Light Within

New Friend

"I'm going alone".

             Noir firmly said that she wanted to enter the dungeon alone since she too wanted to have a unique series of equipment. "Well, you said it yourself, didn't you?", continued Noir, "To get that unique equipment, one must complete the dungeon, by defeating the boss, in a single try, solo". Noir is determined enough to get that extraordinary gears since she is so jealous with the one that Astral already has. "But, if I want to do it alone, maybe it is the best idea, to gather more skills before I'm going", thought Noir, as she already planned ahead in her mind. Astral was worried, but she later agreed to Noir. "But, if you were defeated in the dungeon, you will get respawn in the Ludea. And it will be so far to come here back", worried Astral. Noir patted Astral's head, and smiled, "Then have some faith in me. I will return, alive and left exactly at the same door that I'd entered". Astral giggled, and they both went to the nearest area which monster roamed. "Oh, Astral. Take this". Noir hands over a fishing rod to Astral. The rod looks pretty with the silver pole and shiny thread. "You know, you can increase the level of your profession too. How bout you do some fishing while I'm trying to increase my level", she continued, "You can gather some materials too. Who knows what will you caught down here". They both nodded, "See you later".

            "Eh, one...two, I think this should be enough". Astral, again, already caught two dozen of White Fish's scales during her fishing moments. At the same time, she managed to heal Noir when she returned from the fight. You have learned: Fishing II, Astral quickly dismissed the message when she was already bored fishing. Later on, she keeps all the scales and heads out to the same spot where Noir is training. As she walked, she hears a faints sound, of a person, fighting somewhere in another side of the forest. "Hmm, maybe someone requires help right there", considered Astral. She leaves a message to Noir, saying she wants to do some quick walks in the forest and will be back in a minute. A few seconds later, a popped sound message from Noir written 'Okay! Be careful' in the mailbox. Astral closed the tabs and strolled further to the woods. As the sound is getting clear and louder, she saw a guy, probably wounded by his fight, is trying to block the attack from a blue, big bear-looking monster. "Watch out!, shouted Astral and she quickly chanted Defence Wall to help the guy blocks the attack. The monster steps back from the guy when it knew it cannot attack because of the wall. Astral swiftly ran behind the guy and healed him. "Are you alright? Your health is low though, I will heal you. Heal.", told Astral to the guy. The guy smiled and thanked her, although he still winces in pain. "Thank you, beautiful lady", he managed to flirt but barely can keep to stand up. Astral blushes but she keeps her head in the game when the bear is still in front of them. "Hate to break to you, but I, myself, doesn't have much fighting skill. Do you need backup?", asked Astral as she still looks worried. The guy smiled, "All the backup I need is to be here, standing by such a beauty. Let me finish that off". This mystery man took his cutlass from the ground and signalled to put off her defence's spell. "Ready...Now!". The guy sprinted to the bear and unleashed one of his skill, Flamero s***h. The s***h wounded the bear and finally admitted it defeat and slowly disappears, leaving behind a large wooden chest. 

            The guy walks toward the chest, opened it and hands over some scrolls to Astral. "These scrolls contain a few spells, if you wish to learn", explained to the guy. "Use it wisely". Astral realized that the man is winking, but she let it loose. "Um, I don't do anything. Why you give this to me?", protested Astral as she believes it was inappropriate to receive some rewards when all she has done is just healed him. The man chuckled, "You are one of genuine character. Normally, people will want their share, even when all they did is watching from the far". As Astral wants to reply, a message from Noir popped out, 'Done~ Meet you at the lake?'. She closed the message tab and ready to leave, "I'm sorry, I can't accept that. I see you around". The guy managed to grab Astral's hand as said: "Wait, can I come with you? After all, I need a proper healer in this wood". Astral agreed as she believes that the guy is pretty much harmless. "Well, if he is dangerous, I bet Noir can kill him instead", thought Astral. 

            The guy walks side to side with Astral, later he starts to introduce himself, "Oh shoot, totally forgot. The name is Ritsu. And yours?", he introduced himself with his charming smile. Astral tries her best not to blush, "Mine Astral". Ritsu keeps walking while facing forward, but Astral cannot resist to watch him, even just by a glance from her eyes. Ritsu is taller than her, a bit muscular, but not too buff. His face is like one of those Japanese alike, but lovelier. Astral quickly looks away when she realized Ritsu turned his head towards her. The silence is unbearable, Ritsu has to crack it open, "So, are you flying solo here, or what?". Astral startled but managed to regain her composure, "Um, no. I'm here with my friend. I mean best friend, like a friend in real life". Ritsu chuckled, as he finds Astral is cute. 

             After a few walks, both of them meet Noir, who is sitting at the tree trunk, toggling her Skills tab. "Noir!! How are you doing?", squealed Astral as she ran over to her. Noir smiled when she saw Astral, but her smiles get wider when she saw Ritsu following her close behind. "And, what we got here, Astral?", winked Noir, as her eyes clearly pointed towards Ritsu. "Oh, Noir, Ritsu. Ritsu, Noir. We just met on the other side of the woods." Noir nudged Astral's elbow playfully and whispered: "Right...just met". Astral pouted and quickly changed the subject, "Anyways, how is your progress?". Noir stands up, stretching, and finally, she faces the door of the dungeon. "Maybe, I'm ready now".

            Noir looks at Ritsu, smiled calmly and firmly. She hugs Astral from behind and looks at Ritsu and said: "Ritsu, can you be a dear and watch over Astral for me? She may look tough, but she still a warm, timid, soft child". Astral's face now as red as a tomato when Noir is trying to tease her, but Noir hugs her tighter. "You know, she is one of my dearest friends", she stopped. Later on, she continued with deadly-looking eyes towards Ritsu, "So if anything happens, I know who will be paying for that". Ritsu gulped and nodded furiously by Noir's words. Astral breaks free from Noir's hug and replies, with her pleading eyes: "If you are having trouble, immediately message me, okay. Promise?". Noir let go of her sigh, smiling at her friend's overprotective behaviour. She sends a friend request to Ritsu and asks him to accept it. "There, I will message you and Ritsu to help me". Astral opened her eyes wide when she realized she did not send any friend request to Ritsu yet. The moment she wants to send it, Ritsu already did it. "Thought you don't want to befriend me, Astral", said Ritsu with his lovely smile. Astral accepted the request and turned herself another way around as she did not want Ritsu to see her blush. Noir chuckled. "Ah, young love".

             "Be careful okay!", shouted Astral as she watched Noir went near to the door. "Okay, and if Ritsu doing something funny, message me. I will leave instantly to beat him up!", replied Noir, with an angelic smile, though it sends shivers to Ritsu's spine. Atlas, the moment had come for Noir to face her challenge. She prepared her Rapier, neatly, stocked the potions, bought and given by Astral. She once again felt the adrenaline's shots coming through her body. This time, no one shall see, how 'Annihilator Swan' dances in the enemy's terrain.

"So, shall we dance?"