Adventurer's Quest (Ambush) (Patreon)

(Vita's POV)

We searched (Y/N)'s room and questioned staff, but saying we found nothing would have been preferred. No physical evidence, but some stories from the staff on some incidents didn't match up. Some say (Y/N) wanted to leave to go explore the outside and be a great fighter, while others say he was a great studied in the library and talked about having a simple life in this family. There are a few other stories, but the fact of the matter is that one person is telling the truth or everyone is lying. I processed things myself and never took (Y/N) as an eager soul who loves battle like his brother. The only one we didn't question was the king and queen, but with her actions and his actions being different, one was more suspicious... If my suspicions are right then...

Vita-All of these years thinking I was doing good by this family would be for nothing! My honor, my trust-!

Celia-There has to be something we missed.

Vita-It's the only people we did not question! Nothing else is found that could possibly be tied to this!... *Grunt* I refuse to believe this, but with all of these mixed-up stories, the only one who could know anything else will be the king and... I have no idea how to ask him this.

This is killing me and making my heart feel heavy because I know someone is behind all of this and the worst-case scenario is starting to make more and more sense.

((Y/N)'s POV)

*Thud*

I flopped onto Amara after she wanted me to pull on some rope tied to small rocks over a branch of a tree. We started early in the morning and my arms were going to fall off, but now she was holding me and rubbing my back. Grace had her own training while Chelsie was making food for everyone. I looked up to see Amara smiling at me and rubbed my head.

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That's when Chelsie came over, so Amara turned me around, so I could eat... or have Chelsie feed me.

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Chelsie-Open up. ~

I couldn't move my arms without them aching, so I just opened my mouth for her to feed me. Everyone was doing small talk during breakfast, but then someone brought something more important up.

Lillian-So when are we getting to the next town? We need something for the children to stay warm in before the winter.

Luna-I'm not staying in a town with loud people all winter.

Lillian-Well, the castle the children live in is quiet enough.

Amara-A castle full of humans and living by 'their' rules. Absurd.

Zahara-Oh, we can stay in my cave for the winter!

Chelsie-You blew that up.

Zahara-... Oh yeah.

Lillian-Well, I can not accept that we expect these children to be outside in the cold at night.

Hamah-Like a big tent?

The girls talked about a place to really stay and I don't mind staying in one place as long as we can still go on adventures and jobs. I tried to think of something and that's when I thought about the guards. Some are stations in cabins in the forest, but there are bound to be more big cabins near a town for quick trips for food and stuff. I brought this up, but...

Chelsie-Well, we can't take any that are owned by the royal families.

Lillian-But what if their families want to know about their well-being?

Grace-My Daddy never listened to me before. I don't want to see him.

Lillian-... (Y/N), what about you?

I didn't know what to say because I thought about Mother first and how it would be a long time already. I didn't think I would get a team like this and have to pick soon.

(Y/N)-... I mean... My mother would get worried.

I had no idea how to pick a place to live because I thought hotels and inns were going to be it for us. It couldn't be that hard though, right?... Right?

((B/N)'s POV)

*Thud*

I knocked over the nearest thing when I got back to the castle and to the stupid training yard. I didn't even get to keep my iron sword. I just sat down on the fountain really angry at (Y/N) for ruining everything! Soon, I heard footsteps coming after me with high heels, so I looked to see Mother running to me.

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Mother-(B/N)!

She picked me up for a little bit to hug me and then put me down to start checking me.

Mother-Oh, are you ok?! Is your brother ok?! I was so worried for the both of you! Why didn't he come back with you?!

I was not in the mood to talk, but she was. She kept on asking questions again and again without giving me a chance to answer them. The only thing that made her stop was Father coming into the yard and she stood behind me with her hands on my shoulders.

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Mother-Honey, what's next for bringing our youngest home?

Father-He will be fine, Dear. I actually came to speak to (B/N) about what we had planned for him. (Y/N) will be home safely in time.

(Celia's POV)

I am being super sneaky right now in spying on Master and Aurora. Thanks to my hearing, I can stay far away and still listen to them, but I didn't hear anything bad. Nothing he didn't talk about before. It was about the fights to prove (B/N) is a great fight, just not ready for the outside world and when they were done talking, Aurora stayed by he son and doted on him. He never accepted cuddles too well since it was not manly in his eyes which I found to be a little funny. Vita was not here because she was weighing her options for her honor. I then had a great idea.

Celia's mind-I can do another session with Master and talk more about (Y/N) to see how he reacts. He always tells the truth when he gets to pull on my tail and spank me!

Celia-Master!

((Y/N)'s POV)

*SLASH*

Grace used her ice spells to cut open one of the last of the goblins and I got a few by shooting them in the eyes and it went through 3 of them in a single shot. I sent Zahara to burn the nest when Luna finds it. Lillian was surprised when they both transformed in front of her, but thanks her her calming spell, she didn't completely freak out from having it up at the start of the battle. This also made fighting easier to think about. I even felt faster, and stronger, and I wasn't even getting tired. Even Grace's magic was stronger too from what I could see.

Zahara-AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! *ECHO*

(Y/N)'s mind-Zahara?!

I didn't know what could make her scream like that! She is an SSS-rank dragon! I had Chelsie quickly cut the rest down before we all ran to where the screaming was. When we made it to what looked like an entrance of the dungeon I saw Luna in her Fefnir Wolf form still, but Zahara was in her human form and... sitting up in a tree.

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I didn't see any more monsters and her fire was still going in the cave. Why is she so scared?

(Y/N)-What happened?

Zahara-*Gasp*! MASTER!!!

She rushed to me and I managed to see her coming a little from how fast she was. I couldn't get away when she picked me and held me close while crying a little.

Zahara-Master, they were so gross and wouldn't go away! One of them even touched me?!

(Y/N)-Who?

Just then, Amara tapped my shoulder and pointed to the entrance of the dungeon to see a swarm of fire beetles. They do love fire and attack by crawling on and burning you alive, but fire can't hurt a dragon... I guess she doesn't like bugs like I don't like them either, but the calming spell was up, so I didn't feel very afraid. She hid behind me and I heard about these bugs. Not even the hottest fire can hurt them, but all it takes is some water or something to put out their fire. Only problem was is that this what her white fire which is the hottest fire out there, so when Gracve acted on her own with a water spell, it evaporated before it reached them.

(Y/N)-Uh-oh.

Lillian-Extengiush!

Just then the air felt super thin for a moment until a field formed around the bugs. It let them get in to be put out somehow and they slide out from the pile building up. Lillian cast this spell a few more times until all the beetles were dead. Zahara ran to her to gave her a hug.

Zahara-Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Lillian-It was nothing, but... Should they not be able to hurt you that much?

Zahara-But they were so icky and crawly! I woke up one time being covered in them, so I jumped in a river to get them off!

Lillian-Um... There, there. They are gone now.

I looked into the dungeon entrance and thought about what rank this dungeon was. Suddenly, I was nipped by the back of my shirt to be picked up by Luna in her mouth. She threw me up and to Hamah, before I saw a monster burst out from the darkness that I didn't see, but she quickly bit into its head. Blood gushed out and by the time Hamah caught me, Luna swallowed the head of the monster.

Hamah-Ba-Baby!

I looked up to Hamah and she held me like a baby in one arm and her hammer in the other. That's when a bunch of other monsters came from behind us. Amara quickly shot 6 explosive arrows, but that didn't do much to keep the army at bay. There was no more monsters coming from the entrance while the army was closing in... Only one way to go.

(Y/N)-Get to the dungeon!

The army was pushing us inside slowly and Luna ripped a few monsters apart, but even with this power we got from Lillian, it was hard to stop them, even with all of us. That's when Amara shot an arrow at the entrance to cave it in to keep the monsters outside. Lillian cast a see-in-the-dark spell to help us see better... Even with her calming spell, I started to feel scared now and so did Grace. If she didn't have this spell up... I would be a complete mess. I just know it.

Grace-Wh-What do we do?!

Amara-We're not getting out that way. Not without putting you two at risk. I spotted 3 races of highly poisonous A and S-rank monsters. Poison will kill or paralyze you.

My heart sank and I didn't even notice it from things happening so fast. I never saw so many monsters at the same time before! It made me feel sick knowing they were waiting outside. Luna turned back to her human form and landed in front of me on her knees to be on my level for a hug... I didn't even notice I was on my knees before now.

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Luna-It's ok, Puppy. It's ok... ~ That ambush was no accident or flook. There's something deep in here, so it has to be the boss of this dungeon.

Chelsie-We can't take children to a boss! Someone has to stay here and watch them!

Amara-No. Last thing we need is to split up... We make a circle formation. Lillian in the back for support and shielding, Zahara and Luna in the front for firepower and senses to see, smell, or hear what's ahead, Chelsie will be in the middle with Grace and (Y/N) for extra protection, and Hamah and I will have the sides.

I listened to her first and we made the formation she talked about before we went deeper into the dungeon and she gave more orders since I was too scared to.

Lillian-Grace, I want you to channel and focus your power to make a bubble around us. Make sure it's weak enough to be popped easily. It will keep gases out, but let us know if something is close that we might miss. Lillian be ready to put up a strong shield the instant the bubble pops.

She was a good leader... Better than me because she didn't look scared at all... No, she is scared and that's why she is focusing on staying ready for anything. Chelsie put a hand on my shoulder and Grace's shoulder while looking around. When Grace put the bubble up easily...

Lillian-(Y/N), have your bow ready. I trust you know what arrow to use for which monster.

Yeah, she was way better than me, so if we get to vote after this, I want to vote for her as the new leader. My body was shivering a little, so Chelsie picked me up to try and calm me down.

((B/N)'s POV)

I was destroying dummy after dummy in this yard to prepare for my test to prove that I am strong. I wanted the best monster they could give me! While I was training, I pictured (Y/N) as one of these dummies and activated my sword skill.

(B/N)'s mind-Just you wait! I'll get everything you took me from and ore when I am-!

Vita-Your highness.

I turned around to see Vita standing tall and she looked serious right now. It must be about my upcoming test.

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(B/N)-What?

Vita-Do you have a moment for a few questions?