(Braden)
"During Red Walls," the beastborn tells me as we sit on the edge of a bridge, our feet hanging over the edge, his basket of sticky buns between us. I'm munching on one, and it's delicious. "Me go out, fight monsters. Try get stronger so no need to rely on Hero Zack for safety. Me think it possible to avoid Nian, a big, scary beastie. Me failed, and Hero Zack came to save me. People don't normally try to save beastborn, since we not people. We just beastborn. Even have 'beast' in name. Hero Zack not care for stuff like that, he call us people, too. Treat us as people. Hero Zack find out me not in City during Red Walls, come look for me.
"Me nearly died," he kicks his feet a little. "Hero Zack showed up, me injured badly. Hero Zack distracted Nian while me flee and get help. Told me he would be fine. Me not sure on that, but obey anyway. Hero Zack nearly died so me could escape.
"Hero Zack may be scary," he continues. "But he also be kind. Very protective. Not let anyone hurt those he care about, and he even puts self at risk to save us. Without Hero Zack save me, me not be here anymore. Hero Zack take that risk to own life to save others."
He gives me a very intense look.
"Hero Zack save you, too," he tells me. "If he call you a teammate, he do anything to keep you safe. He the strongest, lots of strong friends. Even Great Normar his friend. Not many tame Great Normar."
Who?
The beastborn kicks his feet again as he looks at the water flowing out from under the bridge.
"You need be scared," he tells me. "You be Hero Zack's ally, not enemy. You accepted offer. Big Crystals don't send everyone who accept, only send those who mean it. Hero Zack know this, even if not say it. Big Flame said so. You here, so you meant it. Hero Zack know you want fight, so he know you be serious."
I finish the sticky bun, then lick my fingers as I think about the beastborn's comments. If I'm understanding him right, then Zack's a hero to him. He mentioned on the way here that Zack was a hero to all beastborn, and that he'd tell me why. Is Zack saving him why?
Zack mentioned that beastborn are treated as slaves and beaten and starved, and this beastborn said that Zack put himself in danger just to save him. But Zack also made himself sound terrifying, and that scares me. At the same time, this beastborn seems to revere him, to worship him. Every time he says Zack's name, it's with respect and admiration.
"Zack told me," I tell him. "About him killing people. About ripping someone to pieces. About going on a rampage against monsters."
"Hero Zack be that way," the beastborn nods. "But only to enemies. You not be enemy, Braden. You be here by choice, you want fight Shadow of Life. Hero Zack know that, let you on team."
"How did you know my name?" I ask.
"Appraisal."
"Appraisal?" I ask. "But that's-you're Gold, aren't you? The beastborn he said he killed someone to protect."
"Me be Gold," he puffs out his chest, his tail wagging happily as his ears point up rather than resting on his head like normal. "Me first beastborn with System! Dark Knight, too! Admire Hero Zack, became Dark Knight."
"So you saw him kill that person?" I ask. "The one he said he cut to pieces?"
"Yes," Gold nods. "Me saw that, me awake, not sleeping. Hero Zack save me. He let no harm come to me, not outside of training. Hero Zack hit hard."
He rubs the back of his head, as if remembering a whack to it.
"Me Level 4!" He exclaims proudly. "Kill goblins! Hero Zack so proud, he give me candy and headpats, and even scratch behind ears! Sadly, Max probably overtake me. Me servant, not warrior. Max warrior, not servant. Me work for Dark Knights, help keep Dark Temple clean. Sometimes go to forest and fight. Want hit Level 55 soon."
"Why?" I ask.
"Ask Hero Zack," he grins at me. "He explain better. Me know not all good at human-speak method. Better with mind. Most beastborn talk mind-mind, not mouth-mouth."
Is that what Zack meant when he said they don't normally talk to Adventurers? That they usually talk with their minds instead? Does that mean the way beastborn talk normally can't be understood by adventurers?
"Oh," Gold's grin widens. "Hero Zack super-special. He speak beastborn-speak! Know thoughts! Read minds! Awesome man! Hero Zack be really special. No tell him we know, but beastborn know who his daddy be."
"His dad?" I ask.
"Yes," Gold looks around, then leans in conspiratorially and drops his voice to a whisper. "Hero Zack's daddy be existence!"
I have no idea what that means or how I should interpret that. I guess he wasn't lying when he said that he's not that good at the way humans speak.
"Oh, okay," I say.
Maybe I should say something else? I don't know, I've never been good at stuff like this.
I haven't? I suppose that it's true, since that was an instinctive thought, which means it came from before my memories disappeared. One of those 'habit phrases' that Lord Light of Air said will happen until I grow accustomed to here.
"I think you talk good," I tell Gold.
"Thank you!" He smiles and his tail wags happily. "Me do what can to speak better, surprise Hero Zack with how good me be! Best Max when speak, too! Aurum say Max still behind, me have headstart on him! Max may be getting bigger Levels, but me going be better speaker first!"
"Who's Aurum?"
"Me twin," Gold tells me. "He live across from Hero Zack. And you. Servant of Great Normar."
"And the Great Normar is…?"
"The Great Normar!" He answers happily. "He be greatest healer in Boundary. Secretly heal hurt beastborn when nearby. Rarely show self. Rarely talk. Sometimes pat heads. Likes Hero Zack. Has wifey! She be mage. Me met Lady Normar two years ago. Nice lady. Not like most Adventurer. Not like Hero Zack, but close."
So Normar secretly healed beastborn who'd been abused, but didn't really let others know it was him, and Zack put his life at risk to save them. Maybe Zack isn't all that bad, but I'm still a bit nervous after his explanation of his volatile side and how dangerous the Dark Knights are and what they do.
They literally use their own Health to wound others.
They… literally sacrifice themselves for others. They take damage so that others don't, don't they? That kind of sacrifice… no wonder they're so powerful. I guess it makes sense that some degree of self-sacrifice would be necessary to attain that strength, and instead of doing it for evil reasons, they do it to protect others. Zack didn't mention taking Health from others. Maybe there's something that does, and that's used by evil people?
"No worry, Braden," Gold puts a hand on my shoulder. "Hero Zack nice guy. You be Hero Zack's friend, so he be treat you right."
He thinks for a few more moments, then indicates the treats.
"Eat at night, taste good," he says. "If that happen, you be his friend for sure. If eat at day, you be sick and invisible. Either he upset, or he play prank."
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"Sticky buns?" I ask.
"No," he gives me a mischievous grin. "You be find out soon, me sure. Want another?"
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(Luca)
Mr. Zack really does find this amusing, doesn't he? He's making sure that Braden is entering the Trading Post first, and his glare made Gavin not say a word. Max, as usual, can't contain his excitement.
I look at Braden again. I didn't expect him to return after Mr. Zack and I watched him leave, but when I woke up this morning, he was sleeping on the bed above Gavin. I guess he decided that Mr. Zack wasn't as scary as he made himself sound.
I didn't know that stuff about Mr. Zack, that was the first time I'd heard it, and I'm pretty sure he was being honest.
As soon as Braden sees the creepy guy, he jumps and lets out a small squeak, before freezing in place.
"Come on," Mr. Zack gently pushes him forward so the rest of us can enter. "We don't have all day, you know."
We kind of do. All you have to do is be yourself, and everything else will align for you. If you want to wait until tomorrow to do something, you wait until tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that if the horde came and you weren't ready for it, you could hold up a hand, say 'come back tomorrow', and the horde would turn around and come back the next day.
Hm.
Maybe that's a way to help delay the horde? Just have Mr. Zack tell it he's not ready yet? He could also probably just yell at it, that made me-no thinking about that!
Mr. Zack gets Braden up to the counter, and the rest of us kind of hide behind them. As usual, I find myself holding onto the back of Mr. Zack's tunic and peeking at the creepy guy from behind him.
"Hey, Pervert!" Mr. Zack grins at the creepy guy. "We've got a new teammate! We talked it over this morning, and he's going to be a hunter. Get him a bow and a knife, and if you refuse or call me 'Zacky', well, I know how to enter the back without a penalty. And I have a barrel of goblin piss."
Why do you have a barrel of goblin piss, how did you get a barrel of goblin piss, and why did mentioning you have one get the creepy guy to pull out a bow and a knife without the usual banter?
"Thanks, Pervert!" Mr. Zack waves to the creepy guy, then leads us out of the Trading Post and has us stand in front of him in a semi-circle. "Alright, I told you all that we are going our separate ways for a week for additional training. I want you each to know: I absolutely trust the person you're going to be with, and they're among the most powerful of the Boundary. Luca, you're with Travis again."
Yes! Awesome!
"And you're going into the mines."
Not so awesome.
"Because he thinks it would be a good place for you to find some weaker undead creatures so you can train that horrid Skill of yours."
"Horrid Skill?" Gavin asks as I stick my tongue out at Mr. Zack.
He's just jealous that I have an attack that's extra-effective against undead things and he doesn't!
"You'll probably get it at some point if you become a Priest," Mr. Zack says. "Travis is here, Luca."
I turn and look at the giant Paladin, who beckons for me to follow him, so I do after giving Mr. Zack a hug. I don't know why I do, I just did. It just happened on its own.
"Training with me again," Travis tells me. "I know you're probably a little worried about training in the mines, but there are some monsters that are weak enough for you to handle. In addition, Zack will be in the mines from time to time as well."
Why are we walking in the direction of the Dark Temple and not the South Gate?
Mr. Zack's going to be there? Cool. He's probably doing 'advanced training' rather than just training, since he's stronger than us. I thought he was slowing his own training down to help us instead? Did Nik talk to him again?
"We'll be heading out with some Dark Knights," Travis informs me. "And after some preparation today, we'll camp out there, then head into the mines tomorrow and start your training. We'll be camping in the mines."
Scary.
But Mr. Zack will be nearby, he said, so I feel safe.
----------------------------------------
(Zack)
"Alright," I say. "Now that Luca's gone, it's time to locate your trainer, Gavin."
"Who is my trainer?" Gavin asks suspiciously. "And why do you think-"
"He's a Paladin," I answer. "An old one, though like many of the most powerful, he ages slower than normal, so he looks pretty young. You'll be staying with him for the week of training, rather than at our place."
"Why?" Gavin asks with irritation in his voice as he glares at me.
"Because his mama's a bear and insisted on it," I answer. "And because it'll make it easier for you to get trained if you're with the person training you. Come on."
I lead the three of them through Maelnor, until we reach Peter's home. His mama's out front, sitting on a rocking chair as she watches us. She's a lot more accepting of beastborn, now. I think she's spent some time with the Dark Knights' beastborn and come to accept them.
"Heya, Mama Bear!" I wave to her.
"Hello, Zack!" She laughs. "Peter had to leave for a few minutes, he should be here soon."
"That's fine," I say. "I need to get going for stuff, but this is Gavin," I grab Gavin's arm and pull him forward, he's not looking happy. "The young knight who's going to be training with your son. I trust you not to eat him."
"Eat me?" Gavin jerks away, looking at me in horror.
"I don't eat children!" Mama Bear laughs. "Stop teasing the poor boy, Zack."
"Oh, right," I smirk at her. "You eat men, not boys."
"Zack!" She exclaims, and I stick my tongue out at her.
"See you in a week," I tell Gavin. "You can learn all about being a knight from Peter. I think he's a Paladin, Knight, and some other form of knight. He knows a lot of combat techniques that might help you."
"Fine," Gavin grumbles. "But only because Lord Light of Air just told me to follow this."
Really? Big C told him to chill out on his resistance to me? That's pretty nice, shows that even Big C can use that wisdom he supposedly has sometimes.
"Alright," I clap him on the back. "Bye! Come on, Braden, Max."
I lead Braden and Max into the abandoned section of town, way past our place. Our place. After Luca fell asleep and Braden returned and fell asleep, I slipped out and made my way down to the Trading Post and officially acquired ownership of it. Now, I and my party are permanent residents there, and all members receive the recovery bonus.
As a beastborn who had to be connected into the System, Max didn't. Speaking of beastborn, I'm curious what Braden and Gold did last night. They definitely hugged before parting ways, based on how much I could smell the guy on Braden. Does Braden know who he talked to? Gold doesn't speak, it's just Max, a monkey beastborn, and a female wolf beastborn who's also an adult. It's likely Braden doesn't realize he spoke to the first beastborn with Access to the System.
It takes us awhile to reach my target, which is Brandon's home. It looks much like mine, complete with cracked walls, ivy, and a general 'home' feeling to it.
"Here's your stop, Braden," I say. "I'm not sure where Brandon is, though. He's not home."
"I thought you said hunters can use an ability to conceal themselves?" He asks.
"I have a way of detecting people that isn't fooled by it," I shrug. "It's not early enough for a run, so he's probably picking something up for your training."
"And you're just leaving me here?" Braden asks.
He really does talk so softly, I guess.
"No," I look around. "I think he's coming. I don't just abandon my team, Braden. I'm staying until he shows up."
"Okay."
We wait another ten minutes before Brandon arrives. He's wearing a cloak, as usual, and dips his head to me.
"Alright, you two soft-talkers," I say. "Enjoy your training! Max, come on."
"Yes, Boss!" Max follows me home, where he tilts his head in confusion. "Boss? We home, not with trainer?"
"I'm going to be training with Nik," I tell Max. "And you are going to be training alone."
"Alone?" Max asks, worried.
"Yes," I say. "As you know, most people don't want to deal with beastborn like people, which means it would be very hard to find someone to train you."
His ears and tail droop, and he hangs his head.
"In addition," I put a hand on his head. "It would be hard to find someone who could just talk with you and teach you things. Since you're just casting spells, I decided that, to save us both trouble, I'm simply going to assign you a task.
"What I want you to do over the next week," I tell him. "Is to bring Fireball up to Level 4, Novice Elementalist up to Level 4, and learn Wind Spike, Stone Spike, and Waterball, and bring each of them up to Level 2. If you manage to do all of that, Max, I will pay you one full gold."
His eyes widen in excitement as he looks up at me, just as I knew would happen. I told him less than I want, because I know he'll reach what I want in an attempt to impress me. Even though everyone says it should be impossible, it won't be as long as Max focuses on the Special Slimes. Those will give him more Experience, and he's a talented young man, just like me and Luca, and no doubt Gavin and Braden.
"Wait, Boss!" Max suddenly exclaims. "Max no use Waterball! Fireball cooler! Waterball splashy!"
"Yes," I nod. "Waterball seems rather useless. It's a spell that's almost exclusively used against certain types of monster. Fire Slimes are one of them, so if you can find Fire Slimes, you can train Waterball up a Level or two."
"Yes, Boss!" He says, then tilts head and frowns. "Why use Waterball? Max like Fireball better!"
"Stronger Fire Slimes absorbs your flames, do they not?" I ask, and he nods. "Which means you can't use Fireball on them, right?"
"Right," his tail and ears droop again.
"Waterball will let you kill them, though," I ruffle his hair. "So try to find some among all of these money-giving Slimes and get that Waterball up to Level 2, okay?"
"Okay, Boss!" He stands a little taller, prouder. "Max do! Max go up!"
"Good," I smile at him. "Remember, we'll be separated for a week, so you have a week to do all of that. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes, Boss!"
"Also," I lean in conspiratorially, giving a 'nervous' look around to make sure no one's eavesdropping. It has the desired effect, and Max leans in as well. "I also have a secret mission for you. You can't tell anyone about it."