“Stop laughing, it’s really- It’s not even that funny.” Kya said, though she couldn’t hold back a self-deprecating laugh.
Wade was coming up on the ninety second mark of raucous laughter. The normally reserved giantess of a woman had taken several silent seconds to process Kya’s confession that the dirt still clinging to her cloak and scuffs on her face were the results of being tagged for the game they had mocked days before and… well, she still hadn’t stopped laughing.
Alder, who’d been laughing himself, came over and put a commiserating hand on her shoulder, then said while trying his utmost to keep a straight face and in the tone of a parent consoling a child “Yah know Kya, it’s okay. I was tagged, you watched me tag Rory. It happens to the best of us. What matters is-” and here a glint came into his eye “did you get the guy’s name?”
Wade slapped his back, laughing so hard she’d gone silent.
Fearing to ask, but feeling that she must, Kya said “Why… would I have needed his name?”
“Well, it’s awfully hard to find a man without knowing his name… wink wink, wink w-ugh” he finished with a grunt as Wade stopped slapping his back and instead punched him in the stomach… before both started laughing again.
Finally coming up for air as though she’d been underwater, Wade said through gasps “Oh, gods above and below, I can’t believe you actually signed up for the league. You must be nearly in last place after having signed up so late. Still, you should have accumulated a couple of points on the last day, or else that guy wouldn’t have targeted you. Any idea who you’re going to go after?”
Feeling once again like she really should know this but was, regardless, being forced to ask, Kya said “How do points, uh… work? Can I see how many I have? Can I see how many others have?I know some of the basic rules of the game, but I wasn’t exactly in the mood to ask questions before with the games master.”
A hard look of understanding coming over her face, replacing the merriment that had been there a moment before, Wade asked “Oh, that pompous ass who likes to fuck with your emotions? Yeah, I don’t blame you.” Taking a deep breath, trying to hold on to some of the levity from earlier, she said “Alright, so basically-”
“It’s crazy simple.” Alder cut in “Every six hours you go without being tagged, you get points, and every hour you go while tagged, you lose points. There are some more nuances and whatnot, but that’s really all there is to it!” He finished with a beaming smile, just before being smacked on the back of the head by Wade.
“Ow! Why’d you-” Alder began in mock annoyance, before smirking and falling quiet at Wades roll of the eyes.
“Though that is the basic principle, there is more to it, obviously” throwing a look at Alder. “The points double for the first several intervals, before going to a flat thousand. Likewise, you’ll lose points you’ve collected at every interval while you’re tagged. Once you tag someone, you get half of the points they had, or a set sixty-four if they had less than that, making it worth your while to tag someone higher up in the rankings. But you can also go for someone who’s far beneath you if you’re just in a hurry to get the tag off your back.” She finished with a shrug “Depends on your priorities really.”
Kya nodded along as she listened, confirming what she’d more or less suspected as there are only so many rules you can apply to a game of tag. More than that, though, this was all the information she needed that her new quest hadn’t deigned important enough to include.
It had triggered the moment the shadowed archer had tagged her, but she’d been too absorbed in the moment and trying to fight back against the archer even as he turned and walked away whistling a merry tune. She had been in the middle of reading over it when Alder and Wade came up to her, and now she looked at it once more with greater clarity.
- - - - -
New Quest!
No Tag Backs: Having accepted a place in the Loterran 1-Star Ultimate Evasion League, you have somehow failed to grasp the concept of evasion. You must now find another target aside from the one who targeted you, or risk losing the competition entirely. Take note that the greater the risk, the greater the reward.
- Objective: Tag another 1-Star member of the evasion league.
- Time Remaining: 12d:13h:12m:38s:
- Reward: Rewards contingent on manner of quest completion.
- - - - -
She noticed something interesting that might give her a bit of a leg up in the competition, though she wasn’t sure discussing it would lead to any positive outcomes. When she dismissed the window and focused on where to find someone to tag, she got the same vague sense of direction she’d felt from her quest on the farm. It wasn’t exact by any means, but it did give her several dozen potential leads to chase for a target. A sly grin spread across her face as she realized she might just have a chance at winning big.
Alder had been talking while she was reading and focusing, some story about how he’d been tagged last year, just missing out on the championships. An additional thing Kya noticed now for the first time, that although she hadn’t really been paying attention to the story, she could still more or less remember what he’d said and was even able to respond “Wait, he was able to lift you into the air to tag you? Is that where you got the idea for trapping Rory in the ground?”
“Yes! My gods was that funny, the looks on-”
Kya had never been the best multitasker, but as with the experience when she’d run for the first time after gaining her class and felt an overwhelming sense of freedom and power, she was realizing that her mental capacities had increased as well.
“I don’t mean to cut you off” said Kya, very much cutting off Alder, “But I was just on my way to the guild library, I have some reading to do. Are you heading that way as well?”
All around them, lanterns, glowstones, and candles had come alive, bringing a warm golden glow to the city. Alder’s eyes took on a sharp look when she mentioned the guild, and though Wade opened her mouth to say something, he cut her off saying “Yes, actually, that would be great. We were going to pick up a 2-Star quest, but I have a proposition for you instead, let me tell you about it while we walk.”
~ ~ ~
“So let me get this straight,” said the increasingly exasperated guild clerk in the contract hall “You’re a team of three, and despite the two 2-Star veterans behind you, you’re the leader. You’ve been a guild member for what, a couple weeks?”
Wade stood like a looming mountain behind them, wearing an expression of reluctance as Alder spoke up with what he had called his haughtiest voice that made Kya struggle to keep a straight face “Yes, well, the family wanted the young mistress here to get some experience in a leadership role. Despite her being new to all this, she does have an immense amount of power for one so young. Regardless, it would uh…”
Alder waved his hand, looking for the right word.
“Behoove?” suggested Kya, mentally cringing at herself.
Smiling widely, and then inclining his head, Alder continued “Thank you ma’am, it would behoove you to make too many waves here over something so minor. Teams take multiple contracts all time. The 2-Star quest for us to complete while we’re out, but the others are simply for her to gain experience.”
The attendant frowned deeply, clearly still unhappy with the whole situation, but after looking over the group once more, his gaze lingering on the grumpy looking cliff that was Wade, he finally just let out a sigh and said “Fine. Fine. You can have the 2-Star quest, and two 1-Star quests. If you complete those, then we’ll see about more. This is already a compromise, so I’m not budging from here.”
Alder cast a dramatic look towards Kya, and when she didn’t say anything, he turned back and said “It seems the young madam takes no issue with this. We’ll register for the 2-Star back there with the Fell Serpent, and then two others we’ve already picked out in the same area.” Then in a less bombastic and more subdued tone, stated “Should be gone to the western hills along the Korilus river for about a week depending on the difficulty, but it’ll be a couple days before we head out as the young lady is waiting on some equipment from a smith. We’ll send back word if we’re delayed, and if you don’t hear from us within that time at all, check the papers for our stars. As long as they're still there, we’re still working. If you don’t hear from us in two-and-a-half weeks though, send a scout to investigate.”
The clerk sighed before nodding, seeming much more at ease in familiar territory “Standard contract terms then. Be sure to file a complete report of the monsters you encounter, along with any civilian interactions or damaged property. Will you be requesting minimum compensation?”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“No, but we will be requesting the hazard pay for taking on the serpent.”
The clerk scribbled down some notes on the contract, then slid it to Kya. “Look that over, make sure everything’s in order and then seal it with your star. As for the other two, take your pick and simply seal them on your way out.”
Picking up the paper, Kya got a somewhat familiar, though altered prompt to one she’d read much earlier. Kya couldn’t hold back a sigh, as her enthusiastic narrator spoke in a voice like an edgy Optimus-Prime.
- - - - -
- NEW QUEST!
- Guild Contract - Fell Serpent in the Korilus River - 2-Star - Uncommon
- There have been several reports of a Fell class serpent sporadically attacking ships and even a small village along the Korilus River. Though the claims have gone uncorroborated, even the whispers of a Fell Monster in the area are worth investigation. Seriously, good luck with this one.
- Objective - Slay the Fell Serpent roaming the waters of the Korilus River.
- Time Remaining - N/A
- Guild Rewards - Depending on the verifiable hazards faced on the contract, rewards will range from nothing up to a maximum of two auren per team member (three members), a 2-Star mana crystal each, and selection of one 2-Star item from the guild armory.
- Quest Rewards - Sigil of Serpents, Reptiles, and Amphibians - 2-Star - Rare
- Accept Guild Contract? (Yes)/(No)
- - - - -
Looking over at Wade, who’d been reading it over her shoulder, Kya finally accepted the quest after getting her nod of approval that everything checked out. The back of Kya’s left hand itched slightly as her star emblem appeared at the bottom of the contract.
Sliding the paper back to the clerk, he didn’t even give it a second glance before placing it in one of his desk drawers, then gave them a haggard smile and asked “Will you need anything else from me?”
“I think that’s about everything!” Alder called from where he was browsing the 1-Star contracts posted all around the massive hall. “Thanks for your help!”
Just then, another group of users came into the hall, three elves and a human. The two male elves had slender swords strapped to their backs, while the female elf had an elegant white bow. The last one, a greasy looking human man, had either some heavy armor or about six winter coats and was covered in beads of sweat. The other group sized them up briefly, and Kya felt a tingle on the back of her neck, before the eyes of the female elf went wide. The group made their way up the center of the golden carpet towards the counter speaking in soft voices as Kya and Wade walked past them towards Alder. As she was getting into the habit of doing, Kya identified the female elf.
- - - - -
Veridia Alson
Class - Sand Storm - 1-Star
- - - - -
As soon as the small window popped up in front of Kya for her to read, the elf's head whipped around, and her pale golden eyes locked with Kya’s. For the first time, Kya realized that others might have the ability to tell if she identified them and wasn’t sure of the implications of that. After the elf just narrowed her eyes and turned away however, Kya just mentally shrugged, but taking note of both the elf and what she’d learned from the interaction.
“Here,” Alder said when the two were next to him again “these two are in the same area as the serpent quest, so we can knock them out. They aren’t the toughest monsters, but you could definitely use the experience based on what we’ve seen.” He still wore what Kya was coming to think of as his characteristic half smile, but his voice had taken on a slightly more serious tone. “Seal your star, then let's get out of here before that elf you annoyed causes us any headaches.”
A few minutes later, the three stood next to one of the large fountains in the stone circle outside the guild hall. In the late hour, there were still a few people going about their business, but the simple fact that there weren’t many people around leant the area a sort of serene ambiance that Kya found quite soothing. The glowstones inside the fountain and candles floating around in the sky all made for a peaceful atmosphere.
Alder, who’d held off until they were outside, continued “I can tell you’ve had some training back when you were a zero. And that’s good, I mean, it’s better than nothing. But it’s also clear that it was just that: training for a zero. I mean…” He scratched the back of his head and turned to Wade “You can speak to this a fair bit more than I can, but from what I’ve seen, it’s an almost entirely unincorporated fighting style.”
Wade, who hadn’t spoken much at all since they’d come up with their plan to get the quests, nodded and finally spoke up “No, I agree.” Then turned her blood red eyes to Kya and said “You are quick to adapt, and somewhat creative in how you apply your abilities. That’s good. And in a minor city like this, that might, might let you skate by. But the path of power is not one so simple that you can just make it up as you go. We-” she gestured both to herself and Alder “Went through several months of Loterran training to make sure we were at least competent. Before that, I went through two months of training entirely with the Church of War to lay down a foundation for fighting and rising through the ranks. If we’re going to go through with this inane plan to earn money while on punishment detail, which I’m still not entirely sold on by the way, then the least we can do is help you out a little bit.”
Kya rubbed her jaw lightly, before asking “So you’re going to help train me while we travel? I can understand that I might need some refreshers, it has been a while since I was taught the basics but is it really that bad?”
Wade looked at Alder, who just grinned back at her, and nodded with a thumbs up. “Try and hit me,” she said simply. “You can use any abilities, weapons, tools, whatever you want. Go ahead.”
Kya laughed, before she asked “Are you serious?”
“Absolutely, go ahead, give it a try. I won’t use my abilities at all, just try and hit me.”
“... alright then.”
Alder jumped up and squatted on the wall of the fountain, eyes as wide as the moons overhead. “Ready… fight!”
Kya leaped forwards, and threw a simple jab at Wade. The woman was built like a mountain, even though she knew there was no way she’d be able to take her in a fight as she was a fully fledged 2-Star user, Kya still felt confident about at least landing a blow. But it was as if she’d been attacking a ghost or an after image. One second Wade was standing in front of her, both arms clasped behind her back, the next her fist passed through open air as a knee sank into her ribs.
Coughing and gasping for air, looked up from her hands and knees at the towering woman who simply looked down at her. “Too slow. Too obvious. Too easy.”
Activating her slow fall ability, Kya shot to her feet faster than the crack of a whip, and then deactivating it to give herself weight, she attempted a swift uppercut to-
Her legs were swept out from under her, and she was on the ground before she even realized what was happening.
“Faster, but still too obvious.”
Letting out a growl of frustration, Kya once more activated her slow fall, but this time launched herself up above Wade’s head, her foot cleaving down like a guillotine aimed right at the crook between neck and shoulder. Only because she’d been looking for it, she was able to blast away Wade’s arm with her push-and-pull ability just as she was about to catch her kick, but the moment of triumph she’d been about to revel in was torn away as Wade moved with her blast of force, spinning slightly to not only dodge her kick by a fraction of an inch, but also bring her other arm around in a left hook and slam Kya away with the force of a truck.
“This is my point.” Wade said after she helped Kya to her feet. “You do well against beasts that can’t plan, reason, or adapt well to your abilities. But that’s not remotely viable in the long term. For the next couple of weeks, in exchange for us getting to go on actual contracts again, we’re going to whip you into shape as much as we can. That way you won’t be torn apart when you go to the Academy for the next term and can actually make it to the 2-Star level and beyond.”
Alder sauntered over, both hands behind his head like he was reclined in a hammock. “That went exactly as well as I thought it would- Ow!” he finished with a yelp as Wade punched him on the shoulder, causing him to stumble back and look hurt.
“Like you would have done better after only a couple weeks with your abilities.” Wade said, before turning back to Kya. “Let’s call it a night here. Tomorrow your training begins in earnest. Meet us back here at Blues first light. Once your daggers are ready from the smith, we’ll head out on our quest. Good?”
Kya had been silent since Wade helped her to her feet. She had been aware that there was a definite need for improvement, and knew that Wade was more powerful than her without a doubt, but still…
She nodded sharply. Eyes full of fire as she looked at the other two. “Alright. Thank you, both of you. Any guidance you can give will be excellent, and I’ll be beyond grateful for it. I know there’s a lot I don’t know, and a lot I need to improve, but this is something I more than understand. This is something I can do.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wade and Alder stood together, watching the retreating back of Kya as she made her way to the room she’d rented out further into the city.
After a moment, Alder said “Are we… doing the right thing Wade? I know we met her before she got to her class, and I know most of that propaganda is bullshit, but… helping a spatial user get more powerful? Beyond that, there’s the whole founder thing, which I still don’t even fully understand. It just seems like the more we associate with her, the more trouble we’re asking for. I like her, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her but… still.”
Wade sat down on the stone rim of the fountain, Alder taking a second before sitting down next to her. She undid her tightly bound hair and idly played with the strands while looking up at the sky. “I- I don’t know. I truly don’t know, Alder.” She let out a long sigh, and then looked at him “If my aunt found out I was working with a spatial user, she’d probably have me put in chains. Hell, she’d probably close the manacles herself.” She said the last part with a humorless laugh.
Alder smiled “My grandfather and father both would do the same. My great-grandfather died in the war, you know.”
They both kept their own thoughts for a while longer, before Wade finally looked up and said “Tomorrow, after we’ve gotten a few hours training in, I’m going to have her fully explain everything to us. That whole thing with the ritual on the farm, how she got her class, what makes her a founder, all of it. Because, yeah, I don’t fully understand it either. But we need answers. There’s a storm brewing, and I won’t be caught off guard. But if we don’t know how to prepare, how can we prepare?”
Alder nodded slowly “Yeah… yeah alright.” Then he stood and stretched before grinning over at her lazily “Out of curiosity… Can I try and land a hit?”
Wade grinned back, standing as well “You can try.”