234 [BONUS] In the Clan Fire
[Bonus Chapter for reaching 2000 PS last week]
Thank you, everyone! �
—–
Within just minutes after what happened with Ren and Evie, hundreds of players swarmed the Great Valley of the Orcs — searching and investigating where the beast had last been seen.
Some even went for Ren and asked him of what happened and if he was really the one who killed those many players.
And Ren only said one thing.
“I wish I had that kind of power so I could dominate the game.”
“. . .” At the side, Evie remained silent, studying Ren’s expression as he kept answering the same questions over and over like a broken radio. And he just kept replying to the same line over and over, and he wasn’t even tired of doing it.
In fact, there was a grin on his lips and mischievousness in his eyes.
Now, Evie wasn’t even sure if she wanted to ask her questions later. She felt like Ren wouldn’t give her a straight answer. And that was understandable if he really was responsible for what happened a while ago.
Eventually, the other players left Ren alone because they felt they were only wasting their time with him. They could use that time to search for the beast and investigate what really happened from the mouth of others.
Besides, no one really saw that Ren was involved. In fact, no one really saw what happened. It was all fog and silhouettes. And no one know nor how the beast came out suddenly without rhyme or reason. And when they came to, Ren and Evie were still in the same spot as before, and no one saw them lift a finger.
In fact, Ren and Evie’s HP and MP Bar were still full. No sign of use. If ever it was either the two of them, their MP should have been depleted by how powerful that blast was. But still, if they had consumed numerous MP potions, they could have seen it because the fight only took seconds.
Time continued to flow. Dark came faster than anybody could notice because all were occupied with the appearance of a new mysterious beast that defeated dozens of players with a single hit. It was all over the news.
“Looks like you have become popular again.” Ragnar shook his head a little. “Wherever you go, famed followed you, huh?”
Ren shrugged. “It’s a good thing. Free publicity.”
Ragnar grumbled under his breath while he looked around as the players, inhabitants, and other races gathered in the fire.
The three of them were making their selves comfortable by sitting on a log. And when Evie left to get some food, Ren asked Ragnar.
“Aren’t you going to ask what happened?”
“I know you won’t give me a straight answer so I won’t waste my breath.”
Ren laughed a little before he stared at the blazing fire.
An enormous fire burned at the center of the ring of tents, and crowds gathered to watch the upcoming events.
The clan fire was the epicenter of social life, of rumors and romance, of grudges and grievances, of magic and ceremonies.
Drums, songs, music, pipes, horns, and wild howls filled the night. Choruses of whispers and chatters echoed wildly.
It was finally time for Sharina’s Quest!
The clan fire was a signal of life, a place for rest and talks. It was no question that strangers were welcome into the clan fire as long as they didn’t carry any weapons with them.
Whether they received Sharina’s quests or not, all were welcomed in the clan fire. Everyone could experience the event and even die in the crossfire. However, even if they defeated some monsters and killed some beats, they wouldn’t be able to receive any rewards from the Chieftain since they didn’t acquire the quest.
And since it was a rare quest, once the quest was completed and they received Sharina’s prized axe, it would no longer be available as a quest for other players.
So it was no wonder that a lot of guilds were crawling the place, racing against everyone to complete the Chieftain’s mission.
Evie returned with smoked meat fresh off the bone, roasted to perfection as well as sweet and tart fruits and bitter herbs. The two men helped her get the food off her hands, and she sat between the two.
There was no awkwardness or tension between the three of them. Mostly because none of them wanted to do with romance or anything along those lines at the moment. They were focused on the mission and at the event that was about to unfold.
The sizzling fire of burning wood, the shimmering heat rising from Blood Mountain, and the pounding of everyone’s pulse as they waited for the event were felt in the air.
Evie was amazed when she saw a new race and class at the campfire. There were men and women with skin as barks and leaves as hair. There were also people with weird tattoos on their skin.
Ren noticed that Evie was so focused on a group of beings and he couldn’t help but say.
“Those guys with tattoos are called [Tattooed Bearers] with a class of [Spellskin]. They carved symbols on their skin to use both Arcane and Devine magic. Though they are tolerated to some extent inside a clan because of their deep knowledge of magic, most are banished for their abilities that attract the eerie of the Gods. They’re also one of the rare classes.”
“Is that so?” Though she didn’t portray it, Evie’s voice was amazed. And there was a slight emotion of curiosity that crossed her eyes, and that urged Ren to continue.
“See those guys in dirty and stitch cloaks?”
Evie nodded her head like a chicken picking grains.
“They’re Druids. Another rare class. They use the Fearful, Forbidden Arts of natural magic. They’re often called God leeches because they sapped magic away from the domain of the God and give it back to the land.”
“Another race present are the Saurians, children of the Gods that defy their orders and give power to mortals. You saw them a while back.”
While Ren was talking nonstop, Evie was immersed in his explanation. But the more she listened, the more her attention shifted from the story . . . to his deep soothing voice, and she didn’t even notice it until Ren went quiet.