Dave

Fallen Jungle

53rd of Cycle 2, 1015

I woke up to a dark sky and a crackling fire by my side.

“How long have I been out?” I asked Jason, who was sitting on a rock near the stream.

“Oh, you’re finally awake huh, it took you an awfully long time to pick your class.” He sounded annoyed, “Well it doesn’t matter, I’ve already set up camp for the night. We can check your skills tomorrow.”

Should I tell him?

We had a deal, which was for me to pick lookout as my class and help him get out of the jungle, but now I was a scout, and I couldn’t leave the jungle without killing a legendary panther. If I was in his position I’d be pretty upset... so I think I'll withhold that information for now.

“Yeah, I guess I could use some rest, but where are we going tomorrow morning?” I asked.

“We’re going north.”

“Why are we going north?”

“I've heard that there’s a mining village to the north of the jungle where lots of traders pass through. I’m planning on getting an escort job for some merchant so I can hitch a free ride to the capital.” Jason said.

“Do you mind if I ask why you’re leaving the jungle?” I asked, hoping that I didn’t hit some kind of nerve.

He didn’t say anything for a while and then shook his head. “I used to live in a village of elves, and I was really happy there. If you had asked me back then, I’d tell you that I was going to live in that village until I grew old and had a family.” He said with a sad chuckle.

“What changed?”

“My parents decided to marry me off to a well to do lady from the royal family.”

“Royal family? Didn’t you say you were from a village?”

“They were royalty back when all the elves served under one king, and I guess they weren’t too keen on losing the title. Anyways, my parents set me up with the eldest daughter in an attempt to heighten our family’s status, but I hated that woman with a passion.” He clenched his fist, “No matter what I said to try and convince them, my parents refused to listen to me, and insisted that I go on with the marriage for the sake of the family.”

“That sounds rough.”

“It was terrible, and that’s why one day I took a spare bow and quiver with me on my hunt, left my original bow under a man-eater, and ran away.”

“So you faked your own death? Why? Couldn’t you have just run away normally?” I asked.

“I didn’t want anyone to think I ran away because I didn’t want to marry a royal. That would be bad for my family.”

Wow, he sure put a lot of thought into this, but I guess I had kind of ruined it.

“I bet you didn’t expect some human to pick up your broken bow from under a man-eater,” I said with a huge grin on my face.

“You’re god damn right I didn’t. Seriously, why the hell would you do something so dangerous?”

“It was either that or continue walking around the jungle without a weapon. I chose the former.”

“I know many elves that would choose the latter. Man-eaters are one of those predators you just don’t mess with, but apparently, that doesn’t apply to you." He said, shaking his head slightly, "By the way, where’d you get that hole in your right hand from. I noticed it while you were knocked out.”

I looked down at my right hand and reminisced about the horned rabbit that had been my first encounter in this dangerous world.

“A horned rabbit got the jump on me.”

He pulled out some kind of cream packed into a leaf and gave it to me. “Put this on your wound, it should heal fully come morning.”

Heal fully? What kind of miracle of modern science was this cream? Is this something I should really be allowed to use? I looked at him questioningly, but he didn’t seem to react so I just spread it on my hand and hoped for the best.

He then pulled out some dried meat, “Eat, drink some water from the stream, and get back to sleep. I’ll take first watch and wake you in a few hours.”

I smiled a little. It might just be my imagination, but I felt like I had if ever so slightly, gotten closer to him. Maybe one day I could call him my friend.

I took the meat from his hand and ate it. It was tough and salty, but considering that the only thing I’d eaten in the past two days was a raw rabbit, I guess it was pretty good. A few sips of water from the stream later, I laid down next to the fire and shut my eyes.

Today was a long day and tomorrow was probably going to be longer, but for some reason, I wasn’t upset about that. I think I’m starting to like this world.

Rea

Elf Village

53rd of Cycle 2, 1015

The team had been assembled. In front of me were three of the best elves in our village, and I was to be their leader on this important mission.

On the left was Rory, a heavily armored man who held a large white shield. His class was paladin. Very rare for an elf, but apparently Rory’s devout faith to Freya had earned him her divine blessings, and I wasn’t one to judge.

Next was Jack, a short airhead of an elf, who was our support. His class was high-priest. How he achieved that class with his attitude towards work is beyond me, and I was baffled at Father’s decision to include him in the team.

Finally on the right was Lola, a tall and menacing-looking woman who wore light armor and was our tracker. Her class was ranger, which was the most prestigious class among elves for good reason. She had the capabilities to track any prey and eliminate it alone, bar maybe a man-eater or grey panther.

And finally, there was me, Rea. The leader of this super team. My class was... hunter. The most basic class among elves.

I am in no position to lead these people, I thought to myself before shaking my head. I had to lead them, this was my one chance to prove myself to Father, and everyone in the village. I looked up at my team with newfound courage.

I am the second daughter of the royal family, and I will prove to these people that I am fit to lead them!

“Hey Rea, fancy a drink before we go off on this long journey?” Said the airhead Jack, earning him a whack from Lola.

I let out a sigh. Easier said than done.