-=Attempted Explanations=-

*The hostility….I can’t believe this….why was I treated that way? Everyone else got along just fine with him….do people here really hate lost limbs that much?*

Shadow’s mind was ablaze with questions as he followed his rescuers through Lith Harbor. Fortunately for him, none of the adventurers from the crowd tried to pursue him; he was a powerful ninja bandit, but even he could still be overwhelmed by a mob that big.

Eventually, buildings opened up to a much greener setting, with grass and plant life not far beyond the concrete. They were finally out of the town. As they looked about, they noticed adventurers in the area, fighting numerous kinds of monsters, including all three colors of the ever-popular snails, along with a new monster: slimes. Except for the concrete ledges stretching out from the town, the scenery reminded Shadow of Maple Island.

Shadow was a little nervous walking around these adventurers, but at one point, two noticed the group and simply waved hello. It soon became apparent that none of these adventurers would come after him.

“Well, it looks like we’re safe for now,” the older girl surmised. “Still, we’d better get farther away, just in case someone catches sight. Come on, I know a good place.” The trio continued on their way, with the younger girl shooting a blue ball of energy at some of the weak monsters every now and then.

Eventually, Shadow and the two girls made it to a huge clearing in the grasslands. The area was spacious, with grass and numerous gatherings of flowers and plant life all around. Except for the high amounts of floating patches of earth above them, the bright blue, cloud-dotted, sunny sky was rather easy to see. Following the older girl’s directions, the trio climbed up to an out-of-the-way land patch, one of the few where no monsters dwelled.

“Alright, we can rest here for now,” the older girl said, breathing a sigh of relief as she sat on the ground. The other two followed suit. Once everyone’s adrenaline had finally subsided, the group began a discussion of sorts.

“First of all, my name is Emma,” the older girl began. She was dressed in a red doroness robe, red wizardress hat, red jewelry shoes, and wore a pair of blue morricans. Her weapon was an old wooden staff. “This is my sister, Genya.” She motioned to the other girl, who smiled at Shadow. She wielded a simple wooden wand and wore blue plain robes, a blue apprentice hat, and blue basic boots. “It’s very nice to meet you,” Emma continued, “though I wish we could’ve met under better circumstances.”

“Shadow Viper,” the bandit said in introduction. He shook hands with the sisters. “Without a doubt, I could say the same thing about what happened earlier, though I am nonetheless thankful for your assistance.”

“It’s no trouble,” Emma replied. “This has happened a few times before. To be honest, the same thing happened with…my sister here.”

Shadow was perplexed. “I know it seems obvious,” he said, “but she doesn’t have any missing limbs.”

“Not anymore, actually.” She nodded to Genya. However, Genya lowered her head, embarrasment starting to show on her face. Emma placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, sis,” she said. “I know, it seems like something you’ll never get used to, but you shouldn’t let it bother you. I mean, it’s like I’ve said before. You’re technically in one piece again!” Unfortunately, Emma didn’t budge, or even speak for that matter. She looked away from the others.

“I apologize,” Emma said. “She won’t talk about it, and she doesn’t let me talk about it either. I know this is all confusing to you, but you’ll just have to trust me on this for now.”

The confusion and curiosity lingered in Shadow, but after a moment of thinking, he decided to let the issue pass. Though he didn’t like to be kept in the dark about things, he still felt he could trust the sisters. After all, they did save his life. “Very well, then,” he said in acknowledgement. Then he took a moment to size up the girls. “From what I can tell, you two are adventurers. Something tells me you’re rather powerful, considering how the crowd reacted when you pointed your weapons at them.”

Emma nodded. “We’re magicians,” she explained. “We live on Victoria Island; we were born in the forest village of Ellinia, on the eastern region of the island. As we were raised in our home, the interests of magic grew with us. Eventually, the decision to become magicians just popped in our heads.

“We started our training 8 months ago. According to tips we received, magicians train primarily on intellect, and secondarily on luck. However, the training courses on Maple Island didn’t offer much in the way of magic, with the exception of three beginner skills that everyone gained upon starting their training. The skills were shell throwing, a temporary speed boost, and a very limited, yet suprisingly useful, self-healing skill. Basically, the training was hardest for us and other magicians-in-training; we never worried about physical stats, so the monsters were tougher to kill. However, the skills did help us out, and my sis and I always looked out for eachother. Most importantly, we did carry the knowledge that magician training can be started earlier than the other three jobs.

“We succeeded in getting through Maple Island. Our parents were very proud of us when we returned. We had a small celebration, then the two of us received our jobs as magicians the next day. For the next four months, we made amazing progress in our powers. I figured nothing would go wrong, and that we would become two powerful magicians over time. That belief lasted…until four months ago.” Emma stopped speaking and gazed off into the sky.

A few moments of silence passed before Shadow asked, “What happened four months ago?”

Emma motioned to the distant Genya before answering. “As I told you, I can’t say, though I can tell you our training was harder than we imagined. The first two months, we managed to put in tons of work with our magic skills, slaying monsters and performing quests and missions. After that, however, things suddenly changed.

“Our parents were scroll sellers. It was a difficult business, but somehow, they were able to create enhancement scrolls, which were used to enhance various equipment at certain increments. Scroll selling itself began many years ago, though my parents got in on it a few years back. For a long time, it was successful, and we lived good lives. However, a month or so before my sister and I set out to Maple Island, our business was slowly starting to have trouble; basically, a sudden outburst of competitors from far away got in the business, and unfortunately, they somehow had better inventories than we did, and were able to sell more. Our parents were able to hold us up for a while, but two months into our magic lives, the business we were losing was greatly affecting us.

“Eventually, Genya and I had to keep our training near home, and it was mainly used to obtain money to help our parents keep up financially. That all changed two months later, or four months ago, when….something terrible happened. Ever since, Genya has….simply given up on training.”

After taking the story in, Shadow was able to get a small idea of the sisters’ troubles, though without any more information, he wouldn’t get any farther. Still, he felt for the girls, knowing their lives weren’t much easier than his, at least when their training took precedence. “I’m sorry to hear about that,” he simply said.

“I appreciate your words, but don’t worry about us,” Emma said in response. “One thing is for certain, at least I still have my sister, despite what has happened in the past.” She patted Genya’s shoulder as she said this. The younger magician merely glanced over at her sibling before staring off again.

“What about you, Shadow?” Emma suddenly asked. “Why are you here?”

Shadow picked his words before he answered. “I come from another realm,” he said as the images of his home flashed in his mind. “The people I live with have heard of rumors of evil coming from this world. The evil managed to come into our world. Two of my friends died from it, and my home was destroyed. I’ve come to take vengeance on it.”

Emma thought about his answer. “I’m afraid hardly anyone in this world knows of any particular evil,” she admitted, “though the creatures are hostile. I don’t know how our monsters made it to your realm, though I mourn the loss of your friends.”

Shadow simply nodded, as he thought of something else to ask. Eventually, he came up with a subject. “Now that I think of it,” he said, “Olaf mentioned something about someone named Empress Victoria. Who is Empress Victoria?”

“Empress Victoria is one of the rulers on this island,” Emma explained. “This world is actually governed by a triumvirate. There are three rulers in all, one for each region. This world is actually made up of three areas: Victoria Island, Ossyria, and Ludibrium. Empress Victoria, oddly enough, doesn’t rule this island. Instead, she rules Ossyria. I heard what Olaf said about it; I personally can’t believe she’d authorize something like that. From what I remember, she was always a kind, benevolent ruler. Well, then again, I do remember something that happened about a year and a half ago-“

Her words were cut off by a rustling in the nearby bushes. Shadow and Emma looked over to see that Genya was picking flowers not far from the rustling. At that moment, something triggered in the bandit’s mind. An image of the pigs he went up against back home began replaying itself….

The rustling grew loud enough that it attracted Genya’s curiosity. She looked over at the rustling. All the while, Shadow’s heart began beating faster and faster.

A sudden, quick snort came from the bushes. Then, a red ribboned pig burst out towards Genya, a look of fury in it’s eyes. However, it’s charge stopped midway as it suddenly fell to the ground, it’s head rolling off afterwards. The entire scene passed before Emma even knew what was happening. By the time she was at the ready, Shadow was standing in front of Genya, his poise held in a defensive stance. Genya had her face buried in her hands towards the ground, visibly scared from what came after her.

All of this came about in the span of three seconds.

Shadow motioned for Emma to stand by him. She did so, keeping her staff at the ready. “We aren’t alone,” he whispered.

At that moment, the bushes came alive with heavy rustling. They eventually gave way to a horde of pigs that charged into position, readying themselves against the trio. A dozen in all, every one in a red ribbon, they all snarled and snorted angrily at the group.

This was indeed a dangerous situation, but Shadow refused to be intimidated. He simply saw this as a way to pay back the sisters for their help. With that in mind, he uttered two words to the swine horde: “Bring it.”

——————————————————————————-

Chapter 8 is DONE! I love cliffhangers! And a little more story background is revealed! Heh, bet you weren’t expecting to see Victoria didn’t rule Victoria!XD

Aw, man, that was lame. *Barricades himself against lame joke hunters and leaves Mountain Dew for them as a peace offering*

Previous installments:
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