There were small pieces of paper, organized neatly into two rows of four. On the front was some form of writing and a large red stamp. Thadius had a guess as to what it could be, so he shoved it in into his inventory and watched. Down at the bottom of his inventory screen was the amount of money he had. ''G'' stood for gold, ''S'' was for silver, and ''C'' was for copper. He still only had two copper from when he bought flowers. Or so he thought. Beside his gold amount, a ''N'' had appeared. Whatever it stood for, he had over 5000 of them. "Yuna...do you know what this is?" Thadius asked in a shaky voice. It was like they had won the lottery, and all they needed was someone to confirm the numbers. "Paper...I guess. I don''t know. Is it important?" If 1G was equal to 100S , then 1N must be 100G. It was enough to make him jump for joy. What kept him sane, was the fact that he didn''t know the market value of the world''s currency. He didn''t know whether 1G could buy him 100 loaves of bread or 1000. It bothered him not knowing their wealth, but at least he knew they wouldn''t go hungry. "Here, Yuna. I think it might be money. Master would want us to split it." "Aren''t we gonna explore together?" she asked with a confused face. "Of course..." "Then you keep it. I don''t want to lose it." "Fair enough." After putting away the money, he examined the door. With nothing appearing out of the ordinary, he opened it to find a plain wooden wall behind it. He searched for some kind of mechanism or hidden switch, but it was simply a wall. "Why would there be a door if it doesn''t go anywhere?" Yuna asked as she walked up to exam it. It was a good question. But if Corban hadn''t mentioned it, then it wasn''t worth mentioning. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. They took one last look around before heading out. Then Thadius stood at the entrance, taking one last breath of the thin mountain air. "Well, let''s go. I''m ready to see what I''ve been missing." Thadius said as he took the first step of his epic journey. Yuna moved to block his path. She had her hands clasped together with a begging look in her eyes. Thadius knew what the deal was. "No." Her eyes grew wider as they started to water. "Fine." Thadius sighed in defeat,"But if you get caught, it''s the end. Deal?" "Yes!" In an amazing display of acrobatics, Yuna leaped into his shoulders. Thadius just shook his head as he ran down the mountain at full speed. Had they stayed for a few more seconds, they would have heard a voice coming from the storage room. Unfortunately, the tale of the mysterious door would be a story for another day. Snow fell as Thadius rounded the ledge where they held the funeral. Then he leaped clear of the stairs he''d carved without so much as a pause. "Weeeee!" Yuna cried as she lifted her hands up. She was having just as much fun as Thadius, who couldn''t help but smile as he tested his top speed. He ran at a breakneck pace for hours before he came to a familiar area. They had finally reached the trail the hunters used to climb the mountain, which meant that Yune wasn''t far behind.Thadius continued his pace for a few more hours, and soon enough, they came within sight of a small hut on the outskirts of town. Thadius couldn''t contain his smile when he saw it, and slowed down as he neared the door. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. Old Man Tony''s hut was deserted. The side table, where he first met the old man, was flipped over, and the door was wide open. Thadius couldn''t sense a single presence inside. "Who lives here?" Yuna asked. She had vanished as soon as they arrived at the trail, but he could feel the shift in weight as she bent over to look at his face. "A friend lives here. He''s...gone now." Afraid of what he''d find within, he closed the door and walked away. Tony had been as old as his master. It wouldn''t be a surprise if he had passed in the last four years. Thadius was saddened, but he was determined to remain positive. There were other people he wanted to visit. He strode into town with high spirits, which turned out to be a mistake. Everyone nearby moved away in fear from his Ambient Pressure. "Thadius! The pressure!" Yuna whispered in response to his dumbfounded expression. "Oops...." Thadius suppressed his pressure as much as he could without completely erasing his presence. The people around him breathed easier, but they were still wary. Unbeknownst to him, the entire city had been gripped by a sudden uneasiness from his pressure before he suppressed it. They continued down the city streets with the citizens giving them a wide berth. Yuna looked around in awe. She''d never left the mountain, so every little thing had her thrilled. She had to catch herself from shouting out in excitement when something interesting caught her attention. She didn''t want to lose her riding privileges on accident. Before long, they stood in front of the Needle and Thread, the local tailoring shop. It had been a while, and Thadius had a lot to discuss with the master tailor and his daughter. Thadius opened the door to the shop and ducked inside to make it easier on Yuna. Marshall was sitting at the front counter. His blonde hair had more streaks of silver than when Thadius had first met him. He looked up at Thadius with a tired expression. "Welcome to the Needle and Thread what can-" Marshall stopped mid sentence as a confused look crept on his face."Thadius?" "It''s been a long time sir." "Gods, people said that you went up the mountain...we thought you were dead..." Marshal whispered as he put a hand to his face. "I''m a Traveler. Even if I died, I''d return. Is it that hard to tell the difference?" "We don''t get many Travelers. As far as I know, you''re the only one. Well, it sure is good to see you. What in the hells have you been doing all this time?" "Nothing much. Just training on the top of the mountain. Learning from the greatest swordsman that ever lived." "Who?" Thadius pulled out his late master''s status card and showed it to Marshal. "THE IRON DRAGON!?" Thadius had expected that reaction, his master had a ridiculous amount of fame. "That monster was on the mountain this entire time?" Marshall muttered in disbelief. "And you say you trained under him?" "He taught me everything he knew." Thadius couldn''t help but swell his chest in pride. He had endured everything his master threw at him. "So that pressure I felt a moment ago must have been you..." "I can reign it in quite a bit, so traveling in the city shouldn''t be too much trouble." "Just what exactly did you do up there? Chop fire wood? Or maybe he had you push boulders?" "On the first day, he told me to fight the cold and fight the hunger. So I did. It wasn''t easy." Marshal was stunned into silence. If anyone else in Yune had told him that they fought the cold on the mountain for 4 years, he''d call them insane. Yet, the proof was standing right in front of him. "Well...okay then. What can I do for you?" "I need you to show me some tricks of the trade. Is Christina around?" "She''s out there, selling flowers. Tryingto sell them, anyway. You...should see her. She was saddened when she heard you died." "I planned on it. Right now I need your assistance. Now before I go into my presentation, I need your word that you''ll stay level headed." "I''ll hear you out." Thadius had thought of a plan to make money after he came down the mountain. He''d planned on borrowing money and supplies from Marshal, but he had inherited a fair amount of both from his master. Now he just needed to confirm his suspicions. "Alright now, stay with me Marshal. What are you wearing under those pants?" "Leggings." "And under that?" "......a loin cloth." "I knew it!" Thadius reached into his inventory and pulled out a pattern he''d created."Take a look at this." Marshall looked over the pattern for the piece of clothing. But he''d never seen anything like it. "What is it." "Briefs. Trust me when I say that it''ll be much more comfortable than a loin cloth. Thadius had learned that lesson the hard way. Four years of pulling out wedgies would make any man want a change. "I don''t see how undergarments will make you money..." "Normally, undergarments don''t give stats...." Thadius said as he pulled out a shabby pair of underwear from his bag. "This is a prototype. It''s nowhere near what it should be. I need to be able to thread the entire piece, not just cut out the pattern and stitch them together. When Marshal looked at the underwear his jaw dropped.
Wolf Gear Prototype Briefs
Type: Undergarment Durability: 134 /134
Quality: Low
A prototype created in secret on top of the coldest mountain in the Todos Kingdom. Rabbit pelts were stitched together to create it. The creator aspires for more. +50 Vitality +50 Stamina
"How is this possible!?" "A little trick I picked up from my master." "I don''t feel any magic, so it''s like an enchantment? Except it''s not. Can still be enchanted?" "Stay with me Marshal. I''m not at that point yet. We''re still on the ground floor of this thing. Now what is your daughter using to support her breasts?" "Why you-" "Marshal! Stay with me here. I''m still in the middle of my presentation." Marshall sighed. Even Yuna had stiffened at the surprising questioning. "Well, she uses some kind of strap, I guess..." "I figured as much. Behold.." Thadius pulled out his prototype of a sports bra from his bag. "This not only provides support, it also holds. Where I''m from, physically active women wear it to prevent jiggle." "And this is also called ''Wolf Gear''. So you''ll be starting it as a brand?" "Yes sir." "Sounds like you''ve got it planned out. What do you need from me?" "I need something that will allow me to craft these one thread at a time. I''ll also need the top three softest materials you know of that can be turned into thread." "I can easily get you a loom, but the materials are going to take time and money. For a share of the profits, I don''t mind taking care of the starting funds." This was the moment of truth for Thadius. He was about to find out just how much money his master had hidden away. "How much will all of that cost exactly?" "The loom would be about 1000G while the expenses for a hunting expedition could range from 3000G to 5000G." "So this should cover it?" Thadius handed over 60N and Marshals eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "T-that should...do it." "I have to know Marshal. How much is this in gold?" "6,000G of course. You mean you didn''t even know? How muc- No, don''t tell me. I don''t even want to know. With this much, I could get started immediately. How long will you be in town? I don''t suppose you''ll be sticking around long if your a Traveler." "I can stay long enough for you to go on the expedition. I''m headed to Todos next. My master specifically told me to seek out his mage friend there, and that''s what I intend to do. Since it''s also the capital of the kingdom, I want to set up shop there as well." "Todos huh. Be careful. It may not feel like it, but the kingdom''s at war right now. Heading to Todos now is as dangerous as heading to the battlefield. Even if it''s you, watch your back when you walk the streets." "Will do." Thadius turned for the door. But just as his hand touched the knob, a torrent of messages assaulted him.
Chaos Online has been updated. Alignments are now available. Passive stats have received extra benefits.
Your high Faith has shifted your alignment to ''Good''. Benefits are revoked if you stray from the path of the Righteous. +Bewitching smile +Divine White +150 Charm +NPCs intimacy raises faster
As a Good player, actions and Quests that benefit the world add to your alignment meter. Yet, you must stay vigilant. Chaotic and Diabolical players may try and kill you for their own gain.
Faith is now able to grant the holy attribute to some skills and abilities. Your high faith has changed a skill.
Fighting Aura > Holy Fighting Aura +Benefits allies in combat +Individuals that feel your Pressure may be ''Awestruck'' in addition to normal effects, depending on your Fighting Spirit. +Attacks and Skills used with a weapon infused with Holy Fighting Aura will apply Holy damage.
Fighting Spirit now affects every living being, and the individuals strength can be ascertained within a 10ft(3m) radius. Undead and Golems will not be affected. Individuals without Fighting Spirit can not sense the strength and are less affected.
The last message was a double-whammy for Thadius. As if his Ambient Pressure wasn''t enough, the game had slapped a permanent ''DO NOT ENGAGE'' sign on his forehead that couldn''t be suppressed without completely hiding his presence. He could keep his Ambient Pressure in check, but from now on, anyone within 10ft would feel his overwhelming Fighting Spirit. He only hoped that his charm would help in making good first impressions. Marshal sucked in a breath behind him. Thadius turned around to find that he had taken a few steps back. "You alright Marshal?" he asked tentatively. "Yeah, its just...I couldn''t feel just how strong you''d gotten until just a moment ago." "Its not that bad is it?" Thadius was extremely concerned about any future social engagements. "It just took me by surprise, that''s all. Its not like you''re exerting pressure or killing intent, but I can tell it would be a bad idea to fight you." Thadius sighed in relief as he said his goodbyes and ducked out of the shop. When he stepped into the sunlight, his robe glowed a vibrant white that nearly hurt to look at. "Wow.." Yuna whispered in amazement. She had a front row seat to the spectacle. She wasn''t the only one who''d been amazed though. Several NPCs that walked by gawked in amazement, and those that walked too close hurried away. A woman across the square that had been sweeping the storefront was actually staring. A devilish grin appeared on Thadius'' face as he winked at her. The woman flushed red and withdrew into the shop as she fanned herself. Thadius laughed as he made his way to the temple. He still needed to see the blacksmith, but he put that to the side for now. It wasn''t long until he was standing in front of an all white building, where a young woman was outside selling flowers. With a woven basket in her hand, she pleaded to anyone within reach to purchase flowers for the church. Her blonde hair appeared dingy, as if she''d fallen to the ground several times. There was a pained expression on her angelic face as everyone denied to buy any, and her sightless blue eyes desperately searched the void for anyone who would aid her in her endeavor. "Who''s that Thaduis?" Yuna whispered from above. She was still riding his shoulders, determined to stay in her spot for a long as possible. "She''s very similar to you, in a way. She used to pray to Tegaia, but she was caught and punished for it. The Gods took her sight..." Yuna grit her teeth. The more she learned about the Gods, the less respect she had for them. After she met Tegaia, she knew that there was something going on behind the scenes in the Tower of the Gods. Unfortunately, she''d been cast out before she could satisfy her curiosity. Thadius patted her on the leg. "You don''t need to worry about her. Tegaia will right this wrong soon enough." Thadius cautiously approached the woman, wary of the effect his Fighting Spirit would have. Christina must have sensed his presense, for she turned to him as soon as he stepped into her direction. "Excuse me, but..." she paused as she entered Thadius'' range. She seemed shaken, but she pressed forward as she raised a flower in her trembling hand. "Would you like to buy some flowers? I know they aren''t m-much to look at, but all the money goes toward the church." "I could just give the money to the temple instead. Its right there." Thadius replied honestly. Christina bit her lip as her eyes glistened. She hadn''t sold any flowers in a long time, but she refused to give up. It was the only way she could return to the God''s favor. "Please sir! Something tells me you are a man of faith. I know its selfish to ask when the church is standing in front of us, but your kindness would be a personal help to me." "I''m sorry, but your flowers are wilted." "I know....I''m sorry." Christina lowered her arm in dejection, she knew by now when she should try someone else. She closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer to strengthen her resolve. "How much for the rest..." Christina could hardly believe her ears. Only one other person had ever bought all her flowers at once. She was overjoyed as she quickly blurted out the first number that came to her mind. "Four coppers should suffice!" "Four? Last time it was three. Are you trying to swindle me Christina?" "....!" Christina froze as a wave realization washed over her. It was followed by a violent skip in her pulse. Could it possibly be? The man that had befriended her was said to have perished on the mountain. Dare she hope? Christina reached her out her trembling hand once more. Thadius had Yuna jump down as he grabbed her hand and guided it toward his face. It didn''t take long to convince her. She knew as soon as her fingers traced the smile on his face. The torrent of emotions that she had endured for years gushed out as she fell into his arms. Joy, relief, frustration, anger. She''d kept it all in, and smiled only for her father. So to have Thadius, whom she trusted, return to her in the midst of all of it, was nothing short of a miracle. She didn''t know that the miracle had yet to come. "Why are you crying Christina? Today is a good day." Thadius whispered to her. "I don''t know," she cried. For her, it just felt good to let everything out. "Well, just stand here for a moment. I come bearing gifts." "What is it?" she asked as she brought her sobs under control. "You''ll have to see it to believe it." Christina had a confused look on her face as Thadius broke away to address the small crowd that had gathered. "Hear me people of Yune! Hear me!" His echoing shout drew in more people. His alignment and charm worked together to hold their attention. "You all know that this young woman has sold flowers for the church for years! But how many of you actually know why!? Do you know!? Thadius pointed at the nearest man, who shook his head desperately. Many others in the crowd murmured amongst themselves. "Then gather around as I tell you. Do not be afraid. For what you feel in my presence is the strength of my spirit and my faith." Thadius said as he walked amongst the crowd. With his height, he could see over everyone, and it was a simple task to gather the audience he needed. "I must first warn you my friends. What I''m about to tell you is something the church would rather hide from you..." The crowd was drawn in further. The mysterious man before them couldn''t be ignored. Even the people who were just passing through, had stopped to see what the fuss was about. "Young Christina was in training to become a priestess. She prayed and toiled more than any other priestess in the temple, but she was punished unjustly! Her supposed crime was that she prayed to the Gods equally. In truth, she was struck blind because she was caught praying to a single Goddess. Tegaia." Now the crowd murmured in confusion, and the noise of the crowd drew out some of the people from within the temple. "Who is Tegaia? I''m glad you asked." Thadius continued as he flashed a smile at the crowd. Everyone in the general vicinity smiled in return. "Tegaia is the Mother of all Creation. She is also the Goddess of Humility, the Goddess of War," Thadius stared the nearest woman in the eye," and the Goddess of Love." The Bewitching smile was too much for her, and she had to a step back to collect her wits. "BLASPHEMER!!" The entire crowd turned in surprise as the High Priestess walked out from the temple. Her robes were more intricately designed than the other priestesses, and there was a look of disgust on her wizened face. She walked up to Thadius, appearing completely unbothered by his Fighting Spirit. "What are you all doing here listening to this fool? This ''Tegaia'' is obviously a figment of his imagination. No such Goddess exist!" "Oh she exists, priestess. And she is far more powerful than the so called ''Gods'' you worship." "Listen to this! He actually thinks that there exist a being more powerful than the Greater Gods!?" While she spout her lies, trying to convince the populace of her ''truth'', Thadius pulled out a simple leather bound book.
Book of Tegaia
Type: Divine Text Durability: ? /?
Quality: Divine
A book filled with the history of the Heavens as seen through the eyes of the Goddess Tegaia. The words are written in her own blood, giving the book a part of her power. The book was requested by her most devout follower, Thadius. It cannot be destroyed, and the book will return to him if parted for more than 24 hours. +Able to wield the power of the Goddess Tegaia Power: 1000/1000
"Watch closely good folk of Yune! You are about to witness the power of my Goddess, and see once and for all the lies this woman has fed you!" Thaduis walked out of the crowd and over to Christina. She hadn''t moved an inch since he started talking. Yuna stood quietly behind her. "Christina. The gift I''ve brought for you is the sunlight. It is through the power of Tegaia that I give you this. Now close your eyes. The first rays of sunshine after years of darkness can be quite painful. Trust me, I know." Christina closed her eyes obediently. She had heard every word of his speech, and if what he said was true, then she would readily accept his gift. Thadius covered her eyes with one hand as he raised the book in the other. A blinding light engulfed the area as he opened it to a random page. He didn''t need to read anything, but the light added flair. "Tegaia, this one has been wronged by the very Gods she served! By your power, I return what has been stolen from her!" Thadius raised his voice for all to hear. They had to know that it was Tegaia that deserved the credit. Swirling light transferred from the book to his hand that covered Christina''s eyes, and with a snap, he closed the book. With the blinding light fading, the crowd would open their eyes the same time she did.
-175 Power
Christina opened her eyes immediately. She felt none of the pain that Thadius had talked about. It was as if she had only closed them for a moment. She looked at the bewildered faces of the crowd. Not a single person could believe what they were seeing. Yet there she was, looking them in the eyes. Then she turn to Thadius. Garbed in a vibrant white robe, he looked down at her. He was just as she had pictured. The kind smile that brought joy to others. His tall and sturdy physique that offered protection and a shoulder to cry on. What she hadn''t expected, was the stabbing pain in her chest when she looked into his eyes. A stake had been driven into her heart, tethering her to his existence. In that brief moment of eye contact, she knew that wherever he went, she would follow. "So do you like your gift?" Thadius asked. "Yes." She answered immediately. Gone was the blind flower girl that worked tirelessly to please the Gods. Her baby blue eyes were filled with divine light and purpose. "Good." Thadius replied, turning back to the crowd. "This is the power Tegaia holds! With it, she will turn the Heavens upside down! Christina is only the first to receive justice! Yuna!" Yuna instantly appeared beside Thadius. There were multiple gaps coming from the crowd. "I see some of you recognize the Goddess of the mountain! She was cast out for simply befriending Tegaia! So ask yourselves..." He turned to look at the High Priestess. "Is your God a just God!? If not, then I strongly suggest you believe in another because the unjust will not survive the wrath of the Goddess of War."
Your impressive display of the power of your Goddess has earned you a new title.
Hand of Tegaia In Tegaia''s name, you march forth, correcting wrongs and turning the masses from the false Gods that abuse their power. When you speak of your Goddess, your words carry weight and power. Your religious sermons and speeches will be more effective.
You''ve created a historical moment that will live on in Yune for centuries to come. They will mark the day that the Hand of Tegaia healed the blind. +500 Fame
The voice that commands attention. The presence that cannot be ignored. Your eloquent speech and compelling performance have unlock the Charisma stat. +15 Charisma
''All in a day''s work'' Thadius thought as he looked into the clear blue sky. The day was still young, and Marshal would want to hear the good news. As he began to make his way back toward to the dispersing crowd, he stopped beside the dumbfounded High Priestess. "An old man told me that you treated Christina well before you found out that she prayed to Tegaia. It leads me to believe that it was the Gods influence that caused you to react the way you did. High Priestess, did you really want to take the sight of such an earnest girl?" "No.." She replied solemnly. She had never been one to ask questions, but when Christina was stricken blind, even she started to have concerns. Yet, she remained faithful, as priestesses should. Today had truly shaken her, and it would take her time to sort out her feelings again. Thadius was satisfied. and with Yuna and Christina behind him, he walked through the crowd that opened had opened a path before him. Chapter 14: Red Handed RED HANDED The sun shined down on Thadius as he walked back to The Needle and Thread with Yuna and Christina following behind. Both Thadius and Yuna walked quietly, enjoying the fresh air and the sunlight. Christina, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves as she wrestled with her thoughts. She knew what she felt when she looked into Thadius¡¯ eyes for the first time, and now that her sight had returned, she planned to use it to the fullest of her ability. No matter where it would lead her. ¡°Thadius?¡± she called out to him. Her hand had reached out for his sleeve, but she withdrew it. Touching him as he glowed with purity seemed somewhat inappropriate. Hopefully, there would be another time for touching. ¡°Yes?¡± he replied. ¡°Are you staying in Yune? I mean, now that you¡¯ve returned, what are you going to do?¡± She looked into his eyes once more as she asked. She¡¯d planned to be by his side wherever he went, so if she needed to make travel preparations, she wanted to know in advance. Thadius slowed down a bit to match her pace. He hadn¡¯t missed the flush of red in her cheeks as their eyes met, but her gaze was what drew his attention. When Christina¡¯s sight returned, her eyes had been touched with divinity. Now her baby-blue eyes had a mysterious light that would capture anyone who looked upon them. ¡°I visited your father earlier and made some plans with him. He¡¯s going on an expedition for me, and when he returns, I¡¯ll move on to the capital.¡± Christina just nodded in response. It seemed she would have plenty of time to prepare. With that settled, she watched as Yuna tugged on Thadius¡¯ sleeve . She was dumbfounded at how the girl could touch him so carelessly, and watched in silent protest. ¡°Are we going to see the blacksmith yet?¡± Yuna asked impatiently. If possible, she wanted to make some suggestions about her long-sword. Corban had talked her out of using a greatsword, saying it was ¡®a useless lump of steel¡¯, yet she still wanted her sword to be as large as possible. She¡¯d learned from Thadius¡¯ bedtime stories that most heros had big swords. So if she wanted to be one, her sword would need more sword. ¡°We can stop by after we drop off Christina. It¡¯s right next door anyway. The thing is, I don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll have what we want available. So if he actually starts forging, it could take all day. I could rent a room at the inn if that¡¯s the case, and we could stay there until he¡¯s finished.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± So long as Yuna got her hero sword, she didn¡¯t care. ¡°You can stay at our house!¡± Christina suggested quickly. All she knew about Yuna was that she was a Fallen Goddess. Now that she had eyes on Thadius, leaving him alone in a room with another woman was out of the question. ¡°Really? Would your father be okay with that?¡± Thadius asked hopefully. ¡°If it¡¯s Thadius, I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t mind. E-especially not after what you did today.¡± Restoring the sight of his one and only daughter was bound to earn Thadius a favor or five. ¡°That may be so, but will you have room for us? I don¡¯t want to impose if we¡¯ll just be a nuisance.¡± ¡°We have plenty of room! I can cook as well! So if you get hungry-¡± Christina¡¯s sentence was cut short as an inexplicable fear gripped her. Her eyes went wide as she glanced over at Yuna, who was glaring at her furiously. She was released from the pressure soon after, leaving her to wonder what exactly had she said to anger the Goddess. Was she just seen as a threat? They reached The Needle and Thread shortly after their conversation. Thadius opened the door for the young ladies as they all walked inside. Marshal was in the process of gathering supplies, moving from one place to another with random items in his hand. He had an excited look on his face as he looked up. ¡°So you¡¯ve returned Thadius, and you brought my daughter with you. Good. Christina, papa can¡¯t find his whetstone. Do you remember coming across it?¡± Yuna and Thadius remained by the door as Christina confidently walked behind the counter and took out a grey rock from behind it. Marshal took it from gladly, only to double take as he looked at her face. In the dim light of the shop, the glow in Christina¡¯s eyes was plain to see. Marshal looked into the eyes of his child and saw the same eyes looking into his. ¡°What¡­¡± his whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He looked over to Thadius, who had his arms crossed with a huge grin on his face. Then he looked back at Christina, and immediately choked on a sob when he saw her dazzling smile. It was a sight he hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. ¡°You look just like your mother.¡± he cried as he pulled her into a fierce hug. It was a beautiful moment. Even Thadius had to look away to stop himself from shedding a tear. His heart was too big for moments like this. Marshal stepped back and looked his daughter over with a smile. ¡°I¡¯d never thought I¡¯d see the day. Thank you Thadius.¡± he said as he looked toward the door. ¡°If anyone is to be thanked, it should be Tegaia. It was by her will that Christina¡¯s sight was restored.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be sure to give her my thanks as well.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s good enough for me. How are the preparations going?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Marshal quickly wiped his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve managed quite a bit in the last hour. I used the extra coin you gave me to get you a spinning wheel, and after pulling a few strings, I even got you a warp-weighted loom at a discount. It¡¯ll let you weave wider cloth while keeping the threads nice and taunt.¡± Christina looked between the two with curiosity,¡±I thought Thadius was a novice?¡± ¡°Thadius has improved a great deal since you last saw him. He even has plans to start his own brand.¡± Marshal replied as he shook his head in disbelief. He still couldn¡¯t believe what Thadius had planned. ¡°It¡¯s not as grand as it sounds. Now Marshal, could you give me a quick demonstration before you head out? I want to practice while you¡¯re away.¡± Thadius said as he approached the counter. When Marshal ushered Thadius into his workshop, Christina walked over to Yuna. She was still wary of her after what happened before, but her curiosity won out. ¡°Do you know what Thadius is working on?¡± she asked hesitantly. ¡°He wants to make undergarments for adventurers.¡± Yuna replied, without any hint of the hostility she displayed before. ¡°Undergarments!?¡± Christina cried out in surprise. ¡°Shh! It a secret! Look.¡± Yuna removed one of her hands that had flown to Christina¡¯s mouth to flash her Wolf Gear prototype sports bra. After her breasts had shown signs of growth, Thadius set out to make her a prototype immediately. Just below the strap on the left side was a wolf head woven into the fabric: the signature of the brand. As shocked as she was, Christina was interested in the functionality of the strange undergarment. She moved the hand that covered her mouth. ¡°Does it work?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t move as much when I fight. It¡¯s kinda itchy though.¡± Yuna replied as she reached a hand beneath her robe to scratch the underside of her modest bosom. Christina took a good look at Yuna now that she had satisfied her curiosity. She thought that Yuna was quite pretty. Her long white hair matched her robe, which accentuated her feline figure. Coupled with the fact that she was a Goddess, it wouldn¡¯t be odd if Thadius found her attractive. He had complimented her when she was younger, and Yuna appeared to be a little older than she had been at the time.Yet, Christina could tell she was just as strong as Thadius. She felt just as intimidating. Christina didn¡¯t want such woman as a rival, but she really didn¡¯t want her as an enemy. ¡°Yuna, b-before we came to the shop you-¡± Yuna¡¯s hand interrupted her again as she pressed a finger to her own lips, signaling for silence. After looking towards the workshop, she quickly pulled Christina outside. She waited until the door was closed before she spoke. She had a serious expression on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I scared you, but you almost ruined the plan.¡± ¡°What plan?¡± ¡°Did you know that Thadius can cook?¡± Christina rocked on her heels. ¡°What does that have to do with-¡± ¡°It has everything to do with it. You suddenly suggesting to cook nearly jeopardized the entire operation.¡± ¡°It was about food!?¡± Yuna placed a hand on Christina¡¯s shoulder. She had to reach up since she was a little shorter. ¡°I know this is hard for you to understand, but the taste of that man¡¯s cooking cannot be fathomed.¡± ¡°B-but I can cook too! If you-¡± Yuna¡¯s grip on her shoulder tightened. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re not listening. It doesn¡¯t matter how well you cook because Thadius takes it to another level. He dedicates time everyday to prepare, cook, and serve. He¡¯s probably thinking about what he wants to cook right now, even though he¡¯s doing something completely different!¡± Yuna took a deep breath to reign in her excitement before she continued. ¡°How about this? You let Thadius cook tonight if we go to your place. Then if you still want to cook, I won¡¯t stop you.¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± ¡°Good.¡± Yuna said as she stepped back into the shop. Christina still had a confused face as she followed. The conversation had been very different from the one she¡¯d imagined. Not only had she failed to determine Yuna¡¯s relationship with Thadius, she¡¯d been deterred from cooking for him. As they walked in, Thadius was walking out of the workshop. ¡°Alright then. It¡¯s time to go see the blacksmith. Yuna, if you tell me what you want, I can tell the blacksmith while you two explore the city. Christina hasn¡¯t seen the sights in years, and you haven¡¯t seen them at all. So let me pick up our gear while you have some fun. Marshal¡¯s going to let us stay over his place while he¡¯s out, so I¡¯ll meet you two there afterwards. From my understanding, it shouldn¡¯t be too hard to find.¡± Yuna was psyched about hitting the town, and Christina wanted another opportunity to talk with her. So they left while Thadius headed next door to ¡®Ironclad¡¯. When Thadius walked into the shop, the first thing he noticed was the heat of the forge. The shop was one huge room with a counter and dozens of weapons hanging off the wall. In the back of the dimly lit space was a thin old man. He was hammering away with only the light of the forge and white-hot sword to guide him. Thadius walked up to the single counter to call out to him. ¡°Excuse me sir!¡± he yelled over the ringing of the metal. ¡°What is it!?¡± the old man rasped as he walked up to the counter. Thadius caught his breath. Had he not killed the man himself, he would have thought his master rose from the grave. ¡°From the look on your face and that silly ass robe, you must be one of my brother¡¯s students.¡± ¡°Y-yes sir.¡± ¡°And how is my little brother faring these days? Last I heard, he couldn¡¯t get any students that could endure his ridiculous training.¡± ¡°...he¡¯s dead.¡± Thadius replied solemnly as he pulled out Corban¡¯s note. An uncomfortable silence fill the room as the smithy read. It felt like minutes before the old man spoke again. ¡°How did he die?¡± he whispered. ¡°He died by my hand. He was weakened by a curse, so-¡± ¡°So instead of leaving him to rot, you killed him..¡± the blacksmith finished. ¡°I did.¡± ¡°I figured as much. You don¡¯t seem like the type of man who¡¯d kill his master in cold blood.¡± The old man leaned on the counter and sighed heavily. ¡°The last time I saw him was when he told me about Morticul¡¯s curse. He¡¯d finished his training compound a few months before, and told me he wanted to dedicate the rest of his life to teaching.¡± The old man closed his eyes, drawing up a painful memory. ¡°We fought that day. He didn¡¯t have a single student left and came to me to cry about it, so I told him to find a cure instead of sitting on his ass waiting to babysit strangers. But he was stubborn, never taking no for an answer. I''m just glad he was able to find some peace." The blacksmith looked at Thadius then, appraising him. It wasn''t long before a small smile appeared on his face. "He talks about you in great detail in this letter. He named you as his heir and asked me to make you a soulbound weapon." "Soulbound?" "It¡¯s a weapon that can only be used by you. It grows with you, evolving into something truly extraordinary. Corban wanted to give you his sword, but he lost it to the dragon." "That sounds too good to be true." "Smart lad. There is a catch to a weapon that shares your soul. Care to take a guess?" "It can hurt you.¡± ¡°It can kill you.¡± the old man replied. ¡°Soulbound weapons are quite strong if you can survive long enough. A soulbound weapon is only as strong as its wielder, and when the wielder dies it stops growing. On the other hand, if the weapon breaks, half of the wielder¡¯s soul is destroyed. Not many survive that.¡± ¡°Is that why people choose regular weapons, or go out to find better ones?¡± ¡°What could be better than a weapon with no limit?¡± ¡°A legendary weapon possibly.¡± ¡°Most legendary weapons are soulbound weapons.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Most ¡®legendary¡¯ weapon¡¯s have someone¡¯s name or title attached to them. Did you notice?¡± Thadius quickly thought of all the legendary weapons he¡¯d ever come across in his gaming career. Weapons like Thor¡¯s Hammer or Areil¡¯s Bow quickly came to mind. Many powerful weapons had been named after the people that wielded them, but were the weapons always that powerful? According to this man, legendary weapons weren¡¯t just found, they were born and raised. ¡°Can such a weapon be repaired?¡± Thadius asked hopefully. He was a Traveler, so death wasn¡¯t the end for him. However, he didn¡¯t want a weapon that couldn¡¯t be repaired. ¡°Why would- oh. That¡¯s right. As a Traveler, the penalty for a soulbound weapons doesn¡¯t mean much to you. They can be repaired like any other weapon to restore durability, but if it breaks you¡¯ll have to come back here or find another smith that can soul forge.¡± ¡°Sign me up.¡± ¡°Ha! He said you caught on quick. Come, let me take your measurements.¡± ¡°Excuse me mister?¡± ¡°Call me Carson.¡± ¡°Mr.Carson, I have a friend who also finished your brother¡¯s training. Could she possibly¡­¡± As soon as Thadius formed the question, he threw it away. He didn¡¯t mind having a soulbound weapon. Yet, he didn¡¯t feel comfortable with Yuna swinging a sword that could take her life if it broke. ¡°You mean the Fallen Goddess? Even if she¡¯s fallen, forging the soul of a God is beyond my expertise. Their blood is too strong to be handled by mortal hands.¡± Carson replied as he measured Thadius¡¯ fingers. ¡°That¡¯s fine. As long as she gets her long-sword, I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t care.¡± ¡°A long-sword? How tall is she?¡± ¡°About this high.¡± Thadius raised a hand to his chest. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll throw that in with your weapon as a favor to my brother. Now, what weapon did you want?¡± ¡°A shield.¡± ¡°Good. I don¡¯t get many shield requests. Its nice to mix it up every now and then. Sit tight. It won¡¯t take long.¡± Carson said as he went back to his forge. Thadius sat down in the corner as he listened to the bellows and the roaring fire. He drowned out the hammering of the metal as he thought about his future plans. Only a couple of hours had passed when Carson called out to him. ¡°Thadius, it¡¯s time.¡± Thadius walked up to the old man and admired his work. It was a plain iron shield. There was no design engraved on the front, which would make it easier for swords to glide across the surface, but the material was lacking. ¡°Why iron?¡± Thadius asked. He at least thought it was going to be steel or mythril. ¡°Metals with high defense or special properties don¡¯t evolve as well as simple metals. As you learn and grow, so does the weapon. You¡¯d think that using a good metal as a base would be an advantage, but it¡¯s like putting the soul of a child into an adult body. The weapon loses its personality to the metal since it¡¯ll only grow to fit the metal.¡± ¡°Then how can it become stronger if it¡¯s only iron?¡± ¡°When your shield clashes with other metals, it¡¯ll remember their properties. Then as it evolves, it¡¯ll intergrate some of the metals its come across into its design, resulting in a weapon that fits you perfectly.¡± ¡°I understand. What do I need to do?¡± ¡°I need some of your blood.¡± Carson said as he handed Thadius a knife. Thadius grunted in pain as he sliced open his hand, instantly coloring his palm a dark crimson. He didn¡¯t know how much blood was needed, but he hoped it would be enough. Carson took his hand and smeared the blood on the shield¡¯s surface. Then he looked at Thadius. ¡°You might want to bite down on something.¡± Thadius obeyed, taking a cut of leather from his inventory and shoving it in his mouth. He watched as Carson raised his hammer that now had a pale white glow. With a nod from Thadius, who had braced himself against the counter, Carson struck the first blow. Ting!
-4125hp
¡°.......!¡± Thadius¡¯ bloodcurdling scream had been muffled by the leather. He didn¡¯t think that having his soul forged would feel like his heart was being hammered into an anvil. ¡°Sorry about that kid. It¡¯s been a while.¡± Ting!
-2654hp
¡°.....!¡± ¡°There we go!¡± Ting!
-1236hp
It was less than ten strikes, but Thadius was curled up into a ball on the floor by time Carson was finished. Carson had neglected to mention that he could die before the weapon could be completed, resulting in his health falling below 7%. ¡°Here. I do believe this is yours now. Take care of it, and it¡¯ll take care of you.¡± Thadius spit out the tattered remains of the leather from his mouth as he slowly raised himself to take the shield.
The Shield of Thadius
Type: Shield Durability: 1275/1275
Quality: Mid Defense: 980
The shield of the Iron Dragon Thadius. Like a newborn babe, it cries for action and adventure. It¡¯s ready to leave its mark on history at its wielder¡¯s side. +Always infused with Holy Fighting Aura
Thadius was extremely excited by the bonus of his shield. Since it shared his soul, he could increase the defense of his shield by 50% without actually transferring his Aura to the shield. He looked up in joy, only to find Carson collapsed beside the anvil. ¡°Mr. Carson!¡± he screamed as he rushed to his side. ¡°I can hear you just fine, so stop screaming. Soul forging just takes a lot out of me, and I¡¯m not as young as I use to be. Help me up would you?¡± Thadius helped the old man to his feet and received a hearty pat on the back. ¡°I¡¯m think I¡¯m done for today,¡± he breathed heavily, ¡°Bring the young woman tomorrow and I¡¯ll make her something nice.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± Thadius watched the old man close up shop just in case he collapsed again, but when Carson made his way home on steady legs, he set off for Marshal¡¯s. It was only a couple of streets down from The Needle and Thread, so it didn¡¯t take him long to find it. It was a lovely two story house. The design reminded him of modern homes but the materials were medieval. The entire house looked to be built from stone, but mud and straw could be seen between the rocks. It was much nicer than the homes beside it, which made it stand out even more. Marshal¡¯s home had an air of nobility to match the man himself. Thadius shook his head as he knocked on the door. Yuna opened it after the first knock. ¡°Hey Thadius¡­¡± she said as she walked away toward the makeshift sofa. ¡°Everything okay?¡± he asked her as she plopped down. Thadius rested his shield by the door.The living room was the first room upon entering. There was an open doorway leading into the kitchen and a staircase on the opposite side leading to the second floor. Everywhere you looked was mahogany and scarlet. The rugs, curtains, and sofa cushions were all a deep red. ¡°Yep.¡± she replied lifelessly. Christina was sitting in the chair by the fireplace that was in the center of the back wall. She was anxiously looking between Yuna and Thadius. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Thadius looked at them silently. He couldn¡¯t explain Christina¡¯s behavior, but knew what he could do for Yuna. ¡°Hmm, I do believe I hear the sound of rumbling tummies. Must be bed time.¡± ¡°NO!¡± Yuna jumped up from the sofa. Christina nearly jumped out of her skin. ¡°No? Then what time is it?¡± ¡°Cooking time!¡± she yelled, throwing her head back and raising her arms in victory. ¡°How could I have forgotten!¡± Thadius brought his hand to his face in mock anguish. He recovered quickly. The host was always prepared for Cookin¡¯ Time. Without skipping a beat, Thadius waltzed into the kitchen. Yuna pulled the weary Christina along with her. Christina had given up on talking to a hungry Yuna since all she would talk about was food. Their trip through the city had actually been a torturous tour of restaurants without ever stopping to enjoy a meal. Thadius quickly set to work preparing his Shepard¡¯s Pie: consisting of meat, cheese, and mash potatoes. As a new addition to the audience, Christina got to do the taste testing. ¡°Here, try the mash potatoes.¡± Thadius said as he held out the spoon. He¡¯d held it so she could take the spoon if she so desired, but close enough so that she could eat it from his hand. It was a subtle technique formed from hours of watching his favorite show on t.v. Christina blushed as she ate the mash Thadius held out. It was surprisingly tasty. But she was even more surprised when Thadius quickly finished off the rest of the mash she¡¯d left on spoon. She nearly screamed like a fangirl as she hid her face behind her hands.
+6 Charm
¡°Hey! What about me!?¡± Yuna protested as she slammed a fist on the table. The table groaned in protest with her. ¡°New members get to taste test.¡± Thadius replied calmly. ¡°But I gotta eat! How am I going to grow if I don¡¯t eat!¡± The three continued their fun until the food was ready. Christina said that Marshal had left earlier, so Thadius set the table for 3. Needless to say, the meal was spectacular. Yuna ate to her hearts content while Christina savored every bite. She was glad she had left the cooking to Thadius, and made a mental note to let him continue to do so. After the meal, it really was bed time. Thadius opted to take the sofa while Yuna claimed the spare bed in Christina¡¯s room. Before long, a silence had fallen on the house. Christina rolled over in her bed towards Yuna. ¡°Yuna? Yuna, you awake?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Yuna responded groggily. She was in a lethargic state after the feast. ¡°How do you feel about Thadius?¡± ¡°Thadius is Thadius.¡± ¡°Of course he is, but how do you feel about him...as a woman?¡± Yuna sighed heavily, she¡¯d never get to sleep with Christina whispering all night. ¡°I don¡¯t care about that ¡®stuff¡¯.¡± ¡°What stuff?¡± ¡°You know, ¡®stuff¡¯. The naked ¡®stuff¡¯.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help but smile. The first goal had been cleared. Now she just needed to find out if Thadius felt the same way, and she had the perfect plan for it. She slipped out of bed into the brisk night air, carrying a blanket. She''d hoped to catch Thadius awake so she could talk to him. Unfortunately, when she got downstairs, Thadius was laying still on the sofa. Just like Yuna, he didn''t seem to be bothered by the cold. Would he get too hot with the blanket? She hoped not. She shuffled across the hardwood floor with her feet carefully navigating the dark floor. The only light in the room came from the dying embers in the fireplace. Her one piece night gown fluttered softly as she walked to the sofa. Thadius was fast asleep, breathing peacefully. ¡¯Do I appear in his dreams?¡¯ she wondered as she spread the blanket over him. Even if it was only a small part, she wanted to be there when he closed his eyes. She made a move as to walk away, but she was drawn in by his sleeping face. He was so still. It contradicted her heart that drummed an erratic beat. She sat down on the floor beside him, accepting the cold of the floor as her warming blood spread through her body. She¡¯d only allow herself to stay for a minute. One minute, then she¡¯d go back upstairs. No one liked a peeper. So she watched him for a minute, which turned into two, then into three. Then an idea popped into her head, holding her in place as her glowing eyes traced his thick lips. Christina brought her hands together and narrowed her eyes in thought. No one would know besides her, and if Thadius found out, he wouldn¡¯t be to angry right? Of course not. With unsteady breaths, she leaned over Thadius. Once she heard herself, she held her breath so as not to give herself away. She was so close. ¡°We talked about this Christina.¡± Thadius whispered softly. Christina froze in place, but she didn¡¯t retreat. She was too close to the goal to back down now, so she gazed shamelessly into the eyes of the man beneath her. ¡°I remember¡­¡± ¡°Yet you¡¯d still tempt a man beyond his limits.¡± ¡°I tempt a man who¡¯s known for his self-control. I know he won¡¯t hurt me.¡± Thadius narrowed his eyes. ¡°There are other men out there. Why not give them a chance to win your affections?¡± ¡°There are other women for those men¡­¡± Thadius sighed heavily. It was hard to deny the beauty that look down on him. Her eyes were as blue as the sky in midday, when the sun shined down and shared its warm with the world. ¡°My heart is full Christina. It¡¯s filled with the love of those that once loved me. I won¡¯t tell you we will never be, and I won¡¯t lie and say that I don¡¯t have feelings for you. But you must understand that even though I see you as a woman, it may be quite some time before I see you as ¡¯my¡¯ woman. Do you understand what I¡¯m trying to tell you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The only thing that mattered to her was that no one was in her way. Everything else could be settled with time. She reached down to lay claim to her prize, but Thadius beat her to it. He held her head in his hands as she latched on to any part of him she could grasp. But It was over all too soon as Thadius parted to gaze into her eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t run from your feelings Christina. I¡¯ve broken one heart too many by doing so. I may not be able to give you all that you desire right now, but you can depend on me to support and protect you.¡± Thadius said as he lay back down and smiled. ¡°Thank you for the blanket.¡± Christina just nodded as she hurried back up the stairs, touching her lips as she burned the memory of her first kiss into her mind. Thadius sighed as looked at the corner of the room. ¡°You know Marshal, I probably would have been sleep if you hadn¡¯t been standing there watching me.¡± ¡°So you knew...Well, I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised.¡± the man said as he walked over to sit in the chair by the fireplace. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t step in sooner. If you were that worried, we could have stayed at an inn. No need to watch all night.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not you Thadius. It¡¯s old age. Christina¡¯s grown now, but she¡¯ll always be my little ball of sunshine.¡± Marshal said as he searched through his memories in the dying light of the fireplace. ¡°She wants to go with you to Todos, you know.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°I trust you Thadius, but I don¡¯t trust the kingdom. That city will tear you to pieces if you let it. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be fine, yet I can only see her getting into some sort of trouble or dying from some unfortunate happenstance. I¡¯d try to stop her, but she¡¯s too much like her mother. She¡¯ll follow you to the ends of the earth and then jump off with you if you hold her hand. She looks at you the same way Natalia looked at me, so it¡¯s true. Neither of us will have a say in it.¡± Thadius was silent. He truly didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Just keep an eye on her for me Thadius. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± ¡°...good. Then I best be off. Those pelts aren¡¯t going to collect themselves.¡± Marshal declared as he rose up from his chair. He left just as silently as he appeared. Now in the pitch black, Thadius pulled out a book from his inventory and started reading. The pages glowed softly into the night, highlighting the words written in blood. --- Hammerrun, Sigurd Kingdom A player was being stalked in broad daylight. As he kept to the shadows, trying to avoid detection, he completely missed the huntress that watched him from above. The huntress was wearing leather armor underneath a glowing white robe, or what was left of it. The robe had been cut to waist length with the removed cloth being used as wrapping for her hands. The sleeves had been removed and discarded since they hindered her in a fight. Only the hood had been saved from the scissors, for it highlighted the glow of the menacing mark that arced over her left eye. The walls of Hammerrun were high. They served as a perfect perch to watch the city. In his haste, the player had forgotten such a simple fact, and it would lead to his death. He turned into an alleyway that led further into the city, further solidifying his end as the buildings around him increased in height. The huntress leaped from rooftop to rooftop with practiced ease. She was looking for a sign, some clue as to whether her prey was worthy of the end she planned for him. Then the player looked back, momentarily revealing a neon red iris. The huntress jumped down from the rooftop, using her weight and Barrier to crush the player into the ground. Then before he could recover and retaliate, she cradled his head. The resounding snap that followed marked the end of his life, a killing blow.
Chaotic player killed. +100 Alignment
Rosemary searched the body and found what she was looking for hanging around his broken neck; a necklace with a ring of mythril hanging from it. She walked out from the dark alley into the crowded city streets. In the morning, the markets were busy, so it was quite easy for her to slip into the populace unnoticed. Even if it was only temporary. NPCs that recognized her called out their greetings. "Momma look! The Red Hand!" "Joshua don''t point! Forgive him priestess, he''s quite energetic in the morning." Rosemary smiled at the boy, and his cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "It quite alright. If anything, he gets all that energy from you Mrs.Roundtree." The woman laughed, "I suppose he does! Come now, Joshua. The priestess has more important things to do!" The boy and his mother walked away as she continued down the street. "Ah! Sister Rosemary! Might I offer you an apple? This one is as red as your hair!" "Red Hand, thank you for helping my brother. He was truly crushed when the Paladins turned him down." "Well if it isn''t the next High Priestess! Come inside and grab a bite to eat! It''s on the house." Rosemary smiled and waved as she turned down the offers. She was in no mood for pleasantries. She had quickly rose to become a full fledge Priestess. In the ceremony, Priestesses chose their primary God of worship and received a skill specific to that deity. Rosemary had shocked the congregation by choosing Tegaia and obtaining the unheard of Barrier skill. During the same ceremony, Priestesses could also take a vow of chastity, and anyone who made the vow received a Ring of Purity that boosted stats and helped to level skills and abilities of their holy class. Everything had been fine at first. Rosemary did her duties diligently. When she''d finished her chores, she''d go to the training hall to work on her boxing. Then at night, when everyone else was asleep, she''d go to the library to read. She''d read nearly every book, burning through the lore and history of the world. She read books on etiquette and government that helped her improve her relations with her fellow priestesses in the temple and propelled her up the social ladder. It wasn''t until she found one book in particular that the other priestesses and priest in the temple began to fear her. In forgotten corner of the library, tucked away between a bookshelf and a wall, was ''The Art of Deduction''. Rosemary had read the book out of curiosity, but what she gained in return had shocked her.
Perception (Static) Using the senses of the mind to recognize and understand the psychological and aesthetic cues of the environment. Effectiveness increases with Intellect.
It was an extremely rare static skill. It didn''t have any levels or ranks, which meant that it was only limited by her Intellect. Coupled with the fact that her Intellect had risen considerably from reading, it was something she had used immediately. *FLASHBACK* Rosemary was walking back to the priestesses dormitories after learning the Perception skill. As she walked the corridors, prompts were scattered all over the place. Each prompt was a sharp line with a short description at the end of it. She found it very disorienting, but she focused on what the prompts were trying to tell her. One prompt focused her thoughts on an unnatural crack in the wall. When she focused on it, it described the measurements of the fractures and objects she knew of that could possibly created such an indentation. Another prompt pulled her attention to the floor, and upon closer inspection, the prompt described the color and materials used to create the substance. The more she looked, the more information she obtained. After about a minute, she knew that someone had taken some stew from the dining hall, spilling some as they hurried along. ¡°Is there something wrong sister Rosemary?¡± Rosemary looked up from her contemplation to find two of her fellow priestesses walking toward her. She recognized their faces, but she had completely forgotten their names. Or so she thought. As soon as she looked at their concerned faces, prompts immediately displayed their names. ¡°Good evening Tonya, Michelle. You¡¯ve come at a good time. I¡¯m wondering who could have possibly caused this stain. Didn¡¯t we have a stew recently?¡± Just as she asked the question, a prompt told her exactly when the church last served stew. Rosemary had selective memory, especially when it came to trivial things like what she ate the day before. Yet, her Perception had pulled the information for her. Was the information based on her memory, or was it from her high intelligence? The two priestesses looked at each other. Everyone knew that having food outside the dining hall wasn¡¯t permitted, so the fact that there was a stain on the floor leading to the girls dorm was a sign for trouble. ¡°Maybe one of the priests did it? You know what they say about men¡¯s appetites.¡± Michelle replied nervously. She was the shorter of the two. Rosemary watched both of them carefully, using the prompts triggered by their body language to guide her. ¡°That¡¯s a possibility, but it would be odd. The splash indicates that the culprit was walking towards the girls dormitories. Have either of you noticed a sister coming in with food?¡± Michelle and Tonya looked at each other and hesitated. They suddenly felt exposed under her gaze, as if she was seeing right through them. ¡°We don¡¯t know! We¡¯ve never seen anyone come in with food.¡± Tonya protested. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Rosemary declared with narrowed eyes. Her mark made her even more intimidating. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t-¡± ¡°I have no intention of pursuing the matter. I was just curious. But the fact that you would lie to me hurts sister. If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say you know exactly who it was that did this.¡± Rosemary retorted with disappointment overlaying her every word. The priestess shrank back in fear. It was as if Rosemary was reading her mind. ¡°Now we may not agree on all the rules placed upon us, but that doesn¡¯t mean we should go around breaking them. It¡¯s not a good look, and it reflects on our integrity as priests and priestesses of Hammerrun. So I strongly suggest whoever it is to either stop or work harder at covering their tracks.¡± Without another word, Rosemary walked passed them to continue down the hall. ¡°Was she always that scary?¡± Tonya whispered to her friend. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Rosemary only smiled as she turned the corner. *FLASHBACK END* Though she wasn¡¯t smiling now as she walked up the steps to the temple. She had found more evidence of the menace that plagued her sisters. Multiple priestesses had woken up in their beds with no memory of how they got there, and when they tried to put on their Ring of Purity, it shocked them. So whatever they did the day before, involved sexual activity. But the priestesses ,for the life of them, can¡¯t remember what happened. As the favorite for the next High Priestesses, Rosemary was expected to resolve the situation as a test of her abilities. Despite the fact that the High Priest didn¡¯t even bother to investigate. ¡¯That¡¯s not suspicious at all.¡¯ Rosemary thought to herself as she headed for her chambers. As a High Priestesses candidate, she was allowed her own room and office. It was a large step up from the dormitories. She turned a familiar corner, bumping into the one person she didn¡¯t want to see. ¡°Ah, Devout Rosemary, how nice to see you.¡± greeted the High Priest. His smile was over the top, and his wandering eyes told her where his mind was without the prompts. If this man wasn¡¯t somehow involved in the plight of the priestesses, she would be truly surprised. ¡°High Priest.¡± she nodded in return. The less she spoke to him the better her day would turn out. ¡°Have you found any leads on the disappearing priestesses?¡± ¡°Not yet, your worship. I actually plan on talking to the Paladin Commander today.¡± ¡°As if he¡¯ll help you. You know how the Commander is.¡± the priest grinned knowingly. Rosemary already knew that the Paladin Commander was in on it too, but she already had a plan in motion for that. "I think I might actually persuade him this time..." The High Priest made a concerned face. "How?" "It''s a secret, but I promise I''ll tell you after we catch the culprits." Rosemary said as she walked away. She wanted him to sweat over the possibility of losing an inside man. Moments later, she walked into her office. It was a small room with one desk in the middle. The stone walls had small windows near the ceiling, leaving her office in darkness the majority of the day. The room was bare of any personal possessions, and the only ¡®decoration¡¯ she had was a giant slab of iron that leaned against the wall. The center of it was slightly dented. Rosemary moved to stand in front of the slab and took up her boxing stance. She whispered a spell to cast Silence and launched a full powered punch. There was a dull thud as her Barrier connected to the metal, but she was far from through. She pushed harder, rushing through her combinations until the barriers broke and stamina reached the limit. Even after her mana ran dry, she still kept at it. She felt a bone snap in her right hand and collapsed to the ground, succumbing to the vicious cycle she¡¯d created to raise her skills.
+2 Endurance
She¡¯d withstand the pain until her Silence wore out and her mana regenerated. Then she¡¯d cast Healing to mend her broken hand. The longer she could go without breaking her fist, the more experience she gained for her Barrier, Orthodox Boxing, and Hand to Hand. It had been rocky at first since most priestesses could hear her screaming as they walked by. She couldn¡¯t count how many times someone walked in to ask if she was okay. Rosemary got up and wiped the sweat from her brow. She hadn¡¯t been able to train like she wanted to lately with all that¡¯s happened. Today would have to be a turning point in her investigation. A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Come in.¡± A dark skinned man walked in. His dreads fell over his shoulders and his dark robe hid his face and armor. Anyone would think he was a mage of some sort, but they would be dead wrong. ¡°I¡¯ve been expecting you J-Money. I¡¯d offer you a chair, but as you can see¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all good. I only came to see you boo.¡± Rosemary just shook her head as she looked down at her soiled bandages. They started calling her Red-Hand because she never changed them. ¡¯Who knew that being lazy could get you a badass title?¡¯ Rosemary thought as she scratched her left ring finger. Her mythril Ring of Purity seemed to glow in the dim light of her office. ¡°Well I¡¯m glad you came as quickly as you did. I need a favor.¡± ¡°Lay it on me.¡± ¡°I need you to ¡®persuade¡¯ the Paladin Commander to help me uncover the culprits of the recent incidents.¡± ¡°Cool. Where he at?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find him in the training facility behind the compound.¡± ¡°Word. When do I stop?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll stop you. Now go, I don¡¯t want them to see me asking for help. I have a reputation for being unfriendly.¡± she smiled. J-Money pulled up his hood and walked out, quickly closing the door behind him. Rosemary sat at her desk with the glow of her mark lighting her hood. She¡¯d made her preparations, now all she had to do was wait. Chapter 15: Welcome to Todos WELCOME TO TODOS A blizzard raged as two Travelers made their way to a remote dungeon on the outskirts of Todos. They were wrapped in fur cloaks that made it hard to determine their professions. The snow reached their knees, and the wind chill had them leaning against each other as they walked. It wasn¡¯t a good day for them. ¡°Dude! You''re so heavy! Lean the other way!¡± ¡°But I¡¯m cold! Hold me..¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even try it!¡± ¡°Nooo! Don¡¯t leave me!¡± The two laughed and horsed around as they made their way. It''s not like they had anything else to do, and it passed the time they as they walked. They could''ve rode horses, but they couldn''t afford it. So the journey to the dungeon was always a hassle. Yet, they relied on each other to make the best out of a bad situation, trudging along on the plains surrounding the capital with white as far as the eye can see. ¡°J--j-j-jeez, we¡¯re gonna die out here!¡± ¡°D-d-d---don¡¯t j-jinx it!¡± They huddled with their heads down to save their faces from the freezing gusts. ¡°W-who¡¯s bright idea was it to come out in a blizzard!¡± ¡°Y--y--you¡¯ll t-t-thank me l-later. I b-bet you anything that the d-dungeon is empty. No one in their right m-minds would come out in this...¡± ¡°....then w-who the hell is that!?¡± They both looked into the distance as two silhouettes moved closer to them. The shadows solidified as the figures drew closer. It was a man and a woman walking towards them. The man was dressed in a pure white robe that blended perfectly with the background. There were iron bands on each of his shoulders that hinted at the harness holding the shield on his back. Then as the wind blew, a sword belt and a shirt of chainmail was revealed beneath the folds of his robe. The woman beside the man was dressed appropriately for the weather. She wore a thick fur coat and padded leather leggings which was the standard this time of year. She was quite the beauty, and the soft glow of her blue eyes captivated the pair of sniffling Travelers. ¡°Bro, do you see her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m standing right here aren¡¯t I? And look at that guy, he doesn¡¯t even seem cold.¡± ¡°Right!? That¡¯s got to be some sort of ability or resistance.¡± ¡°Probably...Let¡¯s get a closer look. They don¡¯t look like bad players.¡± The two walked closer to the pair as they whispered amongst themselves. The man looked to be a part of the Good alignment, so they didn¡¯t need to be too wary. Not to mention the fact that he was walking beside such a beauty. A woman like that wouldn¡¯t be with an evil guy. ¡°You see his gear, right? Iron. Must be a lower level cause he doesn¡¯t look too str- WHAT THE HELL!?¡± ¡°Dude, there¡¯s no need to-whoa. Is that his Fighting Spirit? That dude¡¯s hella strong.¡± ¡°Even you can feel it!? Just how high is it!?¡± ¡°It¡¯s gotta be in the high 900¡¯s. People without Fighting Spirit can¡¯t sense anything lower than that. He might be a boss NPC.¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡± The pair of strangers walked up to them as they finished their conversation. The warrior, who had felt the full force of the man¡¯s fighting spirit, sucked in a breath when he got a good look at his face. Then the air around them warmed as the strangers stopped in front to them. ¡°Good afternoon gentlemen. My companions and I are headed for Todos. Are we going in the right direction?¡± The mage spoke up first as his friend was still gawking at the man. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just a couple of hours in that direction. You couldn¡¯t miss it even if you tried.¡± ¡°Thank you. I was worried we may have made a wrong turn somewhere.¡± ¡°Where did you come from? If you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡± the mage continued. ¡°We came from Yune.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good couple of days from here. Did you guys walk all the way? It¡¯s...not very nice weather for traveling.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s quite nice outside.¡± the man turned to his female companion. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°The snow is pretty when you don¡¯t have to worry about the cold.¡± she said as she smiled knowingly. The warrior finally snapped out of it. ¡°Hey! Aren¡¯t you-¡± ¡°Yes. Yes I am.¡± the man interrupted him. He seemed to know why the warrior had been speechless. The mage looked in confusion as his friend happily shook the man¡¯s hand. What just transpired between them? ¡°Well, I hope you two have a safe trip. My companions are weary, and I¡¯d like to get to the capital as soon as possible.¡± the man said as he started to walk off. ¡°Wait a minute. You said companions, right? Then where¡¯s the other one?¡± The man smiled while his female companion narrowed her eyes. She seemed annoyed that he had brought it up. ¡°If you can¡¯t see her, then don¡¯t worry about it. She¡¯s quite good at hide and seek.¡± the man replied. The two Travelers looked at each other quizzically as the strange pair, or trio, disappeared into the blizzard. The warrior watched them go with a satisfied look on his face. The mage couldn¡¯t help but feel like he¡¯d missed something. ¡°So what was that all about? You know that guy? I feel like I¡¯ve seen him before. Maybe on campus?¡± ¡°Bro, that was Brandon Welding.¡± ¡°...yeah right. No, wait. Now that you mention it, I saw Eva Mendes at the market this morning¡­¡± ¡°Dude, you literally drank out of a cup with his face on it this morning¡­¡± ¡°You can look like anyone is this game by changing your features in the character creator. So what?¡± ¡°The game doesn¡¯t do complete facial reconstruction.¡± ¡°........¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the face you should have made. Now come on. Whatever he did to stop the cold is wearing off.¡± --- Thadius smiled as he made his way through the blizzard. Just like Christina had said, the view from inside the storm was quite majestic once you ignored the cold. Not only that, one of the first players he had met recognized him from his NFL days. It had him feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Yuna, who was fully enjoying his shield as a back rest, leaned forward to look at him. Her ¡®hero-long-sword¡¯ was slung over her shoulder like a bowman¡¯s quiver ¡°Thadius, did you know that man?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°But he seemed like he knew you.¡± ¡°Many Travelers will know my face. I¡¯m well known in my world.¡± ¡°Your world?¡± Christina looked at Thadius with a concerned expression. She hadn¡¯t heard anything about this. Thadius stopped in his tracks and looked down at her. ¡°I¡¯m a Traveler Christina.¡± he declared as he watched her react to the revelation. It had completely slipped his mind that she didn''t know. Now that she knew, what would she think? Her brow furrowed a bit and she blushed under his gaze, nodding after a brief moment. It wasn¡¯t that big of a deal to her. In fact, it just meant that Thadius was even more special than she realized. ¡°What did you do in your world that earned you such a reputation?¡± she asked quickly. She wanted him to realize that she wanted to know more about him. His past wouldn''t change how she felt about him. ¡°I played a sport called football.¡± Thadius started as he recounted his rise to fame. Yuna had heard the story many times, so she kept watch on the horizon. They¡¯d encountered a few monsters out on the plains during the past couple of days, but they weren¡¯t attacked. The monsters stopped before they could get into Thadius¡¯ Fighting Spirit range. When they all started stopping at the same distance of 20ft(6m), Thadius came to the conclusion that beings with Fighting Spirit could sense each other''s strength when their areas of effect touched. Which meant that he and Yuna would have even more trouble with first impressions, or at least Thadius would. With Yuna on his shoulders all the time, the strength of her Fighting Spirit was masked by his. After Thadius finished his story, Christina pummeled him with questions about his world. Before for long, the conversation had degraded into Thadius doing impersonations of famous people and animals from his world. Yuna jumped at the chance to watch Thadius make a fool of himself. ¡°Thadius! Play me next!¡± she shouted over the gale. Thadius cleared his throat. High pitched voices were nearly out of his vocal range. ¡°¡®What do you mean there¡¯s no more beef! Heroes need meat! How can I grow into a hero without meat!''¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I sound like!¡± she protested, pulling on his collar. ¡°Hey, hey! Don¡¯t pull on the robe! This is Corbae!¡± he laughed. ¡°Then do Christina next!¡± Christina¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Wait, why me!¡± Thadius quickly pulled out a flower from his inventory. His eyes widened as he held it up with trembling hands. ¡°¡®Excuse me sir! Would you like to buy some flowers?¡¯¡± ¡°That¡¯s not funny Thadius!¡± she pouted with a red face. ¡°¡®Oppsie.¡¯¡± Thadius said playfully as he dropped the flower at her feet. When he went to pick it up, he slid a hand down her torso. Christina chewed her lip in irritation. She was disappointed that she could barely feel his touch through the coat, and frustrated from the fact that she had been caught multiple times trying to feel him up. ¡°T-that never happened!¡± she lied. Thadius just laughed as Christina threw snow at him. Soon, the impersonations turned into full blown dramas as they continued on. Both Christina and Yuna had been ensnared in his imagination. ¡°Put the princess down demon!¡± Yuna cried as she raised her sheathed sword. ¡°Never! The girl is mine!¡± Thadius snarled as he and Yuna circled each other. He had one arm over Christina¡¯s legs as she sat on his shoulder. ¡°Save me hero!¡± She yelled dramatically. ¡°I¡¯m coming princess!¡± ¡°What can you do fool? I¡¯ve never seen a hero so small!¡± the ¡®demon¡¯ Thadius said as he threw back his head and laughed. ¡°I may be small, but my heart is strong and my sword is long!¡± ¡°Ha!¡± ¡°Taste my blade forged from truth and justice!¡± Yuna yelled as she leaped into the fray, poking Thadius in the belly. ¡°NO!¡± he hissed as he fell dramatically. Christina rolled off his shoulder and tumbled playfully in the surprisingly warm snow. ¡°Now demon, allow me to introduce my sword to your face!¡± ¡°Wait hero!¡± ¡®princess¡¯ Christina said as she walked up to stand beside Yuna. ¡°His face is too handsome to ruin with a blade. Go for the heart.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha. You think this is over hero? The fight has only just begun! Witness the glory of my final form!¡± ¡°What!?¡± Thadius knew exactly what he wanted to transform into, and gathered the air into chest to release a threatening roar. The effect was far stronger than he had anticipated, and the sound that came out of his mouth was something he¡¯d only heard in movies and games.
The ballad of death. The sound of impending doom. You¡¯ve unlocked Dragon¡¯s Roar
Dragon¡¯s Roar LV.10 Novice Anyone within a 50ft(15m) radius is pressured at full strength regardless of how many targets are within range.
Thadius immediately ran over to Christina, who''d buckled from the pressure. Yuna had withstood it, but she was still shaken. ¡°Christina!¡± he cried as he slid in the snow to her side. Her crytal clear eyes had become milky white, and as he met her gaze she bowed her head. When he reached out to comfort her, she shrank back from his hands. ¡°Dammit! Yuna!¡± he called out. He turned around to find Yuna still standing there. He ran up to her in concern. He was worried he may have deafened her since she was the closest. When he saw her face, her eyes were the same milky white as Christina¡¯s. ¡°Yuna.¡± he whispered. ¡°Yeah.¡± she said through gritted teeth. He was glad that her hearing was still intact. ¡°Can you see?¡± he asked hesitantly. He feared the worst. ¡°Yes.¡± she replied. Her body quivered. It was as if she was struggling. ¡¯Doesn¡¯t she have broken Fighting Spirit?¡¯ It was odd that she would be trembling in fear. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± Yuna made a confused face. ¡°Afraid?¡± Thadius put a hand on her shoulder as he looked her in the eyes. As soon as he touched her, Yuna bent her knee as if in reverence. He knew then what had happened. This what it looked like when a someone was ¡®Awestruck¡¯ as a result of his ¡®Pressure¡¯. The new status effect was added when his Fighting Aura was converted into Holy Fighting Aura. The skill didn¡¯t mention how high the chances were, but this is what it looked like.
Your convincing performance of a demon that transforms into a dragon has earned you a new skill.
Pretender LV. 6 Novice Not to be confused with Mimic or Disguise. Instead of concealing one¡¯s identity or taking another¡¯s, the user creates and assumes a separate identity that comes purely from their imagination. The more people that believe in the identity, the more convincing the performance becomes. Ranks are unlocked as the level increase. Benefits are unlocked with ranks.
¡¯What!? Oh, boy...¡¯ He waited until the effect wore off to apologize to them. Once he confirmed that he hadn¡¯t actually hurt the young women, he suggested that they press on. They readily agreed. The playful mood had been thoroughly spoiled. They marched through the blizzard for a few more hours with Yuna and Thadius pushing out their Auras to keep Christina warm. They arrived sometime in the afternoon when the blizzard had calmed into a light snowfall. The capital city stood proudly in the distance, welcoming all those who needed shelter. Thadius marveled at the sight of it. The entire city was sitting on a giant foundation of stone. From afar, it looked like the city just had high walls, but as you got closer, you could see the giant staircases that were carved into each side of the city''s base. Everyone was itching to get a closer look. ¡°Alright, you two. I want to try something, and I''m going to need your help. Will you help me?¡± Yuna and Christina nodded immediately. It wasn¡¯t often that Thadius asked for anything, so they listen carefully as he explained his plan. Minutes later, the trio arrived at the steps of Todos, where guards lined every bend on the way up. The walls loomed over 300ft(91m) high. The line to get in wasn¡¯t very long since the blizzard had stopped only a few hours before. The way out was a large archway further down with dozens of people pouring out with their carts and luggage. It made one wonder how merchants entered the city with their goods as their carts couldn¡¯t possibly acsend the stairs. Christina walked up to the guard at the foot of the staircase with the watchmen up the first flight watching over them. Beside her was a hunchbacked old man covered in a dark brown cloak. His hair, turned white with age, nearly touched the ground as he hobbled beside her. ¡°Status cards.¡± the guard said with outstretched hands. He never took his eyes off the old man who had his face entirely hidden underneath his hood and hair. Christina flashed her card while the old man searched his cloak. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s odd. I could have sworn¡­¡± he mumbled to himself. ¡°Status card, old man.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry dear boy, I seem to have forgotten it.¡± ¡°Grandpa! I asked you if you had it and you said yes!¡± ¡°No,no. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s here somewhere. Just let me get my spectacles and I¡¯ll take a closer look.¡± The old man continued to search himself while Christina apologized to the guard. ¡°It¡¯ll just be a moment sir. I¡¯m terribly sorry.¡± ¡°N-not a problem.¡± the guard stuttered. It had been a while since he¡¯d seen such a beauty. ¡°What¡¯s the hold up?¡± said the guard from the first flight as he stepped down to stand beside his colleague. ¡°The old one can¡¯t find his status card.¡± ¡°Seems too strong for an old man.¡± ¡°Ha! When you¡¯ve spent as much time on Central as I have, you¡¯re bound to get this strong boy. Though I admit, I¡¯m long past my prime.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been to the central continent? I find that hard to believe.¡± the first flight guardsman said. A heavy pressure weight down on the two guards as the old man took a menacing step towards them. The first flight guard put his hand on his sword in panic. ¡°Have you ever seen a Lorian Strangler boy? It''s a dog-like beast with blades for fingers and swords for teeth. When Loras sent their expeditions into the Forest of Nam, they woke the damned things. The beasts were named after we found one of them gnawing on the throat of a Lorian scout, and for you to tell me that I didn¡¯t witness such a thing.¡± the old threatened in a low voice. The guards took a step back as Christina scolded the old man. ¡°Grandpa don¡¯t scare the nice men!¡± The old man released his pressure and the guards breathed easier. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, I¡¯m afraid my age is starting to show, disrespecting such honorable guards. Come child, let¡¯s go back and look. We¡¯ll turn Yune upside down if we have too.¡± ¡°Go back!? Grandpa, no way!¡± ¡°Wait a minute, old man! Just go up.¡± ¡°Y-yeah. No need to go all that way. Just make sure you stop by the Adventurer¡¯s Guild once you''re inside the city. ¡°Thank you!¡± Christina smiled as she put her arm around the old man. ¡±Thank the nice men, grandpa.¡± ¡°Thank you boys. It¡¯s good to know that our soldiers know kindness.¡± The two moved passed the guards with Christina supporting the old man as he took his first steps up the staircase. ¡°Damned stairs.¡± the old man muttered to himself as he took the stairs one at a time. Beneath the old man¡¯s cloak, Yuna shook with mirth. Getting a piggyback ride had already put her in a good mood, but when Thadius had used her hair as his, she nearly burst out in laughter. Christina looked back as they turned to climb the second flight. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that worked.¡± ¡°Of course it did child. This hair is 100% real after all!¡± Thadius replied in his best old man voice. Yuna could no longer suppress her amusement and laughed hysterically, using the collar of Thadius¡¯ robe and the cloak to muffle the sound. Even Christina found it hard to keep a straight face as they climbed. After about an hour, they reached the top, and Yuna quickly hopped off of Thadius so he could equip his shield and put away the cloak. Only to regain her seat as soon as he was situated. The city of Todos was huge, and they were all astounded as they looked upon the capital for the first time. Sitting upon the foundation, was a city of pure stone. Rows upon rows of buildings formed neat and orderly streets. Towers and huge buildings littered the city, drawing all eyes to their magnificence. All of it was encased by a 10ft(3m) wall from where the guardsmen could stand watch over the city and the world outside. Then all of it was topped off with a heavy layer of snow. Yuna and Christina could barely contain their excitement. Thadius on the other hand, had his eyes glued to one structure in the distance. He knew it at first glance as the bloody stadium where gladiators battled for gold and glory. In the heart of Todos, stood the coliseum. "We finally made it." Christina smiled as she enjoyed the view. "Now the fun part begins." Thadius replied as he led the way. He asked the first person he ran into for directions. Even though the streets where in order, one could easily get lost if they didn''t know where they were going. The first place they headed to was the Adventurer''s Guild. Thadius wanted to get a status card for Yuna and himself since it truly was a standard form of identification. Although he was a Traveler, the only person to identify him as one, without him saying anything, was Old Man Tony. If he could get a status card, he''d be implying he was a NPC without actually saying it. He thought it¡¯d be more interesting if he posed as one since he practically lived here anyway. Thankfully, the Adventurer''s Guild was located close to where they entered the city, so Thadius led the way while Christina followed closely beside him. The sun shined down on the trio, giving a glow to Thadius¡¯ robe as they turned down the street where the guild was located. To their surprise, people started to move away from them as they walked the street. Thadius had reigned in his Ambient Pressure to the bare minimum, but people were avoiding him all the same. ¡°They look wary of us.¡± Christina whispered. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°No, they look wary of me.¡± Thadius replied solemnly. ¡°Why?¡± Yuna asked. ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± Suddenly, both Thadius and Yuna felt a stabbing coldness penetrate their Auras, followed by a foreign entity. Thadius leaned forward as he pushed Christina to the side. Yuna leaped off his shoulders and rolled to the ground as a two blades struck his shield. *Chink The steel blades left visible indentations in his iron shield, and sparks flew as he rolled with the momentum. His sword was at the ready before he returned to his feet. Standing in front of them was a person clad in all black leather armor that seemed to absorb the light around it, diming the colors in the general vicinity. The face of the would be assailant was hidden from the nose down, and neon red irises glowed ominously from underneath a large hood. Thadius immediately thought about the last update, and how the game warned him about attempts on his life. Christina moved in behind Thadius as the two watched each other. The assailant was looking at his equipment while Thadius was waiting for any signs of attack. His wait was a short one as the Chaotic player charged him. The speed wasn¡¯t that fast, giving Thadius enough time to grab his shield and turn the first lunge aside. His opponent moved inside, trying to use the range of the daggers to gain the upper hand. Yet Thadius'' eyes were wide open, following every thrust and slice while resetting them useless. He could have used his pressure to restrain his foe, but he''d never get battle experience like that. So he dragged out the fight, using every second to learn as from his enemy as he could. Soon the assailant fell into his pace, breathing heavily with every attack. Dragon''s Scales is the most arrogant form of the Dragon''s Path sword style. You wither away the opponent with nothing but pure defense. You give them hope by being constantly on the defensive, only to have every attack become a glancing blow. Like a dragon that pays no heed as a knight swings his sword in vain. Then when the knight throws everything into attacking in an attempt to pierce the dragon''s hide... Thadius lowered his shield, inviting an attack with feigned fatigue. The Chaotic player gladly lunged at the opening with both daggers in an attempt to finish the fight. Unfortunately, the trap had been prepared and set long before this moment. As the blades reached out for his chest, Thadius hid his presence completely. Then he aimed a blow at the legs that was filled with his Holy Fighting Aura. The assailant reacted instantly, moving his daggers to parry the blow. However, what met the blades was Thadius'' lingering Fighting Spirit; a phantom attack created by completely separating his Aura from his body. The confusion was still clear in the assailant''s eyes as a iron sword plunged into his chest.
You''ve killed SmartYeti in single combat. As The Iron Dragon, a one time reward equaling 10% of his fame/infamy has been awarded. +1267 Fame
Chaotic player killed +100 Alignment
You''ve leveled up! You''ve leveled up! You''ve leveled up! ...
Without a shedding a single drop of blood, Thadius quickly removed his sword. The stranger was dead before he hit the ground. "Shit..that guy just got owned." "I thought that noob was done for with that iron gear , but he''s pretty good. "Still, it''s been a while since a Good player was seen in Todos. I thought they all left." Thadius flicked his sword before he sheathed it. With his Concentration, he listened carefully to the comments of the spectators. He was just attacked in broad daylight on crowded city streets. Yuna could handle herself, but if Christina had been harmed because of him, he wouldn''t have been able to face Marshal ever again. It seemed like he would have to put the trip to the Adventurer''s Guild to the side for now. "Yuna, stay hidden, and keep an eye on the rooftops. I don''t think our trip to the big city is going to be the adventure we were looking for." "Okay." she replied as she fell back to trail behind them. "Christina, we need to get you to the temple as soon as possible. It''s no longer safe around me, I''d feel better knowing that you''re with the church." "But what about you and Yuna?" she asked. She didn''t want to part from him, but if it was for her safety, she could tolerate a brief absence. Especially when she witnessed the danger first-hand. "For now, Yuna will be with you. Whoever that was, has seen you with me. Since it was a Traveler, they''ll resurrect in four days. So until I can confirm that they won''t try to get revenge, I don''t want any other potential attackers to see you with me. I should have expected this. From what your father told me and what I heard just now, this isn''t exactly the safest place." "Where will you go?" "Well..I''ll be walking around the city. Maybe drawing some more people that want to do me harm. I also need to talk to a tailor and find the mage my master was talking about. Don''t worry, I''ll visit you guys every day." "Just be careful Thadius..." "I''d rather you worry about yourself more than me because traveling with us means putting yourself in danger. Unless you become stronger, you''ll always be relying on us to protect you. I''ll do so gladly, but do you really want to constantly put your life in someone else''s hands?" Christina couldn''t find the words to respond. She knew she''d been a hindrance since they left Yune, and that fact had been reinforced when she watched Thadius fight. If she was going to travel with him, she needed to do more than just stand there. If anything, she wanted to be beside him when the fighting broke out. "I understand..." "Good." Thadius said as he looked around to ask someone for directions. "Excuse ma''am, which way to the temple?" They changed directions and followed the instructions to find the temple. The building was made of the same white stone that they saw in Yune. Except this temple was at least three times larger. On either side of the doors was a statue of the Goddess Thena. Thadius saw them off at the door, making sure that Yuna watched over Christina from the shadows. "I''ll return later today. But if you don''t see me for a couple of days, don''t worry about too much." "Wait a minute! What does that mean!?" Yuna whispered fiercely from in front of him. She had used ''Vanish'' to remain hidden. "I''m just preparing you for the possibility of my death." ""What!?"" The girls shouted in unison. "Where exactly are you going!?" Yuna questioned. "I may stop by the coliseum..." "Then take us! I want to fight too! Why do you get to fight and I don''t!?" "No. The most important thing right now is for Christina to continue down the path of a priestess since she is otherwise defenseless. However," Thadius leaned down so only she could hear him, "If Christina was capable of fighting for herself..." "I''m listening." "It could possibly prevent situations like this in the future. All she needs is a teacher." "You do it then!" she hissed. "She may be a bit...distracted if I taught her." Even with Yuna ''Vanished'', Thadius could still tell that she was putting her hand to her face in realization. She knew exactly what Thadius was talking about. "Well then, I''ll leave you to it." Thadius said as he headed toward the coliseum. The gigantic stadium was visible from every corner of the city. He walked with his Aura stretched out to the limit. If anyone tried to attack him again he''d be ready. After an hour of uneventful walking, he was standing beneath the coliseum. It was exactly like he''d seen it in movies and shows. Tall columns shouldered massive walls of stone. The air was filled with dust and the thunderous roar of the crowd within. A giant archway welcome spectators and competitors with a statue of Braumas, God of Strength and Order, leading to it. "Soon Goddess, it''ll be your image that stands proudly outside the arena." Thadius declared as he walked past the statue to the entrance. Inside, torches lit the corridor as the sunlight was blocked out. There was a door to the left and a larger door on the right. Straight ahead was a small crowd of people leading out to the stadium, but Thadius had different plans. He looked around for a guard and walked up to the first one he found. "Excuse me, sir. Where can I register to fight in the arena?" The guard tensed up as he approached. "That door there leads to the amateur waiting area. You can get a bite to eat and ask for a registration form." The guard said as he pointed to the small door. "Then what''s the other door for?" "Gladiators." It made sense to Thadius. The gladiators needed somewhere to sleep too. He quickly made his way to the door. When Thadius walked into the amateur waiting area, NPCs and Travelers alike quieted down and stared at him. A group of people whispered excitedly as they watched him with wide eyes. They had no doubt recognized his face. Thadius took a look around, not shying from the stares and glares that met his eyes. The waiting area was more like a tavern. There were tables all around where adventurers and other patrons could order food and drink. The counter, where you could register for the arena, was off to the left. Waitresses came out from behind the counter carrying food and beverages, so the kitchen must be located further in the back. Thadius found an empty table at the opposite corner of the room and waited for one of the waitresses. Unfortunately, any waitress that looked like they were about to serve him, turned away when they came within range of his fighting spirit, making uncomfortable expressions as they walked away. So Thadius sat patiently as he leaned back in his chair. He had a feeling that there would be some discomfort from his Fighting Spirit, but he didn''t think it would be to this degree. Minutes passed, and he began to receive even more stares from the other patrons. He looked to the counter, hoping that he wouldn''t have to talk to a manager. Some of the waitresses were in the back talking amongst themselves. Even with his Concentration, Thadius couldn''t make out what they were saying. Though it was obvious that they were arguing about who was going to serve him since they all kept glancing in his direction. Just as he was thinking about asking for management, a woman came out from the back. The waitresses swarmed around her in relief while she looked down at them in confusion. The woman towered over them. Her caramel skin had a light film of moisture from the heat of the kitchen, and jet black hair was wrapped neatly in a scarf on her head. One of the other waitresses motioned towards Thadius and the woman''s eyes meet with his. Her beauty was apparent in every feature: the sharp angle of her jaw, the prominent green of her hazel eyes, the strength and poise in her stature. She was a lioness among alley cats. She raised an eyebrow when she looked at him. "He doesn''t look so bad....He''s actually quite handsome. Why hasn''t he been served?" "I know he doesn''t look scary, but he is! "Yeah! We can''t tell how strong people are like you can, but this guy is different!" "Even we can feel it!" The woman looked at the mystery man again. This time, he was the one with the raised eyebrow. Silently asking if she would be the one to help him. She held eye contact with him, debating whether or not to help the cowardly waitresses. Then he motioned ever so slightly for her to come over. "I''ll take this one girls. He''s piqued my curiosity." She said as she smiled at the man. The confident ones were always interesting, and according to her co-workers, this one was especially so. Thadius sat up as the lioness strode to his table. He could tell that if he stood up, she would be just as tall as he was. As soon as their fighting spirits overlapped, the woman made a surprised face, but she kept going without so much as skipping a step. Grabbing a menu from an empty table, she came to stand right beside Thadius. Her fragrance washed over him like tsunami, drowning out all other smells. If ''everything nice'' was a perfume in Chaos Online, then she bathed in it. The scent would drive him mad if he let it. She watched his reaction carefully because she knew exactly what he was experiencing at the moment. She''d learned to gauge a man''s character by his actions once he was exposed to it. ''FOCUS YOU FOOL!!'' Thadius was snapped out of his trace by the growl of the wolf within. Only a second had passed before he responded to her presence. "Good afternoon." he smiled casually, flashing his bewitching smile. The waitress stopped breathing for a fraction of a second before she she returned the greeting. ''Extremely handsome, and his reaction was good too.'' she thought. Many men had lost themselves to her ridiculously high charm stat. "I apologize for the wait sir. I''m afraid our staff isn''t used to a man of your strength." "No need to apologize. It''s not the first time something like this had happened." "Thank you for your patience. What can I get for you?" she asked as she handed him the menu. "Well, for starters...how about your name?" "My name is Sarene." "Sarene? It matches your presence. You have a calming air about you." "Well thank you." She smiled. "Now let''s see...I wouldn''t mind having some of this, Seredin Tea? I hope I pronounced that correctly." "I''ll bring it out shortly." She replied, taking back the menu to return to the counter. On the way back, a man at one of the nearby tables slapped her butt. Before Thadius could intercede, a crisp jab flew to the man''s nose faster than he could return his hand to his side. The man had a dumbfounded expression as blood trickled down his nose while Sarene looked down at him, waiting for him to explode in rage. As he stood up, a crushing pressure seated him. He looked at Thadius, who was shaking his head with a smile on his face. Ignoring the man who started to sulk at the table, Sarene moved on to the kitchen and returned with a glass pitcher of light grey liquid. No one tried to slap her this time. "You seem to be quite popular." Thadius said as she returned to the table. "He''s the first one in a while to do it. Most of the people here are veterans, so they know not to toy with me. But he knows now, and so do you." She said as she poured him a glass. "I wouldn''t dream of doing such a thing...in public." "Is that so?" she laughed, sliding the glass to Thadius. He took a sip and made a satisfied face. "This is pretty good." "Of course it is. I brewed it myself." "In that case, try adding some lemon next time. You might be pleasantly surprised." "You have the cooking skill?" "I do." "I see...well then. I''ll give your suggestion a try. Is there anything else I could get for you?" "Could I possibly have a moment of your time? As you can probably tell, I''m new to the city, and it wouldn''t hurt to get some information. Though I hope your employer won''t mind." Thadius smiled again. He knew it had some effect. "She won''t mind, but I don''t share tables with strangers..." She said, giving Thadius a knowing look. "My friends call me Thadius." "Oh?" she smiled too, sitting down on the opposite side. "What do your enemies call you?" "The Iron Dragon." Sarene tensed immediately at the mention of that title. No one had heard from The Iron Dragon in years. When she heard he was taking students, she had desperately searched for him. She made it as far as Todos before she lost his trail. "He was your master?" "Yes he was. Unfortunately, he''s no longer among the living." "I see. Well then, Thadius. What do you want to know?" "I want to sign up to fight in the arena, but I''m interested in hearing how it works." "Nothing to it really. We hold tournaments here daily. If you want to enter, simply pick a tier and regis-" Sarene paused as a young man clad in armor walked up to the table nervously. "Excuse me...I know I''m interrupting, but aren''t you-" "You must a Centurion fan." Thadius cut in. "Yes I am! I knew it was you the second you walked into the door! I know this is strange, but...can I have your autograph!?" "Really? I don''t see how-" "I know. I really do, but I never thought I''d get the chance! Please sir!" "I don''t mind, but I don''t have anything to write-" The young man immediately pulled out a quill, some ink, and parchment. Thadius just smiled as he dipped the quill and scratched his signature on the parchment. Then the man shook his hand before running back over to his table. It was the same group that had been whispering when he first walked in. "It seems I''m not the only one who''s popular." Sarene commented as she watched the young man return to his table. Then she turned back to Thadius with a puzzled expression. "What was that about? He seemed absolutely thrilled from you scratching nonsense on a piece of paper." "I''m afraid that''s a story for another time. I''m quite anxious about fighting in the coliseum at the moment." "Another time then. As I was saying, the tiers at the moment are bronze, silver, and gold. You seem strong enough for the gold tier, but your equipment isn''t good enough. So I''d suggest you pick silver when you register." She said as she looked around. The waiting area was beginning to clear out. "Actually, you might want to register now. They should be closing the silver brackets soon." "Oh!" Thadius raised from his chair in excitement. He didn''t want to miss his chance. As he walked passed Sarene, she reached out to stop. She''d thought she''d grabbed his arm, but he was standing a foot from where he was supposed to be. She didn''t grab air though, for in her hand was a single gold coin. "Keep the change." Thadius smiled as he walked up to the counter to register. He filled out the paperwork quickly. It was a simple form asking for a name, tier, and who to send the body to if he died. There weren''t any restrictions as far as level. It was up to the competitor to know their own strengths. "Hey Thadius!" Sarene called from the table. Thadius already had one foot out the door, but he turned to look at her one more time. "Make sure you get to the finals. I heard the champion is pretty strong." "We''ll see about that!" Thadius called back as he rushed out the door. Sarene walked back to the counter carrying the pitcher of Seredin Tea. The other waitresses swarmed her as she reached for the kitchen door. "What did he say!? Spill!" "You two looked like you hit it off!" "Yeah! Tell us!" "Nothing happened. He drank his tea, and we chatted for a bit. Nothing to get so worked up over." Sarene said as she moved on to the kitchen. An old woman was in the back washing the dishes. "Damn those girls. Making you do their job for them." "Don''t worry about it gran. I''m here to clear out the trouble makers after all." She smiled. "I know that look. You found another one didn''t you? Why don''t you just ask for a duel instead of referring them all to the silver tier?" "And ruin the surprise? No way. I enjoy the looks on their faces too much." "I have violent con woman sleeping behind the kitchen..." The old woman sighed as she returned to work. Sarene laughed at the old woman''s plight. "By the way, do we have any lemons left?" "Lemons? Check over there with the rest of the fruit." Sarene continued through the kitchen to a door leading into a back room, grabbing a lemon on the way. It was a simple room with a single bed. There was a suit of armor in the corner with a mythril sword leaning against it. Sarene picked up the sword and tossed the lemon. With a blindingly fast stroke, she cleanly cut the lemon in two. After squeezing a generous amount of lemon juice into the pitcher, she took a sip. The sip turned into a few gulps. Then she dropped the sword as she drained the pitcher with both hands. "Whew. That''s pretty damn good Thadius." She said as she picked up her sword. " And I look forward to seeing you again soon." She grunted as she returned to her sword practice, swinging her sword at blinding speeds. On her bed was a gigantic belt gilded in silver. Chapter 16: Rise of the Iron Dragon RISE OF THE IRON DRAGON Thadius watched as two men stared each other down in the arena. The competitors for the Silver tournament were ushered to the stands until the conclusion of the Gold semi-finals. After the bout was over, Thadius would make his debut. The match was black versus red with the winner going on to face the Gold Champion later on. A rogue, dyed head to toe in crimson leather armor, stood with his face half covered by a cloth. He faced a dark warrior clad in onyx plate mail that mirrored the surroundings and matched his dark hair. They readied their weapons and took their stances. The rogue was armed with a single dagger, and the warrior was carrying two guardless longswords. The combatants stood at the ready, and the spectators were buzzing with anticipation. "Who''s the red guy? Is he supposed to be a ninja?" "I''m more interested in the warrior. Dude looks like he''s about to deal some death." "Not with dual longswords he''s not. He looks ridiculous just holding them." Thadius agreed with the last comment. His master had been against using two weapons of the same length. ''Well, these guys are gold semi-finalist, so this match is bound to be good regardless.'' The drums sounded for the match to begin, and all eyes watched as the dark warrior spread his arms out wide. His swords blazed in the sunlight, and with a flick of his wrists, they shattered into dozens of shards. Each shard was connected to another by razor sharp wire. "Bro!!" "FUCKING CHAIN SWORDS!?" Thadius rocked on his heels in surprise, and the entire stadium shook with excitement as the warrior twirled. The rogue wasn''t impressed, and charged for him with reckless abandon. The fight turned into a deadly game of double-dutch as the rogue ducked and jumped over the blades. He threw two hidden knives at the warrior, but they were easily dodged with perfect timing. However, the knives were more than they seemed. Flames erupted from the blades, swelling into humanoid forms. Then two identical rogues, with matching daggers, entered the fray. "FIRE CLONES!?" "Holy shit!!" "That guy''s a friggin'' Pyromancer!! He has to be!" The dark warrior responded immediately, sweeping the chain swords high and low to force the Pyromancer into taking defensive measures. The original rogue was caught by the high sweep, but he burst into flames as soon as the blades touched him. Having swapped places with one of his clones, he tossed a barrage of fireballs into the warrior¡¯s lethal vortex. The move proved ineffective as the warrior killed the flames by ripping through them. He arched the blades high and whipped them down into the balls of fire. While his response was brilliant, he failed to notice the knife that had fallen from the destroyed clone. The knife glowed an ominous red until an explosion erupted at his heels, blowing him away. "Ah, they''re at it again." a voice said from beside Thadius. The elf wore glittering armor with a helmet to conceal his face, but his pointed ears were clearly visible. "You know those two?" Thadius asked. "I do. They''ve been competing against each other for ages. Mages always want to prove that their magic is stronger." "The warrior is a mage too!?" Thadius cried in astonishment. "Watch..." The man said. In the arena, the warrior lay face down in the sand, struggling to get up. "I''m surprised he wasn''t incapacitated from that. Still, this match is over." "Yep, all the Pyromancer needs to do now is finish it." "Killing blows just makes duels so much better. No more dragged out fights." The crimson mage walked up confidently to the dark warrior and pinned him to the ground with his knee. Then he grabbed a handful of the man''s hair and jerked his head back to slit his throat. As blood pooled on the sand, the crowd went wild. The red mage basked in the cheers with his arms raised in victory. "The fool has completely forgotten who he''s facing." The mysterious man laughed as Thadius looked down at the fight in confusion. The fight was clearly over, yet this man was waiting for something to happen. Suddenly, the body of the warrior twitched and stood up. Blood was still gushing from his throat, and his eyes gleamed bright green. The drummers, that were about to signal the end of the match, watched in astonishment while everyone else completely lost their minds. ¡°NECROOOOOOO!!¡± ¡°What!? ¡°How¡¯s that fair!? NO REVIVES CHEATER!!¡± Thadius¡¯ jaw nearly fell to the floor. The stranger beside him laughed at his expression. ¡°Remember this, friend.¡± he said as he turned to Thadius. ¡°In this world, judging your opponent at first glance can get you killed. Expect anything and everything.¡± ¡°Marius!¡± a voice called from the stairway. It was a man in the same armor as the stranger. ¡°What is it? Have you found them?¡± Marius replied with a serious tone. ¡°They fled the city. Fourscore managed to pick one of them off from the outer wall, but they made it past a hill. He says he can¡¯t hit what he can¡¯t see.¡± ¡°Right. We¡¯ll leave immediately. Oh,¡± Marius turned back to Thadius, ¡°try not to use Pressure out of combat. I know you want to increase its strength, but you¡¯re going about it the wrong way. Just a tip.¡± he said as he followed the man down the stairway. Thadius shook his head. The man had mistaken the strength of Thadius¡¯ Fighting Spirit as Pressure. Had he actually used the skill, the man would likely have gawked in surprise. Out on the area floor, the Pyromancer was fighting for dear life. He had turned around in confusion from the surprised gasps of the crowd, and was caught by the blades and wire that wrapped around his neck. One tug from the Necromancer dug the blades deep into his flesh, and he helplessly spat out blood as he grasped at the wire. With a gurgled word from the Pyromancer, the wire and blades glowed white hot. It was a final attack to try and make his torturer drop his weapon. The Necromancer¡¯s hand caught fire, but he didn¡¯t loosen his grip. Then the second tug dropped the Pyromancer to his knees. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s out cold.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s as good as dead now¡­¡± ¡°FINISH HIM!!¡± The final tug separated the Pyromancer¡¯s head from his body while the heated blades seared the flesh. A headless man fell to the side in a smoking heap as beating drums signaled the end of the match. Arena hands came out and cleared away the body as an organizer came and addressed Thadius and the waiting competitors. ¡°All Silver tourney competitors follow me please.¡± the man said as he descended the stairs. More than 50 people followed him down. They were lead back to the entrance way of the coliseum and through the door that was used for gladiators. A staircase lead down into the gladiatorial compound, where huge iron wrought gates separated them from the killers on either side. The walls were lined with men sticking their hands through the gate, trying to rattle the newcomers. ¡°I like that robe boy! Give it to me!¡± ¡°Uh oh, that one looks like a squealer!¡± ¡°Go home back to yo¡¯ mammy boy!¡± Thadius could only smile at them as he passed. He had always wanted to experience this atmosphere. His heart pounded as each step brought him closer to the center of the coliseum, and his palms sweat with anticipation. He wanted to yell. He wanted to bellow a battle cry at the top of his lungs. But he stopped himself so that all his pent up energy could explode into a hurricane of swordplay. With his thoughts on the battle to come, he completely lost control of his Ambient Pressure. The gladiators along the walls fell silent one by one, and the competitors all looked at the back of the man in the white robe as they stood in front of the gate leading to the arena outside. The crowd that was usually cheering for more, was now talking in hushed tones. Something truly terrifying was about to come out of the gates below, and they all could feel it. The organizer turned around and nearly soiled himself when he saw the devilish grin on Thadius¡¯ face. ¡°E-everyone! Everyone listen please!¡± he said nervously. ¡°We have many competitors for the silver tournament! So we¡¯ll be holding a battle royale until eight people remain standing! Should you wish to yield, please come back to the gate!¡± ¡°Excuse me sir?¡± Thadius asked as calmly as he possibly could. ¡°Y-yes sir!?¡± ¡°Are we the only competitors?¡± ¡°N-n-no. There are three other entrances into the coliseum, s-so there are three other gates with competitors.¡± ¡°I see..¡± The smile faded from Thadius¡¯ face. At the mention of even more opponents, his Fighting Aura had caught fire, threatening to burn him from the inside out. Not yet¡­. ¡°Is everyone ready!?¡± the organizer cried out. Taking another nervous glance at Thadius. Everyone nodded. ¡°Then please enter the arena, and don¡¯t start fighting until the drums sound!¡± the organizer said as he nodded to the men outside. The gates slowly opened. Thadius activated his Concentration as soon as the gate was up. Everything slowed down, and every movement he made was deliberately slow as he walked out. Other competitors walked around him in a wide berth while they rushed out the gate. Warriors and other melee classes spread out in the middle, sizing each other up and appraising equipment. Archers and mages took the outside perimeter, picking their targets while keeping an eye on each other. Thadius ignored all of them. His eyes were down as he walked to the very center of the arena. No one had wanted to be in the middle when the fight broke out, so all eyes turned to him as he took the hotspot. Thadius bent down and grabbed a handful of the ancient sand. How many men had fallen in this very spot? How many people had immortalized themselves on these grounds? Such questions were the only thing on Thadius¡¯ mind as he rubbed the sand against his sweaty palms. His pulse thundered in his ears as he slowly drew his shield and sword. There were at least 70 people in the arena, and they all knew he was dangerous. Even though his equipment was of low quality, his pressure told a different story. The only question was, exactly how dangerous was he? The drums of battle sounded throughout the silent arena. The audience held their breath, and none of the competitors moved. They all wanted to see what the man in white would do. ¡¯Not yet¡¯ Thadius willed himself. He turned his head to look at the closest opponent, and raised his sword to call him out. As if a spell had been broken, the warrior charged Thadius with his sword raised high. Thadius zeroed in on the warriors neck, looking for any sign of the chain that signified a status card. He had no qualms killing Travelers. To them, death was but an inconvenience. He was; however, reluctant to end the life of an NPC. They only had one life to live. The man that ran towards him showed no signs of a tag, marking him as the first victim of the day. Thadius swayed as the sword came down at him. The speed was laughable, and he turned the blow aside with ease. With his opponent off balance, he aimed for the collar of his armor. The sword pierce the warriors neck, severed arteries, and punctured a lung. In moments the unfortunate warrior was sliding off of Thadius¡¯ sword to the ground.
You¡¯ve killed Glorious Ross in single combat. +242 Fame
You¡¯ve leveled up You¡¯ve leveled up ¡­
The crowd went wild, signifying the official start of the bloodbath. Archers nocked their arrows, Mages prepared their spells, and warriors charged each other. In the center of the arena, 3 fighters charged Thadius, aiming to bring him down early. The Traveler on the right went down just as quickly as the first. Thadius smashed his face with the edge of his shield and quickly slashed his throat.
Thomas Fancy killed in single combat. +198 Fame
You¡¯ve leveled up You¡¯ve leveled up You¡¯ve leveled up ¡­
Thadius turned to face the other two. One of the attackers was equipped with thick leather armor. The other looked to be a warrior type, and was armored from head to toe in massive steel plating. The rogue hid his presence, or tried too, and circled around him. The steel plated warrior charged from front. "Piercing Thrust!" the warrior cried. Thadius watched his opponent¡¯s sword carefully while keeping tabs on the sneaking rogue with his Aura and Sense Presence. Time seemed to slow as he watched the warrior lose himself to the skill while red after images followed his every move. ¡¯This is!¡¯ Thadius¡¯ nearly lost his head to the thrust in his momentary lapse, but he ducked and raised his shield in time to deflect the blow. A fierce screeching rang in his ears as the steel blade shave his iron shield. It was at this moment when the rogue decided to strike. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d caught Thadius on his knees and unaware. Yet, he received a surprise of his own when Thadius disappeared right in front of his eyes, reappearing behind him to thrust a sword into his back. Unfortunately, the material was much too tough, and the rogue escaped to hide his presence again. Thadius wouldn¡¯t give him the chance. Following the afterimages from before, he tried using Piercing Thrust: a quick lunge, with a subtle twist of the wrist. Thadius made the twist perfectly, but he¡¯d lunged too far. The result was a light stab into the rogue¡¯s abdomen. ¡¯Dammit! I should¡¯ve known it wasn¡¯t that easy!¡¯ Thadius cursed silently as the plated warrior came in for round two. ¡°Triple Slash!¡± the man cried out. Thadius swayed with his opponents sword, letting his shield barely touch the steel as he guided every strike. A tracing of the move followed, and this time, he was ready. A monstrous Triple Slash was unleashed with a speed and strength behind it that made the previous one seem like child¡¯s play. The first slash came from below and removed the warrior¡¯s helmet. The second slash was a spinning attack from above, slashing opening the warrior¡¯s face. As he crashed ground, a glint of a silver chain flashed around his neck. ¡¯Dammit! Thadius cursed as he slowed down the final slash. The rogue had jumped up behind him, and was planning to strike from the air. Carrying the momentum of the third slash, Thadius swept low and flipped horizontally, slicing a large cut in the rogue¡¯s thighs. They both fell to the ground, but Thadius fell on his shield and rolled upright. The rogue wouldn¡¯t be standing anytime soon.
You¡¯ve learned Triple Slash LV. 19 Intermediate
Thadius quickly surveyed the battleground. To say it was a mayhem was an understatement. Flames could be seen on the other side of the crowd. Giant towers of rock rose up from the ground where an archer had perched himself on top, only to be shot down by another archer. Several presences approached him then. They had watched his previous battle, and felt that they could overwhelm him with numbers. He could tell by the way they looked at each other that they were cooperating. Five warriors, two rogues, and an archer. Eight on one. The odds were against him, but Thadius¡¯ Holy Fighting Aura was fitting to burst from the challenge. If he didn¡¯t let in out soon, he would explode. As he thought that, the rogue he let get away, latched onto his leg. ¡°Get ¡®im!¡± he cried out. A brief lapse in concentration was all it took to end up dead. That¡¯s what Thadius learned at that moment. He barely dodged an arrow because he was unable to pivot to his shield arm, and it slashed his cheek. Taking advantage of his immobility, the others came in all at once to attack. It didn¡¯t matter who killed him as long as the threat to their tourney spot was dead. ¡°Final Wave!¡± ¡°Hurricane Cuts!¡± ¡°Heavy Smash!¡± They all cried out their skills as Thadius¡¯ skin burned with his Aura, and just when he thought he¡¯d combust, he let it out. A terrifying roar echoed through the stadium and steam rose from from his skin. 20 people instantly dropped to the ground, gasping for breath. Thadius¡¯ Holy Fighting Aura had capped, and as money can burn a hole in one¡¯s pocket, his Holy Fighting Aura nearly burned a hole in him. With half of it spent to power his Dragon¡¯s Roar, his body cooled down. It seemed that he would have to constantly spend it during combat, or risk the burn. With his Aura flowing through him, and stretched to the limit, Thadius stepped on the fainted rogue at his feet. There were skirmishes all around the arena, and Thadius was eager to hop back into the fray. When he turned to stalk the ranged fighters at the edge of the battlefield, new victims came to attack him. Thadius used his shield to ram an NPC rogue that came too close, successfully using Piercing Thrust on her shoulder as she was blown back from the force.
You¡¯ve successfully learned Shield Bash LV. 1 Novice
You¡¯ve successfully learned Piercing Thrust. LV. 2 Novice
Then a warrior with flaming sword approached him from behind, trying to sneak in an attack from his blind spot. Thadius turned on a dime to unleash a full powered Dragon Claw. ¡°Flamin-¡± the Spellsword¡¯s words were cut short as four slashes raked her torso, causing him to flip from the strength behind it. The woman died as she hit the ground, but Thadius didn¡¯t receive any experience from the kill. Nor did he receive any fame. The woman must have received damage from another source before she ran into him. Thadius fought anyone that approached him. He showed no mercy to Travelers while removing NPCs from combat. Shouts and screams filled the air along with the smell of blood and iron. He lost track of time as he fought, but after a while, only a few were left standing. Near the end of the battle, an arrow flew through his Aura, and Thadius raised his shield to block it. Half the arrow pierced right through his shield, and the arrowhead glowed an ominous red. It glowed just like the knife that had sent the Necromancer flying. ¡¯Shit!¡¯ Thadius threw his shield without a moments delay. It flew through the air, sailing back into the direction of the archer that shot at him. Thadius pushed his Aura completely from his body to hide himself. Then he sprinted for the archer, hoping to get to him before he could shoot anymore exploding arrows. Fortunately, fate was on his side. His shield exploded in mid-air, and the force of the blast brought it crashing onto the head of the archer.
Your expert aiming has unlocked a new skill.
Throw LV.22 Novice Able to use objects as projectile weapons. Damage increase with level.
The archer was still dazed as Thadius made his presence known. ¡°Stand up archer! If you wish to face me, then face me while my eyes are on you!¡± Thadius pressured the archer little by little with every step he took. The archer, who¡¯d regained his senses, struggled to nock an arrow with his unsteady hands. ¡°I¡¯m coming for you archer! You¡¯ll have a few moments to attack before my blade reaches you!¡± The archer dropped to one knee to balance himself and to save his rapidly depleting stamina for the shot. Thadius sprinted for him with barely 10ft(3m) of distance between the two. Then the archer fired his last shot, only to watch it sail over Thadius as he slid on his knees in the sand. The showdown ended with Thadius looking down on the gasping man. He raised his sword to deal the final blow to the Traveler, but the distant banging of drums stopped him. He immediately sheathed his sword and reigned in his Ambient Pressure. Then he helped the shivering acher off the ground. ¡°That last shot would have killed me it I hadn¡¯t dodged it. Your eyes gave you away though. You¡¯ll have to work on that.¡± Thadius said as he brushed the man off and patted him on the back. ¡°A-as if I could aim properly under all that pressure!¡± Thadius laughed as he picked up his shield a few feet away. It was covered in deep scratches, and there was a gaping hole from where the archer¡¯s arrow had pierced through. ¡°There¡¯s a blacksmith that can take a look at it when you get back inside.¡± the archer said to him as he turned to head back for the gates. Thadius nodded to him in thanks and made his way back in the opposite direction. He passed the arena hands on their way out to collect the dead and the unconscious. 70 people had been reduced to 8 in less than an hour, and all of the winners were taken to see a priest inside the gladiator¡¯s compound to heal. After the gash on his face was taken care of, Thadius asked for directions to the arena blacksmith. He was taken down a side passage, not far from where he entered the arena, by one of the organizers . The end of the passage opened into an enormous space with dozens of forges and blacksmiths swinging their hammers at white hot metal. They stopped at one of the first forges, where a bald dwarf was checking on the temperature of the flames. ¡°A competitor? What can I do for you?¡± he asked gruffly. Without a word, Thadius handed over his shield to the man. ¡°Shield huh? Shouldn¡¯t be too long before I have it in fighting shape.¡± he said as he hobbled over to his forge. ¡°How much will this cost me exactly, Mr.?¡± ¡°The name¡¯s Durnon. And It won¡¯t cost you a single coin. The coliseum takes care of the repair fees. So just take a seat, and I¡¯ll be done if a jiffy.¡± Thadius sat on the floor near the edge of the forge while the dwarf set to work. He had gained quite a few levels from the last battle, and it was about time he actually used some of his stat points. Since he¡¯d first leveled up from killing Corban, he didn¡¯t think it was actually necessary to use his stat points since he was already far above his counterparts stat wise. Yet, in the battle royal, he¡¯d learned that fights won¡¯t always come down to one on one. Not only that, he was constantly reminded that he was still green behind the ears when it came to actual combat. When his ankle had been caught, why didn¡¯t he just kick the rogue off of his leg with all his strength? He may have been able to move just enough to shield himself from the arrow that scratched him. There were many things he could have done, but until he could gain enough experience on the battlefield, he would have to rely on his stats and abilities to keep him safe. So now was a good a time as any to apply his stat points. ¡°View status.¡±
Available Stat Points: 530
The Iron Dragon, Hand of Tegaia
CLASS Sword Scholar
NAME Thadius RACE Human
FAME: 2207 LV. 54
ALIGNMENT Good +784
HEALTH 15700/15700
STAMINA 20540/20540
VITALITY 1570 STRENGTH 3052
DEXTERITY 1842 WISDOM 912
INTELLECT 1598 LEADERSHIP 0
CHARM 223 FAITH 684
FIGHTING SPIRIT 5077 ENDURANCE 147
CHARISMA 16
MAGIC RESISTANCE
ICE 99% FIRE 0% EARTH 0% DARK -10%
WIND 0% LIGHTNING 0% HOLY 15% WATER 0%
+Weapon mastery skills gain x10 EXP - No experience from lower level enemies +50% EXP from higher level enemies +100% EXP and from solo boss kills +Bewitching smile +Divine White +NPCs intimacy raises faster
What he found himself needing in the battle royale, was speed. Mainly, the speed to react to unfamiliar situations. So he was definitely going to invest heavily into dexterity. On the other hand, he also wanted to raise his intelligence. He hadn¡¯t really been using it all that much, but it was one of the skills that could be easily boosted thanks to his class. It would be a shame if he needed it later on and it wasn¡¯t as high as it should be. With those thoughts in mind, he invested 200 points into Intellect and the rest into Dexterity. Since the number of points he invested into both were doubled, it was equivalent to investing 100 levels worth of stat points, leaving his Intellect close to 2000 and his Dexterity a little over 2500. By the time he was finished applying his skill points, the dwarf was walking over to him with his shield and a confused look on his face. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Thadius asked with concern. Carson had said his shield could be repaired normally, but he was still worried that it couldn¡¯t be done without some extraordinary measures. ¡°It¡¯s nothing really... I could have sworn this shield was made of iron, but the iron I used didn¡¯t take hold. So when I used steel it- Here, have a look for yourself.¡± the dwarf said as he handed Thadius his shield. The soul-bound weapon had gone through considerable change. The first thing Thadius noticed, was that it was lighter than before, despite having been repaired with steel. It was also a tad bit larger. The shield had covered most of his torso before, but now it completely defended his chest and abdomen. Should he need to block from the front, the shield would adequately protect his vitals. In addition to the weight and size, the composition of the shield had also changed. The front of the shield was still bald and plain; however, if viewed from the side, there was now a ultra thin layer of iron that was sandwiched between two layers of steel. ¡°How did you make two layers in such a short amount of time?¡± Thadius asked curiously. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I was only going to patch the hole and fill in the scratches. Then your shield just sort of¡­ absorbed it. It¡¯s the strangest thing¡­¡± ¡¯So the shield had flat out refused the iron ingot and settled for steel instead? That doesn¡¯t explain the lighter weight...It didn¡¯t change when I leveled after fighting the Chaotic player. So does it grow when I apply my stats? ¡¯
Thadius¡¯ Battle Buckler
Type: Shield Durability: 1475/1475
Quality: Normal Defense: 1480
The shield of the Iron Dragon Thadius. Tested, not long after its forging, in the arena of the Grand Coliseum in Todos. Even after it was hacked by swords, slammed against armor, and punctured by an exploding arrow, Thadius picked it up from the blood stained sand. More tests are yet to come. +Always infused with Holy Fighting Aura +Shield skills level 5% faster
The name and description had also changed with its evolution. Thadius felt a tingle down his spine as he thought of how epic his shield would be in the future. And all he had to do was use it. ¡°Thank you for your work, sir. Should I need anymore repairs, I¡¯ll come straight to you.¡± ¡°Please do. I¡¯m extremely curious about that shield of yours. Might I ask who forged it?¡± ¡°That depends...can you keep a secret?¡± Thadius smiled as he looked down at the man. ¡°I¡¯m a dwarf. Whatever you tell me in my forge is just between us.¡± ¡°This weapon was soulforged by the the blacksmith Carson.¡± ¡°A soulbound weapon....¡± the dwarf said in awe. ¡°I¡¯d never thought I¡¯d see one myself. The art was abandoned long ago when it was discovered that it shortened the forgers life span. Whoever forged that for you must have thought very highly of you. Treat it well.¡± ¡°...I will.¡± Thadius said quietly as he turned to leave. So Carson had shortened his life span to give him, what could quite possibly be, his greatest weapon. Thadius hoped that he would get another chance to truly thank his master¡¯s brother as he made his way back to the amatuer waiting area. If the reaction to him was bad the first time, then it was terrible the second time. After his overwhelming display in the arena and the fame he¡¯d gathered from killing, Thadius had proven himself as someone to be feared. Thankfully, there were fewer people in the pseudo tavern than there were earlier. The bulk of them were still being cleaned out of the arena. Thadius took his previous table, setting his shield against his chair as a familiar face came out to greet him. ¡°So the Iron Dragon returns to our humble establishment.¡± Sarene smiled as she sat down in her previous seat. Thadius struggled against temptation as her beauty monopolized his senses. ¡°I¡¯m just thankful that I survived. I had no idea it was going to be a free-for-all.¡± ¡°From what I heard, many are thankful that they survived you.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad.¡± Thadius waved his hand. Sarene raised an eyebrow. ¡°We could hear your mighty roar from here Thadius. One of the few that quit the field came in running from what he called ¡®a dragon in a man¡¯s body¡¯. And look at your robe, all those cut and scratches, but not a single drop of blood. Just how skilled are you?¡± she wondered with narrow eyes. Thadius smoothed out his ruined robe. His master had made it so that no blood could be spilled on it. It could still get dirty, but he¡¯d never have to worry about blood stains. ¡°I could ask you the same thing. All this terrible talk about me and you seem to be the only one who¡¯s perfectly fine with it.¡± Thadius countered. ¡°What can I say? I was raised by Amazons. To them, beauty is strength, and strength is beautiful.¡± ¡°Raised by Amazons? Now that sounds like quite the story¡­¡± Thadius said as he leaned forward in interest. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t. You still owe me the story about what you wrote for that man earlier.¡± she laughed. The sound was music to his ears. ¡°Well, it seems I have a bit of time till the tourney rounds actually start. But if i¡¯m going to tell such a long story, I¡¯m going to need something to drink.¡± ¡°I know just the thing.¡± she said, tapping the table as she walked to the back towards the kitchen. She returned with a pitcher of Seredin tea and two glasses, pouring some for the both of them before she sat down. One look at the glass had Thadius suddenly parched, and he drained the contents quickly. The extra bit of tang caught him off guard. ¡°Mmm!¡± Sarene laughed at his facial expression. ¡°I told you I¡¯d try it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s even better than I imagined.¡± he replied as he poured another glass. ¡°Much better.¡± she agreed, taking a generous sip from her own glass. ¡°Now, tell me about what transpired between you and our guest.¡± ¡°Well, first I¡¯ll have to explain to you about the game of football.¡± --- Church of Thena, Todos, Todos Kingdom ~ Sometime earlier... Christina was being lead down a wide corridor to the girls dormitories by one of the priests. Yuna was following beside her using Vanish. After years of being blind, she could sense presences to some extent, but trying to find Yuna was completely beyond her. As such, she felt all alone as she trailed behind the stranger. As soon as she walked into the building after being dropped off by Thadius, she was immediately given a set of robes and a tour by the priest. He was tall and thin with hair only covering the sides of his head. He seemed nice enough, but whenever he smiled, Christina had to resist an urge to shudder. Even though she didn¡¯t really know him, she could tell that he was one of the men that Thadius had warned her about so long ago: a man without self control. ¡°And this here is the girls dormitory.¡± he said as he stopped by a staircase that lead to the second floor. ¡°Now should you need anything Christina,¡± he said as he put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Be sure to let me know.¡± ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m sure I can manage.¡± she replied as she moved away to walk up the staircase. She didn¡¯t want him to touch her under any circumstances. The priests eyes flashed with anger briefly from such a quick refusal, but he quickly concealed it. ¡°Well, in any case. I¡¯ll be here if you need me.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Christina replied. She waited a few seconds for him to walk away before she climbed the stairs. She didn¡¯t even want the priest to watch her without her knowing. ¡°That guy feels really weak.¡± a voice said from beside her. Christina jumped. She couldn¡¯t even tell that Yuna was standing right next to her! It was a weird feeling. ¡°W-what do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, I know he can¡¯t fight since he¡¯s a priest and all, but he just feels really weak mentally I guess. I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s hard to explain. It¡¯s like the way he acts and talks is a complete lie.¡± Yuna whispered beside her. ¡°Well let¡¯s just hope we won¡¯t have to run into him too often. I don¡¯t like the way he looks at me.¡± ¡°I bet if it was Thadius that looked at you like that, you¡¯d be happy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because Thadius is different.¡± Christina replied with her chin raised. Yuna sighed heavily beside her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Your head is filled with ¡®stuff¡¯ isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No it¡¯s not! And you brought it up!¡± she blushed. ¡°Your lies hurt my ears.¡± Yuna sighed again, shaking her head at her friend¡¯s hopelessness. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Yuna!¡± ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± Christina looked up at a face peeking from behind the doorway at the top of the stairs. It was a young girl with freckles and dark brown pigtails. Her thick spectacles made her eyes look huge. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just...talking out loud. Please forget about it, it¡¯s quite embarrassing. My name is Christina. I¡¯m going to be a priestess initiate starting today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Teta.¡± the girl said as she opened the door. Behind the door was a one large room with several rows of bunk beds. When Christina walked in, several faces turned toward her from the beds while the Teta examined her closely. ¡°You¡¯re really pretty.¡± Teta said, tugging on the sleeve of her coat. She was even smaller than Yuna. ¡°Thank you.¡± Christina smiled at her. ¡°Oh, we got another one!¡± One of the girls rushed over from her bed. She had a darker skin tone with cat ears and a long tail. ¡°Hi! My name¡¯s Esaa. I joined today too! Just like Teta. There¡¯s an open bed beside mine so all of us initiates can be together!¡± she said excitedly as she pulled Christina by the hand. ¡°Right. Here¡¯s where home is gonna be for the time being. I sleep on the top. Teta sleeps on the bottom, and you can sleep over there!¡± Esaa pointed to the bottom bed of the bunk next to her. ¡°I hope we can stay together when we become priestesses too! I heard that priestesses only sleep four to a room, so I want to make some friends so we can stick together.¡± she said as her tail swished happily. Her slanted yellow eyes were dancing with happiness. ¡°It¡¯s good to have friends.¡± Teta added as she looked up at Christina, pushing her spectacles back up her nose. ¡°That¡¯s fine with me, it¡¯ll be lonely if I don¡¯t have anyone to talk too.¡± Christina said as she removed her coat. ¡°Is there anywhere I can change? I¡¯d like to change into my robe.¡± ¡°The bathroom is on the first floor, so you might as well change here. No one will mind. Right everybody!?¡± Esaa asked the room. There were a few murmurs of agreement. Otherwise, no one paid her much attention. Christina shrugged as she changed, stripping down to her undergarments to put on her priestesses robe. ¡°What¡¯s that!?¡± Esaa asked excitedly as she looked Christina over with wide eyes. Christina was wearing a black set of the first generation of Wolf Gear. The black sports bra and matching briefs complemented her fair skin. ¡°Oh, this? It was a gift, I suppose.¡± she blushed. She never thought she¡¯d get the chance to show off her gift from Thadius. ¡°Who gives you undergarments for a gift!? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ YOU HAVE A LOVER!?¡± ¡°Shh!!¡± Christina hissed as she rushed to cover Esaa¡¯s unnecessarily loud mouth. ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­.yet.¡± By this time, other initiates had gathered to take a look. ¡°It looks pretty comfortable. Where did you get it?¡± ¡°How much did it cost? It is better than a strap?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like black though, does it come in different colors?¡± ¡°Wait a minute! The person who makes these hasn¡¯t started to sell them yet. So even if you ask me, I can¡¯t really answer the questions about how much it cost or the colors. It is quite comfortable though.¡± ¡°Then tell us who made it so we can ask them instead!¡± Esaa demanded. ¡°Well his name is-¡± ¡°So it is a man! Tell us everything!¡± Esaa demanded as she grabbed Christina¡¯s shoulders. Christina looked around for some help from her fellow initiates, but the rest of them looked just as interested as Esaa. ¡°Well, his name is Thadius, and I met him in Yune more than four years ago-¡± --- Grand Coliseum, Todos, Todos Kingdom After waiting for the first matches to conclude. Thadius stood once more in front of the iron gate leading into the arena. This time he was alone, swinging his sword to test his new found Dexterity. The sword itself was in a sorry state. It had a huge dent in it from when he slashed off the warrior¡¯s helmet in the battle royale. He¡¯d given priority to his shield¡¯s repairs and had neglected to get his sword looked at. Still, the fact that it dented so easily was a bad sign. ¡¯What else could I have expected from something I got for free?¡¯ he thought as he swung with renewed speed. From what the organizer told him, the main tournament matches would happen in rapid succession, followed by the bronze tournament. After all the tournaments were concluded, the winners would then be given the opportunity to face the Champion of the tier for coin and a Champion¡¯s Belt. Needless to say, if he wanted to get repairs done, it would have to be right after this match. The gate opened as his thoughts were occupied. An identical door opened on the other side, and his opponent cautiously walked out as the drums sounded. When Thadius walked out, the warrior went pale as a ghost. Thadius wasted no time, running straight for his opponent with his shield raised in front of him. The warrior was stricken with fear as the imposing Thadius rushed him, and he lashed out in desperation. The attack was so slow that Thadius hid his presence, fearing that the attack was a feint. Yet, the warrior just looked around wildly. Then it occurred to Thadius that the poor man wouldn¡¯t be much of an opponent. In one fluid motion, Thadius cut into his hamstrings and held a blade to his neck when he fell back to the ground. ¡°Please spare me! I have a family!¡± the man cried out desperately. He¡¯d hoped he wouldn¡¯t face the monster from the battle royale, but his prayers hadn¡¯t been answered. All he could do was beg for mercy. ¡°Status card.¡± Thadius said quietly. ¡°H-here it is!¡± ¡°You are a fortunate man, Mr. Riley. I strongly suggest you go home and spend time with your children.¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± the man quickly crawled out of the arena, much to the disappointment of the crowd. With the last match of the first round over, the second round commenced immediately. Thadius hurried down to the Durnon¡¯s forge. ¡°Back so soon?¡± the dwarf asked as he hammered away. ¡°I completely forgot to have my sword repaired. Can it be done in time for my second match?¡± The dwarf scratched his thick beard with a sorry face. ¡°No can do. I have a pile of repairs at the moment. If you leave it with me, I can definitely have it done by the third round though. If you make it that far.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make it!¡± Thadius declared as he handed over the iron sword. All he had was a dagger, but if the last was any indication, he wouldn¡¯t need to worry so much. Thadius paced in front of the gate leading into the arena. With only one match ahead of his second match, he decided to stay close instead of heading back to the waiting area. The chance that the match would end just as quickly as his was a possibility he couldn¡¯t ignore, and he was far too excited to sit still. A thick mist covered the arena beyond the gate, removing any chances of seeing who his opponent would be for the last round. So while he waited, he acquainted himself with the range of his dagger, flowing through the movements of Dragon¡¯s Scales to quickly get accustomed to the change in range. The form wasn¡¯t made for a dagger, but it shouldn¡¯t be too much of a problem if he stayed attentive. Minutes passed, and before long, a resounding scream echoed from the arena. Then the mist cleared, and in the center of the sand lay a motionless rogue with a hooded figure standing over him. From the staff in his hand, Thadius knew immediately that his last match would be against a mage if he could make it past the next round. Arena hands immediately rushed out to the sound of drums to clear the body from the field. Then an organizer came up behind Thadius, surprised to find him already in place before him. The gates opened, and Thadius¡¯ Ambient Pressure washed over the arena once more. Unlike the first time, the audience in the stands yelled louder once the shiver rolled down their spines. To them, it was all a part of his appeal as a fighter. He walked out into the evening sunlight with his eyes glued to the opposite gate. Would his opponent be a better match this time? Out the other side came a warrior clad in sparkling white armor. He walked out with his sword raised to the sky and a face full of confidence. It appeared that Thadius would get the fight he was looking for. They stopped a few feet a part from each other in the center of the arena. The drummers had delayed the start in an attempt to raise the tension since the last few matches had been let downs. ¡°Thena watches over me, sir! I will attain victory in her name this day!¡± the Paladin spoke reverently. Even Thadius could feel his faith, but the sweat on the man¡¯s brow betrayed his discomfort from Thadius¡¯ Ambient Pressure. ¡°And Tegaia watches over me. I look forward to seeing who emerges victorious.¡± ¡°As do I.¡± The sound of drums echoed across the arena, and the Paladin wasted no time. ¡°Holy Light!¡± he cried out. His armor immediately blazed to life, robbing Thadius of his sight. The Paladin had taken initiative, hoping to use his advantage to end the match quickly. Unfortunately for him, Thadius was more than able to fight without his sight. The downward slice that was aimed at his head was swiftly turned aside by his newly evolved shield. Thadius responded quickly with his dagger, thrusting it at the man¡¯s neck. *Chink The dagger found no purchase against the shirt of chainmail that lay beneath the armor. If the underlying chainmail was a no go, then the armor would definitely pose a problem. ¡¯Then how the hell am I suppose to do this!?¡¯ ¡°Holy Slash!¡± the warrior cried as he recovered with a diagonal slice. The angle was low, forcing Thadius to roll to the side, but there was slight burning sensation as he dodged the move by a hairs breadth. Thadius slowly opened his eyes to find small white flames on his shoulder. He patted the fire out quickly, then parried the lunge that followed after him. As the Paladin stumbled, Thadius hid his presence to give him time to think. The Paladin wasn¡¯t slow, but he wasn¡¯t fast enough to give Thadius any trouble. The problem was his defense. Without any way to inflict some damage, the match would drag on. Not that it wouldn¡¯t be a favorable situation for him. The one pressed for time in this situation was the Paladin, who was already starting to breath rapidly. ¡¯I need more power, maybe if I¡­¡¯ Thadius drew his Holy Fighting Aura from his body, which removed it from his shield, and infused his dagger with it. Small white flames danced on the edge, and the light bounced off of it beautifully. Then Thadius rushed the Paladin, using shield bash to knock him off balance. He thrust again for the chainmail protecting the man¡¯s throat. This time, the tip of the dagger slid through the links, resulting in a superficial wound. However; progress had been made. The Paladin jumped back from the thrust to create more space between him and his foe, but Thadius had hidden once again, determined to try once more. This time he came from the side, slashing at the warrior¡¯s helmet. A brilliant flash of white left an afterimage as a deep groove was made. The result was less than satisfactory. ¡¯If that¡¯s the case. Then I¡¯ll have to try my theory. His dagger, infused with Holy Fighting Aura, could get passed the high defense of the metal. Yet, he still needed more strength to push it a little farther¡­ ¡°...and let my enemy know that he walks on sacred ground.¡± the Paladin chanted. While Thadius had been using his time to think of a plan. His opponent was preparing for a huge skill. ¡¯Shi-¡¯ ¡°SMITE!¡± the Paladin bellowed. A huge wave of white flames washed out from him in every direction. Thadius crouched to the ground, using his shield to take the brunt of the attack. Holy flames still licked at him from the edges, and they were much hotter than before. ¡°Argh!!¡±
-6765hp
Thadius rolled into the sand to try and kill the flames. Most of them were put out, but the fire highlighted him while his presence was hidden, leading the Paladin directly to him. He rose to one knee and raised his shield to stop the Slash that aimed to take his life. Then another, and another as the Paladin slashed at him in desperation. ¡¯Now or never!¡¯Thadius thought as he reached out to stab the Paladin¡¯s knee. Unlike the previous attacks, he waited until the blade was inches away from his target before he fused the weapon with his Aura. Then when the dagger pierced the armor, he returned his Aura to his body and drove the blade in with sheer strength. The Paladin screamed as he fell to the ground. Thadius was on top of him in an instant, ready to drive the blade home. Just before he went for the kill, he pulled on the chainmail that had given him so much trouble to find the familiar chain hanging around his neck. ¡°Yield, and I will spare you.¡± Thadius declared through gritted teeth. Had he killed the man with his first attack, he would have ended yet another life. He was disappointed at himself for acting so rash. ¡°I will not yield! Do what you will! I will gladly go to Thena¡¯s side.¡± the Paladin spat. ¡°Last chance. Do you really want to end your life in a coliseum when you could be out there doing your Goddess¡¯ will?¡± The Paladin lay still as he thought. Thadius watched as the emotions played on his face. In the end, he just nodded and dropped his sword.
+12 Wisdom
¡°I¡¯m glad you saw reason.¡± Thadius said as he helped the warrior off the ground. Just as they were making their way back to the gate, one of the organizers came running out to Thadius. ¡°Sir, this is a bit unorthodox, but we¡¯d like you to start the semi-final match immediately. We have an exceedingly large number of bronze tournament participants today, and we would like to get the last tournament underway as soon as possible.¡± he gasped as he leaned over to catch his breath. ¡°I understand, but I¡¯d like to have my sword before we begin. There is a dwarven smith by the name of Durnon who was working on it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll retrieve it immediately!¡± the organizer said as he ran back into the compound. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave. May your Goddess watch over you.¡± the Paladin said as he patted Thadius on the back. Life or death struggles had a funny way of making friends out of enemies. ¡°I¡¯ll ask her to watch over you as well. Don¡¯t be too quick to throw away your life in the future.¡± ¡°If my Goddess demands it, then I will give it gladly. Though¡­ I understand what you¡¯re trying to say.¡± the Paladin said as he headed back towards the gate he came out of. Just as he was leaving, the organizer returned with Thadius¡¯ sword. Sweat was pouring down his face. ¡°Here..you go. The match¡­ will begin immediately.¡± he said. Right on cue, drums echoed across the stadium. The organizer sprinted for the closing gate as if he gained a second wind, and Thadius turned to face a blue robed figure whos face was hidden beneath a large hood. With a staff in one hand, he lifted the other in Thadius¡¯ direction. Thadius braced himself for a projectile as he raised his shield, erasing his presence and moving closer to the mage in a wide arc. Suddenly, water gushed forth from his hand, turning the field into muddy ground. The move didn¡¯t stop Thadius¡¯ approach, nor did it give away his position. Masters of Hide Presence didn¡¯t leave any traces of their passage no matter what ground they walked on. Thadius soon discovered the mage¡¯s intentions as he pointed his staff toward the wet ground. ¡°Ice Age.¡± A wave of frost quickly spread from the staff to the wet ground, freezing everything in its path. Unable to escape the range of the AOE spell, Thadius was instantly encased in ice. ¡°Not so tough now¡­¡± the mage muttered as he aimed another spell at his frozen opponent. Against really troublesome opponents, all he had to do was freeze and destroy. He formed several ice lances to finish off Thadius, but while he was preparing the spell. Steam started to rise rapidly from the frozen man. Then the ice cracked and shattered as Thadius shook off the the frozen chunks. ¡°What!?¡± the mage cried out as he shot out his ice lances. Thadius just grinned as he sprinted through the rain of spears. He finally got his opportunity to fight a mage. He just hoped that Curtis was watching. The mage wouldn¡¯t let him approach so easily, shooting out a jet of flame from both hands as he retreated further. Thadius couldn¡¯t see the mage past his shield as he blocked the flames, but he honed in on the mages presence to drive him into a corner.
-2409hp
The heat of the fire started to warm the steel touching Thadius¡¯ arm. He grit his teeth as a scream tried to escape his lips. If he threw his shield down now, he would know the true meaning of hot. The mage shut off the flamethrower as soon as he realized Thadius was still pushing through the flames. Then aimed his staff at his hand, spraying water into his burning hand like he did in the match before. From inside, he could set the stage for some of his deadlier spells. A dagger to his shoulder interrupted his spell casting. ¡¯It¡¯s a lot harder than it looks.¡¯ Thadius thought as he sprinted for the wounded mage. He had aimed for the throat. The mage raised his staff in his uninjured arm. Knowing he could at least give Thadius pause with his ice magic, he pointed his staff at the ground. He was interrupted again as a sword flew in his direction. He managed to dodged it, but the maneuver cost him precious time. Thadius bashed the mage with his shield, sending him sprawling to the ground. Then he grabbed his sword and drove it into man¡¯s chest before he could even have time to breath. ¡°I caught you mage! See you in a few days.¡± Thadius smiled as he looked down at his fellow Traveler. The mage smiled in return. ¡°Hellfire¡­¡± he gurgled with his last breath. ¡°.....!¡± Thadius was immediately engulfed in flames.
-6001hp
He screamed as he jumped into the moist sand in an attempt to quell the fire. His skin boiled and sizzled as it burned. The smell of his own flesh rose to his nose and he gagged while he rolled.
-6709hp
The last of his health was consumed by the dying fire. Had he been at full health at the start of the match, he probably would have survived.
You¡¯ve been incapacitated 00:01:59:57
--- It was the first message he received when he opened his eyes to his hospital room. He took a deep breath as he looked at the figure sitting in a chair in the corner. Curtis slowly turned around in his chair with a mocking look on his face. In his lap was a lotion for burn wounds. ¡°Ointment?¡± he asked comically. ¡°Shut the hell up!¡± Brandon laughed. As pissed as he was, Curtis had been fully prepared to rub it in. ¡°Man, I told you about those mages. I told you! Your face when he lit your ass on fire was like ¡®Mercy!!¡¯. Ha ha!¡± ¡°I had half my sword in his chest! I had him!¡± ¡°But you underestimated him and got roasted. Had you used your pressure, you would have completely overwhelmed him. That¡¯s what you should have done instead of taking on a mage with any long range moves.¡± ¡°But I have throw!¡± Brandon protested. ¡°How¡¯d that work out for you?¡± Curtis laughed as he removed the Deep Dive from Brandon¡¯s head. ¡°You just learned it, and you expect it to be immediately ready for combat? And let¡¯s not even get started on you throwing away your primary and secondary weapon. What if he had summoned some sort of elemental? You would have been screwed, trying to get to your weapon while being attacked by a force of nature. You have much to learn my friend.¡± ¡°So it seems.¡± Thadius sighed heavily. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect my first death to be so embarrassing though.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not dead.¡± ¡°Come again?¡± ¡°You¡¯re incapacitated. If something doesn¡¯t kill you outright, or kill you in less than 10 minutes, you¡¯ll be knocked out instead of dying. Say a guy lost the rest of his health from having a Banshee burst his eardrums. It¡¯d be pretty dumb if he died from something like that right?¡± ¡°If it doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯ll kill me in real life, then it won¡¯t?¡± ¡°Sonsoft wanted to make it as real as possible. Remember your little nap when you first went up the mountain? Had it been scorching hot that day, instead of freezing, you probably would have died from dehydration. But you would have been fine if you lost the rest of your health from sunburn. You get what I¡¯m trying to say?¡± ¡°I follow. So I can go back in¡­ 2 hours? Or is that how long I have until I die?¡± ¡°That¡¯s where it gets tricky. It can vary depending on how you were incapacitated. In your case, you could wake up to unbelievable pain, wake up with your wounds fully healed, or not wake up at all. Sometimes the timer will go away entirely once you¡¯re healed. Other times, you¡¯ll be killed before the timer runs out. You just have to be aware of your situation when you go down.¡± ¡°Well, at least I¡¯m not dead yet.¡± ¡°Lucky bastard. Come on, it was about time for your bath anyway. I¡¯d prefer if I didn¡¯t have to wash around the tech. It makes my job easier.¡± Brandon had a bath and a meal before he logged back into Chaos Online. He couldn¡¯t shake the thought of himself burning alive, but it was more like an uncomfortable nightmare rather than a vivid memory. ---
Coolkid killed in single combat. +822 Fame
You¡¯ve leveled up You¡¯ve leveled up You¡¯ve leveled up ....
Thadius woke up on a bed with an arena organizer sitting by the bed. He sat up and slowly moved his body. He seemed to have been healed, but his Corbae robe was in tatters. It would take a lot of cloth to restore it to it¡¯s former glory. But then would it really be the robe his master gave him? Thadius shook his head as he moved to stand up. The organizer that was beside his bed had dozed off. ¡°Hello, sir?¡± Thadius said as he gently shook the man. ¡°Hmm? Oh! Y-you¡¯re awake!? To be honest I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d make it, sir.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die so easily.¡± ¡°No, not that, the tournament! The Gold tier Championships are already under way. Your match is about to be next!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been out for hours, how¡¯s-¡± ¡°The bronze matches took a while since we had two royales, and we always take a break before the Walk of Champions.¡± ¡°I see. Well, I¡¯m glad I made it in time.¡± Thadius said happily. As soon as the word left his mouth, the sound of drums could be heard in the distance. The roaring of the crowds was many times louder than when he was fighting. He was a little disappointed that he had missed out on watching the Gold Champion in action. ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± the organizer said as he stood near the door. Thadius picked up his equipment that had been laid at his bed side and followed the man out. Night had fallen over the compound, and torches lit up the space every few feet. But when they reached the arena gate, it was flooded with bright light. All along the top of the stadium were giant white orbs that blazed like tiny suns. There was no waiting for him this time as the gates opened as soon as he approached it. He walked out into the arena to an uproar as the crowd chanted. ¡°¡±¡° Silver! Silver! Silver!¡±¡±¡± When Thadius reached the center of the arena, the gate on the opposite opened up. A figure dashed out into the light, circling the arena at a breakneck pace. The mythril armor of the Silver Champion was completely build for speed. The legs were unprotected in the back and there wasn¡¯t any armor to cover any joints. There were vambraces to protect the forearms, yet the arms were exposed from the elbow to the shoulder, ensuring complete arm rotation during combat. When the champion finally came to face Thadius, the first thing he noticed was the helmet. At the top were two holes where a pair of jet black rabbit ears poked out from the top. Then his eyes fell to the large silver belt that hang on her waist. It wasn¡¯t until the moment Thadius looked into his opponents eyes, that he receive a shock. Staring back at him with eyes filled with amusement, was a pair of hazel eyes with a prominent green sheen. ¡°Surprise!¡± Sarene said as she lifted her hands in the air. ¡°.......¡± ¡°The look on your face! Ha ha!¡± she laughed, holding her sides. ¡°So the champ is pretty strong huh?¡± Thadius said as coldly as he could manage. The twitching at the corner of his mouth betrayed his efforts. ¡°Yes I am, and I look forward to our match Iron Dragon.¡± Sarene said as she lifted her mythril longsword. ¡°Well, I hope you said goodbyes to that belt. Cause it¡¯s going to be wrapped around my waist pretty soon.¡± Thadius declared, taking his stance and letting out his Ambient Pressure. He pushed his Aura out to the max. Then turned on his Concentration. From what he just saw, her speed was going to be the focal point. If he could shut that down, then he would be in good shape. The beating of the drums signified the start of the fight, and Thadius watched as Sarene slashed more than 10ft(3m) in front of him. When he felt something cutting through his Aura, he quickly raised his shield, only to be blown back. He wasn¡¯t knocked down, but he was knocked off balance. And Sarene capitalized on it as she rushed in at high speed. She aimed a slice from below at his face with blinding speed. Thadius was able to see it thanks to his concentration, and he knew he could react to it in time. Yet, for some reason, his body was moving slower than usual. ¡¯Time out! Thadius used his Pressure to target her directly, punishing her speed with an absurd amount of stamina reduction. Sarene jumped out as soon as she felt the heavy pressure. It wasn¡¯t enough to send her to the ground, but enough that he could seal her speed until he found out what was affecting him. ¡°No wonder they call you a monster. That kind of pressure should only be found in dungeons!¡± Sarene said, smiling menacingly. ¡°I¡¯d prefer not to hinder you like this, but you seem to be slowing me down somehow. It seemed only fair that I return the favor.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± she charged again, swinging her sword like she did earlier. Thadius could barely make out the tracing of the move before he was forced to dodge. Whatever the move was, it was exactly what he needed against the mage in the semi-finals. If he could learn it here¡­ ¡°Focus or die Thadius!¡± Sarene screamed as she came in from below with a lunge. Thadius hid his presence and spun in a circle. He used his Aura to create two feints aimed at her legs. She moved out of range of both attacks and he closed in behind her. She stopped mid-step and rolled forward just a Thadius was about to use Shield Bash. ¡¯Does she have spacial awareness? Or is it because of her animal senses? Thadius revealed himself and approached her with caution. If hiding his presence wasn¡¯t going to be that effective, then it would be best if he didn¡¯t use it often. It would come down to swordsmanship, and he was quite confident in that. ¡°Neat trick. Disappearing like that¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be as effective on you, and I think you¡¯d respect a more direct approach.¡± ¡°Smart man.¡± They clashed together in a dazzling display. Sarene wielded her sword with an unyielding ferocity. Using her speed to find and attack the gaps in his defense. Thadius countered for every attack, using her speed against her. Wherever her sword went his shield followed. The sound of their ringing blades filled the air as they dueled under the light of the 12 suns. The crowd was glued to their every swing, and when one looked to be on the verge of defeat, they stood and roared for the potential victor. It was a battle that Thadius would have dragged out comfortably, but as the fight went on. He could clearly see his disadvantages. The iron sword in his hand was chipped and jagged from repeated clashes with the mythril blade. His shield was littered with cuts and some of the steel had been clearly shaved off in several places. If that wasn¡¯t enough, he could feel himself slowing down. Every time his eyes met with hers, he could feel his swings slowing. He could feel himself dragging his feet, and it was as if his entire body was reluctant to attack her.
You¡¯ve been charmed. -25% Dexterity -25% Strength
Thadius shook his head as he defected another blow. He could hear her heavy breathing in his ear, and it aroused him. ¡¯Dammit¡¯ He¡¯d figured it was something like that when he couldn¡¯t concentrate. If this continued, he would eventually make a fatal mistake, and the first clean blow would be the last. He¡¯d experienced this type of condition in games before, and there was a sure fire way to get rid of it, but it wouldn¡¯t put him in an advantageous position. She lunged for his shoulder again, aiming to disable his shield arm with another skill. Usually, Thadius would stop it with all his might, but this time, he let his shield drop slightly. The mythril sword cut a chunk out the edge of his shield and slid through his chainmail to stab his shoulder. ¡°Argh.¡±
-6543hp
It was like a light bulb had been lit in his brain, and everything became clear. He jumped back to gain some much needed space. ¡°You took it on purpose?¡± she asked with narrowed eyes. The smile had disappeared from her face long ago. ¡°It was the only way to break free of your charm. I¡¯ll admit, it¡¯s a pretty effective.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll use any weapon at my disposal, even those I can¡¯t control!¡± she yelled as she unleashed another invisible slash. Thadius had his eyes glued to her every movement, watching until the attack unleashed at him. He raised his shield again to block it, but pain surged through his arm. He dived to the side to avoid the attack instead, but it gave Sarene more than enough time to rush. The crowd went wild, sensing the end of the epic battle before them. Sarene swung down, and Thadius moved to parry it with his blade. Under the ferocious attack the blade shattered into the sand. Her blade came down once more, and Thadius struggled to raise his shield in time. ¡¯Fight the pain! he thought as he brought his shield up to to meet the blade. The sword sunk deep into the shield, becoming stuck between the folds of steel. Sarene tried to dislodge the blade for another swing, but a crushing pressure brought her to the ground. Thadius tossed their weapons to the side and rolled in the sand to his feet, taking the stance of the Dragon¡¯s Grip. Sarene stood up slowly, gasping for breath as Thadius lessened the pressure so she could stand. ¡°You¡¯ve been...toying¡­.with me¡­..all this time.¡± she glared at him. ¡°No I haven¡¯t. I¡¯m gaining experience by learning as much as I can from you. However, this fight is going to have to end soon. I did tell you I¡¯d be taking your belt. Didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Rah!¡± she screamed as she threw a fist. Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t as skilled with her hands as she was with a sword. Thadius broke her down with a blow to the side of her knee. Then as she kneeled in pain, he dealt a swift blow to her temple. A new silver champion was crowned to the sound of beating drums. --- 30 minutes later... Sarene woke up with a start. She was back in her bed behind the kitchen with a throbbing headache that couldn¡¯t possibly be real. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± she groaned as she rolled over. The last thing she remembered was eating a knuckle sandwich from the Iron Dragon Thadius. He had been far stronger than she anticipated. To think that he had been hiding such monstrous pressure for the entire fight. Sarene just shook her head in exasperation, and groaned again at the pain it caused. ¡°Thirsty?¡± a voice said from the corner. Thadius was propped up in a chair repairing his robe with a shiny silver belt hanging over his shoulder. The startled Sarene couldn¡¯t find her voice in time. ¡°I know you think I¡¯m handsome, but it¡¯s never made you speechless.¡± he said as he flashed a devilish smile. ¡°You don¡¯t think the fact that you¡¯re in my room uninvited could be the cause?¡± she raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯ll have to pardon me. I¡¯ve suddenly become somewhat of a spectacle in the coliseum. I was looking for a place to hide, and the granny sent me back here.¡± ¡°I... don¡¯t mind. I was just making sure you had some common sense.¡± ¡°Oh? When did you begin to doubt?¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s see. Could it be the fact that you prolonged a battle that could have ended in two seconds?¡± she asked sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m sensing some anger there¡­¡± Thadius said, mockingly. He crossed his hands over his legs in a classic therapist pose. ¡°Anger my ass¡­¡± Sarene said as she rolled over in her bed. She¡¯d been humilitated enough for one day. ¡°Oh, and I apologize for your sword.¡± ¡°What happened to my sword!?¡± she shouted as she sat up with a start. Only to lay back down. ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Well¡­ my shield ate it. Or some of it.¡± Sarene just had a confused look on her face as an old woman came out from the kitchen. ¡°Thadius, the food is ready. Oh, Sarene. It¡¯s about time you woke up. Thadius has been worried sick about you.¡± Now it was Thadius¡¯ turn to be speechless. ¡°Do you often worry about the people you knock out? Or is it just women?¡± Sarene said as she glared at the man. ¡°I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s talking about. I came back here to hide.¡± Thadius looked at the old woman. Pleading with his eyes for her to keep their conversation on the down low. ¡°But Thadius, you said you¡¯d cook for her as an apology. You see Sarene, Thadius is a proper gentleman. He doesn¡¯t like to hit women.¡± the granny said as she blushed. Thadius¡¯ charm was beginning to work against him. He never thought it would out do his Fighting Spirit. ¡°Yet, I distinctly remember him punching me in the face.¡± Sarene said with narrowed eyes. The granny rushed back into the kitchen to get the food. Thadius rubbed his forehead in embarrassment. A kind gesture had suddenly turned into this. The granny returned with a plate of chicken alfredo and a glass of red and yellow liquid. The color in the glass started out red and faded to yellow near the bottom of the glass. Sarene eyeballed Thadius as the granny set the dish beside her. Without releasing him from her glare, she took a bite. She chewed slowly, fully enjoying the taste. ¡°Well?¡± Thadius asked as he looked at her expectantly. Sarene enjoyed watching him sweat. ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± she said as the corner of her lips turned up slightly. ¡°Then accept it as my apology. I hope it doesn¡¯t come to fists next time.¡± he said as he got up to leave. ¡°Next time?¡± Sarene said in surprise. ¡°You don¡¯t want a rematch?¡± Thadius looked at her quizzically. ¡°Of course.¡± she responded immediately. ¡°Then until we meet again¡­¡± Thadius smiled as he left for the waiting area. He needed to find and inn for the night so he could visit Yuna and Christina first thing in the morning. Sarene waited until she could hear Thadius¡¯ footsteps disappear into the waiting area before she tore into the chicken alfredo. The taste was absolutely divine, and she simply couldn¡¯t eat it fast enough. After wolfing down the meal, she took a sip of the lemonade and nearly fell out of the bed. She had to look at the glass to make sure she wasn¡¯t just imagining the taste. ¡°This is pretty damn good Thadius.¡± she muttered to herself as she quickly emptied the contents of glass. --- Military Compound, Todos, Todos Kingdom An old man with large bushy eyebrows was playing chess by himself at the counter of the enlistment office. At night, no one really came in, so he had plenty of time to enjoy a game. Who else could he play? He¡¯d run out of competition long ago. ¡°Ho ho, I win again!¡± he declared as he checkmated himself. Just then the door to the office open, and a man with dirtly blond hair and a clean shaven face stormed into the room. He was dressed like a member of the nobility with a slick navy blue suit and gold trimmings. ¡°Old man! I need you to help me!¡± the man raised his voice in fury. A door in the back opened and another man stepped to the counter. He was middle aged man with dark brown hair and mutton chops. The tightening of his belt suggested a ¡®healthy¡¯ diet, but large strong arms hinted at the strength in his limbs. ¡°What¡¯s all this ruckus!?¡± ¡°I want to join the army. Is this where I sign up or not?¡± ¡°Why would you want to join now youngin¡¯? Most of the army is gone now.¡± the old man asked as he reset his chess set. ¡°My business is my own¡­¡± ¡°When Commander Antony asks you a question, you answer it!!¡± the older man shouted. The young man glared at him with tears in his eyes. ¡°I want to learn how to kill Travelers. Is this the place or not?¡± It was the man with the mutton chops that spoke up first. ¡°Yeah, this is the place.¡± ¡°Then sign me up.¡± Chapter 17: Morning Errands MORNING ERRANDS Thadius woke up to the sunlight warming his face. He had managed to find an inn last night, and had checked in as soon as he left the coliseum. Then he slept like the dead after eating a hot meal from the restaurant on the first floor. Today, he would be running the errands he¡¯d put off yesterday. It wouldn¡¯t be as exciting as visiting the coliseum, but it would be a busy day nonetheless. . He looked at the shield that lay beside him. The steel shield now had a huge circle of mythril in the center, like a white sun shining through grey clouds. Then as he sat up, the Silver Champion¡¯s Belt fell off his chest.
Silver Champion¡¯s Belt
Type: Belt Accessory Durability: 1475/1475
Quality: Normal Defense: 500
This belt can only be obtained by defeating the Silver Champion in single combat. +Permits special privileges when worn in the coliseum
Thadius smiled as he looked down at his prize. It had come in handy when he went to visit Sarene behind the kitchen in the amatuer waiting room. One glance at the belt over his shoulder and the old woman had led him to her room in the back. ¡¯Or was it because she knew who I defeated to get it?¡¯ Thadius shook his head as he made his way out the room to the restaurant downstairs, frowning at the lack of handrails for the stairwell. He stopped just before the door that lead outside and pondered where he wanted to go first. He needed to find Beth; the mage his master befriended. He also wanted to stop by the Adventurer¡¯s Guild for a status card. The reason for his pause was the last two destinations. He didn¡¯t check in on Yuna and Christina yesterday like he told them he would, so he had planned to go see them first thing in the morning. Yet, he also wanted to start his enterprise today, and that would involve him using his gift from Marshal and his new Pretender skill. Thadius weighed his options. Then after a few moments, he set out for the Church of Thena. At the end of the day, he was a man of his word, and arriving any later than he''d stated would hurt his pride further. He walked the streets with caution, and kept his eyes open for any potential assailants or pursuers. Before long, he arrived at the steps of the church without incident. Statues of Thena seemed to look down at him in disgust as he walked for the doors. ¡¯If people knew what you really were, they¡¯d look at you the same way.¡¯ Thadius thought as he entered the premises. As with the Grand Temple in Yune, the Church of Thena was a lot nicer inside than it was outside. The white stone walls were spotless and smooth, and the silence that fell on the halls gave the entire building a sense of purity. Three paths opened up, and Thadius stood at the fork, looking for someone who could help him. He''d figured that the path ahead of him led to the actual church, but the paths on either side of him could lead him into trouble. With no one in sight to help him, he choose to go right. The path led him down the hall and to the left, leading him further into the compound. When he came to another split, he took another right instead of continuing straight. That¡¯s when he saw a group of priests down the hall. They were whispering amongst themselves, and Thadius hid his presence so as not to alarm them with his Fighting Spirit. ¡°When did she arrive?¡± ¡°Yesterday, I gave her the tour!¡± ¡°Wow...Thena has truly blessed her.¡± ¡°Only a woman blessed by the Goddess could look as beautiful as that¡­¡± The priests were absolutely enthralled by a young woman that was scrubbing the floor further down the hall. There were other young girls beside her, but Thadius knew exactly who they were talking about. Christina wasn¡¯t your average woman. Thadius just shook his head. It wasn¡¯t a surprise that she¡¯d become the hot topic of the priests upon her arrival. ¡°Just imagine how she looks under the robe¡­¡± Thadius snapped his head to look at the man who spoke. He was a thin, gangly man with the top of his head bald. Thadius recognized the hunger in the man¡¯s eyes as he watched Christina. The other priests looked reluctant to say such things out loud, but the sudden declaration by their fellow priest made them brave. ¡°Her fair skin would be quite the sight.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather have her sight on me. Having a woman like that would be a dream come true.¡± ¡°Staring down into her eyes as we-¡± Thadius cleared his throat and revealed himself. The group was startled as they turned around. ¡°Good evening gentlemen. It¡¯s a fine morning isn¡¯t?¡± he asked kindly. The thin priest spoke up first. He seemed to be the leader among them, and was the first to recover. ¡°It¡¯s a fine morning indeed, stranger. What brings you to the Church or Thena?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for a young woman who came in yesterday. She wouldn¡¯t be hard to miss.¡± ¡°Is that her?¡± the priest pointed to Christina. ¡°Ah, there she is. She¡¯s already been put to work I see.¡± ¡°How do you know her, exactly?¡± one of the other priests asked. ¡°She¡¯s one of my companions. We just arrived yesterday, and I came to check in on her.¡± Thadius replied as he watched the girls scrub away. ¡°Well, you won¡¯t have to worry about her here. We¡¯ll take good care of her.¡± the thin priest spoke up. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t worry so much. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be just fine in your care.¡± Thadius frowned at the scrawny man while he leaked some of his pressure on the group. ¡°But if anything happened to her...I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do.¡± The priests were all stunned into silence. Not even the thin priest could find his voice in the presence such a man. ¡°Thadius!¡± Christina called as looked up from her work. She dropped her brush and ran up to him, leaping the last few feet to put her arms around his neck. ¡°You act like I¡¯ve been gone for weeks.¡± he laughed as he caught her. Seeing her smile first thing in the morning was better than any cup of coffee. It filled the body with the power of goodness. ¡°You didn¡¯t show up yesterday after you said you were going to the coliseum. I was worr-¡± ¡°Is that him!? That¡¯s the guy right!?¡± a voice said from behind Christina. Thadius was surprised to find a legit cat girl jump up to him. Yuna wasn¡¯t far behind. Thadius could feel her circling around the girls. Christina quickly let go and introduced her friend. ¡°Thadius this is Esaa. She sleeps in the bunk next me.¡± *Tink**Tink**Tink* Thadius looked down at the small girl that was tapping on his belt. ¡°And this is?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Teta.¡± Thadius looked down at the girl. Her spectacles made her eyes look bigger than normal. ¡°Hi.¡± he greeted her curiously. ¡°Hi.¡± she replied as she met his eyes briefly. Then she went back to tapping. ¡¯Awww.¡¯ ¡°Teta! You can¡¯t just invade people¡¯s personal space.¡± Christina cried as she pulled Teta away. ¡°What was she tapping on?¡± Esaa asked as she looked under Thadius¡¯ robe. She was just as bad as Teta. ¡°Esaa!¡± Christina shouted as her face turned red. Her new friends were embarrassing her, even after she warned them not to! ¡°What? I¡¯m just taking a lo- Oh, cool! That¡¯s a Silver Champion¡¯s Belt!¡± Now Christina was interested, and she moved closer to get a look. ¡°Did you get it from the coliseum?¡± she asked as she looked at Thadius in wonder. ¡°I won it yesterday. That¡¯s also why I was late.¡± he smiled. The priests all turned pale when they saw the belt on Thadius¡¯ waist, and they started to slink away while they thought Thadius was distracted. Christina smiled in return. Thadius had returned safe and sound, and that was what mattered. Yuna, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t happy. While Thadius was showing off his belt, she kicked his shin. Apparently, she was still upset that she had been left out. ¡°Excuse Mr.Thadius," Esaa moved in closer to Thadius so she could whisper, "Do you think you could make us-¡± Christina came and covered Esaa¡¯s mouth quickly. She wasn¡¯t supposed to tell anyone about Thadius¡¯ Wolf Gear, so the fact that Esaa knew would definitely get her in trouble with Thadius. That was not an option. ¡°So Thadius,¡± she started as she kindly smothered the struggling Esaa, ¡±Where are you going after this?¡± ¡°Well, first I need to talk to Yuna." Thadius quickly glanced at the hidden Goddess. "Then I was going to run some errands that were neglected yesterday.¡± ¡°Will you go back to the coliseum?¡± she asked worriedly. Esaa continued to struggle feebly. Unfortunately for her, a determined Christina wasn¡¯t to be trifled with. ¡°I was thinking about it.¡± Thadius smiled. Then he received another kick to the shin. ¡°Well then, just be careful ok?¡± Christina said as she dragged the fainted Esaa back to their work area. Teta tugged on Thadius robe when Christina was a few feet away. ¡°Can we have undies too?¡± she asked kindly. ¡°........!¡± Christina was absolutely livid. Thadius shot a glare at Christina before he dropped to his knee to address the girl. ¡°Unfortunately, I can¡¯t help you, but I know someone who can. When he starts up his shop, I¡¯ll be sure to let Christina know. Then you all can go shopping for them. Sound good?¡± Teta nodded and skipped of back to work. Christina didn¡¯t even have the energy to scold her. The glare of Thadius was worse than any sugar crash. It sapped energy from the limbs and dampened the spirit. ¡°Now,¡± Thadius turned to the ¡®Vanished¡¯ Yuna, ¡°Do you want to explain why you feel the need to inflict harm upon my person?¡± ¡°No.¡± she pouted. Thadius looked around to make sure no one was looking before he placed his hand on her head. She didn¡¯t object, but she turned her head as if to say ¡®Nothing you do will quell my anger¡¯. ¡°Yuna, I¡¯m your scapegoat right?¡± ¡°....Yeah¡± ¡°So you know it¡¯s my job to protect you from harm if I can, right?¡± Yuna glared at him. ¡°What does that have to do with it? You left us so you could go have fun!¡± she whispered fiercely. ¡°You think killing another person is fun?¡± ¡°.....¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t what you¡¯d expect Yuna. It¡¯s nothing compared to how we sparred on your mountain. I almost died¡­¡± ¡°.......!¡± Yuna¡¯s fury had completely disappeared. Now she looked at Thadius with eyes filled with concern. ¡°As your scapegoat, it¡¯s my job to test the waters. I learned some valuable things in the coliseum while I put my life on the line, and you can be sure that I¡¯ll tell you everything so you won¡¯t make the mistakes I did. I¡¯d have no problem dying once or twice if the lessons I¡¯d learn improve your chances of survival. Still, I would have taken you with me if it was just us. You know that right?¡± ¡°...Yeah, I get it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Thadius said as he turned to leave. ¡°Thadius.¡± When Thadius turned to look, Yuna pulled him into a hug. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for kicking you. Try not to die, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Thadius replied softly. ¡°And I¡¯d be lying if I said it wasn¡¯t a little fun.¡± ¡°I knew it!¡± Yuna whispered as she poked Thadius in the cheek. Thadius laughed as he felt Yuna run off down the hall towards the other girls. Thankfully, none of them had seen him talking to himself, or so he hoped. Any future talks with Yuna would have to be done in a secluded space. At least until Christina becomes a full fledge priestess. Thadius left the Church in a hurry. The next place he wanted to visit was the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, so he continued his walk from where he was attacked on the first day. He remembered the directions he had been given, and soon, he was standing in front of a three-story building. Outside was the same stone that all the other buildings were made of, but Thadius had no doubt that the inside was well furnished. He walked into the building and was surprised to find it mostly empty. The first floor reminded him of the amatuer waiting area in the coliseum, except for the four-sided counter in the middle of the room. The clerk behind the desk greeted him when he walked in. ¡°Good morning, sir. How may I help you?¡± she said as he approached the desk. She showed no reaction to his Fighting Spirit as he approached the counter. ¡¯She must be used to it.¡¯ he thought. ¡°I thought this place would be full in the morning.¡± ¡°We serve breakfast a lot earlier. Adventurer¡¯s like to get to hunting as soon as the sun comes up, so we assist in their efforts by serving before dawn.¡± ¡°How thoughtful.¡± ¡°We take pride in our services. Now how may I be of service to you?¡± she smiled as she stealthily looked Thadius up and down. She was obviously influenced by his charm stat. ¡°I seem to have misplaced my status card. I was told to come here to get it replaced.¡± ¡°I can do that for you, but you must understand that your previous status card will be destroyed by an enchantment once a new one is made. Are you okay with that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then if you¡¯ll wait a moment.¡± she said as she ducked under the counter. She reappeared with a blank status card and a needle like object. ¡°Have you needed to replace your status card before?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m embarrassed to say this, but I don¡¯t really know much about my status card other than the fact that it hangs around my neck. I hit my head a while back, you see. It healed well enough, but my memory hasn¡¯t been the same since.¡± Thadius flashed his devilish grin. The clerk laughed. ¡°Then allow me to reeducate you. You¡¯ll use this needle to draw some blood and then all your information will be burned into the card.¡± ¡°When you say ¡®all¡¯ information, you mean my stats right?¡± ¡°Not only your stats, your skills and current commissions will also be displayed. Simply hold your card, say ¡®reveal¡¯, and that additional information will be displayed.¡± ¡°What happens if someone steals my card? Would they be able to look-¡± ¡°Not at all. The card will only react to the command of it¡¯s owner.¡± ¡¯No wonder I couldn¡¯t see Corban¡¯s skills.¡¯ Thadius had been puzzled about it for some time, and now he knew why. Unless Corban rose from the dead to reveal the skills hidden on the card, he¡¯d never know what skills his master had learned. ¡°That¡¯s comforting. So I prick myself with this?¡± Thadius picked up the needle and stabbed his thumb to squeeze a drop of blood on the blank card. Within moments, magical text appeared on the card. The clerk made a curious expression as she looked at the information. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Thadius asked in concern. Was there a way to indicate him as a Traveler? ¡°Not really. It¡¯s just that your title count is rather low. Most people have at least seven or eight by time they reach adulthood.¡± ¡¯My title count is a dead give away...¡¯ Thadius made a grief stricken face and asked the clerk, ¡°Do you suppose it could be due to my memory loss?¡± The clerk put a hand to her mouth. ¡°Oh! I so sorry Thadius, I didn¡¯t mean-¡± Thadius raised a hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine, you¡¯re not the first to look at my status card like that since my incident¡­¡± Thadius looked away as if in pain. The clerk quickly put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. ¡°I¡¯m sure anyone will understand if you tell them what happened to you. I¡¯ve never heard of the card erasing information, but it changes often, so it¡¯s possible. Besides, if you get a few more titles, no one will look to closely at it.¡± she spoke softly. Her voice was filled with concern. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m glad to have met such a kind beauty so early in the morning. You¡¯ve been a great help.¡±
+3 Charm
¡°I-I¡¯m glad I could help you.¡± the woman blushed. Thadius picked up the card and carried it in his hand. He didn¡¯t want to pull out his master¡¯s chain within eyesight of the clerk, so he turned to walk out. ¡°Wait, Thadius!¡± The clerk had stepped out from behind the counter and walked up to him with flushed cheeks. ¡°My shift ends around noon. If you were to stop by around that time, perhaps we could stop by a tavern?¡± ¡¯Say WHAT!?¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be busy all day. Though I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve seen the last of me. Who do I ask for? Should I return and find you gone?¡± he smirked. ¡°Katherine.¡± ¡°Farewell Katherine.¡± Thadius turned and walked out. His grin widened with every step he took. The conversation had reminded him of his school days before he reunited with Rose. Back then, he had been a danger to fathers everywhere. ¡¯Damn...Rose set me straight didn¡¯t she?¡¯ Thadius sighed as he reminisced. Then he ducked into an alley to prepare for his next stop. He was going to visit the tailor next, but he didn¡¯t plan on going as himself. Corban and Marshal had warned him about people nagging him to make clothing, so he¡¯d previously devised a disguise to serve as the face of his clothing brand. Now that he had the Pretender skill, he¡¯d have to make it more than just a disguise. He needed it to be his alter ego. He pulled out Marshal¡¯s last gift to him from his inventory. It was an extravagant wolf cloak with the head of the beast used as the hood. Thadius had told Marshal about his plan, and was given the cloak as a parting gift. The hood was a bit large, and covered his eyes. But he didn¡¯t need sight, so it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for him to walk around with it up. Next, Thadius pulled out the cloak he¡¯d used as Christina¡¯s ¡®grandpa¡¯ and wore it under the wolf cloak to hide his divine white robe.To complete the costume, he removed his shoes and put on a pair of handmade jika-tabi, or ''ninja socks'' as he liked to call them. Once the appearance was set, he practiced the voice he wanted to make as he walked up and down the alley, swaying to and fro as he walked. When he was confident in his new identity, he walked out the alley to go back to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild.
Pretender is active. Experience will be awarded upon shedding the current identity. No experience will be awarded should your act be seen through.
It was the first time he¡¯d seen such a message. It didn¡¯t happen when he¡¯d posed as Christina¡¯s grandpa. Meaning that no one could know who he truly was in order for the skill to raise, and that failure would reset his progress. Pretender would prove to be a troublesome skill in the future. ¡¯What better way to test it than on someone I jus- Thadius just met minutes ago?¡¯ Victor thought as he walked into the building. Katherine was leaning on the counter with a sulking expression. No doubt disappointed that Thadius had gently refused her invitation. ¡°How can I help y-¡± ¡°I was told I could come here for directions.¡± Victor interrupted with his gruff voice. ¡°Do I know you? I feel like I¡¯ve seen you before.¡± ¡°If I knew you, it would mean you¡¯ve seen me here before or somewhere in the city, and if that were the case I wouldn¡¯t be in front of you asking for directions now would I? My name is Victor. Victor Wolfe-Jagger.¡± ¡°Pardon me Mr.Wolfe-Jagger, you just reminded me of a man I¡¯d met earlier. Forgive me. Where exactly were you trying to go?¡± ¡°I need to find the tailor and the blacksmith. There¡¯s also a mage I need to find by the name of Beth.¡± ¡°Well, I could offer you a map of the-¡± ¡°I have good memory. I only need directions.¡± Victor interrupted again. ¡°Very well. You¡¯ll find the tailor seven streets south of here and two streets east. Then the blacksmith will be two streets east of that. Unfortunately, the mage you''re looking for left the city on a trip, and no one knows when she''ll return. She runs the local apothecary, so you could check there some other time. Should you need any more help¡­¡± Katherine¡¯s voice trailed off as she watched Victor walk out into the streets to make for the tailor¡¯s shop. The sheen of the wolf¡¯s pelt intensified in the sunlight as he walked, and he could tell that he was drawing attention. Traveler¡¯s and Npcs alike stared at the large man in the wolf cloak. He reached the tailor in a timely manner. A wooden sign above the door labeled it as ¡®Thimble Ted¡¯s¡¯. Victor walked in with confidence. There were people all over the shop browsing clothing and leather armors. A few people turned to look at him curiously as he walked in, but they quickly went back to their shopping. A frail old man with glasses eyed him from behind the counter. Thankfully, there didn¡¯t seem to be a line since it was still early. Victor strode up to the counter. ¡°Good morning. Are you the owner of this establishment?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡± ¡°Victor Wolfe-Jagger.¡± ¡°Never heard of him.¡± ¡°You will soon enough.¡± Victor retorted. ¡°Hmph. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve come with a business proposition. I have an interesting product that could sell very well; however, I¡¯ve yet to test the market for it. I was hoping you¡¯d sell my product for a share of the profits.¡± ¡°Is that so? What exactly is it you¡¯re selling?¡± ¡°Undergarments.¡± Victor said flatly. The old man chuckled. ¡°I have no need for undergarments in my shop. They wouldn¡¯t sell anyway.¡± ¡°These will.¡± Victor said confidently, throwing a piece of clothing on the table.
Wolf Gear Briefs
Type: Undergarment Durability: 500/500
Quality: High Defense: 10
This piece was made with supreme care by Victor Wolfe-Jagger. The fine threads were created through long hours at spinning wheel and then woven into a superior cloth on the loom. The battle for this level of quality can be clearly felt, for every single fiber has been infused with Fighting Spirit. How such a thing was achieved is Victor¡¯s secret, but the fruit of his loom is for all to share. +300 Strength +100 Dexterity
The old man looked at Victor with a dumbfounded expression. All humor was gone from his face. ¡°I see. I am certainly willing to sell this in my shop for a share. How does 20% sound?¡± ¡°I give you 40%. However, I have some conditions.¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°I want my products to hang on this wall.¡± Victor pointed to an empty space on the wall beside the counter. The old man was once again dumbfounded. Not only was this man going to give him nearly half of the profits, he was doing it for practically nothing. Such fortuitous circumstances sounded too good to be true. ¡°I can¡¯t see how you profit more from this deal than me.¡± ¡°This is a short-term deal. Should my brand sell well enough, then I¡¯ll have a store built nearby and sell there.¡± ¡°Why build a store when you can sell it here?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t all there is to my brand. I have other garments of higher levels of quality that come in a variety of colors for both men and women. Not to mention the fact that I could change the design to be more stylish, anything from a day at the beach to a night of adult activity. The downside for you sir, is that you¡¯re getting the bare minimum of the goods at my disposal.¡± As Victor talked patrons from all over the shop were making their way to the counter with curious expressions. Ted fell silent. He was just told that the garment in front of him was the cheapest in the Wolf Gear collection, and that was a very enticing thought. He needed to do whatever he could to jump on this in it¡¯s infancy. In all of his years in the tailoring trade, he¡¯d never come across a product like this. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°I could help you with money for the shop, or you could just keep selling your product here-¡± ¡°This deal is temporary, and my enterprise is already funded. All I need from you is to sell my product and give me my share. I don¡¯t need you to advertise either, my work will speak for itself. Now, do we have a deal?¡± There was no way in for the old man. All he could do was enjoy the boost in revenue for as long as it would last. ¡°You have a deal.¡± With the agreement made, Victor and Ted discussed prices. Once that was done, Victor took out the metal stakes he had ordered in Yune, and hammered them into the wall beside the counter. In less than an hour, there was a full display of Wolf Gear undergarments for men and women in white, black, and grey. Victor couldn¡¯t even walk out of the door before the first item of his brand was bought. With any luck, the word of the undergarments with stats would spread like wildfire. The next stop after Thimble Ted¡¯s was the blacksmith a few streets down. Just like the tailor¡¯s shop, there was a sign out front that read ¡®Arm & Hammer¡¯. ¡¯Really Sonsoft...¡¯ Victor shook his head. Before he walked inside, he slid on the hood of the brown cloak and slid the wolf head back enough so that he could see. ¡°Oi Virgil! Take a look at this bloke! More wolf than man he ¡®is!¡± The weapon and armor store was open and spacious. Most of the room was taken up by weapons and armors on display on shelves and mannequins while the counter was set all the way in the back. The forge seemed to be in a building behind the shop. Sitting at the counter was a bald, fat man who was laughing his head off at the sight of Victor. Then a younger man, drenched in sweat, appeared from the back room with a red bandana wrapped around his head. There was no question that he had been hard at work seconds before. Victor decided to address the young man instead of the man laughing his head off. ¡°Good morning. I¡¯m here to purchase a weapon and some armor, but I don¡¯t want to be in here all day looking.¡± ¡°No problem, I can help. Just ignore this ass. He¡¯s been like this since I can remember.¡± ¡°But look at him, Tommy! I bet he can¡¯t even see out the damned thing! Haha!¡± Tommy just shook his head. ¡°What exactly did you have in mind?¡± ¡°I want a short sword and armor that lets me pivot easily.¡± ¡°Flexible armor huh. Wait here.¡± Tommy said before he returned to the back. Victor took look around while he waited. There were beautiful swords all over the place, and they all looked expensive. He wanted an upgrade from his iron sword, but he didn¡¯t want to spend too much before he bought his shop. Silence filled the room as he walked back to the counter. The bald man had stopped laughing and was eyeing him with suspicion. ¡°What is it?¡± Victor asked. ¡°What did you say your name was?¡± ¡°Victor.¡± ¡°Pretty strong aren¡¯t ya?¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve been told.¡± ¡°What do you think about that sword there.¡± The man pointed to a sword on the wall. It had a dark green blade that started straight then curved toward the end. Black leather was wrapped around an onyx hilt. ¡°It¡¯s quite beautiful.¡± ¡°Of course it is. It¡¯s my masterpiece.¡± the smith retorted. ¡°It¡¯s a shame for a sword like that to just be a decoration.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said. But it¡¯s been there for years.¡± Victor eyed the blade again with renewed interest. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± ¡°See for yourself.¡± Victor walked up to the sword to take a closer look.
This sword has not been named
Type: Sword/Scimitar Durability: 3479/3479
Quality: Epic Attack: 4992
Masterpiece of the Master Blacksmith Womack after 30 hours of relentless smithing. The Orihalcum blade has trace amounts of Eternium, the hardest metal on earth, giving it a hidden strength that can only be rivaled by the world¡¯s rarest materials. +Always sharpened (Sharpened blades deal 1.2x damage) +Sword skills level x4 Faster +Hardened by Fighting Spirit +All sword skills deal +30% additional wind damage in addition +Automatically uses ¡®Wind Cutter¡¯ after being drawn Requisites: Level 207 Strength 3000 Sword Mastery Expert or higher Fighting Spirit 900
¡°Compare.¡± Victor whispered. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Superior Iron Sword
Type: Short Sword Durability: 979/979
Quality: Normal Attack: 752
An iron sword forged by a Master Blacksmith. Though made of iron, the blade is strong and reliable. Requisites: Level 20 Strength 150
The unnamed blade was leaps and bounds above his iron sword. He had believed the sword that Thadius got from Carson would last him a while, but what Sarene had told him before he entered the tournament still rang true. His gear simply wasn¡¯t good enough. If Thadius had this blade when he returned to the coliseum.... ¡°Well, you know what¡¯s wrong with it?¡± Womack questioned. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have a name.¡± Victor said confidently. ¡°....Wrong. The weapon is too strong for its own good. Any bloke strong enough to actually use it already has a better weapon. It¡¯s a damn good sword, but it¡¯s simply too much for anyone that level.¡± ¡°Is level really that important? Can''t someone just swing it?¡± Victor asked. ¡°Are you an idiot? Every mama''s boy know¡¯s what happens if you try to use somethin¡¯ beyond your level! None of the stats will take effect and the damned thing would be as heavy as holdin¡¯ my fat arse in the palm of your hand!¡± Womack spit furiously. His pain at forging an undesirable sword was flaring up again. ¡°I never knew.¡± Victor shrugged. ¡°What level are you?¡± ¡°54.¡± ¡°Then try on that vambrace on that suit of armor behind you. You¡¯ll see what I mean.¡± Victor turned to obey. He immediately recognized the suit of armor the paladin had worn in the coliseum on the mannequin. He took the vambrace as instructed and put it on his wrist.
Equipment is beyond your current level. Defense will not be registered.
Just as the window popped up, the vambrace became extremely heavy. Victor could hold it just fine, but he could tell that Womack hadn¡¯t been lying about the weight increase. ¡°See what I mean?¡± Womack said sarcastically as Victor replaced the vambrace. "I do. What is this made of exactly?" "Hard silver. Why?" "Would iron be able to pierce this?" "Are you nuts?" Womack asked in concern. He seemed to truly be questioning Victor''s sanity. ¡°Who''s nuts?¡± Tommy asked as he walked back in with a suit of armor. ¡°Nobody.¡± Womack said quickly. ¡°Hurry up and get him sorted out. I¡¯ll be in the back.¡± Tommy waited until Womack was out of earshot. ¡°He told you about the sword didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°He did.¡± ¡°The man can¡¯t let it go. I swear, he¡¯s gonna give up smithing if someone doesn¡¯t take it soon. More work for me I guess.¡± the young man shook his head and sighed. ¡°How''s this? Does it look like what you had in mind?¡± Victor took a look at the armor. Unlike regular platemail, the chest piece was segmented to allow bending and twisting at the waist. It was exactly what what he needed. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of wearing this along with my cloak. Is there an armor set with torso like this that could easily integrate it?¡± ¡°The inside of our armors are lined with leather and cloth, so you could probably get a tailor to sew it in however you like it.¡± ¡°Good. Now all that¡¯s left is an armor set with the right level.¡± ¡°Level 54 right? I heard. We have a full set of steel armor for that level. It should last you about 30 levels.¡± ¡¯Then it won¡¯t be long before I come back.¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Alright then. That¡¯ll be 9G.¡± Tommy said as he held out his hand to collect the funds. Victor reached into his robe for his inventory, but he stole a glance at the unnamed sword. ¡°How much did it cost to build this place?¡± ¡°Arm & Hammer? Hmm¡­.I¡¯m not sure. Womack! Womack come ¡®ere a second!¡± ¡°What is it!?¡± Womack came storming into the room. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you finished with ¡®im yet!?¡± ¡°He asked how much did it cost to build the shop.¡± Womack looked at the youth then at Victor. ¡°Cost me 200,000G for the place. Why? You looking to build your own place?¡± ¡°Soon enough. Right now I¡¯m looking to buy that sword.¡± Victor pointed to the orihalcum blade. Silence filled the room for a moment before Womack exploded. ¡°You must be joking! You''re nowhere near level 200! I won¡¯t let my greatest work go to some bloke who can¡¯t even use it!!¡± ¡°Swords are different for me.¡± Victor said flatly. ¡°Are they now? Well that¡¯s all well and good, but you won¡¯t even be able to lift the damn thing of the wall at level 54!¡± Victor walked over to the wall where the sword was and easily removed it. A warm breeze blew when he touched it and warmth spread out from the blade in a heat haze. ¡°You were saying?¡± Womack was stunned into silence. Even the youth had trouble summoning words. ¡°How much?¡± Victor asked. ¡°...me it.¡± Womack whispered. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Name it first. A good blade can¡¯t go without a name.¡± he repeated after clearing his throat. Victor looked down at the scimitar. Had it been red, he knew exactly what he would have called it. Blue would have been good too. Yet, the blade was green, and only one woman came to mind when he thought of that color; an amazon with the luminous hazel eyes. ¡°Serenity. The final breeze.¡± Womack nodded, then closed his eyes as he quietly walked into the back. His shoulders racked with muffled sobs.
The unnamed scimitar has been named ¡®Serenity, The Final Breeze¡¯
Victor turned back to Tommy after Womack left. ¡°Would I be able to get some throwing knives as well?¡± ¡°How many?¡± he whispered. His eyes had moistened over as well. ¡°20.¡± ¡°15,010G total.¡± Victor quickly handed over 151N. He needed to leave soon. The atmosphere was beginning to pierce through his hardened exterior. The young man returned with the steel armor, Serenity¡¯s scabbard, and Victor¡¯s change. After Victor replaced the iron sword with Serenity.an endless breeze ruffled both his cloaks, as well as robe underneath. ¡°Your Fighting Spirit must be pretty high.¡± Tommy said. ¡°It was one of the swords requirements.¡± Victor replied. ¡°Yeah, but that¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen it react like that. The other guys could barely get a wind goin¡¯, but with you it doesn''t stop. Anyway, thank you for your purchase. I hope we see you again.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Victor said as he turned for the door. The fact that he would have to return as Victor Wolfe-Jagger didn¡¯t hit him until he was outside. ¡¯They would recognize me immediately if I walked in as Thadius with Serenity on my hip!¡¯ Victor shook his head at his own stupidity as he walked down the street. Now that he had a rough estimate of how much it would cost to start his own shop, he didn¡¯t have to be so frugal with his money. Unfortunately, the purchase of the property would take a chunk out of Yuna¡¯s half of the money. When the time came, he would have to ask her permission, even if he knew she would say yes. Victor walked the city to get a better feel of his surroundings. He passed several vendors selling fruits and vegetables. Other vendors were selling things like jewelry and accessories. Travelers walked around discussing their lives back home or what they would do before they had to log out. Npcs did their morning shopping and conversed with their neighbors. It would have been a peaceful scene, except for the way the Npcs looked at the Travelers as they passed, and how they whispered with concerned expressions. It was a beautiful morning, yet there was tension in the air. Why hadn¡¯t he noticed it before? Was it because Thadius was attacked? Or was it because he was too busy looking for possible assailants? Victor observed his surroundings as he wandered. There certainly was tension in the air, and it had something to do with the Travelers. The more he walked, the more he was convinced that posing as an Npc was a good idea. Some Travelers would no doubt recognize Thadius, but the Npcs wouldn¡¯t. If the Npcs started asking questions, the status card and a good story would take care of it. Victor decided to head back to the inn to change after almost an hour of aimless walking. He could see the coliseum, so he used it as a guide to find his way. He turned a corner to head into the direction of the inn, and received an unexpected surprise. Sitting outside of a large building was a familiar old man playing chess by himself. After taking a moment to compose himself, Victor walked up to the old man¡¯s table. ¡°You need an opponent old man?¡± ¡°Ho ho! It¡¯s been a while since someone¡¯s asked me that. Have a seat youngin¡¯.¡± Victor took his place across from the old man, and the game began immediately. Victor commanded his troops ruthlessly with his queen leading his forces. The resistance was laughable, and any attempt to control the battlefield was quickly thwarted. It was a one-sided battle from the very start. ¡°You seem to be struggling old man.¡± Victor taunted. ¡°The game is just gettin¡¯ good!¡± Knights were sent in to infiltrate Victor¡¯s castle, but he saw the move a mile away, and promptly sent his queen to deal swift justice to the perpetrators. Unfortunately, his bishop was slain in the process, leaving his brother to pick up the slack. In the final battle Victor''s infantry were falling left and right, but their sacrifice would not be in vain. Victor sent in his queen to corner the opposing king. ¡°It was a good game old man. Better luck next time.¡± ¡°Thadius, dear boy. It¡¯s gonna take a lot longer than four years for you to outsmart me. Ho ho!¡± ¡¯WHAT!?¡¯ T
Your act has been seen through. No experience will be awarded until the next identity is assumed.
Thadius cleared away the message in time to watch Old Man Tony¡¯s queen come face to face with his king. Behind her was a gallant knight who was prepared to give his life for her. ¡°Checkmate.¡± ¡°Where did she come from!?¡± Thadius protested. ¡°Ho ho, you¡¯ve gotten better Thadius, but you¡¯ve still got a ways to go!¡± ¡°Dammit.¡± Thadius sighed in frustration, but the anger soon turned into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you old man. I thought you were dead.¡± ¡°Dead? Me?¡± ¡°I went by your house, but it looked like the hut was turned upside down.¡± ¡°Hmm...must have left the door open.¡± They both enjoyed a good laugh and reset the chess board. Then Thadius pummeled the man with questions. ¡°How¡¯d you know it was me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t at first. I thought you were Corban in disguise. He was the only one I knew with Fightin¡¯ Spirit like yours, but then we started playin¡¯ and you came to mind. Even if you had died the mountain, I knew you¡¯d come back, you bein'' a Traveler and all. So when the first year passed and you didn¡¯t return, I figured you¡¯d met an old friend. ¡± ¡°But how did the way I play tip you off?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve played enough games with you to know that you favor your queen ho ho.¡± Thadius sighed again as he sat back in his chair, but it was Tony¡¯s turn to ask the questions. ¡°How is the old goat anyway? You must have finished his trainin¡¯ if you¡¯re all the way out here.¡± ¡°I finished his training, but Corban¡¯s dead.¡± Thadius aid sadly. ¡°Illness?¡± ¡°Me.¡± ¡°Hmm, he was gettin¡¯ pretty feeble. At least he died fightin¡¯. That¡¯s all he ever wanted.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Still, what brings you to Todos youngin¡¯? There¡¯s a war goin¡¯ on you know!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about that, and I think that¡¯s what I¡¯ve been seeing on the people¡¯s faces as I walk through the city.¡± ¡°What you see in the city is somethin¡¯ a little different.¡± Tony said as he shook his head. ¡°What¡¯s goin¡¯ on old man?¡± Old Man Tony was silent for a while before he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s the Travelers here Thadius. Some of ¡®em are up to no good.¡± ¡°I can''t say I''m surprised. I was attacked in broad daylight the day we showed up.¡± ¡°We?¡± ¡°Christina and Yuna.¡± Tony looked at Thadius with a confused expression. So Thadius explained in detail what had happened on the mountain. He talked about his progress in restoring Tegaia¡¯s power and Yuna''s banishment. Then he explained how he used Tegaia¡¯s power to restore Christina¡¯s sight, and their journey to the capital. ¡°So Tegaia is and runnin'' again. You actually did it...¡± Tony said in awe. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet, old man. I still need to build her a church.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the building Thadius. It¡¯s the people you need to worry about.¡± ¡°But there still needs to be a building right?¡± ¡°If you feel the need for it, sure. But what good is a church with no one to fill it?¡± ¡°True.¡± Thadius agreed as he quickly tucked his cloaks in his inventory. He had waited until the coast was clear before he shed his Victor Wolfe-Jagger costume. His belt flashed when he stood up to take it off. ¡°Ho ho, I see you stopped by the coliseum. Did you have fun?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the first person to ask me that today.¡± Thadius sighed as he shook his head. ¡°The fighting gets my blood pumping, but it¡¯s not like I wake up and say ¡®Let¡¯s go killin¡¯!¡¯¡± ¡° You¡¯ve still got a good head on your shoulders then. It''s good to know that Corban didn¡¯t infect you with his fighting disease. He couldn¡¯t wait to go to the coliseum. The fool was in there almost everyday, talkin¡¯ ¡®bout how ¡®practice makes perfect!¡¯¡± Thadius swallowed hard. He had thought the same thing. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the best way to get combat experience? Exposing yourself to fights?¡± ¡°Ho ho! You too huh? I spoke too soon about that head on your shoulders.¡± Tony chuckled. ¡°Did you consider the army Thadius?¡± ¡°I did, but I don¡¯t want to stray too far from Christina. And Yuna would have a fit if I went off to battle without her.¡± ¡°Thadius, who did you pass in order to get into the city?¡± ¡°The...city guard.¡± The moment the words left his mouth, realization dawned on him. ¡°But they don¡¯t do much fighting do they?¡± ¡°The city guard has to be strong too, Thadius. They rotate shifts to go out into the wilderness to get real combat experience. And out there Thadius, you don¡¯t have to hold back. You didn¡¯t fight at full strength in the coliseum did you?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t try to kill everything in sight if that¡¯s what you mean.¡± ¡°That too, but what I¡¯m talking about is your hunger to learn Thadius. That thirst for knowledge that I saw in the young man in my hut. The coliseum is too restricting for a youngin'' like yourself.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Then tell me, how do you think you did in the coliseum?¡± Thadius took a minute to look back and collect his thoughts. ¡°Truthfully, It was like everything I learned from my master went out the window when those drums sounded.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Being surrounded by so many people that wanted my blood just made me lose it. My form was terrible, and the whole thing just turned into a hack and slash festival. At least until the last fight anyway.¡± ¡°Your fight against the Silver Champion?¡± ¡°Yeah. I kind of regained a little bit of my reason then. Corban told me that I needed to gain experience through application and experimentation, but I can¡¯t do that if I don¡¯t apply what I¡¯ve learned. If the coliseum showed me anything, it''s that I''m far from my final form. With that in mind, my first hurdle is maintaining discipline during combat..¡± ¡°And the city guard is just the place for you to learn that.¡± ¡°The city guard, huh. How long are these excursions in the wilderness?¡± ¡°Less than a week. Every soldier in the army started in city guard, and every last one of ''em has taken a trip into the wilderness. But truth be told, I don¡¯t think the city is gonna have very many guards in the near future.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°I know what I know, so mark my words. In half a year¡¯s time our armies are'' gonna come beggin'' for reinforcements. They''ll conscript anyone who knows how to swing a sword and anyone that can use magic.¡± ¡°You think they¡¯ll take Christina?¡± Thadius was already on the edge of his seat when it came to her safety. If they took her to fight on some battlefield... ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be best if she was assigned to your unit instead of some stranger¡¯s?¡± ¡°But I''ll be a guard right? If the army comes for her¡­¡± ¡°Ho ho. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be there for long, and Christina won''t be an initiate forever. Once she graduates, she''ll assigned to a squad in the city guard like every priestess before her.The real question is, where will you be when she¡¯s sent to the wilderness?¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t know anyone who needs Tegaia more than fresh rookies who just finished basic training.¡± As Tony talked, switches went off in Thadius'' brain, multiple birds were being hit with one stone, and light bulbs were lighting up all over the place. Needless to say, he was convinced. ¡°When is the next excursion?¡± ¡°Tomorrow.¡± Tony smiled. ¡°Where do I sign up?¡± ¡°Right here.¡± Thadius got up to go into the building, but Tony stopped him. ¡°They don¡¯t leave until early morning. Take some time to think on it first, then if you still want to go, come back. This also gives you time to tell the girls that you won¡¯t see ¡®em for a while.¡± ¡°Right.¡± After saying goodbye to the old man, Thadius ran off down the street. He quickly made his way back to the inn to kill time. Since he saw Christina and Yuna only a few hours before, he decided to wait until the afternoon before he went back to the church. He stormed inside the building, and was ready to jet up the steps to his room before he remembered something. He backed up and went to the counter where a middle-aged woman was wiping the surface. ¡°Excuse me ma¡¯am, are you the owner of this establishment?¡± Thadius asked her in a urgent tone. ¡°Y-yes. Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Yes there is.¡± he said, pointing to the staircase. ¡°There are no guardrails for those stairs. Gods forbid if someone were to slip. They¡¯d have no way to catch themselves on the way down. As a patron, I fear for my life everytime I go up and down. Please address this immediately, lives are at stake.¡± Without another word, Thadius turned and climbed the staircase with his robe swishing from an unnatural wind. Once he was in his room, he pulled off his robe and went to work stitching it into his new armor. Just as he started, a message popped up in front of him.
Jeeves is watching.
Chapter 18: The Mists of Croaka I THE MISTS OF CROAKA I Pepper was running through the caverns of a distant dungeon as if her life depended on it. Her friends had reluctantly left her behind to log out while she chose to stay and grind another level. Unfortunately, she had been followed by a group of shady characters. At first, she thought they were just some other group that wanted to clear the dungeon, but turn by turn, they dogged her every footstep. That¡¯s when the fear set into her heart. She watched the news on a regular basis, so she¡¯d heard about all the terrible things that could happen in Chaos Online. Yet, as time passed without incident, she¡¯d figured it¡¯d never happen to her since she always played with her friends. So there was no way she¡¯d be targeted. No way at all. ¡¯Shit!¡¯ She cursed herself for her complacency as she sprinted. She should have gone back with the rest of her friends, but she just had to get that last bit of experience. She turned down another abandoned shaft, slamming her staff into the ground as she ran. A glyph appeared wherever the wood touched the stone. It was a simple trap that could close off a passage with a wall of rock, possibly separating or stalling any pursuers. Pepper was a Terramancer, so the fact that she was being chased inside a gigantic cave was her only thread of hope. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed of the walls, fooling her into believing that her pursuers were terrifyingly close. Then the sound of one of her glyphs activating interrupted the sound. ¡°Argh!! My nose! Fuckin¡¯ bitch!!¡± ¡°Hurry up and knock it down!¡± ¡°Hah hah...¡± Pepper¡¯s breathing was rough and her stamina was starting to tap out. If there was any other exit to the world outside, she¡¯d have to find it soon. Otherwise¡­ ¡°We¡¯re comin¡¯ for ya girl!¡± ¡°Just slow down and we¡¯ll talk it out!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make us wait any longer than we have to!!¡± ¡°Hah hah ha ha.¡± Despite her labored breaths, a terrified chuckle escaped her lips. She wouldn¡¯t let herself be captured so easily. In fact, she¡¯d collapse the entire dungeon before they could even lay a hand her. But that was a last resort, she wanted to delay such a painful death for as long as possible. Pepper ran her hands against the wall as she turned again. Her ¡®Read Stone¡¯ ability allowed her to see the formation of nearby passages to see if they were clear of monsters. The dim light from the various luminescent fungi lit her path, but it was her ability she had to rely on the most. Running into a monster in her current situation wouldn¡¯t be funny at all. She turned down another narrow passage, and this time, there was a high rock wall at the end of it. If she could make it up there, she¡¯d be able to put some much needed distance between her and the pursuers. She quickly ran to the rock wall and summoned her mana, carefully adjusting how much she needed. If she didn¡¯t have enough for ¡®Earthquake¡¯, then she¡¯d have to get creative with her suicide, and Pepper wasn¡¯t a very creative woman. ¡°Mighty stone of the earth, take me to new heights! Rock Stair!¡± she cried. A giant square of earth rose from the ground and rushed her toward the top of the rock wall, right into the path of a cave prowler. The giant cat must have been out of range of her ¡®Read Stone¡¯. That, or she was simply too scared to pay close attention. Whatever the case, it was her problem now. The prowler pounced as soon as the rock stair merged back into the earth. ¡°Boulder Member!¡± she cried as she slammed her free arm into the ground. The stone crumbled under her blow and wrapped around her arm in time to receive the cat. Hungry jaws clamped around her arm while the cave prowler used it¡¯s full weight to pin her to the ground. The feral snarls it made as it tried to chew through her arm would no doubt carry to her pursuers, informing them of her plight. As a mage, Pepper¡¯s strength was non-existent, so it was impossible for her to push the beast off. However, Pepper was a veteran dungeon crawler, so she had plenty of tricks up her sleeve for situations like this. She let go of her staff and placed her other hand against her rock arm. ¡°Member Spikes!¡± Her arm suddenly sprouted jagged spikes that stretched outward, proving to be especially deadly for the cat that had its mouth around it. The stone spikes punched through the skull in several places, killing it instantly. When it died, Pepper got her desired level up message, but she payed no attention to the signature sound as she struggled to escape from the corpse. ¡°We¡¯re coming up to help you! Don¡¯t shoot!¡± ¡°I¡¯mma do a lot more than help.¡± ¡°Ha ha. She¡¯ll hear you.¡± Pepper finally managed to squeeze out from underneath the cave prower and quickly reached for her staff at the edge of the ledge.
-725hp
But a lighting bolt came roaring past her shoulder, numbing her arm and burning a hole in her robe. Thankfully, her arcane shield mitigated most of the damage, but the maneuver had stopped her long enough for her pursuers to catch up.
-2322hp
Another bolt hit her in the chest as the figures of three men rose over the edge of the cliff. Numbness spread throughout her body, but it wasn¡¯t full paralysis. She could still move. Though given the situation, she¡¯d have to logout to avoid the worst. After the tangle with the cave prowler, she didn¡¯t have enough mana for strong ¡®Earthquake¡¯, and she needed her staff to channel her larger spells. She still had ¡®Spike¡¯, but it would only take one of them by surprise. ¡®You¡¯ll get my corpse, but you won¡¯t get me!!¡¯ If she didn¡¯t log in for a couple days, she respawn in town as if nothing happened. ¡°Log-¡± ¡°Silence.¡± said one of the men. ¡°....!¡± Pure terror gripped Pepper¡¯s heart when her mouth moved without sound. She reached for her staff again in desperation, only to have a heavy boot come down on her hand.
-1239hp
¡°......!¡± she screamed silently. Standing over her was a warrior clad in heavy platemail. He was smiling as he removed his sword belt. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, you made us work for it. But trust and believe, you¡¯ll be worth the trouble.¡± Tears streamed down Pepper¡¯s face. Even if she fought after the silence wore off, it would be too late. She shook her head, praying that this was just some nightmare she¡¯d yet to wake up from. ¡°Now don¡¯t be like that.¡± The warrior whispered as he kneeled down to caress her face. ¡°You¡¯ll enjoy this just as much as I will. I¡¯m quite gent- Who¡¯s there!?¡± he shouted in surprise. He quickly grabbed his discarded sword belt and unsheathed his weapon, staring into the dark tunnel that stretched out before them. ¡°I thought you said she was alone!¡± ¡°She is!! I already used ¡®Detect¡¯!¡± As the other two quarreled with each other, the warrior stared into the void. Moments passed before the sound of footsteps could be heard. ¡°Whoever you are, turn back if you know what¡¯s good for you!¡± the warrior threatened, releasing his full pressure on the unknown figure. The sound of the footsteps only grew louder. Everyone watched as a the mysterious figure walked out into the dim light of the ledge. He was a slim man dressed in an all black tuxedo. He sporting a top hat, leather gloves, and a cane to match. In the soft light he was extremely pale, and his blonde hair seemed saturated in comparison. A mechanical eye surveyed the situation while an eyepatch covered the other. The warrior took a cautious step back as the man came to a stop beside Pepper. ¡°Ms.Pepper, you seem to be in distress. Are you in need of assistance?¡± the man said as he looked down at her. The red glow in his eye was ominous, but Pepper nodded vigorously. She wasn¡¯t in any position to deny help. ¡°I thought so.¡± The man took of his hat and held it out to her. ¡°Would you mind?¡± he asked kindly. Pepper took the hat with a confused look on her face, for she was wondering how the man could act so calmly in this situation. She looked down into the hat and found a small silver mallet inside. Had the man intended for her to use it?She couldn¡¯t have been further from the truth. ¡°Please don¡¯t touch that.¡± he said, giving her a stern look with his eye. ¡°Hey, Alfred! You should get out of here while we¡¯re still in a good mood. It¡¯d be a shame to get blood on your suit.¡± the warrior threatened once more as he took menacing step toward the man. ¡°It would be a tragedy to soil this tuxedo; however, should any blood be spilled, I assure you that it will be yours Mr. Magnum.¡± The man glared at Magnum, whose blood seemed to freeze in his veins. ¡°Where did I put- Ah, here it is.¡± The man pulled a small notepad from his coat pocket along with a quill. ¡°Now that I have this, we can begin our introductions. My name is Jeeves, and I will be your mentor in regards to etiquette and proper social behavior. Today¡¯s lesson gentlemen, is that a woman¡¯s virtue is a gift to be given, not loot to be taken whenever you please.¡± ¡°Jeeves!? I got a message about this guy yesterday.¡± ¡°You too!?¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± Magnum screamed as he positioned himself in front of Jeeves and readied himself for combat. ¡°All we need to do is kill this bastard and we can get back to business!¡± The other two men readied themselves as well, but before Magnum could take a single step, Jeeves was behind him stabbing a quill into his neck. ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Pardon me, I wasn¡¯t supplied with ink.¡± he said solemnly. ¡°You bastard! Sky Render!!¡± Magnum swung his sword high into the air and brought it down with lightning trailing along the blade. Jeeves caught the sword in his hand while he was still holding the quill. ¡°That¡¯s quite rude. Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m trying to write?¡± He leisurely tossed the blade aside and continued to write in his pad. ¡°I¡¯ll be with you momentarily Mr. Magnum, please be patient.¡± None of the men moved while Jeeves scribbled in his pad. He¡¯d taken Magnum¡¯s strongest attack as if it were nothing, so any further fighting would be futile. Only a moment had passed before Jeeves snapped his notepad shut. Then he smiled, ¡°Thank you for waiting Mr. Magnum, Mr. YungDolla, Mr. PewZapPow. Your patience is appreciated. I will now be administering your punishment.¡± ¡°¡±¡±......!¡±¡±¡± The trio went pale as Jeeves pulled a rapier from his cane. ¡°Don¡¯t worry gentlemen, this is simply a warning. Should you refrain from sexual crimes in the future, it¡¯s possible that we¡¯ll meet under friendlier circumstances. Now, Mr. Magnum,¡± Jeeves turned toward the retreating warrior, ¡°I believe we were having a discussion about your blood on my tuxedo.¡± As he spoke, his mechanical eye shined brilliantly. ¡°Wait a se-¡± Magnum¡¯s words were cut short by a stab to the heart. He was dead before he hit the ground. A bolt of lightning stuck Jeeves as he turned to face YungDolla and PewZapPow. The electricity washed over him and dissipated without so much as a singed thread. Then he proceeded to take the lives of the last two men in rapid succession. Pepper could only watch in awe as Jeeves sheathed his weapon. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry that you had to witness such grisly business Ms. Pepper.¡± he apologized as he helped her up. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you showed up when you did.¡± Pepper handed over his hat. ¡°I¡¯m always watching Ms. Pepper, for it is my duty to protect Travelers like yourself.¡± Jeeves bowed and replaced his hat. ¡°Well, thank you Mr. Jeeves.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just Jeeves Ms. Pepper.¡± he smiled ¡°T-Thanks Jeeves.¡± she stuttered. Being saved from such an ordeal had her dizzy with relief. Jeeves turned to walk away, but turned back. ¡°Do be careful Ms. Pepper, they¡¯re some feisty creatures further down.¡± he said, pointing down the passage he came from. ¡°I¡¯d hate to see you stumble into an ambush.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Pepper just nodded. She didn¡¯t really feel like hunting anymore today. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be taking my leave.¡± After saying his goodbyes, Jeeves vanished into thin air. He was gone just as quickly as he appeared. --- Harbor City of Alia, Naleng Dominion ¡°Get off me you oaf!!¡± the hobbit cried as he kicked at his attacker. The behemoth of a man shrugged off the kick as if it was nothing. ¡°You owe me boy! Did you think I lent you all that gold as a favor!¡± the man punched the hobbit again. The two had met after-hours in one of the warehouses by the docks to discuss their agreement. Unfortunately for the hobbit, his benefactor had wanted to do much more than just talk, and he now found himself cornered. The hobbit pulled out his hidden knife in an attempt to fend off further attacks, but the man used his monstrous strength to pin the halfling¡¯s arm against the wall. ¡°You will pay what you owe me boy, one way or-¡± A cane under the man¡¯s chin cut his words short. ¡°Mr. NomNomBabies, how is it that you¡¯ve returned so soon? Didn¡¯t we speak earlier?¡± Jeeves asked as he glared at the man. ¡°H-hey Jeeves, wait a minute! I¡¯m not doin¡¯ nothin¡¯ but a havin¡¯ a talk with this ¡®ere hobbit.¡± ¡°Anyone can clearly see that you¡¯re aroused Mr. Babies. Do you mind if I call you that? Your name is quite the mouthful.¡± Just as Jeeves stated, NomNomBabies¡¯ erection was clearly visible through his trousers. But with Jeeves staring him down, it wouldn¡¯t last for much longer. ¡°You¡¯ve been caught red-handed Mr. Babies. Now why don¡¯t you unhand Mr. Romulus so that we can further discuss your conduct.¡± Jeeves suggested. NomNomBabies quickly let go of the hobbit and proceeded to run for his life. Jeeves shook his head in exasperation and moved a hand to his cane. In the next moment, he was in front of NomNomBabies with his back facing toward him. Yet, instead of drawing his weapon, he was sheathing it. A resounding click echoed throughout the quiet warehouse, and NomNomBabies collapsed on the spot.Then a ghost of himself rose from his body and split into two. Romulus came running up to the seen. ¡°What did you do to ¡®im?¡± he asked. ¡°Mr. Babies has just had his level and skills reset. He shouldn¡¯t be able to bother anyone for a while. However,¡± Jeeves removed his rapier once more and stabbed it into the heart of the weakened man, ¡°I can¡¯t let a foolish deed go unpunished.¡± ¡°I appreciate it.¡± Romulus said, nodding in thanks. ¡°No problem at all Mr. Romulus. Though I do suggest you repay Mr. Babies as soon as possible. He¡¯s liable to be furious upon his return, and I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he beat you to within an inch of your life.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll come back and help me if that happens right?¡± the hobbit asked hopefully. He was usually at a disadvantage when it came to fights. He only played Chaos Online to sail, so his stats were relatively low. Jeeves just smiled and said, ¡°Goodbye Mr. Romulus.¡± Then disappeared into thin air. --- Valor Fields, South edge of the Bealte region, Todos Kingdom A battle had just taken place on Valor Fields, and the survivors of the battle spread out into the surrounding villages. Nelang soldiers invaded the homes of Todos citizens, taking what they wanted before killing every living soul. The armies of Todos weren¡¯t much better. They pillaged just as much as their enemies, but they left the citizens alive so that they could continue to serve the kingdom. On a nearby ridge, overlooking one of burning villages, a man was struggling to subdue a young woman. She had fled the village with her sister, but the man had killed her as soon as he caught up with them. They struggled in the grass, and blood oozed from a hole in the man¡¯s chest. His eyes glowed green with the signature color of the undead. ¡°I simply can not comprehend how you managed to revived twice in one day Mr. Boogeyman.¡± At the sound of the voice, Boogeyman stood up and distanced himself from the woman. ¡°Give me a fuckin¡¯ break! She¡¯s just an NPC!¡± the necromancer cried. ¡°Do you see this?¡± Jeeves held up his notepad. ¡°This flags you as a potential sex offender Mr. Boogeyman, meaning any attempted sexual attacks from you will be stopped by me. It no longer matters whether or not the victim is a native or a Traveler.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit!!¡± Boogeyman spat furiously. ¡°No, Boogeyman!! What¡¯s ¡®bullshit¡¯ is the fact that you¡¯ve repeatedly attempted to assault these women despite my warnings! I even set you back to square one, and still you managed to prey on someone weaker than yourself!? You are a visitor in this world, and there is enough evil in it without you constantly trying to add to it!!¡± Jeeves bellowed in rage. Then he took a deep breath and removed his hat. ¡°I apologize for shouting... I¡¯m just extremely disappointed with the choices you¡¯ve made. You¡¯ve left me no choice....¡± The necromancer back away in fear. He¡¯d already been reset, and there was only one thing that could be worse than that. Jeeves reached inside his hat and pulled out his silver mallet. Then with god-like speed, he smashed the mallet into the Boogeyman¡¯s face. Once the man hit the ground, he shattered into a hundreds of pixelated pieces. ¡°Goodbye Boogeyman.¡± Jeeves whispered as he replaced the mallet and hat onto his head. Then he turned to the astounded Npc. ¡°You should run along now, Ms. Guthrie. It¡¯s not safe here.¡± ¡°But my sister-¡± she whimpered. ¡°Is dead.¡± he interrupted. ¡°And if you don¡¯t want to end up like her, I suggest you leave quickly.¡± The woman looked toward her sister with hesitation, and tears began to well up in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll see to it that she receives a proper burial.¡± Jeeves said quietly as he walked over to place a hand on her shoulder. The woman nodded and started to run as fast as her legs could carry her. Once she was a fair distance away, Jeeves snapped his fingers and burned the body of her sister to ashes. ¡°I told you if we followed him, he¡¯d show up.¡± Jeeves turned around to face two men as they revealed themselves. They were both clad in bright silver armor with the insignia of scale imprinted on the chestplate. ¡°Mr. Marius, Mr. Fourscore. What brings you here at this hour?¡± Jeeves asked as he straightened his tie. Marius stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯ve come to see you in action Jeeves. We followed that necro and his friends from Todos, but when you came online, we figured we¡¯d leave him to you.¡± ¡°Why not help sooner? You could have saved Ms. Guthrie''s sister.¡± Jeeves questioned. ¡°We could ask you the same thing.¡± Marius countered. ¡°Boogeyman didn¡¯t show enough intent at the time, and my protocol doesn¡¯t extend protection to the natives. They must live in this world, no matter how ugly it turns out to be.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m guessing you won¡¯t be going down into that burning village.¡± Marius looked over to the blazing flames that lit the night. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Jeeves said. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± Marius walked up to stand in front of Jeeves. He looked him over once before he spoke again. ¡°I happen to know a man who helped to program you. And while it¡¯s true that you can¡¯t interfere too much in worldly affairs, I know for a fact that your limitations aren¡¯t as severe as you believe.¡± As if on cue, a scream resounded into the night from the blazing village below. ¡°Fourscore.¡± Marius said without turning. He continued to stare into Jeeves¡¯ eye as Fourscore removed the bow from his shoulder and shot an arrow. A few seconds later, the screaming died down. Jeeves¡¯ face contorted in confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t look so surprised Jeeves. It¡¯s been a while since he¡¯s missed.¡± Marius smiled as he patted Jeeves on the shoulder. Then he began to walk with Fourscore to the village below. ¡°It¡¯s not your place to help them. This isn¡¯t your world.¡± Jeeves called out to them as they walked away. Marius stopped and turned around. ¡°You¡¯re right...it¡¯s not our world. It¡¯s yours isn¡¯t it?¡± Jeeves frowned as he turned to watch the burning village. It had only barely been one day since he came online, and he was already contemplating the purpose of his existence. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. --- Church of Thena, Todos, Todos Kingdom The girls dormitory was silent except for the soft breathing of the initiates. Magical stones at either end of the room provided a dim glow for any late night restroom trips. Soon all girls would wake up for morning prayer and chores, then the entire church would be bustling with life. Thadius stood looking down at the sleeping Christina, who had an impossibly bulky shape underneath the covers. He immediately guessed it was Yuna using her bodyguard detail as an excuse to snuggle up next to someone, and shook his head at the blatant exploitation of the Goddess. After he¡¯d returned to the inn, Thadius had spent the rest of the day weaving. The integration of his Corbae robe into his new armor set had gone so well, he¡¯d decided to get a head start on the next shipment of Wolf Gear. He had a feeling that once he was out in the field, he wouldn¡¯t have much time for tailoring. Unfortunately, his focus had gotten the better of him, and he ended up sewing until his room went dark. Thadius had to let the girls know about his absence, but he didn¡¯t want to alert anyone who hadn¡¯t yet fallen asleep. So he waited until the very early morning when he could wake Yuna and Christina up without them losing too much sleep. Still, the thought of sneaking into the girls dormitory was nerveracking, and every fiber of his being was screaming at him to exit the premises. But Thadius was a man on a mission, and he was also pressed for time. He kneeled down beside Christina bed, admiring the beauty of stillness. ¡¯Why fall for me? You¡¯ve barely reached adulthood and you¡¯re already putting your heart on your sleeve¡­.If I fall for you now, there¡¯d be no more room in my heart for- Thadius sighed and shook his head. ¡¯No, she¡¯s gone. And that¡¯s how it should be. What¡¯s wrong with making life here? A full life...¡¯ He looked at Christina again, and as gently as he could, traced his finger along her jaw to her chin. Her brow furrowed a bit in her sleep, and the reaction prompted a devilish grin on Thadius¡¯ face. He pulled out a few strands of thread from his inventory and tickled her ear with them. Once she shook her head in annoyance, he moved the threads down to her neck, and held his breath as she moved a hand to scratch. ¡¯He he heee¡¯ Thadius giggled silently. He knew he was terrible for it, but she wasn¡¯t expecting his visit, making it the perfect opportunity for mischief. He lightly brushed the threads across her face, and when she slapped herself, Thadius had to cover his mouth to keep from bursting out in laughter. ¡°Hmm, stop Thadius.¡± Christina murmured. Thadius froze. Had his Fighting Spirit woken her up? He had tested the effects of it in the men¡¯s dormitory, so he was sure that wasn¡¯t the case. Yet, the only other explanation¡­ ¡¯Is she dreaming about me?¡¯ Thadius smiled to himself. But the smile was short lived as his thoughts drifted back to matters of the heart. That alone drained the mirth out of him. ¡°Christina.¡± he whispered as he poked her nose. She twitched, then went still. Thadius poked her again. This time, her face scrunched up as she opened her eyes. ¡±Thadius?¡± she said drowsily. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± she said, turning her head to the other side to get more comfortable. ¡¯You must have been knocked out. Poor thing...I¡¯ll wait. A few seconds passed before reality set in, then Christina sat up abruptly and stared at Thadius through squinted eyes. ¡°Thadius?¡± she whispered. ¡°Hey.¡± he smiled. ¡°Hey.¡± A smile slowly spread on her face in turn. ¡°No night gown?¡± he asked. Christina looked down at her grey set of Wolf Gear, then quickly laid back down and covered herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring one¡­¡± she replied, blushing fiercely. ¡°I could make you one.¡± he offered. ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± She pulled the covers up to her nose while her cheeks filled with more color. ¡°Christina likes to sleep half-naked huh? Good to know¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that!¡± She covered her face with her hands. ¡°I just like the way it looks.¡± Thadius just smiled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong Thadius?¡± Christina said in concern. She sat up again to get a better look at his expression. Thadius rubbed a hand across his face, he didn¡¯t think he made any expression in particular. Yet, Christina had somehow picked up on his inner turmoil. ¡°That depends, do you want a lie or do you want the truth¡­¡± he whispered with a stern expression. ¡°The truth of course.¡± she responded immediately. ¡°I¡¯m wondering what my life would be like if I started a relationship with you. Not as a companion, but as a woman.¡± Christina chewed on her lip as she slowly laid back down. The divine glow in her eyes, the aftermath of Tegaia¡¯s healing, completed the picture of her anxious face. Men wrote poetry with less raw material. ¡°Her golden hair, shines like the sun, no matter how it lies.¡± Thadius recited as he ran a finger through her hair. ¡°Eternal-blue eyes, endless as Heaven¡¯s skies, promise a life filled with joy.¡± He moved from her hair to stroke her cheek then cupped his hand under her chin. They locked eyes as Thadius coaxed her into releasing her lower lip. ¡°And with love and joy, she¡¯d try to destroy the walls that surround my heart. The tricky part, is where to start without tearing my heart apart.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t tear apart anything, Thadius.¡± she said quietly, taking his hand into hers. ¡°I don¡¯t think so either¡­¡± Thadius replied truthfully. ¡°Then what¡¯s stopping you? What¡¯s stopping us?¡± she questioned softly. Though she could guess what it was. Under her honest gaze, Thadius couldn¡¯t lie to her. ¡°Nothing at all.¡± ¡°Then why do you look so sad when we talk about it?¡± ¡°Because being with you would mean letting go of the love that already fills my heart, and I don¡¯t want to let go just yet.¡± he whispered to her. Christina looked down as she traced his palm with her finger tips. ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± There was a sadness in her voice that clawed at Thadius like a wild beast. ¡°Yes I do.¡± he replied. Christina carefully moved herself to the edge of the bed, maneuvering her legs slowly so as not to wake the sleeping Goddess below. The warm breeze from Serenity, and Thadius¡¯ aura, protected her from the chill as she held his head in her hands. "I know that I''m a burden on you Thadius." she said. "Christina-" "I know it." she whispered fiercely. Her stern gaze wasn''t one of a love-struck girl without any common sense. "You and Yuna could be out there right now, hunting down monsters on some grand adventure. I know that." she continued, brushing his lips with her thumb. "And I know some other woman has your heart. But I''m here and she''s not. While she''s away in some far off land, you''re here with me, and I''m fine with that." She pulled Thadius closer, so close that he had to look up at her. "With time, I know I¡¯ll find my place beside you. Until then, you won''t run from me, remember?" Christina leaned down and placed her lips on his, as if she could convey all she felt with her touch. Lost in the moment, her legs wrapped around him, then she trembled as the warmth of his hands slid across her back. But Thadius had to pull away before he completely lost his sanity. If he gave the wolf control, the initiates would wake up to quite the show, and he would never hear the end of Yuna'' and her ¡®stuff¡¯ talk. "Do mind setting me free?" Thadius smiled slyly as he moved his hands to her legs. Christina nodded and reluctantly detached herself, allowing Thadius to move toward the edge of the bed to proceed with his mission. He lifted the covers and searched through layers of white hair to find the slumbering Goddess underneath. "Yuna. Yuna, wake up." he whispered as he poked her cheeks. "Hmmn? Leave me alone Thadius..." she protested. "Yuna." he poked her again with a little more force. She opened one eye and glared at her tormentor. "What?" "I''m leaving on a trip. I won''t be back for a week or so." he said. "Uh huh. Tastes good." she yawned. ''What exactly are you hearing....'' "Yuna, I''m leaving. I''m never coming back." "Mmmhmm." she murmured as her eye closed slowly. "What time is it?" he asked. "Cookin'' time." It was an instant reply. "If you understand that, then you must be awake. Do you understand what I just told you?" "Going away...a week...bringing back food to eat." ''Close enough.'' Thadius sighed as he left Yuna to fall back to sleep. "Where are you going?" Christina asked. "I''m going out with the city guard for a bit. Nothing to worry about. Now cover up. Too much temptation is bad for my health." Thadius chuckled softly. "Thadius finds my body tempting. Good to know." She smiled playfully. Thadius eyes widened in feigned surprise, and Christina nearly burst out laughing from the look on his face. Both of them ended up covering their mouths until the mirth subsided. ¡°Well, it¡¯s time I headed out. Try and get some more sleep.¡± Thadius said as he raised from the floor. ¡°But I¡¯m wide awake now.¡± Christina pouted. She blamed Thadius 100%. ¡°Then you and your friend should get a head start on those chores.¡± Thadius whispered. Christina eyes went wide as she watched him disappear in front of her eyes. She heard a chuckle, then the subtle click of the door leading down to the first floor. ¡°He he. I saw somethin¡¯ good.¡± a voice said from the next bunk over. A pair of narrowed cat eyes looked at Christina like a prized fish. Christina just shook her head and got up to go put on her robe. ¡°Wait! Christina!¡± Esaa cried out as quietly as she could manage, which wasn¡¯t very quiet at all. --- Thadius shook his head as he closed the doors of the church behind him. Esaa had woken up in the middle of Christina¡¯s display of affection. Fortunately, Christina counted on her as a friend, so the fact that there had been a man in the girls dorm would be a secret between the two. ¡¯At least I hope so.¡¯ Thadius thought as he set out for the building he¡¯d met Tony at yesterday. Dawn had yet to break over the city, and the streets were quiet and still. Thadius set out at a brisk pace, anxious to make it to the meeting on time. His robe flapped violently behind him because of his speed and the continuous wind released by Serenity. He reached the doors of the recruitment center just as the sky began to brighten. When he walked in, a familiar face was there to greet him. ¡°This is the youngin¡¯ I was talkin¡¯ about.¡± Old Man Tony said as he maneuvered his piece on the chessboard. His opponent looked up at Thadius in irritation. ¡°So you¡¯re Thadius, huh.¡± The man got up and came around the counter to scrutinize Thadius. ¡°Hmph, You don¡¯t look so tough.¡± he said, despite the obvious twitch in his jaw that was triggered by Thadius¡¯ Fighting Spirit. ¡°I¡¯m stronger than I look.¡± Thadius responded confidently as he looked down at the man. ¡°And if you still doubt my abilities after the excursion, I¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°Excursion he says!¡± the man exclaimed as he threw up his hands and walked back to his seat. ¡°He talks about a walk into the mists as if it¡¯s some sort of picnic!¡± He looked at Tony in disbelief. ¡°How many rookies will you send out there to be killed before you¡¯re satisfied, General?¡± Thadius raised an eyebrow in surprise. He figured the old man had connections, but he never expected him to have such a high rank. Tony laughed, and his bushy eyebrows quivered with amusement. ¡°Oh, this one won¡¯t go dyin¡¯ so easily Richie. He¡¯s been taught good and proper!¡± Richie sighed, rubbing his forehead to ease his tension.General Antony always found a way to make his job more difficult than had to be. ¡°Fine,¡± he said, holding out his hand. ¡°give me your status card.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t-¡± ¡°I have it right here.¡± Thadius interrupted Tony, winking at the old man as he removed his status card from around his neck. ¡°Ho ho!¡± Tony chuckled. Richie narrowed his eyes in suspicion, looking at both Thadius and Tony, but he could only guess as to what transpired between the two. He snatched the card from Thadius¡¯ hand and barked orders. ¡°You¡¯ll report to Captain Dain. He¡¯s the commanding officer for this ¡®excursion¡¯.¡± he said, turning back to the chessboard to make his move. Thadius waited patiently for further instructions, yet it only served to flame Richies misdirected anger. ¡°Well!? What in the hells are you waiting for!? Go to the mess hall!¡± he shouted. ¡°And make sure you change out of that ridiculous armor before you do! You¡¯re in the Todos army now, so you need to dress the part!¡± Thadius quickly moved behind the counter and through the door in the back, frowning at his unceremonious recruitment as he walked into the connecting corridor. Not only had he been fussed out moments after he arrived, he¡¯d also been told to remove the armor he¡¯d just bought yesterday. He understood the need for uniformity, but he was disappointed nonetheless. Thadius followed the corridors to the mass of presences that could only be the mess hall that Richie mentioned. The place was packed with rows of tables and soldiers. And when he walked in, he received all sorts of glares from them. Some men even thought to put a bit of pressure on Thadius, only to have their pressure returned ten-fold. ¡¯The faster I find the Captain, the better.¡¯ He thought as he approached the nearest soldier. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Captain Dain, do you know where he is?¡± Thadius asked. The soldier merely looked at him, then returned to eating. Thadius turned to the man opposite him. ¡°Excuse me, kind sir. Do you know where Captain Dain might be?¡± The second soldier gave him the cold shoulder as well. ¡¯Please don¡¯t make me get ignorant.¡¯ Thadius walked over to the next table, hoping to find someone friendlier. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m looking for Captain Dain. Mind pointing me in the right direction?¡± he asked another soldier. This time, the soldier didn¡¯t even acknowledge his existence. ¡¯Okay...¡¯ Thadius sucked in a breath. ¡°CAPTAIN DAIN! WHERE ARE YOU!?¡± he screamed at the top of his lungs. To his satisfaction, the soldier that had ignored him nearly jumped out of his skin. ¡°Who in the hells is yelling in my mess hall!¡± a voice shouted at the end of the room. Thadius located the man immediately. He was a short, broad-shouldered man with black hair and a goatee. His sharp gaze had no mercy, and his posture as he leaned on the table screamed intolerance. Once Thadius made his way over, he made sure to be polite as possible. ¡°I apologize for screaming, sir. The soldiers were uncooperative when I was trying to find you.¡± The captain glared daggers at him. ¡°And you thought that gave you the right to disturb the meal of my men!?¡± he hissed. ¡°Yes sir.¡± ¡°Oh? Then you must be one of those entitled little pricks!¡± Dain came face to face with Thadius. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered my men to remain silent during every meal. So they were following orders when they kept their mouths shut!¡± he spat. ¡°They still could have gestured, sir.¡± Thadius frowned. The captain stared at Thadius as if he¡¯d bumped his head, then he sighed heavily.¡°State your business.¡± ¡°I was told to report to you for duty, sir.¡± ¡°And where is your uniform, rookie?¡± Captain Dain questioned with narrowed eyes. ¡°I¡¯m aware that I¡¯m not in uniform, sir, and I apologize for that as well. I wasn¡¯t informed as to where I could obtain a set of armor.¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t informed, he says!¡± Dain cried out to the eating soldiers, a chorus of laughter followed. ¡°Well then, why didn¡¯t you ask?¡± he questioned in a mocking tone. ¡°I was ordered to report to you immediately, sir. It seemed like an inappropriate time for questions.¡± Thadius responded tactfully. He felt like Captain Dain favored obedience, so an excuse like ¡®I was following orders¡¯ seemed acceptable. The captain sighed again and shook his head in exasperation. He turned toward the opposite end of the table. ¡°Elroy!¡± he called. Immediately, a young man jumped up and came rushing over. Thadius was instantly reminded of Marshal by the way the man carried himself. It wasn¡¯t just his dirty blonde hair or his sharp eyes that reminded him of Christina¡¯s father, it was the way the man carried himself with the same air of nobility. Thadius was willing to bet that the man had come from a wealthy family. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± Elroy said. ¡°Elroy, this one will be your fourth. Make sure he¡¯s thoroughly informed on the situation.¡± said the captain with an overly sarcastic tone. Thadius was starting to feel like they wouldn¡¯t be friends. Elroy nodded and gestured for Thadius to follow him. When they were in the hallway, Thadius asked, ¡°Is he always like that?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know. I only arrived yesterday.¡± he replied stoically. ¡°You arrived yesterday? And you have a unit already?¡± Elroy shot Thadius an annoyed look, but he answered the question. ¡°...I received basic training at an early age.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡¯Definitely nobility.¡¯ ¡°And what about you? You don¡¯t seem like you belong in the city guard.¡± Elroy asked. ¡°I have friends in high places.¡± Thadius smiled. Despite his stern expression, the smallest of smallest of smirks appeared at the edge of Elroy¡¯s mouth. ¡°Indeed.¡± They walked down a few more corridors before they arrived at the armoury. Racks filled with poor equipment littered the place. Elroy picked one out at random and handed it to Thadius. ¡°I¡¯ll show you where you¡¯ll be sleeping once we return from the mission. For now, you should be curious about where we¡¯re going, yes?¡± ¡°I heard something about the mists?¡± ¡°The Mists of Croaka. Further south of Todos there is a gigantic stretch of marshland. Due to the climate, a never ending mist hangs over the entire area. For years, the Croaka have waged war against Todos. It¡¯s one of the reasons why Todos is so militant, and also the reason why we raised the city off the plains. ¡°Now, we send subjugation squads into the mists just to keep the Croaka in check. They know Todos rules this land, so they hide in their marsh, rarely leaving its protection.¡± Elroy explained. ¡°Why attack if they don¡¯t come out of the mists?¡± Thadius asked, he was curious as to why country like Todos would waste time with an enemy that¡¯s weaker than them. Elroy shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken. The Croaka are amphibious monsters, and the entire marsh is some sort of massive dungeon. No matter how many we kill, we go back and find the same number in their place. If we left them alone, they¡¯d gain the strength to strike back. And that will not be tolerated.¡± ¡°Monsters huh?¡± Thadius made a confused face. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Elroy frowned. ¡°Nothing, I just thought there¡¯d be more to it.¡± Thadius mumbled as he looked at his new armor in disdain. It smelled like a used jock strap. ¡°So did I, but here we are. Any questions?¡± ¡°Yes. Where do I sleep?¡± Thadius asked. ¡°I told you I¡¯d show you after we return.¡± ¡°I need a place to set my armor after I change¡­¡± Even though he could easily use his inventory, Thadius wanted to keep his identity as a Traveler under wraps. ¡¯Which reminds me, I need to get my status card back.¡¯ Elroy nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll be meeting in the courtyard after breakfast, so I suggest you change quickly. There¡¯s a latrine down the hall, first door to the left, if you want privacy. Once you¡¯re done, the bunk room will be the last door on the right, just pick any empty bed.¡± With his orders fulfilled, Elroy left Thadius to his business and returned to the dining hall. Thadius looked around the neglected armory, it was a good a place to change as any. From the look of it, the chances of someone walking in on him were slim-to-none, and slim just left town. ¡¯Just what am I getting myself into?¡¯ Thadius sighed as he removed his mint condition armor. He sincerely hoped that his week in the mists wouldn¡¯t be as disappointing as his first impression of the city guard. Chapter 19: The Mists of Croaka II THE MISTS OF CROAKA II Thadius stood on the edge of Todos'' foundation, looking down at an entire city he failed to discover upon his arrival. When he''d entered the capital with Yuna and Christina, he had wondered where the merchants entered the city with their goods. Now he knew the answer. On the opposite side of the capital''s raised base was a vast city that spread out onto the plains. A wall surrounded it in a semi-circle, connecting to the foundation as an extension. What Thadius was looking at now, was a giant lift that elevated citizens and merchants from the city below. The city guard was currently entering the lift to descend. ''How the hell did I miss an entire city!?'' Thadius thought. He''d felt that he had already explored most of the city, but as he looked down at the buildings below, he knew he had seen only half of it. "Get a move on, rookie!" One of the guardsmen said from behind him. Thadius hurried to fall in line behind the guardsmen in front of him. Then once everyone was on, the lift slowly lowered to the bottom. Lower Todos wasn''t nearly as organized as it was above. The buildings were scattered all over the place, showing absolutely no resemblance of the straight streets and alleys that Thadius had seen. The uniformity of the stone was gone too. Some of the buildings were made of wood and mud instead of stone, and the difference was jarring. "We call it ''First Todos''." A voice said from beside Thadius. He looked down to find a slim man with sheepish features. A narrow chin and beady eyes could be seen through his helmet, and all of his gear was the sub-par standard of the guard. Thadius'' first impression of the man was that he was a ''true'' rookie that hadn''t seen a day of battle in his life. Which was odd since he showed no fear towards Thadius after being exposed to his fighting spirit. "Is that so?" Thadius replied. "Yeah. My pop use ta tell me ''bout it all the time. ''Bout how the Croaka kept comin'' and tearin'' everythin'' up. One day, somebody thought it a good idea ta build the city on a giant rock." The man shrugged. "Once that happened, the Croaka won''t much of a problem fo'' us." "It had to take a while to build the foundation for the new Todos though." Thadius said as he looked up to the ledge he just left. "Maybe, yeah. But when ya got magic, it speeds up the process." The man smiled, then reached out his hand. "The name''s Thomas, I heard you''re the fourth?" he asked. "You can call me Thadius." Thadius said as he shook Thomas'' hand."I''m not entirely sure what ''fourth'' means, but that''s what Captain Dain said." Thomas shook his head. "Just means ya part of the squad, is all. Every squad is made of five, includin'' the squad leader of course." "And our squad leader is Elroy?" "Yes, sir." Thomas nodded. Thadius nodded in return. He had figured he''d been assigned to some sort of unit, but he still didn''t know the structure of the guard, or how they organized the men. Thomas shuffled beside him anxiously, glancing his way as if he was wrestling with a thought. "What is it, Thomas?" Thadius asked. "Well, if ya don''t mind me askin'', are ya an adventurer or somethin''? I mean, ya seem plenty strong already, and ya weapons are pretty fancy too." Thomas asked with an uncomfortable expression. Thadius could feel the looks of the other curious guardsmen. It wasn''t a secret that his weapons were a cut above the rest. Not to mention the fact that his broken Fighting Spirit could be felt by anyone within 10ft- or 20ft if they also had fighting spirit. Thadius looked around before he answered. "I''m not an adventurer. The strength you sense is the product of my master''s training, and my weapons are a part of the inheritance I received from him before he died." "He must of been pretty good if ya got that strong from just trainin''." Thomas said. "He was..." Thadius said solemnly as the lift reached First Todos. The streets were packed with people passing by and others that wanted to get on the lift. As they filed out, the guardsmen on lift duty nodded to the unit as they marched out into the city. After an hour, the unit reached the far end of the wall, reuniting with Captain Dain and the rest of the croaka subjugation unit. The unit itself consisted of 50 men, including priests and priestesses from the Church of Thena and the detachment that Thadius arrived with. Thadius eyed the priests and priestesses curiously. He remembered what Tony had said about newly fledged initiates being assigned to a squad, and he was thankful that he had found out sooner rather than later. "We''ll be marching until we reach the end of the mists, then we''ll make camp and go in at first light!" Captain Dain yelled from atop his horse. He didn''t intend to walk with the rest of the unit. "Form up! I want to reach the mists before it gets dark!" Everyone formed neat rows according to their squad with the priests and priestesses in the back, resulting in a row of white every four rows. As soon as everyone was in place, the guardsmen began their long march, with two carts of supplies following behind. Thadius was in line behind Elroy, but Thomas was right behind him, taking every opportunity to assault him with questions. He didn''t mind the conversation since the march to the mists was going to be a long one, but he wanted to find out more about the ranking system, and Thomas was making it difficult to get a word in. "I joined the guard so I could fight some croaka like my pop did. What ''bout you Thadius?" he asked excitedly. "I joined to gain more battle experience." "More? Ya already had ya first fight, huh? Can''t say I''m surprised. How''d it go? Did ya win?" Thadius thought back to his time on the mountain. His first real fight, and kill, had been his own master. It was a duel to the death under the moon and stars, and it wasn''t even a fair fight. "Barely." Thadius replied solemnly. "Well, at least ya won, right?" Thomas smiled. "I can''t wait ta have my first battle. After all that trainin'', I''m ready ta have a go!" Thadius looked back at Thomas with a mischievous smirk . "You know, people who usually say that are the first ones to die..." Thomas made a shocked face, getting a few laughs from the surrounding guardsmen in the process. "I-I won''t go down so easy! I''ll kill me a hundred of those croaka!" Thomas protested. "Keep dreaming rookie." "Poor guy doesn''t know what he''s in for..." "Fresh meat for the croaka!" As the other guards teased Thomas, Thadius took the opportunity to talk to Elroy. "Excuse me, sir?" "Yes?" "How exactly does the ranking work here?" Thadius asked. "Why do you want to know?" Elroy turned around with a puzzled look. "I don''t intend to be at the bottom forever." Thadius said truthfully. "Fair enough." Elroy sighed. "There are generally five ranks of command. There''s the squad leader, lieutenant, captain, colonel, and then the general. However, for the guard, there are no colonels or generals. Instead, there are sentinels that handle a specific section of the city, then the Commander of the Guard, who''s responsible for the entire city''s security. "The ranks determine how many men that man can command, numbering 5, 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 respectively." "Going from 1000 to 10,000 is a huge leap..." Thadius said as he looked around the number of guards. Having to suddenly command 10,000 would be too much. "We don''t have many generals." Elroy replied, then he turned towards Captain Dain. "And most of them leave the commanding to colonels. Besides, generals don''t have to take all their men to the battlefield." "I see..." Thadius fell back in line, only to have Thomas start back up again. "Ya joinin'' the war after this, Thadius? I mean, after we finish the Croaka and all." "I don''t think so..." "The thoughta goin'' out there is kinda scary ain''t it?" Thomas asked. "I don''t fear the fighting. It''s the killing I worry about the most. Cutting a man''s future short isn''t something you just get used to..." Thadius looked back at Thomas with a sorrowful expression. He could still remember the knight he killed in the coliseum, and the disappointment he''d felt in himself when he saw the status card. If he went to war, he knew he''d have to face that feeling head on, along with the fact that he''d be purposefully killing Npcs by the dozens. It wasn''t something he was looking forward to. "Ya killed a man before?" Thomas asked in surprise. "I''ve killed men, yes. But when it comes to war, I''m just as inexperienced as you are." Thomas fell silent, and the unit continued marching under the sun. Hushed conversations died away as morning turned to noon, then to evening. By the time the sun was setting, a great wall of mist could be seen on the horizon, and the humidity had risen considerably. "Alright men, set up while we still have some daylight. We head for the mists at first light!" Dain commanded. The guardsmen dispersed and surrounded the supply carts. They grabbed the necessities for campfires and quickly settled down into their respective squads. Every guard carried a pack filled with rations and a thin blanket to sleep on. So when the fires were ready, everyone gathered around them for a warm spot to eat and sleep. Though Thadius'' squad, and some of the surrounding guardsmen, felt an inexplicable warmth that didn''t originate from the fire. Thadius had a small smile on his face as he witnessed the confused looks. "I believe introductions are in order." Elroy said as he came to sit by the fire. Thadius had already met Thomas and Elroy, so the two strangers on the other side of the fire were the only members of the squad he hadn''t met yet. "That''s Banon. He finished his basic training the same day I signed up, so they put him with me." Elroy pointed to the man wearing the same guard attire. He was an exceptionally large man with broad shoulders and long limbs. And he wasn''t easy to miss since he had been the only one taller than Thadius when they were marching. He was far older than Thadius, and he had wrinkles lining his face with eyes that seemed cold and hard. Especially the sightless eye that had large claw -shaped scars over it. With one look, Thadius knew that Banon had seen far more combat than he had. Thadius nodded toward Banon, but only received a blank stare in response. "He doesn''t talk very often." Elroy said, then he pointed to the priest in the group. "And that''s Marcus. He was the first one to be assigned to my squad." Thadius nodded to the priest, and the priest nodded in return. The priest seemed out of place amongst the squad of warriors. He was also shorter than the average height of the group, making him stand out even more. Despite that, he seemed like an earnest enough man. "Gentlemen, this is Thadius. He''ll be with us from here on out." Elroy finished, giving Thadius a few light pats on the shoulder. The rest of the evening was passed in silence, save for the soft snoring from Thomas and the whispering guards nearby. Then once everyone was fed and sound asleep, Thadius got up to circle the camp. The dying light the campfires did nothing for his sight, but he wouldn''t need it in the surrounding darkness. He walked the perimeter, hoping to get a feel for what lay beyond the boundary of the misty wall. But his aura detected nothing beyond the cloudy entrance, so he settled for a calm midnight stroll to pass the time. He strolled silently, and he enjoyed the quiet that reminded him of his time in Yune. Yet, his attention fell on the solitary tent in the camp that belong to Captain Dain. Light could be seen inside, and when Thadius concentrated, he could barely make out whispers coming from inside. "Are you sure this is wise, sir? Sending his youngest son off to die?" "He arranged for it himself." Dain replied. Thadius didn''t recognize the first voice, but it was obviously a subordinate. The subject matter;however, was completely unexpected. "But the consequences should we fail-" "We won''t fail. In fact, we won''t do anything. The mists will do the work for us." Dain reassured his guest. "And the general''s man? What about him?" "It''s just another one of the general''s whims. The man may seem strong, but he wouldn''t be here if he was." There was a pause, and a shuffling of paper before Dain continued. "Get some sleep, we have a long day tomorrow." "Yes sir." Thadius watched as the subordinate walked out of the tent before he made his way back to his squad. But a message stopped him in his tracks.
THE YOUNGEST You''ve stumbled upon a plot to kill a young noble by leaving him in the Mists of Croaka. Will you leave him to his fate? Or will you return to Todos beside him? His fate is in your hands. DIFFICULTY: D REQUIREMENTS: Learn of the plot to kill the young noble. REWARDS: Unknown
It was a quest that couldn''t be accepted or denied, and no one had asked him for anything. The very nature of the quest was to wait for the outcome. ''I''ll just have to see how it goes.'' Thadius thought as he slipped back into camp. He gradually revealed his presence while he walked back to his squad. He didn''t want to sudden appear on his bed roll. Yet, before he could lay down, he felt someone behind him. "Where have you been?" Thadius turned around to find Elroy glaring at him. "I went out for a stroll, sir." "Couldn''t sleep?" Elroy asked with his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "No more than you, sir." "I woke up to relieve myself. Then I saw your roll was empty..." Elroy explained as he looked over said bed roll. Then looked back at Thadius with a look of pure hatred. "And it''s been empty for quite some time. Does a stroll take so long? You can obviously find your way in the dark, so I doubt you were lost." Thadius was completely thrown off by Elroy''s tone, and he had a feeling that a half-assed excuse wouldn''t cut it. "As I was walking, I heard some disturbing information from the captain''s tent. And I was wondering whether to notify you." Elroy still had his eyes narrowed in suspicion, but the hatred had dissipated, replaced by reluctant curiosity. "What did you hear while you eavesdropped on a private conversation?" He asked menacingly. Thadius walked closer to Elroy so he could whisper the words. The squad leader put a wary hand on his sword at the sudden approach, but the movement was ignored. "The captain plans to abandon you in the mists. I don''t know when, but it has something to do with the fact that you''re a-" "The captain wouldn''t do such a foolish thing!" Elroy hissed. "He said he had someone''s approval. You may not believe me, but it''s what I heard, sir." "What I don''t believe," Elroy came face to face with Thadius, "is how you just happened'' to walk pass as it was being said." He said as the hateful look returned to his eyes. The two stared each other down while the final embers of the fire extinguished. Though when Thadius held his ground with an unwavering gaze, Elroy sighed and stalked over to his bed roll. "Go to sleep." He ordered as he lay down. Thadius obeyed readily, laying down and closing his eyes. Unfortunately, he wasn''t tired at all, so he opted to rest his eyes instead. After a few hours of quiet waiting, Thadius opened his eyes to the dawn light. And once the sun was up, it wasn''t long until the rest of the guards were up and about. And in minutes, the camp was packed away on the carts with everyone lined up in front of them. The moment to enter the mists had come. Captain Dain paced on his horse at the front, checking over the formation before addressing his unit. "Alright you lot, we''ll be entering the mists to engage the croaka. Though that''s not all we''ll be doing. "Our second objective is to map the mists in order to improve the efficiency of further expeditions. So I''ll be assigning squads to do so." The captain looked directly at Elroy. "Elroy, your squad will head west once we enter. I want a detailed mapping on any new territory you come across." Elroy nodded, then Captain continued giving instructions to other squads. Yet, the other squads were to branch off further into the mists, and most of them were to go east or south. Thadius stepped closer to Elroy. "What''s wrong with the west side? Is it uncharted?" "It''s been charted...until a certain point. And the mists as a whole is mostly uncharted." He replied quietly. "And you don''t find that strange that we''re the only ones headed west!?" Thadius whispered fiercely. "You''re jumping to conclusions." Elroy said as he grit his teeth. "Sir, you know this is-" "Is there a problem?" Captain Dain called out as he trotted up to Elroy. The squad had been placed at the very edge of the formation. "My fourth," Elroy glanced back angrily at Thadius, " has some concerns about being the only squad assigned to the west, sir." "Are you concerned as well?" Dain asked. "It''s a lot of ground to cover with only one squad, sir." "Of course it is! And I never intended for you to go about it alone. Others would have joined you eventually." Dain said as he glared at Thadius. Thadius narrowed his eyes as he returned the glare. Dain just shook his head. "Hmph, I should have expected some fear from the new recruits. It''s your first excursion after all." The captain scanned the formation until he laid eyes on the man he was looking for. "Charles!" he shouted. "You''ll be going west with the Elroy''s unit!" "But sir! I thought I was too check on them after-" "Well I''ve changed my mind!" Dain roared. Thadius recognized the voice of the subordinate he heard last night, and he looked just in time to see a terrified expression on the man''s face as he accepted the order. As Dain walked away, Elroy turned on Thadius. "Satisfied?" "That was the one he was talking to..." "What a coincidence." Elroy sighed as he turned back around. Thadius didn''t miss the troubled frown on his face as he eyed the captain. ''Coincidence my ass! This is exactly how you do your diet and get rid of a questioning subordinate at the same time! I''ve seen this too many times...'' Thadius shook his head as he remembered all the drama in the medieval shows he used watched. Now he was in the thick of it. When Dain returned to the front, the signal was given to march, and the the city guard steadily made their way into the mists. Once they were inside, the noise of the unit was muffled as moisture clung to every surface. By the time Charles came over with his squad, everyone''s face was covered with dew as if they had been sweating. "Come on, let''s get going. We''re burning daylight." Charles said as he walked up to Elroy. "After you lieutenant." Elroy replied. The two squads split off from the main unit and headed west. And the deeper they walked in, the more Thadius noticed how quiet it was. He turned around to Thomas. "Nothing to say today Thomas?" he asked quiet. Thomas looked around nervously. "It''s not that, just a little rattled is all." Everyone else looked just as tense. It showed in the way they moved. Thadius could read the mood, and decided to keep silent as they traversed the great marsh. The only sound could be heard was the soft squish of the wetland under their feet. Along the way, Elroy and Charles often huddled over a map to keep track of their progress and stay on track. And Thadius kept his aura stretched out to its full 150ft(46m) radius so they wouldn''t get ambushed easily. Progress was smooth until Charles stopped after a few hours. "This is where we part ways." he said firmly. "Sir?" Elroy said with a confused look. "From here, I''ll be going south. You will go south-west. This way, well be able to cover more ground and make it easier for one another." Charles shrugged. "And the croaka?" "You should be able to handle a few stray croaka, right?" "Y-yes sir." Elroy replied. "Good. Be sure to make it back to camp before nightfall." Charles said as he turned to leave. Thadius and the rest of the squad could only watch as the other guards walked off into the mists. Thadius stepped up to the dumbfounded squad leader. "Sir, we should-" "Save it!" He growled, "This isn''t some plot or scheme! It''s an efficient tactical decision. Why have two squads cover the same path when twice as much ground can be covered if they split up?" "Because the place we want to map is uncharted enemy territory! And if you haven''t noticed, visibility is extremely limited!" Thadius countered. Thomas looked around frantically at the mention of enemies while Banon and Marcus gripped their weapons. "Then we''ll have to be careful won''t we?" Elroy said before he stalked off. Thadius sighed in resignation, then he and other men followed their squad leader deeper into the mists. They were on high alert as they trudged through the marsh, taking care not to step into a pond or trip from the soggy ground. Every so often, Elroy would take out the map to ascertain their location, but they didn''t stop for any other reason. Thadius turned on his Concentration and strained his hearing. In the silence of the mists, the range of his enhanced hearing was extended, so he didn''t miss the opportunity to use it to his advantage. He didn''t want to be caught off guard and any early warning he could provide could be lifesaving. "Anything out there?" Thomas whispered. Thadius jumped. With all his focus on his hearing and Sense Presence, Thomas'' voice was like a dog barking after hours of silence. Thadius gave Thomas a look that made Marcus chuckle. "S-sorry. I was only curious. You seem to be lookin'' for somethin''..." Thomas said apologetically. "I''m listening for anything sounds of life, as well as sensing for any nearby presences." "How far out can you hear?" "If it''s quiet, I can hear pretty far." Thadius smiled, then his eyes narrowed. "So I''d appreciate it if you could tap me on the shoulder instead-" Thadius stopped in his tracks as several presences entered his range. Everyone stopped with him. Even Elroy looked at him in concern. "What is-" "Shh!" Thadius hushed the squad leader as he strained his hearing. The thick mist was playing tricks with his spacial awareness, so any forms he could make it were distorted. But he listened, and further in the mists came a low guttural that could only be described as...croaking. "Thadius?" Thomas whispered. Thadius removed his shield from his harness. "Croaka." he said solemnly. "About ten of them. And they''ll be on us in seconds." "Do they know we''re here?" Elroy asked. "They''re spreading out. They seem to be trying to surround us." Thadius said as he looked toward the gaps in his aura, then he looked at Elroy. "We could back up, try to cut down their numbers as they spread out." Under normal circumstances, Thadius would have let the monsters surround them, but now he was a part of a team, which required him to think about someone other than himself. And the fact that he didn''t know the fighting purposes of his peers had him on edge. The sound of muffled croaking reached the ears of the squad, and everyone began readying for battle. Banon had his two-handed battle axe in hand, Marcus gripped his staff, and poor Thomas drew his sword with shaking hands. Elroy drew his sword with a fierce hunger in his eyes. "We''ll stand our ground here." "Sir, they outnumber us-" Thadius tried to make the young noble reconsider, but was interrupted by him. "I gave my orders! Now you will either follow them or get out of the way!" The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. At the sound of Elroy''s shout, the croaking grew louder, and it seemed to come from every direction. The squad gathered in a circle with their backs to each other as their foes made their entrance. Out of the mists walked 12 gangly creatures that were more frogs than man. They had pale blue skin and stood on two long legs with equally long arms holding green spears. Their backs were hunched, and their frog heads swiveled as they communicated to each other with the vocal sacs on their throats, tightening their formation around the lone squad. "Amazing..." Thadius whispered under his breath. Every time he encountered a creature that couldn''t possibly exist, he was astounded at how Sonsoft managed to bring it into reality. He analyzed the croaka''s gear. The spray in their hands seemed to be some sort of rolled up stalk while the armor they wore was clearly made from a large plant. The equipment didn''t look too threatening, but there was a reason they had given the Kingdom of Todos so much trouble in the past. "Stay in formation! Remember what you were taught in basic training!" Elroy yelled. ''Marcus didn''t have basic training! He''s fresh out of the Church of Thena!'' Thadius thought as he assessed the situation. He looked behind him to find Marcus chanting in between Banon and Elroy. "-Thena, smile upon us! Goddesses Favor!" Light shined on everyone except Thadius.
You''ve been denied by Thena.
"I don''t understand! It''s always worked before!" Marcus cried in surprise. Thadius couldn''t resist a chuckle. "Thena won''t bless me Marcus. Save your mana for the others." he said. Then he looked at Thomas beside him, who was shaking like a leaf and staring at the croaka in fear. "Thomas!" Thadius yelled as he slapped a hand on his shoulder. Thomas winced, then he looked at Thadius wide-eyed. "Y-yeah!?" "Remember what you''ve learned, and don''t let the fear take control." Thadius said calmly, trying to keep Thomas'' attention off the scanning advancing monsters. Thomas visibly relaxed for a moment, but then he looked over Thadius'' shoulder and cried out in terror. "Look out!" Thadius had felt the frog-man leap long before Thomas'' warning, and he had waited to unsheathe Serenity for his first opponent. He ripped Serenity from its scabbard in a wide arc, directing at the airborne croaka. A blade of wind rushed from the orihalcum blade. Thadius didn''t know how powerful Wind Cutter was, but he hoped that it would at least deal moderate damage. Everyone watched as the unfortunate monster was cut in half. And as it fell to the ground in two, so did Thadius'' jaw. With the sudden death of one of their own, the croaka closed in cautiously. A few flinched from Thadius'' Fighting Spirit, but with their superior numbers, the frog-men ignored the danger. There was a brief moment of stillness as the squad and the croaka measured each other. Then silence quickly escalated into violence. Two of the monsters were on Thadius immediately, while three went for Thomas. Thadius fell back into the Dragon Scales stance, with tip of his sword next to his heart and the edge of the shield just below his eyes. Then he parried the two attackers as they thrust their spears by knocking their weapons up he ducked. He slashed out low with Serenity, aiming to for the ligaments he''d been taught to target. However, the new attack power of his sword, on top of his strength, caused him to miscalculate. Wind damage extended the swords range, and it cut through one of the the right croaka''s front leg from the knee down. Thadius was so surprised by the lack of resistance that he cut clean through the second croaka''s leg by mistake. ''Mercy!'' he thought while he looked at his sword in awe. He truly didn''t think that the attack of his weapon made so much of a difference. He finished off the crippled croaka and attacked one of the three enemies that had approached Thomas. The rookie had managed to keep himself alive during the first exchange with his opponents, but he couldn''t close the gap and deal damage. Thadius attacked the croaka who had yet to engage Thomas and stabbed it in the heart before it could react. Then he moved to take down another, but he felt a croaka jump behind him. Having already predicted the monster''s landing point, he turned around and pulled the distracted Marcus toward him, and then the enemy landed precisely where the priest had been moments before. Thadius rushed forward and quickly dispatched the monster with Dragon Claw that ripped through the amphibian with ease. Elroy glanced back at the mess behind him. "Stay in formation!" he shouted. Thadius glanced at the dead croaka at his feet. "The formation won''t hold! They''ll just-" "Hold the formation!" Elroy repeated as he turned back in time to defend against the next attack. Thadius surveyed his surroundings. Banon had already killed a few croaka, and continued to swing his battle-axe with frightening ferocity. Elroy more than proved that he could handle himself, but as Thadius looked at Thomas and Marcus, he knew they wouldn''t last at this rate. Thomas had only taken down one foe, but he was already breathing heavily. And Marcus couldn''t even be counted as a combatant. As if that wasn''t enough, Thadius detected another wave of the same size coming from the south-west. Wherever the monster were coming from was in that direction. "Damnit..." he muttered under his breath. Marcus hurried past him to retake his position. "Thanks Thadius. I don''t know what would have happened if-" "It''s fine, just keep your eyes open." Thadius said as he returned to his position. Once he reached his place, however, he kept going, and headed toward the coming wave. "Thadius! What are you doin''!?" Thomas cried. "Damnit, Thadius! I gave you an order!" Elroy bellowed as he turned to look. Thadius took a deep breath and sheathed his sword as he moved towards the advancing croaka. They were eager to take down a lone fighter, and they began to circle around him like they did before. Ten of them spread out around Thadius, with one of them eyeing the other members of the squad with hungry eyes. "Hey! I''m right in front you!" Thadius declared as pressured the creature, keeping it focused on him. The croaka responded violently, rushing towards Thadius with reckless abandon. *Ting Whatever message he received was ignored as he introduced the charging monster to death. With the drawing of his sword, Thadius unleashed another Wind Cutter that was just as effective as the first. When the corpse of their kin fell, it compelled the others to avenge its death, and they all attacked at once. Which was exactly what Thadius wanted. With 9 makeshift spears, Thadius quickly pivoted into the gap created by the slowest one and parried it by turning it aside. A barrage of spears stabbed at empty air, and Thadius rushed for the first croaka. He focused on the enemy in front of him while he was surrounded by enemies on all sides. It was the same mentality he had in the coliseum, a mentality that almost got him killed.
-992 hp
One of the frog-men of to the side had shifted and attacked again faster than expected. Thadius whirled on the monster and smacked its weapon aside with a flick of his blade.
-895 hp
"Argh!" Thadius growled as a stab from behind caught him in the shoulder. He leaned forward and spun around to remove the apart from his armor.
-654 hp
This time, the croaka he had intended to rush, stabbed him in the leg. The attack stopped his movement for only a moment, but it was enough for his foes to capitalize.
-764 hp
-1212 hp
-543 hp
"Enough!" Thadius yelled furiously. He unleashed Triple Slash in wide, powerful arcs that threatened to sever anything that came too close. He had done it again. He''d lost himself to the thrills of open melee, and made a fool of himself. If Corban could see him now... ''He''d be laughing his head off!'' Thadius shook his head at his own incompetence. Despite having completed his training, he continued to fall into old habits. *FLASHBACK* "Thadius, how long are you going to drool on the floor?" A raspy voice called out. Thadius opened his eyes to find Corban looking down at him. He was sprawled out on the floor of the grand training hall after being beaten by Yuna for the first time. "Ugh..." He moaned pathetically. Corban chuckled at the sight of his prized pupil on the floor. "Don''t bother getting up. You''ll only make it worse." Thadius grimaced as he moved to wipe up the small puddle of saliva by his face. The back of his head was throbbing painfully. The last thing he remembered was Yuna swinging her sword like a baseball bat. "What the- was she always that fast?" he said as he touched the tender part of his head. "Your loss had nothing to do with strength or speed. It''s something you picked up ever since you completed your steel weight training..." Thadius was completely lost, and it showed on his face. "You have focus Thadius. It''s what makes you such a prominent student, but now that focus is working against you. You focused too much on your opponent and lost sight of the fight." "But she was in my sights the whole time! I had her right up until the end!" Thadius protested. "Therein lies your second problem: emotion." Thadius threw his hands up in exasperation. He remembered being frustrated at some of the moves Yuna had pulled, but it didn''t affect his swing. "Don''t believe me?" Corban chuckled again. "I just don''t understand." Thadius sighed. "Neither did I, at first. And back then, I could only rely on trial and error. Thankfully, I''m here to guide you through this. Now," Corban sat down next to him. "your sight was returned after you passed the steel weight training, and when you''re fighting, you rely on it heavily. Stop it. Your presence training is going to waste. "Not only that, you were getting flustered whenever she landed a hit. You parents are renowned, and it''s my belief that the competitive spirit you''ve inherited from them is causing you to neglect your swordsmanship." "What!? My form was great! Every swing was exactly like we practiced!" "Your swings were fine. Yet, your footwork was ruined, your attacks didn''t connect, you completely lost sight of the essence of the Dragon Scales form." Thadius fell silent as he replayed the fight in his head. The moment before his defeat, he had been lured into attacking, and he couldn''t even remember whether or not his foot placement was correct. Which basically meant it wasn''t. "Remember this, Thadius. Don''t let anything dictate how you move our how you swing your blade. You must be in control at all times, especially with the Dragon''s Scales form. It''s the most oppressive form of them all." Thadius slowly picked himself up off the floor. "Be in control at all times..." he said. "Precisely. Now..." *FLASHBACK END* "...Again." Thadius said as he settled into his stance. The croaka attacked again, and the success of their previous attacks had all of them bloodthirsty. The makeshift spears came in from every angle, looking to skewer the foolish human. Thadius calmed himself before the battle to come. Then as the wild croaks of the frog-men reached his ears, he took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. What followed was something entirely different from the haphazard skirmish that took place before. A storm of blood raged in the mists, and Thadius was the eye of it. Every attack was pulled toward him like a vortex, draining energy from anything caught by his pace. Yet, none of the attacks found their mark, even as they came within inches of touching him. And his sword never stopped, returning every attack with cuts that targeted the croaka''s blood flow. The rest of the squad finished up the first wave of croaka, and Banon watched as Thadius took on the second wave by himself. Elroy, having just finished the last croaka, came to stand beside the man. "We have to help him. He''s skilled, but he won''t last much longer." He said breathlessly. Banon held out his arm to stop the young noble. "He doesn''t need our help..." "What are you talking about! He''s surrounded by croaka!" Elroy protested. Banon looked down at his squad leader. "His eyes are closed..." He said. "What?" "Look." Banon motioned toward Thadius. Elroy calmed himself and took a closer look, but the whites of the Thadius'' eyes couldn''t be seen. "How is that possible?" Elroy whispered. "Training." Banon replied. "But...he can''t possibly kill them all." Elroy said as he watched in disbelief. "They''re already dead. They just haven''t fallen yet." Banon said, turning away from the battle to lot the bodies of the fallen croaka. All around Thadius, his foes were showing signs of exhaustion from depleted stamina and blood loss. But they still attacked because every strike seemed to get closer and closer to the mark. What they didn''t know, was that the hope they felt was orchestrated by the human in from of them, and the victory they thought was near was merely an illusion. Thadius slowed down to match the speed of his opponents once they start to wobble from fatigue. Then he gradually released his pressure to bring the battle to a close. Five of them collapsed at the same time, then three more fell soon after. The sudden change in numbers frightened the last croaka, and it tried to run on shaky legs. Thadius moved to sheath his sword to reuse Wind Cutter, but he stopped as a thought occurred to him. Remembering his final fight in the coliseum, he ran through the motions for the long range move he traced from Serene. Then he tried it at full speed, and received surprising results.
You''ve learned Wind Cutter.
You cannot use Wind Cutter due to your lack of mana; however, as a Sword Scholar, magical sword skills can be converted into unique skills once the skill has been successfully learned and the Intellect requirement has been met.
Wind Cutter has been converted to Extended Slash
Due to your prior knowledge of the Slash skill series, Extended Slash had been learned at the Intermediate rank.
Extended Slash LV. 12 Intermediate Derived from Wind Cutter by the Sword Scholar Thadius. Uses Holy Fighting Aura to Slash a target at a specified range. Maximum range and damage is increased with level. The percentage of Fighting Aura consumed directly correlates with the target distance and maximum distance. Max. Distance 6ft. +Doesn''t cut non-targets
You have learned Aggravate
Aggravate LV.1 Novice Pull aggro from nearby monsters with a small amount of pressure a few words. Success increases with level.
Not only had he received another unique skill, he found out that the message he had received earlier turned out to be a taunting skill. Thadius didn''t think he''d use it as much as Extended Slash. That was the skill he was really interested in. ''Correlates with target distance and maximum distance? Meaning maximum distance consumes all of my Fighting Aura? Thadius would have tested his new skill, but Banon had moved to finish the crawling croaka, and Elroy was walking toward him with a furious expression. "I gave you an order to hold the formation! Why didn''t you follow it!?" He spat furiously. "Because I disagreed with your order, sir. Had more than one Croaka jumped, the formation would have been destroyed, and that''s if the reinforcements didn''t do it first." "That''s what they teach in basic training. If you bothered to learn, maybe you''d know that!" Thadius looked at Elroy, then glanced over to the pile of corpses he''d just walked out of. "I believe the training I''ve received is more than sufficient, and if you had retreated instead of allowing us to be surrounded-" he said. "Every since we set up camp you''ve been questioning my every decision! What do you know about the burdens of leadership!?" Elroy screamed the words in Thadius'' face, but as soon as he said the words, a shadow fell across his face. It was clear from the look on his face that he had just said something he''d never thought he would say. By now, the others had come up to them. Marcus had healed everyone except Thadius, and was probably waiting for the opportunity. "Elroy," Thadius whispered."I know what it means to be a leader of men. It doesn''t mean that every decision you make is correct, nor does it mean you have to decide everything." Thadius looked around at the squad, then back Elroy, who had a sickened expression on his face. "What it means is making decisions that benefit the group as a whole, and when you allowed for us to be surrounded, you put Marcus and Thomas in a difficult position." "I did as I was trained..." Elroy said as he looked at his subordinates. Marcus and Banon had stern expressions, but Thomas couldn''t even look him in the eye. Elroy swallowed hard and straightened his back, then he looked Thadius in the eye. "Very well, I can read the atmosphere. You think you can lead this squad better than I? Then show me!"
PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY Despite your pending status, you may now take command of a 5-man group as a Squad Leader. Notify your superiors to receive your new schedule and orders. PAY: 15S / Month
"I will." Thadius nodded, then he called out to his squad. "Alright fellas, huddle up." he said. He motioned for the men to circle around him, then formally addressed them on the situation. "Elroy has given me command of this squad. With that said, I want to make one thing perfectly clear." He looked every man in the eye in turn. "We are a team. That means that even if the final call is mine to make, I am always open to suggestions that are better than mine. Any questions or comments before we proceed?" he asked as he looked around. Marcus stepped forward. "I don''t me to pry, but during the battle, you said that Thena wouldn''t bless you. Why wouldn''t she? I can tell you are a man of faith, so why..." he asked with a confused expression. He had obviously never encountered the situation before. "The Goddess I worship isn''t on very good terms with Thena, so I doubt that anything you try on me will be effective." Thadius smiled. "I''d still like to try! The spell I used earlier was given to me for my faith in Thena, so it''s not one of the basic skills of a priest." "I won''t stop you." Thadius said. Marcus nodded and cast Healing immediately. To Thadius'' surprise, he felt a warm tingle throughout his body as the wounds from the previous battle closed over. "I knew it!" Marcus declared happily. "Thank you. That feels much better" Thadius said as he rubbed his shoulder. There was a tiny hole where the spear pierced through the leather armor. "Does anyone else have a question or something they''d like to share?" This time Thomas stepped forward. "Like Marcus said, it ain''t my business to know, but who do you pray to if you don''t pay to Thena?" "I pray to Tegaia; Goddess of Love, War, and Humility. She''s also known as the Mother of All Creation." "Goddess of War? I never thought there was one..." Thomas said. "Well, she is. And you''ll be hearing about her quite a bit from me. I won''t ask that any of you pray to her because I''m in command; however, I want you to accept that she is a major part of my life. Speaking of which," Thadius pulled the pack from his back and pulled out the Book of Tegaia, " I''d like to pray for our safety. You don''t have to believe, Tegaia will love you no matter who you worship." All eyes were drawn to the divine tone in his hands, and as the Hand of Tegaia, Thadius knew his words about his Goddess have greater effect. "This was given to me by the Goddess herself, and it was written in her own blood. I ask that you bow your heads, and let her love over you." he said. Everyone closed their eyes. Even Marcus and Elroy, who had their own personal reasons for not following his whim, felt the power within the book, and bowed their heads in respect. Opening the book to a random page, Thadius began, "Tegaia, there are men here who may do battle this day. As your humble servant, I ask that you watch over us as we walk through this treacherous place, and guide our swords so that we may live and return to those that love us." ''Of course I will...'' Thadius'' head snapped up at the sounds of the divine voice, and the others were all looking at him with the same shocked expression. Then above there heads, the mists parted, and single ray of sunlight fell on them.
As the Hand of Tegaia, the Goddess has blessed you and all your subordinates +1000 Attack +300 Strength 00:23:59:59
"Amazing..." Marcus whispered in awe. "Yeah..." Thomas was just as mystified by the sight. Elroy and Banon remained silent, but their surprise was clear. When the light died off and the mist returned, everyone looked to Thadius. Thadius just shook his head. "No one likes a show off." he muttered under his breath. And as he led his squad further into the mists, he could hear the echoing chuckle of his Goddess in his ear. Chapter 20: The Mists of Croaka III THE MISTS OF CROAKA III A pair of guards were running for their lives within the mist. They had been running for nearly an hour, and a sheet of water and sweat covered the faces hidden beneath their helmets. One was a large man. His long legs took giant strides as he stomped through the soft ground. The other was a feminine figure with shoulder- length black hair that flowed out from underneath her helmet. A pair of pointed ears could seen with every chance the archer took to glance behind them. They stopped again to catch their breaths, but it wouldn''t be for long. The terror they were running from was still fresh in their minds, and the tension of being pursued could be felt in their stiff postures and the fearful looks in the direction they''d come. "Where are they? They should have caught up to us by now after stopping so frequently." The man wheezed as he hunched over to catch his breath. His elven companion ignored him, once again listening for anything that could be following them. A few moments passed in a heavy silence. Then the elf reached for her bow, rekindling the fear of her companion. "Desha?" he called in a hushed tone. "What is it? What do you-" She raised a hand to silence him just as a silhouette appeared in the mist. Moments later, a guard came running up to them with a blank expression and jet black hair plastered to his face. "Mavas!" The man called out to the running guard. "What took you so long? Where is the lieutenant!?" The man named Mavas slowed to a stop as he came up to his fellow guards. He glanced at Desha, who was looking at him with narrowed eyes, then he turned to man with a grim expression on his face. "The lieutenant''s dead, Leon." he said breathlessly. "What? How?" Leon asked. "You know how! He was singled out and devoured, just like the damn priest!" Mavas hissed. ¡°But you went back for him¡­¡± Leon whispered. ¡°Did you not see that thing!? I¡¯ve seen monsters in my day, but that thing is different! Out of all of us, the first one it kills is the priest!?¡± Mavas shook head, then the blank expression returned to his face. ¡°...I tried to help him, but it was too late by time I reached him.¡± Leon sighed heavily. "May Thena take him. " He whispered a small prayer for his former superior. Then he looked back at Mavas with all sympathy gone. "Where do we go now? The Captain''s detachment is in the opposite direction, and the only others on this side belong to Elroy''s squad. The latter option seems the most logical choice, seeing as we¡¯d have to go back the way we came. If we don''t move soon-" "That''s why we''re leaving right now. Charles had the map, but I got a good look at it before we separated. If they kept a steady pace then I know exactly where they could be by now. All we have to do- Desha? Desha!¡± Mavas turned to the elf and grabbed hold of her shoulder. She was looking back into the mist, where he had emerged, as if hearing something that the others could not. Then she looked at Mavas with her eyes wide and body trembling. Mavas drew her close and looked her square in the eye. ¡°He''s dead. There''s nothing we can do for him now. Understand?¡± he whispered menacingly. Desha nodded slowly, taking a moment to collect herself, then she shook off his hand. Mavas looked at her one more time before turning back to Leon. ¡°We need to get moving. If Elroy kept south-west, then I know where they could be. Come on.¡± With the decision made, the trio set out to make for the other guards that they had left only hours before. They stomped through the undergrowth that was soaked through from the mist. As they ran, other than their footfalls, the only sound was their heavy breaths. In the unending cloud, it seemed like hours passed before sounds of combat could be heard. Mavas stopped ahead of them and held up his hand for silence. ¡°Sounds like they''re already fighting¡­¡± He drew his sword and looked at his Leon and Desha. ¡°Come on, let''s go lend a hand. It¡¯ll help with persuading them afterwards.¡± he said as he lead the charge. Leon was right behind with his long-sword at the ready. Then Desha followed slowly with her bow drawn and an arrow nocked. They all surged forward, expecting to plunge headfirst into chaos. But what the three saw in the mist before them as they approached was entirely different from the scene they had imagined. Dozens of croaka were sprawled on the ground in a wide circle with a second layer of corpses forming on top of them. In the center our the massacre, fighting fiercely, was a group of five men. They were split into two groups of two, with one man standing in the back to cover the rest. The first pair was a tall warrior and a priest off to the left. The towering brute was swinging his great battle-axe at the while the priest was using his staff to ward off any other enemies that would try to flank. The other pair consisted of two swordsmen fighting back to back in order to cover their blind spots. One seemed more experienced than the other, cutting down one foe after another. Still, his younger companion kept pace by using more strength than skill. The way the squad methodically cut down foes in waves was a testament to their training and teamwork, but it was the man in the back that drew the attention of the three guards that watched on. Whenever an enemy seemed to be a threat to one of his squad members, his hand would reach for a throwing knife in his hand, and a second later, another enemy would be dead on the ground. ¡°What in the hells!? How can they kill this many frogs with only four people?¡± Maverick asked. He was stunned as he surveyed the carnage. ¡°There''s more than four people.¡± Leon said quietly. His eyes were glued to the scene before him just like Mavas, especially on the dark skinned youth that stood closest to them. "I never count priests... All they do is point and pray." Mavas replied solemnly. Leon pointed his blade at the small priest who was currently using his staff as a bludgeon with startling efficiency. "Well he seems to be doing a lot more than "pointing and praying"." he countered. Mavas looked at Desha, and when their eyes met, she motioned towards the combatants with tension stiffening her every movement. "Aye,¡± he said quietly as he turned back to the fight. ¡°The lot of them seem a lot stronger than I gave them credit for. Why don¡¯t we go see if they¡¯ll let us join their ranks? Looks like they''re about finished anyway¡­¡± Just as Mavas finished his sentence, one of the remaining croaka jumped high, aiming toward the dark-skinned youth. The man took a graceful step back practiced ease and threw two knives in rapid succession. The first knife buried deep into the monster¡¯s shoulder while the second pierced its chest. The impact of the knives caused the croaka to backflip as it fell towards the youth, but he responded quickly with a final throw that sank a knife deep into the creature¡¯s skull. The dead croaka hit the ground just as another ran up to flank the youth. It croaked loudly and brandished its spear as it charged. Most of its comrades had already been slaughtered by the man from afar, and it was determined to get revenge for its kin. Desha nocked an arrow and took aim, but Leon moved to placed a hand on her arm to stop her. ¡°Save your arrow... he knows it¡¯s there.¡± he said. Under her helmet, Desha frowned. ¡°What makes you so sure?¡± Mavas asked. Leon shook his head and sighed. ¡°I know from experience. Watch closely.¡± The trio looked on as the final croaka rushed for the youth while he was reclaiming his knives off the fresh corpse. It attacked with reckless abandon, ignoring all the natural signs that told it that the man was not to be trifled with. The man leaned back and evade the thrust without so much as glancing at his assailant. Then he unsheathed the sword on his hip, immediately cutting the makeshift spear in two. His speed caused the croaka to take a step back, but the youth shadowed its step and aimed unleashed a skill, aiming for the monsters neck. The scimitar in his hands glowed green and hissed as it began to slice through the pale-blue flesh of its latest victim. Yet half-way through the monster¡¯s neck, the light died and the hissing stopped, leaving headless body to fall to the ground with only half of its neck cauterized. Although the battle was won, the youth frowned as he looked down at his blade while the squad gathered around him. Seeing his chance, Mavas sheathed his blade and approached the squad. ¡°Hail, guardsmen!¡± he said, spreading his arms out. ¡°Fancy running into you lot all the way out here, huh? Mind if we tag along? I think it¡¯s safe to say we¡¯re lost!¡± he chuckled. All the men of the squad looked to the youth, who stepped forward. Mavas suppressed a shudder as he the man¡¯s fighting spirit enveloped him. ¡°What happened to the Lieutenant? Weren¡¯t you guys going south?¡± the young man asked as he eyed Leon and Desha. They hadn¡¯t moved from their original spot and seemed to be fine with Mavas doing all the talking. ¡°We got into a scuffle with some of those frog-men and got separated. But uh...shouldn¡¯t I be telling him all this?¡± Mavas gestured to Elroy, whose jaw clenched under everyone¡¯s gazed. The young man looked from Elroy to Mavas. ¡°Elroy has temporarily relinquished command of this squad. My name is Thadius, and anything you need to say to Elroy, you can say to me.¡± he declared. ¡°Well do you mind if we tag along, sir? Just until we can reunite with the Lieutenant.¡± Mavas asked. --- Separated, huh? Smells like bullshit to me...Or am I just paranoid?'' Thadius thought as he looked over the trio of ¡°lost¡± guards. They had split up with the Lieutenant''s squad hours ago, so the fact that the three coincidentally found them just didn¡¯t seem to add up. Not to mention the familiar feeling he was getting from the man further back. Thadius nodded toward the two guards behind the man. ¡°Let¡¯s have you and your companions take of your helmets and introduce yourselves. I like to put names to faces.¡± The man obliged, taking off his helmet and motioning for his fellow squadmates to join him. ¡°My name is Mavas.¡± he said, sweeping his shoulder-length black hair from his face. Everything about the man was sleek, slick. His narrow face ended in a pointed chin. A perfectly straight, long movie-star nose led up to an overhanging brow that cast a permanent shadow over his eyes. Overall, he looked harmless at a glance. But he had a devious aura, which didn¡¯t sit well with Thadius at all. Mavas grinned under Thadius¡¯ scrutinizing gaze as he introduced the first of his comrades that walked up. ¡°This strapping man here is Leon, and apparently, he already knows you.¡± Thadius raised an eyebrow as he watched the man remove his helmet, then he smiled once he saw a familiar face. ¡°The city guard is the last place I¡¯d expect to find you, Paladin.¡± he said. ¡°Unfortunately, my superiors weren¡¯t very pleased that I fought in the coliseum, especially when I returned in defeat.¡± Leon smiled wryly. He was the definition of a fairytale prince. He had the wide, strong-jaw with a cleft chin to match. His short brown hair was soaked through, but did little to diminish his charm. One could tell that he was a righteous man, and it was made even more apparent as he came to stand beside Mavas. ¡°Ah, brother Leona! Do you remember me? We entered the clergy together!¡± Marcus walked up and shook Leon¡¯s hand enthusiastically. ¡°I remember you, brother Marcus. But it¡¯s...just Leon now.¡± Leon cleared his throat as a small chuckle escaped from Mavas. Marcus cheeks flushed. ¡°Oh...my apologies.¡± he said, slinking back behind Thadius to a chorus of soft laughter. Mavas recovered almost instantly when he looked at his other companion, and immediately continued with the introductions. ¡°Last but not least, this lovely gentleman is Desha. He¡¯s very self-conscious about his looks so...try not to stare too hard.¡± When the elf stepped forward, Thadius, Marcus, and Elroy immediately reflected on Mavas¡¯ words. Standing before them was nothing less than a female elven archer. She had a lithe figure with curves that were clearly distinguished despite the armor. Her face was slathered with mud that dripped down to her modest bust, completely hiding her face. Yet, hard green eyes clearly scrutinized the confused onlookers. Thadius was the first to speak up. ¡°And you say that¡¯s a man?¡± he asked. Desha hands balled into fists and her lips curled in response. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure. I was there when he registered.¡± Mavas glanced at his companion. ¡°He practically had to put his manhood on the counter before they¡¯d take him. You know how Todos feels about female soldiers.¡± he chuckled. But once again, his mirth was short lived as he looked over at Banon, who was glaring at Desha with open hostility. ¡°You must have fought in the Shade War.¡± he said, attempting to draw Banon¡¯s attention to himself. Except at his words, Desha snapped his head to look at Mavas and followed his eyes to the towering warrior that was glaring at him. A feral hiss escaped Desha¡¯s lips as he reached for his bow while Banon reached for his axe readily. Mavas moved to stop his companion, but Thadius¡¯ reaction was much faster. His tremendous pressure crashed down on the surrounding guards, bringing everyone but Marcus, who fell flat on his back, to their knees. Everyone looked at Thadius with dumbfounded expressions, and he returned their looks with a calm expression. ¡°My apologies, it¡¯s still tough for me to specifically target more than one person. I only intended to stop Banon and Desha.¡± he said as he turned to the elf in question. ¡°Even if you two have some history, I¡¯m amazed that you¡¯d take aim at a fellow guard so quickly. Is working with Banon going to be a problem?¡± Desha curled his lip but didn¡¯t respond. Mavas spoke up in his stead, still shaken from suddenly being brought to his knees. ¡°He¡¯s mute, sir. But rest assured, I¡¯ll keep him out of trouble.¡± Thadius eyed the kneeling Mavas, who gulped from his intimidating appearance, then looked at Banon. ¡°Are you two going to have a problem?¡± he asked. Banon stood up, never taking his eyes off Desha as he did. ¡°Just keep that tree-demon away from me.¡± he said, then he turned and walked back to the battlefield to loot the bodies of the dead. ¡°Well, that¡¯s Banon for you. Even if he doesn¡¯t like you, he won¡¯t trouble you if you give him his space. Can you manage that?¡± Thadius asked Desha, the elf nodded and stood. ¡°Good. Now you¡¯ve already met Marcus and I, and you should already know Marshal from earlier. So the only one left is Thomas-¡± Thadius turned to find the guard still gawking at Desha with a complex expression. ¡¯Did he not see Desha pull his bow on a man for looking at him the wrong way!? Thadius thought as he tapped his fellow rookie on the shoulder. ¡°Thomas, you wanna introduce yourself?¡± he asked. Thomas quickly stood up. ¡°Uh, sure. I¡¯m Thomas and I uh¡­¡± Thomas tried looking at Mavas and Leon but his eyes kept wandering to Desha. ¡°I don¡¯t mean no harm, but I just never seen a man look so much like a woman before. Are you really a man?¡± he asked. Desha snarled in response. ¡°And I think that¡¯ll do for the introductions. Why don¡¯t we all go and give Banon a hand.¡± Thadius interjected. As the others went to collect loot, he held Thomas back. ¡°Thomas,¡± he sighed, ¡±I know you¡¯re curious, but try not to ask him that. In fact, I don¡¯t think you should speak to him, for your safety.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just so confusin¡¯...¡± he sighed heavily. His brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to sort it out in his head, then he looked to Thadius. ¡°Have you ever seen anything like it?¡± ¡°Actually, I have¡­¡± Thadius started as he put an arm around Thomas and began walking toward the battleground. The guards worked quickly to gather any loot from the dead and continued on their way with new additions to the squad. Thadius lead the way, checking the map every so often to keep track of their progress. Thankfully, the map was magical, revealing more of the map as they walked. It left Thadius with plenty of time to think and enjoy the experience, even if the trip wasn¡¯t as fruitful as he first thought. Thadius looked at Serenity on his hip and thought back to his failed attempt at a fire element sword skill. He¡¯d been on the receiving end multiple times during the battle royale in the coliseum, and it seemed to be a common move for magical swordsmen. Yet whenever he tried to perform it, a message would interrupt him saying ¡®Knowledge of fire limited¡¯. He was truly frustrated. With the croaka not giving him any experience to level up, he at least hoped that he would get some cool moves to work on instead. Unfortunately, Extended Slash was the only elemental move in his arsenal, and its range was still in its early stages, causing him to exhaust the majority of his aura to make it useful. Despite all of it, Thadius was still optimistic. He still had a plethora of moves to level, with Throw being at the top of his list. Being able to throw again thrilled him, but he¡¯d have to adjust to throwing knives instead of a ball if he wanted to master the skill quickly. ¡¯Once I get my precision up with standard throwing, I¡¯ll try some trick throws. Then the speed will come naturally. Or should I work on distance before speed? That ties in with precision though...¡¯ While Thadius was lost in thought, Thomas sped up to walk beside him. ¡°Hey, Thadius. You never finished the story ¡®bout when ya first met Tegaia. I was wonderin¡¯ if you¡¯d tellin¡¯ us.¡± he said. ¡°I was also interested in that, if you wouldn¡¯t mind telling us...¡± Marcus said. Leon walked up to Thadius as well. ¡°Tegaia? You¡¯ve actually seen her?¡± ¡°Touched her too...¡± Thadius flashed his devilish grin. ¡°I¡¯d call bullshit if I hadn¡¯t heard her myself.¡± Banon said as he walked closer. As the men gathered around Thadius, Mavas couldn¡¯t help but take interest. ¡°Who¡¯s Tegaia? I take it she¡¯s some woman.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a Goddess! And she gave us a blessin¡¯ earlier! Aw man, ya shoulda seen it!¡± Thomas was skipping steps in excitement from the memory alone. ¡°Come on, Thadius. Tell us!¡± ¡°Alright, alright! But I need ya¡¯ll to know that what I¡¯m about to tell you must remain a conversation among men¡­¡± Thadius stopped in his tracks and looked everyone in the eye in turn. Then everyone looked at Desha. The elf¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion, but with a quick elbow tap from Mavas, he nodded in earnest. ¡°Alright. Now imagine the one woman you ever loved, shows up at your door wearing nothing but a robe. Then without so much as a word, she starts kissing you. What do you do?¡± Thadius asked as he looked around. ¡°Is she your wife?¡± Marcus asked. ¡°That¡¯s not the point! The woman is clearly asking to be bedded, so that¡¯s exactly what you do.¡± Mavas declared. ¡°Damn right.¡± Banon agreed. Thadius shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. She wraps herself around me and I lay her on the bed. By this time, I¡¯m ready to let her know how I feel in more ways than one-¡± ¡°Whoa, whoa! Are you trying to tell me that the woman-¡± Mavas¡¯ interruption was cut short by glares of men all round. ¡°Please continue.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m kissing her while working my hands up her robe at the same time. Now in the back of my mind, I¡¯m wondering ¡®Has she always been this soft? Has she always smelled this good?¡¯. Mind you, I haven¡¯t seen the woman in a while, so I¡¯m just thinking it¡¯s my mind playing tricks on me. That¡¯s when it should have hit me, but I keep going. My hand makes it all the way to the divine fruit before I hear her call my name.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the divine fruit?¡± It was Thomas who interrupted this time. ¡°Does he really have to spell it out?¡± Mavas asked incredulously. Marcus shook his head. ¡°Even I could guess that one...¡± ¡°I was just askin¡¯!¡± Thomas cried. ¡°Anyway, I hear her call my name and I`m about ready to transition to the next part. Then she calls my name again, and the sound of her voice bounces of the walls. Ya¡¯ll know what I¡¯m talking about. Then I look at her face, and a pair of silver eyes are looking at me. I¡¯m thinking ¡®You wait until I get to the good part to stop me!? Seriously!?¡¯. But we stop, and then she gives me a mission and tells me her plans for the future. You know, religious endeavors.¡± Thadius shrugs as he finishes his tale. ¡°I¡¯m having a hard time believing a Goddess would do such a thing¡­¡± Leon murmured. ¡°Whether you believe it or not doesn¡¯t change the fact that it happened.¡± Thadius responded. ¡°What do they feel like, the thighs of a Goddess?¡± Mavas asked with a sly smile. Thadius looked up into the dense fog. ¡°It¡¯s hard to describe now. It¡¯s been so long, it¡¯s like trying to remember a good dream you had as a child. But if I had to put it into words, I¡¯d say it felt like-¡± Before he could answer, both Thadius and Desha¡¯s heads snapped to the east. What Desha heard, Thadius could feel. What the hell is that!? Thadius thought, then he watched Mavas pale with one look at Desha¡¯s face. ¡°It followed us¡­¡± he whispered, eyes wide with fear. ¡°What followed you!?¡± Thadius yelled. He needed to know what was coming, because whatever it was, was gigantic. Mavas just shook his head. ¡°We need to run, right now! It¡¯s smart, but if we make a break for it now, we can outrun it!¡± ¡°Outrun it!? Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯s smart!? Which is it Mavas!? Is it dumb enough for you to outrun it, or is it smart enough to let you run to more of your friends for it to munch on!?¡± Thadius towered over the man, prompting Desha to put himself between the two. ¡°Leon! It¡¯ll be here soon! Tell me something, anything!¡± Thadius demanded. Despite the situation, Leon seemed to be the most composed, looking Thadius squarely in the eye as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s the Mists Hydra. I¡¯ve heard whispers about it in the order, but seeing it is another matter.¡± ¡°Can we fight it?¡± Thadius asked as he walked up to the Paladin. His voice was hoarse with tension. Leon shook his head. ¡°Only you and I, and perhaps Banon, would be capable of actually fighting it. But the longer the fight drags on, the greater the risks become. And in Marcus¡¯ case, it would be suicidal. The beast targets priests and priestesses with a prejudice I¡¯ve never seen in a monster.¡± ¡°Shit!¡± Thadius cursed as he removed his shield from its harness. All eyes were on him, waiting for his decision. He was used to the look of dependence. But this time, lives were on the line, and a wrong move could kill them all. A part of him wanted to retreat and spare his squad the danger, but a larger part of him wanted to see the monster and test his skill against something that exceeded his imagination. ¡¯I could let them run and try to hold it back or slow it down. But have no idea how strong that thing is. And if I die, how will they look at me when I return? Will I be a liar? A fraud? Where will my place be among them if they find out that death means something entirely different to me?¡¯ Blood rushed through Thadius¡¯ veins as the massive space that was the hydra, rapidly closed in. Yet he was calm as he eyed the men around. Even if he was revealed as a Traveler, his charade wasn¡¯t worth a life. ¡°Congratulations Elroy, you¡¯ll be leading the squad back to camp. I¡¯ll stay and buy you guys as much time as possible¡­¡± he said.
+15 Leadership
¡°Are you insane!? You¡¯re going to face that thing alone after what we just told you!?¡± Mavas screamed. ¡°Give me a shield and a sword and it¡¯s gonna take a lot more than a fucking water snake to send me running with my tail between my legs. Besides,¡± Thadius flashed his signature grin, ¡°if I die, I might get another chance at that divine fruit!¡±
+10 Charisma
¡°He¡¯s gone mad! Quickly, we must leave this place! Let him have his death!¡± Mavas looked around hoping to rally the rest of the squad, but no one moved. A hard glint was visible in the eye of every man. Their uncertainty was clear, but so was the hope in their eyes as they looked to Thadius. Under his confident gaze, no one wanted to be the first to flee. ¡°I¡¯ll fight alongside you. It¡¯ll be interesting to see what we can accomplish together¡­¡± Leon said as he drew his blade. ¡°Hmph, the croaka were too weak anyway. About time we fought something worth bragging about.¡± Banon stepped forward, reaching for his battle-axe with a sneer directed at Mavas. Once the more experience men cast their lives in with Thadius, Thomas, Marcus, and Elroy followed. Even Desha stepped forward, much to Mavas¡¯ surprise. ¡°Have all of you lost your minds?¡± Mavas stared at the others with a dumbfounded expression. Thadius ignored him, calling everyone into a hundle. ¡°Alright, if we¡¯re going to do this everyone needs to know their role. Leon, Banon, and I will be dealing the damage. We¡¯ll be taking advantage of every opportunity to attack.¡± Both Banon and Leon nodded in agreement, then Thadius looked to Desha. ¡°How many heads does this thing have?¡± ¡°It has two¡­¡± Mavas sighed as he came to join the huddle. ¡°It uses one to collect water while the other spits out a jet of steam.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Nice of you to join us.¡± Thadius said. Desha agreed, giving Mavas a hearty pat on the back. ¡°No point in dying alone right?¡± he replied grimly. ¡°Dying isn¡¯t in the plan.¡± Thadius declared as he turned back to the squad. ¡°Thomas, Elroy, Mavas, and Desha will be harassing one of the heads. All I want you to do is prevent it from preparing its steam attack, and keep Marcus out of harms way. He¡¯s going to be a primary target for this thing. Now, Leon, I don¡¯t think this thing is used to sunlight, so your Holy Light will come in handy in creating the opening we need. But if this thing is as smart as they say, then it¡¯ll probably only work once.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Leon nodded. ¡°Does everyone know their role?¡± Thadius looked around at his squad. Everyone looked resolved to fight the battle come. ¡°Good, now spread out.¡± he said, then he turned to face the heavy pressure closing in on them. Silence fell over the squad as they settled into position. Marcus and Desha stood together in the rear with Mavas, Thomas, and Elroy in a line ahead of them. Thadius stood at the forefront with Banon and Leon just behind him. Thadius kept tabs on the hydra with his Ambient Pressure, but it only highlighted the hydra as a large target. He couldn¡¯t sense its presence or make out its general shape unless it entered the range of his Fighting Aura. But after a few precious seconds, the hydra came to a stop just inside Thadius¡¯ range. ¡°Here it comes¡­¡± he said. Everyone readied themselves. At a moments notice, they were ready to move. But then the mist if front of them retreated and swirled into a vortex. ¡°It¡¯s gathering water!¡± Mavas shouted. ¡°Desha!¡± Thadius called out. When he turned around, an arrow was already flying past his head and into the center of the vortex. The mist that had been sucked in suddenly gushed forth as the hydra roared. Then it slithered into view. Two crocodile heads glared at the squad as it slid on its massive snake-like body. Its scales were the same pale-blue as the croaka¡¯s skin, and its whole body glistened with moisture from the mists. At a height of 30ft(9.14m), it was an intimidating figure, and the pressure it exerted reminded Thadius of a man he met on a mountain in Yune. Thankfully, Thadius¡¯ Holy Fighting Aura gave the squad a tremendous boost to their fighting spirit which kept them from being frozen with fear. So he started calling orders, everyone was quick to react. ¡°Desha, keep an eye on the left head and make sure Mavas¡¯ group can get away safely! Leon, Banon, with me!¡± The squad split into two groups. Thadius, along with Leon and Banon, rushed for the hydra¡¯s body while Mavas¡¯ group moved to draw the attention of the left head. The right head immediately bent down to snap at Thadius, who was leading the charge, only to receive a surprise as a Wind Cutter cut into the roof of its mouth. It reared back in surprise, giving Leon and Banon time to hack at its lower body. Banon, with a mighty roar, used his height to swing down into the hydra¡¯s back while Leon moved to thrust at its torso. Both attacks were successful, drawing blood from the wounds. But the hydra¡¯s scales and muscles were thick, and it would take a lot more attacks to cause a mortal wound. All aggro was turned toward Thadius¡¯ group after the first attacks, and both heads turned to handle the threat. That¡¯s when Desha set to work, aiming at the eyes of the left head while Mavas, Elroy, and Thomas circled around to the other side of the hydra to keep it busy. With the attention of both heads divided, all seemed to be going according to plan. Unfortunately, the true battle had yet to begin. The hydra lifted its torso off the ground, and in a stunning display of dexterity, it whipped its tail in a wide arc that sent Mavas¡¯ group flying back. As its tail came rushing at Thadius, he rushed forward and used Shield Bash to bring it to a halt. ¡¯Let¡¯s see how you take an attack from me!¡¯ Thadius thought. As soon as he stopped the tail, he lashed out with Dragon Claw, carving four deep cuts into the hydras flesh. It thrashed in pain and knocked him back several feet. Thadius¡¯ shield had taken some of the impact, but he still had the wind knocked out of him as he smacked into the ground. Leon and Banon had been fortunate enough not to be caught in the attack, and they quickly moved in to take Thadius¡¯ place, digging their weapons deep into the wounds he¡¯d already created. But this time, the reaction of the hydra was completely different. As Leon and Banon¡¯s weapons sank into its flesh, it coiled around them into a crushing hold. The men cried out as the air was forced out of their lungs and bones screamed in agony. Thadius jumped up and sprinted toward them despite the pain in his chest. But Mavas and Elroy reached them first with Desha providing them cover. They hacked at the hydras scales desperately but they barely managed a few scratches. Thadius sheathed Serenity and then aimed a Wind Cutter at the nearest head. On contact, a deep gouge was cut into the monster¡¯s neck, and when it felt the full pressure of the one who did harm, all aggro was on the man with shield. ¡°That¡¯s right. You can¡¯t just ignore me. I¡¯m dangerous!¡± Thadius taunted as circled away from Banon and Leon. Once he was certain he had the hydra¡¯s undivided attention, he used Extended Slash. In exchange for all of his Fighting Aura he could slash a foe up to 6ft. away. So what seemed like an empty swing to the hydra, was actually a full on hit that ripped across its torso. In surprise, the hydra loosened its grip on Banon and Leon which allowed Marcus to move in while the heads were preoccupied. Mavas and Elroy fell back into their roles as decoy for the left head, with Desha giving them cover from afar. Although the tactic was sound, they all miscalculated the cunning of the Mists Hydra. It was quite used to archers, and the more arrows Desha shot the faster it adapted to the speed of their flight. Then in between shots, the left head lunged at the unsuspecting foe. Except Thomas noticed the attack and pushed Elroy out of harms way. When the hydra came back up, it had Thomas by the arm, screaming at the top of his lungs. ¡°Thadius! Help me!¡± he cried. ¡°Shit!¡± Thadius cursed as he rushed for the nearest wound he could find, then he shoved his sword in it. Mavas followed suit, plunging his sword into the open cut in the hydras torso and twisting the blade with every ounce of malice he could muster. Unable to bare the pain, the hydra let go. Yet, the height at which it let the young swordsman go, knock him out cold as he smacked the ground. Meanwhile, Marcus ran over to the warriors and was shaking as he reached down to check their injuries. Banon lay unconscious, but Leon could still move. He reached for Leon first, but the Paladin shook his head. ¡°Him first, he got the worst of it.¡± he said. ¡°O-okay.¡± Marcus nodded and immediately went work on Banon. The hum of healing magic quickly filled the air, and the sound of it drew the hydra¡¯s attention like a moth to the flame. Even the might of Thadius wasn¡¯t enough to keep the hydra away from a easy meal. ¡°Hurry, Marcus!¡± Leon winced as he sat up. Beads of sweat and water dripped down Marcus¡¯ face as he concentrated on healing, trying desperately to heal the fallen warrior before death could creep up behind him. Although the hydra covered the distance quickly, Banon was healed before could attack. Yet, it wasn¡¯t deterred. It raised it tail brought it crashing down. Leon quickly shoved the priest out of the way, barely managing to roll away from the attack himself. The beast was intent on ending Marcus¡¯ life though, and raised its tail to crush him again. Even with his speed, Thadius knew he wouldn¡¯t make it. ¡°Leon! Do it now!¡± Thadius cried as he ran for the priest. Leon nodded and lifted his sword to the sky. ¡°Holy Light!¡± A blinding radiance filled the area, brighter than anything the hydra could possibly know, and it hurt. It roared as it was blinded by the light, and the momentary pause was just enough time for Thadius receive the crushing blow. He raised his up high and took the full force of the tail slam. The sheer force brought him down hard on his knee and he cried out as an excruciating pain shot up his thigh. ¡°A-are you hurt!?¡± Marcus shouted. He was shaking uncontrollably, and his voice was barely audible over the scraping sound of the hydra dragging its tail over Thadius¡¯ shield. ¡¯I won¡¯t alway be here to save you! Thadius thought bitterly. Still, he remained composed. If he didn¡¯t try to calm Marcus down, the priest would keep freezing up like a deer in the headlights. ¡°I¡¯m fine, go!¡± Thadius forced the words through grit teeth as held up the weight of the hydra¡¯s tail. Marcus quickly crawled out from under the hydra and ran towards Desha. Yet he wasn¡¯t quick enough. When the hydra recovered from its blindness to its intended target scurrying away, it went into fit of rage. Thadius, who had gotten in its way once again, was hit with such force that despite his shield, he blacked out until he hit the ground. Desha, now Marcus¡¯ last line of defense, was swept aside with another flick of its tail. The result being Marcus alone and exposed as the heads of the hydra gazed down at him with every that could stop what was to come out of commission. ¡¯Gugugugu!¡¯ ¡°Marcus move!¡± Thadius screamed desperately. He tried to run for the priest, but his leg buckled when he put weight on it. He reached for one of his throwing knives, but he had run out. He tried to use his pressure to gain the hydra¡¯s attention, but he was ignored. The beast knew exactly who the threat was, and as the left head sucked in the mist, the right opened its mouth and unleashed a scalding blast at its prey. ¡°No!¡± Thadius cried, but his shout was drowned out by Marcus¡¯ bloodcurdling shrieks. When the steam dissipated, a faceless corpse was all that was left of the Thenian priest. Now without a healer, the squad was in jeopardy of losing everything. Desha was struggling to get up with his arrows scattered and broken around him. Thomas and Banon were still unconscious. Mavas and Elroy had completely lost the will to fight with the death of Marcus, and Leon had the look of a man resolved to die at any moment. With the squad scattered and broken, the hydra could take its sweet time picking them off one by one. ¡¯You¡¯ll have to finish me first!¡¯ Thadius thought as he pushed himself to his knees. His fighting spirit coursed through his body, filling him from head to toe. He willed himself to stand. ¡°See! I can still move! You haven¡¯t defeated me yet!¡± he cried as he took a step towards the hydra. ¡°You think you¡¯re so fucking smart! Look at you! You can barely move any more than I can!¡± he spat as stumbled and fell to his knees. He leaned on Serenity to steady himself and rose again, threatening the beast with every step he took. The hydra saw its chance to seal its victory, and the right head came rushing at him. Thadius raised his shield and stopped the massive jaws from clamping down on him. But he was completely pinned to the spot as the pressure and weight of the hydra crashed down on him. The attack had also caused him to drop Serenity, leaving the blade merely inches beyond his reach. ¡¯Dammit!¡¯ Thomas stirred as Thadius approached the monster alone and cried out in fear. "Thadius!" "Stay back!" Thadius screamed. The hydra writhed and clamped down its jaws as it tried to eat the prey that was right between its teeth. But Thadius refused to be eaten, and he pushed against the beast to force the shield up further. Blood and saliva dripped all around him, and the shield screeched in protest as deep ridges were cut into it from the teeth. Thadius¡¯ mind raced as quickly as his heart, searching for some way to end the battle as soon as possible. Every second he wasted, the worse the chances were for his squad. Sensing the distress of its victim, the hydra clamped down harder, and the power of its jaws proved too much for the shield as it began to bend under the force. "Argh!" Thadius braced his hands against the edges of the shield, using all his strength to keep the steel and mythril from warping further. All those that witnessed the scene could only look on helplessly as the man they had put their faith in man his final struggle. So with no one to harass it, the second head reared high. "Gugugugu!" Dread filled Thadius to the core as the sound of death gurgled in the back of the hydra''s throat. He''d felt the same chill only once before; then a moment later, he had burst into flames. This time, he knew exactly what fate awaited him. The hollow sound reverberated throughout the monster''s mouth, and Thadius tried to reach for Serenity, only inches away. The hydra, smelling his fear, clamped down with all its might and forced him to use both hands to keep the shield from folding further. All around him, Thadius could hear the shouts of his squad. But it was too late. The sound of their voices was soon drown out by the sound of steam blasting against his shield. Thadius¡¯ shield began to heat up almost immediately while the force of the water pressure dislodged his shield, his only protection against the killing torrent. Fearing for his life, he pushed up as hard as he could, scalding his hands against the heated metal. ¡°Argh!¡± It was painful, but he kept pushing against the blast. This time, using his armored arms to brace against the shield. No matter what he did though, the temperature kept rising as the steam filled the hydra¡¯s mouth. ¡¯I¡¯m sorry master! I¡¯m gonna have to use it to get me out of this! I don¡¯t want to die here! thought regretfully as he gathered the entirety of his fighting spirit into himself. But before he could use his master¡¯s secret technique, the hydras steam was replace by its screams as reared back in pain. ¡°Thadius! Get out of there!¡± Leon shouted. Thadius immediately leap for Serenity, grunting in pain as his burned has grasped the handle. When he looked up to see what happened, he saw a battle-axe lodged into the hydras spine with the giant of a man trying to wrench it free. ¡°Its coming back!¡± Leon cried. Thadius already knew. He could feel its jaws behind him just as clearly as if it was in front of him. He pivoted on his good leg and spun around. Then as the hydra¡¯s head breezed by him, Thadius raised his sword in both hands and slashed with all his might. Serenity burned with holy flames as Thadius¡¯ Holy Fighting Aura rushed through it, and with twice the power, it sliced through scale, skin, muscle, and bone. All the way through. In one clean stroke, the right head of the hydra was lopped clean off with the every ounce of flesh scorched by sacred fire. ¡¯Now what about the other one!¡¯ Thadius, on his knees, turned in time to see Desha rush past him. The elf had a sword in his hand as he rushed for the remaining head. The hydra was disoriented from having lost a head, and it could barely move thanks to the axe lodged in its spine. But the monster wouldn¡¯t go down without a fight. As Desha ran up its torso the last head turned to swallow the elf whole. ¡°Close your eyes!¡± Leon shouted. Desha obeyed just as a brilliant flash of light engulfed the area. When the light disappeared, the last head lay on the ground with a sword shoved through the roof of its mouth, and Desha lay on the ground breathing heavily.
You¡¯ve defeated the ¡®Mists Hydra¡¯ despite not having a full party and despite your average party level being below LV.100. +500 Fame x1.2 EXP
You¡¯ve leveled up You¡¯ve leveled up You¡¯ve leveled up ¡­
As the leader of the party that deafed the ¡®Mists Hydra¡¯ despite the increased difficulty, the following stats points have been awarded. +30 Leadership +15 Charisma
¡°What are you looking at!?¡± Thadius looked up to find Elroy looking at him with a look that could kill. ¡°What?¡± The question had caught Thadius completely off guard after the ordeal. ¡°Don¡¯t play coy with me!¡± he scream wildly as he lunged for Thadius¡¯ hands, bursting the blisters that had formed from his scalding. Thadius writhed on the ground in agony as Elroy leaned over him screaming. ¡°I know what I saw Traveler! Don¡¯t play me for a fool! Did you think you could hide it from me!? Did you think I wouldn¡¯t no-¡± A fist, nearly the size of his head, smashed into the side of Elroy¡¯s face. There Banon stood glowering at him. ¡°Calm yourself, boy. And show some respect after having your life saved.¡± he said as he knelt beside Thadius. Banon¡¯s tone was low, but the sound of his voice carried. ¡°He¡¯s a Traveler! Don¡¯t you see it!? We shou-¡± ¡°What? Kill him? You should already know it¡¯s pointless to kill a Traveler! Besides, when have you ever known a Traveler to risk his life for one of us?¡± Banon interrupted with a glare. Elroy fell silent, took one more look at Thadius, then walk off in huff. Banon watched him walk away before turning back to Thadius. ¡°Let me see your hands.¡± he commanded. Thadius obeyed, hissing as the sticky edges of his ruptured blisters split apart. Upon seeing the mess, Banon grunted then reached into his pack and began applying his Field Healing. ¡°He really thinks I¡¯m a Traveler, huh?¡± Thadius said quietly. The relief in his hands was almost immediate, hinting at Banon¡¯s high level in the skill. ¡°Can you blame him? Your strength isn¡¯t something common, and you always seem lost in thought. But I know a Traveler when I see one, and if I thought you were one...¡± Banon gave Thadius a hard look, ¡°I¡¯d kill you myself.¡± ¡°Good to know¡­¡± Thadius said as he looked around. Once Banon was finished his healing he moved on to Thomas while Thadius walked over to where Leon sat praying over Marcus. ¡°He was a good man, from what I gathered.¡± Thadius said quietly as he walked up. ¡°He was man of faith. He deserves his place in the Heaven¡¯s at Thena¡¯s side.¡± ¡°Do you really think she cares?¡± Thadius whispered. Leon¡¯s jaw clenched, and his gaze hardened as he looked down at the corpse of the priest. Then after a few moments of silence, he took a deep breath and replied, ¡°I sincerely hope so...¡± Thadius left Leon to his prayer and walked over to where Mavas and Desha were. Desha was still laying on the ground, looking at the sky, while Mavas sat down beside him. ¡°Quite the ruckus over there¡­¡± Mavas said when Thadius walked over. ¡°It¡¯ll blow over soon...You two alright? Any injuries?¡± Thadius asked, changing the subject. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Bruised rib maybe, but I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t know about this guy though.¡± Mavas murmured as he look down at his companion. Thadius moved to take a look and caught his breath a what he saw. Desha¡¯s helmet lay to the side, and the mud that was on his face had been washed off. The beauty that had been hidden underneath had stunned Thadius into silence. The elf met Thadius eyes and his lips curled into a snarl. But without the mud, his blushing cheeks were as clear as day. Thadius gave Mavas a questioning look, to which Mavas replied, ¡°I had a hard time believing it myself.¡± After checking up on everyone, Thadius searched for his shield. He found nearly folded in half beside the body of the hydra with teeth and scales embedded in the metal. ¡¯More food for you, huh? Well there¡¯s plenty more where that came from¡¯ Thadius thought as he set to work pulling out the hydra¡¯s teeth. Banon joined him after patching up Thomas. Before long, the hydra had been picked clean of useable material. The sky was beginning to darken, everyone gathered around Marcus¡¯ body. ¡°I won¡¯t leave him here. His grave should be able to get some sunlight at least.¡± Thadius said as he carefully picked up the priest. No one protested, and then they all followed behind Thadius as he lead the way back to camp. Even as he limped with every step. They didn¡¯t encounter anymore croaka as they backtracked, and everyone was silent. After a few hours, they emerged from the mist to find the sun sinking on the horizon and the plains stretching out as far as the eye could see. The only problem was... the wasn¡¯t a single soul in sight. ¡°Where in the hells is the camp!?¡± Mavas shouted. ¡°It¡¯s gone, Mavas¡­¡± Thadius replied calmly. After looking death in the face one too many times, all other problems were merely inconveniences. ¡°But the captain told us to be back before sundown. We made it, didn¡¯t we?¡± Thomas said. "If they had just left, then we¡¯d be able to see them on the horizon, Thomas.¡± Thadius shook his head and chuckled. ¡°No. I''m sure Dain raced back to Todos as soon as possible saying something along the lines of ''They weren''t ready'' or ''I lost too many men''.¡± ¡°So he sends us off on a damned map quest just to forget all about us!?¡± Mavas protested. ¡°He sure did.¡± Thadius said. Then he cast a glance at Elroy, who clenched his jaw, refusing to make eye contact. ¡°You want to make camp now and set out in the morning?¡± Banon suggested. Thadius was silent as he looked out at the empty field. He knew he and his men needed rest and proper healing, but it wasn¡¯t in him to see a task go undone. "No.¡± he said as he turned toward his squad. ¡°First we¡¯re going to bury Marcus. Then we¡¯ll make camp. After that we will finish the mission we were given. Captain Dain told us to map the west of the mists, as much as we could, and that''s what we''re going to do for the next six days.¡± He laid Marcus on the ground and look to Banon. ¡°When we do go back to Todos, we¡¯ll walk in with our heads held high, dragging the heads of the hydra behind us. ¡°Then when we see Captain Dain, Elroy¡¯s going to walk right up to him, shove the map in his face and say ¡°Mission Complete¡±. Thadius said with a small smile, then went to stand directly in front of Elroy. "Don''t you think he''ll be happy that we''re alive?" he asked. "I''m sure he will." Elroy replied stoically. He was still harbored suspicions about Thadius, but he couldn''t ignore what Banon had said earlier. "What about camp? We don''t have the supplies for a proper fire." Mavas said. Thadius looked back out to the plains. "If you''re concerned about warmth, then I can take care of that. And if it''s the dark that worries you, then I suggest you get to sleep before sundown. Other than that, we won¡¯t need a fire." "Actually, I was hoping we could cook something, you know? I don''t know about you guys, but those rations are terrible..." Mavas made a face as he remembered the taste. There were murmurs of agreement all around, even Desha nodded. Thadius looked down at his bandaged hands and sighed. He wouldn''t mind a warm meal, especially after the day he had, but he wouldn''t be the one cooking it. "If you can scavenge something to burn from last night''s camp, then it could work. The question is, who''s going to cook?" he asked. "Well, I can cook." Thomas offered. "What level is your cooking skill?" Mavas questioned. "I may be a beginner but-" "Denied." Thadius cut in. "Can anybody else cook? I''d do it, but I''d rather not chance it with my hands in this condition." "What level is your cooking skill?" Mavas asked again. "Max level, Advanced rank." Thadius replied confidently. "Then you have to cook! Right guys!?" Mavas looked around hopefully, only to be admonished by Banon. "Would you cook with bleeding hands? Or do you actually enjoy the taste of blood?" he asked as he glared at Mavas. "I guess the warm meal is out then." Mavas said solemnly. Thomas pat him on the shoulder to comfort him. "It was a fine suggestion, Mavas," Thadius smiled at the man,"and hopefully, once my hands heal, I''ll be able-" Thadius¡¯ voice trailed off as Desha raised his hand. Mavas was besides himself. "I knew it! All elves can cook something. It''s like a right of passage or something, right?" "Calm down Mavas," Thadius said, then looked at Desha with a curious look. "Is your skill higher than beginner?" he asked. Desha nodded. "Is it higher than mine?" He flashed his devilish grin. Although his blushing cheeks made his expression have the opposite effect, Desha scowled at the squad as they all looked at him hopefully. When he nodded again, Thadius rocked back on his heels and Mavas nearly jumped for joy. The evening sun shined down on the small squad, marking the end of a long day. Their shadows were growing larger by the second, so any meal preparations would have to be started right away while the rest took care of the burial. "So," Thadius said as he looked down at the elf, "Can you cook hydra?" Chapter 21: Encroaching Darkness ENCROACHING DARKNESS Church of Thena, Todos, Todos Kingdom Christina had a hard time sitting still as she sat on the edge of her bed. She¡¯d been waiting years for this day, the day she would officially become a full fledged priestess. Like the others that would take their vows today, she wanted to be excited, but she could only think of everything that could go wrong as she fidgeted with the hem of her robe. Every month, initiates were chosen to become priests and priestesses. The only difference was that Christina appeared to have skipped the initiate stage altogether, inevitably drawing the jealousy of initiates who had been there for months and still hadn¡¯t been chosen. ¡°Nya! Sit still! I can¡¯t comb your hair if you keep shaking your head!¡± Esaa complained from behind her. The feisty feline had kindly offered to comb her hair for the big day. Naturally Teta had come to watch, swinging her feet off the end of the bunk bed as she watch Christina break down into a nervous wreck. ¡¯I worked hard too! Just because you didn¡¯t see it doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s not true!¡¯ Christina thought as she eyed some of the spiteful initiates that dared to say she was chosen because she pretty. Just the sight of them was enough to set her teeth on edge. ¡°Dang-it Christina! You need to relax!¡± Esaa protested sternly as she struggled to divide the hair into segments. ¡°I know, I know!¡± Christina said and took a deep breath. Today was her day, and she refused to let anyone ruin it. After all, she had her friends beside her, even though one of them was invisible. Teta, who had been sitting quietly beside her, suddenly moved closer and was watching her intently through her round spectacles. ¡°What is it?¡± Christina asked nervously. Teta was always pointing out things, regardless of whether one wanted to hear them. A fact that would not change today. ¡°Bald spot.¡± she said flatly, pointing just above her ear. ¡°What!?¡± Christina screamed out in panic. Esaa had to use her beast-like strength to keep her friend from jumping up. ¡°Teta, don¡¯t rile her up! She won¡¯t sit still as it is!¡± the she-cat said as she lashed her tail. ¡°There¡¯s is no bald spot, Christina. She¡¯s just trynna lighten the mood.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Christina asked, misty eyed. She looked like she¡¯d break into tears any second. Esaa sighed heavily, then she pointed her comb at the culprit. ¡°You! Is there really a bald spot!?¡± Teta shook her head rapidly, causing her pigtails to swish. ¡°See! Now would you please let me finish!? It¡¯s almost time for the ceremony!¡± Christina settled down again, but not before she sent an icy glare Teta¡¯s way. ¡°Not funny.¡± she said, but the pint-sized initiate wasn¡¯t easily intimidated. When she stuck out her tongue, Christina couldn¡¯t stop the small smile that spread on her face. ¡¯My friends are here for me, so today can only get better! If only Thadius were here, I hope he¡¯s okay.¡¯ she thought, remaining motionless as Esaa focused on braiding her hair into an intricate ponytail. Not long after, one of the priests came to gather the initiates. ¡°All done, and just in time too!¡± Esaa declared patting her on the back. ¡°Now all you have to do is make sure you don¡¯t trip on your robe!¡± she smiled. ¡°Is it too long? It¡¯s too long isn¡¯t!?¡± Christina jumped up. ¡°Oh! If only I had a needle and thread-¡± ¡°I was kidding!¡± Esaa pouted, flicking Christina on the shoulder with her tail. It didn¡¯t do much to the initiate. To make matters worse, Teta joined in, tugging on Christina¡¯s robe saying ¡°Too long.¡± Which earned her another earful from Esaa. Most of the other chosen initiates were filing out the door by time Christina said goodbye to her friends. She hugged them both fiercely. ¡°I¡¯m going to miss being in here with you two. I wish you could go with me!¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be right behind you! They won¡¯t let us in the temple during the ceremony, but they didn¡¯t say we couldn¡¯t peek!¡± Esaa said. Her eyes light up with mischief, and Christina could only laugh at her friend¡¯s optimism. ¡°Christina Tristan?¡± a priest called from the stairwell. ¡°Coming!¡± Christina answered as she walked through the door. From the top of the stairs, she immediately recognized the priest that gave her the tour on her first day. His bald spot and gangly features were all too easy to distinguish. Christina had to resist the urge to cringe as she walked past him. ¡°Good morning, Christina.¡± he greeted her. As she passed, he followed right behind her. If he leaned forward, he would be close enough to whisper in her ear. ¡°Good morning, Brother Shawn.¡± she replied as she fell in line behind the other initiates. Instead of returning to the front of the line with the other priests leading the procession, he hung back and walked beside her. ¡°You remembered my name?¡± Shawn smiled. The sight was enough to turn any stomach. ¡°Of course, I try to learn all the names of our brothers and sisters.¡± she replied kindly with a smile. ¡°And that¡¯s why you¡¯re the best Christina¡­¡± he said sweetly, then he moved in so close that their shoulders touched every few steps. ¡°You know, it¡¯s been a few days since your friend came around...Is he alright? I haven¡¯t heard any news from the coliseum about-Thadius, was it?¡± ¡¯He¡¯s not dead you rat!¡¯ Christina thought as she turned to the over-confident priest. Despite her irritation at the priest¡¯s suggestive tone, Christina managed to maintain her friendly face. ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t hear? He¡¯s on an excursion in the Mists of Croaka with the city guard. He said something about quelling his bloodlust on monsters instead of men since it eased his conscience. I¡¯m sure that¡¯s why you haven¡¯t heard any news of him. He¡¯s quite adventurous you know, so I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll get tired of it after a day.¡± She waved her hand nonchalantly. ¡°Truth be told, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he walked in here right now¡­¡± she said, taking a meaningful glance down the hall. Christina¡¯s smile was genuine as she watched the blood drain from the Brother Shawn¡¯s face. Then when he shuffled to the head of the procession, she sighed with relief. ¡°I really don¡¯t like him. The way he always tries to touch girls just seems wrong.¡± Christina barely stopped herself from jumping as a voice came from directly beside. Given the past few days, she was still getting used to fact that Yuna showed up whenever she was alone. The tiny Goddess still chose to hide herself from anyone but her, making it especially hard to talk to her, lest she be accused of talking to herself. Christina bowed her head as if in prayer, in the hope that anyone who glanced her way would see nothing but an initiate speaking to her god one last time before the ceremony. ¡°He¡¯s not so bad. You just have to know how to talk to him.¡± she replied. ¡°Talk? Half of the things he says are lies. His entire way of life is a lie.¡± Yuna whispered. ¡°You can¡¯t call someone a liar just because you don¡¯t like what they say Yuna.¡± Christina countered. ¡°I know when someone¡¯s lying, and he does it all the time.¡± Yuna sighed and went silent as a priest passed by. ¡°What do you mean you know when someone¡¯s lying? How can you tell?¡± Christina asked. It was the first time she had heard anything about this. ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain... I just get really annoyed when someone lies. I can¡¯t prove it though, and it didn¡¯t really happen when I was around Thadius and Master.¡± Yuna replied softly. ¡°But I¡¯m sure even Thadius told a lie or two¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same!¡± Yuna said. It was a little too loud though, causing the initiate in front of Christina to turn around curiously. Yuna waited until the coast was clear. ¡°The little lies that Thadius told were nothing. But in here...every time I turn around someone is covering up for something or hiding something important from someone else. I don¡¯t like it here Christina¡­¡± Christina¡¯s heart sank as she mulled over her friend¡¯s words. All this time she¡¯d been concerned about herself and never asked Yuna how she was or how she was feeling. While she was laughing and playing with her friends, Yuna had been alone with a frustrating feeling that she could not shake. As stealthy as she could, Christina reached for where she thought Yuna¡¯s hand could be. After a moment, the feeling of warmth wrapped around fingers. ¡°How about we go celebrate afterwards? Once I¡¯m a Priestess, I¡¯ll be able to go into the city, so we could walk around and see the sights. Oh! Maybe we should get something tasty to eat!¡± Christina whispered excitedly. ¡°It would be nice to get out here, I guess.¡± Yuna mumbled. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled!¡± Christina smiled, giving her friend¡¯s hand a light squeeze before returning her attention to the line ahead of her. The procession had come to the main corridor, and all the initiates were being lead into the heart of the church. The pure white stone flooring changed to polished marble as Christina walked into the church proper. The pews were all hand made from a dark wood, and they were all intricately carved with different depictions of the Goddess Thena and her children. In every depiction, the Gods were formed from the same marble as the floor, which made them stand out as the initiates made their way up to the altar. Then beyond the altar, looking down on them all, was a statue of Thena with her golden robes shining in the morning light. The ceremony was held at the foot of the statue. Each initiate would walk behind the altar, kneel before it, and pray to Thena after drinking from a golden goblet of holy water. Should Thena approve of the initiate, they would then take the vows of the Goddess and would be given a fraction of her power in the form of a skill. The entire process was rather quick. The only reason it was even called a ceremony was because of what followed. Once all the successful initiates were seated, the High Priest himself would make a speech about the responsibilities and duty of priests and priestesses of Thena. The High Priest Nigel was waiting for the initiates at the altar with the golden cup. He was a tall, slender man like most of the priests, but unlike the others, he never seemed to smile. High cheekbones gave him a seemingly long face that accented the hawk-like eyes that stared out from behind his glasses. As the initiates went up one by one, the High Priest would speak a few words and then hand them the goblet to sip. If an initiate was successful, signified by the light of Thena shining down upon them, he would then hand them a note as certification and usher them off to the pews to await his speech. There were no words of congratulations, and no kind gestures were offered to the newfound priests and priestesses. This did little to settle Christina¡¯s heart as she approached the altar. The initiate before her had failed to gain Thena¡¯s favor, and he¡¯d been taken away in tears. ¡°Christina Tristan. Step forward.¡± Nigel called. Christina walked around to stand in front of the High Priest. He paused as he looked down at her. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a great deal about you, Ms. Tristan. You¡¯ve excelled at your studies, and you are earnest in your prayer. Yet, never would I have chosen you to take vows so soon. Especially when others have worked harder to get here.¡± Nigel gave her a hard look, and Christina suddenly felt small standing in front of the man. A few of the initiates that shared a room with her snickered in line behind them, but the same look from the High Priest silenced them immediately. When he turned back to Christina, the glare was gone, replaced by a much softer look. ¡°Fortunately for you, I received a very special letter today. A letter from the High Priestess of Yune.¡± Christina went still at the mention of the High Priestess. The woman had been a part of an event that blinded her for almost five years, only to have Thadius come and undo her work in the name of the very Goddess she¡¯d punished Christina for praying to. ¡¯What could she have she have said?¡¯ Christina¡¯s brow furrowed as she gave it thought. Nigel was quick to satisfy her curiosity. ¡°The letter...contained a heartfelt apology, and a recommendation for an initiate she says is ¡®The most sincere and tenacious young woman I¡¯ve ever seen.¡¯¡± Nigel said. Christina¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°I could scarcely believe it myself, that such a strict women could speak so kindly of another person.¡± he continued. ¡°Then I read a story about a young girl who was stricken blind for doing her duty. This girl, who had clearly been wronged, accepted her fate and was determined to dedicate the rest of her life to regaining the favor of the very Goddess that took her sight. She toiled for years, selling flowers with the hope that one day she would be forgiven. I was moved...¡± Christina clutched at her heart as sobs racked her body and tears streamed down her face. Onlookers, hearing Christina¡¯s story for the first time, looked at her as if they were meeting her for the first time. ¡°So you can imagine,¡± Nigel continued, ¡°that when the nomination for the young girl - now a young woman- crossed my desk, why I didn¡¯t hesitate to approve it¡­¡± Christina was beside herself as she listened to the High Priest. She had always wondered if the High Priestesses had regret what she¡¯d done, or whether she had done what she did because she¡¯d always resented her in some way. Yet the same woman who had stopped her from reaching this moment, was now the very reason she standing here. ¡°So I say to you, Christina Tristen. Drink, for you have truly earned it¡­¡± Nigel said softly as he held out the goblet. Christina quickly wiped her eyes and reached out for the cup, taking a sip and handing it back as others did before her. When she turned for the statue of Thena, a quiet fell on the room. Whether out of respect, or in awe of the story they¡¯d just heard, no one made a sound as they watched her kneel. ¡¯Tegaia, it was you who gave Thadius the power to return my sight. If it is your will, I offer a life of service as gratitude.¡¯ she prayed. Despite being in a Church dedicated to Thena, she never intended to pledge the Goddess of Beauty, not when she owed so much to the Goddess of Love. Moments passed as Christina kneeled at the statue, but nothing happened. Her heart kicked into high gear, thinking that something had gone wrong or that there was something she forgot to do. Then when the shocked murmurs of the spectators reached her ears, she feared the worse. A hand was placed on her shoulder, and she looked up with trembling hands, knowing that she had failed. Yet when she looked up, the person standing beside her was the most beautiful woman she¡¯d ever seen, wearing what could only be the Godsteel she¡¯d heard about in legends. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Christina¡¯s voice caught in her throat as she gaze upon perfection. ¡°I am.¡± Tegaia smiled. Christina chewed on her lip while she looked back at the waiting initiates. This was surely a vision, and no one would believe her even if she told them. Yet, the looks on everyone¡¯s faces as they gawked at the deity set her heart racing anew. ¡°Did you just think me a figment of your imagination? After I came all this way just to see you?¡± Tegaia laughed. The sound echoed softly in the room. ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Christina bowed her head immediately. A Goddess had come to see her personally. ¡°Now, now. Raise your head child. I won¡¯t have you groveling at my feet. It¡¯s your day after all, isn¡¯t it? I wanted to be here, especially since I missed the initiation of my first priestess.¡± Tegaia moved to stand in front of her. ¡°Now, love is a powerful force, Christina. It can drive one to do both great and terrible things. But you must keep your heart open to it, for a heart that cannot love is truly lost. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± she nodded. ¡°Love must also be protected, for there are evils in this world that strive to take what we hold dearest. Do you swear to protect those you care for? Will you fight when evil threatens those closest to you?¡± Tegaia asked. Her every syllable heavy with magic and expectations as she forged the pact. ¡°I swear it.¡± Christina replied. She would do so without hesitation. ¡°What if it costs you your life to protect your loved ones? Would you value your life more than theirs? If you are to serve me, you must understand that all life is equal. Your life is just as precious as mine. Even though I am immortal, my life is still subject to forces I cannot control. If you can learn to see life as I do, love and war will take on completely different meanings. Will you try?¡± Tegaia asked. ¡°I will.¡± Christina nodded again in earnest. ¡°Good.¡± Tegaia smiled and stretched out her hand. ¡°I give you Barrier, to protect you and all those under your care. If your will is strong, it will never fail you. Now, rise Priestess.¡± Christina stood, and when she met Tegaia¡¯s warm smile, she beamed. She turned to walk towards to the pews, but the Goddess stopped her. ¡°Not so fast, we still have much to discuss.¡± She called to her, then she looked to Nigel. ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to have the room with her.¡± she said. One of the priests stepped forward. ¡°But this is Thena¡¯s church! You can¡¯t just-¡± ¡°Show some respect! You are in the presence of a God you fool!¡± Nigel roared. All the attendants were taken aback by his passionate outburst. ¡°Forgive me milady, we don¡¯t choose our priests or priestesses for their etiquette.¡± Nigel bowed deeply. ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on them. Thena and I aren¡¯t exactly on the best of terms.¡± Tegaia smiled. ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± Nigel bowed again, then he turned to the crowd. ¡°We will continue the ceremony momentarily. For now, we¡¯ll wait in the hall.¡± ¡°Thank you, Nigel.¡± Tegaia nodded in gratitude. ¡°Milady...¡± Nigel bowed once more. Before he turned to head for the doors, the slightest shade of red could be seen on his cheeks. ¡°It truly is a waste that men like him follow Thena. He could be out there in the world, fighting for what''s right and good. Instead, he''s buried under paperwork and being bullied into approving half-trained initiates for combat." Tegaia shook her head as she watched the high priest leave, then she turned to Christina. "Fortunately, some initiates are more prepared than others." She smiled as she walked over to a pew to sit down. "Come, sit with me." She patted the spot next to her. "Now that my duty as a Goddess is done, we can talk as women." "Talk as women?" Christina frowned as she came to sit beside Tegaia. She couldn''t possibly imagine the Goddess as a normal woman. The way her hair cascaded down her armor in waves of gold and brunette, and the brilliant glow of her silver eyes clearly marked her as divine. "Oh, before we begin-Yuna hand me that goblet would you please?" Tegaia asked, staring knowingly into the space next to the altar. Yuna revealed herself with a dissatisfied huff and obliged. Handing the goblet to the smiling Goddess. "You''ve gotten a lot better at hide-and-seek haven''t you? I hardly perceived you at all." "You still found me..." Yuna said as she moved to sit on the altar, holding her head in her hand as she sulked. "Now..." Tegaia tossed the contents of the goblet onto the floor. Christina''s eyes nearly popped out their sockets. "Oh, it''ll dry quickly. Don''t worry." The Goddess assured her before conjuring a wine skin from thin air. "Besides, I''m sure the initiates will be quite pleased with what I''ve swapped with their Holy Water. Here." Tegaia poured the mysterious beverage into the goblet and handed it to Christina, who peered into it curiously. "But...don''t we need the Holy Water for the ceremony?" "I don''t know whose idea it was to drink consecrated water for ceremonies, but I can tell you that it means absolutely nothing to us." Tegaia said, then she took a sip from the wineskin. Christina took a sip from the goblet, and a familiar taste enveloped her tongue. It reminded her of the tea he father would brew when it was too cold to go outside. "How did you know I liked this tea?" Christina asked. "I didn''t know, but the drink does. We call it Nostalgiam because the taste reminds us of good times when we drink it. Some mortals that stumble upon it have called it the Nectar of the Gods. Which is absurd, since the nectar isn''t something we''d just drink for no reason." Tegaia took another long draft from her wine skin. "Here Yuna, have some." The young Goddess hopped off the shelf and quickly took the skin from Tegaia''s hands. Her curiosity had completely won over her earlier disappointment. "What do you taste?" Tegaia asked. "Thadius''s Razzy Mango Lemonade." Yuna said with a content smile on her face before taking another sip. "I¡¯ll be sure to ask him to brew some for me. And while we''re on the subject..." Tegaia put her arm around Christina and pulled her closer. Christina hesitated to look the Goddess in the eye. Such familiarity with a figure she often prayed to was still a bit much for her. But she met Tegaia''s gaze, she was met with a stern expression. "W-what''s wrong?" Christina stuttered. "How are things with you and Thadius?" Tegaia asked solemnly. "W-what!? I don''t-" Christina looked over to Yuna for some sort of clue as to what the Tegaia was asking her, but Yuna rolled her eyes as she made her second attempt to drain the wine skin of its contents. "Are you two together? Do tell, Christina. Despite popular belief, Gods don''t know everything." Christina''s face was now scarlet as she thought back to the few moments she shared with Thadius. "I-I think with a little more time...we could be together." Tegaia sighed as she looked down at the young priestess. "You don''t have the luxury of time, Christina. Your rivals will make their appearances soon." "Rivals!? Who!? When!?" Christina asked. The imminent arrival of competition was completely out of her calculations. "Keep calm. Although I say soon, you still have some time. One isn''t even romantically inclined to him yet, but he has her interest. Unfortunately, the threat she poses pales in comparison to the one on the southern ontinent, seeing as she already has his heart." Tegaia said. Christina froze. She had heard little about the woman Thadius loved, but the one fact she had counted on was that the woman was long gone. From Christina''s reaction, Tegaia could tell that Thadius had kept her in the dark about his lover. She had already come prepared to even the field. "You know that Travelers come from another world, yes?" Christina nodded. "Well, it''s seems that Travelers have two bodies, but only one soul. Now, in his world, Thadius is bedridden, and when he came to this world years ago, he prayed to me. Did he tell you what he prayed for?" Christina shook her head. "I always thought you came to him first." "Oh, no. He came to me when I was at my lowest, when I had already given up on regaining my powers. I was in an even worse state than when you had prayed to me." Tegaia sighed heavily. Christina frowned at that, but the Goddess pat her on the knee. "Don''t fret, sweetheart. Thadius came soon after, and when he did, what he asked for was forgiveness. He''d rejected his lover so that she could find happiness with another, despite the pain it would inflict on her and himself." Christina''s heart was gripped by chill as the revelation came to her. "So he left for this world, not knowing that she would follow.¡± Tegaia nodded. "She followed, and after realizing that Thadius still loved her, she was furious." "What!? Why!?" Christina asked in astonishment. Even Yuna, who was stretched out on the altar with a belly full of lemonade, looked up with interest. Tegaia chuckled as she relived the event. "She felt that Thadius was an idiot for telling her to leave if both of them still held feelings for each other. She ask for forgiveness too, except she wanted to be forgiven in advance for striking Thadius on sight when she sees him again!" Tegaia laughed. "That''s terrible!" Christina protested with a frown. "Even so, she''s determined to do it." Tegaia said as she motioned for Yuna to hand her the wineskin. The young Goddess sluggishly rolled off the altar and handed over the wineskin before laying down on the pew with her head in Christina¡¯s lap. Her long white hair spread out to reveal strands of voilet, hinting at the coming of spring. Tegaia chuckled as she watched. "This wineskin is enchanted. Did you truly think you could drink it all?¡± Yune just sighed in response, prompting another chuckle from the armored deity. Christina welcomed the oppurtinity to process the startling news, and she began to run her fingers through Yuna¡¯s hair. ¡°What else can you tell me?¡± she asked. ¡°Her name is Rosemary, and like you, she''s decided become a priestess. So you''ll be competing with her in more ways than one." Tegaia replied. "So the ceremony you missed before-" "Was hers, yes. More?" Tegaia offered more Nostalgiam. Christina gratefully accepted. Christina gratefully accepted, staring into her cup as she tried to picture Sister Rosemary, the woman Thadius loved. "What''s she like?" she asked quietly. "She''s unlike any priestess you''ve ever seen, both cunning and ferocious. She poured her blood, sweat, and tears into her preparations. And when she moves on to the next step, that''s when you''ll need to be worried." Tegaia¡¯s eyes narrowed as she thought back to when she first met Rosemary. The young woman had since completely outrun her expectations. ¡°What¡¯s the next step?¡± Christina asked. Tegaia shrugged. ¡°I can¡¯t be sure, but I assume she¡¯ll start her search. She¡¯s closing in on her goal.¡± "Can''t you delay her, maybe buy me some more time?" Christina asked desperately. Her heart raced with panic at the thought of Rosemary''s imminent arrival. "Christina...no." Tegaia shook her head and eyed the priestess with eyes full of disappointment. "I only came to warn you and even the playing field. She''d have caught you unawares and taken Thadius with no contest otherwise." Tegaia¡¯s reply had Christina crestfallen. She wasn''t confident that she could sway Thadius if he still held feelings for Rosemary. The Goddess¡¯s expression softened as she watched her words effect. "Lucky for you, it''d take her four months to get here if she left right now, and that¡¯s not including the time when she return¡¯s to her world. She¡¯s not like Thadius, who has forsaken his world altogether. So you have plenty of time. I, on the other hand, do not." She sighed as she stood up. She had spent far too much time in the mortal world. "Are you headed back to the Heavens?" Christina asked, handing the goblet back to Tegaia outstretched hand to be refilled. "Not for some time, I''m afraid. Many Gods that I''ve called friends are nowhere to be found. I¡¯m going to see the Oracle in order to receive some insight as to where they might be. But if she can''t help me..." Tegaia sighed again and shook her head, then she turned back to Christina. "It''s nothing you should worry about though. You have quite the task ahead of you as it is. I trust I don''t have to tell you what will happen if Thadius finds out that Rosemary is here?" "He won''t hear it from me." Christina said confidently. That was the last thing she wanted Thadius to know. "Good." Tegaia looked down at Yuna. "Will you keep it a secret too?" she asked. Yuna frowned. "I still remember what happened the last time you asked me to keep a secret..." "And I intend to pay that debt in full. However, this will be for Christina, not me. I told Rosemary I wouldn''t tell Thadius, but if either of you tell him, then it''s out of my hands." Tegaia shrugged. Yuna sat up and looked at Christina, who was pleading desperately with her eyes, then she looked back at Tegaia. "Okay, but I get to order whatever I want when we go out." Yuna declared. "Deal!" Christina agreed. "Well girls, take care. Hopefully we can chat like this again sometime soon." Tegaia said as she disappeared into thin air. As soon as she was gone, Yuna vanished as well, leaving Christina to tell the High Priest that the ceremony could continue immediately. When she reached the door and opened it, she found Esaa and Teta being scolded by Nigel, or at least it appeared so. Esaa couldn''t stand still, her tail swishing frantically and her eyes were alight with excitement. Teta at least looked like she was being scolded, standing properly at attention. But as Christina walked out, her attention was entirely on the door. "She''s out!" she cried out, louder than anyone had ever heard her speak. Esaa was the first to move. "Christina!" she screamed, bolting past Nigel in a great feat of feline dexterity and nearly tackling the startled priestess. "We saw her! We actually saw a real live Goddess! I mean, we didn''t know who she was, but she was so cool! She came out of nowhere in all that shiny armor! Didn''t she Teta!?" "So cool..." Terra replied, pumping her fist. "Calm down! I was just as surprised as you!" Christina laughed as she hugged friends to calm them, then she looked to the High Priest. "She¡¯s gone now. The ceremony can continue at your word, holiness." Nigel cleared his throat, having two initiates ignore him in the middle of a lecture was something he''d just have to let go today, in light of the divine guest. "Very well, we will continue immediately." He turned to the initiates lined up against the wall and chatting amongst themselves excitedly. "Alright now, the excitement has passed. Take your positions in front of the altar and we will continue." The initiates and newly fledged priests and priestess hurried back into the church while glancing at Christina in wonder and awe. After the last member of the ceremony passed through the doors, Nigel asked Christina. "Will you be returning to the ceremony? Seeing as your Goddess herself has already told you what she expects of you, I don¡¯t think my ramblings will do you much good." he said. "Won''t there be a purity ritual? I¡¯ve...been thinking about it, and I was hoping to take the rite as well." Christina said quietly as her cheeks flushed. Years ago, she would have taken the rite immediately, but with Thadius the picture, she was no longer certain she would be able to honor it for long. Nigel shook his head. "We no longer perform the rite here. Young priestesses such as yourself would just become targets." he said solemnly. "Targets? I don''t understand...were they killed?" She asked. The High Priest looked at Esaa and Teta for a few moments before looked Christina squarely in the eye. "The young women who took the rite became targets of men hoping to take the chastity of a priestess. Once we knew why they were targeted we stopped the rite altogether." He said with the stern gaze he was known for. "Oh...I should have guessed-I''m sorry." Christina said, bowing her head. Nigel sighed heavily, and removed his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. "No, I am sorry. Were I able to trust someone with running this church in my absence, I could be out there like The Red Hand, bringing the culprits to justice." "Oh! I heard about her!" Esaa declared. "Who''s that?" Christina asked, looking from Nigel to Esaa, her brow furrowed in confusion. "They say she can kill demons with a single punch! And they say that she wears bandages on her hand soaked in their blood! Hiya!" Esaa put up her hands and tapped Teta on the shoulder. And Teta, the foul demon, feel to the ground. The smallest of smiles appeared on Nigel¡¯s face as he replaced his glasses. "The tales behind the name are fanciful indeed. Her real name is Sister Rosemary, and word has it, that she is single handedly bringing to justice the men who would harm her fellow priestesses. In fact, the gossip among our sister churches is that she will be High Priestess soon." He said. "Yes!" Esaa shouted, pumping her fist and throwing her head back. Teta mimicked her as best as she could from her spot in the floor. Christina fell silent, and her stomach sank as the name of her dreaded rival was once again spoken in praise. Nigel didn''t miss the change. "Is everything alright?" He asked. Christina suppressed the dread that threatened to drag her to the floor. "No...no, I just recognize the name, that''s all. The Goddess told me that she was the only other priestess to have pledged to follow her." she said, trying to smile. ¡°It that so? Well, I suppose the priestesses of the Goddess of War ought to be somewhat aggressive...¡± Nigel nodded to himself, but the wide eyed Christina made him smile. ¡°Did you think I didn¡¯t know about the Goddess? As the High Priest, I make it my business to know about every God known, especially the ones we¡¯re told to forget.¡± he said. ¡°O-of course!¡± Christina said. So far, the High Priest had surprised her on every encounter. ¡°Well, then I must attend the ceremony. Will you be returning as well?¡± Nigel asked again as he turned for the temple doors. ¡°No, I was actually thinking about taking my friends out to celebrate...if that¡¯s okay.¡± Christina said, casting a nervous glance at Esaa and Teta. ¡°I don¡¯t see a problem, but you¡¯ll need this to show to the guards in case you¡¯re stopped.¡± Nigel searched his robe and pulled out a slip of paper from his chest pocket and handed it to Christina. ¡±This is an official statement saying you are a priestess of Todos. Don¡¯t lose it¡­¡± he warned. ¡°Yes, sir. I won¡¯t.¡± Christina watched as the High Priest reached for the door, then a thought came to her. ¡°Ah! High Priest!¡± she called out. Nigel turned around, eyebrows raised. ¡°Yes? What is it?¡± Christina made an uncomfortable face. ¡°Well...the Goddess swapped out the holy water with something the Gods call ¡®Nostalgiam¡¯. I just thought you should know. The Gods don¡¯t think it¡¯s important, but I thought you might.¡± she said quietly, but as the words came out she couldn¡¯t help but feel like a tattle-tale. ¡°Well then, I have to take a sip myself once the ceremony is over. It¡¯ll be interesting to see what the Gods drink.¡± Nigel nodded once to Christina before heading inside the church. Christina blew out her breath. Today had been filled with more excitement than she could handle. She turned to her friends, expecting to see how excited they were to get a chance to go out. But when she turned, Esaa¡¯s eyes were popping out of their sockets and her tail was standing on end. Teta was beside her, petting her in an attempt to calm her. ¡°Esaa!? What¡¯s the matter!?¡± Christina asked in concern as she put her hands on her friend¡¯s shoulders. The terror in the cat girl¡¯s eyes were real. ¡°We¡¯re going outside?¡± she squeaked. ¡°Of course we are! What¡¯s wrong with that? You¡¯ve been outside before haven¡¯t you?¡± Christina asked. ¡°Yeah, but¡­¡± Esaa looked down at Teta. ¡°Travelers are outside. Travelers like cats.¡± Teta sighed with downcast look. Christina looked from Teta to Esaa in confusion. The only Traveler she knew was Thadius, and he wasn¡¯t the type to ellicit this type of fear from her friends. A fact that she would make known. ¡°Well not all Travelers are bad.¡± she said, rubbing Esaa¡¯s shoulders. ¡°How do you know?¡± Esaa asked. She was on the brink of panic ¡°I know because you met one not too long ago. Remember my friend Thadius? He¡¯s a Traveler you know.¡± she said proudly. ¡°What!? For real!?¡± Esaa jumped in surprise. ¡°Yep. So don¡¯t worry about it so much. Besides, I can protect you now. Leave it me!¡± Christina said, striking a pose with her hands on her hips. Teta and Esaa exchanged looks, then Esaa¡¯s tension slowly ebbed away. ¡°Well, I guess...it might not be so scary.¡± she said as she look at Christina, then she looked further back. ¡°But if we go, then you have to tell us who that is!¡± she pointed directly at the ¡®Vanished¡¯ Yuna. Christina looked around stiffly, her ruse that she¡¯d upheld for days was dangerously close to being blown. ¡°I don¡¯t see anyone...who are you talking about exactly?¡± Christina asked innocently. Esaa¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I have really good hearing, you know. I hear you talking to her sometimes, even now I can hear her belly squishing. Plus your feet snore at night sometimes, so I know something¡¯s up!¡± she said, stomping her foot. ¡°Okay, okay! Keep it down!¡± Christina whispered fiercely. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you. But you have to keep it a secret, understand?¡± ¡°I can keep a secret! I have plenty of secrets!¡± Esaa said as she crossed her arms. Teta moved next to Christina and motioned for her to bend down. ¡°Sometimes, she licks herself instead of taking a bath.¡± she whispered. ¡°It¡¯s not a secret if you tell it, Teta!¡± Esaa hissed. ¡°Well, now. It looks like you have no choice but to keep quiet now, huh?¡± Christina smiled mischievously. ¡°That¡¯s not fair! What about trust!?¡± Esaa protested, but Christina just put her arm around her and walked towards the front temple doors. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to trust each other now, won¡¯t we?¡± she said as they walked outside. @ The sun was high in the sky when they walked out, promising plenty of time for the girls to explore the city. Christina looked to the clouds, closing her eyes and letting the sun warm her skin. ¡¯It¡¯s good to be outside, especially after today¡­¡¯ she smiled. Yet, as she reflected on her extraordinary morning, her body stiffened. ¡°Oh!¡± she suddenly shouted and turned to look back at the church doors. Her friends looked at her in concern. ¡°What is it?¡± Esaa asked nervously. She was constantly scanning the streets, and her ears twitched restlessly. Christina stamped her foot. ¡°I forgot to ask about the other one!¡± she huffed. ¡°Other one?¡± Teta looked at the door curiously, tilting her head to the side. Her pigtails swayed adorably with the motion. ¡°Nothing¡­¡± Christina sighed and shook her head while moving to the front to take the lead. ¡°Come on.¡± She quickly led them to the side of the church where the windows were high above their heads. The risk of anyone inside the church seeing her mysterious protector was low, and she wanted to keep it that way. ¡°Now remember your promises, okay? This has to be a secret!¡± Christina said, giving her friends one more warning look. Teta and Esaa both nodded in unison. ¡°Alright then. Yuna, you can come out now.¡± To Teta and Esaa, a young woman suddenly appeared out of thin air. She was just as pretty as Christina, with a flowing robe outfit and white-violet hair. Yet, her shorter frame contained a fierce air, which was a stark contrast to the gentle and kind Christina. With one glance at the sword on her back, and the look in her dark silver eyes that seemed to look through them, the young initiates could tell that this Yuna was undoubtedly strong. ¡°Wow! She looks super strong!¡± Esaa exclaimed, her eyes glittering. All her fear and uneasiness was temporarily forgotten in front of this little swordswoman. Yuna nodded proudly and crossed her arms in a heroic pose. ¡°I am strong.¡± ¡°She trained with Thadius, so she should be just as strong as he is. So while we¡¯re out, we won¡¯t have to worry since Yuna is our secret weapon!¡± Christina smiled. Despite Christina¡¯s words, Esaa was instantly nervous. ¡°Is-is she a Traveler too?¡± she asked. ¡°No, but...¡± Christina sighed helplessly, then placed her hands on Teta and Esaa. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t believe everything you hear about Travelers.¡± Esaa was unconvinced. ¡°But-¡± ¡°Have you met all Travelers?¡± Yuna interrupted. Esaa shook her head. Seeing that, Yuna smiled as she recalled the words Thadius spoke when he defended Tegaia.¡°Well until you get all the facts and have actually met every single one of them, try not to think too badly of them.¡± Esaa looked from Yuna to Christina, who had a comforting smile, then she looked a Teta who she¡¯d known the longest. ¡°Facts first.¡± Teta nodded in agreement. ¡°T-there¡¯s a lot of good people in the world, so there must be a lot of good Travelers too, right?¡± Esaa smiled weakly, succumbing to the peer pressure of her friends. ¡°Definitely.¡± Yuna nodded. After the girls encouraged Esaa, they quickly set out to find a suitable place to eat. Christina led the way as they searched, and she refused to celebrate such an eventful day in a mediocre restaurant. Unfortunately, her standard for food had risen to an unreasonable level because of Thadius¡¯ home cooked meals. Although Todos didn''t lack for restaurants, the better cooks would most likely be cooking for the nobility, leaving only the lesser skilled cooks to the rest of the city. ¡°Whoa! Look! It¡¯s an actual cat-girl!¡± ¡°Man, she¡¯s hot. But what¡¯s she doing this far north?¡± Esaa seemed to shrink as the comments reached her ears. Stares from many males, especially Travelers, seemed to gravitate toward her. Thankfully, their eyes were quick to shift to Christina. ¡°Bro!! She''s even hotter!!¡± ¡°And she''s an initiate! Priestess is the perfect class for her!¡± ¡°Just ignore them, Esaa. Yuna and I are with you, so they can''t come near you.¡± Christina whispered. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Esaa nodded meekly. Todos citizens didn''t have favourable impressions for Travelers for various reasons. It was inevitable that the dark rumors spread throughout the city to the point where even those who had little contact with Travelers had prejudice against them. Esaa¡¯s unease was deeply rooted, and it was only multiplied by the fact that Travelers were hard to distinguish from everyday people. The four wandered around the city searching for a suitable place to eat. They passed almost a dozen restaurants after Christina turned them down for the limited food selection, while the other half-dozen were turned down by Yuna for being too dirty. When the others fussed at the goddess for being too picky, she said ¡®They can''t even keep the tables clean and you guys trusts what comes out of their kitchen!?¡¯. Christina could only shake her head at the girl who had been exposed to Thadius¡¯ methodical cooking habits for years. It was a few minutes past noon when the girls finally stopped at a promising venue. The sign outside the restaurant said ¡®Game Grub¡¯. Just the name was enough for them all to stop and eye the sign with a puzzled expressions. ¡°Game Grub? Do we get to play games inside?¡± Esaa asked. Yuna shook her head. ¡°I think this is a Traveler restaurant. I asked Thadius if he was scared of dying. He said that Traveler¡¯s fear death like us, but for them, this world is just somewhere to play. No matter how many times they die, they can just learn from it and get stronger. It¡¯s all a game...and they can¡¯t lose.¡± she said. They all looked at the sign solemnly. Anyone that could look at their world and call it a ¡®game¡¯ was someone to be feared. They would be tempted to do anything they wanted if they only looked at the world as a playground. ¡°Thadius doesn¡¯t see it that way.¡± Christina said quietly. ¡°Of course he doesn¡¯t.¡± Yuna replied with her chin raised. Esaa glanced about restlessly off to the side. ¡°Well, are we going in? Are we even allowed?¡± she asked, tensed at the thought of walking into what could possibly be a Traveler only establishment. She felt like a cat about to be dragged into a wolf den. Just then, a group walked inside, only giving Christina and her friends a curious look as they passed. They especially looked at Yuna, whose fighting spirit immediately made her stand out from the group. Seeing the lack of suspicion on their faces, Christina motioned for the others to gather around. ¡°I think it¡¯s okay if we go in. They might not all be Travelers. Besides, I think Travelers are like us and can¡¯t tell natives apart from other Travelers. So if we go in, we¡¯ll just have to do a little pretending.¡± Christina suggested as she gave the people walking in and out quick glances. ¡°But what do Travelers act like?¡± Esaa asked. ¡°Well¡­¡± Christina pursed her lips as she thought. ¡°If you couldn¡¯t die, how would you act?¡± ¡°I guess...I¡¯d be a little happy.¡± Esaa replied. ¡°I¡¯d be fearless.¡± Yuna added. ¡°Strong.¡± Teta said. ¡°Well then let¡¯s be all of those. We¡¯ll fearlessly walk in, happily eat our food, and walk out just a little bit stronger.¡± Christina said confidently, wrapping her arms around her friends. The others nodded in agreement, and then with Christina leading the way, the four walked into Game Grub. To their surprise, the inside design wasn¡¯t very different from the other restaurants. There were plenty of tables filled with people. The only major difference was that the chefs in the kitchen could be seen bustling about to prepare the meals for their guests. Christina and Yuna gave an approving nod and went to stand behind the group that just entered and were waiting to be seated. After a few moments, it was their turn. A hostess welcomed them warmly at a small podium. ¡°Welcome to Game Grub! Will you be needing a table for four?¡± she asked Christina, who was standing at the front. Christina nodded in reply. The hostess paused for a moment and then made a few motions with her finger in the air. ¡°Luckily we have a few tables available. Follow me.¡± she smiled. Yuna shared a knowing look with Christina before following the hostess through a throng of tables and people. There were mages with a brightly colored robes and formidable looking warriors wearing heavy armor. As they passed, many of the patrons gave them curious looks. Especially Yuna, who had broken the limits of her fighting spirit by several fold after being trained by Corban. ¡°Here you are.¡± the hostess said after leading them to an empty table. Christina and the others sat down quickly, but the young woman lingered at the table. Esaa and Teta looked at the woman nervously. They were expecting to be caught at any second. They looked to Yuna, who was the strongest among them, but Christina was the closest to her, so she took the initiative. ¡°Is...there a problem?¡± she asked. ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s just,¡± The hostess took a look around before coming in closer to whisper. ¡°Your eyes are really pretty. How did you get them to glow like that? I¡¯ve been looking everywhere online for unique eye colors, but I haven¡¯t found any clues.¡± Christina was completely caught off guard. She¡¯d often been asked why her eyes glowed, but being asked by someone who was certainly a Traveler, she truly didn¡¯t know how to answer without giving herself away. ¡°Uh...¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably some type of hidden quest, right? You don¡¯t have to say it, I was just curious.¡± The hostess said with a smile, mistaking Christina¡¯s hesitation as reluctance. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Christina said, not bothering to clear up the misunderstanding. The hostess shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Secrecy is kind of our thing right?¡± she said before passing out the menus and heading to back to the podium. Christina let out a lengthy sigh. ¡°This is a lot more stressful than I thought.¡± she grumbled. Yuna and the others couldn¡¯t help but nod in unison before browsing the menus and seeing what the restaurant had to offer. ¡°She was a Traveler, right? I didn¡¯t think they would have Travelers serving us. Aren¡¯t they supposed to be mighty adventurers?¡± Esaa commented quietly from behind her menu. ¡°Not all of them fight, and even Travelers need coin. If master didn¡¯t leave us some money, Thadius and I would have been poor.¡± Yuna grumbled while she browsed the menu like a mage studying a tome of ancient knowledge. The others had to ask Yuna about some of the dishes that were foreign to them. Once everyone made their selections, the waitress made her timely appearance. ¡°Are you ready to order?¡± she asked. The girls gave their order in turn starting with Christina, who ordered her first hamburger. Esaa ordered a steak with a few sides while Teta took the safe route by ordering spaghetti. When Yuna¡¯s turn came around, the others all looked at her with curious eyes. Christina was especially curious since she felt that Yuna considered chefs other than Thadius inferior. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The scene that followed, however, left them a little speechless. ¡°Let¡¯s see...I want to start off with the chicken soup to help digest the rest of the meal. Does the soup come with breadsticks?¡± Yuna asked. The waitress nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have those as soon as possible please--I¡¯m famished. For the main course, I¡¯ll also have the steak, except I want mine well done. Now are the mashed potatoes that come with it loaded? You know, with little chunks of potatoes, vegetables, and bacon mixed in.¡± The waitress remained professional as she replied,¡±I could ask the chef to make adjustments, but it¡¯ll be a little extra. Is that okay?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, but I¡¯d like the stuffing as well as the potatoes to be twice the serving size. I want the gravy to come in a small bowl so I can pour it myself, and to top it off, I¡¯d like to try the cornbread. I¡¯ve never tasted it and a dear friend of mine strongly recommended it. All of that with a cup of lemonade¡­¡± Yuna paused and frowned at the waitress. ¡°Do you need to write this down?¡± ¡°A bowl of veggie soup and breadsticks as an appetizer, followed by a well done steak and double servings of both ¡®loaded¡¯ mashed potatoes and stuffing with a slice of cornbread on the side. All of that served with a separate serving of gravy and lemonade to wash it all down.¡± the woman repeated with a small smile. To everyone¡¯s disbelief, Yuna merely nodded and continued. ¡°For dessert, I¡¯d like some apple pie. Please inform the chef that I will strictly judge the dish and that my impression of his culinary prowess hangs on it. Should it satisfy my taste, I¡¯ll gladly pay its weight in gold.¡± The waitress nodded. ¡°Our chef enjoys challenges, so I¡¯ll make sure he gets the message. Will that be all?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yuna smiled happily in anticipation. After the waitress walked away, she finally noticed her friends astonished looks. ¡°What?¡± she asked. ¡°Are you going to eat all of that?¡± Christina whispered. ¡°Of course I will. I¡¯m really hungry after all.¡± she pouted, somewhat hurt. ¡°Okay, then.¡± Christina said with disbelieving eyes. She didn¡¯t think Yuna would waste food, but she didn¡¯t know where the young goddess would put it all. The girls chatted amongst themselves while they waited. They whispered excitedly after seeing various people in massive armor or exotic robes. Further down at another table, a small party of four was doing the exact same thing while looking toward their direction. They were a party of friends that met in a nearby dungeon. With the basic formation of a priest, warrior, mage and rogue, they¡¯ve had smooth sailing so far. Today they were simply enjoying some down time in the game. ¡°Look at the one with the sword. You think she maxed her fighting spirit?¡± the mage asked. ¡°Probably. Either that, or she¡¯s leveling her Pressure.¡± the priest replied after taking a bite of his sandwich. ¡°She¡¯s pretty cute though. I wonder if she came back to power level her friends. I haven¡¯t seen her around here.¡± the bald warrior commented as his curious gaze rested on the warrior chatting away with her friends. ¡°Uh oh, here he goes again. You gonna try hitting on this one too Rave?¡± the rogue laughed. His deep scarlet leather armor seemed to burn with trapped flames. The bald warrior, Rave, laughed. ¡°You know me. I have to try at least.¡± The priest shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s too young for you bro.¡± ¡°She¡¯s playing Chaos Online, right? She¡¯s legal.¡± Rave countered. Then he drained the contents of his mug and strode over to the female warrior¡¯s table. Yuna was obviously the first one to notice the man¡¯s approach, and turned as he made a beeline for her. ¡°Pardon my interruption ladies, but when a group of beautiful young women such as yourselves walks in, I at least have to say hello.¡± Rave smiled at each of them. As his eyes fell on Esaa, she shuddered. Yuna frowned after seeing her friends reaction. ¡°It was kind of you to greet us, but my friend is terribly shy around strangers, so if you could-¡± ¡°I mean no harm.¡± Rave cut in. By now he was skilled at delaying rejection. ¡°And in all honesty, I came over to talk to you.¡± he smiled again as he looked at Yuna. ¡°What did you want to talk about.¡± Yuna asked with a cautious glance at her surroundings. By now, many other patrons had turned their eyes to the spectacle. Rave rubbed his head with a shaking hand. The critical moment had come. ¡°Well...we have an extra spot in our party, and we¡¯re looking for another warrior to clear higher level dungeons. You¡¯re with your friends now, but maybe you¡¯d like to join us afterwards?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Once my brother returns, I¡¯ll be joining him in his adventures.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. We can all be friends! Right guys!?¡± Rave called out to his party. If time had taught him anything, it was that not extending invitations to the friends of the target was a fast track to rejection. However, everyone at his table suddenly found something else interesting to look at as they turned their heads. Rave could only sigh at his abandonment before he turned back to the young woman. ¡°At least let me add you as a friend! That way, after you¡¯re free, you and your brother can come join us!¡± Yuna couldn¡¯t help but hesitate at the man¡¯s enthusiasm. She took a another glance around the restaurant, meeting the eyes of the thoroughly entertained crowd, before once again turning to the bald warrior. ¡°I don¡¯t need anymore friends.¡± she said coldly. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to adventure with the man. It was the fact that he wanted to ¡®add her¡¯ as a friend. Thadius had long since tried and failed. She was a native of this world that Travelers saw as a game. A fact that she couldn¡¯t reveal in the current situation. ¡°I know I might come off as a little strong but-¡± Rave reached out for Yuna¡¯s shoulder. It was a mistake that resulted in his face being instantly pressed against the table. The comical scene had suddenly turned hostile, but the transition was truly too fast. Some patrons were still chuckling at Rave¡¯s imminent rejection while others were just beginning to register what happened. ¡°I tried to be nice, but you just won¡¯t go away.¡± Yuna spoke calmly. Her strength was clearly higher than Rave¡¯s since she was holding him to the table with one hand, despite his struggles. When the change in atmosphere final settled, the whole room was stunned. They had all tried to gauge Yuna¡¯s strength from her fighting spirit, but seeing her in action was another story. Rave was a Berserker over level 200. The class was known for its strength, yet he was instantly subdued with only one hand. The first to recover were Rave¡¯s party members. All of them stood and drew their weapons while shooting murderous glares at Yuna. Seeing the opposing party targeting their friend with such hostility, the girls took action too. They had reacted on impulse, not worrying about where they were or the strength of the other side. Their reactions were purely based on the fact that Yuna was in trouble. Surprisingly, Esaa, who had been the most timid since they left the temple, was the fastest. She stood up with a ferocious hissed that betrayed her gentle appearance. Teta jumped onto her chair and had her wand at the ready before she even stood up straight. Her eye were wide open in a heightened state of alertness, no movement would go unnoticed through her spectacles. The initiates were the fastest to react, but Christina¡¯s actions were the most impressive by far. With her heart racing with fear and uncertainty, she stood up with her friends and casted Barrier for the first time. There were no words spoken. Not even the slightest incantation was heard when the transparent wall suddenly separated the two parties. The spell given by the Goddess of War was chantless and battle-ready at all times. Such a rarely seen skill would obviously cause an uproar among Travelers. ¡°That¡¯s Barrier! I thought there was only one priestess that could use it! Is that her!?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not her. She doesn¡¯t have the mark!¡± ¡°Dammit, I¡¯m so jealous! I wanted Barrier but that Rosemary is too secretive!¡± ¡°This might be my chance! If I can find out what God she prayed to, I¡¯d be rolling in gold!¡± All the players in the restaurant couldn¡¯t help but exclaim after they saw Christina cast the ¡®ultra rare¡¯ Barrier skill. Although Rosemary had been in the presence of other priests and priestesses during her own ceremony, she had prayed silently. Even those that had been lucky enough to discover that she worshipped Tegaia could only scratch their heads in wonder after asking around and coming up with no information of there ever being a Goddess with such a name. Thena¡¯s censure had only increased in severity after her confrontation with Tegaia in the Tower of the Gods. Those that knew about Tegaia were few to begin with, and now, finding a statue of her was nearly impossible. Still, the statues that remained depicted Tegaia as the Goddess of Poverty, not the Goddess of Love, War and Humility, and there was absolutely no evidence of her being the Mother of all Creation. So even if someone wanted to believe that Tegaia was the source of such an awesome skill, all evidence proved otherwise. The consensus was that Rosemary purposefully spread false information to keep the skill to herself. Since Barrier had such an illusive background, the uproar after seeing an unknown priestess use it, was definitely warranted. Blocked by Christina, Rave¡¯s party could only watch the situation. No one had actually been harmed, but their pride was another matter. Yuna was fully aware of the hostile group behind her, and their every move was being closely monitored by her aura. She didn¡¯t want to cause trouble, however, she had to make known that her group wasn¡¯t to be harassed while here. As long as they could eat in peace and leave without trouble, she would be content. In order for that to happen, a display of power needed to be made. ¡°I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I am very hungry, and in case you don¡¯t know what that means, allow me to enlighten you.¡± Yuna said solemnly. Then with deliberate slowness, she reached for her sword. Rave¡¯s party was on full alert, but as soon as the thought of battle crossed their minds, an unbelievably heavy pressure came crashing down. The pressure forced them back into their seats, even breathing had suddenly become an uphill battle. Unfortunately, they weren¡¯t the only ones to experience this. Everyone in the dining area felt that monstrous pressure. Only the chefs in the kitchen were spared, for obvious reasons Although Yuna didn¡¯t have the Ambient Pressure like Thadius, her pressure was still broken. So even though the effects were somewhat weakened with a large number of targets, the skill relied heavily on the fighting spirit of the parties involved. The average fighting spirit of the room was only a little over 500. With Yuna¡¯s fighting spirit in the thousands, the fact that anyone was even conscious was by her will. The soft ringing of Yuna¡¯s sword being drawn sounded sharp in the suffocating silence. Beads of sweat appeared on Rave¡¯s face as the point of the sword was stabbed into the table in front of his nose. ¡°Being hungry makes me quite irritable, but luckily for you, I don¡¯t like killing on an empty stomach. So I¡¯ll let you off with warning.¡± Yuna declared with a sweeping glare across the room. ¡°But if me and my friends are disturbed again, many of you will lose a life today.¡± The pressure in the room increased by a fold. Those with lower fighting spirit could no longer hold up, and directly fainted into their meals. With one last sneer, Yuna tossed Rave like a ragdoll toward his friends, sending him flying a few feet before crashing into his empty chair. Then she released her pressure and sheathed her sword, not even sending another glance in his direction. Once Yuna disarmed, Christina and the rest hesitantly returned to their seats. Then each of them secretly sent an amazed look at her. Yuna could only purse her lips as her cheeks flushed under their looks. She had told them before that she would be fearless, but even she hadn¡¯t expected to suddenly threaten a room full of Travelers. Rave and his party on the other hand, quickly finished their food and left. They wanted to vent their anger at the embarrassment they suffered, but offending a high level player was never on the agenda for today, so they could only curse under their breath and leave. As they walked out, the waitress walked over with some soup and breadsticks. ¡°Well, that was certainly the most excitement we¡¯ve had in awhile. He¡¯s been desperately hitting on almost every girl that¡¯s eaten here. If I were you though, I would have shoved his face to floor.¡± she said as she set down the food. ¡°I-I hope we didn¡¯t cause too much trouble.¡± Christina said worriedly. The waitress chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s fine. He gets put in his place most of the time anyway. It¡¯s just that he was put down thoroughly this time.¡± ¡°Then I guess I shouldn¡¯t feel too bad then¡­¡± Christina sighed in relief. ¡¯I don¡¯t know what would have happened had we got into trouble with management.¡¯ She mentally wiped the sweat off her brow. The waitress retreated once more and then returned after a few minutes with their meals. To say that the food was delicious would be an understatement. After the first bite the girls were completely focused on devouring the meals in front of them. The steaks were juicy and tender, much to the pleasant surprise of Esaa and Yuna. Christina took big bites out of her burger, and her puffed out cheeks nearly sent Teta into a coughing fit due to laughter. Even the drinks were satisfying, leaving the girls wallow in the bliss of being fully fed. After the main dish was served, Yuna¡¯s apple pie came. The crisp cinnamon crust and the golden filling stuffed with apples caught the eye of everyone at the table. The chef had obviously risen to the challenge and put in an extra effort to impress. Yuna dug in with her fork and hastily tried a bite. ¡°¡¯So...good.¡¯¡± she sighed in amazement. She had some doubts about how good the pie was going to be, but that one bite, and the doubt cleared like smoke in the wind. The sweet tanginess of the apples melding with the buttered cinnamon crust was definitely worth its weight in gold. After such a tasty meal, the girls were ready to head back to the temple. But before that, Yuna insisted on giving the pastry chef his reward face to face. The waitress had already anticipated it and quickly brought out a tall, chubby man. ¡°I take it you enjoyed my pie. I worked extra hard on it you know!¡± he said with a smile. ¡°It was absolutely scrumptious!¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes lit up, taking out a small coin purse. Although Thadius handled their expenses, he still gave her a generous amount of pocket money. Seeing the amount taken out, the chef¡¯s eye lit up. ¡°I¡¯m glad you enjoyed it. Feel free to come back and ask for BigBuffJohn!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll come back soon. I¡¯ll be expecting something good next time too!¡± Yuna smiled.
GOURMET OF THE GODDESS The fallen goddess Yuna will return occasionally to try new desserts you¡¯ve prepared. She¡¯ll pay for each helping in its weight in gold if she enjoys it. If not, the quest will no longer trigger. DIFFICULTY: Continuous Quest REQUIREMENTS: Must have Cooking Advanced or above. REWARDS: Exp. + Gold for every passing serving
BigBuffJohn¡¯s voice caught in his throat as he looked at Yuna, but she chuckled playfully and put a finger to her lips with a ¡®Shhh¡¯. Then, she promptly left with her friends. After the girls left, the waitress gave the chef a curious look. ¡°What¡¯s with your face? Did she trade you something?¡± she asked. She had been busy clearing the table, but she was able to see his shocked expression. ¡°Yeah, I got something quite good!¡± BigBuffJohn laughed and strolled back to the kitchen with his head high. It wasn¡¯t everyday that his food was praised by a goddess. --- The quartet left Game Grub at a brisk pace. It was well into the evening now. The orange light cast long shadows on the city streets and the wind carried a chill from the darkening alleys. ¡°Come on. We need to get back before curfew, our we''ll be in trouble.¡± Christina said as she took lead. No one argued with her or asked her what she meant by ¡®trouble¡¯. All of them could feel the eyes following their every move as they headed back to the temple. As they walked, Yuna brought up the rear. She spread out her fighting aura to the limit and kept tabs on any individuals that could be following them. Although she could use Vanish and protect the others from the shadows, she knew that after her display in the restaurant, her presence was a major deterrent to anyone that had any ill intention. None of them spoke a word for while. Christina was wholeheartedly focused on finding the fastest route back, while Teta and Esaa were lost in their own thoughts. Yuna was silent for an entirely different reason, and her expression grew darker with each passing minute. Every now and then, she would fall behind a bit, only to quicken her steps a moment after. In the end, she walked up next to Christina. ¡°Christina.¡± she whispered. ¡°I don''t want to scare you, but you''ll need to use that skill again very soon. You''re being followed.¡± Christina¡¯s steps faltered, but the moment they did Yuna linked their arms together. ¡°Don¡¯t stop walking, I don''t want them to get suspicious.¡± Yuna said, then leaned her head against Christina¡¯s arm. By now, the initiates behind them had sensed something was amiss and walked up beside the two. Esaa, with her superb hearing, naturally caught every word, and she was now struggling to keep her tail lax. ¡°A-are you sure?¡± Christina asked quietly. She suddenly felt as if the shadows around them had turned several shades darker. Yuna nodded. ¡°I fell back a few times to give them an opportunity to come after me, but every time they inched forward a bit. I think they are only interested in you. Esaa and Teta weren''t with us when we came to the city.¡± Now even the light seemed to dim as the blood drained from Christina¡¯s face. ¡°You mean it''s¡­¡± the words caught in her throat. The image of a man garbed in black, glaring at her with bright crimson eyes, suddenly surfaced to her mind. ¡°Thadius said it would be at least four days before he could look for us. It''s been almost a week, but this is our first time outside since then. We may have made some enemies back there, but those guys know my strength. So who else would have a bad impression of us? It''s him, I can feel it.¡± Yuna explained. She could sense that the presence that stalked them from the rooftops was the same one that had attacked Thadius when they first entered the city, and her eyes lit up. ¡°What do we do?¡± Esaa asked after linking with Christina¡¯s other arm with shaking hands. Yuna''s eyes narrowed, and small smile spread on her face. "We fight!" she whispered fiercely. Her voice was hushed, but the confidence and conviction was hard to mask. Christina''s heart jerked violently hearing the goddess'' reply. She had anticipated that a fight would break out, but now that it was confirmed, she shuddered. ''Fear is okay, but running from a fight...I won''t do it!'' Christina brought her thoughts to order and clenched her teeth. If she had the courage to stand up to Travelers in a room full of them, she knew she at least had the courage to fight one against one. Christina looked down at Yuna, the soft glow in her eyes now a seemed sharp and bright. "My Barrier can stop any attack, but the strength of the attack will determine the drain on my mana. If the attack is too strong then-" "You''ll only need to block once, then leave the rest to me." Yuna said, then she suddenly let go and turned down another street. Before Christina and the others could even register what happened, Yuna waved happily and then disappeared into the shadows. Not even second had past after her disappearance when her voice from behind them, "Keep walking." They all continued on the path back to the temple, but the mood was tense. Every minute that passed without incident only multiplied the girls anxiety. Finally, Yuna''s voice whispered hurriedly from behind them, "Get ready Christina." "Ready..." Christina voice trembled in reply. She didn''t even need the warning as a chill crawled up her spine before Yuna could even finish her sentence. Every hair on her body suddenly stood on end and she was deafened by the thundering of her pulse. Esaa''s quivering arm around hers suddenly seemed very still as a numbing sensation spread through her limbs. It was the first time in her life that she knew, without a doubt, that someone wanted her life. "Now!" Yuna shouted. Christina quickly raised her hand, and a translucent wall instantly separated heaven and earth, followed by a harsh ringing sound coming from a dagger that was pointing directly at her head. A moment too slow, and she would have died. Christina face paled as her barrier hungrily drank her mana. Crouched above her, a pair of neon crimson eyes were opened wide in surprise, and a face, hidden in shadows, twisted into a sneer. "I knew something was funny about you! But your Barrier isn''t going to stop me!" The assassin raised his dagger to stab once more, only to be sent flying by an unforeseen force crashing into the wall of a nearby shop. He picked himself up off the ground in a flash and scanned for the one who had attacked him. He immediately found the young woman armed with a longsword standing on the barrier. He had specifically waited for her to leave before he attacked since he could feel the same oppressive fighting spirit from her that he could feel coming from the guy that killed him early, but it looked like he miscalculated. The warrior had never left. ¡°It takes quite the coward to attack an unarmed woman.¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°She¡¯s can¡¯t be simple if she¡¯s in a party with you freaks, and obviously I was right. A priestess with Barrier? Definitely not simple!¡± SmartYeti grit his teeth in anger. He had wanted to assess the capabilities of every member of the party before getting his own party together to have a showdown. He relied heavily on stealth to fight, so he wanted to get his friends to keep Thadius occupied so that he could stab him in the back. He could assume that the female warrior was just as strong from her fight spirit, but the priestess was still a mystery. Until today. ¡¯A Priestess with Barrier won¡¯t be easy to kill. Especially with those Warriors beside her!¡¯ he cursed to himself silently. ¡°You dared to attack my friend thinking her an easy target! I¡¯ll show it¡¯s not so easy to get past me.¡± Yuna jumped down and took the Dragon¡¯s Tail stance. ¡°Come! Yuna of Yune will be your opponent!¡± SmartYeti quickly leaped back and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like fighting any freaks today. Stealth!¡± he shouted as he activated his skill. He knew better than to underestimate either of the warriors from this party. His first thought was to maintain distance and use his skills to make his escape. ¡°Hmph, trying to hide from me with only this level of skill is useless. I¡¯m the champion of hide and seek!¡± Yuna cried and rushed directly to the assassin. She casually sent out a thrust directly for his heart. ¡¯What!?¡¯ SmartYeti barely parried the thrust with his dagger. Not only was his stealth seen through, a ten second penalty cooldown had been applied. Even if the girl was unexpectedly strong, he never expected his stealth would be rendered useless. ¡°Tch! One with Shadows!¡± he muttered as he used the force from Yuna¡¯s thrust to jump into a dark alley. Yuna rushed to follow until she felt the assassin¡¯s presence disappear and appeared behind her, aiming a dagger directly at her neck. ¡°Yuna!¡± the girls cried out. ¡¯I see him!¡¯ Yuna smirked and ducked the Backstab, then pivoted on her back foot and sent her elbow direct to his sternum. With his momentum stopped, she reached up for the arm above her. If she managed to grab ahold, she could easily break his arm. ¡¯Won¡¯t let you!¡¯ he screamed in his heart. With every ounce of vigor he had, he brought his legs up and kicked off Yuna¡¯s back to separate them. Yuna saw through the maneuver quickly and rolled forward to weaken his kick. Then, she sprang up toward SmartYeti with a kick of her own. The speed of this approach was many times faster than what it had been before. ¡°What is this speed!? Are you a ninja!?¡± SmartYeti complained aloud while he drifted in midair. As an assassin, he prided himself on his speed as it is the bread and butter of rogue type classes, but the speed he just witnessed made him break out into a cold sweat. He had kicked off of her, but she was up and ready to attack him before he could even touch the ground. ¡°A ninja? Maybe!¡± Yuna chuckled happily as she closed in. In an instant, she was close enough to see his face twisted in rage. From below, she swung her sword and executed Dragon Claw. As the roar of a dragon sounded out, SmartYeti desperately tried use double jump. ¡°Too slow!¡± Yuna roared as she flicked her wrist to send the Dragon Claw raking across SmartYeti¡¯s chest. Blood sprayed as the assassin flew crashed into the wall once more. Being an assassin, he didn¡¯t want to wear heavy armor since it would require him to invest into strength. However, as prompts started popping up and assessing his damage, he was truly regretting that he didn¡¯t even have a chest plate for protection. He scowled at Yuna and said, ¡°You win, okay? Let¡¯s just leave it at this.¡± ¡°You want me to let you off after you attempt to attack my friend? Had I not been here, you would have killed her, so I¡¯ll be taking your life instead.¡± Yuna declared as she pointed her sword. SmartYeti stood shakily and slowly widened the distance. ¡°You kill me, and I¡¯ll make sure my Hall of Shadows doesn¡¯t let you get another good night¡¯s sleep. Killing me once is fine, but killing me twice would be an embarrassment! The guild would definitely put out a contract on you to even the score!¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes narrowed. She could tell that the assassin spoke truth, but she had the sneaking suspicion that he wouldn¡¯t just let their conflict end today either way. ¡°Let them come.¡± she said solemn and began to sprint. SmartYeti had already prepared. ¡°Life Severing!¡± he screamed as he stabbed forward with his dagger drenched in his own blood. Life Severing was a move that did damage based on how injured the assassin was. Should they find themselves in a desperate situation such as this, killing the target was still possible. As with many of the assassin¡¯s moves, its purpose was to aim for the opponent''s life in one strike. What SmartYeti didn¡¯t expect, was that when Yuna reached his dagger at that insane speed, it went right through her like a ghost. His scalp went numb at the sight. The real Yuna had hid her presence and rushed to the side to jump off the wall. With savage glint in her silver eyes, spun her entire body and unleashed a Slash a full strength. SmartYeti could only stare as a flash of light passed beside him, followed by a burning pain all the way from his left shoulder to his waist. In the next instant, he received a prompt saying he had been dealt a mortal blow and his screen went black. Yuna landed nimbly and looked down at the assassin with a small smile. Thadius had face this same foe, and now, so had she. Christina came up a moment later, holding the hands of Teta and Esaa who had their eyes closed. From their pale complexions, one could imagine that such a bloody scene was quite new to them. ¡°Is...he dead?¡± Christina asked, trying to keep her voice even. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± Yuna replied solemnly, then she turned to look at Teta and Esaa with a wry smile. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get back before it gets dark. That¡¯s when the really bad people come out.¡± Christina shuddered at what Yuna¡¯s words implicated and tugged on Teta and Esaa¡¯s hands to hurry them along. Without anymore sudden events, the girls came in sight of the Temple. Yuna used Vanish before reaching the temple where she would have to keep quiet to avoid detection. She walked toward Christina and whispered, ¡°What do you think would have happened if I hadn¡¯t been with you today?¡± The color drained from Christina¡¯s face. She had been thinking about just that the whole time after the battle. All she had for her protection right now was Barrier, and that wasn¡¯t something that could be used infinitely. She could only weakly admit, ¡°I would have died.¡± ¡°Do you think the Red Hand would have died?¡± Yuna pressed. Christina grit her teeth as her eyes started to mist. She had also made this comparison countless times in the past few minutes. If the Red Hand, Rosemary, was strong enough to have her name spread to another continent, then would she need to fear a single assassin? Christina truly didn¡¯t think so, and being found wanting when compared to the woman who was Thadius¡¯ lover, stabbed at her heart mercilessly. Watching Christina on the verge of tears, Yuna sighed, ¡°There is a reason why Thadius wants you to learn how to protect yourself. I¡¯m not trying to be mean. You know that, right?¡± ¡°I know.¡± Christina nodded. Esaa, who had been listening in, tightened her grip on Christina¡¯s had. ¡°You did a lot more than we could Christina, so don¡¯t be too sad. We¡¯ll all get stronger together, right Teta?¡± she said as she looked to Christina¡¯s other side. There was no reply, so everyone¡¯s gaze turned to the tiny initiate. Her head was down, and she was staring at her hand with a fierce intensity. Every so often, she would wiggle her fingers and grumble. The others all became curious as to what would have her so focused. ¡°What¡¯s got you showing such a serious face, huh?¡± Christina asked, gently squeezing the tiny hand. ¡°I think...it was like this?¡± Teta muttered under her breath. Suddenly, above her hand, a small transparent disk materialized. The others immediately stopped and gaped at the disk. It bore a striking resemblance to the skill Christina was just bestowed by a god. ¡°I did it!¡± Teta cheered as she watched the small disk, but it disappeared soon after. ¡°Teta, what did you do?¡± Christina asked. When the Teta turned, her little pig-tails swung in the air. Yet, as she looked at the other¡¯s faces, especially Yuna¡¯s, who had even lost her concealment because her concentration was broken, her triumphant smile slowly turned to wide-eyed fear. ¡°Did I do something bad?¡± she asked tentatively. Christina quickly looked around. Once she saw the coast was clear, she knelt down and gave Teta a hug. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, okay? You just have to make sure that no one else but us sees what you just did. Even when you practice it, it can only be by yourself or around us! If you show anyone else, they might take you far away. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Teta said meekly. ¡¯Does she really not know how significant it is to do what she just did? Or...has it happened more than once!?¡¯ Christina¡¯s thoughts were in chaos, and when she caught sight of Yuna¡¯s strange expression behind her, a sense of dread suddenly sprouted in her heart. It had only confirmed that what they just witnessed could not be known to anyone else. It was akin to stealing power from the gods. ¡°Come on. It¡¯s been a long day. It¡¯s time to get some sleep.¡± Christina pulled herself together and lead the way back while Yuna vanished behind her. @ --- Coast of Whispers, Naleng Empire, Western Continent On the western edge of the West Continent lies the Coast of Whispers. It was named by the first king of Naleng when his armies, having just conquered the continent, stumbled upon an entire field of flowers with colorless, translucent petals stretching for miles along the coast. As the king walked through the field under the cool light of dawn, the flowers seemed to call out to them as they swayed in the ocean breeze. So beautiful was the sight, that the king forbid settlement of the land, saying that the flowers reminded him of his wife. From that point on, the flower was known as Lover¡¯s Whisper with the coast overlooking the sea being named after it. A structure has long since invaded the virgin field. A gigantic cylinder of pure, snow-white stone looms on the coast. With no windows or doors of any kind, the tower remains a mystery to the multitude of seafarers that sail past. Yet the people of Naleng shudder at the sight of it and mention its name only in the darkest corners of their home. Eden, the guild house of Paradise. Within, a cloaked figure slowly climbed the central stairwell. Glowing crimson eyes were the only visible feature under the black hood because of his pitch-black skin, and not even the dying light of holy fire dared to touch him. Torches lit with the bright white flames flickered and died in his wake, drowning the stairwell in chilling darkness. As he ascended to the top floor, he traced his fingertips along the walls, leaving streaks of taint on the stone as the voices of his guild members reached his ears. "Enough Hungloe!" a voice cried out. "We''ve had enough of your excuses! We need to figure out how to deal with this wanna-be butler that''s cock-blocking us! But whenever we come to see the Guildmaster, all we get is you!? Where is he!?" The sounds of hooves shifting uncomfortably, echoed down the stairwell. "I''ve notified Lord Magnum of your problems, and as soon as I get a reply I''ll relay it to you. But until then, we can try to come up with a solution ourselves." "No need, Hungloe, I''m already here." Magnum said. His double layered voice carried out into the room as he emerged from the stairwell. The top floor of Eden was a central meeting place for the guild. It was were all events and meetings of importance took place. The circular room had an engraved mural wrapped around the room, depicting scenes of lust, greed, and violence. The long-table in the center of the room was made of ghostwood, resembling glass as the sunlight shined through it from the enchanted roof. Several guild members seated at the table were stunned into silence. The centaur, Hungloe, was the only one with a relieved expression. He bowed low, with his black horns and burgundy pelt, glistening in the light. "Lord Magnum! I thank you for coming all the way here! I-" "Shut the fuck up." Magnum said with a glare, silencing Hungloe as well. Then he began to walk around the room, casting shadows of his footsteps that slowly burned away in the sunlight. He admired the mural for a moment, cupping his hand around the breast of woman writhing in ecstasy, before he turned to the table. "When I created this guild, it was so that people who were unable to find outlets for their...tastes could come together with like-minded individuals and enjoy the game. So they could play in this glorious sandbox that Sonsoft has provided us, without fear of being persecuted or ostracized." He said quietly, yet the subtle baritone carried his voice across the room. "The only rule I established -the only rule- was that you stick to the bots. Because no matter what you do, if you stick to the bots, no one cares. Yet here I am, surrounded by rapists..." Magnum sighed heavily. "But you-" one of the men started. He looked to be the youngest in the room, with barely any hair on his chin. "What about me!?" Magnum roared, walking through the table to stand next to the young man who went quiet at his approach. "Finish your sentence! I recognize your voice from stairwell, so I know you don''t have trouble speaking your mind!" "H-how can you talk when you''re even worse than we are." the young man stuttered as he eyed his comrades. "I mean, all of us are Chaotic players, but you''re the only Diabolical player I''ve seen. You do whatever you want like we do, so why-" The young man''s sentence was cut short as his head was smashed into the table with demonic strength. The sound of his skull cracking against the transparent table was a rude awakening for those that witnessed it. "Now, where was I?" Magnum asked as he shoved the corpse aside and used the chair to step onto the table. "Ah, yes. I was talking about rapists." he said as he began to pace the length of the table. "Unlike you stupid fucks, I am a law abiding citizen. Meaning anything and everything I do in-game stays in the game. Any bot I fix my eye on is fair game because a crime cannot be committed against code...anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. " The room darkened as Magnum spoke. Shadows grew darker on the mural, and one could hear whispers coming from every dark corner. "I used to have a nice house on the summer lands of the Sigurd Kingdom, filled with bots that waited on me hand, knee, and foot. Unfortunately, once the alignment system came into place, I was no longer able to touch them for long without killing them. And I find it a pity to waste a good bot." Magnum continued. The sunlight in the room returned to its former strength as he calmed. "So I thought I''d try my hand at being a drug lord instead. Nothing wrong with having a little money right?" He stopped in front of a bald man and commanded, ¡°Ask me what happened to the house." "W-what happened to the house?" the man stuttered quickly. "What happened!? Oh, man! You won''t believe this shit! I''m logged out watching a Centurions game, bawling -again- over the absence of the man who could only have been Jesus in shoulder pads, and a breaking news report interrupts it." Magnum glared down at the man. "Then I see your face on the screen, along with a few of your buddies, getting ready to have a go at a Traveler on live television with the ''P'' on your neck in plain view. "Shortly after, Paradise became the Guild of criminals, and a witch hunt was started in-game while Sonsoft got caught in a shit storm I-R-L." The room darkened again as Magnum¡¯s face contorted in rage. "And while I was away, Marius, the Arch-Paladin himself, at the head of the entirety of Justice, set upon my little home-away-from-home and burned it to the ground. The bots that were loyal to me were killed while the others were set free..." The man, suddenly fearing for his life, attempted to flee for the stairwell. But as he stood, a hand as black as the darkest night grabbed him by the face and lifted him clear off the floor. As the taint spread across his skin, his screams reverberated around the room. "You ruined my fun!" Magnum snarled while he dangled the man by the head. The screams continued for only a few more seconds before the man lost consciousness. "Tch. Saved by the system." he muttered, dropping the man instantly. Then he turned to the remaining men who were seated. "I hope you can imagine what mood I''m in after having lost my bots and having my drug lord fantasy interrupted by your bitching!" The men recoiled from his furious gaze. Even Hungloe, who was used to such outbursts, cringed. "Make no mistake, I didn''t come all the way here to solve your problems. I came here to rant about mine, and I hope you don''t think any of you bitches, save for Hungloe, are going to leave here alive!" Magnum roared. The shadows on the wall swirled and snarled in unison. "My Lord Magnum! I ask your mercy for a moment more. I have a gift that I think will find suitable!" Hungloe called out. Magnum raised an eyebrow. "What is it? I''m not in the mood for bullshit today." he threatened. "I found someone I believed to be a Sonsoft developer, and I found an extraordinary girl in his hide-away. I think she''s one of the custom NPCs we talked about." Hungloe said. The sunlight returned in full force and the rage the Guildmaster displayed could no longer be found. "You found a dream-bot?" he whispered in astonishment. "I believe so, sir." Hungloe nodded in earnest. "Well? Did you grab it or not?" Magnum asked as he quickly jumped down from the table. With a smug smile, Hungloe pressed a camouflaged button on the wall and a cage rose up from the floor beside him. Inside, was a naked young woman, with short raven hair and snow-white skin. Her every curve was voluptuous, with wide hips giving way to a generous but supple bust. She had a small chin, accentuated by soft-pink lips, but if anything about her was to be called unreal, it would be her eyes. They were colorless, but sparked like diamonds in the morning sun. "You gotta be fucking kidding me..." Magnum breathed as he crouched beside the cage. The young woman looked around the room, glanced at Hungloe, then turned to face Magnum curiously. "Hello..." she said softly. The pure sound was a drastic change to the booming voice that shook the walls only moments ago, and there wasn¡¯t an ounce of fear to be found Magnum head snapped to Hungloe. "Doesn''t it know where it is!?" "She knows..." Hungloe smirked knowingly. "Well don''t leave me in fucking suspense, bro! What''s so special about it?" Magnum took another long look at woman. "Besides the obvious..." he finished. "Well when I had a talk with the developer, he told me that she''s a masochist, as well as a nymphomaniac." "No way..." Magnum whispered at he started at the miracle in the cage. Then he gave Hungloe a questioning look. "Did you..." "No one''s touched her since she came into my possession. She''s done all the touching herself." Hungloe chuckled. "Well, I can-" Magnum paused as he caught movement at the table. A few of the men had moved to get a better look. "Sit your asses down!" he commanded. The men immediately moved back to their seats. They could not escape unnoticed, and logging out would leave their bodies to all sorts of hazards. "Are you, perhaps, Magnum-sama?" the woman asked, her breasts squeezing against the bars as she grasped hold of them. Magnum''s jaw nearly fell to the floor. "Mr. Loe told me to always say Magnum-sama, does it sound strange?" she asked with her head tilted to the side. "Not at all." Magnum answered before turning to his second in command. "Bravo, Hungloe. Brav-fucking-o.¡± he clapped. ¡°Now open it, I¡¯ll take your word on it being a nympho, but that won''t mean a damn thing if it can''t take the pain." Hungloe nodded, pressed the button again to open the doors cage. As soon as it was, Magnum snatch the woman by the throat. The spread of the taint was immediate., feeding on fears, pain, and injuries of the victim. The woman cried out in surprise and pleasure as tendrils stretched to claim every inch of her skin. But in moments, the corruption slowed to a crawl, and the woman eyes were rolled back ecstasy. "What!?" Magnum frowned in confusion, reaching a hand between her thighs. The woman shivered from the touch. "Well I''ll be damned!" he laughed as he dropped her to the ground and shook the moisture from his hand. Then he walked over to the nearest man and wiped his hand on the man''s shoulder. "I''ll take it, Hungloe. Does it have a name?" The woman stood shakily, and bowed. "You can call me whatever you like, Magnum-sama." she said sweetly. Her entire body was flushed pink. "Then...I''ll call you Victoria. It''s classy." Magnum said happily, then he turned his attention back to the members sitting at the table. "In light of the gift I''ve received today, I''ll cancel your death sentences. And in my generous mood I''m also willing to leave you all with a tip since...what was the butlers name again?" he asked Hungloe. "Jeeves." Hungloe replied. "Since Jeeves has officially cancelled your pussy on-demand subscriptions, I recommend you raise your charm stat and get yourself a botfriend like Hungloe. He''s got some nudist-beastiality-dating-SIM thing going on." he suggested, motioning toward the centaur. Or, if that''s still too much work, you can start up a sex club like our boys down in Hammerrun. But I wouldn''t actually go to Hammerrun since last I heard, there was some crazy bitch putting boots-to-asses trying to expose it. So it probably won''t be too long before it''s gone. Good advice right?" Magnum finished. The men nodded in unison. By now they were just happy that they wouldn''t be killed. "Good, now get the fuck out." He commanded. The men nearly knocked each other over trying to get to the stairwell. They''d seen enough of their Guildmaster for one day. When the last member descended down the stairwell, the room grew darker than it ever had before. "Look, I know you''re upset-" Hungloe started, but Magnum wouldn''t hear it. "Balthazar..." he called out. At his summoning, two colossal hands rose from the ground and pinned the centaur against the wall, causing severe bruising from the mural. Victoria jumped in surprise. "I was upset, Hungloe, but now I''m just extremely disappointed." Magnum shook his head and sighed and turned to face the centaur. "One of those bots was pregnant...did you know that was even possible? Well, I guess you wouldn''t, unless you went after your own kind." As Magnum paced, taint from the demonic hands gradually spread, turning the centaur''s pelt ashy gray. "I''m sorry, Magnum! I swear I am." "It''s fine. I didn''t care about the bot, but I was robbed of an interesting opportunity. By who? The baldy. Which is why I killed him, and will continue to kill him on sight from today onwards. Not only did his actions lead to the destruction of my summer home, It''s the principle of the fact that his actions also lead to the death of the mother of my child." Magnum shrugged, then his crimson eyes hardened. "You, on the other hand, had the responsibility of maintaining order in my absence. An order at which you failed!" he bellowed. "I know! I know it! Argh!! And I have no excuse!" Hungloe cried out as the corruption spread. Meanwhile, Victoria crouched down and crawled over to Magnum, steadily trying to touch his hand. At the touch of cool fingers tracing the back of his hand, Magnum looked down at the naughty girl that was using him to pleasure herself. "Stop that! Read the mood!" He chuckled as he playfully swatted her hand away. Then he sighed as looked at the subordinate that presented him with his new toy. "Put him down." he commanded the hands. The demon withdrew at once, leaving the weakened Hungloe to smack into the ground on the verge of death. He looked up groggily as Magnum stood over him. "I''m going back to Todos They''ll have run out of supply by now. Who''s nearby that can provide me with the muscle for redistribution?" he asked. "LongFingers...Cannibal" Hungloe said as he struggled to get his legs beneath him. "The match made in hell? No thanks. I don''t want LongFingers anywhere near me. Who else?" Magnum questioned. "I think...Dr.Cutty?" Hungloe shook his head to clear the remnants of the pain. "We had a doctor?" Magnum frown. "He''s the serial killer..." Hungloe groaned as he stood. "Oh, yeah! I remember him now! Yeah, tell him to meet me there. I can''t have a drug empire without good muscle." "I notify him at once." Hungloe bowed. "Good.¡± Magnum said as he looked back. "Time to go Victoria." He said as he held out his hand. When she reached for it, he pulled her and shipped her up into his arms. His hands grasped her tight as he put his lips to hers. Victoria was panting before Magnum let her catch her breath. "God, I love this game!" he said, then he descended into the shadows of the stairwell. Chapter 22: The Red Hands Hunt I THE RED HAND''S HUNT I Hammerrun, Sigurd Kingdom ¡°Are you an idiot!?¡± growls a man draped in a dark cloak to his equally dressed comrade as he paces in the dark alley. ¡°There is no escape from Jeeves! The fucker can show up anywhere, anytime he wants to! Not to mention splitting himself up! And you honestly think you can trick ¡®im!? It¡¯s no wonder Magnum was pissed! Jeezus!¡± ¡°There has to be a way! Maybe if I use a sleeping potion or something before hand-¡± ¡°Enough!¡± The first man interrupted. ¡°The reason why Jeeves exists in the first place is because of idiots like you!¡± he said, shoving the man against the wall. ¡°Cut me some fucking slack, bro! I¡¯m tired of watching porn every day!¡± the other man complained as he rubbed his shoulder. ¡°Then you better wise up and stick to the data!¡± the first man growled as he shoved his comrade again. ¡°I know already!¡± ¡°You better know. Now, come on. If we¡¯re lucky we can catch one of the early risers.¡± The two men skulked through the narrow alleys of Hammerrun with the shadows of early dawn for cover. Crimson irises glowed beneath their hoods and a bloody ¡®P¡¯ was cut into their necks. The members of Paradise were on the prowl for unsuspecting priestesses. Despite the talk in Hammerrun about priestesses having their chastity taken, it was only rumors at best. The women themselves showed no signs of being hurt or mistreated in anyway, and the only things the ¡°victims¡± had in common were that their rings were taken and that they couldn¡¯t remember what happened the day before. From an outsider''s perspective, most thought that the priestesses simply succumbed to lust while in a drunken stupor. After all, it wasn¡¯t uncommon for Nor women to have a drink in a pub. The Sigurd kingdom was in fact one of the few kingdoms in Chaos online where men and women were relatively equal, so there were very few social barriers regarding sex. Whether it was the forge or the battlefield, the ratio of men to women was fairly close to 1:1. Thus the Sigurd kingdom, a place where women aren¡¯t given any sympathy, became a prime location for Paradise. If they were careful, the only consequences of their actions would be the damage to the priestess reputation. ¡°Oh, found one already?¡± the large cloaked man muttered after seeing a white robed figure from afar. He quickly turned to his comrade. ¡°Get your Hypnosis ready. Any sign that she¡¯s about to make a break for it, I¡¯ll be relying on you.¡± ¡°Right.¡± The smaller man nodded in response. Even in the dim alleyways the robed figure could easily be distinguished as a woman from her curves and the way she walked. Unfortunately, she was walking away from the pair of men that stalked her footsteps and seemed completely unaware of the danger. Just as the woman was about to walk out into one of the busier streets, a strong hand came down on her shoulder. She turned around with a looked of shock that sent glee in the men¡¯s heart. Yet in the very next moment the expressions of both sides were reversed. Under the hood of the priestess a bright red mark glowed ominously over her left eye. ¡°Fuc-¡° the large man was unable to finish his sentence as an iron fist crashed into his abdomen, clearly denting the armor under his cloak while the force of the blow smashed him into the wall. ¡°Red Hand!?¡± the small man cried in surprise as he drew a dagger. ¡°Expecting easier prey?¡± Rosemary grinned as she rushed for the second man, leaving her first victim to stumble to the ground. A dagger flashed out for her throat, but in one fluid motion she weaved to the side and removed her robe. The image of a priestess was instantly shattered by sturdy leather armor. Her arms were covered up to the shoulder by two hard-silver gauntlets that had open palms and clawed fingers. Every time her hands moved, blood colored ribbons flapped in the wind. In combination with Orthodox Boxing she used Rush and Heavy Blow to land a counter hook to the body. Under normal circumstances, a Priestess would in no way, shape or form be able to fight bare-handed. But this was Chaos Online, where deception was common sense. The rogue-mage folded in half as the air was forced out of his lungs. Rosemary not only had a high ranked Hand-to-Hand combat skill, but she also had the racial trait of the Nor, Born Warrior, which could make the skin as tough as stone. But Rosemary had taken this trait to the next level every day, and now her skin could pass as secondary armor. ¡°Where is your base?¡± Rosemary asked as she stood over the man she just knocked down. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you a damn thing!¡± the small man kicked off the ground and rolled back just as two silhouettes entered the alley. The sound of ringing metal came from behind her. The large man had regained his composure and drew his sword. ¡°I see you called your friends.¡± Rosemary sneered. ¡°You made the mistake of coming here alone, and now you¡¯ll suffer for it. If the Red Hand shows up without her ring, then we¡¯ll practically be stress free.¡± the man smiled lasciviously. ¡°Who said I came alone?¡± Rosemary replied with a smirk. As soon as the words left her mouth a dagger appeared over both of the silhouettes at the end of the alley. In the next instant, the daggers had found the hearts of their victims and neither one had to time to utter a cry before they were dead. In their place stood a pair of twins with short black hair and pitch black cloaks. The only way a stranger could tell them apart would be the numbers ¡®1¡¯ and ¡®2¡¯ painted on their faces. Seeing the tables turned in an instant, the big man quivered in rage. ¡°I¡¯ll take you with me!¡± he cried. His sword arced for Rosemary¡¯s head at a blinding speed followed by trails of lightning. Rosemary didn¡¯t move a muscle and just stood there looking at the man as if he was an idiot. Just as the sword looked like it would cleave her in two, it stopped. Blue sparks scattered in every direction as the Arc Cutter collided with a glowing dome. ¡°What is this!?¡± the man roared in confusion and anger. Not even bothering to answer, Rosemary stepped in and landed two more blows in the same spot as before. Causing the man¡¯s armor to lose considerable durability and press in on his organs. Though his health hadn¡¯t been completely depleted, the pain was too much to even stand, let alone swing his sword. This was the essence of Chaos Online¡¯s combat. It was often quick and ruthless with the victor being decided at any given moment. Gone were the days of watching a health bar or waiting for the opponent to run out of mana. In a world were fatal blows were as easy as stabbing someone in neck, such time consuming fights were dangerous. ¡°Pay up. I told you she wouldn¡¯t kill him.¡± ¡°Not fair! Look, he could keel over at any minute!¡± Rosemary turned to the sisters behind her. The smaller man from earlier had already been captured and was cowering between them. ¡°Not everyone can be a bloodthirsty assassin like you, EagleOne.¡± she said to the woman with a ¡®1¡¯ painted on her cheek who had spoken first. ¡°That¡¯s what I told her.¡± EagleTwo replied turning to her sister. ¡°Now pay up!¡± she commanded with a hand out. EagleOne reluctantly forked over a small pouch of coins. Rosemary sighed. She was already accustomed to seeing coin being exchanged between the twins. Especially when they weren¡¯t losing somewhere else. ¡°Did they drop anything?¡± she asked. ¡°Those two mages back there dropped some pretty neat gear. Might sell for some coin later.¡± EagleTwo nodded. Rosemary nodded. If there were anything she could use herself, the sisters would have given it to her. They were co-workers after all. ¡°Well since we captured them alive, we might as well give them to the paladins. Who wants to go fetch the paladins?¡± The twins looked at each other with warily before simultaneously shooting out a hand. EagleOne had her fist balled up while her sister¡¯s hand was flat. As usual, any dispute was instantly settled with rock-paper-scissors. ¡°Figures!¡± EagleOne rolled her eyes. ¡°Two wins in a row? Today¡¯s gonna be a good day.¡± EagleTwo laughed as her sister disappeared from the alley. With the battle won and the cavalry soon to come, she crouched down next to the agonized warrior as he labored for every breath. Having his armor caved in put an unbelievable pressure on his organs, yet he refuse to unequip his gear. As a Chaotic player, the chances of dropping gear was very high, especially for unequipped loot. ¡°Kind sir, you seem to be in pain. Do you require healing?¡± she asked sweetly. ¡°Argh, y-you bitch!¡± the man cursed. Rosemary didn¡¯t even flinch from his blunt refusal and calmly continued. ¡°You know what I don¡¯t get it? There¡¯s a nice brothel down the street that¡¯s been there for as long as I can remember, yet you insist on kidnapping my sisters. Sonsoft provided such a perfect outlet for you yet you and your ilk continue to spit on their good will.¡± She said. The man only glared in response. He¡¯d heard plenty of stories about her provoking words, and he knew full well that any response he made could undoubtedly lead to the downfall of more of his guildmates. It was best to just keep silent. ¡°Fine, stay silent. This little operation of yours will be brought down soon enough.¡± Rosemary¡¯s eyes narrowed as she scowled at the man. ¡°Just because you only target NPCs doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t consequences. Even in Chaos Online there are places for people like you.¡± Just then, EagleOne returned with five paladins behind her. Each of them were scantily armored since the Nor didn¡¯t need armor at lower levels. So unless someone was told, they wouldn¡¯t believe it if they were told they were paladins of the Church of Braumas. The leader of the five stepped forward. ¡°You called, Red Hand?¡± he saluted. Rosemary nodded. ¡°I did indeed. These men are Chaotic Travelers who belong to the group that troubles our sisters. I trust you know where to put them?¡± ¡°Of course, your holiness!¡± The paladins surrounded the men and bound their hands with chains of light; a paladin exclusive ability to arrest Chaotic players. Then with the fugitives in custody the group set out for the paladin temple where the Travelers were to be tried and sentenced. Crime in Chaos Online was usually punished with jail time, and the amount of time usually depended on the severity of the offense. But for Chaotic players, that was another story. The determined jail time was added onto the time that they spent as chaotic. Meaning if a player was chaotic for the last six months, then six months in jail was the minimum sentence they would receive. Even if a Good player was caught, if their souls were scryed and it was found that they were once chaotic, then the total amount of time they ever spent as a chaotic player would be the minimum sentence. Of course, if that were all, many players would rather die than go to jail. The fact the Paradise members were apprehended with little resistance was because they knew they could afford bail. Only the most unforgivable crimes like high treason weren¡¯t offered bail. So after the mandatory two weeks it would take to reset their alignment, they would be free men. ¡°Why do you even bother? You know they¡¯ll be out soon right?¡± EagleTwo asked. ¡°Even if they go free, my duty is to bring them to justice.¡± Rosemary replied solemnly. ¡°Wow¡­really?¡± ¡°Forget it sis, you know how she gets when she¡¯s in hero-mode.¡± EagleOne chuckled. ¡°Now that you mention it¡­where did she get it from?¡± EagleTwo smiled mischievously. ¡°You know she got it from that boyfriend of hers.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you mean ex?¡± EagleTwo tilted her head in feigned confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. She talks about him like he¡¯s not. It¡¯s really confusing...¡± EagleOne had a hand on her chin as if pondering some profound truth. ¡¯Why did I even open my mouth?¡¯ Rosemary sighed inwardly. The twins had been her co-workers for a while now, they were close. So it was obvious that knew about Brandon. After talking about him so passionately, the sisters wouldn¡¯t pass up an opportunity to tease her. ¡°Are you done? Can I go now?¡± she said with her voice thick with irritation. But the sisters didn¡¯t relent as they locked arms with her on each side. ¡°Aww, she¡¯s blushing!¡± EagleOne said. ¡°Come on, Rosemary. Tell us another story about your high school sweetheart.¡± EagleTwo teased. ¡°I¡¯m not telling either of you anything if you¡¯re gonna be jerks about it!¡± Rosemary snapped. ¡°So feisty! There¡¯s the fiery nun we know and love!¡± EagleOne laughed, but EagleTwo cut her off. ¡°Okay, okay. Enough. Let¡¯s not leave her with a bad impression. She won¡¯t be with us for much longer.¡± She smiled then looked back at Rosemary. ¡°Where are you going now?¡± Rosemary sighed helplessly. Even though the sisters could be annoying, they knew when to stop. ¡°I need to go back to the paladin temple. The sooner I can get the commander on my side the better.¡± She said. ¡°Then we¡¯ll walk you there.¡± EagleTwo replied happily. After the brawl in the alley, the trio quickly stepped out into the main street. Even without a robe, Rosemary was easily recognized by the citizens. So while they greeted the people and chatted amongst themselves, the morning light peaked over the city walls. By time they reached the temple, the sun could be clearly seen. ¡°So when exactly are you leaving? For good, I mean.¡± EagleTwo asked Rosemary as they stood in front of tall stone building. ¡°That depends on what happens next. If the High Priest doesn¡¯t make a move then I¡¯ll just force his hand. Either way, I plan on advancing to High Priestess before I leave. I won¡¯t walk away from this quest empty handed.¡± Rosemary replied confidently. She¡¯d waited so long for the High Priestess advancement quest, and she had made too many sacrifices to just walk away. But she couldn¡¯t wait too much longer because time was no longer on her side. A fact that had been become abundantly clear recently. *FLASHBACK*
202 Patient: Brandon Welding Injury: Paralysis Lead Nurse: Curtis Julius Lead Physician: Dr. Alexander Dixson
Rose stood motionless in front of the door, staring blankly at the name on it. She¡¯d been here several times in the past few months, but every time she arrived at the door, the scene from nearly two years ago would come rushing back. Along with all the emotions and pain. At first, they wouldn¡¯t even let her on the floor because she¡¯d been removed from the visitors list. In a hospital treating recognized athletes, not having such a privilege pretty much got her turned away at the door. After so long, she wasn¡¯t even surprised that she wasn¡¯t recognized by any of the receptionists. To them, she may as well have been some groupie trying to sneak into a patient¡¯s room. The obstacle was cleared with a phone call to her inside man. She was immediately given the admission to see the man she loved, only to find out that she wasn¡¯t as ready as she thought she was, resulting in plenty of wasted opportunities. She once came when Curtis was feeding Brandon his daily meal. She couldn¡¯t make out what they were saying, but just the sound of his voice was enough to shock her heart into overdrive with it nearly bursting out of her chest with every beat. In that instance, she¡¯d been frozen to the spot with fear. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she¡¯d still be pushed away, and the image of his face, jaw locked and eyes filled with determination, still filled her with dread to this day. On subsequent visits she¡¯d try to muster up her courage by remembering the last part of that fateful day. She let the sound of Brandon¡¯s agonizing cries fill her with courage and confidence. She thought that maybe, like her, he also feared a second time. It was with that resolution that on her last visit she had knocked. Yet, the one who had opened the door was a nurse she didn¡¯t recognize and she immediately retreated. It was then that the grim truth of Chaos Online came to light, calling her back to the game for work. As researcher from a rival company, she couldn¡¯t ignore the opportunity to capitalize on Sonsoft¡¯s negligence. However, now that Jeeves was up and running, players could no longer be targeted, which gave her another chance to stand before this door. Rose raised trembling hand to knock on the door. All was quiet inside, which could only mean Brandon was still in-game. As the door opened, she came face to face with a man that was the spitting image of his son. If not for the strands of gray hair and crow¡¯s feet, they¡¯d be identical. Still, the resemblance nearly made Rose jump out of her skin. ¡°It¡¯s been awhile, Rose. How¡¯ve you been?¡± Mr. Welding smiled faintly as he walked out, closing the door behind him. His eyes were red, and from the subtle shadows under his eyes, Rose could clearly see that the gymnast was certainly weary. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing okay, I guess. The job¡¯s pretty fun. How...are things with you and Mrs. Welding?¡± she asked hesitantly. After Brandon¡¯s accident, she hadn¡¯t been the only one that was distraught. Mr. Welding hung his head and sighed woefully, eyes brimming with fresh tears. ¡°She¡¯s a lot tougher than I am, I can tell you that. She insists we just keep moving forward. Like our son didn¡¯t have his future dashed into pieces.¡± he said, with his voice fading into a whisper. When he raised his head a tear was rolling down his face. ¡° When they put that machine on him, you know what she said? She said, ¡°If he¡¯s happy, then let him be. We¡¯ve already taken his happiness once.¡±¡± he sobbed. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­¡± Rose started, but she couldn¡¯t find the words to comfort him. ¡°Not what? Not true? I¡¯d have to disagree with you on that one.¡± He fell silent, then he turned to the door and traced his fingers over his son¡¯s name. ¡°Now every time I look at him, I can¡¯t help but regret those four years we took from him. All the time and effort he put into it only to wind up here¡­¡± he sobbed quietly, covering his face with his hand as he hunched over the door. On impulse, Rose gently pulled the sobbing man into a hug. To see a man who she¡¯d rarely seen without a smile, hunched over and weeping for his son, she couldn¡¯t help but lend him her shoulder. It was a few moments before Mr. Welding regained control. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯ve got your own sob story, but here I am, crying all over you. I¡¯m just a big softie.¡± he chuckled softly and wiped his eyes. ¡°Like father, like son.¡± she replied softly. Mr. Welding straightened his back and composed himself, then looked down at her with a gentle look. ¡°You know, he told us a week before that he wanted to marry you. But you¡¯ve been family to us long before then. So if you need anything, other than convincing my stubborn son, then you let us know.¡± he said, then he made his way down the hall. Rose turned back to the door and took a deep breath before walking inside. ¡°Well look who finally decided to show up!¡± Curtis turned from the TV. His thick bronze arms folded against his chest with wide grin on his face. Rose glared fiercely. ¡°You could have told me you took leave.¡± she said. ¡°Hey! Is that how you treat your number one spy!?¡± he protested. Rose just shook her head and walked over to Brandon¡¯s bed. The Dark Chariot reflected the sunlight, and Brandon¡¯s chest rose and fell rhythmically. Upon seeing the serene scene, she let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she was holding. ¡°I¡¯d thought he¡¯d be a bit thinner than before¡­since it¡¯s been so long.¡± she said softly and sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°Well, his appetite has increased a lot since he started playing so he¡¯s not all skin a bones.¡± Curtis chuckled as he watched her. ¡°Good.¡± Rosemary whispered, then she reached out for Brandon¡¯s hand, tracing the visible bones with her fingertips. The hand looked so fragile, but it was still warm with life. If she focused, she could faintly feel his heartbeat. Curtis just watched quietly for a moment before he spoke again in a hush tone. ¡°Do you want me to call for him?¡± The one question was like a bolt of lightning, stunning her on the spot and overcharging her heart. Of course she wanted to talk to him. She wanted to face Brandon once more and tell him she was still here. Yet, every fiber of her being told her that a reunion right here, right now, would be completely one sided. Even if she could only chalk it up to being a woman¡¯s intuition, she was certain of this feeling. But the desire had still caused her to hesitate. Finally, Rose shook her head. ¡°No. If I talk to him here, he¡¯ll just use his disability as an excuse to push me away again. If I¡¯m going to see him, then it needs to be in-game.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­not going to be as effective as you think it is. At least not anymore.¡± A knowing grin appeared on Curtis¡¯ face. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± she asked as she turned to glare at the nurse. She had a feeling that she wasn¡¯t going to like what he was going to say. Curtis brought a hand to his face to force the smile from it. ¡°You¡¯ll find out later, after you take a look at what¡¯s on this.¡± He reached into the pocket of his uniform and pulled out a transparent, glass-like card. It was a bladedrive, which was capable of storing large amounts of data. ¡°I had a feeling you would come around sooner or later, so I always have it handy. And since the weekly update on Brandon¡¯s condition was yesterday, you have a while to take a look.¡± He rolled his chair over to the bed tray and placed the bladedrive on it while giving Rose a meaningful look. ¡°The real question is¡­what are you going to do if you meet him in-game and he still turns you down?¡± A heavy silence fell on the room. Rose, deep in thought, just sat with Brandon¡¯s hand in hers. When she spoke again, her voice was shaking. ¡°Right before his first SuperBowl, I was in a car accident. I couldn¡¯t always make it to the games since I was still in school, but that was a game I couldn¡¯t miss, you know? I wanted to get to the stadium early so I could at least see him before the game to let him know that I came. I was less than five minutes away when I ran a red light¡­¡± Her voice cracked, and she had to stop to clear her throat. Then with misty eyes, she looked deeper into the past. ¡°When I woke up, he was at my bedside holding my hand with less than a hour before the game started. But before I even had a chance to freak out he started crying with a stupid grin on his face. A part of the windshield had cut into my chest so it was painful to even breathe. But I was nearly screaming at him to get his ass to the field because not only had he shown up in his gear, two of his teammates were standing at the door ready to drag him out if need be. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Then he went on about how much he loved me and that he didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d do if¡­ugh! It¡¯s too sappy to even repeat it. The whole scene was like it was scripted.¡± Rose closed her eyes and laughed, but tears were already streaming down her face. ¡°But after almost ten minutes of begging and pleading him to go back to the stadium, do you know he said to me?¡± She said as she turned to look at the Curtis. ¡°What he say?¡± ¡°He said ¡®It¡¯s just a game¡¯ with a looked that said my life was all that mattered to him. Despite everything he¡¯d done and endured to get to that moment, he says that?¡± Roses face contorted in confusion before sighing heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t know what he¡¯ll say when I see him, so I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do if it goes badly. But I will bring him back to reality using his own words and look him in the eye the same way he looked at me. Only then can I say that I tried my best.¡± ¡°Well, I hope it all goes well. Just watch those highlights, and you¡¯ll have a rough idea about what you¡¯re getting into.¡± With a nod Curtis rolled back to his spot in front of the TV, giving Rose a few moments with Brandon. @ Afterwards, Rose immediately went home, popped some popcorn and curled up on the couch for a gameplay marathon. Curtis had dropped some cryptic hints all throughout her visit, so she used her stock pile of vacation time to sit and watch. To say she was anxious was an understatement. ¡¯Just what the hell is he talking about?¡¯ she thought while pushing the play button on her BlacRay player. It was then she watched Thadius¡¯ journey from the beginning, starting with the very prayer that granted her a permanent buff. The scene of Thadius on knees in prayer completely dashed any doubts she had. In less than two minutes, her love for him was broken down, melted, and forged anew. Her plan to meet him in game was officially set in stone in that moment. Yet, what immediately followed concerned her. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s not a pedophile¡­¡± Rose muttered to herself when Thadius gently ¡®educated¡¯ Christina on the dangers of tempting grown men. Seeing that girl in Thadius¡¯ arms made her eyes narrow, but she didn¡¯t feel any hint of a threat in the girl, so she put her to the back of her mind. Once she laid eyes on Corban and the quest he gave Thadius, her jaw dropped. ¡°What kind of luck is that!?¡± she screamed at her TV. Watching Thadius getting a unique class quest at level one had literally made her pale with envy as a gamer. But once the training montage started, she was questioning the swordmaster¡¯s sanity. ¡°Had any other player stumbled onto Corban, it would take them at least three years to complete the quest between work and a social life. The class better be worth it¡­¡± Rose grumbled for her sweetheart. The training looked simple, but she knew full well that it took everything he had every day. In truth, she also thought it was a bit lonely. But not long after, a tiny goddess entered the picture. ¡°Aww, little Yuna!¡± Rose smiled at the young goddess in her leafy dress. No longer alone on the mountain, the training montage changed to an adventure comedy. It even had surprise Cookin¡¯ Time episodes. Then the first twist derailed the happy period when Yuna was stripped of her godly power and cast out. ¡°I knew that bitch Thena was up to no good! There¡¯s always something wrong with the Goddess of Beauty!¡± she screamed at the sight of Yuna lying face down in the raging blizzard. Fortunately, the calm returned with Yuna becoming a disciple and martial sister to Thadius. Even if the circumstances were terrible, the result could have been much worse. Rose thought that up until she saw herself standing at Thadius¡¯ door. ¡°What the hell!? T-that¡¯s not me¡­that¡¯s not me! What are you doing!?¡± she screamed and jumped up off the couch, spilling her umpteenth bowl of popcorn on the floor. When the imposter revealed herself, Rose¡¯s jaw almost dropped to the floor. ¡°Tegaia!? Wha-you!? You know what¡­I¡¯m not even mad. I¡¯m not even supposed to be watching this. Plus, he clearly thought it was me, right? I-I should be happy right?¡± she said with a quivering voice, desperately trying to convince herself. Her grip on her controller spoke volumes of her true feelings. ¡¯Oh, we are definitely going to talk about this, Goddess!¡¯ She returned to her spot on the couch, only to finally discover her snack on the floor. ¡°If this is only a fourth of the footage, I¡¯ll need something stronger than popcorn anyway!¡± Thus Rose resumed her marathon with a large spoon and a tub of butter pecan ice cream. She witnessed the potential ridiculousness that was the Sword Scholar unique class, the final duel against Corban under moonlight, and the return of Christina, whom she finally recognized as a hinderance after her second ¡®talk¡¯ with Thadius. ¡¯I won¡¯t even have to deal with her when the time comes. A history like ours isn¡¯t so easily overcome.¡¯ As the video progressed into its later stages, Rose finally relaxed. After all, there had been no more surprises after Christina. Not to mention the fact that Thadius was a monogamous man. Unfortunately, her lax attitude only lasted until he stepped into the Coliseum. The appearance of the gladiator known as Serene was a bolt out of the blue. The way Thadius talked and looked at her was different to how he looked at Christina. It was subtle to any stranger, but to Rose, there was a very big difference. On top of that, she also happened to be the Silver Champion and prompted Thadius to even cook for her personally. Suddenly every alarm in Rose¡¯s mind blared. She¡¯d been too complacent. Her opponents were just NPCs, and she had prior history with Thadius, so she felt that she would always have the advantage. But the fact of the matter remained that Thadius wasn¡¯t expecting her any time soon. And knowing him, he would eventually settle down in this world he made for himself. For him, happily-ever-after isn¡¯t a phrase, it¡¯s was a way of life. True, he had only flirted with the woman a bit. But how long would he wait before beginning to actively pursued a woman? She thought Brandon was already very attractive, but to an NPC in Chaos Online, how could they possibly resist the full power of his devilish grin? Without further delay, she logged back into the game. @ *FLASHBACK END* ¡°Well if you¡¯re still around after the expansion hits, play with us okay?¡± EagleTwo said as she gave Rosemary a hug. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going out for drinks later?¡± EagleOne with a somewhat confused face. ¡°This and that are two different things¡­read the atmosphere!¡± EagleTwo retorted. While the twins bantered playfully, Rosemary equipped her signature sleeveless robe, now tailored to perfection, from her inventory and walked into the temple. The white cloth immediately began to glow vibrantly just before dimming as she walked indoors. Not even half a minute passed before she was singled out. ¡°Ah!¡± A young man approached her with dark brown hair like a lion¡¯s mane falling to his shoulders. He wore the simple cuirass embroidered with scarlet, signifying his higher rank. ¡°Your holiness? What brings you here? Had you sent word, we would have prepared an escort.¡± His expression was both respectful and concerned ¡°No need, Brog. I¡¯m quite capable of defending myself. Where is the commander? I must speak with him.¡± The young man frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure myself. I haven¡¯t seen him all morning. All duties fall to me in his absence, so I can only send others to look for him in my stead.¡± ¡±Gone?¡± Rosemary¡¯s eyebrow raised in surprise. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± Brog nodded. Rosemary had come to see the commander quite a few times in the past few months in-game, and it was known that they had been very friendly lately, much to the surprise of the High Priest. For the commander to be absent at their most frequent meeting time was peculiar. Especially since this was the most busy period of the Paladin Temple. Rosemary contemplated for a moment before flashing a bewitching smile. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait. I suspect he¡¯ll turn up before long.¡± ¡°I-It is as you say.¡± Brog said as he diverted his gaze with a flushed face before quickly going back to his work. Rosemary wandered the halls while she waited. As a High Priestess candidate, she at least had to keep tabs on the goings on in the paladin temple. Even if she didn¡¯t plan on being around for much longer. While making her rounds, she ran into a familiar face talking to one of the servant girls that maintained the temple. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Brother CrushingFist. There¡¯s plenty more where this came from. I...just thought you might be hungry after your training. You work so hard after all.¡± The young woman smiled. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t say no to a warm meal. Thank you, Chelsea.¡± CrushingFist smiled warmly in return, taking the cloth covered bowl she offered him. Chelsea gave him a longing look before she hurried off down the hall. CrushingFist sighed as he looked down at the pitiful offering. He hadn¡¯t remained idle after he started playing Chaos Online with Rose. In fact, having full functionality of his injured shoulder made him extremely happy even if it wasn¡¯t real. And after she showed him how he could depend on his boxing prowess in-game, he quickly began training to regain the feeling he had in his glory days. It didn¡¯t take long. In only a week after he started playing, he was able to unlock the Monk hybrid class of a Fighter and Priest. The same opportunity had been offered to Rosemary, but she held off in hopes of unlocking a super hybrid class after becoming High Priestess. Just as she was about to walk away, a ray of sunshine caught her robe and flashed its radiance all around. CrushingFist looked up with a smile and strode down the hall to greet her. His shirtless body was drenched in sweat and his dark hair was tossed about. With such a display of muscle after his morning exercise, many of the servant girls had gone out of their way to catch him before he could go to his room. Unlike them, Rosemary had long since been desensitized to such sights. ¡°I thought the paladin temple served breakfast earlier.¡± She said pointedly. CrushingFist¡¯s smile cramped. ¡°Well, yeah. But someone usually saves me a bit since I always come back late.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not like I have anything going on with-¡° ¡°I didn¡¯t ask, and it¡¯s not my business even if you did.¡± Rosemary said, cutting CrushingFist of from his frantic explanation. She knew the look a man had when he found a woman attractive. If CrushingFist¡¯s little meeting in the hall bothered her in any way, it was that it increased her anxiety about meeting Brandon. ¡°I do have a question though.¡± She said with thoughtful look. Thankful and somewhat disappointed that she didn''t care about him talking to other women, CrushingFist nodded.¡°Shoot.¡± ¡°You do know she¡¯s an NPC right? She¡¯s a fictional character. How can you be sure she really likes you if her behavior towards you can be affected by stats, by code?¡± she asked, looking him deep in his eyes. CrushingFist blew out a breath and ruffled his hair nervously. He didn¡¯t like when she scrutinized his every move like that, especially after she gained the Perception skill. But what bothered him the most was that she didn¡¯t even look phased by his half naked appearance. It was a subtle hit to his confidence since he hadn¡¯t truly given up his pursuit of her. ¡°Well¡­the only thing I can compare it to is music-I guess.¡± He smiled wrily. ¡°Music?¡± ¡°I mean, you see all these people as machines, right? Or maybe just the nuts and bolts to a larger well-oiled machine. Music can be said to just be notes and words on a page too.¡± CrushingFist shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not big on the specifics but I¡¯m pretty sure when they finally brought all this to life, it became something entirely different. This place-and the people in it, are like one big song. After the first note was played, it became a place with heart and soul. I mean, shit, had you told me that a bunch of geeks behind a keyboard made all I this I¡¯d be hard pressed to believe you.¡± When CrushingFist finished he looked at Rose only to find that her expression had gone sour. ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°You do know that I went to school to become one of those ¡®geeks behind a keyboard¡¯ right?¡± She questioned menacingly. ¡°Now you know that¡¯s not what I-¡° While the two of them were talking, a paladin ran into the temple shouting in fear. His voice echoed all down the hall. ¡°Brog! Where¡¯s Brog! Find him quickly!¡± the man shouted. Rosemary and CrushingFist exchanged a look before darting to the entry hall. When they entered, a paladin was on his knees drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Not long after, Brog came running with an urgent look. ¡°Samson? What happened? Speak quickly.¡± ¡°I found him! I found the commander!¡± Samson said, finally raising to his feet. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t he come with you?¡± Rosemary stepped forward. When she did, the man¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. ¡°T-the Red Hand!?¡± he shouted in surprise. ¡°Speak man! What about the commander!?¡± Brog roared. But the man hesitated, casting nervous glances at Rosemary. ¡¯So it¡¯s finally happened¡­¡¯ Rosemary nodded. ¡°Take us to his body.¡± She said assertedly. ¡°Body!?¡± Brog looked at her eyes-wide. ¡°The commander is dead, isn¡¯t he Samson?¡± Rosemary asked as her eyes darted across his body as if reading something. ¡°It is as you say.¡± Samson replied,shrinking away from her gaze. Brog stepped up to him, positively seething with fury. ¡°Where!?¡± ¡°Two streets past the smithy, in the alley.¡± ¡°I want two units to come with me! We need to find out exactly what happened!¡± Brog commanded. But before anyone could move, Rosemary spoke. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. The killer is right here.¡± She said confidently. At her word, all eyes turned to Samson, who instantly paled five shades. ¡°I-She¡¯s lying!¡± he bellowed. ¡°When you washed off his blood, you missed a spot, just there.¡± She pointed to his neck. Samson¡¯s hand flew to his neck. When he removed his hand he smiled. ¡°There¡¯s no blood!¡± he smiled, but his joy was short lived. ¡°Of course there isn¡¯t, I was lying. The real proof is the bloody dagger hidden in the hilt of your sword.¡± Rosemary said. Samson¡¯s face was white as a sheet as he was surrounded by the paladins. Then Brog forcefully drew the suspected sword and twisted the hilt, which revealed a blade dyed scarlet with fresh blood. ¡°See? Guilty. Take him away. A fool that can''t even properly wash a murder weapon doesn''t deserve freedom.¡± With a wave of Rosemary¡¯s hand, Samson was seized. Then she turned to Brog. ¡°Commander, you should quickly collect the remains of your predecessor. You wouldn¡¯t want the whole city gossiping about who did it would you?¡± Brog stood in a daze while looking at the stained blade in his hands, but he shook himself out of his stupor at the sound of Rosemary¡¯s voice. ¡°I understand. It will be done, your holiness.¡± Rosemary gently pat the new commander¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Do not grieve for long, Brog. You¡¯ll be needed now more than ever. The filth that plagues the city is making even more mistakes. They undoubtedly felt Tegaia¡¯s blade at their necks. Have faith.¡± Brog straightened his back while a fierce light manifested within his eyes, then saluted. ¡°Without the Red Hand, we would still be fumbling in the dark.¡± ¡°Without Tegaia, we would all be fumbling in the dark.¡±
+2 Faith
¡¯It was always this easy?¡¯ Rosemary sighed inwardly as she looked at her faith gain. She had learned much about being devout from watching Thadius'' footage. Her faith was high, but not nearly as high as his. ¡°Come on, CrushingFist. We have work to do.¡± She called over her shoulder as she headed towards the door. The sunlight immediately set her robe ablaze as the corner of her mouth rose. ¡°Time to weed out the troublemakers.¡± --- Grand Coliseum, Todos, Todos Kingdom A lioness stormed through the gate of the coliseum with a deafening roar of applause resounding behind her. Blood that was not her own decorated her mythril armor, showcasing another victory in her current seven-day winning streak. Hazel eyes with a prominent green hue,glared through her helmet, and a pair of jet-black rabbit-like ears twitched irritably through the custom grooves. Sarene had been immediately reinstated as the Silver Champion in the absence of Thadius. She waited patiently for his return so that their agreed upon rematch could take place, but as the days passed, so did her patience begin to run out. She¡¯d had enough waiting, now was the time for answers, and she knew exactly where to go to get them. Though the very thought of asking that man for anything set her teeth on edge. She snatched off her helmet and cast it aside as she walked deeper into the coliseum. She knew her way around the gladiatorial compound, and swiftly made her way through the maze of caged men that whooped and hollered at her passing. In moments she was standing in front a door made of pure gold. A site rarely seen throughout the kingdom, let alone a colosseum. The inmates announced her arrival long before she reached out her hand to knock, they were nearly foaming at the mouth as they desperately reached their arms through the bars in hopes of touching her. ¡°Only one person could get them to make such a ruckus. Come in, Sarene.¡± a voice called from beyond the door. Sarene balled her fists when the voice reached her ears, and her lips formed into an uncontrollable snarl as she walked through the door. It was a room very similar to her own, just as sparsely decorated and dimly lit, only and little bigger and drowning in the smell of sweat of multiple individuals. Yet, she knew it just as well as her own. A fact that she¡¯d wished she could forget. A blindfolded man sat with his legs folded on the bed. He showed no shame as he sat naked, as if he was proud to display the vast array of scars that cover his body from head to toe. He was a little slim for his size, which gave the impression of a fast and agile warrior. The facade was revealed whenever he moved, putting his obsessively toned muscles on display. The hidden strength of the Gold Champion was often the last surprise his opponents received. ¡°Ah, what a rare treat, to have the Silver Champion grace us with her presence.¡± he smiled with his arms spread wide. ¡°I was concerned when I heard you were defeated. But it seems all is well. Can I offer you a drink?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m not here for pleasantries. I need information. I know you have connections outside the coliseum.¡± Sarene glowered from the door. She dared not move, lest her murderous urge put her life in jeopardy. The man sighed. ¡°Straight to business I see. Well, I can¡¯t say I blame you. What do you want to know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for a man named Thadius. He was the one who defeated me. I need to know whether he¡¯s dead or alive.¡± ¡°Ah...found another one have you? I¡¯d tread carefully if I were you. Remember what happened last ti-¡± ¡°You are in no position to question my motives or speak on what I do in my personal life! Don¡¯t think for a single second that I¡¯ve forgotten what you¡¯ve done!¡± she screamed, coming to threateningly stand over the Gold Champion. The man put up his hands. ¡°No need for hostilities...I¡¯m merely concerned. If I hear anything I¡¯ll let you know. But -if I may- why are you looking for him?¡± he asked. It was a moment before Sarene could calm herself enough to speak. ¡°He owes me a rematch¡­¡± she replied stoically, still glaring down at the man. ¡°And when will I get my rematch? It¡¯s been awhile since you¡¯ve challenged me.¡± he pouted. Sarene had to clench her jaw to keep herself from snapping. ¡°That depends. Will you fight me without the blindfold?¡± she asked through her teeth. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be any fun if I did.¡± he smiled wryly. ¡°Because you know that the moment I beat you at your full strength is the moment I leave this place!¡± she spat. The smile disappeared of the Gold Champion''s face, and he fell silent. For a few moments there was only silence, then Sarene turned for the door, glad that she had struck a nerve. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay awhile? It¡¯ll be just like old times.¡± he called after her. At the door, Sarene closed her eyes and took a deep breath, refusing to give him the satisfaction from his obvious taunt. ¡°I no longer need your protection¡­¡± she said. ¡°Oh, well. Maybe next time.¡± he smiled. Sarene tightened her grip on the doorframe as he smiled. She couldn¡¯t leave now, not with him having the final word. So with narrowed eyes, she turned to him and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. I have found another one. You¡¯re not stupid Vaughn, you felt his pressure that day just like the rest of us¡­¡± Sarene narrowed her eyes as Vaughn¡¯s cheek twitched, but he held his expression. ¡°And If I beat him,¡± she continued. ¡°then I¡¯ll leave anyway. Because unlike you, he actually finished the Iron Dragon¡¯s training¡­¡± Vaughn jumped up from the bed with every muscle tense in frustration, but Sarene was already out the room and waltzing down the hall before he could utter a word. The Gold Champion sat back down, fuming over having his own suspicions being confirmed by another. ¡¯It won¡¯t happen twice!¡¯ he thought as he looked to the ceiling. ¡°Find out everything you can about this ''Thadius''.¡± he said. Above him there was a shuffling sound, so he knew his orders were being carried out. With the word given, he returned to his meditation. Or at least he tried to. Sarene had been extremely successful in getting under his skin. ¡¯No one steals from me, Thadius! No one! Chapter 23: Return to Todos RETURN TO TODOS All was silent in a boundless mist, and a serene calm had settled into every pond and puddle nearby, resulting in a stillness that would make one doubt whether they had accidentally stepped into a painting. In this watery world, a young, dark-skinned man stood staring at the path ahead of him. A mixture of sweat and dew dripped down his clean shaven face, which merged into larger beads and rolled down his chiseled jaw to splash onto his armor. He seemed at ease and relaxed to the point that anyone watching would think that he was perfectly accustomed to being thoroughly drenched. The young man was none other than Thadius, who stood in contemplation as his final day in the Mists of Croaka neared its end. Behind him stood a group of six that waited silently for his word. There was Bannon, the seasoned adventurer that was even taller than Thadius himself, who had provided a wealth of knowledge throughout the entire journey. Although he was usually quiet, Bannon wouldn¡¯t hesitate to give his two cents on a matter concerning the well-being of the squad. Beside Bannon stood Thomas, who could no longer be called a rookie as he scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes and the jagged scars on his arm on full display. After the encounter with the hydra, Thomas was like a sponge, absorbing any and all things that could help him become stronger. If they happened upon another crisis like before, he wanted to be a crucial part of the fight. He wanted to be strong enough so that he wouldn¡¯t have to feel so helpless ever again. Next to Thomas stood Elroy and Leon. Elroy had frequently shown signs that he was the son of some wealthy family. He carried the regal air about him with the pride to match, and no matter how he tried to it, one could tell that such mannerisms had already become habit. In the last few days, his attitude towards Thadius wasn¡¯t as hostile as it first was, but a seed of suspicion had already sprouted in his heart, whispering to him that Thadius was a Traveler. Leon, the excommunicated Paladin, did his best to smother Elroy''s suspicions, but he had little success. The last two were Mavas and Desha. Whether intentionally or by coincidence, the two were never far from each other. Mavas, with his jet black hair and narrow features, looked like a stereotypical thief. No matter how you looked at him, he seemed to be a shady and dishonest person. Yet, over the past week, Thadius was reminded of the saying ¡®Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover¡¯. After the clash with the hydra, Mavas was always light-hearted and cheerful, as if a weight had been taken off his shoulders. Desha seemed to share in his easy-going ways. That being said, an easy-going Desha really meant that ¡®he¡¯ was silent more often and hissed less. As the thoughts of his squad over the past week flashed through his mind, Thadius¡¯ thoughts naturally turned to himself. This excursion did much more for him than simply raise his level, it also served as a period of gathering information and solidifying his plans for the future. The fact that he had leveled a bit and had increased in skill proficiency was simply a bonus. On the information side of things, Bannon revealed a startling fact concerning their injuries. Once someone was injured, they only had three days in which the injury could be completely healed. After those three days, the injury could still be healed, but not entirely. A scar would definitely be left behind. In the case for lost limbs, they would no longer be eligible for regeneration. Thadius had logged out shortly after that same day to confirm it with Curtis, who shared a bit more information as it applied to Travelers. In Chaos Online, any scars or lost limbs had an opportunity to be recovered after the three day period, but only after the player dies would they get the option of complete restoration. Another startling piece of information involved the loot drops from the hydra. Although Thadius and his squad had completely ravaged its corpse for raw materials, that was all they received. Thadius couldn¡¯t help but be disappointed, yet he was enlightened by Bannon once again when he came to ask if they were going to raid the hydra¡¯s nest for loot. It was only then that Thadius gained a better understanding of the reward system in Chaos Online. He was told that enemies that wielded weapons could drop those weapons, but he was completely clueless when it came to monstrosities like the Mists Hydra. Bannon explained that the Mists of Croaka shared some similarities to a dungeon, so it wouldn¡¯t be strange for the equipment of other adventurers to end up being collected by the boss monster or scattered around the vicinity of its nest. It was these bits and pieces of information that Thadius slowly gathered during the past week, and on some level, he felt that he was slowly catching up to the other Travelers in game knowledge. Fortunately, he had a startling advantage in regards to the time he spent in-game. So even though he had spent the majority of it on the mountain of Yune with Corban and Yuna, it wouldn''t take long for his knowledge of the game to catch up to the rest of the players. ¡°Sir?¡± A voice returned Thadius from his contemplation, and he turned to find Mavas giving him a curious look. ¡°What is it?¡± he replied flatly. ¡°We¡¯ve been standing here for a while, you know?¡± Mavas said helplessly, sending a quick glance to the rest of the squad. Thadius followed his line of sight, meeting the eyes of every member in turn before turning back to the scene in front of him, where a naturally worn path stretched out into a forest of towering lily pads. The huge circular leaves treated the surrounding mists like water, gently swaying overhead as if they were floating in a pond. The calm silence only added another layer of mystery to the path that slowly disappeared into the distance. Had they stumbled on this road the first day, Thadius wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to go deeper. What gave him pause now was that they hadn¡¯t seen a single croaka in almost three hours, and no matter how much he strained his hearing, he didn¡¯t hear a sound. So the scene that could easily be taken as calm and peaceful, gave him a deep sense of dread that he couldn¡¯t shake. ¡°Are we goin¡¯ in?¡± Thomas asked while standing on the tip of his toes, as if doing so could help him see a little bit further. Thadius tore his eyes away from the ominous route and smiled. ¡°I have no intention of dying today.¡± Thomas and the rest of the squad frowned at his words. Only Bannon, who was nodding his head with a grim look, seemed to understand. ¡°Think about it. We¡¯ve killed hundreds of croaka for days on end, and the deeper we go, the stronger they get. But all of sudden, we don¡¯t see any for hours and we come to a calm, deserted path that goes even deeper?¡± Thadius gave the seemingly safe path an incredulous look, then continued. ¡°I, for one, refuse to believe that there is some safe haven in the heart of the Mists of Croaka. If anything, this road leads to a hidden village or city where the leader of the croaka is waiting to bathe in our blood for killing hordes of his kin. Knowing that, would you leisurely stroll down this road? Would you Mavas?¡± ¡°It does seem a bit suspicious now that I think about...¡± Mavas said as the hidden danger of the road filled him with wariness, causing him to step back. ¡°As soon as we go in there, we¡¯re likely to be surrounded by swarms of croaka.¡± Bannon agreed solemnly. ¡°Then we can just come back with more people, right? No reason to let the enemy sit comfortably.¡± Thomas protested. Thadius just shook his head. ¡°Thomas, didn¡¯t you tell me about how First Todos was forced to build their capital higher because of the croaka? The amount of forces it would take to topple the croaka pales in comparison to the long term benefits of strengthening our military with these excursions.¡± ¡°The same goes for the croaka. We¡¯ve killed hundreds, I''m sure. But remember the big one from yesterday? There could be thousands of them in there.¡± Elroy added. It reminded the entire group of the croaka that had been five times larger than normal. It charged with its hulking physique and nearly collapsed the formation. Bannon could barely fight it head on, which clearly spoke to its strength. If they were truly surrounded by those hulking croaka on all sides, then even if Thadius were to go all out, he would be the last one standing. The fate of the rest of the squad need not be mentioned. As the scenario Elroy painted sank into their minds, a subtle tension could be felt between them. Thomas¡¯ face paled as he thought about how he narrowly escaped his last disaster. He truly didn¡¯t think he could survive a second one so soon. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve all agreed that this is obviously a setup, let¡¯s move on to the hydra¡¯s nest. It should be somewhere around here right?¡± Thadius said while giving Bannon a knowing look. The seasoned adventurer then took the lead as they tracked down the resting place of their fallen foe. Before following behind, Thadius took one more look at the path. ¡®I won¡¯t jeopardize my squad by going in there, but if it¡¯s just me¡­¡¯ Thadius marked this place in his heart. One of his many future plans involved coming back to this place to see exactly what lay at the end. In little more than an hour, without running into any enemies, the squad entered a clearing with huge puddles spread out. There were a few corpses lying about, and bits and pieces of crumpled armor led up to a nest made of various weapons and lily pad trees. It could only be the nest of the hydra. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see what we can find.¡± Thadius said, disappointed. He didn¡¯t have any expectations after seeing the quality and condition of the equipment, not to mention the fact that most of the hydra¡¯s prey seemed to be croaka or rookie guards from Todos. Basically, any spoils that could be found would most likely be poor quality. Everyone looked around for something they could use, or anything that would at least make the trip worthwhile. Thadius walked up to the nest himself and took a look inside. Most of it was as he expected, but there was a deep blue armor set and a necklace that was hidden underneath it.
Hydra¡¯s Bane
Type: Armor Durability: 234/1222
Quality: Mid Defense: 1200
Iron armor infused with the water element after sitting in a hydra''s nest for years. +90% Water resistance Requisites: Level 50 Strength 400
Whispers of the Aqua Spirit
Type: Necklace Durability: 500/500
Quality: Rare Defense: 500
A necklace said to contain an elemental spirit of water. It grants the wearer a greater affinity that would only be found in a being born from the essence of water itself. +30% Water resistance +Grants the wearer with the ability to cast Aqua Shield +10% Water damage -20% Cost of Water spells
Although the armor had an extremely high resistance, the defense was worse than the steel armor he had purchased, and he didn''t feel the need to exchange it with the leather armor he had on now since he was about to head back to the city anyway. Thadius still stealthily put Hydra''s Bane in his inventory. It may not be useful now, but he hoped the infused iron could be used to ''feed'' his shield. Thadius then picked up Whispers of the Aqua Spirit. The iron chain was a little rusty, but the sapphire stone was unblemished in any way. There was even a cooling sensation as it pressed against his skin under the armor. The accessory was an obvious treasure for any water focused class, but Thadius still decided to keep it for himself without hesitation. The added water damage and water spell efficiency may be useless to him, but he appreciated the water resistance. He also had very high hopes for the Aqua Shield ability. Serenity allowed him to use Wind Cutter at the expense of a greater drain on his fighting aura, so he was expecting Whispers of the Aqua Spirit to allow him to use Aqua Shield in the same manner. Seeing that Aqua Shield had neither an activation movement like Wind Cutter had on Serenity or a spell incantation, Thadius just called out the skill name as is. His hopes were dashed in moments as nothing appeared. He had a feeling that was because he was a Sword Scholar, anything that dealt with mana or magic would be unusable. He knew that he at least had a chance at having elemental sword skills after converting Serene''s Wind Cutter into Extended Slash, but he had yet to tap into what was required to learn them. Regardless, Thadius wanted to confirm his suspicions before he completely gave up on magic. "Hey, Thomas. Come have a look at this." he called out. The scrawny squadmate hustled over. "Found somethin''?" he asked excitedly. Thadius handed the necklace over and said, "Put this on and say ''Aqua Shield''." As soon as Thomas put the necklace on and called out the skill name, a transparent wall of water appeared. "Wow!" Thomas gaped at the necklace dangling from his neck. The magical display drew the rest of the squad as well. "You find something good, Thomas?" Mavas smiled, as he walked over. His harmless question made him look like some sort of thiefextortionist. "A-actually, Thadius found it." Thomas quickly handed the trinket back. With a sigh, Thadius equipped the trinket. The fact that he was incapable of using magic was made perfectly clear. As if the fact that he couldn''t use mana wasn''t enough, it seemed like he couldn''t even use spells from equipment. ''I''ll run some more tests. I refuse to believe I can never use magic.'' he thought, then he turned to his squad. "Did anybody else find anything useful?" "Some poor soul died with a nice pair of boots." Mavas said as he held up a pair of leather boots with turquoise metal plating. "There was a helmet as well, though it''s against regulations..." Elroy held up a silver helm. After him, no one else had anything to show for profit, so Thadius declared that it was finally time to go. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Let''s head back quickly. I don''t know about you guys, but I''m tired of having soggy feet." Thadius said as he walked ahead to lead the way back. The others all voiced their agreement as they followed closely behind. By the time the squad made it back to their camp on the plains, it was still early. Getting up before dawn gave them plenty of time to get back, especially when they could travel faster than when they first came. Thadius looked once more at the mist before he call out to his squad. "You guys know the drill. Keep a good pace and we won''t need to stop." he said, then they all started to jog. Before Thadius followed behind, he searched the campsite for anything they could have forgotten. As he caught up to the rest, he was holding two thick ropes, and at the end of the ropes were two massive skulls. --- The morning on the walls of First Todos was uneventful for the city guard for most of the morning. They woke up, they ate, then they got to work. As usual, there was nothing but empty plains. Being on the wall of First Todos was the easiest and most boring detail that you could ever get in the city guard because nothing interesting ever happened. Until today. A guard that was leisurely walking the wall, contemplated what his wife was cooking for dinner tonight. It was simply out of habit that he happened to look off into the distance. It was also out of habit that he simply looked away without a care in the world. But today, he did a double take, and when he did, his brow naturally furrowed in confusion. "Hey, Horson!" he called out to another guard further down. The other guard came over. "What?" "Didn''t the excursion team come back last week?" "Yeah..." "Then who the hell is that?" Both guards watched the figures in the distance, equipped with standard guard armor, draw closer at a moderate pace. They were all in a line, being lead by a beauty with jet-black hair. Their breaths were measured, as if breathing any other way was wrong. Normally, this wouldn''t be too exciting, and the guards were just about to lose interest when they suddenly saw the figure in the back. It was a young man that seemed to have it easier than the rest. His movements were smoother and if he wasn''t currently jogging, anyone would think he was simply taking a walk in the park. What made the guards gawk at this man, was the fact that he was dragging two massive skulls. "What!?" the guard named John cried out, but the air seemed to be caught in his throat at the thought of the beasts the skulls could have come from. "Y-you think they killed it? Just them?" the first guard asked, no less shaken than his friend. "I don''t know, but I''m gonna find out!" John said as he hurried to the city gate. --- It was only a few hours past noon by the time Thadius'' squad finally arrived at the gate to First Todos. Desha had kept the pace the entire way, while he brought up the rear, motivating his squad until they were gasping for air just outside the gate. "Finally! I can rest! I thought my lungs would burst into flames before we made it back!" Mavas complained while doubled over, fighting for every breath. "It''s been two long since I''ve done that much exercise...I''m getting old." Bannon lamented, then reached for his canteen to take a draught. Thadius could only chuckle after hearing the two. Despite their complaints, they were the only two that could even manage to talk after the jog from the mists. Elroy, Thomas, and Leon were all gasping like dying men. Even Desha was taking rapid breaths. Though the journey was hard, Thadius was anxious to get back to Todos. Just as he was about to call out to his squad to move into the city, two guards came running out to them. "Who''s in charge of this squad!?" the first one shouted as he ran over. Thadius stepped forward. "I am. Is there some sort of problem?" he asked. As far as he knew, there was no reason for him to be shouted at. "Did you kills those beasts yourselves!?" the guard questioned feverishly with spittle flying. Now that he was closer, he could roughly tell the size the creatures had to have been. For this small group to kill two of them must have cost them half their men at least, but he hadn''t heard anything about a subjugation unit, so he was truly curious. Realization dawned on Thadius, and he nodded. "We did make the kill, though it was only one beast. My squad was unfortunate enough to be attacked by a hydra shortly after we were dispatched by Captain Dain to explore deeper into the mists." "Hydra? You mean the Mists Hydra!? Isn''t that thing only an urban legend!?" the first guard exclaimed. "You were with the excursion unit!?" the other guard said. He had finally come over before Thadius had finished explaining himself. "Why didn''t you come back a week ago!?" "We were given an order to survey for a week, so I didn''t want to come back unless we finished the mission we had originally set out on." Thadius sighed heavily. "Then...you guys need to report in. We won''t take up any more of your time." the first guard replied. He was truly shocked that this squad fought against the Mists Hydra from the legends and won, however, he could tell that mentioning it had dampened the mood for some reason. "Then if you''ll excuse us, we''ll go report right now." Thadius motioned for the squad to proceed into the city and followed behind, dragging the hydra''s skulls. Once they were within the city walls, they tried as best as they could to take the wider streets. Going back the way they came when they left the city wouldn''t work with the hydra''s skulls dragging behind side by side. First Todos didn''t have straight and organized streets like New Todos, so they were often finding themselves going down winding streets. Thankfully, the giant lift was visible in the distance, so they were able to keep a somewhat straight path. It wasn''t until they were relatively close to the lift that they could hear a ruckus coming from up ahead. The lift was part of a large town square area. There were many stalls that sold food and various items to the masses that used the lift. It was very popular spot in First Todos since many streets would eventually lead there. The ruckus was coming from a platform off to the side. On the platform stood many individuals that were chained together and dressed in rags. From the looks of it, it couldn''t be anything other than a slave auction. The cause of the ruckus was coming from the crowd as they jeered at a man on the stage. The man, who appeared to be an adventurer, was waltzing across the stage and groping the various females, completely ignoring the man in fine robes that appeared to be the slave trader. ''Slave auction? They still have shit like this?'' Thadius'' face couldn''t help but twist into a sneer, but when he thought about the time setting of the game, the disdain in his heart slowly morphed into resolve. There was no way he could just walk away from this. "A Traveler!" Elroy growled, glaring at the armored man on stage with a look that could kill. "You don''t know he''s a Traveler." Thadius said calmly. When he turned to look at Elroy, he could see the smoldering rage in the eyes of the others as well. Especially Bannon, who looked like he would blow a gasket at any moment. "Who else would be so brazen at a mere slave auction!? Look with your eyes! They have no shame and fear nothing! I wouldn''t be surprised if he killed the merchant just for the fun of it!" Elroy roared as his glare turned on Thadius. Thadius looked at the man once more, trying to determine if he was indeed a Traveler. Most citizens had a status card for identification, but the fact that he could get one for himself confirmed that there was no definite way to tell a Traveler from a normal citizen. The only way would be through observation or perhaps a skill. He had no clue as to how a Traveler should act, but the people in the capital seemed to think that Travelers were nothing but absolute villains that indulged in their desires because they are ''immortal''. Seeing the scene in front of him, Thadius was beginning to understand how Travelers could have obtained such a bad reputation in the capital. After all, most Travelers would choose to act as a law abiding citizen like him. "Stay here." he commanded, and tossed the ropes to Bannon. The seasoned adventurer snapped out of his enraged state and his brow furrowed as he looked down at the rope. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "We are members of the city guard. It would make us look bad if this turned into a riot, right?" Thadius smiled. Then, he walked into the crowd. The people didn''t block his way as he made his way to the platform. No one seemed to want to get too close to him and made way without having to be told. When he was about halfway to the platform, he could finally make out the words of the man over the crowd. "Damn, there''s just too many to choose from. Can''t I just buy them all?" the man asked. He didn''t seem to be asking anyone in particular, but a reply suddenly came from somewhere below the platform. "The last one didn''t last long at all. Make sure you get one that can actually swing a sword this time, okay? Looks aren''t everything." The man just laughed loudly. "Says the guy with the bustiest slave out of all of us!" ''So he has friends...'' Thadius thought as he continued to make his way through. In moments, he was able to make out what appeared to be a mage and an archer in the crowd below. The one who replied must have been the archer since there was a woman standing beside him with collar around her neck. "Sir! Get down from the platform!" Thadius roared as he emerged behind the mage and archer. The archer was the first to turn around. Being so close to Thadius, he was startled when he turned to find a city guard. The mage didn''t fair any better, and almost tripped over his rod trying to back away. "Such high pressure!" the archer cursed under his breath. He couldn''t even fathom the thought that what he was feeling was simply Thadius'' fighting spirit. He had only ever felt such an oppressive feeling when Pressure was used. The armored man turned around after sensing what could only be the pressure of a high level NPC. Yet, when he turned around, all he saw was an ordinary guard. He quickly calmed down and laughed, ¡°What the hell did you say to me? Get down? When did garbage like the city guard start ordering Travelers?¡± Seeing the mocking smile on the armored man, on top of how he blatantly declared that he was a Traveler to elicit fear from him, Thadius was thoroughly convinced that Travelers had earned their terrible reputation by public displays like this. It did nothing but affirm his decision to keep his identity as a Traveler hidden. ¡°You¡¯re a Traveler?¡± he asked, feigning a serious expression. ¡°That¡¯s right! Now what are you gonna do about it?¡± the man smiled. He was absolutely confident in his ability to avoid trouble. All he had to do was mention that he was a Traveler, and all the NPCs would just turn a blind eye. To him, Todos was a playground where he could do as he pleased. To his surprise, however, Thadius smiled and laughed, ¡°That¡¯s great! Dealing with Travelers is a lot easier than dealing with natives since situations like this can be handled quickly.¡± It wasn¡¯t until now that the armored man felt that something was off. Even after he declared that he was a Traveler for all to hear, this guard didn¡¯t even flinch. He shot a knowing glance at his party below. ¡°And how exactly do you plan on dealing with me?¡± ¡°Travelers don¡¯t truly die, right? So every crime, even simple disturbances like this, can warrant the simple and just punishment that befits exalted beings such as yourselves: Death.¡± The smile on Thadius¡¯ face disappeared and with flick of his arm, a throwing knife flashed through the air. ¡°Guh!¡± The armored man coughed a mouthful of blood and stared wide-eyed at the knife that suddenly found itself buried in his jugular. The sudden attack on their comrade caused the hearts of the party members below to seize with fear. The mage was the closest the culprit, and he turned with his rod at the ready. Yet, before he could utter a single word, a glittering orihalcum sword was pressed against his neck and a terrifying pressure, multitudes stronger than before, came crashing down on his shoulders. All the party members besides the slaves felt their knees start to wobble, even standing was proving a challenge. Not daring to move another muscle, the mage and archer looked at Thadius as if they had come face to face with a Boss NPC. The crowd fell silent. They had all come here for a simple auction, but a Traveler had come and started causing trouble. Then just when they had become fed up with his actions, a member of the guard came and dealt swift and deadly justice. Never before had they seen a Traveler punished with such a heavy hand, so it was obvious how such a guard would seem to them: Strong, Courageous, and Dependable. Thadius paid no attention to the hushed crowd. After applying enough pressure so that they could barely stand, he sheathed his sword and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you realized it, but the citizens of Todos don¡¯t take too kindly to Travelers because of disturbances like this. Since you all seem to think that the laws and common etiquette of natives don¡¯t apply to you, you can¡¯t blame me for taking a different approach. Any and all offenses committed by Travelers in front of me are punishable by death. Now, should your friend have any complaints when he revives, you tell him to go to the guard compound and ask for Thadius.¡± Without even a glance at the corpse on the stage, Thadius turned to walk back to his squad. This time, the crowd made way for him.
It¡¯s not very often that a Traveler is brought to justice, so to see one sentenced and put to death in one breath before the masses isn¡¯t an event that is easily forgotten. The guard named Thadius has been firmly imprinted into the minds of the people who witnessed such an event. They may even come looking for you specifically to help them settle their grievances. +300 Fame
¡°¡®Any and all offenses committed by Travelers in front of me are punishable by death.¡¯¡± Elroy repeated the words in a daze. The simple sentence had given him an epiphany. He had been struggling with how he could fight back against Travelers, but he now realized that his thoughts had been too complex. There was no need for some elaborate plan, no scheme was needed. All he had to do was demand justice one corpse at a time. The others were just as stunned. The way Thadius had acted was too fast. Before any of them could even think about assisting to calm the situation, the judgement had already been given without an ounce of hesitation. Thadius walked up and smiled wryly at their various expressions. He could only imagine what they would think if they knew that his deadly throw had actually curved off target after he aimed at the man¡¯s forehead. ¡°Come on, we still need to report in.¡± he said, taking the ropes back and leading the way to the lift. The squad recovered from their shock and followed behind, but the excitement in their hearts would take a while to fade. Chapter 24: Shade Wars SHADE WARS ¡°What makes you so confident that he''s alive General!? Were he alive, wouldn''t he have returned by now!?¡± Captain Dain questioned. It had already been a full week since Elroy and his squad hadn¡¯t returned with the rest of the guards. Since they hadn¡¯t come back after so long, it was obvious that they were long dead. ¡°Oh he¡¯s alive. I¡¯m bet my life on it! Ho ho!¡± Old Man Tony chuckled while stroking his beard. Nearby, a frantic woman pleaded. ¡°If that man is alive, then my Thomas must be alive as well! You must send someone out to search! Please!¡± Outside the compound, Thadius and the rest of the squad were standing just outside the door. He turned and smiled. ¡°You have a woman waiting at home, Thomas?¡± ¡°Well, I have a wife and- uh oh¡­¡± Thomas froze as he realized something. The smile on Thadius¡¯ face widened. ¡°A wife, huh. Well, let''s not keep her waiting too long. She sounds like she''d go out looking for you herself if you don''t show up soon.¡± ¡°That''s sounds like Sarah.¡± Thomas frowned, but he didn''t move from his spot. His entire body oozed apprehension. ¡°Time to face the music!¡± Mavas chuckled, giving Thomas a hearty pat on the shoulder. After sending Elroy a knowing look, Thadius opened the door.
THE YOUNGEST You¡¯ve successfully foiled the plot to kill the young noble and even led him through great danger in the Mists of Croaka. The quest may continue depending on your future interactions with the young noble. +150 Fame
Of those present were Old Man Tony, Captain Dain, Richie, and a young brunette with tears streaming down her face. Everyone turned to look at who entered, and the first one to react was the old man in the corner. ¡°Ho ho ho! What I tell ya!? Today¡¯s the day!¡± Tony chuckled happily. Dain was absolutely livid when he saw Elroy walk in, but he quickly composed himself. As the rest of the squad members filed in, the young woman was on her tiptoes looking for Thomas, who hadn''t moved outside. Nearing hysterics, she rushed up to Thadius since he was the first to come in. ¡°Sir! Have you seen my Thomas!? Wasn''t he with this squad!?¡± Thadius put on his best remorseful expression. ¡°You must be Sarah¡­¡± Hearing his tone, the woman paled. A fresh wave of tears slid down her freckled face. ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± ¡°Unfortunately, Thomas¡­¡± Thadius looked toward his squad with mischievous eyes. Mavas and Bannon immediately put on serious expressions. Only Desha looked absolutely lost at why they were giving the poor woman a false impression. Thadius sighed heavily, ¡°Sarah, Thomas couldn''t make it into the door. He''s standing outside scared stiff.¡± ¡°Thomas!¡± Sarah screamed as she rushed outside. Seeing the skinny man standing there with a wry smile, she flew into a rage. ¡°You run off to join the guard when I specifically told you not to! You even went and got yourself injured! Let me see-¡± The door closed on Thomas¡¯ severe scolding, and Thadius turned to see Captain Dain glaring at him with narrowed eyes. Thadius didn¡¯t even flinch for the hostile look. Instead, he turned to Elroy and motioned for him to take the lead. Elroy nodded and stepped forward. ¡°Captain Dain, we¡¯ve map out new areas on the west side of the mists as order. We believe we found what could be a road that leads to the Croaka capital.¡± Captain Dain sneered. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you return when you saw that the supplies were gone?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t receive any orders to end the excursion early, sir. Instead of coming back early, we decided to fulfill the orders we were given and then return as planned. Although the supplies were gone, we made do. We also managed, after great difficulty, to slay a hydra that attacked while we were performing our duty.¡± Hearing that the Mists Hydra, which was supposed to kill Elroy and those under his command, had been killed instead, Captain Dain nearly flew into a rage. ¡°Nonsense! If you''re going to lie, you need to at least make the lie believable!¡± Elroy remained unphased and calmly stated, ¡°I expected you to find such a remarkable feat unnatural, captain. So after the hydra was slain, we brought the hydra¡¯s heads along with us. I¡¯m afraid that bringing them inside isn¡¯t possible because of their size. I beg your forgiveness.¡± As if on cue, Thomas walked in carrying two ropes on his back. ¡°How can ya even move with these things Thadius? These skulls aren¡¯t light! I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll fit through the door either.¡± Thadius smiled. ¡°Just leave them outside, Thomas.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Thomas threw the ropes out of the door and came back inside. From the looks of it, his wife had already gone home. Seeing Thomas treat Thadius as his superior officer, Captain Dain couldn¡¯t keep his expression from turning ugly. ¡°You don¡¯t even have the respect of your squad! They answer to this rookie as if he were the squad leader!¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. I surrendered my command during the excursion, and now that we¡¯ve returned, I wish to report that Thadius was in direct command of seven individuals and is sufficient to be promoted to lieutenant. It was also due to his strength that the hydra could be slain.¡± ¡°Promotion granted!¡± Old Man Tony declared.
PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY You may now take command of a 10-man group as a Lieutenant. Your superiors will give you your new schedule and orders. PAY: 45S / Month
¡°General!¡± Captain Dain looked at Tony as if he¡¯d just been slapped in the face. ¡°We promote capable men in Todos. Don¡¯t we Richie.¡± he smiled. ¡°Yes sir.¡± Richie nodded. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled! Now, Richie, would you mind takin¡¯ a look at those skulls? It would be an incredible feat if it¡¯s true.¡± Old Man Tony commanded, then he turned to Captain Dain. ¡°I believe you have somewhere you''re supposed to be. I wouldn¡¯t keep that man waitin¡¯ if I were you.¡± ¡°Of course...¡± Dain saluted, and made his way to the door. On the way, he moved to bump into Thadius, but it felt like he had brushed against a mountain, and he ended up stumbling a step. ¡°Careful captain.¡± Thadius glared at him, adding in a bit of pressure for assurance. Dain straightened his posture and growled lowly, ¡°This isn¡¯t over.¡± After watching Captain Dain storm out, Richie went outside to verify the hydra skulls while the rest of the squad went further into the compound. All that jogging had left them beat, and they all planned to use their time off to get some much needed rest and healing. "Thadius, I''d like to talk a bit with you. Did you want some healin'' first?" Old Man Tony asked. Thadius shook his head. "It can wait. I''ll go see Christina afterwards." "I figured as much. Actually, some of the news is ''bout her too, come on." Old Man Tony shuffled his way past the counter and led the way. While they were walking he asked, "Remember the last time we talked about the war?" "I remember. You said that they would ask for reinforcements for the front line." Thadius recalled the moment clearly. He was still sore about losing the chess match that day. "Well, things are a bit more serious than I anticipated. The plan was to send down a trainer to whip some of the city guard into shape, but not long after ya''ll left for the mists, word come down that we need to round up the gladiators too." Tony sighed and shook his head. ''The gladiators?'' Thadius pondered, and the image of a tall, domineering woman with glittering green eyes came to mind. "They need men that badly?" he asked. "''Fraid so. But at least they got North Wind to come down. That way, at least they''ll be trained proper before they go." "Who''s North Wind?" Thadius questioned. If Old Man Tony praised him, then he was obviously strong. "Corban didn''t tell you? Didn''t he tell you about the Todos Sword Style?" Tony stopped in his tracks and turned around with a wrinkled brow. "It was on his status card that he was in the army, but he never told me about the sword style." "Well, not many people know it, but the Todos Sword Style was created by North Wind with the help of the Iron Dragon. Then again, I''m not surprised he didn''t mention it. He was always the dramatic one, keepin'' secrets and the like." Old Man sighed again and continued walking. "Once he gets here, you can ask him yourself at the training camp." Thadius winced at the words ''training camp''. "How long is this training camp exactly?" "Only a couple of months." the old man shrugged. "Is there some way I could be exem-" "Oh god! It burns!! Just end it now please!" "Hold him down! Don''t let him bite his tongue!" "We''ll find out what''s wrong! Just hold on colonel!" Suddenly shouts were coming out from a room off to the side. From Thadius'' memory, he remembered it as the infirmary. Currently, the door was shut tight and sounds of struggling could be heard within. "Who''s screaming like that?" Thadius asked. The agonized cries made him pity the man who would rather die than suffer from his injuries. "Colonel Vane. He was on his way back from the Central Continent when he and his men were attacked by some strange beast. His men said he was fine at first, just hurt a little. But the beast had some sort of venom in it. We had Beth come to take a look but..." The old man''s voice carried a hint of uncertainty. Thadius didn''t have to be a genius to know that there probably wasn''t a cure for the poison. "Why are there still men on the Central Continent if there''s a war going on?" Thadius asked, trying to change the subject. They moved further down the hall so that the screams were less audible. "Many of the soldiers we sent were too far inland by time the war started. Most are just now comin'' back." Old Man Tony sighed again and stroked his beard. "In times like these we had the elves to look to for help, but after the Shade Wars..." The Shade Wars. It was a subject that truly piqued Thadius'' curiosity. Not for the lore, but because of how at odds Desha and Bannon had been when they first met. They were on amicable terms now after fighting together for the past week, but if they didn''t have to interact with each other, they didn''t bother. "What actually happened during the Shade Wars? How did it start? I have an elf and a Shade War veteran in my squad, so a little information could possibly smooth things out a bit faster." Thadius questioned when they reached the cafeteria. "Finally ready to listen to this old man''s stories about the good ole days, huh. Ho ho!" Tony chuckled and walked in to sit down at an empty table. Thadius sat across from him, ignoring the glances from those that could feel his fighting spirit. "It''s actually a sad story, so most people don''t talk about it. Especially those who fought in it. It all started with an epidemic in the Shade Forest, the home of a majority of the elves on this continent. The epidemic only affected elves, and no one knew how it started. But when the elves came to us for help, we couldn''t turn a blind eye. The elves had been close friends with us up to that point. And now that I''m thinkin¡¯ back on it, Todos used to be filled with them." Old Man Tony paused and pulled out a canteen from his tunic, taking a couple gulps before putting it back. "Our alchemists and apothecaries worked as fast as they could to come up with a cure, and eventually they did..." Tony paused again. There was a glint a melancholy in his eyes that could barely be seen under his overgrown eyebrows. "So why was there a war if the cure was made?" Thadius found it hard for such good relations to deteriorate so quickly. "Arinon, the elven king, lost his wife and daughter to the illness before we could cure ''em. The elves mourned the loss, and we also gave our support. But Arinon was quiet for too long after that. When he appeared again, he was suddenly attackin'' villages at the head of his armies. He had invaded into our lands claimin'' that if he had our resources, more of his people could have been saved." Old Man Tony bowed his head over the table. It was clear the memory was an old wound. "He waged war over the ingredients of the cure?" Thadius could scarcely believe such a thing. They could easily get the recipe and the ingredients since they were allied with Todos, what really took the most time was synthesizing the cure. "You have to understand, Thadius. Arinon was lost to his grief. He was no longer a man of reason, and many elves followed him in attackin'' us. The elves live long, so losin'' a friend or a loved one...the pain is too great." Tony lapsed into silence, his own face warped with bitterness. "It was a war that shouldn''t have happened. Outside of the Shade Forest, we slaughtered them. But killing our friends wasn''t the worst part of it, it was seeing the smiles on their faces when they died. It was the tears of joy they shed as their bodies cooled that haunted us, Thadius. Many of them threw their lives away to be reunited with their families in the Heavens." Thadius felt his blood chill. War was a part of life. There had been numerous wars on Earth across the centuries, and the body counts were astronomical. But how high would the casualties amount to if the enemy welcomed death with open arms? How high would it be if they actively sought after an end? The image of mountains of dead with peaceful expressions was more disturbing than an ocean of wailing souls in Thadius'' mind. He was truly thankful that he didn''t have to fight in a war like that, where yesterday''s friend would gladly fall on your sword tomorrow. Thadius couldn''t help the grimace on his face. "How did it end?" Old Man Tony sighed heavily. "We thought it would end when we pushed them back to the forest, but when we did, somethin'' strange happened days later. All the sound in the forest stopped, and the sunlight couldn''t pass the treetops. It was so strange to see the leaves rustle without a sound, and to see the birds try to sing without their voices. While we were confused, Arinon charged out at the head of thousands with a ferocity that was unlike anythin'' we''d ever seen out of the elves. ¡°Whether it was a forbidden spell or some ritual they cast, we don''t know. But the fight that day was a long struggle. When we finally pushed them back into the forest, they didn''t have the numbers to fight us anymore, so they retreated deeper into the shadowy, silent forest that they call home." The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Thadius leaned back in thought. Bannon and Desha''s first meeting couldn''t have been friendly. Bannon was a Shade War veteran. He''d likely seen many of his comrades fall to the irrational elves, and he had probably killed many of them in the process, which was also why Desha reacted with hostility after Mavas pointed out the veteran. ''Well, they''re able to work together now without going at each other''s throats. They must remember that the elves and Todos were allies once. he mused. When he finally looked up, the cafeteria was basically empty. Lunch had already ended by time Old Man Tony finished his story. Thadius rose from the table. ¡°It¡¯s about time I get out of here Mr.Tony. Now, about that training camp¡­¡± ¡°I think you should go. Even if it¡¯s just to see that old goat North Wind. ¡° Tony said. Thadius shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get drawn into a war, especially with Christina still in training. I joined the city guard so that I could lead the unit that she gets assigned to. I¡¯m already set up with my own unit, so as soon as she becomes a full Priestess, I can add her to my unit. Half the work is done, but truthfully, I have the mind to just take her away once she graduates.¡± ¡°Christina is already a full-fledged priestess, and the excursions are on halt ¡®til further notice. Even the coliseum is closin¡¯ down for the trainin¡¯ camp.¡± ¡°Christina became a Priestess!?¡± Thadius thought back to when they first came to the city. I hadn¡¯t been long at all, but then he remembered Christina¡¯s prior experiences in Yune. ¡¯She¡¯s worked hard for it already.¡¯ he nodded to himself. Since Christina had already become a Priestess, and the excursions weren¡¯t necessary at the moment, then he could just up and leave after he finished his business here. The only problem was that he didn¡¯t know how long it would take to set up a church for Tegaia. Thadius put the matter aside, there were more immediate issues to deal with. Getting his hands healed was one of them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll meet this ¡®North Wind¡¯ and see what I can learn from him. And while we¡¯re at it, you said Beth had been here, right? That means she¡¯s back from that trip she went on?¡± Tony nodded. ¡°She¡¯s been back for a while, but she¡¯s probably resting today. You should go see her tomorrow.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll see her tomorrow. I¡¯ll see you later Mr.Tony.¡± Thadius waved goodbye and then turned to leave the compound. On the way out, he passed the infirmary again and heard the agonized cry of the unfortunate officer. He couldn¡¯t help but think of the book he read shortly after entering the game. The Untamed Continent listed many monsters that had lethal poison attacks, most of which were difficult and nigh impossible to cure. Exiting the compound, Thadius didn¡¯t head straight for the Church of Thena. Instead, he made his way to the blacksmith. His shield was in need of serious repairs, and he had an abundance of materials that could be used to ¡®feed¡¯ it. Even though he wasn¡¯t going in as Victor Wolfe-Jagger, he had long since thought up a simple solution he could use before anyone could start asking questions. It wasn¡¯t long before Thadius found himself walking into Arm & Hammer. The young blacksmith, Tommy, was leaning on the counter, looking bored from the lack of business. He stood up with a start when Thadius walked in. ¡°Welcome to Arm & Hammer! What can we do for you today?¡± the young assistant asked. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a man. He¡¯s around my height and a bit rude. You¡¯ve probably seen him, he came in to buy this sword.¡± Thadius displayed Serenity hanging on his hip. Without a cloak, it was hard to see the endless breeze the sword caused. ¡°Oh yeah! He has a wolf-head cloak right? He came around here about a week ago. He...gave you the sword?¡± Tommy¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of the man who purchased his master¡¯s greatest work, but as he eyed the sword in question, he frowned. ¡°My brother showed up and suddenly tossed me this sword. All he said was ¡®Take it. It suits you.¡¯, then he walked off. The only time I saw him before that was at our master¡¯s funeral. Since then, it¡¯s damn near impossible to get us in the same room together.¡± Thadius sighed. ¡°Any clue where he went?¡± ¡°He¡¯s your brother? You guys do kinda have the same feel. It¡¯s actually a little weird.¡± Tommy scrutinized Thadius for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°Forget it. All I know is that he was asking for the price of buying a shop like this. He might be looking to start his own shop soon.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s like him I suppose. He¡¯s a pretty gifted tailor. No use chasing his shadow, in any case. To business.¡± Thadius put his shield on the counter and pulled out some of the hydra materials from his pack. ¡°I need this repaired as soon as possible using these materials. I¡¯d also like to bother you to forge a sword that doesn¡¯t have a guard on it. It also needs to fly straight if it¡¯s thrown.¡± ¡°Thrown!?¡± Tommy looked up from inspecting the shield. It was the first time he¡¯d ever heard of such a request. ¡°So you want a sword that¡¯s good for throwing?¡± ¡°No. I want a sword that¡¯s made to be thrown. I¡¯d also like it to be a bit durable please. I¡¯ll be doing a lot of tests.¡± Tommy nodded. ¡°We can take care of it, no problem. but the shops gonna be closed before we can finish you order. The shield is pretty banged up, and I want to let my master take a crack at that throwing sword. He likes to hog all the uncommon orders.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll return tomorrow.¡± Thadius said. He wasted no time in leaving and hurried to get to the church in order to meet up with Christina and Yuna. Yet, as Thadius made his way to the Church, he felt that someone was following him. The one following him wasn¡¯t exactly close, but it looked like it was only surveillance for now. If they attacked, he would be ready. Thadius walked into the church and stood just behind the doors to check on the person tailing him. After a few minutes, the person seemed to run out of patience and left, however, it still left Thadius a bit puzzled. He was wearing the full uniform of the city guard, so it would be hard to recognize him if the stalker was the assassin from a while back. So he was now left with the question of who it could possibly be. In the end, Thadius didn¡¯t dwell on it. Since he didn¡¯t know, he would just have to find out eventually. He found a priest a lot quicker this time around and quickly asked for Christina. Thankfully, it was one of the priests that was ogling Christina the last time he came. As soon as he saw Thadius take off his helmet, the priest¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Good afternoon, I¡¯ve come to visit my companion. She¡¯s easy to remember, so you should know who I¡¯m talking about, right?¡± Thadius smiled. ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll go right now, sir! Excuse me, sir! I¡¯ll be right back, sir!¡± The priest bowed several times before he finally left. The impression he had toward Thadius, the winner of a Silver Champion¡¯s Belt, was very deep. Thadius shook his head and smiled at the man¡¯s comical display then silently waited. Only a few minutes had passed before he could suddenly feel someone rushing toward him at a remarkable speed. Shifting his feet, he fully braced himself for the unseen goddess that had the power to knock him to the ground. Yuna hugged Thadius at full speed and whispered excitedly, ¡°Thadius! You¡¯re finally back!¡± ¡°I¡¯m back. So don¡¯t try so hard to tackle me to the ground. You know I¡¯m not comfortable with being sacked.¡± Thadius smiled. Then he looked up to see Christina running. ¡°Thadius!¡± she smiled brightly. Seeing her so excited, Thadius couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Word has it that you became a Priestess while I was away?¡± ¡°And she almost died.¡± Yuna tossed in. ¡°What?¡± Thadius asked, looking directly at the vanished Yuna. ¡°It was that guy that attacked us when we first came to the city.¡± Yuna replied. Thadius sighed heavily. Then, after giving Christina a quick glance, he went over the details with the tiny goddess. Although it wasn''t intentional, that one glance was enough to stop Christina in her tracks. She couldn¡¯t explain it well, but to her, that one glance was more terrifying than being attacked by the assailant the other day. ¡°And then he said something about the Hall of Shadows or something. So there could be other guys coming too.¡± Yuna shrugged after she finished narrating her day out with the girls. ¡°It''s enough that no one was hurt.¡± Thadius made the motion to rub Yuna¡¯s head out of habit, but then he remember his injuries and retracted. It wasn¡¯t until then that the others noticed Thadius¡¯ bandaged hands. ¡®You¡¯re injured?¡± Christina couldn¡¯t suppress the uneasiness from before, but this was her moment to shine. She wanted to be able to offer support in moments like these. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it was, but it would be a lot better after some official healing.¡± Thadius held out his hands and let Christina unwrap his hands. Once the injuries were revealed, however, things were not as calm as they were before. ¡°What the heck!?¡± Yuna screamed as she looked at the melted flesh with her face warped in terror. She didn¡¯t even bother to remain concealed. Christina¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t much better. She stood frozen in place, the only movement being the trembling hands that held Thadius¡¯. ¡°Who did this!?¡± Yuna questioned. ¡°It was a hydra. But it¡¯s dead now so-¡± ¡°A monster did this!? Thadius, we were practically trained to kill monsters! What the heck were you doing out there!¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes watered as she shook Thadius¡¯ arm. By now, Christina had recovered and was wholeheartedly trying to heal the grotesque wounds. Under Yuna¡¯s scolding, Thadius truthfully replied, ¡°I was trying to do too much instead of focusing on killing the monster as quickly as possible. I was careless.¡± ¡°Careless?¡± Yuna¡¯s voice caught in her throat as she tearfully glared at him. The worst injury she¡¯d ever seen him with was a bruise, and at that time, she had been the culprit. Now, he came back from some random trip with his hands in this shape. How could she ever be at ease letting him go off by himself if a single moment of carelessness could result in such injuries? ¡¯Good thing she didn¡¯t come to the coliseum that day.¡¯ Thadius thought. He looked down at the tiny goddess and said, ¡°I learned a valuable lesson when I went out this time. I won¡¯t let myself get hurt like this again if I can help it.¡± Yuna remained unconvinced. Her dark silver eyes were resolute. ¡°You won¡¯t be leaving me behind next time. I¡¯m going with you.¡± ¡°Christina isn¡¯t ready for something like that, and we can¡¯t just leave her behind.¡± Thadius made a wry smile. He knew coming back injured would have Yuna anxious to let him leave. Even if he was a Traveler, no one wanted a loved one to die. Yuna sent a glance to Christina full of frustration and impatience. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s ready!¡± Seeing Yuna give her such a look, Christina suddenly knew why that one glance from Thadius had given her such a feeling of unease. Ever since she left home, she had seen with her own eyes just how strong Yuna and Thadius were. In an act of selfishness, she chose to follow them. No matter what, she didn¡¯t want Thadius to leave her behind. However, instead of being left behind, something much worse was happening; she was holding them back. And that look from Thadius, it was a look of uncertainty. Whether it was uncertainty toward her future or her place with them, it was impossible for her to be sure. In the end, she could just be imagining things as well, but it made her feel so small. ¡¯Who knows where they would be right now if I hadn¡¯t come with them! Christina thought as she bowed her head and cast another heal. ¡°Christina¡­¡± Thadius said softly. Her dejected appearance gave him a deep feeling of guilt. He didn¡¯t want to make it sound like she was a burden, but she had to know how dangerous it would be traveling with them from now on. ¡°Yes.¡± she replied meekly, not daring to meet his eyes. ¡°When we fought the hydra, only one person died. His name was Marcus. He was our Priest.¡± Thadius said. Hearing that the only one that died was the priest, Christina flinched. Thadius continued, ¡°The monster targeted him Christina. It saw how he would heal us and it killed him first to give us a harder time. I don¡¯t want to scare you, but there will be times where Yuna and I cannot protect you in time. There will also be enemies of ours that will come after you first because you¡¯re a Priestess. So before we go anywhere, it¡¯s extremely important that you learn to defend yourself. Even more so because of how important your role is to the people around you.¡± Christina nodded with the edge of her eyes glistening. Her thoughts immediately pictured a young woman fighting by Thadius¡¯ side, protecting his blind spots, and healing him when he¡¯s injured. The young woman in that vision of hers wasn¡¯t herself, but the Red Hand, Rosemary. Thadius pulled her into a hug, hoping to lift her spirits, and she welcomed it wholeheartedly, leaning her head against his chest. ¡¯Even if she¡¯s perfect for him. She¡¯s not here!¡¯ Christina closed her eyes and immersed herself in the embrace. Although she felt inferior to the woman she¡¯s never seen. She was never one to give up when things get tough. All she needed was time, and she could gain the ability needed to stand beside Thadius in his adventures. ¡°You two won¡¯t have to worry about me going anywhere for now. I have plenty of things I want to work on while we¡¯re in Todos. Christina, what¡¯s the name of the High Priest here? Or is it a Priestess?¡± Thadius asked while releasing Christina from his arms. When she looked into his eyes, he saw a stubbornness within the heavenly glow. ¡°The High Priest¡¯s name is Nigel. If you¡¯re looking for him, he¡¯s usually in his office in the afternoon.¡± she replied. Thadius shook his head. ¡°I won¡¯t be meeting him today, I want to get some tailoring done. Now, tell me what else has happened this week.¡± Thadius listened to all their various stories and shared a little about his trip to the Mists of Croaka. In the end, he didn¡¯t stay too long since he needed to prepare a few things for tomorrow. Once he walked outside again, he scanned the surroundings with his Holy Fighting Aura to make sure he wasn¡¯t followed, then he set off to a nearby inn for a place to sit down and weave in peace. Out of all the things he was the most anxious about while he was in the mists, the first was his companions, and the second was his earnings from the tailoring shop. ¡¯I really hope nothing went wrong. Thadius sighed heavily. Tonight was going to be a busy night for him, and tomorrow was going to be a another full day. Slowly but surely, he had to set his plans into motion.