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The sky was dark; the only light was the stars in the sky and the torches from the targets Jahoda had been tracking since sunrise. The breeze was cool and quiet, but just loud enough to hide her footsteps from her prey. Perfect conditions for Jahoda to swiftly carry out her mission. She waited patiently for a moment like this, when they'd drop their guard, think the coast is clear, have just a moment to rest their eyes after being on alert for the whole day. This was a chance she wasn't going to pass up.
"...Alright, looks like last one is dozing off." Jahoda says to herself, peering from a stone wall at the soon to be asleep Treasure Hoarders Nefer had tasked her to steal a gemstone from. As the certified Master Thief (or so she claims) this mission should be a piece of cake. The waters were calm and still, the target was open and Jahoda was ready to pounce.
Just as she prepared to engage, an unexpected, but familiar voice broke the silence.
"Greetings Jahoda,"
Jahoda jolted, clearly shaken by not only the sudden voice of a familiar robot, but also how she managed to get so close without being detected. "AHH-! W-wait WHY are you here?!"
Jahoda quickly covers her mouth after remembering the Treasure Hoarders sleeping a few yards from their location. "I was tasked by Aino to retrieve the core of one of her newly improved sorting bots that had been stolen the other day. It is very crucial for its functionality".
"Well, I hate to break it to you, but these guys only have a gemsto- uh I-I mean...something Boss Nef needs! Y-yeah that's it!" Great Jahoda, and juuust after Boss gave you an earful about blabbing details to people you trust.
The blue eyes of the multifunctional robot began to glow as she scanned the targets to identify the object being firmly held in their possession. "Scan complete, sorting bot core has been located. Activating annihilation mode." Ineffa jumped from behind cover, ready to punish the thieves who dared to steal from Aino, only to be held back by the fierce tug on her cape from a mortified blonde thief.
"What are you doing?! Y-you're just gonna fight them?!" Jahoda said in a loud, panicked whisper.
"Yes, it is the quickest and most effective way to not only retrieve the core but also ensure the thieves do not return to the Craftshop again."
"Nononono, listen Ineffa. We don't have to fight these guys. We can just sneak over and take the core from them." Jahoda pauses for a brief moment after calming down from the heart attack Ineffa almost gave her.
"Wait...?" She exclaims after collecting her thoughts. "The core they stole- THAT'S the gemstone that Boss Nef wants me to steal?!"
"Perhaps." Giving a half assuring nod to the confused rugged girl beside her. "Although as to why she would want it I, am not sure. We did not commission any assistance from the Curatorium"
"Hmmm...strange." Why would Boss want the core from that kids dumb old bot anyway? Jahoda thought to herself. As she pondered upon what could possibly be so special about that core, she was brought back to reality by a sudden drop in temperature sending a quick but familiar chill down her spine. The mist surrounding her feet had started to take a dark and gloomy color, and whispers could be heard encroaching from all around.
"Threat level rising, Abyss encounter imminent on this location" The battle ready Ineffa holds her position, ready to attack or defend from all angles.
"Ugh, great. Just what we needed, a Wild Hunt attack right as these lunkheads fall asleep." Jahoda let's out an annoyed sigh before taking another glance at the still unaware Treasure Hoarders.
"Who knows when I'll get another chance like this! It's not what I planned but it'll have to do." The girl adorned in black and gadgets leapt from behind cover and quickly yet stealthily made her way towards the gemstone.
Jahoda approached the Treasure Hoarders, praying to the Archons they didn't wake up. She inched closer, carefully stretching out her hand to retrieve the gemstone and complete her mission. Just as success was mere inches from her fingertips, she heard her name being cried out by the usually monotone Ineffa. A cold sweat immediately ran down her face as a large shadow engulfed her body, the silhouette being unmistakable as the light from the Treasure Hoarders torches cast it upon the structure they rested on. The large, corrupted axe of a Wilderness Hunter was raised in the air, ready to claim the life of any soul unfortunate enough to be on the other end of its blade. Thanks to Ineffa, Jahoda was able to barely react in time, dodging the attack with a minor slash to her back as she watched the two ends of her cloak fall where her lifeless body would have been.
"Ugh, that was close!" Jahoda rubs the wound on her back as her fingers become stained with blood. The commotion wakes the Treasure Hoarders who are now participants in this free for all battle.
The area is filled with several Exiles lead by the large Hunter who had nearly claimed Jahoda's life. Ineffa swiftly defeats the exile in her location and rushes to aid Jahoda who is surrounded by the Wild Hunt and her former prey.
"The level of danger exceeds my previous calculations. Stay close to me Jahoda, I'll protect you."
"I'm not a baby you know! But yeah, this is gonna be tough." Jahoda readies her bow, keeping an eye on the Hoarders who are still in possession of the gemstone.
The battle begins as the Hunter lets out a monstrous roar. Arrows fly from Jahoda's bow as the Hunter clashes with the two strongest members of the Treasure Hoarders. Ineffa deploys Birgitte, sweeping the area with electro and defeating two more exiles.
"It's almost over, we got this!" Jahoda confidently exclaims, readying her bow for another flurry of arrows. Just as she prepares another shot, two daggers are thrown at her, stabbing her leg and cutting her left side. A sly chuckle from the Hoarder who took advantage of the chaos to sneak attack her, his moment of triumph was quickly ended as a metal fist from the increasingly angry Ineffa flattened him into the ground.
"Are you alright Jahoda?" Ineffa, staring with a look of concern at the injured girl beside her. It's clear as day she isn't okay, a simple scan would be able to tell Ineffa that. But for some reason she felt compelled to ask anyway.
"Y-yeah...*huff*...I'm...I-I'm good." Jahoda growing wearier as the battle continues, lack of sleep, wounds, and hunger slowly catching up to her. The limits of the human body catching up to her, but her eyes are steady and fierce. She's determined to not give up until her mission is complete.
The Hunter deals a fatal blow to one of the stronger Hoarders. Seeing as they are losing and fearing he may lose his life next; the last hoarder takes the gemstone and runs as fast as he can, hoping to escape.
Jahoda draws her bow with an Anemo infused arrow aimed at his back. "No you don't! That belongs to Boss Nef!"
Just as she prepares to fire, an exile leaps onto her back knocking her to the floor. The arrow flew at the Hoarder, grazing his arm as he escaped. Exhausted and wounded, Jahoda struggles to fend off the exile, holding it back with the frame of her bow.
"ARGH! G-GET...OFF OF ME!"
"Jahoda!" Ineffa says in a panicked voice, sending Birgitte to shield Jahoda whilst she deals with the Hunter leading this assault. Ineffa's attention now focused on Jahoda's safety leaves her open to a heavy blow that knocks her circuits loose. Jahoda takes out the dagger from her leg and slashes the exile on top of her. Using her final arrow, she jumps onto the Hunters back and stabs it through its head, its body turning to mist as it meets its end.
"Ineffa...*huff* *huff*...you okay? Wiping the sweat from her face and looking at the damaged metallic figure lying on the ground. She extended her hand to assist her in standing as the battle was over.
Ineffa stared at Jahoda's hand for a moment before finally parting her lips. "Look out!" She yelled, grabbing her hand and tossing her to the side as an electro infused Molotov had been thrown at her back. Jahoda watched in shock at the sight of Ineffa's body falling to the floor after being electrocuted. When she looked back up the attack had come from the same treasure Hoarder Ineffa had previously knocked unconscious. Another sly chuckle left his mouth as he stood, still dazed from the previous attack, but unfortunately for him Jahoda's patience had run out. She grabbed the arrow she used to defeat the Wilderness Hunter and shot it at the Hoarder, causing him to draw his last breath. With the battle finally being over, her attention quickly turned back to the damage Ineffa.
"Hey! Hey, Ineffa! Are you alright?! Can you hear me?!"
"Say something please! I need to know you're okay!"
"Please be okay..."
The light in Ineffa's bright blue eyes slowly flickered, the only sounds to be heard were the waves of the ocean and the ragged breathing of Jahoda as she sat warily over her. Ineffa's eyes scoured Jahoda's body, looking for any fatal wounds before finally meeting her eyes. The two stared at each other in complete silence. The light from the stars shining off of Ineffa's metal frame, and the faint glow of her eyes being reflected into Jahoda's as she waited desperately for Ineffa to tell her she's alright. Her long, golden hair sleeked beyond her face, wild and unruly, yet captivating for such a soft face. She hadn't even realized the hair tie keeping her Vision in place had come off. Ineffa grabbed the Vision lying beside her and carefully tied it to Jahoda's arm with such gentleness and care. She took one final look into Jahoda's eyes as a loving smile streaked across her face. Her eyes dimmed to black as her movements fell stiff.
"I-Ineffa..."
"INEFFA!!!!"
Before she could process what happened, echoes came from the shadows once again. More Wild Hunt were soon to enclose on their location. Jahoda let out a deep breath as she looked back towards Nasha Town, the pathway soon to be blocked by the Abyss. She closed her eyes and collected herself before looking at Ineffa with determination.
"C'mon, you dumb bot, we've got jobs to do don't we." She grabs Ineffa's stiff body as to bring her along to complete their mission.
"Waah! Y-you're friggin heavy!" She says as she stumbles with each step, her wounds also not making the journey any easier. Following the direction the last Treasure Hoarder ran off in, Jahoda once again began tracking her prey.
*1 Hour later*
Jahoda had been carrying Ineffa for what felt like an eternity. Her clothes soaked with blood and her body growing weaker by the second, the smell of iron filled her lungs making it harder and harder to breathe. Her only lead was the trail of dried blood left by the Treasure Hoarder she grazed earlier. As she treaded forward under the pitch-black sky, she noticed a cave a bit further ahead off the trail. She'd been moving for so long, she needed to rest if she were to have enough strength to make it back alive. Her vision growing blurry and her footsteps more sluggish, she carried her metallic savior to safety, laying her upright against the cave's walls ever so gently before collapsing next to her. Silence filled the air, Jahoda stared down at her blood-soaked clothes, then slowly at Ineffa who still lied dormant. The battle replayed through her head and all she could see was her mistakes, what she could have done differently, how she should have been the one to protect Ineffa, if she focused more on Ineffa rather than her mission they wouldn't be in this mess. The thoughts kept swirling in her head. She takes another glance at the battered blue haired robot, before her brow furrowed and face engulfed with anger as she turns to face the unmoving Ineffa.
"Why?! WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
"YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE; I WOULD'VE BEEN FINE WITHOUT YOU!"
"I told you I'm not a baby! I didn't NEED you to protect me!"
"If you weren't here, you wouldn't have gotten hurt!"
"You wouldn't get dragged along into my problems!"
"Y-you...you wouldn't have me worrying about you..." Her voice lowering from a shout to a soft tone, gently breaking as tears well up in her eyes.
"It's always you taking care of me..."
"Feeding me when I'm hungry, telling your stupid jokes just to make me smile, staying by my side until I fall asleep..."
Jahoda brushes the hair from Ineffa's cheek and gently caresses her face, staring longingly at the girl that would do so much for her. She lets out a breathy chuckle.
"Heh...you would even...sacrifice yourself for someone like me..."
Tears roll down Jahoda's face as she looks at the unresponsive Ineffa. She presses her face against Ineffa's chest and sits for a while.
"Why...? Why do you do so much for me?"
"I'm rude to you, call you dumb names, cause nothing but trouble for you when you're around me...but you're always there...no matter what"
"You're right in front of me...so why do I miss you so much...?" Jahoda picked her head up and stared at Ineffa, tears still rolling down her face. The pain from her wounds subsided as the feelings in her heart grew stronger.
"You didn't...you didn't have to save me." She gently placed both hands on Ineffa's face and looked into her now closed eyes. Jahoda thought to herself. No, after everything she's done for me that isn't what I should be saying. What I need to say instead is...
She did not utter a word, for her lips were occupied demonstrating the restless emotions of a young thief who had fallen for her robotic companion. The silence that once filled the air was replaced by the beating of her own heart. As her lips softly pressed against Ineffa's, she could feel all her pain and fatigue being washed away as if nothing else in the world mattered. Feelings she pushed aside for so long had all come out at once. Fear, happiness, anger, sadness, and hope had all flooded the mind of this self-proclaimed Master Thief. As their lips departed from one another, Jahoda smiled softly at the face of the girl who'd do anything for her. With eyes sharper and more determined than ever, Jahoda picked up Ineffa as if she weighed nothing at all and stormed after the last Treasure Hoarder.
As expected, the Treasure Hoarder returned to his camp where he was being scolded by the boss for being the only survivor in his group. Jahoda now ready to end this mission and get Ineffa to safety, enters the camp. She gently sat Ineffa down on the outskirt of the camp and turned to face the few dozen Treasure Hoarders whose faces were all in disbelief that a young, disheveled girl came wandering in. The injured Hoarder from the fight against the Wild Hunt recognizes Jahoda and calls for an immediate attack. Jahoda, with an arrowless quiver and armed with only a smoke bomb steps forward. Her eyes dim and unfeeling, the moonlight casting her shadow over the entire camp as blood drips onto the floor with each step. The sight of this young girl had already struck fear into the Hoarders who were frozen in place, afraid to see what she was capable of.
Finally, the boss, equipped with a large hammer charged at Jahoda only to be hit with a smoke bomb obscuring his vision. Agile as a cat, Jahoda dashed into the crowd of Treasure Hoarders quickly stealing the daggers from the injured Hoarders waistband. The Marksman aimed his crossbow at Jahoda only to have his hands punctured by daggers thrown with excellent precision. He dropped his weapon in agony to which was quickly taken by Jahoda, firing two shots into the stomach of the Cryo Potioneer who's potion exploded on the ground, covering his companions with Cryo and slowing their movements. Without missing a beat Jahoda took the final dagger and plunged it into the neck of the Marksman before leaping towards the arrows stored beside their tent. Jahoda fired rapidly, sundering her prey with arrows as they fell one by one. Finally, she turned her attention back to the boss of the Treasure Hoarders who was awestruck at how this single, battered, exhausted girl cleared his camp in mere seconds. He fell to his knees in fear, knowing he had no chance of escaping alive. As she drew closer, she readied her bow aimed at his face with a cold unfeeling look in her eyes. Just before the final blow could be delivered a familiar voice snapped her back into reality.
"Jahoda...? "
That monotone voice was unmistakable, Jahoda turned around to see Ineffa standing behind her, still damaged, but operational. The boss used that brief moment to run as fast as he could before her gaze returned to him. Fortunately for him, Jahoda only cared to set her gaze on the one standing before her.
"I-Ineffa...? It almost felt unreal, surely her eyes were not deceiving her.
"You're...okay?
"Yes, my components suffered electrical damage, causing me to enter low-power mode. I've rebooted my systems and my functionality-" Ineffa is cutoff mid-sentence as the weight from Jahoda is thrown into her arms, embracing her for a well needed hug.
"You're okay! You're really okay!!! I-I thought you were..." She can't finish the thought before tears begin to roll down her face.
"I am okay Jahoda, thank you for your concern." The two embrace each other, but Ineffa notices Jahoda's strength suddenly slipping. The adrenaline left her body, and all the fatigue and pain finally caught up with Jahoda, causing her to faint in her arms. Ineffa lets out a sigh before scanning the area.
"Scanning...core located." Ineffa, now carrying the weary Jahoda on her back picks up the case containing the core.
"Core retrieved, task complete. Hmm...?" Ineffa looks up at a cliff in the distance, she catches a glimpse of a figure adorned in green and gold quickly exiting from her sight. How long had they been watching she wonders, but getting Jahoda back safely with the core was her priority now. It's been a long and eventful night, now it's time to return home.
"Urghhh...Argh...I feel awful, where the heck am I?"
"Wait, this is..." Surveying her surroundings, Jahoda found herself in the guest room of the Klink-Klank Krumkake Craftshop. As she began to move around, she heard familiar voices off in the distance.
"Aww, now what am I gonna do without my sorting bot? I made him to keep things organized around here.
"We'll figure something out, surely that isn't the only "core": you're capable of using." The two voices coming from the tiny inventor and Boss of the Curatorium
"B-boss Nef's here?! Owww ouch ouch!
"Careful Jahoda, you are still injured." Jahoda startled by the voice of the newly repaired Ineffa who had been sitting across from the bed she was sleeping on.
"Woah, w-when'd you get in here?!"
"I never left your side."
Jahoda turned away as she felt her face growing hotter, unable to look at Ineffa after realizing her feelings the other night.
"Are you alright Jahoda, do your injuries still hurt?" Ineffa says as she gets closer to Jahoda.
"I-IM FINE! Haha yeah, I-I'm all good so just..stay over there please!" Her face bright red from embarrassment
"Well, it sounds rather lively in here." Nefer stands in the doorway with a curious smile as she stares at the two girls in front of her.
"Boss Nef! Why are you here?"
"You've completed your mission and retrieved the gemstone like I asked, can't I give my best employee her praise?" So she says, but she's clearly there for more than one reason.
"Turns out the core Aino wanted was the same gemstone I was after as well, I guess it worked out in our favor having the Craftshops free assistance."
"So... why did you want it anyway?"
"That little gemstone of ours was actually a shard of Plaustrite carved right from the Lady Tianquan's Jade Chamber. After making off with it, the thief fled to Nod-Krai in hopes of selling it for instant wealth."
"His plan would've worked if I wasn't contacted by a friend of mine (Yelan) who'll now owe me a wondrous favor for getting it back. He caught wind of being tailed, so as a last-ditch effort he threw the shard near the Craftshop where the unsuspecting Aino used it to power one of her creations. Those Treasure Hoarders weren't too far off his trail either, given how quickly they found it, someone must have tipped them off"
"Heyyy, that's Sorting Bot to you. He was an important member of our family." Aino interjects
"Anyway, what am I gonna use for a power source now? I can't have a Sorting Bot that doesn't sort. That's like having an oven that can't bake Krumkake's!"
Nefer lets out an amused sigh as she leads Aino out of the room to discuss the matter of her sorting bot.
"Jahoda, good job completing your mission. Get some rest and try not to reopen your wounds, you're my only employee after all." She says leaving the room.
"Sure thing Boss! Ow!"
Jahoda, do you need anything?"
"Uhhh Nah I think I'm good, just gotta rest up and I'll be good as new" She gently lies back down and closes her eyes ready to sleep the day away.
"Jahoda, do you need anything to eat?"
"I'm good Ineffa, thanks."
"...Would you like me to play any music?"
"No thanks, I'm allll good over here."
"...Jahoda?"
"Would you like me to hold your hand until you fall asleep?"
Jahoda lays still for a moment before rolling over to face Ineffa, eyes remaining closed but face clearly flustered. She extends her arm out, waiting only until she feels the familiar hand of her robot companion before gently closing her hand. Ineffa stared at Jahoda's face, her eyes began to glow as she understood why she refused to look at her, however Ineffa remained quiet until Jahoda eventually drifted to sleep. She didn't know why, but she felt compelled to say her thoughts aloud. Maybe she wanted Jahoda to hear, or maybe it was just some error in her system, but whatever it was, she wanted to say it.
"Jahoda...after I entered low power mode, I could still here everything happening, and...feel everything." Her fingers tracing across her lips, causing her eyes to glow in reminisce.
"I myself do not understand why I do so much for you as it was not one of my core functions. But..." She pauses, thinking of Jahoda during the fight against the Treasure Hoarders. The awkward young girl in her database did not match the description of the girl she witnessed that night. Confident, fearless, brave and powerful, had she run a scan of her at that time it would've come back as a 0% match. It was a side of her she never knew existed, suddenly all the faded scars plaguing her body had new meaning. Ineffa became intrigued by Jahoda and wanted to know more about her what kind of roads she had tread to lead her to the life she has now. She couldn't explain it, but since last night, whenever she thought of Jahoda, her internal temperature would quickly rise, and her calculations became less accurate. It was an odd change, but one Ineffa would welcome.
"But I'll continue doing things for you because I want to. I'll stay by your side until I am no longer able. I'll..." Ineffa looks at the sleeping face of Jahoda, snoring without a care in the world. A smile spreads across her face before her lips softly meet her cheek.
"...I love you, Jahoda."