“You can’t be serious.”

Jared was staring at the scene before him, incredulous.

“Of course, I am. You’re in the ass-end of nowhere! What did you expect?”

“When you said you had something for us, I thought you were saying that you had like, a carriage or horses or something, not… this!”

“Quit your whining. People do this all the time. It’s something that the ‘Hero of Fangsguard’ should find easy.”

Eleisa decided to add her two cents. “This is a standard method of transportation, even for my people. Why is it vexing you so?”

“Did you forget that I come from a very different… background than most? Even if this is normal to you, it is very much outside of my field of experience.”

They were standing on a hill not far from Fangsguard, overlooking a marshy valley. It gradually fed into a lake on one side and was bounded in hills on all others. But all that was merely background for the inhabitants.

The entire valley was filled with giant insects. Shaped generally like dragonflies, they were as long as horses, with six gossamer wings, each larger than Eleisa’s. Their legs ended in hand-like claws, which he witnessed them using to catch small fish from the lake. Their heads, however, were not insect-like, but almost draconic.

They were covered in the same pearlescent exoskeleton as the creatures’ bodies, and had two straight, slender horns pointing backwards. Their snouts were pointed, almost beaked, and they had no teeth. Their eyes were compound, covering most of the top half of their head.

The creatures had a large, flat area between the second and third sets of wings, and some of them had scuffs and scratches in the surface of their exoskeleton in that location.

[Dragon Fly] (lvl 18)

“So, let’s go over this one more time. I’m supposed to go down there, run around until I catch one of those things somehow, then tie on this saddle, all while it’s doing its best to get rid of me?” He gestured to the leather saddle waiting for him. It was sleek, similar to an English style horse saddle, but with a couple of handles at the front.

Alexander chuckled. “Not quite. They know they’re going to get caught, but they like have fun with it, make it into a game. They won’t make it impossible for you by trying their hardest. Believe me, dragon flies can be real nasty when they want.”

Jared gave him a flat look. “And that was supposed to make me feel better? Cause it didn’t.”

“Oh no, I don’t care much about that. I just wanted you to know that they’re not really trying.”

“Great. Can’t I just like, set a trap or something, then saddle one when it’s immobilized?”

“Well, you could. But that would take the fun out of it, for both you and them.”

Jared scanned the enormous bugs below dubiously. “And you’re sure this is fine? Like, it’s not cruel or harmful or anything?”

“Quite the opposite, in fact. They enjoy going to new places, and travel between cities for pure enjoyment. When they do so, they often stop to see if anyone from the city wants a ride. They level up faster when they have riders. Now get down there. Time’s a wasting.”

That opened up a whole other can of worms that Jared really just didn’t want to get into at the moment.

He took a breath and shouldered the supple leather saddle, then started forward, using his stalking skills to their utmost. He crouched low, using the tall, marsh grasses for cover, slinking his way silently towards the creatures. For once, his stealth seemed to work, as none of them took any notice of him.

Skill Sniper’s Fieldcraft has been upgraded from (Skilled III) to (Skilled IV)

He got to within a few meters of one dragon fly, a glimmering teal specimen, and lunged towards it.

He stumbled, having caught only air. The dragon fly had darted to just out of his reach, then lazily licked at the grass, as if it hadn’t noticed him.

“So you’re going to play it that way, huh?” He lunged again, chasing after the dragon fly, which nimbly evaded his every attempt to get close to it. He could have sworn it even looked smug as it did so. Growling in frustration, he focused inwards, bringing his mana to the surface. Instantly, his body was enveloped in light, and he felt a rush of strength. Turning on a dime, he lunged again, and this time, he was able to grasp its spindly leg.

Immediately, the insect started waving its leg around, trying to dislodge Jared, but he held on with all of his considerable strength. His 12 points in physical PHY were showing their worth. Finding its tactic not working, the insect took to the air, performing a dizzying series of aerobatics. Using some of the dragon fly’s sudden changes in direction to his advantage, he worked his way up its leg to its torso, where he found the correct spot for the saddle.

Carefully unslinging it from his shoulder where Mimi had been holding it, he slammed it into place, maybe a little harder than he needed to. As soon as he did, the dragon fly turned upside down, clearly hoping that would do the trick. Jared snatched all the straps of the saddle with one hand, keeping it in place while he held onto the dragon fly with the other.

When he had stabilized himself is a seated position on its body, he used the opportunity to connect the girth straps, cinching them up tight. Then, the insect must have decided it’d spent long enough upside down, as it righted itself. This time, Jared didn’t manage to hang on, his legs losing their grip as he was inverted. He fell for a brief moment, before being yanked to a stop

Looking up, he found Mimi in her doll form but with elongated arms, one holding onto the dragon fly saddle, the other having caught him just as he began to fall. With a tremendous heave, she pulled him up to her level, allowing him the chance to grab onto one of the saddle’s handles. He then pulled himself up into the seat, and Mimi returned to her unobtrusive place on his back.

Skill unlocked! Big Game Wrestling (Unskilled I)

Big Game Wrestling (Unskilled I) – You have shown at least a modicum of ability in wrestling large creatures, despite their many advantages over you. Whenever you are in a physical contest with a creature that is larger than you, you receive an increase in your physical PHY equal to the level of this Skill.

The dragon fly seemed to realize it was caught, as it started descending, slowly circling to come to rest on the hill where Alexander and Eleisa waited. He had apparently taken longer than usual to catch his dragon fly, as Eleisa already had one saddled, a pearlescent ivory creature, waiting tranquilly next to her. Jared’s dragon fly landed, and he hesitated.

“This thing isn’t going to fly off the moment I get down, is it?”

Eleisa shook her head. “Once they have been successfully saddled, they submit and will no longer attempt to escape. Congratulations on catching your first dragon fly. It is no small feat.”

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Alexander chipped in. “Especially a beauty like that one. You must have chosen the most energetic fly of the bunch. I haven’t seen a fly fight like that in ages. And you still managed to saddle it on your first attempt, more or less. That’s something to be proud of.”

Jared smiled, his heart still pounding from the exertion. “Thanks.” He looked to Eleisa. “Are you ready to go? The sooner we leave, the sooner we will get to Panstrum.”

In response, she mounted her dragon fly, giving him a nod. Jared turned back to Alexander.

“So, we just tell the dragon flies to take us where we want to go?”

The guard captain nodded. “They know the way to almost anywhere and can understand you just fine.”

Jared nodded, taking a breath. He bent forwards, looking the insect in its large, compound eye. “Alright… what do I call you? Do you have a name?”

The dragon fly shook its head.

Jared thought for a moment. “Okay then, can I call you Tiamat, or Tia for short? It’s one of the names of a legendary dragon where I’m from.” He left out the fact that the name usually came with negative connotations.

The dragon fly bobbed its head, eliciting a smile from Jared. “Alright, Tia. Thank you for letting me ride on your back. Will you take me to Panstrum?”

They had collected their reward from the Hunters’ Guild earlier and had no reason to return to Nameless. For an instant, Jared remembered the two strange ‘guild auditors’ or whatever they had called themselves. Would they be angry that he wouldn’t be there to give them his answer? He doubted it. Last he checked, it seemed like they had skipped town already, despite their alleged plans otherwise.

The dragon fly shook itself, its wings beginning to vibrate. Then it took to the air, Eleisa’s close behind. It sped up as it ascended, until the land below was passing at a prodigious rate. Jared whooped, exhilaration filling him. He had been in airplanes and helicopters, but nothing compared with the feeling of hurtling through the sky on the back of such a beautiful creature, with no seatbelt or other safety measures aside from the saddle.

For a while, he did nothing but revel in feeling the wind on his face, watching the ground speed by. Soon, the sun started to set, painting the sky in rosy hues. Without prompting, the dragon flies started descending towards a large clearing in between several hills. A river ran through it, descending a couple of small waterfalls, and at the center was a massive tree. It had white leaves, and the top had a round, umbrella-like shape.

The dragon flies landed next to the river and both began to drink. Eleisa dismounted and looked up at Jared expectantly, so he did the same. They retrieved their camping gear from Mimi’s storage and set up camp, starting a small fire in an obviously well-used pit. This was apparently a popular rest stop.

Jared cooked them a dinner of ghost wolf, this time putting it in a stew with some vegetables they had purchased before leaving Fangsguard. Just as he was finishing it, Elesa approached with a trio of large red fruits in her hands.

He waved, then gestured to her cargo. “What’s this?”

She offered Jared one of the fruits, tossed the second to Mimi, and kept the third. “That is the reason for this location’s popularity as a rest stop. It grows on the tree and has special properties.”

That piqued Jared’s curiosity. “What kind of properties?”

Eleisa just smiled at him. “Eat it, and you’ll find out.”

Jared was about to take a bite when he changed his mind. “Do these taste good?”

Eleisa nodded. “They are famously delicious, though I have never tried them.”

“Maybe we should save them for dessert, then. You’ll remember that ghost wolf isn’t the tastiest, so we’ll want something to chase it with.” Eleisa agreed, and Jared added the finishing touches to the stew, serving it in a couple of wooden bowls.

Skill Sniper’s Fieldcraft has been upgraded from (Skilled IV) to (Skilled V)

The stew was better than the straight steaks, but he couldn’t say it tasted great. He offered to feed the dragon flies, but Eleisa assured him they could fend for themselves. Shrugging, he quickly scarfed his portion, then picked up the fruit that Eleisa had given him. It was about the size of a small melon like a cantaloupe, and had a firm, yet supple feel, much like a tomato. He tried identifying it, but that didn’t yield much.

Tear of the Titan (Obscure, Supreme) – A rare fruit of the Titanblood tree. Has special properties. Single Use Only

Curious, he tried to identify the tree, and was surprised when it worked.

[Titanblood Tree] (lvl N/A) – A tree that as a sapling was nourished with the blood of a Titan. It grows fruit for all travelers that pass its way, sharing the bounty it has received. Its fruit may be received by a person only once.

Interesting.

He lifted the fruit to his mouth, hesitating for a moment.

“Here goes nothing.” He bit into the fruit. Instantly, an explosion of flavor bombarded his tongue, unlike anything he had ever tasted. It was sweet and a little tart like a nectarine, but had an otherworldly quality that defied description. It was like the first rays of sun on a cool summer morning, full of warmth and the promise of power.

As he chewed, he felt his mana start to unspool within his gut, circling throughout his body. It was a heady experience that made him want to eat more. Before he knew it, he was licking his fingers clean of the juice. The fruit had no seeds or pit, leaving no trace behind.

You have eaten a Tear of the Titan. Processing…

The mana circling through his body sped up, and his whole body started to tingle. It was like the feeling of Ascending, but to a much smaller degree; it was only mildly uncomfortable instead of excruciatingly painful.

Title gained: Titanblood – Granted for eating a Tear of the Titan. Your physiology has been slightly altered, gaining one Aspect of a Titan. This can only happen once, and the result is tailored to the individual. Additional paths may be available upon Ascension.

Aspect Granted: Aspect of the Traveler

Effect: You gain insight regarding planar forces. You gain minor resistance to planar forces.

Something within Jared’s mind clicked, and everything changed. The world seemed to warp, as if it was a curtain, ruffling in a breeze.

Where have I seen something like that before?

The old woman in Fangsguard’s church came to mind, her eyes, robes, and hair moving with the flow of mana.

For an instant, Jared thought he could see a prismatic current flowing all around him, rustling the fabric of the world. Then the laws of physics reasserted themselves, forcefully shunting his mind out of his state of heightened awareness.

He blinked, noticing that he was laying on the ground. Sitting up, he looked around, finding Eleisa and Mimi likewise sprawled around the fire. They must have come to a moment later, as Eleisa sat up as well.

“I do not know what to make of that experience. It was not…unenjoyable, yet the effect of the title leaves me with many questions.”

“It certainly was something. I’m not complaining, though, even if I have no idea what happened or what I got out of it.” He explained the effect of his title.

“That is fortuitous. Planar forces are notoriously difficult to study but are said to be even more potent. You have gained a true boon.”

Her comment raised a question in Jared’s mind. “If all you have to do to get one of these titles is eat a piece of fruit, why isn’t there, like, a city surrounding the tree? I’m sure someone could make a killing by monopolizing them.”

Eleisa shook her head. “Some have tried. One problem is that there are Titanblood trees throughout the continent, so one would have to claim all of them, which would be nearly impossible. But the main issue is that the fruits can only be found in passing, and there are always exactly enough for the number of travelers who have not received the title. If someone tries to save their fruit to sell, it decays rapidly. If a person waits by the tree to harvest more fruit, they will find none, yet travelers who stop but for a night will always find the right amount. It is one of the mysteries of the land.” At the end, she grew introspective, withdrawing slightly.

“Well, what did you get?”

“Aspect of the Self.” She didn’t elaborate, withdrawing even further. Jared scrunched his brow. It was obvious she didn’t want to talk about it at the moment, so with a concerned glance at her, he turned to Mimi, who was still laying down in her doll form.

“Can I see what you got?” He requested to see her profile, and when permission was granted, he scrolled to the bottom where her new title rested.

Titanblood - Granted for eating a Tear of the Titan. Your physiology has been slightly altered, gaining one Aspect of a Titan. This can only happen once, and the result is tailored to the individual. Additional paths may be available upon Ascension.

Aspect Granted: Aspect of the Symbiote

Effect: A bond of symbiosis is formed between you and another willing creature.

“A bond of symbiosis, huh? What do you think that entails?”

The mimic shrugged, then pointed to herself, then Jared.

He chuckled. “I should have guessed. I have been relying on you a lot. In fact, I’m sure I would have died several times over if it wasn’t for you. And aside from some levels, you haven’t gotten much out of it. If this helps pay my debt, then it’s worth it. ‘In for a penny, in for a pound’ as they say.”

Mimi lunged at Jared, tackling him in a hug. After a moment, he returned the embrace. Could he be getting himself into a dangerous or limiting situation? Almost certainly. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

The mimic Naomi (Mimi) has formed a bond of symbiosis with you.

Title Naomi’s Savior changed to Symbiotic Bond

Symbiotic Bond – You have formed a bond of symbiosis with the mimic Naomi. Nature of bond is dependent on the actions you and Naomi take. Has various effects. Remember, True Symbiosis is a bond of equals.

Current Bond: Symbiosis