Crossing Paths- Part 1

Ragnarok is a strange land. Okay, aside from the name, Ragnarok has different

lands, with different climates. You may travel from one land to another with drastic climate changes; from icy cold tundra's to humid, moist deserts. There seemed to be a line dividing the lands and their climates, as weird as it shall sound. Since I live there, I had to get used to it.

Oh sorry! I didn't introduce myself. My name is Arou; sorry for the belated introduction. I just turned into a mage, and I'm taking advantage of every second of it. Porings and Creamies roam the land, and different other monsters as well. Why wouldn't I attack them when they look so easy to kill? I finally got my own rod, or beginner staff, and I really want to use it, but I can't cast spells yet. That means the only other weapon I can use is a dagger. They're weak, but I have to use something right? For me, there is no need for strategy, just to hit and run if needed.

Today, I want to kill a Creamie. Creamies looked like mutant butterflies, with their green and purple wings. From the name, I can already tell this is going to be fun, and easy. Finally finding one, I position myself and then I strike! Creaming this Creamie will be easy. But as I attack, the Creamie dodges by a little bit. Shoot! Now it has me. I hear a huge shriek, probably coming from the Creamie that's now behind me, and I prepare myself for the worst kind of pain. Weirdly, nothing happened. I got up and looked around. The Creamie was gone; one of its wings lying on the ground next to me. I actually killed the Creamie! I was so happy. I yelled out my first victory against a Creamie.

"You didn't kill it." Who said that!

I turned around to see a boy my height. I could tell he was a priest, 1 more job level above a mage, and he was holding a staff similar to mine. He glared to me with some loathing eyes that made me shiver. Then he smiled at me jokingly.

"Ha, you almost got killed by a Creamie, you noob!"

WHAT! How dare he call me a noob! I'm not that much of a beginner!

"What do you mean noob?" I blurted out, "For your information, I am no longer a noob, so ha!"

He just smirked at me. "You are still a noob in my eyes; I am over 70 levels higher than you in magic."

I hate people like him; just 'cause he was in the game longer meant he was better than me. That wasn't true. I am just as good as him.

"Well, if you want to fight about it; I'll be happy to oblige!" I yelled.

Then he looked at me like he was amused. "No thanks noob, unless you want to die without pain that is; don't be stupid."

I was so angry now. "So now I'm stupid?"

"Yea, cause you're suicidal!"

"I am NOT suicidal!"

Amusement turned to hatred in those firey minutes.

"There's no use fighting with a noob anyway! Bye bye nooby."

There was no way I was going to let him walk away then, atleast without knowing my name. I threw my arms up in the air and yelled, "The name's Arou, not noob, or nooby, or stupid, or suicidal! GOT IT!"

Then, I saw him stop walking and just stand there. What was he up to? I just looked at him.

"Anything wrong?" I asked.

Then I heared him blurt out some words like "Shoot" but he said it below my audio capacity. After a few moments, he turned around facing me. I just stared at him questioningly. He blinked a couple of times and then sighed. "Nooby, I-…"

"Arou you mean," I said, annoyed.

I then gave him a warning look. He sighed again and looked away. Then he said something under his breath.

"What?" I yelled annoyed.

He said it again but it was indistinguishable to me. "Repeat that please?"

He said it again. I got annoyed enough. I started to walk away the he said, "Wait! I need your help Arou." I turned around and looked at him.

"Yes, Mister?"

"My name's Kyrou."

I nodded and gestured to him to continue. He sighed and looked up all determined-like.

"What level are you?" He asked.

"Level 12, Basic: 10."

"You ARE a noob!"

I glared at him angrier. He immediately changed the subject.

"I need a noob's help and since you happen to be the first…interesting one I came across-.."

I just stared at him. Did he just say I was interesting? I didn't know if I was getting excited or if I was feeling sick just then.

"What are you asking, Kyrou?"

He looked up at me, annoyed since I was all of a sudden getting interested. He sighed again. That was getting really annoying!

"Go on."

"Fine, fine! I wanted to know if you could travel with me."

I looked at him. "Why?"

"Because I need a travel buddy, and I want you for just the thing!"

I just looked at him really funny like. Right now, I couldn't suppress any emotion getting to my expressions. Kyrou looked at me annoyed… or embarrassed; I couldn't tell. I didn't know what emotion I was showing: it could have been a joking look, or an annoyed. I had to get all the loose ends straight before he even thought of walking away.

"Kyrou, are you saying that you want to travel with a "noob" like me just cause you need a "noob's" help with something really anonymous; so anonymous that you won't even mention what it is about and you expect me to nod my head and say, "ok, I'll go" when I don't even know why I'm traveling with you?"

Kyrou gave me another annoyed looked and sighed. Then his expression changed. Anger turned into grin, and sneer in a split second.

"No! No! That's not why I'm asking you, Arou. I just need a travel buddy, is all! You know it'll be interesting for us to travel with each other, so can you please agree so we can get going?" He said.

I couldn't tell if his remark was said nicely, and gentle-men like or if he said it as annoyingly and cunningly as before. I didn't know how to respond and I was immediately confused.

Was this going to be my first enemy or my first travel buddy? Why did he want a "noob" as his travel buddy? With people like him, there is always a motive, either noble or selfish, and it will rear its head sometime if I did travel with him.

"Find I accept. I'll travel with you." I said looking upset.

I didn't know if he sounded relieved or the same annoyed way, but he said, "Ok then. Let's start our traveling today and find a patch of grass to sleep on," and then he started walking away. Apparently, he expected me to follow, but that annoyed me all the more. I maybe a beginner, but how dare he treat me like I'm feeble minded! I crossed my arms and stood my ground. Kyrou turned around and stood my ground. Kyrou turned around and looked at me.

"What's the hold up? Let's get going; it's getting pretty dark."

I nodded and followed him. He was right; it was getting kinda dark. As we made our way, we both trained by killing a few porings, which was way easy for Kyrou, and I tried new foods and killed new enemies all in the same town. I never knew of such things until now. I knew there were other towns other than the one we were in but I am too poor to travel to them. Before we fell asleep under the moon and the stars, Kyrou told me stories about the other towns he traveled to like Prontera and the funny stories that were lived in each town. He told me sad stories and beautiful stories. We got to know each other that day even more. I couldn't help feeling that I still dislike him, though, but I was sure that feeling was going to be gone soon. Kyrou told me that we would travel to another town this week. I nodded, and was immediately excited. But excitement was replaced with drowsiness and I fell asleep.

The next day, I wasn't really tired. Kyrou was awake cooking something over the fire. I sat up and did my signature big yawn and got up. Kyrou looked up at me and smiled jokingly.

"Well good morning, princess Arou. Isn't it nice that you can sleep as long as you want, anytime you like?" He said.

I didn't like his tone. I knew Kyrou well enough to know he was upset. There can only be one explanation for this.

"What time is it?" I asked, but I had to be cautious because if it was over 10:00am like we planned to leave then he would most likely get really, really upset.

"Oh, it's 12:05pm." He answered.

Oh shoot! Now I knew why he was upset.

"Why in the world do you sleep so long! We went to bed early didn't we! I tried waking you up but you slept like a log! A LOG!" He yelled.

I cringed to the sudden uproar. Man, was he upset.

"Why did I pick a nooby that sleeps so…so stubbornly?" He asked himself aloud.

There he goes trying to pick a fight with me.

"Why did I have to go with a stupid traveler that wakes up so early? I hate early risers!" I yelled at him in response.

I turned around, facing a tree which was behind me and sat down. I felt him glaring at me. He was still upset. Then I heard him sigh; really loudly, and very dramatically, most likely to get my attention. I didn't even pay him any mind. If he wanted my attention, he might as well kick me. An unusual silence when through us like a knife through butter and the only sounds was the fire against the pot over out sorry excuse of a fire built on wood sticks.

I forgot to ask what Kyrou was making but I quickly remembered I was still upset with him and I took the thought out of my mind. I sat against the tree and crossed my arms. Kyrou just took his wooden spoon and hit it against the pot to get my attention once more. I still pretended to not notice his childish antics. He may be more levels than me but he sure acts childish.

Kyrou sat back on a tree and most likely gave up on me. He looked like he was in thought.

"It's going to rain, so we have to find shelter. There are some buildings around the area, so we'll go to one of those," Kyrou said. I nodded, giving him only a response with out using words. I usually did that when I was upset with someone.

He got up and picked up his pot and motioned for me to follow. I nodded and got up and followed. I walked into a small household with him. There was a rug made out of straw on the floor and the walls were coated with clay and stacked with bricks.

I liked the feeling of comfort I got when I looked at it. It was pretty small, but we could manage. I sat down where I thought I could get comfortable and set my rod down. Kyrou put the pot on the stove and made some tea. When the kettle whistled, he poured the contents into two cups and he handed me one.

"Herb tea. I made it to calm both of us, okay?" He asked. I nodded and started to drink it. It was very calming and comforted me all the more. We heard the rain outside: the smooth pelting of the rain and the gliding sigh of the wind. Kyrou opened the door to look outside and then closed the door with a small rattle.

"It's pretty bad out there. The grass is bound to be wet for days," He said.

I nodded. Hopefully the grass dries out pretty soon. Curiosity got to me as to why we stay outdoors other than this cottage. Actually, was this even his cottage? Kyrou continued sturring the contents of the pot. Fire crackled and rain made a steady rhythem. Cups glistened and heat heightened. I always loved the way rain made those noises, and the way it smelt after the rain ended, and the grass made your feet wet.

I continued drinking my tea silently, listening to the rain. Kyrou grabbed a spoon and poured some food into a bowl and handed it to me. When I looked at him questioningly he answered, "Muso soup with crackers."

I took my spoon and began to eat the soup when I felt that big burn in my mouth."K-Kyrou! W-What is in –this!"

Kyrou looked at me confused-like. "Ordinary Miso soup ingredients why?"

I put my bowl down and tried to coop with the pain.

"Because this soup is hot!" He looked like he was thinking but he didn't respond.

"KYROU YOU IDIOT! W-What did you PUT i-in my soup!" I neared blow his head off of his shoulders with that yell.

Kyrou looked at the pot and then said, "Oh yea! I put peppers in it too, sorry!" I knew he did that on purpose. I wished I could have strangled him then and there!

End of Part 1