A New Horizon
~Chapter 2~
Naotsugu strode into the large antechamber that was usually kept reserved for Shiroe's private meetings with important guild leaders or People of the Land. He was mildly curious as to why Shiroe had chosen to meet with him here, but he had known and trusted Shiroe for almost as long as he had played the game, long before the Apocalypse. He had had no reason not to trust him then, and even less now that he had proven himself a major player in the events that were shaping the new world that they all inhabited. Sitting in a large bronze chair, Naotsugu peered through the large glass window and out at the heart of the newly revitalized marketplace that lay directly outside the Guild Hall.
Nodding to himself, he thought about how the scene of the happy people along with the shouts of the children that drifted from below solidified his opinion. Before Shiroe's dealings with the Crescent Moon Alliance and several of the other trade guilds, life had been depressing and days had dragged on without end for the adventurers. When new shops and stands selling food with delicious flavors and actual texture began to market and dispense their goods, life began to return to the adventurers. Sometimes, Naotsugu thought, the best comfort and pick-me-up a person can have is a good, hot meal. That, and a nice woman…
He turned around as he heard the large ornate door swing open, and saw Shiroe enter and approach him. As Shiroe neared where he sat, Naotsugu smiled broadly at the sight of his friend.
"I assume you're doing well?" Shiroe inquired politely "Marie isn't too much of a problem for you, is she? I know she can be quite the handful." He laughed softly.
"No more than usual," chuckled Naotsugu. "Although sometimes I'm not sure if she's actually leading the camp or if she's just another adventurer that I'm supposed to babysit." The Guardian spoke with a smile, enjoying being able to have a normal conversation with him. It seemed like it was a rare thing now, with all the work and politics that Shiroe had become busy with as of late. " Speaking of which, why did you pull me from the camp? I knew it would be important, seeing as you chose to leave Marie in charge of things. "
"Yes, important is correct..." Shiroe's smile was replaced by a slight frown and as he continued speaking, he looked seriously at the Naotsugu. "Do you remember the... incident we had with our 'friend' from the Tea Party not too long ago? I imagine you can recall the situation I refer to." A quick look at his friend's face confirmed that he still vividly remember the events that had transpired some few months ago. "Well it seems that certain events have triggered his premature awakening."
"What does that mean? Is he coming back?" Naotsugu asked.
"No, he still doesn't remember what happened, but it's possible that if he is left to act unchecked, he could begin to put the pieces together." Shiroe gave him a pointed look. "And I think it's safe to say that neither one of us want to see him before we're ready to deal with him properly."
Naotsugu swallowed nervously. "Hahaha, yea... I'm pretty sure he didn't care much for me, even back in the Tea Party... What did you have planned for him, anyway? Wouldn't it have been easier to just keep him locked up and under check here?"
Shiroe had begun shaking his head even before his friend had finished his sentence. "No, we couldn't have kept him here. Imagine how people would react if we started keeping adventurers prisoners. Besides, We need to have the complete support of the Adventurers AND the People of the Land, and we can't do that if they're scared of us. But don't worry, I have plans for him. For now though, I have other matters that require my attention, and I'm sure you'd like to return to the camp, so I'll cut straight to the point. I need you to go to the Amerikan server and keep an eye on him. Nothing difficult or dangerous, just make sure he doesn't stick his head into anything that might jog his memory. Can you do it? I wouldn't ask if I didn't believe it to be absolutely necessary.."
Naotsugu exhaled slowly, before grinning ruefully at his trusted friend. "Fine, fine. I'll do it. But i'll have to borrow a Crystalline necklace, I left mine back at the camp."
"That's fine", said Shiroe absent-mindedly as he leafed through a stack of papers. "Just get it done."
With a final nod towards the Enchanter, Naotsugu exited the room.
"Akatsuki, did you hear all of that" Shiroe spoke out to the empty room. Suddenly, the tiny assassin appeared next to him.
"Yes, my Lord. Is it true? Is Etsu-"
"Don't say his name! Never again, that's what we all agreed upon. We must forget about him."
"Yes, my Lord. I apologize, my Lord."
" Follow Naotsugu and make sure everything checks out with the rogue."
"Do you not trust him, my Lord?"
"I do. And that's why I don't want anything to happen to him. Do you understand what I want you to do?" She nodded silently. "Then do it, and return to me soon please."
Akatsuki blushed and said, " Yes, my Lord." With that she bowed deeply, then turned sharply on her heels and walked quickly out of the room.
Araya liked killing. It was fun, and it wasn't illegal here. Back before the Apocalypse she had had to be careful about killing, making sure that she never left any incriminating evidence. That had always been a boring part of the whole the Apocalypse, killing people just didn't seem like such hectic fun. She loved the feel of the kill, the feel of life ebbing out of someone right in front of her, and the thrill of struggle that her more formidable opponents had presented. But everything was so much...easier here. She twirled a knife easily between her fingers as she watched an interesting scene unfold before her from where she sat nestled in a tree some thirty feet away. "Whats going on down there?", she said in an amused voice.
It seemed that an argument had broken out between a tall slender elf and a small group of dwarves. She watched avidly as a dwarf broke from the group and began to walk towards the elf, clearly looking for a fight. She grinned as she saw the elf draw a dagger and toss a smaller object behind his back, presumably another weapon from the way he stood poised as if ready to attack. As the rest of the short-lived fight unfolded before her, she leaned forward on the branch she rested upon, straining to see the graceful and precise techniques the elf employed as he quickly disposed of his smaller adversary.
"Hmmm, he seems like fun," she said aloud to herself. She paused thoughtfully. "Hmmm, and he isn't weak either... Well, that settles it! He's next!" Araya exclaimed as she leapt nimbly down from the tree. Watching the elf, she saw that he was heading into the nearby city called Larul. Not wanting to lose sight of him, she silently sprinted towards the large, ornate dwarven city gates. As she neared upon the adventurer, it became easier to follow and observe him, as other travellers populated the wide road leading into the city, and the market that lay just within the city walls.
She noticed that he was especially tall, even for an elf. He carried himself ably, and didn't shy from the clearly hostile community that they had become immersed in, showing he was either oblivious to his current situation, or had high confidence in his capabilities. From what she had watched in the field, she suspected the latter was true. Good, she thought to herself happily. It's been so long since I've faced an opponent worthy of my attention! She skipped joyfully, making sure to stay a constant distance of about fifteen feet behind the unknowing adventurer as she casually lingered by local vendors and stalls.
As she continued to trail the elf deeper into the city, she noticed that he was heading towards the metalworks district that was so iconic in dwarven culture. She shook her head ruefully as she turned a corner and almost ran into the elf as he ducked into a small blacksmith's shop. She sighed, grateful that he hadn't noticed her. After all, she thought, what fun would it be for the wolf to stalk the sheep all day, only to reveal himself before the real chase began?
Outside the shop, A nearby dwarf bumped into her and looked at her strangely and asked why she was loitering idly outside the shop. "Im hunting wabbit… i mean Elves" Araya said with a maniacal and lopsided smile painted on her face. Fairly disturbed, the dwarf turned and hurried down the street, glancing behind her as she went.
Suddenly, there was a large commotion from within the shop and the elf's large shape again reappeared in the doorway, his hands raised in surrender. Apparently, he had not been welcome inside the clearly agitated dwarf's place of business. Araya's soft expression at the comical sight of the small, elderly dwarf shove the looming figure out of his shop changed to one of mild interest as the elf began to shake. From a novice's perspective, it might have looked as if he had been poisoned. He trembled intensely, and Araya could see his face begin to perspire as he swayed wildly, clinging onto the doorframe for support. He looked sick, confused, and his eyes clouded over as if his vision had suddenly become hazy. Narrowing her eyes, Araya slowly walked up to the elf and knelt carefully next to him, examining him in greater detail.
Quickly she saw that he was in no serious danger. His pulse was normal enough and his sleeping body breathed deeply and evenly. He seemed perfectly fit, although admittedly, his eyebrows drew together as if whatever had greeted him beyond consciousness troubled him. Relieved that he wouldn't die before she got to play with him, Araya stepped back into the crowd as a ring formed around the unconscious elf.
Dwarves closest to him began to kick at the elf, unsure if the elf was actually unconscious. Putting on the most serious face she could muster, she stepped forward and yelled in a commanding voice. "Okay people, enough gawking. You, you, and... you" as she spoke she pointed to three of the dwarves closest to the downed assassin. "Help me take the elf to the nearest inn" As the dwarves hesitated, she slyly added, "Well, would you rather leave him passed out here in front of your shops," she nodded towards the shopkeeper, "or safely out of the way in an inn, where I promise to make sure you won't have to worry about him anymore." She flashed an innocent smile as the dwarves grudgingly began to pull and drag the body towards the inn.
Upon arriving at the inn, she quickly shooed the dwarves away and rented out the innkeeper's largest and most private room. Eager to be alone with her victim, she pulled him down the hallway and into the room. Damn if he isn't a heavy fella, she thought to herself as she struggled to lift his body onto the ornate bed.
Naotsugu stepped out of the inn, holding the still shining Crystalline necklace in his gloved hands. There were few people Shiroe trusted, and even fewer that he trusted enough to give one of the necklaces. They were a level 90 quest reward, given from a boss drop that had a 1% drop chance. Back when Elder Tales was a game, it seemed redundant to have a necklace whose only perk was the ability to let the wearer cross over to the different servers that existed within the game. As such, few players even knew of the quest, and even fewer completed it. But as a member of the Tea Party, he had been there when the group had completed the quest, and the necklaces had become sort of a secret insignia that all Tea Party members recognized. Little more than a joke at the time, their value now was incomprehensible.
Shiroe had quickly realized the potential that they held and wasted no time setting up inns and shops across all the servers, as pseudo safe houses for anyone who may have need to go to another server. He had silently filled two or three inns in every server with adventurers, replacing the People of the Land. Sometimes it scared him how smart Shiroe was. Good thing we're on the same side, thought Naotsugu. Shaking his head, he focused on the task at hand.
The innkeeper that worked for Shiroe had told him that had himself rented out a room to a small female human who had been towing an elf assassin behind her that matched the description that Naotsugu provided. He said that no more than a few hours had passed before she had left. Apparently she had hired some local laborers to carry the still-unconscious elf for her to an unknown area outside the city. Following the only lead he had, Naotsugu searched the span of the city until he found one of the workers who had been hired out by the human girl.
"Excuse me sir, but do you remember doing work today carrying an unconscious elf with long blonde hair?" He asked.
"Yea, I remember the no-good elf. And who wouldn't?" The dwarf wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Filthy creatures, elves. Anyways, I would've said no, seeing as the shameless bastard killed one of my guildies no more than two days ago, but the woman with him had deep pockets and..." The dwarf shrugged as if there was no more to say. "But what's that too you?" His eyes narrowed greedily. "You aren't going to confiscate my gold are you? Because I don't care if it's stolen or what have you, I worked for it."
"No, no, no," Naotsugu raised his hands calmingly. "Nothing of the sort, friend. I was just wondering if you could tell me where the woman took the elf. Think you could help me out? I figured a little gold might jog your memory soo..." Naotsugu reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a small coinpurse, shaking it so it jingled loudly.
"Oh yes! Of course!" The dwarf was only all too eager to answer his questions now, as his eyes stayed glued to the coinpurse dangling before him. "There's a small castle and dungeon instance just inside the forest yonderway." As he spoke he pointed towards the city's westernmost gate. "Not more than a few hours from here."
"Much thanks, dwarf. Well, here you go." With that, Naotsugu dumped the money into the dwarf's outstretched hands and made his way towards the gate.
The dwarf was about to pocket the money when he noticed that the money was minted with the large word 'Akihabara' along it's side. As he turned he said, 'How did you get-" He cut off as he realized that the guardian was gone. As the sun's last rays of sunlight touched upon the city, the dwarf was left pondering how money from around the world had ended up in his hands. Shaking his head, he decided not to dwell upon it any longer. Dangerous forces are at play here, he thought. Stay low and keep your head down if you don't want to get dragged in...
Mizoka awoke to the sound of laughter. It was a high, frantic, mindless laughter that had an irregular rhythm, stopping suddenly before starting again without warning. It was a sound he knew well. As an assassin, he had studied various roots and plants and their effects when ingested. A rare plant found only in the mountains, called Skyrose, was known to cause extreme cases of psychosis. As the deadly toxins of the plant soaked into the victim's brain blood vessels, neurons were eroded and the brain perceived functions incorrectly, resulting in strange sporadic actions in the victim. He had seen a person injected with Skyrose only once before, but the chilling laugh haunted him every night as he lay in bed.
As he opened his eyes, a bright light assailed his eyes, causing him to instinctively raise his arm. However, they remained still at his sides. As his vision adjusted, he shifted his stare to his arms and found them bound by heavy steel chain jerked his arms around once more, letting the chains rattle. As he frantically looked around, questions began to run wildly through his head. Giving himself a once-over he noted that all of his limbs, as well as his abdomen were bound to some sort of old and decaying table. Its wood was discolored and splinters littered it's rough surface. A loud screech rang out , filling the chamber with a harsh note that felt like a hammer was being pounded into Mizoka's brain, adding to his already splitting headache. As he slowly looks towards the dark entryway he saw a slim figure, but was unable to make out what it was that stood in the doorway due to the harsh light that dangled above him.
"Oh goodie, you're awake!" A chipper voice rung out from behind him. "Oh, you're probably wondering who I am! Hiya, I'm Araya! I don't know you're name, and I don't really need too!"
"Why are you doing this to me! Where am I?!" Mizoka seemed panic, twisting and straining to get a better look at Araya. Nice try, she thought, smirking. But I can't having you see me until you're REALLY ready to help me kill some people! As Mizoka slowed his ragged breathing and focused himself on remaining calm, Araya thought to herself. Good. They're more fun when they're tough to crack. My lover can't be some weak child who caves under the slightest pressure, now can he?
"I know what you've been up to and I've seen enough to know we aren't too different, you and me; if ya know what I mean!" Araya winked over exaggeratedly and then tried to hold a serious face, however she broke into a wide, lopsided grin. Still grinning, she pulled out a cart with a wooden tray atop it. On the tray rested a various assortment of exotic and dangerous looking tools and instruments. Some, Mizoka recognized, were torture tools that he himself had previously used, and could imagine what that the other instruments served similar purposes. Swallowing, Mizoka realized that there was no way out of his current position. This insane woman before him was going to torture him, for reasons currently unknown to him. His only option was to prepare and hope that she tired of his pain quickly. Steeling his resolve, he looked her hard in the eyes, unblinking. "My name's Mizoka by the way. I don't care if you remember it, but it IS important."
Looking down at him, Araya noticed his newfound resolve. Well, she thought. If the nut doesn't crack at first, what do ya do? Use a stronger mallet. She smiled sweetly as her hand hovered over several of the tools, as if she was having a hard time deciding where to start. hmmm, wondered Araya. I wonder what his blood tastes like, she pondered with her malicious lopsided smile.
Eventually, Araya decided upon a wickedly curved blade and began to caress Mizoka's cheek with it, pressing down just hard enough that the tip of the blade pierced the skin, causing a small trickle of warm blood to crawl down his face and drip onto his neck.
"It's beautiful," she whispered to herself, increasing her pressure on the dagger's handle, drawing a moan of pain from Mizoka. " An angel weeping crimson tears."