This story uses characters from the online game Ragnarok Online. So basically, every skill, class and monster listed here belongs to them

Chpt2

"Ok class, the last question for this test. What is a thiefbug called when it is in transition between the thiefbug stage and full maturity?"

"Pssst!" Loot tired to catch Ret's attention. "The answer's pupa." he whispered.

Ret's hand shot up straight into the air. "It's called a pupa, sir." He replied smugly.

"Great job!" The teacher replied and the lesson droned on.

Finally, after three exhausting hours, lessons at the Prontera Novice Academy ended.

"Whew! School sucks… You're lucky you don't have to study." Ret told the insect that was in his schoolbag. "I wouldn't have come if Aeris was not in school today." He continued, eyes dreamy.

Ever since they became friends, Loot and Ret shared all their secrets. Even about Ret's romantic interest, Aeris. In fact, Loot doubled as a spy for Ret to check on Aeris's schedule.

"You better get good results and get a job soon. Otherwise, how are we going to go on adventures?" Loot rebuked him. "Anyways, I heard that Aeris is a honours student. Heard she is gonna be a mage and then a professor. Heh."

"What the heck!" Ret's eyes widened in shock. "I'll study harder for sure."

With that depressing thought, the two friends headed off for home.

Later that night-----------------

"So son, what job are you planning to be in the future?" Ret's father asked. "I heard that the registration date is two months from now."

"I really don't know… I thought of being an acolyte. After all, I like to help people. Ret replied.

"Well it does not really matter what you choose to be. Just do me proud ok?" Ret's father said, in an unusually fatherly tone.

"Dad, is something wrong?" Ret asked, concerned.

"There's something I have to tell you all. The king has ordered all able-bodied men to enter the army. The demons are getting out of hand and he wants to end this war once and for all." The hunter said seriously. "I won't be back for a while."

There was a stunned silence around the household as they came to terms with the news. Eventually, the whole family gathered together to bask in each other's company for the last time. Even Loot felt a sense of loss at this piece of news.

"I'll be leaving tomorrow. Take care of your mother ok?" Ret's father instructed seriously. "And check that thiefbug to see if he passed out my card already." He added as an afterthought.

Ret and his mother gave a reluctant chuckle. Both had a strange foreboding about this war. As if something terrible was going to happen. But all they could do was to wait and see… for now.

Five hours later-------------

A hunter silently took his Gakkung and slung it over his shoulder. He looked at his still sleeping wife and child and muttered to himself before placing a letter at the dining table. Brushing aside something from his cheek, he cursed himself for this moment of weakness. This was war. Any distractions may be fatal for him. Years hunting alone in the wild taught him that.

"Lucky no one witnessed me crying." He consoled himself.

Unknown to him, he was being watched by someone, or more specifically, Loot.

"Who would have guessed? That cold-hearted hunter actually loves them after all." The thiefbug thought. "Humans are so much more complex than I thought."

The next day-----------------

Ret walked glumly towards the Novice Academy. If it was any consolation for him, most of his classmates had their fathers conscripted as well. However, most had more than a weeks notice about this news. He only had three hours.

"Hard to imagine that just yesterday, I was worried about Aeris getting better grades than me." He whispered to something inside his schoolbag. "Now, all I want is Dad coming back home safely."

"I'm sorry I don't know what to say at a time like this." Loot said, his voice breaking.

If Ret had a careful look inside his bag, he would have realised that his homework was wet with what seems like thiefbug tears. An unbelievable sight.

"Guess so." Was Ret's reply.

That day would have been a mundane day not worth mentioning if not for what happened during our heroes's journey home.

"Well buddy, thanks for helping me 'double check' the test answers just now." Ret said without any trace of embarrassment.

"You know something? I have a feeling you're using me." Loot said moodily.

"Of course not!" Ret said hastily. "I… I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Of course, the thiefbug did not mind. It was just the lack of adventures that caused him to feel a tad impatient. Ret's father going off into war and into seemingly exciting adventures did not help as well.

All of a sudden, a shrill scream was heard before it was quickly muffled out.

"Did you hear that?" Ret asked. "Sounds like someone's in trouble!"

"YES! Lets go! To our first real adventure!" Loot replied enthusiastically.

Just ahead, our heroes saw a pretty girl being mobbed by what a group of thieves. If it was any girl, Ret may just have decided to sneak away rather than risk his life by meeting three thieves head on. However, the girl looked very familiar. In actual fact, it was Aeris.

Although Ret was infuriated, he had not lost his train of logical thought. He knew that it was impossible for him to take them head on. Therefore, they had to be defeated by wits alone. And a lot of luck.

He ordered Loot to fly towards the men and distract them as much as he could while he got ready. Next, Ret took off his bootlaces (which unlike shoelaces, were much longer and made of courser material) and tied them together. All he had to do was wait till Aeris managed to escape in the confusion created by Loot and rush in and tie the three scoundrels up.

A simple plan. One that is likely to end up in failure.

To his credit, the plan worked out perfectly at first. Loot did an impressive job in distracting the men, buying Ret time to get his 'props' properly prepared. Finally, Aeris seemed to realise that it was her best chance to escape and made a dash for it. Ret saw his chance and rushed in to tie the three thieves up. Sounds perfect? Well, actually, no. Unfortunately, in her eagerness to escape, Aeris accidentally ran into Ret, sending the both of them crashing to the ground.

"Well, what have we got here?" A fat thief walked up to them and leered.

"It seems like someone has been trying to play the hero here." Replied one of his accomplices.

In a surge of anger and extreme stupidity, Ret took a pebble lying just next to him and threw it with all his might, aiming it at the fat thief's left eye, which was covered in an eye patch.

"Ow!" The thief cried in pain and anger. "Now you're gonna get it you son of a bitch."

The three thieves circled the two children like a pack of vultures. Cornering them at the base of a large tree.

"Looks like there is no escape for you now." One of the thieves sneered. "After I kill the boy, we're gonna enjoy you slow…" he smiled lecherously as Aeris gave a disgusted look. Disgusted and yet resigned. She knew that her time was up.

"Go do your mums you paedophiles" Ret heard someone say. He looked around for their would be rescuers but saw no one. Then, a certain fluttering of shiny black wings signalled that his best friend was back to help. Not that he could be of much help.

"Grab my legs!" Loot instructed the both of them.

"Are you mad?" Ret retorted.

"JUST DO IT! YOU WANNA DIE? " Loot practically screamed at Ret.

Ret grabbed Loots legs and motioned for Aeris to do the same thing. Thankfully, she was so afraid that she did not question the reason for this seemingly useless action.

"Everybody hold on," Loot cried. "Teleportation!"

In a rush of wind, a swirling vortex engulfed them and sent them to a random spot within a five hundred-metre radius. Luckily for them, they were in a forest and properly shielded from their aggressors by a plethora of trees. Without sparing a second to catch their breaths, all three of them ran as fast as they could back to civilisation.

"Huff, puff, huff. Have we lost them?" Aeris asked.

"I think so… they wouldn't… dare to follow us into the city… I think." Ret stuttered, still unable to believe that the girl of his dreams was actually talking to him.

"Hey, thanks for saving me back there. I…uh…" Aeris stammered. "You're… a fair shot with a stone. Especially when you hit the fat thief's eye patch." She added, giggling. "I think you'll make a great hunter." She finished lamely, her cheeks a slight tinge of red. "I think I have to go. My mother's expecting me to be home before mid-day." She said finally.

"Oh! I'll… see you… in school then." Ret said. Awed by what she said just now.

As the girl turned and walked briskly away, something that was nagging at his mind finally came to surface.

"Hey, how did you manage to teleport us out of there?"

Loot looked at the boy sheepishly. "Actually, I ingested the creamy card a long time ago…" he stopped, giving the boy time to digest this piece of information. "I was able to teleport since then."

"WHAT?" Ret cried, dismayed. "You mean I had been searching through your… excrement… for nothing?"

"Um… yes… it was kinda funny…" Loot replied, even more embarrassed than usual.

Ret took up his schoolbag and stalked off. Leaving the mischievous thiefbug at the pavement. He was not extremely angry of course. How could he be? After what Aeris said to him. He just wanted Loot to know that he disapproved of that behaviour.

"Hey wait up ok? I'm sorry buddy…" Loot said.

"A hunter… hmm…" Ret said dreamily.

"What?" Loot enquired.

"Oh nothing…" Ret said, a blush working its was to his cheeks before he could conceal it.

To be continued...

Thanks to everyone who read this story. I will probably update about once every week. Hopefully.

Some useless info: Our main character's name, Ret Carahc. Spell it backwards and you get... drumroll... Character! Yeah, I was too tired to think of something original. Hope you guys don't mind.

By the way,comments and criticisms aregreatly encouraged.