Chapter 25: Old friend

Asher quickly opens the door in front of him and sees Rufina in the room sitting and seemingly expecting their presence.

"You seem to have successfully found the creature:" Rufina flew from her seat closer to them.

"Wait, where do you know about that?" The frown on Asher's forehead is etched. "We haven't said anything at all."

"You don't have to, because I have been blessed with the power of the guardian of the Malana forest to sense the existence of holy creatures." Rufina slowly released the mask clinging to her face and asks them to hand the bird to her. "This holy creature will turn a dark color if an evil figure touches it, but I see it still has a snow-white color." Rufina released the bird and it disappeared into thin air.

'You have completed the quest: Searching for the truth.'

'Gained 1800 Exp'

'You have obtained 1000 Gold coins, 3x Potions'

'Lv up to lv.10'

'+5 skill points

"I'll keep my promise to you."

Rufina then snaps her fingers and soon the door behind them opens and a blue-haired fairy flies toward them.

"Asher, Chronos!" Persea immediately shouted their names and then dashed toward them. "Gosh, I don't expect to see you guys."

"Persea, where have you been?" Asher raised his eyeballs at the same-looking Persea as before. "What have they done to you?"

Persea instantly shakes her head. "Nothing, they just greet me here," she said with a wide smile. "Rufina and her troops are very nice people."

"Oh okay, and where is the fairy chief then?" Asher looked closer and there is no one in sight. " Are you not with him?"

"Hey don't worry, the fairy chief is safe now." Persea patted Asher on the shoulder. "He just needs some rest."

Asher dan Chronos breathes out with relief, but Asher suddenly notices a strange little symbol that looks like a shining bird on Persea's palm, making his curiosity even greater.

"Persea, what is that symbol?" Asher looked closer at Persea's palm.

"Oh, this is a symbol indicating you are not part of the darkness." Persea pointed at the palms of Asher and Chronos. "You also have the same symbol, don't you?"

Persea's words immediately make Asher and Chronos look at their palms and see the same symbol as Persea's.

"Wait, since when this symbol has been at our palms?." Chronos rolled his eyeballs upwards and tried to remember. "Ah, I don't remember it at all." He shook his head at the sight of the symbol in his palm.

"That symbol will continue to glow as long as we are not part of the darkness." Rufina interrupted their conversation while flying closer to them. "I'm sorry for my attitude before, but I am only trying to protect my people."

"Hey, I will do the same thing if I were in your position. " Chronos replied to Rufina's words. "A good leader should be able to take care of his members, right?"

Rufina's blue eyes instantly dilate for a moment as a smile on her lips slowly etches clearly. "Thank you for saying the words. It's meant a lot to me."

Persea then asked about the presence of the village elder of Malana, yet Rufina immediately shut up for a moment and lowers her head shortly after.

"My father has been captured by one of the creatures of darkness, the goblin king." Rufina's lips curved downward. "I can't help him... I'm not strong enough to help my father."

" Oh my, I don't know at all." Persea instantly shut her mouth tightly with her hand. "I truly apologize for my insolence."

"That's fine." Rufina smiles at Persea with a sigh. Rufina says her father sacrifices himself to prevent the darkness from capturing herself and the remaining Malana elves.

"If only I was stronger enough, I might have been able to help my father." Rufina's sounds start cracking. "But .... but.... the darkness is too strong."

Rufina's tears slowly flow from her cheeks falling to the ground and a few seconds later, her cries fill the whole room, making the atmosphere instantly quiet.

"Rufina, we are willing to help you." Persea hugs Rufina tightly. "I promise to bring your father back here."

"Thank you, Persea." Rufina wipes away the tears which are still flowing down her cheeks. "But... but... I don't know where my father is."

"Well, I have someone who can determine a person's location." Persea snapped her fingers repeatedly. "Yeah, but he's a temperamental person and also a bit of a jerk." Persea stroked her blue hair and rolls her eyes. "But for now, we have no other choice."

Persea's words instantly make Asher and Chronos direct their gazes toward Persea.

"Wait, who are you talking about?" Chronos asks in a curious tone.

"Who else if it's not Ignea, the fire fairy."

"Huh? So you successfully located Ignea's whereabouts?" Asher immediately narrowed his eyes. "Is he around here?"

Persea quickly shakes her head. "No, but I can feel her energy near this location."

They finally decide to find Ignea's whereabouts first to help Rufina find her father's whereabouts. While walking out of the village, Asher suddenly stopped walking and sees a female player carrying a Voodoo doll seemingly being harshly treated by her teammates and falling on the ground.

"Hey bi***, can't you play this game well?" One of the female players wearing a scarf sharply stared at the woman holding the voodoo doll. "I told you to use your skills when I command you, but why don't you listen to my orders, you bi***!"

"'Yeah, Amena almost died if I don't help her." The woman carrying a small dagger directly slapped the woman of the black magic class in the face.

"Amena.... forgive me!" The woman's voice can be heard following the crying. "I promise to do my best." The woman stood up and hugs Amena's legs tightly.

"Ah, your begging nature is always the same and it's disgusting for me." Amena kicks the woman in the face. "Get away, you stupid bi***!"

A few seconds later, the two women quit the game and leave her alone. Asher wants to help her, but his steps are suddenly blocked by Chronos.

"Chronos what are you doing?" Asher furrowed his brow. "We have to help that player." He tried to break Chronos' grip.

"Ash, you shouldn't interfere with other people's business." Chronos shook his head. "We don't exactly know what happened to her."

Asher simply ignored Chronos' words and run straight toward the woman, but he is too late because the woman is already out of the game.

"I wonder what exactly happens to her?"

***