Departure

Morning sun rose on this new day and for the first time in months was it actually visible to the eye; no longer covered in a thick blanket of fog and rowdy grey clouds. The birds chirped a lovely tune that I seemed to pay attention more to today, rather than ever before. Maybe this was because of the importance this day held for me.

Today was the day that I had agreed to join the bald adventurer, who I met in the adventurers guild by coincidence, to join his party and help them with a specific task needed on the mission. It was an offer I couldn't refuse. Rather I would have been stupid if I did refuse it. I would get an equal share split of the profits for helping them accomplish one part of a mission that they alone, because of their size, couldn't do. I was told it wasn't particularly hard either, just difficult to accomplish due to the size of an adult. Everyone in his party was average or above average height (as I was informed previously by the man) and whilst I was tall for an 8 year old kid, I was apparently still suited for this role.

My heart raced from the moment I rose from my slumber. This time, unlike the previous two days, the old man who was allowing me to stay at his humble abode, had woken up before me to prepare an especially large breakfast for me. "You'll need all the energy you can get for your journey", he told me. It was quite nice of him to do this, however I felt bad for invading on his privacy and making him feel like he needs to be such a generous host. Nevermind that though, it would have been rude to apologise. It was best to give my most sincere thanks and smile away.

With a hearty appetite of a young growing boy that I was, I dug in immediately as soon as the plate had been laid on the table in front of me. A large chunk of wholegrain bread, freshly prepared fish and hot mushroom soup had plaited the oak dining table that I use to support my drooling face before the food had arrived. It took me no time at all to get through it, and in about 15 minutes I was finished - residue of the mushroom soup going across and over my top lip, looking similar to a moustache.

"Thank you very much for the food, gramps!" I shouted in a cheery and grateful tone, a broad smile splattered across my face as I wiped of the remaining mushroom soup of my face.

"No worries boy, I hope it was to your liking."

"It was. A-and thank you! For taking care of me and being such an incredible host for me. I will never forget what you did for me." I said bowing down, unable to face him as tears formed in my eyes. Though we hadn't spent much time together, gramps was my emotional support. The one person who would greet me back with open arms and a smile on his face saying welcome back after a tough day of frustrations and fatigue. We didn't speak much and nor told each over about our problems, but being close to him was more than enough for me. The fact that I knew if anything happened, there was someone next to me ready to help me or at least point me in the right direction.

"Don't fret over that boy. I'm happy you enjoyed your stay." Gramps said in a calm and soothing voice as he walked towards me and rubbed my back to cheer me up.

I shot up straight like an arrow and proceeded to head to the door. "Thank you once more, and goodbye."

"Wait! Before you go boy, make sure to stay safe. Beware of man more than any beast. Since a beast stays true to their emotion, both in their manner and words. But man. Man will lie through gritted teeth, capable of doing the worst to their own kind for the sake of personal accomplishment or greed." His eyes serious and worried as he looked me up and down.

"I will keep that in mind, gramps." I said, my tone much slower and a bit freaked out. I shot an awkward smile and left the old mans home, to travel to the designated meet up spot. The adventurers guild.

I arrive in front of the adventurers guild right on the agreed time, yet I was still the very last one to to get there. I guess the professionals really do take things more seriously.

"Hello everyone. I'm sorry that you had to wait for me." I said with a smile on my face as I jogged on over to the rest of the group.

"No worries kid. You're not late either, were just early since we had to make sure were ready and all on the same page." The bald adventurer, Skull face, informed me.

Skull face's party was much large than I originally thought it would be. The party consisted of 11 members including Skull face and excluding me. They all were properly prepared and equipped with equipment suited to their roles in the party. There was definitely a large contrast between them and me, who had tattered clothes and a single bag that had small openings in the fabric. I feel so out of place. But maybe after this mission, with my earnings I'll be able to by myself some more appropriate gear and hopefully increase my adventurers rank to be able to partake in more difficult missions.

"Ok, let me introduce you to your teammates for todays mission." - Skull face proudly exclaimed, a twisted grin spread across his face - "Firstly, we have the magicians. They are our rear force that supports our other members and they also double as our intelligence of the team. So step up you three!"

As those words left his mouth, three people out of the group stepped up. Two males and one female. The man on the left had grey hair and lemon coloured eyes. A single scar going across his thick eyebrows made him only that little bit memorable as the rest of his appearance was rather bland and nothing to shout about. He wore a coffee brown stained robe and had on gloves that seemed to have small crystals imbedded in them. It most likely amplified the effectiveness of his mana or helped him manipulate it in some way. Apart from that, a bow was strapped along to his back and he possessed two daggers, glued to his waist. He was introduced under his adventurers name of Sword Rat.

The man on the right had blonde hair, and for some unspoken reason, his eyelids seemed to be stuck together, as not once did he open his eyes. I mean, how can you even walk like that let alone support a group of people who are fighting monsters and beasts and exploring dangerous places. That thought alone baffled me entirely. His expressions were strangely similar to that of a snake and that included his smile which extended in a flipped rainbow across his face. His tongue also possessed serpent features, being long and seemingly adding a bit of a slur in his speech when he said hello to me. Apart from that, he wore a tight fitted leather shirt and obsidian armour that completed his serpent look, due to the scale like pattern of it. It might have even belonged to a massive snake for all I know! He also had a small crystal, however his was placed in a some sort metal headband that went across his forehead, the crystal of course centred above his eyes... eyelids. And yet again, daggers at his waist. His adventurers name was Red Snake. Does he look like that because he chose his name to be this, or did he choose his name because of what he looked like?

Finally, from the magicians, the only female in this role in the party. She was introduced under the adventurer's name of Widow. Like black widow? As in the spider? Or like a widow? As in she was married and lost her spouse and has yet to re-marry or is committed to being alone forever in the memory of her deceased husband? Hmmm. I guess no time to think about that now. She had jet black long hair with the tips of it being tinted an ominous red. So Spider it is! Her face was rather bleak, with no expressions being displayed. However her face was still gorgeous. Argent eyes, that looked coldly at anyone and would push away people. But in fact, it made her all the more desirable. Her figure was well endowed with a large bust and thick thighs that would stir those feelings in any man. Fortunately, I was a kid. I am immune to such charms... to an extent, that is. She, unlike the other two, had three crystals. Two strapped to her gloves, and one in her staff. Her black robe gently rolled in the wind and revealed her pale white skin that glistened under the rays of the sun. And once more, she also carried a bow.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm told your adventurer's name is blank?" The woman asked, her index finger pressing on her lip as she looked at me with eyes of a predator as if she were a beast about to devour her prey.

"E-eh, yes. It's also nice to meet you, magicians." I chuckled awkwardly whilst scratching the back of my head.

"Ok! Souls! Step up and introduce yourself!" Skull face, the party's leader, commanded.

The Souls, from what I was told, were the main attackers of any party. They only used source strength and fought at the very front of the group. And in Skull face's party, there attackers consisted of also three people, just like the magicians. However, unlike the magicians, there were two women and only one man. The three of them came out, similarly to the magicians, and stood ready to greet me.

First, the woman with the adventurer's name of Red Wolf introduced herself first. A fairly casual greeting. She seemed to be a very laid back person and walked around carefree. Though, for a women, she was packing an incredible amount of muscle whilst still looking extremely alluring. Her violet hair was short and she was tanned. Her face left untouched, not soiled by any scar, her eyes Valencia orange which perfectly matched her two golden hooped earrings. Her lips a plump brown and her stature, very tall. Carried on her back, a longsword that reached past her hips, and at her waist, two short swords attached. She carried very little armour, only in vital areas like her heart and her head. A thin but sturdy breastplate that allowed for fast and free flowing movement, and a helmet that was joined onto the metal skin around her neck in the shape of wings that would slide over her head and form into horns.

The second woman was shorter than Red Wolf. She went by the name of Crafty. Her skin wasn't as dark, but it wasn't white either. She was mixed and had pointy ears. Yes, she was an elf. Her eyes shone in the sun, a beautiful parakeet colour. Her face, once more, not scarred. However, the same could not be said for her arms. Distinct scars scattered across both arms all being worn confidently as a proud badge of honour. Her muscle was much leaner than Red Wolf's but apparently she was stronger, from what she had told me in her greeting. Red Wolf also had no objections to that statement. Crafty wore a big smile on her face which looked rather pleasant, until it didn't. At time, it looked psychotic. Her eyes seemed to wonder no matter who she talked to. It was rather strange, but not something I brought up. As for her armour, she wore none. Just her usual black clothes that tightly fitted her curvy figure. On her back she carried two longswords and a bow and near her waist, two daggers. Don't ask me how she carried that. When I asked, she just ignored my question and laughed.

Finally, moving onto the only male in the attackers. He greeted me with an annoyed face that showed disgust and high class. As if he were above the world, you know, those spoilt rich kids. His adventurer's name was all the more classy, Blind spot. Ewwwww! How edgy! It just screams of a rich kid who got no attention from his family. His hair long, tied in a sideways bun, onyx in colour. His eyes large like the sky which his iris's colour imitated. He wore black clothes all around with black chainmail underneath for extra protection. His shoulder were broad and he looked incredibly strong physically, yet he opted for lighter weapons in two short swords as his main attacking route. A bow was straddled along his back as well.

"Tch! You really annoy me kid! But I don't have a choice but allow you to come since the boss had already agreed to it. Don't slow us down... And do your job. You got that?" He asked, crouching down to my height and poking my forehead with his two fingers.

"Y-yes sir!" I replied, trying to avoid eye contact.

"Good. Be obedient like that and we'll have no problem."

"Alright, alright now. Stop intimidating the kid." - Skull face eased. And just like that, he backed away.

"Lastly, meet the foundations of our team, the ones who help both the Souls and the magicians using both their preferred use of combat. We are known as Jack's of all trades but masters of none. The pacemakers!" Skull face announced in cheers, his voice still hoarse and raspy, but his voice still practically booming with incredible energy.

Along with Skull face, another three stepped forward. The pacemakers were consisted of four people in this party. The pacemakers were split evenly with two men and two women taking up the four spots. Pacemakers are the all rounders in a team. They can use both source strength and mana to an equally acceptable level. Normally, the better the pacemakers on the team, the better the whole party. At least that's what I had been told. The pacemakers consisted of party leader Skull face who needs no introduction. But the other three's adventurers names were Frowning Fox (the other male alongside Skull face), Lycoris and puppet.

Firstly Frowning Fox. He was a tall man with messy tangerine hair that would fall into his eyes disrupting his vision at practically all times. I would imagine, anyway. His ivy green iris contrasted his violent looking hair, creating a balance in his appearance and made him shockingly handsome. A sharp jawline and he had the look of a tough and desirable guy. He carried around a sangria coloured scythe that ominously stood out from his back. His shoulders broad and his waist thin. His armour wasn't all that incredible, compared to his appearance. Sable gauntlets on his hands with the same coloured shoulder pads that looked like three layers were peeling off each over. Then a white top that only covered his chest leaving his abdomen completely exposed.

Then, the two women. They~... looked exactly the same. They were twins. Lycoris and puppet both had the same cardinal hair, and the same gold eyes. Their figures also identical, both being rather modest but still amounting a good amount of muscle. No scars on their bodies and their calm aura oozed of them. Apparently the two sisters had been fighting together for multiple years now, even before joining this party. However, there was only one thing that separated themselves from each over. The weapons they carried. Lycoris carried a heavy double sided axe that was as tall as her body. I wondered why she used such an impractical weapon in the battlefield. Maybe it was a distraction?

The other sister, puppet. She brought into battle... whips. Snow white whips with blood coated thorns on them. If that doesn't scream psycho, I don't know what does!

"Ok. Now that we all introduced each over, I say it's about time we head out." Skull face spoke in a serious manner, clapping his hands to get our attention.

"If you don't mind me asking, where are we heading to complete the quest?" I questioned.

"Geez, already asking questions? I told you to keep quiet and just do what you are meant to." The edgy rich kid spoke up. Geez. He's already annoying the hell out of me. Though I'm to scared to say anything since he is a soul on a party that regularly takes on B - A rank quests.

"Now, now. Don't be like that. Blank. We are heading off to the caves near the shores of the neutral land and on the border of the elven forests."

"Oh. Isn't that quite far away?"

"No, not at all. From the town of Hagg it should only take us four and a half hours or so. Right Rat?"

"I believe so. Unless any unprecedented accidents may occur, we should arrive there in the specified time."

Wait, isn't that still quite far? Are veteran adventures really just built that different? This is kind of amazing! I'm starting to get really excited!

"Ok people! Let's get moving!" Skull face shouted, his back turned away from us as he began walking ahead of our group.

"Roger that."

"Let's get going!"

"Lets just get this other with. I hate having to keep such awful things in my head. I affects my conscience."

"Widow. Don't say that, THEY... might catch onto what were doing. We wouldn't want that now, do we?" Skull face retorted as his neck twisted to face her, saliva came running down his face and a disturbing smile across his face. "HAHAHAHAHA!" He broke out into maniacal laughter.

It was very creepy and off putting, my body seemed to want me to leave and not go on this quest. But I ignored his behaviour. I purposefully blinded myself from these things in the group.

We quickly left the village and made swift progress over the green hills that were blemished by the mud, which overwhelmed the smaller concentration of grass. They were practically mud hills now that I take a closer look. The marshy texture of the ground and the worms worming there way around in it, felt extremely uncomftarble sending jitters through my body with every little bit that leaked in through my shoes. The sun may have been out, for the first time in months, yet it didn't mean that it was warm. Quite the opposite actually. The wind wintry and my lungs struggled to take the air in. It only got worse since we got closer to the shores, the wind became practically numbing, crashing against the warmth of my body similarly to the waves smashing into the land.

Our group traversed about half way around this point and we had entered a small forest, which would become the last natural shelter we would find until the caves. Skull face, at all times, walked in front of our group scouting the area.

"Ok people. Lets make a stop here and hunt for some food." He whispered towards our group. "Get a fire ready, magicians." The three magicians of the party immediately obeyed and began looking for fire wood.

"But we brought food along, didn't we? So why are we wasting time by hunting?" I asked, huffing my warm breath at my hands whilst I rubbed them together.

"You really are a rookie aren't you?" The edgy rich kid said. "Obviously were saving that food for when we dive into the cave and find our self possibly without a reliable food source. It's always best to hunt for food rather than start digging into the food you brought."

Wow, the edgy rich kid I actually said something actually useful rather than saying I'm inexperienced. Perhaps I treated you too harshly?

"So don't be any more of a nuisance kid and don't ask these stupid question. Be quite and do what you need to do."

And there it is! I take back everything I said, stupid rich, spoilt, edgy kid!

"Cut it out you two and be a little more quiet. Now Blank, and Blind Spot. Come with me, I think I found a trail of a rare animal that can bring in a whole load of money." His face lit up with greed as he looked towards us."

"You heard him, lets get going kid." The edgy rich kid said as he grabbed me by my bag and threw me in Skull face's direction.

Fuck! This kid really has attitude. I'm not an object you know! You can't just go around throwing me whenever you like!

"Everyone, we'll be leaving for a while. The rest of you can rest here whilst we hunt for the animal."

Skull face's eyes glistened with excitement even though his face remained stone called. He shot me and edgy rich kid a look, indicating to follow him. We left the camp immediately after he relayed his message for the rest of our group. We patiently followed in his trail, scrambling over the thick moss covered trees that had been uprooted from the ground and had fallen onto there sides. Our steps made light crunches whenever our feet would plant themselves on the soil of the ground, the branches underneath them laid to waist.

"Oi, leader. Where did you see this animal exactly?" The onyx haired Soul asked.

"Keep it down. We're just about here. Just keep following me and shut up."

Ha Ha~. That was so satisfying! Getting to see that stuck up edge lord get told to shut up! I could die in peace now. No! Wait, that's not right! I can't die yet! Especially not in this body. I need to return it back to my brother.

"There it is~." A hush, that I though came from the wind, escaped Skull face's mouth. "Come, peek over." He urged the both of us behind him to climb up on the edge of rock that was hanging of a hill in the forest. When we did, our eyes shone in a rainbow colour. The reflection that gleamed of the animals horns. Down below was the rare Wing - horned deer. It's horns spread out just like angelic wings, blinding everyone with it's rainbow glow that came of them.

"That's incredible~!" I muttered excitedly. "Ok then, let's go down there and secure it." I said confidently trying to stand up only for me to get dragged by the back of my shirt.

"Get down, you idiot! Only get up when I tell you to!"

"S-s-sorry, party leader." I was shocked. For the first time it wasn't the edgy kid who told me to shut up but instead the party leader. His voice sent a chill down my back. He acted coldly as if everything until now was just an act.

"Sorry for that kid. But we can't go down yet. What were gonna do, is make it take us to it's pack. So we can get the whole lotta them." He snickered, licking his lips. his words now with an accent on them and not full enunciated. It's like he had two personalities.

"Ok. But how do we do that leader?"

"Simple. We get this weak isolated one, make it think he's safe. Stalk him around. Eventually he'll return to his pack. THEN, and only then do we pounce on them! Ok?"

"Whatever you say leader."

"O-ok."

We then continued to stalk it for the next hour or so, and at a couple of moments we almost alerted it but we managed to keep it in the dark, unaware of our presence until it finally regrouped with it's pack.

"Look at all them! Look at all that money!"

"What a sight indeed!"

"So~ now we get them?" I asked timidly whilst the other two looked at each over with greed.

"Yes. But before that, Blind, you go set up the artefact barriers. Until we have this place secured, we wait."

"On it." Just like that he quietly jumped away from the scene.

"So what are artefact barriers?"

"Exactly what they sound like kid. They are artefacts that have either a source strength barrier technique in them, or a mana powered spell barrier. Once activated, they will not allow anyone to escape from the vicinity unless the have knowledge in barriers and are able disable it."

"So were guaranteed to be able to catch them?"

Catch? Don't you mean... kill?" He looked at me, his eyes craving bloodlust and his smile terrifying to look at.

"Ok, I'm back."

"Huh? That was quick."

"Well I'm no amateur unlike you, so expect nothing less."

"Ok boys, hunting time is a go!"

"I wonder when they'll get back?"

"They've been gone for over two hours now, haven't they?" I heard muffled chat from far away as we got back with multiple Wing - horned deer holstered over the two adventurers back. I was too small to carry any so they each brought back five on their backs.

"There they are!"

"Speak of the devil!"

"Is that a Wing - horned deer!?"

"Now everyone calm down. It is indeed, Wing - horned deer. I will strip of the horns and the rest of you cook them and eat to your hearts content!" Skull face announced, whilst he delicately inserted his cleaving knife between the deer's skull and the beginning of the horn. The with a swift and clean gesture, cut off the horn, not even a single bit wasted or damaged, retaining it's rainbow glow.

"Come here, kid." Skull face gestured over to me. "Remember what I taught you today in hunting and remember my words whilst we complete the quest. The weak will always be used for the benefit of the strong. They will be manipulated and cornered into doing the predators business, only for it to achieve it's goal... and die anyway. Consider this a friendly warning."

His words were threatening and sounded alarm bells. The deer's blood splattered on his, going as far as staining his teeth. I was petrified... but once again I removed the red flags from my mind and continued to trust.

After we finished eating, we continued our journey. We were now practically at the caves, just a kilometre away from reaching the shores. But already did the wailing oceans greet you, with it's crashing tone, and the scent of the sea clouded my nose with it's intoxicating scent. The ground became mushier the closer we came, seemingly having been affected by the storms that had been happening over these past few months.

"Wow~!" I muttered to myself in awe. In front of me and the party, stood two colossal doors, in scripted with strange language that none of us knew how to read.

"Seems were hear."

"Indeed, leader. I think it is safe to assume so." The blonde magician said so. I don't know he knew, since you know... his eyes are closed! But hey, apparently he knows.

"Ok before we enter, lets revaluate our plan."