Elsword: Changes We Make
Chapter 1: Realizations
Elsword- Magic Knight (soon to be)
Aisha- High Mage
Rena- Trapping Ranger
Eve- Code Architecture
Raven- Weapon Taker
Chung- Shelling Guardian
"There are some grunts, two mages, and that appears to be the leader in the back. Everyone ready? ", Rena asked, regarding her other two companions. Aisha and Elsword nodded simultaneously. Rena nodded back. "Alright then. Let's go!" With that being said the small group ran out of the bushes.
The band of thieves turned around quickly. "W-what the- GET THEM!" the leader yelled. Just as he grabbed his mace, he came face-to- blade with Elsword.
"I wouldn't if I were you." Elsword said with a cocky grin on his face. The leader ignored the threat and swung his mace. Elsword took a step to the side to avoid the blow and quickly cut down the leader. "I warned you." He said as he quickly dispatched one of the grunts. He turned quickly in time to see Rena slice one of her opponents quickly with Erendil only to follow it up with a shot from her bow. Elsword smirked confidently. "This'll be too easy", he thought.
Suddenly a small explosion came up behind him as he turned to see one of the mages aiming another fireball at him. Elsword rushed in, eager to put an end to the nuisance. The mage grinned sinisterly and launched another fireball, quickly creating more and launching them in rapid succession. Elsword managed to dodge the first two, but fell as another shot hit the ground in front of him. Elsword looked up to see the mage charge a larger, deadlier-looking fireball and aim it for where he was.
"Not good!", he said urgently. He got up quickly, but not quick enough it seemed, as the mage launched the flaming projectile with alarming speed. Elsword closed his eyes as he raised his sword, prepared to take the attack head on. That is untill he heard another voice in front of him.
"Blizzard Shower!" Elsword opened his eyes in time to see Aisha summoning a barrage of ice shards directly in the path of the fire ball. The two forces collided and quickly destroyed the other oncoming attack. Aisha quickly raised her staff as a mana circle surrounded her. "Magic Missile!" Suddenly, a large ball of energy appeared in front of Aisha and quickly shot out at the opposing mage.
Before the mage could even get a scream of fear out, the energy orb quickly crashed into him, sending him several feet backwards. The other thieves quickly ran off, carrying their injured with them. The group relaxed as they watched the adversaries run off. Well almost the entire group.
"Why'd you do that!?" Elsword said as he stomped up angrily towards Aisha.
Aisha rolled her eyes with an annoyed expression on her face. "You're welcome, jerk."
"Welcome for what? I could've taken that last mage myself!", Elsword snapped back.
"Huh yeah, after you picked yourself up off the ground first, by which point you would've been nothing but a pile of ashes." Aisha replied casually.
"I could've-"
"Ok you two, separate corners. We just finished a fight. We don't need you two starting one up again." Rena said as she searched through one of the abandoned bags. She smiled as she pulled out an El Shard, the reason they'd been following the thieves in the first place. "Alright, found it we can head back now."
Back in Elder
"… and another thing!" Elsword said angrily.
"Alright Elsword, we get it. You could've taken the last mage alone." Aisha said with an exasperated look on her face. "All I'm saying is that some gratitude wouldn't hurt.", she added as they arrived at their current lodgings. Chung sat outside with Eve with a toolbox and his cannon, Destroyer, in front of them.
"Hey Chung, we're back." Rena said happily.
Chung looked up from his work for a second and smiled to his friends. "Hey guys. Everything go well?"
Elsword walk directly inside and slammed the door. Chung's smile faded a little. "Oookay, I guess not?"
"Elsword's just upset because Aisha helped him a little during the attack." Rena explained. Chung nodded with understanding. By this point, the whole group was used to Elsword's acting somewhat immature when his pride was injured.
"I don't see what the bid deal is." Aisha grumbled. "All I did was probably save his life."
"Don't be too mad. Elsword is just being… well, Elsword. He'll get out of it sooner or later." Rena said patiently. Aisha shook her head.
Chung got up and turned to Eve. "Could you clean up for me? I'm gonna try to talk to Elsword." Eve nodded as her mobile Nasod units quickly got to putting away the tools. Chung walked inside. Over the course of their journey, Chung and Elsword became good friends, so Chung was used to getting Elsword out of his foul mood. He nodded to Raven politely as he passed by, and soon found himself at Elsword's room. He knocked a few times, only to find no response. He tried again.
"Go away Chung!" Elsword replied. Chung took that as a signal to come in, seeing as how the door was unlocked.
"What do you want?" Elsword snapped as he stood in front of a practice dummy carrying a large wooden practice sword.
"Elsword put the practice blade down. Hitting the dummy won't solve your problem." Chung said matter-of-factly. Elsword didn't turn around. Chung sighed again and this time took the sword out of his friend's hands. Elsword turned around with annoyance. Chung didn't back down and instead gave Elsword a serious look. "Look I know you're upset because Aisha had to help you. But practicing till you drop won't help."
Elsword growled a little, but relented and plopped onto his bed. "It isn't even the fact that the stupid flat-chest had to save me again." Elsword confided. Chung gave a surprised look, but smirked a little when he heard Elsword refer to Aisha by the title he'd given her. It meant he wasn't as upset as he looked.
"It's not?"
"No it's the fact that- that- I feel weak again."
Chung frowned a little as he heard his friend refer to himself as weak. "C'mon Elsword, stop mulling. It doesn't fit you at all. And stop thinking you're weak. You're one of the best swordsmen I know."
"That's just it. One of. Not the best. Sis never had trouble fighting mages. She could handle a whole army of them if she wanted to." Elsword said as he got up and turned to his friend. Chung gave a sympathetic look.
"Well you're not your sister, you're you. You've gotta stop feeling sorry for yourself man." Elsword still looked unconvinced. Chung sighed as he had run out of things that usually cheered Elsword up. Suddenly an idea hit him. "Y'know, there may be a way to remedy this. Have you ever considered learning to actually use magic?"
Elsword gave Chung and incredulous look. Then he started laughing. Chung assumed a confused look as Elsword continued to laugh. Elsword look as Chung again to see him still confused. "Wait, you're serious?!"
"Yes. C'mon Elsword think about it. Learning magic may just help you out if you actually try it." Chung said hopefully. Elsword shook his head.
"No way! Forget it! I'm a swordsman, not a magician! I can't be seen using magic!" Elsword said with a hint of pride in his voice.
"Why not?" Chung asked. Elsword opened his mouth to answer, then quickly closed it as he had none. Chung smiled as he attained victory. "Exactly. Elsword look I know you think magic is weak and kind of lame. But some swordsmen have made great strides in their lives due to magic." Elsword still look skeptical to the idea. Chung decided to play his trump card. "You'd have a style of your own. You would even be able to surpass your sister if you wanted to." Elsword suddenly perked up a little as the thought sank in.
He nodded a bit. "Yeah, yeah, maybe you're right Chung. Ok, I'll do it. I'll learn how to wield magic." Chung smiled as his friend re-assumed his look of confidence. Suddenly it turned to skepticism again. "Wait, where am I gonna find a teacher?"
"Well there's always-"
"Don't say it! Anyone but her!" Elsword exclaimed.
"C'mon Elsword. Aisha is the only one who could teach as we travel." Chung assumed a sly smile. "Or are you just afraid to ask her because deep down you really just have a crush on her?" Elsword gave a look that was a cross between anger and embarrassment.
"I-i-its nothing like that! I just don't wanna have to go to that flat-chest looking for her help! She'll never let me live it down."
"It's either that, or give up on this whole thing entirely buddy. It's your choice." Elsword sat back on his bed and thought it over.
"It would be nice to know how to do something other than swing a sword, but…" Elsword sighed and finally raised his hands in defeat. "Alright fine. I'll ask Aisha." Chung gave Elsword a proud look, to which Elsword returned with mock anger. "But if I end up humiliated, you're a dead man Chung." Chung gave a look of exasperation as he walked out of his friend's room. Elsword assumed a look of anxiety. "Now… how am I gonna ask her?"
(A/N Hope you all enjoyed the story so far. Sorry it hasn't seemed to have picked up too much. But don't worry that'll change in the next update. Till then adieu.)