Chapter 4: W-wait…That’s Your Best Friend?
✧Hector✧
I charged in and slashed the goblin that was coming towards us.
“On your left.” Vic shouted at me and I instantly bent backwards and inches away from my nose one of his kunai went flying over me and struck the second goblin in the chest.
From the position that I was in I reached down to the ground and quickly brought myself up into a handstand started spinning as I stuck my legs straight out to make an “L” shape with my body. I knocked that goblin down and bent down to get more momentum and launched myself into the air and landed straight on the face of the third goblin. Pushing off of the goblin’s face I threw my dagger into the fourth goblin.
Out of the corner of my right eye Vic threw another kunai into the goblin that I just used as a spring then came in close and pulled his kunai out of the head of the third goblin that was falling to the ground and sliced the throat of the fifth goblin. The sixth goblin tried to sneak attack Vic, but it’s too slow. Vic round houses the goblin towards me. I quickly pulled my dagger out of the fourth goblins chest cavity and stab it into the back of the final goblin that was stumbling towards me.
Once all the goblins were down one by one they started to turn into ash then disappear. Six small bags were left behind. Two of the goblins also left behind a piece of amber.
“Sweet, how many amber pieces do we need to fill those three orders that we picked up?” Vic asked as he went and collected the amber and the bags.
We figured out only on person in a party has to pick up the dropped items in order for the profits to be split in between the party members. Other then the EXP we both got the full amount of whatever the EXP for the monster was times the number of them. Since we’re in the plans the EXP is slim to none. At least for us it is. “I want to say we have to pick up at least ten more but let me double check.” I said swiping my hand in front of me to bring up my menu.
In this game there was no such thing as an inventory. Which means all weapons and items must be carried on your person. With the extra money I got from the glitch I went and bought a backpack that was single strapped. The bag was black and made with a light expandable cloth so I could hold more items in it, but the weight of these ambers were starting to slow me down a little. That’s not something I’m not keen on, but in order for the two of us to raise money it’s the best thing we can do. “We need four more.” I answered.
“Do you think it would be easier if we just started our own guild?” Vic asked me as he walked over and handed me the amber pieces.
“Why do you say that?” I asked confused. “Also isn’t there a fee for starting a guild? Then we would have to find a base and try to get others to join.”
“Well I was just saying that because it wouldn’t be that bad to maybe start one to try and get a healer or something for us. Besides I’m not saying that we have to start on right now. I’m just saying that maybe we could just ponder that idea for a bit.” Vic puffed out his cheeks like a little kid.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright fine, I’ll think about it. Do you want to take the bag for a while?”
“Sure I can do that.” He nodded.
I pulled the bag over my head and handed it to him.
“VIIIIIICCCCC!!!!” We heard a male voice call his name and we both looked in the direction of the voice but no one was there.
“I’m not going crazy someone just yelled out my name right?” Vic asked me and I nodded slowly a bit confused myself.
“In coming!!” The male voice was much closer now. We both looked up and the next thing I saw was a streak of black go in front of me and taking Vic down to the ground with it. My bag fell to the ground with a small thunk and I stood there and blinked a few times trying to wrap my head around what just happened.
I looked down to see an angel with ebony black wings holding onto Vic laughing. This angel was wearing light armor like Vic and I were. He was wearing a simple, cream, medieval style three quarter sleeved tunic, dark brown leather belt that wrapped around his waist, with black pants that matched his ebony colored wings and dark brown leather boots that came up to about his mid shin.
His clothes were so elegant compared to Vic’s and mine’s rouge class clothing. I was wearing a faded grey long sleeved tunic that reached down to the center of my thighs, but was tattered at the bottom so it came to a point at the center. I had a brown leather belt around my waist; dark grey pants that were tucked into knee high faded leather boots. Over my left shoulder there was a leather shoulder pad and I have leather gauntlets along with a leather kneepad on my left knee.
Vic was wearing a dark blue long sleeved tunic that stopped at his waist. The stings that were normally tied to tighten the collar hung loose and showed a small part of his chest. He also had a small scarf that was loose around his neck and more so rested on his shoulders. His faded blue grey pants were held up with a black leather belt that had a leather hip armor attached to the right side along with his pouch for his kunai on the back. His pants were tucked into knee high, lightweight, black leather boots.
“Who the hell are you? Get off of me.” Vic was pushing down on the angel’s shoulders who was laughing and hugging him.
“You really can’t tell who I am can you?” He asked sitting up but instead of getting off of Vic he sat on his stomach.
I walked around and squatted down next to Vic to get a better look at the angel. This angel had long pale blonde hair that was pulled back in a high ponytail that cascaded over his shoulders and a fair bit of the ends were resting on Vic’s chest. His bangs hung slight in his eyes but you could clearly see his bright blue that was the same color as the sky its self. The outer part of his bangs framed his face and hung just past his collarbone resting gently on his chest. The expression on his face was soft and kind.
“Can you tell us who you are?” I asked him calmly.
“Oh my name here is Jace. But Vic here knows me by a different name. I’m Liz in the real world, Elizabeth Jackson.” He answered. Or should I say she?
“Wait liz? But how in Veryn did you find me? Why did you pick a male persona here?” Vic asked with a shocked expression on his face.
“Well is was kind of easy to find you. The messages on the board when you go to the people who are hosting that job they can tell you the usernames of those who accepted the job. I told the guy that I was apart of your party and that I was just running late so he told me a general area that I could find you and here you are.” Jace answered with a wide smile on his face.
“Again who did you find me? Liz…sorry Jace.” He said.
“That’s easy your one that would want to grind in one area to get at least five levels above what you think the next areas levels are going to be so I used that information to find you. That and you’re the only person I know that would use one of his nickname as his username in a game.” He stated.
‘Wait nickname? My brother has Vic as a nickname…and I know for a fact that he was getting this game. Did I actually run into my brother? Well I guess there’s only one way to ask…’ “Hey Vic can I ask you a question?” I looked down at my kitsune companion.
“Uha sure I mean I’m not going anywhere I kind of have someone sitting on me.” He said looked up at me.
“Is your real name by any chance Victor Watkins?” I asked.
“Are you someone else that I know too?” He questioned right back. That answered my question.
“I’m Hector…your older brother.” I smiled down at him.
He looked at me shocked. “Your joking right? My older brother doesn’t play video games.” He answered.
“Well I kind of do actually. I’m a bit of a closet nerd. I just never told you that I played. I was so busy with soccer and school that I just never really had time to play. In such a large mmo I really didn’t think that I would find you here.” I smiled I can’t believe I was in a party with my little brother.
“Oh, by the way I think I convinced Steve to try out the game too! He was complaining when he got back to the apartment that he hardly sees you and when he does your playing games. So I told him that he should try it out and we can all play together.” Jace commented lightly taping his closed fist into the palm of his open hand.
“Steve is gonna play too?” Vic’s voice rose an octave and cracked slightly.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well when you think about it who better to play with you then your friends.” I smiled down at him.
“Not funny Shun.” He glared at me.
“I know video games are a way to escape reality, but this is an mmo, you’ll always make friends. You’re the one that knows the most about game so why not help the rest of us out? Show us your world.” I continued with a soft smile on my face.
Vic sighed heavily. “Fine… can you get off me now Liz.”
“It’s Jace in the game Vic.” Jace smirked and finally got off Vic so he could sit up.
“My poor tails.” Vic pouted sitting up.
“Tails? Shouldn’t you only have one right now?” Jace asked sitting crossed legged close by.
“Wait…what level are you?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“I’m level one, why wouldn’t I be? I just got here not too long ago.” The blonde haired angle answered with a little chuckle.
“So far it’s only Vic and I who got the glitch…” I muttered looking down at the ground and putting my hand up to my mouth as I thought.
“What glitch?” Jace questioned tipping his head.
“We’ll have to explain it later. For now we should get you into the group.” I answered opening my menu and sending her/him an invite to the party.
The messaged popped up in front of the angel and he clicked yes to the invite. My ears twitched and I snapped my head up. Something was coming. It was coming in fast and there were multiples. “In coming.” I pulled out my dagger and quickly turned around.
“This will be some good experience for you then Jace.” Vic commented and then I saw one of his kunai go flying forward and right as a goblin jumped out of the bushes the kunai struck the goblin right in the head.
“Jace what class are you?” I asked getting ready for the rest of the goblins.
“The cleric class.” He answered quickly.
“Did you not get a weapon while you were in town?” I asked panicked a little as he stood in a fighting stance.
“Not yet I just wanted to meet up with Vic.” Jace commented.
“You’re a healer Jace. Keep at a safe distance. If you know a healing spell or any buffs start casting.” I ordered and charged in to help Vic.
It was only four goblin’s this time. Well three now that Vic stabbed one through the head by throwing one of his kunai. I charged in and sliced right through the second goblin’s chest with my dagger and it dropped to the ground in a lump.
“Shun, duck.” I did what Vic said and ducked as he threw another kunai over my head and got the third goblin in the center of the face. I swear he was going for crit hits or just headshots in general.
I launched myself from my crouched position towards Vic and drew my dagger across my body. Vic jumped up and over me as I slashed the final goblin that was going to try and sneak attack Vic. After the final goblin fell I stood up straight and flicked the green blood that was left behind from the goblin off.
“Wow…” Jace said in amazement. I looked over at him as I put my dagger away and Jace’s mouth was opened slightly and his eyes were wide. “You two…are AMAZING!!! The way the two of you work in harmony and are able to react so quickly that’s just…wow.” Jace’s smile was wide and excited as he ran over to me.
“We’re way above the level we need to be for this area so that’s why we’re able to take them out so easily.” Vic answered simply as he picked up one of his kunai that he was able to retrieve from the third goblin as it turned into ash.
I looked around for any dropped items and it looked like each one of the goblins had an amber piece on them. “Sweet! We just finished our job Vic.” I exclaimed as I went and picked up the pieces.
“Now we need to go back to town to turn it in.” Vic commented walking over to where the bag was left to pick it up.
“We also need to get this one a weapon.” I motioned towards Jace. “This one decided to just find you and not go and get a weapon.”
I glanced over and Jace and his face went beat red and he looked down at the ground and started fidgeting with his hands.
“Are you insane??? You could have been killed with out a weapon. Out of all the things you could do Jace…” Vic sculled storming over to us.
“I-I’m sorry, I just felt really bad because it took me an hour to get to a good stopping point with my project so I could come and join.” He apologized dipping his upper body into a low bow.
“Will you stand up straight.” Vic ordered and Jace instantly stood up straight and was at attention.
“Y-yes sir!” He squeaked.
Vic grabbed Jace’s ear and started to drag him back towards the walls of Skjlom.
I couldn’t help but chuckle and shake my head. “Well this is going to be an interesting party to say the least.” I muttered to myself and started jogging to catch up to the two of them.
