Orario and balance 2.289

The day of the escort arrived and Viggo appeared at seven in the morning at the entrance of the dungeon. Viggo with two meters with five centimeters of height and red hair already stood out from the crowd. However, added to the beautiful dwarf royal armor with its turquoise color and golden edges, it was impossible to ignore. At his side he was accompanied by Sakura and Ana, both Spartans with purple hair that matched the purple armor that Hepheastus herself had made for them. Sakura wore her hair up to her shoulders while Ana wore it long to her ankles and tied by a white ribbon.

On the other hand, Asfi with short turquoise hair was sitting on a bench. She was pretty, but her attitude barely attracted attention. However, when she saw Viggo and the other two warriors, she bowed her head, as if wanting to hide and not be linked to them. It was the difference from the earth to the moon. She was a little level 1 adventurer and if it weren't for her rare ability, Hermes would never have paid attention to her. Everything about her screamed common, average and didn't stand out at all. On the other hand, Viggo was already strong, but with that armor he looked imposing while the two girls on the sides were too sensual. Everything about them screamed top-notch adventurer.

Viggo stopped in front of the bench where Asfi was sitting with her head down. Luckily, she didn't have a longer neck because otherwise she would have imitated ostriches and hidden her head underground. Viggo coughed to get attention and said in a thick voice —good morning, Asfi—

Asfi raised her face with a sorrowful look. Viggo looked at her standing up and held out his hand. Asfi looked at that hand covered by the turquoise gauntlet and golden edges. She found it incredibly large. She put her hand closer, put her fingers on Viggo's and looked into his eyes. Viggo helped her up with a gentle gesture and they faced each other. Viggo was at least two heads taller than her. Asfi had to lift her face with her neck extended to look into his eyes.

—Good morning Asfi— Viggo repeated.

—Good morning— Asfi repeated in a fearful voice, looked at the surroundings and looked down at the ground.

—Asfi— Viggo said in a thick, calm voice —look at me, we can't talk if you don't look at my face—

Asfi heard two giggles and raised her face. She saw the two women on Viggo's sides and felt ugly and small. Again, she was going to look down, but Viggo held her chin with the fingers of her right hand and raised her face.

—Asfi, let's talk— Viggo repeated, Asfi nodded, and Viggo continued —I'm going to escort you, Sakura on my right and Ana on my left will accompany us Do you have combat experience?— Asfi nodded and answered with an almost inaudible yes. Viggo nodded and asked —Which one?—

—A dagger— Asfi whispered.

Viggo nodded and looked to his left, where Ana was with her long purple hair tied by a white ribbon —I leave it to you, help this girl in the best way—

—What?— asked Asfi.

—Ana is going to help you improve your skills, she will be a help from us. You can thank Ana or not, it's all up to you—

Viggo let go of her face and began to walk in front. Sakura followed closely, she carried a cross bow on her back and a quiver with arrows. Ana was staring at Asfi with a calm expression, it was a head higher than her and less frightening than the giant Viggo, but anyway, Asfi bowed her head.

—Raise your head— Ana said in a soft, seductive voice. Asfi looked up and saw that she looked at her indifferently —I don't know why you feel sorry, but if you're going to enter the dungeon and maintain that attitude, they'll kill you, is that your intention?— Asfi shook furiously with her head and Ana continued —well, it's a start, let me see your dagger—

Asfi pulled her dagger from her waist and presented it to Ana. The latter looked at her and felt that she was seeing a large knife for cutting meat. Ana refused, returned the knife, and searched in her backpack. She took out a long knife of forty centimeters.

—I can't accept it— said Asfi.

—Don't worry, it's one of Tsubaki's failures, even if you lose it, it's not a problem. It's better than that knife you're carrying—

Asfi looked at the dagger that Ana held out to her and realized that it resembled a katana, but smaller, a wakizashi. She received it and carried it in her left hand.

Ana raised her eyes and said, —Are you right-handed or left-handed?—

—Right-handed— replied Asfi.

—In that case carry the wakizashi in your right hand. One uses her best dagger in the dominant hand and not the weakest. If you break the weakest dagger in your dominant hand, it can shock you and leave you exposed—

Asfi nodded, exchanged daggers, and waited for Ana to give her the next order.

Ana let out a long sigh thinking that this would be long. Viggo had better compensate her properly after this, she thought.

—Come, come on, I hope that from now on you will talk more. It's necessary if you're going to be adventurous— Ana said and began walking.

Asfi stared at Ana's back and the long purple hair that reached her ankles. It was too long and beautiful she thought. Then she looked at her hair, it was short, her color was beautiful, but not even close to that woman's. She advanced with spirits on the ground and cursed Hermes the moment it occurred to him to ask such a favor from one of Orario's high-level adventurers.

Ana and Asfi quickly caught up with Viggo and Sakura. Soon they plunged into the dungeon, but still the adventurers on the way kept watching them and went out of their way. No one in that kind of armor could be a normal adventurer. Ana and Asfi took the lead while Sakura and Viggo followed. Ana was explaining how to fight Asfi with a strict tone of voice, it was the only way to keep Asfi focused and away from her negative thoughts.

They reached the first goblin; Ana stopped in front and rested her left hand on her waist. She looked at Asfi and said —OK, put everything I've told you into practice—

—Sorry, but I am the person who should be escorted, I should not fight— Asfi replied.

—We are the escort— Ana replied in a firm tone of voice that made Asfi shiver —we worry that the monsters don't kill you. Now, do you want to be an adventurer or not?— Asfi bowed her head and nodded. Ana continued —in that case, the adventurers fight, fight against the monsters exposing their lives. Now, you're going to do everything I've told you or I'll leave you to your own devices. Viggo is my man, and he will listen to me if I tell him to ignore any dealings, even if it was with a god—

Asfi shivered with fear, looked Ana in the eye and saw the severity in the look. Asfi frowned, which made Ana smile.

—That expression is better— said Ana with a smile —you don't have to live bowing your head, you don't owe me anything, what I do, I do because I want to and you should do the same too, of course, if you respect yourself—

Asfi continued to show the angry expression, she didn't like being pressured. She looked towards the goblin ahead of her, got into combat position, and ran carrying a dagger in each hand. She stopped in front of the goblin and the latter greeted her with a scratch to her face. Asfi threw her face back, dodging the monster's course, bony hands. She advanced with her right hand as if throwing a punch and with the edge of the dagger backwards. The movement was natural, the dagger reached the monster's throat, and the latter was pushed back by the pain.

Goblin stumbled with his feet and fell on his back while bringing his right hand around his neck to prevent from bleeding. Asfi stared at him from her position, watching as the goblin exhaled his last breath and when he fell completely lying on the ground, he vanished as if it were smoke and left a purple stone the size of a fingernail.

—Well, you seem to be talented— Ana said, approaching her with her left hand resting on her waist. She passed by Asfi, bent down, and picked up the purple stone. She turned around and saw Asfi just as angry as before. Ana smiled at that expression, it was anger at not being able to order her life, depend on others without being master of her destiny. She held out the purple stone and said —take, your first attempt. Just like this stone, so is your strength, insignificant and meaningless. However, if you train you will become strong and grow—

—I don't like you giving me orders— Asfi said, looking up and looking into her eyes.

Ana smiled, walked until they were in front of each other and headbutted her on the forehead. Asfi stepped back two steps, crouched, dropped her daggers, and clutched her forehead.

—Bad— said Ana —you are weak and the weak do what the strong want. I am strong, your butt belongs to me, and you will do what I say. If you are not strong, I will let you be the food of the monsters—

Asfi looked up with tear-filled eyes, furious with this woman. Her lips trembled with an urge to cry. She escaped from her kingdom to fall into the hands of Hermes and have the latter hand her over to these monsters.

—Bad— said Ana, crossing her arms —crying will not solve your problems, it will not give you back control over your life. Take your daggers and fight, they are your fangs, they are your most powerful weapon along with your mind and body. Now are you going to get up or help you?—

Asfi moved her hands away from her forehead, stretched out her hands and picked up her daggers from the ground. She stood up with an angry look and tears streaming down her cheeks.

—That's better— Ana said with a smile —now let's continue. If at any time you want to attack me, you can, neither my sister nor Viggo will stop you. However, if you can't harm me, I'll hurt you back—

—Today, I'll move on from that, I'm not stupid— said Asfi —but someday I'll give this back to you—

—That's the attitude— Ana replied with a smile, pointed forward with her eyes and said —Now move on, we can't wait for you all day—

Asfi continued to advance ahead with a mixture of fear and resentment, which gave her enough courage to face every monster along the way, all low-level. When more than two met Ana took over and left her one. That was Asfi's challenge, to learn to occupy her daggers and fight the monsters. It also gave her an idea of how strong Ana was and to put it simply, it was overwhelming. She could barely follow her with her eyes.

However, the game ended after three floors and from then on, they were solving everything between Ana and Sakura. Gradually Asfi was relegated to the back, where Sakura and Viggo kept an eye on the surroundings. Asfi looked at Viggo and teased him in her mind because even though he was huge and in that majestic armor, he didn't do anything.