36 The Hunt Begins

"Akiol!"

He heard a voice, opening his eyes to see a concerned face in front of him.

"Thank goodness your awake, we have to get out of here!" The face said.

Akiol's vision cleared, and he was able to discern the face. It was a woman, their face creased with worry and frustrations

"Mother?" Akiol mumbled.

"Wake yourself! We have to leave!" The woman shook Akiol.

He got up groggily looking around him. He was in what looked like a cabin. Looking down at his hands he realized they were far smaller than he remembered.

He turned towards the window to see a raging fire. Smoke blotting the dark night sky. People with torches and a various items that could be used with weapons were angrily shouting something. Akiol couldn't hear them properly.

He moved closer to the window to get a better look when an item was thrown through the window. Smashing it to pieces and hitting Akiol in the face. He fell backwards collapsing on the floor.

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Akiol awoke suddenly, his breathing labored. He searched his surroundings a bit frantically before calming himself. He was still on the bench in the middle of a park.

Akiol drew a deep breath. It was just a dream. Not a nice dream, but just a dream nonetheless. He looked at his phone to check the time.

He realized he had fallen asleep for half an hour. Which meant he was outside for about two hours. He figured now would be a good time to head back.

As he headed back he took a pit stop at a soda machine. James favorite was orange soda, but Akiol wanted to taste them for himself before picking a favorite.

He picked a random one, as he tasted it he was bombarded with a tingling sensation. The fizz was definitely something he had never experienced before. It was a delicious drink, and he once again sighed. Another item he feared he would never want to not consume.

Deciding that this world's food was something far too addicting he bought another drink and left, less he spend the rest of his money in soda.

It didn't take long for him to reach his apartment. After greeting his neighbors, who were leaving for something, he entered his apartment.

After taking a shower and making a snack, he attempted to log on 'A World's Legacy' again. To his pleasant surprise he found himself in the game.

The first thing he did was follow the steps to link his forum account to his game account. After doing so he created a chat group. When prompted to give a name for the chat group he hesitated.

Names weren't his strong suit, never has. So he just called it Indecisive, he figured he would discuss a proper name with the rest of the party.

After inviting Yielya, Wrock, and Tilia he linked the post that had the bounty.

Wrecking Rocks: We doing bounty missions now?

Elven Defender: Alas, the chat group has been made!

Akiol: No Wrock, pay attention to the picture.

Wrecking Rocks: Oooh, are we perhaps hunting this person down? Did they offend you?

Proven Remedy: No Wrock, my goodness is fighting all that goes through that head of yours?

Akiol got slightly confused at the usage of usernames, browsing through the chat options he gave everyone a nickname.

Wrock: No, eating is too.

Akiol: Fixed the chat, you can curse the people who stole your names before.

Tilia: I chose this name on purpose though!

Yielya: I appreciate this!

Akiol sighed, perhaps chat groups weren't the best for communication, he hoped they would add calls next.

Akiol: The picture looks a bit like Kan'na. Thus I have linked the post to see if you guys thought the same.

Tilia: +1! It definitely is Kan'na

Yielya: Agreed.

Wrock: We're fighting Kan'na?

Akiol: No Wrock! You aren't this air headed when we talk in person. What's going on?

Wrock: I use your facial expressions as a major way to read how the mood is. It's just text here so I have no idea where we're going with this half of the time. So I take it as we are fighting.

Akiol: We are trying to find our party members, so far the only clue we have is that picture for that bounty.

Wrock: Ohhh

Tilia: What's the plan then?

Akiol: We go to the guy who posted the bounty and ask for the last place he saw them. It's a good place to start.

Yielya: Our fifth party member is going to found at last!

Akiol: We aren't sure if it's 100% Kan'na though.

Wrock: We shall find out!

Yielya: Let us meet up in Silverflight then.

Tilia: +1!

Wrock: Roger!

Akiol: Agreed

Akiol closed the chat group page, it was convenient sure. It gave him a headache trying to deal with text though.

Using a teleport scroll he was once again in Silverflight town.

He walked into the Adventurers Guild and saw Yielya sitting at a table. Joining her he asked, "Is it only you?"

Yielya nodded, "The other two haven't arrived yet, which is odd because I am pretty certain Tilia is supposed to be at Silverflight."

Akiol didn't think much of it. It has only been a few minutes anyway. The two chatted for a bit while waiting for the rest.

Wrock was next to arrive, joined the party he apologized, "Sorry, forgot to buy a teleport scroll when I left my town. Had to run back and get some."

The three were silent a bit before Wrock asked, "Where's Tilia? She should have been here first."

Akiol and Yielya shrugged. Akiol responded, "Let me message her then."

-Where are you?- Akiol

-I thought it would be a waste if I used a teleport scroll to my own town. I am on my way back.- Elven Defender

-On foot?- Akiol

-Yep!- Elven Defender

"She is on her way here, apparently she was doing something and decided to walk back or something. Claimed to be a waste of a teleport scroll." Akiol informed the others.

Wrock chuckled and Yielya sighed, "That sounds like something she would say."

The three continued to chat for a bit before Tilia eventually made it back.

She sat down apologizing with, "Sorry for running late!"

Akiol waved off the apology. They all understood her reasoning. No reason to apologize for something so little.

"So here is the plan."