A.N: Carlo's quest; To Be unbreakable.. The characters belong to their respective owners, of course. Updates will be sporadic and not in chronological order, but I will reorganize them as time goes on. The character quests will be a series of side stories to my main fanfiction.
To be unbreakable
Escort Mission near the Vice-Capital
"Come on, hurry up! There's a lot of monsters around here," Pirika said from her perch on my shoulder.
"So where are we hurrying to?" Carlo said in between letting out yawns.
"You mean you haven't heard, Carlo?" Pirika said, floating over to him in surprise. "We're going to help the Tiger Fangs escort a caravan."
"The Tiger Fangs?" Pheona said, looking curious.
"Didn't you use to run with them, Carlo?" Kain said.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I guess I did," Carlo said and idly picked at an ear.
"What are they like?" I said.
"Don't you want to see your old friends?" Pirika said at the same time, looking suspicious.
The mercenary frowned but it swiftly turned into a smirk. "They're the cheapest mercenaries around..." He said. "And the ones with the highest turn over rates. They do a lot of dangerous jobs at the front line..." He frowned again and then added nonchalantly, "the rest I forget."
Liar. I thought staring at him pensively. That's not the face of someone who forgets things easily.
"Sounds like they're very brave," Kain grinned, "I can't wait to meet them."
"Don't get your hopes up, the whole lot is mean and miserly," Carlo said, readjusting his sword.
"That's an awful cold way to talk about your friends. Aren't you looking forwards to seeing them?" Pirika said, floating into his face.
"Not really, so many new people have joined..." Carlo said as he took a step away. "I doubt I know anyone anymore. Besides, I never liked that crowd." He gave a shrug.
"You're pretty cold, you know that?" Pirika said with a huff.
"Pirika..." Marina spoke up scoldingly.
"Well, he is!" Pirika said, looking affronted.
"Ha ha, I get that a lot," Carlo said, waving a hand about.
Does it really not bother you? I wondered and rubbed at my nose, a familiar scent was trickling flowing by. "Monsters on our 2 o'clock!" I said, interrupting the bickering.
"Looks like the chitchat will have to wait," Carlo said, with a smirk.
"More of them coming from our 8 o'clock, Captain!" Kain added. "An' there's a small group in the copses over there it looks like."
"It seems we're surrounded..." Pheona trailed off, a hand straying to her book.
"Triangle," I said. "Pirika, c'mere."
"Just great." Carlo said, drawing his sword.
"What's great about this?" Pirika said.
"All I wanted to do was finish the job and go find me some pretty ladies."
"On three, Michidia" I said.
"Ah well, guess I'll just have to make the most of it." Carlo said when Pirika continued to glare at him. "Lets get 'em, shall we Cap'?"
"Go for it." I said and charged the nearest skeleton.
"That felt almost to easy," Pirika said from her perch. "There sure weren't a lot of them, hunh?"
I hummed out an agreement and decided not to mention that some of the skeletons had obviously been previously wounded.
"We're supposed to meet the Mercenaries over near that copses, right?" Michidia said.
"Yes," I said. "See anything?"
"Not yet," The archer said, peering about.
"I'll go check it out." Pirika decided and flew off. She hadn't gone far before she wheeled her way back to us chirping, "hey, I found them."
"Nicely done," I said obediently.
"Hey! Over here!" Pirika yelled flying off again.
"So you're the reinforcements. Great, we could use the help," A tall Tiger Fang with a facial scar said as he strode over to meet us. He then paused as if surprised. "Hm? Carlo is that you? It's been ages!"
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Carlo said after giving the man a cursory glance.
"Ha ha, so you forgot all about me, eh? You haven't changed a bit," The Tiger Fang member said with a chuckle.
"Never mind the formalities. There's a lot fewer of you than I expected," Carlo said, glancing about with a slight frown.
"We got attacked by monsters on the way. Most of us didn't make it." Another Tiger Fang called as he joined us.
"So, where are the goods?" I said, impatient to get this job over with before more monsters appeared.
"Over on that hill top," A brown haired Mercenary said. He carried a bow slung over his shoulder. "Hey, loan me your archer. I'll show you the spots."
"Sure," Michidia said and strode off with him.
"Let's go with them!" Pirika said and flew off. I followed, not really bothered that she was once again imposing on my decisions. The shipment we were supposed to guard, turned out to be two large caravans, full of silks.
Eh... How boring. I thought, grumpily. Why couldn't it be food or something?
"Captain! We've got incoming!" Michidia yelled. I looked up, the archer was standing atop the caravan staring off towards something out of sight. Swiftly I clambered up the side of the caravan, and joined her on top. I instantly spotted the problem. A large black shape was slowly crawling towards us. I whistled sharply.
"Heads up guys, this is a 3 at least maybe a 4."
"...Speak of the devil." The Mercenary from earlier, stated with a sigh.
"T-there's so many of them!" Pirika said, flying loops above my head.
"Why couldn't it have been throngs of ladies after me instead?" Carlo said as he walked around the caravan.
"Th-there's just too many!" Pirika said, fist drumming an anxious beat on my head.
"Is it just me or do things look kind of bad?" Carlo said, seemingly amused by the fairy's panic.
"You guys take the goods and go-on ahead. We'll hold them off," One of the Tiger Fangs said.
"No! We can't just leave you here to die! We're going to stay and fight!" Pheona said, wide-eyed in outrage.
"Like hell you are!"
"If you stay and we all get wiped out, who's gonna keep the goods safe?" Carlo's friend said calmly.
"B-But if we win, then no one will have to..."
"Take a look around. There's no way we can win against all of them," Carlo said, not seeming the least bit bothered.
"..." Pirika remained silent but I could feel her tiny fists clenching my hair stands.
"Now you get it," The Tiger Fang with the facial scar said. "Our job is to deliver the goods intact. Not to make it home alive." He turned towards our newest member. "It's up to you now, Carlo."
"...Got it. Don't worry, I'll make sure it gets done," Carlo said.
"Let's go," I said.
"Are you sure about this?!" Pirika said, hovering in front of my face.
"... Even mercenaries have a sense of honor. Let's go," Carlo said, face remarkably impassive.
"I understand. Stay safe, everyone," Pheona said, struggling to muster a smile for them.
Atta girl. I couldn't help but think. You're learning.
"Heh heh, it ain't every day that we have a pretty lady cheering us on," The scarred Tiger Fang said with a grin as he pinwheeled his arms.
"Don't let your wife hear you say that," Carlo said.
"So you do remember me"
"Welp... See ya' around!" Carlo said, a brief grin flashed across his face.
"You bet," The Tiger Fang said and the two bumped fists.
"We can go through the left," I said.
"Looks like there aren't to many monsters that way."
"Let's smash through!" Kain said and charged towards the distant pack of monsters.
Good grief, Kain, must you always run? I grumbled mentally as I chased after my friend.
"Kain, wait up!"
"Oh, let the boy be. He'll learn...eventually," Carlo sad as he loped besides us.
I sent him a quick glance, wondering if I'd imagined the hesitation in his voice.
Keeping an eye on Pheona, I plunged into the mass of skeletons, hewing left and right to clear a semblance of a path. As always, I felt a smile part my lips and I laughed quietly. This is fun! I thought, as I dodged a curved scimitar, rolled through the muck, and coming up behind the monster, finished it off. Swiftly, I spun, sinking my hips low and then leaping up to tackle a larger opponent. It never stood a chance. I sighed happily and spun in a circle, remembering belatedly to check up on my teammates.
Kain and Michidia were teaming up, as per normal. Marina and Pheona were safely up on top of the caravan but Pirika was nowhere to be seen. That's never a good sign. I thought and headed closer to the caravan.
"Captain, behind you!" I heard Michidia yell. I dove forwards, twisting to my feet and turning to face my would be opponent. The huge cloaked figure roared, and I smirked tauntingly in reply. It swiftly dissapeared though, when the the roaring monster let out a surprised gurgle and collapsed. What...? I thought, surprised and a bit disappointed.
"It's not proper to play with your food, Cap'," Carlo said as he jumped over the beast's body. "You won't catch the ladies like that."
I frowned, and said, "it's not nice to steal other people's prey, you know."
"Bit territorial are we?" Carlo said with a smirk, that I instantly wanted to wipe off. "So be it, you are the Captain," Carlo said and jogged back into the fray.
I huffed and followed, determined to ignore him for the rest of the trip.
"That takes care of the goods," Pheona said as she passed the last bag to the owner.
"But there's still no sign of the mercenaries..." Michidia said, looking over her shoulder again.
"That's not uncommon on the battlefield," Carlo said.
"What were their names?" Marina said.
"That's right! We forgot to ask!" I shook my head slightly at Pirika's outburst, but she was correct. I'd forgotten to ask.
"Trust me, it's better that way. You need to forget about them," Carlo said.
"No," I said. Quit lying to us. I added mentally. That's not what you really think, is it?
"Zeru's right, why should we forget about them?" Pirika said.
"If you try to remember everyone that died, it'll break your heart," Carlo said and tugged almost absentmindedly at an earing.
"I'll never forget them!" Kain said, frowning up at the older man.
Carlo let out a laugh, that sounded a bit startled to my ears. "Heh heh, you're too kind, kid. You know that?" He ruffled Kain's hair.
"Can you really forget them?" Marina said, looking up at worriedly at the mercenary.
"Of course I can. I haven't been a mercenary this long for nothing."
Pheona bit her lower lip, looking sad.
"Ah, don't let it get you down." Carlo hastened to add. "They just got their freedom back a little sooner. Don't be sad that they're gone just..." The mercenary trailed off.
"Be glad that they did live." I chimed in, with a small smile. Fine, I'll forgive you for stealing my prey this time only. I decided.
"That's right, Captain!" Carlo said with a grin and clapped me on the back before turning away and putting his hands up, as if to make his voice carry further than the distant hills. "Guys, if you can hear me over there, be sure to have a drink on me. And if you meet any pretty ladies, be sure to put in a good word for me!" He remained as such for another few seconds and then with a shake of his head, limped off.
"Carlo's really strong, isn't he?" Pheona said, sounding just a tad sad.
"You can only be happy if you're alive. Carlo knows this," I said, also staring at the distant hills, that in my mind's eye, appeared rather bloody.
"That's right..." Pirika trailed off and then brightened up. "Come on, let's go do our part to make this a world where everyone can be happy." The fairy exclaimed bouncing on my head.
I hummed an agreement and lead the way to the nearest guild building.
6
