Dozens of people of different races were moving through the grasslands, heading to Guildoris to become Venturers. Many had at least a companion who would probably be a team mate while few were traveling alone,yet to form or join parties.
Amongst the apparent loners, one stood out, a young female of unknown race,wearing a dark red hood that covered almost all of her upper body,a with and green top,green skirt that left almost half her thighs exposed and footwear that looked like variation of ancient Greek golden brown scandal boots that extended up to her thighs, she also had a magic staff with a mysterious orb in hand. With every passing second she picks her pace,walking faster ,she seemed rather nettled, probably trying to avoid someone. There was a kid scurrying around,trying to befriend strangers and he seemed to place targets on everyone he saw around.
"Ughh! what's wrong with everyone? I just keep getting neglected, how am I ever gonna find a team like this?" complained Yuki as he let's out a sigh. Just then he caught a glimpse of the girl in the dark red hood upfront, she was the only person with a hood in the huge crowd. He musters up some courage.
"Well its too early to give up."
He runs to meet her ."Hey!!!" He greeted heartily, waving.
She ignores him and keeps moving.
"Eh...you don't seem to have any one with you, c...could you please form a party with me? Please! " pleaded Yuki in pursuit.
"-No, you seem like a complete goofball,get lost" replied the girl in a low calm but stern tone.
"What? goofball? You don't even know me..."
"- I know a goofball when I see one"
"Hey, haven't you ever been told never to judge a book by its cover?"
"-Haven't you ever been told not to talk to strangers?"
"Yeah but how do I make friends if I don't associate?"
"-See? goofball. No one mentions 'Friends' like that ,you clearly don't know how this world works"
"Huh?!"
"-Let me be, go bother someone else." With that,the girl picks her pace again.
"Sheesh, so feisty..." murmured Yuki. Somehow he was more determined to form a party with her.
"Well I'm gonna follow you anyways "
"- Suit yourself, if you get in my way I'll shove this staff up your butt and blast you back to wherever the hell you came from" the girl replied, now a bit more irritated.
Her threat sent chills down his spine. But Yuki still didn't give up, he pressed on.
"Ughn! ,what's up with this guy?, why's he so stubborn? Could he have seen through my disguise? Is he a bounty hunter?,I need to be more careful" muttered the girl as she looks back in suspicion.
Suddenly,a hole opened a few meters in front of the hooded girl and a group of young ogres got dragged into the ground. There was a panic. Everyone immediately got into offensive positions. Many more holes opened up in the ground, releasing giant moles to the surface. They had entered into the meadow of moles, and a handful were unaware of the area before then. Apparently,the girl in red hood was also not aware, she was probably a traveler rather than a local.
"Giant moles? " she exclaimed.
Just then a hole started to open up beneath her, she flipped over to the other side as a large arm extended out of hole. As she landed,another arm reached out from underneath her, she lost balance as the soil was pushed up and fell over. A giant mole came out of the hole,towering over her. It swung its arm at her before she could stand up but Yuki came in between taking the full swing. That arm alone was big enough to cover an average full grown man,taking a swing from it meant instant death.
Yuki was sent flying by the attack
"What did you do?!" screamed the girl in red hood as she couldn't believe what just happened,she got up,took her staff and fired a flame ball at the face of the mole. And then ran to Yuki's aid, "You idiot! you'd better not di..."
"-I'm fine," cuts in Yuki as he does a kit up." See?."
The girl was shocked ."How are you..."
"-I have a defense type cosgic,Aegis, it makes me invulnerable to all harm,thank me later, we should take this opportunity to get valuables from the moles" Explained Yuki as he runs towards the mole they were fighting.
"I'll be your shield,attack as much as you can I'll protect you!" he shouts out, much to the girl's surprise.
"This guy...he's not half bad..." she thought to herself. "OK, time to finish,we have no time to waste here". with that she fellowed suit blasting flame balls at the beast which were only powerful enough to stun it. Giant moles had tough bodies.
Yuki attacked the beast with his sword but it barely cut it. It retaliated,swinging its arms with massive four-foot claws around. Both Yuki and the girl kept dodging for their lives. The girl struck her staff on the ground and the earth swallowed the legs of the beast. Yuki was marveled at the attack
" Hey, you've got pretty cool tricks ..."
"- stay focused human!" replied the girl.
Just then Yuki took a hit again, which sent him flying into the girl.
"-I told you to stay focused!" scolded the girl.
"So sorr..."
The girl kicks him away from herself before he could finish taking just as another attack from the beast lands between them,breaking the ground underneath. They stood up both running in opposite directions. Yuki then slid through the grass, slashing at the left leg of the beast then stabbing it from behind with all the strength it had. It didn't cause a deep wound but it was painful enough to cause the beast to groan and taking that to her advantage,the girl leapt at the mole, shoving her staff into its mouth and blasting an array of fireballs, frying the insides of its head. It then groaned out and dropped on the ground presumably dead.
"Yay ! you did it, that was freaking awesome!" shouted out Yuki as he pants.
The girl was on her knees,panting heavily as well. She turns and sees other aspiring Venturers dealing with the beasts rather easily. Some brought down many beasts on the own.
"Yeah but, what type are these monsters?" she asked in curiosity.
"They're C type monsters,why'd you ask?" replied Yuki.
"C- Type?" asked the girl as her eyes widened in disbelief. "There was two of us and we barely did it", she thought to herself, terrified by how weak she still is.
"Hey, I got these two claw shards from the beast." said Yuki handing her one.
She took it without saying anything and kept it in the small bag that hung over her waist. They then kept moving.
"So... would you mind forming a party with me?" asked Yuki again.
The girl thought for a bit and relied in her usual calm but stern tone.
"Sure ,but get this clear, we aren't buddies, I just agreed because I find your cosgic pretty useful,I'm just gonna take advantage of you."
"Great! I don't really care anyways, so long as I have a comrade now".
The girl turned in awe at how carefree Yuki was even after hearing what she said.
" Huh...you really are a goofball..."
"Huh?! " Yuki exclaimed, one brow raised. "I forgot to ask. May I know you now ? I haven't gotten your name or seen your face. Oh, I'm Yuki by the way."
"Just Yuki huh?"
"Yeah, I can't really reveal my second name just yet,sorry."
"- I get it, trust ,we just met anyways, I must say you're a bit more careful than I thought."
"Oh no that's not..."
"- Come with me, I'll introduce myself properly but it has to be away from the crowd." replied the girl as she headed towards a thick forest.
"Oh, okay then." replied Yuki as he followed,wondering why she decided to introduce herself in secret.
They soon got to the woods away from the crowd.
"Listen Yuki, if you tell anyone about this, I'll be hunted down, and I will make sure I kill you before that." she threatened in her usual calm but stern tone.
Yuki got the chills again but he was even more curious now. He pulls on a rather serious face and swears "Got it, I take an oath with my life never to tell anyone about your looks. You can count on me."
Seeing the look on his face,the girl was a bit relieved,she knew she could trust him.
"You'd better keep your word, I'm putting my trust in you Yuki." She replied as she takes off the hood revealing her true nature.
Yuki was immediately dumbstruck, his eyes widened in awe as she revealed herself to be an elf, but not any normal one. She had long pretty red hair, beautiful face and crimson eyes.
"Lira Crimso at your acquaintance."
".....A....Red Elf...? I thought ...your kind disappeared four years ago..."