Disclaimers: All the characters in this fic is copyright of Karashi, if there are any similarities between my characters and actual characters, it is purely coincidental. NPC characters and the Game Ragnarok Online belong to the Creators of Ragnarok.

Chapter Six

            Darin settled himself on the floor, and dipped his quill into the ink. He looked up to the huntress and waited. Concentrating on her memories, Dianne managed to ignore the noise surrounding them.
            "I've known Addy since…"

Dianne

            I've known Addy since forever, other than the fact we're cousins, we were both born and raised in Alberta. It was odd, I'm younger than Addy and yet I act like I was the older one. I was always looking out for her, ever since we were children.
            And even back then, Addy wanted nothing more than to be a blacksmith. I on the other hand couldn't see myself coping with the stress of being a blacksmith. The endless amounts of orders, the politics involved, the stuffy atmosphere of the smithy, it was enough to make my head spin.
            But the life of a hunter… well, the freedom and solitude, communing with nature and the animals, it was just wonderful. Good thing Payon was only a few day's travel away.
            The day before I set off for the Archer Village, Addy and I went out for a hike in the forest. We came up to the cliff overlooking Alberta and sat there. We spent hours just talking, about all sorts of things.
            "The title of hottest blacksmith is a tie between three people." Addy giggled.
            "Oh? And who would they be?" I nudged.
            "Astaroth, Torikame or the one they call Shopyman."
            "I don't go for blacksmiths." I snorted, "Assassins, however, are the definition of hot!"
            "Don't forget priests!!" my cousin declared. "I mean, acolytes are cuddly and all, but priests are just… just… too attractive for words!"
            "Why you find priests attractive, I'll never know."
            We grew silent at that point, I hadn't exactly told Addy that I was leaving the next day. I was planning to tell her when she suddenly asked me:
            "When do you think I'll be a blacksmith?"
            "Addy, concentrate on passing the merchant's test first okay? You can worry about being a blacksmith later."
            "I know, but I just can't help it. I want to be a blacksmith so badly…"
            "Why? I mean, it's not like we have a shortage of weapons or anything."
            "That's not the point… as a blacksmith, I can help people defend themselves without having to be there! I mean, sure I can be a priestess and save people's souls from eternal damnation, but that requires my presence. My constant presence. And as much as I'd love to be around people, I don't think people would want to be around me."
            "What makes you say that?"
            "Isn't that why you're leaving for Payon without telling me?" she demanded, locking her gray eyes with my green ones.
            "That's not it! I just wasn't able to find the right time…"
            "Or maybe you just didn't want me to know because I might follow you. That's the last thing you want, right? Having me embarass you because I'm so weak and stupid."
            "No, that's not how it is!"
            "What then? Why didn't you tell me you were going to leave on the day I'm taking the merchant's test? I can't do that alone, I need you to be there for me."
            "And I will be! I just need to be there for me first. Heck, you're older than I am! You should be taking care of me." I laughed, it was a feeble attempt to lighten the mood.
            I was surprised that Addy started to laugh as well.
            "You're right, I am supposed to be taking care of you. Gah, I can't believe I'm being so selfish! Go to Payon and become a hunter. You don't have to wait for me to pass the test. Just promise me one thing."
            "What?"
            "If you ever meet a cute guy and find you like him, you'll come to me for approval alright?"
            "How could you be thinking of something like that?!?" I gasped, reddening.
            "Because from what I hear, the hottest guys train at Payon. You will definitely meet someone there. And if you find a spare one, be sure to set me up with him okay?" she winked.
            Addy always managed to bounce back, no matter how low she felt. Even if that creep Irlan was picking on her, she managed to grin and bear it. Even if she had to take the merchant's test twice, she managed to crack a joke about it. Even if I stopped visiting her after I became a hunter, she managed to shrug it off and smile.
            She always managed to bounce back…
            Until Warse came along and ruined her life.
            Addy's not the healthiest of people, emotionally that is. And at first, this Warse guy sounded like he was doing her a world of good. She became more confident, more independent, more stable. I thought she just started believing in herself. It never occurred to me that she came to rely on Warse more than anything in the world.
            I think it was fate that my friends told me about an obscure store in Prontera that sold Oridecons and Eluniums as if they were Iron Ores. I went to Prontera and sought out those cheap ores when I saw Addy wandering about in a daze.
            She was covered head to toe in blood, the hem of her sleeves and skirt were torn and she had the scariest grin on her face. I called out her name, several times before she looked at me.
            "Oh, hello Di." She ambled towards me. "How long have you been a huntress? Last time I saw you, we were still novices."
            "What are you talking about? You were there when I became a huntress."
            Addy frowned, "No I wasn't…" she started to walk away, seemingly unaware of her appearance. I ran after her and grabbed her arm.
            "Where are you going? You're hurt!"
            "Oh Warse will heal me, as soon as he finds me."
            "Who did this to you?"
            "… I did." She laughed, "Silly, stupid me got herself hurt. And now she has to wait, or the mean hunter will have won and the sad priest will become sadder."
            "That's it, you're coming with me right now."
            "No! I have to wait for him! I promised I'll wait for him, he said he wouldn't be long. The sad priest said something about a cleansing… so I guess he's off to cleanse himself or Rune-Midgard I forget." My cousin tried to free herself from my grip, but I held on. "Will you just let go? I have to wait for him."
            This was getting me no where, "Fine, where are you supposed to wait for him?"
            "I don't know…" she murmured quietly.
            And then she looked at me with eyes that was the Addy I knew. She held me close and whispered
            "I can't take much more of this. I can't stand it…"
            "Stand what? What happened?"
            My cousin said nothing, she just smiled. Unmindful of the blood, I embraced her tightly. She hugged back, then kissed me on the cheeks.
            And then I lost her.
            She began to ramble about the mean hunter, the sad priest and a pretty girl covered in sparkly wine. I half-dragged, half-ran with Addy to the church. I didn't care if there was a mass at that time, I demanded that a priest heal my cousin. A female acolyte was sent to tend her wounds and the mass went on as if nothing happened.
            The acolyte told me the gashes on Addy's knuckles and knees had been healed.
            "Oh thank Odin…" I breathed in relief.
            "However, Miss Evional has to be brought to the Mjolnir Insane Asylum."
            I stared in shock as the acolyte explained that my cousin requested it. She said Addy had promised to wait for "him" there.
            "Alright… thank you." I nodded, "Oh and could you tell Warse about this?"
            The acolyte paled, "Please do not speak his name in front of me." She looked to the sides and whispered, "Not many people know he isn't exactly the holiest of priests. And if he finds out I've told you this… he'll… he'll…" her breath caught in her chest and began to sob uncontrollably. She managed to regain her composure quickly enough. She wiped her tears with the back of her sleeve and gave me a radiant smile.
            "We'll transport Miss Evional to the asylum soon. You can visit her any day of the week from eight in the morning to seven in the evening. Oh and before I forget, only Kafra Corporation has a warp to the asylum. And you'll also have to log in your every visit. Don't worry, Miss Evional will be fine."
            Somehow, her words didn't quite convince me.


            Darin finished adding the period to the sentence before looking back up at the huntress. He was surprised to find her glaring, at him? No… not at him, behind him. The Scribe rose and saw a hunter with cerulean hair and saffron eyes.
            "Shouldn't you be out harassing novices?" Dianne growled.
            "Oh I'm sorry, did I forget to harrass you?" he sneered.
            "What are you doing here Irlan?" the huntress demanded.
            "Can't I pay a friend a visit?"
            "You're not Addy's friend, you're not anyone's friend! Get out!"
            "I don't take orders from you."
            "And I'm… I'm…"
            "Don't even bother, only your cousin could out talk me." Irlan snorted, "Actually, she can out talk just about anyone."
            "I don't have to take this from you. I'm leaving." The huntress declared, shoving the cerulean haired man out of the way.
            "Be sure to take a bath next time, your hair looks a little greasy." Irlan commented nastily.
            "Oh I'll be taking a bath alright, and it's because I was in the same room as you." Dianne shot back as she descended the stairwell.
            "I'll… be going now…" Darin stated, packing his things once again.
            "Hold on." the saffron eyed man ordered, "You must be Darin Carsen. I've heard about you, you're that guy who's going around collecting stories."
            "I'm not that famous, am I?" he chuckled hesitantly.
            "You're right, you're not. I just asked the priestess downstairs who you were. She was more than willing to tell me, she says you're a good influence on Addy." The hunter shrugged, walking to Addy's door. He tried turning the knob and found it unresponsive. He rapped on the door and yelled for Addy to open it.
            When she didn't comply, the hunter started cracking his knuckles. The sadistic grin on Irlan's face made Darin nervous.
            "W-w-what are you going to do?"
            "Being second in command of The Jaded Crimson means I'm a very busy man. I took time off today just to see that runt of a merchant, and I'm not about to come back anytime soon. Either you get someone to open that door, or I'm breaking it down."
            "W-why don't you just leave a message for Miss Addy? I could write it for you and- and- give it to Miss Addy when she's more welcoming?"
            Irlan eyed him, his brows knitting together in deep thought. His face broke into a wolfish grin, "You know, that's not a bad idea… not bad at all."
            The Scribe gave a sigh of relief and started to take down Irlan's message. From what Darin could gather, Irlan was trying to give Addy tidings of concern. One composed more of insults than solace. Once finished, the hunter began to leave.
            While Darin would want nothing more than to get as far away from the hunter as possible, he knew he had work to do. Mustering his courage, The Scribe asked Irlan his side of the story.
            "Excuse me?"
            "You heard me, everyone who's given me a story mentions you in a negative light. In fact, the exchange between you and Miss Dianne would serve as first hand proof. But as someone who knows that the truth has two sides, I'd like to hear your voice."
            "Are you for real?" Irlan smirked, when Darin nodded the hunter looked pensive. "What do you want me to talk about?"
            "Oh… anything you want. Rune-Midgard, Jaded Crimson, yourself…"
            "What was the last thing you said?"
            "Yourself?"
            "Yeah…" Irlan nodded, "I think I'll talk about myself…"