Frenley looked at the rewards they got from yesterday's expeditions with a hardened expression. A halberd, a shield, and a crossbow. Mia had her elbow on his shoulder, looking down at the rewards as well. Risa stood next to Frenley.
“Well, that sucks.”
“Tell me about it, sweetheart. At least I can use the shield, but I don't think the halberd and the crossbow are gonna be any use. Maybe we can trade them for something in the town.”
“We killed a whole camp, and we get three shitty items?” Frenley said with some anger in his tone.
“Would love to know how the reward drops work. Clearly, they are based on what we fought.” The kitsune said, her tails swinging side to side.
“I hate working so hard and being rewarded with shit..alright, let's go and trade this crap. Maybe we can get something more useful for Mia.”
“And something for you, too, love!” The tall woman said as she placed the items in her inventory. She follows behind the Fey, the kitsune by her side.
“That would be great, but I am fine with my gear for now. Getting you guys something will benefit us much more.”
“Completly disagree,” Risa said as she walked a bit faster to be right next to him. Mia took her position to his right side. “I already got two solid upgrades, Mia has a shield upgrade, and potentially something else. You're still rocking the starting gear.”
“Exactly, maybe we can get you a new spell or sword!”
“Ugh, fine, but if we fine nothing, we will get an upgrade for one of you.”
“You sure are a stubborn man.”
The tall woman said as she patted him on the back, and the two of them walked out of the building. Looking around to see what would be their first stop. The trio walked down the streets; other parties could be seen doing their own things. No one really pays them attention.
“Do you guys think we will continue to wake up in that room?”
“What do you mean, dear?” Frenley said, looking at the silver-haired kitsune.
“I mean, it just feels weird to go to sleep and wake up on a floor with random people around you.”
“Maybe we only wake up there because it has a giant moon shard.” He responded.
“But there are smaller ones around it; maybe we can take one on and place it in a building or a house.”
“Oh, thinking of buying a house, sweetheart?” The tall wall woman chimes in.
“Who wouldn't, but would like to buy a real home and not one in a dream.”
“Yeah, you make a valid point, sweetheart.”
“Oh, found a blacksmith. Let's go inside.”
Frenley's voice cut the conversation. As he started to lead the way to the small blacksmith shop. The girl follows behind as they continue to talk.
“But I do like the idea of not waking up with strangers around you. We should look more into that, Risa.”
“I agree, maybe it would be nice to have a day off from expeditions and just relax. We may be waking up physically fine, but the mental toll is slowly accumulating.”
“I agree.” The fey pushed the wooden door open but didn't go in, holding it open for the girls to walk in. “I would like to train some more with my sword.”
“Thanks, handsome,” Mia said as she patted his cheek as she walked in
“Thanks, babe.” Said the kitsune right after, giving him a soft, warm smile.
“You are welcome.”
“Ah~ I was wondering who was making so much noise this early at night!”
The group looked at the small, muscular figure behind the counter. The man had a long, braided red beard. Well kept and groomed. His arms bulged with muscle, and his overalls were dirty from years of use next to a forge. The man's head was shaved smooth; not a single speck of hair could be seen. Frenley would love to see the man's head shine under the sunlight. But he pushes such silly thoughts to the side.
“Sorry for the commotion, sir,” Risa said as she bowed her head a bit. Mia just cuckle softly as she places one of her hands on her hip.
“Nah, don't worry about it, lass! Young couples are always loud.”
The whole group blushes a bit at the man's comment, which causes him to laugh as he pats the wooden counter.
“Ah! still haven't gotten there yet, well, wish you all good luck! Now, how can this old man help you?”
“We came to trade some items. Dear, if you could.”
“Sure thing, love.”
Mia walked to the wooden counter and placed down the halberd and crossbow from her inventory. The old man looked at the two weapons for a bit, then looked back at the group.
“Well, this could get you something decent, want you guys want?”
“I would like a hammer or an axe if you could.”
“One-handed?” The bearded man said, looking at Mia.
“Yep, I will be using it with a shield.”
“Gotcha! I will see what I can find. Anything else?”
“Yes, can you find a sword for him?”
“For the fey? You favor speed or strength?”
“I favor speed! Haha man, it feels nice to not be mistaken as a woman.”
“I have dealt with you kind enough times to notice the difference. Alright, you lot can stay here for a bit, and I will ransack the shop to see what I can find.”
The group nodded their heads as they looked around the shop while waiting for the man.
“He is a dwarf, ain't he?” Mia broke the silence as she looked at a polished shield hanging from the wall.
“He has to be, also dear. Why do you ask for a hammer or an axe?”
“I don't think a sword is working out for me with the way I am fighting. I am always in an awkward position to swing it and do any real damage. So I figure a more blunt weapon will work better for me.”
“Can't fault your thought process,” The kitsune said as her ears twitched a bit while looking at her reflection off a well-crafted full suit of armor.
Frenley nodded his head as he played with his hair, waiting for the dwarf to come back. It didn't take long for the man to come back, holding a one-handed hammer and a sword, a slick sword.
“Alright for the lady! I got you this hammer!”
Mia walked over to the counter, followed by Risa and Fren. Mia looked at the hammer and gave it a couple of test swings. She then took out her shield, letting it rest in her hand before she swung her hammer in different positions and stances. After a few swings, she nodded her head. Smiling as she looked at the dwarf.
“Yep! I like this.”
“Good! Now for the sir, I got you this cutlass. It ain't as smooth or fast as your fey swords. But it's still good! Can't go bad with dwarven forged!”
Frenley looked at Mia; the tall woman could only giggle and nod. Frenley grabbed the sword as lore and stats were played in his head.
‘Roseiron Cutlass(2B):’
‘An old, trusted weapon by the worm pirates. The iron bathed in blood so much it gained a pink tint.’
‘A fast sword that deals more bleeding damage to enemies.’
Frenley's eyebrow raised a bit as he looked at the sword. He swung it around, getting a feel for its weight. It didn't feel as light as his current sword, but if its message is to be believed. Bleeding damage could come in handy in a long prelong fight. Like one again a boss.
“I like it, I will take it.”
“Good! Well, that is all you guys get for the halberd and crossbow! Come by if you ever find something else to trade. If possible, maybe bring back some materials from the ground world. If you do, I can craft you something custom.”
“Well, keep that in mind, thank you, sir, and have a good day.”
“Pleasure to be of help! Now go out there and show those Sun maniacs the power of the Moon!”
The man said as he waved goodbye at them. The trio walked out of the shop and headed towards the central building.
“So what do your new weapons do?”
“Mine says it's a heavy hammer that allows for internal damage.”
“I can now do more bleeding damage.”
“Oh! both sound great for a long prelongue fight.”
“Yeah, and we have the perfect place to try it on,” Frenley said with a wicked smile.
“Let's go and skin ourselves a wolf!”
The trio laughs as they walk, ignoring the weird looks they get thanks to Mia's comment.
The group stood at the edge of the clearing, looking at the destroyed camp. Even the resurrecting fire was gone. Leaving behind in its wake a large ice mound.
“He ain't here.”
“No, he ain't…”
“Let's explore, maybe there is a hint in there for where he went.”
Frenley and Mia nodded to Risa's suggestion as they walked behind her towards the camp. They entered through the same hole they made last night. Bodies linger around them, some killed by them. Most were killed by the wolf in its rampage. Splint half, guts spilled all over the place. Heads missing. Cut into three pieces. Those were just some of the ways the wolf killed the soldiers. This was not the work of an animal trying to eat.
But a beast that laughs when it slaughters, and it causes pain. Their walk was painfully quiet, and soon they reached the center of the camp. Where there was once a raging fire, now it's a mound of ice around it. Ice that held living people. When the dead people woke up, they found themselves encased in a tomb of ice.
The group looked at the people trapped inside the ice; there was not enough space for them. So they started to climb each other. Their fingers were bloody and raw as they clawed away at the ice. A hundred eyes stare back at them, the flame of the sun deep within them. The group looked at the amount of flesh and decided to look away from the scene. Ignoring the eyes of men and women emflamed by madness.
“Found something.”
Risa's soft voice echoed through the eerie quiet camp, and the other two rushed to her direction. Risa pointed to the large prints of the beast, their eyes followed the path, and they noticed that it led outside the camp.
“Well, that is a clue! Let's follow it,” Fren said as he started to walk with hurried steps.
“Yes, please.. I am starting to not like this place.”
Mia said as she followed Fren, Risa followed closely behind them. The moment the group stepped out of the camp, the feeling of eyes on them disappeared. A collective sigh of relief left their lips as they gathered their breath.
“That was horrendous. I don't know if that or the hand monster is worse. I hate the way they were looking at me. Thought they would escape any second.”
Mia said, shivering in place. Risa patted the tall woman’s back. Getting a soft thank you from her.
“Same…but thankfully it didn't. Now, let's go and fight this boss, babes.” Risa said
“I agree,” Frenley said, starting to follow the prints the boss left behind. “But Mia, I thought you liked being watched?”
“Huh, what gave you that impression?”
“The fact that you agree to film a vid to send to Risa?”
“Completly different context. Risa would probably rub one out while watching it, and the thought of her doing that is hot. Being watched by like a hundred people stuck in ice, it's not fun.”
“Make sense.. You're not gonna comment on that, dear?” The fey said while looking at the Kitsune.
“I plead the fifth.”
“Ah! You know what they said, if they don't deny it, then they are gu- ow ow! Fine, I will stop!”
Mia pleaded for mercy, which brought a soft smile and a chuckle from Frenley as they continued walking.
“Yep, we are going crazy.” The Fey said as he walked.
“Well, better to joke around than to think about what we just witnessed.” The kitsune answer him.
“Who knew that cures to horrors beyond comprehension are jokes.”
“Sex jokes, to be specific.” Risa and Frenley rolled their eyes at Mia's bad joke. That seemed to earn her another hit from the kitsune as Frenley heard Mia complaining behind him.