Cobaltio has leveled up!

Str: +0 Dex: +0 Con: +0 Wiz: +0 Int: +2 Cha: +1

New skill: [stat enhancement tier 1]

Base Stats: Str: 11 Dex: 13 Con: 12 Wis: 7 Int: 24 Cha: 14

Trained skills: [noble presence] [language] [stat enhancement tier 1]

[stat enhancement tier x]: activating this will give x stat points to the user for x hours. 1 day cooldown.

level 3

Cobaltio Exp: 30

Saya: Exp: 50

Wow, [stat enhancment] was a snag of a skill. I squinted my eyes at the description. What even constituted gaining a skill like that? Was it entirely luck? In my first three levels, I didn’t gain any skills, but I did gain four of them just by training certain skills(most notably by training my magic and writing), and in the case of [hope], I just gained that with no warning. On all my next level-ups, I gained at least one or two skills.

Thoughts for later.

I sat down for a moment after I checked my message logs. The wound the big cat inflicted was, surprisingly, not very deep.

Oh, it must have been because of [back to back], which gave me 3 Con if I was with just one ally.

I wished I could bandage it, as the creature’s creepy tentacles had done a number on me, and it hurt a lot, but there wasn’t any way to do that.

I paused as Cobaltio licked my wound. Then, I bent down and patted his head. It’ll be ok, little buddy.

I’ll get us out of here, no matter what.

As I began to jog away, I heard a shriek in the distance, the [wyvern] making its presence known.

Why would it do that again? The [wyvern] had shown itself to be a keen foe in every way, except when it did that, and it seemed suspicious...

Was it a signal?

I wasn’t sure what the creature was playing at, but since I knew where it was, I searched for a large tree, dropped [cobaltio] off at its base, then climbed it. My hands and legs had been pushed to their limits already, though. It felt like my muscles were being torn apart with each branch I climbed, but of course, I didn’t let that stop me.

Or...not so much. My injured leg was still bleeding some, and I couldn’t stop it, so I was losing strength in the leg. By the time I was at the top, I neglected to use the leg at all, the searing feeling of my exposed flesh too much for me to willfully endure.

I looked out at the horizon, hoping to find camp, or at least the main road.

Nothing. It was too dark to see, even through the moonlight, and I could see the [wyvern] in the distance, flying in my direction. Well, that was pointless.

When I looked down, I felt a pit in my stomach and sighed.

I missed my [life wing].

I climbed back down the tree, through great pains, and retrieved Cobaltio. Then, I stumbled through the darkness once more, praying I was going the right way.

For a few minutes, I jogged through the woods, searching for any monsters I could reasonably try to kill. I saw a few normal animals, raccoons, squirrels, and a couple of deer, but nothing insight...

Did that mean I was getting close to the path? Monsters were just as a part of the ecosystem as the animals but were primarily ravenous(and gave Exp), so it wasn’t uncommon for them to be killed when seen near the well-traveled paths.

I kept going, but I paused when I heard Cobaltio bark at something.

I looked back, following his gaze, but saw nothing.

“Go away!” Cobaltio yelled.

I took a step back, holding my dagger out, determined to make the right choice. I trusted Cobaltio not to leap at shadows. Then, I walked backward, keeping an eye on the foliage behind me.

I saw something move from one tree to another, just barely escaping my vision. What was it? Another monster chasing me?

I kept making my way backward, hoping it would give up, but I saw another silhouette dash to a bush.

Damnit, it was like my eyes were glossing over it. Was it a skill?

I gulped, watching the bush with a hateful expression. I know you’re there, now fight me, or leave!

...

I heard a screech above. During the instant I was distracted, looking up to meet the gaze of the [wyvern], whose eyes seemed relatively unharmed after my attack nearly an hour ago, the shadow moved once more, barely eluding my recognition.

The [wyvern] dove to the ground while I was struck with indecision, angry and scared, and landed a couple meters away from me.

I pointed my dagger at it, terrified, only for the shadow to move even further around me, cutting me off.

They were working together.

I tried to calm myself as I kept an eye on both of them. I was about to be attacked, and I didn’t even have a real weapon to defend myself with.

“Give me him.”

My eyes widened even further, practically bulging with fear and surprise as the dark figure spoke from behind a tree.

“I wish no harm upon you, Saya. All I want is the [zathokin] in your arms,” it said. He had a strange accent, one that wasn’t human, for sure. But, at the same time, the way he spoke felt...royal. I wanted to do what he said; he seemed reasonable.

I shook my head, my extremely high wisdom dispelling whatever was affecting me. Neither the [wyvern] nor the speaker showed signs of aggression. It wouldn’t be smart to anger them, at least not yet.

But...I couldn’t talk without my chalkboard, which- oh damn it! I knew exactly where the soulbound item was in relation to me, and could have used it to my-

Something hit me on the head, making me jump in surprise. It was...chalk and a slate.

When I looked up to where it had been thrown, I saw the figure, partly walking out of the shadows. He wore a blue cloak, but I couldn’t see anything else under the darkness, as his hands were behind his back. “You’re [mute], right? That makes our communication arrangements simple.”

Slowly, with an edge of suspicion, I picked up the two objects and began to write. {Cobaltio does not belong to you.}

The person chuckled. “No, he does not. I would argue, however, that he belongs with me.”

{What’s that supposed to mean?}

“Hmm...I apologize, but I am not at liberty to tell you the answer to that or any questions you might have.”

Who was this person? On all accounts, none of this made sense. He had tracked me all the way from the lair and now was so peacefully interacting with me?

No...that wasn’t what mattered here. He wanted Cobaltio, and even with all the confidence in the world, I knew I couldn’t defeat him. Or maybe it was just his charisma intimidating me? I couldn’t tell.

So, I was left with just a few escape routes. Either I was saved by the machine god after stalling (and Menu didn’t seem all too willing to do so at the moment), gave him cobaltio, ran for it, or tried to talk me and Cobaltio’s way out.

As if he knew what I was about to think, he continued. “And don’t think your allies are anywhere near here. ‘Reco’ is a mile away. She happened to spot Zatchel flying around and is chasing him here. I’m not all too familiar with her stats, but if I had to guess, the chances are that we have four minutes.”

I glanced at the [wyvern]. Zatchel? Was that a common name or something?

{Why can’t I keep him?} I asked, assuming he was giving me a time limit to talk.

“Cobaltio was not meant to be raised by your hands. Had you chosen not to make him a [dragonborn], I would have abandoned him altogether, but it seems that you have done nothing to ruin things.”

Wow, this guy didn’t hold things back. If he wasn’t on-guard, and actually wanted to talk, I’d probably have an earful. {If I’m raising him how he should be raised, how come} wipe, write-

“I think the answer should be obvious. I haven’t personally seen you, but from what my [wyvern] says, you’re a fighter. It was you who killed the [cobold]s, so clearly, you’re smart enough to figure it out. That [drake] has potential, and any competent fighter would use that potential. Perhaps you plan to make him a [mage] class, or a [mount] class, or maybe you don’t know what forces you are handling. I’m not sure. But regardless of your doubtless exploitative intent, he deserves to be raised the way he was intended to be.”

{I sacrificed a lot for this sucker.} I wrote before patting Cobaltio on the head.

“Yes, and in respect of your aid, you aren’t dead. Time is running out. Hand me him now, or things will get rough.”

Damn it! What could I say that would make him stop?! What...could...he say?

I lifted Cobaltio from my head, then signed to him. {where do you want to go?}

The person probably wouldn’t care. He would think cobaltio was just doing what I signed him to do, but...I had to try.

Cobaltio looked between the [wyvern] and the man, then, he sniffed the air...

Cobaltio could feel the tension in the air, the fear Saya held, and the danger the two creatures posed. Both he and Saya had injured legs, and for all he knew, there was no escape.

But Saya was smart. She could get them out!

Then, things got worse. Although the tension slowly dwindled, he could feel Saya gripping him tighter and tighter before losing her edge, resigned for the first time Cobaltio had witnessed. Then, she slumped ever-so-slightly, a clear sign of disappointment.

Then, she set him on the ground and looked him in the eye. {where do you want to go?}

He looked between Saya and the person, uncertain. He needed to choose where he wanted to be? That was obvious, Saya was...Saya was a nice person, someone who trained him and fed him, and cared for him. When they first met, she felt cold and uncaring but...Why would he...

Cobaltio’s train of thought was interrupted as he noticed something familiar in the air, a scent that had been present ever since the man had appeared. Cobaltio sniffed, trying to follow it closer to its source.

He began walking to the man, and as he got closer, he began to recognize the scent. It smelled...it smelled like something beyond words. It was like that evil [drake] that had hurt him, but different. It was like Saya, but different. It was like the [wyvern], but different...

He whined as his primordial senses rang with recognition, telling him exactly who he was in front of.

He began to cry as those primordial senses pulled to to the man.

You must be by his side.

He is who you belong with.

Our family, our blood, it is our purpose for living, our lineage.

He wanted to go, to go to the place he was destined to be. It tore at his soul. His love was split, bound to fate, yet gripping onto something dear he had never left.

Tears began to form at the edges of Cobaltio’s eyes as he realized the terrible decision he was forced to make. He backed away from the man for just a moment, terrified yet overjoyed at his very existence.

I will never forget you.

He remembered the bond that man made, and what it meant. If bonds like Zatchel’s were real, then he was sure. Sure that it was important, just like family.

He had more than one lineage to pay respects to.

Cobaltio looked back to Saya, then...

He opened his mouth, filling it to the brim with deadly flames, and fired.