After hearing that, Veric couldn't help but wonder about the circumstances of this being in front of him. "But it is too early for you to worry about that. After all you are nothing but a speck of dust among some of the most average mortals that exist in this world i bet." As Serena added that last part she couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed that Veric experienced head trauma somewhere along the line because his eye twitched once again before he asked, "Then Serena, what are you and what am I supposed to do to help you?" Serena looked at him and stated, "Nothing, for now. There are many things that I don't know and I am sure a boy like yourself won't either. I will do one last thing before I have to recuperate the energy I used magnanimously to help you out. I will imprint a soul brand onto your vital core so that I will be able to see what you experience and if I have enough energy to spare, I can even talk to you." Once finished talking, Serena's figure glowed and turned into light that seemed to flow through Veric's head and leave through the walls. If Veric could see his vital core, he would see a mystical brand that resembled a curvy figure with a line that split it vertically and was surely a symbol that stood for something profound.
Serena had to fight the urge to laugh at the sight of the dollar sign she used as her stamp, "We are connected now through perception but that is all. Deeper in these tunnels and caverns lies a vessel that if you obtain can have me materialize...after completing a couple of preconditions. Anyways my energy is almost gone so you shouldn't expect to hear from me for a long while. Leave this place and grow strong enough to come back, but most importantly, grow the fire in your heart, that is power as well. As for the origin heart you have now, it gathers pure energy that normal vital cores can't and it sends it to your core to be used there as a more powerful form of energy though will have to figure out how you can use it because all it can currently do is make your body more beast-like and the vitality to match. Anyways that's a problem for another day, bye little Ric! " After hurriedly saying those words she completely left Veric and started making her way back to the rock she came from, stopping after she came across the still irritated wolf beasts. "I wonder if i should prepare a little test for when he comes back." A sinister smile once again appeared on her visage as she made plans in her head of what to do after she awoke from her sleep.
Veric looked in the direction the light dissipated in and thought of the words she said. He was reminded of the one eyed wolf and its ability to continue it's chase even after losing an eye. 'A beast-like body and the vitality to match. True with the wounds I have now I shouldn't even be alive, much less conscious. My wounds have stopped bleeding and a little of the pain is gone. I wonder if I can walk now?' Veric used the wall to stabilize himself as he stood on the only appendage that seemed to have no deep cuts, and after verifying that it was mostly pain free he took a step with the bandaged left leg. As soon as it made contact with the ground, he screamed out in pain, obviously his newfound beast-like vitality did nothing to dull pain. His leg buckled almost instantly and fell to the left landing on the remnants of his left shoulder. After a quick burst of pain and a scream, his already fatigued mind turned fuzzy and he passed out.
***
Sitting around a campfire there were two figures rummaging through two of the three huge backpacks while a third stood a distance away looking off in the forest. "Why do you keep thinking about that little brat Eloi, he isn't even worth the cost of the core on his collar. We did what we had to so that we could survive. He should have died happy knowing that someone as filthy as him died for us, I bet it is the greatest thing he has accomplished in his life. Score!!" Anthony said as he took out a golden glowing rock that was a little larger than a head. A smile bloomed on Rachel's face as she saw the item necessary for the completion of their mission. " The little brat did good, picking up the essence stone, too bad he's dead now. I wish we could have gotten a few more uses out of that little backpack, or at least have him carry all this stuff back to town before he died, it is so heavy," The two continued to talk about how they would divide the reward and how to celebrate afterwards while the elf continued to stare into the dark forest.
In Eloi's eyes all that she could see was the last glimpses of the rage filled face of a boy before she looked away and it was blocked off by the collapsing tunnel. Feeling stomach acid climb up her throat, she quickly shook her head. 'There's nothing I could have done. We were in an impossible situation and I couldn't have predicted that Anthony and Rachel would have done what they did.' As she said those words in her head she felt a gust of wind come from the darkness, as if to answer the question she refused to let herself ask. She obviously knew about the reputation that those that were labeled 'dark sorcerers' had as well as their treatment, especially dimensional sorcerers. Some could kidnap with ease, others could sneak poison or weapons anywhere committing most of the assassinations, and theft was child's play to them. The only way to keep them under control was the collars and the control devices being in the hands of the guards. They could then be rented out and the controllers given to the new owner. Her feeling that it was all cruel made her keep her distance from Veric and maintain a cold attitude towards him. But now he was gone and she was left with two despicable people who seemed to relish this current system.
She turned around and walked towards the two sitting by the fire. "I will take my portion here and a little extra to cover the reward from the guild for completing the mission. I assume that is alright?" Anthony looked up with a smile lingering on his slightly dirtied face and raised an eyebrow, "Oh come on Eloi, It was one kid and he barely counted as a person, you are really going to leave because of that?" "Eloi make sure you think this through. If you leave our group now then you will miss out on a lot of great missions in the future. If you still want to go then you should leave enough for us to pay for the controller and device that was lost. We made the decision to have the brat die for us so you pay for the equipment, sound fair?" Rachel said. Although she tried to sound sincere she couldn't give less of a shit. 'You want to leave, that's fine. But you will have to pay to leave peacefully.' Anthony smiled deeper, having the same thoughts as Rachel and while holding three rune filled knives in his hand said, "The cost should be about half of your total share I believe. Just leave that and we shouldn't have any problems when paying later on...or here."
Eloi didn't miss the over exaggerated acting coming from the two of them or the weapons that were being fiddled with. She was confident taking care of each of them individually but if she were to fight them head on, her victory would come with a price. 'Rotten to the core!!' All she could do was think that and overturn her bag and drop half of the contents before she secured it on her back and started walking away feeling humiliated, and frustrated. As she was walking away she looked in the darkness in the direction of the caves and tunnels. "If you are somehow still alive, Veric, I swear to the mother Butevak and my ancestors that I will do all I can to right my wrong." After speaking those words she blended into the darkness and disappeared.
"She mouthed something while she left but I didn't hear it, do you think she was using a spell or incantation?" Still on alert, Rachel asked while keeping her staff ready. "No, she knows she wouldn't be able to win in a fight against us without getting seriously wounded herself. A shame she left, I would have loved to have a taste of an elf." Anthony laughed while looking at the stuff left on the ground, ignoring the glare coming from his partner. "She left us the worst junk from her share but that's alright i guess, do you want anything specifically from this stuff?" After hearing no response for a while he sighed before looking up and lifting his hand to caress his partner's face. "I was joking Rachel, I know you never liked her and would never bring her for us to taste. We will find someone back in town to play with." Feeling a little placated by those words, she turned to the pile of goods and after giving it a glance she said, "I guess I will take the Earthstone necklace." After which she exposed her slender neck and closed her eyes. Understanding The 'subtle hints being displayed, Anthony grabbed the necklace and put it on his partner before holding her in his embrace. "Now that you have what you want, let me have what I want." After saying that, sensual sounds echoed through the woods, signifying the end of a fruitful mission.