8 | Divine Drop Orchid

“So, you wish to find out about the Divine Nectar? Well, information like that is going to cost you, mister Laharis Yuric. And for someone who’s not registered with us, it’s going to cost double. So if you want to know, I’ll need two Jen,” Gin casually said, tapping a finger on the counter.

His eyes widened slightly at the mention of his full name, but he hastily regained composure before saying, “I guess you won’t let me get one of these guys to ask for me now, huh? I’ll pay, just tell me what it is and how to get it.” He pulled out two shiny red coins from his pocket and flipped them onto the lacquered wood.

Gin dragged the payment off the counter, “I’m sure you saw it when you entered the city, the Divine Drop Orchid. It blooms once a star-cycle, and when it does, two drops of nectar are produced. They have gained the name Divine Nectar due to their incredible healing properties and rarity.”

“So it comes from that giant flower… But if it’s that scarce, it must be hard to get your hands on,” Rivana said.

“Right you are,” Gin continued. “Each cycle, both drops are taken by the council that governs Mistvall. They store one for their use, occasionally splitting one up and selling it into the markets to facilitate the economy. The other is held as the grand prize for the winner of that cycle’s Orchid Contest. So, the only way for you to acquire the nectar is to win the upcoming contest.”

“Or, steal from the council’s reserves,” Laharis offered. “You make it seem like the contest is soon. How do I win it then? You better not withhold anything, so I get my money’s worth.”

“Of course, the Guild does not disappoint paying customers,” He grinned. “The contest is held at the great blooming festival happening in just over a moon-cycle’s time. Many visitors have already flocked here to witness the joyous week of celebration over the orchid’s unfolding petals. However, what the contest is itself changes every time based on the council’s whims, so it’s impossible to determine. Though, the rule that remains constant is participants may enter in groups of one to three and the members must be younger than forty.”

“Oh, that’s too bad Laris, you won’t be able to participate. There’s no way someone with white hair like that can be younger than forty,” Rivana jabbed.

“What the hell do you mean! I’m only twenty-seven you witch, and get my name right,” Laharis cried back. “Why is there even an age limit to begin with? That sounds like discrimination.”

“The age cap is there for the audience’s entertainment of course. It would be no fun if some old explorer with a Melchsees gate came and swept the competition under the rug,” Gin explained. “Now, that’s all the information I can give you regarding the Divine Nectar. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“My fortune strikes again! I’ve got a team right here that will do nicely. Guild man, rent me three rooms for the duration of now to the end of the festival!” Laharis declared without consulting the other two.

“That will be three-hundred Jen,” Gin responded.

“Wha... Ok, the witch can have her own room, I’ll take two,” He said, sorting his money and placing a small pouch on the counter.

“Thank you for your business. To get to your rooms, please exit the guild and go to the back entrance of the armor shop next door. You’ll find a staircase on your left that will take you to rooms three-fifty-six and three-fifty-seven. Have a nice stay,” Gin smiled and gave a small bow.

“Wait, you’re telling me we can’t even stay in the guildhall rooms?” Laharis complained.

“Sorry, but our main rooms are all full of travelers waiting for the festival like yourselves. However, I assure you the secondary rooms are quite comfortable as well.”

“Pshh, whatever. Let’s go team, we’ve got to get some rest so we can begin our preparations for the contest at first light!” Laharis ordered before indicating for Nito to leave.

“Who said we would participate with you? He said one to three, so you don’t even need us,” Nito protested while walking him out.

“Dear Nito, it’s obvious that a party of three will have a greater chance of victory than a solo contestant. With the Guild inn already being full, there are sure to be many strong competitors. But don’t fret, I plus you two will make it a breeze, especially if I whip you both into shape. Besides, I recall Rivana saying you all will help me get the nectar, and you better keep your word. And isn’t the whole point of exploring to savor the adventure? You’ve got nothing better to do anyway,” Laharis beat him into a corner without leaving any room for argument.

“Well, I did say that… He’s right Nito, the festival sounds fun. I don’t want to miss the chance to see it, that’s the whole reason I left,” Rivana added.

“I wasn’t saying that. I want to see the festival too, I’d just rather not fight in the contest, you know?”

“Not fight? Ha! You’ll never make it far in the Everwood like that Nito,” Laharis laughed. “This world isn’t kind enough for that. Not to mention, the contest may not involve battles.”

The team exited the Guild’s front doors and returned to the city street under a darkened sky. They went left, then turned down the alleyway between the Explorer Guild and armor shop, stepping over the moss that crept through the paving stones.

“This is the way, right?” Nito asked

“Gin said back entrance, how else do we get to the back?” Rivana answered, leading the way.

“Hey, Nito, when I give you the signal drop me got it?”

“What, why? I knew it, your poison is gone, and you're only using me for a free ride!”

“Shhh! That’s not it, I think we’re being followed. So when I tell you, put me down and get behind me.”

“Shouldn’t we just run then? If you’re still hurt-”

“No, this is the perfect opportunity to reduce the competition,” Laharis assured him.

“Hey, where are you lot going with a cripple?” A voice boomed from behind them, echoing between the alley walls.

The trio stopped in their tracks turning to see who was provoking them. The other group of three that had been in the Guild with them waltzed into the alleyway. The bulky man took point ahead of the other two slimmer ones, all were dressed in green tunics with leather fittings.

The big one smirked and bellowed, “We happened to overhear you mention joining the Orchid Contest back in the Guild. But the thing is, we’re also after the Divine Nectar, and more competition isn’t good.”

The slender man next to him piped up as they all inched towards Nito, “If you drop all your belongings and scamper out of Mistvall naked, we may not kill you hehe.”

“Okay, they look far enough in. Set me down,” Laharis whispered.

“Should- should we run?” Rivana asked but got no response.

Two guys unsheathed their swords, and the large one pulled a studded club from his back. As they gazed at him like already caught prey, Nito slightly lowered himself and let Laharis slide off. His arms finally relaxed from the hold he had maintained for most of the day. He certainly wasn’t capable of such physical strain before learning the etherea circulation technique. Laharis steadied himself and faced the enemy who flashed looks of surprise for an instant before reforming their sneers.

“Ha! So you were faking being a cripple. Well, it doesn’t matter, you’re still dead.” The muscly man scoffed.

“Yeah, don’t think the authorities will save you. In this world, those with real strength like us decide the rules.” A swordsman chuckled.

“You’re right,” Laharis’s eyes grew frosty. “In the vast ocean, only leviathans can swim where they please while the smaller fish are either bound to the reef or destined to be food. It’s disgusting how those who grow too bloated forget what they were born as. I’ll just have to fish you out so everyone else has some freedom,” he stretched his right arm out in front of him. “Mirror box.” As the words left his mouth, a shiny sliver cube materialized at the tips of his extended fingers.

“Ha! Is that supposed to scare us, little man?” The oversized guy snorted.

“No, Guro, we should be careful with that one. That looks like an ethereal art,” the one to his left warned.

“Like I can’t use ethereal energy!” Guro raised his club overhead, and it began to radiate with a red glow. “You two take the quivering shits in the back, I’ll crush the snow-head.”

Emanating less confidence than before, the henchmen readied their swords for a charge. Energy ignited on their blades as they leaped forward alongside Guro, who bounded at Laharis. But before they made even three steps, their assault was abruptly halted. The air temperature suddenly dropped. All three were instantly rooted to the ground by thick ice that inched up their legs.

“Seems that despite your large head, your mind is quite tiny,” Laharis stepped towards Guro, leaving his cube suspended in the air. “All you can do is condense a bit of energy around your weapon. Whoever hired you isn't getting their coin’s worth.”

“Wha- you, we never said we were hired! Don’t come any closer, this frost can’t hold us!”

“You didn’t, but with that answer, now I know you were. And why would you have matching sigils burned into your calves if you weren’t from some organization?”

As Nito stood stunned by the scene, a blood-red blur caught his eye as it zipped past the alley entrance and dispelled his shock.

“I can still flatten you without moving!” Guro roared, slamming down his club. At half-swing, the club froze over completely. Shattering, it decorated the surroundings with dazzling shards of ice. Guro’s pupils fiercely expanded, staring at his empty grip.

Laharis pulled a dagger from the scabbard at his hip. He languidly lifted the blade and set the point against Guro’s chest. Before he drove it in, Nito came up and firmly grasped his shoulder.

“Hey, don’t kill them. If they were hired, they probably had no choice.”

“Empathy for your kind, Nito? They might come after you again if I let them off.”

“S-sir, please. He’s right, it’s not up to us… We’ll say you were too fast to catch. We didn’t know other contestants could be this strong, please,” the man on the left begged with a hint of terror in his eyes. The ice was now up to his waist.

“Hmm… I guess you’re lucky too. Since Nito’s my new teammate, I’ll let you go for his good faith. Just keep taking out the weaker teams for me, okay?” Laharis smirked at them. “Now, hurry on before Nito turns his back and I kill you anyway,” he waved his hand, and the ice encasing their bodies melted away.

“Guro, let’s go!”

“But, my club...” The two grabbed his arms, and they scurried off out of the alley.

“Alright, let’s get to our rooms. Both of you need to be able to easily beat fools like that in a few weeks if you’re to stay on my team. So, get some rest while you can,” Laharis said to his teammates as his cube dissipated.

◈◈◈

Nito lay on his bed gazing out the inn-room window at the twin moons that hovered peacefully in the night sky. Now that he had a safe place to rest, he could finally catch his breath and organize the events of the past week and a half in his head. I’ve already been here a while, huh. I’ve met a few people I think I can trust, found out I can use some crazy powers, and ended up getting involved with some contest. Is this even real, or have I passed through both hells and come back?

“Nito, you awake?” Laharis’s voice broke through his thoughts.

“Y-yeah, what is it?”

“Why’d you stop me from killing those guys earlier? I mean, I wasn’t going to kill them anyway but…”

“You weren’t? Then why act like it?” Nito asked.

“If I showed them they’re no match for me, maybe they would run off, leave us alone, and continue to take out weaker teams. But, why are you so against killing? You told me you were a mercenary, so you must’ve killed plenty already. You trying to change your ways or something?”

“I’ve actually only ever directly killed one person, though I’m sure others lost their lives to wounds I gave... I know I say stuff like I used to split skulls. Maybe that’s just to sound cool or make myself feel worse, I’m not sure. My parents died in some pointless power struggle forcing me to live with a mercenary band for survival. Killing people extinguishes a life but also hurts the people who depend on that life, you know?”

“Then I guess you’ve never had to choose between two lives before. And I thought I was lucky… Well, I hope things can stay that way for you, it’s not a fun choice to make. Forget I asked, let’s get some sleep,” Laharis said, turning over in his blankets.

“I guess so…”

____

Explorer Log:

Moromo

Danger Level - [Elfin] ☆

Appearance - A small quadrupedal rodent; their size is comparable to an adult human’s hand; they have brown fur on most of their body with white fur on their stomach and a bushy tail; those found in Paradel Vega tend to have lighter colored fur; they have two large black eyes and a nubby nose; their ears are pointed with tufts of fur at the tips; they have small grippy feet, and those found in Faron Fens have some webbing between the toes

Behavior - Omnivore; they mostly eat nuts, berries, and some plants, but some have been seen eating bugs; they have a thick and sturdy bone structure that helps them survive falls from trees, which their grippy feet allow them to climb; they are very agile which helps them avoid their main predators like saranogs and biriks

Habitat - Jabber Garden, Faron Fens, and Paradel Vega