Somewhere in a forest outside Luxen City.
A man in his late teens with a bow and arrow on his hands was moving slowly and quietly through the bushes. He had a silver-colored pendant around his neck engraved with the initials "I".
Crack.
The sound of a branch snapping brushed against his ears and he immediately turned behind him.
Another man in his late teens was carrying a sword and also wearing a silver-colored pendant around his neck engraved with the initials "I". He had his head turned back as well.
They were both looking at a woman who was also in her late teens. She was carrying a short sword and shield with a copper-colored pendant around her neck that had the initials "II".
She made an apologetic expression and she mouthed the words I'm Sorry.
The Adventurer holding the bow and arrow returned his gaze to the front and then narrowed his eyes as he swept his gaze around the area. And when he saw his target, a sense of relief washed over him.
Up ahead or about 10 meters away was a Paparu munching grass.
Although this animal wasn't aggressive, it was quick and nimble. Even with the slightest hint of danger, it would immediately run away. But just like with every animal, once cornered, it will attack. And in this particular animal's case, it will perform a charging attack with its long and seashell-like horn on its forehead to stab its foes.
However, its meat was very tasty, making it one of the Silver Rank Quests available at the Adventurer's Guild.
The Adventurer slow got up and drew out his bow.
Tsssh!
Thud, thud, thud…
All of a sudden, there was the sound of bushes rustling and footsteps coming from the west and everyone, including the animal, turned to that direction.
The male Adventurer pointed his arrow there. His two companions who were still crouching down and hiding also turned their heads to the same direction and prepared themselves to engage at any moment. And as for the Paparu, it charged towards where the unknown noise was coming from.
Seeing the Paparu charge instead of running away from the corner of his eye, a confused expression flashed across the face of the Adventurer with the bow and arrow. But he quickly squashed it and focused on whatever was coming that could prompt a non-aggressive animal like the Paparu to run towards it.
Whooosh!
A brown and blurry figure passed through the Paparu and the animal was sliced into two.
Wooh!
Chud.
And due to the unexpected being, the Adventurer accidentally released the arrow. However, it missed and landed on a tree.
"What the fuck was that for?" a female voice said.
The three Adventurers turned to where the voice came from.
Standing a couple of feet away was a beautiful but haggard-looking Brown Cloak Priestess with a long purple hair and red highlights tied into a ponytail, she was wearing a Copper I Rank pendant around her neck, and she was hold a bloody poleaxe.
"It's her!" The male Adventurer with a sword said but his was only met with a confused look by his companions.
The woman in front of them was none other than Vivian and her eyes turned to slits.
"You dare to hit me?" she said with a cold voice and got into a fighting stance.
The Adventurer with the bow and arrow held out his left hand.
"Wait! It was an accident!"
Vooom!
In the blink of an eye, Vivian appeared right in front of him. She moved so fast that there was even a delay with their reaction.
"An accident, you say?"
"Y-Yes--"
"Hold on!" the male Adventurer with a sword said.
Vivian slowly turned her head to him.
"You're the one who came to us and stole our kill!" he said and pointed at the mutilated Paparu.
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
"Steal?" she said and then her lips curled up into a smile.
Pa-craaak!
Thud!
She suddenly slapped the Adventurer with the bow and arrow with her poleaxe and the sound of bones breaking came out of his body as he was blown away to the side before landing on the ground.
"Ayeeee…!" the female Adventurer carrying a short sword and shield screamed and almost fell down as she took a step back.
Meanwhile, the male Adventurer with a sword also panicked for a moment from the sudden turn of events but quickly snapped out of it and got into a fighting position.
[Intimidate].
Vivian felt an invisible force brush against her, causing her to raise her guard immediately but then was left confused because she couldn't feel any physical ailment.
Taking advantage of Vivian's confusion, the male Adventurer charged forward and thrust his sword.
Clang!
Vivian parried the sword away with her poleaxe.
Pah!
Thud, thud, thud…!
And immediately followed it up with a spinning jump kick to the male Adventurer's head, causing him to crash down to the ground, bounced like a ball and then rolled a few times.
[Heal].
A faint yellow light enveloped her body.
"Motherfucker, what kind of spell did you cast on me?" she said and then turned to the male Adventurer with the sword.
Eh…?
His sword was a couple of feet away from him and he was lying on his stomach.
He's not dead, right…?
When she noticed his body breathing, she let out a sigh of relief.
Oh thank God…!
She turned to the remaining person -- the female Adventurer carrying a short sword and a shield.
Thud!
The woman's face was pale as a ghost and she fell on her butt.
"H-H-Honored P-Priestess, please…! I-I'm innocent…! I don't know these people…! I just met them two weeks ago…!"
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
"I-I swear to the Elemental Gods that I have n-no intention of offending the T-Temple of Priests…!" the woman continued.
[Wind Arrow].
Woo-rip.
Vivian felt a sting on her back and she quickly turned around.
It was the Adventurer with the bow and arrow. His bow was couple of feet away, his left shoulder was dislocated and he was kneeling on one knee with his right hand aiming at Vivian.
The spell drilled a hole on Vivian's cloak and shirt. However, when it came to her skin, it only left a red mark.
A murderous aura emanated from Vivian.
"The hell?" she said and then her hand forward. "Let's see you evade this."
[Lightning Arrow].
Pscht!
The male Adventurer rolled to the side and gritted his teeth as he felt a sharp pain on his dislocated left shoulder.
Vooom!
He just finished rolling and was about reposition himself when Vivian appeared in front of him.
Pa-crack!
Bam-thud!
She delivered a soccer kick on his chest, sending him flying away and then crashing to a tree, before falling on the ground. He quickly grabbed onto his chest as he gasped for air.
Spit!
"Fucking pervert motherfucker!"
[Heal].
A faint yellow light enveloped her body and then she turned to female Adventurer.
"Oh~?" she said with an amused on her face.
The woman was up with her short short and shield on her hands while doing a half-fighting stance.
"You're finally ready to fight now?"
Clang, thud!
Thud!
The woman quickly threw her short and shield away before kneeling and pressing her forehead to the ground.
"FORGIVE ME, HONORED PRIESTESS…---!"
As the woman was talking, Vivian glanced at the two male Adventurers.
The first one is severely injured…
The second one is still unconscious…
I got careless earlier…
She returned her attention towards the woman.
"--I SWEAR TO THE ELEMENTAL GODS AND MY HONOR AS A MEMBER OF THE TEMPLE OF HERBS THAT I WILL ACCOMPANY YOU NOT ONLY TO THE ADVENTURER'S GUILD BUT ALSO THE TEMPLE OF PRIESTS OFFICE TO REPORT THESE TWO FOR ATTACKING YOU…!"
What is this woman blabbering about…?
"I WOULD EVEN UNDERGO WITH THE HONORED PRIESTS' [HALO] CLASS MAGIC SPELL TO TELL EVERYONE THE TRUTH…!"
Right…
There is that [Halo] Class Magic spell of Priests…
What am I going to do next…?
But the victim…
And it's not like I can kill them…
On the other hand…
I also don't want this to get big…
And then people will find out my secrets…
"I ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS, GREAT HONORED PRIESTESS…!"
I should settle this right now and then…
"I SW--"
"Shut up," Vivian said.
The woman raised her head and looked at her.
"You're not fooling anyone," Vivian said. "You think I don't know what you're doing? You're deliberately making so much noise to catch the attention of anyone nearby."
"I would--"
"No one is coming to save you. And if some miracle there is, they will be on my side."
"Honored Priestess, I swear to the Elemental Gods, especially to the God of Light --"
"Shhh!" Vivian said and waved her hand. "Just bring over your companions here."