Chapter 9 - Journey To The City of Trees

After the long night...and admittedly...wonderfully long morning, of the banquet, Aedra and I finally headed out to the Squads Training room. Aliana went to her own room at some point, and as we all walked out of the Captains' door, I was definitely busted.

Dorris, Draed, Kylvia, Shirina, and Taezed were all coming back from grabbing some lunch. The Captain brought our lunches to the room, and it was the first time that Aliana and I had actually gotten dressed that day.

"Well, well, well....Someone had a goodnight eh Captain?" Draeds loud voice turned my blush into overdrive. I made eye contact, with everyone and sure enough, Dorris had something to add.

"So Cap, first time for a three-way?" Dorris said with a shit-eating grin.

*SLAP*

Shirina delivers a slap of justice, "DORRIS, I will not have you embarass our ladies over here. What they do behind closed doors is for themselves." She says in a stern tone...she isn't helping.

I almost sprinted to my room to try to hide from the looks, but I heard plenty of knowing laughter...I hope they couldn't hear us....

I was wearing my armor already, and just put my beautiful formal dress back in the closet, and the amazing starlight jewelry back in the box they gifted it in, and into a drawer on my vanity. I put my trident in my inventory, I AM going to use it at some point.

After the group of people went by and I heard the captain give them some quick orders to come workout with us, everyone agreed to meet us there.

This afternoon workout was normal, but felt worse from the lack of sleep the night before. The sparring session however was rather intense.

Aethena had a wicked smile on her, and was going super hard in our duel.

She uses two elegant swords that somehow build momentum and I used basic, non-light powered attacks to just deflect her strikes, stopping her momentum entirely was just pointless, she would bring her other blade in and her other sword in to finish the job. So deflecting and precise counter attacking.

I began to work in my melee attack as well, and would deflect one of her blades, spin outside it, and use the melee solar burst to send her flying back. She never wiped out though, only using the momentum of her blades and of my melee strike to spin her into a graceful landing. She would immediately turn at me again. I followed up with a gap closing power strike, that utilizes arc energy from my Stryker's Sure-Hand sword.

Her affinity was for lightning though and it was easy for her to ignore the elemental damage that traveled through the blade. Though, she would have to use all of her momentum at the perfect time to try and either spin out of my power attack or deflect it enough to survive. She would never fully stop her movement with me to try and overpower. I needed to capitalize on something like that.

Our dance continued, and the whole squad watched our even and intense fight. It was pretty easy for me to deflect her attacks, they always came in at some outside angle, the problem was that she would switch the tempo at which she attacked with, and only my melee ability really kept me from being destroyed by the differently timed attacks.

Aethena could attack from almost any position as well, behind, around, to the side, her arcing blades came at anytime. I finally landed a decent melee then power-strike, then melee, I jumped above while she was flipping back through the air, and immediately gather my light and funneled it into a downward smashing strike, as if it was some Hive sword during Escalation Protocal on Mars.

I could use any light based attack that you would see in game, but I can also do more, it is not some set game system, but I can still use things as moves. My smash caught her on her way through a spin, she had a sword there to block it, but the power of my stirke brought her down the 4 or so feet to the ground in a heavy slam, a burst of arc energy flowed out from my sword.

"Guhh." Aethena let out a grunt as she landed with my sword pinning her to the ground, one of her swords and arms was pinned below her, the other just barely keeping mine at bay.

"That was a nice move." She says with a smile, and through deep breaths. I helped her up and nodded with a smile.

After we were standing she slapped my ass and put her arm around my shoulder as we walked towards the captain. "Well it's Sister now then isn't it? I am glad you are strong, or I would have a problem with it."

Aedra was just looking at us wide-eyed, having heard everything, and definitely witnessed the ass slap....Oh god I'm gonna burst with embarassment.

"Well brother, she is super cute, and she can kick my ass in a fight, I definitely approve." She says with a huge grin. There was a wave of laughter through the watching squad.

Aedra had to physically force himself to not facepalm as he said, "Aethena...." Drawing more laughter.

"Well, we all heard the..." Aethena began.

"AETHENA...." The Captain loudly cuts her off and there was more laughter to be had from it.

At that moment, another booming laugh that rivaled Draeds rang through the room. Captain O'Connell, Guildmaster Liadri, and Aliana walked through the doors.

"Welllll, if it isn't Squad 3's so called "training" session, yer all just standin' about, HAHHAHAHAAH." Captain O'Connell of Squad 1 always found a way to make fun of Captain Aedra, I found it funny, as he would always get frustrated with the mountain of a man.

"Oh god..." Aedra's only reply.

I looked into Alianas' blindfold, I found out last night that it was the first time she revealed her eyes to the Captain, it was like she waited for me to get there. Her mind bonding technique was other-worldly to say the least. I have never felt so close or connected to someone, or so intimate. I was already blushing, so I added a small smile for Aliana as they came closer. My chest even feels warm when she smiles. She really is amazing, and her smile was definitely knowing and carefree.

"Well Captain, how are you today?" Guild Master Liadri said.

"I am well Guild Master, how are you?" He returns with a smile for her and another one for Aliana.

"Well indeed Captain, very well. Now let's get straight to business if you don't mind. We have received word that our smaller sister guild in The City of Trees has received a quest that is too much, they lost almost a whole squad worth of people at some giant fortress that is a few hundred miles southeast of the city." Liadri says with an almost solemn tone at the end. Even the loud and boisterous Strieeten O'Connell, was quietly nodding his head while looking into the distance.

"We are sending Squads 1 and 3 to meet at the City of Trees with our other branch there. Then you will grab them and go to the fortress and take out any threats there. Apparently there are excessive amounts of monsters around the area, with what we currently know, that could be another location where someone is creating monsters." Liadri continued.

Captain O'Connell says, "That'll be a 30-something hour flight to the City of Trees, we should leave right now. My squad is already loading our ship and we have most of yer crew doing the same. I don't think ye will have time to be beddin' yer ladies again Captain, though I'm surprised they are even here walking, HAHHAHHAHAHHAAH." Oh my word, who says things like that!?!?!

Most of evryone is laughing and I am trying not to die. Aliana doesn't even seem phased by it, with a proud smile on her face. At least the Captain is red, I try to subtlely hide behind the Captain and close my eyes...but it was too late.

"HAHHAHAHHAHA still a little shy one aren't we? AHAHAH!!!!!" He is like a horrible awkwardness-making machine or something.

"Hmmm, well either way, have Jaren come to our ship before we go, I believe there are things we need to....practice." Aethena says with another scary smile. She is so intense.

"HAHAHHAHAHA yee already got 'im around yer finger do ye? Well I think we might as well go all chinked up innit? He can go where he please until its time for fightin'...then he's mine. HAHAHHHAHAHA" The Captain said...I have no idea what it meant, and later I found out that while he called it "Chinked up," everyone else called it latching the ships, or lashing them. It was possible to connect our ships' gravitation stones, and we could have one of them control the both of them. They are essentialy docked side by side, and function as a single unit.

"Fair enough....He's mine tonight then." Aethena finishes. I guess she knows what she wants...She has really changed since I first met her, I wonder how long she has been seeing Jaren. I had met him at the Banquet the night before, and while I didn't talk much, they really seem to be getting along great.

Captain Aedra sighs....."Well, go shower up and we leave in a half hour." He told the squad, he stayed and talked to the three.

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A few hours into the flight, it is in the late afternoon, and we are on the BlueFire, while lashed up to Squad 1's Lunar Dragon. The sun was out, and the breeze we got from moving was quiet, yet comforting, if that could be said about it.

We had a large group of people from both squads standing on the deck, and it was fun listening to the different stories being swapped. It was sort of odd just standing there in our armor laughing about different things as if we were at a party or something.

As Captain O'Connell was telling a story, I heard our Helmsman call out to him. "Ehhhh Cap'n, there's smoke out off'a port, I see movement." He didn't shout, but his voice just carried really well for some reason, we all looked off the left side of the ship and saw the smoke ourselves....No giants this time at least....but definitely something was moving in the distance.

"Weeellllll, there is definitely smoken' out there now innit...." Captain O'Connell says in his very expressive voice.

"Take us over there Smith." Captain Aedra says.

"Aye Cap'n." Helmsman Smith replies, and the ship turned with his guidance.

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As we pulled up to the scene, it is confirmed that it is some sort of mutation. A giant shelled Drake of some sort that has been monsterized. It had what could be described as a turtle shell, that was very ovular as it was very long with its tail.

Every so often the beast seemed to "power up," judging by the sound, and would release a huge nova of a green acid, that seems to be shot out from under its shell in a nearly perfect oval minus where the head was...it went all over the legs and tail burning them, causing it to scream in rage. The head looked like a snapping turtles' with its wide maw, and it had huge black, bleeding eyes.

From mouth to end of tail it could have been 60ft long, but it was huge, nearly 35 feet tall at the top of the shell. The circle of acid spray and fire went out another 20-30 ft.

The turtle-drake would then use its fire breath to ignite the acid...which would awaken the little minions that were shot out with the acid...What is this thing, some sort of monster queen?

Looking down, there doesn't seem to be any civilians around, hopefully this means they have evacuated, but we can't be sure if there are any dead or alive, stuck in the buildings. Currently the Turtle-Drake thing had just entered the small town and had destroyed quite a few buildings, as well as leaving a firey-acid burned trail from where it came from.

My ghost popped out on my shoulder...."Do you think it is time to try the...." His voice sort of dropped in volume as we looked at each other, I had a huge smile on my face.

"I think we should show Squad 1 here how us Squad 3's take down a big boy." Aethena says in a taunting manner while elbowing Jaren, the arcanist from Squad 1 that she has been seeing.

Captain Aedra laughed, as well as most of the crowd...

"What do you say Kira...just like last time?" Aethena asked me, before looking at Aedra.

"What happened last time?" Jaren asked with a curious smile.

I smiled and materialized my helmet, and Aethena put hers on....

"Kira...." Captain Aedra said while grabbing his helmet as well.

At this point the looks in the crowd were ranging from curiosity in Squad 1, to apprehension and a knowing smirks from our squad.

All the warning we had was Aethenas devious smile, and she bolted for the front of the ship...

"Aethena?" Jaren said, while at the same time the Captain sort of yelled "Aethena!! KIRA!!!"

I took off right behind her and then the Captain was behind us. My ghost was at my shoulder and as we were approaching the end of the ship he spoke in my helmet speaker.

"Are you gonna use the Trident?" Ghost asks. I wanted to hit the drake with my super first, before using the trident...That shell looks thick.

I nodded and as we approached the very front off the ship Aethena jumps to the railing and vaults into the air with a huge gainer-flip. I just did a slow spin, so I could see the shocked expressions of the rest of the people standing around...I was not disappointed.

Noticably, Jaren was horrified with his mouth wide open, sure that his lady was about to die. Shirina was not even looking, her face buried in Taezed's chest. Ellestrae was not impressed...Dorris was laughing, as were Draed and Captain O'Connell. Aliana had a smirk on her face and Kylvia was worried that we were jumping to our deaths. The Captain was right behind me stepping over the railing while looking at me...he was not afraid.

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I was curious to see how the hell Aedra and Aethena would land...I know they are both powerful, but I had the light to help me, I don't know how it will work for them.

I had already figured out to how to switch to the other subclasses, I just had Ghost do it, which is my fault for not asking about it, but my menu is as easy as checking with him. I don't have the cool screens we got in the game, but I know what I have equiped, and in my inventory. I switched to Void when we left The Gift and am now going to use one of my Void Supers against this monster.

We fell for a while, when Aethena started to glow with blue electricity, it crackled around her skin, and through her hair, she was below me and the Captain was falling next to me. Then she vanished.

*CRACK...SMASH*

A thunderclap exploded below me, as her spell teleported her...or accelrated her faster than my eye could see, into an impact. As she was stopped by a purple shield popped into existence, I immediately knew switching to Void was a good idea.

In my helmet my ghost said, "I am picking up....Void energy from that shield....That can't be good."

That is all I need to hear. I saw Aethena bounce off the shield and land on her feet.

I looked to the left as I began to get ready to use my Super, making eye contact with the captain. He smiles and nods as he sees me begin to release my attack.

I gathered all the light in my hand and as I was falling at insane speeds, I launched the giant ball of purple void energy downwards at the monster. Oddly enough, the orb usually goes slow, but I guess the momentum I had behind it made it increase in speed because it shot down from my hand.

The Nova Bomb impacted the void shield of the Turtle-Drake thing, and it immediately imploded, the sphere of void energy rested where it impacted the shield and it was only just damaging the top of its shell.

The thing actually reared up as if to jump at us, which we were getting closer, but still out of range. Then its throat began to glow.

I looked to my left where the Captain should have been, but he wasn't, then the sky went black. A huge wave of energry knocked me away from where I was falling, and when I looked back at the monster only to see a piercing black column of lightning..the Captains lightning...

It is impressive....He hits the monster center mass, and goes completely through it smashing a crater into the ground under the monster...it was some how still standing. I saw another spark of black lightning as he flashed out from under it.

The hole he made was leaking the green acid that it was spitting out from under its shell earlier, while still spraying liquid fire from its maw.

It needs a last-hit.

I equiped the trident, that seemed to be made of a crystaline material that was a deep red/purple under a shiny surface. This trident killed me, and now I get to use it to return the favor.

I was around 50ft from the ground, but around 80ft from the monster, it was currently looking somewhere to my left, and I began to pour light into the trident as I hovered with my warlock powers.

As the trident willingly accepted my light, dark red-ish purple sparking jagged bolts of power. The sound was like a jet engine powering up, but more electric, and horrifying. As I could no longer put energy into it, the power seemed to coalesce into circular yet jagged patterns arcing away from the point towards my arm. I had it ready like a Rasputins Valkyrie, except a different world.

When I released there was a wave of energy or air that was launched back from the rocketing trident. My throw wasn't going to hit, but the trident actually turned and tracked the head of the monster that was still launching fire randomly, trying to find the Mathais twins that did so much damage to it.

The trident struck and immediately exploded with a sound I have never heard before. Somehow the powering down of great amounts of energy, combined with a striking of electric crackling, that seemed to tear reality with the force of the explosion. The first part brought about these perfectly straight purple lines of power that exploded in many different directions piercing everything for around 40 yards. then the wave of force came, knocking down trees, and houses close-by that have yet to be destroyed by fire, acid, or mauling.

The creatures legs gave out and the missing neck and head were just bits and pieces scattered around with the rest of the viscera everywhere. But the battle was far from over.

I heard strange cries of hunger, or rage as I looked around trying to figure where it was coming from.

"Well that was something I have never seen in all my days. HAHHAHHAHAHAHAA" Captain O'Connell, was on our drop pad with the rest of the Squads that decided the safe way was much easier, as the slowly dropped behind me.

I smiled under my mask and then felt something odd. Like a gathering of energy in my hand that just through the trident. I reach up and out to the right over my head as if grabbing a strap on a subway when the power began to form into a purple and red haze. The build up of power was finished with an echoing base sound that came from my trident reforming itself in my hand.

"Wow that is incre....." My ghost began speaking when he was interrupted.

"Okay, that was awesome also....How the hell did you get it to do that?" Dorris's nasally sounding voice rang from the drop pad as it stopped a foot from the ground.

"Not bad missy, but we have incoming, quite a few too if you don't mind letting the rest of us poor souls having a go at it now, do ya? HAHAHHAHAHAHA." The same serious speaking tones, followed by ridiculous laughter, a warming welcome from the Captain of Squad 1.

Shirina made her way through the Squads which the Captain O'Connell was now directing.

"I know I shouldn't even bother, but are you alright dear?" Shirina asks with a smile, only a little worry in her eyes.

"We are fine, don't worry. That was well withing the Guardia...I mean Kira's limits." Ghost says matter of factly.

I guess I did fall from much higher during the Red War....and I didn't even stop myself....We barely had any light, and I was still able to hobble around....It hurt like hell though. This time it only broke through my shields and hurt my legs, but it was quickly healed.

"Well Cap'm Aedra and our lovely Aethena should be out there," Captain O'Connell says pointing to the left of where monster corpse is, "So, Elle, if you don't mind takin your squad out that way, we will wrap around the other side. The Horde of monsters should be at the dead body soon, so lets get moving now." He finishes with a surprising monotone compared to his normal voice.

Ellestrae replies with a nod and says, "Right, Kira, lets go."

I ran with them towards the Captain and Aethena, along the way Ellestrae talks to me as easily as if we aren't currently running at this pace. "So that was quite the stunt you guys pulled...."

Yeah I was blushing...but thank Destiny for full faced helms.

"Anyways, there is a hoard of around 100 of them, with few different types of monsters approaching, they seemed to have made a few other detours before making their way here, but they will be here soon. So get ready."

We came to the corpse of the beast, and circled around further away from it. Staying out of the smoldering green acid. After turning around some abandoned buildings that were barely standing, we saw Aedra and Aethena standing next to each other facing the oncoming horde. It was a few hundred yards out, with some weird 4-legged monstrosites leading the tightly packed horde.

Hmmm...maybe its time to bring out my last weapon.

I brought out my Loaded Question. The Fusion Rifle that makes lightning explosions when the clip is full and hits some enemies. It will arc through quite a few enemies with an insanely powerful explosion of arc damage.

"What is that?" The Captain asked after we stopped next to them.

I haven't brought out my fusion rifle before since there was no way I was gonna use it in the guild training room.

I slightly chuckled and my ghost came out to talk about it, but I just ran forward as the horde was getting closer.

Looking to my right, I saw Jaren preparing some sort of huge arcane blue energy ball attack. He was standing in front of Squad 1.

The monsters began to split, about half in each group going to our respective squads. I was out front a good ways and I jumped into the air as the monsters came closer. I took aim. Normally when using the Loaded Question you just sort of hold the trigger, and after it powers up some you sweep the spray across the field of enemies you want destroyed.

There was never really a time when there would be a group like this lined up so easily. Time to show how good I am at clearing a wave of enemies.

I aimed straight at the front line, and held the triger as I should. They were so close together it was going to be hard to miss.

The Loaded Question powered up and released the energy along my intended path, and instead of doing a horizontal sweep of the gun, I just did a direct line through the middle of the pact. My height was enough that I reached a decent ways back into the oncoming horde.

The front half of the column of monsters headed to us exploded in Arc energy. The Arc energy wasn't some drawn out slowly arcing chain lightning...No, it was an instant bolt of connected Arc light that exploded through the ranks, each enemy that it could touch was hit instantly. I swear I could see skeletons turning to dust.

I followed it up with a solar grenade as I had switched back to solar after using my Nova Bomb, I figured, if we had to fight minions, my Dawnblade is the way to go.

Pulling my Wish-Ender out, I began to sight down the line of approaching monsters when a 2ft wide meteor comes crashing down in a firey blaze.

This wasn't just some video game spell that casually dropped a huge meteor on something that never left real damage....no, this meteor smashed into the ground at speeds that I could only just see as a blur. The shockwave came and knocked me clean off my feet....and nearly decimated the enitre band of monsters. Trees, dirt, buildings on the edge of town that weren't already destoryed by acid, fire, or smashing all collapsed and were destroyed.

I looked behind me to see that Ellestrae had cast a sheild in front of our squad, I knew I would be fine, but I was worried about them.

The giant cloud of dirt, gore, and fire went very high into the air. I was closer to the meteor than was definitely safe. After turning around, I saw the Captain was yelling at Dorris, who had his hands up in apology. I couldn't hear what was being said, but I saw Shirina coming to check if I was okay.

A massive arcane explosion to the right informs me of Jarens spell. It wiped out the whole line of them minus a few that were cleaned up with arrows. The orb that Jaren had created apparently was just the gathering point.

While the impact of Dorris's meteor was huge and explosive, it fell almost perfectly straight down, so the blast went higher up than out. The same could not be said for Jarens Arcane Orb Explosion, or whatever the spell was called. The explosion almost sounded like a bell going off on the first ding of many, yet the the sound of the blast seemed to not register. Or it was so loud that I couldn't hear it.

The explosion started around 10ft from the ground and around 100ft from me, while I was around 40ft or so from the edge of the meteor blast. The strange thing about this explosion is that there was no shockwave outside of Jarens predetermined sphere of influence.....But everything in it was demolished to its base atoms. Including the ground which had a massive crater that matched the spherical shape of the blast.

Alright then...that was next level attacks by both of our squads. I can start to see why our squads are unique compared to the random adventurers that are in the guild...firepower.

I rolled to my feet as the Captain and the rest of the squad showed up. "Are you alright Kira?" The concern in his voice is touching, but come on...I literally died infront of you before and I am stills standing here....I am not some delicate flower. Shirina looked worried as well, but didn't comment.

I nodded my head anyways and held my silly thoughts to myself.

"Uhhhh, sorry about that....Kira...I thought it was further away than that.....Good spell though, right?" He says with his nasally sounding grin and a hopeful laugh.

I chuckled and said, "It is fine."

"Alright, lets spread out and clear this town..check buildings and lets make sure they actually evacuated." Captain Aedras to business face took over and we broke apart to follow the orders, everyone headed into the town with weapons drawn.

We didn't find any of the sentient races, just a few farm animals, and no more than 20 monsters, which were dispatched with ease, I got to put my beautiful bow to use again a few times.

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Hours later we were all on the ship still on the way to the Elven City of Trees. It was night, and I had taken a nap in my quarters. After I woke up, I put a casual dress and a warmer T-shirt thick material, hoodie-style shirt that had a deep V to my.....moderate, cleavage. The hood on it was very comfortable and I put it on, not because I was cold, but it was just one of those nights where I wanted to be comfortable. I didn't wear shoes for some reason, it just felt nice I guess.

I walked to the mess hall where I last saw a group that hadn't gone to bet yet, and they were at one of the tables, and they were drinking.....oh boy.

The Captain was sitting next to Aliana, while next to her was Aethena and Jaren sharing one chair, Aethena on his lap. Dorris, and even Taezed was there. Along with Draed, Kylvia, and Captain Strieeten O'Connell who was busy laughing boisterously while throwing back his mug like its the last beer on the ship. The last spot was taken by another man from Squad 1 named Dartren Ganish.

Darten was a half human/half orc and he was very large....and a light greenish gray, but had a strong jaw and a devious smile. He looks like the loud one of the squad if you don't include their Captains' ridiculous laugh.

I walked up to everyone, and then put my hand on the Captains shoulder while smiling around.

"Oh hey Kira, how are you doin?" A slightly drunk Captain Aedra says to me. Before I could even pretend to answer, actually before he finished speaking he pushed his chair out and pulled me into his lap with a yelp from me.

Everyone laughed and I definitely blushed, hopefully my glowing eyes didn't show much of my blush from under my hood.

"I'm good, just had a nap." I said quietly, but it was heard by a few.

And before the Aedra could say anything else Captain O'Connell decides to help me blush more furiously, "Oh wow, look at that, so Kira, do you glow all the way down? BAHAHAHAHAHAAHA" He threw an elbow into Dartren next to him as he laughed, and Dartren also laughed.

"Yeah she does." Aliana says in a knowing voice as she lifted my leg that was over her lap since I am sitting on the Captains.

My mouth was wide open..."Aliana..." I said in a pitiful voice. She just laughed and lowered my leg to her lap, I noticed she kept her hand on me though. I buried my face in Aedras chest and I felt him squeeze me a bit.... I could get used to him holding me....but the embarrassing actions at my expense will definitely kill me.

I could feel the Aedra laughing as he held me on his lap. I looked up at him in mock betrayal, and he only laughed harder.

I chuckled at that, and finally looked around the table. When I spoted Aedra's cup, I took it and sipped some of it.

"Oh be careful....it's strong." He said with a worried look.

I coughed and my eyes watered as the horrible stuff went down my throat.

"Have you eaten recently?" He asked me.

I shook my head and he said, "Welp, I am gonna take this lady to bed." He turned to look back at me, "Yeah sorry I would have said something, but it's really strong and only a sip can get most females drunk...That giant gulp you took is gonna get you."

"BAHAHAHHAAHA, I have never seen a lady drink so much of that and keep it down. You have your hands full tonight Cap'm. HAHAHHAHAHA" O'Connell says and I tried to look at him with an indignant stare, but something was happening.

I looked as confused as I felt, when in less than 2 minutes it hit me. A massive wave of dizzying euphoria crashed through my body and I got the chills and grunted as I was immediately drunk.

"Yup, time for bed haha. You coming?" The Captain asked the question but it felt like it wasn't addressed to me. I didn't hear a reply but I saw Aliana get up as I laid my head down on the Captains shoulder or chest or something. The room was definitely blurry.

"Alright everyone, keep it together tonight, we have training in the morning so don't get too drunk, and we will take care of Princess here. See you guys." The Captain said.

DID HE JUST CALL ME PRINCESS....that's just mean...I would totally do something about it if I wasn't spinning, or no, it's the room that is spinning...

I felt myself being set down on a comfy bed and covered in a blanket. I was trying to just go to sleep when I rememberd that my ghost can take care of this.

"Heeeey ghost." Definitely not slurred... I held my hand out and he appeared...."Yes, Kira?" He said as he looked at my drunk face.

I saw the Captain and Aliana sitting at a table in the corner, curiously watching me as this was happening.

"Can you make me...not drunk?" I asked, okay I am slurring a little. (A lot)

"Not perfectly sober, but I should be able to help a bit." Ghost replies. I sighed in relief as my senses slowly came back to me in a wave of light. The Captain and Aliana were watching with smiles at the table. I got up and sat with them.

"So, Kira, I have been meaning to tell you specifically of my visions." Aliana said, I suppose it is time I heard the full story.

She went into detail that was lacking before. She told me of how myself, her, and one other would all be bound to the Captain, who would lead us to stop some potentially world-ending threat.

I was shocked about the threat, but I didn't quite understand how her visions worked, yet she predicted us coming...together. Every time I look at either of them, I get warm butterfly type feelings in my chest and stomach. It is almost insane to think how attracted I am to them. But I didn't know if I should feel weird or not that they knew I would be with them...

No wonder they were so confident towards me... Oh well, I have never felt "love" like this from people, even in relationships in my last life. I asked the obvious question...

"Who is the third person?" Or wait is the obvious question about the world destroying threat?

They both chuckled, and Aedra took over, "Well, apparently we will know when we see her. Right?" He asked to Aliana.

"I know she is a paladin, and weilds a one handed warhammer and a broken shield." Aliana said, "I also want to say she has blonde hair, but I am not sure about that. I can't really see her."

Interesting, so we haven't met her yet, and we will know who she is when we see her. Alright.

"What is the threat?" My ghost asked as he appeared over my shoulder...leave it to him to bring the conversation back to the topic.

"Well, its unclear, but Ali said it has something to do with monsters, and the increased rate of them showing up, especially huge ones. I wonder if the group behind that is the same as the one behind the main threat." Aedra said.

"It could be a group selling out the machines to other ones." I said thinking of a common movie plot for terrorist groups.

Alianas eyebrows went up, and the Aedra grunted while staring into space.

"Well, we will see what this fort has, when we get there tomorrow night."

We stayed up and talked for a while before heading to bed, I did my usual squirming act to feel the sheets. They were slightly surprised when I stripped naked but I only said, "Sorry it's just more comfortable."

I jumped in the bed and immediately fell asleep.