"Please save my mother, the Pixie Queen, Aria. She was kidnapped by a Supreme Devil." Says Ilia.
""Huh?""
Leena and Lisa are baffled at the request.
Leraye has a complicated look on his face.
Kaneto doesn't seem to be affected.
"So that's why you needed at least 2 platinum rank or a ruby rank," I speak in an understanding voice as I put my hands on my chin.
"No! Wait! Wait! Wait! Let's get things into order," Leena starts to speak in a hurry, "You want us to fight a Supreme Devil? Are you crazy?" She is getting furious as she speaks.
"On what basis did you think 1 platinum rank and a few gold rank would be enough?" She continues as she gets closer to Ilia.
"And the reward? F***ing 10 Gold coins?" She speaks furiously to Ilia.
Ilia remains calm throughout the whole ordeal and the guards beside her are glaring at Leena.
Leraye and Kaneto are observing the situation while Lisa is observing Kaneto.
'She has sharp intuition'
The fact that Kaneto is stronger than an average platinum rank is more or less a secret.
Looking at Kaneto again, he doesn't seem to mind much.
"Leena wait! Think carefully again, is the old man really Platinum rank?" Says Lisa, snapping Leena out of her fury.
Leena then stops and looks at Kaneto, before thinking about something then turns to Lisa.
"What should we do?" She asks seriously.
Before she could speak I interrupt her,
"How about we do this? First, we will listen to their story, after that, we will decide what to do next."
They look at me for a moment then look at each other.
After communicating with their eyes, they nod and look back at Ilia for an explanation.
"Please continue," says Leena
Ilia then continues,
"We Pixies have a weekly duty of taking turns to take care of nature around us. The most important role is of The Pixie Queen. She takes care of the outgrowth of Yggdrasil [The big tree in the centre of Eslaine]. Last week, on her way towards Eslaine, a few devils including a Supreme devil, ambushed the entourage. Later that day when we reached Eslaine for a request, we noticed an imposter instead of a real queen was present in Eslaine. We knowthis because we have a way to know the location of our species, specially siblings and parents. After we filed our report we waited for 2 whole days, but somehow it never reached the higher ups and even when we tried asking someone again we were ignored. After that we collected a heavy amount of gold and gave it to the adventurers guild to issue a quest but the quest was never placed. After that we issued a low cost quest just for a meet up because a low quest isn't referenced by Higher-ups, luckily it worked and that's what brings us here. We do need someone strong but if we issue it that way then our quest again might not be placed again. Please help us. We will properly compensate you," she says bowing her head.
Looking at Leena and Lisa, they look perplexed, Leraye is grinning, looks like it fits his description of interesting.
After that everyone turns to Kaneto for the final decision.
Kaneto then turns at me," whatever you decide, I will follow it"
I nod at him, then look at Leena and Lisa,
"I'll be taking this quest.
There are many reasons but the most important one is safety, I don't think you know this but after we return to Eslaine, the city might already be in chaos, saving the pixie queen will increase our chances of defeating the devils. I have some concrete information from Zwain regarding that. You can also choose to leave the city, the safest option available. We can't take this option because our companions are in Eslain right now."
I tell them my choice and the reason behind it.
They look at Kaneto with a complicated expression then sigh.
After pondering for a while Lisa speaks,
" I don't know how much truth is in your words, but based on the things we heard from you and Ilia, I will gladly take the easy route and leave the city but we will finish our work here first."
I nod at her, running away from a danger you can't handle is a smart choice, although dangerous situations increases your experience nothing will matter if you are dead.
"All right, now tell me what is your mission?" I inquire about her mission.
Everyone's focus turns on Lisa now, as she moves forward to explain their situation..
"Well it's nothing that grand but...."
.
.
.
3 DAYS LATER
Deep in the forest
A group of adventurers is visible in front of a young girl.
That young girl is...
.
LISA'S POV:-
I am standing in front of an adventurers' camp.
There are 15 Gold rank adventurers in front of me.
There are also 3 Platinum rank adventurers with them.
'These bastards are looking at me with creepy eyes, aren't they?'
'How much longer?' I mumble.
I am shaking out of my wits right now.
"You are alone?" One of them asks as he is cleaning his knife with a cloth.
"Leena ran away. I have gold with me, give me my pendant back." I speak.
My mother's only memento and the only thing that can help me meet my father.
One of the platinum rank takes out something from his pocket. In his hand a golden pendant with a red gem embedded in it can be seen.
"Is this what you are looking for?" He asks with a dirty look on his face. His eyes piercing me.
"Yes," I answer sighing in relief as I found my lost pendant.
Finally, I can take a breather.
"What's your name?" He asks putting my pendant back in his pocket.
"Lisa Gilbert" I tell them a bit confused at his sudden question.
"Gilbert....Gilbert...Does it ring any bell brother?" He asks looking at the person on his left.
"No...I have never heard of it. Girl, are you sure this is your last name?" He asks me.
".."
"It is!! What do you mean by that?" Stumped by his question I shouted. Just what kind of question is that?
"May I please have this pendant back? It's my family' only memento I have left." I say to them with pleading eyes.
"No," the same man replies, " you may go now, we have confirmed what we wanted to confirm." He rejected my proposal.
"Huh?" I was prepared for so many things, but didn't expect this to happen.
Composing myself I ask again,
"Can any form of deal be possible?"
He looks at me again, he looks irritated.
Then he stands up.
I flinch.
He then moves forward reaching an arms length away from me, leans forward and speaks
"You are ugly"
Then turns around and moves back to his position.
Then everyone starts laughing at this statement
'Huh?'
'What?'
'Ugly?'
I start doubting my charm.
This..
These bastards...
How could he say that?
I...I...put my head down...where are those(Morpheus and others) bastards?
I try looking at my back and...
'Huh?'
They are laughing too?
Before I knew it, tears start coming out from my eyes...
I am going to f***ing blast all of them...
Then
"All right, that should be enough for the show," someone speaks from behind.
.
.
Same day
LUCY'S POV:-
'They are monsters.'
Looking at Icelos and Phan I mutter in a low voice.
I thought only Leader is monster but I was wrong...I was so very wrong.
These brats...just who are they?
Chase has already defeated 2 dozen Gold ranks one on one and advanced to become the youngest Gold rank ever.
Corey's proficiency and skills have both increased drastically.
Their improving speed is ridiculous.
'Are my eyes playing with me?'
I again look at them.
'Are they really kids?'
Those kids before me...
'This will be exciting' a smile forms on my face.
...will be fun to teach them.
.
.
IN AN UNKNOWN LOCATION
.
"HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?" someone shouting could be seen in a large room filled with 15 people sitting around a table.
"All of our plans are being destroyed by that damn green bastard(Zwain). How did he know about the devils? Is there a rat among us?" He speaks as he looks around. He clearly is suspicious of everyone around him.
From the last 3 days, devils from all around Eslaine are being captured one after another, the foundation they had built for such a long time has started to crumble.
They were so close in gaining complete control of Eslaine but something had to go wrong, didn't it?
Just where?
"What are we going to do next?" One of them asks in a worried tone.
"We move to Plan B." He speaks with conviction.
There is no point in taking the city, from here onwards it will either be a loss or a stalemate.
We don't have enough time left.
"Is it necessary to initiate that plan?" The others are shocked but still confirms.
Clearly they are hesitating to lose all control they have on this city.
"Yeah, we have no choice or else everyone will be caught and it will all be for naught. And Lord Ladros might...no he will kill us." He speak a bit afraid.
The others shudder at his words and then nods.
Lord Ladros does not forgive those who hinders his plan and disposes of his useless subordinates like plucking grass from the ground.
"When?" Someone asks among them.
"5 days from today." He looks at everyone then speaks, " 5 days from now, we will destroy Eslaine from its roots."