The new duchy's rot | Page 2

Alric had spaced out at some point as the other three carried the conversation. His quiet nature was starting to show mostly because he wanted to focus his attention elsewhere. There was still much to learn about the world of Terrasphere it seemed but he would have just been satisfied with learning how to use his own skills. Combat was one aspect he was looking forward to. Honestly, who wouldn't be excited about having fantastic powers? Perhaps he would even be able to save a village from being ransacked by brigands one day or something.

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He had caught the end of Seto’s speech, but just barely. It was sort of pessimistic to have that kind of mentality but at the same time he could understand why. the history of the real world is riddled with countless wars, so it wouldn't have been much of a stretch to assume the same thing occurred here. War was an interesting concept to allow in this world, but that only opened up more questions about Terrasphere’s origins. Just what kind of vision for this game did the developers have during production? Alric wondered how much of the initial idea shifted leading up till now. Still, as long as he was having fun he wouldn't complain.

 

And so, the makeshift party seemed to just started to go about their merry way…well, except it’s anything but merry. First of all, Duke Seto can’t seem to resist going about the hazards of the nearby environment with the most awful of examples. Whatever possessed the developers to add the pig men in the game, it didn’t seem to be the purest thoughts in the world as even the mere mention of their behaviors seemed to just send chills of…something in the back of her spine.

In fact, her hand right hand – the one with the crossbow – seemed to twitch momentarily on the mention of them being…predominantly preferring women, politely speaking. Further fact that the crossbow was loaded might be cause of some significant concerns.

Fortunately, Elmyra managed to somehow contain herself and to not let her disgust overpowers her and start to shoot every moving thing in the distance. No, she might just save that for later whenever there’s even the slightest hint of a burly, pig-faced humanoid outline in the distance. She needs a bit of a practice with her aim under distress anyway, the threat of assault both physically and mentally should probably do the trick.

“Understood.” Her volume of voice seemed to be unchanged, but the edginess in her tone was rather apparent for all her other newly-found companions to see. “I suppose I should count myself very lucky I hadn’t met a party of those pig men along the way then. I wonder if it would be better off for me to encounter a Troll instead of a party of those pig men. At least the death would be quick instead of prolonged…suffering…I suppose I shouldn’t discount such a possibility in light of recent information…”

Slowly, she began to load more of her bolts into the machinations of her crudely-made crossbow. Thanks to its frame, reloading seems to be a lot more convenient than your medieval style crossbow, allowing a revolving-style multiple bolts inside its frame. Perhaps a combination of gaming convenience and acceptable breaks from medieval realism. Not content with just convenience of reloading, Elmyra had entertained the thought of mixing some of the bolts with hand-made poisons of her making…but she refrained to do that just yet. She might be paranoid, but using poison to satisfy her paranoia would probably raise quite a few eyebrows…

…Not that said thought process would be without basis. Just as Elmyra entertained that thought, the Duke Seto had already manifested troubling dark energy that seemed to flicker and reached for the girl called Aselia. Thanks to her twitchy reactions, Elmyra instinctively aimed the crossbow at the direction of the dark energy…though she quickly lowered said crossbow when it became apparent that the dark energy had been aimed for some kind of provocation instead of…well, to harm.

“Can we limit the teasing to verbal ones instead of physical stuff? It seems a lot healthier for our sanity in this situation.” Elmyra added, removing her finger from the crossbow’s trigger. The conversation itself seemed to have taken a turn for the grim, but it still seems a lot healthier than pointing volatile dark magic at other people. “So, is the true purpose of this scouting trip to look for more violence along the way? Can’t say I agree to attracting the attention of dangerous wildlifes…”

 

"Well, well. That sounds like a rather unpleasant experience." The red-eyed Witch stated the obvious as the Fiend Knight listed what kind of dangers were around here. "Seems like a sick developer joke or something, huh? Pigs in human skin and all that." It was undoubtedly disgusting what those Pigmen were doing with females - or at least what was being implied.

Aselia, despite her curiosity, wasn't even all too sure how realistic the game could get in that regards and as much as she lacked any kind of morality decided to leave the topic at that. Logging out would always be possible though... no?

Regardless, she curiously eyed Seto as he took his sweet time to answer her other questions. In fact, didn't just... face-palm? Apparently he had quite the tide of emotions to work right now.

After a few minutes, however, he finally answered her. Or rather, showed, as some vile flames flickered to life. Reaching for her very soul followed by an explanation and a rather well hidden insult. "Maybe it would be obvious if I'd spend all day playing videogames." Aselia narrowed her eyes, he was allowed to take that however he liked. "So, you sold your Soul to Satan or something? Shouldn't you be out then, killing people like us?" It was at that moment that the other female tried to defuse the situation between the two, though rather than simply saying to cut it out pleaded to keep the tease just verbally. Well, no problem then?

"Or are you locked in an eternally battle between yourself and the darker you? Suffering with and every step a whisper to resist the urge to offer us poor, helpless, newbies to whatever dark deities you may worship?" The red-eye clad her arms around herself as she was shaken from fear! Though it was more than obvious she was simply teasing more. Her voice sounded rather amused, maybe even fascinated, as she was telling her small epic.

Leaving that matters aside she now continued. "Ah. So from your words I take you think of war as a rather terrible thing?" It was completely rhetorical. There weren't many people who actually embraced such a grim matter. They were either rather young and thought to be cool and/or just complete psychos.

Nonetheless, Aselia simply made sure to make him realize that she assumed him to be one of those who did not like war. For the sole purpose of what was to come next. "So despite that you nonetheless decided to go ahead, play a game that's seems super realistic and throw yourself into war all over again?" Another pause, this time purposefully placed, before she opened her mouth to say something but ended up simply shrugging her shoulders. "Sure, whatever."

 

Alric Seemed to have fazed out during the time he was explaining his occupation, perhaps Alric would be a waste of his time in the future after this since they boy's attention span was that of a child, he had no such need for people like that. Elmyra on the other hand showed some potenial but it would take some time clearly by the reaction she pulled on him, drawing her crossbow, she took aim at his hands that housed some of his energy that had he manifested. Her emotions, the paranoia she displayed obviously, he wonder how she would react facing monster she couldn't kill in one blow? Her comment to stop his "teasing" only confirmed this but it was dulley noted into his mind.

"The purpose of my expedition is to simply scout the land of the southern Duchy that will be born in a short time, I have no interest in the spilling of blood unless it is necessary, I am not a blood lusted filled beserker, I only kill when it serves my purpose or It must be done. Have no fear, I have no intention to slaughter you, you are no threat to me and you are most useful to me and the others you meet on your travels than dead."


Turning his head to Aselia, he could see her red eyes eyeing him with perhaps a slightly irritated mindset? He couldn't exactly pin down her expression but she made herself clear she quite the idiot making the comment only someone who played video games could know what a Fiend Knight was, clearly this woman didn't know nothing about history either or else it would have been obvious what a Fiend Knight was based off. He worshipped the devli now did he? That was a new one, even from a new player. He'd give her points for originality though If she had half the brain power of most new players he met who actually did any reseach, she would know there was no devil in Terrasphere, the closest were the Malevolent Tora entities whom he no interest in serving in, at best he would find a way to bend their power to his control otherwise Religion on it's own was foolhardy unless controlled.

The more she spooke, he decided to give her his full attention. Although he remained motionless and cold to the core on the exterior, he was slightly impressed she somehow managed to guess herself about Kurama although she had no idea what kind of monster he was, even he could not defeat him in single combat.If he got released somehow, Alric would immiedtialy die, Elmyra and Aselia? Let's just say they would be his playthings for some time before being disposed of. Seto knew she was teasing him, probably wanted to see how far she could go with it. He found her slightly amusing but like many other's he had met in his travels, grew slightly annoyed by the fact she had also became one of those prideful, know it all players, claiming he was a contradiction of himself, perhpas she had some credit to her words but mattered little to him, he may have seen war in the real world, he may have seen mass destruction and murder, It might have given him PTSD he will most likely never be cured of but she knew little despite the fact she thought she did, someone like her.........wouldn't survive whe he had been, few would which made him stronger, a civilian like these people knew nothing of the real world they lived being born into privilage and never seeing danger and frankly they never would.

"You are quite amusing girl but a ignorant one at that whom has much to learn in this world as well as the real world we live in. Call me a walking contradiction all you want, it matters little to me what a spoiled and privilaged brat of a first world nation thinks of me but If your going to travel with me, I would suggest you silence your ignorant tongue or I will simply cut you down where you stand......I have no such need for such people in my presence and If you are scum, I will eliminate you with no remorse."

With that he simply turned his back and continued walking in the other direction he was walking before he was bombarded with questions and Aselia criticism. Much more to his annoyance, the Adecus Forest had become much more thicker than he would have liked with many young tree's just beginning to grow and the addition of vines coming down from the tree's. "What a bother." He moused as he sighed, unsheathing his Odachi revealed it's long four feet metal blade. Moving his foot back, he gripped the hilt as he took on s Sha No Kamae stance. Using his muscles, he pulled the blade up in a vertical before using the momentum to perform a horizontal slash following up with a diagonal slash in succession, opening the path to himself and the others.​