**

A ray of light blinded Albert as he attempted to open his eyes to wake up from this sleep. When the blinding light irritated his eyes again as he opened his eyes for the second time, Albert grabbed the pillow from behind his head and placed it over his face to block the sunlight that's aimed directly at his face. As he lay there on the bed, it took him awhile to realize that his body wasn't suffering from any pain anymore and all he could feel at the moment is the soft cotton sheets of the bed against his skin. Albert stood up and headed to the comfort room, when he arrived there, he remembered that he didn't have his his toothbrush or any soap to clean his face. It was one of those discomforts living in the world of swords and magic. The fact that he couldn't clean his face properly or brush his teeth made him feel disgusted.

"Ugh. I really need to get back home. Next time, I'll bring soap, my toothbrush and toothpaste." Albert complained as he made a list of what to bring back when he decides to go back home. Then after washing his face with just water, he got dressed and grabbed his belongings. Moments later Albert left the room that he rented for the night to go to the front desk of the Inn to return his room key to the Inn keeper. On his way there from a distance he spotted an adventurer wearing a Eggshell helmet, immediately he knew that it was Lily.

Albert remembered that Lily wanted to speak to him about something. He stared at Lily from a distance and at first he thought of two options; one was that he could attempt to sneak out of the Inn unnoticed and get rid of Lily for good or two, deal with the annoying girl and see what she wants to talk about. Unfortunately for Albert, his conscience got the best of him and because he's a believer of karma, he decided to meet with Lily just as he had decided last night.

After handing over his room key to the Inn keeper, Albert walked towards Lily to see what she wanted to talk about. When he arrived at the table Lily immediately noticed him.

"Ah you're here. Thank you for seeing me."

"Well what did you want to talk about?"

"I would like to first thank you for helping me level up. I was amazed that I had reached level ten with in a day."

'I would have reached level ten faster if I hadn't stopped to help you.' Albert thought to himself.

Lily placed her hands on her helmet and removed it from her head. She then placed it on the table and just as she took off her Eggshell helmet, a pair of pointy ears as well as golden locks of hair sprung out. Albert's eyes widened from shock when Lily had removed her helmet.

"You're an elf?!" Albert exclaimed in disbelief. In the game 'Deaths of the God', there were no other races other than humans. Since this world was based on the game 'Deaths of the Gods', Albert didn't think that there would be any other races in this world other than human.

"You know about the elves?! Please tell me anything that you would know." Lily began to act frantically when Albert mentioned that she's of elven heritage.

"I-I'm sorry. I don't know anything about the elves, but you're an elf. You should know more about your people."

Lily looked down in disappointment when Albert replied.

"I thought since you mentioned the word elf, you would know something about where I came from. I don't know anything about my race or of my origin. That is the reason why I decided to become an adventurer, so that I can travel through out Midgard and maybe one day, I may be able to find where I came from."

"Wait . . . If you don't know anything about where you're from and your origin that means. . ."

"Yes. . . I was an orphan. I was raised here in Prontera, in the Sanctuary Church. All my life I hid my ears from public because people would always ask me about it and when ever they asked me about my ears, it reminds me that I know nothing about who I am. I need to find where I came from. Please Albert, Help me."

Albert stared at Lily who is looking down at her hands. While she desperately begs at him yet again, Albert began thinking about the pros and cons of helping Lily. If he chooses to aid her in her search, he would have a faithful companion in his adventures but the problem with having a companion is that he has to keep his own origin a secret. Another problem is that Lily is clumsy and it would be hard to be with someone that needs to be looked after all the time. But her clumsiness could be remedied with the proper training.

"Lily tell me, who brought you to the orphanage?"

"Does that mean you'll help?"

"I'm just curious at the moment. Maybe if you know who had taken you in, you might have more clues than you have now."

"We can ask the head of the Sanctuary Church!"

"Are we able to talk to someone so important?"

Lily burst in laughter.

"Important? Father Thompson is the head of Sanctuary Church but all he does is manage over the Acolytes that takes care of the orphanage and the church. All he ever does read and smoke inside his office."

"Let's go meet this Father Thompson"

**

Inside the office of the head of Sanctuary Church, Albert and Lily sat across from Father Thompson who has agreed to meet them both.

Father Thompson lit the end of his cigarette using a stick of matches that he retrieved from inside one his drawers. Seconds after lighting the stick of cigarette, the priest inhaled from the stick of tabaco. As old priest slowly exhaled the smoke from his lungs, he turned his attention towards Albert.

"Tell me Albert, do you know where Magic comes from?"

Albert began scratching his head. He didn't know that he would be quizzed about the world of 'Deaths of the Gods'. If fact he never really paid attention to the lore of the game. In the game Albert just simply preferred going out on adventures and killing monsters for their loot.

"I'm sorry, I don't" Albert answered the old priest as he scratched his head.

As the old priest continued to smoke and walk around the room, he looked outside one the windows and began talking about the origin of magic.

"Long ago around a century or two after Ragnarok, other beings came to Midgard to assist us humans. It was said that they created the world's magic system."

Albert who's been sitting down listening to the old priest babble about the ancients, began shaking his leg due to him becoming impatient.

"Erm. . Excuse me Father but what does that have to do with Lily's origin?"

**Cough**

The priest coughed uncontrollably and stared at Albert in a particular way.

"I'm getting there."

Albert on other hand didn't want to sit for hours in a smokey room listening to the old priest ramble about things that happened many centuries ago. Since his plans had been more than delayed because of Lily, he needs to return to his room to clean himself properly and also not to mention that his stocks of non-perishable snacks which are his main source of filling up hi satiety, has been completely depleted because of the same person. Albert sat as still as he could and continued to listen to Father Thompson talk about what had happened long ago and the origin of the magic system of this world. As he continued to listen he started to become very impatient. Even though he didn't want to be rude to the old man, he simply just has something else better to do. So he decided to interrupt the old priest.

"Can you just tell us any clues about Lily's origin?"

Father Thompson let out a big sigh.

"Hmm! Youth these days are so impatient!"

The old priest put out the butt of his cigarette in a flower pot and lit up another cigarette.

"Very well, I shall tell you how I came to find Lily. It happened more than a decade ago. While I was traveling around in my younger years, around the town of Payon, an attacked occurred. Swarms of nine-tailed fox appeared and attacked anyone in sight. During the chaos while I was trying to search for a place for my own safety, I found a basket on the ground. Inside the basket was none other than Lily. I shouted around and asked if anyone had dropped their child but everyone was so preoccupied by what was happening that I was ignored. So I decided to pick up Lily and take the both of us to safety. After the chaos, I also search for anyone who was looking for an elven infant but no one claimed her. That was the year I decided to return to Prontera with Lily and take care of any orphaned children."

After ending his short version of the story where he found Lily, the old priest exhaled a large amount of smoke.

"Huh. . . Payon. Well there you go Lily. A clue of your origin. If you go there and ask the people there, you'll find out about your family."

Albert stood up from his chair but as he could stand up completely, Lily grabbed his hand.

"P-please help me."

Albert turned to look at Lily. Her large round green eyes were starting to water again and Albert knew if he refused her, that she would only begin begging again. The situation that Lily is in is very pitiful and Albert felt sympathetic towards Lily. But since he was only a Novice it would be hard to travel due to the threats of monsters that can cause them their demise. Albert looked at Lily and stared straight in her big green eyes.

"If were going to do this together, we need to get stronger. At the moment were just mere Novices and not so long ago, you yourself could barely defeat a Slime. What would happen if a high level monster were to attack us during our travel?"

Lily didn't speak, she remained quiet because she knows that Albert was stating the fact. Then in an instant, the look on Lily's eyes changed.

"Then we'll get stronger together! And when were strong enough, please help me find my origin."

The sad look from Lily's eyes disappeared and what appeared is the look of determination.

"It might be awhile before we can be strong enough to find where you came from, will that be okay with you?"

"As long as it's with you!" Lily nodded then smiled.

*COUGH!*

Father Thompson coughed to get the two's attention.

"Well it looks like you both have made a pact and a decision. Is there anything else that I can help you with?"

Albert stood and faced the old priest.

"Yes. I would like to take the Acolyte quest so that I may become an Acolyte."

"Ho-oh! I knew from your attitude that you would attempt to become an Acolyte. We are similar. Very well. Albert Guro are you ready to accept the Acolyte Quest?

"Yes!"

"Then by the power bestowed upon me by the King of Midgard, I bestow upon you the Acolyte Quest!"

Instantly Albert began to glow and in front of him a transparent arrow appeared.

"Just follow the arrow right?"

"That's right."

Albert stood up and began walking towards the door as he followed where the transparent arrow in front of him is pointing. Before he could go through the door, Lily spoke out.

"I also want to take the Acolyte Quest!"

**