Beliefs

[Zerrif]

"Sorry about that." Gerik said, stepping out of the house. From the outside it didn't look dilapidated, or abandoned, just very quiet. If it weren't for the boarded windows outside the modest, alabaster white Albertan home, it could have easily been mistaken for a quiet family, or perhaps an old couple that didn't really mingle with the world. It was smaller than the other houses on the street by far, but that didn't take away from it's homeliness.

"That's alright. Got everything?" D asked, noting the cross that was wrapped around Gerik's arm. "You should get a glove of sorts, so that doesn't bite into your skin. B, do you have an extra one?" The Blacksmith asked. The Mage was looking aside, and he snapped out of his reverie, just rummaging in his robe. He pulled out a worn, plain brown leather glove, and handed it to the Acolyte.

"Just the one, sorry. It's said to help your dexterity-- but I never really understood enchantments all that well." The Mage said simply, as Gerik took the apparently, right handed glove. He put it on, and rewrapped the rosary, finding that it did feel more comfortable upon the glove. "So this is--"

"Yeah. I used to live here, though I was only here for a few years before we moved to Prontera, and the whole thing with the Dead Branches happened." He said, as he led them out of Alberta. His companions just nodded, not really pressing the matter-- they'd found out early on that Gerik would reveal what he wanted when he so chose. "Anyway, I'm sure we left Muarim waiting, the poor guy."

"Yeah! Poor me!" Came a cry, as they had walked past the Kafra stall. The Merchant quickly bowed a "thank you" at the Kafra Lady, who returned it in kind, and heaved a new cart off to the group. It was full of various dividers, potions, arrows, and even equipment, as well as ores and other miscellany. "We all set?"

"That's... a lot of stuff." Bascht said, coldly. "Most of which we can't use." Muarim looked over and while Gerik could feel tingles run up his spine out of possible resent, or a verbal attack, the green-haired Merchant just laughed it off.

"Maybe so, but y'never know what we'll need, right? It's always best to go in prepared, rather than find out you need something later. That's my motto. Besides, if the problem is as bad as it seems, we're not the only ones going in there. My Mistr-- er..." He stopped mid sentence, blushing and fiddling with his ponytail. "I was taught that we should always help others. Common courtesy. There's nothing wrong with charging for a little courtesy, is there?"

Gerik smiled. "In any case, let's go. Payon is a long walk through the forest, and the longer we wait, the more creatures that will arise."

---

"So, they're moving out finally? Good. Send in the Gamma Squad."

"Gamma? But they're too inexperienced with--"

"Exactly. We'll be testing both sides at once."

"You know, I never really understood how you thought."

"You were never meant to. Now, will you hurry up, and just go give the orders?"

"Yes ma'am!"

---

"We've been here before." Bascht said, pointing at a small indentation in the ground. "That's where D's cart bumped slightly, and we had to pick stuff up."

Everyone stared at the rather large indentation in the ground, and Muarim sighed. "Man, once you get out of Alberta it's so hard to keep your bearings! I mean, I know we're supposed to be going northwest from the city, but I can't tell where northwest is."

"So much for the traveling Merchant. He gets lost in his own backyard." Bascht muttered. Gerik blinked. Why was he being so overly cold to Muarim? Was it because of what he said earlier?

He watched as a visible twinge in Muarim's face appeared, and before anything could happen, he raised his hands. "Well, I'm rather tired. Let's have a rest, and come up with a plan. No use wandering in circles in this forest, right?" He asked. D, who had noted the risen tension, quickly nodded, and set down his cart, starting to rummage for camping gear.

"Yeah well, I'm going to scout ahead just a little." Muarim said, bitterly. Gerik had an urge to stop him, but the Merchant was already storming off. Another sigh came from the Acolyte, as D was expertly setting up a camp. The sun was still going to be in the sky for a few more hours, but under the foliage of all the trees, the forest was already rather dark, and it was best for Muarim to have a beacon to come back to.

"Bascht, what's gotten into you?" Gerik asked, looking over at the Mage once Muarim was far out of earshot. He was greeted back by that smiling mask-- though beneath he could feel a piercing gaze directed right at him, or even through him. "I'm sorry if I pricked a nerve earlier, but Muarim is a good friend of--"

"Mine." Bascht interjected. Gerik's jaw dropped slightly, and the Blacksmith looked up. "You're mine." Gerik fought back an urge to groan. Was this seriously what was wrong? He was being... territorial? Even Amoren wasn't this bad-- the fox would just lazily follow along, and that was it.

"Listen, Bascht--" Gerik started, wondering how to put this. "I am your friend. Just as much as I am Muarim's, or D's. It's--" A tugging on his arm stopped him, and he caught the Blacksmith out of the corner of his eye, making a motion to keep quiet. His mind reeled, and started to ache as he began to wonder just what the hell was going on.

"B, love, could you be a darlin' and watch my cart? Gerik, can I ask you to help get some firewood with me?" D quickly shot forth. At this point, Gerik knew something was up. The well-built smith didn't need help carrying much, especially firewood-- he heaved around a cart that probably weighed a whole stump and more. Nevertheless, he nodded, and got up, dusting off his robes. The Mage didn't do anything but wave his hand, and D smiled, leaning over and nosing at the mask, before he got up.

---

"What's going on, D?" Gerik asked, once they were in the trees. The Blacksmith heaved up his axe, chopping swiftly into some overhead branches, for tinder. "Why is Bascht--"

"He... didn't have many friends, growing up. He was sort of ostracized." D explained, letting out a grunt as he chopped through a particularly thick branch. Gerik ducked as the Blacksmith quickly reached up and caught it, before it could fall on them. Needed his help indeed-- how did Bascht actually believe him? "In fact, it was so bad that things were taken away from him. He clung to what he knew was his because he was afraid it would be taken away. I mean, I can't imagine having everything I ever cared for taken away because-- nevermind. I'm getting into too much."

Gerik picked up some of the branches, and D grinned. "I see. I mean, I was surprised that he was acting that way. I like to believe that travelling with you guys, even for the short while we have, that I know him better than that. It was very... unlike him."

"No, it really is, you're right." The smith said, hefting his axe over his shoulder, and an armful of wood in the other. "But that just means he really thinks of you as a friend. I mean if it were me..." He trailed off, biting his lip as if he'd said more than he should have.

"Just what are you to him, D?" Gerik asked. "I mean, are you two d--"

"D!!!!!" Came a cry from back at the campsite. Very much like Bascht's voice. Both of them, in an instant, dropped the firewood they were holding, and started to run back. Gerik figured he'd have to get his answer later.

---

"MAMMONITE!" Muarim cried out, hefting his Battle Axe over his head, before it came crashing down through the air. It cleaved it's way cleanly through his target, a Stem Worm, the God of Zeny appearing and smiting the living plant with his large bag of coin. He hopped back to regroup, as a defensive Fire Wall was quickly placed where he'd been standing.

"What's going on?" Gerik cried out, as he came back into view of everyone else. Muarim and Bascht stood surrounded by Stem Worms, and Roween-- with a particularly fearsome looking Galion standing on the other side. "What in the world-- they don't belong anywhere near Payon or Alberta! What are they doing here?" He said, confused, as he quickly drew his shield, which he attached to his back, and his mace from his belt.

"Yes... what indeed?" A rather sultry, yet bilious voice said from behind the Galion. A woman, floating along the ground, came up beside the Galion. Dressed in tan yellow, and dark brown...

"DBF! What the hell are you doing here?" D shouted, quickly, jumping in front of the mage. B was completely composed, though he was on his guard, constantly turning to look at everyone, and everything around him. "Honestly, go get something better to do with your lives! Stop harassing regular adventurers like us!"

"Harass? Oh, anything but my dear smith you see... today I'm here with a purpose."