Standard Mission: The Sisters' Bells

Gad - Chaldea

It was supposed to be a lazy morning for Gad; the demon hunt mission was harder than he thought so he thought himself he had rightfully earned the rest. However, life always had ways making him work hard and it did not disappoint this time as well.

The ping on the gauntlet urged him to get ready and Gad just did that and moved up to the gate. "An escort mission, huh?" Gad rubbed his neck, he was not so sure if he was a suitable candidate for the job. Then again, there was no point in doubting his abilities. He had to do his best.

"Alright then, let's do this." Said Gad stepped out of his room from barracks and went towards the gate where he would be meeting his team for this mission.

Aren Vent - Chaldea:

Aren was just waiting for something different or interesting to happen; as he was completely bored out of his mind. He might have been pretty late to the metaphorical party, but that doesn’t mean he could rush into things.

His gauntlet pinged, causing a smile to spread across his face; “Ah, time for my first task.” He muttered to himself, Aren climbed out his bed, and proceeded to stretch his arms. As he felt excited to actually do something for once. ‘Maybe, I’ll get to see some new variations of corpses.’ he thought to himself, buzzing with joy at the thought.

With a spring in his step, he left his room in the barracks, heading to the gate where he would be meeting his team for the mission. As he looked towards the gate, he recognised the outline of a figure; he’d met previously. A few moments later, it clicked in his head that it was Gad. “Heyyyyyy, Gadddd.” He shouted as he cupped his hands around his mouth.

Gad - Chaldea

"Hey?" Gad looked at the direction where he heard his name, it was Aren. "Can't believe you and I get to pair up." Gad commented, "I mean, I thought you would be paired up with your colleagues." Then Gad smiled, "Well, I am glad that I get to paired up with you, Aren. It's better than being paired up with complete stranger."

Then Gad looked at his gantlet, "Come on then, let's get to the mission area." Gad started to walk where they have to meet their mission's VIP.

Aren Vent - Chaldea:

“It’s pretty exciting being paired up, with my most recent, drinking buddy.” Aren said with a smile, as they walked together. “I’m also glad to be paired up with you, because I honestly can’t remember who my colleagues are at this point.” He said with a light chuckle.
He pulled out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, “Want one?” he offered Gad, as he pulled one out for himself, and then lighting it.

He glanced at his gauntlet to make sure they were walking towards the Mission’s VIP. “So, got any idea who we are escorting?” Aren whispered to Gad.

Gad - Chaldea

"Sorry, Aren. I don't smoke." Gad refused politely, "But I had some friends who likes to smoke so feel free to do so."

Gad shrugged, "I am not sure about it myself, but I am pretty sure that we will get to meet them when we get to the designated location."

The location to the place was not too far off as well, it seems they were going to make it soon and see the VIP in person shortly.

Near the gate, an old woman stood waiting. She turned as they approached, looking them up and down.

Spoiler:

"You'll do, I suppose," she muttered.

She turned away and stared toward the distant mountains, silent and pensive for several moments. When she turned back, she pointed a wizened finger in the direction she'd been looking. The movement caused the faint chiming of a bell, which appeared to be tied around her neck.

"My village is at the base of the mountains," she explained. "And my family crypt up in the mountains themselves. I need to get back there and pay my respects. You will take me there."

Gad - Chaldea

Gad was not really sure how to feel about the granny looking at them, scanning them if they were trust worthy. Then again, it is an escort mission, it was given the VIP wants to be protected from the best.

When the old lady mentioned mountains, Gad rubbed his neck. He couldn't help but feel that this mission sound not easy. "We will do our best you get there safe and sound."

Gad looked at Aren, "Aren how good are you at it?" Gad asked, someone had to drive the coach, and Gad wanted to know if Aren wants to be a coachman.

Aren - Chaldea

Aren looked over to the mountains in the distance; “The mountains...Should be some pretty scenery, is there anything interesting or noteworthy there on the way?” He asked, wondering if there was anything that he should keep an eye out for, or if there was any pretty scenery.

“As for being a coachman...I typically had to guide the horse, and such. Because some people like to have carriages carrying their corpses to a graveyard.” He smiled and started walking towards the coach, he turned over his shoulder, and said; “So do we want to get there quickly, or do you want a slow scenic ride?”

Gad - Chaldea

"Well, there should be some. But, I don't think we want to stay too long in the mountain's wilderness. It's probably be crawling with monsters." Gad replied to Aren's question about the mountains' scenery.

"Good. You ride the horse and I will watch out for our VIP. Well, about the speed? I think we should move fast before the night comes. Night of the mountain is on another level of playing field for the demons..." Said Gad, he politely approached the VIP. "Madam, my name is Gad and I am here to escort you to your destination. My co-worker, Aren will be our coachman for today."

Gad opened the coach door so that the VIP could enter first.

The old woman watched the two Vanguards discussing the arrangements, silent and pensive, leaning on her a wooden cane. As Aren walked past to get to the horses, the old woman jabbed him in the back with her cane.

"Scenic route," she muttered. "At my age, young man, time is a precious commodity."

Turning, she headed to the coach and paused as Gad opened the door. She frowned as he called her "madam" and poked him with her cane as well.

"Beru," she said. "Don't make me feel older than I already am."

She climbed into the coach, the action making the bell on the necklace she wore tingle slightly. Once she was seated, she rested her hands on her cane and gazed out the window, deep in thought.

Gad - Chaldea, on Coach

"Sure, uh... Mrs Beru...?" Gad scratched where Beru poked him with her cane. Not painful, but itch. He was trying to be polite and yet look where it got him.

Then again, he did hear women are very sensitive to their age and such...

Anyways, he sat beside Aren, who was going to ride the horse. Besides, being inside the coach was a bad idea in the escort mission like this. Well, that's what he thought anyway. After listening what happened to Bastion's group previously as well, he thought to himself it was safe for him to keep a distance from any interaction with others than co-workers for now.

Who knows what she is like? She may be a demon who had been hiding her identity... Then again Gad probably was overthinking things as he couldn't help himself but feel little bad that he was not there to help Bastion's group on that mission. No one should experience death like that...

Aren - Chaldea, on Coach


As Aren sat on the coach, beside Gad, he breathed in; slightly anxious as it had been a while since he last did any horsemanship. “Well...Time to crash.” He muttered to himself, under his breath.
Aren took the reins and flicked his wrists, which in turn flicked the reins upwards; encouraging the horse to start on their journey. The horse whinnied in response, and began slowly galloping down the pathway.

“So Gad, a penny for your thoughts?” He said with a chuckle, as he noticed his companion seemed to be deep in thought. Was he contemplating the universe, or what created us...Who knew, but Aren was curious nonetheless.

Gad - On Coach, to the Mountains

"Well, I was thinking about what happened with my colleagues." Said Gad, "Let's hope nothing happens with this one though." He added, "Say you are a summoner right?" Gad asked, "If you are, and if you can spare, having a demon that could scout well could be useful for us." He added and started to be on his guard. It was time for the mission, and he hoped he was just over-reacting to what happened to Bastion's group.

Even though, in his gut-feeling, this mission may not be that easy as he thought it would be.

Aren - On A coach to the Mountains

“Something could happen...You mean like demons?” He said excitedly with a smile on his face, anticipating meeting new demons, and testing out Sigmund’s strength enhanced with his buffs.

“I am indeed, such a thing. A summoner, I prefer...Actually, there isn’t anything that comes to mind.” Aren sighed, regretting not having a witty comment. He channelled his magna through his gauntlet, and decided to summon his Zhen, named Wing. “Heya, Pal. Could you do your dad a favour, and watch from the skies to help out?”

Wing just flew away in response, and hovered above looking downwards. “So, there we go Gad. We got a little boy looking over us.” He said as he gushed with happiness at his summon.

Gad - On Coach, to the Mountain

"Yeah, good call. Let's hope we get to our destination before the moon says hello." Said Gad, looking back at the coach to check on Beru.

So far so good.... let's hope this isn't calmness before the storm. thought Gad, on his guard, not letting himself be lazy over just cause it's an escort mission.

"Just Beru!" the old woman said testily before settling back into her seat. She remained quiet throughout the rest of the ride, staring out across the landscape, occasionally brushing the bell on her necklace.

The sun drew low by the time they got close to the mountain, the sun hidden behind the mountains but still alive enough to give them a faintly red glow. The coach bumped suddenly, as though the wheel had run over something. It was easy enough to dismiss as a rock or piece of debris, until the wheel seemed to jam. Beru gave a startled cry as the wagon pitched forward, her cane clattering out of reach, as the horses dragged the grounded wagon forward with their continued momentum.

Aren - On Gad's Cursed Coach



Aren, flicked his wrists in an attempt to stop the horses from pulling the coach. Upon realising, they probably are startled and won’t respond, Aren jumped off the coach.
Whilst resisting the urge to laugh at the sound of their angsty VIP, screaming; Aren wondered if she took the concept of young at heart too literally. “Okay then, just Beru; stay inside the coach, would you?” Aren shouted.

“Come on, Gad. You jinxed it, you literally jinxed it.” Aren said, frowning slightly as he looked up to Gad on the coach.

Aren issued a mental command to Wing, ordering the young Zhen to come further down, closer to the party. In case they needed combat support as Aren honestly believed that Gad might have cursed them, or jinxed them with what he had said.

Gad - On Coach, to the Mountain

"This is nothing compares to what I thought it would happen." Said Gad, jumping over the coach to check on the VIP, helping Beru get her cane back on her hands. "You alright, Beru?" Gad asked, hoping Beru would not complain about such rowdiness of his co-worker.

Making sure VIP is fine, Gad closed the coach and checked on the wheels. Asking the question of what did they bump into.

Beru clutched her heart, trying to calm down, as Gad handed her the cane back. She said nothing, merely nodded, as Gad stooped to look at the wheel. As she turned, however, she came face to face with a hideous visage of a demon perched on the carriage door beside her.

Spoiler:

“Aaah!” she cried, falling back across the seat and lashing out with her cane. She caught the demon across the face, and it fell off the carriage with a throaty, gurgling cry.

Gad, hearing the commotion, made to stand, but a weight fell on his leg, and he felt a burning pain as something clawed into his flesh.

“Pretas!” Beru said, huddling in the center of the carriage and thrashing her cane around as the demons began to crawl from beneath the underside of the carriage around her.

Gad -Fighting off the Pretas


As the pain began felt from his flesh, Gad quickly cast his spell before any other effects may reach his nerves. "Invisible Armor!" Allowing him to get rid of the sensation of pain and any aliment that cast by his foes.

Then he quickly swing his scythe, cleaving and freezing pretas that were trying to clutch around the wheels of coach, then quickly he cast his second spell, "Crushing Guilt!" Affecting all the foes around the coach, "Aren! Get Beru out of here!" Said Gad and cleaving the pretas that were on his way.

Aren - The Preta Encounter

Aren blinked, then slowly blinked again processing the situation. “Ah, Beru you might wanna...You know hurry up.” He sighed, realising the elderly person couldn’t probably run with her cane. “Unrotting Strength”, he shouted casting it on Beru; to help her ease her bones to get her moving a bit quicker.

Aren mentally commanded Wing to attack the Pretas and assist Gad in combat; following the command, Wing proceeded to cast Wing Buffet, hitting various Pretas.
He ran up to Beru, to escort her, and encourage her to run with him away from the abundance of Pretas. Come on Beru, let’s go, let’s leave this to Gad, and Wing.”

Beru latched onto Aren as he hoisted her from the carriage and drew her back away from the attack. She didn't resist, following him slightly faster and more fluidly than usual thanks to his spell.

"Oh my..." she murmured, drawing back behind Aren. "Can he do it?"

They were about to find out. Gad slashed his scythe at the wheels where the Pretas were, causing them to scatter, even as his blade hacked the wheels apart.

"Oh!" Beru cried.

They scampered up onto the carriage, where Gad sent his Crushing Guilt spell flying. The Pretas tried to scatter once more, with most of them leaping clear. Some could not scramble away in time, however, and were crushed to the ground, along with the bulk of the carriage. Sprung free, the horses whinnied and bolted back toward Chaldea.

"Ohhh!" Beru cried again, covering her face.

Wing came swooping in from the sky, unleashing his Wing Buffet on the scattered Pretas, knocking them to the ground. Some were able to pick themselves up, opening their mouths wide and inhaling as their Dead Hunger spell dragged the Zhen from the sky to bring him crashing down to the ground.

Some of the other Pretas began to turn their attention to Aren and Beru. Opening their mouths as well, they inhaled and dragged the humans in closer. Aren, being younger and stronger, was able to resist the pull a bit better, but Beru was immediately pulled off her feet and dragged along the ground toward the demons.

"Help!" she cried, clawing at the ground for traction.

Gad -Fighting off the Pretas


Gad was not expecting his spell to be that powerful as it was after all it was still a first tier spell. To think that it ruins their only way of a transport. Darn it!

Then Gad quickly cast "Force Bullets!" to the preta that tried to suck in Beru, disrupting its attack and its third strike should be killing it. Then Gad quickly went to Beru, showing his back to her. "Come on, Beru! Somehow I feel this is all trap. We need to get out of here."

Yes, Gad was going to give Beru piggy-beg ride. Although, Aren looked much fitted to do so, there was no time to ask around who should do so and Gad did not like how Aren acted around Beru as it seems the rookie had no idea how to treat the client.

Aren Vent - The Preta Encounter

Aren exhaled, in an attempt to calm his nerves; live combat was...more anxiety ridden than he had initially anticipated. Withdrawing his scythe, “Corrosive blade.” he muttered, infusing the blade of his scythe with corrosive acid swinging it in the direction of the Preta that tried to suck him in. “Why don’t you suck on this.” He shouted in response, grinning at his snarky comment.

He then started to run after Gad, in an attempt to keep up. “I take it we’re running for now, Gad?" He said, before having a brief period of nervous laughter.