Chapter 1
The young elf appeared out of nowhere, with nothing on except a pair of old worn boots and two thin pieces of linen wrapped around her hips and breasts. The travellers passing by stared at her as she walked past, as if she didn't belong in a land such as Noria. She shrugged them off almost instantly and sat down on a toadstool. It was not the most comfortable of seating, but she managed to position herself nicely upon the soft surface. With one quick glance over her shoulder, she opened her inventory and peered inside. A small glint of red caught her eye and without hesitation, she shoved her hand inside the bag and pulled it out. It was a ring. She examined it closely and made out a small inscription around the rim. Ring of Warrior. Before she could inspect it further, the sky above gave way to a strange shadow that seemed to linger over the safe zone. She looked up and saw to her amazement, a horde of dangerous - yet strangely compelling - gold dragons flying overhead. Never in her life had she seen anything so spectacular ... so miraculous ... so –
"GOLD INVASION!"
The young elf snapped out of her trance and directed her attention to the crowd gathered around an elf which seemed to radiate light from her very body. There was no doubt that this elf was very beautiful, but there was an air about her which gave the young elf the impression that she was also very powerful. Without realising what she was doing, she approached the crowd, eager to see the elf up close and to see the commotion that this 'gold invasion' had created.
She slowly eased her way in through the crowd and came face to face with a handsome young man, whose hair seemed so grey for one his age. He smiled back in response to the shock which spread across her face like lightning.
"I'm so sorry," the elf said softly to the man, "I didn't -""That's OK my dear," he replied swiftly, "It always gets like this when the gold invasion starts."She hesitated to reply at first, but curiosity got the better of her and she asked, "What do you mean?"
He cocked his head to one side and looked at her oddly. This made her feel very uncomfortable and so she shuffled her feet in haste, not knowing how to react. The young man seemed to understand she knew nothing about the event and began to laugh.
"You must be new," he said through his laughter, "The golden invasion is where monsters made of gold suddenly materialize onto the many lands of MU. We then hunt them down and destroy them – please don't look so shocked elf, you'll get used to it in time. These monsters carry with them a special box which may hold a valuable treasure, and no MUitizen would pass up any opportunity to kill one."
With his explanation, she fell silent. How could she respond to such information? It was very disturbing to hear that the magnificent creatures which flew above her were destined to be a warrior's trophy. It was here that she decided that she would never hunt them down, no matter how tempting it may seem to her in the future. By now, the crowd had begun to thin out, in search of the elusive golden monsters that had now invaded the continent of MU. The elf was now in full view, and more beautiful than ever.
"I wish she could buff me still," the young man suddenly said. "Buff?" the young elf replied, confused by his remark. "She is the Elf Soldier. Her buffs can increase your attack and defence tenfold," he explained, "But she only gives her buff to those who need it, like yourself.""But ... why would I need it?""She only buffs those whose level of expertise fall under one hundred and eighty.""How does she know?""Oh ... she knows."
She looked up at the young man and smiled.
"Does she know what level you are Mr...""Just call me Ratemenz," he cut in, "And yes, she knows that I no longer need her services.""Why?""I'm level three hundred and eighty six my dear."
She gulped loudly. This man was so young, yet his experience was way beyond hers! He didn't look like a warrior, for his armour was nothing special. From his head down to his toes, he wore a light material which she couldn't identify, but she saw the colours of the rainbow shine from his helmet. The young man stared at her, trying to figure out what she was thinking.
"Do you not like my pad set?" he asked curiously.
She stopped breathing. So that is what the material is...
"It's nice..." she began, "But it doesn't look strong."
He laughed once again, but this time it was much louder. It was so loud that she even considered covering her ears but restrained herself from doing so, for she was afraid she might offend the man.
"Oh, it's strong my dear, it's excellent," he said confidently, flexing his arms, "This set can bypass any monsters' attack and reduce the damage they inflict on me.""Oh? Is that possible?""Yes my dear. It is very possible."
He smiled at her and walked away, leaving her to her thoughts. She didn't understand how such a set could do anything that the young man had said. It didn't worry her though. Her mind was elsewhere. The beautiful elf was now just a few steps from her, floating in mid air with a tranquil expression upon her face. The young elf reached out to touch her when suddenly, she began to speak...
"I'll be your strength for the journey to become a warrior."
Her voice was filled with such softness, that it was hard to believe she was real. Without warning, a strange sensation rushed through her body. She looked down to see a wisp of green slowly coil around her body, along with an instant glow that seemed to stain her skin. All she could do at that moment was look around in helplessness, for she had no idea what had happened to her.
"How do you like it?"
The young elf turned around to see Ratemenz looking down at her, with a lopsided grin on his face.
"What has she done me Ratemenz?" she asked desperately.
"Nothing my dear, she just gave you a helping hand," he whispered.
"You mean to say that she has given me a buff?"
"Exactly."
A wave of relief swept through her. For a moment, she had thought the Elf Soldier had paralysed her.
"Ratemenz, your level is very high, but you do not look experienced. Can you not fool her into buffing you?" she asked quietly.
He stopped to think for a split second, and answered, "Not all Soul Masters need high defence my dear. You will come across many others that have chosen the same profession as I have, and you will see that their sets differ to how they gain experience," he paused, "And as for the Elf Soldier ... it will not matter to her how you look, for she sees more than just a low level set."
"What is a Soul Master?"
"I am a Soul Master," he said proudly, "My strength does not lie within a sword, but within magic. With my speed and versatility, I am able to conjure high damage poison spells and create magical barriers of defence for others who ask for my aid."
"That's not possible, it's-"
"It is very possible my dear," he interrupted, "One day we shall meet again and I will show you what I mean."
He bowed to the young elf and evaporated into thin air. She blinked a few times, trying to absorb his sudden departure and then walked over to a lovely lady playing a harp. Her song was a pretty little tune that seemed to bring an ambiance of happiness to Noria. She returned to her toadstool seat and watched as a MUitizen bought necessities from the harp lady's shop.
"What are you staring at?" spat the MUitizen.
He looked down on the elf and narrowed his eyes, as if to scare her. He succeeded, for she stood frozen on the spot, unable to speak. His long silvery hair swept over his shoulders in the warm breeze while the mask worn upon face kept his hairline in place. He looked very strong; his armour resembled cerulean blue and glistened in the sunlight with every breath he took. The weapon across his back was a type of staff or sceptre, and he looked very much like a Soul Master. Perhaps that was what Ratemenz meant by different types of Soul Masters – this man had to be a powerful magic caster, she was sure of it. Now all she had to do was summon the nerve to reply back.
"Who m-me?" her voice trembled, "I-I wasn't looking at a-anything sir."
"Sir... pfft!" he scorned distastefully, "I am a Lord to you, you noob."
"A Lord?" she managed to say.
"A Dark Lord you stupid elf. Or do you not remember that we rule the continent of MU?"
"I only just got here..."
The man let out a thoughtful sigh and his stature of defence deflated slightly.
"I am Lord Shahenshah. I am an emperor in my own right, and whatever I say, goes," he said majestically "And what is your name elf?"
"Oh, my name is-"
She trailed off. What is my name? She stared at him blankly, for she could not answer. The man began to grow impatient, and suddenly he extended his hand to her.
"Let's trade if you do not wish to tell me," he said curtly.
"I'm sorry, I do not know my name-"
"Just take my hand!"
Without hesitation, she obeyed. Her inventory opened automatically, along with her estimated level ... and her name! The young elf smiled as she read it out loud.
"Amaryll," she said proudly.
"You're a slow learner elf," Lord Shahenshah said rudely, "Don't make me wait for your answer again."
He closed the trade and her inventory returned to its previous state of lifelessness. Amaryll couldn't understand why this self professed 'Emperor' was so mean to her. All she had done was accidentally look his way, and as a consequence she was scared out of her wits and interrogated by a complete stranger. She pulled herself up to his height and kept her composure, although she wanted to slap him in the face.
"I won't Emperor," she said slowly, "But I'm not a slow learner."
Shahenshah pondered on her words and coolly replied, "I'm going to think you are until you prove me wrong. Now, you are wasting my time. I have more important things to do than talk to a noob like you."
"I'm not a noob!" Amaryll screamed.
At least, I don't think I am... what is a noob anyway?
Shahenshah turned his back on her and walked away with his cape flapping behind him. She couldn't believe how rude he was! Pushing undesirable thoughts about him out of her mind, Amaryll stared at her feet and put her hands on her hips. The breeze felt cold against her arms and legs and she began to shiver.
"Amaryll."
She looked up sharply and saw Shahenshah staring down on her once again.
"Yes Lord?" she replied, not really caring what he wanted with her.
"Trade with me."
She took his hand once again, and up popped her inventory. The Dark Lord presented her with an orb of deepest blue; something which seemed completely out of his character.
"Take it," he urged.
Afraid of angering the Dark Lord and suffering another insult, she reluctantly accepted and placed it in her inventory.
"Thankyou..." she murmured under her breath.
"I want you to be an Energy Elf," he continued, ignoring her completely, "When you are above level three hundred, I want you to mail me."
"What's an Energy Elf?"
"An Energy Elf will focus her experience on energy only, and aid all the other characters which she will hunt with. She will have grace and gentility, and conjure a strong buff which will benefit everyone."
"Like the elf soldier?" Amaryll asked.
"Pfft, you will not be like her!" he replied, offended by the comparison, "She only helps the weak. But you Amaryll will assist the strong, for that is the purpose you serve as an Energy Elf."
"And what if I don't want to be an Energy Elf?"
Shahenshah leant into her and whispered in a deadly tone, "You will be an Energy Elf Amaryll. Understood?"
Amaryll pulled away from him and tried to find reason in his eyes. At first, she thought he was joking, but she could see there was no wavering in his expression. Of all things, she never thought that anyone would tell her what to do, especially this conceited Dark Lord standing before her. He talked of the elf soldier to be anything but wondrous, which she couldn't understand.
"But why? Why an Energy Elf?" Amaryll asked, "Why do you care what I become?"
Shahenshah turned his head away for a moment, as if to contemplate on telling her a thought he was keeping to himself.
"I won't be questioned."
Amaryll glared at him, not at all impressed with his answer. The Dark Lord rivalled her stare not only with his eyes, but with his stance. His fists were clenched tightly and his chin was slightly raised, showing his pursed lips. They stood there in silence, with the harp melody the only sound between them. It was only until the sound of a horn echoing in the distance did Shahenshah break the intensity between the two of them.
"I must go. I must defend the land of Noria now," Shahenshah said at once.
He walked in the direction of the Elf Soldier and mounted a magnificent russet horse at the exit of the safe zone. Shahenshah rode off into the distance, with his armoured horse pounding his hooves into the ground. Amaryll did not know that the Dark Lord owned any type of creature, and was very surprised to see that the horse even let him on its back. Maybe Shahenshah had a way with animals, which was a side that the elf could never have imagined him to possess. But that couldn't be right. He didn't seem to be the type of man to show compassion, especially to beings which he thought to be below him. No. He must be using some type of mind trick to control the poor creature, for no creature would willingly be the companion of that Dark Lord.
As she was dreaming about rescuing the horse from its terrible master, a group of people appeared in front of the Elf Soldier. They all looked at each other and headed out of Noria, in the direction of the Dark Lord. Curious as to where they were going, Amaryll followed them, leaving the safety of the safe zone to enter the wilderness of the land known as Noria.