Luke woke from Sooty’s bird tackle.
“Finally got you to wake up; good job, Sooty!” Xera snickered.
“Lad, you sleep like a drunk stone. The sun’s been up for a few minutes as is. If you want to play tag-along with that elf lass, get moving.”
The Reaver got up and flicked Sooty on the beak. The corvid returned the gesture by lightly biting on his finger, which he accepted. Luke rushed to get his equipment on, ‘requisitioned’ that crystal paste by putting it in Sooty’s Spatial Feather, and went downstairs for breakfast.
He scarfed down the eggs that weren’t a chicken’s and vegetables with potatoes. The potatoes were practically the same as back on Earth, something Luke was grateful for. He gulped down regular water with the meal—the innkeeper Sooty fed with some water, simple vegetables, nuts, and her favorite fruit. Luke thanked the stocky, bearded human man, gave him a wave goodbye, and briskly walked toward Kelser’s southern gate.
Luke took a sharp turn on the town road as he made his way. A woman with white hair, mail armor, and a bow came the opposite way on the same side. The two reflexively twisted in the other direction to avoid a collision. Luke looked over his shoulder to give a perfunctory apology, but the woman had already left his line of sight.
Luke assuredly stated, “That woman had to be higher than the first tier. Her reflexes and speed were astounding. Wonder if that’s one of those high-end guards Argel mentioned in the bathhouse.”
Thinking nothing more of it, Luke came to the southern gate. Various caravans were readying to leave. He picked Elnora out of the crowd. He strolled up to her and asked who he was to speak with for the caravan guard position.
“Glad you made it,” Elnora gestured to a middle-aged human man, “He’s the caravan leader; he’ll get you set up and put on the caravan’s roster.” She handed the same fruit from yesterday to Sooty. “Here, ah, what’s her name?”
“Sooty, you’ll become a favorite at this rate,” Luke said.
As Sooty picked apart the fruit, Elnora used a finger to ruffle her head; she didn’t take long and stopped before Sooty told her to. “Let’s make the journey peaceful for these traders. See you on the road, Luke,” Elnora said.
“Thanks for the opportunity, see you soon.”
The she-elf left to direct other parts of the caravan. Judging by the caravan's equipment, he noticed only the two of them were bodyguards. Luke introduced himself to the middle-aged caravan leader.
“Hello, sir. Elnora said you were willing to take another bodyguard in return for a free ride?” He asked.
The middle-aged man had an astute disposition; his clothes were well-made, with fine cloth and dyes. He had too much jewelry on, but not obnoxiously so. He didn’t return the greeting immediately, instead, he looked over Luke.
He seemed satisfied, “Elnora said you were level 20, but for certainties sake, would you mind showing your sigil?”
Luke felt like he was being interviewed, which made sense, as this was basically a temporary job. He spawned the sigil outside the Inventory, which fell into the caravan leader’s hands.
He appraised the sigil for information, “Level 20, spell-sword, in your early twenties for age.” He stopped, then glanced over Luke’s equipment, “Your equipment appears to be of adequate quality as well.”
The caravan leader gave a business smile, “I won’t ask how a spell sword has a companion, but another pair of hands, or wings, for free isn’t something I’ll turn down. Welcome aboard, young man.” He pointed a hand toward an extra-wide wagon with a peach canvas covering. With plenty of cargo already loaded into it, “You’ll be riding on that wagon at the far back while Elnora will guard the front of our group. I’ll be expecting you to keep the caravan safe from any errant attacks. It’s rare to encounter on the main road, but it never hurts to be cautious.”
Luke’s face relaxed, and his subconscious movements ceased, “Sooty will be a wonderful lookout. The two of us will keep your cargo safe.”
The caravan leader subtly relaxed, appeased the young man figured out what he cared about most, without having to say it out loud. He bid Luke goodbye and continued to make last-minute preparations for the caravan.
Luke secured his seat in the back with the caravan almost ready to leave. He greeted the driver of the particular carriage, an old monic man, “Hello, I’ll be sitting at the back. I’m the other caravan guard your leader hired, Luke.”
The elderly monic looked tired, yet his face grew crow’s feet from a life well-lived. There was a bright light in his eyes. “Well met, young man. Call me Celen. My old bones will feel at ease with you guarding the rear.” He noticed Sooty on Luke’s left shoulder, “Ah, a companion class as well? You’re in high demand. Please, make yourself at home. We’ll be setting off any minute now.”
Luke immediately liked the man, who, despite his tired look, had more positive emotion than most he’d met. “Before I do, Celen, you don’t mind if Sooty sits on the top of your wagon, do you? It’ll help her keep a lookout. Also,” he pointed to the two bear-like creatures with long shaggy fur reined to the wagon, “I’m a former ferus, I’ve never seen those creatures before, and I’ve learned it’s rude to inspect them outright with the Interface, could you tell me what they are?”
The old monic’s eyebrows raised, and his lips puckered slightly, “You see something new every day, even at my age,” he laughed, “Those are Gronols. They’re perfect in cold or temperate weather and have plenty of strength to pull heavy loads. Strong enough to fight off low-level monsters, although I don’t think I’ve seen one reach above level 10; they’re overly peaceful unless they have to defend themselves.”
A bell rang throughout the square before the southern gate. The caravan began to get into the proper business lane to leave Kelser.
“I’ve been rambling on too long; take your seat in the back or up front in the spare driver’s seat if you’d prefer. Your companion is welcome to sit wherever she wants on the wagon.”
Luke didn’t mind the company of the monic and decided a few bits of conversation over the ride would be a decent idea. He might learn something. He took the spare diver’s seat and settled in. Sooty perched on the front of the wagon’s top.
They left Kelser after a cursory inspection of the cargo, a minimal effort against black market supplies circulating the Duchy. Celen and Luke made small talk over the first half of the road to Sylen. The monic told Luke the journey at their current speed took about four hours. He hinted that bodyguards for a short transfer of goods on the main road were overkill, but Celen agreed with the caravan leader’s perspective.
It’d be far more damaging to their goods if they didn’t have guards already in place if one mid-grade monster attacked. The sun’s rays were more temperate than yesterday. The terrain changed from grassland to a more rugged mountainous pattern. The path steeply descended. Luke observed a canyon up ahead; purple crystal structures poked out the rock.
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A few birds and other flying creatures circled above, but they left the caravan well enough alone.
“Those creatures flying above don’t worry you?” Luke said.
“Those divers? No, they’re carrion-types; they won’t attack unless someone dies and is left to rot for a few hours. It does mean we can’t do any funeral transfers or the like on this roadway.”
Small groups of beasts observed the caravan from afar but didn’t make a move. Most kept partially hidden or camouflaged with the rock and crystalline terrain. A minority of them were taking a sunbath, with those being reptilian.
The caravan made it into the canyon, and Luke made out several hovels that bore into the natural wonder’s sides. Shrubs overtook cracks, and bits of clay poked out the ground—a small river with purple-tinted water cut through the canyon. The water rushed swiftly, with several sections turning into rapids.
An arch bridge made of the same purple crystal that grew like weeds around the canyon went over the river. Right before the caravan began to cross, Luke heard a roar. He rapidly switched mental states and began to search for the source. He set eyes on a male tora running directly toward the caravan. Multiple panthers with dragon-like features chased after him with fury. The tora bled heavily and appeared to be gravely injured.
Luke exited the secondary driver’s seat calmly, gesturing with his head, “Time to work for our daily bread, Sooty.”
Click. Sooty landed on his shoulder, ready.
With his eyes still trained on the monsters coming closer to the caravan, he spoke, “Mr. Celen, I’ll handle this. Sit tight.”
“Keep safe, young man. Don’t hesitate to team up with the nice young elf lady in the front.”
Luke initially wanted to use Whispering Edge alone for the issue but knew Xera would throw a fit later. He took out both swords and inspected the incoming panthers with scales, thin tails, and monstrous claws.
[Mishipeshu]
Level: 24
HP: 1101/1101
A dragon did unspeakable things with a panther one day, and now the world has these to deal with for the rest of time. It pays to keep it in your pants.
“Too much Interface, too much,” Luke said.
The dragon panthers had water gliding under their paws. Various blasts of water pelted the ground, with well-placed shots soaking the tora through. As Luke cautiously headed toward the rapidly approaching disaster, a rotating water cylinder stabbed through the tora’s lower leg, and he crashed to the ground.
Luke wouldn’t call himself a bastion of morals, but he could confidently say he’d not let the tora die here if he could help it.
He tapped Sooty on her nails, “Go cover him while I make it over there. Use Shadow Wing to save him only if you have to.”
Caw. Sooty flew off in the tora’s direction; the corvid flapped beside him in less than two seconds. An Iron Feather came from Sooty, and it rotated protectively around the tora. The Mishipeshus continued to charge without hesitation, fury coloring their eyes and filling their bodies.
A treant summon materialized next to Sooty. Luke glanced over to the front of the caravan. Elnora had the same idea as him, to protect the unknown tora man. Multiple green bolts of energy congealed behind her back, about to fire. Luke adjusted to the elf’s lead and let her start with a bombardment before he sprang into the middle between the Mishipeshu and a stranger he didn’t know.
The tora struggled to get up but continued to fall back to the ground. Luke came within range to begin whenever the opportunity presented itself. The green bolts collided with the Mishipeshu, and Luke heard pained roars. One bolt gently laid onto the tora. He witnessed the tora’s bleeding moderately reduce.
“An ability that can do AOE damage and heal?” He said as he rushed into the dust cloud the bombardment had produced. Unsure how much he could show, Luke used Infusion on both swords. He began to practice using elementalization on two different areas at once.
The two swords skewered one beast through each eye, and it dropped dead immediately, the water around it turning to slush. Luke took advantage of the continued dust cloud, and quick-casted an Essence Lance, the ability splintered and rained down on the small pack of Mishipeshu.
The double bombardment took the most affected creatures to critically low health. Luke let one beast get close. He dodged its paw swipe, and a few water blades came out of the attack. He stepped to the right and cut through the nearest waterblade with both swords.
Two opposing forces clashed, but Luke’s strength stat was already higher than typical. The water blade deflected to Luke’s side, away from his body. He focused his frost imbuement onto Xera and the iced blade cleaved through the nearby monster. Sooty crashed through, and Reaver Beaked another beast in the chest. The ability carried forward and ripped its heart apart. The beast slid past, dead before the momentum stopped.
Sooty didn’t have as many reservations as Luke, she released an Essence Screech infused with shadow essence. The sonic waves reverberated through the monsters, a third AOE strike decimated the majority of the beast pack. A gigantic Mishipeshu pounced on Sooty. The corvid ripped Talon Strike through its scaled neck. Its head separated from its body, and Sooty flew in the resulting gap.
“The murderous birdie lass is a sight for sore eyes,” Wayfinder said.
“We can talk? Great! Luke, go slice me through the mad panther things. Please?” Xera said.
Luke charged in and sliced both Whispering Edge and Xera into the bodies of the weakened beasts. He refreshed Infusion off cooldown. He noticed that control of essence in two places wasn’t as difficult now. Trying a third spot at once gave him a headache.
A last dragon panther pelted accelerated rain at Luke. He filled his eyes with essence; the measure helped, but plenty of spell rain still stabbed through his body. He faked weakness, and the panther rushed toward its struggling prey. The panther tensed, about to spring forward.
The treant appeared and smashed into the scaled panther. It rag dolled across the canyon. Luke paused, but the monster didn’t get up.
“Back to silence, you two, we’re heading back.”
“It was fun while it lasted,” Xera said.
Sooty landed on the tora’s head, still on the ground. And pecked at him. The tora moved and tried to play dead. Sooty continued to play as she wanted. When Luke stopped before the injured tora, he reluctantly opened his eyes. He tried to swat away Sooty, “Ok, ok, I’m alive. Stop harassing me, you strange bird.”
The treant returned, and Elnora tapped Luke on the shoulder. Luke hadn’t noticed her, with his fixation on the tora.
“I’ll heal him from here,” She grew a slight frown, “He’ll have to explain himself to the caravan leader after. Can you stay with me so you can act if he tries to run off?”
Luke figured this was part of the job description, so he didn’t refuse. “Sure,” He said.
While Elnora began to heal the tora with pulsing white-green light, Luke made some conversation, “Your treant sure packs a punch. Is that a summon ability?”
Elnora looked bashful about it, “Enwald is my main means of attack. I’m lucky to gain him as a summon, especially as a druid. You’re as blessed, your companion has an AOE attack; that’s quite rare.”
Luke didn’t comment on Sooty but remembered to keep that fact in mind. “Main means of attack? Those grouped-up green bolts looked more powerful to me.”
“It’s damage isn’t as high as you think. At the cost of being able to heal as well as do damage, it isn’t particularly good at either. I’m over-leveled for those monsters, is all.”
The Reaver didn’t want to ask for a specific level at first. But he recalled it was etched onto a sigil anyway, so he said, “What’s your level then?”
“My level? That’s unimportant, but I’ll tell you I’m well into the 1st tier. Tier-less monsters like these aren’t much a threat to me.”
Sooty left the tora alone and landed back on the carriage Celen drove. She bugged the old monic for head scratches and food. The tora man coughed up a mass of blood, and the conversation between Elnora and Luke halted as the she-elf focused on keeping the tora alive.
Elnora’s voice turned firm, “Tell me, tora, why is a tier 1 hunter like you running from a litter of monster runts? You’ve got some explaining to do, mister.”
Luke was oddly reminded of being scolded as a little boy when he heard that come from Elnora’s mouth. He couldn’t help but chuckle. The caravan head joined them, and began to observe the tora man. First, he looked to Elnora, “Hunter Elnora, please do cease with the healing. The tora’s life is no longer in danger, and until we can be sure this wasn’t malicious, it’s best we keep him from complete health.”
To Luke, the she-elf looked uncomfortable with the request but assented after a long hesitation. “Thank you, Ms. Elnora.” The caravan head swung his body to face Luke, “Aspirant Luke, you handled yourself with professional poise. If you need an item in the future, my Fasa House Of Commerce will be happy to help.” The middle-aged man handed a square piece of papyrus to him. “Show this at any Fasa location, and they’ll know I vouched for you.”
Luke took the card and nodded. The caravan leader started his interrogation with the tora man.
He squatted down and looked him in the eye, “Sir, I’m sure you know, according to Ducal law, leading a pack of monsters to raid a caravan is a heinous crime. You better convince me why I shouldn’t send one of these two to the guard tower on the other side of this canyon to get you arrested.”
The Caravan leader paused, then put his hands behind his back as he stood up. He paced around him, “You may speak.”