Ephemeral Fantasy
Chapter 10: Reminisce
After Zalnard's malevolent presence had faded, Allazelle, Melissa, and Eddga were brought back to the infirmary by scouts who found them unconscious. Allazelle has not yet stirred since the encounter while Melissa was being treated for the bruises she sustained from Zalnard. However, Eddga's injuries were far worse than what Allazelle and Melissa had received combined. The numerous open gashes bled freely from Eddga's wounds, causing the infirmary priests to focus their healing spells on him.
After the last of the bruises had faded, Melissa walked over to the still-sleeping Allazelle. She had a gentle yet worried look upon her face as she sat beside him. She stroked his hair and the slumbering hunter nuzzled to her hand, causing a weak smile to form on her face.
In a familiar forest clearing, he saw a mirror of himself years younger beside a witch whom he knew all too well. Their fingers were intertwined with one another as they watched the sunset. The real Allazelle felt a sting in his heart while he watched them together.
"Hey Kua, I have something for you. Would you guess what it is?"
The young Allazelle fingered a box hidden in his hunter uniform. He reminded himself that he would propose to her when they both progressed with their occupations and they both had. He was a fresh hunter and she was a new graduate from the Geffen Magic Academy.
"Hmm… I could only see a small box. I can't put a finger as to what's inside of it. I give up so would you tell me?"
"I'd asked the jewelry store to make the box sight-resistant. Anyway, open the box, Kua."
The young Allazelle handed the box over to Kuassuar. She slowly opened it and smiled when she saw what was inside: a diamond ring she had been staring at every time they passed the jewelry store. She hugged Allazelle tightly, causing the latter to blush.
"Hey Zelle! Look at that ring. Isn't it pretty? I wish I had some zeny to buy it. Just look at that price tag."
Ten thousand zeny. There was no way that he could earn the money to buy the ring but he knew how happy it would make Kuassuar if he did.
He remembered doing an extremely risky bounty hunt to get the money to buy the gift. Of course, he knew better than to tell Kuassuar about it. She wouldn't have allowed him to go if he had asked her and besides, he wanted to make it a surprise.
The bounty hunt was for a party of rogue wizards and priests. The price on their heads? Two hundred thousand zeny. He was lucky because nice more bounty hunters signed up: three hunters, two knights, two priests, an assassin and surprisingly, a novice.
All of them seemed to belong to the same guild, which was supposedly called Falchkier Legion. The leader, Malkovich, extended a hand to Allazelle. The latter took it and unknowingly, had started the bond between him and the guild.
"Welcome, outsider. I have though it would be only us to take this bounty. You are quite brave to come here by yourself. Though they have broken away from their academies, they still prove as a great threat. Are you up to this?"
Allazelle knew the risks of fighting against the spell casters. They could even turn the fastest assassin to dust in a matter of seconds. However, he had an inborn ability to resist magic more than most wizards could.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'd survive even if I was alone. But seems like you guys would make the killing the bad guys part a lot easier. The most I would've managed would be around three to five wizards and probably a priest or two."
Malkovich laughed heartily. He always liked these types of party mates. The discussion went from warnings to introductions in a matter of minutes.
"Let me formally introduce you to the guild. I'm Pietre Malkovich, a hunter and also the guild master. The other two hunters are Lucas Malkovich, my brother and Gabriel Everwind. The blond knight is Sir Gareth Evriss and the black-haired one is Lady Lune Altanor. The blue-haired priestess is Naomi Sephyll and the blond priestess is Alueil Evriss, sister of Gareth. The assassin with the falcon mask is our guild covert specialist, Loki Felsine. Last but definitely not the least, is the novice Crest Laeteral. Don't let his looks fool you. He can outclass even experienced assassins."
After the introductions, they went to the forests where the rogue party was last spotted. After locating their hideout, they hid to strategize for the assault. Being careless would lead to unwanted casualties.
"There are fifteen wizards and five priests. A frontal assault would easily let them blast us all to pieces small enough to fit match boxes. So we shall attack from the flanks. Gareth and Alueil, you guard the cave's back entrance and prevent anyone from escaping. Crest and Loki, do what you can from behind their lines. Lune, draw their attention but be careful. Naomi, support her."
After everyone had been briefed, they took their positions and executed the plan. The wizards, who weren't expecting an assault, were unable to protect themselves from the shower of arrows made by the four hunters. The priests who were supposed to support them were cut down by Loki and Crest who slipped past the wizards.
A few minutes into the skirmish, only three wizards and one priest remained alive. Those who remained alive retreated deep into the caves, followed closely by the hunters. One of the wizards pre-cast a Jupitel Thunder spell aimed at Gabriel but before the lightning sphere struck, Allazelle blocked it. Though the lightning surged throch his body, it only left a slight burn mark compared to what would've happened if Gabriel had been hit.
While in pursuit, Allazelle drew his crossbows and shot simultaneously, instantly killing two fleeing wizards. His falcon clawed deeply into a priest's head, effectively ripping it off the shoulders. Finally, Allazelle took his Gakkung and shot an arrow into the dark, followed by a dying scream.
After a thorough search of the hideout, they found some stolen treasures hidden by the party and decided to keep the loot hidden. Being sure that there were no more enemies left, they returned to Geffen.
They went to the bounty office and showed proof of their kills. After being paid, they split the bounty zeny, each person having twenty thousand each. Allazelle was on his way out when Malkovich stopped him.
"Quite a show there. You must've killed about seven wizards and two priests. A notch more than what you estimated. How would you like to join Falchkier Legion? There's no catches here. We just help whoever needs helping, in or outside the guild."
"I'd like to but then I actually live in Payon. I don't think I'd be able to go to your meetings and such."
"Ah, but there is a guildhouse in Payon. Crest is in charge there, along with Loki, Naomi and our secret arms dealer."
Allazelle nodded. This might just solve his financial problems. After formally joining the guild, Allazelle left for the jewelry store.
At the jewelry store, he bought the ten thousand zeny ring along with an anti-sight box for two thousand zeny. He left after getting an engravement on the ring.
"Finally, I have the ring. When Kua becomes a full-fledged with, I'd propose to her. This box would prevent her from sensing the ring. What a perfect surprise."
Back at the infirmary, Allazelle has yet to stir from his slumber. Melissa, after the recent stressful events, fell asleep at the side of his bed.