Jericho The Bard A VRMMORPG Story 46 Friday

"I can't believe it is already Friday. Our plan hasn't changed right Talon? Most of our guild mates will be online in a matter of minutes. I know there has been concern about our mission after reading The Dragoon's announcement." A pet.i.te young adult woman asked to confirm.

A man whose avatar's hair color was snow white nodded. "Yes, the plan is still on Odette. You see, we have caught wind that a few members of the Dragoons are secretly still around and I confirmed it with my own eyes. Their earlier move was simply a scare tactic. We have claimed glory on many things they were slow to act on. Their guild leader was hoping that by backing off we would back off too. It almost succeeded. I too was hesitant until I recognized Harr loitering around the market in beginner's hide armor. The wardrobe feature was quite useful to him this time. Unfortunately for him, I would recognize his tall figure anywhere." Talon clenched his fist as he thought about this long time rival of his. "If we were to back off like they wanted, it would allow their hidden raid team to swoop in and save the day after we were foolish enough to forgo this opportunity."

A scrawny youth sighed. "Their guild master's plans are ingenious and crafty as always. Besides we have information they don't about the mist. We have that one report of the level 20 beast and humanoid. Our spy in their guild has not found anything out regarding any cursed creature above level 18 or any humanoid being cursed. Those two beasts that escaped us are still out there somewhere and have probably gotten stronger since last week. But even with those two the strongest creature in the mist shouldn't be over level 35. Our success is practically guaranteed. The only thing that may hinder us is if the Dragoon's raid team tries to interfere."

A woman wearing all black laughed. "Oh? They aren't dumb enough to try that stunt you know this Sliver. Are you really that confident in our success?"

The scrawny youth, Sliver, grinned. "I took the time to have someone walk around the entire mist with a measuring tool yesterday. It is currently around 32.5 kilometers around meaning there is only ten and a little bit kilometers to make it from one end to the other in a straight line. Even if the reports the Dragoons have suspecting the mist was larger on the inside then it was on the outside, we are still in the clear on time. Even if things turn bad, getting back out safely should be no problem within four hours. Besides, defeating the boss in the mist is the whole purpose of our escapade. Defeat the boss, the problem gets solved. That's how it works. The boss is most likely hidden somewhere near the center of the mist so we don't have to cover the whole area or even travel the whole diameter. We plan to enter from all sides just to be sure. I suspect it will only take us about an hour and a half to complete the mission and make the mist vanish. But since the Dragoons ran scared, it is better to be cautious and give ourselves the four hours."

"Oh? What poor sap did you convince to do all that running around and how much did you pay him?" The woman in black questioned further.

"Some smart kid named Lednar. I didn't pay him a cent. I just gave him some of the really random and useless materials I was carrying around and was having a hard time selling; like vials of questionable liquids, some small bones, and other sc.r.a.ps I had in my inventory. I have no clue why he would be interested in those types of things but I have had someone tailing him to find out. I was glad to get rid of those items. The NPC shopkeepers wouldn't buy them off of me because they were deemed trash." Sliver replied.

"Yes, we know all about your shopkeeper woes." Talon interrupted. "Obviously this Lednar person is a player or a really questionable NPC. Have you found anything out about him?"

Sliver, shook his head. "Other than the fact that he seems to be a wizard that also spends a lot of time in a crafting room? He seems to be a very thoughtful hard worker. Even when he was using the measuring tool to go around the mist; he didn't rush. He took the time to work on other skills as he measured."

Odette sighed. "Well, I will go spread the announcement among the guild members."

Talon nodded. "Then I will start pa.s.sing out the materials. And getting people organized."

Sliver grinned. "I'll start looking for our next target. Tell me how it goes. See you later Blizzetta."

The three left the room.

Blizzetta, the woman dressed like it was a funeral walked out the door with a creepy smile. "It begins."

***

Lillith, her mother, and grandfather talked it out. There was a bit of heated discussion as these three extreme family members had a lot they disagreed on. Her mother and grandfather were warned of the danger regarding the mist and finally consented to let Lillith go adventure. They chose to head back to their village to make preparations to depart. They determined that it was the best course of action for Lillith to leave first.

The rest of Tuesday ended peacefully with the satyrs practicing. Wednesday and Thursday were productive and uninterrupted. Periodically Jericho and Princess would take breaks and explore the village and nearby forested areas in order to avoid the boredom of constant repet.i.tion. Not everyone can handle days of doing the same things over and over again without breaks.

Kenneth felt anxious as he and Moira walked home from school Friday. "If Alexander is right, then you only have until Sat.u.r.day at the latest to finish this quest. But you probably don't even have that long."

Moira nodded. "Thankfully it looks like the satyrs are ready to perform it officially soon after we log on. Though I am kind of bothered; what will happen to the satyrs and the elves once the mist hits? Are they creature enough to not be affected much? Will they suffer a similar disappearing fate like everyone else? I don't want to teach this to them just to have them perish soon after. But those places are important to them. Would they willingly just get up and leave? And what will happen to the wood elementals in the forest here like Narzisse; will they be fine?" The girl sighed.

Ken joined in the sigh fest. "I don't know. I suspect they will fall to the mist as well based on the things Alex has told us. You don't have to worry about the elves since they have been warned. The satyrs, they may be b.e.s.t.i.a.l enough to not be affected. As for the elementals, they will probably become corrupted until the mist is purified."

"I see."

"In better news, Purai said that she and Lillith finished the last of the satyr's insane healing demands so she will be leaving the forest around the same time as us. You won't have to worry about them. She said she wanted to see this line dance of yours before heading off."

The girl chuckled. "You like her don't you?"

Ken awkwardly laughed back. "Not in the way you are thinking. Besides she thinks I am an NPC and she isn't my type."

Moira nodded. "You have a type already? My brother told me that people don't normally know their type until they are older and have been around a lot of people."

Ken's laughter went from awkward to more natural. "I don't have to know what my type is to know what isn't. But enough about that, we have arrived at your house. I'll see you in game shortly."

Moira nodded. "Thank Ken."

As she opened the door she could hear the sounds of a recording of a wooden flute and someone playing a different wooden flute. She quietly closed the door and snuck close to her brother's room. She waited until both flutes stopped and she heard a sigh. "What's wrong?" She asked her brother.

Jericho jumped out of the seat. "Moira, you startled me."

The 12 year old girl laughed. "You usually practice when I am not around so I don't get many opportunities to sneak up on you. But what seems to be the problem? Do you not like the new piece you are working on?"

Jericho shook his head. "There is something off about my Wordless Farewell and practicing it in game has been hard with all the hype about the line dance we made for them."

Moira nodded. "Play it again. Let me hear it."

Jericho hit play and put the wooden flute to his face and started playing.

The girl walked over and hit the stop b.u.t.ton on the recording. "I already know what is wrong. Brother, you have been too focused on the game your ingenuity has been stifled. There is nothing wrong with the notes you are playing but you aren't getting the feelings out because you are too focused on the aspect of playing it in the game."

Jericho took a deep breath as he thought about it. "No wonder. I have been thinking too much about the instruments I have in game. I limited my instrument options."

Moira nodded and left to the instrument room.

Jericho followed and saw his sister pick up a standard metal flute and a clarinet. "First, your melody needs to be crisper. When it is breathy like the wooden flutes it doesn't feel as sharp as it needs to be. The piece needs that clarity to express the raw emotions better this time. The metal flute will be a better option for the higher part and you can have a bit more freedom of notes with it as well if you chose to change them a bit."

Jericho nodded. He respected his sister's opinion because even if she was wrong, it would help him see where things could improve. "Then what about the other instrument? You are thinking the clarinet?"

Moira sighed. "Your farewell lacks depth." She pointed to a large harp. "The harp will be able to bring out the emotions better then the deeper flute. I was holding the clarinet because I thought if there was a third instrument it would be a good one."

Jericho grinned as he was filled with ideas. "Thanks Moira, You know that half my songs wouldn't be nearly as good without your help."

The girl's face flushed. "Don't take too long or the satyrs will perform without you. We have to finish our quest as quickly as possible but I also know you need to record this so you don't lose the feeling. I'll meet you in game."

Jericho gave a nod. "See you in about 30 minutes then." The bard wheeled the large harp into the recording room.

Moira logged into the game.

Jericho turned on the recording device and started strumming the harp. The tranquil sounds of the strings gave off the impression of looking longingly over a lush valley from an isolated cold mountain peak. He ended the recording and pulled out the metal flute. "I wish you were still here." He whispered with a light tear in his eyes.

He put in a small earpiece so he could hear the sound of his previous recording. Jericho gently pressed the play and record b.u.t.tons.

The flute emitted a bittersweet overture. The crisp sound echoed lightly as if to reflect the desire to meet once more.

Jericho's eyes watered as he stopped the recording and switched to the clarinet. "We will meet again. It is a promise." He breathed through his teeth as the feelings of doubt plagued him. "We will meet again." He forced out as the tears began to fall once more. Again, he hit the play and record b.u.t.tons. The sounds of the flute and harp played in his ears.

The clarinet's tenor tone sung with great sorrow. A lament that would never reach the heavens, it was a farewell of false promises and empty hope.
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He ended the recording once more. "It still needs some work and I need to fix a few notes but Moira was right. I have been so focused on the game that I lost sight of something right in front of me. I will need to remember that in the future." Jericho walked over to the bathroom and washed the salty tears off of his face. "Feelings, they are great and terrible at the same time. I feel my music when I play it so others can feel when they hear it. On that note, let us have some fun seeing the fruits of our labor…" He paused as a ridiculous thought entered his mind. "The wood elementals would probably like that phrase since they are always making terrible plant related puns."