A sharp, cold breath entered his lungs as Frenley looked around his new environment. The watchful moon was illuminating the dark sky; green grass sprouted all around him and his party. Mia was looking around with the same curiosity; Risa didn't even look around as she stood up. Fren stood next, Mia following. Now that he was standing, he had a better look at the plains they found themselves in.
An ever-expanding grassfield that melted into a forest to the west, with a mountain range inside of it. That seemed to cut through the land like a wall. East was more grasslands, with odd shapes here and there that he could not make out, before the giant mountain range appeared again. Behind them was a giant cliff, rough and large, with ocean waves crashing against it. Slowly eroding the foundation they were on.
Straight ahead of them was the place where the mountain range splits into two. A large castle could be seen in the distance, built between the two mountain ranges.
“You guys done taking in the view?”
Frenley turned to face Risa, who had her arms crossed, waiting for them.
“Yes, sorry about that.”
“Um... oh yeah, finish looking. Quite odd-looking place if I may say so.”
Mia said as she shrugged. She summoned her shield and sword in each hand. She rested the blade on her shoulder as she placed her other hand on her waist.
“Yeah, it is. Anyway, the only bit of exploration I have done is to the west and north. If we go north, we will soon find a road that leads to a faraway city. But the roads are littered with knights and soldiers, not the peasants we dealt with in the tutorial. West is the forest, as you can see; inside it are more knights and also some underground dungeons. But it also has wildlife we need to worry about.”
“I say we go to the forest,” Said Frenley, which caused the two girls to look at him. He swallowed some of his anxiety as he spoke. “There might be some side bosses or randoms in there we can defeat to level up. We might even get some loot.”
“Sounds like a solid plan to me, but I am down for whatever.”
“I agree, Fren, the road to the city will lead soon enough to the castle if my hypothesis is correct. That is where I think the main boss of this region is, and if this works like a Notsoft game. It will unlock the next area.”
Mia nodded her head to that. The tall woman knew the kind of games that the company made.
“Alright, since we are in agreement, let's head to the forest and get this show on the road. Dear, if you would do us the favor.”
“On it, love.”
Mia said as she started to walk towards the forest. Frenley was a few steps behind her. Armed with his sword and effigy. Risa walked behind the two of them, looking at every shadow and movement her eyes could see, and her ears could hear. The group walked for a few seconds.
“So you two are a couple or something?”
Both Mia and Frenley turned to look at the fox woman, their eyes widening, who in turn looked at them with curiosity.
“What!? Absolutely not! I just met her three days ago. Tell her, Mia.”
“Yeah!”
“Then why do you guys call each other love and dear?”
“It's a southern thing; you're from the south, right, Mia?”
“Well, there ain't too much countryside up north. So yeah. You from up north, Risa?”
“Nope, grew up on the west. Moved over to the south two months ago. Cheaper rent”
“Ah... yeah, but not for much longer if more people start coming here.”
“Preach, love. Well, hope you're liking the area so far. I am a country girl, as you can guess from my previous comment.”
“I grew up in this city; family goes all the way back to colonial times.”
“Ah, you are white white then.”
Risa said with a soft chuckle, and Mia did the same as they continued walking, and the group followed them.
“Looks like Frenley is a gringo.”
“You calling me a slur?”
“What? Who told you that? It just means a white English-speaking person.”
“Ah... an old friend of mine said it was. Then again, I believe he may not be a good person.”
“Alright, guys, eyes on front. Once we enter the forest, we may get attacked.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mia said as she focused on the forest in front of them; she put her shield close, and her sword was ready to strike.
“I am no ma’am. We are the same fucking age.”
“You 23?”
“….26”
“Ah, oldy.”
“I swear to god I am gonna hit you by accident.”
“Won't be much of an accident if you're already premeditating it.”
Frenley shook his head as the two girls banted with each other. The party soon entered the forest, and they all began to focus on their surroundings. Mia slowed down her steps as she walked; Frenley was close behind her, and so was Risa. Mia spoke with a soft tone.
“Where are we going, Risa?”
“Continue walking straight; we will soon see a ruin with a staircase leading down.”
“Alright”
The trio walked through the deathly quiet and cold forest. Tree branches and fallen leaves cracked under the heel of their shoes. The soft light of the moon could not fully pierce through the canopy. It felt like the trees were closing in, hugging them, squeezing the air out of their lungs. Tension so strong and thick that it could be cut. And cut it was.
From the left flank, a man came rushing out. Dressed in light leather armor. Wearing an open-face helmet. A sword and shield in each hand. The same eyes emboldened by the flames as the peasants the trio had fought in their individual tutorials. Frenley was the first to react, as he turned around and shot one of his spells at the man. The multicolored bolt hit the man straight in the chest. His armor absorbed some of the damage.
But the damage slowed him down for two seconds, enough for Mia to come and face him. Delivering a strong shield bash to its side, pushing the man to the ground, where he was met with a starlight bolt of magic that came from Risa's wooden staff. The bolt of magic pierced the man's skull. Shattering its brain matter on the forest ground. Its red, silky blood spilled from its disgusting wound.
But the ground is no picky eater, and no blood should be wasted today.
“Holy shit...”
“More incoming!”
“Fuck!”
Mia said as she raised her shield to defend against a halberd attack. Three more figures came out from behind the trees. The halberdier was trying to pull its blade from Mia's shield. The other two were using shields and swords. One of them attacked Mia's exposed side, while the other approached Frenley.
“Risa, help out Mia!”
“On it!”
Fren charged at the soldier coming to him. He blocked the enemy's overhead strike with his own weapon. Frenley grabbed the shield from the top and pushed it away, making the soldier take a step back. Frenley would then grab the soldier's sword-wielding hand and shoot another spell. The magical explosion that followed pushed blood and gore onto his face. But no matter how disgusted he was, he kept his eyes open.
The old veteran's painful training was starting to pay off, and Fren hated it. Thankfully, the soldier didn't seem to have the same training as he took a step back and looked at the bloody stump of a hand. Frenley took a step forward as he pushed his blade deep into the enemy's neck. He didn't care to make sure he got the kill, as he pulled the blade backward and kicked the soldier away.
Frenley turned around to see Mia holding back the two soldiers. Both were heavily wounded. The halberdier seemed to be moving slowly like he was frozen, while the other sword user had thrown away his shield and held the sword with both hands. Frenley was charged with helping out his party.
He arrived at the exposed side of the halberd user, who turned to face him to block the upcoming attack. This, in turn, left his side exposed for a magical moonlight shard to hit him. Making him buckle sideways and recoil from the pain and impact. Frenley pulled his sword upwards and held it with both hands. Forcing his muscles and all the strength they could muster. He slammed his sword into the man’s helmet, denting it and crushing his skull.
The soldier fell to the ground, and Frenley got ready to help out Mia with the last soldier, but it was not needed. The tall woman drew her sword from the soldier's neck. Its head hangs from its body by bloody tendons. Frenley sighed in relief before he went and finished off the two other soldiers. He drew a bloody circle in the ground as he pulled his sword out of the swordsman's chest.
“Gosh... good fight, loves.”
“No time to rest, we've got to continue moving before we attract more attention.”
Risa said as she drank one of her magic potions. Frenley patted Mia on the back, then pointed with his head to continue.
“Good fight, Mia and Risa.”
“Thank you, Love…alright!”
Mia said as she patted her knees and stood up, once again leading the way for the party. The group on the way to the ruins, Risa described, fought another two groups of soldiers. But with each battle, they disposed of them faster. After five minutes of entering the forest, the group found the ruins. An old stone cover in moss sprouted from the ground like the bones of a great beast.
Torches were lit up, illuminating the surroundings. With careful steps, they entered the ruins. Like they were stepping inside the large mouth of a dead beast, they knew it wouldn't wake up, but the fear was still there. The trio walked down the exposed staircase. Taking deep, slow breaths. The trio soon found themselves a moonlight shard, and in seconds, their worries melted away at the sight of the pale silver light. They all took their seat next to the shard.
“Have you explored the dungeon, Risa?”
Frenley said as he set his sword in his scabbard. The short woman nodded her head, causing her silver fox ears to bob up and down. Frenley could have sworn he saw Mia from the corner of his eyes, reach forward to pat the soft fur, but stop herself.
“Yes, I have; it is full of stone-like golems that are not fun at all to fight. It also has a trap to look forward to.”
“Oh, how fun.”
“Anything we can know about these golem things?”
“They seem to take solid magic damage, but I don't know how well your swords will deal with them. They are also fast as fuck and have some ugly as shit weapons.”
Mia closed her eyes as she rested her head against the cold stone wall.
“This better give some good loot...”
“I sure hope so.. Hey, Risa, how many spells can you cast?” Frenley said as he looked at the short woman
“You mean in total or how many different spells I have?”
“Both will be good.”
“I can cast four spells and have Star Shard and Star Step. You already saw Star Shard, but Star Step allows me to do some short-distance teleportation, and I leave behind an ice mist that freezes and slows enemies. My Star Shard also seems to freeze and slow enemies, but at a lower rate.”
“Interesting..I can also cast four spells. I got Season Bolt and Season Coating. Season Coating covers my weapon with a magical element that freezes and melts wounds. While Season Bolt is the same as your Star Shard, it also leaves the wounds freezing and melting.”
“Pretty fucking ugly spell; it also hurts like a bitch.”
Risa looked at Mia for that comment, a bit curious about how she knew it hurt, but not caring enough to ask.
“Alright... well, let us rest and get this show on the road.”
“Agree”
The party rests their eyes for a second before opening them back up the next. Completely fresh like nothing ever happened. Their equipment and potions are restored as they all stand up. They take the first step into the depths of this dungeon with weapons in hand.