[ALLY]
VIN --- OCCUPATION: RECRUIT
# Shield holder: Good at holding shields. (3 defense)
# Sword user: Uses sword. Only knows simple moves. (1 damage)
BACKGROUND: KIND HALF-DOG
# Sensitive nose: Can smell strong odor from a farther distance.
# Loyalty: ???
# Kind: Prefers to help people. Has a friendly attitude.
~~~
Vin told me who he is and showed me his ears hidden beneath his helmet. Dog ears. It was cute. It was also unsettling not seeing human ears on him.
Naturally, I had my first question most curious people would ask.
Blaise: "Do you also have dog tail?"
Vin felt shocked at my question.
Vin: "Aren't you scared at me? Or thinks I'm weak?"
Blaise: "Weak? Why would you think you're weak? You can wield a sword, right? I believe that makes you a strong person?"
Vin: "Do you think so?"
Blaise: "Yeah."
Vin then asked me a question, glancing weirdly at me.
Vin: "Do you want... Me... That much?"
Before Blaise can respond, Vin slightly lowered his pants. Blaise was about to scream that he isn't gay when Vin turned around.
Tail.
A huge furry tail appeared on front of him.
Blaise: "... Ah, I..."
Vin: "... What do you think?"
Vin's voice felt weak and desperate.
Blaise felt confused. He's thinking if he had another wrong response again, the culture they live on is completely different, or if it is an extremely sensitive matter to half-dogs.
Blaise thought if he is asking for his approval. He responded with the best response
Blaise: "I liked it."
Vin remained still, not showing his face to him. However, his tail wag fast and his ears droop down. He then raised his pants and equipped his helmet again.
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Vin: "Let's just go."
Blaise: "..."
They walked five minutes until Vin returned to normal. He returned to his smiling face and excitedly described his hometown.
Vin: "It's just an ordinary town."
Blaise: "Um, can you tell me what's in an ordinary town?"
Vin: "I actually don't know what makes a town ordinary. Most peddlers and merchants who come by always tell us that our town is ordinary."
Blaise: "You can just tell me about your hometown."
Vin and Blaise discussed the nearby town. Apparently, the town has two sections divided by a wall. Inside the wall is where commoners live. They are considered skilled labor, granted right to be free, and is well-protected. Of course, they also pay considerably higher taxes. Vin never entered the inner part of the town.
The most notable detail is that a noble also lives there, greatly investing into the town, increasing its development.
On the outer walls are where the serfs live. They are mostly farmers, miners, fishermen, etc. They pay considerably lower taxes but is treated like unskilled free labor to nobility.
Vin lived his life as a fisherman and hunter since he was young, then he joined the town guards for an easy job.
Blaise: "..."
Vin: "Don't look at me like that! I wanted an easy life!"
Blaise: "I'm actually thinking about you."
Vin: "Me?"
Blaise nodded. "Yeah. So, can you tell me how you were treated as a half-dog?"
Vin: "..."
Vin avoided showing his face again, turning his back on me.
Blaise felt he failed another charisma check.
Blaise: "Okay, I might have misspoke. I'm just curious about living as a half-dog."
Vin: "..."
Blaise: "... Never mind then."
Vin: "..."
Blaise: "..."
Vin: "I'll tell you one day."
...
Blaise thought about shutting up about half-dogs.
...
They continued walking along the dirt road for another five minutes until they saw a cave.
Blaise: "Uh, so the town—"
Vin: "IT'S THE TRIAL GROUNDS! WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!"
Vin screamed at me, panicking.
Blaise: "Calm down! Tell me what's going on!"
Vin: "You don't know?"
Vin showed his confusion, but decided to move on and gave me the details.
Vin: "Listen. If there is a random openings to a place where it shouldn't be, then chances are it is the trial grounds. They all contain monsters from hell that won't stop appearing until we destroy the core within the trial grounds. There is no way of knowing where or when do they appear. However, if they weren't destroyed on time, the trial grounds would grow larger, and the monsters might escape and join the living!"
Blaise thought it was just RPG dungeons, but seeing his panicking face, it must be deadly serious.
Blaise is supposed to be scared, but recalling all the years he felt like dying out of boredom, maybe this is his chance.
The start of a new adventure.
He then thought that it's his time to shine. He smiled, excited to conquer the dungeon! Of course, he still feel pain from last time he was injured, but he's ready this time.
He then confronted Vin.
Blaise: "Listen, Vin, we have to destroy the core."
Vin: "Why are so calm about this? Don't you understand? These monsters can just appear and wreck us, killing us instantly! We cannot kill—"
Blaise: "We can kill them and destroy the core. Trust me."
Vin looked at him aghast, as if he's seeing a madman. However, Vin can see Blaise's determination.
Vin is still shaking from fear, but seeing how brave his newly met acquaintance, he believed it would be shameful if he backed down and acted like a coward.
Vin: "I trust you then."