Chapter 3: The adventurers of Everfall

The Kingdom is just as diverse as is their lush and beautiful environment. The many people and species that came to adventure is simply and mostly unheard of. Ranging from the large and brutish Orcs to the light and graceful Elves. The small and stubborn dwarves with their wisdom and a whole host of monster-human hybrids. However, not everyone is treated equally as what the King had intended. There were times of prejudice against certain species, particularly the Orcs and the predatory hybrids. However, the act of racism doesn't just apply towards different species, but also the others within the species themselves. As of now, this act of dehumanization are relatively minor, but still monitored.

Inside the home of Knight Sole, she was sitting on a chair next to the table as she is eating her breakfast. It is important to have a meal before any action. When she's alone, she began to ponder about the decision Kaze has made. It might've been a bit surprised that a noble warrior, has chosen to live with another. Perhaps he's just grateful Sole granted him a sort of purpose to the kingdom. Though that said, she might need to think about her new housemate and his rather unusual culture - at least unusual to her. Soon Kaze entered the dinner area, sitting across Sole as he took a bowl and eat his meal. The two sit there in silence, haven't spoke to one another since yesterday.

Then Sole decided to break up the silence between the two, "Nice meal we're having." Kaze stopped eating then look at Sole before nodding with a smile. "Heh, yeah." Again, another long moment of silence. Sole thought to herself, "This is going to be interesting. I mean, I've only been with Kaze for sometime now and he has already interest me. So much of him I don't know about. Perhaps if I learn his language, then maybe, just maybe, I'll get to understand him a bit more." Just after she finishes her thought, Kaze had finished his meal and went to clean his dish at the sink.

After some much needed time of equipping their armor, the two warriors exited their home before walking down the street. The people around the streets and their home is lively and cheerful. The children playing around, whilst the adults talk nearby some locations. Sole and Kaze just let their eyes wander about the place, looking at the various people and the community they're in. That, as well as the species and their interaction with others. During the walk, Sole had her faceplate open, as to be friendly to all that she meet, while Kaze had his mask up. At first it might seem unnatural for him to wear a mask, but Sole had to cast it aside, because it may have be one of his cultured practices.

They reached the guild and it is as busy as per usual. Amore is going about doing her job handing out the quest forms to all that wanted to go adventuring for a price. Sole and Kaze entered the building, just as the many adventurers go to the reception desk to receive their quest. There were many adventurers that Kaze isn't always aware off. He wondered about the potential and the uses of an adventurer, considering that from where he's from, they're mostly relegated to the shinobi. However, from where he's from, is much smaller compared to the large land of the west, so he guess that adventurers might be vital for the economy of this place.

The two sat down at the nearby desk as more and more of the adventurers came to work. Some even collecting the cash from their bounties. The entire guild turn into a source of noise as some to many of the adventurers talked to one another, while a few argue. He had heard many of the adventurers talking about slaying dragons or beast that he's sure they aren't well equip to deal. Then again, he is very unsure of the different hostile creatures that lurk outside the border. He normally calls them by his cultural equivalent, but there are others that require the locals to call name them.

"Hello, there." Kaze turned his head to see the source of the voice, a rather feminine voice with a bit of a slow slur. His eyes saw a woman in dark clothing with a few bits of purple, a large hat, with a tall point, that the tip sloped to the side. Her robe had an interesting usage of her clothing as well showing bit soft her bare skin. Even her eyes matched the color of her undershirt.

Kaze nodded a bit, before the woman continued to talk, "I've heard the kingdom have a new warrior with a strange set of armor. I'm willing to bet you might be him, is that true?" Kaze nodded once more, taking to account that he may know her language, but responding might be a little harder than he thought.

"Can't speak our language, dear?" The woman ask Kaze, who responded with a little pinch and said, "Little." Upon knowing of Kaze's limited knowledge of the language, the woman began to perform a sort of spell that he cast onto herself and Kaze, "Potere arcano, traduzione."

"There, can you understand me now?"

"Yes, I can understand." Kaze said to the woman to then realized that he can understand her. From the strange words to the glow on the woman's hands, Kaze can conclude one thing "You're a witch?"

Woman: Indeed. My name's is Alia Shawl. You may call me, Alia

Kaze: My name is Tsuki no Kaze. You may call me Kaze.

Alia: Well Kaze, I've never met anyone like you in my life.

Kaze: I was a Samurai under my lord in the eastern region. Unfortunately, he had perish and thus I serve no purpose until yesterday.

Alia: Oh. I see you've made friends with "The Holy Bladed Everfall."

Kaze: Who?

Alia: That knight you walked around with.

Kaze: You know, Sole-san?

Alia: Yes. We both have a mutual respect for one another.

All of a sudden, Alia's glow a purple hue, causing Kaze to reel back then ask the witch, "What are you doing?" For a moment, there was no answer. Alia seemed so calm, a bit too much for Kaze's liking. Eventually, her eyes begin to dim back to her normal purple color.

Alia: My my, you seemed to have a lot of Ethereal energy in you.

Kaze: Ethereal energy... I've heard many stories of this "energy," but didn't know much.

Alia: You see, this ethereal energy is what flows in us all. Might I ask, do you channel your energy?

Kaze: Yes. Through training and meditation, I manage to have some control over my mana, using the magic for any situations. Though I like to know more and what might help me.

Alia: Ah, if that so, perhaps I could help you learn more if you like.

Kaze: It would be an honor, Alia-san. Thank you for the offering.

Kaze bowed before the witch, to which she stands straight up and then the witch blows a kiss. "Take care, darling." With the sound of magic dissipating, Kaze can now no longer understand Alia. Perhaps this language magic might be useful for conversations between him and the kingdom. Or perhaps it'll be useful for negotiations with the other Kingdoms.

Sole sat across the table as the conversation between Kaze and Alia was going on. All the while, she gets contacted by someone from behind. "Why Hello there, Sole." Sole turned around to see a man in armor with his spear. He has a spiky light brown hair, with streaks of gold running across and he didn't wear a helmet. His armor is silver with bits of red and blue across his pauldrons and breast-plate as well as his gambeson. "Arthur," Sole said to the man, then she ask, "What brings you here?"

Arthur: Nothin'. Just going in adventurers near the grotto as well as the cold caves of the mountains killing many of the orcs and trolls -

Sole: With your partner?

Arthur: Partner? What partner? I work alone.

"Excuse me." Arthur jumped by the sudden voice. He do recognize that voice believe it or not. "Are you certain that you work alone, dear?" Alia just ask Arthur a simple question, to which he stutters to reply, "Why yes! Maybe. No. I don't know." The girls simply giggle at the man's efforts to come up with an answer, stuttering with his conflicted fantasy of a lone wolf adventurer and his reality of being partners with a powerful witch.

The sound of a bell ring into the ears of everyone in the guild as the voice of the receptionist echoed throughout the building, "Quest are now ready! Please come one by one in an orderly fashion." After she announces the quests, many men and women in arms formed a long line in front of the desk, many others trying to cut through. In that particular line, both Sole and Kate waited till it's their turn to do a quest. It's a relatively long time, though that did not deter the two from going on the quest anyways.

Time passed by and the two got off their horses as they reached a keep belonging to some goblin raiders. That's what Sole's people in the region usually called them by and what Kaze may refer to them for now. The two armored, sword wielding individuals ventured deep into the dark goblin infested dungeon, awaiting the treacherous and greedy little creatures.

"Be careful, Kaze." Kaze turn to Sole, who warned him, "These Goblins, while considered midgets and weak in our area, are no more deadly than an orc. Try not to get overwhelmed by them." Kaze nodded as the two continued to venture into the fortress. The clanking of their armor echoes throughout the halls of the temple, as well as the creatures insidious laughter.

The two burst into the chamber filled with goblins as the monsters eyes their attention towards the armored opponents. They thought their numbers would worn them out, but it's clear that they are inferior to the armored individuals than most low ranked adventurers. However, they are not as ferocious until they smell the scent of a woman in one of them.

Kaze launched a fireball at a designated area to illuminate the area just enough to see the hordes of the small green skins, armed with weapons, yet without armor themselves. This made extermination a lot more easier as the small green skin were nothing more than a hassle, though they do have the tenacity that of a raging animal. Soon the once proud and feral creatures are reduces to bloodied corpses.

Sole took a moment to look over the bodies of the dead monsters, before Kaze had called her name. The Knight walked towards the armored warrior to discover cages, made of wood, holding women no older than the adolescence inside. Clearly, they were frighten and scared, but when they heard the sound of a clanking metal armor, they knew they are safe.

Sole: Good job, Kaze.

Kaze nodded and then added, "My gratitude to you, Sole."

"Now." Sole direct her attention to the women in the cages, then tell them, "Find something to warm yourselves up. We will be heading back shortly." Upon freeing the women from the cages, they gave their gratitude before searching for any source of warmth. Meanwhile, Sole went outside, but asked Kaze to keep watch on the women, in case if there is a chance of more goblins. The Knight stand our from the entrance of the cave as she reached into her pouch a piece of paper. Using the bark of a tree, Sole wrote a letter, before folding it into a sort of bird. She whispers into the paper, "運送が必要なメールの送信 (Sending mail, in need of carriage)." With a simple blow, the little paper bird fly away from Sole's hands, though a bit uncontrollably.

Sole turned around to see Kaze standing at the entrance. He stood there like he have seen a wonderful event. Sole only needs a moment to realize what she has done. Her face reddened as the armored warrior approaches her. He ask, "You study this, where?" Sole answered, "It's an old spell mages taught us for when we need to send Mails for request." Kaze stood silent, but underneath all that armor, he is surprised to see old mages using his language for spells. On the opposite end, however, Sole feels a bit burden when Kaze went silent. To her, it's almost as scary as some of the various monsters around the area.

Sole: Kaze? are you okay?

Kaze: Fine.

Sole: Okay.

Kaze: Is there something wrong?

Sole only fluttered a bit, trying to say the words, yet she can't help but get the feeling it may be insulting Kaze. Regardless, she has to speak the truth. "I'm just a bit intimidated by your language that I, and by extension most knights, thought it was our ancient tongue."

"Thought?" Kaze inquired, knowing that the language he spoke is common from where he is. Sole continued, "Yes, thought. When the Mages started using a different language and got more successful spells, we tried to learn it." Over the horizon, a lone carriage is seen with Sole finishing, "But since it's effective and small, we're glad to have it by our side." "I see". Kaze replied.

The two warriors managed to come back to the the Guild with the captured women and girls being sent back home to their parents. Amore sigh in relief, "At least those girls are safe and sound. I just hope for their wellbeing." After the adventure, Sole and Kaze return to their place, for which they may rest there arms and awaited the next event of their life.