Xane was hungry again. Like really hungry. An arrant thought that increasing one's muscle mass probably made someone hungry came through before he threw it out. Picking up the stray bullets and reloading, Much smoother than before, Xane went back inside.
Inside he ate like a mad man. More than when he was here not just 20 minutes ago. A bag of jerky he had hid from Von was devoured. As well as multiple spoonfuls of peanut butter. A few granola bars later he was satisfied. Well his stomach was but his brain told him he shouldn’t have eaten so much. Once it was all gone what else could he eat?
An idea came to him. There was a giant crab out there-No he couldn’t get distracted. He had to find Von. Von was probably trying to find him too. If Xane left and Von found Sierra's Song while Xane wasn’t here then Von would then think that-Xane stopped that train of thought and just wrote a note.
‘Out looking for you will be back by nightfall stay here if you find this’ -Xane
With that out of the way Xane grabbed a canteen, a backpack he brought that had some books and snacks. He took out the books. Not needing them in there. Next he put in his charging pack(ziplocked), extra rope, a flashlight, another bag of jerky, and swiss army knife, utility for the win.
Xane didn’t have a holster. Which in retrospect was a dumb idea but how was he supposed to know that he would find himself stranded with giant crabs.
It was really easy to just jump down. Xane didn’t even feel the impact on the sand. He could get used to the increase in stats.
The body of the crab already had seagulls pecking at it. Most were normal sized but as he tried to move past a bigger one came swooping in. The pack of seagulls scattered as the bigger one started attacking the others. Xane took a moment to inspect it.
Large Seagull
Level: 6
Basic information: Seagulls are the pests of the sea. Sailors usually have a kill on sight attitude towards the pests as seagulls will snatch a sailor’s lunch without remorse. Seagulls also at higher levels can become as big as a small row boat snatching a sailor's lunch as well as the sailor themselves.
Xane started to back away from the big bird. If the information wasn’t lying to him then that thing if a bit bigger would just eat him. Xane gun in hand started to just wander following the beach as that is most likely where Von would have landed and would also be wandering around in hopes of finding Xane or Sierra’s Song.
The beach was actually quite beautiful. There was somehow large coral poking out of the sand. From Xane’s knowledge coral was usually just in water. Xane just pushed it off as another thing in the weird category of his mind. That of which is filling up fast.
The more Xane walked the more he was convinced that he was on an island. Not a huge island by all means but after 20 minutes of walking, at a much faster pace than he would have been able to do before, he calculated he walked at least 3 miles. He wasn’t even trying or slightly out of breath. The nice salty sea breeze did help with cooling down. However, the island seemed to be pretty rounded. The sights inland were also pretty bland. Just a forest of trees about 60 ft from the sand.
All Xane could see was birds, birds, and more birds. Seriously, how many seagulls are there? Xane didn’t hate seagulls but the information given by inspect made him warry.
He didn’t waste time while walking. Xane decided to use inspect on his items. Only a few actually worked.
Colt. 45 Revolver(Unique)
First of its kind in Averinth. Guns are high damage weapons. Requires ammunition.
Swiss Army Knife(Unique)
A multi-tool utility knife.
Rope(common)
This is high-quality rope.
Again the descriptions were pretty self explanatory. The only good information was that his weapon was the first of its kind. He extrapolated that earlier from him making the gunmanship skill but still boggled that he was the only one with it. Could probably make more and sell them. That was something for later.
It took him 6 hours to get all the way around. This confirmed he was indeed on an island. He also estimated that it was 30 miles in circumference. Xane used circumference since the island was indeed unnaturally round. It was like one of those cartoon islands where it was round with one tree in the middle and a coconut hanging. But instead it was little under half the size of Hawaii.
While walking around Xane tried to see if there were other ships out there. He couldn’t see anything. Not even other bits of land. What he did see though, after climbing a rock face, was what seemed like a tower of sorts in the middle of the thick jungle.
Later he finally saw another creature. It was a boar. A rather angry boar. The moment it saw Xane it started squealing and rushed for him. Xane just dodged and ran. Being able to out pace the creature on sand. Xane was able to inspect it.
Boar:
Level: 12
Basic information: Boars are common creatures in jungle areas. Not being as trainable as pigs, boars are commonly just killed off for experience, hide and meat. Their hide becomes thick in higher levels and their tusks able to pierce even the strongest of plate armor. Beware their charge.
That was actually useful information Xane thought to himself. If he didn’t want to waste his ammo then he would have killed it. Xane didn’t believe a stick or his bare fists would do. His knife was something he had but it was tiny. He was trained with a foil blade but didn’t have one nor thought it would be useful.
The last thing of interest Xane had found was a sunken ship. He hadn’t explored out to it due to the fact it was at least 120 ft out in the water. He really didn’t know what was left of it since all he saw was the mast sticking out of the water. On top of not knowing what lay in the water. There could be sharks in there. Or even more giant crabs.
There was still a lot of day left. The sun barely reaching its apex. This left Xane with a few options. Either go back to the ship and hide out till help arrives. He remembered from some video that staying with the boat was the best option. Good shelter, noticeable from the ocean, and most likely has all your supplies.
That was the sensible option. That was not the option Xane was going for. He felt the power, the sensation he got from leveling, from gaining attribute points, the thrill of killing the crab. All that combined to him wanting more. One of the reasons he went on the trip in the first place was that he wanted some semblance of adventure. However, now instead of treading explored waters he's found himself in what he still assumes to be another world. Unexplored by his world at least.
It took effort but Xane’s sensible side fought back. What if there was something even more powerful than the Crab? What if he runs out of ammo? What if we get really hurt?
What if Von is out there? The explorative side argued back. What if he gets hurt?
Would getting injuured even matter? Xane had realized before that his hurt leg had miraculously healed before. He didn’t know the extent but would push it. He squashed the sensible side that ruled his life before.
Xane was going to that tower.
Xane was not going to that tower. It took only a few minutes of walking into the jungle for a boar to impale him in his side. With newfound energy Xane had pep in his step as he walked into the jungle. Perhaps pushing his sensible self back so much wasn’t the best plan. He forgot to try and stealth.
Xane was taking a decent pace as he walked through looking at the trees and vines. He saw a few birds in the branches. What he didn’t see though was the boar rushing him down. Xane did hear it. However, it was far too late to do anything to stop it.
He watched the boar slam into his left flank. Searing pain erupted as one of the tusks punctured skin and a lung. Luckily for Xane his higher stats from the feats saved him. If he had come in before that he would have died instantly.
Xane was momentarily stunned from the pain. He had never felt something like it before. The closest thing was when he had hurt his leg not that long ago. Xane hoped that this wouldn’t be a regular thing that was going to happen.
The stun abated as he was shoved into a tree. The boar was currently trying to push Xane to the ground. Not stunned anymore Xane grabbed both tusks and held tight trying to move forward. He was surprised when he slowly pushed it back. “Shit I’m strong now,” Xane exclaimed, even through the pain getting giddy.
With the upper hand Xane threw the boar to the side forcing the creature on its side. Xane looked around for a weapon. A stick or rock just anything but his gun. Panicking a bit, Xane picked up a fallen branch. It was more of a stick and was proven as such as it shattered against the boar.
Looking for another weapon he saw a large stone the size of his head. That has to work Xane thought running to it. He wasted too much time and the beast was up again rearing for another go. It sprinted for Xane as Xane picked up the rock marveling at how light it was and a stray thought came to him. Is this styrofoam? This thought didn’t distract him as he forced it down on the boar barreling towards him.
With a cluchunck and splattering of blood the rock embedded itself in the skull of the boar. But the thing was still not dead. The boar tried in vain to get up. Xane just finally remembered his knife and plunged it into the boar's neck. A surge of elation went through him. Both delight in not dying and experience.
Congratulations, you after trials and tribulations you have gained a level. You are now level 6.
You have gained a level, as human you gain 6 attribute points per level.
Xane put all into constitution as that one attack albeit most likely a sneak attack took away more than a quarter of his health in one go. He also was slowly losing health.
You are under the effects of Bleed.
Bleed: You are bleeding 5 hp every 3 seconds till bleeding has stopped.
He had thought of this and brought a few towels and some duct tape with him. He carefully touched the rag up to his side and used the duct tape to keep it there. That took way longer than Xane would have wanted to admit since he lost another 10% of his hp trying to stop the bleeding.
He saw his health slowly start ticking up. Since he was not a few minutes into the jungle he just turned around with a slight limp. He was 20ft away when he realized he should grab the boar. Turning around he went back. What he saw scared him so much he turned and started sprinting. Shit shit shit shit.
Xane isn’t really afraid of much. Spiders are cool. Heights are fun. The ocean was a pretty obvious one. One thing he was mortified of since a young age were snakes.
Xane when he was 9 went to a carnival. It was a pretty fancy one, Bonett’s Travel Brigade. It was huge with hours of attractions to see. Late in the night his mother pulled Xane along to see the Snake Lady. It was supposed to be an act where a lady charmed a snake and did some tricks.
They sat down in a semicircle. A curtain hid the lady till the show started. As everyone sat down and the announcer said,”Welcome ALL welcome to the wonderful and mysterious Zephra the Snake Lady and her pet Vincent.” As she said this the curtain opened to reveal Zephra laying on the ground a pool of blood. People at first thought it was an act till the announcer screamed. And screamed some more,which made all the young kids scream.
This wasn’t what made Xane scared. He for some reason didn’t mind the dead body. What got Xane was when a small snake pushed its way out of Zaphra the Snake Lady’s mouth. That was when he too screamed.
The snake he was running away from wasn’t inside some lady but instead was the size of a thinner tree. It was in the middle of devouring Xane’s hard earned kill. The boar was half in by the time Xane saw it. Xane swore he saw one of the eyes look straight at him before he left.
You can have it. Was what Xane was thinking as he ran to and up the boat, opened and shut the main door, locked it, ran to his room and shut and locked that too. He then sat in his bed to rethink things.
“I can’t just be walking around willy nilly.” Xane said out loud flustered at himself for being so afraid. Definitely after he had just hyped himself up on adventure. Xane was also in pain. His wounds weren’t nearly fully healed. The sun was still up but Xane was tired. He laid in his bed and slept.
Xane woke up hours later. The sun was down and the stars were out. Xane went out and started looking at them. “I don’t recognize any of these.” Not a single consolation was the same.
He spent a while looking at them studying them. This was his favorite part of going on the ocean. No light pollution to hide the stars.
Sitting there he remembered something he saw in his stats. One of his abilities.
Cultivate(Unique)
Your unique body allows you to pull ambient mana from your surrounding condensing into experience.
Might as well try that. Xane was used to meditation and that was his best time to think. He got into a lotus position and thought cultivate? Ok it was a dumb idea but Xane truly didn’t know what to do. He was wishing more and more that there was some mysterious wizard or something that could tell him what to do.
He didn’t have a wizard to tell him what to do and how the world worked.. He didn’t even have Von. Calm down. He thought to himself breathing in and out. Pulling himself inward. Xane didn’t know how long he spent doing this. Breathing in. Then out. Pulling in. He felt his energies move, pull, expand, shrink, condense, repeat.
He felt his worries wash away. He didn’t know at the time that he was cultivating. Xane felt happy. Until a notification came. The annoying blink.
Congratulations after trials and tribulations you have gained a level. You are now level 7.
You have gained a level, as a human you gain 6 attribute points per level.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Congratulations! You have gained a new skill.
Meditation(Uncommon): Novice Rank 1
Breath in, Breath out. You are one with yourself and the world around you. Have a higher increase in pool regeneration while meditating.
+3% pool regeneration while meditating.
Error
Ability Cultivate has consumed Skill Meditation. All bonuses has been maxed out to Master Rank 9
Cultivate has been upgraded.
Cultivate(Unique):
Your unique body allows you to pull ambient mana from your surrounding condensing into experience. Has been upgraded to also pull in ambient mana to refill stat pools.
Xane opened his eyes, astonished at how long he had been doing this. The sun was caressing the horizon. The sky a milky pink. It was quite beautiful. Xane also knew that it must have taken hours to do one level. If he was strapped for time he shouldn’t use that ability. He was happy though as a level was a level. He also got a sense that it didn’t count as sleep; he actually felt slightly drained from the action. Nothing to go to bed over though.
Xane pushed 2 into strength, dexterity and agility. Xane used to have an exercise regimen that he did every day. He decided to do it for normalsy sake. He found that his usual 20 pushups were laughable now. He was easily able to do 70 before his muscles started to ache. As well as 60 crunches and other simple exercises.
He was surprised to see a notification at the end.
With hard work you have gained attribute points.
1 points to strength, constitution, and endurance
He wasn’t too surprised that doing exercise would increase his attributes. He did wonder how much he could gain by doing this. Could he just train for days on end and have 100 in those stats? It didn’t sound fun to do but if he wanted to survive he probably should spend time each day doing just that. He assumed that it would get to a point where it wasn’t viable.
Something he also needed was a melee weapon. Not wanting to waste ammo and also needing more than just fists, a rock, and his knife. What Xane wanted was a sword. And he had an idea where he might get one…if he was right.
Xane first needed to find out how long he could hold his breath. He had a boat to swim to. The only other thing he knew of was that sunken boat. It wasn’t that far out and who knew what was on there. Long lost treasure? Some long rotten oranges? Or lots and lots of water? The last one was most likely the true one. Xane wasn’t having best of luck and assumed whatever he found if anything would be useless.
With the sun basically up he started on his journey to the sunken boat. Xane was wary of danger and kept a look out. Really only the big seagulls were out. It was odd that no other creature ventured to the beach. He then slapped himself for thinking such a thing. If the other creatures in the jungle were grounded then they wouldn’t want to fight the flying swarms of birds. Xane only believed that he wasn’t being attacked was the fact there was a ready meal of giant crab to chow down on and once that was gone they would be looking for new food sources.
The crab was mostly gone now anyways. Only a shell was really left. Xane thought about collecting the shells since it was sturdy but really didn’t know what he would do with it. Make armor? He could but didn’t think it would be that worthwhile with his lack of skill in that area. If you wanted a boat or building made he was your guy. At least the designs of one.
Xane was musing and looking towards the jungle making sure a boar or giant snake was going to pop out and attack him when he heard a swoosh and pain erupted from his back throwing him to the ground. It wasn’t a stabbing pain like before but instead felt like a rock was dropped on him barely clipping him. Xane stumbled forward shouting in pain. He turned to see a rock the size of his head on the ground. He had been attacked with a rock. Xane was in a crouched position as he wanted to rank up his stealth skill. He felt like he was so close to doing so. However clearly it wasn’t working that well. Who would have thought walking around in the middle of sand wouldn’t be a great hiding area.
Xane looked up to see two large seagulls, one didn’t have a rock and another did. Clearly one had dropped the boulder on him and the other was in the midst of getting in line. Xane tried to get up but the rock was already falling. Xane just rolled to the side instead, getting sand all over his clothes again. God I hate sand…sand and seagulls. The rock slammed into where he was just moments before.
The one that had dropped the rock before was already in a swooping maneuver. It was diving straight towards him faster than he thought possible. Xane whipped out his colt and aimed. BANG. Sound reverberated as he fired straight into the head of the bird. Its course however wasn’t altered much and it slammed into Xane throwing him to the ground. The thing was heavy for a bird. “I thought birds were hollowed boned,” Xane complained, tossing it to the side.
The next bird was already too close to aim so Xane dropped his gun and caught the bird by its neck. It took a single bite into his shoulder before Xane started to punch it repeatedly. It let go after the 3rd hit dazed. Xane then brutally, in his own opinion, wrung the bird's neck as he slammed it into the nearby previously dropped rock. Xane felt he had killed it on the second swing. He didn’t stop until the 4th.
Xane breathed heavily. More so than after his exercise montage. He felt the same after the fight with the boar. He looked at his stamina and confirmed something he thought before. It was much lower than when he did exercise. Apparently fighting used up more stamina than non fighting actions. Even so it wasn’t even close to being empty.
Xane looked at his notifications. He skipped the kill ones not seeing the point.
Congratulations after practice and study you have ranked up a skill!
Sneak(Common) Rank 2
Gives you the ability to hide from others' sight. Attacks from hidden positions slightly increase damage. This skill is slightly affected by dexterity.
Congratulations you have gained a new skill!
Hand to Hand Combat(Common) Rank 1
Through punching you grow. Gain increased damage with your hands. Slightly increases the resilience of hands. This skill is slightly affected by strength and endurance.
+1% to damage per rank.
+2% resilience of hands per rank.
The hand to hand combat skill wasn’t something he was truly into. He didn’t like his hands in pain; they were soft. But it increased his hands' resilience, which he presumed meant the ability to take punishment, and the fact it gave him new information. He also was starting to think endurance was the same as resilience. If
A thought came to Xane as he looked at the birds. Didn’t games have looting? He touched the feathery body and thought Loot? He waited….nothing happened. He then said it out loud,”Loot.” Yeah nothing. Xane gave up. It seemed like a game that he watched his friend play but it clearly didn’t have all the same things.
He also didn’t want to lug the bodies all the way back and decided to just bury them in sand and take them if he remembered. Well he would remember really it was if he wasn’t being chased by some monstrosity.
As he got close to the water he pulled out his scuba gear. He was joking to himself earlier about holding his breath. Why do that when you had oxygen in a can? He mostly wanted the goggles and air tank but put the entire suit on Tossing his clothes to the side. “Hope no one steals them.” After a few minutes of wiggling he was ready. “One step for me,” He said, taking a step into the water,”And another for me,” He stated taking another.
Xane was getting giddy about this. He loved exploring the ocean as much as sailing it. He never found any ancient city or treasure but loved swimming with fishes and looking the vast ocean floor. He hoped finally he would find something amazing.
Xane looked and he didn’t see any sharks. What he did see though was the rest of the ship. It was really big. He could fit 4 of his ships inside the thing, maybe more. Some of it looked to be buried. What he thought was a caravel was something else. No ship on earth was ever this size and made of wood. The closest thing he could compare with was a cargo ship. Most of the masts were broken with only one raising high out of the water.
He saw small fish swimming around. He inspected a few.
Cod:
Level: 1
Basic Information: It's a fish….like a fish..you know a fish.
Sturgeon:
Level: 2
Basic Information: Sturgeons are most commonly used in sea delicacies. Rarer than the- Just kidding it's a freaking fish.
He didn’t look at any others seeing no point. But he now knew for a fact that he had food if need be. He loved fresh fish. And sushi… he really hoped sushi existed wherever he was. If not then he would attempt to make it. How hard can it be.
Another thing Xane noticed was that no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t activate stealth. There was a sense he got when he was in stealth. He felt himself take more cautious steps, moved more fluidly. But in the water it wouldn’t work at all. That was information he put away later.
Swimming up to the ship he saw a name faintly written on the side. S-- Gre--. It was too faded to see the full name. Only thing he could think of was Sea Greed, Sir Greed? Is this a pirate ship? No right minded merchant ship would name themselves that.
Xane didn’t really care about the name. What he did care about was the elephant sized hole under the name. Easy access I guess. But wonder what did that if not an explosion. If I was the first to have a gun then surely they didn’t have bombs. He also didn’t see any cannons or gunports. Makes sense, he thought absently whilst swimming inside.
It was bright enough outside but inside he needed to turn on his flashlight. Illumination filtered in lighting up crates and barrels. Most were toppled over with objects strewn about. Goblets and silverware. Coins of differing gleaming colors. Rusted weaponry of varying sizes and shapes. This was either a trade ship or pirate ship. With the name of Saint Greed it really could be either. Xane leaned towards the pirate ship. Sounded cooler.
Xane’s goal was quickly realized. He found weapons. Now he needed to find something suitable for him. Also not one that would just break on a single hit. He started picking through the mess wishing he had thicker gloves. The ones he had on were thin and would cut easily and Xane didn’t know if tetanus was something he needed to worry about or not. Would his fast healing body just heal that away?
Not wanting to test fate he carefully moved the weapons. These had to be here for a while. The iron weapons were very rusted with a few doing better than others. Interested, he inspected a few of the better ones.
Iron Greatsword(Common)(Decently Crafted)
For those who wish to wield a heavy hitting and long ranged sword the greatsword is for you. This one specifically was well made with-
Xane didn’t read further since it went down to specifics of purity and some other nonsense he didn’t understand. It was odd that each time he used inspect it seemed that a different person wrote it. This one read more like an infomercial. Xane just added it to the list.
He did find one that was actually interesting. It seemed to have no rust at all and was something he thought he would like.
Iron Rapier of lesser burn(Uncommon)(Well Crafted)(Enchanted)
Rapiers have been wielded by scallywags and dual wielding rogues since time immemorial. Rapiers are best used to pierce flesh and armor alike. This weapon archetype has naturally higher piercing damage and capabilities. This rapier has been enchanted with a lesser enchantment of burn. Burn will deal extra fire damage to anyone struck with the weapon.
Again the sense of the wording changed. Xane just ignored it, entranced by a specific word. ‘Enchanted’ Did that mean there was actual magic? The weird system and wording seemed magical but also seemed mechanical like VR or something. Xane at a younger age liked fantasy novels and movies. Magical blades were the most common trope in those and he now had one of his own.
Hesitantly he picked it up. He could feel the small amount of power in it. He hooked it onto his side. There seemed to have been a scabbard of some sort but forever ago melted away. Excited to find more interesting stuff Xane moved to an unopened crate. Wedging a sturdy-looking greatsword into the crack and pushed down. It took way more effort than he thought it would. A solid minute later and the wood cracked open surprisingly water rushed inside. Was it sealed? He assumed that it had water inside already.
Perhaps he shouldn’t open anymore in case the water destroys something valuable. The one he did open was just some lemon looking fruit. Did he actually find oranges? Not actual oranges, but he joked about it before. If they weren’t drowning in salt water he would have tried one. He inspected one.
Saltange: Saltanges are salty and sour fruits if you like that type of stuff I guess. If you wanted more you can find them primarily in the Zakor, but who would.
Now it sounds sad about giving me information. Is the skill broken? He did take one shoving in a small net holding device. He also shoved a bunch of coins in. Amidst doing so he saw a flash of movement outside the hole. Looking Xane saw nothing there. Another flash and he knew something was there. It was so fast just water moving and a streak of color. He saw a small fish swimming past and just disappeared as that streak of color whisked it away.
Xane was getting a bad feeling about this. Realizing he did find an abnormal amount of bones scattered about. More than what a ship would have. This is probably somethings home. Why wouldn’t it be? Quickly Xane swam over to a pile of crates and hid behind it. He turned off his light and waited. Xane had a while longer till he would run out of air. However, he didn’t want to be stuck in here.
After not a few moments later a water creature pushed its way inside. Huge eyes illuminated. With his light source now off he could get a great look at it but his inspect skill did activate. This time it sounded very condescending.
Yug:
Name: Water Dragon
Level: ??
This is Yug. She is a water dragon. Water dragons are fiercely territorial creatures that have control over water itself. Using this ability it can launch itself at high speeds even though it doesn’t have fins. Yug herself is known for her mastery over water and mind magic. Also water dragons have perfect vision and uses variation in water and vibrations to find prey. Isn’t that interesting. Lucky for you Yug was heavily damaged by another monster of the sea and was permanently blinded. She is also cursed. Can’t say what though.
As he finished this he saw the eye look upon him well it didn’t really since it was apparently blind. That didn’t stop Xane from wanting to piss himself. Xane had left his gun in a sealable bag since it was useless under water. He wished it wasn’t.
The creature didn’t move towards him. Instead Xane felt the water around him move and swirl. It pulled him towards the sea dragon. Xane grabbed on to the crates with all his strength. As he did so the pressure of the water got stronger and stronger. His strength failed and he was sucked right next to the thing. It stared at him head tilted.
When he read dragon he was expecting a dragon. Not a very large and ostentatious seahorse. It didn’t have wings or legs, or look like a dragon at all. It really just was a giant seahorse. Kinda creepy and beautiful but a seahorse.
A voice echoed in his mind. He didn’t understand the language.
Xane was too stunned to speak. His adrenaline was high and a voice in the back of his mind was yelling that this thing was dangerous and that he should leave fast. However, no matter how he tried he couldn’t move.
Again the voice spoke.
This time he did respond,”I have no idea what you are saying,” Xane said lamely his voice filtered due to the mask.
The head of the beast tilted again. A sharp pain hit Xane. A worm of energy invading his mind. No matter how much he fought back he couldn’t he felt memories being looked over but it didn’t actually look too deep. It found what it was looking for and pulled. No pain that Xane had ever felt was nothing compared to this.
“Ahh a new tongue. Been decades since I’ve learned a new one. And you have given me five. My thanks.” The voice, even though it was in his mind, had a lisp to it, similar to how snakes speak in the media. “I ask again. Who are you?”
Xane was again almost too surprised to speak. He assumed that Yug just wanted to kill and eat him. A conversation wasn’t on the table. At least he thought it wasn’t. Xane cleared his throat. Doing so in the breathing mask sounded odd or it was his own panic making him hear things. “Hello there. Uhm my name is Xane. Xane Quin.?”
“Pleasure meeting you Xane Xane Quin.”
“Oh no its-”
Yug smiled creepily, “That was a joke I understood the context you had given your name in. You have jokes where you come from?”
“Jokes? Yes we do. I’m just flustered, that's all. No offense but you did just drag me to you and then spoke some creepy languages in my own mind, then ripped what I presume was memories from my mind.” As Xane spoke he regained his stride.
“Well no offense but you did come into my home and started looting it.” The voice paused and Xane was about to respond but it started again. “I do like that saying, ‘No offense’ has a salty sweet connotation to it.” Xane didn’t know why but teaching a creature vastly more powerful than him, sayings was quite unnerving. And what she said next didn’t help. “I have a proposition for you. I either eat all of your memories and then eat your flesh. Or you freely give up 2 of your most cherished memories. I would prefer the latter since memories stolen don’t taste as good as memories freely given. As well as I am in a good mood today. Which would it be?”
Xane pushed back thoughts about anything else. “What do you mean eat? As in I wouldn’t be able to remember it anymore?”
Yug smiled again, creepier than the last. “Yes indeed that is correct. I will take it fully instead of what I did with your language. That is taxing and only useful for information needs. No context and raw emotions behind that memory. I’ll tell you this. I was just going to let you live and take that trinket. But I’ll also throw in my boon. I just know your memory is going to be juicy. What do you say?”
Xane didn’t know what exactly a boon was but he honestly didn’t care at this point. Living was more important. He wasn’t even going to try and bargain. “I..I agree. How does it work? Last time was painful.”
“It won’t be as painful as last time. It will be much worse.” Teeth sprung forth from Yug's mouth. as a smile that would beat out the Cheshire Cat spread across her face.