Chapter 1 – Coincidence is stupid

---A bar in Prontera---

The bar was well…barish, for lack of a better word. Unintelligible murmurs making their way out of the mouths of drunken patrons, beer, unmemorable music, fat bartenders, you know, the stuff you find in every other self respecting bar. However, all is not as cliché as it seems, for in a dark dingy corner of the bar sits two figures; a shady looking man garbed in simple traveler's robes and out heroine; Arial Dryadson, a brave, just, beautiful, noble, and unfortunately just a tad bit naïve crusader.

Shady Man: And so you see, by giving me all your money, you will rid yourself of any possible material temptation that might deter you from your quest for spiritual enlightenment.

Arial: Wow…you'd do that for me? Thanks!

Without hesitation, Arial proceeded to reach for her coins poach. Reaching across the wooden table she was about to drop it into the Shady Man's eager hands when…

Arial: Wait, if I give my money to you, won't you then be tempted?

Shady Man: Um, uh…my…um, RELIGIOUS SECT practices um…SELF CONTROL…yeah…I'm supposed to put myself in temptations way to um…discipline myself…yeah.

Arial: Oh, ok.

Smiling at her 'friend', Arial then handed half her life savings to the Shady Man.

Shady Man: I can see you closer to enlightenment already.

Arial: Really? Thanks, well, good luck with you're self control thing.

Shady Man: It will be difficult, but I will try.

Arial: Well, I've got to be going now, good day to you.

---Arial's room, some inn in Prontera---

Maid 1: Are you sure about this?

Maid 2: Of course! It'll be hilarious!

Maid 1: …if you say so, but…who is she again?

Maid 2: Her names Arial…Dayad – something. She's a fairly famous crusader, really good with the sword and stuff. However, what she's really known for is that she believes ANYTHING you tell her! Hell, she'd trust you if you came up to her and said you were her long lost biological father!

Maid 1: …if you say so…anyway, we just leave this letter here right?

Maid 2: Yup.

"Arial, my trusted servant, I am God. I have contacted you in order to entrust you with a mission which is of utmost importance. An ancient evil which has long lain dormant shall soon arise and lay siege upon the lands of Rune-Midgard. It is upon you, my most able of warriors that I must place the burden of destroying this evil! First, you must journey to the town of Geffen, there you will find the means to destroying this evil. Arial, I have placed the fate of the world in your hands, you must not fail!"

Maid 1: …why Geffen?

Maid 2: Lots of freak show mages hang out there, just think of the kind of stuff she'd get into! It'll be awesome!

Maid 1: Isn't this a bit cruel?

Maid 2: So?

Maid 1: …

---A campsite on some road leading to Geffen---

As the flames fought in vain against the darkness of the night, two figures could be seen. An archer and a mage.

Archer Guy: So…Chisa-

C.A: Sigh I told you, call me C.A…

Archer Guy: So…C.A…why are you going to Geffen?

C.A: And why are you interested? Will knowing somehow improve your life?

Archer Guy: Umm…no, I guess…but…

C.A: Sigh But what?

Archer Guy: Well, it's still a few days to Geffen, and since we'll be traveling together for that time, I thought we might as well get to know each other.

C.A: …Fine, fine…if it will satisfy your insignificant little mind…as you know, I am a Mage. Well, society tends to place several…'guidelines' on ways as to what mages are meant to be and what they do. That being things such as living in tall overbearing towers, wearing thick glasses, having no sense of interior decorations and the need to read several thick books which are permanently dusty per day. And thus, I am simply going there to fulfill my predetermined role in this brief sparkle we call life.

Archer Guy: …ok, and why are you doing that?

C.A: Sigh were you not listening? As I said, you have no true personality but the one society places upon you based on commonly accepted stereotypes. Are not all priest and acolytes kind and caring? Do not all thieves possess unsurpassed daring and cunning? Are not all swordsmen naturally born leaders who come from remote fishing villages? Do you think they were all like that? Of course not! Society forced them to be like that!

Archer Guy: …so…why are you doing it?

C.A: Life is but a brief flicker of existence before you die forgotten. It just takes too much effort for me to go against society…and why should I care anyway? In the grand scale, it is only the briefest of moments before I proceed to oblivion.

Archer Guy: …

C.A: …

Archer Guy: So…you going to ask me why I'm going to Geffen?

C.A: No

Archer Guy: …ok.

---Elaborate bedroom, Mansion in Payon---

The room was large, and pretty, with many priceless or at least VERY expansive ornaments adorning the room. The bed was wide and comfortable. Garments made of the finest silk filled the elaborate wardrobe. The room was indeed very nice and many people would have liked this room if it wasn't for the one oddity in it: A young woman holding a spear preparing to jump out of the window.

Elma: Ok…it's a long way down…

Suddenly, the peace was interrupted by a loud banging against the door

Man's Voice: Elma! ELMA! Open the door right now!

Elma: …oh hell.

And with those words Elma leaped…well, it was more of a hesitant jump, but leap seemed more dramatic. On the plus side, she did land a lot more gracefully (gracefully been that she didn't brake a bone) then when she jumped. After a minute or so, she got up and broke into a run.

Elma: Now to get out of here! Hmm...where could I go to hide from dad?...I need a place where an old school type warrior would never go to…Geffen!

Author's Notes: Ok, I know that this chapter was horrid; you don't have to tell me. Well, it is my first fanfic but that's not much of an excuse now is it? Anyway, please review, I could use any tips on how to improve my writing. Story should pick up in a chap or two, I've always been bad at first chapters --