Did you hear? Oscar says
Hear what? he says. Drinking down his milk.
How are you even drinking that, with your helmets on. You should be making a mess
Just what didn't I hear?
Oh, some one in level six saw and angel,
What?
They didn't live very long after that, the whole squad were annihilated, barely a trace of them remained
That's heavy, if no one survived how come you know
Huh?
I mean if no one survived, then who gave the information about the angel
Huh? My informant gave me
And how does he know?
I don't know, maybe they called for help before they died. Yeah maybe they did
Maybe, so it could all just be a rumor
I don't know but the squad wasn't found and the last traces of them were between dungeon five and six.
Hmmm.
Yeah what could've gotten to them their
An angel in level six sounds a bit too made up, don't you think plus any number of things could have gotten them.
I don't know but for the few months I've been there, the dungeons have seemed to be full of strange happenings. The places are always completely cleansed, the languages on the walls no one can read and they keep changing and even worst of all you know feyemor.
The snake?
Yeah the three headed snake. The last time I met him, he seemed to recognize me, I could tell from his eyes, ash, he seemed to know my moves.
Your moves are not that great to begin with, Oscar.
Shut up, what I'm saying is, what if all of it is conscious.
What you mean like the snake
Yeah like the snake and everything else
You sound scared, Oscar.
What! He jolts on his chair.
Is that why starting down here? equipping yourself with dungeon gossip
What
It won't help you up there. It all goes up in smoke at first threat you face. Up there it's just you and your own strength.
But I've got a squad, I'll conserve my strength and use there's and information is power my friend, it's a lot more than just strength and power. That's why I have my squad, they're all great at what they do. So weather angel comes I know they've got my back
Yeah. Nice I'm done with squads, I'm tired of dragging people along.
What are you quitting?
Oh no my friend. I'll be the first man, who makes it to gilgamesh and through and I'll do it's all by myself
What? he burst out laughing. You think you'll make it to Gilgamesh without a squad? He laughs even harder
What would you if do need magic to deactivate an army of golems
I'll cut through it
Oscar laughs harder. Okay, okay what about trap, what if you get into a trap
I'll cut through it
Come on, stop it, you're killing me, Oscar falls off his chair laughing. He thinks he'll make it to gilgamesh, I hear the king needs a new jester, you should apply. He laughs even harder
Asher walks of
Where are you going lone knight
To see the commander.
If he gives you the boot you can just cut through it. He laughs
Asher, chuckles a bit. Damn dwarf.
Within the interior of the office, a solemn old man deep in his work at his office. There's a knock on the door.
Who is it?
It's Asher sir,
Asher? Back so soon? come on in
He doesn't know?
Asher slowly walks in,
Good day sir, did you hear?
I hear what? That you came back from heaven with nothing to show for again? The old man looks down at his paper as he speaks.
One survived this time.
While almost a zombie, Asher. He drops down the scrolls he was reading. Tell me what do you want out of those dungeons why do you return, despite losing so many friends.
I don't know sir, I want to save the princess I guess.
You guess? The old man nods, seeming a bit thoughtful. Well I won't spend resources on a guess Asher. The Castle won't be sponsoring your trips anymore you'll have to find a different way up to heaven.
But sir, listen! The old man gave him a stern look.
What's that? Would you have me strip others of their resources and hand them to you to waste all over again?
This has never been my fault, I'd always told you I'd like to pick out my own team like the older holy knight do.
But you're not a holy knight, neither are you one of the king's personal guards. You'll not be given such authority, I'm afraid. And don't pass your blames unto me, I've done only my job. Have you done yours, as a knight of Eradon, would you say you've done your duty?
Asher sighs. I'm sorry sir. But if I don't go back, they would all have died for nothing.
It's best you leave my office, Asher. The guild will no longer sponsor you, you can help yourself to the list of merchants downstairs, they've been looking for knights to employ. Maybe you'll earn enough to sponsor a trip.
So that's how it is?
I'm afraid so, boy.
Either way sir, I will make it to Gilgamesh, even if I have to do it alone..
The old man gives him a stern look. Asher leaves.
....
Asher walks through the halls, on his way out. Oscar sees him
Yo Asher, how did it go?
Shut up! Oscar, he walks to the announcement board
Oscar chuckles, it's that bad huh. Asher takes off a copy of the list of Marchant
Marchant? Oh it's that bad huh? Asher walks away.
Good luck Asher. May we meet in heaven.
He walks out the guild, there's a spooky doll, in the shadows of the halls, its head moving tracking his every step, its eyes watching him.
As he walks out the entrance, it goes after him.
Asher walks through the streets of Locksley the capital city of Eradon and the doll after him. Asher goes to the black Smith to inquire about a new armor and the doll watches him from behind a carriage.
Asher works into a Marchant shop and it waits for him outside.
He goes into another merchant's shop and follows his every move,all through the afternoon.
Asher sits in a tavern, amidst all the noise and trouble that accompany such places, the bartender drops a pitcher of milk before him. He's looking at the copy of Marchant.
Geez all that work and nothing to show for, how many merchants have I got left. They all either filled or have already gone up. I can't afford armor, how the hell I'm in so much debt anyways. He recalls Emerald back at the dungeon while he was escaping with Reece. Maybe I should've gone back for that as he said. Who have been enough for a trip back.
I see you're looking for merchants, the man sitting by his side says.
Yeah, heard anything?
No, not about going to heaven, only odd jobs here and there.
How'd you know I want to go to heaven?
Come on, that's all anybody wants to do these days. And besides you look like a guild knight despite your ruined armor I can tell it's pure Excalibur.
So any jobs?
A couple but there's one I know you'd like, it's a bank robbery, you've got to catch the thief.
Really, wouldn't they just get a local knight for that.
They would but the country is spread thin right now, trying to break the princesses curse, so there's not enough knights to go around.
Asher thinks it over. So what are the details?
Well, it's been going on for a while now, the banks have been hit three times over the last month, and each time they change their security they've used traps, spells, even curses and still they get robbed.
It could be a phantom.
They've used wardings against that, the third time proved it wasn't.
So someone really crafty, one that could get past traps, magic spells and even curse and all without living a trace it's seems the person's smart, but not strong
How can you tell?
if they were powerful, they'll just use it get their way through, the persons seem meticulous, they may not leave a trace but no doubt they put a lot of work into those heist.
You can tell all that.
The door to the tavern opens, a man in armor walks in.
Hey angel! I heard you fell from heaven! again! The man says, referring to Asher.
Damn it's Lancelot. He says to himself.
Is he talking to you?
No
Hey Ash! I am talking to you.
The man chuckles, he is talking to you.
I hoped he wasn't. He turns to the man, what is it Lancelot got a problem?
Well no, it's just that I heard you fell down from heaven again, and again without a squad.
Yeah, so? What's it to you? I just wanna have a drink and get a job, Lance.
He chuckles, I'm a knight, squire and as a knight it's my duty to investigate criminal activities.
Huh? Ahser is confused.
I believe you've been slaughtering your own squad mates and feeding them to your ghouls.
What!?
People in the room start murmuring. The doll watches on from under a table.
You only just walked in how the hell are you already drunk!?
Are you challenging me to a fight?
No!
Well I accept!
What!? I said no! Why do you keep escalating things?
If I win we'll all see what you are under that mask.
You didn't hear? I'm a pig man apparently.
What!?
I thought everybody knew.
You're making a mockery of me, a high knight of Eradon
No, I think you beat me to that.
Your jokes end here. He walks up to him and draws out his sword, he points the blade at him.
Draw your sword, ghoul.