Zectas Volume I: Enigmatic Village of Nanahuatl (12 page)

 

Smoke excitedly inspected his first BOSS loot.

 

 

 

 

After inspecting the amulet he quickly equipped it and activated its ability 'Regeneration' he saw a faint green light and felt a soft hot wind covering his body.

 

 

With his health fully rejuvenated Smoke finally got to do his original quest. He started gathering the needed root crops.

 

 

Before leaving the Mandragora Forest, Smoke decided to gather some of the mandragora flowers that were scattered all over the 3rd layer. He thought that these flowers must have some amazing property after all a whole forest was named after it.

 

 

On the way out of the forest in the second layer. Some of the orchid mantises were respawning since Smoke had already destroyed most of the flowers that served as their camouflage there was no place for them to hide.

 

 

He switched back to his bow and arrows and quickly dealt with the 50 orchid mantises that were blocking his way. Among the dead carcasses he found another loot, it was their deadly scythe like front legs.

 

 

Making sure to pick up all of the loot before heading towards the first layer. Smoke didn't even bother with the poison slimes since he wanted to return to Nanahuatl Village as soon as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of taking his usual path towards Darius' house Smoke headed towards Franz's house. He brought out a lot of sacks filled with different kinds of root crops. Franz was ecstatic, he was worried since Smoke took so long. Franz hurriedly gathered every member of his family to greet Smoke.

 

 

"In the presence of all the members of the Briars, I Franz Briar turn over our family token to Smoke."

 

 

Franz took out a small wooden rake and wooden plow intertwined together and gave it to Smoke.

 

 

"As is the custom. Smoke you are now the official clan head of the Briars. We will follow your will no matter what it is."

 

 

+ Received Briar's family token

 

 

 

"No wonder you were so hesitant to give me your family token. My dear Briars as your new Clan Head I promise to treat you with the respect that you just-fully deserve and also swear to never abuse my authority."

 

 

The quest proved more difficult than originally expected but it did result in a lot of wonderful things. Smoke was now level 43 and more powerful than ever.

 

 

He excitedly headed towards the next family token. The family of Hide.

 

 

 

 

The History of Jackal & Hide

 

 

The recovering village of Nanahuatl looks serene and calm. The old broken doors were now replaced with new ones. The trees and the bushes in their respective yards were trimmed. Signage on the different establishments were being put up again.

 

 

The fountain at the center of the village was painted with immaculate white. The agricultural fields maintained by the Briars were plowed and planted with root crops. Kids and grown ups could also be seen playing near the fishing weirs that was constructed with armored armadillo carapace.

 

 

Although conventional commerce has yet to return because of the shortage of zecs the residents just got by through trading of items and services. Of course there are a lot of residents who give out their services for free, like Darius who has taken on a group of teenagers under his wing teaching them the way of the bow.

 

 

Yes, things were looking up for everyone in Nanahuatl Village. Yet amidst all this happiness two individuals were secretly having a meeting. A meeting of the dubious kind. The members of this secret meeting were the clan heads of the Jackals and the Hides.

 

 

Earlier that week Smoke just arrived from Mandragora Forest. After completing his quest and receiving his 2nd family token he immediately headed for the house of James Jackal the clan head of the Jackal family.

 

 

James is an elderly man but did not look frail at all. If Smoke didn't know that James' job was a Tailor he would have thought for sure that this NPC was a Warrior.

 

 

"Why hello there young hero. I have heard that you took on the Briar's quest of gathering root crops? I expect that you've returned here telling him that it is impossible to defeat that guardian tree ent? Or perhaps you've come here looking for reinforcements to aid you on your quest?"

 

 

James Jackal was smiling but somehow Smoke felt like he was being questioned for the crime of the century. Smoke also felt odd because just before accepting Franz's quest James was very pleasant to talk to.

 

 

"Well I was lucky enough to have completed that quest. Darius was also a big help giving me a bow and the ember stone."

 

 

"What?! You managed to defeat that ReenTe?! He had such an immense health. How many people did you take from the village to help you? Did you hire some mercenaries?"

 

 

"No no no. I was fortunate enough to have defeated ReenTe by myself. Although if ReenTe did manage to hit me one more time, I would have surely died."

 

 

"I see. I see. So what can I do for you then Smoke, slayer of ReenTe?"

 

 

"Well I don't know if you've heard but I've received a quest from Darius and as such I've started collecting the family tokens in Nanahuatl Village."

 

 

Smoke felt really awkward. He use to speak comfortably with James. In fact next to Darius it was James Jackal and Howard Hide who were really friendly towards him.

 

 

"Yes I've heard. So I suppose you want our family token now as well?"

 

 

"Yes I would like to humbly ask you for your family token. I know that it is a very precious item but I'm willing to do anything in order to get it."

 

 

"Anything? Be careful of the things you say Smoke. I might take you up on that offer."

 

 

"Please if you could tell me what could be enough compensation for your family token. I'm sure that what ever you say will be a fair deal on my end."

 

 

"Very well, come here by the end of the week and we will talk."

 

 

"Alright then, see you by the end of the week and thank you for listening to my request."

 

 

Smoke then headed towards Darius' house. Darius was packing a lot of food and other necessary items for the long journey towards Coatl city. He was sending the 8 teenagers to become archers. They have also been instructed to find the advance job variations from the archer job.

 

 

"Wow that's a lot of stuff and you've prepared all 8 bags. I'm sure those eight will make you proud Darius."

 

 

"I know. I'm sure they will do great. Maybe even become legends in their own right."

 

 

"I bet. Anyway I wanted to show you some of the loot I've gathered."

 

 

Smoke took out the items from his bag. The scythe like front legs of the orchid mantis, some kind of green squishy balls from the poison slime, and the questionable mandragora flowers.

 

 

"Wow this is quiet a haul. Just how many do you have of these items?"

 

 

"Well I have 5,000 pcs of green slime balls, 2,000 pcs of mandragora flowers and just 500 pcs of front legs of the orchid mantis. I only managed to bring 500 pcs of the front legs because these things are heavy and carrying any more made me encumbered."

 

 

"Of course these things are heavy. These front legs can be crafted into weapons. I think if crafted well one mantis blade can be as much as 10,000 zecs."

 

 

Smoke not having the opportunity to browse the items sold in the main cities had no idea if it was cheap or expensive. He only nodded his head in response to Darius' enthusiasm.

 

 

"That sounds impressive. What about the other items can you tell me something about them? Especially the mandragora flowers. I thought that they might be a used as medicine or something."

 

 

"First these green slime balls are called poison pellets these things are the source of the poison from the poison slimes. These mandragora flowers however are not medicinal plants as you have thought earlier. This things are dangerous. You see this plant induces hallucinations and nightmares. It was a good thing these flowers were not crushed during your travel or you would've been one of its victims."

 

 

"Ohhh, and here I thought I was gonna add it to the medicinal rabbit stew. Good thing that I showed it to you first then."

 

 

"Well I do have a container for some dangerous things like this. Wait here while I get it for you."

 

 

"You sure do have a lot of useful stuff Darius."

 

 

"Well with my job you tend to get a lot of things. Some of them maybe nice, others maybe useful, but most of them are just junk."

 

 

One of the perks of Darius' hidden job was getting a lot of useful items. Smoke was so excited to get the hidden job. If only the other clan heads was just like Darius and would give him their family tokens without the hassle of quests.

 

 

"I see. I can't wait to have the same job as you do Darius. It really sounds intriguing. Can you tell me the name of your job again?"

 

 

"Of course I can tell you. My job is that of a ..... hey wait a minute. You're trying to trick me into giving out my job without completing the quest. That was quiet sneaky of you Smoke."

 

 

"Damn, I thought for sure you were gonna tell me. Aren't you suppose to tell me everything you know and answer anything I ask?"

 

 

"It's good to have some mysteries in life Smoke. Once you've completed the quest you will know what 'our' job is. So have you spoken to James or Howard yet? Have they given you their quest?"

 

 

"Yeah about that, I spoke to James and he told me to come talk to him after a week. It also felt strange and awkward talking to him. Does it have to do with me completing Franz's quest?"

 

 

"That is an intelligent guess and most likely correct. We can't know for sure, unless you ask him yourself."

 

 

"I guess that means I have one week to do something else. Right about the mantis blades do you think you can manage to craft them?"

 

 

"Why yes of course I can. However with this much work I feel like I should be getting paid. You are my dearest friend and all but I have to make a living as well. Would it be alright with you if I charge you 500 zecs each for these mantis blades?"

 

 

"You're only gonna charge me 500 zecs for an item that can become 10,000 zecs? That sounds a bit to harsh to me. I think 5,000 zecs each would be a fair price."

 

 

"But at that price that would amount to 2,500,000 zecs do you have that kind of cash?"

 

 

"Yeah I have some saved up zecs besides didn't you tell me that I could sell those off for 10,000 zecs once your done crafting them into mantis blades? At that return that investment is cheap."

 

 

Smoke having no need for zecs at the moment wanted to help out Darius in the most subtle way. Darius had been a great help to from the very start of his ZECTAS life.

 

 

"Wow that is really generous of you, thank you Smoke. Ummm.... I know that this sounds presumptuous even when you've already increased my pay but perhaps you can give me an advance payment. Not that I don't trust that you can't pay me or anything it's just that I have some need of zecs ASAP."

 

 

Classic Darius, Smoke remembered the time when he was still giving Darius his loaves of bread. This guy when you start giving him something he just wants to keep on asking for more.

 

 

"Sure I can pay in advance."

 

 

- You've transferred 2,500,000 zecs to NPC Darius

 

 

"Thanks Smoke. I'll get on crafting this blades right away. Just after I.... finish my own mini quest. Well if you'll excuse me."

 

 

"Of course, go right ahead. I'll try to look around the village as well. I want to see all the improvements."