[Three pairs of footsteps now, echoing… echoing, ruminating the hallways of this palace.]
Greenwood: Stop.
Seller: Hm? [He turns to check if Cleau has caught up as well.]
Greenwood: There’s no more left to go. That’s it, the compass guided me here.
Cleau: But- how curious…
Seller: We’re still in the middle of nowhere, nothing has changed. Technically. [Seller looks at one of the many bland walls in the hallway they’re currently standing in, placing his hand on it.]
Seller: This. It’s emitting an ominous feeling to me, we’re doing something that feels so familiar, convinced that the countless walls will protect our backs as we twist and turn to navigate our way around.
Cleau: So like a very patient surprise attack from an enemy… we’ll tire ourselves out! Well then, why wait? [Cleau rushes forward, forcing Seller’s hand out of the way, summoning her Plate.]
Greenwood: Cleau, wait!
[Another chromatic flash of light appears, and then - CRUSH!] [They all slowly walk up towards the hole in the wall that was once not there, processing what just happened.]
Cleau: Ehh?!
Greenwood: Wh- Huh?
[As they peek inwards, they find a little odd creature staring back at them. Perhaps it isn’t so little, though, as it is built like a biological weapon with the teeth it possesses.]
Seller: That’s a Dragoon. [Seller instinctively turns to run away, but immediately stops upon realizing Greenwood has already been pulled into the wall.]
Seller: [sigh] After him we go, be on your guard.
Cleau: Got it.
[They jump in to follow, trailing dark stain marks left on the ground to find Greenwood.]
Cleau: By the way, do you know anything about that… thing? You identified it quickly. And he didn’t even have time to alert us when he got pulled away. It all happened so fast.
Seller: Ah, yes. I have heard stories of it, of him. Even in the vast open deserts, fellow wanderers had to worry about such a thing approaching them during their travels. First, you think you’re on your guard. Then, next thing you know, you’ve been eviscerated and swallowed. Of course folk tales created as a warning about this creature are much more effective on the young. Because of its size, just one bite from it would-
Cleau: Ahh I don’t think I’d like to hear more about that before facing it head on…
Seller: My apologies. Anyway, I knew there was some truth to these stories, so I always stored that information in my memory. If it’s all true, what you saw earlier was not just an individual creature, but more like a pet being controlled by someone. Someone very feared where I’m from, a legend at least.
Cleau: However strong he may be, he’s no match against the three of us in a fair fight! That is, if we can find Greenwood…
Seller: He’s been foretold to overpower opponents in unlikely scenarios, but I like your optimism.
[Cleau notices something in the distance, squinting her eyes through her round-shaped glasses.]
Cleau: Greenwood’s hat! GREENWOOD! [She shouts.]
Seller: I’d uh keep it down a notch, I’m not sure what senses they use to locate us.
[A faint voice is heard in the distance, slightly muffled as if in another room.]
Greenwood: I’m over here, I’m fine, just be careful.
[Cleau and Seller turn the corner at nearly the same time.]
Cleau: That is not fine! You’re bleeding everywhere, here, I’ll heal you.
Seller: Well I’ll be damned, if that’s fine to you… What a resilient guy you are, enjoy having your odd hat back. [Seller hands him his hat, picked up moments ago on the way to the room.]
Greenwood: Ah, thank you. [He puts it back on hastily, seating it snuggly onto his head.]
Greenwood: I didn’t know you could heal, with all that wall breaking earlier it’s almost the opposite of what I expected of you.
Cleau: Hah, yeah, it’s a complicated story. Figuring both out is quite essential to having a varied skillset, or so I’ve been told. So here I am! Try not to talk too much, though, it’s important to focus on recovery.
Seller: I have seen many injuries, that is not a pleasant one to add in my memories. Even so, I’ve never seen you down from a wound Greenwood. Can you tell us a bit about what happened?
Greenwood: Well, you see, I found the exit. The compass guided me. I was thinking we get out of here, call for help in the village and rescue the others with more assistance. That thing was pretty rough.
Seller: Logical.
Cleau: Healing’s done!
Greenwood: Thanks miss. Ah, I was thinking, why don’t you two just call me Oliver? I thought it’d be nice to know each other more when we leave.
Seller: I see. Alright, Cleau, let’s go.
Cleau: Righto!
[Seller and Cleau begin to take steps towards the supposed exit, as Greenwood makes his way on his feet after being healed.]
Seller: Say, Gre- err, Oliver… Does this mean you owe us drinks?
Greenwood: What?
[Seller sighs… there’s an unnerving pause.] … [Greenwood charges at Seller.]
Cleau: Mister!
[Seller quickly turns, and as if predicted from the start, punches Greenwood square in the face.]
Greenwood?: Ow, ow, ow! [His voice becomes more distorted with each cry, and his appearance is almost melting, in an unnatural way.]
Seller: A few mistakes too many, don’t you think?
Cleau: Quite a lot, from what I was able to see.
???: Haha, I’m curious now. [The new man beneath Greenwood’s face emerges.]
???: How were you able to tell so accurately? You didn’t hesitate to punch your friend there!
Seller: I wanted to be really certain, though I’m sure Cal wouldn’t have let it go on for that long. Firstly, Greenwood is a survivalist, calling out his position would’ve been the last thing he’d do in a dangerous situation like this. Besides, adrenaline wouldn’t let that guy catch a break anyway. [Seller scoffs]
Cleau: Not only that! You wrote me off as the aggressive type from being able to produce some destruction, but it was more than that. You were really just trying to learn more about how my Plate ability works, weren’t you? So I guess you got the curiosity part down, but you didn’t express it right. You really mocked an offer for help while in critical condition, seriously, what were you thinking?
Seller: Hm, good catch. But you know, the most obvious reason was the piss-poor way you wore his hat, his hat has always been too small for his head, but fit you perfectly.
???: Okay, now you’re just mocking me, that was a perfect impersonation and you know it. Being rude won’t make me feel worse about it.
Seller: Who are you to speak of rudeness? Do you even know morals? Manners? You called Cal “the others”, there’s no one left to find besides him, and Greenwood wouldn’t refer to him as some random outside. Let alone leave him behind selfishly to secure his own safety. And to forget the bet we just made earlier, that was what decided it for sure.
???: To be honest, it was fun just to see how long it’d last until one of you noticed.
Seller: Since we walked in the room, really. Done asking questions?
???: Yup! You can call me Astra. No my last name isn’t Logy, I’m good with names, thank you for asking.
Seller: Ready to take position, Cleau?
Cleau: Yeah!
Astra: Hey, at least let me finish changing.
Seller: 10 seconds. Meanwhile, I’d like to ask you more about that Dragoon. How were you able t-
[Astra immediately transforms into his original self, pulling out a dagger from his back pocket.]
Astra: Too slow.
[Astra ducks and aims for Seller’s legs, slicing them both cleanly below the knee.]
Seller: You-
Astra: Yes, arrogant mocker?
Seller: You’re not him…
[Astra looks befuzzled.] Astra: Him? Who could this fool be referring to? I am me, I can be anyone I’d like to be!
Cleau: Seller! [She shouts, witnessing Seller, an experienced fighter and tactician collapse to the ground, rapidly losing vitals.]
Astra: Oh shut it, it’s not like you’ve known each other for more than five minutes.
Cleau: If you know us so well then you’d call me by my name and not “miss.” Bring it! Pathetic loser, incapable of fighting fairly. Stalker.
Astra: Ooh! [He makes a taunting spooky sound] Relax, it’s not even me who’s interested in you. It’s orders. You being at full destructive powers AND enraged is a little intimidating though, I must say. I’ll have to weaken you a bit more than expected.
Cleau: Not like you could’ve ended up convincing me regardless.
Astra: Heh, let us see how experienced you really are, Miss Cleau.
{END OF SECTION} | Next Page >>