46 Friday (1/2)

In a rented room near the center of Pren a meeting of four people was taking place. Four of the higher ranking guild members of the EastSeaDrakes had gathered.

”I can't believe it is already Friday. Our plan hasn't changed right Talon? Most of our guild mates will be online in a matter of minutes. I know there has been concern about our mission after reading The Dragoon's announcement.” A petite young adult woman asked to confirm.

A man whose avatar's hair color was snow white nodded. ”Yes, the plan is still on Odette. You see, we have caught wind that a few members of the Dragoons are secretly still around and I confirmed it with my own eyes. Their earlier move was simply a scare tactic. We have claimed glory on many things they were slow to act on. Their guild leader was hoping that by backing off we would back off too. It almost succeeded. I too was hesitant until I recognized Harr loitering around the market in beginner's hide armor. The wardrobe feature was quite useful to him this time. Unfortunately for him, I would recognize his tall figure anywhere.” Talon clenched his fist as he thought about this long time rival of his. ”If we were to back off like they wanted, it would allow their hidden raid team to swoop in and save the day after we were foolish enough to forgo this opportunity.”

A scrawny youth sighed. ”Their guild master's plans are ingenious and crafty as always. Besides we have information they don't about the mist. We have that one report of the level 20 beast and humanoid. Our spy in their guild has not found anything out regarding any cursed creature above level 18 or any humanoid being cursed. Those two beasts that escaped us are still out there somewhere and have probably gotten stronger since last week. But even with those two the strongest creature in the mist shouldn't be over level 35. Our success is practically guaranteed. The only thing that may hinder us is if the Dragoon's raid team tries to interfere.”

A woman wearing all black laughed. ”Oh? They aren't dumb enough to try that stunt you know this Sliver. Are you really that confident in our success?”

The scrawny youth, Sliver, grinned. ”I took the time to have someone walk around the entire mist with a measuring tool yesterday. It is currently around 32.5 kilometers around meaning there is only ten and a little bit kilometers to make it from one end to the other in a straight line. Even if the reports the Dragoons have suspecting the mist was larger on the inside then it was on the outside, we are still in the clear on time. Even if things turn bad, getting back out safely should be no problem within four hours. Besides, defeating the boss in the mist is the whole purpose of our escapade. Defeat the boss, the problem gets solved. That's how it works. The boss is most likely hidden somewhere near the center of the mist so we don't have to cover the whole area or even travel the whole diameter. We plan to enter from all sides just to be sure. I suspect it will only take us about an hour and a half to complete the mission and make the mist vanish. But since the Dragoons ran scared, it is better to be cautious and give ourselves the four hours.”

”Oh? What poor sap did you convince to do all that running around and how much did you pay him?” The woman in black questioned further.

”Some smart kid named Lednar. I didn't pay him a cent. I just gave him some of the really random and useless materials I was carrying around and was having a hard time selling; like vials of questionable liquids, some small bones, and other scraps I had in my inventory. I have no clue why he would be interested in those types of things but I have had someone tailing him to find out. I was glad to get rid of those items. The NPC shopkeepers wouldn't buy them off of me because they were deemed trash.” Sliver replied.

”Yes, we know all about your shopkeeper woes.” Talon interrupted. ”Obviously this Lednar person is a player or a really questionable NPC. Have you found anything out about him?”

Sliver, shook his head. ”Other than the fact that he seems to be a wizard that also spends a lot of time in a crafting room? He seems to be a very thoughtful hard worker. Even when he was using the measuring tool to go around the mist; he didn't rush. He took the time to work on other skills as he measured.”

Odette sighed. ”Well, I will go spread the announcement among the guild members.”

Talon nodded. ”Then I will start passing out the materials. And getting people organized.”

Sliver grinned. ”I'll start looking for our next target. Tell me how it goes. See you later Blizzetta.”

The three left the room.

Blizzetta, the woman dressed like it was a funeral walked out the door with a creepy smile. ”It begins.”

***

Lillith, her mother, and grandfather talked it out. There was a bit of heated discussion as these three extreme family members had a lot they disagreed on. Her mother and grandfather were warned of the danger regarding the mist and finally consented to let Lillith go adventure. They chose to head back to their village to make preparations to depart. They determined that it was the best course of action for Lillith to leave first.

The rest of Tuesday ended peacefully with the satyrs practicing. Wednesday and Thursday were productive and uninterrupted. Periodically Jericho and Princess would take breaks and explore the village and nearby forested areas in order to avoid the boredom of constant repetition. Not everyone can handle days of doing the same things over and over again without breaks.

Kenneth felt anxious as he and Moira walked home from school Friday. ”If Alexander is right, then you only have until Saturday at the latest to finish this quest. But you probably don't even have that long.”

Moira nodded. ”Thankfully it looks like the satyrs are ready to perform it officially soon after we log on. Though I am kind of bothered; what will happen to the satyrs and the elves once the mist hits?Are they creature enough to not be affected much? Will they suffer a similar disappearing fate like everyone else? I don't want to teach this to them just to have them perish soon after. But those places are important to them. Would they willingly just get up and leave? And what will happen to the wood elementals in the forest here like Narzisse; will they be fine?” The girl sighed.

Ken joined in the sigh fest. ”I don't know. I suspect they will fall to the mist as well based on the things Alex has told us. You don't have to worry about the elves since they have been warned. The satyrs, they may be bestial enough to not be affected. As for the elementals, they will probably become corrupted until the mist is purified.”

”I see.”

”In better news, Purai said that she and Lillith finished the last of the satyr's insane healing demands so she will be leaving the forest around the same time as us. You won't have to worry about them. She said she wanted to see this line dance of yours before heading off.”

The girl chuckled. ”You like her don't you?”

Ken awkwardly laughed back. ”Not in the way you are thinking. Besides she thinks I am an NPC and she isn't my type.”

Moira nodded. ”You have a type already? My brother told me that people don't normally know their type until they are older and have been around a lot of people.”