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The Magic Frog

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Once upon a time...

A famous thief had stolen the crown jewel of the kingdom of Magnolia. Enraged, the king ordered his army to find and apprehend the thief but without success. Out of option, the king announced that whoever catch the thief and return the crown jewel...
^{(by Hive account@yuki-nee)}

...will be honored as the kingdom's hero! Not only that, but that person will also be given a large amount of gold and a territory. The news thunder throughout the kingdom, and even mercenaries from another land came to try their luck. Among them..
^{(by Hive account@riovanes)}

...the traveling bard Thomas. When the news of the rewards reached Thomas, the bard quickly traveled towards Magnolia. But unlike the adventurers and mercenaries, Thomas didn't came for the reward, instead he went to Magnolia to witness the event.
^{(by Hive account@chadrona)}

Inside an Inn, Thomas was chatting with a barmaid when suddenly, a grim looking person entered. The person in question looked around and went to a table with four people, he then draw his sword! Everyone looked nervously at him. Suddenly, he...
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

...points to Thomas and said, "I want you to be part of my party. Everyone knows a good group needs a bard. When we succeed, we shall share the spoils!" He introduced himself as Osman, a paladin of The Order.
^{(by Hive account@enforcer48)}

One by one the group introduced themselves. Athena is a priestess from the holy kingdom of Fronterra. Luke is a knight from Greevis. Stein the thief hails from Meetis. Then there's Saori from the mysterious east continent. She calls herself a "ninja"
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

"By the way do you know about the Rats?" Osman suddenly asked. " I've heard of them. They're a secretive group that sells information," answered Thomas. "Indeed. Stein here us acquainted with a few of them," said Osman while pointing at Stein.
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"We'll go there right now, wanna come with us?" Asked Osman. Thomas agreed without hesitation, he too is curious about the so called "rats". Stein then took them to a house. He then knocked the door using certain rhythms. Before long the door opened.
^{(by Hive account@yuki-nee)}

...and a bear-like middle age man appeared. "You're earlier than expected," the man said. "We got a new member and I'm taking him on a tour," answered Stein, smirking. "...do you think we're a travel agency?" The man said annoyed. Stein, simply...
^{(by Hive account@riovanes)}

Stein simply, nods at the bear-like man to the man's annoyance and led the group inside. There, a person in gray cloak led them to a secret there where they walk for god now how long. After the long hike, they finally saw a light, passing the tunnel
^{(by Hive account@chadrona)}

To the party's surprise, they arrived at a black market; specifically, it was ran by the drows. Thomas knew in his mind that this is was not normal as the marketers were far from their homeland.
^{(by Hive account@enforcer48)}

"How curios!" Thomas said? "What's curios?" Athena asked. "These drows, none of them are of pure blood," Thomas answered. "Impressive! You actually noticed," said Stein impressed. "I've been to Halmara before," said Thomas. "Really?" Everyone gasped.
^{(by Hive account@riovanes)}

Surprised with what Thomas said, his groupmate wanted to ask more question but was warned by Stein that this not the proper place to do so. After this brief interlude, they finally met the information seller—a time-weary and aged half-blood drow.
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

After being introduced as Smnir, the aged half-drow took the group to a private booth where they could talk business without worrying of being eavesdropped. Inside, the old drow took out a sealed scroll, telling them that the information they...
^{(by Hive account@vegaron)}

...they wanted is in that scroll. "Be warned though, the place written in the scroll is extremely dangerous, and if you're not careful none might escape alive," said Smnir. Hearing what the drow said, everyones expression turn solemn. Days later...
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

..., they had finished preparations and gathered supplies for their upcoming treacherous trip. Osman seemed unworried and was, in fact, cheery. Athena was meditating in her usual way. Luke gave his weapons a final shine. Saori and Stein sat quietly.
^{(by Hive account@enforcer48)}

At dawn, Matthew and gang left the inn they are staying and rode a horse cart at the port. Their destination is an island in the Rebeuk sea. According to the information from old Smnir, their target might be located there. So without hesitation...
^{(by Hive account@vegaron)}

...the gang rode a ship heading to Reubek. "Reubek is a big island with several tens of thousand residents. How do you think we should do to effectively find the thief?" Osman asked. "We have six members, let's split nto three groups?" Stein suggest.
^{(by Hive account@yuki-nee)}

Stein's suggestion was sound so no one complaint. But instead of three teams with two people in it, the grouping ends up with two teams with three members. Osman, Luke, and Stein is one group. Thomas, Athena and Saori is another. For some reason...
^{(by Hive account@chadrona)}

...the girls decided to team up with Thomas together, much to the chagrin of the guys. Seeing the expression of his male groupmates, Thomas could only smile wryly. Feeling gloomy, Osman and his group could only accept the facts and leave. Then...
^{(by Hive account@vegaron)}

...without saying anything left for town where they uses their advantages to get as much information as they could. The reasoning behind the team up finally shows itself. With Thomas good looks and skill, couple with the girls charm, their team...
^{(by Hive account@riovanes)}

...had an easy time communicating with people. Unfortunately, Osman and the two guys weren't so lucky, the fact that they all wore solemn faces made it so that they scared everyone they're asking. Worse still, a strange rumor about three scary...
^{(by Hive account@riovanes)}

...men lurking in the shadows, and victimizing people are abound. Even Thomas and the girls heard of this making them worried because Osman and the others are gathering information there—clueless of the fact that they are the same person! Worried...
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

...they decided to head there and see how things are going for them. Renting a carriage, they managed to reach the place in a few hours. Asking around they found the guys' location, only to see them drinking at a tavern!
^{(by Hive account@chadrona)}

Confused, Thomas approached the men and inquired their actions. Osman, ever cheery, told him to relax and sat him down next to him. "I have good news, my friend!" Soon, everyone gathered at the table. Osman then changed into a more serious demeanor.
^{(by Hive account@enforcer48)}

"While asking around we managed to find some very important clue that might shed some lights to the location of the thief," Osman declared proudly. "Really?!" Asked Thomas and the girls. Osman and the guys nods, happy to see the other's reaction.
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

Suddenly, Osman took out a piece of parchment from his pocket and unfold it so that everyone could see its content. Thomas and the girls gasped after seeing what is written on the parchment. "It's actually them?" Athena exclaimed in shock. Osman nods
^{(by Hive account@yuki-nee)}

"To think that they have such courage, these lunatics!" Athena exclaimed. Who would have thought that the ones responsible for the disappearance of the crown jewels was the church itself! "Indeed... this is can be called treason!" Osman agreed.
^{(by Hive account@yuki-nee)}

"Let´s report them to the King immediatly!, said Osman, but Stein replied: "By the time we reach the king, these jewels will be gone forever. We should go after them now!". And in his mind, Stein though 'and i might miss the opportunity to grab them'
^{(by Hive account@phgnomo)}

"How about settling our little rat problem before anything else?" Said Saori mysteriously. "Yeah, they've been following us for a while now, and it's getting annoying," agreed Athena. "I think I know a good place to do so," Thomas said with a smile.
^{(by Hive account@riovanes)}

No one said anything after that. The party just ate and drink. After paying their tab, they left the cavern and hurried toward a certain direction. The people spying on them panicked and followed. They then found themselves at the port!
^{(by Hive account@riovanes)}

The spies looked at each other. There years of experience was telling them that they're in trouble. But as they are about to flee, they suddenly heard a beautiful melody—leaving them stunned and absent-minded. "Charm magic!" The spies screamed.
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

"N-no way! Isn't this a high level bard magic?!" A spy screamed in terror. But before anyone can answer him, their bodies started to move on theor own! And, very soon they found themselves inside a.warehouse, where sux people are waiting patiently.
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

Thomas ordered the spies to kneel then Osman and the other guys tie the spies with a rope. Leaving Osman and Stein behind to interrogate the spies, Thomas and the rest decided to wait outside. There, Thomas was bombarded with questions. Leaving him..
^{(by Hive account@vegaron)}

...not knowing what to do. Seeing the trouble expression on his face the trio knows that it's something he cannot speak of. Sighing, they could only swallow their questions knowing that they would not be answered. Half an hour later...
^{(by Hive account@vegaron)}

"Man, glad that was finally over," Stein complain while walking. "How'd it go?" Thomas asked. Osman and Stein smirked then gave them a thumbs-up, indicating that they succeeded. "We managed to crack it from them," answered Osman. They're from the...
^{(by Hive account@chrislyr)}

...the church! The news shocked everyone to the core! How did this happened? How could the church knew? And, how could they be so fast!? They've only began gathering information recently! Does this mean that the church are already suspecting them?
^{(by Hive account@yuki-nee)}

Osman suggested to go somewhere much safer. They did not return to the inn they are previously staying. Instead they rented a house in the outskirt. As for the spies, they are left unconscious inside the warehouse. Days passed and the group...
^{(by Hive account@chadrona)}

...stopped hiding and started their plan. After confirming that no one is following them, Thomas and the rest of the party started observing a certain mansion. The mansion is currently owned by a bishop of the church. And, according to the...
^{(by Hive account@yuki-nee)}

..informer, the crown jewels are hidden in a secret vault. Unfortunately, it is not on the mansion itself but through an underground ruins that could only be accessed through the mansion. After waiting for the night to fall, they entered the mansion.
^{(by Hive account@riovanes)}

Athena uses a concealing magic to hide the members of their team and enters the mansion. Inside they are greeted by an unexpected surprise—everyone inside are either dead or unconscious! Someone attacked the mansion!
^{(by Hive account@vegaron)}

Thomas and the others looked at the bloody mansion with agape mouths. What they saw is beyond their expectations. Though they planned to steal the crown jewels back, they never thought of killing anyone!
^{(by Hive account@vegaron)}

"Let's help the wounded first," Osman said. Nodding, everyone tend to the wounded. After rescuing the survivors, Thomas asked the person with the highest position among them—a high priest. At first the hight priest refuses to say anything. But...
^{(by Hive account@chadrona)}

... he started to tremble and started talking, but no word made sense. Black wound started to appear over his body and soon the same started to happen with all other survivors.
^{(by Hive account@phgnomo)}

Osman and the others saw this and were aghast. Though they are seeing this happening in front of them, their subconscious mind still refuses to accept that what they are saying is real.
^{(by Hive account@yuki-nee)}

To be continued!

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