(by Riou Genkaku)
Kouya Marino was a budding acolyte. He spent a month of training in preparation for his job change. As he went on with his journey, he saw someone ask a high-level Swordsman for help; that someone was an acolyte. He decided to ask him if he knew where to find Mother Matilda. Kouya approached him and he politely inquired, "Excuse me, my name is Kouya and I'm ready to be an acolyte but there is one problem, I don't know where to find Mother Matilda… I was wondering if you knew since you are an acolyte."
"Oh hi, my name's Mitsuki. I just became an acolyte recently. Mother Matilda is near Morroc City but I suggest that you should bring somebody along. There are a lot of strong monsters and there is someone there who steals money and items from weak ones, especially acolytes like me. Believe me, I've been there."
"Is that so? Thank you for your time Mitsuke, I must be going now."
"You're welcome Kouya and good luck!"
Kouya left to find a spot so he could find somebody to help him. He stayed there for about an hour and he still didn't get any help. He became desperate and decided to go alone. Fear of the monsters flew away and what's only left was the determination to find Mother Matilda and become an acolyte. He didn't waste time; he then walked to the south and headed for Sograt Desert.
"Well, as far I got, there aren't any aggressive monsters here. Well, maybe Mitsuki was just overreacting…" As soon as Kouya finished the sentence, he saw a figure of a man at a distance but he couldn't tell what job he was since the dust blurred his vision. "Hello there! Do you know where Morroc City is?"
"Who are you? Don't you know whose territory this is?" the man snapped as he walked towards Kouya. By now, Kouya recognized that he was a thief. Was he the thief Mitsuki was talking about? The thief continued speaking, "You are in the territory of the great Mirage and nobody gets away here without any offering. So, would you mind giving me your money and some items, or do you prefer that I get it myself?"
Kouya was in trouble. He was sure he was the one Mitsuki was talking about. "I need this money sir, please don't take it away from me. I beg of you!"
"Oh? A begging brat? This seems interesting. What's your name kid?"
"Kouya Marino. I will be an acolyte soon and I need my money to buy the equipment I need. Please don't hurt me."
"Acolyte? Great! I envy acolytes for their money from people asking warps and asking acolytes to heal them. And one more thing," he paused for a moment. Then he took out his Stiletto and then continued, "I despise acolytes. So, give me your money and things or pay the price. And that is your life."
"Now I get why Mitsuki is afraid going back to Morroc…" Kouya muttered but the thief heard this. He laughed for a while and then he spoke.
"You said Mitsuki? That pathetic acolyte. He's looking for some help right?" Kouya nodded then he continued, "Ha! As usual. It's because he's so weak." He then laughed but then he saw Kouya's serious face and he stopped laughing.
"Never speak about acolytes like that!" Kouya shouted and he got his knife and he got on his position just like any other novice.
"Planning to fight me eh? Well, prepare to meet your graveyard." The thief ran towards Kouya. To Kouya's sight, he was just like hiding behind the dust which flew to all directions. Kouya saw nothing but bits and pieces of the thief's body and in no time, he felt pain as the thief wounded Kouya on his leg causing him to fall into the ground. The thief now was completely out of his sight and he thought that he was dying. As he saw the thief before he disappeared again, he thought he was going to die.
"Prepare to die! Envenom!"
Kouya closed his eyes, accepting that he was going to die soon. But then, he heard somebody throw a spear towards the thief causing him to wonder. Kouya didn't feel any wound open again. He opened his eyes and saw that the thief was badly wounded but was still alive. He saw a knight in front of the thief but the knight's back was facing Kouya. The knight rode a Peco-Peco which made the knight look much stronger.
"You still hurt weak people Kuroudo? You should be ashamed of yourself!"
Kuroudo didn't move. He was unconscious. The knight approached Kouya; he was a brawny-looking man with tanned features, deep brown eyes, and ebony-black hair. He looked just as cocky as the thief he had defeated, but there was something in his eyes that immediately changed the way he looked at the wounded novice. Recognition, perhaps? He then asked, "Are you alright there? I think you need a ride to Morroc. My name is Takeshi, what's yours?"
"Kouya. Kouya Marino."
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Authors' Notes:In behalf of Wang Hu who's too engrossed leveling up his RO character right now, those, guys, were the first two chapters of our joint fanfiction, inspired by three things. First, Ragnarok Online, which my brother is practically obsessed with; second, Valkyrie Profile, one of our Playstation RPG favorites; and third, Norse mythology, from which both games were derived.
The story may have an RO feel, with the places and magic stuff, but we're trying to stick with the Norse facts as much as we can. Thus, Fenrir is not a sorceress (in the manga) or a server (in the game) but a big bad wolf, and Odin is not a server either, but the chief god rivaling Zeus of Greek mythology. And many other things.
Well, there's not much left to say as the fic is still at its early stage, so just stand by for more updates, which should hopefully be soon. For now, please read and review, and if you have any suggestions, please let us know. Thank you!