Basil and Whisk

Mira picked up the conversation upon seeing Givale's expression, "You don't have to tell us."

Basil and Whisk nodded in tandem. Their fingers intertwined and they both looked towards Mira.

Even as twins the actions of one sometimes was directly mirrored by the other. Normally it would be unnerving to see, but Givale and Mira had experience in terrifying matters. Their mental fortitude was unshaking despite the mysterious strength behind the twins.

In comparison to the Undead King, this wasn't much at all!

Despite Mira taking over the conversation he didn't have any questions. Yet it was clear questioning the two was a bad idea, so he allowed the twins to take charge, "You can ask questions too."

Basil and Whisk looked at each other before turning their attention back to Givale and Mira. Basil looked towards Givale, and Whisk looked towards Mira. Their voices spoke in tandem, even their hesitating pauses matched each other, ""Wh-What are those lines?""

"Line?", Givale frowned.

""It connects you to some-something else?"", the twins tilted their heads in opposite directions.

Badump~!

Mira gripped his thumb and pushed it almost to the point of breaking, allowing the pain to distract him from the sudden reaction from the Hydra's Heart. It was very crucial that no sign of aggression was shown! 

Givale tightened her jaw, a ripple of scales manifested across her face and hands. It felt like she was entirely revealed to the blindfolded twins. Yet she didn't flinch!

It was obvious to the two what the twins were asking about. It was the Link! The twins could see the Link Mira and Givale had with Akiol!

The apex creatures' instinct was to rid them of this potential threat, but their rationale kept such an instinct from showing. Both Givale and Mira felt this way of handling this issue was in line with Akiol's methods! 

Trust! It's important to build up a bit of trust! Givale struggled to make a stiff smile, "It's a Link. We've linked with somebody."

The twins brightened up at this information. Moving their hands from being interlocked they instead pressed their palms together. With a smile Whisk said, "Like us!"

Basil added, "Are they capable?"

Mira nodded, "Very."

Basil and Whisk were linked? This didn't seem right at all. Usually with a Link there was a recipient and a patron. In a sense with a Link one existence was deemed "superior". It wasn't superior in a literal sense, but rather it was just the individual in control. For instance when Akiol ascended into Third Stage, so did Mira and Givale.

Akiol was the "main" Link. Those familiar with Links would be able to sense a similarity with other Linked individuals. Yet the twins didn't hold such a feeling, none of them were the "main" Link. Nor were they connected to a "main" Link! They were not the same as Mira and Givale! 

The two understood this, yet didn't argue. Considering this was a separate continent the term of Link might be different. Or maybe even literal. This could be further proven by the twin's confusion upon seeing Link from Givale and Mira. If they had the same thing, surely they'd recognize it!

Basil said, "That is good."

Whisk added, "Capable is good."

The twins didn't seem to act in tandem. Slowly they moved their palms away and their movements became their own. Givale chewed her inner cheek as she tried to guess why this was so. Was it connected to their mood? 

"What is his name?", Whisk asked.

"Akiol.", Givale answered.

"Strange.", Basil spoke.

"Name.", Whisk finished.

They stopped acting in tandem and instead finished each other's sentences! There wasn't a pause between words, there wasn't even a shift in the tone of voice! Both held the same equally questioning tone as they said their word. If not for their difference in voices the sentence would be like if it came from one individual!

Once again they spoke one word at a time each.

"What.", Basil started.

"Is.", with no delay Whisk continued.

"Akiol?", Basil finished.

"He's someone who can cut down many with a sword.", Givale answered.

The twins looked at each other and looked back.

"What.", Basil started.

"Is.", with no delay Whisk continued.

"Akiol?", Basil finished.

The same question again? Givale pursed her lips. This time Mira answered, "A slime. He's a slime."

"A.", Whisk started.

"Monster?", Basil finished.

Givale tried to suppress her frustration, "One person at a time please, it's confusing keeping track."

The question repeated but this time Whisk was the only one to speak, "A monster?"

"Slimes can be considered monsters, but he's more than that."

The twins lifted a hand and pointed. Basil pointed towards Givale, Whisk pointed at Mira.

Their voices intertwined as they spoke together, ""You're monsters too.""

Mira stabbed a thumb into his palm, it pierced through entirely. Blood dripped to the floor as he fought against his heart's increasing beat. Struggling to speak he said, "I'm. . . not a monster."

Their fingers moved towards the dripping blood, ""You are a monster.""

Moving their hands the twins pointed at themselves then at each other, ""We're monsters too.""

A pair of tears left the twins. One from Basil's right eye, the other from Whisk's left eye. The twins immediately wiped each other's tear away out of reflex. 

Givale steadily unclenched her jaw. Her nerves were winding tighter each passing moment. She felt if the twins made any sudden movement she'd leap forth. No matter if the movement was meant to cause harm.

Placing her palms on her knees she tried to calm herself, "None of us are monsters."

"We're not?", Whisk asked.

"They said we were.", Basil said sadly.

"Who said you were?", Givale struggled to ask.

The twins pointed in a direction. Givale knew all too well what was in that direction. Her instinct suddenly screamed at her as she came to a slow realization.

The direction the twins pointed in was where the pile of statue pieces was!

~ ~ ~

Akiol woke early to ensure he was present for daybreak. When meeting up with Wharm Akiol found out the merchant had hired mercenary help. 

Once Wharm spotted Akiol he immediately began to sweat, "It's not that I don't trust in your capabilities! I just-"

Raising a hand Akiol assured Wharm, "I am not offended. You're simply making precautions, I understand that much."

"You truly are generous. Of course you're still free to ride along."

"I will take you on that offer.", Akiol eyed the hired mercenaries.

They all weren't even First Stage. Not surprising considering this was the beginner village. They numbered five, their classes weren't balanced at all either. There wasn't even a priest! 

Very quickly they hit the road while Akiol rested on top of the covered crates once again. Slowly the players began to warm up to him, asking a few questions.

"What level are you?", a warrior asked.

"I dunno.", Akiol replied honestly.

"You don't know?"

"It's a quest, my level isn't known to me.", Akiol used his favorite excuse.

"Ohh, your status is all question marks for me. So not even you know huh?"

"It's unfortunate."

Falling back to lay on the boxes Akiol asked, "So why did you all pick this job? Pay that great?"

The response was basically unanimous across the mercenary group. Wharm indeed pay higher than average for a simple escort quest. Except one Archer player who spoke, "I need to hunt a slime for a better bag. Green Bay village should have some according to the Guidehands."

Wharm coughed, "The Guidehands are real?"

The mercenary squad mostly ignored him. The player hunting the slime said curtly, "They are."

Akiol's gaze narrowed as he rolled on the top of the cart to view the walking players. Since they were paid to escort they weren't allowed to ride the cart. As he watched their reactions Akiol followed up on Wharm's question, "I haven't seen a Guidehand before."

The warrior exclaimed, "Aren't you one?"

"I'm not."

"Oh! Usually the higher level players only come to beginner villages to help. I thought you were a Guidehand. . ."

The archer player snorted, "He's clearly not."

The warrior clicked their tongue, "How am I supposed to know that?"

"I mean look at him! He's not wearing their insignia!"

So the Guidehands do wear a sort of badge. Akiol eyed the archer player and let them continue. 

Raising a finger the archer player spoke with a smug tone, "A Guidehand wears their insignia on their left shoulder. A circular badge with the symbol of a palm. Similar to the hand sign for 'stop'."

The archer moved their hand to provide a visual example of their explanation. Their hand was entirely outstretched, their fingers pressed together. 

The archer player continued, "Except for the captains. A captain of the Guidehands will have the thumb folded inwards. After that each rank will curve a finger inwards starting from the pinky. The leader of the Guidehands has just a singular pointing finger."

"How do you know all of this?", the warrior didn't appreciate the smug tone.

"My older brother is apart of them! He's the one who told me to hunt a slime."

"You know a Guidehand personally! Dude that's so cool.", a sorcerer spoke in awe.

The archer clearly appreciated this praise and their ego raised just a bit, "I finally was able to afford my own headset so I'm quickly leveling to help him out."

Akiol asked, "How common is it to find one?"

The archer player shrugged, "It's not hard, but they're always busy. A Guidehand only wears their insignia when they're helping. They're players too so they often grind for themselves as well. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering how I could get into contact with them.", Akiol replied casually.

This was a lie. Akiol didn't actually wish to meet the Guidehands. He simply only wanted to know more about them. 

"If you need their help they have a site you could make a request at. Unless it's something crazy they often will only give you advice and won't send anyone personally. My brother says the site is often flooded with hundreds of requests daily."

"A site?"

The archer told Akiol about the site and he committed it to memory. He might visit it later if given the chance.

It was clear the Guidehands were idolized. A lot of players mentioned them, many wishing to join their ranks. Akiol wondered if this sentiment was the same for the higher leveled players. Regardless their resources must be very impressive, and their connections broad.

They assisted the newcomers with guides and advice, and even helped personally. They do live up to their names! Akiol paid a bit of respect to their reputation.

One thing he noticed however was that the players directly referred to them as "Guidehands" and not "Guidehand Church". Was the Church addition something only NPCs use? In a sense it made sense.

To the NPCs it seemed like the Resurrectors often idolized and praised the Guidehands. This was somewhat similar to a faith. So calling them the Guidehand Church was understandable. 

'Is the west open minded about faith? Or is it because the main following are Players?', Akiol wondered to himself.

The introduction of a new faith could convert believers to the Guidehand Church, directly removing influence from existing Gods. This sort of thing seemed like something Gods would interrupt. . .

"Faith?", Akiol suddenly asked himself.

Kan'na proved that players can become Gods. She was in the most literal sense living proof! Could the leader of the Guidehands also be a promoted God?

If the player faith in the Guidehand Church could be considered valid forms of faith, did that mean their trust in the Guidehands directly turned into strength for the leader of the Guidehands? This was under the belief that Akiol's assumption of the Guidehands' leader being a God or Goddess.

Of course there was still the option that the Guidehands leader was just a person who wanted to help!