"I don't think I'll ever get used to those."
Crow murmured out as he gazed at the multicolored orbs that hung up in the clear blue sky.
A voice sounded out behind him, "You stay stuff like that and yet you act weird whenever I say you act like those Blessed."
Crow turned to see a girl who looked to be his age with pale freckled skin, peach blonde hair and dazzling smile.
She put her hands on her hips as she gazed at him with a coy smile "So, you decide where we're going to eat yet, honey?"
Crow gave a defeated sigh as he smiled, "Up to you." he spoke as he raised his hands in defeat, "Not like I know any places other than the Tavern."
The girl came up to him and wrapped her arms around the boy's waist, being a head shorter she had to look up at him as she questioned, "Oh, and why is that?"
That question caused Crow to pause, feeling as if something was wrong, 'Why is that?'
"Is it because you let me die?", a soft voice questioned.
Crow's eyes widened as he looked down, seeing as the girl's porcelain eyes were now pitch black and her face was dripping with blood as an arrow stuck out of her head.
She opened her mouth wider than physically possible without the slightest tooth inside her mouth.
"Is it because you were too weak, and you only know how to hide away?"
Crow tried to back away yet her grip around him was too tight as her neck stretched upwards causing her face to slowly creep into his face, "YOU KILLED ME!!"
"NOO!!"
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Crow shot up as he looked around in a daze.
He was in the smithy at a small table to the very left of the stairs leading upwards.
The table was cluttered with open books, pens, and maps strewn about.
He looked to his left and right, before finally getting up, freezing at what he saw standing behind him.
The robed figure.
The figure stood there as if analyzing the boy, before finally speaking, "Come, it's been a month since you've started training. Time to move onto the real thing."
Now having recovered from his dream, Crow shook his head as the pair came to the anvil and both took a seat.
"You've learned quite a lot in this time, boy."
Crow nodded his head without a word, as he knew it was true.
Crafting, hand to hand combat, weapons combat, throwing weapons, archery, map reading, stealth, physical conditioning, mental training, psychology, history, and the list goes on.
Crow mused to himself, 'If I didn't know any better, I'd say this old man's training me, though… I don't see the point in that. Regardless…' the boy looked down, noticing the definition beneath his thin sleeves, 'I definitely feel the difference.'
The robed figure continued, "Yet, none of that means anything without a Source."
Crow's eyes arched at this, "A Source?" Waddya mean?"
"Come here, it'll be easier if I show you."
The boy nodded as he scooted his chair forward and watched carefully.
The robed figure raised his bandaged hand and spread his fingers.
WHOOOOOSHH!!
A bright red flame rose up, "This is from my Source."
He then clenched his fist causing the flame to straighten into a line as he turned his hand thumb up.
FWOOOSHH!
The fire extended upwards with a gigantic ball morphing at the top until it solidified into a hammer of flames.
"Woahh!" Crow couldn't hold in his excitement as he stood up subconsciously with a look of awe stuck on his face.
Fshhhh…
The robed figure extinguished the hammer as he stared at the boy, "Sit down on the floor and turn around."
Crow nervously sat down, "Uhh.. yes, Sir."
The boy then felt a firm hand placed on his lower back with the figure's voice sounding behind him, "Focus on the feeling flowing through you, alright."
"Nn." Crow nodded.
A cool yet warm sensation flowed through the boy's back and through his stomach area, Crow's eyes widened at this as he looked down in wonder, yet a stern voice awoke from his stupor, "Focus! You've learned how to meditate this past month have you not?"
"Y-yes!" Crow responded as he closed his eyes and got in a butterfly stance whilst keeping his back straight, breathing rhythmically through his nose.
The sensation he felt traveled through his body like wires, sending tingles through every part of his body.
Finally, after 10 minutes the robed figure released his hand, Crow thought he could make out silent panting as the robed figure spoke up, "Good work. Now prepare for your training. As celebration, I've decided to let you come with me to the Tavern tonight."
"You serious?!" Crow shot up on his feet, though exhausted he had to admit it felt good knowing he was allowed out.
Though all this time he was allowed to come with the robed figure to the Tavern after a day's worth of training; however, with the intensity of training, the boy could barely lift a finger at the end of the day much less go out to the Tavern.
Every day he'd wake up to a plate of food and every night since he could barely move, he'd be fed a healing potion by the doll before passing out.
Crow shivered at the thought of this past month, regardless this was the same as saying that today's training would be much more laid back.
Crow smiled to himself as he nearly skipped around, 'Is this what a 1-month anniversary is like? Maybe if I'm here for a year, the old man will give me a badass weapon!'
"Hey brat, time is money." Crow turned to see the robed figure standing in front of the anvil.
The boy slowly approached, "You're training me today?"
The robed figure's eyes creased as if smiling, "Why? Prefer I don't?"
Crow hurriedly put his hands up, "Nononono, just surprised."
The old man harrumphed as he began delivering instructions and Crow followed along.
All the while the boy was secretly celebrating in his mind, 'Thank God, I won't form any new bumps today.'
Yet, out of the corner of his eyes as he was striking the ore with his hammer, Crow thought he could make out a doll near the bottom of the stairs making a slice neck motion towards him with a cheerful smile on its face.
Crow gulped down inwardly, 'Fuk, so it's just gonna be double the pain tomorrow?' the boy lamented as he continued following instruction.
"Feel it boy!" the robed figure called out to him
Crow honed in on his body as he struck the metal, focusing on that flowing sensation he felt in his abdomen as time seemed to come to a crawl for just a moment before he hit the metal once more.
"Woah!" Crow exclaimed, "What was that?"
The robed figure nodded his head in amusement as he responded, "That is your Tempor without a Source."
The boy moaned in frustration as he pulled at his face, "Tempor, Source, ughhh… all these names, am I gonna have to get tested again?"
"Focus boy!" The robed figure's stern tone slapped the boy back into attention, "These are things you don't have to worry about for now. I will teach you when you're ready, now continue."
Yet, Crow could only gaze at the ore before silently turning and speaking, "Why are you doing all this for me?"
The robed figure harrumphed, "You think you can question me? Continue or I'll have the slave dealer here in minutes."
"Oh." Crow quickly turned and began rhythmically striking the metal while channeling his breathing and focusing on his internals.
And so the day passed…
The doll finally appeared from behind the counter, shining Crow a subconscious smile.
Crow who was lying on the floor in exhaustion turned his head and shooed away, "Alright, let's calm down, Rammy. I'm safe from you today."
"Rammy" had been a big help to Crow bringing more and more items everyday, and though it was overwhelming the boy tackled it as best he could, severely under-sleeping this entire month.
When Rammy finally brought a table and some books, it wrote down its name "Ramus", so Crow decided to call him Rammy.
Whether he liked it or not was up for debate, but seeing as how Rammy was smiling, Crow leaned towards the former.
"Alright, let's go, runt." The robed figure called out as he came from upstairs, to which Crow slowly got to his feet following after the figure who was already nearing the curtain.
"See ya, Rammy! We'll be back soon!" Crow waved goodbye to which Rammy pointed 2 of its wooden fingers at its pitch black eyes and back at the pair.
The robed figure who happened to look back as he was walking out of the entrance stopped for a bit before continuing to walk, "Where did Ramsus lear- *sigh."
The robed figure simply shook his head as the pair set off.
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.
The night sky was something to behold.
Each of the colorful orbs in the sky cast a colorful glimmer on the village below giving the streets a festive vibe.
The streets were scarce as the pair walked, with Crow sneaking glances over at the robed figure every now and then.
The robed figure's voice spoke out, "Do you miss her?"
Crow stopped in his tracks.
His eyes widened as he slowly tilted his head towards the robed figure.
Yet, the figure sighed as he came to a random storefront that looked to be a cafe and sat down.
The figure beckoned with his hand, "Come sit."
The boy slowly walked over, standing at his chair for 10 seconds before slowly sitting down, the cold touch of the metal stung his skin through his thin cloth.
The figure continued, "Nearly every day this month you've dreamt of her."
The figure's eyes glimmered with red light from underneath his robe, "On the 1st day you called out her name, Lóa."
The man slowly raised his bandaged hand pointing at the boy, "Do take care of that flower well. Though there's a lot I haven't taught you yet, I will say you'll probably never find anything like that anywhere in the world. She must have truly cared about you."
Crow's eyes widened, yet he could only lower his head and slowly nod.
The robed figure's voice called out again, "Sigh… boy."
Crow looked up meeting the figure's gaze, "Never stop. That's the only way. No matter what happens. Loved ones dying, everything taken, it doesn't matter… never stop."
The 2 held eye contact in silence for what seemed like forever, "Otherwise you'll sink. Take it from me."
With that he stood up and patted the boy on the shoulder, "Come along now.."
Crow slowly nodded his head, and followed along.
The rest of the trip was in silence as the boy pondered the robed figure's words.
Finally the pair arrived yet as Crow was about to leave and find his table, the robed figure put his hand on his shoulder, "Ey, here boy. Take this."
He then handed Crow what looked to be a key.
"You've done well to earn yourself a little independence, strong enough not to get blown over by the wind. Just make sure to lock up when you get back in."
The robed figure gave 2 firm pats on the boy's shoulder then turned around to meet with his drinking buddies.
Crow stood there for a bit, seemingly in a daze before slowly starting to make his way over to a table.
His mind was racing, 'Never stop? That flower is a one of a kind? How did he know about th-'
CRASHH!!
"Huh?!" Crow was awoken from his stupor as he bumped into a waitress carrying drinks causing her to drench him.
She hurriedly apologized to him to which he shook his hands, "No, it was my fault I should've looked where I was going."
A few moments after calming the situation down Crow finally made his way to a table and began to order food.
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[A Few Minutes Earlier on the 2nd floor of the Tavern…]
At the balcony overlooking the floor below, a big round table was filled to the brim with food and drinks and surrounding it was a group of 6 Blessed eating their fill.
"Pshhh, can't believe you almost died to a pig today!" a female human donned in leather gear and wielding a bow laughed out.
"Well my Stage is the lowest on the team. What do you expect?!" A Player with grey skin, white hair and sharp ears scowled, "If not for having to solo-hunt for 2 weeks I could've taken out 3 of those pigs by myself."
A man wielding 2 gauntlet's and a headband voiced out, "More like 2 rabbits, and probably only barely!"
"Bahahahah!"
The group all ridiculed him as the elf pouted at this, "You think it's easy solo hunting, huh?"
The female party member with a bow shook her head, "That's on you for letting that NPC get away."
"Get away?! Isn't that why I'm allowed to hunt with you all now? Because you all realize how ridiculous it is! You think some random no-name NPC would really be able to-"
CRASH!!
The group looked towards the sound, as the grey-skinned elf came towards the ledge of the balcony his eyes nearly bulged out of his head at what he saw, "H-he's alive?.."
The grey-skinned elf slowly backed away from the balcony as he let loose a quiet chuckle, eventually deteriorating into a delirious laugh, "HehehehehahahahHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!"
The party members surrounding him gave this man a look of pity after seeing his reaction.
Not being able to hunt with the party had seriously made him start to fall behind, and though he was allowed back after a delay it still affected his physque to some degree.
A Player with Blue Fur, black stripes and Tiger-esque head spoke up, "Keep an eye on that NPC." We strike when he leaves."
Yet the grey-skinned Player stood up, "Boss, he's right there. Why don't we just kill him now?"
The blue furred beastkin stared at the grey-skinned elf for 5 seconds before finally responding, "Go ahead."
"Huh?" The grey skinned player as well as most of the party members let out as they looked over to him in confusion before most started to get rowdy, each of them talking to another and clearing their plates as they stood up.
Yet a player with mid-back length blonde hair, green clear eyes, and a grey robe looked over in confusion as she watched the party become increasingly rowdier.
"But don't forget what happened to the last ones who did something like that." The beastkin continued.
A cold bucket immediately doused everyone.
How could they forget?
This was no longer like their 1st day here.
The party uneasily observed the below, noticing NPC's donning silver armor, emitting a powerful yet subdued presence in each corner of the tavern's 1st floor.
If not for directly looking for them the party members wouldn't have even noticed they were there.
Nonetheless, with their over-zealousness now doused the group all responded one after the other, "We'll wait, Boss."
Yet it was a level 1 NPC so the group continued merrily drinking albeit keeping one eye open down below.
Especially the grey-skinned elf who was now staring at the boy with a wide grin.
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[An Hour Later…]
'Sigh, I'm so out of it tonight.' Crow mused to himself as he observed the Players and NPC alike around him.
Despite not being able to collect any information for a month it didn't matter as he couldn't even focus on the information at hand.
With another sigh the boy stood up and waved to the Robed Figure who was caught up in drinking with his buddies before he turned and left out the door.
Seeing this, the group briskly made their way up from the table, down the stairs, and out the door.
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"Sigh…"
Crow rubbed his face and he walked through the streets.
The dim lanterns that hung above the various shops cast a haunting shadow onto the pathways.
Yet, Crow paid no mind as he lumbered on, 'Fuk. Does the old man know who Lóa is? The way he talked about her?..'
Crow let out an exasperated sigh, as he looked up into the sky admiring the multicolored orbs that hung above, 'This world is beautiful, but am I really gonna spend the rest of my life here?'
Yet, as he continued to walk he heard a faint voice far behind him, "Heh, can't wait to catch and torture this NPC. That'll show him, hehehe!"
Crow's eyes widened, 'That voice!'
Though it had been a month, Crow had never forgotten the day he nearly lost his "virtual" life and he'd never forget the voices and faces of those who did it.
The boy creased his eyes as he listened in whilst continuing to walk at his same pace, "Quiet down. Let's not alert him." a stern voice responded.
Crow's mind processed the sound, 'That must be their leader with the blue fur.'
Crow focused on the sound of quiet walking, as he detected about 5 footsteps behind him, 'Sounds like their whole group is tailing me...'
A malicious grin slowly formed on the boy's face as he squeezed his fist, 'To think I'd have the opportunity so soon. This should be a great night.'
With that the boy smoothly slipped into an alleyway on his left.
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