[Quest Complete!] Golden text appeared in Crystal's vision and she heard the notification chime in her ear.
"What?! I just got here!" The teenager complained aloud to herself as she scanned the forest around her. It was early in the day but the sunlight couldn't quite pierce the dense canopy. The forest floor was dim and crowded with pine trees, lush grass, spider webs, and traces of slime everywhere. A dark-haired teenage girl with a black visor over her eyes emerged from deeper in the forest and approached Crystal.
"Hey, did you get credit?" she asked. It wasn't how Crystal imagined meeting her teammate; but, she was quick to adapt to the situation. She'd never seen the girl before, but Crystal joined a pick-up group for the quest. She was still trying to get used to the AlterNet and always enjoyed meeting new people. Unfortunately, there was only one other person looking to do that particular quest.
"I did!" Crystal nodded, then extended her hand once Abby was close enough. "I'm Crystal, nice to meet you," she said. Abby looked down at the offered hand, then she looked back up at Crystal. Abby gave her a faint smirk, then nodded without shaking her hand.
"I'm Abby," she said. "These are my friends Skeeter and Lefty," As Abby introduced her friends she pulled her black visor off. Crystal was too distracted wondering who the friends were to notice right away; but, when she looked back at Abby's eyes she was stunned in surprise.
"OH MY GOD!" Crystal screamed. Abby did not have eyes. Her hollow sockets were occupied by two golf-ball-sized spiders; one in each eye. The one in her right eye was a black, spindly arachnid with eight red eyes staring at Crystal; the one in her left eye was a brown, furry tarantula. "THAT IS SO AWESOME!" Crystal leaned forward and stared into the occupied sockets with interest. "Does it itch? I feel like that one would itch a lot...," she pointed at the tarantula. "Lefty?" she asked. Abby sighed as she slipped her visor back on to hide the spiders; that wasn't the reaction she hoped for.
"That's Skeeter," Abby answered. "Lefty is in here," she tapped the right side of her visor.
"But.. that's your right side...," Crystal said. Abby nodded.
"He's left-handed," she said. Crystal burst into giggles at Abby's answer and the stoic teen couldn't help but smile.
"How'd you clear out the slimes so fast?" Crystal asked after a few more chuckles. "I didn't even get to help."
"Lots of spiders," Abby giggled. Crystal's mouth fell open as she had a new realization.
"You're a Unique Soul?" she asked Abby.
"The spiders living in my head didn't give it away?" Abby asked with a giggle. Crystal shrugged.
"I'm learning that I haven't seen everything yet...," she answered.
"That's a fair point," Abby nodded. "I am Unique Soul #33, La Arana," she added.
"#45, El Venado," Crystal patted her chest to introduce herself. Abby giggled when she did.
"Oh, that explains it," she mumbled to herself. Then, she nodded at Crystal. "So, got any other quests that need a hand?" she asked.
"Sure," Crystal nodded. None of her quests really needed help; but, she knew Abby was offering more than help with a quest. She was offering friendship and Crystal was happy to accept it. "..but, what did I just explain?" she asked.
"Well... I had a different plan when I signed up for the quest," Abby said. "...but, once I met you it didn't seem like a good plan anymore. It bothered me a little bit at first, but now I know why. It's because you're a Venado," she said.
"Huh?" Crystal wasn't sure how her being that specific Unique Soul changed anything. "What does that have to do with anything?" she asked.
"Well, I don't feel like killing you anymore...," Abby shrugged. "...and thanks to your Aura I probably won't, ever. So, wanna be friends?"