Fight or Flight

[03:33:55]You to Darlia: Where's Bast?

[03:34:02]Darlia responds: do I look like his keeper?

[03:34:05]Darlia responds: why you asking anyway?

Meliadol paused in his response. How should he answer? He could almost feel her judgemental stare.

The issue was dissolved when a third message from the Blade Dancer popped up.

[03:34:15]Darlia responds: you need help with the guild quest don't you?

[03:34:17]You to Darlia: .......

[03:34:20]You to Darlia: How did you know?

[03:34:45]Darlia responds: we were taking bets

Taking bets? Meliadol frowned. He typed back to her in a flash.

[03:34:49]You to Darlia: He said that I should be able to complete it. But it's kinda bullshit.

[03:35:05]Darlia responds: bullshit? he's not wrong. you should be able to complete it

[03:35:12]You to Darlia: You can't sneak by the inner guards and they're such a higher level that they just one shot me.

After dying multiple times, it was hard for him to maintain a level of composure to express what he needed to the Blade Dancer. Meliadol tried to calm his breathing. He wasn't desperate, but he was out of ideas. Furthermore, he got the distinct impression that she took a perverse glee at his growing pains, and he'd be damned if he gave her that.

He stared at his interface as he waited for her to message back.

[03:37:46]Darlia responds: sorry busy fighting in the arena

[03:37:50]Darlia responds: so how many times did you die?

He read her question twice, a sneaking suspicion forming like frost on the edges of his thoughts.

[03:38:02]You to Darlia: This is the bet with Bast, isn't it?

[03:38:05]Darlia responds:

Meliadol's fingers angrily flew over the keyboard interface, but he stopped himself halfway. He reread what was written and regretted it immediately. Things were serious, but they weren't that serious. He cleared the words. With a deep breath, he started again.

[03:38:45]You to Darlia: 6

[03:39:11]Darlia responds: fuck

[03:39:13]You to Darlia: ?

[03:39:18]Darlia responds: just lost 1000g. Bast is a twat.

Goddamnit.

Meliadol muttered under his breath. He shook his head, smiling ruefully. Despite his initial annoyance, he found it hard to stay mad at either of them.

[03:39:33]Darlia responds: anyway Bast said to not help you. you're supposed to grow by figuring it out yourself

It came as no big revelation that Bast would know not only how many times that Meliadol would die, but also that he'd ask for help eventually on the quest. There was a method to the man's madness. Not for the first time, Meliadol wondered how truly deep the depths of the berserker ran.

He was learning that being simple was not the same as being stupid.

[03:39:39]Darlia responds: but I'll give you a hint.

[03:39:45]Darlia responds: levels aren't that important. sometimes you have to fight.

What did that mean? Meliadol wracked his brain. How was he supposed to fight the orcs on this quest? They were of much higher level than he was. They were literally one-shotting him. He had been convinced that this was a sneaking mission…

Yet if Darlia's words were true…

He closed his UI, stepping through the portal to try again.