Chapter 7 Disguise
- Go first Anna, and look after Percival. I will need to talk to the others.
- But…
Anna tried to object at first, but she saw a resolute yet sad glint in the eyes of her older friend. She hesitated for a moment before wishing him good luck and going to the rest of the party. Alex took a breath and opened the friend window and called for Julia. Even if it wasn’t for long, he knew her better than the two others.
- Julia speaking! What do you want? Are you lost and can’t come back?
- Julia. There’s something we need to talk about. Can you bring Bob and Kordur too? Anna is going to you to stay with Percival for the time being.
- What? Why do you…
- Please Julia. I will explain as much as I can to the three of you.
Ten minutes later, those three were here and were sending strange looks in the direction of Alex. Kordur was more gloomy than usual, Bob was just intrigued and Julia was worried.
- What did you want to talk about, asked Bob on whom the heavy atmosphere did not have any effect?
- First, I want to say I was glad to have met you, and was sincerely happy when you asked for me to party with you all…
Julia and Kordur grew darker, understanding where this conversation could lead. Bob on the other hand was simply pleased by this declaration:
- We’re happy to have met you too, pal!
- But I think it’s better if I go my way alone now…
- Why, asked the elf surprised?
- I pondered a long time, and decided against leaving without a word. For one, I wanted to express my thanks to you…
- And for two?
Alex paused a moment, unsure of how he could say it. Finally deciding to be as frank as he could be, he heaved a sigh:
- It could be detrimental for Percival if you were not able to understand what he is going through.
- What?!
The three shouted simultaneously. They were waiting for a lot of reasons, but didn’t think the strange reactions of their guild master to be due to their last recruit. But Alex did not let them the time to ask question and continued:
- I can’t explain it all. I don’t think I have ever met him. I can’t be sure because of the changes you can make on your avatar…
- He told me he did not change his self, whispered Julia quietly, having troubles organizing her thought.
- What did you do to him?
Alex just stepped aside, avoiding an axe that ripped through the earth. The strong elf looked at him with an incredible fury, but he was stopped by Kordur.
- Let him talk! We could still kill him later, but we need to know all there is to know in order to help Percival.
- If he did not change his avatar, told Alex as if nothing happened, I can be sure I never wronged him. I can’t tell you details, because you would be in danger if you were to know all, but here are the important things: for some reasons, Percival is deadly afraid of me. I met him first in the city nearly six days ago, and it’s apparently when he began to go strange.
- You don’t act like that if you’re afraid of something, tried to tell Bob…
- He is not just afraid, contradicted Julia. He is terrorized. That sure explains his actions. But what can we do?
- Be there for him during the following day! That’s all he need from us, answered Kordur.
Seeing them talking about the necessary things, Alex decided to step back, but he was caught by the iron grip of the axe-wielder.
- Still wanting to kill me… I’m ready to accept it…
- Don’t accept death so easily, shouted Bob, knocking him on the head. And I’m sorry for my earlier reaction. It would appear I’m a little too hot-blooded. I can see now that you did not wish for what’s happening with Percy. So there’s no need to overponder about it.
- Thanks, but why are you holding me back in that case?
- Because Percy might need you…
- He is terrified when I’m around!
- So he is, and so he will be until he deals with it. It’s something he will need to do, one way or another. It’s better to do it as soon as possible!
Then, Bob spoke loudly, so Julia and Kordur will listen to him:
- Percy will stay like that until he is able to deal with it! That’s why Alex needs to come back with us, be he wanting it or not!
- Are you mad, shouted Julia? You saw how much he suffered earlier on. We just need to help him overcome it little by little! I’m sorry, she told to Alex, I was the one to bring you here, but I know it would be better if you were to leave.
- Nothing to worry about, answered Alex…
- A Man shall fight his fear head on, yelled the elf!
- A friend shall protect him instead of spouting nonsense, opposed Julia.
- Without fight, no recovery!
- Recovery is a long and patient thing! No need to rub salt on his wounds.
- Medicines can be bitter, but the bitter it is, the more effective it is!
- That’s not some bitter juice, but dead on sulfuric acid you try to make him shallow.
Bob and Julia would have probably continued to fight like that if the dwarf had not made himself known with some coughs. He then talked:
- You’re point of view are both true in some ways, but you’re forgetting something. The most important thing for recovery is the desire of the patient. We should just ask Percival of his thoughts. If Alex is not with us at the time, he should be able to answer with his usual calmness and cleverness.
- You’re right, recognized Bob.
- It’s true, accepted Julia.
- I take it you’re ready to help us if we decide to go with the shock method, asked Kordur to Alex?
- If it’s his choice, I’ll comply.
- I’ll send back Anna. The next talk will take a little time, and we’ll probably go hunt just the four of us to calm down a little. You should do the same with Anna and gain some level. You’ll need to have some more if we ever go together later on.
- Thanks!
The three then went back to the place where their guild master was left with the young summoner.
***
Alex and Anna had gone and fought more ermines and had even had a few encounters with goblins younglings of level 24. Alex’s levels quickly grew, and even Anna gained two more levels before he receives a new call from Julia. He was now at level 14 and had also gain some proficiency in “Inner Control”, “Seikuken” and “Tsuuhaiken”. For the last technique, he now had enough mana to use it if he used the “Inner Control” active effect. The fight also brought him eleven fighting spirit points.
- Alex. We decided on some ways for you to stay with the party. Percival asked for it too. Will you comply?
- Of course!
- Then meet me at the entry of the city.
Just like that, Alex and Anna left the forest and went once more to the city. There was waiting Julia, smiling happily and bouncing around with so much eagerness that Alex considered for a second to flee. He would later regret not having followed his natural instinct.
- Come on. Come on, told Julia when she saw the. We have a lot to do. Follow me!
Without letting them say a single word, she brought them in the city, at a tailor shop. There she turned and looked at them once more:
- Anna is a new member of our guild, so we decided to pay her better equipment. And by talking with Percival, we have understood what his problem was. Apparently, your appearance is problematic Alex. So you will have to change attires. We have already talked to the master here what is needed. Just explain to him the way you fight and he’ll adapt the clothes so that it fits your style.
- I’m first, said Anna with a great smile.
Alex had no objection on such a point. He just waited patiently, really patiently. When the girls come back from the inner shop, he could see the new attire of the young summoner. She had a white and black striped robe, black boots and white gloves. She also had an iron tiara with a blue gem in. She spun once to show off to Alex, and he smiled and patted her head before going inside.
There stood the tailor. He was a young looking halfling. But the glint in his eyes and his demeanor showed he was older than what he looked like. He had round golden eyes and brown curly hairs.
- So you are the one. Good! It’ll be a fun work. So tell me about you. Race and level first.
- I’m a level 14 nephilim.
- Oh. A nephilim. First time I work for one. Classes and profession.
- None! Trying for Taoist.
- Taoist. I’ve heard about such a name, but how do you fight?
- Barehanded fighting.
- A kind of monk then. Need to move easily. What are your stats?
- Show stats!
Primary AttributesStrength (STR)38Agility (AGI)48Dexterity (DEX)48Vitality (VIT)48Intellect (INT)38Wisdom (WIS)38
Secondary AttributesReading (REA)28Focus (FOC)73Willpower (WIL)57Asceticism (ASC)34Perseverance (PER)31Fighting Spirit (FS)21