INTO THE WOODS [QUEST/C]

 Ruler didn't hate women. However, there was something about them that made him want to keep a wide berth from them. He wasn't sure if it was because girls were never straight-forward, or because they could get upset at the slightest hint of something.
 Well, not all girls. Truth be told, some of them would beat him in an arm-wrestle competition and then toss him over their shoulder. He didn't believe that was impossible.
 But the girls at school would look at him with the sweetest gaze they could muster, and ask him to accompany them home, or to help them with homework.
 Okay, that was a lie: it had been just the one girl, and she'd asked him out. He'd stammered some excuse back then, a choice he kind of regretted!
 He was reminded of that instance when a pink-haired girl (where'd she gotten the dye from?) accosted him with the same sort of 'pls halp' vibes he had gotten from that girl before.
 Ruler involuntarily winced. "Um... er, sure... I guess." He didn't have any other partymembers, after all, and each quest required one. Still. There was something unsettling about her.
 "Just um... invite me to your party and we can do it together."
 His desire to clear a quest won out over any suspicions he had about the duplicitous nature of girls.





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[HEAVY BREATHING]

DID SOMEONE SAY QUEST?!

Liatris - Let's carry!

 Her sweet and sour demeanor changed into just bright. Had he imagined it? Ruler supposed he might've. It wouldn't have been the first time he'd misread the signs.
 He blinked at the name floating beside her head. Liatris...? How was he even supposed to pronounce that? Ria... to... risu? 
 "Um, yeah... Nice to meet you." He scratched his neck a bit awkwardly. He wondered how long he could avoid using her name.
 When the NPC started moving (and Liatris with her), Ruler followed, catching up at a trot before simply walking. He'd one hand on the grip of his sword, and the other hung by his side. Just holding, touching the blade was comforting when danger could spring out at any moment.
 "Um... I think there'll be monsters. I haven't done this quest before yet, though." Ruler glanced at the party again. Level 1. This was probably going to be a tough one, but so long as she pulled her weight at least a little... it ought to be fine.
 The quiet was a little awkward. There was the rustling in the bushes, and somewhere he heard a bird cry overhead. The rhythmic tap tap tap of their footfalls only served to make him more on edge.
 "So, um... where'd you get the dye for your hair?"

 Ruler hummed and nodded as she spoke about her hair. That made sense. Dyestuffs hadn't dropped for him, though he'd heard there was a monster that dropped some. It was probably the height of vanity to farm for that sort of drop instead of just going for the practical stuff, though.
 When she complimented his eyes, Ruler was a bit startled. 
 "Th, thanks..." the boy mumbled, avoiding catching her gaze. "They actually used to bully me about it. Said I had queer eyes." That kept up until he turned fourteen, and─
 "Ahaha... but enough about that, enough about that!" Memories of the 'prince of all darkness' were washed out of his memory as fast as they'd come.
 "Why'd you dye your hair pink?" he asked, before he could think about it. It was probably rude, but... the game sure torn down the barriers of politeness for him.
 No one was going to scold him here, anyway, and if they did he could force them back with his own strength.
 The NPC trailed behind them, hands folded in front and a serene expression. For someone who claimed to be scared, she seemed to be taking everything in stride.

 He smiled wryly at her compliment. At least someone beside him liked his eyes. It gave character, he thought, and if nothing else, the prince of all─
 "A, anyway! Seriously enough about my eyes."
 He didn't share that bit about himself because he wanted to know more about her. But the scales of balance were tipped back again, and in a way they were similar: neither had a... picture perfect father.
 "Ummm..." Ruler thought the pink looked a bit ridiculous. Honestly, it was like she was one of those otaku. While he did read a manga every now and again, he couldn't claim to be like those chubby fellas who go to sweaty cons and clamour over girls cosplaying.
 "More importantly, let's deal with that first." He pointed further up ahead. Although it hadn't spotted them yet (or if it had, it made no signs of attacking), there was something waiting for them down the path.
 Roots slithered at its base like tentacles. Two large vines portruded from its bulbous torso, swaying gently. Right below the flower bud was a disgusting mouth, from which small drops of saliva were dripping down the rest of its form.
 "Nepenthe," Ruler said quietly, holding his arm up to call a halt to the NPC. "Fought before? What's your gear?"

Liatris

 Ruler had no idea about Liatris's internal conflict. He kept his gaze on the Nepenthe ahead. His voice dropped inbetween whisper and regular.
 "Well, that'll have to do. Just follow me in and attack it when I call to 'switch'," he explained. He pointed at it. "Now, that's a Little Nepenthes. Don't... don't let its size fool you. Its arms have about twice the reach of its height, so about... three and a half meters."
 He unsheathed his sword, holding it calmly. Just a few days ago, Ruler would've been afraid of the monster, but now... He knew there was nothing to be afraid of. These weren't strong at all.
 If he cowered at the sight of these small fry, he'd never be able to reach the top.
 "So once more... I'll go in, follow behind me. The moment I yell 'switch', you lunge forward and unleash a sword art. Then fall back again. We'll split damage between us."
 He grinned.
 "Ready?"
 Without awaiting her answer, the boy lunged forward. Once within four meters of the Nepenthes, the creature sprung to life. Its idle tendrils snapped straight, and it hurled them towards Ruler. The boy sidestepped, the tendril slammed the ground. Dust sprang up around it.
 Three meters. The second tendril grazed past Ruler's side, knocking off a little under 15 percent of the boy's health. Two meters. He lowered the sword. One. Ruler lunged.
 "Haat!" The blade flashed across the creature's torso. It screeched. Health dropped nearly 40 percent.
 "Switch!"

 The girl lunged in for another 10 percent of its health. Altogether, they were good for around 49 percent of its health.
 Three rounds, Ruler thought. That was longer than he'd want to. Nephentes weren't too strong, but if it dragged on for too long... His health just wouldn't last.
 Especially if they'd encounter more.
 The girl's... scream broke him out of serious mode, glancing at her in surprise. Was she seriously running? Was she expecting him to do all the work here?
 "Don't run! Stand your ground!" Ruler shouted. Geez, this is why girls...
 "... should try to be useful!" His thoughts became his battlecry. The blade rang out once more, striking the plant solidly. It withdrew its tendrils from Liatris. Left. Right. Both sides had tendrils.
 Ruler glanced around quickly. Both tendrils came for him. He ducked, shrubbery swishing past him overhead. The boy rolled back, trotted a small distance and whirled 'round. He glared the plant down again.
 "Its aggro is on me! Just go in and finish it!"
 91%. Damage variance was a thing. If she'd do as much damage now as she had before...