*Evan POV*

I walked downstairs the guild to where Lenard was tied up in the arena. I looked at him and Liza had not bothered to fix the atrocious way I had tied him up as, by that I mean, he was wrapped from neck to toe with rope, Liza soon followed me downstairs and we both walked up to him. Liza raised her hand a little and a ball of water appeared out of thin air which floated right there above her hand. I need to learn how to do that! I thought to myself as she splashed the ball of water onto Lenard who was down on the ground.

Lenard coughed a couple times before he looked around confused. “W-What!?” He said, almost scared.

I stepped forward right in front of him.

“Sup Lenard,” I said, “How are ya?”

“YOU!” He screamed angrily and I already knew what’s gonna come next.

“Ugh,” I said annoyed, “Not this again.”

“I WILL KILL YOU!” He got into his crazy state again as he just started screaming again. “YOU HEAR ME! I WILL KILL YOU AND EVERYON-” I didn’t even let him finish and punched him. He recoiled from the pain and spat some blood out.

Now, we need information out of him but with the way this guy is, I don’t think we’ll get anything out of him normally. Which was why I had already planned a special way of asking him.

Also, I don’t really want to waste much time with him so I activated my Intimidation skill as well.

“I just wanted to tell you that we've already stopped the summoning.” I said as a creepy grin formed on my face. I could feel Liza looking at me but I ignored her gaze.

Lenard flinched and was visibly trembling. Good, I thought to myself, the intimidation is working.

“I-Impossible! There's no way!” Lenard said with a false sense of hope.

“Want proof?” I said as He gulped down, scared. I leaned forward in front of his face. “The summoning was supposed to happen in the Elf kingdom during the festival…” I paused, to let him process it all. “Am I wrong?”

Lenard started to sweat balls and wouldn’t stop trembling. This all told me one thing. Which was that I’m correct.

Alright! Place and Time confirmed!

I took out my shotgun and aimed at his head. All of it was for bonus Intimidation points. Because from here on out, I’m solely relying on the Intimidation skill.

I started speaking, “I want to know why did you all, the cultists, intended to do that?”

“I-It m-made us one step closer in summoning our Lord!” He spoke desperately with fear instead of anger in his voice

I looked at him ridiculously, “Seriously?” I said as pointed my shotgun away.

He quickly nodded but remained quiet… Flippen hell. This will get me nowhere. I’m guessing this Lord is just Cthulhu or the Moon lord.

“Who's the leader of your group?” I said as I pointed my shotgun at his head again.

“I-Its Valad.” He said trembling.

“Where is he?” I asked back.

“I-I don't know-” I interrupted him by shooting my shotgun, It made a large Boom noise which terrified Lenard as he yelped in fear. He quickly looked at his body to see that there was no wound.

That’s right I shot away from him.

“Whoops,” I said “Looks like my finger slipped, I don’t really like hearing things I don’t like so how about we try this again?” I told Lenard as I pointed the shotgun at his head again.

“W-Wait!Wait!Wait!” He screamed out in desperation. “You have to believe me! He never stays at one place, that’s why I don’t know!”

Well, we already got the info we needed, so the mission was accomplished.

“Oh well,” I said as I lowered my shotgun, turned off my intimidation and looked at Liza. “Make him go back to sleep.”

Liza nodded and karate chopped him from behind. Making him go unconscious instantly.

“Well,” I said as I looked towards Liza, “Now the place and time is confirmed. They will summon it in the Elf kingdom and I just have to go there and stop the cultists before this festival starts.”

Liza nodded but put her hand on her chin as she started thinking out loud “But the Elves kingdom is very wary of strangers, how did the cultists manage to get holed up in there?” She then looked at me. “Also, that was some unique way of interrogating, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an effective method.”

It takes a retard to know a retard.

“Thanks,” I said to Liza as I ignored my original thought, “And well, we'll know everything once we get there.” I paused for a second. “Or, rather I'll go there.” Liza nodded as I put my hand on my chin and started planning. “Let’s see, I'll head out with the two Elves I came here with. We're already pretty damn lucky for them to come to me for business so let’s use this advantage as much as we can.” I looked at Liza and she nodded again.

“Also,” I added, “Take care of Luna too. She wouldn't want me to leave this place... So, take desperate measures if you have to.”

“Desperate measures?” Liza was a bit shocked at my words.

“Like tying her up or something?” I replied as if it’s a matter of fact.

“... You're really cruel you know that?” She said quietly almost like she was telling herself that.

I wonder...

I went back to the main floor with Liza.

Looks like Lark had told Tifa and Sarah about the situation since they both had a grim face on themselves.

“The Cultists are going to do the summoning at the Elven kingdom” I broke the bad news. “It’s during the festival too, so my guess is that they’re probably planning to get rid of the entire kingdom.”

Their eyebrows furrowed more. And Liza went towards lark and told him something. I was going to go up to them and listen but Sarah suddenly stopped me.

“Why should we believe you?” She said with a mean looking face.

I shrugged “You don't have to.” I was going to say something, but Luna interrupted me this time.

“But they almost annihilated our kingdom.” Luna said while looking down at the ground. She held her dirty dress tightly with both hands as if it would give her strength to say the next few words. “They might be trying to kill all small races.”

Tifa and Sarah both looked at each other before looking back at me.

“Alright. How can we face this threat?” Tifa asked me.

“Hm?” I said confused “Why ask me? I thought you didn’t liked me.”

“As much as I hate you,” Sarah said, “It’s because you know about this way more than what we know.”

Well, I was gonna go regardless of what they said, I didn’t prepare all this equipment and strategies for nothing.

I put my hands on my chin and started thinking how to do this. I looked over to Lark and Liza to see what they were doing and I saw Liza taking out some rope from under the counter back. I smiled a bit as I realized what they were planning and started talking “Alright then, let me tell you something... No matter, what you do, you won't be able to beat it.” I paused and then pointed at myself “Not without my help.”

Luna looked looked at me heartbroken and started talking “W-What? You Promised you won't go!” She said Angerily but I couldn’t do anything about it.

“I'm so sorry Luna.” I said as I hugged her out of the blue. “LARK DO IT!” I screamed out.

“HERE HOES NOTHING!!!” In response to my words, Lark jumped at us and immediately started tying the petrified Luna up before she could even retaliate. As soon as the job was done, Luna looked at me as if the world had betrayed her.

“R-Reid!” She cried out, “I swear to God if you go to the Elf kingdo-” I quickly interrupted her.

“I'll listen to anything you'll say after I come back” I said, “But right now, I have to do this. Lark, I’m trusting her with you, please bring her somewhere safe.”

“Aye Aye Captain.” Lark said as he picked Luna up and placed her on his shoulder.

“REID! NOOO! PLEASE DONT GOOOOOO!!!” Luna cried out as she was quickly taken outside by lark.

Ah man, I kind of feel bad about this but the Pain-Immunity senpai isn’t letting me feel bad.

“Well then,” I said as I turned towards the elven duo and rubbed my hands together. “Let's go back to business.”

“...Cruel.” The duo both said in sync but I decided to ignore their remark.

“When is the festival?” I said.

“...The day after tomorrow.” Sarah said with a heavy heart.

It was going to be night time soon so we don’t really have a moment to lose, if we can sniff out the Cultist before the festival even begins then not only would we have thwarted their plans, but also would have stopped the eye of Cthulhu from spawning.

“Then we don't have a moment to lose.” I said “We will go to your kingdom right now and stop the Cultists before they successfully summoned the eye of Cthulhu.”

They both nodded and Sarah started speaking. “Okay but you will be with us the whole time. The Elves are famous for... Not liking strangers.”

“Alright then.” I said, not minding it one bit. “Lead the way.”

“Alright then,” Sarah said as she turned towards the exit door. “Follow us.”

I nodded and started walking with them.

“Be careful Evan.” I heard Liza say behind me so quickly turned around.

“I will be. You take care of Luna for me!” I said as we three headed outside.

I know we’re trying to stop the Cultists but this was also my chance in using the Grappling Hook that I crafted on Arnold’s anvil. I was grinning all the time as I walked behind the elven duo.

................

..........

.....

It's night time. The night was eerily quiet aside from the occasional noise from the crickets breaking the silence, and there I was. Becoming the flippen spider-man

WOOOOO! I thought to myself as I grappled to another tree and flew straight towards it at an Insane Speed. I have to clarify that I wasn’t swinging like spiderman, but instead launching towards wherever the grappeling hook landed.

This is amazing!

The wind was whistling past me and the duo were jumping from trees to trees trying to keep up with me who was flying forward much faster. It didn’t take long before they were left behind.

As I said before, the Grappling Hook doesn't let me swing but rather go straight towards where the hook latched on. So instead of smashing towards wherever the hook landed, I would let the hook detach itself and the momentum would let me fly forward. So I was, technically just flying forward.

I grappled to another tree but this time I didn't let go. I facepalmed the tree and hanged there waiting for the duo. They're taking their time. I hung there for a little while before I grappled to a thick branch that could withstand my weight and stood there. I started searching for them and from the distance, I saw Tifa coming here. Sarah was nowhere to be seen and Tifa was Jumping from branch to branch like some kind of ninja.

She finally reached the thick branch I was standing on and I was about to make small talk but she was out of breath.

She put on of her hand on her knees to catch her breath and raised her other hand to stop me from talking. “JUST-!” She wanted to scream out more but she had to catch her breath first. “J-Just what are you!?” She screamed out in between her pants.

I shrugged. “What do you mean?”

She started panting again, and I didn’t notice before because of the darkness but she’s covered in sweat. “No.” She panted again “What is that Thing!” She pointed at the Grappling hook in my hand.

“The Grappling Hook?” I asked, “It's a thing-ama-bob that I made.”

She looked at me like she gave up on something as she sat down on the branch “You were even able to make the goggles too.” She said in-between her tired breaths, “And you also know more about the cultists than anyone else.”

“Not really,” Like before I started speaking without thinking of the consequences. “I didn't even know that the Cultists existed till yesterday.”

“...enviable.” Tifa said something under her breath but it was too quiet for me to hear.

By now I also sat down with her as we waited for Sarah. She just stared at the moon and I was starting to feel an awkward situation coming up. I should talk about something. I thought to myself, but I didn’t really know about what in the end. Ah well, might as well just talk about the one we’re waiting for.

“So, you and Sarah are very close right?” I broke the silence. “I mean after the, um, Accident she was the first one to come looking out for you.” I said, clearing hinting at the time she peed herself because of me, as if that wouldn’t make the situation more awkward.

To my surprise, She smiled a bit.

“Yea, we are sisters.” She said.

“Really? You both look Nothing a like” I added as I also started to stare at the moon with her.

“Well,” She started talking as she slowly started dangling her legs around, “We're sworn sisters to be specific” She stopped talking and I was trying to think of some new subject to talk about she started talking again. “You know, I wasn't really liked in our Elven kingdom, since I'm a half-Elf.” She paused. “The others don’t like anyone that’s not a pure Elf.”

“Why is that?” I asked her, trying to sympathize.

“I don’t know. Maybe, It's in their blood.” She said sadly, “but it's probably because I'm half-human and half-elf.”

“So?” I asked in return.

“The Elves hate the humans a lot.” She started to sound angry too, “The humans have always kidnapped the Elves Children’s. Then they would be sold out as slaves because of the similarities in both of our races.” As a former Human, myself I can say for certainty that it sounds like something they would do.

“Humans really like Elves.” She continued. “That's why the Elves despise them so much. And for someone like me, who is a half-elf and a half human. They would take out some of that anger at me. Only Sarah was the one always there for me. So I trust her a lot.” She smiled a bit in the end.

“Well, It's times like these you would know who your real friends are.” I said and she nodded.

...

The silence is getting awkward again. I should probably start another topi-

“You know, I was jealous of you.” Tifa interrupted my thoughts.

“Uh… What do you mean?” I said confused.

“I saw you first when you were fending for your life against the zombies.” She started explaining. “And I was jealous that time. Your way with the sword, bow and also magic. I wanted to be like that too. But because of my reputation, nobody would teach me... I was left alone with the two swords I was given at birth.” She said as she pointed at the two Short Swords at her hip.

She then continued, “I was left alone with these weapons to fend for myself. I taught myself how to fight, and Sarah was mostly busy with her work. So, she couldn't teach me. I wanted to be the one who could stand on my own two feet without Sarah looking out for me.” She paused for a moment. “It was because I didn’t want to make Sarah worry about me.”

Is she really gonna just tell me her entire back story?

She continued on. “I was jealous how you could fend for yourself against all those zombies with just a wooden sword. But after I found out that your entire race was wiped out...” She stopped talking and looked down sadly, “Well, I just felt sad and a connection between us, like some kind of kindred spirits. You lost everything while I had nothing to begin with.” She said as she smiled helplessly and looked at me.

I guess I should say something in return?

“Sorry.” I said, which made Tifa look at me all confused. “My memory was wiped out. I only remember everything from a few days ago. So I don't know about my race or anything else at all.”

Amnesia is the best cover I have, so might as well use it to the upmost.

Her eyes opened wide as she quickly apologized, “S-Sorry.”

“Meh, Don't be.” I said.

She fell silent and looked towards the ground. There were zombies walking around on the ground down below which was why we were sitting up on the trees.

“Doesn't it feel terrifying to not know anything.” Tifa asked me.

“Not really.” I responded as she looked at me. “If I have forgotten everything then that just means I left all my problems behind and have to focus on the world in front of me.” I stopped for a moment and looked towards the beautiful full moon again, “And I have to say... It's quite fascinating.” I smiled as I said that.

Tifa nodded and looked back towards the ground.

Tifa seems like she’s a good kid in the end. I still kind of feel bad about making her pee herself so I kinda wanna make it up to her somehow. At that point I got reminded about how I got some new disciples under me who wanted to learn about potions and Tifa was also talking about how she wanted someone to teach her. I guess I can help her a little bit.

“Tell you what.” I broke the silence again, “I'll Teach you!”

“What?” she looked at me curiously.

“You said you were jealous of my fighting techniques, right?” I said excitedly. “And I want to make up for that time too. So, I'll teach You!” I smiled wider as I said that.

Tifa went wide eyes and tears started forming up in her eyes. I thought I did something wrong again but then she said in between her cries “Y-You really mean that?”

“Woah! Why are you Crying!?”

She started wiping away the tears

“It's B-Because,” she started sobbing “It’s because nobody has ever been that kind to me before.” She started wiping her eyes as she cried happy tears.

“Well, we're friends right?” I tried consoling her, “And friends look out for each other, right? And look, you're not alone this time, I'm here too. And probably Liza and lark too. I don't know about Luna she’s probably here for you too!” I said as I placed my hand on her shoulder.

She nodded and sobbed quietly as she wiped her tears. I was thinking what to do until Sarah screamed at me.

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO TIFA!?!”

“WHERE DID YOU POP OUT OF AGAIN!?!” I screamed back.