Looking upon the entrance of Prontera as it enticed our adventurer forward
every single ounce of that feeling coming to a quick grinding halt.
-SQUISH-
The tall sniper looked down below her feet to find an unwanted surprise
"Oh wow.." she lipped as she shook her foot back and forth to rid the bottom of her boot from what was left of a poring.
Disgruntled and a little bit tired from a decently long walk from Payon she quickly decided to continue about her way.
Lauren was her given name, but for a person such as herself, she was given an array of titles by friend and foe alike.
Having been banished from the archer guild and ordered to leave Payon because of a drinking problem she had.
Perhaps sometimes she would admit she's drank a bit too much alcohol.
And her only excuse is what she is now is why she persists
Stripped of her status as an archer of Payon, and her rights to her own guild, along with most of her belongings upon being banned, she decided to head to Prontera to at least get back onto her feet for now.
The guard standing by the archway into Prontera nodded at her entrance.
A relieving sense slapped her across the face since this was probably the first thing that didn't go wrong after the past few days.
The first thing she noticed was the population difference between Payon and Prontera.
More merchants then anything by far.
Stopping nearby a bulletin board Lauren nabbed herself a map, never having actually been to Prontera herself, only vaguely near it a couple times.
Finding it surprising at how long it took her to find the center of the entire city, not only was the merchant population just as strong but more and more people were scurrying about their buisness.
A familiar face being spotted by the sharp eye of the sniper, a fellow guild mate.
Lauren found a stone by her foot, picking it up and hurling it at the happily resting Assassin cross sitting on the side of the center fountain piece in the middle of the city
the stone popping right off the side of his head, and in retort the assassin looked in the direction it came from, his fiery eyes only keeping their glare for a few moments as he spotted where it was thrown from.
"Just got here and your already trying to get into trouble eh?" the assassin asked as he stood up from his spot, Lauren daintily made her way over, barely able to hide the smirk curving its way on one side of her lips.
Both of them opening their arms to another for a short hugging embrace for a few moments.
"I don't want to seem too forward, but did you manage to get it?" Lauren asked as she stepped away from the friendly hug she shared with her friend.
The assassin only laughed in response.
"Of course I did, I said you could count on me, did I not?"
Lauren shrugged her gesture out as the assassin brought out a very simple key, handing it over to Lauren as she grasped it into her hand with a sigh of relief, followed by a small chuckle
Lauren exhaling sharply before speaking.
"Sorry but, its really the only thing I got left you know?"
The assassin nodded in agreement.
"Yeah I understand, but anyways, guild wars are tomorrow and I need to get back and assemble whats left of the guild" the assassin said he held his head down, not knowing how Lauren was going to react.
"Who's in charge now?" Lauren simply asked him.
"We haven't decided yet, most of the newer members left, but a good hand full of people still fight under your name" he replied.
Lauren nodded and placed her hand over his shoulder for any sign of comfort.
"I'm sure you'll all do fine without me"
The assassin let out a long sigh of agreement and started making his way
"Wait!" Lauren exclaimed, chuckling softly. "I need some money"
"Oh right.." the assassin dug into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch, tossing it over to Lauren.
"Should last you a couple days"
with that the assassin did a simple bow to Lauren and vanished into the shadows of daylight.
Lauren dug her map back out and looked around for the nearest Kafra location.
Heading there a little more spiritedly then she was a few minutes ago.
Opening the pouch of zeny and taking out the proper amount to cover the storage access fee as she walked up to the Kafra.
"I'd like to access my storage please." Lauren said, dumping the small pile of zeny onto the table in front of the Kafra.
The Kafra smiled and gave Lauren a sheet of paper about what she had in storage.
Only a couple items since most of which had to be given back as she was expelled from Payon.
The Kafra summoned out Lauren's desired item, a long rectangular case with a lock on it.
Lauren looked over the case with a broad smile as she unlocked it, opening the case to reveal an unstrung Rudra bow.
Taking it out along with a wound spool of bow string.
Taking a seat on a nearby bench, carefully winding the bow up firmly.
Easily feeling the essence of power imbue within the bow as she took it in hand after it was strung.
Her free hand went over her shoulder around her back to grab at nothing, quickly the palm of her hand met her forehead.
"No arrows.." Lauren sighed, wondering when this day would come to an end.
The next hour comprised of searching through what seemed to be endless amounts of shops setup by local merchants. Buying enough materials to get her a decent amount of basic element oriented arrows.
The next thing that came across her mind was money and or a good income.
And if Prontera had just as much to offer as Payon did and more, then there had to be a local arena in the vicinity.
Taking out her trusty map once again and sure enough, the arena was close by.
The only draw back that she found upon entering the arena sign up area was,
they were only allowing party duels for the time being, and the lowest grade was two versus two.
Shrugging to herself and going outside and sharply whistling, waiting for only a few moments before her falcon was quickly to its summoned locations upon her shoulder.
Looking at her falcon with a content smile as she stroked the side of its head gently.
"I'm sorry Romaleos, I don't have any food for you now, but I can if you help me right now"
Romaleos, or Roma for short, stayed planted firmly in place upon her shoulder as its sign of agreement, Lauren smiled and walked back into the arena, making her way to the front desk.
"Are there any matches open?" she asked the woman behind the desk, and she nodded in reply.
"Plenty, but you require a party to step inside the arena ma'am" the woman behind the desk added to her gesture.
"Sign me and my falcon up then" Lauren replied with a little smirk slapped across her lips.
The woman laughed and only nodded. "Your name please?"
"Lauren" Romaleos let out a firm shriek right after Lauren spoke. "And my falcon, Romaleos"
the arena manager pointed with her finger behind Lauren. "Those two are your opponents"
Lauren turned around, seeing a Lord Knight paired up with an assassin, walking over, just within arms reach.
"How about a little wager on this one boys?" Lauren asked directly to the Lord Knight, seeing as how he would've been in charge of the two.
"Yeah? How much we talkin here then missy?" the assassin spoke up.
The lord knight firmly pushed the assassin away a little bit, grabbing him by the scruff of his outfit.
"Damnit, do you not remember where that kind of talk got you last time?!" the lord knight asked him, holding a bit of anger behind his words.
The lord knight shook his head and sighed, dropping the assassin, his body his the ground with a little thud, followed by a chuckle from Lauren.
"I'm a little short on money here, but lets say.." Lauren spoke before the lord knight could suggest a wager.
"If you two win, you can have me for the night, and if I win..how about...one hundred large a little too big for your wallets?" Lauren asked, smirking slightly.
The lord knight only pondered for a few moments before nodding, reaching out his hand to seal the deal, "Deal"
the assassin was about to speak but obviously these two aren't new friends and the lord knight saw it coming and simply glared at him to shut up.
Lauren walked over to the front desk. Tapping the hard top to get the managers attention.
"We're all ready to go then" stated Lauren.
All three of them were directed to the appropriate stage on which their duel was to be held, there was no audience, this was all rather discrete.
Now in her starting position, feeling more then ready she looked to her falcon.
"Get that annoying assassin first, he's obviously going to hide about his shadows and cause some problems, okay?"
Romaleos cawed a couple times and flew away.
'You better, you ass..' Lauren thought to herself.
Hearing the arena ding once as a sign to get ready.
The prep room she was in was somewhat small, and the corridor leading to the main room was very narrow, hardly room to fit about 4 people.
And from what she could see, there was an elevated stage in the middle of the arena, blocking the view of the other side, figuring this arena was symmetric.
Feeling a shiver run up her spine as she forced herself into a battle ready state.
Her pupils slivered as her sniper instinct took over, allowing her to see more then the normal eye could.
Lauren immediately darted forward into a quick sprint as the final arena bell sounded and the magical gate forbidding her movement into the center arena opened, she jumped and mantled herself up onto the center stage, seeing her two opponents still making their way down their own corridor that lead to her position.
Resting her weight onto one leg while the other was stretched out, she notched an arrow into place, pulling back on the bow string, the power that was imbue into the bow quickly rushed through her, guiding her shot as she narrowed her sights down to the lord knight.
The shriek of Laurens falcon was loud and it caught her opponents attention for precious moments.
Releasing her oridecon tipped arrow, letting it fly and pierce through the air.
The assassin quickly cloaked himself at the first sign of danger, but Romaleos picked up on years of experience by Laurens side and knew she hated those who hid themselves from her during a fight.
The aura around Romaleos erupted in fire as he picked up an impossible amount of speed, easily striking the cloaked inexperienced assassin.
Lauren knowing that he lacked vitality to withstand such a strong attack would be down for the count.
Laurens attention quickly went back to the Lord knight who now had a powerful yellow aura around him, his blade was shining bright white and there was no sign of any arrow striking him what so ever.
Looking closer she noticed the Knight pick his weapon back up with two hands.
The fact quickly hitting Lauren 'Crap..the parry type' she thought to herself.
"This may get interesting.." Lauren whispered as she notched another arrow...