6 『Undergrowth』 (1/2)
The three members of the Honor Guard who had been waved over by Jack, removed their helmets. Two of them men, one of them was a girl. Their physique suggested they were teenagers, but what was most intriguing was the fact that these three individuals were level sixty, armed with two sabres each at their left hip and a blunderbuss holstered on their lower back along their belt.
The two men both had black hair, emerald green eyes, they were both with high esteem in the way they walked and even carried themselves.
The on the other hand girl had short curly black hair, milk chocolate ebony skin and big violet eyes with naturally alluring features. Unlike the two men, she had a shorter frame and much less bulk. She had a pep to her step and a very swift set of reflexes. Despite this, her presence seemed to make one feel as if she could split just about any average living man in two with just her thumbs.
”Jack-sama, is there something wrong?” The woman was the first to speak with her helmet tucked under her arm, her thin right brow raised slightly.
”No,” his eyes shifted towards the two men as the three of them were standing in a triangular formation around him. ”I was wondering if you three would have the time to follow me outside?”
The three of them all look at one another with smiles across their lips, before turning to him. They gave an abrupt bow, their tools and equipment clicking together as they did, ”Yes Sir! We would be delighted to be by your side!”
Jack feigned a smile as they seemed to joyful in the idea of accompanying him. ”It's great to know I'll be in good hands,” he'd gesture for them to follow him as they made their way towards the exit.
”So what are your names? I'm familiar with the Guardians… I'm sorry to say I've neglected the Honor Guard.” Jack sounded sheepish, apologetic, but it was mostly just an act. While yes he forgot their names as he hardly utilized them even during raids, he actually didn't care that he didn't know their names, he just didn't want to call them 'you' or 'guys.'
”Ah.. Jack-sama, My name is Alfred Bellinson,” the older looking teen said as he looked over Jack, a cheeky grin over his own lips seeing their leader walk beside them.
”Anika Luke, Sir.” The woman spoke dutifully compared to her oh so friendly colleague Alfred. She drummed her fingers under the helm she had in her arm. A faint smile on unpainted her lips.
Jack's gaze traveled over to the last man, raising a brow.
”My name is Jarod Marks,” Jarod pressed a thumb beneath his chin in thought as he was eying the exit they were closing in on. He could tell nothing was waiting outside for them, no ambush being sensed.
It was likely no one even knew this entire city had appeared in this other world. Or perhaps, they felt a tremor? Jack too was beginning to wonder how much the city's appearance had affected the surrounding area.
Had the dirt that the City replaced been pushed to the surface? Was their an earth quake? There were plenty of questions he would like to ask and there was a very select few to ask.
That Village was one of the places they could check. However, they knew next to nothing about them. Now they were going to go straight out into a forest. A place where even less was known about.
He was just thankful that he had these guards to take care of anything they encountered. Even though it was likely he'd be able to wipe the floor with any beast as long as it wasn't a Dragon.
When they finally did reach the exit, none of them were out of breath which was a good sign. Jack would fold his hands behind his back as he took the first step outside.
Blinding rays of sunlight danced unto his face as it shifted through the leafs of the forest's many trees. The sounds of the world began to take over his senses, as the ambient music of the game had long since been gone as of their arrival.
It was a welcoming series of noises.
Small animals scurrying on the dirt, burrowing beneath the trees, hiding in their homes.
It was as if they could sense his predatory instincts, which seemed to be kicking in.
Playfully, he emitted a low inhumane growl from his throat, one that sounded like as if a howl was overlapping with an unnatural unfathomable mystical snarl of a much larger beast.
”Jack-sama, I think you're scaring the inhabitants.” Laughed Alfred with the shake of his head, pushing the palm of his hand on his hilt as he kept an observant gaze on their surroundings.
Anika simply stood there, a blank smile on her lips, as she stared at what looked to be a squirrel staring at them from the foot of a tree. ”It's cute...” She'd murmur quietly to herself.
Jack's eyes traced over towards the Squirrel after following her line of sight, before raising a brow of his own. It was just a squirrel, but in his world, they were also rather rare. It was as if this world was an untouched version of Earth. Yet there was magic, he could feel it all around him due to his very nature as a ArchMirage.
”Stay close to me,” He ordered as he began to walk with Jarod, Anika and Alfred.
There were familiar things here, but also things that they didn't know of.
Such as the small green plants.
Kneeling down, he held one of the leaves in his hand, caressing it wth his thumb. After smelling it before giving it a lick, he pursed his lips. ”Bitter,” after a few seconds he used『Appraisal』in order to learn of the properties of the plant and nodded slightly to himself.
It was a plant used to make potions in this world of lesser yield than the ones found in YGGDRASIL.It would probably need to be heavily concentrated in its brewing and refinement processes. Botanist, Alchemist or a medicine man, so he wasn't much of a potion maker profession wise.
”Hmm...” His eyes shifted towards the three guards who were standing around him, watching the area with vigilance. Though he was pretty sure they could still use the Zolue Solution which his base practically has an unlimited supply of.