Chapter 2

With the very first step out of the safe zone, Amaryll instinctively grabbed the bow and arrow from behind her back, which she didn't even realise she had in the first place. Her hand shook as she clutched them with her fingers. She had never been taught to use such a weapon, yet she was able to hold one as if it was second nature to her. How can this be? Amaryll lowered her bow and examined the vast land before her. There was only one word that crossed her mind at that very moment. Breathtaking. From the little cobblestone path to the various colours the flowers brought to the grassy plain, up to the very trees which fringed the outer skirts of the land, Noria was indeed a beautiful place. The flowers danced in the breeze as Amaryll walked by and the butterflies fluttered here and there, as if they were playing a game which only they could understand. Even though the elf was beside herself to see such scenery, the fact that she could handle a bow and arrow was still on her mind. Not that she minded, of course, but it was strange that she couldn't remember a time of ever using a weapon, especially when she had an excellent memory. Perhaps she had a previous life, where she was a hunter of great skill and virtue or maybe, just maybe she had been brainwashed prior to arriving in Noria. Amaryll sighed. She didn't believe any of those reasons, even though she really wanted to. Then, another thought struck her. What if someone else could answer her question? Her heart pounded hard against her chest. Yes! She needed to find someone who could answer her question. This 'someone' had to be of great wisdom and knowledge, as well as accustomed to characters like herself asking questions which may seem dim-witted to ask, but did not show in the way he or she responded. But who?

Amaryll continued along the path, until it faded into the ground below. This saddened her, for she had no idea where the group of warriors were, nor did she know where she was herself. She tilted her head from side to side, trying to find some clue as to which direction they had taken. Then she saw it. A glimmer of colour amongst the long blades of grass gave her a newfound hope. She raced over and bent down eagerly to see what she had discovered. It was... gold. Gold pieces were scattered across the ground, with tiny letters etched onto every single piece. Amaryll picked them all up and turned a few over, trying to figure out what their use was on the continent of MU. She held one up to her eye level and squinted in the sunlight to read the engraving. Zen. What is Zen? Amaryll juggled the gold pieces in her hand for a few moments and then placed them at the bottom of her bag. She couldn't be bothered asking herself another question which she knew she couldn't answer. The gold hadn't provided her with any indication that the group of warriors were nearby and she was beginning to feel frustrated. She had strayed so far from the path that all she could see was endless greenery around her. Lost and irritated, Amaryll headed east, hoping to cross the path which she had left behind.

To her dismay, instead of finding the path she longed for, she found a large patch of marshy ground which was riddled with unnaturally deep blue water and damp soil. Feeling cautious of what may lie beneath the surface and dirtying her attire, she decided to go around the strange coloured puddles. As carefully as she could, Amaryll slipped through the many reed beds which surrounded the swamp and managed to avoid the water and the soggy earth in which it lay. By the time she had overcome the marshland, her boots were perfectly dry and her clothes remained intact. She was about to head north, when she heard the sound of sword slash only a short way from her. Amaryll ran south, until she came across a horrendous pack of black monsters which shook her to the bone. They were much bigger than herself, with mighty swords, shields, bows and thick armour which appeared impenetrable. In the midst of the mob, the three warriors she sought to find were in callous warfare with the creatures, splitting them from limb to limb with their powerful weapons. One of them spotted Amaryll looking on in fright and nudged his friend in the ribs. The second man turned his attention from the current monster he was attacking and put on his best smile.

"Like it gorgeous?" he called out to the stunned elf.

The third man whirled around and glared at his companions. He then looked over to Amaryll and cursed under his breath.

"Get out of here elf!" he cried, "It's too dangerous for you here!"

Upon hearing the man's words, a monster tore away from the pack and charged straight at Amaryll. She stood there, paralysed, not knowing what to do. Her brain was telling her to run away as fast as she could, but her body wasn't responding. The creature raised its sword high above its head, as if to decapitate her with one blow, when suddenly the first warrior sliced him in two, right in front of her eyes. She screamed hard when it hit the floor; for she had never seen an animal face such cruelty.

"Lechedemy is right," the swordsman told the elf as he wiped his blade clean, "This is no place for you. Return to Noria, or I will kill you."

"Dude, there's no need to threaten her!" second man yelled as he threw a chain wrapped with fire around another monster, "She can stay if she wants. It's a free world, right babe?"

"Uh-" Amaryll started to say.

"Rastamann!" the first man snapped, "Stop talking! You speak of things which you do not know of yourself."

In the corner of her eye, she saw the warrior named Lechedemy roll his eyes at his friends and continue to slaughter the remaining monsters. His movements were so swift and agile as he wielded his sword into one creature after another. The wings he wore upon his back looked almost dragon-like, with a daring design of orangy-yellow spread across the front and back of the wingspan, resembling the pattern of a raging fire. His helmet was made out of what looked like to be a dragon's head, which kept his face hidden from all to see. All of his armour bore the colour of crimson red except for his pants, which were of a brownish-black. With this exclusion, all of his armour held a ghostly blue glow within, and every now and then this glow reflected against the ground in what appeared to be a swirl of light. In one hand, he held a long silvery blade with a large ruby at the base of the guard that shone with all the colours of the rainbow. In the other, he held another weapon, which caught the young elf's interest. Inside the fuller, she could make out flashes of lightning moving up and down the electric blue sword. I cannot be seeing things right ... isn't it impossible to capture lightning?

"Earth to... whatever your name is," Rastamann said as he waved his hand over Amaryll's eyes, "Have you finished checking out our lovely friend Lechedemy?"

She averted her eyes from the warrior in action to the man standing before her.

"He... fights well," she choked out.

"Yeah... well... so can all of us," Rastamann said, trying to impress the elf, "Now, watch me. I'm so much better than him!"

With one last look at Amaryll, he joined Lechedemy and raised his weapon to a monster on the right of him. A sudden burst of purple light erupted from his arrow-shaped rod, which infiltrated the creatures' defence and sent it to its grave. Rastamann then took the opposite side of his friend and sent flashes of what appeared to be spiked metal bullets, followed by an intense scarlet stream of fire, which then split into three distinctive tails. The monsters groaned in pain and collapsed instantly before him. The man who had threatened her, came from behind the horde and jumped into the fray with a devilish look in his eye. He then smashed his sword into the ground, sending shockwaves across the plain. The earth began to open through wide cracks from where the blade had split the soil, which sent the surrounding monsters to their inevitable deaths. As soon as their carcases fell to the ground, many pieces of gold exploded from their bodies and onto the grass. Amaryll stared at her hands and then back at the fading corpses. Please don't tell me I touched their blood... The three warriors looked around for more of the repulsive animals to slaughter, but there were none to be found. The ground beneath them was a bloody mess, with the smell of death lingering in the air. This didn't seem to worry them, and this took Amaryll by surprise. All three of them leant down and picked up the gold pieces, as well as some transparent yellow rings hiding in the grass that she did not notice before.

"Want a ring elf?" Rastamann called out to her.

Choosing to ignore his question, Amaryll inquired, "Why do you keep their blood?"

All three of them stared at each other and laughed. After a few moments, they calmed down and approached the elf.

"What blood?" Lechedemy asked.

"That gold... stuff."

"That's not blood babe," Rastamann butted in, "That's zen!"

"What's zen?" she inquired further.

"It's money," the character who wanted to kill her suddenly said, "Zen is our currency. It's used to buy potions, weapons and other items that you may need or like."

"Oh," Amaryll replied in a small voice, "Then you must be rich. You guys picked up a lot of, uh, zen, just now."

The three warriors stared at each other again, but this time, they did not laugh. It was almost as if they felt sorry for her for some unknown reason.

"Elf, are you new to this place?" Lechedemy asked her gently.

"Uh... yes Sir. I don't know much about MU," Amaryll admitted.

"You're a noob!" Rastamann said happily, "But you're still a babe to me!"

"Look man, I told you not to speak anymore. You want me to PK you?" the man obsessed with killing people threatened.

"Just try it dude," he said fiercely, "I'll whip your ass!"

As the two men faced off, Lechedemy took off his wings and placed them in his bag. Amaryll didn't know how they could fit in there, but the swordsman seemed to have no trouble managing it. He scratched his head and looked over to the elf.

"Walk with me," he said to her as he walked past her.

Amaryll obeyed.

"Why did you not leave when I said so?" Lechedemy asked as soon as she caught up with him.

"I couldn't move," she answered truthfully, "I don't know what came over me Sir."

"I see..." he trailed off, "What is your name then?"

"Amaryll, Sir."

He paused for a moment, "Like the flower Amaryllis, but only shorter."

"Yes Sir."

"But still as pretty as the flower itself."

She blushed, "Thankyou Sir."

"So you know nothing about MU?" Lechedemy asked again, suddenly changing the topic.

"No," Amaryll answered with a quiver in her voice.

"I see..." he said slowly, "You know, I've been here for a long time and I have never come across anyone who is as innocent as you. "

"Innocent?" she repeated.

"Naive."

She began to feel uncomfortable as they left the two bickering warriors further and further behind. There was something about Lechedemy which frightened her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She had to admit, he seemed like a very knowledgeable person, but the way in which he spoke was somewhat scattered, as if he didn't know what to say to her.

"I don't mean to be naive on purpose Sir," Amaryll began to explain, "I-"

"There is no need to give me a reason," Lechedemy interrupted, "We were all like you when we came here for the first time. But through experience, your knowledge will broaden and you will no longer be naive."

Amaryll laughed, "I should hope so!"

They both smiled at each other.

"The first step to becoming knowledgeable is to observe the world around you, and ask yourself questions which you would like to know the answer to," Lechedemy said profoundly, "The second step is to seek out these answers, because if you do not seek, you will never find."

"But-"

"And the third step is to embrace and accept these answers, no matter how difficult it may be," he finished.

Amaryll waited a moment, just in case he hadn't finished speaking.

"Well Sir, I believe I am at step two," she said quietly, "I have a question on my mind which I really need to know the answer to. I saw you and your friends enter the woodlands of Noria and I followed you because I wanted to know where you were going and-"

"We went to kill the White Wizard and his foul army of orcs," Lechedemy interrupted again.

"Huh?"

"Ah, I forgot you know little about this world," he said apologetically, "The White Wizard is an enemy to every MUitizen that resides in Noria, Lorencia and Devias, the only three towns inhabitable on this vast continent. He launches attacks on the outer rims of these lands, bringing with him a horde of orcs to invade and destroy our towns and our people. If a character defeats the White Wizard, he is rewarded with a jewel of bless for his efforts. My friends and I went to find him, but we were too late – someone had already beaten us to him."

"Who?"

"A Dark Lord," Lechedemy said bitterly, "And a very selfish one at that. We arrived to see him slay the Wizard, collect his reward and disappear. He didn't even stay to destroy the orcs which threatened the land."

That must have been Lord Shahenshah...

"But you stayed? Why?" Amaryll asked eagerly.

"Because unlike him, our lives are devoted to protecting and preventing monsters from taking over this world, rather than reaping the rewards that many monsters carry with them."

He is selfless...

"That is very noble of you Sir," Amaryll acknowledged.

"Please continue," he said bashfully.

"Yes... well, I followed you and yours friends because I was curious, but as soon as I left the safety of the town, I grabbed the bow and arrow from behind my back as if to protect myself. But the thing is ... I've never used a weapon in my whole entire life! I asked myself how this could be, but I couldn't come up with an answer and so I decided that I would find someone who did have one. I thought that ... perhaps... you... could-"

"Answer your question?" Lechedemy finished.

"... Yes Sir."

"Hmm..." he began, "All I can say is that you are an elf. Your home is the woodlands of Noria, so it's only natural that all elves like yourself just somehow... know how to hunt. It comes to you without thinking, just like squinting your eyes as you look at the sun."

Amaryll looked at him blankly.

"I don't understand."

Lechedemy stopped walking and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"There are things in this world which none of us will ever be able to explain. This is the way of MU and this is how it always has been," he said seriously, "But you must always remember one thing."

"What's that Sir?"

"Never think the impossible is not possible."

He released her shoulders and continued on his way. Amaryll blinked a few times and ran after him.

"But-"

"Do you remember step three to being all knowing?" Lechedemy cut in.

"Yes, but-"

"Then accept the answer you have found and embrace it."

Amaryll closed her eyes in frustration. How can I accept what isn't logical? Lechedemy's strides began to slow as they reached a big boulder which was carved in the shape of a blunt arrowhead... and the path! To her delight, she set foot upon the cobblestones and happily walked side by side with the noble warrior. She wasn't lost anymore, for she knew where she was and soon enough, they arrived back in the safe zone of Noria. As soon as she stepped inside, she placed the bow and arrow on her back and rolled her eyes. Embrace it... its second nature Amaryll, deal with it!

"Explain why you left us."

Amaryll was so busy trying to convince herself to accept the unexplainable that she didn't realise the other two characters had joined them. Rastamann stared hard at Lechedemy and the other man looked as if he were ready to kill the both of them.

"Chilakill, calm down," Lechedemy said, "I thought you were going to duel."

"No excuse," he snapped back.

"You're right, I should have told you that I was escorting this young elf back to Noria. My apologies."

"Man!" Rastamann cried, "I coulda done that. Why you? It's not fair!"

"She wanted ask me a few questions, didn't you?" Lechedemy said, putting the elf on the spot.

"Y-yes," she spluttered.

She looked to Rastamann, whose tongue was literally hanging down to the floor with a sense of longing in his eyes. She got the impression that he loved entertaining girls, no matter how ridiculous he sounded. To be sure, he was very handsome – he wore the same type of armour that Shahenshah possessed, but it was much brighter, with shiny waves of silver swirling around his legs and arms. The cape he wore on his back complimented his attire and wavered in the light breeze that moved through Noria. She could tell that he was a Dark Lord, for the features on his face were very similar to that of the self declared Emperor, but unlike him, Rastamann's facial expression was much softer and vibrant, rather than grumpy and stern. Then there was Chilakill. When she first heard his name, she thought he was anything but 'chilled'. He was completely covered from head to toe in tough dragon-like armour much like Lechedemy's, but it looked much stronger and darker than that of the latter. Along the top of the chest plate, gloves and boots was a strip of gold lining, which blended into the metallic auburn material he wore. On his back, she saw two massive swords which gleamed in the sunlight, with a hint of a yellow shimmer along the handle and blade. His posture was even more intimidating with the huge wings he wore on his back – it made him look like a human dragon, compared to Lechedemy. Although both sets of wings looked the same, she had to admit that they suited Chilakill more, only because he came across as fearless to Amaryll.

"What kind of questions?" Rastamann said suspiciously.

"It is none of your concern," Lechedemy said shortly.

"What is your name elf?" Chilakill suddenly demanded.

Completely thrown off-guard, she folded her arms and stared hard at the ground.

"My name is Amaryll," she said quietly.

"That's a pretty name babe," Rastamann said happily.

"Are you an Agility Elf, or an Energy Elf?" Chilakill questioned, as if he were interrogating her.

"Um-"

"Well?"

"That's enough Chilakill," Lechedemy said firmly to his friend, "She has just arrived here. There is no way that she knows what she wants to be."

Amaryll closed her eyes and suddenly remembered what Lord Shahenshah had said to her.

"I was told that I should be an Energy Elf," Amaryll spoke up, much to everyone's surprise.

"Really?" Lechedemy said slowly, "And who told you this?"

"Lord Shahenshah Sir."

"Lord?" Rastamann butted in, "He is no Lord Amaryll. He's a faggot."

"Shut up, or I will shut you up," Chilakill warned.

"No dude, she has to hear this," Rastamann pressed, "Babe, I've known him for a long time, and he is far from being a Lord. He doesn't even deserve the title! He is a gutless, arrogant prick who thinks that he rules MU. Don't listen to anything he has told you because it will only lead you to trouble."

"That's not entirely true," Lechedemy said in Shahenshah's defence, "He did advise her to be an Energy Elf."

"Yeah, but everyone knows that Agility Elves are useless," Chilakill cut in, "All they do is shoot arrows."

"Now wait a minute man!" Rastamann interjected, "They aren't entirely useless. They do really good damage when they reach higher levels, and they aren't too bad on the eyes either!"

"Can't you ever say anything worth listening to?" Chilakill retorted.

"Not around you."

"Why you-"

Amaryll's mind began to wonder as the two men began to quarrel again. The thought of being an Agility Elf made her feel sick in the stomach. Even though the 'instinct' of knowing how to hunt down an animal coursed through her veins, she knew she wasn't a killer. Lechedemy eyed her closely as she opened her bag and peered inside.

"What are you looking for?" he asked.

"Something that was given to me a little while ago," she replied as she shuffled through her inventory, "Ah here it is. Please trade with me Sir."

Lechedemy held out his hand and Amaryll gladly took it. Her bag automatically opened and she grabbed the orb that Shahenshah gave her.

"I was given this Sir," Amaryll told him, "I haven't really thought about it until now, but-"

"An Orb of Fortitude," Lechedemy read off the top of the sphere, "Only an Energy Elf can use that."

"Forti- what?"

"A defence orb," Lechedemy said as he glanced over at his friends, "It gives you the ability to enhance one's defence."

"But it does not help you kill monsters?"

"No. It only protects you from them."

Amaryll let go of his hand and smiled happily. I will be an Energy Elf! At least this way, I will not be harming any animal that comes my way...

"Sir, I do not want to be a killer," Amaryll said bravely.

"Do not think of it as killing," Lechedemy said softly, "Think of it as protecting, and you will never feel guilt."

"Did you ever feel guilty Sir?"

"I won't deny that there were times when I felt remorse for what I have done in the past, but you see, I have been here since the times of Valhalla and Maya. I have witnessed many things and done even more which have given me reason to believe that the only way to keep the continent of MU safe is to destroy the monsters which plague this land."

Lechedemy straightened up and scanned the area for his companions. They were nowhere to be found.

"Now where have my BK and DL gone?" he said, puzzled.

"What's a BK and DL?" Amaryll queried.

"Ah, it is slang for Blade Knight and Dark Lord."

"Oh? And what are you Sir?"

"Chilakill and myself are Blade Knights," he said proudly, "We are considered the strongest characters on this continent because we are versatile and very, very powerful. Others may disagree, but it all depends on your personal opinion."

A Blade Knight... yes, they must be the strongest of all...

"I must go," Lechedemy unexpectedly said, "I fear my friends have had a falling out."

"Will I ever see you again?" Amaryll asked sadly.

"Of course we will," he reassured her, "I've already added you as a friend. All you have to do is accept."

Before she could even say a word, he disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace that he had ever been there in the first place. As she began to make her way over to her favourite toadstool, a little box materialised right before her eyes. It showed Lechedemy's name, and asked her if she wished to add him as a friend. She instantly accepted and the little box vanished. This time, she did not question how the box popped up out of nowhere, she just accepted that the unthinkable was possible and embraced her newfound revelation of knowledge.