Sameness (Closed)

Soren was looking around the entrance to the Tower of Babel again, searching for another party to be a part of. He had gotten used to the fact that he was pretty much ill used, but that didn't mean he was happy about it. Rather, it put him down by a lot and made him shyer than before. Seeing the bad side of the mortal realm was enough to make anyone to be pessimistic about things.

"Excuse me, does anyone need a supporter?" he called out to the adventurers that were heading into the Dungeon, "I can carry your weapons and soul stones! Anyone? Hello?" He sighed, knowing that sometimes he couldn't even get someone to pay attention to him and he would have to come back to the cafe to work instead. Still, he needed the money to continue working and going into the Dungeon was a very profitable business.

"Does anyone need a supporter?" he asked again, looking around at the many people that were moving about. He wore a frown and looked rather lost to the common man. He sighed again as he looked around for others he could join. "Anyone need a supporter? I can carry your soul stones and if you're equipment! Anyone?"

 

Soren didn't have time to call out again before a girl stood before him, asking to become her supporter. He jumped at the sudden appearance before studying the girl. Something about her was nagging him. It was almost like...she almost looked like his father, especially with the white hair. He didn't know how to react to that as he gaped like a fish, opening and closing his mouth.

He then realized how stupid he looked and snapped out of it. "Y-Yes ma'am! I'll carry your things and the soul stones while you fight in the Dungeon! That way you can focus on fighting while I support you," he said, stammering a little and blushing from embarrassment. "So, um...shall we get going? What do you need me to carry, ma'am?"

 

"Y-Yes ma'am!" Soren followed the girl down into the Dungeon as quickly as he can without stumbling and possibly plummeting to his death from going down the spiraling staircase. He couldn't help but think about her, though, as he watched his step. Why did she look so much like his father and him? This coincidence was too bizarre not to think about.

Once he reached the bottom, he could only bow his head in shame at her comment. "Sorry, I'll be faster," he apologized as they went into the Dungeon. He tried to match her brisk pace as they hurried and went walked in the Dungeon's cavernous halls. "I'm Soren," he blurted out after some time, "What's your name?" He paused before shaking his head. "Sorry, that seems rude and out of the blue, but..." He wasn't going to explain to her that she looked very similar to his father.

 

"Ah, y-yes ma'am! Er, Parvati!" He diligently followed after the girl, keeping to the back in case they got ambushed there. He would check behind him every so often to make sure there weren't any monsters before continuing onward. He didn't want to be useless, or look it for that matter. His self esteem lowered greatly after having become a supporter, unfortunately.

Soren realized he didn't have his bow out when they stumbled across a goblin. "A-Ah!" He got down and began rummaging through his bag for the bow, but by the time he got it out, the monster had already died. He sighed. Still as useless as ever, it seemed. "Yes Parvati," he said as she motioned for him to take the soul stone. He bent down to pick it up and flinched on instinct, expecting him to be hit. No such thing happened and he sighed as he dropped the stone in his bag and looked over at her. "Um, I can carry your bag for you, if-if that's alright with you," he said, fidgeting in his spot.

 

"Y-Yes ma'am! I won't tamper with it!" Once her back was turned, he let out a sigh. Yep, he had grown used to it, the harsh treatment. But there was nothing he could do about it. He was usually in the company of experienced adventurers while he didn't know much in the ways of fighting and such. Another sigh as he followed after the Amazoness, trying to keep up with her.

Then they came upon a group of goblins. He stopped when Parvati held up her hand and watched as she began to use her magic. He blinked and stared in awe at the magic, though he snapped out of it once the group of goblins began rushing forward. Now it was his turn to use some magic. “Let thorns scrape at my bare feet and have them bind to the ones before me!" he chanted, "Binding Thorns!" Immediately thorns erupted from the ground under one of the goblins and in shrieked in pain as the thorns dug into its feet. He began to ready his bow and arrow and shot one at a goblin. He was able to land a hit on the goblin's midsection, something he took some pride in.

 

Soren kept firing arrows at the goblins, noting with satisfaction that one met its end with his arrows. He kept a trained eye on the other goblins that they used their magic on and fired at the burned goblin as it was approaching Parvati. It died and left its soul stone, causing him to smile a little. Another down, two left.

He switched his attention to the goblin that was struggling to take its feet out his Binding Thorns and shot two arrows at it. It too died under fire, the thorns disappearing now that there was no monster to keep down. He sighed as Parvati finished off the last goblin and began to collect his stones and arrows. Things were going well so far, and although the Amazoness seemed callous, at least he should be thankful that he wasn't being pushed around much by her.

 

"Uh, m-my magic?" Soren asked, blinking in surprise at the sudden question. Well, that was something. He was used to harsh treatment and cold silence, not questions concerning him for who would concern themselves with the dark elf boy anyway? "I...well, I learned it from an old man. I didn't know I had potential until he showed me how to hunt." The explanation made him feel wistful, but he shook himself out of it when he realized he was reminiscing too much. "Right, deeper."

As they trekked onward, Soren couldn't help but think about the girl and her magic. Where had she learned hers? It was only fair if she answered, but he didn't want to seem rude when doing so. Still, it piqued his interest that an Amazoness was able to use magic. At least, he thought she was an Amazoness.

After some time, they finally stumbled upon the entrance to the second floor. Soren checked his bag and sighed. His was already getting full, so he would have to use Parvati's bag in order to collect the soul stones. I hope she doesn't mind much, he thought to himself as they descended. He couldn't hold the question back anymore. "Um...you know how you asked me where I learned my magic? Where did you learn yours? I don't think I've seen an Amazoness use magic before..."

 

"Oh." Soren looked a little disturbed when she shrugged off the fact she burned her old house down by accident. Hopefully her family members made it out okay. He felt kind of sorry for the Amazoness, actually. She didn't have the guidance of a teacher to help her out with her magic, no one to turn to at all. It made him think how lucky he was to actually someone there by his side when it came to being taught.

"Yes miss, I'll continue to pick up the soul stones," he said as he hurried after her. They wandered the the caverns for some time until they came across some more goblins to kill. As Parvati chanted out her spell, he took out an arrow and chanted his own. “O passionate flames, consume this arrow and let it fly straight and true!” he chanted, "Flaming Weapon!" The tip of the arrow burst into flames as he let it fly, right into the chest of one of the goblins. It shrieked as it died, leaving behind a soul stone.

 

Soren kept firing arrows at the goblins, brows furrowed in concentration as he hit them. He managed to kill one, and the rest were similarly dispatched by Parvati, thankfully enough. He sighed as he went over to collect his arrows and the soul stones left on the ground. He wasn't sure if he was a very good supporter, but he would surely be there if anyone needed him.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when Parvati came over and handed him the arrow that he had set on fire. "O-Oh, thank you," he said as he took it and put it back into his quiver. He stood up straight and began to fidget at the Amazoness' gaze. He didn't know why she had been holding it, but maybe he was helping her? Fat chance, a nasty voice in his mind went. Shut up, the other part of his mind said. "Let's get going," his mouth said.

The trekked through the Dungeon and slowly the bag began to fill up with goblin soul stones. They managed to find the entrance to the third floor too, which meant they might be meeting a kobold some time soon. He looked at Parvati that seemed to be paler than normal. "Are you alright?" he asked, "You look exhausted." He wasn't as exhausted as her, thankfully enough. But he was still worried for the Amazoness.

 

Soren had to flinch when Parvati snapped at him. "S-S-Sorry, was just worried about you, is all..." he sighed as he followed after her. He didn't speak up the rest of the way, afraid to be snapped at again. At least he wasn't pushed or shoved or kicked or beaten this time around. He was perfectly fine with that.

Soon they stumbled upon a kobold that snarled at them once it noticed the two of them. Soren glanced over at Parvati for a moment before he turned and began to chant. “Let thorns scrape at my bare feet and have them bind to the ones before me!" he chanted, "Binding Thorns!" The creature's legs were entangled in the thorns and the dark elf readied his bow and arrow. He took a deep breath and shot it, right into it's heart. At least the target was bigger compared to goblins, made it easier to aim his arrow at the right spot.