Patch 1.14
"Fine." I spat out. My heart had stopped pounding within my chest. The bayonet in my hand glinted and spoke of violence but I put that away and merely observed her. She held her hand out and I took it.
"Finally…" She muttered.
I sighed and let myself relax, even if it was only for an infinitesimally small second.
"Yes… finally."
"Umu… I was waiting."
She seemed so self… indulgent. Yes, that was the right word. Like each and every one of her movements, from putting the staff back behind her cloak, to shouldering the shield upon her side.
Each of her movements were made with a grace and surety that belied her status.
"If I may have your name?"
Despite this being a game there was no system for players to identify others, whether they were a player, a person, or what their name was. Nothing.
It was up to the generosity of the being in front of him to decide whether she deigned me worthy of her name or decided to give a fake. I would never know.
"Celeste."
'Obviously fake.'
I kept that comment to myself though.
"Gabriel."
"Fitting."
She did a once over, her eyes stopping at certain places. My eyes, my cheeks, even my chest and limbs. Celeste seemed to take enjoyment in this process, even licking her lips at one point.
"Done yet?" It was less of a question and more of a wake-up call.
"No- no give me another moment." She raised her hand, and that earlier fear - whether it be of me or death - was long forgotten. Her only focus was my taut body.
"Okay. Now I'm done. So~ where were we?"
I sighed and cradled my forehead within my forefingers. Already I could feel a headache start to creep over my brain. But I kept the groan in.
"You were leaving." I tried. But she merely giggled into her hand - 'was she bipolar' - and dove towards me. I too, like her, dove. But in the opposite direction.
"Mmm~ Why?"
"Because." I responded petulantly. Shaking my head to display my mistrust of her.
I thought back to a moment ago, when we had thought and nodded my head.
It was right.
Yep. I am right.
There should be no reason to trust her so easily. Even putting my blade back away was more than I wanted to do but for… 'what was this for?'
I kept asking myself that. Again and again before I raised my arm and strode off.
"Come on. I doubt I can rid myself of you."
"Yay!" She jumped carefreely. Though… beneath her innocent smile. Something caught my eye… something sinister.
///
"Where are we?"
"A dungeon."
"I know that but where in the dungeon, cause you seem to know where we're goin'?
"I found the exit earlier. That's where we're going."
She hummed a little tune and followed after me. I had many complaints, none that I voiced though. It wasn't worth it especially when I couldn't find any additional clips of ammo among my supplies.
It grated on my patience and confidence but I still knew that I would win worst come worst. It would be close and I would be forced to retreat and heal but I would win.
But whether - after that hard fought battle - I would be well enough to conquer this dungeon, plunder the depths I had found? There was no guarantee, and thus came this careful balance of power.
"Mmm~ If that's it then lead on~"
I did as was ordered. Not because I was ordered but because I had already been leading us towards my desired destination. And that just so happened to coincide with her demand.
Soon after a mossy view came into sight. It was some ancient stone wall, seemingly carved by primitive tools and painted with symbols that flaked - as paint would do after some time - however if one were an expert on that language I would bet money they would still be legible.
Unfortunately neither of us - I asked - were fluent in this language. It wasn't surprising. No matter how powerful I felt this was still the beginning of the game. Where people were still building up their skill sets. Even I too was doing the same.
It mattered not. The text upon the wall, tarnished as it was, led me towards the end of this accursed winter landscape.
I pushed open the door. Celeste, her hair flowed with the wind. A harsh winter cold that brought me to brace and grit my teeth at the force and shear temperature.
"This is it." I whispered and Celeste nodded. She too had discarded the clunky and ineffective weapons she had used against me and padded herself with the confidence of a mage.
Holding tight to the staff she had commandeered.
And so, side by side, within walls too narrow for either of us to navigate from. We departed. And deep within my jacket pocket glowed the crest. A fact I was unaware of.
We marched forwards, despite the narrowing halls, the almost completely silent atmosphere and the lack of any coherent enemy.
Our hands were tense, ears taut and flickering here and there in search of any sound.
But we found none.
And as the passage stretched on for what seemed like an eternity. Something finally happened. It was while we both still had our guard up, yet despite that we were exhausted.
It was something to keep one's guard for a minute, two, even half an hour.
But after the first hour… the second and third.
Our minds were exhausted and despite our alertness we were barely able to respond.
My hand reached to the bayonet I had hidden in my sleeve, I raised it and felt the wobble of the blade as it blocked whatever projectile had been thrown… launched?
Celeste on the other hand. She took advantage of her smaller form and huddled behind my body.
It… didn't quite annoy me. Just, it was weird that she trusted me enough to do that instead of trying to defend herself.
Either way I looked forward. Towards the endless darkness and with eyes that could barely see a foot in front of them.
Only to cover them seconds later, as the walls expanded, and out shot torches made of metal and wood.
To lighten the room with an ominous blue glow.