Chapter 1: Nothing Like A Love Story. At All

Lee said the word bridge twenty times behind the scenes of this chapter. Kim and Renz could not bear the sight of multiple wooden trails branching out from each of nature's skyscrapers any longer. Also, their Bard friend's imitation of a tour guide was getting on their nerves. They would gladly cut his tongue if they weren't so exhausted, but I think it's merely a bad excuse and they truly care for their lax companion.

"Lee, I want you to die."

Or not.

The ogre of a priestess continues to batter the bard with hateful comments. "I want you to die because I can't die from this walk."

"Want me to help you?" mumbles Renz with a hoarse voice and a tired look.

"Sure," and after shooting a confused look at the paranoid novice, "Help me with what, though?

"Dying. I'll be glad if you would drop dead right now with him."

Kim heartlessly strangles poor little Renz not out of hatred but out of fatigue, yelling out curses with the shrill voice of a harpy. Lee continues to trace his fingers across the map, but bears a worried look and a sweaty forehead. His weak grin shows his lack of confidence towards leading the way, and the fatigue is also getting to him.

"Narrator, I want a break from the usual routine," says the bard whilst pleadingly looking to the sky.

And so I answer him like a god from the heavens, What kind of break are you talking about?

"Just a quick skit to attract the reader's attention somewhere else for now. I still got to decide on which path to go, and I can't show my weak side to the people reading this fanfic."

And he continues, with a man's distasteful desperation, "I don't wish to lose my female fans."

I never mentioned in the story that you were handsome or charming. You wouldn't have any fans, don't worry.

"JUST DO IT, PLEASE."

The bard cuts the picture into black, and so I am forced into telling the audience a side story. What I am about to enlighten you all with is background detail regarding our three bumbling heroes. Hope it's not too boring.

Kim is the oldest of the three, being twenty-years old, but is also the most immature of the group, having a weak composure and a strong temper. She was born as Ariadne Alheim, daughter of a rich family who were descendants of the founders of the bustling success of a city, Prontera. She longed for adventure and battles, but was forced to become a staff-wielding priest rather than a fist-fighting monk due to her parent's wishes which could not be easily defied. She fled her hometown and stumbled upon Lee, whom she formed a rather rocky but close friendship with.

Lee, born Felixus Lyhrie, is an eighteen-year old adventurer born in the faraway city of Rachel, known for its huge religious influences. However, Lee is far from a demure disciple of the church. He longed for adventure, much like Kim, but was given his chance to see the world by leading his own life after his parents died from a mysterious accident. He was not heavily affected by their death. He traveled around the world with a guitar in hand, sharing his gift of songs to the many girls he meets. However, he would often ruin his chances with them after they realize his overly carefree nature. He meets Kim during a chance visit in a bar in Geffen. Sharing the same desire for adventure as he does, he decided to take her alongside him for a better time with company. Up until this very day, he cannot find himself attracted to her in any way at all.

Renz is a thirteen-year old born from a poor family in Prontera as Cygnus Renz. While his parents were town folk without professions their whole lives, he held a desire to become someone strong at his own right. He became a novice but struggled to make his way into a swordsman. One day, he met a man who was able to become a powerful warrior whist remaining a novice. Renz was inspired by him to become a super-novice: a rare profession that is able to perform a variety of combat skills and magic that gives way for the creation of unique but powerful strategies. He has been dedicated towards this goal up till this very day. When he first met Kim and Lee, he used them as means to become stronger since they are of battle supportive classes. However, the two could not prove to be people to depend on, to Renz's dismay, but he still remains with the two until the day he meets people whom he can rely on for real. It is unknown whether he has already grown attached to the two.

"We seem to be getting close to some form of civilization, guys." says Lee with a return of his usual grin.

"How the hell do you know that?" asks the ever-skeptic Renz.

He rests his chin on his hand and imitates a suave look. "I can feel it."

Smack! A plane crash happens in the back of Lee's head in the form of a hand. Kim forms a fist as her temper boils while standing beside the bard. She says to him, "You can think of a better answer than that."

"Relax, Renz and Kim, for it's really obvious that we are about to stumble upon a village very soon," and Lee shoots a charming wink unto the angry priest. "I also have other reasons besides my intuition." he continues.

"Go ahead. Careful with what you say though." Renz cynically says to the confident Lee.

"Okay. First of all, there wouldn't be any bridges here if people don't live close by."

While Kim easily became impressed, Renz makes a face that says that he could've thought of that reason as well.

"Second, we walked all the way here without having to battle any monsters. It's either there were no monsters around here to begin with, or there was something that caused the monsters to flee from these parts of the jungle."

Renz questions this statement almost by instinct. "What do you suppose caused the absence of monsters here then?"

"People."

"I… don't think that people can actually eradicate monsters in an area. I mean, unless they were really strong and used tons of warfare and stuff."

"Nah, there shouldn't have been any warfare used around here. This place doesn't look like it was built by people of that kind of civilization." And Lee's eyes twinkle. "I bet it was some kind of dark magic that repelled the monsters away from here."

"OH! Can I say something too?" says Kim loudly out of excitement of the topic. Lee gives her the go with a hand gesture.

"Maybe the Comodo people banished the witch from the old myths around here and she actually made this forest her own hideout!"

Renz raises his eyebrows from slight surprise of Kim's theory. "Wow Kim, I never thought something so ridiculous can actually be convincing, especially when it's coming from you." Renz sneers at her after delivering his sarcastic remark.

The priest headlocks the novice around her elbow with full strength. Lee ignores this and starts to think deeply. After a few seconds of such deep thought, Lee suddenly exclaims "Oh right! I was supposed to mention the third reason!"

Kim and Renz halts their death match and both say at the same time, "There's a third reason?"

"Yes!" and after a quick erhem, Lee says, "This chapter's dragging way too long so it's about time the author finally introduces the nearby village!"

I don't need you telling me that.