Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Online. This story, however, is completely mine and may not be redistributed or used without my approval.
Chapter 27
A round table was set in the middle of a dining room. The room was elaborate and lined with gold and silver. It must've belonged to a palace. At the table sat five figures, all dressed in the royal colour of purple. The room was bright and full of laughter...until one of the men struck the table with his fist, enraged at something. Soon, all of them followed the raged act. They argued and the room dimmed. A dark figure appeared behind the tables. He seemed to be a wizard...and his necklace resembled the symbol of Leahcim, the God of Darkness.
"Join me..." The hissing voice irritated my ears. "I will...rid you of pain..."
I awoke, sweating and panting from the dream. It was not horribly terrifying...but something about it reached my heart and sent chills throughout my body. I felt I was dead.
"Rid me of pain..." I repeated the words silently to myself, trying to make sense out of it. "Did it mean...to kill me?"
"What are you mumbling about?" Crono said groggy as he turned over in his sleep.
"Nothing." I replied. "Just...a dream." I lay back down, but instead of falling asleep, I merely waited for the sun to rise.
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"Alright, are we all set?" Dante said wearily. He and Raisu have been up all night trying to find the best way through the forest ahead that separates them from the Yggdrasil tree. The little men we had prepared to go. Tobie's guards were allowed to come with us and carry the supplies, as they had destroyed a lot of carts in their raid.
"Let's go." Raisu rode ahead on Chuu. I rode after her and we were on our way again...this time with Excalibur at my side.
"How does the new scabbard fit?" Skipp walked beside Raijin and I. He took the time in the morning to make me a temporary scabbard for the holy sword. "Sorry it was so shotty."
"It's alright." I replied with a faint smile. "It fits great, couldn't have asked for more in this situation." Skipp nodded, pleased, and dropped back to where Miroku was walking.
"Are you feeling any better?" Raisu inquired, breaking the long silence between us since last night. "You don't look well."
"I'm just..." I choked on my words. "I-it's nothing..." I drank some Holy Water. The Spirit of Anger is acting up once more.
"We're almost there." She read my expression of stress. "We'll get you clean soon." She comforted me with a half hug and rode on. The warm embrace made me feel better and I rode on with higher spirits.
Through the journey, we met up with more of the Niffleheim monsters, but not in such a mob like when the Werewolf appeared. We defeated them easily and carried through the forest.
It's been a long time since we set off, and most of us had forgotten how long we've been out here. The memory of how beautiful Payon was faded as the dead terrain of Niffleheim filled our heads instead.