Seeds of Discordia

"Welcome. Can I see your Web I.D. please?" the man behind the counter called out as he looked over at Liam.

Liam made his way over to the counter as he pulled out his Web Watch. As he went through the process of getting Silky ready to communicate he tried to get a good look at the man without looking at Val too much. However, as he stared at him he couldn't see any features that told him what he was.

The man wore a hooded cloak that covered his entire head. The darkened area within the hood was so dark that not even a faint outline of the man's eyes, mouth, chin, or mask was able to be seen. This made Liam both concerned and amazed since he had the Dark Sight Racial Benefit that allowed him to peer through the darkness easily. This meant that either the man was using some sort of magic that was high enough in level that worked around his Racial Benefit, or this was something natural and it blocked his Racial Benefit completely.

"Thank you Miss Silky for the introduction of your Fiddler's Spider Web member," The man stated. His voice sounded hollow and had a bit of a reverb to it which sent a slight chill down Liam's spine. The hood moved in a way that told Liam he was looking right at him even though he couldn't see the man's eyes. "Mr. Phantom Cat, may I see your Web Watch to update your success on the last request you have completed?"

Liam was hesitant to do as he was asked for a moment. The man noticed this and inquired, "You are new to this correct?"

Liam nodded. "I am just a bit confused as to how you found out about the last request I did. Along with that I was successful."

The hood moved in a way that indicated the man was giving a slight nod of understanding. "Ah I see. Well, let me enlighten you on this. The place you had taken the request had sent out a message to all Web Branches close to their vicinity to reward you on completing the request you had taken up. Judging by the contents of the request you must have left the city pretty quickly after completing it due to certain circumstances which led the First Leg of that Web Branch to conclude you would need someone from another location to give you your reward. It happens to all members depending on what the request entails. Someone must have sent word about your completion since you did not do so."

Liam nodded as he understood what he was saying. He remembered Eri saying that he didn't need to worry about heading back to that Web Branch to inform them of his success. He was glad he didn't have to go back since he didn't really have a way to go back without trying to make some weird reason to.

He gave the man his Web Watch to go through the process and when the man finished and handed back the Web Watch he informed, "I have a couple more things addressed to you as well." Liam's attention was more on the man as he waited to hear what he had. "First, I have a package for you from Lady Arachne from the Cashat Port Web Branch. How she knew you were coming here I have no idea."

Liam watched as a black fog grew on the counter before dispersing and revealing a small rectangle box. The shape and size looked like it could hold a book or items small enough to fill a book shaped box. He was really curious what was inside the box but tempered his curiosity and placed it inside his inventory. This wasn't the place to open it with prying eyes around. If it was from Lady Arachne then that meant it had something important inside. Whether the importance of the package was an only for you to see kind or not, he really didn't want these two people to see what she had sent his way.

"And the other thing I have for you is a mission specifically requesting you," the man suddenly said, catching his attention even more. "I say a mission, but really it's a Crafting request. As for the details…" the man's hood shifted towards Val's direction as he finished, "You can ask Miss Toxic Songbird here. She is the one making the request."

Liam turned to look at Val. While he had noticed her when he came into the room, he really hadn't taken a proper look. She wore black leather knee high boots with a type of stocking that came up midthigh. The outside of the stocking material was a venom green while the inside was black. She wore a black and neon purple skirt that came down just an inch away from the stocking material, a sleeveless black top with neon green spots that looked like they were spilled across the shirt with a small section of spilled neon green near both shoulders that formed two small birds. A venom green glove that ran up to her elbow on her right arm and a neon purple one on her left. The mask that covered her eyes and down to her nose looked like a fancy bird mask. Her lips had vertical angle lines of neon green and venom purple lipstick.

She gave him a smile as he stared at her before looking at the hooded man and informing, "We will be taking a crafting room if that's alright."

"As you wish, Miss Toxic Songbird," the hooded man said.

Liam watched as she made her way to one of the doors and picked through the features. When the door opened she looked at Liam and asked, "Shall we?"

Liam was a bit hesitant at first but then followed behind her through the door. When they arrived, he noticed there were two rooms. One had a picture of a skull and bones with a poison symbol under it while the other had the words Chemicalized Creations over the door. Liam was curious what she wanted, but at the same time he was also cautious. He knew she knew who he was, but she hadn't said anything that indicated it. He was caught in her web at the moment and needed to be careful.

Before he could ask or say anything, Val pointed at the Chemicalized Creation room and said, "I know you know who I am, and you should have already figured out that I know who you are. Go ahead and change out of your gear and then we can meet back here to discuss some things."

Liam didn't respond verbally. Instead he nodded and then made his way to the room as she made her way towards the Poison Craft room. It wasn't long before both had changed into something more comfortable and made their way back to the room they were just in. She was wearing her casual clothes that she had worn while on the ship. From what Liam could tell she didn't look like she had any weapons on her, but then again a Minstrel didn't really need one when they could use their voice as a weapon.

Val leaned back against the wall and turned her head just enough to look at him. Liam stood where he was near the door of the Chemicalized Creation crafting room. If she tried anything he would step back inside and figure something out. However, from the way she was looking at him to how she was holding herself, he felt like she wouldn't try anything. He knew Eri wanted her to be a follower, but he still didn't know how to go about it. For now he wanted to hear what she had to say and go from there.

"You know…," Val started. "I was pretty surprised to see a fellow Fiddler's Spider Web member suddenly pop up on my Web Watch after you arrived that night." She paused, waiting to see if he had anything to say. When he didn't, she continued, "At first I thought maybe someone was hiding and waiting to attack, but after we all loaded up on the ship and the name remained, I started putting things together. I'm actually more surprised you didn't try to approach me sooner."

"I thought you'd feel like I was setting a trap if I did that," Liam replied. "I mean we were in the middle of a vast amount of water with nowhere to run. I'd at least feel that way if you approached me out of nowhere and suddenly claimed you knew what my alias was."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Val Looked up at the ceiling as she said with an understanding and surprised tone of voice, "Hm, I guess you're right." She then looked back at Liam and said with a light smile, "Thank you for the consideration." That smile then faded as she asked with a slightly serious, slightly worried tone of voice, "So what now? Should I try to make an excuse and see myself out?"

"If that's what you want to do then go ahead," Liam responded crisply. He then took a step forward and added, "But before you decide on that I have a few questions I'd like to ask you. If you don't mind?"

Val waved a hand out as she said, "Sure go ahead."

"As you may have figured out already, but our group is mainly full of newly arrived people," Liam started. "I was wondering if you were also one or if you were a native to this world."

Val looked at Liam for a long moment. She looked kind of skeptical after hearing the mundane question, but still answered, "I am a native."

Liam nodded. "I see. You are like Gimmel then. Okay, next question. How long have you been a member of the Fiddler's Spider Web?"

Val eyed him for a moment before responding, "Almost a year."

Liam nodded once more. "I see. So you have a good grasp on how things work with this Underground Association then."

Even though he didn't phrase it as a question, Val still replied, "I have a better grasp than those you have just started, but not as well as those who have been a member for years. I am still learning some things as I go."

"Okay," Liam said once more giving her a nod. "How old are you?"

Val's patience was starting to run thin. While she had agreed to answer some questions she really wasn't expecting these standard questions. It felt to her like she was being interviewed for something she wasn't even aware of. "Twenty."

Once more Liam nodded. "Are your parents alive? If so do they know where you are and are you still in contact with them?"

Val's irritation suddenly broke as she asked with a testy tone in her voice, "Look I don't know what it is you're trying to figure out, but why are you asking these personal questions? I know you have much better ones you want to ask. Instead of wasting your time asking these mundane questions just ask the ones you want to have answers to."

Liam stared at her for a long moment. His facial expression was schooled, not giving anything away on what he was thinking nor that he was annoyed by her sudden attitude. With an impassive tone he replied, "These questions might seem mundane to you, but they aren't to me."

Val was about to snap back, but stopped as Liam replied, "You make a good fit with our group." He paused, letting her take in those words. "The times we fought together in the dungeon both as a whole group and in different smaller groups showed that you fill in certain aspects we either are lacking or are missing. We don't have a dedicated poisoner in the group and while we do have someone who has a Minstrel class, he is more focused on the instruments aspects while you have both. Sure you lean more heavily on the vocal aspect of the class, but that just means you bring a different outlook."

Val remained silent as she continued to listen to Liam speak. Liam brought a finger up as he continued, "I asked if you were a new arrival or a native because we are basically a group of ignorant newly arrived people. We could use another who is a native and has knowledge we don't." Liam brought a second finger up. "I asked how long you have been a member of this Underground Association because I am basically flailing trying to juggle both hiding my alias here and my non-alias. I still don't know what I should know and should do in certain situations."

Liam brought a third finger up. "I asked your age because its always good to know how old or young someone is so you know what kind of mindset they could or would have. While this isn't always the case, it can help to understand certain habits a person has due to their age." A fourth finger was now raised. "As for the question about your family. Well, after the shit we went through during our Tutorial Area days, we have gotten pretty close. Knowing if you are the type of person who is close to their family or discards them for just any reason would tells us how you would treat someone who would like to get close to you."

Val remained silent as she stared at Liam. She then averted her gaze as she looked embarrassed. Liam waited to see what response she would give him. After a minute more of silence he pressed on, "Like I said earlier, you make a good fit for our group. Seeing as you've been a member of the Fiddler's Spider Web for a while but still view yourself as someone who is still learning stuff tells me you aren't someone who will act like a know it all. I would like to have someone on my side who I can trust during my time doing requests here and make a team with them. After seeing what you can do in a dungeon I believe you have some skills I can work with and maybe mesh well, especially when another finally decides to join. The others in the group also agree that you would make a good fit. They would like you to join our group too."

Val's eyes snapped up as she turned her focus on Liam. "Do they really?"

Liam nodded. He waited for a moment before saying, "Look, I don't know why you decided to follow us. I know Uncle Naro is a bear of a man, but he wouldn't force you to come if you didn't want to. I and the others don't want you to feel pressured either. The choice is and will always be yours to make. However, I would like to point out that you did follow us, well maybe them since I didn't and still don't really know you. Which was why I wanted to ask after those questions…why did you?"

Val looked hesitant at first. Her jaw moved a few times, but nothing came out. After a few minutes of fumbling around, Liam said, "If its something you don't really want to say then that's fine. After all you don't owe me an explanation."

"That's not it!" Val quickly stated. Her suddenness shocked her as she looked abashed and averted her eyes.

Liam raised a brow as he waited for her to continue. When she finally looked at him and saw the look he was giving her she let out a breath of air and said, "Its…complicated."

"I understand complicated. Probably a lot more than you know. So…try me," Liam said with a warm smile on his face. "If its something funny though I make no promises that I won't laugh."

Val stared at Liam unsure what to make of him. While she wanted to laugh at that last bit she was also confused by the first part of what he said. She thought it over for a long moment once again, warring with herself on whether or not to trust him and tell him what she was thinking. Finally she said, "Alright. Its going to sound lame though." She then let out a sigh as she informed, "I felt…welcomed."

Liam stared at her. He knew there was a story there and wanted to know more, but instead of pressing her to continue he waited. He didn't have to wait long as she continued, "They gave me the ticket that I assume was yours without asking for anything in return. Sure I helped give Mercer and Ariyana what they needed in order to evolve their class, but the sheer joy they radiated when they got it and the way they hugged me to thank me had me thinking maybe I could become friends with them. Not long after the concert the attack happened. While I wasn't a part of your group they still made sure that I was protected as well. Like…"

Val looked at Liam. He was surprised at what he saw in her eyes. There was pain, longing, and hope. Like someone who had gone through a lot and was given a thread as a lifeline. A thread she understood was thin and could break just from the simplest of things. A longing to keep hold of that thread and hope that it wouldn't snap.

Liam understood very clearly. While he knew there was a story behind those emotions in her eyes, he also knew he wasn't sure he was the right one to hear it. However, he was the only one there so he couldn't back down now.

"Like…they made me feel like I was one of them and they protected me because they wanted to not because they had to," Val finished. "I've been on my own for a long time after I received my starting class. I don't really know what it is like being in a group. But in that moment before you showed up and we all escaped…I really wanted to know. I think a part of me came because I was hoping I could be a part of your group." Liam was about to say something, but stopped as she continued, "But at the same time I am also scared."

Liam was confused. "What are you scared of?"

Val looked at him with that look of struggling whether or not she should tell him or not. After a few seconds she gave him a look that told him that she had already came this far so why not. "You asked about my family…I do have a mother and father. They don't know I am a member here. In fact they don't know where I am. I ran away not because I hate them, but rather because I was scared."

"What are you scared of?" Liam repeated.

"You see I am a half breed. While some half breeds no one really cares about, there are some people misunderstand. Especially when one half of you belongs to a race that has caused a lot of problems," Val stated. She let out another sigh as she said, "Here let me show you and maybe you'll understand."

Liam watched as horns suddenly started to grown between her hair on the side of her head and curled. A pair of small deep purple wings also sprouted on her back. While they were small they had a very distinct and familiar look to them. A look Liam hadn't seen in a while. The tail that grew behind her sealed the deal on what she was talking about. She was a Succubus.