Chapter 17
I headed back to Darkwood Forest the next day, fighting Tracers and Forest Mutants, Healing up after every fight as I got a text from Rina. "Can you meet me at the front of Kamdet City?" as I typed back "Sure, on my way Rina" as I closed my tab and sheathed my sword, still having trouble putting it in the right place. I ran back towards the front of Kamdet City as I saw rina standing there, I ran towards Rina as I asked her "Hey Rina, what did you need me for?" as Rina looked at me.
"Hey um.. Do...Do you think I can party up with you..?" she said in a shy tone as I looked and nodded at her. "Sure, It's our first party too so it should be a blast" I said to her as she looked at me and asked "Y-You never partied with Toru..?" as I shook my head.
"We never actually partied up before, so you're my first party partner, except sato" I said as I chuckled at that fact, She smiled as she said with a bit more confidence "Alright, Let's go then Kirin" as I lead the way back to Darkwood Forest. For about half an hour, Rina and I were fighting off Tracers and Forest Mutants, in that meantime I taught her how to use a Dagger properly, even though I had a proficiency 1 in daggers.
A tracer came flying in as I swung my sword at it and cut it in half in the air. "That's all of the swarms" I told Rina as she nodded, holstering her knife into her sheath. "Hey Kirin, can you promise me something?" Rina said as I looked over, telling her "What is it?" as she looked at me. "If I ever die or are told I'm dead, can you ask the Tavern Owner for a ragout rabbit stew for me?" She told me as I was confused at that fact and said "sure, but why ragout rabbit stew?" as she smiled at me for a bit.
"It's my favorite food so far in this world... I want you to eat the food I like the most.."
Rina told me as I had a chill down my spine, I thought to myself "an odd request..." as Rina then noticed something glaring in the bushes nearby. More tracers came by as I slashed them down with a better and upgraded sword, still from floor one as Floor 2 drop rates are still unknown to me. "Hey Kirin!!" Rina shouted as I sheathed my sword perfectly this time and walked over, "what is it?" I said to Rina as she held up a small gemstone as I noticed someone starting to walk up to her.
I became a little cautious as I saw them blitz over towards Rina, I shouted towards her "RINA LOOK OUT!!" as Rina was too slow and got stabbed through her abdomen from behind. Rina coughed out virtual blood as she dropped to the floor, "RINA!!" I shouted as I ran over, pulling my sword out and swinging it at the person. They were fast enough to block the attack, turning my indicator to orange for engaging the attack. "Well if it isn't the commander!" a raspy voice said as I recognized the voice and saw his face, "Kuradeel..!" I said as Kuradeel had a sinister smile on his face.
Kuradeel let out a laugh as he held the gemstone that Rina had found. I gripped my sword as I heard a cough from Rina, I looked down at Rina and kneeled down holding her head in one hand.
"Just hold on Rina!"
I said as I reached into my pouch, feeling nothing as I forgot we had used all of our potions during our Forest Mutant fights. "Crap..!" I thought as her health started dialing down more and more. "No no no no!!" I said as Kuradeel rushed towards us, I turned my head to dodge a piercing thrust with his sword. I then threw a sword swing back as he moved out of the way with a little laughter.
"K...Kirin.."
Rina said weakly as I looked and kneeled down to her, I then said to her "Hold on! I'll get us to a safe zone right now!" as I pulled out a teleport crystal. I then heard a hissing sound as a knife knocked the teleport crystal out of my hand, landing on the ground and shattering. "Motherfucker!!" I thought as Rina put her hand on my cheek as she began to glow bluish cyan.
"It's...Okay..."
She said as she forced herself up and wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me. "I'm...really happy...to have fallen for you...my...prince.." Rina said weakly and tearfully before she shattered and a text box popped up saying "Party Disbanded."
"That was so heart touching, but unfortunate for you, you'll be joining her in a second!"
Kuradeel said as he readied his sword up, I sat there as I thought back to the night I spent with Rina as she was trying to find peace with her friend's death. I then gripped my sword as I rolled out of the way of a fatal downward slash, I stood up as I had tears drop from my face. "Hold still! Just like that girl earlier!" Kuradeel shouted as I gritted my teeth in anger, I looked at Kuradeel with anger in my eyes, saying "Your death will sooth my sadness..." as I took up a sword stance.
Kuradeel and I ran in as he swung horizontal and I swung vertical. My sword hit Kuradeel first as Kuradeel's swing was stronger, sending me flying to the side a bit as I got back up on my feet quickly. I covered my mouth as I coughed out blood and looked at my hand, splattered with some virtual blood. I turned my attention to Kuradeel as he ran towards me.