Their names are Shiroe, Greed, and Autumn Leaf. Each of them has been by Aladdin's side for nearly twenty-three years now, and each started their adventures on this island, one year after the other. They left the island and made their way across Arrithia, striving to become stronger. Every time their paths crossed, it was because of Aladdin. On the seventh crossing, Aladdin finally convinced them to join him on his own adventure. Little did they know just how much of an adventure they were about to embark on. Even after all this time, they are never too sure where he is taking them next.
"What do you have for us today?" Shiroe asked, pushing his rounded glasses back onto his face. His pale skin was barely lit in the torchlight, but his dark brown eyes were still noticeable. He wore green trousers and a grey sweater, mostly covered by a long white hooded robe tied to his body with a red scarf. His shaggy black hair had a hint of blue in certain lightings, making those unfamiliar with him guess its true color. Silver boots looked out of place but provided sturdiness for the long hikes they normally took.
"I don't have anything for you, but you should have something for me," Aladdin stated. He moved forward and took Shiroe's mage's staff, examining the light brown cedar wood with a hook on the end, making it resemble a crook more than a staff. The once vibrant golden threads Shiroe had woven around it now looked like a dull brown. Aladdin ran his hand down the staff, gathering information. Tiny runes danced around the wood for a moment, lifting from the slits inside the staff and into Aladdin's forehead, where he began to nod. "Ah yes, yes, very good. So a few more hundred alive than we anticipated—good. How are the Dungeons?" He turned his attention to Greed.
Unlike Shiroe, Greed wore a set of pearly white knight's armor, each meticulously waxed to give a bright sheen even in the dim light. His bright red eyes made his pale skin look even more pallid, and a matching white crown floated around his brown hair like a thin halo. His red cape, wrapped around his neck, seemed to be the least taken care of, torn at the edges with small burn holes scattered along the hem. The well-built armor, tailored to fit Greed perfectly, consisted of panels fitting into each other, allowing him to move with ease. The black uniform underneath was barely noticeable with how well the armor melded to his body. His oversized sword stood at his side, its black blade digging into the wooden floor of the hall. Greed lifted his hand from the golden hilt and nodded at Aladdin.
"There were three new Dungeons in Tifton," Greed stated.
"And their status?" Aladdin asked.
Greed shook his head with an arrogant smile. "Would I be standing here if they weren't sealed?"
Aladdin nodded. "Any breaks?"
"One," Autumn Leaf replied. "But I took care of it."
Aladdin smiled. "Ah, good. Anything else I should know?"
Autumn Leaf let out an audible sigh, drawing attention back to him.
His hair was dark black, and his eyes a musty brown. His slightly tan skin complemented the armor he wore, similar to Greed's but resembling more of a robe than armor. It was made of a thin metal that bulked out around the shoulders and chest, cascading into a long cape-like gown at the base. Tightly fit pants shared the same black color as his armor, adorned with patterns of gold etched into his undergarment. The armor itself boasted hardened pieces of gold wrapping around his arms and down onto his hands like gauntlets.
"Sidra isn't doing well," he stated. "It's going to take a while to get it rebuilt. We will need help."
Aladdin smiled, turning his attention back down the hall to the door where Maeve and the others were still conversing. "Don't worry about that; we have it. They may not look it, but they will come together. Sidra will be good as new in no time."
"Besides," Greed boasted, "we can always call on the Dwarves from Ayce. I'm sure they'd love a chance to build an entire empire from scratch."
"Good, you can go with the others and get them," Aladdin stated.
"The others?" Greed asked. "What others?"
Aladdin gestured to the door as it swung open, with Maeve and Menelik leading the group to the end of the hall where Aladdin stood.
"Right on time," Aladdin said to himself. "Ah, Maeve." He stated, his arms wide. "I just stepped out to talk to my friends here. Have you come to an agreement on anything?"
"We have," Maeve stated. She turned to the group. "And I can't ask them to stay and rebuild, but I was able to ask them for a favor."
Menelik took a step forward. "Myself, Idris, and Taharqa are heading to Ayce." He gestured toward Maeve. "We are going to ask the Dwarves to make her another cloak."
"Well, look at that," Aladdin said, turning to Greed. "You got yourself a party."
Menelik's attention turned to Greed. "And you are?"
"His name is Greed," Aladdin stated. "He will be accompanying you to ask the Dwarves if they would like to help us rebuild."
"You're gonna try to convince the Dwarves of Ayce to leave?" Maeve interjected, smiling and shaking her head. "You're joking, right? I wouldn't be sending them there if I could get them to leave."
Aladdin patted Maeve between her horns, then pushed Greed into the group. "They'll come once they hear our proposition."
"And what's our proposition?" Maeve asked.
Aladdin smiled. "They help us rebuild, and they have full access to the gold mines underneath Sidra."
Sukki shook her head and stepped forward. "There aren't any gold mines under Sidra."
"And why is it you say that?" Aladdin asked. "Have you traversed the underbelly of this island in full?"
Sukki shook her head. "Well, no, but we Elves form a connection with every island we find ourselves on, and not once did the island ever mention she had gold."
"And you came here to join the Uthol with your tribe what, five or six years before the Battle of the Four Armies?" Aladdin asked.
"Six," Sukki said curiously. "How did you..." She stopped. "No, how long have you been here?"
"Since before Queen Máire was even a thought in her parent’s freshly born minds, and I have kept this gold safe since," Aladdin replied. "Do you know what gold is quite useful for?"
"I do not," Sukki replied.
"Alchemy," Maeve stated.
Aladdin's focus moved entirely on her. "Correct, and do you know who likes to use alchemy?"
"You. Can we cut the shit?" Menelik interrupted. "Enough with the riddles. There's gold under Sidra, and we are going to use it to pay the Dwarves to help us rebuild. Two plans coming together, awesome. Can we get moving?"
"Why the rush?" Shiroe asked. "It's a five-day voyage regardless of when you leave."
"Which is precisely why I wanna get moving," Menelik replied.
"He hates the cold," Taharqa exclaimed. "He was born from desert sands; cold isn't his forte."
"Well, buddy, you better prepare yourself because it's gonna be fucking cold as cold can get on Ayce. And if we aren't prepared enough, we'll die the second the wind touches our bodies, armor or not."
"You act like I ain't from there. What?" Taharqa laughed aloud. "I'll have you all good and warm, don't worry about that part. You just worry about everything else."
Greed smiled at him and then at the others. It was a diverse cast of Adventurers. It had been a few years, maybe even closer to a decade, since he had seen such a crew. A Dark Elf, a Gargoyle, a Theriocephal, a Teufel, a MoonShadow Elf, an Oni, and an Elf-Vampire Hybrid—quite the group.
"So," Greed stated. "Who all is going with me to Ayce?" He lifted his sword and walked forward, placing the blade's surface onto his shoulder. "I know the Panther and Dark Elf, but who else?" He looked at the group, his eyes focusing on Benny. "The Hybrid?"
Idris stepped forward, moving in between Menelik and Taharqa. "That would be me." He stuck out his hand. "These two don't do well without me."
Greed grabbed hold of Idris’ hand, and without a second passing, he turned his attention to Menelik. "Shall we get going then?"
Maeve watched as they welcomed Greed into their group and headed off down the hall and out of sight. So quickly did they part ways with Oiwa and even Maeve, no goodbyes, just they left, leaving the rest of them to divvy up what they were planning next amongst themselves. Everything was coming together, a lot faster than Maeve had planned for, but she isn't complaining. The faster she rebuilt Sidra, the faster she could get back to Dungeon Crawling. But that wasn't the only thing on her mind.
She believed in Zero more than anyone she had ever met. His luck was astronomically large, unnerving at times just how lucky he could be. But it was accompanied by his sheer and unhealthy determination. This moment, this feat he was trying to pull, it scared her, it worried her. Death is absolute; all living things find their way to it one way or another, no matter how long they live. Even the High Elves of Tzang, with their nearly million-year-old life span, meet their ends. And not once has someone come back, not once has someone been able to find a way to return from the afterlife. The Wandering Wizards, the most powerful and versatile mages in all of Arrithia, can rewrite reality with a snap of their fingers, and even most of them have met their end. Death does not discriminate, and it does not trade.
She thought more about how Zero didn't even have a plan. He rarely did, but for once, she wished he would have thought it through instead of running fist-first. She had always said it would get him killed, but to think that would be the end goal this time, she still couldn't wrap her head around his confidence.
"Maeve," Aladdin stated, drawing her attention back to the moment in front of her. "You look unwell. Is it Zero?"
Maeve nodded, and Aladdin quickly made his way to her. "There, there, child," he stated, rubbing her back. "I understand. And if it's any consolation, I can feel the confidence he has in himself beaming from here, he will be fine."
Aladdin looked down at Maeve. “I’m serious. Not once have I met someone whose plan to conquer death was to punch the embodiment of it in the face until it tells them how to go back. And I can almost guarantee neither has Death. You’ll see Zero again, we all will. His stubbornness radiates, and it will take all nine circles of the Under Gardena to hold him down there forever.” He patted Maeve’s back once more then turned to the rest of the group. Shiroe and Autumn were talking with Oiwa, Sukki, and Benny, each of them smiling as they began to talk about their adventures. Most of the focus was on Oiwa, having lived in the Harvester’s Maze; she was quite the interest amongst the group. Aladdin watched a bit more before it dawned on him.
“Ah, yes, excuse me everyone, there is one more person we need to gather for our little group.”
Shiroe and Autumn smirked, knowing just exactly who Aladdin was talking about.
“Now, you must be gentle when we find him. He has been through a lot and very well might be the last of his kind on the island,” Aladdin stated.
“What is he and what’s his name?” Oiwa asked, a smile etched on her face.
Aladdin joined in her smile and nodded. “He is a Lycan, by the name of Azral.”
Their names are Shiroe, Greed, and Autumn Leaf. Each of them has been by Aladdin's side for nearly twenty-three years now, and each started their adventures on this island, one year after the other. They left the island and made their way across Arrithia, striving to become stronger. Every time their paths crossed, it was because of Aladdin. On the seventh crossing, Aladdin finally convinced them to join him on his own adventure. Little did they know just how much of an adventure they were about to embark on. Even after all this time, they are never too sure where he is taking them next.
"What do you have for us today?" Shiroe asked, pushing his rounded glasses back onto his face. His pale skin was barely lit in the torchlight, but his dark brown eyes were still noticeable. He wore green trousers and a grey sweater, mostly covered by a long white hooded robe tied to his body with a red scarf. His shaggy black hair had a hint of blue in certain lightings, making those unfamiliar with him guess its true color. Silver boots looked out of place but provided sturdiness for the long hikes they normally took.
"I don't have anything for you, but you should have something for me," Aladdin stated. He moved forward and took Shiroe's mage's staff, examining the light brown cedar wood with a hook on the end, making it resemble a crook more than a staff. The once vibrant golden threads Shiroe had woven around it now looked like a dull brown. Aladdin ran his hand down the staff, gathering information. Tiny runes danced around the wood for a moment, lifting from the slits inside the staff and into Aladdin's forehead, where he began to nod. "Ah yes, yes, very good. So a few more hundred alive than we anticipated—good. How are the Dungeons?" He turned his attention to Greed.
Unlike Shiroe, Greed wore a set of pearly white knight's armor, each meticulously waxed to give a bright sheen even in the dim light. His bright red eyes made his pale skin look even more pallid, and a matching white crown floated around his brown hair like a thin halo. His red cape, wrapped around his neck, seemed to be the least taken care of, torn at the edges with small burn holes scattered along the hem. The well-built armor, tailored to fit Greed perfectly, consisted of panels fitting into each other, allowing him to move with ease. The black uniform underneath was barely noticeable with how well the armor melded to his body. His oversized sword stood at his side, its black blade digging into the wooden floor of the hall. Greed lifted his hand from the golden hilt and nodded at Aladdin.
"There were three new Dungeons in Tifton," Greed stated.
"And their status?" Aladdin asked.
Greed shook his head with an arrogant smile. "Would I be standing here if they weren't sealed?"
Aladdin nodded. "Any breaks?"
"One," Autumn Leaf replied. "But I took care of it."
Aladdin smiled. "Ah, good. Anything else I should know?"
Autumn Leaf let out an audible sigh, drawing attention back to him.
His hair was dark black, and his eyes a musty brown. His slightly tan skin complemented the armor he wore, similar to Greed's but resembling more of a robe than armor. It was made of a thin metal that bulked out around the shoulders and chest, cascading into a long cape-like gown at the base. Tightly fit pants shared the same black color as his armor, adorned with patterns of gold etched into his undergarment. The armor itself boasted hardened pieces of gold wrapping around his arms and down onto his hands like gauntlets.
"Sidra isn't doing well," he stated. "It's going to take a while to get it rebuilt. We will need help."
Aladdin smiled, turning his attention back down the hall to the door where Maeve and the others were still conversing. "Don't worry about that; we have it. They may not look it, but they will come together. Sidra will be good as new in no time."
"Besides," Greed boasted, "we can always call on the Dwarves from Ayce. I'm sure they'd love a chance to build an entire empire from scratch."
"Good, you can go with the others and get them," Aladdin stated.
"The others?" Greed asked. "What others?"
Aladdin gestured to the door as it swung open, with Maeve and Menelik leading the group to the end of the hall where Aladdin stood.
"Right on time," Aladdin said to himself. "Ah, Maeve." He stated, his arms wide. "I just stepped out to talk to my friends here. Have you come to an agreement on anything?"
"We have," Maeve stated. She turned to the group. "And I can't ask them to stay and rebuild, but I was able to ask them for a favor."
Menelik took a step forward. "Myself, Idris, and Taharqa are heading to Ayce." He gestured toward Maeve. "We are going to ask the Dwarves to make her another cloak."
"Well, look at that," Aladdin said, turning to Greed. "You got yourself a party."
Menelik's attention turned to Greed. "And you are?"
"His name is Greed," Aladdin stated. "He will be accompanying you to ask the Dwarves if they would like to help us rebuild."
"You're gonna try to convince the Dwarves of Ayce to leave?" Maeve interjected, smiling and shaking her head. "You're joking, right? I wouldn't be sending them there if I could get them to leave."
Aladdin patted Maeve between her horns, then pushed Greed into the group. "They'll come once they hear our proposition."
"And what's our proposition?" Maeve asked.
Aladdin smiled. "They help us rebuild, and they have full access to the gold mines underneath Sidra."
Sukki shook her head and stepped forward. "There aren't any gold mines under Sidra."
"And why is it you say that?" Aladdin asked. "Have you traversed the underbelly of this island in full?"
Sukki shook her head. "Well, no, but we Elves form a connection with every island we find ourselves on, and not once did the island ever mention she had gold."
"And you came here to join the Uthol with your tribe what, five or six years before the Battle of the Four Armies?" Aladdin asked.
"Six," Sukki said curiously. "How did you..." She stopped. "No, how long have you been here?"
"Since before Queen Máire was even a thought in her parent’s freshly born minds, and I have kept this gold safe since," Aladdin replied. "Do you know what gold is quite useful for?"
"I do not," Sukki replied.
"Alchemy," Maeve stated.
Aladdin's focus moved entirely on her. "Correct, and do you know who likes to use alchemy?"
"You. Can we cut the shit?" Menelik interrupted. "Enough with the riddles. There's gold under Sidra, and we are going to use it to pay the Dwarves to help us rebuild. Two plans coming together, awesome. Can we get moving?"
"Why the rush?" Shiroe asked. "It's a five-day voyage regardless of when you leave."
"Which is precisely why I wanna get moving," Menelik replied.
"He hates the cold," Taharqa exclaimed. "He was born from desert sands; cold isn't his forte."
"Well, buddy, you better prepare yourself because it's gonna be fucking cold as cold can get on Ayce. And if we aren't prepared enough, we'll die the second the wind touches our bodies, armor or not."
"You act like I ain't from there. What?" Taharqa laughed aloud. "I'll have you all good and warm, don't worry about that part. You just worry about everything else."
Greed smiled at him and then at the others. It was a diverse cast of Adventurers. It had been a few years, maybe even closer to a decade, since he had seen such a crew. A Dark Elf, a Gargoyle, a Theriocephal, a Teufel, a MoonShadow Elf, an Oni, and an Elf-Vampire Hybrid—quite the group.
"So," Greed stated. "Who all is going with me to Ayce?" He lifted his sword and walked forward, placing the blade's surface onto his shoulder. "I know the Panther and Dark Elf, but who else?" He looked at the group, his eyes focusing on Benny. "The Hybrid?"
Idris stepped forward, moving in between Menelik and Taharqa. "That would be me." He stuck out his hand. "These two don't do well without me."
Greed grabbed hold of Idris’ hand, and without a second passing, he turned his attention to Menelik. "Shall we get going then?"
Maeve watched as they welcomed Greed into their group and headed off down the hall and out of sight. So quickly did they part ways with Oiwa and even Maeve, no goodbyes, just they left, leaving the rest of them to divvy up what they were planning next amongst themselves. Everything was coming together, a lot faster than Maeve had planned for, but she isn't complaining. The faster she rebuilt Sidra, the faster she could get back to Dungeon Crawling. But that wasn't the only thing on her mind.
She believed in Zero more than anyone she had ever met. His luck was astronomically large, unnerving at times just how lucky he could be. But it was accompanied by his sheer and unhealthy determination. This moment, this feat he was trying to pull, it scared her, it worried her. Death is absolute; all living things find their way to it one way or another, no matter how long they live. Even the High Elves of Tzang, with their nearly million-year-old life span, meet their ends. And not once has someone come back, not once has someone been able to find a way to return from the afterlife. The Wandering Wizards, the most powerful and versatile mages in all of Arrithia, can rewrite reality with a snap of their fingers, and even most of them have met their end. Death does not discriminate, and it does not trade.
She thought more about how Zero didn't even have a plan. He rarely did, but for once, she wished he would have thought it through instead of running fist-first. She had always said it would get him killed, but to think that would be the end goal this time, she still couldn't wrap her head around his confidence.
"Maeve," Aladdin stated, drawing her attention back to the moment in front of her. "You look unwell. Is it Zero?"
Maeve nodded, and Aladdin quickly made his way to her. "There, there, child," he stated, rubbing her back. "I understand. And if it's any consolation, I can feel the confidence he has in himself beaming from here, he will be fine."
Aladdin looked down at Maeve. “I’m serious. Not once have I met someone whose plan to conquer death was to punch the embodiment of it in the face until it tells them how to go back. And I can almost guarantee neither has Death. You’ll see Zero again, we all will. His stubbornness radiates, and it will take all nine circles of the Under Gardena to hold him down there forever.” He patted Maeve’s back once more then turned to the rest of the group. Shiroe and Autumn were talking with Oiwa, Sukki, and Benny, each of them smiling as they began to talk about their adventures. Most of the focus was on Oiwa, having lived in the Harvester’s Maze; she was quite the interest amongst the group. Aladdin watched a bit more before it dawned on him.
“Ah, yes, excuse me everyone, there is one more person we need to gather for our little group.”
Shiroe and Autumn smirked, knowing just exactly who Aladdin was talking about.
“Now, you must be gentle when we find him. He has been through a lot and very well might be the last of his kind on the island,” Aladdin stated.
“What is he and what’s his name?” Oiwa asked, a smile etched on her face.
Aladdin joined in her smile and nodded. “He is a Lycan, by the name of Azral.”
