Project: TheirWorld - Chapter 017 - Part 1

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Fools’ First Quest

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TheirWorld

“Then, we shall see you again when you return!” the wolf told her. “Do hurry - my friend is very ill and needs the cure!”

“Wait for me!” She told him. She recast [Spirit Armor] and [Fox Form] and went over to where Tik-Tak was hiding in the bushes. He looked to her for instruction. “Wait here,” she told him. “I’ll be back very soon.”

With that, she shot back off into the forest. She may not have liked the wolf very much, but at least for this quest, she had some idea on how to solve it - even if it was based on considerable luck. She was certain that there were other ways for people to find out more about the Veil Ants, but if she hadn’t overheard the Herbalism lesson, would she have been able to finish the quest?

It took her a whole half hour to get back to the village. She quickly morphed back into human form and ran over to Miss Povari’s Tree. Winded, it took her a minute to catch her breath.

“Good heavens!” Miss Povari blinked at her. “What are you in such a hurry for? Is everything alright?” Guin looked up and saw that the children gathered around her feet were also staring at her.

Nervously, Guin laughed and put her hands to her face in a cute, childlike manner. “Sorry! I want to get some exercise! But I was wondering, Miss Povari, could I have a Milaou flower?”

The young woman furrowed her brows.”Why on Uldarin would you want a Milaou flower?” she asked, quite reasonably

“Because - because…” Because an arrogant white wolf in the forest gave me a quest to find it. Shit. “It’s because I am interested in studying more about the properties of the flower! If you will not give one to me, at least teach me about where they grow?” Guin flushed as she tried to regain her composure. Her reasoning was still pretty ridiculous; she hadn’t thought that far ahead when she arrived. Cursing herself, she had to admit that asking someone for a poisonous flower was not a good way to go about things; she should have asked for more information first. The young teacher’s face confirmed the sentiment.

“I can’t say I approve of a while studying such dangerous things,” MIss Povari told her. “But if I teach you more about the flower, will you got to seek it out?” Guin gave no answer, and MIss Povari let out a sigh. From her bag, she pulled out a single Milaou flower. “This is all that you should need, and a single flower should not do too much harm even if used improperly. I can respect your desire to learn, so I shall tell you that the Milaou grow only in spirit forests, like the White Fox Forest. Among the Seitbloom, there are those that suggest that they aren’t even different flowers, that the Milaou are merely Seitbloom that have been cultured by the spirits in the woods. Why they would do such a thing is unknown to the likes of myself, but it is said that they are rather attached to them. Stories tell many a tale of foolish mortals being hunted by the spirits of Milaou they have picked, and even being eaten by those spirits. Be careful child - a wise child stays out of these woods!”

Happy that her mistake didn’t impede her progress, she took the pot and bowed. “I thank you for your wisdom, teacher!” Gently, she placed the pot in her inventory and turned to where the gatekeeper was sitting. She wasn’t sure how Miss Povari would handle it if she saw Guin go straight into the woods, so instead she left toward the village first.

Once she was comfortably out of the way, she put up [Spirit Armor] again, and ran towards the woods. Once she reached them she took fox form and shot into the forest.

When she came back to where the others were, Tik-Tak had apparently been dragged into being the center of their attention. The poor little fox looked rather lost as Lili seemed to be lecturing him on something. His little eyes light up with a tail wag as Guin reappeared, prancing up to them. Warmth in Guin’s heart began to grow attached to the adorable little thing.

“Guin!” Tik-Tak shouted desperately, running up her. “What took you long?” he demanded to know, then in a small voice added, “I think these guys are crazy!”

Before she could answer, Ororos sauntered over to them. “Well, well, the girl has returned so quickly. Have you brought what I asked? Or… Have you given up?” He showed a toothy grin. Sick friend my ass.

Snorting, Guin took human form and pulled out the Milaou flower. “Is this what you were looking for?” she asked him.

Ororos blinked as she set it in front of him, the grin fading from his face. He sat on his haunches with a sniff and looked at her. “...I have met several candidates thus far into my duties as a member of the Court of Harbingers - a few, even, to whom I have given this quest - but you are the first have have gotten one of my quests correct on the first try,” he told her, his eyes seeming to look at her with a new light. Guin smiled and gave thanks to the universe for the coincidences that had led her this far.

“The fates helped me this time,” she answered, attempting to sound humble, but not really sure she was managing to get it across.

“The fates indeed,” said Jeek. “I wonder though? Will your luck hold out? It just so happens that I, too, am looking for something. My friend told me a story about a treasure that some mortal man left in the forest cave up in the hilly area to the north. He said that it was in a box; a box filled with shiny treasure - but the most important among the trappings wasn’t shiny at all. It was valuable like gold, but made of wood - though it didn’t look like wood. Wrapped in leather, it was, then in cloth. Would you find this item for me?” The red rabbit tilted its head at her.

>

Jeek the Red Rabbit has asked you to find something: “My friend told me a story about a treasure that some mortal man left in the forest cave up in the hilly area to the north. He said that it was in a box; a box filled with shiny treasure - but the most important among the trappings wasn’t shiny at all. It was valuable like gold, but made of wood - though it didn’t look like wood. Wrapped in leather, it was, then in cloth. Would you find this item for me?”

This quest is optional. It can be skipped.>

> >

So they are all going to give me a quest, is it? Though she accepted the quest on the screen itself, before she could answer, Ororos shook his head.

“I know of the place you speak, Jeek, but you can’t send the child there - she’ll die! Look at her - she has no way to defend herself!” he grinned. “...but if she really wants to go, maybe we could aid her? Or is she afraid?”

“I will do it,” Guin exclaimed stubbornly...