Midsummer Feast

“If that was your friend, Opiom? May I ask how bad you’re thinking about punishing her?” Anlie wasn’t the only one curious about that. Merie would also like an answer to the question, hoping that it would be quite bad as the asshole, Neij, really had overstepped what was acceptable. “I honestly don’t know how bad I’ll be able to punish her, as she’s quick at her feet. But if I get my hands on her, so will she pay dearly for what she did.” The tone of Opiom’s chippering said other things. “You sound less convincing when saying that, than when you decided to join me in the fight against those guilds.” Adu didn’t sound as if she cared much about it. “Well. She’s playing just like us, doing whatever she feels like, and I don’t know if it should be tight to punish her for that when I can and might do the same thing to her.” Opiom might’ve a point, not that Merie anyhow changed her thoughts about that Opiom would punish her friend. “But I don’t think we should mind the small details, and instead head toward our destination while we still have time.” Merie wouldn’t like to call it details, like Opiom, but once again so did she have a point. They really should make the most out of the time.

Once again setting off toward the town, Merie and Adu listen in at their surroundings for any new threats. But Merie had a feeling that it might be slightly too calm in the forest, maybe because they already had killed most of it in the assault. “Does your friend’s kind of attack have any specific name?” Anlie had expressed a disliking of the attack, but now so did she seem curious about it. “I don’t know. I’ve only cared about how she makes the attack, but the rest is unknown to me, Anlie.” “But if you want to know more about it, so can I maybe ask her to write you a message and answer your questions directly.” If Anlie hadn’t forgiven Neij , so would that be a perfect opportunity to get back at her, but Merie wasn’t positive Anlie would consider that. Anlie had always been showing an attitude of forgiving faster than a heartbeat.

“Do you think it might be a kind of attack I would be able to deliver, Merie?” Why did Adu ask her that? Shouldn’t she be asking Opiom, who might know more about it, about it? “I think you should be able to handle it.” Still, Merie could think Adu would be able to get it through. At least so did Merie think Adu was fast enough to outrun the monsters. She was sure there probably were some abilities and skills involved too, but those should probably not be too much of a problem for her to get. “How are you thinking about using that attack, Adu?” Why was Lart curious about that? “Since I don’t think I’ll be able to use it against other guilds, so am I thinking about using it if I would happen to destroy another tribe, Sir.” Adu seemed to have a fair idea of how she would use it. “Shouldn’t that be better than to destroy a tribe by hand, since you won’t get any blood at your hands?” Merie wasn’t sure if there were anything exposing if players killed NPCs, but if it were, so would that hide it. Right? “Do you think you’ll be able to find enough, strong, monsters where you’ve your village, Adu?” Lart seemed critical of the idea, but he’d a point that there had to be strong enough monsters to overrun the others if that tactic should work. “I’ll think that through before I test it, Sir. And I’ll rapport the result to you after it’s done.” Was there any reason for Adu to report it to him? Not that Merie should say anything about it in either way, but she still felt like questioning it.

Nothing more was said about that, and the two girls soon returned to keeping their eyes open for new threats. Thanks to the two of them and that Lart was ready to strike at a second’s notice, so were Anlie and Opiom able to continue their talk without a care in the world. “I think I hear a lone monster coming our way, Sir.” “Please wait till it comes closer before thinking about attacking it, Lart.” Merie hastily followed up on Adu’s warning, also hearing the monster. But consider it to be too far away to pose any threats, and think that it was a dumb idea to run straight into the forest to kill a single monster. “I get a feeling that you two cuties will be of great help when it comes to hunting.” Opiom wasn’t wrong, Merie could also think that they would do a great job hunting down players. And it maybe would be even better as time passed and Adu got stronger. “Ten bucks at that Adu will get stronger than Merie.” Why did Lart make a betting out of it? And why did he think it would be possible to make out who was stronger? “Ten bucks at that Merie will be more dangerous when it comes to poison and ambushes.” Anlie wasn’t much better, even though Merie also thought that she would be more dangerous than Adu in those areas. At least when it came to poison, as she’d started first and that she could use it in her bombs. “Ten bucks at that I’ll be the first one to mount one of the cuties.” What did Opiom even mean with that?!

Adu’s blushing and comments from Anlie and Lart made it clear that Opiom’s betting had been out of a horrid nature. Merie didn’t like it the slightest, nor that the talk had gone downward after that, in that direction. But it came to a halt when they finally could see the town.

Merie enjoyed the conversation being dropped and silently promised herself that she would find a way to stop conversations like that before they gained too much steam. Not only for her own sake, but also for Adu’s, as the poor girl had been too embarrassed and uncomfortable to even utter a word during their conversation. Maybe she also would need to ask Lart to help. Sure, he’d taken part in the talk, but not with the same joy as Anlie and Opiom.

“So… What should we do here, girls?” Opiom had a point that they hadn’t said a word about what they should do there. And it wasn’t as if Merie had any ideas as she only thought about passing through the town to be able to teleport there when she’d time to spare. “I don’t think they’ve anything out of interest here. So we should just walk through, as long we don’t need potions or anything else, and head toward the next destination.” Was there even something Opiom could find out of interest? Merie couldn’t think of hearing that Opiom even had any craft abilities, but maybe it just could be that Opiom just hadn’t said a word about it this far. Which was less believable. “So, who does need to restock before we continue our trip?” Anlie didn’t seem to have anything she needed either, taking the role of the party leader. “PARDON!” An elderly woman ran up to them, “Do you happen to be Wanderers?”

“It depends on what you wish to ask us about.” “We’re Wanderers, and what may we help you with?” Anlie hastily followed up Opiom’s answer, following that up with a harsh push. “I need you to help us eradicate a monster, which has started to haunt a field where we gather important herbs.” The woman’s arms moved smoothly with every word she said. And she never let go of Anlie with her eyes. “It sounds like a bother.” “It does, but it can be something fun to give a shot.” Adu was more positive to it than Opiom, and Merie was agreeing with Adu. A hunt like that could be fun, not to mention that it also could be some good training. “Do you guys think we should take a break and try to help her?” Anlie turned from the woman and faced the others. “I think we can help her, but we might need to think more about if the two of you’re willing to go all out.” Opiom was more favourable to it than earlier, but she did have a point that it all should depend on if Anlie and Lart would be serious. If those two wouldn’t take part in it, so wouldn’t there be a chance for Merie and the other two would be able to handle it. Sure, they could probably stay alive for quite some time. But they wouldn’t be able to put those monsters under on their own. “Do you really think there’s a reason for us not to help you when we’re doing a quest?” Did Lart have a reason to not help them while they weren’t doing a quest? Did it even exist a reason to not help them? “Can you promise that, Sir?” Adu was right to question him, which Merie also would have done after what he and Anlie had done. “I’m sure we both can promise you that we’ll go more serious this time.” Anlie sounded serious about it. So maybe the two of them really meant it.

Since none of them did mind helping the woman, so did Anlie accept the quest. “I’m very grateful for your kindness, honoured wanderers. And I promise you that I’ll talk with everyone, and try to gather as large reward as possible.” Hadn’t the quest a set reward already? Or was the woman only saying that to give a more realistic feeling, which honestly wouldn’t surprise her. “I look forward to seeing what you can gather for us.” “And you don’t have to think too much about the reward, Miss. I’m sure none of us minds whatever we get.” Opiom couldn’t be serious. She said that, but Merie was sure some of them did mind the reward. At least so did she mind it, as she didn’t want to risk her sorry ass for a reward which wasn’t worth a rat’s ass. “Instead of talking, so do I suggest we head out and kill those monsters.” Lart’s was right. “Can you see the location on the map yet, Anlie?” Merie couldn’t deny that they should get their asses in gear. Getting a feeling they would remain there for quite some time if they didn’t do anything.

Anlie opened her menu and checked the map, nodding for herself with a smile. “I’ve the location, so shall we head off?” The woman looked surprised at Anlie at her declaration, but mentioned for herself that they knew the location already because they were Wanderers. “We’ll be back as soon we’re done. So please wait for us.” Did Adu really have to point it out? Not that it was for the worse, but Merie felt it was unnecessary.

As they got closer to the area, so did the view, from between the trees, give her a bad feeling. The woman had said there were monsters roaming the area, but Merie had hoped it would turn out to be those dog-like monsters. Instead so could she see a bunch of bears, “I hope you were serious when you said that you should give this quest your all, Anlie and Lart.” If they hadn’t been serious, so wouldn’t there be a fucking chance in hell they could win this. Honestly, so would she be surprised if they even had a chance of surviving it. “You don’t have to worry about it, Girl. I can also see the monsters and get a feeling that it would be a bad idea not taking care of you and the other two.” Lart did at least seem to understand the danger if they didn’t protect her, Adu and Opiom. “I think I should be the one protecting my dear’s ass, Lart. But you might be bad if we don’t protect all of them.” Anlie also seemed to get the importance, but she could’ve expressed it in another way. “Since the two of you seem to be more aboard this time, so do I think we’ll have a good time.” Opiom’s voice sounded more joyfilled this time, than earlier, and she might be right about having a good time. “Do you want me to hold your back as good as I can, Sir?” Adu held her spear tight as she spoke and looked, charming, at him. “I would appreciate it, Adu. And I look forward to seeing what you’re able to do for me.”