"Mmmm, this is sum pretty worryin' stuff here," the man says, putting down the book after a minute or so of reading through the page. Once the book is down on the table, spread open on the page about yours truly, I have some time to take a look at it myself.

The first thing that pops out is a picture of an insect, large as a foot and kind of scary-looking, and right next to it is a similar insect, with the head swapper for the upper body of a man. Ah, yes, me. Somehow, the pictures look kind of... scary? The mouthpieces and legs of the insect look really sharp and scary, and the faerie's teeth are really sharp and unpleasant to look at...

I glance over at the actual text.

"Moonlight Faerie, also known as the warefaerie or Nighttime dancer, rank C+," I mumble to myself, letting my eyes wander down the page. "Dangerous, picks clean, small groups, cannibalistic by nature, I--,,,"

A hand is placed on my shoulder. "Calm down buddy, 's all good. No idea what ya did before comin' here, but ya seem like a swell dude," the man says, patting my shoulder gently. I turn to him, and his eyes are kind. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a few pieces start fitting together. Namely, why Todd's adventurer friends didn't want to come along us. Even with a human-ish upper body, I'm still a monster...

-At least I can maybe evolve into something useful-? There might be some future evolution where I-,

Mal grunts from where he's lying on the sofa. I glance back at the pictures in the book.

-Did he know? That I'm some sort of child-eating boogeyman? And... and he still chose to come along?... To willfully ride what this world considers a monster?

Gratitude wells up inside me, and for some reason, my eyes water.

Th-, this isn't-,, I'm not-! These past days, weeks, months, whatever, they've-, they've been pretty harsh! It's all just,, just all coming together, y'know?? Almost dying can do these kinds of things to a man, that's,,, that's the only reason I'm crying, okay-??

"Keheheh, funny thing, aren't ya? Don't worry, get it out, get it out. Ya ain't a monster just 'cos ya are one. It's what ya do that counts, how ya really feel 'n all," he says, finally taking a sip of the thistle-drink, and I'm persuaded to do the same. Soon, my tears stop, almost as abruptly as they had started. Waterfalls from a single droplet. How stupid.

But... I do feel better. If this little wizard guy can come to like me and see hope in me, maybe this whole thing won't be that hard. But, but! I do have to take care when people are around. This guy has been very nice to me, but if other people view me like, like...

I glance to the sharp-toothed drawing, my tongue unconsciously touching the shark-like teeth in my mouth.

-like that, I should express great caution.

"Hnngg,," Mal grumbles, turning over.

"Ah! Almost forgot, lunch fer your friends! Do ya eat normal human food? Just askin', ya never know," the man asks, standing up. In his face, wrought with wrinkles of sorrow and grief and deep tumultuous joy, I see only kindness. I'm not sure what I eat, but I'd bet I don't eat child flesh. Hopefully. I'd really rather not, so I nod, accepting his invitation.

"Great! Ah got just the thing, smoked sam two-faced bear the other day, wife used ta say it was always too tough but I think it makes yer molars stronger, ya get me? Too, I got this here, hardtack from the merchant who comes around twice e'ry month, friendly guy, almost shot 'im once," the man recounts, grabbing all the mentioned foods from a cupboard while Mal slowly stirrs awake.

"...Where-?" Mal asks, raising his body to take a peek at where exactly we where.

"Good mornin' little spellweaver, ya woke up just in time fer luncheon. Take a seat by yer friend," the man replies, putting the meat and hardtack on the table. At the sight of a strange man almost right in his face, Mal jerks fully awake, sitting up in a heartbeat. "-Roight. Monster, will ya go get yer other friend?"

I nod, and scuttle over to the bedroom. The moment I enter the room, I'm hit with just how utterly quiet it is. He isn't dead, but he certainly isn't making any noises. Just the soft rise and fall of his chest. For such a bombastic personality, I had sort of expected him to have been a louder sleeper. But, oh well.

I walk up to him and shake him ever-so-slightly. His body shoots out of bed, eyes wide and ready and focused, and they land squarely on myself.

"-Oh, good morning dude!" he says with only the slightest hint of confusion as to where he is. He gives the room a quick glance before hopping off the bed. "Uhh, guess we found the house, huh? Are the owners any nice?"

I nod, and he smiles.

Well in the kitchen, Mal is already eating, having sliced some of the bear and placed it on the tack with what seems to be butter to go along with it. A standard sandwich. Mal and the man appear to be talking about something, and they seem to be getting along surprisingly well. Todd strides towards the table and sits down about as boldly as he always does things. I resume my position beside the table, sitting on myself.

All and all, the lunch itself wasn't anything remarkable. The bear was an absolute delight to eat, especially as a sandwich. After eating about three of the sandwiches, my level of Munch had, by some magic I cannot understand, increased in level 11 times. I have no idea what it even does beyond letting me eat, but I don't dwell on it.

Todd joins their conversation with ease and I listen in without saying anything myself. After a while, we've eaten our fills, and noon rolls around. I rise to leave, but Todd says something.

"Hey, old guy dude, if you like need any help with anything, we can totally help out, right?" Todd offers, and the man stops for a moment, and glances at me, seemingly evaluating something.

"...Well, if ya wanna return tha favour, there is this here monster that's been sneakin' around putting up webs here 'n there. The little spiders it leaves are nuthin' to be afraid of, but I don't think ah could kill it maself. Strong guys like youse oughta be able ta deal with it," the man replies. "Bugger's out 'n the forest, by the big mountain nearby. Nasty thing. Try nat ta burn the cobwebs or nuthin, the whole forest might burn down."

"Oh hell yeah, a quest! Let's go guys!" Todd says, practically bouncing out of the house. Mrm. I'm not too sure about this. But, the old guy seems sure of himself so...

"We'll be sure to defeat it. Thank you, for everything," I tell the old man, and leave with Todd and Mal.

Seems we have a quest to fulfil.