6: Joshua

Over a great black anvil, a colossal man hammered. His brown arms were as thick as Jason’s thigh and he towered half a head taller. His thick leather apron was marred all over and blacked with soot and a massive black hammer moved with fluid speed.

Bang! Bang! Bang! He hammered with concussive force then plunged the finished implement into a waiting barrel. As the steam cleared he looked at it appreciatively, his black bearded and homely brown face smiling.

Jason perceived that it was not some epic weapon but rather the head of hoe, ready for its handle. He stepped forward, “Sir,” he said and the blacksmith turned.

“Hello young hero, are you looking for repairs?”

Jason smiled. this was what all of the NPCs called hunters, as for why humans had not adopted it for themselves he could not say.

He took the doll out of his inventory, “I found this doll in the gray wolves’ territory.”

The blacksmith took the doll in hand. He stared at her with black eyes then shook his head, “I’ve never seen it before.”

Jason watched him. This man was actually Aranson, the village chief. He made his living as a blacksmith but there was no one in the village with more authority than him. Ordinarily you would first have to talk to his son to find out who the doll belonged to, but hunters had long since cataloged the information obtained therefrom.

“Sir, David told me that it belonged to your daughter. Are you sure that you’ve never seen it before?”

Aranson frowned, “David should learn to keep his mouth shut.”

Jason remained silent and Aranson sighed. He looked at the doll then handed it back, “The truth is that my daughter packed all her things and ran off to the dryads more than a year ago. If she chose to toss her doll aside then there is nothing I can do about it.”

Jason knew this was a script, acted out a thousand times before, but it felt like more, it felt like talking to a real father about his daughter. “Sir, if the doll has fallen to the wolves, are you not worried that your daughter has too?”

“No, the dryads she ran off with were level 3. Neither of them would have fallen to mere wolves. If the doll ended up in their jaws it’s because Julia threw it away.”

Jason exhaled, “Sir, if we could convince her to return, would you accept her?”

Aranson’s face was dark, “If she was willing to come back and serve faithfully I might be willing.”

Jason nodded, “Then can we bring her back?”

“Bring her back?” He scowled then banged his hammer down on the anvil. “Even if she were willing, the dryads would never let her go. But if you can bring her back, I would be willing to listen to her.”

Ding! [Attention! Blacksmith Aranson has asked you to help bring his daughter back from the dryad encampment. This is a Main Scenario quest. Do you accept?]

Jason immediately nodded, “I will bring her back.”

Ding!

[Quest Accepted!]

[Quest Log Updated.]

Aranson spoke again, “There is only one man who can find the dryad camp. He is not a resident of Redstone Village but a tracker that travels through many lands. I have heard that he is residing in the northern woods of late.”

“What is his name?”

“His name?” Aranson seemed surprised by this. “Truth be told we have always just called him tracker,” he paused and closed his eyes, “I did hear once that his name is Joshua but I do not know if that is true.”

Jason smiled, it undoubtedly was, among others.

There was nothing else to learn and he stepped back, “We will speak to him.”

He walked from the smithy and everyone followed.

“And now we go searching the woods for three days trying to find pretty boy,” Boris said.

“How dare you call him pretty!” Lira raged.

“You called him pretty yourself!”

She turned red in the face, “I said he was the most beautiful man to ever walk the earth!”

Boris threw his eyes to the sky, “Whatever! I still don’t want to spend hours wandering around the woods trying to find him.”

Jason shook his head, “There’s a better way.”

They all frowned in confusion.

“You know another way?” Amelie asked.

He smirked, “You’ll see.”

“Ok…”

They marched to the village gate and out into the wilderness where he stopped, hands on hips. He filled his lungs then turned his face to the heavens. Briefly, he hesitated. Eh! Go for it! “HELP!!!!” he screamed, “Help me!!! Please help me!!! Anyone!!!” he roared.

“What are you doing!?” Amelie demanded.

He winced but went on, simplifying his plea, “Help!!!Help!!!HELP!!!”

She grabbed his arm but just then a figure appeared. He was tall in hunters green with a lean waist and powerful shoulders. Every mouth dropped open, even Jason’s. It had actually worked!

He walked to the man and inclined his head, “Hello,” he greeted him.

The man had a serious face with dark eyes, flickering with inner fires, amidst lean, handsome features. He had a dense black beard, trimmed to perfection, and a healthful brown complexion and Jason saw Lira blush.

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The man, Joshua, spoke, “You called for help, is something wrong?” His voice was surprisingly deep and Lira grabbed Jieun’s arm, causing the other to wince.

Amelie was stern, “Sir, did you come because we called?” she asked.

Joshua smiled, “I have good ears and can’t help it.”

Even she colored as he looked into her eyes and Jason sighed. “Sir, are you the tracker Joshua?” he asked. Of course he already knew but this was a necessary part of the script.

“I am.”

He took the doll from his inventory, “Sir, we found this in the territory of the gray wolves. It belongs to Aranson’s daughter who was led astray to the dryad’s encampment more than a year ago. Do you think their camp could be nearby?”

Joshua took the doll and his eyes glowed amber. This was the activation of his tracking skill and after several seconds he shook his head. “There is no trace of the dryad’s dark magic on it. She must have lost it or discarded it before she ever entered their camp.”

Jason was curious, “If she followed the dryads to their camp, shouldn’t there still be traces of darkness on the doll?”

“No, all dryads will conceal their aura until they return to their camp. Only there, surrounded by many wards, will they let their evil miasma pervade.”

This made sense. It would be much harder to gather recruits if the stench of dark magic was immediately apparent. “Sir, do you have any knowledge of where their base is?”

Joshua smiled, “Though their wards are many, they cannot truly contain. I can find their base any time I wish by merely following the winds.”

“Plot armor,” Boris muttered.

Jason was annoyed. The Russian sure had a lot of opinions for someone who knew nothing. “Sir, the blacksmith Aranson has asked us to bring his daughter back. Would you be willing to bring us to the encampment?”

Joshua laughed, “Willing? I’m always ready to destroy evil, it’s just a question of whether I have the necessary companions to do so. The dryad queen is unlike any other monster on this floor. Do you think your group can defeat her?”

[Attention! Joshua has invited you to destroy the dryad mother. It is recommended that you have a party of 3 Original Magic users or more for this quest.]

“We can,” Jason confirmed. The system might recommend 3 Original Magic users but this was still the first floor after all. There was a way for a single user to prevail. As for ordinary hunters, even a million would fail.

“Then let’s get going,” Joshua said and he turned around. He set off at a swift jog.

“This … always has to run,” Boris grunted and they jogged after.

***

After crossing several miles of rolling grasslands, Joshua slowed to a walk, his amber eyes scanning the distance. It wasn’t called the dryad camp for nothing. It was never in the same place twice and the only way to find it was by following Joshua.

Jason well knew this but he still had to wonder, did Joshua really know which way he was going? Or rather, did he have to put on such a show? He would head in one direction for a while and then turn and head almost in the opposite. Many theorized that this was his way of working through the dryad’s wards but no one really knew, not even Jason.

Amelie walked beside him and he glanced to her. They had been following Joshua for three hours, if it went on much longer he would run out of time. “I think I might need an extension,” he admitted.

“Not for free.”

“Of course.”

She looked up at him, “How did you know? That you could call Joshua?”

This was not the question he expected. “I already told you I’m in a spirit covenant. Why would my master send me out with no instruction?”

She walked in silence, “Then this spirit told you to pursue the main scenario?”

“He did.” She said nothing more and he could not help but smile. He decided to give her a nudge, “So is that enough to earn my extension, or do you want to know more?”

“If you want to tell me more, why not simply tell me the name of this spirit and how you formed a contract?”

Yes, that was the main point, “Let me ask you this. If this power is everything it seems to be. What would you be willing to pay for it?”

She walked with her eyes on the ground, “If your mana is truly without limit, then I am sure my grandfather would sell everything he has to attain it.”

“And what if that’s not enough? Would he be willing to die to attain this power?”

She frowned, “What kind of spirit requires death as its contract cost?”

“What kind of spirit can grant you Original Magic? What spirit can give mana without end?”

She was about to speak when Joshua suddenly turned around. She stopped short. “He’s right. With immense power comes immense cost. To strike a bond with this spirit only your life will suffice. Only after death, will you be able to live as never before!”

She furrowed her brow, “You mean he will kill me and bring me back to life?” She turned to Jason, “Does this mean that you died already?”

He hesitated then nodded, “This very morning I was dead, but now I’m alive.”

Deep conflict flickered in her eyes. Was he a madman? Was he a liar? But then, what of Joshua? And what of his power? She could not deny either of them.

Joshua came closer and a belt of woven leather, bright as gold, materialized about his waist. A golden scabbard hung from it, and a golden pommeled sword. He rested one hand upon it.

She stared at the sword, “Sir, what is the name of this sword?” she asked.

His amber eyes were steady, “Don’t you already know? He who is able to divide soul and spirit, he from whom all mana flows.”

Even the wind ceased and she trembled, “You are speaking of Kyrios.”

Jason nodded. Every hunter knew the name as every holy priest in the dungeon prayed to only one spirit, Kyrios, the God of all spirits.

Joshua nodded, “That is his name.” He gripped the sword at his side. “The only question is whether you would be willing to receive his blade. Only those who do can enter his service.”

Boris watched all of this and suddenly barged forward, his axe at the ready, “What do you mean receive his blade!? Do you expect her to just let you stab her!?”

Jason turned to argue but Joshua spoke, “Silence,” he commanded and Boris clutched his throat. In the next moment he fell down as if dead. He was even white in the face and everyone paled.

Joshua was calm, “The aid I can offer humans is limited by each floor, but I have no such shackles when it comes to those who oppose me.”

“Is he dead?” Amelie asked, very pale herself.

“What is death?” Joshua asked.

She shivered and he spoke again, his hand still on his sword, “So, What do you say Amelie Renault? Are you willing to trust me with your life? Do you believe that I can both kill you and bring you back to life?”

For long seconds she only stared at him then she took a shuddering breath, “No, not yet. I must learn more about this Kyrios before I decide.”

Jason expected him to be furious but he only smiled, albeit faintly, “Very well, only remember that you can call upon me at any time. It is only my sword that can grant true life.”

She nodded and he looked down at Boris, “Wake up!” he ordered and the giant Russian flinched.

Color returned to him and he lifted his head, “What happened?” he asked as he looked around.

“Better to not ask,” Lira piped, though even her voice was thin.

Boris got up slowly and turned around, “What happened!” he demanded.

Amelie watched him with calculating eyes, “You died,” she said, and she turned to Joshua, “at the very least, it seems you can bring the dead to life.”

Boris opened his mouth again but Joshua started moving.

“Just learn to keep your mouth shut,” Amelie ordered and they followed after.

Jason was a little behind her and everyone else behind him. He didn’t know what to think. He had intended to wait a little longer before revealing Kyrios name, for maximum effect, but it seemed Joshua had other ideas.

He knew not every so called NPC was in fact an automaton. This was the primary reason why smart hunters would always be respectful to NPCs, there was simply no way of knowing if you were speaking to one of Kyrios’ servants. He watched Joshua’s back. He, most of all, warranted care.

They continued across the grasslands for another forty minutes before suddenly coming upon a grove of trees. These trees were strange, towering and strong and covered in lush leaves, they formed a wide perimeter, their roots intertwining in a perfect and unbroken circle.

Outside of this circle stood a single girl. Lovely and slender, she wore a flowing moss green gown that came to her knees. Matching green hair fell to her waist and her green eyes were vivid in the sunlight. She bowed to them, “Welcome to the camp of the dryads. Please, come in.”