-=The True Danger=-

The village of Amhearst was a grassy village. Sparsely populated, only a handful of houses and a shop or two sized up the village, along with a moderate amount of villagers living there. The village was a peaceful, easygoing place that offered rest and respite for newcoming adventurers alike. Every now and then, one of the village inhabitants would request a service to the adventurers in exchange for a reward. The most well known was usually given by a repairman who often made chairs out of old supplies that the adventurers brought. A town like this was usually rather busy despite it’s size.

At one moment in the day, however, the village was quiet. It was mostly empty, save one spot, which was surrounded by villagers and adventurers alike, including a combat trainer named Mai and her latest student known as Shadow Viper.

The entire group watched in silence as a victim of a terrible monster attack was laid to her final rest. The black-haired girl, identified as Kira, was wrapped in linen cloth and lowered beneath the ground’s grassy surface. A simple stone marker, etched with her name, her years of existence, and a final blessing, marked where she would remain for the rest of time.

Emotions were varied throughout this funeral. Some wept openly, others were simply in silent shock, and still others looked beyond the village with anger in their hearts directed at the many monsters capable of taking lives. Mai was among the first group, and Shadow was among the third.

After services concluded, most of the adventurers stopped fighting for a while. Some were still laden with emotion, while others held the fear of joining Kira’s fate. In any case, no matter what people felt, they all agreed on one thing: what happened to Kira was not a common event.

Night was coming upon the island as adventurers looked around for places to rest. Some, including Shadow and Mai, went to the inn at Amhearst, others camped outside, and still others left the area entirely, looking for other places that had lodgings.

At the inn, many adventurers sat amongst eachother upon the numerous round tables, discussing many topics. Some discussed Kira’s death, while others discussed the dangers the monsters were bringing, and more simply talked about other things, trying to put the tragedy behind them.

Eventually, everyone on the island, human and monster alike, went into slumber. Shadow could barely sleep, however, as the days events continually haunted him.

The next morning, Shadow sat by himself at a free table, refusing to interact with any of the newcomers. Kira’s fall was something that would never leave his mind. Proof of this came in the form of a migraine that would not let his head go for any reason, no matter how hard he tried to mentally fight the pain. He held his hand to his temples and his eyes were squeezed shut, but the event would not leave him. It echoed in his mind; he was sitting on the field, watching an all-too-young firl, taking her first steps into the maple world, slip away from her life. Even worse was a memory that replayed just as often; the final memory of Yuka Umino, as her life bled out of her in Shadow’s arm. The two events played consistently, taking turns at torturing Shadow’s already burning soul.

*So much death,* the bandit thought with sadness as his head rested on the table surface. *Why must it continually bear down on my life? First was Ryu, then Yuka, and now this…*

A clattering noise on the table roused Shadow from his trance. He looked up to find a saddened Mai standing in front of him. “You forgot this,” she said with a barely level voice. Shadow looked at where she pointed, finding his dagger on the table’s surface. He grabbed and sheathed it, watching Mai all the while as she grabbed a chair and all but fell in it.

Shadow examined his teacher; her face was streamlined with dried tear trails. Her pigtails no longer existed, as her hair now flowed freely behind her back, no longer supported by anything. Her confident demeanor was replaced with one of grief and despair; clearly she had been badly affected by Kira’s death. Shadow put an arm around her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, though at the moment, he couldn’t think of anything to say.

Nonetheless, the silence was broken as Mai soon explained her emotions to her current pupil. “Kira was…my last student before you came here,” she said with a good amount of effort. “After she finished, she told me she wanted to be a cleric in the future. I didn’t doubt her choice; she was a kind and gentle soul, who had a knack for helping other people who were in trouble, including monster attacks, like the one that claimed her life.” The teacher paused to wipe her eyes. “She was one of my favorite students….no question about it…” Mai tried to continue, but her words were once again subdued by her sadness as new tears ran down her cheeks.

Shadow scooted closer to Mai and helped wipe her tears. “I’m sorry for the way I acted back there,” Shadow said, his voice filling with regret. “I…had a similar experience, not long ago. However, I won’t talk about that right now. There’s more than enough grief going around as it is.”

Mai nodded, then quickly asked, “Say, where are you from anyway? I never thought to ask.”

Shadow looked out a nearby window as he answered. “I’m from another realm,” he explained. “I live in a village hidden by darkness. Most of the inhabitants were trained in ways similar to mine. In fact, I owe it to my training that I can handle monsters here pretty easily.”

Mai looked at him with suprise. “Pretty easily?” she exclaimed. “That’s a total understatement. You brought those creatures down with such amazing ease! You know moves even I don’t know. In fact, I can only think of one person who did as well as you.”

Shadow quickly returned his attention to Mai. “You mean…Ryu Hayabusa II?” he asked eagerly.

Mai thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t really remember his name; it’s been a while ago. Still, that may be his name. In any case, he was an amazing fighter. I wondered if there was anyone at all like him.”

Shadow chuckled. “I doubt there ever will be,” he said.

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Mai said. “I think you, of all people, are the closest I’ve seen to him in combat ability. It’s amazing how you do it, especially with just one arm!”

Shadow looked down at the floor. “You give me too much credit. I lost my arm due to carelessness.”

“I doubt that,” Mai countered. “Honestly, I think it took quite a lot to remove your arm. Something tells me you’re a lot stronger than you look, especially since you’re still fighting without an arm. Believe me, you’ll go far in this world.”

Shadow faced Mai once more. “Thanks,” he said calmly.

Mai thought of another question. “So, what’s you’re purpose here?” she finally asked. “I ask that to all of my students; I’m interested in seeing what they wish to achieve.”

Shadow’s face grew dark as he answered. “I’m on a quest for vengeance,” he said grimly, his hands slowly balling up into fists. “My home was all but destroyed, and two of my best friends were murdered. I’ve come here to track down and eliminate the one responsible, the one who tore peace away from my land.” He looked deep into Mai’s eyes, as if his next statement was one that would change someone’s life. “I am going to kill the evil Dark Lord.”

Mai gasped in suprise. “The..the evil Dark Lord?” she inquired with a shiver. “I’ve heard of him. They say he and three others are responsible for many terrible things that have happened in this world lately. More monsters have appeared, some have become fiercer than before, and the adventurer fatality rate has increased all around the world. You witnessed one today.”

“Speaking of the girl,” Shadow interjected, “she mention that a monster was sent after her. Somehow I get the feeling the evil Dark Lord has been especially cruel today.”

Mai leaned in, lowering her voice. “I doubt it was the Dark Lord,” she said. “I’ve heard of tales of adventurers who come here with….darker purposes. I find that impossible not to believe. I once tried to train one myself. Like you, he was very strong, but he was displeased with my efforts; he claimed I wasn’t meant to be a teacher. I took offense and attempted to put him…in his place.” Tears began falling from her eyes as she struggled to keep her voice level. “I…I failed miserably….and I almost died because of it.” She eventually broke down, crying on the table.

Shadow comforted her once more. “I have no doubt I’ll meet people like that,” he said. “However, that will not change the fact that I will do everything in my power to eliminate the evil that plagues this world. I promised that to those still alive at my home, and I promise that to you, one of the greatest teacher’s I’ve ever met.”

Mai smiled at his words. “I know you will,” she whispered.

Shadow the stood up. “I believe I’m ready to go on with my adventure. Where to next?”

“Go to Southperry, which is beyond the other path in the junction,” Mai explained. “A boat will take you beyond that town for 150 mesos. I’d better get back to instruction, so I’ll let you find out where it goes. Mesos are the currency for this land, by the way.” She gave him a bag with 5,000 mesos in it. “Here, this is for being such an awesome student.”

“Thank you very much,” Shadow said. The two then said their goodbyes and parted ways.

As he made his way to Southperry, Shadow Viper reflected on the past events. Though it wasn’t at all a good experience, Kira’s death somehow managed to empower his resolve. The young bandit knew that even with the threat that was looming before him, nothing would stop him from saving the Maple World. Every setback would only push him further. Every ounce of pain that befell him would only make him stronger. No matter what the enemy threw at him, he wouldn’t let it slow him now, not in the least.

Maple World was a big world so far, but Shadow now knew it was just as much worth saving as his home.

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Hello everyone! Well, I deliberated on my last post, and I decided to continue. In all honesty, I love to write, and I love this story. Therefore, this story, and all stories that I enjoy writing, are never a chore to me. I write them so that you may enjoy them and be inspired by them, and I personally believe that not being able to play Maple Story shouldn’t keep me from writing this story.
Thanks to all of my readers. I promise, this story will only get better from now on. *Juggles Mountain Dew cans*

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