What It Takes to be Happy

by SethRyne

It's horror I tell you! Absolute horror! does not support Linux!!!! Noooooo!!!!

OK. It's not enough that I can only brainstorm on this fic during class hours (i.e. 8:30-11:30 during Mondays and Thursdays) juggling it with my seat works... Argh!!

But the biggest blow is that I discover that ... "Your application is not supported by " Awww man... This would mean... Making a draft of these chappies in my mail and transform it into a Microsoft Word Application. Perfect...

Anywayz... Of to a rather boring start I must say. No R&Rs? Really... I'd like to have people flaming me ya know.

That's it for now... I'm busy downloading L Arc En Ciel mp3s. Hyde-kun!!!

Opppsss... Sorry...

Chapter 2: Through the Portal

She walked into the castle not knowing what to do... Where to go... Who to talk to. She knew no one in this place. And that made her nervous. Living a rather sheltered life didn't help at all.

Meekly, she walked up to the guard. "Uhmm... Excuse me..." she said her voice not more that a whisper.

The guard looked down on the girl and smiled. This made her feel at least much better.

"Hello there." Said the guard. "Where are you going little girl?"

The girl smiled back. "I'm going to see Sir Leo Von Frisch. Do you know where he is?"

"Oh! You're starting your novice training today eh? What job are you taking?" The guardsman asked trying to make the girl a little less nervous through light talk.

"I'm going to be a Knight!" The girl practically beamed at him.

"Really? That's nice." The guard replied. "Well, if you really wanna be a Knight, you best study well and keep yourself fit."

"Yes Sir!"

"That's the spirit! Now, you see that man with the brown hair near the west exit? That's Leo Von Frisch." The guard said pointing to the western direction towards a man behind a large desk.

The girl followed the direction the finger was pointing to and found that there were a lot of people surrounding said table. Perhaps, novice aspirants such as herself.

She looked back up at the guard. "Thanks Mister!"

The guard smiled before he returned to his position. "You're welcome. And good luck!"

And the girl ran off to join the rest of the novices.

"OK! Listen up!" A large booming voice echoed around the classroom as Leo Von Frisch began his lecture.

"This is you first day as novices. But that does not mean that I will go easy on you." he began. "From this day on, you are no longer weeping pansies who hide in their mother's skirts every time you are scared of something. You are no longer children! You are grown individuals with your own thoughts, your own decisions and your own sense of pride. And that includes NOT SUCKING on your thumbs." He said pointedly staring at a boy in the far corner who was unconsciously sucking his thumb.

Feeling the stares of everyone on him, he realized what he was doing and immediately removed the thumb in question from his mouth.

Leo Von Frisch grinned. "Now, to start off, I would like you to read on those pamphlets that the Etiquette Guide has passed around. These are the rules that you must follow while you are in training and even after that. Any minor infraction can merit serious consequences. I will give you 15 minutes. GO!"

At this signal, every single student immersed their heads in the pamphlets and began reading.

The girl began reciting the rules one by one in order for her to memorize it.

"Rule 1: Always respect your superiors. Rule 2: Be courteous to the NPCs. Rule 3: No Looting. Rule 4: Do NOT kill-steal!"

"Know what?" a voice asked from beside her. The girl looked at the source of the voice and found herself face to face with a violet haired boy with the same violet eyes.

"Huh?" She asked.

"There really is no such term as KILL-STEALING. In the first place, every monster out there is just a fair game. And besides, most of these rules are just guidelines. Something to make them busy doing paper work. They don't really back these all up. Except for the first 2 rules of course. Better be careful of the NPCs and the superiors, they might be GMs in disguise."

The girl listened intently to every word the boy said. Nodding her head in understanding.

"Oh! I'm Styx by the way. I'm gonna be an Assassin when I'm done with training. How about you." he introduced himself proffering his hand.

"I'm Myashka. I'm going to be a Knight."

"Oh! So I best get into your good side then, in case that you get to bust me for all my thieving." The boy sniggered.

"You wish! As a knight of the realm it is my sworn duty to protect the people from harm and law-breakers. And that includes the likes of you!" She said adding in a little playful punch to Styx's shoulder.

"Argh! I have been wounded! Beaten by a Knight! The embarrassment! Oh!"

Myashka couldn't help but laugh at Styx antics. For some strange reason, she felt a connection with him unlike any other. It was like she could tell him everything and yet he would still listen. And she knew, that Styx feels the same way.

"So what now? Can a Knight of the realm befriend an assassin like me?" Styx asked.

"Hmmm.... Maybe..." And they laughed until Leo Von Frisch reprimanded them for being too loud.

"Congratulations people! You have finished your novice training! It is now time for you to go on to greener pastures." Leo Von Frisch began.

"When you pass through those portals, you shall be transported to your individual cities, wherein you shall contact your affiliates and submit your application for training. If you have read the manual, you will clearly know where each job affiliates are located. But for those who thought they had better things to do than read the manual," looking pointedly at Myashka and Styx who were sniggering, "they are as follows: Swordsman Association - Izlude; Assassin's Guild - Morroc; Mage's Guild - Geffen; Merchant's Guild - Alberta; Archer Guild - Payon; Sanctuary - Prontera."

Leo Von Frisch paused as he allowed the crowd to write down what he said. Then continued.

"By now, I am sure that you have decided what jobs you are to take, regardless of the results of your examinations. So without further ado, novices rise! And take the path where fate leads you. You are dismissed."

With that, Leo Von Frisch left the podium and the hall was filled with whispers. All knew what going through those portals means. It meant that once they step through it, there is no turning back. Everything, every aspect of the person they had once been will be left, for all they will take with them is new understanding and a deeper sense of honor that they must now uphold. Together with this individuality they will leave behind, are all that they hold dear. Family, friends... Everything...

Myashka stood in a far off corner staring as one by one, the novices stepped into the portals.

"Yo! Wazzup? Chicken are we? Aren't Knights supposed to be brave and all that crap?" Styx asked plopping down on the floor beside her.

Myashka looked down on Styx and relaced her posture, now with her wait on the wall and one foot folded so that the soles of her feet were also at the wall, hands in pocket. Not really a picture of a proper lady.

"And here I thought that Assassins usually mind their own beeswax."

Styx snickered. "There are those Assassins, and there are other Assassins. What can I say? I'm one of a kind!"

Myashka rolled her eyes. "Yeah right! And I'm the Descendant of the Four Constellations!"

Styx eyes went huge, "You are? I am so deeply honored! Oh my!" He looked so serious, if not fot the tiny glint of humor in his eyes.

Myashka couldn't help but laugh. "For an Assassin, you are one hell of an actor. You sure you don't want to be one? We need better actors these days."

"What? And make known to the world that a man with these devastatingly handsome looks exist?! No way! I don't want no groupies!"

"You're really humble aren't you?

"And lovable too... Don't forget lovable!"

And they both rolled in laughter not noticing the looks directed their way by the castle guards.

Suddenly, Styx quieted. "So Myashka, you going in to those portals?" He asked angling his head towards the portal as he said so.

There were only a few novices left in the castle. Most have already crossed the portals. "I don't know Styx. It's just that, I can't help but think of what I'm going to be leaving behind."

"I know what you mean. It seemed so cool at first. being out there on your own braving the wilds. But now that you think of it, and what you're leaving behind, it don't seem so cool anymore."

Myashka looked at Styx her eyes questioning. "So you going in or not?"

"I'm not sure... And you?"

Myashka thought for a long time. Weighing what she will loose and what she will gain. And she made a decision.

"I'm going."

Styx was startled by the answer. "Are you sure? Have you given thixs thought? How about..."

"I have nothing to leave behind. Just pain, frustration and anguish." She cut Styx off. "I have no plans of bringing those to my grave. Goodbye, Styx. I hope I'll see you again."

With that, Myashka dashed off to the portal for Izlude leaving it all behind...