Beliefs

[Zerrif]

(Ninja posting, after NaNoWriMo is done)

---

"Tell us about your brother." Gerik said, as they were on a boat from Izlude to Byalan. Ren had been leaning over the railing the entire time, as if he were waiting for the very first sign of land. The archer looked over his shoulder and turned, crossing his arms at his chest.

"When we were both little, our parents were killed in an attack. Back then, the DBF wasn't even the biggest problem-- we'd just opened up the Payon Caves to the general public, and people were rushing in foolishly. It was up to the Archer Guild to try and police it.

"At least, that's what my father and mother believed. My mother was a Gypsy and my dad was a Hunter-- they grew up together in the guild. After she had my brother and I she quit the adventurer life, until she got a report my father never came back. She took up her bow again and ventured in.

"She never came back either. So me and my brother were brought to the Archer's Guild as orphans, figuring that it was the best thing to do. My brother got my dad's skill, and my mother's ingenuity. I on the otherhand got everything else that wasn't very Archer-like. I can barely hit the centre of my targets consistently and when monsters are involved I... just freeze up."

"So you're saying you'll be useless." Bascht muttered, before the green-haired Merchant gave him a quick slap up the back of his head. Ren just coughed, and shook his head. "I mean from what you say, it's evident your brother will probably be a Hunter in the end, maybe a Sniper. What about you? Will you forever walk as an Archer?"

"I... don't know, to be honest. I was thinking of becoming a Bard..." Ren just trailed off, and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I'll do whatever it takes, I know that much. I just don't know what it's going to take yet." A small silence filled the group, before the Archer pointed out onto the horizon. "There! I see an island inbound!"

Everyone else squinted-- D could barely make it out, and the others couldn't. Gerik grinned. Maybe Ren wasn't the best shot, but he figured that there was at least some Archer blood instilled in him. "Just remember; we can't too deep. When the levels become submerged in water, the monsters become ridiculously tough."

"But we're still going to explore the uncharted caves as best we can, right?" Ren asked, hopeful. Gerik just nodded, watching as that put a smile on the Archer's face. He turned around again, and nodded at the island. "I'm coming for you, brother."

---

"You're sure you can handle this?"

"Yes sir."

"Even with--"

"That won't get in my way."

"Good, good. give them a nice, warm welcome then."

---

"I heard y'all talking about them submerged levels of Byalan." The captain of the boat said, as he lowered the ramp for the group to get off the ship. "I hear that water's magick, or somethin-- ye can breathe in it, but the monsters swim in it. Though, I hear there's something mighty fierce down at the very bottom, some sort of self-proclaimed "Lord of Byalan"-- anywho, since I heard y'all ain't gonna be goin' down that far in, I s'pose it ain't much of a problem, huh?"

D just laughed nervously, since the group had decided to leave him as last on the ship, and thanked the captain. He made his way quickly down the ramp, Muarim and Ren snickering at him. Gerik even offered a playful smile. "Yeah, thanks guys." He joked back, though the mage seemed to be unesponsive, or just ignorant of the joke, turning around and heading towards the entrance of the caves. The Blacksmith just excused himself, and ran off after him.

"He's in trouble, huh?" Ren asked. Muarim just snickered some more.

---

"Gerik. Gerik come on, let's go! I know these things aren't actively trying to hurt us but--" The Merchant started. The Acolyte had been idly poking and playing around with a Marina, which had amiably bounced around, and played along with the Acolyte.

"It's so cute though!" Gerik said, as he was being tugged, though eventually he began to walk himself in the direction the group was heading. They'd finished off the first and second floors rather quickly, finding no real passages that had been left unmapped. It was the third floor that would probably give them the hardest time, being a large, open expanse. He groaned as he and the Merchant caught up with the others waiting by the steps to go in deeper.

"Sheesh. And here I thought I'd seen it all." Bascht mumbled, as he headed down. Gerik stuck out his tongue playfully, feeling delightfully cheery after having had some fun. He hesitated on the steps however, when he thought he heard something like a rope being pulled taught.

A breath. Gerik picked up the echo through the caverns. "DOWN!" He shouted, jumping forward down the stairs. He caught Bascht and Ren in his arms, making them tumble down the last couple of steps. Before the Mage could grumble out some sort of reply, however, an arrow whizzed right where they had been standing, jutting into the ground near-halfway. His eyes widened at the sheer force that had been placed into that arrow-- it hadn't been fired as a warning shot, but one meant to kill.

Gerik quickly stood up, and he clapped his hands together, opening palms towards the stairs. "Pneuma!" He chanted, as large green mists began to fill the stairway, and one even appeared around the group. A volley of arrows flew in this time, but their path in the air began to bend magically, flying out of harm's way up into the ceiling above.

The group quickly drew their weapons as Gerik re-cast the magical mists as they disappeared, staring up the stairs. The third floor was covered in water, signaling the submerged depths below, coming up to the party's knees. Each slight movement made a rather loud splash, amplified by the natural echo of the caves. Gerik scolded each movement, trying to listen for some aural clues as to where the next volley was coming from.

"Back away. Slowly." Gerik told the group. The only problem was that because the entire floor was submerged, it was hard to tell where land was, and where it dipped down further, or became a chasm. As they sloshed backwards (the Acolyte continuing to provide the Pneuma cover just in case), Ren suddenly plummeted downwards with a rather high-pitched yelp.

"Ren!" Muarim shouted, before he started to spur towards the hole. A volley of arrows halted him, however, quickly flying down into the water where the Archer had taken the plunge. The Merchant stared up, seeing a figure clinging to a rather high-hanging stalacitite, before it leapt off and landed a few feet away from them.

"You've got other problems to worry about." The figure said, standing up in waist-high water. He was wearing the DBF uniform, and quickly nocked another set of arrows on a rather tightly-strung bow.

"Pneuma!" Gerik chanted, as another green cloud appeared in front of the Merchant. Muarim looked over his shoulder, to see everyone else not even hesitating. "Muarim, go! We can handle this!" The Acolyte shouted. The green-haired Merchant nodded, and quickly tossed his axe into his cart, diving into the water. D took his place on the front-lines, and just motioned for the Archer to even make a move.

"No... No. I don't think you can." The Archer replied, grinning wickedly. "Arrow Shower!"