Endilix

Endilix darted through the crowd of people, bumping against people as he went, only weighed down by his armor. Though his armor was still fluid enough that he was able to keep a good pace, he saw the thief pulling away and cursed, before quickly opening his HUD. He quickly pressed the button to unequip his armor, lightening his load significantly as his brown tunic flowed in the wind, free of its constriction. Endilix picked up his speed, digging his feet into the ground and launching himself forward as him and the thief both broke free of the crowd. The thief turned for only a moment, but that moment was all Endilix needed as he dove for the boy and tackled him to the ground. Both parties gave a grunt as a dust cloud flew up in the air around them.

Endilix coughed as the dust settled to see the boy beneath him, shaken and wide-eyed. "Gotcha, thief," Endilix practically spat at the boy, frowning.

Endilix hadn't been expecting an ambush out here in the open. He supposed that's what they got for discussing this the way they had, although what struck Endilix was odd was when Raz shouted that they were NPCs. But Endilix had little time to think as this gave him free reign on the enemies. He quickly had his shield at the ready, and as the man behind him came at him, Endilix slid out of the way and gave a roar that shook the nearby trees. The thieves gave a snarl as the one who had tried to grab Endilix slid a curved blade from the sheathe at his side. He smiled, a gold tooth glinting in the sunlight. Endilix raised his shield and gave his own grin, ready for combat.

*** Combat Results ***

Endilix walked up to Raz at the gate and gave him a sour look. "You're in an awful good mood today, I see," Endilix said, folding his arms across his chest. He looked up at the taller redhead and sighed, "Well alright then. Let's get this over with before you start to smell like me too. We can't have that. That'd just confuse people like Flints." He gave a laugh and patted the young man on the back, pushing him forward into the prairies. "Find me an elf, and I'll tank it. You know how this goes."

Endilix watched as Raz burst out of the blacksmith shop and out towards the gates. He was surprised that Raz didn't blow the door off of its hinges with the speed at which he went, without running. Endilix sighed and shook his head. I suppose Raz wants this done. But Endilix picked himself up off the wall and made his way after the thief. Goodness knows the boy would get himself locked in battle with the quest mob all by his lonesome and get himself killed. Although, maybe not, seeing as Endilix had given him the armor he was wearing. Not that Raz had any real appreciation for that fact considering they were out getting new armor for the boy. But Endilix shrugged and made his way towards the gates where he would meet with Raz once again.

Endilix was intently focused on the poet as he spoke, despite that he couldn't hear the words from where they were standing. The man was a bit mesmerizing in an odd way. The way his mouth articulated the words and the way he moved his hands. It was almost as if he was trying to keep all attention to himself, almost as if he was some sort of distraction. Endilix blinked, and brought himself back for a moment, before looking down at Aster, a frown on his face. "Aster, don't get too absorbed in what's happening. You're liable to miss something..." Endilix said, thought his last few words trailed off as he looked past Aster to see a small hooded figure moving through the crowd, away from her. Endilix noticed a small rope hanging from Aster's belt, and a pouch in the hands of the moving figure.

Endilix growled, shouting, "STOP THIEF!" and the hooded figure turned, wide-eyed. This was only for an instant though, as the hooded figure was then running through the crowd, bumping and pushing through people as he made his escape. Endilix growled again and ran in pursuit, and before anyone knew, chaos had ensued as people began to check their belongings and scatter.

Endilix folded his arms across his chest, not pulling away from Flints, though hardly giving much of a reaction. "We're not murderers Raz. Right, Kita?" Endilix asked, hopeful as he looked down at the woman, though her bloodlust was certainly odd. Perhaps it's just a morning thing. She always did just want to eat the juiciest steak in the morning... Endilix shook his head with these thoughts, clearing his mind as he continued, "And we're not keeping any loot. We're going to give it back to the rightful owners. Come now, we're supposed to be heroes. Or I am. Saving Aincrad one good deed at a time and all that." Endilix sighed, "But if they're players, I don't want to kill them. They're people too, and as we've learned with Raz here, not all of them are bad. I hope you can see that, Kita."

Endilix had hardly managed to contain his laughter at Flints' mumbling and grumbling along the way, but he hadn't honestly been paying all that much attention to the fact that the woman wasn't wearing her usual combat attire. Endilix turned as Raz began to speak and look over Flints, before cocking his head. As Raz talked about admiring the view, Endilix gave him a hard elbow and folded his arms, glaring at the man. "Trust me, even without the armor on she can still tear you to shreds, don't forget that." Endilix sighed and brought things back to the matter at hand, "Now, a warehouse, full of thieves? Now, I really hope you don't expect us to go in guns blazing, because I'm not up for becoming an orange player today. I would guess these are all actual players, right?"

As had been promised, Endilix told Flints of their next adventure and at dawn they went. Endilix hadn't gotten any sleep, and he hadn't really wanted to. Nor was he really all that tired. Razum-dar told them of a lead, a supposedly abandoned warehouse on this floor that housed thieves of the thieves guild. That was good enough for Endilix, as he made his way, presumably with Flints in tow. Endilix whistled a bit, surprisingly chipper despite recent events, and walked like a man determined as he made his way, until he saw Raz the thief standing in a small clearing in the forest, as his map designated. Endilix nodded, and walked up to Raz, giving a light bow, "Glad to see that I can actually trust you to be away for a night without running away entirely. I suppose some thieves do have honor."

Endilix had been lost in his thoughts as he stood, watching the world slowly pass in front of him. He had been so lost that he hadn't actually heard the door open behind him, and as Flints grabbed him around the waist, he instinctively reached for his hammer that wasn't hanging from his belt, forgetting that he only had his tunic and pants on. He sighed, before relaxing as Flints warm, sleepy voice made its way to his ears.

"Unfortunately, I can't protect you from yourself, but I can still watch, and wait, to make sure that any other demons meet a terrible fate." Endilix turned his head to look at the woman, but he couldn't see more than a leg and some hair from her being behind him. "No monsters came, thankfully. It would have been a long fight until you came to tear them apart. Goodness knows I wouldn't do enough damage." Endilix chuckled, "Also, the steak was good. Even though it was cold, and had been thrown off the table."

Finally Endilix looked back out to the horizon, "I'm not tired, to be honest. My brain won't rest. A part of me just wants to get back out there and adventure some more. Go back to being a hero. I have no place in this home or any other."

As Endilix walked along, he had managed to pick up an orange from a nearby stall, and had begun peeling it and popping orange slices into his mouth, as he considered this girl he had managed to spirit away to his side for the afternoon. "Better to explore here in the city than out in the wilds, I suppose. Just be careful of pickpockets and thieves. Always keep your items in your inventory, where they are safe," Endilix said offhand, remembering the thieves that prowled around the cities of each floor. He shook his head, and did a double take at where Aster had been looking. She was looking at the stage where Raz was, and though he had been doing his best to avoid looking at the man since he had stopped moving through the crowd, it appeared that the girl had given him a reason to.

Endilix stopped, and turned with a smile, "Interested in the poet are you? At least, I'm assuming that's a poet. We can go over and take a look, if you would like."

Endilix stood watching the quiet night of the 2nd Floor outside. He had been expecting for Flints to come out and talk to him, but the door behind him did not move. Endilix supposed that was for the better. He needed time to cool down and be with his thoughts. Who he was and who he needed to be, and who he had become. Endilix had gone from an aloof, carefree individual, and turned into a stoic knight. He had always had that part of him inside of him, he just had never really had a reason to partake in it. A reason to fight, and a reason to put aside his carefree nature. But then he had met Flints. He had found that reason to fight, but it had turned out to be fleeting. Why did he still fight? For the same reason he had begun. Now Endilix just had to be a hero for everyone. Endilix vowed to stand strong when everything was crumbling around him, here and now.

Over the course of the night, Endilix kept his eyes on the horizon. He knew that nothing would happen, but he promised to do a duty. After a bit, he went inside to the small home, and picked up the food, before bringing it back outside. It had gotten cold, but Endilix didn't mind. It was still better than anything else he had eaten in the past few weeks. He put it down and took the plates back inside, before returning to his post. He folded his arms behind his back, and simply waited for morning, as was his duty for the evening.

Endilix wasn't sure what normal Endilix was anymore. He had changed so much since he had started this game. Was normal Endilix even still around? Had he died when he had fallen in love, and forsaken the aloof, carefree man who would do nothing but sleep with women and not give a care in the world about what the next day brought? The only Endilix left was the White Knight. The only Endilix left was the hero that he needed to be, and the man that everyone else needed him to be. The Endilix that Flints knew had left the day she did, the day she never returned.

Endilix hadn't responded to her words, and had just watched as Flints placed the food on the table. Was he really hungry now? He saw her only place the food on one end of the table, despite it being a meal for the both of them. Endilix shook his head. "I won't eat then. You need to eat, and get your energy up." Endilix stared at the table, then at Flints, but he still couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes. Endilix was gone. All that was left was the White Knight. The only reason Endilix had stayed was in hopes that Flints would come back someday.

Endilix closed his eyes and took a deep breath, before wordlessly turning and walking out the door. He didn't go anywhere except right out the doorway. He had promised to keep watch, and so he would. Endilix would be the knight he promised to be. That was all he had left now.

Endilix let Flints lead him to the couch, though he tried his best to avoid looking at her, seeming to find anything else more interesting than the woman in front of him. This was his affirmation. This was him being forced to realize what he tried so hard to ignore.

"It'd probably be best if we ate. I'll talk if you want." Endilix sat back on the couch, still not wanting to meet Flints' eyes. He had wanted to believe that things could be different. That the first woman he had ever loved would turn out to be the last. But here she was, never to return to how things were. Endilix stood back up again, uneasy. "If you want me to, I'll stay up to make sure that everything is okay. I've gone plenty of sleepless nights grinding out in the field since you left. Training my mind to cope with this game. With loss and what it's like being alone, being even without Emerath." Endilix stared at the floor, the hard lump in his throat refused to leave. Here he was being selfish again. Just like he had all the times before.

"I apologize. Acting like this isn't very knightly. Or very much like me." Endilix turned to Flints, his normal smile returning, "I'll be okay. I always am. That's what being a hero is all about. Smiling in even the worst of times, for anyone who needs it."

Endilix gave a sigh, as he walked behind Flints to the place she now called home. The man hadn't wanted to admit this existed, but here it was, and here he was, in Flints' new home. Endilix looked around the small place, before focusing his eyes on Flints, and the clothes she wore under her armor. The simple faded blue shirt. Endilix blinked as it sank in, realizing that it was the same shirt he had been describing only moments before. "Wild women never forget..." Endilix said in a melancholy tone as he watched her move about the place, setting up plates for their dinner. Endilix looked at his HUD and unequipped his own armor, hammer, and shield, leaving him with just a simple brown tunic and a pair of black pants.

Endilix couldn't really bring himself to speak further after his realization that after all this time, after her marriage, after all of that, she still wore the shirt he had given her. Endilix had always said he had never stopped loving her, but it was her way of showing that at least a part of her had never stopped loving him. Finally, giving a hard swallow to the lump of emotions rising in his throat again Endilix managed, "It's... it's lovely. Not quite as cozy as my bar, in my opinion, but I suppose it does what a home should do." Endilix gave Flints a wink and a smile, before looking away and looking around, trying not to let Flints see the emotion in his face.

Endilix chuckled as Flints seemed to be uncertain of how to handle a guest. "Food sounds nice, I'd be fine eating anything, though I could go for a good steak." Endilix gave Flints a wink, hopeful that the mention of her favorite food would cheer her up a bit, as he continued, "Imagine how it was for me my first time I had a guest. Here I was, this girl, half dead from being beaten to a bloody pulp by my twin brother after practically flirting with her in a random little NPC shop." Endilix smiled to her, "There she was, asleep on my couch, recovering from the night, and while I made her breakfast, she just suddenly woke up tearing up her shirt." Endilix started to laugh, "I doubt she remembers it, but I gave her a shirt that day, and for the longest time she never wanted to take it off." Endilix got a bit red, thinking of the breakfast they had shared after the first time he had ever seen her beautiful bronze skin in more than just fleeting glances. That was the first time Endilix had ever had any sentimental value in an item, especially an item as simple as a shirt.

Endilix shook his head, and tried his best to swallow his emotions as he looked to Flints, "In any case, having a stately knight for a guest can't be any worse than that wild woman. So steak?"

"I'm Endilix, the White Knight," he said simply, as his eyes continued to scan the crowd past Aster. It appeared that Raz had settled in a spot and a potential target, and so Endilix took the time to focus on the girl in front of him. "So, what brings you to the festival? I'm personally doing a bit of recon, and you seemed like you needed some company. Cute girls shouldn't go wandering around in big crowds all alone." Endilix continued to smile as he considered the girl. Starter clothes, glasses, seemingly shy. A bookish type of girl, which Endilix was fine with. It was good change of pace from the stiff friendship that him and Raz had formed and from the wild chaos that tended to be Flints and her actions. Not that he minded either of those, but sometimes a break is needed. Endilix chuckled to himself, and then considered that he was still talking to the girl and probably just ended up confusing her even more. He recovered, his eyes settling on hers once more, "I apologize, just thinking a bit of my friends."

Endilix nodded to Flints' answer about the symbolism of the man she called, "The Golden Boy". Endilix smiled at the idea of a golden phoenix on his armor, and found it fitting. "A phoenix always rises from the ashes. Zelrius may be gone, but his legacy will live on forever, if he's the hero you say he is." Endilix thought about the other person who died, and wondered if that man was a hero as well, but that isn't something that Flints would be able to answer. For now, being able to carry the legacy of someone close to Flints was good enough for Endilix.

He could see the anguish in Flints' eyes, and he could see that she couldn't promise him what he needed to know most. In response to her question, Endilix gave a nod. "I'd be honored to stay the night as a guest. It'd give me peace of mind anyway." Endilix squeezed her arm lightly and gave her a smile, "I already told you once, I'll never leave your side again if you don't want me to."

Endilix stopped when Flints did, and looked into her eyes as she spoke. She spoke highly of this man, as if he was a hero. The type of hero that Endilix had always wanted to be. Endilix placed his hand on his chest, when she mentioned that the armor he wore had been given to her by this man. Zelrius evidently had his hands in many parts of Aincrad, far reaching or close to home. He was a man who had evidently meant more to Flints than even Zelrius had known. "Well, in his honor I'll continue to wear this armor with pride. Did he have a symbol, or something to identify him? I'll get it painted on the armor, in his memory."

Endilix sighed, there were a lot of questions he wanted to ask Flints about this news, such as why, or how, but Endilix supposed none of that mattered at the moment, and to those who it did matter, he was certain it was being handled. But the important question was, "Are you going to be okay? It's not that I don't care about anyone else in your life, but I don't know them. But you are a part of my life, and I need to know that you'll be okay, because you can't be okay for others if you can't even be okay for yourself." Endilix placed his hand on her arm, staring into her eyes, "Promise me that you'll be okay."

Endilix followed Flints, listening to her words, but wholly unprepared for them. First, was the mention of a player's death. That immediately put a lump in Endilix's throat. The idea of anyone's death would do that, even if Endilix had no idea who they were. Though Endilix had an idea, at the very least. News was released of the Frontlines and their roster occasionally, and so Endilix knew the names, even if he didn't know the people. Endilix knew that death on the Frontlines may be inevitable at times, but seeing it so close to home... that was always a different story. Endilix continued to follow Flints, listening to each word, no matter his own personal feelings, his entire aloof nature seeming to have evaporated in an instant, replaced by a hardness in Endilix's heart.

Finally, when Flints had finished, Endilix grabbed her hand, not wanting to lose her entirely as she sped up through the forest in her frenzied emotions. He tried his best to keep pace, but he had no idea what to say, if anything should even be said. Finally, Endilix managed, "Was he a good man? This Zelrius?"

Endilix walked alongside Flints in perfect silence besides the birds in the trees and the wind rustling through the leaves around them, until she finally spoke. Endilix had wanted to talk to her, but he also didn't want to push her to do so. If his company had been enough, then that would be enough. When she talked about being strong enough to go home, and how Endilix didn't have to do these things, Endilix turned to her and smiled. "I know you can kill any monster that comes your way between here and there. You dispatched those bats very easily, and even with style. To the point that I'm even a bit jealous," Endilix said with a light chuckle, before continuing. "But you can't always get rid of the monsters in here," Endilix pointed at his head, "and in here..." Endilix pointed to the scar on Flint's chest, indicating her heart. "You don't have to explain anything to me. I just wanted to make sure the demons inside of you didn't eat you. The demons out here... I could care less about, and I know you feel the same."

Endilix turned back to the two after Flints went back to Raz and rested his hand on his hammer. He saw something deep in Flints' eyes. A sadness that he had never seen before. Endilix wondered what could have caused that, and figured if she wanted to, she'd tell him eventually. But now was not that time. Endilix sighed and walked over to Flints, placing a hand on her shoulder, and the other on Raz's, looking at both of them. "Good work today, for everyone involved. And thank you." Endilix looked to Raz, "Take the girl home, and make sure she's safe. I'll message you later and we'll talk about our next steps. Don't go far though."

Then Endilix turned to Flints, and put the other hand on her other shoulder as he stood in front of her and looked her in the eyes. Despite it being dark, he could see the beautiful green he had always loved. "I'll walk you home. I'd like to talk along the way. It doesn't have to be about what troubles you, we can talk about whatever. But let me make sure you're home safe."

And before she could argue, Endilix moved to Flints' side, and took her hand softly, leading her out of the cave with a warm smile.

*** Thread Summary ***

• All players receive +2 SP (1 Quest and 1 Thread) and +216 Col (83 Loot and 133 Thread)
• 2 Materials placed in the Shared Friend Inventory of Flints and Endilix
• ID: 56688 LD: 2
  • 50 Extra Col for Quest Completion
  • +16 Col to each player

Endilix couldn't help but chuckle at the girl in front of him. He kept an eye on Raz as he got farther and farther away, and didn't want to let him out of his sight, so he said, "Come, walk with me. Free of charge. I'm not a knight for hire, just a White Knight who can't help but enjoy the company of a pretty face." Endilix grabbed an apple from a nearby stall as he started to walk off, before handing it to the girl and dropping some Col on the shopkeep's stall counter, still tracing Raz through the crowd. It helped that the boy was a redhead, and that despite as common as they seemed in his little group, weren't all that common as a whole. "What's your name?" Endilix asked offhand, as he turned and flashed the girl his best smile.

Endilix scratched his head at Flints, before shrugging. He was happy that they had finished the combat, as he followed after the woman who barreled onwards with the mission. "Kita, are you okay?" Endilix asked, as he managed to catch up to the woman, "I didn't mean to fluster you. I'm happy with the way that went, especially with Raz in tow as low level as he is." Endilix put a hand on Kita's arm and sighed, "I apologize. Let's find the kid and get out of here." Endilix pulled away and looked around the darkness as they walked, unsure of where the kid would be hiding. A part of Endilix expected more, but nothing he'd ever heard about this quest indicated that it was dangerous. The bats must have been the worst of it...

*** Additional Notes ***

Endilix watched as Flints brought the bat down to a sliver of its health. He raised an eyebrow as he swatted aimlessly at the bat flapping around his head after it had recovered from the attack. She didn't kill it. Perhaps she has a soft spot for Raz and is trying to have him finish it? Endilix chuckled and shook his head, swatting at the bat some more as it flapped around. Endilix could hardly see it, and once he caught the gist of what Flints was doing he turned and gave her a wink, before readying his shield once more.

*** Combat Results ***

Endilix grinned at his little party. As dysfunctional as they may be on the outside, they were able to cooperate where it really mattered, and that was in combat. Seeing the lone little bat flutter around, Endilix thought he'd keep it confused if he could by giving another guttural roar at the large beast, as it fluttered around aimlessly, confused by the death of its friend. It screeched loudly and flew around Flints, trying to dodge the sharp metal claws and trying to keep itself focused on its true target. Endilix simply grinned and kept his shield at the ready.

*** Combat Results ***