Greetings once again. Obviously this series is very new, so if you have not read the prologue or the first chapter, I suggest you read those first or you will be very confused once you start reading this
Also, don’t expect a new chapter to pop up often because I am a very lazy noob
Enjoy~

Chapter 2: An old Friend

What rotten luck. Everything was going so well. Lawrence had just mastered the recovery skill and he was plowing through the snail territory with great ease. Who knew just one simple snail would make his most prized sword snap in two. As rusty and as old as it was, a sword made of such find metal should not shatter at a mere swing at a blue snail. There was absolutely no other option now. As much as Lawrence did not want to resort to this, it was clear that find ‘him’ was first priority; the young adventurer knew he’d have to consult with ‘him’ eventually, but he wanted to wait it out for a bit longer. But if he ever wanted a weapon of good quality, ‘he’ was the one to speak with.

“It has been said that he roams around in the mushroom forest and the tomato fields quite often,” Lawrence murmured to himself. “Obviously gaining strength is his number one priority so I will check the mushroom forest first.” And with that last thought escaping his lips, he trudged onward to the mushroom forest, trying to avoid monsters as best as he could. And what luck (well, unfortunately he wouldn’t call it luck due to what’s going to happen next) to know that ‘he’ was there, as expected.

Lawrence thought to himself for a moment. “This shall be a very unpleasant conversation I’m sure, but I have to do this. No matter what happens, I must get the job done and receive a new weapon. There is no other option.”

“Will you just come out from back there already,” the hazy figure said from a distance. “I could feel your presence a mile away. It may have been 4 years but I still know of your unwanted presence.” This stung Lawrence hard. His eye winced at the thought of receiving help from ‘him’, but he had no choice and stepped out from the confides of the forest. “Ah. Lawrence. It’s been quite some time hasn’t it. You’ve grown at least a foot since the last time I saw you. But I must say, you should get a haircut; I can barely see your face.”

“I need a favor Verlin,” Lawrence barked, irritated by the words of his demeaning cousin. Verlin was not your typical teenager on Maple Island. His face was pretty plain with black eyes and spiky black hair with a face that seemed to never move like a statue. His legs were slim and lengthy and his arms were much more toned than Lawrence’s, but that’s what develops after 3 years of mushroom hunting and physical training. “My sword snapped while I was hunting, but it was expected (not really) due to it’s dullness and all the rust near the handle. I hear that you find some very interesting weapons while hunting orange mushrooms. Is it true that they drop certain items when they are slain?” Lawrence handed him the sword after he was done with explaining and questioning.

“You thought you could make it to the ship in Southperry with this piece of scrapmetal,” said Verlin, with emphasis on scrapmetal. “I must say, I’m quite disappointed. I thought you’d be smart enough to find a better weapon.”

“Your superior tone is unneeded Verlin.”

“And you need to learn how to use your mind and not just your hands and feet. Going to Victoria unprepared like this is the thing that will be your downfall. You will end up begging on the streets like a common low-life, with barely any sympathy because everyone knows that it will have been your fault to how you ended up on the streets like a dog.”

“And you need to learn that with an attitude like that you will never have respect from others. Your sarcastic and superior ways will be YOUR downfall.”

“Why do you think I stayed on this island 3 years longer than the required age of legal departure!? I want to have as much experience as possible before I leave!…there was a reason to why they changed the age from 10 to 13 for a reason. A year wait won’t do much good for you Lawrence. I suggest you go home.”

“I…can’t. I left the pendant my father gave me as a gift 5 years ago with a small note on the front porch. I could never go back now.” Lawrence looked down at his feet, resistering the urge to shed a few tears at the thought of his father trusting him with the pendant that he cherished so much. Verlin calmed down and started to feel a bit sympathetic…in a way.

“Lawrence,” Verlin said in a lighter tone, “I didn’t know. Ever since your mother and father died, things haven’t been very clear between us. Obviously the past is still hurting us, but maybe those 4 years of hatred between one another can be resolved. A relationship between friends become stronger after every complication met along the road.”

Lawrence did not know what to say. He had never heard Verlin speak such nice and complimenting words. It just didn’t seem like him at all. But out of all the confusion, Lawrence smiled, knowing that maybe his cousin was right. An incident that happened many years ago should not tear a family apart. It’s true that Verlin ran away and decided to live his own life isolated from all the ones he loved, but maybe it was the right thing to do…and maybe all the encounters in which Lawrence and Verlin fought along those 4 years were meant for something. Maybe the strings of a seperated family were finally starting to come back together.

“So what kind of weapon do you want…”