"Gilligan? Is that really you?" Harold asked as he saw the well-known warrior.
"Indeed it is, and I see that you are doing well since last I saw you, Harold." Gilligan and his group of warriors marched through the town toward Harold.
"What brings you here, sir?" Harold asked curiously, bowing respectfully as he did.
"The Royal Family has requested that we check on the towns near the borders. Some things have been turning up lately and we need to make sure that the order is kept."
"I can understand that." The young warrior lightly laughed.
"Let me go!" Gilligan and the men heard someone shout in the distance.
"Come men, there's trouble near." The leader ordered and the others followed suit.
"I don't care, just let me go!" The voice shouted again. Gilligan could tell it was a young girl's voice.
"Um, sir?" Harold started. "I can explain."
"Not now, son. We cannot hesitate for those in danger." Gilligan proclaimed and marched towards the sounds.
"Well you see, they aren't really in danger."
"What are you saying?"
"Well…" The men rounded the corner only to see a single elf girl alone struggling against… herself?
"Miss, are you alright?" Gilligan asked, looking around for anyone in the shadows.
"I'm fine." They barked as they seemed to be trying to move their legs.
"Are you stuck?"
"No! Just go!" They shouted.
"Gilligan, sir. This is Orchid." Harold said, then leaned over and whispered into Gilligan's ear. "She came from the Dark Country. From what I could gather, she's trying to get away from someone."
"Who?" Gilligan asked, but Harold shrugged.
"She's been on her own for her whole life I believe. Has some trust issues and sometimes talks to herself." He added, still whispering.
"I'm not talking to myself!" Orchid shouted, still struggling. "Dammit, will you just let me go already! You've seen them, now stop!" Orchid shouted in thought to Young.
"This is an opportunity for you to uncover more of your power. Not to mention this group can protect you should you get into trouble again." Young argued calmly.
"I don't need anyone's help. Not yours, not his, and especially not theirs." Orchid looked to all the warriors, but then her eyes drifted to one in particular. They were much shorter than the rest and instead of a sword or mace, they had a staff. They were an elf.
"So this is what happens to a Light in the Dark Country? They have no sense of honor or dignity, do they? How disgusting." The elf looked to Orchid with sympathy in his eyes.
"I'm impressed she was able to survive on her own for so long." The largest warrior spoke up. He carried a massive, two-handed, flaming hammer over his shoulder and the veins in his arms seemed to pulse with magma.
The other warriors didn't say a thing, but instead just looked at the elf. "Leave me alone. I don't need your help." Orchid said again, turning away from them.
"She's quite strong, actually. I humored the idea of her joining you, Gilligan sir." Harold added on, ignoring Orchid's request.
"I can sense something about her, however, I will not force anyone to join me if they do not want to. At the same time, if they cannot prove to be of any benefit to the team, then it will not work out for us." Gilligan explained and Harold lowered his head.
"I understand, sir. I just wanted to let you know, since she's not only a Spellcaster-Type but also a Warrior-Type too, and she had a Skill that protected me from an ambush attack. I would have been dead were it not for her." Harold stated.
Gilligan looked to Orchid with interest. "Is this true?" He asked.
"What's it to you?" The elf continued to struggle to move her legs. "Why won't you let me go?"
"Hear the man out. I understand your mistrust towards others, however, you need to open up to those who want to help you. There is strength in numbers and you power is the very essence of that." Young explained.
"If what my friend here is saying is true, then you may be of a great help to my group." Gilligan knelt down before the elf.
"Ha! What good is a girl gonna do for us?" One of the younger warriors laughed, but another one who looked just a little older walked up and smacked the first one upside the head. "Ow! Hey, I was only kidding!" They claimed.
"Sure. You're just upset because they're stronger than you are." The other mocked.
"Seravis, Carder. That's enough." Gilligan ordered and the two straightened themselves out quickly.
"You want to get away from the Dark Country. I can understand that. While we have no direct quarrels with them, if you join my team and I, I promise to protect you just as I protect my country and fellow comrades." Gilligan proclaimed.
"He sounds just like you." Orchid thought to Young with disgust.
"No one said you needed to stay with them forever. At least allow them the chance to help you. How knows? You might come to enjoy it." Young suggested.
"I highly doubt that, but fine. You won't let my legs go otherwise."
"I just wanted you to hear them out." Young release his hold on Orchid and she almost fell to the floor.
"A little warning next time." She grumbled and stood herself back up and faced Gilligan. "Whatever. I'll join you for now, but don't expect me to stay." Orchid huffed. Gilligan smiled as he reached out his hand and shook hers.
"Excellent. First things first: Let's get that wound of yours treated, then we will discuss what's to come.