"Well Hoshimi?"(Anastasia)
"I have only ever seen the beast you speak of"(Hoshimi)
"And what of the boy who accompanies him?"(Anastasia)
"you, are interested in a boy Ana?"(Hoshimi)
Hoshimi was surprised, Ana had only ever focused on their self preservation and cared little for the world around them.
"It's not like that"(Anastasia)
"Oh really now?"(Hoshimi)
Hoshimi gave off a devilish grin.
"Humph his is abilities to wield magic just peaked my curiosity and that is it"(Anastasia)
"Always letting your head lead your life, what about your heart?"(Hoshimi)
"What my head tells me makes sense"(Anastasia )
"If you say so"(Hoshimi)
The fox looked over at Ana quizzically before dozing off.
"I'm going for a walk"(Anastasia)
She punched a tree as she left causing the birds within to take flight. Meanwhile, over at the other side of the forest the boy was in a totally different predicament.
"She was looking right at me"(Damien)
"Yeah, with disgust"(Ali)
"Really, are you gonna go there?"(Damien)
Damien threw a small pebble in the direction of the wolf, but the wolf had already moved and the boy hit nothing. "She was beautiful, gentle and I bet you she has a big heart"(Damien)
"Yeah and a even bigger stomach to look at that face of yours"(Ali)
"..."(Damien)
"No wonder she ran away when you spoke to her"(Ali)
Ali waiting to receive a reaction from the boy instead turned to see that he had vanished.
"Stupid Ali, all he ever does is make mean jokes and laugh at me"(Damien)
The boy went to a nearby lake where he begun to practice his magic.
[ENTANGLE](Damien)
A small vine raised from the ground, picked up a pebble and skimmed it across the lake. He did this for a good hour or two when suddenly. *ding*
SkillsEntangle: Active
Call upon vines to ensnare or attack an opponent (vines last until destroyed)
Level 2: Two thorned vines Next Level: Three Stronger vines
Cost: 15 Mana
"What?"(Damien)
[ENTANGLE](Damien)
This time unlike before two small vines sprouted from the ground. After practicing for a while Damien was able to move each independently, and began skimming multiple stones at once, working even harder now to develop his magic.
Damien brought up his stat screen just see if it had changed when he noticed two things, first his earth affinity had risen by 3% and second he had 50 skill points.
Next to each attribute except from luck was a plus sign. He pressed the one next to Intellect and seen that the number had risen, that's when he realised that he could develop his body both physically and mentally. He then proceeded to add 15 to Intellect and will plus 5 to the other four.
Status WindowName:DamienLevel:6Fame:0Infamy:0Health:225Title:"none"Mana:150Stamina:150Race:HumanIntellect:25Strength:10Will:30Endurance:15Luck:5Agility:10Magic Resistance:0Speed:10Physical Resistance:0
AffinitiesLight:10%Dark:-15%Earth:13%Water:0%Fire:0%Air:0%
SkillsEntangle: Active
Call upon vines to ensnare or attack an opponent (vines last until destroyed)
Level 2: Two thorny vines Next Level: Three stronger vines
Cost: 15 ManaHealing Hand: Active
Summon upon a healing light to heal minor wounds
Level 1: 10% of max health Next Level: 15% of max health
Cost: 20 manaReflective Cloak: Active
Bend light waves around your body or an object making it less visible for a short period of time
Level 1: 20 seconds Next Level: 1 minute
Cost: 30 manaEverlasting Dawn: passive
During sunlight hours (sunrise to sunset) light abilities are stronger and more effectiveNatures Lullaby: passive
Beasts are calmer and less likely to attack (only affects animals with a will lower than your own)
TraitsCommunication
You have an understanding of this world's language system allowing you to communicate verballySoul Bond
You share a bond stronger than any other with Ali, due to this when you are together you feel slightly stronger (5% buff to stats)
Damien noticed both the health, mana and stamina figures increase.
[ENTANGLE](Damien)
This time the vines were thicker and seemed stronger beginning to receive a small quantity of miniscule thorns.
Ahh so by using the skill it levels up and by increasing my stats it strengthens my power but the question is how do I level up, I received 5 levels after killing the bear so maybe I just need to kill. It's barbaric but i guess it's a small price to pay(Damien)
The boy continued studying his abilities but never managed to improve any more. The girl however didn't train that night, instead she sat in a tree by the lake listening to the ramblings of the boy who was trying to work out this system. Soon dawn would break, and yet the girl never left her post.
Many days and nights had passed since the boy first met the girl and they had both leveled up a few times, Anastasia leveled 3 times and using her 50 previous attribute points plus her current 30 increased her speed and agility by 20 and increased the rest by 10. She also leveled up her Waters Grasp by 2.
Status WindowName:AnastasiaLevel:9Fame:0Infamy:0Health:225Title:"none"Mana:100Stamina:150Race:HumanIntellect:22Strength:15Will:20Endurance:15Luck:5Agility:30Magic Resistance:0Speed:28Physical Resistance:0
AffinitiesLight:-15%Dark:11%Earth:0%Water:12%Fire:0%Air:0%
SkillsShadow Form: Active
Manipulate the shadows to cloak your body or an object making it less visible for as long as the user has mana
Level 1: 7 Mana per second Next Level: 6 Mana per secondWaters Grasp: Active
Summon upon a small quantity of water that can be moved freely and can leech health off of an opponent
Level 3: 5% of health per second Next Level: 10% of health per second
Cost: 30 manaAurora Eyes: passive
Your eyes are ever changing allowing you to see through illusions and darknessWaters Embrace: passive
When you are next to water your water abilities are stronger (when in water the effect is doubled plus you regain 3.5% health per second)Vixen's Gaze: passive
When in eye contact with someone they are more likely to do what you say/ask (more effective to a memeber of the opposite sex)
TraitsCommunication
You have an understanding of this world's language system allowing you to communicate verballySoul Bond
You share a bond stronger than any other with Hoshimi, due to this when you are together you feel slightly stronger (5% buff to stats)
Whereas the boy he leveled up 5 times allocating his 50 attribute points the same way as before and increased his Entangle to level 4.
Status WindowName:DamienLevel:11Fame:0Infamy:0Health:300Title:"none"Mana:338Stamina:200Race:HumanIntellect:40Strength:15Will:45Endurance:20Luck:5Agility:15Magic Resistance:0Speed:15Physical Resistance:0
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
AffinitiesLight:12%Dark:-15%Earth:15%Water:0%Fire:0%Air:0%
SkillsEntangle: Active
Call upon vines to ensnare or attack an opponent (vines last until destroyed)
Level 4: 4 razor vines Next Level: Morph Entangle
Cost: 25 ManaHealing Hand: Active
Summon upon a healing light to heal minor wounds
Level 1: 10% of max health Next Level: 15% of max health
Cost: 20 manaReflective Cloak: Active
Bend light waves around your body or an object making it less visible for a short period of time
Level 1: 20 seconds Next Level: 1 minute
Cost: 30 manaEverlasting Dawn: passive
During sunlight hours (sunrise to sunset) light abilities are stronger and more effectiveNatures Lullaby: passive
Beasts are calmer and less likely to attack (only affects animals with a will lower than your own)
TraitsCommunication
You have an understanding of this world's language system allowing you to communicate verballySoul Bond
You share a bond stronger than any other with Ali, due to this when you are together you feel slightly stronger (5% buff to stats)
Then one day Damien stumbled upon a cave, a cave which he could of swore wasn't there before. Unsure of what he should do Damien ran back to camp to ask Ali about the strange new cave.
"Ali...Ali"(Damien)
"Yes little one"(Ali)
"LITTLE ONE"(Damien)
"Yes I was talking about your....ehh.....brain yeah and how its so small"(Ali)
Ignoring Ali as if he was not there Damien proceeded to question his companion about the appearance of this new cave.
"On the western side of the forest near the clearing a cave has appeared"(Damien)
"Well I maybe should of told you this before but..."(Ali)
"But..."(Damien)
"Well you know..."(Ali)
Ali was now looking down toward his paws.
"spit it out already"(Damien)
"The forest evolves to suit your needs"(Ali)
"...Which means what exactly?"(Damien)
"Well to put it simply the forest is a training ground for you and as you get stronger it will create new challenges so that cave you saw is most likely a dungeon"(Ali)
"What do you mean by a dungeon and why didn't you tell me before now?"(Damien)
Damien looked puzzled.
"A dungeon is a complex labyrinth full of hostile monsters with a champion at the end often referred to as a boss they are generally monsters at the peak of their power. They can vary in difficulty but it will definitely be too difficult for us to fight by ourselves"(Ali)
"So why didn't you tell me?"(Damien)
"Well as I said we'd require more people"(Ali)
"Oh I know, I know we could invite the girl"(Damien)
"And that's exactly why I didn't want to tell you"(Ali)
Meanwhile in the eastern side of the forest within a large clearing there was strange and powerful aura emanating from a small cave. That area of the forest was the most bountiful hunting zone, but for some strange reason it now lay abandoned. The cave was home to a large underground structure which held 9 floors each populated by powerful monsters and on the last was a power greater than the forest had seen since it was created by the gods. This power could be felt across the forest and brought an unparalleled fear upon those who dwell within it.
The next few days were tough as the animals had somewhat vanished from the forest, and the children were too cautious to get enough sleep, since there had been lots of low level monsters straying from the entrance of the cave into the depths of the woods. As they are non-sentient and rely on a pack mentality one or two didn't pose too much threat, but in groups they were alot more difficult to deal with. Damien who was the closest to the cave pushed his camp back towards the center of the forest where the lake was, he had tried to locate the girl but had no luck due to the vastness of the forest so he presumed the lake would be a safe bet as it contained the only food source which had not run away due to having no where to go, fish.
The lake was a true sight to behold, at dawn it would shine like gold purer than that of the finest craftsmen in any of the 5 worlds while at dusk it would become it's own universe reflecting the brilliance of each and every star in the night sky. This is where the children would often spend they're time, when practising they have wasted entire days away by the serene lakeside. The forest which had nurtured and provided for the children had now turned against them.
That night the boy was skimming stones as he normally would when he seen a fire off in the distance across the lake, hurriedly he created a fire of his own as to alert who he presumed was the girl. As he sat there he pictured the girl, her long swept lilac hair, piercing blue eyes and her soft voice.
Anastasia pov
It took me ages to get past the stray monsters towards the lake, I decided to go round the lake to the other side as hopefully the monsters won't have reached it yet. When i reached it was still and quiet which worried me, frankly I missed the sounds of a lively forest, this silence is just unnatural. Thankfully I have Hoshimi for company.
"Is the dungeon supposed to have such an intense and intimidating aura?"(Anastasia)
"Honestly I don't know, I came into this world the night you came to the forest"(Hoshimi)
"Do you think we will have to leave the forest?"(Anastasia )
"One day"(Hoshimi)
I shuddered at the thought of leaving the safe...eh...well...the forest. I will have to find that boy soon to see if he can help me defeat the dungeon.
"Set up camp here"(Anastasia)
"Fine I don't have the willpower to go any further anyway"(Hoshimi)
Hoshimi just fell asleep on the spot.
Arggg that goddamn fox always leaves the hard work to me I can't stand her sometimes.(Anastasia)
I walked away to go and gather some firewood.
She is so laidback, always telling me to relax and follow my heart, she doesn't even realise how much i do for her.(Anastasia)
In my rant I had strayed from my job and wandered a bit further than I planned to go, I only realised this as I had came face to face with the great black tree and the sack of bones which died bringing me here, how weak, she was just a slave to those who abandoned me in this forsaken...I stopped realising that a large quantity of black water had gathered around my hands, I looked at the body once more in disgust before walking back to the camp collecting wood along the way.
When I got back I built a fire and sat watching the flames flicker and dance, when I noticed another fire open up from across the lake.
"HELLO?"(Anastasia)
I shouted as loud as I have could to see who or what replies.
Damien pov
I was just in the process of setting up my fire when Ali arrived at my side with a rabbit in his mouth and blood on his fur.
"Slim pickings today I see"(Damien)
"No I already had 3 when I was hunting"(Ali)
"Of course"(Damien)
I really wasn't surprised anymore at the news, he is a gannet who more often or not ate most of my share before I ever saw it.
"At least you brought me something"(Damien)
"Yeah of course"(Ali)
Ali just gave me a glance smiling as he did it.
"I don't trust that look"(Damien)
Ali then proceeded to eat the rabbit whole and it was not pretty.
"But didn't you say you got that for me?"(Damien)
"Nope, I said I got you something, which I did"(Ali)
"So what did you get me?"(Damien)
"Me, I came back safe and sound and that's all you could ever want."(Ali)
"You know sometimes I thoroughly dislike you"(Damien)
"Well I'm stuffed, I'm gonna head off to sleep."(Ali)
I just managed to get the fire alight and not long after while I was sitting thinking of how to get Ali back for eating my dinner, AGAIN I heard a voice in the distance.
"HELLO?"(???)
It was definitely her I had no doubt about it.
"HELLO WHO ARE YOU?"(Damien)
"SOMEONE WHO NEEDS YOUR HELP"(Anastasia)
"MEET ME BY THE NORTHSIDE OF THE LAKE AT DAWN"(Damien)
I can't believe that I get to go and see her again, I mean it has only been a few weeks but...arggh I can't wait.
3rd person pov
The north side of the lake was the highest elevated point within the forest being above the main treeline, at the top you could see the entire forest and the lands beyond. The capital of the kingdom of Sancti from which the young girl was banished, and the village of Umbra the hometown of the boy from which he was also banished, they were worlds apart one being the capital of all that was holy and the other a refuge for those who worship the darker forces in this world.
From this vantage point you could also see 3 of the other major kingdoms, Anguis, the serpent kingdom home to the 9 great dragons and their cultist followers, Figura, home to the elves and the mysterious race known as shifters who have the ability to change form and Solum, home to the dwarves, gnomes and their autonomous golems.
But none of that really matters(yet), the reason the boy chose this location was because you could see the entire forest and it was difficult to reach. Looking from above, the forest was circular with the river and lake almost forming a yin and yang with the two trees where the dots should be.
At the first light of dawn both children were at the top and were standing face to face.They were both extremely hesitant and even their companions were a bit nervous of those who faced them. Then...
"I need your help"(Damien & Anastasia)
They spoke simultaneously and were a bit confused.
"There's a cave to the west"(Damien & Anastasia)
"Well well what do we have here"(Ali)
"Aww how adorable"(Hoshimi)
"Don't say that, you'll make them blush"(Ali)
"Akahkahkahkah"(Ali & Hoshimi)