Chapter Nine: Unexpected, Suspicions Confirmed

After taking the path again the three took a break at a nearby lake.

The water following Waynev from the top of the mountain ended here.

While eating some berries and a few hard pieces of jerky which Wulfrun traded Waynev finally asked if they could give a map of Temporous, or at least draw one.

Shadow told me to think before I spoke, ‘Would two lumberjacks know the whole map of Temporous?’.

The answer turned out to be a disappointing but obvious, no.

They were however able to sketch a rough picture in the mud which… was better than nothing, between Aestern & Raitern or between Nodern and Dractern was the mountain that had several peaks and small villages, still holding out despite what Wulfrun and Siward were describing was to me was the beginning of an agricultural evolution.

While taking a break, even at asking questions I began to collude with Shadow about what information we had gathered.

“Skeletons which aren’t made of bones.”

“Dryads that are more tree than human.”

“Magic that we can’t use until we're [Hollowed]…”

As Shadow contemplated our next move, I began spacing out from even my ‘consciousness’ voice’.

I had told Wulfrun before we stopped, as Siward was beginning to unpack their lunch… and my bucket (which thankfully avoided questioning) that I was attacked by the rat monsters and saw a few further upstream, apparently they're known to most as Kobolds.

Which were a common slave race on Temporous.

To say Waynev was surprised they were called a race of slaves was an understatement, her poker face wouldn’t cut it so claiming she had stomach pains she took a small break in the conversation.

Looking over the vast lake, we were resting near a sandbank, with dozens of rocks and rotting logs both in the lake and surrounding it. The water was clear deeper in but nearby it was muddy though not polluted.

That was another thing Waynev didn’t miss about the old world.

Pollution, seeing plastic at every open body of water or garbage haphazardly dumped by the ignorant or stupid. Waynev’s eyes followed the small waves.

Until Shadow prompted her.

“Waynev, slowly turn toward the massive eroded rock, I think I noticed movement.” Shadow’s warning was unfortunately marginalised.

“It was probably nothing,” Waynev barely scanned the area, glancing to her left, confirming both of her companions were not near to the giant red boulder on her right.

“Well it couldn’t hurt to take a look.”

Slowly moving her head, trying to be subtle about it she glanced at the rock, her eyes jumping. Searching.

There!

Gasping with her mouth open wide she saw a figure at the top of the boulder “Guys what is that?” Her tone hid her panic, as her hand ground the knuckles.

Heads turned and Waynev’s eyes widened as the figure spread her wings jumped and glid over the water's surface, like a bird but bigger than any she’d ever seen.

Suddenly diving into the water the blue-tinted figure disappeared.

Turning her head she saw Siward trying to hide a chuckle, Wulfrun thankfully came to her rescue though with a smirk on his face as well “Never seen birdfolk in the mountains? There should be a few, I heard they travel to villages to trade?” Blinking Waynev swallowed out and thought for a response.

“Not in our village, though it is well hidden… Oh! Before I forget are there any other races other than skeletons, Rats and, uh birdfolk?” Shadow tensed, causing Waynev to turn back to the water as Wulfrun continued.

Siward not bothering to let his son even try to explain interrupted “Birdfolk for one are real common in Dockern, love fishing and the sea so no surprise Dockern’s filled with em, now we have few skeletons, humans and of course lots of kobolds slaving.” Siward began explaining.

Slave labour is common for the [UnContracted] and because of kobolds animalistic nature, even though they are a race of Temporous they’re almost the only slaves used, apparently.

As Shadow pointed out I should still stay on guard and meet others, who knows if these two try to take advantage of me since I’m ‘naive’ and clueless about everything due to my upbringing in the mountains.

As I was wandering this Siward finished his explanation of the races “-nkin. That’s all 6 of em, used to be more but they're hiding or are dead.” Head-turning at the splash Siward began to stand and wave to the Birdfolk coming our way.

‘Shadow… I zoned out, do you remember what he said?’

“Look to your right! I’ll tell you later but for now talk to her, we need to make friends here.” Shadow’s prompting ejected Waynev out of her rock seat and into the fray, with Wolfrun still nibbling on his jerky.

“Damn… she is beautiful”

Waynev had to agree, looking at the birdfolk conversing with Siward before a familiar screen popped up.

Quest:

Find Aestern.

Reach the city before nightfall. Meet two races other than humans. (1/2)

Consequence:

Elise will not live to see you succeed.

Time Limit:

Zero days, 6 hours, 18 minutes remaining.

Found another race, perfect.

And with their pace, reaching Aestern before nightfall should be a breeze, Waynev thought.

“Fishing in midday eh? Too populated at night or just wanted some extra grub?” Siward remarked, arms crossed.

Her beak curved upwards as she spoke with a light voice.

“Mmm, my daughter’s trying to break through to [Hollowed], so instead of going tonight I had to do some early diving.” Gesturing to the bags at her side, which were more net than bag.

Waynev took a second to look back at the birdfolk, up close Waynev could tell her feathers weren’t blue but light purple, her hands oddly humanlike with some feathers clinging to the back of her hand but the palm empty.

Noticing a shine on her arm Waynev noticed that Ciet had a Crystal embedded in her skin, she hadn’t seen one on Wulf or Siward but both were wearing long sleeves that covered their burly arms.

Continuing her gaze downwards, further from the bag she also noticed that instead of feet powerful talons lay, looking recently cut or manicured.

Eyes rising slightly, Waynev used Status on her and to Shadow’s delight, the results were unexpected.

???’s Status:

Agility:

15AH

Strength:

1?AH

Vitality:

??AH

Wisdom:

5.4AH

Mana:

(Locked)

“Her stats are mostly hidden… perhaps it's the difference in our stats compared to hers? Or our low wisdom level?” Shadow speculated.

Sensing a lull in the conversation Waynev took to action.

“I saw you jump from the rock! It’s the first time I’ve seen a birdfolk before, I’m Waynev.” Pushing out her hand and giving a genuine smile at the beautiful bird in front of her Waynev’s smile proved infectious.

“Ah Waynev, I thought my eyes saw a fellow female, I’m Ciet. Regardless that this is your first meeting with a birdfolk, your manners affirm our culture of introducing yourself first and praising us.” Smiling gently at her she continued.

“A beauty such as yourself, are you a traveller or the younger man’s wife?”

Wulfrun who had just been nodding along to the conversation so far blushed and looked away, leading to loud bellows from Siward, enjoying his son’s misfortune.

Waynev with a slight smirk and a bit of red in her cheeks replied “No, no. I’m just a traveller from the mountains, about your daughter going to the Hallowed rank… how does it happen do you just need to reach the st- uh be strong enough or is there something else needed?”

Surprised at the outburst Ciet looked down to her bag “That question… it’s strange.”

Siward and Wulfrun both looking at Waynev surprised, then back at Ciet, looks of anticipation and worry coming to their faces.

They already used their ability once today.

A fluttering noise came from Ciet “Waynev, correct me if I’m not mistaken but,” she looked up at Waynev face neutral.

“Are you asking me to share my family's advancement technique, you do understand what that means?”

Frozen, her expression told nothing but Waynev could sense a change in the air.

“Waynev, defuse HER or she will blow.” Shadow intoned cautiously noticing as Waynev did Ciet’s face scrunch up from a calming lake to the beginnings of a roaring fire.

Backing up slowly, Waynev put her hands up, the lumberjacks noticing Ciet’s rank wisely too began backing up further behind her.

Just in case Ciet decided that killing a ‘[Contracted]’ was worth it for the displeasure and offence she caused.

“Wayne if she fires that run to the lumberjacks, the forest and the lake won’t protect us” Shadow gravely remarked.

Eyes widening at the forming fire on Ciet’s hand, sucking in air and… mana? From the world around her, Waynev let loose and prepared to attack the best way she knew how.

“WAIT WAI WAIT! JUST hold up. One second. I’m from the mountains. I wasn’t taught that sharing techniques was bad!” Waving her hands in front of her face, Ciet looked to her fireball, then slowly back to Waynev, raising her upturned hand, the ball of fire reaching a small sounding screech.

Turning suddenly she talked to the Siward “Do you swear on your life that she speaks true?”.

Siward’s face grimaced as he looked to Waynev, her eyes wide, pleading.

Looking over to his son, face red his hand was hovering over his hatchet.

“I-” Bare words caught at the fireball becoming more and more unstable.

“No, I c-” Ciet turned her head back, hand letting loo-

“I-CAN-Vouch-for-her!” Wulfrun shouted nearly running at the enraged predator, with Siward dashing forward at Wulfrun grabbing a shoulder and the top of his shirt.

Ripp

BXOOOOSHHH

Just like that.

It was over.

The comet left the lake blasting upwards, smoke, heat and wisps of blue followed until it dissipated into nothing.

Waynev was on the ground, grateful her bladder had been emptied during the break.

Wulfrun too was on the ground, linen shirt ripped, bleeding slightly from his ears at being so close to the ball of death.

Siward looked tired and slightly dazed but an angry glint in his eye as he looked directly at Waynev, her head automatically turning, the familiar feeling of grief and failure followed.

Ciet on the other hand looked disinterested, barely sparing a loot at the insects, her eyes clearing saying that no second chances would be given.

“If today my daughter’s advancement and celebration weren’t happening you wouldn’t be alive.”

“None of you would’ve survived.”

Eyes daring anyone to speak out, their own eyes answered.

“They already used their abilities once today, if she decided we were worth being incinerated…” The unspoken threat hang in the air.

Walking away she burst from her feet, powerful and ferocious gusts bidding farewell and a warning of what could come.

“Leave.” Colder than her first night in the wild a voice rasped.

“Go. You're not welcome here [Contracted]. Leave us.” Siward moved his hand to his axe.

Waynev’s eyes widened with surprise as her heart ached, hoping she wouldn’t leave her new allies.

One moment ago they were all enjoying a mid-noon break after travelling but now…

Even Wolfrun avoided her, blood still slightly leaking from his hands and ears.

“Wait but I jus-”

Screet

The hatchet’s growl accompanied a quick nearly destructive pull at the holster.

“Wayne we have to go, at least until he calms down. Look at his eyes he’s scared of what could’ve or can still happen” The figure in the sky was still gliding around, though no longer near the water.

“NOW. Leave. Us.” The unspoken threat hung in the air, as Waynev began slowly walking away.

Gaining speed as her eyes tinged, her face contorted.

But no tears would fall.

“Damn it,” A weak squawked voice said at the long path down, into the barely seen houses miles away.

Checking the quest quickly Waynev tried to keep her feet moving.

Quest:

Find Aestern.

Reach the city before nightfall. Discover two races other than humans. (1/2)

Consequence:

Elise will not live to see you succeed in beating the inevitable.

Time Limit:

Zero days, 6 hours, 2 minutes remaining.

Feeling a pang she hurried her pace, listening to the soil her crappy footwear kicked up until she heard heavy steps from behind.

Turning she saw Wulfrun jogging towards her, his face grim.

“Waynev I’m so-”

“No, Wulf I’m sorry. I didn’t know how things worked and let my mouth run.” She looked away, she had to keep walking, she only had six hours until the quest failed.

“Wait Waynev,” Wulfru held her shoulder and looked into her eyes.

“I’ll disobey Siward and lead you to town but I can’t go further, I really didn’t want things to end this way.” Wulfrun looked guilty as he let go of her shoulder.

“Do it, a guide would make it take half the time through shortcuts, we won’t even have to take the pat-”

“No.” Waynev looked to Wulf, not looking away despite his look.

“Sorry but Wulf I can’t jeopordise your relationship with Siward just for this. We’ll meet again and I’m sorry but I have to go. Now.” Waynev waved and began striding away, trying to seem confident in her decision.

“Why did you do it?”

“It wouldn’t have been right.” Waynev’s answer left Shadow wanting.

Listening to her surroundings Shadow waited looking for a pattern.

Her gait was uneven, short strides followed by hurried gaps.

Her emotions leaked to her legs.

“Waynev. What’s the real reason?”

“I-” Slowing down slightly but keeping the time-limit in mind she continued.

“I was scared of what could happen between us. I wasn’t ready for what he wanted, he wanted more than a friend.” The looks and stares Wulfrun directed along with having to explain her reason for hurrying place to place…

“Well, it’s a good thing you pushed him off,” Shadow innocently remarked, her tone indicating she was leading to something.

“One of the worst things to happen while I’m in your body would be watching and experiencing one of your firsts.” Shadow chuckled as Waynev blushed.

Unaware of what Shadow meant by ‘while’.

Waynev looked ahead and she couldn’t help but feel regret.

A bird’s eye view and some friends would’ve helped.