Year 48

*A massive wingless drake shoots a blast of fire towards a large human male, behind him stands a party of different races: one green-eyed elf, one orange-eyed elf, one female; minuscule beastkin(Kiwi), a male gnome, and a male dark scaled demon. Emma hangs onto a nearby pillar up above them. The Human slams down his shield and splits the flame in two. *

Emma thinking: This would be so much easier with Lily.

*As the flames die down the gnome runs around, attempting to flank the drake. But, as the drake’s tail swipes across the area, the dust it builds up blinds the party. Emma sighs before dropping on the drake's head, her blades stab into its sinus and some sparks fly out.. The drake begins to trash wildly as Emma’s blades act as anchors, she steers the drake into a large pillar, leaping off its face just in the nick of time. The two elves come in behind, one uses his large axe, the other wields a short sword, And they swing together to cut off the drake's tail.*

Human: GET BACK!

*The drake quickly twists and swipes at the three elves. Emma creates three clones to distract the drake as she pulls them back with telekinesis. The green-eyed elf nods before running back towards the party. The orange-eyed elf takes a stance with his axe and the demon runs past, using his claws to rip at the drake's scales, dodging as the drake attempts to swing at him. Emma looks in the distance at a flickering light. She runs past everyone, heading right for the drake.*

Human: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

*Emma runs past the drake into the dark towards the light. As the party goes out of view Emma creates a wall of stone from the floor to the ceiling of the underground, when a ball of molten rock slams into it. An enormous molten monster releases its tail as it stands on its two legs. The monster lets out a thunderous roar, shaking the entire area, and causing more of the wall to collapse as well. Flakes of molten stone fly from its mouth almost hitting Emma. Emma jumps back and raises her hand, but nothing happens.*

Emma thinking: Shit! *Looks at the ground* It’s too hot to pull from the area. This is why I hate the Slagmor’s

*The Slagmor bites down on its tail and uses its legs to start rolling after Emma. She magically creates a ramp, allowing the Slagmor to roll over her, but the heat still causes her to get burned slightly. The Slagmor turns back towards Emma using his legs to now turn and spin at a higher speed. Emma creates a clone and has it start running into the dark as she uses stealth. The Slagmor chases down the clone and continues to roll off into the distance. Emma returns to the party where the human angrily storms towards her.*

Human:* Angry* I don’t know what kind of parties you ran with in the past, but we don’t just run off, leaving everyone else to take care of the enemy at hand.

*The gnome tries to grab onto the human's leg.*

Gnome: Larz, I’m sure Emma had a good reason for it.

*But he just gets knocked over, Larz stops and turns to help him.

Larz: Sorry. Sam. I'm just getting fed up with her. Why do we have to work with someone so...

*Larz's face turns red with anger.*

Larz: UNCOOPERATIVE!!!

*The Kiwikin hops up and down between Emma and Larz, his hands visibly shaking.*

Kiwi: I saw her run off after a light.

*Larz Looks at the Kiwikin, his eye twitches.*

Emma: I don’t need to explain myself to you. I only joined this party so Andrew would keep his promise.

Larz: I think you do! What was so important you needed to run off to?!

*The Demon shakes his head and walks over to the two yelling.*

Demon: Enough!

*His loud booming voice echoes through the Underground.*

Demon: Lay off her Larz. She’s been down here for years. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.

Larz: Shut it Kragorn! You and Tina keep defending her! Yet she doesn’t bother explaining herself!

Emma: Because you won’t believe me anyway! You fat-headed *Dwarvish* dumbass of a man. Learn your place before you speak.

*Sam laughs and Emma turns to him in confusion.*

Emma: Wait you didn’t understand that. Did you Sam? *Smiles*

Sam: *Laughs* Oh yeah.

*Larsz turns to Sam then the elves.*

Larz: What did she just call me? A fat-headed what?

*Both elves shrug*

Emma: It’s dwarvish. I’d be surprised if anyone here besides Sam would know it.

Sam: We lived near the border growing up. So I mostly just understand insults.

*Larz steps towards Emma and she glares at him, he pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath before turning around.*

Larz: Whatever. Let’s set up camp and rest.

*The orange-eyed elf walks over to Emma.*

Emma: Before you ask me, Max. I don’t trust him.

Max: I know, but we’ve been a party for years. Larz is just worried. He doesn’t want anyone to get hurt.

Emma: I can’t explain myself for my own safety. I told him that and he doesn’t care.

Max: Do you blame him? We were told we had to bring you with us and you keep running off.

Emma: at first no. But now. It’s been like this for a month now. And I always come back with only minor injuries.

Max: maybe try bringing your spirit around. It makes you seem more distant when you wall us all out the way you do.

Emma: I can’t. And I can’t explain why. Not until I know I can trust everyone here.

Max: Then you can't complain if he gets mad.

Emma: If you knew you'd understand. There are reasons I've lived down here.

*Max raises his eyebrows as the green-eyed elf jogs over.*

Green: She doesn’t have, like, scales or anything does she?

Max: Raffael, she has green eyes like you what are you going on about?

Raffael: It’s mostly a joke. My mom used to tell us a story about these evil elves who had spirits with scales. But were born under a moon other than the purple moon.

Max: So did mine. *Pause* But the seers don't exist.

Emma: And if that was the case. I hear those elves are extremely strong. I doubt the whole party would come out alive if that were the case.

Max: What’re you talking about? You’re probably worthy of ‘S’ rank right now. I don’t know any elves who can live down here on their own.

Raffael: If you were one of those elves we probably wouldn’t stand a chance.

Emma: Then I could’ve traveled on my own without any disturbances.

Emma thinking: I mean I also promised her I'd wait for the Devil.

*The Kragorn steps behind Emma and peels a piece of slag from her shoulder.*

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Kragorn: Why is there slag on you?

Emma: There’s what?

*Emma uses telekinesis to swipe the slag from his hand as she turns to look at Kragorn.*

Kragorn: Oh I dropped it. It was a piece of slag or something on your shoulder.

Emma:*Smiles* It could be from anywhere down here. Slagmor travel through here sometimes. And leave flakes around.

*As Sam cooks, Emma stares at the Kiwikin, while they write down in a book.*

Kiwikin:*Turns to Emma.* You okay Emma?

Emma: Yeah, just realized you and Sam are the same height.

Sam: *Scoffs* I’m at least a full inch taller than Pipiri.

Pipiri:*Irritated* Only with that cowlick of yours. If we cut it off I’m taller than you.

*The two start to argue and Max walks over and stands next to Emma.*

Max: You brought up their height didn’t you?

Sam: *Angry* If you were any shorter, they'd classify you as a pixie!

Emma: Sorry. I didn’t know it was going to start a fight. I still think Pipiri is cute no matter how tall she gets.*Smiles*

*Pipiri pauses and her cheeks turn a bright red and she goes back to writing in her book*

Max: *nods* Good to know.

Emma: What?

Max: Well, when they fought at the guild, it went on until they eventually got tired and fell asleep. And now we know complementing Pipiri also stops them.

Emma: It’s true though. I think all Beastkin are cute. I loved Levi’s fluffy ears.*Smiles*

*Pipiri wiggles in her seat upon hearing Emma again.*

Max: Levi?

Emma: The beastkin shaman in our party when I traveled.

Max: Oh, that’s right. You said you had a party until recently.

Emma: Yeah. the leader retired after his pilgrimage. We all went our separate ways.

Max: Yeah, I told myself I wouldn’t travel with humans anymore. I got tired of our party changing so often because they age so quickly. *Sigh* But Larz isn’t a bad guy. He’s just overly protective. Of everyone. He's the only human that stood up for us in Voloria.

Emma: I only agreed to join because the king asked and my sister's boyfriend made me.

Max: Yeah, when royalty asks of something, you never have a choice. *Laughs*

Raffael: Like the queen. *Shivers* She asked us to join the party. After she listed off everything she could pin on us.

Emma: Pin on you? What have you done?

Raffael: That's a story for another time. I had a rough childhood.

Emma:Yeah, Seraphina isn't one to come to a table empty handed.

Max: You just called the queen by her first name?

Emma: Yeah, Ariella the princess who revoked her title. She was a part of my party.

Max: Wait you were a part of Ruddy's Vanguard?!

Emma: Yeah? Arie and I still write. Well, it has been a few years since I’ve been busy.

Raffael: We heard from your sister about your travels whenever she got a letter she told the whole guild about it.

Emma: *Embarrassed* I’m going to kill her when I get back.

*Pipiri gets excited and runs over to Emma.*

Pipiri: Can we meet Lily?

Emma: I can go get her. But she’s not always friendly around new faces. so it might take a moment.

*Pipiri jumps up and down in excitement.*

Pipiri: Yay!

*Emma walks away from the party and dresses Lily in her armor, to hide her scales.*

Emma(TL): Just act cautious.

Lily: Why can’t I just look like you?

Emma(TL): *smiles and laughs* Because they want to meet you for you. But your armor was designed with your scales in mind. It hides them completly.

Lily: Does this mean I can get something to eat as well?

Emma(TL): If you’ll cooperate, then yes. Later though.

*Lily smiles and wags her tail.*

*As they both return to the party Lily acts hesitant, hiding behind Emma. Pipiri runs over and reaches out to her, but Lily jumps back and hisses a little.*

Pipiri: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.

*Larz walks over and sits down after taking off his heavy armor.*

Emma: Does Keya really read off my letters to the guild?

Larz: No. Pipiri, Max, and Raffael found one of the letters left on a table at the guild. They enjoyed hearing about your adventure so much they begged her to let them read more afterward. Pipiri doesn't get to go on many adventures on this level. Honestly, I still think it was a bad idea.

Emma: *Angry* That doesn’t make me feel better. I really need to have a word with Keya when I get back.

*Larz laughs*

Emma: What?

Larz: You sounded like her mom.

Emma: Well I am a mom.

*Everyone looks at Emma in shock.*

Emma: All you guys can stand there and say you’ve never had a one-night stand?

*Everyone immediately looks at Max*

Max: Why look at me?!

Raffael: Because you have a book for every town you’ve slept with someone.

Emma: Gross. My point exactly.

*Max sits quietly in shame and everyone laughs.*

Emma: So I’m confused. Were you all a party before this?

Raffael: Larz, Max, and myself are the party, Thornstump.

Pipiri: Sam and I have worked a lot together but we both don’t belong to a party. I’m just here to record monsters. While Sam cooks.

Emma: And you Kragorn?

Kragorn: I was brought on from Inferna.

Emma: Oh did you go to the Festival of Drakthar?

Kragorn: Yeah, I helped on the build committee.

Emma: We helped too! It was so much fun.

Kragorn: *Smiles* Yeah, I had way too much to drink the first night.*Laughs*

Emma: I even got to spend most of it with my daughter.

Pipiri: Yeah! You’re a mom?

Emma: Yeah. *Smiles* She’s living in Lycaris.

Max: So who’s the dad?

Emma: He’s no longer around. Died in the war over in Valoria. I adopted her.

Raffael: So she’s not your blood child?

Emma: No, I’m not sure I ever want kids of my own.

Kragorn: I have two boys.

Pipiri: Most beastkin my size don’t have kids because they come out almost the size of us.

Emma: Ouch.

Pipiri: Lucky for my mom, she was the bigger one of my parents.

Emma: I bet you save a lot of money though.

Sam: If she didn’t waste it on all those random trinkets.

Pipiri: They are souvenirs. Like how you waste your money on fancy plates that you refuse to use.

Emma:*Whispers to Raffael* Do I sense a relationship gone bad with these two?

Raffael: *Whispers* We don’t know. Neither of them will confirm or deny if they dated before.

Kragorn:*Whispers* There is a betting pool at a couple of different guilds they both regular on if they did.

Emma: *Whispers* It would explain the hostility.

*After everyone finishes eating they sit around the fire telling stories of how they reached ‘A’ rank.*

Pipiri: Like Sam, I’m only ’C’ rank. So I don’t have a story. What about you Emma?

Emma: We went into the Ice Bowl dungeon. I still have nightmares of that slime boss.

*Flashback to Emma and her party in the Ice Bowl*

*Ruddy places his torch in a trough of oil and it follows the wall of the room, lighting the room to reveal a giant slime. As the gelatinous blob, slimes its way toward the party, Ariella fires an arrow. The arrow stops in the slime and it begins to harden slightly, allowing it to move faster. Emma throws one of her knives towards the slime but it dissolves before it can reach it.*

Ruddy: It dissolves metals!

Emma: *Sarcasm* Thanks.

Falicia: Is it me or is freezing it making it move faster?

*As Ariella strikes the slime with a fifth arrow, the slime quickly slides over to her and grabs a hold of her. Ruddy stabs the slime with his torch, causing it to liquefy. Ariella attempts to hold her armor together but as the metal pieces melt, the armor falls from her. Ariella runs around a broken pillar, screaming. Falicia smacks Ruddy in an attempt to avert his gaze but disrupts him as he attempts to cast a spell causing him to blind the party. Emma uses her sense spell to find Ariella and gives her a cloak to cover herself.*

Ruddy: Why did you smack me?!

Falicia: So you wouldn’t look at Ariella!

Ruddy: Why would I be looking at her?! The slime let her go!

Falicia: Well I’m sorry, I wanted to protect my friend! *Laughs*

*Emma stands up and watches the slime inching towards Ruddy and Falicia.*

Emma: Will you two quit fighting and move before Ruddy loses his pants too?! It’s moving towards you from your left, it’s slowed down so just move while I help Ariella.

*Emma helps Ariella into a spare set of armor while Ruddy and Falicia clumsily crawl away from the slime until they’re no longer blinded.*

Ruddy: I was aiming for a holy smite, not a holy light. But you smacked me and blinded us both. Lucky for us, Emma can sense the slime and direct us.

Emma: Let’s just take a moment and agree. We never talk about this again.

Ariella: And if we do. Ruddy gets slapped again.

Falicia: Deal.

Ruddy: Why am I being made the villain here?

Emma: Because you said you didn’t want to read the book on the bosses anymore because. “ It’s not as exciting.” If Falicia weren’t so handy we’d have to quit because Ariella’s backup armor won’t last the rest of the dungeon.

Ruddy: Okay. Point taken.

*End of flashback*

Emma: After we rested we went back and managed to heat the room with fire. The slime got too weak to support itself and I used my knives to attack its core from afar. We managed to finish the entire dungeon just shy of a year.

Pipiri: I helped write the book for the Ice Bowl. I didn’t know that slime had such a weakness. I’ll have to update it.

Larz: If you give them too much information then even lower-ranked parties might attempt and if they succeed might take a quest that would be otherwise to difficult for them.

Emma: I thought it was perfect the way it was. It gave us an edge but didn’t ruin the entire, dungeon. The Hydra fight was a little disappointing.

Pipiri: But I told you how to beat it in under a minute.

Emma: Yeah, it felt like a ‘C’ rank fight at best. It’s a great book but maybe leave the dungeon guide alone. *Smiles*

*Pipiri looks down in sadness*

Pipiri: Oh.

Sam: that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate it.

Emma: *Waves hands* That’s not what I meant at all. I thought it was amazing to read. The detail and everything was great. It was just too good for a dungeon.

Sam: Exactly. You’re too good at what you do. You gotta dumb it down for the rest of us. *Smiles*

*Pipiri cheers up and goes back to petting Lily.*