Daichi’s phone buzzed in the lining of his pocket as he stepped into the elevator with a tall brunette man, he silenced it leaning against the wall in an attempt to remain cool and unfazed by the opportunity they were offering him.
Eos Conquerors needed a new member after the defection of one of their best, the email had come abruptly after his performance in a little game called Moon Valley. It didn’t take him long to understand he had been scouted.
Now here he was in Evangels of all places, the home of E.C. one of the biggest gaming groups in the world. Their player’s faces were everywhere, on just about any product you could think of and now he would be one of them.
His heart was just about ready to burst with excitement, he could not screw this up, nothing would stop him from becoming a member of the team.
He wondered why his phone had rang, did his grandmother need him or was it the random scams that loved to plague him since he had come to Mericross?
“So you considering joining us?” The voice said.
“Depends on what you have to offer.” Daichi said, hiding his eagerness underneath the jaded reply. The brunette opposite him only gave a smirk of approval.
“Hungry, I like that.” The voice said. “But you already know what being a member of this group can give you, being coy is only cute when you don’t know who we are.”
Daichi laughed to cover his embarrassment, he’d been caught red handed. He folded his arms and leaned back against the wall.
“Okay, you caught me but it still doesn’t answer my question. Why would you want a member that only plays the newest MMO on the market, your group is known for Scarlet Frontier.”
The brunette smirked again.
“I think I like you.”
Daichi smiled.
“I think I like you too, Mateo.”
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Yvlena woke up under her favorite tree one the grounds of the Rose Manor, she blinked her eyes open, yawing as she looked around to find her garden once again blooming with flowers.
She sat up knowing she had to eat before she set off on any type of quest. In her mind this escort mission with Risel would be a tough one, if not because of Risel but because of what awaited her in the Forest.
“But I need to go anyway, not only do I need the spider silk to weave, but I need more Everbloom seeds for the garden. Besides Risel has waited so long, reuniting her with her brother is the least I could do for her.” Yvlena said getting up whilst convincing herself of the necessity of her journey.
After the ordeal with Enis, the elven girl felt a shiver of apprehension race up her spine at the thought of facing the pollutant goddess again.
The book said Enis made her home in bodies of polluted water but there was no chance of that with both the Swamp and the Verdant Lake clear of all Miasma. Yvlena wondered if the goddess would be weaker the next time they met.
Bloom Haven had special protection from the Gods Selendriel and Vaelindor which allowed the land around it to recover from the Miasma twice as fast. Yvlena feared the rest of Moon Valley wouldn’t have such a blessing making the thought of leaving less than enticing.
“Forget the goddess, will the Miasma be weaker by the time I take Risel through the forest path with the spiders?” Yvlena said as she weeded her ever expanding garden. The smell of the herbs drifted through the air as she stooped down to trim the weeds with the Moon Sickle.
The Rose Manor needed some work and she would face it before she chased Rael’s path down to the Verdant Vale, she might have been able to find where he went.
[Yvlena Acquired
***
Fiber x5]
The girl stood over the garden with a proud expression on her face as she scanned the growing plants that would become ingredients in her alchemical brews and potions. No wonder her Alchemy skill was higher than all her others.
“Alright time for a quick meal and then I’ll head off to get Risel.” Yvlena said heading in to the manor to boil some of the meat she still had in her inventory. She had the option of Rabbit Meat Soup or Boiled Swampadile meat.
She went with the Rabbit Meat soup, eager to see if her level would improve from cooking the same dish again.
[Yvlena Acquired
***
Rabbit Meat Soup]
She downed the bowl in one go noting the taste had improved drastically since she had last eaten it.
“Hey! This is almost as tasty as something I would make in real life.” Yvlena said remarking on her skill.
[Subclass Skill: Cooking Leveled Up]
“Now my cooking and crafting are at least at the same level.” The girl said, putting the bowl down and watching it vanish.
Once again she set out for the apothecary, no doubt Risel would be raring to go now that she knew Yvlena was taking her to the Verdant Woods.
The elven girl recalled that it used to be Risel’s old haunt back when it was safe for the citizens of Bloom Haven to travel.
Yvlena closed the gates of the Rose Manor behind her and headed off to the path through the Floral District when she bumped into an NPC she hadn’t had the time to meet in a while.
A deep gasp escaped Yvlena as eyes landed on the graying hair hair of the kindly old woman that reminded her so much of her own grandmother.
“Beatrice! Where have you been?” Yvlena said in excitement.
The old woman laughed and shook her head.
“I should be asking you that question my dear, but then again every where I go I seem to be hearing would of your deeds.” Beatrice said. “I never thought I’d see that old warehouse restored and I heard you dealt with the Verdant Lake too.”
Yvlena puffed her chest out in pride at the woman’s words.
“All in a days work for the Harvest Guardian.” She said. A thought occurred to her that she ought to ask Beatrice about Dominique that strange woman who worked in the library’s archives or even Enis, but that would be for another time.
“Beatrice there’s something I need to ask you after I help Risel out.” Yvlena said.
The old woman grew concerned at the serious tone the girl took.
“Of course, just make sure to come back safe and sound. I know you’re heading off on another quest. You remind me so much of my dear Twyla.” Beatrice said, she lifted a wrinkled hand to hold Yvlena’s face.
The gesture almost made the elf tear up.
“You remind me of someone dear to me too.” Yvlena said softly.
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