"Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter"
Thank you Lighting2T for your character.
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"I never really understood why he did what he did…" As a young woman with auburn hair began to tumble back, her eyes were focused on a man in front of her. Despite getting injured, what seemed to be his first priority was the young woman's safety. "But I can tell that this man…is no evil man."
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A Few Hours Before…
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With her battle roar, a young woman struck down on what looked to be a wolf. Her shoulder-length auburn hair waving with the sudden fall, the particles of the mob exploded in front of her before she rose to her feet. On closer inspection, the young woman's appearance was rather pale, her eyes were a deep shade of blue with a mole underneath her right eye, but it was barely visible underneath the red hooded cloak she wore as well as the white scarf with red trimmings that covered the bottom portion of her face. Her armor consisted a short sleeved black skintight top which left her stomach exposed underneath her red cloak. She also wore a metal chest guard in a matte dark gray color.
On her hands she wore black fingerless gloves with small metal coating on each knuckle. She also wore a pouch that hangs from the left side of her hip. And on each of her legs the young woman wore thigh exposing black shorts that dawned a pouch strapped to each leg. For her shoes, she wore dark grey boots that reached just below her knees.
Looking at her blade, a one-handed sword she looted from a chest during another previous quest "The Midnight Dawn" a dark blue blade with an orange line in the middle of the blade and a silver edge. Its hilt is black with no cross guard. Placing the blade back into its scabbard that laid on her back, the young woman looked out towards the path she had just walked. As the sword snapped with the scabbard, fog had begun to set in. Seeing it, the young woman ran down, back on a path she had already been on.
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"This day was unlike any other, but a certain meeting was about to take place. A meeting I never would have guessed could have happened."
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As the thick fog of Floor 3 Forest began to set in, Ember ran back on the path she was just on and found sanctuary in a large hollowed out tree trunk that was on its side. Stepping inside, Ember looked back to see that the fog was not entering. Sighing a breath of relief, the young woman sat down and began to take some necessary breaths.
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"My name is Ember, and I'm leaving this journal of sorts behind in case death comes knocking. I've also been doing this so people will actually have something to remember me by, though, I don't know if it will ever see the light of day…."
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Ember's thoughts were cut short as she heard shouting coming from beyond the fog.
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"God, we really can't see a thing." A female voice yelled out, her voice sounding crystal clear.
"Not only that, but we go separated from Hinata and Makoto." A male voice followed.
"Someone's coming?" Grabbing hold of her sword that hung from her shoulder. But before she could remove her blade, the two figures entered the hollowed tree path, and breathed sighs of relief.
"Don't worry…" The woman spoke. "They're both with Agil and Klein, so they should be fine."
"Yeah, you're probably right." Seeing someone else in the hollowed trunk as them, Shirou looked up to see Ember at the other far corner of it. "Looks like we're not the only ones here." Now finally realizing that someone else was there, Shimizu finally noticed Ember.
"Oh, you right." Was all Shimizu said.
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Waiting in the tree for the fog to disperse, Shirou was see scrolling through his menu, Shimizu was twiddling with her hair, and Ember, well…she was staring at Shirou. Or to be more precise, his menu.
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"How can someone already be at Level 27?!" Ember thought to herself as her eyes widened at the number she saw. "I had difficulty just getting to Level 21, what the hell?!"
"Hmm?" Looking towards Ember, Shirou could've sworn he felt a pair of eyes on him, but as he did, Ember's hood waved a bit as she looked down towards the ground.
"What's wrong?" Shimizu asked as she noticed Shirou looking at Ember.
"Man, I have way too much stuff that I may not have enough space for anything else." Shirou spoke out loud, just loud enough for Ember to hear.
"What are you doing?" But noticing how Shirou wasn't taking his eyes off of Ember, she noticed the young man stand up and walked towards the lonesome girl.
"Hey." Startled that Shirou was speaking to her, Ember looked up only to see a trade window opened up before her and items were being listed one after another. "Take them, I have no need for them." Seeing the young lady accept the trade, Shirou smiled and walked away.
"What was that about?" Then looking at the new items she got from the trade, Ember screamed out in shock, which caught Shirou's and Shimizu's attention. Covering her mouth quickly, Ember looked back at the list. "What's going on?! These are all high-grade mats for this floor." Looking at Shirou from under her hood, Ember couldn't help but ask: "Who is that man?"
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A few moments later, the fog began to disappear, and the path began to show itself again. Seeing this, everyone in the trunk of the hollow tree rose to their feet.
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"Hey." Shimizu called out as she approached Ember. "Want to join us?"
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Rushing forward towards a wolf mob, Shirou flipped above and sliced his blade perpendicular to its spine, giving it an instant death. Stunned at how well he moves and executes his skills, Ember was left feeling envious at the player before her.
"Hey, don't daze out, more are coming!" Snapped back to reality, Ember rushed towards the oncoming mobs, and began to fight them one after another.
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Looking back towards Shimizu, Ember noticed her surrounded by several wolves who all began to rush in. Thinking she needed help, the young woman rushed forward, only to be caught off guard, as she noticed Shimizu using an AoE skill, Edgefall.
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"It was honestly impressive how well these two worked together, despite not speaking at all, they understand each other on a level I believe I will never reach. But even with that, they don't leave others out and always grant people like me chances to prove what I, and so many others can do. I like those types of people."
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Noticing a boar rushing behind Shirou, lifting her blade behind her, Ember tossed the heavy looking blade with ease as it landed right in front of its target, startling the beast. This moment gave enough time for Shirou to react and strike at the boar behind him.
With the last beast in the area vanquished, the trio placed their blades away and began to calm down from their short battle, well at least not Shirou as he heard something ring in the distance.
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"Shirou, what's wrong?" Hearing Shimizu talk perked up Ember's interest.
"Shh." Was all Shirou said as he placed his finger over his mouth.
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"Just from looks alone, the man before me seems to have better hearing than anyone I've seen. Is there nothing this man can't do?"
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Motioning them to follow him, Shimizu stuck close to Shirou, while Ember stayed a few feet behind. After a minute, the sound started to become apparent. Steel against steel, the sound of a battle was resonating throughout the forest. The closer the group got, the louder the sounds of the swords became.
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"Look." Shirou whispered as he motioned the women to look. Looking over the vegetation that was around them, both Shimizu and Ember noticed two elves. One dark elf, covered in a black cape and another forest elf covered in a silver armor from head to toe.
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"What's this? I never knew there could be elves in this game." Ember thought to herself.
"Looks like the Elf Quest." Shirou whispered.
"Elf quest?" Shimizu repeated.
"I did it during the beta test, but never made it farther than Floor 7." Shirou answered. "I know how it starts, but I don't know how it ends."
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"This man is a Beater?" Ember thought to herself as she looked towards Shirou. "But…"
"Let's go." Shirou then rushed forward catching the two women off guard, only to then leave the women be seen scrambling off their feet and rushed right behind the young man.
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As their swords clashed without mercy, both the female dark elf and the male forest elf kept going at it without even a single break.
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"This man…" The female dark elf thought to herself. "He's good."
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The forest elf was cladded in a full metal body arm leaving only his head visible. His blonde hair was, despite being in the shades of the forest trees, still seemed to glow with what little light there was.
On the other hand, the female dark elf was covered dark cloak. Underneath this cloak she wore a black and purple armor above a black silk undersuit. Despite being a warrior, her appearance itself was something quite beautiful that it shocked both women.
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"I have plan." Shirou spoke up, catching the attention of the two women.
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As the two elves continued to fight, it was becoming more and more obvious that the dark elf was being pushed back. And the moment came when she missed her target.
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"Oh no." Seeing the Forest Elf lift his sword up, the female warrior looked up at her demise. "I'm sorry, my sister."
"This is your end!" As the elf brought down his sword, he expected it to slice through the warrior in front of him, but instead it was deflected and instead the weight behind his sword only brought him down as the sword was redirected towards the ground. Seeing who was behind the sword, Shirou was seen defending the Dark Elven warrior. "How dare you interfere, human!" But Shirou didn't say a word, but instead used the opportunity to get behind the elf and strike at his legs.
"Exactly human. Do not interfere in this matter." The Dark Elven warrior spoke as Shirou held his sword to his side, before rushing in.
"That might not be enough to stop him, but it should give the two of them enough time to move." Shirou thought to himself as he began to remember his conversation with Shimizu and Ember.
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"Huh?!" Shimizu nearly exclaimed out loud as Shirou gave his plan to the ladies. "Are you crazy? They have to be a least a few levels higher than you, Shirou."
"Yeah, these NPC's are from Floor 9, so if any of us mess up, one of us will die." Shirou smiled sweetly as the two women just stared at him in shock. "Just stick to the plan, then we may be able to come out of it alive. Besides…" As the young man looked in between the bushes that hid him, he stared at the Dark Elf. "We have help."
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As both Shirou and the Dark Elf warrior fought against the armored Forest Elf, Shimizu rushed around the two while trying to stay hidden, all the while panicking.
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"Shirou better be right about this." Shimizu thought to herself as she remembered what Shirou asked her to do.
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"The Forest Elf is wearing a full-body armor." Shirou spoke as he studied the battle. "Meaning he will only have a small areas to attack and injure him. That's where you come in, Shimizu."
"Since I use a spear, I can just point my spearhead and take jabs at him." Shirou nodded in agreement. "Leave that to me."
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Seeing an opening, since the Forest Elf was far too distracted by Shirou, who was actually getting some damage in despite the difference in levels. Appearing from behind a tree, pointing her spear forward, she looked down towards the npc's legs and jabbed with all the strength she could muster. Seeing her spearhead penetrate the back of the Forest Elf's leg, caused him to grunt in pain before seeing him tumble slightly. Moving back before Forest Elf could take a swing at her, Shimizu met back up with Shirou.
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"Looks like I won't be getting another opportunity like that again, huh?" Shimizu asked as she twirled her spear around her body.
"Nope, but at least we got a hit in." Shirou answered. "All that's left is for her to do her part."
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Still hiding in the shadows of the forest vegetation and trees, Ember was seen just staring at the battle before her, but she knew her job was far more important than the two who were fighting against the Forest Elf.
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"You have a more important job…. uh, I never quite caught your name, what was it again?" Shirou asked, only for Ember to whisper. "Sorry? Could you repeat that?"
"Ember." Ember introduced herself as she lifted the scarf around her neck to cover her face.
"Right, Ember… Your job is most important." Moving some of the bush leaves away, Shirou was seen pointing toward the Forest Elf. "That elf has a key item that belongs to the Dark Elves. I want you to stay hidden in the shadows just around the small battlefield and look to see where the elf might have hidden it. If anything, it could even be on his person.
"But what am I looking for?" Ember thought to herself as she looked at Shirou in confusion.
"It's a small leaf bag." Shirou answered, as though he had just read Ember's mind. "Remember I played this during the Beta, so I know a couple of things here and there."
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"Despite having extensive knowledge on how this game works, the man known as Shirou doesn't keep it to himself, but instead shares it willingly. I guess not all Beaters are evil."
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Rushing around the battle, Ember stopped in her tracks as she thought she noticed something. Emerging from the bushes a little to be seen by Shirou or Shimizu, Ember began to wave and point at the Forest Elf. Seeing this without confirming anything, Shirou rushed and attacked in the same places again from before Ember emerged and noticed what she noticed. When Shirou began his attack on the Forest Elf's left side, he moved slightly to avoid the blade. Smiling at this, Shirou backed up to the Dark Elf.
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"Do you think you can take him for a bit? I have an idea." Shirou asked as his back was pushed up against the Dark Elf.
"Of course, warrior." The Dark Elf answered as she rushed without hesitation towards the Forest Elf. "Your opponent is me now!"
"Shimizu!" Shirou yelled, catching the brunettes attention. "Cover her." Getting a nod from Shimizu, Shirou saw her rush up and helped out the Dark Elf. "Alright, then."
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Taking advantage of the confusion, Shirou ran around and while the Dark Elf's sword was crossed with the Forest Elf's, with one fell swoop, attacked close to the Forest Elf's hip with a circular sword skill attack. Who followed was Ember as she seemed to have grabbed something after Shirou's attack.
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"Ember, weren't you supposed to stay hidden." Ember shook her head, but before she could do anything else, Ember and Shimizu heard Shirou scream.
"Watch out!" Feeling herself lose balance, Ember let go of what looked to be a small leaf bag. But as she looked back, she noticed some large claws digging into Shirou's right shoulder before grabbing the bag and flying upwards.
"Shirou!" Shimizu rushed over to the young man's side and pulled out a healing crystal. "Heal." Seeing the crystal shatter, Shirou's health restored itself, but Shimizu noticed it began to drop again. "Why? What's happening?"
"A bleeding…effect." Shirou groaned as he held his shoulder.
"Poor, poor humans." This new enemy spoke while chuckling at the sight of Shirou bleeding from his shoulder, while extending his hand out and grabbing the leaf bag. "Always weak to attack from above.
"How dare you play such low tricks?!" The dark elven woman yelled out in disgust as she noticed the new enemy, a forest elf falconer, chuckling psychotically. Then, the elf stopped his laughter and dropped behind the armored elf. As the group noticed him approaching the injured elf, their eyes widened open as they noticed what just happened.
"Your duty is done." The falconer spoke in a whisper as he shoved his blade into the armored elf's back.
"No!" The dark elf exclaimed as she noticed the elf warrior she clashed her blade with shatter into a million pieces.
"Well, can't have anyone weak in my ranks." The falconer smirked. "Now then…" The elf looked at the group. "Let's end this."
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"Despite getting injured, Shirou's first priority was my safety above all. Despite losing the key item for the quest, he didn't get angry, he just kept asking if I was alright." As tears formed in Ember's eyes she couldn't help but ask herself: "Why…why is this man so…selfless?"