[PP-F4] Hope

[Shi 0]

Deep within the icy mountains of the fourth floor sat a mysterious and obscure stone temple. Shi had only heard rumors of it and never expected he would ever discover it's location. According to the stories, it had once been home to a group known to few as "The Shadow Clan," although he was not sure how true that was. Slowly and carefully, the noirette moved down the ragged mountain path towards the entrance of the supposedly sacred building.

Outside, the temple looked almost completely untouched. A couple of torches sat against the doorway, however it seemed as though they had not been used; at least, not for an incredibly long time. The stone bricks that made up the structure were almost perfect, aside from the occasional crack. It was magnificent, to say the least.

The steep decline of the mountain path alone was challenging enough to trek. With the ice and snow on top, it only became harder. Each step Shi took made him feel as though he would slip and fall to his death. Thankfully, that didn't happen. Instead, he safely carried himself down to the bottom of the path, where he was finally able to feel at ease.

Upon safely reaching the base of the trail, he gazed upon the temple gates, which were only meters away from him. Shi stepped towards them, increasing his speed with every stride. When he finally arrived at the entrance, all the man could do was freeze in place. Despite being considered a sacred and spiritual place, it gave off a terrifying, ominous vibe that almost made him turn back. Shi gripped the hilt of his curved sword, lifting his hand to touch the massive wooden door. Then, with all of his strength, he pushed it open. Inside, the halls were cold and lifeless. The noirette did not know what events had taken place here, but he was certain that they were not pleasant.

Shi adjusted his porcelain mask as he moved slowly down the main hallway, becoming more and more concerned for his own safety as he took each step. He wore his regular attire: a dark outfit with a grey, sleeveless jacket overtop. For both protection and style, he topped it off with a pair of steel arm guards. Eyeing his surroundings, he took notice of how quiet it was. The silence of the corridor made his body as cold as the snow that fell from the sky. His arms gently swayed back and forth as he continued forwards, eventually arriving at a large, iron gate.

As much as he wanted to turn back, he could not. What could possibly be behind you? he thought, staring daggers at the incredible door. It was massive and silver, with blood red markings and jewels creating patterns along it's face. His feelings about opening the door were mixed, as he felt both eager and frightened by the secrets that were kept inside. With some hesitation, he moved forward and pressed his hand on the door in preparation of entering.

"I guess we'll find out."

@Neopolitan

Edited July 20, 2018 by Shi

[Neopolitan 0]

As Neo was walking back from one of her latest expeditions in the fourth floor, she noticed someone going out to do some exploring. It was strange to see someone out here, and it didn't look like they were going in the direction of any of the quests. It seemed like many people avoided this floor sure to its cold, though after so many times here Neo had begun to get used to it. This player in offering still seemed to be going somewhere with a purpose. Deciding things might be interesting, she code to follow.

She followed them towards some sort of temple that was down a trecherous mountain path. Neo didn't know if there was a reason for him to be here, though it some a curiosity in her that wasn't going to be sated by knowing where this person was going. She followed them down the steps, and began to wonder at what may be inside.

Following them down a corridor as quietly as she could, Neo saw a grand hate made of iron in front of her. It was large and as cold as the floor around them. As she started at the gate, she didn't notice where she was walking and bumped into the mysterious player. As she feel to the ground, Neo was terrified. She realized she may not be able to defend herself if this player was not as kind as others that she had met.

@Shi

[Shi 0]

The feeling of dread that the structure emitted became even greater as he felt the surface of the door. He was terrified. Suddenly, as soon as he was about to push open the door, he felt something behind him. Whatever it was had shoved him forward with enough force that the gate opened up, revealing a room that resembled a king's throne room that was missing it's throne. Emerging from the walls were small waterfalls of lava that flowed into a moat surrounding the room and creating a circle in the center. Sticking out of a large chunk of onyx black metal was a single katana, perhaps one used by a swordsman who had once lived there.

He turned his head quickly, still unsure of what had caused this situation. A girl sat behind him with terror in her eyes. She appeared to be shaking, but that may have only been Shi's eyes playing tricks on him. His first instinct was to draw his curved sword, but the noirette stopped himself immediately. She did not look helpless, but she also did not seem like a fighter to him. Shi smiled at the girl, although it remained unseen due to his mask. He stepped towards the girl and reached out his hand, moving his white mask over to the left side of his head. "You okay?"

The young woman was interesting looking.   Not interesting as in weird, she was actually quite pretty. However, her hair threw him off. It was a mix of brown and pink. The man liked it.

"I'm Shi, sorry if I scared you." He told the girl.

Edited July 23, 2018 by Shi

[Neopolitan 0]

As Neo sat on the ground, shaking a little in nervous terror, she watched as the person she was following turn towards her. They were wearing a mask, so Neo was unable to determine much about them. They began to reach for their sword, and Neo tried in vain to scramble back along the ice. They seemed to reconsider drawing their weapon and instead moved their mask to the side. Underneath was a smiling face, and it seemed as though it had a calm intent behind it. They reached out with their hand and asked if she was doing okay. She nodded her head, cautiously taking their hand. She noted that he still had a green cursor, so that meant that they weren't likely to attack her. It didn't mean that there wasn't an ambush in waiting though. They introduced themselves as Shi, and Neo shook her head at his next statement in an attempt to diffuse the situation. Once she was back on her feet, she quickly went to disconnect her hand from them. She didn't want to stay in contact that long, just in case. She still held some reservations about it, but it seemed as though they were good for their word.

[Shi 0]

With a swipe of his hand and a few buttons pressed, the man's mask dissolved.

Shi waited for the girl to introduce herself, but she only shook her head. He decided not to push her, assuming she was nervous. Who wouldn't be? Only moments ago, she had fallen to the floor and currently, she stood alongside a complete stranger who despite having a charming look to him, also appeared as though he could be the antagonist of a Marvel movie.

He knew better than to ask her questions. People who weren't comfortable with speaking to others generally preferred to listen, at least in his experience. In attempt to lighten the tension, he smiled gently. "Once again, I'm sorry for freaking you out. I'll be continuing through the temple if you're interested in joining me. If not, I wouldn't mind walking you to the exit." While he knew it was not safe inside of the Shadow Clan's ex-home, Shi was aware that he could not take on anything alone. It was possible that, if push came to shove, the girl could save his life. 

However, part of him was uncertain of whether or not bringing her along was smart. He was, of course, on a mission of his own and she was as much of a stranger to him as he was to her. It was impossible to tell if she had intentions of her own.

Shi shrugged off the thought. While he had been told not to lower his guard, the girl didn't seem like a threat. But what threats do?

@Neopolitan