"Where is your shield? You're a Landskie right?"
"A... Landskie?"
"Yes. They use swords and shields normally. At least mine did."
"I didn't know about the shield part..." I take out a small notepad from my bag and begin to add to my list. I feel breath tickle my neck, as I shiver and look behind me. Our newest member, Vassenoir, was behind me, trying to peek at my writing. Her short orange hair style was similar to mine. Well, mine's about medium length.
"Not gonna share your notes, huh Capt'?"
"I-It's just the equipment I have to buy. Nothing big or anything..."
"Let me see." She pulls the notepad out of my hands as I nervously look at her. She knows way more than I do. About everything. It's a weird feeling.
"You don't have Ariadne Threads."
"Huh? What are those?"
Her friendly face instantly became serious, sighing. "What you use to return to Tharsis. You can use them from anywhere. God, I got a lot to teach you kids, don't I?"
Kids? Really? Who does she think she is? I mean, yeah, she has a lot more experience than me in everything here. And... she's older... so... to her we are kids...
"Yo, Capt', you ok?"
"Y-Yeah... sorry. Just had some bad thoughts, they're gone now though." A smile shows on my face as I take back the notepad and write down Ariadne Threads.
"Here, as part of your new training regime I just made for you, effective now, I'll pay for everything."
"Ummm... Training regime?" This does not sound good.
"Yup. I ain't having no crappy captain. So you don't get better, I'm leaving."
Alright, seriously? Who does she think she is? We aren't that bad... and even if we were, that was just rude. Iris should not be allowed to invite people to our guild. First Seras... although she's not really bad. And then her! Next she'll recruit some bear that will eat our heads!
"Bad thoughts again?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah..."
"The training isn't even anything bad. Just become a decent explorer and that's all I need from you. Don't get your panties in a bunch, Capt'."
"Just call me Quasfay."
"I like Capt' better. But if that's rules, I guess I must oblige."
"It's not a rule. It's a request. From a Guild mate." I emphasize Guild mate. That's all we are.
"Alright Quassy."
"Ok. I'm just going to go buy this stuff. See you tonight."
Never so fast have I disliked someone. I storm out, soon entering a crowd of other explorers trying to make my way to the shop. It's so busy here, it's hard to get anywhere... I am just full of complaints today.
"This shop looks like it could do. Only because it's so uncrowded", I say speaking to myself aloud.
"Not that place, it's a rip-off."
"Vassenoir, what is it you need?"
Why is she following me?
"I was afraid you'd do this, and that's exactly what you did. Money is scarce. For that exact reason, waiting to buy things cheaper can be a lot better than spending more. Especially with friendlier merchants, building connections is better and will get you farther."
"I... I guess you are right about that. Thank you. So I should go to a more popular store? And try to make myself stick out in a good way."
"Precisely. Now, let's go."
"To the shop?"
"No. The sky ship."
"Huh? We aren't going into the labyrinth till tonight though..."
"For our mission, yes. For your training, we are going now."
"H-Huh?"
We both jump off the skyship, landing onto the soft grass. She landing much faster and making a loud thud due to her armor.
"I still don't think this is a good idea... we should have just waited for the others and gone together..."
"Don't you want to be stronger? I mean, look at Falahein's farmer crew. The original one."
Why is she talking about my mom and all them? What is she up too?
"There was five farmers recruited into Falahein as part of their way to make money. They were practically rich due to the farmers. All five had little to no combat experience, but they went out everyday and fought hordes of monsters and making money."
"And Alice, the leader trained so hard, and showed such determination that she was actually brought into the main explorer section of Falahein..."
"Precisely. Iris tells me that was your mother. Don't you want to be the strong leader and impress her? You know she went out on her own at times, exploring and training. As a simple weak farmer. Don't you want to do that too?"
"..." I'm unable to speak really. She has a point. I'm sitting here like a brat not wanting to become stronger. But I want to become great like her? Ha.
"I do want to do that. Quasfay, the great Land-"
"Skie."
"... of Falahein."
"So… now let's go work on that. A dream is just a dream until you work to achieve it."
"Yeah, you're right. Let's work toward that dream."
The two of us began exploring the dungeon, fighting enemy after enemy. Each fight made me feel stronger and stronger, but my body got weaker and weaker from fatigue.
If this was a game, I'd say I was about level six. While this other girl was like, I don't know, eighteen now.
... Why is she so much better than me?
"Hey... can we take a break...? I'm so exhausted."
"Yeah. Sure." I collapse onto a bed of flowers in a small, square room and sigh.
"Vassenoir...do you have a watch?" I look up at the reddish sky. The sight is just beautiful.
"Yup." She lays down as well, next to me, hands resting underneath her head.
"… Do you know the time?"
"About seven."
"Ah. Thank you. We can rest for a litt-crap!" My body springs up, as I push open the door to the room.
"What grasseater crawled up your butt?" She only comments, watching me panic.
"We have to get back! We can't make them wait to do our first mission! Get up!"
"Yeah, yeah." She takes her time to stand up, stretching afterwards. Just taking her sweet little time, and it's beyond infuriating. All she does is mock me and does things that will annoy me.
"How could her other guild stand her anyway? How could they have accepted her?" Oh crap - I quickly cover my mouth, and look away.
"What? What did you say?"
"No-Nothing! I said nothing! Ignore me!"
"Shut up and move it!" She angrily walks through the door, pushing me into a wall before continuing onwards.
"Oww… That hurt more than those rats! No, not really..." I stumble to my feet, cringing in pain. I need to catch up with her and apologize. How could I have said that...?
I rush in the direction she went, moving as fast as I can. Creature corpses litter the road we traveled on to get to this spot, and now they serve as my path to get back. Soon the Skyship reaches my view and I rush toward it. I enter it, immediately looking for Vassenoir.
"Vassenoir? You here?" I find myself shouting, but with no answer. I look off the side of the ship to see Vassenoir slowly climbing the rope up the ship. Relief hits my body as I feel my face turn to a smile. Slowly, she climbs into the ship, and my smile fades.
"Hey... Vassenoir, listen..."
"Save it. I don't want to make YOUR friends wait."
"I'm sorry... what I said before was completely uncalled for. I'm just... well... jealous of you. And I'm taking more offense to what you are saying than I should. And well, I'm sorry..."
"It's… whatever. Don't worry about it. Let's just get out of here."
"Alright..."
"Iris!" I shout as I jump off the side of the ship and hug her tightly. She looks at me with her empty eyes and hugs me back.
"You were out?"
"Yeah. Vassenoir insisted I trained in my free time. So we were out training. But now I'm exhausted."
"Does that mean the plans are cancelled?"
"No! We are gonna do it tonight! Don't you worry about that! Haha!" I don't know what it is. But I'm just so happy around Iris. Even though she's really monotone and quiet. I can't really explain it.
"Awww! You guys beat me here!" Seras enters the docking bay pouting. "Oh well, you guys ready to go?"
"I actually have to go to the store to pick up some stuff first. Has it gotten less busy?"
"I was able to walk around town without being pushed around by everyone, if that's what you're asking."
"Alright, good to hear. Vassenoir is up on the ship. I'll be back as soon as possible!" I quickly sprint out of the dock, rushing over to the store that was so busy earlier in the day. It was completely empty now, as I walked right in.
"Yeh' boss! I put da' arma' up last night!" The skinny, short blonde girl shouts to the back of the building before turning around facing me with a wave. "Heya! I don't tink I've seen you 'round here before!"
"H-Hey. This is my first time in the store. It's always so crowded, so I haven't come here yet. Anyway, I'm Quasfay of the Falahein Guild."
"Ooooo! Of 'Da Falahein Guild?! Yeh'r 'da ones 'da guild master told me about! You guys are legends!"
"N-No...you got it wrong. My mother was a legend. I'm one of her daughters and we named our guild Falahein, after hers. So... we plan to BE legends but we got a way to go before that happens."
"I see. I see. I tink' I get it! Well Falahein crew- Wait. It's not just you, right?" I simply shake my head, and she smiles at my answer. "Awesome! So Falahein crew, you can count on me fo' 'da stuffs ya need!" She makes a goofy smile toward me.
"Well, thank you a lot." I smile as well, pulling out my notepad. "Oh, before I forget. I would like to buy a few things. If that's ok."
"Of course dats ok! It's a shop after all! What's it ya need?"
"It may be easier to just give you the list." I hand her my notepad nervously, embarrassment filling me face as I turn red. God she probably thinks I'm such a loser...
"H-Hey. Why are you all red? Ya' sick?"
"No! I'm f-fine! Don't worry!"
"Wait a minute. Yer' blushin' and getin' all flustered! W-Wait! I don't like girls like that! At least I don't tink I do...?"
"Huh? What?! No! I wasn't! I don't! I didn't! It's not that!"
"I-I'll go get yer' tings...!" Quickly she rushed behind the counter to get everything from the list.
Oh my god... who has a first meeting like this?! It's so embarrassing! She probably thinks I'm a freak! This is so bad...
"A-Alright. Here is ya' stuff Falahein." The girls normally bright red cheeks were darker than usual in a blush as my nerves go into a frenzy. "One tousand three hundred en!" She blurted out shyly.
"H-Here you go..." I just as shyly hand her a bunch of en I got from my mother. I don't even completely count it before taking the stuff. "Thank you so much..."
"A-Anytime! C-Come back when you have materials to sell!"
Quickly I walked out of the store and after going a good distance away, I heavily sigh. My face is so red and hot... what the hell... Slowly I make my way back to the cargo wharf, reaching it in only a few minutes.
"Sorry for the holdup everyone!" I shout looking up at the Skyship. I load everything I purchased into my rucksack and climb up to the ship.
"Got any three's?"
"No."
The three of them sit there playing cards on the deck. I don't think any of them noticed me.
"Hey? What are you playing?" Iris simply places a finger up as if for me to shush. What is up with everyone today...?
"Anyone have a 9?"
"Nope." The two other girls answered Iris after looking over their cards.
"Neither do I. Because it's a six." My sister responded with a smirk on her face.
"W-What?! You! That was a cheap trick Iris!" Vassenoir shouted, Iris snickering.
"Huh? Huh? What happened? I'm confused..." Our medic adds as Iris gets ready to explain.
"If you have a six, which you do, I win. The way you looked at your cards when I asked if you had a nine, gave it away. It was a mistake on my part, but it happens."
"I lost?! But... but... but my candy..."
"You can keep half. You too, Vassi." Iris dragged half of the candy the two girls had into her own pile, and with a victorious look, she put the massive pile of candy in her bag. The other two did the same, but with a significantly smaller amount. Soon, all three stood up in front of me.
"Ready Quassi?"
"Yeah, Vassi." I giggle as she shows her displeasure of the nickname. "Well Falahein! Let us go on our first quest! We'll be going into the Lush Woodlands this time instead of the Old Forest Mine. That's the real labyrinth. We don't need to leave the first floor."
"Well, what are waiting for? Let's go."
"Yeah."
We arrive at the dungeon and quickly begin to explore. I join Vassenoir in the front line and Iris maps out our steps as we start the search for the pendant.
Because of all the training earlier, my body is in so much pain. Everything is hitting me so hard. My reaction time is off and Seras isn't able to heal me to full health. All she can really do is patch up after a battle. I have band-aids all over me. My body stings with each movement. Worst of all? I don't have the time to rest. If we did rest, our plan of coming here at night would have been wasted.
"Hey, guys! Look!"
All of us turn to what Seras was pointing at. Instantly we're filled with dread.
A few feet in front of us lays a Cutter, a giant bloodthirsty bear creature, fast asleep. That would be an amazing sign, if there wasn't a pendant tied around his middle claw.
"How... how are we going to get it...?" Seras nervously asked.
Vassenoir responded, "Not a chance we are fighting it. You guys will get killed."
"Wait! What if we just quietly take it off of him?" The medic once again added.
"Are you crazy? If we mess up, then we are also dead..."
"Yeah Quassi, but this may be the best way to get it. Now who's the quietest?" All of us look toward Iris who shook her head.
"I'm allergic to animal fur, I'll sneeze and wake him up."
...no she isn't.
"The second quietest is our leader. And she's the fastest."
"W-Wait a second! I'm the one against the idea to begin with!"
"But wouldn't it be bad if Falahein failed their first quest?" Vassenoir looks straight at me. She's completely serious too.
A sigh escapes my lips as I place my bag down on the floor. "Be ready to run at a moment's notice."
I take a deep breath. Slowly I start moving, steady breathing. It's only a few moments before I'm in front of the sleeping beast. My body just feels so cold again, freezing actually. My feet don't want to move, and they don't until I move them against their will.
It's right in reach. Go on girl. Grab it. Come on! It's right there! As if my body had gone into shock, I couldn't do anything but stare. In a split second I regain control of my body, and untangle the pendant at an unbelievable speed, being as gentle as I can. Quietly I run back to my guild mates who greet me with a soft embrace. Afterward, Vassenoir gives me a high five.
"Great job out there. Keep that up and we are sure to live up to the name." The fortress says, holding up her shield as if for a silent cheer.
"Thanks. I'll... I'll keep doing my best. Whooo... my heart is pounding. Ah."
"Hehe, well of course! That's not something you do everyday" agreed Seras.
"Well everyone, shall we use an Ariadne Thread? I have presents to celebrate the mission's success. Our first quest completed!"
"Really?! Aww, Quasy, you're so nice!" Our medic says, a bright smile on her face.
"Did you get me candy? Or some of those berries?"
"You actually want more of those Iris?!"
"They were yummy~"
"Man, you have like the weirdest taste buds ever."
I go through my bag, pulling out the weird object known as the Ariadne Thread.
"Quasfay, do you hear that?"
"Hear what...?"
As I listen in, I hear faint mumbling. Quickly, I turn toward the sound. In the next second, I feel a shock move through my body. Then I can't feel a thing. I can't move once again. Only my eyes. What is going on? What is happening? I look down to see a yellow circle fade into the ground. What in the world...?
"Wow, that was way too easy."
Who 's here?! I look around, until my eyes catch a glimpse of a man in black and purple. He looks like a ninja.
"A bunch of nice young ladies exploring the forest? Ha. You're lucky we aren't those sort of people." The man walks up to each of us, inspecting us. "Ah. You." He slowly moved behind Vassenoir, out of my sight. What did he mean by that? What is this guy going to do to us...?
"And you girl. Those presents sound rather nice."
"DON'T TOUCH HER!" Vassenoir shook, shrugging off whatever paralysis was used on her. And only seconds later she screams, two arrows flying into her feet, binding them together and to the ground.
"Damnit! Do not touch her! And give me back my damn money!"
A girl steps in front of Vassenoir, out of the shadows, her face hidden by the cowl over her head. From my angle I can see the feminine features on her face. She holds two bows in her hands, aiming them at the bound fortress. Suddenly, the circle re-appears underneath, paralyzing us once again.
I still don't know what they want with us... We are just explorers without much at all, what good would robbing us do? The man once again escapes my sights, as he goes behind me. I still can't feel anything.
"Alright Sniper, Arcanist, let's get out of here." A third person steps out from the shadows, a male, as they all move to the center of us, where the Ariadne Thread lay.
"This'll come in handy. Thanks for the ride home. Sniper, if you'd do them a favor as granting them a pardoning gift?" The girl lifted one of her bows, firing it off into the next room. "Awesome. Now, thanks again." The man sliced the thread, and in a flash of light, the three of them were gone.
Everything just had to go wrong today, didn't it? All of mom's money... all those gifts for everyone… even my notepad! It's all gone! God, today just can't get any worse...
And just like that, it does.
The roar of a rudely awakened beast echoes through the room.
A single thought passes through my mind.
We are dead...