亚洲综合中美

“Lady,” said the same man, “-you better head to the guild and report what has happened,” throwing a gaze of sympathy, he jumped aboard the truck to return from whence he came.

Inside the walls, life went on oblivious to the pain and suffering endured at the border.

Stood with a singular bag atop which rested a sword with a broken blade, Achilles stared the passersby emptily. ‘I’m home,’ she thought with ever so heavier memories.

“You there,” hailed a guard on horseback, “-adventurer?”

Flashing her tag, the man gave a nod to then point at a bus. “New transit for visiting adventurers,” said doubtfully, the horse neighed to sprint down the street.

“You coming?” asked the diver with a cap shadowing his gaze. Aboard, a peek through the windows revealed strong-willed individuals with less than inviting faces. At the back sat the worse, battle scars that would have shuddered a normal man. Coming to the bus, the fare displayed in illustration.

.....

‘Three coppers,’ sighed, she climbed on board and sat at the first opened seat. The outside felt duller than the walls of moss. Despair, faced with utmost evil, her boon of invincibility had saved her life. Flashes of the day kept on haunting as if a jarring old wound.

Settled under a white blanket with medics at her side, the tent’s opening flapped with the wind. Unconscious for two days, wakened to the sound of horse hooves, her eyes opened sharply.

“Achilles,” smiled the nurse with a medic bag with potions and scrolls behind. “You’re awake.”

“What about the others?” fatigued, rising her own head felt as if trying to breathe underwater. A desperate attempt to swim ending in naught but death. Courteously, the nurse slipped a hand under Achilles’s pillow to then give a little push.

“You should really be more careful,” said the nurse faced with she who sat on the edge of the bed. The adventurer kept a gaze of want. Her thirst for knowing what had happened made the medic nervous.

*Recon party has made it back,* screamed a childish voice who ran to pass the information.

“Wait,” yelled the nurse as her patient stood.

“Sorry, I need answers,” sharp and direct, parting the entrance, light burst forth. The medical camp stood a few meters away from the briefing area. All who fought had their orders given by the Dungeon Master for it wasn’t wise to go onto a death march. Head lowered and stood on a small wooden podium a few inches off the dirt floor, adventurers stopped and stared.

“Greetings comrades in arms,” a deep raspy voice echoed to grab all the focus, “-it has been a few days since of the mysterious rumble that cut out connection with the Exploration team. We’ve tried hard and mighty to get back said connection. Sadly, after recovering one of the members; a recon party was sent forth. Battled all the way to floor 30, bodyless stains of blood are all that remain. Weapons, armor, and most importantly, the Guild Tags told but one thing, the team’s extermination. Thanks to their courageous efforts, us of the Dungeon, can entrust their knowledge onto the new generations. Their deaths will not be in vain,” stood with a salute, “-let’s have a moment of silence to remember those who perished.” Stone cold, the one minutes felt like an hour, Achilles fell to her knees upon hearing the news. Hard was it to think of the what-ifs.

Later that day, the Dungeon Master paid a visit. The shock of losing someone she thought of as family had the world around crumbling. A singular thought went through the mind, the faces of the Lymsey sisters who faced the same heart-tearing sadness. In the middle of it all, the man who had called her forth from another dimension, Staxius. She longed for how he had hugged and comforted the girls; the Argonaut wanted to be consoled.

“Lady Achilles,” stood with hats taken off, “-I’m sure you’ve heard of the news,” after which, a carton box was brought by an assistant. “These were all the salvage team recovered,” weapons, pieces of armor, and guild-tags. “In respect of those who died, we’re returning this to thee.” Sat inside the dormitory, the door to her room closed.

“There’s no need for being softhearted,” said Achilles with a forced smile, “-the armor will be more useful to the living than dead. I’ve but one request, return what remains of Kyle; else known as Deadeyes.” The dimness from the lack of a window had an atmosphere on the edge of peril – any wrong move could have an adverse reaction.

“As you wish,” stern, “-tis what remains,” a pistol, a lock-in which had the picture of a couple with the man’s face hidden by smeared-blood, and the Guild-tag.

“I appreciate it,” she said with emptied eyes.

“I know this to be sudden,” coughed the vice-leader, “-what are thy plans?”

“Plans,” she stared to then face the floor, “-I’ve lost my way as a warrior. I failed my friends when they needed it most, that monster isn’t Boss-class; tis a demon,” elbows to her legs, her eyes closed in solitude.

“There’s another thing,” just as the vice-leader was to speak, “-wait,” interjected the Dungeon Leader. “A truck is leaving later today. Rest is a must if thou wish to rise from the ashes again. Despair not, Achilles of Kniq, the one who bears the mantle of a hero, we’ll wait for thy return.” Startled to be cut off, the vice-leader frowned with the Dungeon leader glaring.

The bus came to a screech; “-adventuring guild,” voiced the driver. One hand through the bag, Achilles got off with a neutral face. Chatter and smiles of young warriors spanned till the entrance. Excited by gear, a new quest, or boasting about new skills. Common behavior for those fresh of heart.

“Please, this way, there’s plenty to go around,” smiled Melisa as they dealt with the daily overflow of quests request.

“STAND IN LINE OR NONE SHALL BE QUESTING,” as eager as ever, Diane’s strong personality had the men cower to make a line. Displayed across the screens were the request to protecting caravans, the extermination of bandits, or kill-quests.

*Boof* heavy bag dropped onto an empty table; Achilles took a seat with an empty wallet.

“How may I be of service?” came one of the waiters.

“A coffee,” she reached for her bank-card, “-bring the one that is most bitter,” with a tap, the waiter bowed out of her vision. ‘This place never changes,’ tightly grabbed, her left hand-held multiple guild-tags.

“Hey, did you hear about Kniq’s sudden disbandment?” whispered across onto another table, Achilles turned in with her heart sinking. ‘Is that the reason why my guild-card had no guild?’

“Yeah, apparently the leader came to personally end their legacy. There’re rumors that the secretary had an affair. The members just up and left after that.”

“Considering they were the strongest upcoming team; clashing of ego’s I presume.”

“Ma’am, your coffee,” placed the Waiter.

“Fuck off,” slapped, the mug fell to the floor with Achilles in anger, “-what is this of Kniq disbanding?” stormed to the next table, the duo stared perplexed.

The tag flashed of red, “-listen, lady, we don’t mean to be rude, but you’re kind of being a pain.”

“Listening of another table’s conversation is pretty scummy,” smirked the other.

“Scummy you said,” held by the neck, she rose the two without breaking a sweat, “-give me answers NOW!”

“ACHILLES,” Melisa dashed across the room to give a tight embrace. “Please let go,” she begged, “-it’s not wise to cause a scene.” The room’s feel turned to bitter, hands-on swords, many were readied to strike. *Crack,* dropped, the two men fell. “Let’s head upstairs,” smiled Melisa as the crowd gave side-glances.

“Fine,” shrugging off the embrace, she reached for the bag and glare all who dared to stare. Fierce and dangerous, the hardest fighters could but twiddle their thumb, match by her aura alone.

“Can I have answers now?” sat at the upstairs room, Melisa waited on the opposite end.

“In a minute,” she smiled reassuringly.

“Sorry I’m late,” the door opened with Diane holding a file.

“I do apologize,” dropped onto the table, the sound alone revealed its weight, “-the news of Kniq disbanding came rather forcefully.”

“Skip the bullshit, I need answers.”

“Fine,” fired Diane with a frown, “-all that I’m about to say came from information given by Xenos. First off, the guild has disbanded. Reason being that Auic and Avon eloped to go who knows where. Without someone to manage the guild as Viola is in Dorchester, he thought it wise to end it.”

“What about Deadeyes?” asked Melisa who held a piece of paper, “-is he not here?”

“No...” paused, “-he’s dead. We made it to the 30th floor to be squashed as if bugs. None can compare to how vicious that tower is. Deadeyes was like a brother; we fought a lot but it was for fun,” reached deep into her pockets, “-here are the people who’ve died. The strongest Exploration team to be created, ended in a mere five minutes,” crinkled forehead, one could see her gritting teeth and clenching hard.

“I’m sorry,” mumbled Melisa with a feeling of regret.

“Doesn’t matter,” leaned Achilles, “-doesn’t matter if he’s dead or not. Our family, my home, is gone, Kniq is dissolved.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” fired Diane, “-do you think thy leader to be so coldhearted?”

“I do actually,” she snickered in response.

“Don’t be so cold,” slid a piece of paper across the table.

“What’s this?”

“Take a look.”

*Dear members of Kniq, I assume that tis Deadeyes and Achilles who are to read this letter. I know that the guild disbanding might have seemed selfish. Well, it is selfish, I did use thee to attain my goal of opening a guild in Arda. Nonetheless, we’re family. I’ll tell thee the real truth. Avon was an artificial spirit whomst had sworn to assist my every whim. As for Auic, she’s noble of Ardanian blood. The two-built relation though Avon could never experience the real warmth of what it means to be human. To repay their kindness, I granted Avon a human body and Auic the freedom she wished. Viola agreed as well, they wanted to make a family thus who was I to stop their future. The Lymsey sisters have retired as adventurers, girls their age have much more to look forward to. Young, pretty, and a hell of a lot smart – they’re living a good life in the company of foster parents. It may look as if I don’t care, but I know what my companions are up too, after all, Kniq is our family. Deadeyes and Achilles, you two went off to fight and pave the way for the tower. I doubt this day to come, however, if ever despair overwhelms thee, I’ll be waiting. To be truthful, Achilles, I know you’ve returned because Deadeyes has died. Our ideals may clash and butt-heads, you might see saving people as thy duty. It’s all fair and good, I won’t argue with what decision you eventually make. Carve thy path and disappear if thee hates me; come to slay I for all that matters. I’ll wait no matter the conclusion. Just know, the door to the mansion is opened, the door to thy room is opened, and the door back into my life is opened as well. We’re a family, and family will always stick with one another even if the path chosen is far from ideal. Come to Arda, I’ll be waiting, dearest Argonaut.*

‘Master,’ even by not being here, the words written had tears overflowed. The image of the sisters being held by Staxius replaced to one of him comforting her in turn.

“What does it say?”

“I’m going to Arda.”