Mars ended her tale and Aya could only stare in awe at Mars' guts and bravado.
"You are so cool!" Aya said. Mars laughed in amusement at the girl's expression she ruffled Aya's hair and rested her head against the door.
"I'm glad you think so because it was the scariest thing I've ever done, as you know they want me back. By hook or by crook they intend to drag me back to Evangels to join their team,"
"But why send people after you? I know when there's money involved people act insane but this is a bit much isn't it,"
"Evangels might seem like the pinnacle of luxury, but it has a very, very seedy underbelly," Mars said tapping Aya's nose. There are those who would claw their way to the top with hands stained by blood."
Aya shuddered.
"Scary huh? I thought so too, I thought Eos was a gaming league but it's something else entirely, but I will rise to the top again. Of that, you can be sure,"
Aya smiled at Mars. The resolute fire burning in her eyes stirred something in Aya. She wanted to help Mars, her friend needed to climb back into the spotlight she was cast out of.
"I like your confidence, you'll make it," Aya said with a nod. "And I intend to help you,"
"With your help, I know I will," Mars said. "You have a good eye for stuff and I know by now you're pretty strong by now. Everyone's still going on about how you cleared up that miasma even though they don't know it's you yet,"
"It was a tough battle, I promised to explain but now's as good a time as any," Aya said. By now both girls were on Aya's weak floor, the brown haired girl took a place right next to Mars and lay her head on the girl's shoulder.
"I grew a plant called the Ever Bloom for my class, only the Harvest Guardian can grow it, that's what got me to the point where I could combat the miasma directly,"
Aya explained in great detail what happened. She told Mars about the EverBloom, the temple, how she had to go inside a portal to fight the Miasmic Guardian
"I see, so you fought the Titan Viseli, I wonder what would happen if you put it on the auction it's a pretty rare plant and, if only the Harvest Guardian can grow it then you pretty much have the monopoly,"
"I hadn't thought about that, maybe you could test it out first, see if someone other than my class is going to be able to use it," Aya suggested.
"Sure," Mars said with a shrug. She put an arm around Aya. "Thanks for listening to me, I know it was a lot,"
Aya chuckled.
"I'm honestly just pissed at their audacity," Aya said. "I can't imagine if my account was sold, I would never be able to see what my mom left for me, I'm sorry that happened to you,"
"You're the first person to apologize to me about it," Mars said. "Honestly,"
The two sat in comfortable silence for a while before Mars decided the coast was clear.
"Gift me the plant, I'll send you some gold for it, make next month's rent and all that," she smirked.
Aya nodded and took her phone out to use the Moon Valley companion app. She opened it and found the hidden tab to be the friends tab where she could chat with other players who had friended her.
Mars was there but Aya didn't recognize her race, she knew her to be a fighter class though. Mars' pixelated icon was a cute girl with wolf ears atop her head and ain't steel gauntlets.
It showed her current Area too.
"Where's Beast Hollow?" Aya asked.
"It's an area very, very far from you. Then again you're tucked in a secluded area all the way on the other side of the map, Beast Hollow is a proving ground for fighters, there aren't a lot of towns there either,"
"Oh wow!" Aya gasped, Moon Valley's large world had once again opened itself up to her.
"I'll be leaving soon, there are deeper areas than that and special limited quests,"
Aya listened and searched her inventory until she found the EverBloom seed in her inventory but no plant.
"I forgot I hadn't grown another one, I'll plant it in the garden and gift it to you," Aya said putting her phone away.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Mars took out her phone and sent 150 Gold.
"Mars that's a lot!"
Her friend only winked, putting her phone back into her leather jacket.
"Consider it an advanced payment, if it doesn't work then you'll just have to venture out of Bloom Haven to find me now won't you Green thumb?"
A streak of red flashed over Aya's face, she looked away but Mars already saw the blush spreading across her face.
"Green thumb! Do I look like a gnome to you?!" Aya sputtered.
Mars pretended to think about it a bit, she placed her hand in Aya's hair with a laugh.
"You're right, more of a fairy," She smirked.
After Mars left her apartment Aya prepared for another gaming session, she listened for Lydia's footsteps.
Once there was no sign of the woman Aya locked her door and jumped into her bed to place the Revista on her head.
----------
Yvlena opened her eyes to find herself in the Rose Manor, and just like she said she was going to do.
Equipping the Rusty Hoe, she made a few more squares on the Manor grounds she had already cleared up.
She took all five Ever Bloom Seeds from her inventory and planted them all, then watered them until the game told her to stop.
"They need the Sadow Essence from the corrupted creatures, I think I still have a bunch of them," Yvlena said,
Pulling up the menu she noticed she only had 6 of them left. There hadn't been many corrupted creatures in the Bloom Forest and she cleared the Miasma up before it could cause any more trouble.
"I guess I better pay a visit to the Verdant woods after the merchant's quest, Maybe I'll be able to confront the next Miasmic Guardian,"
As she expected all five plants cried for water and the Shadow Essence. Yvlena tended to each, feeding the shadow essence to each plant.
Now all she had to do was give it some time.
"Right, now to get to the temple, Ricardo definitely passed it on his way here so I think I just need to use the fast travel thing,"
She walked toward the gate and found the brazier waiting with glowing purple embers that roared to life the moment she interacted with it.
[Bloom Forest's Hidden Depths]
[Yes/No]
She hit 'yes' and just like before, she felt the mysterious force of the game pull her across space and time, into the Hidden Depths.
The swirling portal landed Yvlena in front of the statue of Selendriel, Yvlena looked up at the face, seeing only her mother.
A pang of longing squeezed her heart, this would be all she had left of her.
Picking herself up, Yvlena walked the path that had once been blocked by the Miasma. Now there was a straight road between the trees leading down into an area Yvlena knew to be the outskirts.
"Alright it's time to summon my lovely companions," She said.
In a flash Rabbit Knight and Sprite were summoned to her side again, ready to take on whichever enemy crossed their path.
Rabbit Knight noticed her new sword and stepped closer to inspect it.
"What's the matter, Rabbit Knight?" Yvlena asked. The bunny's nose twitched as he pawed at Yvlena's sheath. She stooped down to his level and took out her new sword to present it to him.
The rabbit seemed to nod and showed her his own sword, Yvlena compared the blades, they were almost Identical.
"Wow, you must have been a really highly ranked fighter in Gliresea huh?" Yvlena said. The rabbit nodded, sadness filled Rabbit Knight's eyes. His kingdom was no more.
"I'm sure we'll find more like you," Yvlena said encouragingly. She snapped her finger, recalling the Gliresea Kingdom Shard she had gotten for him.
Yvlena got up and pulled the Kingdom Shard out of her pocket. The warm orange orb was about the size of a marble just like the summon stone.
[Gliresea Kingdom Shard
***
Type: Rare Item
Gliresea Kingdom Shard (4/5)
A shard preserved by magic, containing the essence of the former Kingdom, Gliresea. Lost in the war of gods, the Kingdom shards are just one of many remaining relics left behind.
Instilled with special properties, it can be used to upgrade the strength of Summons from the region]
She dismissed Rabbit Knight and held his summon stone in her hand. She placed the two stones beside each other waiting for a prompt to appear.
[You have a piece of Gliresea Kingdom Shard, Complete it?]
[Yes/No]
Yvlena hit yes and watched with Sprite as the Summon Stone and Kingdom Shards fused together in a bright light. Yvlena shielded her eyes, holding her hand away from herself as the process continued.
After a minute, the light died down and a message popped up.
[Yvlena Acquired
***
Rabbit Knight Summon Stone (Rare+) x1]
Yvlena gasped, Her Rabbit Knight definitely got stronger after that. The Kingdom Shard had been a good purchase after all.
[Call Forth Rabbit Knight? (109MP)]
She summoned her Rabbit Knight again, he arrived admiring his upgraded armor and sword. He wore silver arm guards now, the increased defense would help him against tougher foes.
Like whatever waited for them in the outskirts.
His Rapier was sharper too, the blade looked more polished in the light of the sun. The thin point made for faster jabs and thrusts.
"How do you feel?" Sprite asked her fellow summon. The rabbit nodded, saying nothing but, even with his calm demeanor they knew he was excited.
"Good to have you, Rabbit Knight," Yvlena said.