Floor 1 Footsteps echoed as a young woman dressed in expensive garments walked down one of the halls. The girl had purposely avoided the other adventurers who were roaming the floor. She didn't want help, nor did she want others to take reward for her effort. It would be inevitable that more people would show up. Especially this high up in the dungeon, but the girl needed to do as much alone as she could. Even if it put her life in danger, it would be fruitless to travel with others and split rewards. If this was too much for her, she should just drop all of her ideals now. Her worth to her god and to her dreams was at stake. During Odin's raid to the 8th floor, Cecilia was a mere follower that faded away in the action that took place due to the power of the Royal Prince, Baldur. The swordswoman was irritated and determined to get to the 8th floor like the Prince had... but this time alone. Yes indeed it would be a feat and it would push her to a new level. Cecilia was ready to do as many reruns with her free time as she could. She needed to have Odin give her the boosts she needed to properly serve him. As a noble's daughter she had little other tasks at the moment and while her father was pushing her to join the military. Cecilia had so far successfully maintained her freedom of such restrictions. Upon entering a large open room a small content smile crossed her pretty face as three goblins emerged from the darkness in the next hall. Drawing her sword from it's sheath at her side. She took a one handed battle stance and focused on her targets. The goblins didn't wait and charged like the dull minded beasts they were. Not being able to conceal her sigh. Cecilia shrugged and flipped elegantly over the three monsters. Landing on her feat she sliced her blade straight across ones torso. It;s scream echoed as it turned to particles. The other two made haphazard swings at the one who took their comrades life. Parrying one blow and spinning away from another. Cecilia's sword thrust forward at the end of her spin. It's sharp end coming out of the goblin's back as blood gushed from it's ugly mouth. Before it could disappear. She kicked it off her sword into the last one causing it to fall on it's hide. Her sword brought the last goblin's life to a end before it could get back up. Taking out a small rag and wiping off her sword. She returned it to it's well decorated sheath. Looking at the ground she saw a small goblin tooth laying on the floor. Reaching down and grabbing it, she looked it over. It would not prove very useful. Probably a couple of gold coins. This whole floor was a waste of time but it was a sad prerequisite, unfortunately. Putting the tooth in a small bag at her waist. Cecilia continued into the next hall. "Three down. Must stay focused." She said to herself as she began to count her kills towards her quota for the day.
Time was passing ever so slowly. Goblin body counts were growing and Cecilia's small bag was getting a fair share of goblin teeth and other low quality drops. How many of these was it now? The confident in her abilities noble was pretty sure it was ten. It was hard and took far too long on floor one to rack up kills. Adventurers were crawling all over the place.It was a huge rat race up here. Just like life in many ways.... it was sad really. Cecilia would not be surprised how many poor adventurers that may have less fighting experience in their backgrounds would find themselves left to die or brutally robbed by their supposed allies. These were Cecilia's thoughts as she rounded a corner into yet another room. In this room it seemed to have been what looked like a battle just took place. Blood was sprayed around the room. More lost kills at the hands of these roving bands, and worse still was the fact Cecilia was near the stairway to floor two now. Either proceed or head back? She was not tired yet but she was unsure of going about another few hours of random wandering on the next floor today. A low whimper caught the young lady's ear. It was definitely not a monster. Turning toward the dark corner that the sound came from. Cecilia's blue eyes settled upon a beaten heap of a boy. His clothes were torn and his weapon broken. As she slowly walked towards him. His bruises and wounds became ever more apparent. Cecilia bent down on her knee as she looked the beaten boy over. "These wounds are severe. Were you ambushed? Nevermind... for now. Here, drink this. It will give you some energy." Cecilia pulled a small bottle from her supply belt and helped the shaking boy drink it. Upon closer look he was probably fifteen, give or take a year. His paleness faded a little but he still looked in a lot of pain. Giving the healing potion a chance to work. Looking around to make sure monsters or unsavory adventurers don't get a drop on them. Cecilia looked back at the slightly recovered male. "T-thank you... I can't believe this happened. 'Cough' 'cough'', I trusted those guys." Cecilia put her hand on his shoulder and spoke with reassurance and concern. This was exactly what she was thinking of earlier. Scum of the Earth picking on the weak and naive. Disgusting... Cecilia would find out who they were and take note. They would pay for this betrayal of trust! Of course that's if this was what it seemed. She needed to investigate this further. "You're safe now. Rest a moment and tell me more about this if you could. I will help you out of here when you feel able to stand."
After a while, steps approached in the distance. Monsters? Adventurers? Maybe the culprits returning to be sure their victim was finished off? As the footsteps grew louder. A robed girl and a bare chested guy with a large ax came into the room. Instantly the girl ran over and asked whether everything was okay. "Yes. He's recovering slowly. He was attacked... by his own allies. They headed down to the next floor and have yet to return. He was supposed to be their supporter, they betrayed him and left him like this. I intend to get him back to the guild. Be careful, those men are probably going to cause more trouble down there." The girl wanted to offer help but the man grabbed her shoulder and shook his head, For many adventurers a rule of every man for himself was a rule. He probably did not want to slow themselves down helping someone who already had assistance. Cecilia looked back at the injured boy as the two adventurers continued on to floor two. "How goes it? Ready to try and get out of here? The longer we are here the more likely we will get attacked by goblins." The boy nodded and slowly tried to stand on his feet. His name was Brian and he was a total beginner much like Cecilia was stat wise. The difference was in their experience and worldliness. He paired himself up with some tough guys who were in a familia known to attract the rough and tumble type. Turned out he had to go through a initiation right of completing the top three dungeon floors with two full members before he could get his marking. In the end it was just a trick to beat the crap out of a what the familia thought was a naive kid ripe to be bullied. Even for bulling... this was too much. Placing his arm on her shoulders Cecelia began to assist him in heading back to the exit. The moment monsters showed she had to fend them off while she was handicapped. This was much more challenging than her way here. The boy attempted to make his own meek swings with a dagger but he was better off just being a human shield really. After arriving back at the entrance stair way. Cecilia made a sigh of relief. She was done for today. It would be reckless to go for another round now. As they climbed, she asked Brian to describe the two men as much as he could. If she ever saw them... they would pay for their unjust cruelty.
THE GUILD After the boy was taken off her hands, Cecilia went about cashing in some soul stones and goblin teeth. It was a longer day than she thought it would be. The sunny day had ended and now night had fallen outside. After collecting her meager reward that frankly a girl from a family like hers didn't even need. Cecilia made her way out of the guild for home. Cecilia did not move fast however. Home was a complicated place sometimes. Her father and her had a rough relationship since he was against her service to her god, Odin. For him, joining the Orario Swords were the most prestigious thing his daughter could accomplish. Unfortunately Cecilia was uncertain how much it would effect her freedom to fulfill her duties for Odin, as well as her opinion that she could train herself to battle better than being forced into combat training she was not compatible with. This led to a good deal of arguments within the Brant Estate. It was thanks to her mother that she wasn't forced into the service. As she exited the guild's doors into the cold night air. Her thoughts went to her god. She hoped to gain his attention, to be his right hand in this mortal world. The noble had not seen him in a longer while than she'd like. Hopefully he would call her before him and give her a chance to get closer to him somehow. Otherwise her future would become stagnant. Finished
