"Did I mess something up with the mission?" Celestine asked, her voice seemed sad, looking down.
To calm her down, Marcus patted her on the back. "Don't sweat it, Ms leader here didn't seem to mind. And you beat those annoying runts in something, so I'm alright with it." The team exited the casino, making their way to the given destination. It wasn't long before they noticed patrolling guards in the area, donning similar gear to the ones escorting the general earlier.
"This place seems rather tight when it comes to status." Myo remarked.
"Perhaps, an interesting form of government that relies on strict hierarchy." Calliope responded, taking an interest in Myo's topic.
It didn't take long before other conversations erupted in the team, passing the time with stories or discussions on certain things, bonding further together.
"Is this place just for gambling?" Oliver asked, curious but repulsed by the sight of so many casinos and gamblers around him.
"It seems so brother, many sinners that gave their hard earned gold to a rigged game." Clarissa shared the same amount of disgust, her words filled with hatred and loathing.
"Hey, not all gamblers are bad. One is part of our team after all. And she's rather nice." Marcus joined in the conversation.
"Does not matter, we in the cathedral have a distaste for people such as this. I only hope the mission we brought ourselves into, is finished so Ms Calliope may order us out of this repugnant abode of broken dreams and wealth." Marcus was shocked by her response.
"Seems you really do hate them, because now you're spouting some old age words that i can't understand." Marcus laughed. Clarissa though remained silent after the interaction, now keeping to herself and still walking close to Oliver.
They soon reached the destination given by Volen. A set of ropes and anchors sat near the ledge, heavily used from past treks by other people. Small teams of citizens approached it, quickly tying it around their waist and making their way down, seemingly out to complete a commission.
Among them was Volen, already preparing his own gear and hooks for the descent.
"It's important to be as punctual as possible in tasks. Remember that." He advised with a sly tone.
"At this point he's really trying to get on our nerves." Marcus muttered under his breath.
"Agreed. I've seen many nobles and royalty, but this one is becoming one of the worst I have ever seen." Myo unexpectedly joined in.
Once Volen finished, he spoke to the team.
"Don't just stand there, we have a job to finish already." Calliope ordered the others to begin tying the ropes to their bodies, hastily readying up for the mission.
In the middle of it, Celestine tucked the deck of cards near her red handkerchief.
Once the team finished, they walked close to the ledge. The tip of their boots no longer touching the ground.
"I hope your skill in navigation and adventure is as good as the gambling prowess of your teammate." Volen mocked. But the team remained silent, preparing to climb down the mountain.
The team rappelled down fast, seeing others pass by as they did. The wind blew hard from below them and the sun above was closer and closer to reaching the end of the day.
Clarissa was visibly relieved as she departed from the mountain, finally away from what she considered a horrible place.
Through clouds, they finally reached the bottom, taking a couple of minutes. The forest was rather active, with the sound of birds and insects filling the air. Quill took a deep breath, her face was happier than before.
"Just like home." She commented, feeling at peace. Colton began feeling a similar sense of peace.
Their moment of peace was interrupted though as Volen walked in front of the team with his hands on his waist.
"As our agreement states, you will find the flowers. They lay far from the mountains and typically grow near the great trees."
"Great trees?" Celestine asked. Volen looked visibly shocked.
"You have not heard of the great trees? One of the most sought after locations of any mercenary?" He looked dumbfounded.
"Ok maybe i overestimated you all this time." The man took out a rolled up map, tossing it towards Calliope.
"The great trees are simply just larger versions of the ones here. I'm sure you can spot the difference well. I'll be off to finish these other commissions now." Volen took out a bundle of other papers, commissions he had taken, flaunting it to the team before walking off in a prideful manner.
Around them, the groups from earlier arrived at the bottom, starting to leave the area and disappear into the forest without a word.
"Mercenary work sure is easy in this place. Maybe staying won't be so bad." Marcus commented.
"Same here, I would be down for the money mostly, and the ziplining." Myo joined.
Calliope looked into the map, it contained mostly just dense forest and gambling mountain on the far right side. Far from the mountain however, a few areas of the forest were circled in red, most likely the locations of those rivers.
'First getting flowers, then a package, then flowers again.' Colton thought to himself, unlike the others, he was bored out of his mind with the commissions.
Once she finished reading, Calliope rolled up the map and ordered the team to follow her. They walked away from the mountain, venturing back into the forest again.
'I hope those wolf things don't come again.' The sudden thought brought a shiver to Colton's spine.
With the sun nearing the end of the day, Calliope ordered the team to start walking faster.
To pass the time, some started to converse with each other again. Colton though remained vigilant, Oliver walked next to him. Even through his tired face, Colton could see that he was weary, clutching onto his staff tightly with another hand near the sword.
Celestine and Quill though were the most relaxed. Celestine started performing tricks with the deck, getting the attention of Myo and Marcus. Quill though was only taking in the fresh air, relaxing as much as possible before something else occurs.