SURVIVING THE FIRST QUEST
Rosa's party fanned to the north while my party patrolled the southern side of the ruins. As I carefully stepped over the green-covered stones, the aftermath of a deadly battle was still evident. Large swatches of flora and the stone underneath were scorched. Dried blood painted tiny parts of visible stone, and the stench of sulfur filled every crevice of the lair.
PANUKA
This place is nauseating.
She commented, and I nodded as we passed each other. I looked over to Mantis—he was looking about avidly. I raised an eyebrow at him, but he continued to patrol while keeping his wits about.
The hours dragged on. The wind breathed in and out, cooling us periodically. With the relentless sun beaming down into the clearing, I caught myself counting the paces between each cooling breeze.
Pulling myself out of my complacency, I eyed Panuka, lost in her own thoughts. Her eyes were down, and she wasn't patrolling—she was ambling about. I made my way toward her and frowned as she didn't even notice my presence.
HILROY
You okay?
I asked, and she jumped at the sound of my voice.
PANUKA
Shit...
She whispered with a shaken voice.
HILROY
Do you want to talk about it?
I asked softly, and she shook her head with an aura of annoyance.
PANUKA
Talk about what?
She asked with an accusing gaze, but I said nothing.
PANUKA
There's nothing to talk about.
HILROY
You told me you didn't care about him.
PANUKA
I don't.
She barked, attempting to walk away, but I followed after her.
HILROY
But you were crying.
PANUKA
And? I was shocked. It took me by surprise! It doesn't matter!
HILROY
But it's taking up your focus! So it does matter.
PANUKA
I wasn't thinking about him!
She turned on me, and I noticed her salty eyes.
PANUKA
I was thinking of my mother.
She admitted, blinking away her tears. I stepped closer to embrace her, but she evaded me, her eyes avoiding my own.
PANUKA
But, there's something else—something I need to tell you.
I frowned but said nothing as she continued.
PANUKA
My... my mother didn't let me leave. I kind of ran away.
My jaw dropped, and I was lost for words.
PANUKA
Please don't...
She pleaded, but I was so appalled I couldn't find the words. Her mother already hated me. She blamed me for putting the ideas and glory of adventuring into Panuka's mind. Yet, I believed Panuka when she told me she had her mother's blessing to leave. For years, Panuka begged to leave, and after her father accidentally attacked her, her mother finally gave in—or so I was told to believe.
HILROY
So you lied to me?
PANUKA
I lied to my mother, not... well, yes, I did lie to you. Because you wouldn't have let me join—
I shook my head—so many questions began to come forth.
HILROY
We were adventuring in Sante June for almost a year! You didn't go home?
But the answer struck me as soon as I asked—she didn't go home. She was staying with me the entire time.
HILROY
Those times when you said you were going home.
PANUKA
Yes! I lied! I wanted to be with you! I wanted to be an adventurer! I wanted to get out of that damned house of boredom!
ROSA
Hey fuck birds!
Rosa shouted, grabbing our attention.
ROSA
Stop bickering like monkeys, and get back to work.
HILROY
We'll talk about this later.
I whispered and resumed my patrol.
ROSA
Fucking aye,
I heard Rosa gripe.
ROSA
Gents, am I right?
The hours once again dragged on, and I found myself lacking focus. I went over what I wanted to say to Panuka and was steadfast in returning her home. I couldn't believe she lied to me about this. I can only imagine the pain her mother was going through right now. Losing your daughter and then losing the gent you love.
Panuka wasn't a child anymore, though. But I believed she owed it to her mother to return. To visit... maybe? But then, we will just leave. None of us wanted to stay in Reh Bekah of Sante June. But I must make amends—even if we return just to leave, I must quell the frustration, sadness, or worry that may plague Panuka's mother.
But as I continued to fight the inner demons within my mind, frustration began to swell over losing our Elemental Peninsula Pass into Sante June. I exhaled a breath of frustration and did my best to focus on the task at hand.
My eyes fell on Mantis, and I suddenly wondered why he overlooked the short feud Panuka and I just had. I squinted at him—he'd occasionally shake his head as if he had a bug in his hair. I edged towards him and walked alongside him—he gave me a painful smile.
HILROY
You okay?
He shook his head with a bit of confusion.
MANTIS
My Danger Sense—
I tensed up and gripped my hilt—but he quickly calmed me.
MANTIS
No—no—it's normal for my senses to buzz, but...
He looked around again, glaring at Rosa and her party to the north.
MANTIS
It's just... It's not constant.
I shrugged, confused,
HILROY
I forgot, what does that mean?
He looked over at Rosa once more.
MANTIS
I hope not,
He mumbled.
MANTIS
Someone or something around me wants to cause me harm. But they're undecided... it seems. I figured it was Rosa because... well, they hate gents.
I was not in any mood to deal with a betrayal, but I would not stay my blade if we had to. Unfortunately, I worried about Panuka and Mantis. Would they be able to do it? I studied him for a bit before leaning in,
HILROY
Are you saying Rosa's party might betray us?
Mantis nodded but then shook his head.
MANTIS
I don't know... because it's not coming directly from them, which is weird. I am trying to figure out where I am sensing this from.
HILROY
An animal? A fiend, maybe?
He shook his head again,
MANTIS
Animals and fiends are more decisive...
His face brightened with realization before it was quickly replaced with worry.
MANTIS
Shit!
He whispered harshly.
MANTIS
I think we're being watched.
HILROY
Are you positi—
MANTIS
Rosa!
He already blurted out,
MANTIS
It has to be that.
He faced me.
MANTIS
We've never been watched like this before or ambushed... Danger Sense had never acted like this before.
Rosa approached with annoyance written up and down her body.
ROSA
What?
Mantis approached her to whisper, but she backed up defensively.
ROSA
What!
Mantis tried to calm her, but I grabbed Mantis' shoulder to pull him back.
HILROY
We're being watched.
I explained as I eyed Mantis and quickly whispered to him,
HILROY
She doesn't trust gents, remember.
ROSA
Huh? Watched?
She looked around.
MANTIS
And whoever is watching now knows that we know.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
ROSA
And how do ya know that?
MANTIS
I have Petty Danger Sense.
ROSA
Ya don't say. Anyway,
She nodded at me.
ROSA
What are we gonna do about it?
I looked over at Biggs and Wedge, inspecting the massive hole within the center of the ruins. Their apprentices were all scattered about mining away at the stone and hauling them back to the wagon.
HILROY
We need to inform them. Get them back to the wagon and all in one location.
ROSA
Easy enough.
And she headed back to her party.
HILROY
Huh...
I whispered to myself, and Mantis looked at me questionably,
HILROY
Didn't think she'd agreed.
But she did, informing her party to fan out, and one by one, they quietly informed the apprentices. I went to Biggs and Wedge near the center of the ruins.
HILROY
Biggs, Wedge,
I started, interrupting their debate on what may have caused such a massive hole.
WEDGE
What is it?
He sang at me.
HILROY
Don't look around, but we are being watched right now.
BIGGS
What!?
And like an idiot, his head craned around in fear.
HILROY
Stop looking around!
I hissed at him.
BIGGS
You said we're being watched? By who?
HILROY
Just get back to the wagon—
MANTIS
Hilly!
I spun around at him, and he pointed westward into the shadows of the trees.
HILROY
Get back to the wagon now!
I shoved them and eyed the shadows with Petty Night Vision. There, I saw a barefoot tipped with sharp claws planted against the bark of a tree—something or someone was sitting up on a branch—hidden within the leaves.
I walked backward away from the center and joined the rest. We formed a front before the wagon and readied our weapons as I called out,
HILROY
We know you're there! Show yourself!
Nothing. No response or movement, but I could still see that leg sticking out from beneath the thicket of leaves.
HILROY
We can see you! Last warning!
Panuka readied her bow, took a deep breath, and bathed her arrow with faint golden Willpower. Still nothing.
HILROY
Fire,
I whispered, and Panuka let her arrow rip through the wind. The leg swiftly moved out of the way as the arrow pierced deep into the tree trunk. The person leaped out, crashing through the tree branches, and landed barely into the sun's light.
We all tensed up, ready for anything they may throw at us, but he simply stepped forward. He entered the sunlight with an angry scowl on his gray face, patterned with darker shades of gray claw-like stripes. His bright white pupils pierced us with authority as his vibrant black and white short hair was combed back.
Despite his piercing eyes, my gaze was locked on the two fangs that jutted out his upper lip and the sharp claws that tipped his hands. He was undoubtedly a vampire—a daywalker, clothed in a green cloak over a leather jerkin and a long sword sheathed in an elegant scabbard at his waist.
After a moment, he tore his gaze off us and eyed the ruins. We watched in silence as he glided a few steps, his eyes glancing at the remains of burnt vampires piled at the corners of the ruins.
None of us said a word, and I didn't blame us. I could only guess we were too uncertain about what the situation was. We could only watch him study the ruins from where he silently stood.
PANUKA
What should we do?
She whispered at me as the daywalker continued to ignore us.
HILROY
I have no idea.
I whispered back, but Rosa overheard us.
ROSA
Take advantage, of course.
HILROY
We don't even know if he means us harm.
I pointed out, but she glared at me.
ROSA
What the hell do ya mean? He's a vampire. Stalking us.
HILROY
That doesn't warrant an attack.
I argued.
ROSA
Saline?
She whispered her name.
SALINE
I have a clear path.
I grimaced. Were they seriously thinking about attacking vampires without provocation?
HILROY
We should wait and—
ROSA
Whenever ya ready.
She ignored me, and Saline vanished from sight. I blinked, dumbfounded by the sudden ability. But seconds later, a rustle within the trees before a speeding body, Quickstepping, bolted from out the thicket—a girl? Her fist collided with the invisible face of Saline, dispelling the invisibility upon contact.
YOUNG DAYWALKER
Don't be rude!
The sound of bones cracking muddled my mind with fear as Saline's body was sent through the air, her shoulder clipping off a chunk of standing stone before flailing towards us. Mantis, with his quick reflexes, leaped to intercept her flailing body.
Upon landing next to me, I gawked in horror at Saline's cratered face. Her eyes and mouth were brutally distorted, and blood oozed out her face as she coughed and gagged for air.
ROSA
Nami!
Rosa shouted, snapping Nami out of her shocked daze. Mantis lowered Saline down for Nami to begin healing. But at the sight of her companion, Nami placed one hand to her mouth as she began to quiver.
ROSA
Both hands, Nami!
She bellowed with a high-pitched voice. I gawked at the young daywalker, confused and fearful—she looked no older than sixteen. She had bright orange skin patterned with yellow leaf shapes flowing down her body. She wore a green cloak over a nearly identical outfit to the other daywalker. She had no sword but a dagger at her waist.
She straightened up and scowled at us,
YOUNG DAYWALKER
Attack the General again, and I will be forced to kill you, my little sweets.
She materialized her leather high boots onto her feet and then extended her arms to materialize her leather gloves and vambraces. She pulled off her hood, revealing her vibrant, short red hair, and eyed us once more with her sparkling red eyes—glancing between us like an elder mother berating her grandchildren.
YOUNG DAYWALKER
I'm warning you.
She added before curling her red lips into a dimpled smile for a moment. She then twirled and eyed the General's back—he was utterly oblivious to the entire incident as he was lost in deep thought.
YOUNG DAYWALKER
Sir Lorenzo,
She called out to him in a childish manner.
YOUNG DAYWALKER
Found anything?
LORENZO
Be quiet, and let me think.
He uttered bluntly. The young vampire scowled and turned away.
YOUNG DAYWALKER
That is no way to speak to a lady—
LORENZO
This is not the time or place for your quibbles!
He barked as he paced a few steps away from the young daywalker.
YOUNG DAYWALKER
Boo, you're no fun.
She mumbled, but I was sure he heard her. I eyed Mantis and could feel his anger boiling within him by the look on his face.
HILROY
Mantis, calm down.
But he ignored me and covered himself in a faint aura of Willpower.
HILROY
Mantis!
He Quickstepped ahead, but I was faster, catching up to him and tackling him into the stone.
MANTIS
She almost killed her!
He shouted, but I buried his face into the fauna-covered stone.
HILROY
But they didn't!
I kept my eyes keen, shifting between Lorenzo and the girl. The young daywalker smiled at us warningly and took several paces toward me and Mantis.
YOUNG DAYWALKER
You lot look like fun—
LORENZO
Emily!
He bellowed, his shout like booming thunder. The young daywalker, Emily, froze and tucked her lips.
LORENZO
We're leaving, fall back.
EMILY
Yes sir!
She piped and spun around.
EMILY
Even though that's a rude way to speak to an old lady.
She added under her breath.
LORENZO
What was that!?
EMILY
Nothing!
And she bolted, Quickstepping into the thicket. Lorenzo glided after her but stopped and faced us.
LORENZO
Adventurers... it seems.
His eyes looked past me—was he looking at Rosa or Biggs and Wedge? His demeanor shifted, and an aura of thick Willpower seeped out from within him.
LORENZO
The ally of my enemy is my enemy.
My heart leaped into my throat, and a sense of danger washed over me. As if I wasn't already tensed with fear, another wave came over me. Mokoto's fight with Cain crept into my head, but I was visualizing myself getting beaten around.
LORENZO
Though...
His uttered, his Willpower sizzling away.
LORENZO
Your kind tends to talk, and that will be beneficial.
He turned away and vanished into the thicket. After they disappeared into the woods, not one of us moved or said a word for a moment. The breathing of the wind returned, and silence filled the void.
Finally,
ROSA
That was...
She collapsed to her knees,
ROSA
...insane.
She whispered in a shaky voice.
WEDGE
We're leaving!
He squealed out.
WEDGE
Biggs? We're leaving, right?
I let Mantis up,
HILROY
You okay?
He nodded solemnly,
MANTIS
Sorry about that.
WEDGE
Biggs?
I turned to see Biggs eyeing Saline's injury in disgust and fear.
BIGGS
Of course—Of course... It's too dangerous here. How are our stocks?
He asked with a nervous voice, and after a moment of checking, Wedge answered,
WEDGE
Actually, three quarters.
BIGGS
Ah, yes, a good haul...
He looked over at me with a broad, shaky grin,
BIGGS
Let us head back.
Lorenzo or Emily? Which personality did you like best?
