Chapter 9: For the Better
Walking inside the weapon shop, some costumers were browsing for weapons when the swordsmith instantly leaped from his seat and headed towards the group who entered. The swordsmith instantly saw the items the three wore and instantly knew that only one tailor in the city can make armors of this quality.
"I see she made you some items." Rucha inspected the items they wore, "Yes definitely her work." He smiled knowing his friend Maria had found closure after so many years of despair not knowing what happened to her son.
"Thank you Requiem for what you did, are the weapons for this two lovely ladies?" He let out.
"Yes sir Rucha, meet my little sisters." He gestured to introduce themselves as he looked at the girls.
"Hello sir Rucha im Mandy and this is Annie." Mandy said as she pointed Annie's direction.
"We are not blood related but still we are like real siblings." A huge smile greeted Rucha as he looked at the other girl who had fox features talk.
"I see, I see well then please wait a moment I will go get your weapons." The swordsmith hurried to the back and returned after a few minutes. Holding a pair of gloves and a bow he handed it to the girls.
Mandy was stunned as she looked at her new weapon, she didnt expect to receive a gift like this from her pretend brother.
Great Kuma GlovesAttack: 20 -37
Item Level: 28
Durability:200
+20% increase in attack speed
+10% increase in damage
+2% chance to inflict the status stun when attacking
+25 strength
+20 dexterity
+10 agility
+10 vitality
Binds when equipped
Cannot be dropped
Cannot be stolen
Made by a master weapon maker from a century bears paws. Once equipped the weapon will only be for your use, levels up with the user.
Like Mandy, Annie was speechless seeing her new bow it was not like the bow she used where her damage sucked but now she can deal more damage to enemies.
Bloody Bow of PiercingAttack: 24 - 33
Item Level: 28
Durability: 150
+20% increase in attack speed
+10% increase in damage
+50 meters to attack range
+10% piercing damage when faced with larger monsters
+15% chance to cause bleeding which slows enemies as they get shot
+20 dexterity
+15 agility
Binds when equipped
Cannot be dropped
Cannot be stolen
Made by a master weapon maker from an unknown wood. Levels up with the user once equipped it will bind with the user.
"Master do you make leveling weapons for everyone?" Asked the Requiem.
"Nope," A plain and simple response was heard from the swordsmith, "Only to those who I think are special." Added the old man.
The two girls stared at Requiem with eyes shining with gratitude knowing that only a maximum familiarity with an npc is the only way to gain benefits like this and making special items is an example of those benefits.
Requiem's familiarity with Rucha was not normal because Rucha based his familiarity to people who are interesting and Rucha found Requiem really interesting which made his familiarity with the swordsmith high. He also is an apprentice of the swordsmiths friend which also helped in many ways. Requiem knew that leveling weapons were not that special, yes they are rare but still having one helps a lot because you dont need to change your weapon every time you reach a higher level. Also he noticed that leveling weapons also have there own categories seeing as his sword has more benefits than the girls weapons. Still they can upgrade as long as they find quality materials in their adventures.
The two girls were nodding at each other as they slowly walked towards Requiem and gave him a hug, "Thank you Kuya for all your help." The two said at him.
Requiem just did his usual smile but now he blushed as he nodded at the gesture the girls were doing to him. Letting go Mandy brightly smiled, "Wait till our classmates learn about this they will go nuts about it." She let out looking at her bestfriend.
"For sure, they will ask you where you got it and will only bring trouble to Sir Rucha or to Kuya." Answered Annie as she looked at Requiem who was nodding at the thought. Requiem didnt want to be bothered constantly. While Rucha seemed to not care because knowing him he will only find it either bothersome or interesting.
Mandy nooded, "Your right still I can atleast show them and tell them I got it from a mob right?"
After equipping the new weapons both of them looked kick ass as they stood there and tried poses with their weapons.
"Do you sell those kinds of items here?" Asked a male customer who had a karate outfit on.
"Yeah they look really awesome maybe we can buy also?" Asked the other guy who looked really envious of the two girls.
"Not in this life." Sarcastically answered the swordsmith at the two while returning to his seat.
The dejected look at the face of the two players made the swordsmith chuckle as the two headed out of the shop.
Requiem was lucky he was on good terms with the swordsmith or else he wont have the siege blade in his hands this moment.
"So what will you do now?" Asked Rucha.
"Im going to start my adventure soon Sir, maybe just head in one direction and see where the wind takes me." Requiem answered.
"Can we join you Kuya?" Annie asked not wanting to part ways with him.
"We wont trouble you Kuya please let us join you." Mandy seconded.
"Are you sure? I dont have any specific place I want to go." He said to them which he regretted as he looked at the puppy eyes the two made. 'Man, im weak against this kind of things.' He thought as he tried to avert his gaze from them. Looking at Rucha who was smiling at his predicament he tried to get out of the situation by talking about another topic but as he looked at the two who are trying to stop tears from falling, he cant do a thing when it comes to this types of situations.
"Fine you win." A defeated Requiem let out.
A sudden outburst of laughter filled the shop as Rucha laughed hard at Requiem, 'Interesting things happen around you, man if I was only younger I would travel with you.' Thought Rucha as he held his hands on his stomach and continued to laugh.
A second round of laughter was heard from the shop when the girls did their victory dance which looked funny and cute at the same time. The old man had quite an interesting day today feeling gracious, " I know of a place where you can visit that can show you which direction you need to go for an eventful adventure." Said the swordsmith to Requiem as he tried to sit upright from all the laughter he did.
"Really? Theres a traveling guide in the game also?" A questioned Mandy asked the other three.
"I dont know what you said but the one im talking about can tell you which way you can travel that has more interesting things that can make adventuring more fun." Rucha explained to the three.
After hearing out the swordsmith the three decided it was already time for them depart. Saying their thanks they headed out to find the place Rucha told them to visit.
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"Kuya can we wait for you here our parents needs us to do something first." Asked Anniebeth to him as they reached a tall pine tree standing alone on a hill 30 minutes away from the city.
"Sure Annie, I'll wait for you here if I'm done with the visit." Requiem said to the two not knowing something is in store for him when he returns.
The girls smiled evilly at each other as Requiem continued to walk away.
"Now all thats left to do is get Ate Queen here and let her do her thing." Mandy let out as she remembered the plan.
(Ate means big sister you pronounce it like this A-te not ate the past tense for eat or just use google translate to hear how its pronounced or use youtube)
----Flashback----
Mandy and Annie's PoV
Looking at the map given by Rucha to them Annie and Mandy instantly knew where they were going, a place called Witches Haven where players go if they want to be a witch, it was also known for a place where divination is practiced but the kingdom ordered the masters who can use the skill to not use it for selfish gain because of certain consequences which will lead you to be imprisoned or worse hunted and burned alive. Anyways they said divination can only be attained by becoming one with nature which cannot be easily gained so the masters who can use the skill are only few and the skill is not always 100% accurate which also is another factor to consider but still a skill that grants you to see a glimpse in the future is awesome right? Also it is well known for another reason which is a place where beautiful women gather.
Annie wanted to become a witch but when she found out that she cant change because of her being a fox beastman which cannot take the job witch but can take a job which is a counterpart of being a witch -a priestess, so instead of getting a witch job she took on an archer job because healing and being a support who only heals is not her thing. She wanted to be able to curse enemies and use nature to defeat them but deleting your account and making another one and repeating the process all over again didnt sound tempting to her so she just picked archer which she didn't expect to suit well with her character.
They went to Witch Haven a couple of times so they knew that a certain pine tree stood a top of a hill and its the perfect place for Queen to apologize.
@Queen: Ate we found a perfect opportunity for you to apologize, we will pm you later so be in the south gate of the city and head towards the big pine tree on top of a hill, we will be there and wait for you after maybe another hour Kuya will be heading towards the pine tree and wait for us but instead he will see you there.
Annie: The plans like this.
Mandy: When we reach the pine tree we will tell him that we are needed in real life so we will have to log out and not join him till Witches Haven but instead we will wait for him at the pine tree.
Queen: I understand, thank you girls. Pm me when all is ready and I'll head to the pine tree.
And so then plan was set in motion.
----End of Flashback----
Requiem looked at the the place where he needed to visit. It looked like a giant witch hat that has windows and a door. He looked at the busy people nearby a lot of players can be seen and judging by their actions it seems that this place is where you can get the job witch. A lot of npc witches and sorcerers also roamed the area.
He entered the building and asked around for Mr. Furiono the person the swordsmith told him to talk to.
"Excuse me miss." He said to the lady who looked like a receptionist. He pulled down his collar to show respect to her but he didnt know that what he did will cause him to suffer in a way in the future.
Taken back at the handsome male infront of him, "Oh forgive me I didnt notice you there. Uhmnn do you want to be a witch or in your case since your a han.. uhmnn male you will be a sorcerer." The receptionist cutely said trying to be alluring as she pressed forward in the counter showing her cleavage.
A few witches saw Requiem and hurriedly came to assist him also.
"Do you need some help?" One elf witch offered as she hugged Requiem's arm burying it in the space between her gifted area causing Requiem to blush at the elf.
'What a cute blush, his kinda shy for someone whose handsome. My future husband.' Thought the witches as they battled for his attention. Witches started to show up one after another after hearing that a really handsome male showed up in the haven.
Requiem didn't know that this was the first step which will trigger a war in the future for witches to see who gets him. Requiem didnt know that witches always married a person who is handsome which is one of the reasons why Rucha sent him to the place and of course for Requiem to talk to Furiono. Though mainly Rucha sent him for entertainment purposes which Requiem will never know. Witches tend to get attracted to handsome people, an occupational hazard of some sorts. It was said that the job witch when gained causes your character to gain the stat charm which will make your character more beautiful and seeing as it has also one drawback and that is witches are easily smitten with handsome guys but just being handsome doesn't mean they will be attracted to a guy instantly. The Witch class has a skill called 《Character Perception》 which makes them see the traits or character of a person which they used the skill to because they dont want to be taken advantage off. The Npc seems to be affected well by the said drawback but players are affected in a lesser way.
The male population in the haven started to get annoyed at the sight happening infront of them.
"Let the boy go, if your looking for someone who is handsome I'm here." Said one sorcerer, as he tried to act manly in front of the hoard of females.
"In your dreams old man." A red head witch glared at the sorcerer.
"What a joke, you should look infront of a mirror or maybe your eyes are getting blurry because you think your handsome or something. Lol" said another.
"If your the last man in the world I'll just kill myself." Said a long haired female sarcastically.
The situation was escalating in a dangerous manner as the groups were starting to throw sarcastic lines at each other.
"Uhmnn I need to see Mr. Furiono." Requiem tried to speak up in the confusion.
"Ladies, Ladies where's your sense of pride." An old voice sounded in the building.
Hearing the voice, every witch acted wholesome infront of Requiem but the look in their eyes will cause Requiem to never get acquainted with witches in the future but all is too late now because he already set the gears in motion.
"Come to my office lad, someone take him here." Another commotion erupted as the witches wanted to take him to the office causing the old voice to interrupt again. "Miss Elsa please take him here."
"Yes master." A small voice sounded outside of the building and walked in a petite girl with violet hair garbed in a light purple colored robe. The pointy ears and light reflection said she was an elf, who said witches have big warts and big noses.
"Please follow me." The elf said to him as she walked towards the stairs. The other witches had a defeated look in their faces as Requiem tried to ninja moves out of their clutches.
Following the elf he hastily walked aside her. "Please dont think every witch is like those." Elsa said as she took a step one after the other. She saw how uncomfortable Requiem was at the situation earlier and knowing that he didnt take advantage of the situation she knew he was a good guy.'Wow, your really good looking for a man. Perhaps your an actor in real life?' The elf thought when suddenly she saw Requiem smile.
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"Thank you and no im not an actor im just a normal student." Requiem answered the elf.
"By any chance did I say that out loud?" Asked the elf which is already blushing like a tomato. 'OMG! That was really embarrassing. ' she thought which caused Requiem to slightly let out a chuckle.
"Did I say that out loud again?" The elf now really wanting to just dissappear.
Requiem nodded at the elf, "You tend to say your thoughts out loud huh." He smiled at her as she tried to hide her red face.
The girl started to gain speed as she walked wanting to finish the chore as fast so that she wont have to embarrass herself anymore. At the top most floor of the witch hat building sat a door which the stairs comes to a stop. The whole last floor belongs to the master.
"We are here." Elsa said as she reached the top. Walking down she looked at Requiem for the last time and started her descent.
"Miss Elsa my names Requiem and thank you for your help." He let out as he beamed a smile towards her.
The elf smiled as she went down causing her to slip and fall down the last couple steps causing her to curse Requiem as he stayed in her mind.
Entering the room he was instantly greeted by a question.
"If I may ask who sent you here will you tell me its Rucha?" The old grey beard man asked Requiem.
"Yes sir." Requiem answered, 'Gandalf your real.' He looked stunned as he stared at the Gandalf look a like.
"That old fool doesn't change, anyway what can I help you with?" Furiono asked him.
"Sir im here to ask you if you can help point the way for me to a place full of adventure. I'm getting ready to travel and Sir Rucha said you can help me with it." Answered Requiem.
"Did you by chance tell him you just go anywhere your feet take you?" The old man asked.
"Yes sir." Requiem wondered how can the old man know those things.
"In case your wondering how I know this things, its because I have known Rucha since we were kids and growing up together makes you learn about things you dont want to know about each other. Did he give you a letter?" The bearded old man added.
Handing the letter Requiem looked at the books in the room, all of them were neatly placed in bookshelves. Requiem started to browse the books as the old man was reading the letter, he spotted a book with an old dusty cover in a corner. It layed there like it was calling to him and as he walked towards it a barrier of some sort was stopping him to take another step.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you lad." Furiono let out.
Turning around Requiem gathered his thoughts and walked towards the master, "Sir what is that book?" He asked politely.
"Its better for you to not know about it. Anyway back to you, Rucha wrote interesting things about you and I maybe have the right place for you to visit first." The old man said.
Looking around for something, Furiono took out a compass of some sort from the box he searched for, "Bring out your map lad," he said to Requiem.
Taking out the map, Requiem layed it on the table. Furiono started chanting something, the compass glowed and flew to the top of the map then after a minute of hovering there the compass suddenly started to get vaporized and from the looks of it its being absorbed by the map.
A few more minutes the map glowed then it stopped as the old master finished the chant.
"What did you do sir?" Requiem asked wanting to know what happened.
"I made your map special, now a red dot is seen in the map. The red dot signifies a place you can discover but its not that easy because the place where the map leads is not for normal people to go to. Better to see the place for yourself than I tell you about it right? And also another red dot will show once you finish what your supposed to do in the place you went first. A quest of some sorts." The old man explained.
Requiem was pleased at the new map, now he can travel to new places and finish quests along the way. He cant hide the excitement he was feeling for the new discoveries he will find.
"Thank you Sir." Requiem bowed at the master.
"Go and see the world." The old man smiled at him.
Suddenly a transmutation circle glowed under Requiem, he was blinded by the sudden flash of light and when he opened his eyes he was out of the building and hidden behind a bush because outside the building a mob of witches were starting to gather. Requiem thanked the old master for his help because if he went down those stairs he will for sure have trouble just getting out of the place. Fixing his collar he started walking back to the city, "Hey who are you?" A sudden voice called out to him.
Looking backwards he saw a group of players that seemed to be waiting for his explanation, "Im no one and I am leaving." He said, his jet black hair flowed as the wind blew in his direction and he continued to walk.
"What an odd fellow." Said one witch in the group.
"True, what's with the cloak and high collar? Is he hiding his ugly face?" Exhorted a male squire as he withdrew his iron sword.
"Come on lets go back to the haven and finish the quest." The other witch said, the group walked towards the haven and saw a lot of high ranked witches gathered trying to get inside the building.
Getting closer to the mob the witch apprentice asked, "Ma'am is there an event or something? Why are a lot of people gathered here?"
The group couldn't believe what they heard, all this commotion because a handsome guy appeared in the haven. After a two hour battle to just enter the building, the group heard more description about the mystery guy. They remembered the guy they saw as some high ranked witches told about him.
"Did he have long black hair?" The squire asked.
The witches instantly answered yes.
"Is his cloak high collared?" The witch apprentice asked.
"YES!"
"So did you see him?" A purple clothed witch asked.
"Yes miss Elsa we saw someone with that description about 3 hours ago." The other witch apprentice said.
"Which way did he go?" A lot of witches said at the same time.
"He headed to Splendor City." A baffled squire not wanting to admit that he was jealous with the mystery guy seeing a lot sexy witches were interested in him.
A hoard of witches flew to Splendor City that day, some teleported using a return crystal to the city, some used the warp portal in the building. Players thought an event was being held as witches were all over the place. The City was searched high and low and not a sign of the mystery guy was seen. Back in the haven a girl was drinking tea and thinking about her meeting with Requiem.
"Elsa you didn't join the others to search for him?" Asked the bearded old master of the haven.
"Im not interested in him in that kind of way master." Answered Elsa trying to hide her red cheeks.
"Fufufu I see, my how the world changed when you travelers started showing up." Furiono let out.
"You teleported him out of here, didnt you master?" Questioned the girl as she took a sip of her tea.
"Well, I didn't want him to be bothered by the females and walking down that staircase would have caused a lot destruction in the building because a fight over him would have occurred." Smiled the Oldman.
"Like always master you really are one of the sages." Sighed Elsa.
"He reminds me of a person I knew once, anyways he will make a name for himself. The future seems to be full of interesting events just waiting to happen." A grin was seen on the masters face.
'What are you Requiem? You even made the master grin which he usually doesn't do.' Thought the girl as she stared at the master.
¤¤¤
Requiem was headed to meet up with the girls. He had an unusual day at the haven.
'Need to get away from this place as fast as I can.' Thinking about the witches he walked faster towards the tree.
'I've taken much longer time than expected, hope the girls didn't wait that long." Reaching the hill he noticed a female sitting down at the other side of tree.
"Girls sorry for the long wait." He let out, thinking it was Mandy or Annie.
The female turn around and looked at him, "Caleb...." Silence occurred among the two as they looked at each other.
"Sorry I mistook you for somebody." Requiem started walking away as he wanted to avoid the said confrontation.
"Please wait Caleb, I'm sorry." Queen said, stopping Requiem on his tracks.
'Did she just... apologize?' Requiem thought as he looked at the girl tears beaming in her eyes wanting to fall.
'I didnt know that she has it in her to say sorry, Scarlet was right but still its too early to know maybe its just a facade.' Looking at the female who stood there, "Are you sure? Is somebody paying you to say that?" He tried to act sarcastically as he said the words.
"No ones paying me, please believe me Caleb. Im really sorry for what I did and said that day. If I can turn back time I would say what I really wanted to convey, I really want to be your friend Caleb. It's because I got nervous that time that all the things I wanted to say came out wrong please from the bottom of my heart I'm really sorry." Tears are streaming from her face as she spoke those words.
'Should I believe her? What if she is just playing me and filming all of this and if I forgive her she would start laughing and do something unexpected again.' Requiem was over thinking things when all of sudden he decided to test her one more time, "I would have believed you if we're not on a game, easier to say because your hidden in an avatar. I thought you were friendly at first also but when you acted like you own the school and started to command me to introduce myself, I have misjudged you from the way you look, I noticed you since the start of school, you were truly a princess who looks like one and much more act like one. You always smiled at people who greet you and you really seemed to not use your status for selfish gains but you proved me wrong. I dont know you and yet I thought you weren't like those other rich kids who acts like they own the world but when you did those things you just made it clear that you cant judge a book by its cover. I may be poor Princess Hannah Giovanni but it doesn't mean you have the right to do those things to me." Requiem let all of his emotions go and spoke what truly is in his heart.
Queen was speechless as she heard Requiem, no lies were spoken from his mouth, "I really messed up, please Caleb what can I do for you to believe me?" She understood where Caleb was coming from, who wouldnt feel that way also if you had been laughed at because you were poor and much more it was thrown at your face and yet Caleb didn't say anything to her that time he just kept silent and the look in his face that time was of degradation. A look Hannah can never forget and what made it worse was that she caused it to someone who is a kind person.
"Please just leave me alone. The damage has been done. You dont have to worry because I wont do something like that to you because even if I'm poor, I atleast respect others and treat them how I would like to be treated also." Requiem had said all that he needed to say.
Hearing that, Queen felt shaken and pain started to prick her heart like thousands of needles being stabbed in her heart one after another, "Please give me a chance Caleb, please" her resolve didnt falter as she now held Requiem's hand.
Requiem saw how sorry Hannah is, if a heart can talk her heart would already wail because of hurt. 'She really is sorry.' He couldn't stand seeing a girl cry and thus he did what he always do, He pulled Hannah and hugged her as she now cried like a baby in his arms. 'If my mama will see me now I would die instantly for sure because I made someone cry.' He thought as she stroked her head to calm her down.
"Hannah I've been waiting for you to say you're sorry, I thought you never would say it." A gentle smile came from him as he looked at the girl in his arms.
"But but you said to leave you alone?" A questioned Queen spoke to him.
"Yah im sorry about that, I was trying to see if you really meant it. I was just being cautious if you were telling the truth." He let out.
This made her cry even more but now she had a smile on her lips as she felt relieved of the outcome of her apology.
Calming down the both of them realized that they were still embracing each other, causing them to instantly let go and act shyly as they stood beneath the shade of the old pine tree.
"Caleb can you be my friend?" Queen asked with anticipating eyes.
"Shouldn't you ask me that in real life? I'm Requiem here in game." Slightly laughing at the girl.
You sent a friend request to Queen.
"Uhmnn okay you asked for it." Smiled Queen as she accepted the friend request.
Suddenly Queen logged out of the game which Requiem thought was odd but after 30 minutes in real life Requiem heard the dorm manager speaking to him using the capsules microphone.
"Caleb I didnt know you had a girlfriend, does she have a sister?" The manager said as Caleb stood up from the capsule.
"What are you talking about?" Caleb asked as he scratches his head.
"Come and see, I didn't want to be rude so I invited her to the lounge."
Walking up to the lounge Caleb saw a familiar girl seated on the sofa with many bags with her.
She instantly stood up as she saw Caleb, "Can I be your friend now?" She blurted out.
"How can you not want to be her friend Caleb?" Said the onlookers as they complained that lifes unfair seeing Caleb visited by none other than the Queen herself.
Caleb let out a defeated sigh, "I was just joking when I said that ingame didnt think you would actually come," He let out a chuckle, "and sure Hannah were friends but what's with the bags?"
She handed out one bag to him and he saw it was meat, "Uhmnn its to commemorate this day." She blushed as she said the words.
"Guys time to party!" Shouted one of the tenants of the dorm and thus the night ended with a girl becoming friends with the tenants, a loud party caused by the tenants of the dorm which made the neighbors call for the police which they just hid from and a night where one girl successfully asked a specific boy to be her friend.
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~Dawn
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