Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

"It's been a week since anyone has laid eyes on the princess. We've searched everywhere, but we've been unable to find her," the king explained, his voice tinged with frustration and worry.

"Did you check her room, though?" Jett asked bluntly, without a hint of concern.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Jett, their expressions a mix of shock and annoyance at his rudeness. Rey leaned in, whispering harshly, "Dude, show some respect."

Everyone's irritation was palpable. The king's advisors exchanged uneasy glances, clearly displeased with Jett's disrespectful demeanor. Even Rey and Rosa, usually more tolerant, frowned at his lack of decorum. But Jett, ever impatient, just wanted to get this over with so he could finally get some sleep.

The king, maintaining his composure, responded calmly, "It's alright. The princess rarely leaves her room, finding it unbearable to be around many people. She struggles to convey her thoughts verbally, so she opts to write them down instead."

'She's an introvert then,' Jett mused, half-listening to the king. His mind started to drift again, thinking about how comfortable the princess's room must be, likely filled with soft cushions and a warm bed. The thought only made him more impatient to wrap things up and get to bed himself.

"On the day she went missing," the king continued, "one of the maids was late in bringing her food, but when she arrived, the princess was nowhere to be seen."

"So, Your Highness, what do you think really happened?" Elora asked, her voice refined and poised, matching Rey's respectful tone.

Elora's and Rey's polished manners were a stark contrast to Jett's brash behavior. It was clear that, of all the group members, Jett was the one who completely lacked etiquette, a fact that wasn't lost on anyone in the room.

"I fear she may have been kidnapped. As you all know, the king of Vond is a war junkie. I suspect he abducted the princess to ignite a conflict, claiming we hid her and refused to hand her over to his son, her betrothed," the king explained, his voice heavy with concern.

'Like hell. This crazy trial… this is a story mission. Of all the things we could've been thrown into!' Jett was screaming internally, recognizing exactly what kind of mission they were dealing with: a type he despised.

For Jett, this was one of those narrative-driven missions that forced players into convoluted plots, full of political intrigue and manipulation. It wasn't the thrill of battle or the satisfaction of defeating a powerful enemy; it was the tedious unraveling of mysteries and dealing with pompous figures, all while being careful not to offend anyone. Jett hated these missions with a passion.

"So he and his son want a war?" Rey asked, his tone measured but tinged with a hint of disbelief.

"Yes. The king of Vond never truly approved of the engagement. It was his wife who proposed the idea to my queen," the king replied, a bitter smile crossing his lips.

"Still, though, did you check her room?" Jett asked again, his impatience seeping into his voice.

Once again, the atmosphere in the room soured. Freya shot Jett a disapproving glare, while Finn shook his head in exasperation. Even the king's advisors couldn't hide their irritation. Jett's lack of respect was grating on everyone's nerves, but he couldn't care less; he just wanted this ordeal to end.

"I assure you she isn't there, but we did find a few pieces of paper with messages written on them," the king said, as if the thought had just come to him.

"Those could be a clue. Could we see them?" Rey asked, maintaining his polite demeanor.

A few seconds later, a guard entered the room, holding a small bundle of papers. He handed them to Rey, who carefully placed them into his storage pouch, the group now one step closer to unraveling the mystery. Find your next adventure on m_v l|e-NovelBin.net

"Could you tell us how old she is?" Rosa asked, her voice gentle but firm.

"She's 19 years old," one of the council members responded, his tone somber.

'She's young though,' Jett thought, his mind briefly distracted by the revelation.

"We only have seven days to get her back," the king noted, the urgency in his voice cutting through the air like a knife.

"Is there a reason we only have seven days?" Rey asked, stepping forward automatically, his presence commanding attention as he took on the role of spokesman for the group.

Rey's natural leadership had once again surfaced, his calm demeanor and sharp questions quickly making him the voice of their team. It wasn't the first time he had taken charge in such situations, and the others instinctively deferred to him.

"The king of Vond and his son will be visiting our kingdom in seven days. If my daughter doesn't come out to greet them, there will be serious trouble for all of us," the king explained, his eyes betraying his fear. "It's already late. We've prepared rooms for you all to stay in. My guards will show you to your rooms after dinner."

*****

That night, everyone except Asher gathered in the room that was supposed to be Cedric's. The small space was now crowded with the rest of the team, all settling in as if it were their own.

"Finally, a place to sleep," Jett muttered as he collapsed onto the bed.

Jett was utterly exhausted, his body aching from the day's events. He barely had time to adjust his position before sleep overtook him, pulling him into a deep, dreamless slumber almost instantly.

"At this point, I feel like you guys keep doing this intentionally," Cedric complained, his voice tinged with irritation.

"Come on, Cedric, lighten up. Your room is in the center of all our rooms, so it's easier for us to access," Rey said with a playful grin, attempting to ease the tension.

The room was already filled with the others, who had made themselves comfortable without a second thought. Blankets were spread out, and belongings were casually strewn about as if they had all decided this was the perfect spot to gather. Cedric's frustration grew as he realized they had once again invaded his space without so much as a second thought.

"Just ignore them," Rey said, pulling out the rumpled paper he had retrieved earlier. "Get this, it's a poem."

He passed the paper around, allowing everyone to see the faded ink and carefully crafted verses. The group gathered around, their curiosity piqued as they examined the cryptic message.

*****

This was the poem the princess had drafted.

In shadows deep where fears reside,

A love so true, we cannot hide.

Though fate has bound us, heart to heart,

I call on you to play your part.

Beneath my bed, a darkened dread,

I long for you to save instead.

My love, come close and chase away

The fears that haunt my night and day.

*****

"Notice anything?" Rey asked, looking at the others with expectation.

"If this is to be considered a clue, then the king's deduction was wrong," Freya said thoughtfully, analyzing the poem's meaning.

"That's why we actually believe it was the king's deduction," Jett added with a yawn, his patience thinning.

Marcella's playful rolling on the bed, which had turned into a full-blown wrestling match, finally woke Jett from his fatigue. Her laughter and exuberance were a sharp contrast to his growing irritation.

"And what do you mean by that?" Rey asked, his curiosity growing.

[Sound Proof]

Jett activated a skill which created an invisible barrier around the room, muffling all sounds to prevent eavesdropping.

"When I asked if they'd actually checked the room, I met consistent resistance from the group. Plus, the king was only able to say she wasn't there," Jett explained, his frustration evident.

"Oh, that's what you were doing? I thought you were just trying to be a dick," Freya said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Why you..." Jett said, clearly offended. "I dare you to say that again."

He reached out toward Freya, but Matthew stepped in just in time, his imposing presence effectively stopping Jett. Freya's face turned pale, clearly frightened by the escalating tension.

"So you think some people in the palace know what really happened to the princess?" Rey asked, looking around at his companions. "We need to be sure before we jump to conclusions."

"How do you propose we do that without tipping them off?" Matthew asked, his tone pragmatic.

Jett, already restless, flipped off the bed and landed squarely in the middle of the group, his movements fluid and confident.

"Rey and Freya will try to enter the princess's room. If I'm right, there'll be guards there, making the place off-limits," Jett laid out his plan. "If that's the case, then I'll sneak in with Asher and look for clues."

"That's not a bad idea," Elora said thoughtfully, her interest clearly piqued. "But why Freya?"

The question caused a ripple of curiosity among the group. They all turned to Jett, eager to hear his reasoning.

"Just in case we're dealing with demons, she could effectively neutralize them. But that would also change our plans," Jett said confidently. "If they're actually demons, then we'll have no choice but to storm the room to see what they're protecting."

"How did we even get to this point?" Finn interjected, clearly frustrated. "That's the most reckless idea you've ever come up with. If what you're saying is true, then Freya is the last person we need there. Stick with the original plan but leave Freya out of it."

Even Elora who was usually indifferent to Finn's opinions were surprised by his passionate contribution. It was unusual for him to engage so strongly in a discussion that didn't involve financial gain.

"I agree with Finn. We need to draw less attention to ourselves while investigating, just to be on the safe side," Asher added, his tone firm.

Jett weighed their arguments and saw the validity in their concerns. He soon realised they they were right and his idea was a bit reckless.

"As much as I'd love to leave you guys to whatever it is you're doing right now, but…" Morrigan interrupted the discussion, her voice tinged with worry. "Has anyone seen Seraphina?"

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Where do you think she is?