image [https://i.imgur.com/deMzpZJ.png]

Under the stars and blowing leaves, a priest limps. His body felt heavy, his cassock heavy on his slim frame, soaked with sweat and blood. He sways with every step, almost tripping on roots on the forest floor. He tried to catch himself on a tree. He fell, forgetting it was only a stump on his left. Exhausted, he struggled up, using the last of his strength to go towards the fire in the distance. His legs tremble and he falls again.

A green-tinted hand grabbed him.

“Asa… Go! Tell them!” Footsteps can be heard crushing grass.

Kneeling, Asa looked up at the long-eared helper. “Are they safe?”

The elf nods. Asa exhaled, tension was released, and he nearly stumbled again.

“ASA!” Heavy footsteps broke the ground, closing in on him. The tall elf stopped before him in leather sandals, loose trousers, and cloth wrapped around her breasts in a cross, showing off her lean musculature. A strange bug creature landed on her broad shoulder, buzzing happily. Its beating wings blow flame-like hair. Tears roll down from hazel eyes.

“Hello, Gwen. Looking healthy. Mind giving a hand? I lost mine back there," said Asa as he looked at his stump with one. A giant gash on his left was healed but raw. His left sleeve was ripped and painted with blood.

“Stop joking for once,” Gwen said with tears in her eyes and a smile lifting her cheeks

“No, I am serious.” Asa swayed, his eyes going heavy. “Healing took a lot out of me. I am about to fain-”

Gwen rushed to him with scared eyes. The world went darker and darker until Asa felt nothing.

image [https://i.imgur.com/2ANra6J.jpg]

Before the visit to the Clements, Fergus stammered.

“Uuuuuh, I uh. M-m-m-mY friend! Yes, my friend, Sam. Stupid bastard. Always went there. He has a gambling problem, you see. I had to go fish the poor fella out of the hovel whenever he was ten drinks in and a hundred gold out of money.”

“Sam?” Brenna asked as she stared at her brother.

“Yes? I mean yes,” Fergus said skittishly.

“The Devotee of Gaia?”

“The very same. Hypocrites can be found in the most pious places.”

A pause grew among them. Brenna stares holes into Fergus.

“I’ll ask him.”

“NO! I mean, he might be busy.” Fergus twiddled his fingers with terror in his eyes. From a drawer, Brenna took a piece of paper. With ink and a quill, she writes a note. Fergus accepts his doom.

Are all brothers and sisters like this?

I don't know, but seeing this, it's fortunate we don't have a family like that.

Drac looked closer. Behind the stiff face was a woman who deeply cared about her brother. And under the rebellious attitude was a man who wanted his sister's approval. Drac couldn't help but be jealous of the bond they have with each other.

“At the reception, you will receive five steel rings, which will allow you access to guild facilities in any intermediate town. You have more than passed the required tests to level up. However, when you want to go to advanced towns, follow their rules and pass the requirements. They are not as kind as me.”

“But there are only four of them. Who is..?”

Brenna smiled at Fergus. Tears well up in his eyes.

“Alright… We’ve got the directions. Best be on our way.” Drac bowed to Brenna, leaving with Marina while he pulled Fergus along.

“One minute, Drac," Brenna said, seated behind the desk with arms folded.

Drac nodded to Marina. “I’ll get the rings,” Marina said as they closed the dark door.

"What is it?” said Drac.

The atmosphere changed in the office. Heckles go up. Flight or fight had Drac's body tense. The pause made Drac more nervous as time drew out.

Brenna finally says, “I will keep quiet. Just keep it hidden. If they know, I will not help you.”

Drac's hands clamp up. “I understand.”

The air settled.

“Good. You can leave now.”

“S-sure…” Drac exited the office. Locks clicked after he closed the door.

What was that about?

Fuck if I know.

“I don’t know!”

A copy moved the scarred Clement’s arm and the twin cried in agony.

“But you were so sure a minute ago when your axes were coming for my head.”

The twins glanced at each other.

“Ah… Do you think I would kill you if I found out you murdered my brother?”

The twins stared at Drac, frozen in terror.

Drac smiled. “You were absolutely right.”

Holding down the twins by their necks, copies unsheathed their swords. Heilongs glow with raging aura.

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"Please, I beg of you, sir! W-w-we know of his last known location!” The sunken-eyed one pleaded.

“Known? I thought I was digesting in a Vine monster's stomach, as said in your reports.” Drac scratched his chin

“We needed an excuse! The rules of the Adventurer Guild dictate we cannot leave our charge without a good reason”

Drac’s copies point the weapon at the twins. “What was your reason for leaving him behind?”

“WE ARE TOO WEAK!” The scarred one shouted. Onlookers gasp at the revelations.

Their glowing swords go closer, nearly scoring the pocked skin with hot white energy.

“Explain.”

“Y-your bother,” The sunken-eyed spoke. “He was desperate for an escort. Not one man wanted to touch him. I mean, of course, they wouldn’t. Just look at him!”

A copy sheathed his sword, grabbed the scarred clement by his shirt and beat the man blue.”

“Watch.”

Wacks can be heard. Slapping turns into squishing.”

“Your mouth.”

The sunken-eyed twin nodded with pursed lips. The copy stopped and tuned Aqua to wash the blood from his fist.

“Continue.”

“He told us that he needed to go to the centre. We had no idea how to get there but we needed money and he had it. So we went to the town of Dew with him.”

Why would he trust them? I wouldn't, by the look of their faces alone.

The priest seems a little naive about this forest. He probably never asked about their level or rings because they were the only ones to help.

“After a while, we actually believed we could actually trek into the lands around the advanced towns. But then we met them. The elves. They were chasing us with arrows, tracking us like a wild animal. So we decided to cut our losses and ran for it.”

“And they left you alone,” Marina asked, standing beside a sitting Drac. Fergus stares at the copies.

“Like we weren't worth their time.” The twin looked to the ground, ashamed.

“Elves… You will have to search for an elf town near Dew,” said Fergus

The Front barndoor opens. A copy, a dog, and a lady enter from outside. “Elves are nomadic. It's been a long while since they captured Drac’s brother. They could be on the east side of the tree by now. But that's why I am here.” Flida smiled. The copy dispersed beside her.

Drac’s copies threaten the twins once again. “Other than money, what else did you steal from him?”

“What do you mean steal?! We would never go to such a low level!”

“Brofur…” The scarred twin muffled under a broken face.

The sucken-eyed one resigned. “It's at the back. In the chest. It's hard to sell priest tools…”

The copies release the twins and disperse. Their friends run up to help.

Flida calls out to Fergus. “Happy you don't have to pay your tab anymore?” Flida giggled while she followed Drac to search the back of the hideout.

Fergus stood dumbfounded. “How did she know..."

“The copies are Drac and they are him. You will have to get used to this weirdness.” Marina answered before following Drac.

Drac sat crossed on a stone floor on the outside training ground. His palms face the sky, resting on his thigh. Shirtless and sweaty, steam came from his hot body. He inhaled deeply.

That's it, slowly.

Drac feels an energy filter into his skin. Warm energy flows through his veins till it reaches his heart. His soul ignites and his aura flows off his body. Aura stays contained close to his body.

Nearly there.

With effort, his aura flows to his right arm and into the tips of his fingers. Drac lifted his arm with his index and middle fingers, pointing to the cloudy sky.

Release!

Drac exhaled and unleashed his aura and a cone of white energy burst from his fingertips. Drac looks up. Clouds still block the sun above.

Well done.

But not enough.

Don't be a downer.

You saw how I did…

Yes.

How will I survive against monsters like that?!

Brother, all you have to do is ask for help.

Leave him be, Axton. The man thinks he can do it all by himself. Let him fail.

Drac noticed the sun setting. “It's getting late. Let's hit the inn for a good rest before we leave tomorrow.”

Drac hears whispers around him. He looked about him and a hundred or more warriors gawked at him.

How long…?

Since you sat down,

Drac stood up and unsummoned the copies sparing behind him. A young boy about his age walked up to him. With a nervous smile, he hands over a towel for Drac to accept.

“Here you go, Orc Tamer.” Drac took the towel and the shy boy ran away.

A what tamer?!

image [https://i.imgur.com/deMzpZJ.png]

There was a light knock on the door and Drac answered. The sight of Marina cheered him up. “Hello,” Drac leaned on the door. Without his jacket and waistcoat, his white shirt reveals his chest. “Need something?” said Drac with a wry smile.

Marina pushed Drac further into his inn room. “Woah! Forward today, aren't you?" Drac said as he was having the time of his life.

Another shove and Drac fell on his bed.

Marina stood over Drac. “Have you noticed yet?”

Drac's eyebrow lifted. “Noticed what?”

Marina sighed. She retrieved something from her back aiming barrel the of a pistol to Drac's head.

Oh, fuck.

“I gave you the entire day to fess up.”

“Uuuuuuuh…”

Marina climbed off Drac. The pistol was still levelled at his head. Drac still sat up straight.

“Since Forshire?”

Drac nodding.

“Why?”

“With the enemies I fight- we fight - we need the right weapons.”

“BUT WHY A GUN?!” Drac looked into Marina's teary green eyes.

“I am sorr-”

“Why did you hide it?! Unless you knew how it made me feel.”

Drac looked down on the ground, wracked with guilt.

“Drac.”

He looked up and a pistol flew at him. He caught it like a hot coal.

“Use it. I trust you. But it is a shame. That you think you would ever need it. See you tomorrow.” Marina left with a slam of the door.

Brother, you fucked up really bad.

Drac sat in the silence of his room, full of regret. He felt the engraving. He had used it once and it helped him none.

Why does she hate guns so much?

They are killing tools like any other.

Drac, will you destroy it?

Drac stood up with a pistol. He unclasped his chest and placed his gun inside.

Its that why-

Yep, Brenna saw you with it.

Hood... You knew she had it, didn't you?

Don't come near my space.

----------------------------------------

Drac entered deep sleep and Hood emerged. Dressed and ready, he went into the chest. Hood held up Danor's gun. Such exquisite handiwork intrigued Hood. He would’ve been saddened if Drac destroyed this beauty. He holstered the pistol and headed out the window.

With Levitation, he grabbed the top of the window seal and swung up into the roof. A flip and he landed quietly on the tiles. Rain falls from the heavens, washing away the blood from yesterday. However, no bodies lay there.

Where to?

Hood froze. “Axton?”

If you can do it, I can too. So, what are you up to?

Hood sighed, and raindrops floated away from him. “I'm off to exterminate a few rats.”

Hood goes off to hunt.