Muah ha ha guys, the story is at 4 1/2 stars now. And that's it :p

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The gate closed behind Steel as he entered the grassland, letting him know that the quest had begun. He checked his supplies:

10 health potions, lesser

10 stamina potions, lesser

10 mana potions, lesser

1 piece of devil meat (secretly held)

5 pieces of bread

Looking over his bag, he couldn't help but feel as if he were extremely under prepared for this mission. Hopefully he would be able to find the lair quickly and quietly, otherwise he'd have to sleep outside the wall, with no sleeping supplies or anything to ward off monsters. He shivered at the thought.

Taking out a map graciously provided by the gate guards, Steel orientated his body forward the patch of forest to begin at. While the map didn't list the location of the lair, of course, several section of the forest had been circled as possible places.

"Well, here we go."

He began walking toward the forest, not being too cautious as he didn't expect any trouble in the grassland. He made it ten minutes into the grassland with his guard down when a white missile slammed into his chest, knocking him over and the wind out of him.

-10 impact damage

Coughing, he pulled his torso up to inspect the white projectile sitting on his lad. A furry white face stared up at him, it's cute pink nose twiddling in the air. A quick glance to the upper lip confirmed the presence of large white teeth blending in with it's fur.

"Geez, that hurt you know?" He complained.

The bunny just stared up and him and wiggled it's nose.

He got up, and the Hungry Bunny hopped down beside him, watching him. Steel regarded the rabbit for a moment.

"Hunie?" He asked.

The bunny immediately stood on its back legs and stretched itself up, looking at his face. In a sudden move, it leaped up and licked his cheek before he could react, before falling back down into a sitting position. Steel shook his head, unbelieving of the situation.

"I can't believe you're here." He said, shaking his head, "Shouldn't you be off doing rabbit things, like babies and slaughtering noobs?"

Hunie scratched the back of it's neck with it's foot, making Steel see a dog for a moment. He sighed, and began walking toward the forest again. Hunie stopped scratching and hopped alongside him in time.

"So, your just going to keep following me huh?" Steel asked while walking.

Unsurprisingly, the bunny said nothing, but continued hopping.

"You know I'm doing a suicide mission to find the wolf lair right?"

This time, the bunny hissed at his words and headbutted his leg in anger. He stumbled, but took no damage.

"What, are you going to protect me or something?" He asked sarcastically. The bunny stopped moving, and just seemed to ooze smugness, to the degree that Steel felt a twinge of annoyance.

"I'm not that weak you know." He complained. Hunie merely patted his leg with it's ear and hopped in front of him toward the forest.

Sighing, Steel muttered, "Great, I'm getting pity from a rabbit, what's next, a rat will spoon feed me my meals?"

As usual, Hunie said not a word.

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After walking for a good hour, Steel picked up that he forest was a lot farther than it looked from the gate. It was weird, but he was following Hunie as it led him with hops and the occasional stare to make sure he was following.

"Hunie, are you sure this is the quickest way?" He asked again.

Once again, Hunie did not answer, merely hopped on toward her destination.

Steel was tired of it. He was following a bunny, a bunny for peaks sake, one who did not communicate, listen, or lead him in the right direction. He turned and headed directly for the forest. A squeak told him Hunie had noticed, but he kept walking, intent on ignoring his would-be-helper.

A bang knocked him forward, telling him that it had launched itself at him.

-5 impact damage

Annoyed he turned to find the bunny hissing at him, it's teeth barred at him.

"What? You mad I stopped following you?" He retorted hotly, "If you aren't going to help, then I'll find my own way."

He turned and took a step, but this time rolled to avoid the bunny headbutt missile aimed at his back. Hunie soared through the air and landed in front of him. To his shock, a huge form reared it's head out of the grass in front of him.

Opponent InformationNameLevelThreatHealth[tr]Trap Plant4A.55DescriptionA carnivorous plant that is found rarely in the grassland. Not the strongest opponent, it is deadly in it's surprise attack and can kill unsuspecting prey before they can react. Weak once revealed.

Instantly, the plant shot out and grabbed Hunie with it's mouth. With a squeak of pain, the rabbit disappeared into the plant's maw.

"Hunie! Nooooo!"

Steel jumped into action to save the rabbit. He knew he had seconds before her body was swallowed and the rabbit would be lost forever.

He charged and shield bashed the neck of the plant right below the mouth.

-3 Impact damage

-5 impact damage.

'Crap, this plant is good against impact attacks!' Steel realized. He started freaking out, but dodged a chomp by the mouth. A quick glance inside gave him the image of the white rabbit hanging on with it's teeth to the inside of the mouth.

Hunie, hang on!" He called out in fear. He punched the plant and hit it repeatably with his shield.

-1

-1

-3 impact damage

'It's not working." Horror grew through his thoughts, 'Hunie is going to die, and it'll be my fault.'

An image passed through his mind, Dia, sitting in his wheelchair, his mouth black and empty, a sad smile on his face. His friend, crippled for life, his fault.

His fault

All his fault

"Nooo!"

His rage focused the mana within him. It flowed over his body and shield, hardening and strengthening. His shield glowed, absorbing the magical energy from his mana

In anger and rage, he slammed his shield into the neck of the monster.

-35 piecing damage.

He pulled back his shield to reveal a hole in the plant's neck. It wailed and thrashed back and forth, a white missile flying out of the mouth and landing unmoving in the grass. The sight of his friend lying there fueled the fury in Steel's head.

Shouting, he slammed his shield over and over into the plant, even after it fell, he kept hitting it, slowly winding back down to levels of reasoning.

The monster slain, he was overcome with weakness and fatigue. The notification box popped up:

Battle ResultsYou have won a battle against a Trap Plant.

+50 exp

+plant vine

Spell Learned:Earth ArmorType/AttributeSpell RankCostExperienceDefense/EarthF5 mana/sec11%DescriptionA basic earth spell. Mana is channeled into a spell that gives earth properties to the target. Increase in strength and endurance.

Knowledge acquiredShield PiercerGained by channeling earth magic into the shieldBy casting earth magic over your shield, you have uncovered one of the two ways to attack with it. Shield Piercer is an attack caused by the absorption of earth magic into the shield. As long as magic is channeled, a spike made of earth mana will form over the shield that can be used for piercing attacks. Improving the spell used will result in more spikes. Earth spikes cannot piece things with fire or water attribute within or on them. Current spikes: 1

Status updateYou have used all your mana and most of your stamina. Take care, if you use all your stamina, you will begin taking damage.

Status updateMinor Bleed Infliction

Steel pushed the notifications aside to be read later, he learned his lesson about ignoring notifications. He drowned a stamina potion and crawled quickly over to Hunie's body.

Hunie lay in the grass with it's eyes closed. It's chest rose up and down slowly, and blood ran down it's fur, staining it and the grass red. It opened it's eyes when Steel approached.

"I'm sorry Hunie, Hunie, please don't die." He sobbed as he picked up Hunie's body, rocking it slowly in his arms. Hunie closed it's eyes in his arms, seeming to relax.

"Wait, no, come on, drink this potion." He held up a health potion and tried to feed it to it. Hunie's mouth didn't open, and the drops of potion on the wounds did not close quickly.

Health potions must be taken by the mouth in order to be effective

Looking at the notice, Steel's sobbing increased.

"Hunie, open your mouth, you have to drink this."

The rabbit didn't move in his arms, it's chest rising less and less with each breath.

In his pain, Steel looked up at the sky.

"Milna, please, I beg of you, save her." He cried out, "Don't let it happen to me again, please, I'll do anything."

The sky did not change, Steel felt Hunie slipping further away.

"Milna, please, it was my fault, please help Hunie." He begged again.

A wind blew by him, caressing his cheeks.

"Mouth to mouth." It whispered to him, "Feed her your life." The wind blew away as quick as it had appeared.

Reacting quickly, Steel put the potion in his mouth, and but his mouth over Hunie's. He forced his way into it's mouth, cutting his lip on it's sharp teeth. He force his tongue in, and the potion rushed out into Hunie's mouth. With a sigh, Hunie stopped breathing in his arms.

His breath caught, Steel stared down at the creature that had died for his mistakes. In death, her face seemed peaceful, settling in the relaxed expression it had taken when Steel had picked it up. His sobs softened, but continued as he rocked the body to his chest, nuzzling the life that had been taken from him.

He closed his eyes, and buried his face in it's body, taking in the fading scent. A soft light began to appear through his eyelids, and he opened them to find Hunie's body glowing softly. A notice appeared slowly i front of him as the glowing increased, almost as if it were coming from Hunie.

Class UnlockedYour feelings and actions have touched the heart of the goddess Milna. You have achieved all the requirements for a hidden class available only to those who worship Milna. She promises it will suit your needs. Do you accept this class?

AcceptDecline

You can change classes at any time another is offered, but all class specific skills will be lost.

Steel stared at the notice in front of him, his tears falling on Hunie's glowing body. He had failed Hunie, but it seemed as if he was being rewarded.

"Why?" He asked softly, "Why do this to me? Isn't enough pain already?"

The box stood there unanswering, merely existing in the moment.

Cursing himself, he looked down. If he had been stronger, wiser, more intelligent, maybe he could have saved Hunie. If he had been any of those things in real life, maybe he could have saved Dia. Maybe he could have been with Sarah.

He had cursed his weakness long enough, he had to get stronger, so no one else would die, and for his revenge. Eyes burning, he pressed the accept tag on the notice.

The light washed over him, bathing him in warmth. He did not move for some time, as the sunset fell slowly into the night.

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Why can't I hold all these feels :( I've got to say, this made my eyes water for a moment. Cry with me as you write comments and ratings.