Objective II, Phase IV: Help The VIPs Recover

Agent Eleven continues steering his drone, saying, "No need to thank me. I'm simply doing what needs to be done. What's your role here?"

Kona replies, "I'm a second class swordsman meant to serve as the vanguard in any encounters."

The agent looks up from his screen momentarily, "Second class?"

The man looks a little embarrassed, "Oh, it's nothing. Just means I can use a little magic…"

Sensing insecurity, the agent pries deeper, "So you're capable of using something like Corpi-Duriajha?"

The young man's eyes widened, "No way! That's a…" Kona begins calculating, "A fifth order spell! Not in a million years!"

Agent Eleven inquires, "Then, what would be your limit?"

The man chants, "Corpi-Duria."

A brown light begins to gather in the middle of Kona's chest. 

The agent analyzed, "(It seems to activate a little faster than the swordsman from the visions. Not as bright though. Likely not as potent. He would get decimated by the weakest version of the beetle, not even factoring in the slightly stronger beetle. At that stage, it could take out a guy with much better magic… and armor for that matter.)" 

As the spell resolved, Kona looked down disappointed, "This is all I'm capable of. I was told to keep training, but I've made no progress as of yet. I was saving up to get a wand. That would give me a boost."

The agent swerves his drone, "Did you say wand? Like a magic stick?"

Kona nods, "You really aren't from here are you? A wand isn't just a magic stick. It amplifies your connection to Gaea, the Mother of Mana."

The agent inquired, "Who is this Mother of Mana? How do you communicate with her?"

Kona chuckles, "Gaea is the land. You can't actually speak to her. But, her mana passes through all of us. Wands, staves, and other devices allow us to borrow even more of her power."

The agent thinks, "(That must be what Miri meant by a 'land' untouched by mana… Interesting.)" The agent says to Kona, "I just had a thought. You said a staff does the same thing as a wand. What if I knew where to get one? Would you want it?"

Kona looks excited, "Of course I would! I could get a promotion to third class, easy! What would you want for it?!"

Agent Eleven responds looking at his drone's camera, "Nothing at all. You could say you would be helping me out by simply showing me how much it improves your abilities."

Kona looks confused, and then his face lights up as if he had a sudden realization, "I will accept this test!"

Agent Eleven responds, "Not a problem. And Kona, you wouldn't be familiar with any villages existing in the Forbidden Forest, would you?"

Kona shakes his head, "No one lives out here. The beasts are way too hostile for a community to thrive this far into the wilderness."

The agent looking at the screen only lets out a small, "Hmm…", when Miri begins stirring and gets the agent's attention. 

Miri leans upward, rubbing her eyes and letting out a deep stretch. The agent's eyes can't help but gravitate toward the two rising suns pushing outwards toward him, able to make out the shape of their supple nuclei as they push through the veil concealing them.

Eleven says to Kona, "You mind handing that translating stone to Miri? I need her help with something." 

Kona gets her attention and tosses the stone into Miri's lap. She takes a moment to pick it up and activates it.

The agent says to her, "You're awake, Miri. I needed you."

Miri still looks a bit dazed but responds, "Hmm? You need me? For what?"

Eleven responds, "I needed another magic lesson for the beast stones I found, but Derrin helped me."

"Oh?" Miri interjects, curious.

"I got 'web' from a huge spider and 'jump' from a rabbit I found. I have tried them yet, but they sound useful." Agent Eleven explains. 

"My, you're amassing quite the collection. Those two stones likely have more room for abilities as well! You would make a fine adventurer with just the beast stones you have." Miri says proudly. 

Eleven responds, "You're not the first one to say I would do well to consider adventuring. The thing is, going on various journeys all over the place without purpose doesn't appeal to me. I need to find a way home, first and foremost. I actually have quite the important job to finish."

Miri thinks for a moment and says, "If anyone could help you, it would be a powerful mage. We happen to have one in my village. He's quite old, so there isn't much he doesn't know."

The agent thinks to himself, "(Sounds like quite the treasure trove of information. I'll have to pay him a visit ASAP. Gives me more of a reason to get these people back in one piece. That reminds me…)"

"Miri," the agent began, "You may want to finish making the kinto berry medicine so you all can recover. Also, I need you to get rid of this blockage." The agent says pointing at the conjured rock. 

Miri complies, "Tarriza."

"All right. I'll be back soon. Oh… wait." Agent Eleven says as he moves closer to Miri.

The agent moves his face closer to Miri's as she grows flustered and slams her eyes shut, sure she was receiving a memorable goodbye. 

Instead, she feels a tug on her hair as the agent says, "Got it. You got some of that berry paste in your hair last night."

Miri opens her eyes disappointed and sighs, "Bye, Eleven." She turns and grabs her mortar and pestle. 

Agent Eleven goes back to his briefcase and presses a button on the screen controlling the drone. He closed the briefcase and reset it, ready to head into the wilderness.

Climbing out of the burrow once a new day, it was just as quiet as yesterday. He quickly made his way in the direction he sent the drone, going to investigate what he had seen on the camera. 

After a long jog, Agent Eleven heard the subtle hum of the drone approaching him, so he extended his hand to catch it. 

"(I should be almost there. There were no signs of people in the other parts of the forest. But here… it looks like a live settlement that defies the common sense of the natives.)"

The agent begins to cycle through possibilities for what he could uncover when he finds himself nearing his destination. 

"(I'll get a vantage point.)", the agent thinks as he reaches for his grappling hook.

The agent stops and remembers for a moment. An idea pops into his mind and a smile creeps across his face. 

He pulls out a black Beast Stone with cloudy green streaks as he visualizes a familiar trademarked red and blue spider themed suit from his home world. With a patented hand gesture, he aims at a tree and says, "Teh-lah." The web bursts forth from a magic circle on his wrist and hits the tree at the intended spot. 

The agent, excited the new stone is working, closes his eyes and thinks, "(Like a spider… like a spider…)"

Agent Eleven begins to will the web back into the magic circle, pulling him upward toward the tree at the same time, "(It worked! Chaos Widow would have a conniption if she saw me stealing her moves!)"

The agent landed in the tree above, sucking up the loose strands of web and leaving only a sizeable patch stuck to the bark. 

"(Now that the fun is out of the way…)", the agent thinks to himself as he toggles the zoom function on his invisible spectacles. 

"(Just as I thought. There are people here. I see buildings and they're in good condition. Heavy traffic considering the wear in the grass. It's still early, so they may not be active just yet.)" The agent analyzed the settlement as he waited to see the inhabitants for himself. 

"(I see weapons. Bows, arrows, large swords, axes, and spears… What is this place? Some camp for barbarians? They look like hunter gatherers from the looks of all the baskets woven and filled with various plants. Meat hung to dry. These people may be stockpiling rations for traveling. Or do the hunters eat this while they're out? Why is there so much dried meat?")"

The agent looked at the location for more clues until he saw the first signs of movement. A cloaked figure left one of the shacks and picked up bow and arrow. The figure turned to wave at another person coming into view. This person had no cloak, making it clear this was not a village of humans. 

"Subject is about six feet five inches tall… green skin… gr- green skin? What the - ARE THOSE GOBLINS?!"

Despite the distance he found himself at, the two figures he observed, along with the others coming into his view, stopped and abruptly turned toward his position. Agent Eleven felt his heart sink, "(How did they hear me this far away?!)