Chapter 4. The Moonlit Lovers
June 24th Year 2024
After the death of the party was pushed towards leveling and clearing floors. The players have made it to floor 63 now and things among the party have changed. Philus Has settled in on floor 55. Cherub due to his acting abilities has been asked by the front lines to search out and investigate player killers. Matty has started his own frontlines guild. Xonj has avoided joining Matty's guild but still provides assistance to them when needed. Xonj has been spending his days and the earlier part of the nights leveling up. It is night now and Xonj is wrapping up some leveling for the night. On his way back he notice someone else out late fighting some monsters. Xonj walks over to take a peek at who it Xonj gets close the monsters are defeated and though the crystals he spots a woman. She is wildly beautiful Xonj notices immediately. As he is admiring her beauty she turns his way and points her polearm towards him. She yells out to Him.
"Who goes there!"
Xonj's eyes open wide and he lifts his hands midway into the air. He freezes stiff from surprise of her actions. She continues to talk
"Hey. You're from the frontlines aren't you? Xonj right?"
She then raises her spear head to the sky and places the weapon to her side. Xonj lowers his hands and responds.
"Yeah."
Xonj then recalls seeing her spear head peeking over players heads in boss meetings. She is normally towards the back of the meetings. So Xonj has never really laid eyes on her before. Xonj continues to talk.
"What are you doing out so late?"
She then replies "I could ask you the same thing."
Xonj says "I thought I was walking with you back to town."
The girl is at first confused. Then she thinks to herself.
"Is this guy seriously hitting on me?"
She turns herself towards town and replies.
"I guess you were."
Xonj walks up to her and begins walking beside her back to town. She glances towards Xonj every once in awhile to try and see what his face says. As soon as she opens her mouth to start conversation her stomach rumbles. She quickly closes her mouth and Xonj begins to speak.
"Lucky for you I have a habit of feeding people who decide to accompany me."
She leans forward with her hands on her stomach. Then replies
"Yeah I dont remember eating today."
She opens her U.I. and invites Xonj to a party. Xonj then accepts Okami's party invitation.
"Okami huh? Thats a beautiful name."
She leers in his direction and thinks to herself.
"This guy is trying really hard. He must be a seducer of all women!"
She then tries to call him out.
"Are you this nice to all the pretty women you have been with?"
Xonj burst out into laughter and bends over holding his stomach and almost trips. She then says
"Its rude to laugh at someone without them knowing why you are laughing."
Xonj speaks while still catching his breath.
"I... I am sorry. Its just in the last 7 seven years I have been on no dates and that struck me as funny."
She then thinks his efforts are out of desperation. Xonj then speaks
"I am comfortable with my life so dont feel sorry for me. That dont mean I am not looking for someone to stand beside me. I just have not found the right one."
Xonj then pulls a crystal out of his pocket and puts his right arm around Okami's waist. She tenses up and Xonj says
"Teleport Grandzam."
The two appear near the warp gate in Grandzam. Xonj removes his hand from her waist and begins walking into town. Okami stands still for a moment and says.
"What was that about you don't have to be touching party members to group teleport."
Xonj looks back and responds
"I dont know it felt right. Come on lets get that dinner."
Xonj and Okami walk through the streets of Grandzam. It is still early into the night so players are still out in the City of Steel. They travel till they reach their destination. Xonj then sighs and lowers his 's face becomes puzzled and asks
"What's wrong Xonj?"
Xonj head still hanging and falling lower and lower to his shoulders. He then says.
"This place. Its my nightmare"
She replies
"Why not go somewhere else then? There are a lot of places to eat."
Xonj then raises his head and in a mocking tone says.
"Yeah but this is the only B&B&B."
Okami then takes her attention to the sign. It reads Philus's B&B&B. Beneath each B there is a picture. One of a bed another of a bathtub and last of a cup of coffee. Xonj then begins to walk towards the building and Okami Follows. Xonj opens the door and Okami notices the place is packed. It always is. Once they enter the door a young lady just inside the door greets them with.
"Hello! Welcome to Philus's B&B&B."
Xonj puts together a smile and says.
"Hello Ren, You know you don't have to greet me everytime I come back here."
She then smiles and replies
"Yes but insist that I must."
A familiar voice then calls out over the crowd
"Welcome what can I get for you?"
Philus then notice a female with Xonj and continues talking
"And would your lovely companion like anything?"
Okami thinks to herself that both of these men are flirtatious.
"I would like some tea please." Okami request
Xonj then replies "I will take what I always have."
Philus Smiles with a twinkle in his eye and says
"And what will that be sir?"
Xonj sighs and replies "The same thing I get everyday. A cup of caramel coffee."
Philus then says "That sounds like a excellent choice sir. I shall have that out right to you."
The two have a seat at a nearby table and have their meals. The two talk over dinner for the next hour and Philus returns. He places a piece of paper on Xonj's side of the table. He then smiles and walks away. Xonj picks up the paper and reads his bill. Again he sighs and Okami asks
"I can help you pay for that."
Xonj then responds
"No No. I would not pass up the chance to pay for a lovely women's dinner. Also I would not hear the end of it from Philus."
She then questions
"You two know each other on a personal level or somthing?"
Xonj replies
"You could say that. Me and him met early in the game and have been together for a long time. He opened this place once we reached floor 55 and now he spends all his time here. Now he likes to use our friendship to torture me."
Okami laughs and says
"Well I have had a great night but I should really go and get some sleep."
Xonj stands and says
"Yeah it is pretty late."
Okami then says her goodnight and begins walking away. Xonj with an embarrassed face asks
"Hey would you mind helping me with a quest?"
Okami's curiosity is peaked and she replies
"What kind of quest?"
Xonj then explains
"There is a quest I have found that appears on a full moon. It has proven difficult for me. I have tried the last three full moons. I would ask my friends but they would pester me to death afterwards."
Okami acts as though she is thinking really hard on the question with her hand on her chin and her head turned to the ceiling, but she had all ready knew the answer.
"HMMM! Yeah I guess I could do that since you got me dinner."
Xonj replies
"Good so we can meet here tomorrow near dusk?"
Okami Smiles and nods. They said their goodbyes and the next day comes around. Xonj waits down stairs for Okami to show up. A cold chill runs down Xonj's spine and he says
"Good Morning Philus."
Philus then replies from over Xonj's shoulder with a large Grin.
"You know normally you are already gone to level at this time."
Philus then walks around and grabs a chair. He takes a seat and looks to Xonj and questions.
"What are you waiting for? That girl?"
About that time Okami walks through the door. Ren then Greets Okami.
"Hello! Welcome to Philus's B&B&B."
Philus then grins a even larger grin then before. A large dark aura flames up around Philus. Xonj stands up and says.
"I dont have time for your crazy. I will see you in the late hours."
Xonj and Philus stands up and with a smile Philus says
"Have a pleasant day sir and thank you for choosing Philus's B&B&B!."
Xonj walks up to Okami. Okami Smiles and tilts her head slightly. She then asks
"Ready?"
Xonj Replies
"Yep. Is Philus still back there with a grin?"
Okami looks over Xonj's shoulder and looks to Philus. She then says.
"Yeah. What's wrong with his face?"
Xonj looks over his shoulder and back to Okami. Xonj begins to walk to the door and says.
"Thats how he always looks to me."
Xonj opens the door for Okami and they depart. Later into the night they reach their destination. It is the edge of a mountain formation. A small spire compared to the rest of the mountains. The moon shines over the spire giving the rocks a slick glow look. Xonj says
"Are you ready?"
Okami looks from the mountains to Xonj and gives him a.
"Mmhmm."
The two walk up to a small path leading up and to a stone door. Xonj tells Okami before entering.
"If things look bad get your teleport crystal out and head back to Grandzam. I will follow you shortly."
Okami nods her head and the both push the door open. They walk inside a small dome like room with moon light shining in from the ceiling. In the middle of the room is what looks like a bird bath. Xonj walks up to the center of the room and Okami follows. Xonj looks into the water inside the bath. Okami then looks into the water as well and sees a quest screen.
Begin Quest
From Light there is Shadow.
Accept O Deny X
Both of them press Accept and from the water forms a dark mist. It rolls off the water and they both step back, away from the fountain and draw their weapons. The dark mist then makes a human form. It appears as a male holding a sword and shield. Xonj Jumps into the fight and collides shields. They attempt to push one another back but it is an equal match. Xonj and the shadow then takes a step back and attempts a strike. The two lock swords. Okami looks at the two fighting and thinks
"It looks like he is battling a mirror."
She then springs into action and yells to Xonj
"Switch!"
Xonj jumps out of the deadlock and Okami runs around Xonj's right side with her polearm pointed. Her polearm is deflected by the Shadow mans shield. As she tries to rush on by the shadow man his form changes into a woman with a polearm. Okami looks at the mist with her polearm still leading her forward. The mist then catches her with a baseball swing to the gut with the blunt part of the polearm. Her run is stopped by the strike and the mist jumps back and goes for a slash attack with the polearm over her back. Xonj Rushes back in and blocks the attack. Okami jumps away from the opponent and the mist then changes back to a male with a sword and shield. Okami points out.
"It changes form?"
Xonj responds
"It looks that way. I have only fought it by myself. Everytime ends in countless deadlock. It managed to hit you are you ok?"
Okami responds
"Yeah I am ok. Lets get this clown."
Okami then rushes forward and leaps into the air bring her polearm down over head. The mist lift his shield and blocks the attack. Okami lands and spins bringing her body low to the ground and swings for the side of the mist. It use it sword to try and block the attack. His block is broken. The blunt part of her polearm strikes the mist. It then turns into a female with a polearm. Xonj runs in leaping in over top of Okami. Activating his shield skill Shield Thrust. His attack lands in the mists chest. Throwing the mist back a foot. It lands on one knee and now is the male with sword and shield. Xonj looks back at Okami. They both nod their heads. Okami then rushes the mist with a thrust attack ready and Xonj running right in behind her. Okami thrust towards the target and again is blocked by the shield. It change back to the female and Xonj lands a sword swing. The two keep rushing the mist switching back and forth. The mist is forced to change back and forth. Then in unison Okami and Xonj yell.
"Lets finish this!"
Xonj lungeing with a sword strike and Okami with a thrust shattering the mist into crystals. The two stand side by side. The sound of wind blowing through a narrow space behind them. They turn to see a mist figure. The mist is now white and glows from the moon light through the ceiling. He is holding a Polearm with a large blade and a ring attached to the back and a red feather hanging from the ring in one hand. In the other Is a shield. That looks just like Ai. The mist then speaks.
"With these weapons I alone plunged into darkness. Now you two may bring them back to the light. I Call them the Moonlit Lovers."
He then takes a knee and lifts them over his head. A screen appears for both Okami And Xonj.
Quest complete
Quest reward
(Xonj)
Eien Ni
(Okami)
Issho Ni