"[The Soran Rainforest is dealing with a Flameclaw that ventured down from the Lorak Mountain Range. The villages situated in the forest are far from equipped to handle such a dangerous beast. A signed document from one of the endangered village chiefs and a claw from the beast will be enough to confirm completion. However, we're unsure why it left its home, so please try to bring its body back for further study].
URGENT QUEST
[Reward: 100g (+ 100g if the body is returned.)]
[Posted By: Lord Ameril]
...................................
"Woah! That's so much money!" Rula was excitedly reading the quest Naya had taken, kicking her legs in the carriage they were riding in.
They had been riding for hours without a sound as both of them got rested, and Rula especially had been silent for a long while before she suddenly exclaimed.
They were able to leave the city without much fuss and asked for directions from the city guard to the Soran Rainforest. Naya was excited to see a forest again, especially one that wouldn't be as dreary as the aptly named Silent Forest.
It didn't take much to convince a carriage driver to let them on for free. Naya was an Elf, and only a fool would think an Elf would lie about paying them back later.
The hooves clattering against a stone road and the occasional sound of the rider issuing brief commands made for a pleasant, undisturbed atmosphere.
"We're likely only getting a very small portion of the total reward." Naya lazily responded. Her head rested against the wall, and her legs crossed on the opposite seat. "Around 10% is the most probable."
"What?!" Rula shouted grievously. She glared daggers at the quest paper as if contemplating to rip it apart. "For a quest this dangerous?!"
"The top of the monster section was nearly full; I imagine people only take them to rank up faster."
--You can probably use quests to gain some powerful connections as well. This one mentions who it came from, so they'd likely remember your name if you return the body.--
"Still..." Rula dropped her shoulders and had a disheartened expression. "We really should have done an easier quest..."
Naya lifted her head. "100 gold is still a lot, and I will return the body for 200. But that isn't the reason I took the quest."
"I suppose...wait, what?" Rula looked at Naya in shock. "Don't tell me the mighty Naya wants to rank up fast?" Rula flashed a knowing smile.
"Of course I do. I need their information network, but that isn't why either."
"Then why?" Rula folded the quest and willed it into her spatial ring.
"Humans can fool each other, but not me. A Flameclaw venturing from its home?" Naya scoffed and dipped her head back. "Not possible. Flameclaws would never leave their territories."
--I'm happy you remembered your lessons.--
Rula's eyes widened, and she jumped over to Naya's side of the cart to sit beside her. "Tell me more!"
Naya turned her head to see Rula's eyes sparkling with curiosity. Naya was happy to show off her education and lightly smiled. "Two possibilities. Someone took control of it, or something even stronger took its land.
Rulla was even more excited despite how nervous she was moments ago about the danger. "I can't wait to see it!"
Naya was surprised by her sudden change. "It's still a dangerous beast; try not to get in my way."
Rula humphed and crossed her arms tightly. "I could kill it too, probably!"
"Oh?" Naya quirked a brow. She didn't see any combat capability from Rula unless her paintbrush could turn into a longsword.
"Of course! Did you think this halfling was weak!? I am my father's daughter, after all!" She punched her chest in pride, her chin striking out and her head tilted.
"Okay, you kill it, and I will watch." Naya nodded, her tone cold and face blank.
Rula deflated. "L-let's not be too hasty... This halfling is a bit rusty and doesn't want to steal Naya's thunder."
Naya snorted.
--I am curious what she can do; she seems pretty tightlipped about it.--
"Aaanyway~" Rula moved back to her side of the cart. "What can the Flameclaw do?"
"What it sounds like it can do: produce fire around its body and launch it in projectiles." Naya eyed Rula carefully to make sure she paid close attention. "It usually coats its body in fire and uses its fiery talons as a slashing weapon. It won't use projectiles unless it knows it wouldn't win physically."
"Woah~ I can't wait to see it!"
Rula went back to painting something in her sketchbook, though she wouldn't let Naya see it; even when she asked, Rula vehemently refused.
"Why the sudden eagerness?" Naya asked. She was going to let it go, but if Rula was going to be her travel companion, it would be better to be more open.
Rula stopped drawing but continued to stare at her sketchbook, making it a point to not look at Naya.
A minute later, she finally lifted her head to look at her. "I want to see my Dad and older sister again." Her eyes were distant. "My Dad and Sister left to pursue different things, and they hadn't returned in 3 years before I left to paint for Carla..."
"Are you sure they're not-"
"Of course not!" Rula yelled and looked angered by the assumption. "My Sister is studying magic at The United Academy, and my Dad..." Then, she frowned. "He is out there... adventuring."
--So there is a chance her Dad is dead, and as for her Sister, I'm not sure what the United Academy is.--
[It's likely just an education institute for all the races. I wonder how efficient and comparable it is to the Elven Academies.]
--Interesting. You'll have to visit it at some point.--
[No.]
--Boring.--
Rula looked back to her sketchbook and began to draw again. "And so I figured that if I do quests with you and rank up fast, eventually, my name will spread! Even if it's just, 'Rula, Elven Pet,' there's a chance my Dad will hear it."
"You will not be known as my pet." Naya found herself resolutely refuting.
Rula shrugged and smiled as she continued her drawing.
Naya stared at her a bit longer before tilting her head again to catch some sleep.
The sun had long dipped below the horizon, and they still had hours until their destination.
The sound of hooves clattering against the ground and rapid strokes of a pen were pleasant noises to aid her drift to sleep.
"Miss Naya, Miss Rula!"
Naya was awoken from her dreamless slumber by the rider shouting from the front of the cart. She was instantly fully alert and snapped her head back and forth.
The first thing she noticed was Rula drooling on the bench. "Mmm~ Needs more red..." She mumbled as she turned her body around.
After that, her ears twitched, and she heard rustling leaves.
--There are noises from the trees; we're near a bandit spot. This driver purposefully led you here because he knew you'd be able to guard his goods through the passage.--
[Why didn't he just tell me?]
--Because he wanted money too, and maybe bragging about journeying with an Elf is a good reputation setter? I don't know.--
Naya agilely jumped out of the cart, landing on the grass with controlled movement. She didn't want to wake Rula.
It wasn't as though these bandits knew they were attacking her cart, yet Naya still found herself annoyed by it.
She approached the driver, a middle-aged man dressed in simple traveling clothes, brown cloth pants, and a white shirt.
Naya would have a talk with him when this was done and sent him a vicious glare.
The rustling intensified from both sides of the road. They must not have had sentries past the initial trip because they appeared prepared to attack despite Naya being in the open.
Naya decided to wait and let them attack first.
--You have a nasty habit of crushing your opponents' spirits.--
[The audacious deserve at least this much.]
It wasn't long until a tall man covered in animal rags and leather stepped out from the trees with two beaten longswords on his back and his face covered by a simple black mask.
[They're pretty confident about this. ]Naya was even further annoyed. She knew it was unreasonable, but to cover their faces meant they were sure they would succeed and didn't want a wanted poster put up later.
"Ey', little Elf and tiny Merchant." He placed his hand on his blade's hilts, with this body tilted forward slightly. "Yer in our neck of the woods now; hope yer prepared to hand over the goods."
"Stupid barbarian, call out your pets so I can end you all at once," Naya commanded, with an unchanged blank stare; it was clear she did not put him in her eyes.
"Sure." Contrary to what she expected with her little jab, the man shouted. "Come on out, boys!"'
Moments later, various people wearing animal skin and leather walked out from the trees, all with their faces covered.
Naya was briefly shocked but listened intently to ensure Rula didn't wake up.
--She could sleep through an Earthquake, that girl. --
"M-miss Naya, I-I have a sword you can use."
"I don't know how to wield a blade." Naya turned back toward the man. "Besides, these mortals are nothing."
Though she was internally shocked, they didn't seem to fear an Elf. However, she couldn't make out their expressions from behind their masks. Their body movements looked aggressive but with purpose. They clearly were experienced.
"Last chance, Elf."
The rider nervously glanced at Naya, which only grated her further since the mess was his fault.
Naya didn't wait anymore; she would not move on someone else's time.
She dropped her foot back and instantly burst forward, appearing in front of the bandit leader instantaneously.
When she reached him, she twisted her body to take advantage of the momentum to deliver a powerful kick to his abdomen.
However, things did not go as planned.
The man was shocked at her speed, yet he could follow her with his eyes. His reaction was a step behind, and he took the brunt of Naya's kick to his ribs.
Naya felt and heard the bone crack.
His body only curved slightly from the impact, and he lightly groaned.
Though surprised, Naya's reaction was instant.
She lowered her body and swung her leg again at the man's shin.
This time, the man jumped backward with surprising momentum to avoid the blow.
His hand was held to his side, where he felt the bone snap and groaned once again as he landed a small distance away.
He ignored it well and pulled out his swords.
"Yer strong Litt-"
He didn't get to finish before Naya was in front of him again, this time with her hands up to punch at him.
The other bandits were horrified, frozen in place as they watched the battle between two people they could never hope to interrupt.
"Hey, old man, hand us the goods!" One of the bandits threatened the old man; a smart one, he wouldn't just wait for the victor of Naya's brawl.
Naya heard it but was busy dodging the heavy, swift swings of the bandit leader's swords. She didn't expect him to be that strong; he was just a nameless human bandit, yet his physical strength was on par with the Gardua, maybe even greater.
She dodged a downward slash of both blades and tilted her body to punch at his core again. And again, she felt and heard the crack.
Yet the man only groaned and instantly continued his onslaught.
--You believed you were the best in physical abilities, but Elven's physical abilities were never their strongest point. Good, yes, but you can be easily outdone by the practiced members of the other races.--
The lecture from Lia didn't distract her; she had long been used to loud noises as she fought.
Another missed slash and another blow that cracked bone, yet the man still stood like a brick wall.
From behind, a lot of the Bandits were watching the fight.
"Your Elf is a bit busy, the goods or your life!"
A couple of them kept threatening the man.
--Man! No honor among thieves!--
He pulled out a rugged steel dagger. "Fine, you will paint the soi-"
The bandit collapsed, dead on the ground, blood spilling from his head.
"Josh!" Multiple ran up to him in horror to no avail, as he was already dead.
Naya had dodged one of the leader's blows by leaning ducking and took advantage to lift a rock and launch it with as much force as she could muster toward the bandit's weakly guarded head.
The leader froze at the sight, and Naya took advantage of the moment to launch herself from her ducking position into the air with a backflip kick aimed at one of his swords.
The force of her blow snapped one of the man's fingers, but he did not scream as the blade launched from his hand.
Naya caught it midair before gracefully landing a short distance from the man.
He stared at her, and Naya wished she could make out his expression, but his mask appeared tough and didn't budge throughout their confrontation.
[He is not a normal human.]
--Something's not right; you hit his ribs full force twice and shattered his finger, yet he doesn't look to be in pain at all.--
A quick glance back showed Naya that the other bandits were too terrified to make another move on the merchant, and they were watching their leader and Naya.
"Yer strong. Ma' always said I'd be stronger than an Elf..." He rubbed his head of dirty blonde hair. "Oh well." He shrugged and stood with his sword tilted forward and his free hand up.
"This farce is over." Naya propelled herself forward with all the speed she could muster.
As she approached, she swung her sword in an arc at the leader's head, which he quickly raised his own sword to block.
However, Naya suddenly dipped and completed the arc below the man's knee.
He did not fall and only grunted as his lower leg fell to the dirt. Even with blood pouring from his open wound, the man brought his sword down with both hands at Naya.
His speed was impressive, but Naya easily swayed to the right and slashed at his other leg.
The man fell to the ground with a loud thud as Naya moved to the side.
"R-Run!" A bandit screamed, and the crowd instantly dispersed into the trees.
Naya didn't care to chase them one by one. The human bandit leader had thoroughly captured her interest.
He was already sitting in the dirt, with his sword at his side and his hands resting in his lap.
Naya placed the blade of the sword against his neck. "What are you?"
"Gonna die soon. I can kinda feel it." He moved his hand to the front of his mask. "Woulda been nice... if I could feel my face again before I go... Ma'."
Without another word, the man's head fell.
"What... was that?" Naya threw the sword to the ground and stared at the drooping head.
Naya gently tipped the man's body over so he was lying on his back. She had an idea but wasn't thrilled about what she knew she'd find.
She ripped off his animal skins, and there it was, something even the craziest of Elves considered abhorrent.