The Golden Haired Man

Arbit closed the door of the tavern behind him, and looked down at the piece of paper. He looked back up and noticed that the town was much livelier in the morning than it had been the night before. He could only remember seeing two maybe three people when he had been walking to the tavern, but today as soon as he opened the door of the tavern he could already see too many people to count. There were vendors and shopkeepers lining the cobblestone path, that cut right through the middle of the town. On one end of the road was a building with a steep roof and a circular window, and on the other was the gate of the city: which was made of iron. It wouldn't keep out any real threat for very long, but it looked sturdy enough. Arbit looked back down at his sheet of paper. It said to meet at the hill demeo laevue of Salutem. Arbit didn't know what that meant, but he was too embarrassed to go back to the cook and ask for directions after he had made such a big deal about the next time they met. Instead he decided to ask one of the shopkeepers for help. He walked along the road and eventually found a shopkeeper that looked nice enough.

Arbit: Um sir this is a little embarrassing but um, I guess you could say I am lost. Is there any way you could tell me where this is.

As he finished asking for directions, he presented the sheet of paper to the man.

Shopkeeper: Let's see what we got here. Well this street runs from dextera to laevue. So you need to go that way and then turn to the left when you run out of road.

The shopkeeper had pointed down the road where Arbit had just come from in the direction of the building with the steep roof.

Arbit: Alright thank you sir!

Now that Arbit knew where he was going. He traveled as fast as his legs would carry him. After running for roughly a minute he reached the building with a steep roof and circular window. The road ended there so he took a left and resumed his run. After another three minutes he could see the hill. As he got closer he was able to make out a man with golden hair sitting on what seemed to be a perfect cube of dirt.

Golden Haired Man: Hey young man, you wouldn't happen to be here because of the party member request would you?

Arbit: I am actually!

Golden Haired Man: Great. I was hoping that you were. Say, what is your name?

Arbit: My name is Arbit.

Golden Haired Man: Well, nice to meet you Arbit. My name is Amicus Specta, but you can call me Amicus! You said that your name was Arbit right?

Arbit: That's right.

Amicus: Word on the street is that you have pretty bad amnesia.

Arbit: Wow news really does spread fast in a small town, but anyway yeah that's right.

At this point Arbit had noticed a peculiar look in Amicus' emerald green eyes. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but if he had to describe it he would say it was a look of intense curiosity.

Amicus: Did you actually wake up in the middle of a field like they say?

Arbit: Yep

After he answered this question the look in Amicus' eyes subsided and gave way to a warm friendly look.

Amicus: Wow that is crazy. Well then I am glad I could help you get out of a sticky situation. Welcome to the party!

Amicus then flashed a charming smile and Arbit thought that he could sense a touch of relief in it as well.

Amicus: Ok then, now that I have met up with you I actually need to go rondevu with another member of our party.

Arbit: Alright lead the way

Amicus turned around, and went into the forest, and Arbit followed. They walked through the lush green forest, which was made up of tall slender trees. As Arbit went he kept thinking that he saw something move, but when he would turn his gaze to see what it was there was only ever forest. Eventually it started to get to him so he decided to walk closer to Amicus, and strike up a conversation to distract himself.

Arbit: So this person we are going to meet, what are they like?

Amicus didn't turn around or give any real physical indication that he had heard the question. The silence followed made Arbit think that Amicus must not have heard him. Now a bit louder than before.

Arbit: S-so what is this person that we are going to meet like?

Amicus: Sorry I heard you. I was just thinking. Um, I guess you could say she is quite beautiful, and charming.

After he had said this Arbit could see that he was blushing up to his ears. Suddenly Amicus whiped around and practically yelled.

Amicus: B-b-but you can't ever tell her I Said that!

Arbit: Ok ok I won't

Amicus: Anyway let's get back to walking

Amicus once again began walking, and Arbit started to follow, when suddenly he stopped. A slender trunk had just moved out in front of him. Arbits' eyes followed the trunk up and saw that it was attached to a tall slender humanoid creature. It looked like it had bark for skin. If it had not walked right in front of him it would have blended perfectly into the rest of the forest, and he wouldn't have given it a second glance. Arbit found himself looking up at what he assumed was its head. The creature did not have any visible eyes, but Arbit knew it was looking back at him. He could feel it in his very soul.

Arbit says in a flustered whisper

Arbit: Quick g-get me a weapon!

Amicus: Now let's not be hasty. Attacking it would make your situation ten times worse. That is an arbor and they aren't hostile unless threatened. So just walk carefully around it.

Even knowing that it wasn't hostile didn't help him suppress his fear. Arbit gulped and reluctantly squeezed past it. Lucky for Arbit the creature didn't move at all from the moment he saw it. Any movement from the creature would have caused Arbit to do something rash. As soon as Arbit was what he thought that he was a safe enough distance away to take his eyes off the creature he turned around and ran toward Amicus, and the two resumed their walk.

Amicus: So you really have lost your memories.

Arbit: What do you mean?

Amicus: If you had actually attacked it you would not have left this forest alive. The arbor are monsters that stick together. So if you had provoked that one, every single arbor in this forest would attack you on site. Even children know this fact so you are either insane, or you really have lost your memories.

Arbit: Wow I had no idea that attacking was so dangerous.

Amicus: Alright let's get going again.

Arbit: Yah

The two once again began their walk in the forest when suddenly a cloaked figure came flying out of the trees in front of them, and landed a couple of meters in front of Amicus. Immediately Arbit was on guard, and Amicus' expression changed from relaxed to slightly panicked.

Amicus: Arbit relax this is the person we were on our way to meet. Now I thought that we agreed that you would stay at the rendezvous point unless it was an emergency.

Cloaked figure: I know and I am truly sorry for putting so much at risk but there is no time to lose. The hero of Greed is already in Salutem!