17 Chapter 16: Human Again (2/2)
Notification: Complete Item Set ”Crow Uniform”
Details: The uniform of the Crows is comprised of three parts. If all three all worn together, they will create a persistent shield that will block one offensive spell against the wearer once daily. Additionally, when the hood of the uniform is worn, the user cannot be differentiated by looks from other members also using the hood.
Maybe I should take a second look, Luca thought as he approached the mirror. For a brief moment, he had almost panicked, wondering how somebody else got into the room. When he realized it was just his own reflection, it didn't help him to breathe any easier. What he saw in his reflection was worse than he thought. He couldn't do anything but doubt that he was even himself anymore.
The unfamiliarity of his own image made him uncomfortable, scared even. It made everything he was going through and had been through already seem less real. He wasn't a kid anymore, not even a little bit. Rough stubble grew on his chin. He looked every bit the part a 17-year-old man. He wondered as his thoughts grew dark, just who am I?
Knowing he was short on time, Luca turned away from his reflection and went to leave the guest quarters. He took one last look around the room to make sure he wasn't missing anything, not wanting to leave anything behind. Luca was grateful he took the extra time to give it a second look as he saw the rough leather string of a medallion his mother had given him partially sticking out from under the pile of disgusting clothes he would never wear again.
Luca grabbed the medallion and shoved it into his pocket before running out the door downstairs toward the rec area where the rest of the team was waiting. ”Yeah, I'm definitely late.” He muttered to himself with a bit of worry, thinking about the angry woman who had charged into his room.
Luca ran as fast as he could, hustled as some might have called it down the stairs. The entire time he was in the view of most of his new guildmates and his new team. Dominic's new heavy hitter, awkwardly rushing on his first day, late to his first hit time. Luca saw a monstrous-looking man with a wide grin on his face staring right at him, doing a slow clap. The man's face was severely scarred. Half of the man's face was a mess of scar tissue. A permanent hue of angry red and purple, appearing as if half of it had been torn off, thrown in a fire, and then reattached.
”Well, there he is. Told you all he'd be late.” Said Tatiana, standing up from her seat as she put out the palm of her hands upwards just like an usher would as she beckoned him over. ”The man of the hour himself. I hope you slept well, sweetheart because that's the last time you sleep so good for months.”
Next to her, the scarred man laughed, and a pale looking man with long, thin grey hair who wore glasses shifted nervously. Even as a girl with red short-cropped hair like a boy who looked roughly the same age as he now appeared to be snickered. Luca noticed they wore the same uniform he was wearing, the same uniform Tatiana was wearing. Luca didn't see anyone else at the table. This might be the whole team. Luca groaned, recognizing this was going to not go well for him.
”Newbie, your gonna need to work on making all your complaints via inner monologue. That's the last time any of us want to hear you groan. Everybody is having a shit time down here, but nobody wants to be around a downer. This life is hard enough as it is.” Said the girl, gritting her teeth, already irritated with the newest member of their team.
”Well said, Steele.” Agreed the scarred man, sizing up Luca with a look of disinterested. Though the man saw Luca's wings, he considered them more of a commodity than anything else. His assessment of Luca found nothing but shortcomings and fault in the kid.
”Enough of that. The kid is going to have to pay his dues later. I'm running behind as it is.” Barked Tatiana, holding up her hands to silence the group. ”Normally we'd train you up with us, let you leach a bit of our experience to get stronger, but only after making sure you know how to fight and wield a weapon, but Dominic wants you out in the field with us today, and he's the boss, so that's what we're doing.”
”So, quick introductions, everybody, this is Luca, but when were in the field and outside of this Guild Hall, it's going to be Seraph. You know, 'cause of the wings.” Explained Tatiana pointing at each one of the members of the team, commanding them with just a pointed finger to identify themselves.
”I'll go first.” Said the scarred man with a grunt. ”I'm 2Face, the team's primary damage dealer. Take note, this face of mine is why you don't min-max your stats. I tried to go all speed and tore off part of my face from whiplash. The dungeon heals most damage, but only enough so you can fight again, and to my left is Mother”
”I can introduce myself. Thank you.” Interjected the man with the glasses, trying to appear as if he was equal on the team to 2Face. ”I'm Santiago, but everyone around here calls me Mother.”
”It's not because of his nurturing nature if you were wondering.” Interjected 2Face with a grin.
”And I'm Steele.” Said the girl, holding out her hand to shake his. Luca wasn't sure what to make of her with a name like that. ”And yes, I'm a girl. I just liked how it sounded. I'm the team's tank. I draw attention from the monsters and whatever else we might go up against so the rest of you can kill whatever wants to try and kill us.”
”Great. That was mostly painless,” Chimed in Tatiana as she clapped her hands together, ending the introductions. ”Now that everyone has introduced themselves let me lay down the ground rules before we head out to the Phoenix Refuge. I don't care what Dominic says about you being a heavy hitter. Mother is the only healer in the guild and one of the only healers in all of Hometown. He's more important to all of us than you are. If we need to abandon you to keep him alive, I will gladly do that. Aside from that, stay near me, and you should be fine.”