“Stand up. I hate gestures like that.”

Just as before, everyone shot to their feet as if he was the lord himself. They were scared before. Now they were mortified, some of them looked ready to die right then and there. Mash’s frown deepened.

“Don’t bother with all this. I’m going to that stupid mountain. I don’t want to waste any time here. Definitely not going to wait for you to make a weapon.”

Gus didn’t seem afraid of Mash, but he seemed horrified by that idea.

“The mountain. Of course, you must wish to speak to the lord. But a map? We would obviously provide you with an escort, and I would accompany you to forge the weapon if needed.”

The blacksmith was being polite. Mash was doubtful though. He had never heard of a blacksmith forging something while traveling. Aarushi spoke next. His voice filled with worry. It was as if the blacksmith’s words had ignited a new set of fears.

“We can’t send an escort now. You know what is coming.”

The blacksmith said something in the language he couldn’t understand but he filled in the words with his mind.

You fool! Not only did you attack him, but you want to even leave him without a proper guide.

It seemed to fit considering the way that the chief deflated with every word. When Aarushi spoke again, he magically seemed ready to acquiesce to the blacksmith’s every claim.

“In hopes of earning your forgiveness, we will certainly send one of our best hunters with you to act as an escort. The honored elder Gus has already given his intentions to be part of the escort, and we will pick out a great chef as well. If that would appease your holiness, we cannot spare anyone else.”

Mash shook his head. Aarushi’s expression fell but warped to distress as Mash spoke.

“No, I don’t need an escort. It will just slow me down. Just give me the map and point me in the right direction.”

Gus spoke and replied in place of Aarushi.

“We could never do such a thing. Our village has two Sky Grazers, we will send you with them.”

Mash could gather what a Sky Grazer was from the name. He would’ve refused, but a flying creature would certainly be able to get him to the mountain quickly. Plus, he might be able to find an excuse to kill it and gain another form. It was hard to tell since he didn’t have his forms, but he figured it would be a good idea to eat as many different creatures as he could. Also, he liked the idea of flying instead of running.

“Fine.”

Gus smiled, beaming at the agreement. He nodded like it was the obvious decision, and Aarushi looked resigned to his fate. It seemed like Aarushi did that a lot. Either way, everything went easily after that.

It was awkward though. The villagers who had been trying to kill him only moments ago apologized like a small child who got caught eating too many sweets. It was kind of sad to see them act so pathetic. His anger had wilted in the face of their fear and desperation. The blacksmith’s words changed the crowd’s perception. A perception that felt flimsy with how much it was swayed. Though maybe that just meant that the village was dependent on its leaders, and he guessed that it was the same everywhere.

Mash began to see the village as something else. It was kind of like a pet to their so-called lord. So desperate and obsessed to earn the lord’s praise, that they would do absolutely anything to that end. Honestly, the situation disgusted him. He felt like he shouldn’t get angry at them but at their owner instead. It took Aarushi and Gus around an hour to get everything ready. During that hour, Mash was given more than a small amount of food and gifts in apology. He ate the food, and politely rejected most of the gifts since he couldn’t carry them. Although he did accept a pack that strapped around his shoulders and hung on his back comfortably.

Once everything was ready, he left without giving the rest of the people the chance to apologize. Mash approached the Sky Grazers. And they were interesting creatures. The creatures were a mix between a chicken and a hawk. They had long legs and fat bodies but wings so long that they dragged on the ground as the creatures moved. Probably never walked on the ground if they could avoid it. Maybe they hung like bats? They were covered in black feathers and had a saddle strapped to their back. Each bird could probably carry four or five people.

Mash saw Aarushi and his wife on one bird, and Gus on the other. Gus had many tools that Mash had never seen before. The staff that he had tried to take laid at his feet. The blacksmith was fervently waving at Mash to join them. Mash sighed and walked over to the man. The blacksmith started talking as soon as he could.

“What do you want for the weapon? A staff is simple enough, but I can manage something a little more complicated. Nothing too fancy with this metal, but I can do better than this.”

“I liked the shape. With edges like that, every side would be dangerous, but it could still function as a staff. My old weapon was something like that but had wide blades on both ends. And it kind of looks like it's covered in a ton of small teeth. It fits, in a weird way.”

Mash found that explaining what he wanted was easy. Having held the staff earlier, he had an image of what he wanted already. The blacksmith was quick to understand too. He nodded happily and replied with eager enthusiasm.

“A staff with teeth. I can work with that.”

The blacksmith’s gusto confused Mash more than anything he’d experienced so far.

“Why go so far? I was kind of a terror to your village.”

Mash didn’t have to say more to explain anything. He could hear Aarushi and his wife whispering. Even without knowing the language, it was obvious to know who they were talking about.

“You are a great being. Even if you are not related to the lord directly. I have felt his aura, and yours might exceed his. A weapon for you should be as good as one I would make for the lord.”

The words earned more questions.

“What do you mean by an aura?”

“Aura. It is like the amount of space your presence takes up, and the force behind it. The sensation that a pest might feel in front of a Sky Grazer. Not everyone can feel it like me, though most of our fighters can at least notice it. When I met you, I felt like a bug.”

Mash had a sneaking suspicion that he knew what the man was talking about.

“How big would you say that my aura is.”

The man shrugged as he replied.

“Around seventy or eighty paces.”

That was what Mash expected. It was his domain, and he itched to check his status. Although, he had tried and failed to check it already. This world seemed to prevent even that, even though that didn’t use any mana. Or maybe it used a minuscule amount? He dismissed the thought and climbed onto the bird’s back.

“How far is this mountain anyway?”

Gus didn’t answer. He worked on the piece of metal instead. One of the tools in his hand was a long glass tube. Inside it was some strange blue fluid. He pressed one end of the tube against the metal and Mash heard a sizzling sound. Mash watched in fascination for a few minutes, then Gus paused and put the tube back into a case. He spoke then, revealing that he had heard Mash.

“It should only take eight nights.”

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa P.O.V

Lisa and the others hadn’t actually gone into the dungeon after Mash. They had told him that they would, but the group planned on nothing of the sort. Red only told her once Mash was gone, but the plan was actually to wait for his return. Red had explained that their group was actually poor at dungeons without Mash. While Jill was good at avoiding damage, they relied on his domain for a lot. Especially when it came to avoiding traps. The dungeon before them had its fair share of traps, and they weren’t planning on entering. There was actually another dungeon nearby that they could head to if needed. It would be significantly easier, but it would still give them a level at least.

Rather than entering the dungeon, the group waited to see if Mash would come out. The sun had gone down more than an hour ago, and Lisa was getting worried. He was supposed to be back now. The plan was to come back before dinner, and it was definitely too late for that. She paced back and forth rapidly. The others were already asleep. Why weren’t they worried? Their casual assurance that he would be fine seemed ridiculous with caution that they kept for themselves. Did they just not care about him? She knew that wasn’t the case but had asked the question to herself many times. She finally snapped and just decided to confront one of them.

She walked out of her tent in a rush. It wasn’t really a tent, rather it was more like a small house. It even had a fireplace and a chimney to release the smoke. It felt a lot colder outside. Despite the endless winter of her old home, she felt weirdly cold now. She hadn’t felt like that when the sun was up, but the night felt dangerous now. It was a childish fear. The unfounded fear that someone would come from the shadows and place a collar around her neck.

She rubbed at her neck as she stepped up to Red’s tent. Although she didn’t try to enter or call out to her. Honestly Red scared her. Logically, Lisa knew that Red wasn’t the same as the nobles from her home, but their confidence was the same. She never could tell if it was an act or not, and Red spoke with all the self-assuredness as anyone. And then there was the intensity with which spoke. It made her knees shake, and she decided to try someone else. Not Luke. She didn’t feel comfortable meeting with any man in the night and settled on Jill.

Again, she froze in front of the tent. She hesitated. An image of an angry Jill flashed across her mind. Anyone would be angry if they were rudely awoken in the middle of the night. When she heard whispering inside, she sagged in some relief. Jill was awake but who was she talking to? Lisa felt a little awkward, but she leaned an ear against the side of the tent. It might just be her paranoia, but she couldn’t help but be suspicious. The only one she could read easily was Mash, the others were good at hiding their emotions. Mash’s emotions leaked through his face and domain, even when Priscilla tried to help him.

“I can’t teleport to him. That shouldn’t be possible. I can literally cross worlds.”

Jill was rushing through her words. Her frustration was clear, and her desperation was heavy.

“What about his world? If you can go there, then he might notice or something,”

Luke replied, his voice heavy with concern. The reality dawned on Lisa. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Slowly, she fell to her knees. Her head fell into her hands as the truth became obvious. They did care. They probably cared more than she did, but they had lied for her benefit. It was a little degrading, but she knew it was reasonable. Despite her attempts to be friendly, they could tell that she didn’t trust them the same way. Lisa knew that she depended on Mash. For all that she knew it wasn’t the best idea, she could help but see him as her savior. And now that savior was gone, maybe even dead. It might have been desperation, but she found some comfort in seeing the mark in her status and her focus drifted inward.

Name: Lisa Class: Bonded Mana Dancer

Level: 138

Health: 1980 / 1980

Stamina: 2010 / 2010

Mana: 5110 / 5110

Fortitude: 198

Endurance: 201

Strength: 101

Agility: 302

Intelligence: 511

Wisdom: 200

Charisma: 312

Free Stats: 0

Skills: Charismana, Mana Armor, Haste, Master’s Message, Lead’s Supporter, Mana Signature, Temporary Mana Battery, Dancer’s Pull, Partner of Mana, Mask of the Slave, Bound Dancer’s Chain, The Devourer’s First Marked

The Devourer’s First Marked (Unique): The first to be marked by the devourer, your growth is chastened by their influence. Struggle to avoid becoming the creature’s next meal. The monster’s interest is not without benefit. Gain levels more rapidly. Grow quickly for your time will be limited by its patience.