Chapter 6: Path to righteousness
GALING sa Alchemist Shop nag punta na naman ako sa Weapon shop upang bumili ng Arrows nang madatnan ko pa rin doon ang batang lalaki, umiiyak pa rin siya. Poor kid, mukhang walang pumapansin sa kanya.
My conscience started to kick in, kaya lumapit na ako sa bata at sinimulan siyang kausapin "Hey, kiddo whats wrong?"
Lahat ng online games ay mayroong story line at game quests. Kapag na-complete ang mga quest ay may rewards na ibibigay like experience, gold, and sometimes items. But for me, about leveling, it is much better to grind outside the field than to make a game quest. Iyon din siguro ang nasa isip ng ibang mga player. Pero sa itsura ng batang umiiyak sa aking tabi, mukha yatang mapipilitan akong tumapos ng isa.
Isang inosenteng bata, crying his heart out ang tumingala sa akin. "Help... me, lady! My sister is missing."
Napabuntong-hininga ako bago nagtanong. "What happened?" Then the quest has been triggered.
Hindi pa nagsisimulang magsalita ang bata nang dumating ang isang matandang lalaki, may pipe ito sa bibig na hinihithit. Nagpakilala siyang village chief. With his pitiful expression, sinimulan n'yang ikuwento ang napakahabang sad story ng bata.
Just as I thought, the boy's story is a common story where the children look for rare herbs or medicine for their dying parents and then end up missing.
"So first thing first, I need to go to Underwater Cavern." Kausap ko si Momo habang naglalakad outside the town. I saw other players flying freely into the sky, 'di ko maiwasang mainggit sa kanila. Kung alam ko lang na puro lakad ang gagawin ko sa larong ito, hindi Human ang pinili ko.
♠♠♠
Isang forest sa gilid ng rumaragasang ilog ang tanawin patungong Underwater Cavern. The road starts with easy mobs, ngunit habang papalayo, ang mga kalaban ay palakas nang palakas at pataas nang pataas ang level. Ginagamit ko na ang aking assassin skill at assassin combo para lang makapatay ng isang mob.
Hanggang sa makarating ako sa isang spot kung saan nagkalat na ang mga level fifty aggressive red bear mob. Mabilis akong tumalon sa isang sanga ng puno, mataman na nagmasid, pinag-aralan ang situation. Maraming high level bears, hindi ko ito kayang haraping mag-isa.
Good thing I'm not a tanker. Tanker lang ang magkakaroon ng lakas ng loob na makipag-one on one sa mga kalaban. Since I'm an assassin, I'm capable of sneaking and hiding in the shadows. And because of my high agility, with the help of Momo of course, I got light feet. I walked with stealthy steps to keep me from being seen or noticed by my enemies. So I'm just transferring from tree to tree like a ninja without any detection.
"This is the place, Mama," rinig kong sabi ni Momo.
There's a big waterfall at the end ng isang mahabang ilog.
"Here? There's only a waterfall."
"The cavern is inside the waterfall, Mama."
While walking into the Underwater Cavern, a bizzare sight appeared. Surrounding me was glittering cave minerals at ito ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa makipot na daanan ng kweba. Marami ring formation ng mga stalagmite and stalactite.
Dalawang pixies ang lumipad sa aking harapan, curious and laughing. I hold my daggers just in case na bigla nila akong atakihin.
Ang mga pixie ay masayang-masaya nang makita ako at hindi naman nila ako inaatake kaya I relax myself. We even had a small conversation at itinuro nila sa akin ang tamang daan patungo sa kinaroroonan ng batang babae.
Matapos bagtasin ang mga paliko-likong intersection na lagusan, nakarating kami sa aming destination. Isang maganda at malaking grotto ang aking nasilayan, pinalilibutan iyon ng malalaking cave mineral deposits. Sa sentro makikita ang isang napakalaking crystal at sa loob noon ay isang batang babae na may hawak na rose, just like my golden flower.
Isang white light ang nag-flash mula sa kinatatayuan ng pillar at iniluwa noon ang isang matabang fairy.
"Oh! This is unexpected! How did you find this place?" the fairy asked me giggly.
"Who are you?"
"Me? Well, I am Fairy Godmother Jay." Ang cute ng boses n'ya, parang naipit na daga. "And you are inside of my Magical Crystal Cavern." She smiled sweetly, ang mukha n'ya ay lalong bumilog nang ngumiti siya.
I tried to open my mouth to say something but she interrupted me.
"Oh! I know that you're looking for some treasures, right?" The fairy giggled once more. "Since you are the first person who came in my Magical Crystal Cavern, I'll grant you a wish." With a wave of the wand she had in her hands, three special treasures appeared before my very eyes.
The first one is a chest full of golds, gems, and pearl necklaces. In my calculation, kaya ko ng bilhin ang mga shop sa Thieves' Town gamit ang mga gold na ito.
The second one is a skeleton sitting on a throne, wearing a fully equipped high level metal decorated armor. Makikita sa disenyo nito na ito ay para sa isang agile type player like me. I think, I will be able to kill level fifty mobs with this kind of armor.
And lastly, isang table kung saan nagkalat ang elemental weapons like short swords, daggers, and bow. Maliban sa high physical damage ng mga ito, may additional pa itong special elemental damage with status effect. I can't wait to try these!
"See my treasures? Wish for any of these!"
Mystified, I even swallowed my saliva just thinking of having one of those treasures!
"What if, I wish for something else? Like releasing that little girl for example?" Tinuro ko ang batang babae na nakakulong sa giant pillar sa likuran n'ya.
The fairy looked at the direction of my finger and she exclaimed another, "Ohh..." Then she looked back at me. "Yes, you can, if that's what you really like. Go on, wish anything and it will be granted. Ohh! But I must remind you, my dear, Fairy Godmother Jay will only honor one wish!"
Nagtatalo ang aking isipan. Seventy-five percent, gusto kong kunin ang isa sa mga treasure, at twenty-five percent, gusto kong iligtas ang batang babae na originally reason ng pagpunta ko rito.
Huminga ako nang malalim. "I wish for..."
♠♠♠
I saw the village chief, the little boy, and a pair of common folks na sa tingin ko ay magulang ng mga bata na nag-aabang sa village entrance. Hindi sila tumigil sa pagchi-cheer at pagwe-wave sa aming pagbabalik. Hindi napigilan ng batang babae ang tumakbo at yumakap sa pamilya n'ya.
Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nawawala sa isip ko ang maka-tulo laway na mga treasure na pinalagpas ko para lang mailigtas ang isang NPC na bata.
"I wish for the little girl to be released," sabi ko sa fairy with a broken heart.
She waved her wand and the giant pillar disappeared dropping the kid to the ground.
"Oh... what a kind hearted you are, Human." The fairy gave a benevolent smile. "Because of that, I will give you one of my Crystal Flowers." The fairy gave one last smile and then vanished.
Pagkatapos ng eksena sa cave ay automatic kaming nag-teleport sa bukana ng Spirit Forest kung saan naroroon ang mga level ten mob.
"Alright! Everyone, calm down," the village chief said as he wiped his tears and turned his head to me.
Nakikita sa matanda ang solace sa kanyang mukha. "Young lady, thank you very much."
Ang malaking village entrance ay pinalilibutan na ngayon ng mga nag-uusyosong player, ang iba ay nagbubulungan, meron ding mga nagchi-cheer at nagsasabing, "Nice one!" They immediately attracted the attention of everyone else on the scene. The situation makes me want to walk away. I hooded up my cloak and hid my face. Kung hindi ko lang hinihintay ang aking reward, aalis na ako sa lugar na ito.
I got a red assassin scarf and an old book from the village chief. He also gave me one hundred golds as a reward from rescuing the little girl at nag-level up ako ng isang beses. Itong dalawang items ang kapalit ng treasures, armor, at elemental items na in-offer sa akin ng Fairy! I cried with my heart out.
Hindi natapos ang quest ko sa pag-rescue ng batang babae. The mother is still 'sick' so since I started it, I might as well finish the quest.
Dinala ako ng village chief sa Head Alchemist ng town. Dito ipinaliwanag sa akin na ang gamot sa sakit ng ina ay maaaring magawa, ang kaso mahirap kuhanin ang mga ingredient nito. He even used the word 'impossible'.
The good news is that, I already have the two of the three important a.k.a impossible ingredients! The golden flower and the crystal flower. One more ingredient to go!
Naglalakad ako galing sa Alchemist Shop papuntang Tavern ng town para kumain. May kakaibang aura na naman akong nararamdaman sa paligid. People keep staring at me as always. But now, somehow, they are staring at me with respect and joy in their eyes, and some even giggled when I walked past them.
I hurried my steps.
Isang sumisigaw na player ang papalapit sa aking direction. "Coldblooded! Coldblooded!" I ignored the man at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.
Nagulat ako nang huminto siya sa aking harapan at humahangos. He's a young elf, I think? Kung pagbabasehan ko ang mukha n'ya, around fifteen to eighteen ang age n'ya with black eyes and rainbow colored hair, very unique. Iyan na ba ang usong haircolor ngayon? He's wearing a combination of green and brown light armor set and a crossbow in his back. Mostly, thief players use crossbow. Pero wala pa akong nakikitang player na bow ang gamit maliban sa akin.
"Coldblooded..." humihingal n'yang tawag. Is he referring to me?
"Are you talking to me?" I pointed my finger to myself just to make sure.
He nodded and happily smiled at me. "My name is Kong Kong and I'm level twenty, Ranger!" Inilahad n'ya ang kanyang kamay na parang makikipag-shake hands.
I ignored his gesture and asked him directly kung anong kailangan n'ya sa akin. Naramdaman siguro n'ya na ayaw kong makipag-shake hands kaya binaba na n'ya ang kanyang kamay, ngunit ang ngiti n'ya ay hindi pa rin nawawala.
"The gossip is indeed true, you are coldhearted lady," amused na turan n'ya.
What? Me?
"What do you want?"
"I just wanted to know... how did you get the golden flower?"
"I killed Goldivah," I told him directly.
"Then... can you tell me the location of waterfall cavern?"
I frowned. "Find it yourself!"
"Did you encounter a high level boss? Is there a treasure? Did you have a party?"
My head starts to hurt sa dami ng tanong n'ya. "Enough question!" I told him and walk away.
"Wait, stop!" Hinawakan n'ya ang aking braso.
"Do you have a death wish?!" I looked at him coldly.
"Here, I'll sell this to you." Hawak n'ya ang isang alpha deck card na kamukha ng cards na ginagamit sa larong tong-its and poker. "You'll going to use this in the last town quest! I bought it for five hundred golds but since I don't think I can get that quest, I'll just sell it to you for one hundred golds." He looks funny, but his face looks genuine so I bought his deck card. After that ay umalis na siya.
"Momo? Anong use ng card na 'to?" tanong ko sa aking know-it-all android habang nagpapahinga.
"To de-stress. It's just a normal card, Mama. Players use it to kill time," reply nito.
"What?! De-stress? To kill time?!" galit na galit kong tugon. I was scammed!
Sa pinakaliblib at 'di mataong lugar ng restaurant ako nakaupo at kumakain ng aking steak at umiinom ng paborito kong ale. Dahil sa nangyaring eksena sa village entrance kanina, ang tahimik kong mundo ay nasira. Halos kalahati ng players sa town na ito ay namumukhaan na ako at tinatawag hindi sa pangalang Nightingale but Coldblooded! Some players even call me "The Coldblooded Assassin".
Coldblooded? Me?! I heaved a sigh and disappointed na tinuloy ang pagkain.
Ang old book ay nahulog sa sahig mula sa aking provision bag. Pinulot ko iyon habang kagat-kagat ang steak sa bibig at bahagyang binasa ang nilalaman. It was an old story book. If the village chief was really an assassin, poison scroll or kahit herb book na lang sana ang ibinigay n'ya sa akin.
Itinago ko ang aking mukha gamit ang assassin scarf na reward sa akin ng village chief bago umalis ng Tavern. This is very convenient for me not to be recognized by the stubborn players who only do nothing but to ask me every time about the last quest I did.
Now, I have the golden flower and crystal flower. Ang third and last flower na hahanapin ko ay ang frozen flower.
"Momo? Nand'yan ka ba?"
"Yes, Momo is here, Mama!" mabilis na sagot nito.
"Alam mo ba kung saan matatagpuan ang frozen flower?"
"Yes, it's in Markarth! The chieftain's book has all the information about the frozen flower."
"Oh, really?" May silbi naman pala itong librong ito. Bukas ko na nga lang ito gagawin. Gabi na sa game at medyo pagod na rin ako.
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