Private Pormont Wolven Graveyard

[Ilya]

Becoming a part of the Adventurer's guild was rather an easy task, all one had to do was sign a paper, receive a stamp and get a little tag that told one what their rank was. Ilya's was held close to her body underneath the cloth that could have only been described as half of a tunic. It almost as if she were ashamed to only be of Copper tier. Her first task that she had accepted from the guild had lead her to a rather cheery location. The subtle wind being the culprit behind each strand of golden wheat swaying, as if they were whispering words to each other. Ilya stood directly in the middle of the path; if she stood too close to the left or right she would blend in, as if she were purposefully trying to use camouflage. This exact assignment, or quest she had been given was the reason that she was standing now alone, at the crossroad between two neighboring fields. The only thing Ilya could do to pass the time would be to complain and grumble to herself about the atrocious smell of manure rising into her nostrils with each breath she took.

There was obvious annoyance to each farmer that passed by Ilya, her tail flicking back and forth impatiently. The guild had given her a time and a meeting place for her quest saying that, 'Another adventurer will be joining you to increase your success on your first quest as a Copper rank. We don't want you dying on us.' Ilya scoffed to herself as she recalled the words. As if she couldn't handle a measly pack of wolves on her own.
The other thing that Ilya couldn't understand was why the meeting place couldn't have been easier to find. She herself had some difficulty finding the right crossroad, and as for why the meeting place wasn't Aleford or Saine Fells was beyond her. However, Ilya knew better than to argue. There was no point, The best way to gain more strength to surpass my prior friends. To surpass Zelrius, Hikoru, Claire, Mizuki all of the people I met before... I have to take on missions, gain experience wherever and whenever I can. I want to make them all proud of me.

And so, Ilya found herself waiting impatiently for her 'mysterious adventurer' who was late. A trait that Ilya typically possessed as she herself arrived quite a few minutes late as well, expecting her companion to be waiting for her. As she continued to wait, she began to fiddle. Her fingers finding their way to her hair, grasping a small strand she began to twirl it around. Ilya began to grow lost in thought as she reran the events of her return after many years. From finding out she had none of her previous skills to where she stood now.

 

[Zelrius]

Zelrius looked forward with a grimacing frown. This was certainly a crossroads of sorts, but it was more like a fork. The beaten, brown paths of dirt among the seemingly endless sea of yellowing wheat fields in the summer sun made three diverging paths. Not including the one he had just come from, following it from Eastern Brisshal to here. The sun high in the sky spoke of sometime around midday. Though, whether it was just before, or just after was difficult to tell entirely, unless he were to stand there and stare at the sun to see if it was still rising for the morning, or falling for the afternoon. No chance of that, he liked his vision to be unobscured by the blue and red spots of staring directly at the sun.

Either way, it meant that he was already late. Hopefully the other adventurer in question would be at whatever one of these changes in directions they were supposed to meet at. They really could have done better to describe exactly where the two of them were supposed to meet. Or just, let someone do something alone. Zelrius sighed as he walked at the thought. All of his Masteries had been drained for one reason or another. Starting back at square one, and leaving him as little more than a copper rank trying to claw his way back to the immense strength he wielded previously. And it was going slow. Already a few days in, and no amount of monsters were ever enough. His instincts were all wrong, his hits felt sloppy and uneven. Just like when he had first began nearly five years ago now.

The reminiscing ended there. Interrupted by the sight of someone standing in the road. If it wasn't for the fact that the adventurer was actively searching for anything to break up the monotony of the fields, he would have missed the golden ears and hair that stuck out among the swaying bushels of not-yet-dough. Standing in the center of some kind of intersection. His eyes closed for a moment, relieved that this might be it. And if it wasn't, he was going to give up here and go find something else to do. The man got closer, his relaxed, even brows furling, neck cocking to the side as the gears of his mind began to turn.

The person waiting on the crossroads looked.. familiar. More than familiar. He got closer, pushing his large black coat back to reveal the hilts of his matching starter weaponry attached to his sides. Letting the fabric flap with the breeze to announce his presence. "Ilya?" He asked outloud, closing the distance between them with a few more steps. The only doubt in his mind that was who he found was the astronomical chance of someone designing their character in the exact same way. But, there was no one else on earth who was weird like that.

"What are you doing out here?" There were a hundred other questions that came to his mind. That was the only one that made it out, the others simply drowning each other.

 

[Ilya]

It wasn't until an all too familiar voice interrupted her trail of thoughts that Ilya noticed the presence of another. Her eyes blinked quickly, worried that she might just be imagining things. It had been four years... Four long and draining years in the real world, filled with pursuing her career. The endless tours and singing had made her miss her friends and Terrasphere all that much more. Though they had still kept up with communication, Ilya couldn't remember much about the last time her and Zelrius had hung out it must have been over a year or two ago and in the game they hadn't been able to log in for four whole years. A wide grind instantly plastered her face, and the follow up question that Zelrius posed her went right over her head. Instead Ilya made her way over to Zelrius in a flash, her movements being quick and to the point without meaning them to be. She skidded to a halt right in front of him. If her reaction time had been a mere millisecond too late she would have rammed right into him and most likely toppled the both of them over. Ilya reached forward and without waiting to see if Zelrius would allow her to, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. With her face being buried in his chest due to her height, her voice came out muffled. "Zel, I've missed you so much!"

Taking a moment, Ilya relished in the feeling of hugging her old friend. It didn't bother her in the slightest that he might not feel the same joy in seeing an old friend. After a few moments of silence, the question that Zelrius had asked her finally processed in her mind. Ilya drew her head back just enough to talk properly, however not far back enough to let go of her friend. "I'm here on account of the Adventurer's Guild." Ilya figured he might have found it surprising as she used to be a proud member of the Lion's Pride. Though now it was called Lion's Limbs or Arms or something. Ilya had no idea what it had been changed to, only that she had decided to join the Adventurer's Guild this time around as she had next to no reputation and had to rebuild her skills and masteries. "It might be confusing, but i'm waiting for a "fellow adventurer" to beat up a few weak wolves." Ilya's smile faltered slightly when she realized that she would have to most likely leave Zelrius sooner rather than later to go with the adventurer she was waiting for. It was then that Ilya noticed the change in Zelrius. "What happened to you? Why are you wearing the bear minimum starting gear?" He was a complete novice? What the hell happened, surely he would have the same start I had? Ilya remembered logging in to find out all of her masteries had been removed and all of her gear was missing and instead replaced with mastery points and a decent amount of gold. Surely Zelrius would have enough gold to purchase or obtain better gear? He also appeared rather weak compared to how she knew him to be, four years prior.

 

[Zelrius]

He was grinning, unprepared for the way she'd flash across the dozen or so feet in between then right in front of his body, and then suddenly embrace. The impact of her suddenly pressing her face to his chest made his breath tighten. It was largely unexpected, and yet, wholesomely warm of her. Relief came as he returned it, arching his back forward slightly. There were a lot of reasons why Zelrius needed this hug right now, even though he'd certainly never ask for one. It was good to see that she hadn't changed a bit, always kind to her friends.

And it seemed that they were still friends, even though it had now been months since their last meeting. Hell, since their last text message even. There was a string of silence that followed, the two of them simply enjoying their friendly reunion.

The man couldn't contain the ensuing, twisting smile in amusement from what she had just explained what she was doing all the way out here. A quick turn of his neck would reveal that she was standing on an intersection of two roads, that formed an X or Cross from a certain angle. A literal crossroads, far to the East, just as the letter had explained. "I think that'd be me." He contained the laugh under his words, completely taken by surprise that out of all the people the Adventurer's Guild could have randomly paired together for this quest, it was the two of them. Though, coincidence was a debatable fact. If one thought about it, it actually was a more predictable string of events to lead the pair here then initially obvious. Two people, hungry to fight, and having just logged back in, join the guild to hone skills and gain rank, of course they'd take the same quest. Especially given Zelrius spends most of his time in this area of the world. Where they two had first met to begin with.

Now it was his turn to explain. His expression a bit more sheepish, breaking their mutual hold to take a step back, and pull on the fabric of the statless gear he was wearing. A cheap imitation of his fine clothing from before. "I am not exactly sure," He began trailing off. "All my masteries were gone when I got back on, and everything I had on me seemed to have disappeared or 'downgraded'." Drawing one of the swords at his side to show her. Nothing special about it, an average steel straight sword with no extra glitz or glamour. Unlike the sapphire-hilted, Damascus-rolled adornments he wielded previously. "Not for long though." Grounding himself to stop the oncoming melancholy. "Today, I am going to kill some wolves, and whatever else is in our path, and bump myself up slowly and surely. Soon enough, be back ahead of you." A declaration meant equally for himself, as a challenge to his long time friend.

 

[Ilya]

Feeling the sturdy arms of Zelrius as he wrapped his arms around her made Ilya happy to call him her friend. She truly missed being able to see him whenever she wanted, whether coincidental or planned. Life in the real world had gotten hectic and she could only feel bad for not checking up on him as much as she should have.

Once it had been made known to her that Zelrius' reason was the exact same as hers, her mouth fell to the floor... figuratively speaking. She was shocked, "What a great coincidence. I'm really glad, fate seems to still draw us together." She beamed brightly, "I still remember how we met, coincidence as well. Seems we were meant to become besties." She jokingly nudged him with her arm, as they had stopped hugging quite some time ago. Hearing what had happened to his masteries, Ilya couldn't contain the twinge of sadness for her friend. A frown lined her lips as she furrowed her brows. Her ears flicking in annoyance, "That's so fucked up, this world really screwed you over." She clenched her hands into fists, "I must say though, knowing you, you'll surpass me in no time."

Hopefully her joke had managed to bring a smile on Zelrius' face, "Yes! Let's kill those wolves!" She pumped her fist enthusiastically into the air, "I'll have you know it will be a great difficulty to get stronger than I am." Ilya puffed her cheeks, letting out a soft 'hmph' as she turned her cheek away from him in defiance. "I'll wear the crown this time, dummy."

Ilya grinned after her little performance, turning back to Zelrius, a serious expression plastered on her face, "So let's go over the details then, shall we?" Ilya shifted her feet slightly, "To go over things, it appears you still fight with swords. I'm still as hardheaded as ever and use my fists to beat up shit." She formed one of her hands into a fist, emphasizing her statement by punching the palm of her other hand which was open, making a slap. "From what I was told, we have to just beat up a gang of wolves that's been roughing up a few of the farmers here, they aren't sure if there's an Alpha Wolf or if it's just a gang of normal wolves, so they said to be cautious." Ilya's eyes flared, "Knowing us though, we would have no trouble even if there was an Alpha." Ilya's determination shown through her eyes, "Let's get going, shall we?" She then began to walk down the path hopefully heading towards their destination. Ilya wouldn't be surprised if she had began to trek in the wrong direction though, as lately she seemed to have absolutely no sense of direction.

 

[Zelrius]

He should have reached out more, that much was certain. Figuring instead that the woman was just busy with her life, and performances, and that she'd just text when she was free left them both in a stalemate of not really discussing with one another, at all. Yet, despite the distance that had grown, here they were again. Meeting by coincidence, almost exactly as before. Both heading out with something else to do. "Besties." He echoed with a small flinch of his brows and grin, wondering if that was even really the right term to use here. They were close as friends, so it would be just as good as any other word, right?

His gaze turned away bashfully, hand waving her off dismissively at the comment that he'll surpass her. "Oh come on, that's bullshit. You grind harder than any of them." Diverting the compliment; there was no way he could speed ahead of someone who tried as hard as Ilya at anything. He had never denied that getting ahead of her would be difficult. That ever present sense of melancholy approached, Zelrius frowning at her comment of wearing the crown. "I suppose you will." Once again opening his masteries with his palm, silently staring at them, cursing them for putting him so far back. For giving up on him.

Snapped out of it by a sharp blink, closing his palm to lower the UI and nod along with the blonde woman's plan. "Still with your hands, then?" He had been meaning to ask if she had done any respeccing since their last meeting. It seemed not so. Of course, he had picked up another pair of blades as before, though notably, with no Mastery related to wielding both of them this time. Just, swords in general. He gave a slight tilt of his chin in affirmation to her question, walking down the path and looking around, trying to remember if there was anything he could recall about hunting wolves.

"Our best bet would be the surrounding trees and tall grass, though, right?" He corrected, letting his companion walk a few paces before looking around. "They're going to be resting in their dens or stalking during the day. Evening is when they'll come out for the livestock, because of the reduced activity." Thinking of perhaps something the two could do to make this easier. "So, afternoons like this we can isolate a few at a time and get them." The last sentence fell weak. There was apprehension there, worry about walking around the woods just exterminating any lupine creatures they saw without mercy. Something that made his eyes slowly drift down to the ground in thought for a moment.

 

[Ilya]

Ilya offered consolement, her hand reaching and resting on Zelrius' shoulder. "You'll get it all back, and you'll become even stronger. I believe in you, even if don't believe in yourself." Ilya couldn't see his skills, as UI was player-only but it didn't take a genius to put two and two together based on the hand movements and facial expressions of someone. Ilya dropped her hand, as she gave him a moment to recollect himself.

Ilya realized she had been heading out without a moment of thought and turned back towards Zelrius. "Aha...ha.. I swear I have no brains, I just sort of move wherever without a thought. Before long you would've caught me at the ocean, wondering why there were still no wolves." She reached her arm upward, placing her hand behind her head, scratching it sheepishly.

"I'm glad i've got you instead of a dimwitted stranger." She listened to Zelrius' explanation of wolf behavior. "I never really thought about wolves because i've never found myself in the position where I need to outright fight them... They're pretty low leveled, but they're supposedly causing some problems, ladi-da-di-da... I don't care about the details, I just want the prestige. Even if it means killing some creatures that normally I wouldn't think twice about." Ilya did feel a twinge of guilt at fighting something that far below the both of them but what could be done.

The Adventurer's Guild was simple, do missions, get gold and prestige, rank up and get recognized. Just a step in the right direction for Ilya. "Let's start looking over there then." Ilya pointed towards a line of trees with a line of tall grass between them and the trees. "Looks perfectly like what you were describing to me." Ilya then headed towards that direction with Zelrius by her side. The two of them would easily finish up this quest, bring back what they needed to and make a step towards getting what they each desired.

Upon making it to their destination, Ilya would then begin to scan the ground looking for tracks. "This is hard.. I don't know how to do tracking stuff like this..." Ilya let out a heavy sigh until she looked back over the ground she had been studying for the second time. A pair of paw prints catching her attention, something she hadn't noticed the first time. "HERE! Look! Paw prints, does it look like a set of wolf prints to you? Should we follow them?" Ilya took note that they appeared to be heading further into the forest.