Chapter 4
My name is Katalina Kazuma. I'm related to the famous Sakamoto Kazuma. Where he is off to fight off the undead in the underworld, I am still stuck in Elona. I'm a dervish, which probably doesn't mean a lot to any of you, but if you know what a warrior is, then you pretty much know what I do. I tank. I use enchantments to keep me alive. Although it is usually not recommended, I do wear a dress in battle. Many people wonder how I'm able to keep myself alive in a dress, and I respond simply by beating them in getting to the next gate.
It was a few weeks after my brother, Sakamoto, left for Cantha, and then Tyria. I had recently used a capture signet to capture the Avatar of Balthazar skill, which I thought was very unique. With it, I gained armor, while moving a heck of a lot faster. I was in the planning stages of using it to make a living running people from town to town when I heard that there was an opportunity for me to meet up with Sakamoto, and earn money at the same time. I heard of a legendary run called a Droks Run. It composed of a passage through Lornar's Pass, then Dreadnaught's Drift and snake dance to Camp Rankor. Eventually bringing people from Beacon's Perch to Droknar's Forge, the city of riches in Tyria. The best armor for all Tyrians was found there. I myself was looking forward to the Primeval Armor that the Gate of Secrets said they would make for me if I ever got the money for it. A grand whopping 88,000 gold! That was also assuming that the prices on Elonian leather didn't rise.
I digress.
I had made it to Beacon's Perch the night before a great blizzard was to take into effect. Storm watchers had told us that they'd seen the clouds move towards the perch, but weren't sure if they'd gain enough altitude to wash over us. Either way it was late, and I decided on getting some rest before making the attempts. As I got comfortable, a dwarf came over and asked if I required any assistance or company for the night. I told him to shove off, which resulted in a laugh, but still moved him on.
Morning broke. Time for the big attempt. I set the skills that I was planning on using, and ventured out into the pass. Avatar of Balthazar went up first, and I ran south. Got hit by ice imps and pinesouls. Harrier's Haste boosted my speed. I sped past them. Suddenly, BAM! I was knocked down as a frost worm came out of nowhere and attacked me. Being knocked down, I was hit with a barrage of ice imp attacks and boulders from the pinesouls. My health deteriorated exponentially, and before I knew it, I was back at the resurrection shrine. I need knockdown prevention, I thought. I went back into the outpost, grabbed fleeting stability, and switched the avatar for something else. Something that I thought would definitely get me through. Something so wicked that it was seldom used. Vow of Silence. I went out again. Harrier's haste went up first, and I boosted right past the first few groups of ice imps. I came close to where the worm appeared, and cast fleeting stability. BAM! The worm came up. BAM! Another came up. They went back down and started a chasing me underground. I avoided some more Avicara by Vow of Silence. Recasted my fleeting stability, and contintued. The worms continued to chase me. Where I was going to end up I had no idea. Finally I saw the gate. Dreadnaught's Drift. Harrier's haste went up again, and I zoomed towards it, ramming into the gate at top speed. I had made it to the Drift. I'm almost a quarter of the way there.