— Aster - The Quest —

This was going to suck I mean it gave us seven days to prepare so how could this be simple.

We all met up back at the inn and decided on a location that would be good.

I suggested something with walls.

James wanted an open hill.

We compromised and got a clearing on a hill in the forest, you know so everyone can see us but we can't see them.

You know to make it safe.

Anyway, we made it there.

Honestly, I still have no idea how he convinced us to do this.

Anyway, we went to the spot and started the quest. For a few hours, nothing happened then the monster started to appear. We defeated the first one easily, even though James was injured. I was surprised by his reaction to being hurt and healed. Yeah, it hurt really bad but he just needed to put the pain to the side. Or is that just something I can do?

After James was healed I decided to go look around. I found three more wolves each appeared at the south, east, and west positions of our hill about ten minutes apart. At first I just quickly snuck up on them and took them out. I was going to rush up to tell everyone when I realized they wouldn't believe me.

The next day two of the creatures showed up from the north and we took those two out then I decided to check the spots I found the others at again; it was the same pattern. I took these ones out and kept my mouth shut again.

The next day after the first four showed up I tried to get everyone to walk around the area with me. No one wanted to come. "Go piss by yourself I’m tired," Rowan yelled at me.

Everyone was tired and doing their own thing so I took out the other twelve. It was like killing smoke. Semi-solid when killing them but fully solid when damaging us.

Now it was on the fifth day everything started going wrong when I was fighting with my friends. For some reason, I kept tripping or fumbling and falling. This led to some severe injuries causing violet to have to heal me each time. Each time I felt the fire beneath my skin as I healed. It was a little different as I myself, didn’t have to focus as I was healed. It was a little like an out-of-body experience.

It was on the fifth day I decided to put my mask on and practice my new falling skill in combat. While I decided to take out the other wolves after being healed each time. It was more to prove to myself that I could do it and I wasn’t a crap fighter but it kept happening in front of everyone.

Falling at first I kept coming into focus whenever I saw my hands swing my weapon which was oddly falling with me but as combat began I stopped focusing on the weapon and focused on what I was doing. The falling feeling remained and soon I had the method down. Then the last two days I decided to take out as many as I could before they came out to attack. On the second to last day I missed one but got the last kill before they noticed, and the final day I was still fighting when two groups appeared I didn't think they knew about any of the groups and thought I ran away. But I did fight next to them while wearing the mask. I moved quicker and faster through the cloud of wolves, changing my weapon into what I needed at the moment. I may not be good with a sword but I was oddly good with a shifting weapon.

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I was doing great until the numbers became too much and I tried to retreat to a tree to regroup. I slipped on the branch knocking me dizzy. Somehow only losing my mask. The fight ended at nearly the same time as the others found me.

And that is how the quest really went.

— Aster Clearing Somethings —

I stayed behind on the hill to think about the things that happened during the fight and all the information I was missing. The plan was to meet tomorrow to turn in the quest. Giving me plenty of time with my thoughts.

Name: Aster Datura

Level: 13

Class: Moonflower

Energy Type: Rogue

Animal Specialization: Cat

SubClass: Blacksmithing

Skills:

Combat:

Dagger: 20 ++

1-Handed Swords: 5

Throwing Knives: 19 +

Chakrams: 20 ++

Magic:

Mana Control: 10 +

Cats Eye: 15 +

Shadow: 10 +

Light: 5

Other:

Lock picking: 21 ++

Pickpocket: 11 +

Trap making: 6

Trap Detection: 16 +

Stealth: 21 ++

First Aid: 8

Tailoring: 3

Trap Disarming: 16 +

Smithing: 15 +

Endowment: 11 +

Words:

Soul: Faster

Desire: Pocket

Fear: Falling

I sat alone at the top of the hill till the light began to fade and I decided to build a fire and relax. I felt like being someone else thinking it might help me with my thoughts so I put on my mask and just fell away. I needed to escape the feeling of uselessness my friends made me feel by falling away from myself to feel free. I was just staring deep into the flames when someone sat across the fire from me.

He was a man of average build with an intricate mask covering his face. His presence startled me back into focus.

"Who the rot are you?" I asked

"I watched and saw what you did these last few days."

This caught me by surprise "What?"

"I observed and saw your actions. You took out so many creatures and you were labeled a coward. Be careful of how others perceive you. It is another form of belief and can affect how you are in this world."

“So if people believe I'm incompetent I'll become incompetent?" That could explain a few things.

"And if people think you are a hero then you will become more heroic and harder to beat just another form of belief just hard to change."

"So who are you?"

"I am a Caretaker, one who directs from behind."

"Like a Shadow?"

A tinge of anger seeped into his voice as he spoke "No, but we are the ones who protect."

"Protect what?"

"One day you will find out."

"Ok mister cryptic so if what you’re saying is true then anyone could be a hero."

"Yup."

"But if it's so easy why aren't they running around everywhere."

"Not quite that easy."

"What do you mean?"

"A hero must do impossible things that no one else can and in this world of impossibilities that is kind of hard."

"Ah so you just have to do the impossible."

"Again yes and no. You also have to spread the words of your deeds because how else will anyone know you’re a hero."

"So do the impossible and brag about it?"

"Well, a hero has to be humble as well. A hero is always virtuous with his legend behind him."

"Ok so do the impossible, be virtues, brag but don’t brag because otherwise I’m a braggart. Sounds like I would do the impossible just by doing those last two" at this the man in the mask chuckled

"Maybe but you are one from behind."

"I’m confused, who are you? Besides a Caretaker."

"You will find out soon. I must take my leave."

With that he stood and faded into the dark as he walked away

I don’t mean he walked into the darkness faded I mean two feet away he disappeared like a ghost.

“Well that was weird.”