Tom Valor: Dude, im a bit embarrassed. Just kept on posting my fic w/o even editing it… never actually thought someone's gonna read it so soon. Anyway, I did a bit of editing here and there it took me a long time too… bout' 5 minutes to be exact lolz!

Btw, thanks for pointin' out my mistakes. Im a noob, it's a learnin' process for me. Im gonna keep makin' mistakes and you just keep on correcting me! lolz! Nyahahaha!

To all of you out there: someone actually read my fic! Yey! Haha this is sooo cooool!

Act IV: After Effect

"HEY! OPEN UP, OLD MAN!"

A loud knock on the door and a shout startled Valcan; immediately causing him to rise from his bed. It was early in the morning. Valcan was squeezing his forehead, trying to get the hang over out. The fight yesterday made him a lot of money, instantly acknowledging his promise to himself; indulging himself unto a big fat steak while getting drunk in the process.

'Damn dis' hang over!'

'Who could be wakin' me up dis' erly in da' mornin'?'

"YO, OLD MAN! OPEN THIS DOOR BEFORE I BREAK IT INTO PIECES!"

'Whooo… sounds angry…'

Valcan was still squeezing his forehead when he opened the door. A large figure of a man suddenly appears from his sight. His vision was still hazy from his hang over; he couldn't see the figure clearly. A large bulky arm suddenly grabbed his ragged shirt and threw him outside. As he looked up, there were three more figures standing around.

'Looks like dis' bull ain't alone… who're diz' people 'nyway?'

Trying to clear his mind, trying to concentrate, trying to think what was going on and trying to anticipate what to do; Valcan did a lousy job. The immense hang over was relentless. Valcan sat up on the middle of the road, now using his palms to squeeze his temples. He suddenly heard a female voice.

"Still looking pathetic are you now, Valcan?"

Valcan couldn't help but think.

'Why does dat' voice sound familiar?'

'Oh by da'…'

It suddenly occurred to him.

"Zerran!"

The female voice answered with a laugh.

"Oh, Valcan! You're too predictable."

"Oh cum' on, Zerran. What'ya want wid' me?'

The female voice stopped her laughter and portrayed a more sarcastic look.

"Valcan, Valcan… my dear sweet Valcan. Why is it that when I see people, it automatically means I want something…"

"Cause it usually does!"

The voice replied with more sarcastic laughter and began to speak again.

"Okay, I admit, I do want something… I want information…"

The voice continued.

"Four days ago, I heard a mage of mine was killed in a street fight. I heard he didn't even scratch his opponent. Now I was wondering… Lomer was one of the best fire mages here in Prontera. How in the blue moon did an assassin kill him so easily?"

By this time Valcan's battle with his hang over was slowly favoring his side. Things occurred to him slowly. As he recalled the fight four days ago, he suddenly remembered that the mage did have a guild and that his guild mistress was now hunting his killer.

Still squeezing his head.

"Umm.. I think da' sin was jez too fast for him…"

"You were always a lousy conversation. The specifics, Valcan, where can I find this so called 'infamous' sin?"

"I dunno, Zerran, dat sin jez showed up a few dayz ago an' dun really know where ta' find him."

"Oh, Valcan, if you're lying to me you could very well be an incinerated corpse. You do know that don't you?"

"Verran, I swear ta' ya' on all my belongings, I don't know where dat' sin is!"

"You're a rat living in a rathole, Valcan. What belongings do you have?"

This time the sarcastic voice toned down a little.

"Nevertheless, you do look sincere. Very well, Valcan. I'll let you out for now…"

Valcan sighed with relief.

'Oh by da' ashes an' brimstones. Why does dat brute of a lady hav' ta' cum' ta' me?'

As his tormentor was leaving, he could slowly make out that she was with three other individuals.

'The great Verran! Still needing bodyguards.'

Trying hard, battling over his hang over, he wasn't about to give up for he was persistent on trying to eye his tormentor's companions. He began assuming that the big bulk of a man that grabbed him a while ago was his personal bodyguard, a knight named Armallion. There was also a man wearing a brown mage hat and a purple silk robe. No doubt this was her right hand man, a wizard named Letrall. And figure smaller than the rest, a figure that would fit a lady. Right intuition directed Valcan to assume this was her younger sister, a priestess named Fenall.

"Oh by the way, Valcan."

Zerran announced.

"There was also a stranger that knocked five thieves out yesterday. Do you know anything about that man?"

"No, Zerran. But I'll keep ya' informed if eva' I can find somethin' bout diz' two."

"Okay, you do that, Valcan, you do that…"

Zerran continued on walking away along with her companions. Last train of thoughts occurred on Valcan's mind. It was about the assassin and the stranger.

'Yer 'bout ta' be sucked in da' bigger picture of Prontera, boys. Hope ya' can handle it!'