Hero: Ray (Formerly Roys)
Vi - Vania (Sister)
Papa K - Kelsier (Father)
Mom Z - Eliza (Mother)
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New characters:
Merci - The leader of highwaymen going to Mirebelle.
Dr. Heinz - One of Francia's doctors.
Jane - One of the nurses.
Jake - Adventurer. Fighter. Weapon: Sword and Shield. (secretly Alpha member)
David - Healer. Knowledgeable on plant life. (secretly Alpha member)
Royce - Flip practitioner. Basically a rogue. (secretly Alpha member). Subordinate to Merci, for now.
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New Terms:
Folm - paralyzing mushroom.
Jinji - paralyzing frog.
Foyer - detoxifying plant.
Mellows - Sweet smelling yellow roses with paralyzing thorns.
Leirga - basically komodo dragons but thinner and faster.
Warg - Basically a wolf, but bigger.
Goblins - Well, goblins!
Ogres - Relatives of Shrek.
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Bad dudes:
Hooks - Leader of the simp, part of a Beta faction
Chiz - Hooks subordinate, with parents issues
Carl Cestis - member of a Beta faction (not a jedi)
Felix - subordinate of Carl
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Adventurer Guild boss: Ford
Judas: town guard
Albert - One of the alpha team leaders leading Caravan A, great horseman
Cicero - Alberts subordinate in Caravan A, an ex Claude soldier
Patrice - Cicero's friend in Caravan B, skills, unknown
James - Alpha member caravan B (good brother of john)
John - Alpha member caravan B (tried to sacrifice himself, failed and was saved)
Peter - Alpha member caravan C (always with Simon)
Simon -Alpha member caravan C (always with Peter)
New info:
Town name where MC lives: Francia
Mirebella - town near Francia
Julien - a town near Mirabella
Alma - a town near Mirabella
Frendo - the closest city to Mirabell
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(Inside the town of Mirabelle's Adventurers Guild)
Kelsier and his family is sitting down with Merci, in a dimly lit room. The rest of the team lingers outside, their hushed conversations filling the space with a tense calm. They wonder what the private talk is all about.
Kelsier breaks the silence first, his voice soft but steady. "You know, Merci, I wasn't born into this life. I was just a farmer before. Until one day, a messenger came to me with the truth—a revelation from God Himself."
Merci raises an eyebrow, his skepticism clear. "The truth? What truth? The truth that religious people impose impossible things on us? People are tired, Kelsier. Tired of being led by those who claim to know what's best for them, who hide behind legends and stories of long-dead storytellers." Merci scoffs.
Kelsier leans forward, his eyes locking onto Merci's. "I'm not here to argue with you. I'm offering you something bigger than you and me. If I can prove to you that the truth I know is real within three years, then you join us. If not, I'll follow you. No strings attached."
Merci's mouth quirks into a half-smile. "You've got guts, farmer. I'll give you that. You beat me in battle, and now you want to challenge me with words." He scratches his chin, mulling it over. "Fine. But there's one condition. If I'm going to trust you with this, I need a guarantee. You help me clear my name with the Flip organization. Get me back to my brothers."
Kelsier nods. "You have my word. After our contract is done, I'll recommend your pardon. We'll testify to your heroic deeds."
Merci's eyes lit up, and he can't help but feel a glimmer of hope—a chance at redemption, a way to return to the family he once knew. "Deal," he says, leaning back in his chair, relaxing for the first time since their fight.
"What about the others, the ones still with the Flip? What are their stories?" Kelsier asks.
Merci shrugs. "Same as mine, more or less. Betrayal, revenge. They were banished too, for crimes they didn't commit or for taking matters into their own hands. I tracked them down, challenged them, beat them all. But they didn't know what I was—a changeling. I could heal from any attacks, negate any poison, well, almost all poisons. I am able to negate paralyzing or sleeping toxins, chemicals or venoms but I didn't anticipate getting a chokeful of the stuff forced into my throat." Merci laughed.
Kelsier nodded and smiled.
"Merci, I have really something important to tell you, if you can promise me to keep this a secret, I would be your friend and ally for life and our group would help you as much as we can in the future." Kelsier said.
"Hmm. Sure why not. As long as you are not worshippers or followers of the Evil One, then sure, I can keep secrets." Merci replied.
Kelsier grows silent for a reason, as if thinking about something really hard before speaking further.
There's something weird about this situation now that Merci thinks of it. Something about the young boy Rays, sitting silently in the corner - with his mother and sister between him. Like they are protecting him or something.
"We are actually Alpha worshippers. Also, my son in a reincarnator, who taught me the martial arts that I used against you."
"Eh? Interesting. If this kid of yours is a reincarnator, what is the proof?"
"Hi Merci." A voice speaks in his head. Merci looks around then here the voice again. Hello Merci, it's me Rays." the boy speaks.
Merci could not believe it, the boy is speaking. He used telepathy too.
"What's this all about? Merci asks.
"Well, you see Merci, this world is under attack by the Evil One. I was sent here by the one true God Alpha to save it." Rays replied.
"One true God eh? What is your proof?" Merci asks.
"I could ask Alpha your deepest and darkest secret and whisper it to you."
"Eh? Go on ahead, tell me my secret." Merci looks at Rays skeptically.
"One moment." I replied.
I closed my eyes and prayed an earnest prayer to Alpha, that he would reveal the secret of Merci so that Merci would be a believer.
After a while, I opened my eyes. "Come near Merci."
Merci then sat near me.
Mother grabbed me and held me near Merci's ear. I whisper him his deepest and darkest secret.
Merci looks horrified.
"Okay, okay. I believe you sheesh. Promise to not tell anyone." Merci asks.
"I promise." I said.
"Okay. I believe you. Is this how you got converted Kelsier? By him threatening you with your secret?" Merci laughs.
"No Merci. I have faith in my son and believes that he is really from God Alpha, as everything that he did, he did for the safety and welfare of our family." Father replies.
"Okay, I believe you want to ask me something then. Ask away."
"We want to know how you become a Changeling. It is very important to us, as it would help us in rescuing the missing children in Francia." Kelsier replied.
"Hmm, I suppose I can tell it to you. You seem to be a good lot from my observation. Fine. I will tell you the way to become a Changeling. Promise to never teach this to those unworthy."
"We promise.'" Kelsier replied.
"There are five conditions," Merci begins. "You need to be level 20. Your magic points at least, one hundred 100. You have to drink the blood of the creature you want to mimic, and you need to fully embrace that creature's habits, movements and thoughts. But more importantly, you need to maintain a strong sense of self. Otherwise, you might forget who you are after transforming and returning to your original form. Lastly, you need to drink the blood of another changeling to unlock the ability."
Kelsier and Rays exchange a glance, excitement flashing in their eyes. "So, it's possible," Rays says softly. "We could learn this. We would be able to rescue and help the children more easily "
Merci laughs. "Possible, yes. But not easy. Changing into something with a vastly different size or shape takes a lot of magic. You could lose your mind if you aren't careful."
Rays steps forward, his youthful face belying the wisdom in his voice. "Merci, how many forms do you know?"
"Five," Merci replies. "Troll, orc, goblin, elf, and dwarf. Anything smaller or bigger is... dangerous. I had to practice real hard to become a Troll, if you looked closely during the battle, the troll version of me is just a taller and thinner version of me as a human. Only difference that I made is I became a troll human hybrid. Took a lot of practice with that one. Almost lost my mind too turning to a troll. I had to settle for a troll human hybrid."
The room falls silent again as Kelsier and Rays absorb the implications. Changeling powers could open new doors, new possibilities. For Kelsier, it's another tool to protect people, to outwit their enemies. For Rays, it's a way to help with the missions ahead—rescuing the children taken by the evil Beta priests in Francia.
Kelsier clears his throat. "Merci, we need your help. If we're going to save those missing children in Francia, your abilities will be invaluable. Can you teach us? We could really use your help."
Merci meets Kelsier's eyes, sensing the depth of his sincerity.
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll teach you all then but it won't be easy. You need to be prepared for the consequences. If you lose your minds, I won't be responsible."
Kelsier smiles. "We're prepared, Merci. We've faced worse."
Okay. I will raise your levels to 20 and we will increase your mana points to at least 100. This won't be easy, we would go to a place were there are lots of dangerous monsters. But if we work together, we would be able to level up really fast. For now, let us finish our quest with the acid spitting Leirgas and find out where they came from." Merci replies.
(To be continued)