Online In Another World

After they each finished off a combined six of the nicknamed 'dessert fruits', they both sat there, watching the light coat of rain befall the jungle through the doorway of the sturdy, mud igloo while subject to Everett's boarish snores.

"...This is a whole lot tougher than I thought it'd be," Emilio said.

"Yeah," Melisande responded.

"I expected some sort of physical exam and a written one, but this…well, it's kind of obvious now that I'm here," he said, "We'll make it, though."

The silver-haired girl held a slight smile, nodding, "Of course we will. I may not look like it, but I'm pretty tough now–thanks to you."

As if showing that claim off, Melisande flexed her arm, though it was a bit too thin to have any imposing strength, prompting Emilio to burst out laughing.

"Wh-what?" Melisande blushed as a backlash of her own joke.

"Nothing," he laughed.

It seemed his laughter was enough to wake up the burly shielder as the snoring finally was stifled with the blonde-haired, armorclad country bumpkin slowly sitting up.

"Morning," Emilio greeted him.

Everett let out a bear-like yawn, "...Mornin'..."

To help the shielder wake up, Emilio lightly tossed a dessert fruit against his cheek, which Everett let roll for a moment before taking a bite from it.

"Hey, this ain't half bad," Everett said, waking up quickly.

–

While it would certainly be a respectable strategy to camp out in the mud base all day and wait out the week of the survival test, the three decided it would be best to search for a better residence as it was cramped and in a snake-heavy environment.

"My feet are killing me," Everett groaned, walking at the back of the group.

"You're going to have to toughen through it, sorry," Emilio said from upfront.

It was a simple strategic order they decided on: Emilio led from the front, cutting down vines and foliage in their way while keeping an eye out for what was up ahead. Melisande stayed in the middle, watching their surroundings, and Everett stayed at the back, keeping their flank guarded with his shield strapped behind him.

Though he didn't say it out loud, he was wary of the mysterious attacker met on the first night–'Amon'. Glancing back, he could see Melisande was determined, but enjoying the trial in its exhilarating challenge.

I don't want to cause any unnecessary paranoia…I mean, this valley is huge, right? Even if we do run into him…we're prepared now, he thought.

There were quite a few fantastical sights in the thick section of nature of the isolated valley: colorful caterpillars that were the size of his arm, crawling up trees and making Melisande shutter at the sight of them.

On the other hand, Everett was like a kid, gawking at the sight of all of the creatures foreign to his homeland.

"Get it away! Get it away!" Melisande screamed out.

Holding a wiggling, bright-blue millipede near the girl was the shielder, who laughed out giddily, "Look at the size of this thing! We don't have ones like this back home!"

"I don't care, just get it away—!" Melisande yelled.

It seemed like the girl was one moment away from blasting both the insect and Everett with wind magic as she held her hand forward, which Emilio was preparing to intercept, though the situation was saved by another:

Swooping in from the sky, a white-feathered hawk snatched the millipede straight from Everett's grip with its imposing talons.

"Woah-!" Everett stepped back.

A sigh left Emilio's lips though he couldn't help but smile, "...Let's try not to get snatched by giant birds, okay?"

It was a code-word for Everett, saying: 'Please stop picking up every random insect you find'.

As they moved on through the thick jungle, evading territorial snakes and lurking predators that growled and howled, an intriguing discovery met Emilio's eyes.

It was difficult to see through the veil of tall grass and swaying vines, but he could make out what looked to be a camp.

"...Hey, guys, you're going to want to check this out," he quietly called, approaching the campsite.

"Huh? What is it?" Everett snapped into focus after fiddling with a giant grasshopper.

Pushing through the wall of dense shrubs and grass, they indeed discovered a camp; a makeshift tent was erected from sticks and walls made of intertwined leaves with a put-out fire that was still smoking.

The absent fire is what took Emilio's attention as he knelt by it, checking it out while the first thing on Everett's agenda was to look for food as he rummaged around the miscellaneous goods. Melisande checked out the tent, looking inside of it, likely to check for any bedding she could use for herself.

"You think the person who made this is nearby? Or…still around, at all?" Melisande asked while looking inside the tent.

Fiddling with the burnt firewood, Emilio responded, "I don't know. I'd say the likely answer is…"

Completely interrupting him, the blonde-haired bumpkin let out a triumphant call as he discovered a bowl of soup sitting out, still warm and ready.

"Fresh grub! Lucky!" Everett celebrated.

Emilio mumbled, "...They're still around."

Just then as the young mage looked up towards the shielder, who marched over to the rock where the bowl rested, about to grab it before–the leaves he stepped on moved aside, revealing a rope trap.

"W-waaaaah–!" Everett let out.

Hoisted up from the rope around his ankle, the himbo was yoinked up, yanking the branch above from his not-so-light weight.

"Everett! What did you do?!" Melisande asked, getting out of the tent.

"Nothing! All I did was reach for that bowl…! Swear!" Everett said, hanging upside down as he flailed his arms, "...A little help!"

As the silver-haired girl huffed, beginning to move towards the tree where the rope mechanism was set up, a chill ran over Emilio's spine as he felt another presence swiftly, but silently approaching.

They're…! He thought.

Without being able to finish a thought, he drew his staff and shot a blast of wind directly towards Melisande.

"Agh–!" Melisande yelled, being tossed back, "...What was that for?!"

Though it became clear why such an abnormal action was taken as where the girl was just previously standing, a figure stood, wielding a dagger in their hand.

"You…?" Melisande said quietly in surprise.

It was a thin figure; shrouded in dark, sleek clothes with a black hood obscuring their appearance. Though what stood out to Emilio, beyond the burgundy tail that swayed behind their back, was the method of attack they used.

I recognize this, he thought.

"We're not here to start trouble," Emilio said, holding his staff up.

The hooded figure looked towards him, only their deep-purple, feline pupils seen beyond the mask they wore, "Poking around somebody else's belongings says otherwise."

It was a feminine voice, though cold and apathetic in tone; somewhat deep, yet smooth like lavender.

"Hey! We didn't know it was still occupied!" Everett said, still hanging upside down.

The occupant of the camp hardly seemed much for words or in the mood for discourse as they kept their eyes on Emilio, caught in a stand-off.

Emilio knew this wouldn't be easy to solve with just words, glancing over to Everett and Melisande, who was staying still as even the slightest crunch of leaves caused the hooded woman's fingers to twitch.

Alright…They're the type to listen once they realize they're outmatched, then, he decided.

The moment he took a step, the demi-human woman dashed forward, holding her dagger in a reverse grip as she went for a swipe towards him.

To the surprise of the masked woman, the young mage didn't intend to clash with her, instead sliding directly beneath her attack and blasting a slice of wind straight at the rope that suspended Everett.

"Wah–!" Everett fell a good few meters, though picked himself up, "--Thanks!"

There was no time for an exchange of words as Emilio spun around, drawing his sword at the same time as he defended against a slash of the feline woman's dagger.

Despite the light build the mysterious woman had, there was an undeniable surplus of strength felt as their blades clashed, forcing Emilio to press forward to push her back.

"--!" The purple-eyed demi-human was clearly shocked by the young man's show of strength and prowess.

"Raaaagh!"

Rushing in without any elegance, Everett charged with his shield in front of him, swinging it forward in an attempt to fling the woman back. Though, the attack was cleanly subverted as the woman presented her cat-like agility as she jumped on the shield and used it as a foothold to kick the bumpkin in the head before jumping back.

Everett was hardly fazed by the attack, shaking it off in a second as he smiled, "You're good!"

"Thanks," the woman quietly responded before dashing in again.

It seemed as though she was experienced in the field of combat as she ignored Everett altogether, spinning past his defense and going straight for Emilio.

Aiming for the mage first? She's good–this pragmatic style, it really reminds me of…! He thought.