Beliefs

[Zerrif]

"Lost them?"

"Yes sir. The Tendrillion was defeated upon it's exit from the caves."

"Insolence!" There was a loud thump, like someone being slammed against a wall. "Bloody Branches are NOT in the same supply as our Dead Branches. I give you one. Just one. You create one of the most FEARED monsters and what-- it's defeated by sheer number?"

"Th-the group was th-there sir."

"... Ah, them?"

"Y-Yessir."

"I see. That does throw a wrench in our plans."

"There could be others like them out there."

"Of course there are. You'd be naive to think there aren't."

"A p-plan of a-action, sir?"

"Continue on. Keep an eye on that particular group. Notify me if they interfere yet again."

"Yessir!"

---

"So your hypothesis is that those that end up joining the DBF are people who are outcasts?" Gerik was sitting on his bed again, looking down at the ground. Worry was mixed with deep thought, crossing his features with a very mature, and serious look.

"Not just that. People that... don't have a place to go to." D said, looking around with a slightly pained look. He didn't want to say it but the three of them definitely fit the bill. "They probably scare them into joining, or give them false promises, and false hopes about fitting in somewhere."

"So then why target us? Why would that Star Gladiator have come after us?" Bascht asked, still wearing his mask. D looked over with a hurt face. He really didn't want to say it-- and he could feel Bascht was just giving him a mirrored-gaze back. "We have each other. We have this group. We're not alone." The Mage moved over to where the Blacksmith was leaning against the wall, just leaning against him. "Right?"

There was silence for a bit, before Muarim shook his head. "Because we can't keep denying the fact. The three of us became adventurers for a reason. A reason all to ourselves. But the fact remains is that something that influenced us was that... we had nowhere to go. We had nothing else TO do. Sure we could have led our lives doing what we normally did but... it wouldn't have lasted. We have to admit that."

D's arms wrapped around the Mage consolingly, and he just looked up at the ceiling. "So fine. No denying that fact. But what happens now? I mean, if they're going to keep going after you guys, or adventurers like yourselves, there's no end to it. People are going to become set onto the fringes because that's how it works. There's no happy ending."

"Who knows?" Gerik piped back in. He'd taken the time to reach for his Monster Egg, cradling it lightly. "But we can't let it continue. We can't let people keep getting sucked into this faction."

"So then what are you proposing, that we stop this faction? By ourselves? Gerik, we might be a group that has synergy, but we're far from being able to overthrow DBF by ourselves. " The green-haired Merchant piped in. "I'm sorry but that's just not something we can do."

"We can't just do nothing, though. That's what he's saying." Bascht said, his flower lightly brushing against the taller smith's cheek. "I say for now, we continue as we are. Make it like we don't even suspect or care about them. Continue to gather information, and bring this up to people who can do something. Town guards, officers-- guilds. Maybe the King himself."

"He's right. We have to start somewhere." Gerik motioned, looking up. "But for now... we should continue on. D's gotten all he could out of his contacts here, and I doubt we'll land on a gold mine of information. We should go to our next destination. Question is, where?"

"Well I don't have any duties from the Merchant's Guild right now." The Blacksmith said. "Are your guilds asking you guys to do anything?" He looked around, but got no response. He didn't even bother asking Bascht-- he'd probably pricked too many nerves by opening up this conversation with the young Mage. "Let's head to Morroc, then. If anyone can get information, it's the Thief, Assassin, or Rogue guilds."

"Morroc..." Muarim mumbled, before shaking his head. The others looked at him and he stared blankly at the floor. His hands clenched into fists, and he just shook his head. "Bascht said something about continuing like we didn't care about them. Seeking out information directly is doing the opposite. We should go on an adventure somewhere. You know, like how we came here. Follow a rumor about trouble somewhere, and go investigate? It seems wherever trouble is happening, they'll be there."

A knock on the door broke the conversation. Gerik blinked, and moved away from the wall he was leaning on. Muarim made his way to the door and opened it, an Archer peeking in. "Excuse me... but I was wondering if this was the room that housed the heroes that gave aid in the dungeon?" Muarim blinked at the Archer, looking back. He let the ranged fighter worm his way in. He was wearing a Clown Nose and a pair of Goggles on his head, which he quickly took off and held to his chest.

"We're not heroes, but we did give aid. Who might you be?" Gerik asked, a little curious. Heroes? Things were getting out of proportion-- but something about him didn't mind being called that. If anything, it was something to aspire to be. "I mean, we did no more than head through--"

"You don't realize, however, that even the smallest actions are heroic to those that your action help. The fearless Acolyte in black and silver, stepping in the way of danger and putting the wellness of others first. The powerful Mage; a master of various spells, able to use them in a calculated, and efficient manner. The ferocious Merchant, wielding his axe like it were claws or talons on a deadly beast-- word of you three has already been spreading through the guild." The Archer explained. Muarim looked ecstatic, and Gerik just smiled.

"I don't buy it." Bascht mumbled, coldly. The Archer looked up at him almost hurt, blinking. "Sure, we helped anyone we came across in the caves, but this is being blown out of proportion. There were other adventurers like us doing the exact same. So why bolster who we are?" The smiling mask hid a cold stare, though the Archer could feel it through the plastic covering. "What do you want from us? Stop with the flattery."

There was a silence, and D just placed a hand on the Mage's shoulder, pulling him back. The Archer started to wring his hands together, before he just laughed a little nervously. "R-Right. You see... I've been trying to find a group of adventurers who could help me. My brother and I are both Archers, and he was sent into the Byalan Caves. I haven't heard back from him ever since, and now I'm worried. None of the scouting groups have found anything about him in there." The Archer was standing in the middle of the room, continuing to wring the goggles in his hands.

"Why was your brother sent there in the first place?" Gerik asked. "Guild duty?" The Archer nodded. "I don't know if-- I mean, if he was sent there on the Guild duty couldn't you just be asked to follow up? I mean, if it was something that the Archer Guild deemed something that an Archer had to deal with, why can't you go?" The Archer looked even more nervous now.

"... Truth be told I'm not the pinnacle of Archery. I'm... rather the opposite. I have perhaps the most horrid aim that Rudra would have ever thought up, and my hand shakes with the arrow even shooting against harmless targets-- please! I impore you!" He was suddenly on his knees in front of the bed. "My brother and I... we were both just dumped on the Guild's doorstep. While he's talented and I'm not... I--"

"I don't think we're ready for Byalan." Bascht said, disregarding that the Archer was on his knees. "We've never been there, and that dungeon is far more difficult than Payon Caves in retrospect. Do you simply expect us just to go because you can flatter us? You'd best be searching elsewhere." He scoffed again, crossing his arms. The Archer looked down at first, then he looked up.

"Please. I can pay you with what meagre amounts of zeny I have. I have a few contacts in the guild, I can even acquire some equipment that would help in there! Please just... help me get my brother back. He's the only family that I have." The Archer got up onto his feet, before he just shook his head.

"Hey, he's willing to pay. Count me in." Muarim piped in, from the door. "Paying us means he's hiring us as mercenaries of sorts. No longer guild business. That means you'd be okay with it, right Ger?" The Merchant looked over expectantly at the Acolyte, who just smiled. "I think I have a map of the place stored with the Kafra Services. If this Archer here looks into getting us that special equipment, we shouldn't be all that hard set, right?" The pair looked over at Bascht, who just shrugged his shoulders.

"He asks for help, not even telling us his name? I'm sorry, I don't help people who don't give me their names." The Mage said, coldly. Though, the Archer quickly read between the lines, and he beamed, standing up. A hand was offered to shake, though the Mage didn't take it.

"The name's Mimic. It's... an odd name, I know, but it's because my brother and I never had names. We were just brought here that young. If you've got any other names to call me, feel free to call me them." He noticed the egg that the Priest held, and he smiled-- seeing the name engraved on it. "In fact... why not call me Ren? I'm sure that's better than Mimic." Bascht didn't make any motion, but eventually he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded.

Gerik blinked; this Archer really was quite the character. "Ren, huh? Well then, Ren, what say you we meet in a few hours? We have to get ready to move on again, but we'll meet you in the middle of town, by the large tree near the Kafra Lady, hm?" The Archer smiled at the proposition, and quickly bowed.

"I'll get right on getting that equipment!" Ren piped in quickly, before he bolted out the door. Muarim scratched the top of his head, wondering what had just gone on. Instead, he gave Gerik a signal that he'd meet them later, and headed out to get his maps and some things from the Kafra Lady. Byalan? Hell, he'd never even thought of going down there before.

"Sounds like you guys have stuff to do." D said, having been quiet the whole time. "Good thing. I'm gonna go look into this whole DBF thing some more while you guys keep busy. I'll meet you in Izlude after you're done." He looked down at the Mage, who was still standing stoic, and otherwise silent. The Blacksmith tugged at the Mage's overcoat, with a grin. "Come on, grumpy. It's time to cheer you up."

The two of them left, leaving Gerik sitting on the bed. Byalan, huh? Whether or not they were ready as Bascht said, they had commited now. "You always taught me never to back down from my commitments, either." Gerik mumbled, before he looked around and got up from the bed. It was time to get another Incubator for the Egg. At least playing with Amoren would pass the time.