Chapter 8: Joint Mission
The day after the Hargeon's Gate mission.
Money: 275,459 jewels
"Are you kidding me!?" Romeo screams in disbelief.
"Sorry kid but that's what's going on. You need to visit Mia and Richard before you can visit anywhere else." Sylvia explained, annoyed.
Romeo is at the Bazaar right now. Apparently Mia and Richard weren't happy that he didn't visit their shops last time and are throwing a tantrum(Well, Mia is anyway) and are stopping Romeo from visiting other shops until he visits them(or at least Mia).
Romeo sighs, thanking Sylvia for the info and apologizing for the inconvenience. He decides to visit Mia's shop first.
"Hello." He said awkwardly.
"Well, look who decides to stop by my humble shop." Mia huffed angrily. "What's wrong? Tired of your little girlfriend already so now you decide to visit me? I guess your little date yesterday wasn't up to your standard huh?"
"I literally can't visit anywhere else until I'm done with you." Romeo thought.
"Just wanted to say hi." He deadpan. "Also how did you know about my mission?"
"We have our ways." Mia answers. "Now what do you want? Are you gonna buy something or are you here to play with my poor maiden heart?"
"What are you even on about?" Romeo whispered, then spoke normally. "Anyway I'm here for some new items. Also sorry for not visiting you last time, I wanted to see the new shops first."
"Sure you are." Mia sighs. "Anyway, what do you want?"
"Something that can boost my exp gain would be nice." Romeo answer.
"Well I have something like that." Mia pulls something out.
Ring of Growth-B accessory: Increase 30% of your exp. 30,000 jewels.
"It's my best item for that." Mia smiled. "What do you think?"
"I'll take 'em." Romeo smiled. Mia blush seeing his smile.
"A-a-anyway," Mia stuttered, losing all her previous anger. "What else can I get for you?"
"Do you have anything that could increase wind power?"
Mia frowns. "Well, I guess I do have these."
Bracelet of The Gentle Wind-B accessory: Increase 50% of wind damage. 30,000 jewels.
Winter Breeze Necklace-B accessory: Add a freezing effect to wind type attack. 40,000 jewels.
Romeo isn't sure if Wendy would like the freezing effect or not, but he still decides to buy both of them.
"Well, I'm glad your girlfriend has something nice." Mia put on a fake and sickeningly sweet smile. "It's not like I want something nice or anything."
Romeo's sweat dropped. He's not sure where this side of her came from. Sure, Mia was flirty and creepy before, but this is another level. Regardless, he has to calm her down somehow. Acting on impulse, he kisses Mia on her cheeks, stunning her.
"Happy?" Romeo asks. Mia is lost for words.
"Look, I gotta go. We can talk more some other time ok?" Romeo heads off. Mia faints.
Money: 200,000 jewels
Richard was a lot easier to deal with. Romeo just had to sell some broken armor pieces to him and he was good to go. Romeo now heads towards Steinn's forge.
"Ah young laddie." Steinn greets cheerily, he's currently drinking from a viking horn cup. "Whit kin ah dae fur ye? Yi''ll need upgrades? Some freish gears? Or wid ye lik' a cup o' mead?"
"I want you to look over an armor piece actually." Romeo pulls from his item box. "Also these weapons too."
Anor Londo Legionnaire's commander's armor-A rank armor: Reduce 75% of all physical damages.
Anor Londo Legionnaire's commander's sword-A rank weapons: +100 damage.
Anor Londo Legionnaire's commander's scythe-A rank weapons: +30 damage. Can penetrate even the toughest of armors.
"Fascinating" Steinn said, intrigue. "Ne'er thougth a'd git tae see Anor Londo's gears again. Uise tae be yin o' th' best oot thare ye ken. Aye is if a'm bein' honest. Ye git some stoatin fortuin tae come o'er something lik' this."
"Wait. What do you mean?" Romeo said surprise. "What is this Anor Londo and why am I lucky to have found these?"
"That's a stoory fur ye tae soucht in th' library laddie." Steinn put his cup away. "The lenth o' ah kin tell, anor londo used tae be a steid o' grace 'n' glamor. Tis th' hame fur some o' th' best craftsmen 'n' mages aroond. Tis kent as th' toon o' th' gods, whaur th' fowk praise th' sun 'n' pray tae th' moon. Bit yin day, a tragedy strikes, leadin` tae th' city's demise. Overtime, traces o' th' place's existence faded awa', goin awa tis legacy 'n' knowledge hee haw mair bit myths 'n' legends."
"Were you there?" Romeo asks.
"Ah wish ah did laddie." Steinn answered wistfully. "Bit ah ainlie hears tales o' that places. By th' time ah wis born, anor londo wis awready a ruin."
The two stay silent for a moment.
"Bit enough wi' th' gloominess." Steinn laugh. "Whit dae ye wish tae dae wi' thae gears mah laddie?"
"Oh" Romeo snaps from his thoughts. "I want to resize the armor and turn the weapons into a short sword if possible."
"Hee haw pernicketie ah see." Steinn said cheerily. "Weel, it'll cost ye 120,000 jewels in tot bit a'm sure tis wee pockets fur ye."
"Yeeeaah." Romeo smiles forcefully. " Small pockets"
Money: 80,000 jewels
Anor Londo waist strap armor-A rank armor: Reduce 75% of all physical damages.
Anor Londo knight slayer blade-A rank weapons: +100 damage. Can penetrate even the toughest of armors.
"Buzz daein' business wi' ye laddie." Steinn waves. "Comeback anytime."
Romeo waves back. He decides to head over to the library. The story of Anor Londo piqued his interest.
Romeo enters the library. Aria is attending the front desk.
"Hello." She greets, smiling. "What can I get for you?"
"Hi." Romeo greets back. "I'm looking for information regarding Anor Londo. Do you have something for that?"
Aria suddenly frowns. "Why do you wish to seek that information?"
Romeo gets nervous. "I'm just curious. My last mission has me encountering some relics of that place and I wish to learn more."
Aria stares at Romeo for a moment, then sighs. "Forgive me for my attitude. It's just that I have some… bad memories that connect to that place."
"What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"
Aria hesitated for a bit, before deciding to just let it out.
"I had a … close friend there. He was the leader of the royal guards. He was a great man. A caring friend and a loyal soldier, too loyal sadly. We had a fight one day. I'd sense a darkness rising, and detected it's source from the city itself, meaning it was causes by the people living there. It was too great to stop and I wanted both of us to leave. Sadly, he was so devoted that he ignored my warning to leave the city before it fell into darkness. He loves Anor Londo and the idea of abandoning was too abhorrent for him. I however, didn't have such issues. I left the place and left him to fight alone. News of his death didn't reach me until Anor Londo was gone. I hate myself for not being with him in his final moments."
Aria cries, tears streaming down her face. Romeo just stood there, remaining silent.
"I'm sorry." Aria wipes her tears away. "You didn't need to see something like this."
"It's ok." Romeo quickly said. "Sorry for making you relive something like that."
"You're not at fault here. It was so long ago anyway." Aria pulls out a book. "I believe this book should have the information you need. You can have it for free."
"Thanks." Romeo takes the book. After a moment of silence. "I don't think you should keep blaming yourself for what happened. As someone I know once told me 'What's done is done. Move on.' I'm sure that's what he would've wanted for you too."
"Where did you hear that from?" Aria snickered a little. "It's right but it could use a little more tact you know?"
"Bladewolfe." Romeo chuckled a little.
"Of course" Aria smiled. "Thanks anyway."
"Anytime." Romeo smile.
"Speaking of Bladewolfe," Romeo suddenly said. "How did he get you guys here? From what I see you all have lives before the Bazaar."
"He just shows up and gives us an offer." Aria explain. "In return for working here, he gives us a reward that suits our desire. For me, he offers a new home to start over. We're not trapped here of course. We're free to leave the Bazaar whenever we want with a limit on how long we can leave of course but it's extremely flexible. We also need to let you know when we return and return by then."
"I see."
Romeo left the Bazaar afterwards.
Romeo is at the guild hall right now. He's currently reading through Aria's book which entails Anor Londo's history.
"The city has gargoyles as guards too!?" Romeo whispered. He then felt someone approaching.
Looking up, he sees Wendy with a not-so-happy Carla on her side.
"Good morning." Romeo puts the book away.
"Good morning." Wendy greets.
"So you're the one who dragged Wendy to such a dangerous place." Carla flies up.
"Carla stop!" Wendy said embarrassed.
"You need to let her take more risks, you know." Romeo addresses Carla. "She only grew strong thanks to the mission yesterday. Besides, I made sure to keep her safe throughout the whole mission."
"Listen here young man-" Carla begins, but is interrupted when master Makarov enters the hall.
"There you are Romeo, Wendy." Makarov said. "I was looking for you."
"Master?" Romeo and Wendy said, surprised. "What can I help you with?"
"Well you see, the other day me and the other guild masters had a meeting about building a stronger relationship between guilds and we have agreed that the best way to do so is with joint missions. Based on your performance the other day you two have been selected for these groups. Romeo, you will be on a team of two with a member from Mermaid Heels, and Wendy, you and Natsu will be on a team of four with Lamia Scale."
"That sounds great." Wendy excited. "But who are Mermaid Heels?"
"Oh it's a guild that shows up not long after you guys disappeared." Romeo explains. "It's well known for having only female members."
Wendy's face turns dark hearing this.
"A guild full of female members you say." Wendy speaks, a dark aura emitting from her body, scaring everyone, even Carla away.
"C-c-can we switch team master?" Romeo pleads. "I'm not really comfortable working with an older woman I don't know."
"Unfortunately, Mermaid Heels prefer a young male member that's the same age range of their own member." Makarov regretfully answered.
"That's oddly specific don't you think?" Wendy put on a sweet smile, her aura worsened.
"Never took Wendy for the jealous type." Romeo thought, shivering. Just then the guild hall's doors burst open.
"Romeo guess what." Macao cheers excitedly. "You get to be on a joint mission with a member from Mermaid Heels. I heard that she's around your age too. Man you must feel lucky right now." He laughs.
"Please shut up!" Romeo and Makarov scream mentally.
"Yeah, how lucky." Wendy said, that same energy present.
"Just remember son." Macao advised Romeo, completely missing the atmosphere. "She's asking for someone your age so she's looking for options. If you want to win her you need to treat her nicely. You don't want to blow your first chance at getting a girl now will you?"
Romeo has never wanted to kill his dad as he is now, and he's not the only one with murder in their mind as Wendy's aura could be described as 'murderous'.
"Well, you'll leave for your mission tomorrow morning so I suggest you go home and rest up." Makarov tries to ease the atmosphere. "And Macao, I would like to speak with you privately."
Everyone left, Carla stayed a good distance from Wendy due to her present dark aura and Macao didn't go home that night.
Next morning, at the guild hall.
Romeo and Wendy are the first to arrive. Romeo didn't need much sleep thanks to his blessings and Wendy couldn't sleep due to …obvious reasons.
"Hey." Romeo greets, noticing his fellow guild mate. "You're here early. Where's Carla?"
"Oh hi." Wendy greets back. "I couldn't sleep well, so I left early. Carla is still sleeping right now. I left a note telling her where I am when she gets up."
Romeo nods. The two stay quiet for a moment.
"Are you nervous about this mission?" Romeo asks.
"Not for me." Wendy answer.
"If this is about me working with a stranger you don't have to worry-"
"It's not about that. Well, not entirely anyway."
Romeo sigh. Then pull out the bracelet he got from the Bazaar.
"Look." He said. "I don't think my mission is gonna get intimate. I'll be nice to my partner, sure, but you don't have to worry about me just ditching you for some stranger."
"Really?" Wendy asks excitedly, then blush embarrassingly. "I mean I don't know what-"
"It's alright." Romeo interrupts. "Truth is, I kinda feel the same."
Wendy pauses, stunned by what she just heard.
"I got something for you." Romeo shows the bracelet. "I got this the other day. It's called Bracelet of The Gentle Wind, it can help increase the strength of wind type attacks, and I think it looks nice on you."
"Thanks." Wendy thanked shyly. Blushing, she accepts the bracelet from Romeo.
The two then heard people approaching.
"I think it's about time we leave." Romeo said. "We could talk more when we get back."
Wendy nods, then in a serious tone, says "Promise me one thing."
"What?" Romeo asks.
"Tell me exactly what happened during your mission. I don't want abbreviation, I don't want details left out. Tell me everything, especially things concerning your partner."
Romeo was shocked for a moment, but then nodded. "I promise."
Wendy smile. Other members showed up and they prepared to leave.