Zeldritzon [Cycle 9] - Morning
Current Location:
[Crystal Shelter; Glades of the UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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KiAera awoke refreshed from a peaceful slumber. She stretched contentedly. Her rabbit ears flopped around lazily as she yawned widely on her newly made makeshift bed.
Her morning routine began as usual: she made her bed, smoothing out the sheets and fluffing the pillows. After that, she changed out of her nightgown and bonnet into something more suitable for the outdoors.
Next, she performed her exercises, stretching her muscles and warming up her body for the day ahead.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
★ [MereKick] - Beast - TECH: 21 > TECH: 25
★ [Ear Slash] - Beast - TECH: 23 > TECH: 28
★ [Ear Punch] - Beast - TECH: 25 > TECH: 30
★ [Flare Flick] - Fire - TECH: 10 > TECH: 15
★ [Claw Swipe] - Beast - TECH: 19 > TECH: 22
★ [MereHeadbutt] - Beast - TECH: 8 > TECH: 13
★ [MereSwiftness] - Beast - TECH: 16% > TECH: 21%
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Spear Skills:
★ [Stab] - TECH: 2 > TECH: 5
★ [Pierce] - TECH: 2 > TECH: 5
★ [Slash] - TECH: 1 > TECH: 6
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
New Skill Achieved: [Ignite]!
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
New Skill Achieved: [Fire Slash]!
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
New Skill Achieved: [Fire Twister]!
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Then, she settled down to study the Zeozon language with GamaGen, flipping through the pages of the book as it taught her the intricacies of the language.
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
[Zeozon Language Proficiency] - TIER: Basic (25%) -> Basic (40%)
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Moreover, she took the time to brush her teeth, wash up, and groom herself, meticulously tending to her silvery fur until it gleamed in the morning light.
After brushing her silvery Merecritt fur, KiAera stared at her reflection in the crystal mirror. Her rabbit ears drooped sadly as she gazed upon her adorable appearance. How she missed her human face... her dark hair... the lack of fur just about everywhere... her old arms and hands...
Oh, well...
No point dwelling over what cannot be changed. Besides, there were more pressing matters to attend to. Like crystal foraging. And wall building.
She sighed quietly as she finished brushing her fur and cleaned up after herself. Once everything had been tidied up, KiAera proceeded to wake up her monsters one by one. The Plelepun was the easiest to rouse, as it loved to chat and yammer away about anything and everything.
Her rabbit ears perked up with renewed determination as she glanced at her to-do list!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
★ Task 1: Collect Edible Crystals (Light-Blue & Blue Zeldritzonian crystals)!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
"Osseods, Amber! Wake up! Time to start our sixth cycle!" She shook the Big Osseod awake with a paw, her voice loud enough to awaken the other monsters in the shelter.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Big Osseod stirred drowsily from its crystalline slumber, "Osseod wake uuuuup..." It rubbed its sleepy eyes with its paws groggily.
KiAera chuckled, patting Big Osseod affectionately on its head. "Good morning, Big Osseod!" Her gaze fell upon the LeapLeap, who was curled into a fluffy feather ball—protective, unbudging, and refusing to leave the Liorex egg un-snuggled.
"Leelee sleepy..." Amber murmured softly, nuzzling deeper into the Liorex egg. Her wings wrapped increasingly around the Liorex egg, unwilling to let go of her snuggle buddy.
KiAera stifled a giggle. How cute! She approached the LeapLeap and poked Amber's forehead playfully with a paw. "Come on, Amber. It's time to wake up. We have a busy day ahead of us!"
Amber grumbled tiredly; her eyelids remained tightly shut. "Leelee no want to wake up..."
KiAera sighed exasperatedly and turned to the Plelepun. "Yo, Plelepun. Could you wake Amber up for me?"
The Plelepun gave her a lopsided grin. "Yo! Sure thing KiAera!" It took in a deep breath, preparing itself for a mighty trumpet call.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" KiAera waved her paws frantically. "No need for that! Just poke Amber or shake her awake with your trunk."
The Plelepun deflated dejectedly. "Fine, whatever. I'll do it... But only if you admit that I'm a super smart and awesome Plelepun!" It stomped its foot and crossed its trunks.
KiAera rolled her eyes playfully. The Plelepun sure loved receiving compliments. Well, she supposed she could indulge the Plelepun's ego for a bit... "Alright fine, Plelepun. You're super smart and awesome. Now wake Amber up for me, please?"
The Plelepun brightened instantly and puffed up its chest proudly. "Yo! Of course KiAera! I'll do it right away!" It waddled over to Amber and proceeded to shake Amber awake with its trunk. "Yo! Wake up Amber! KiAera said so!"
Amber groaned and opened her eyes slowly. "Leelee awake now..." She yawned drowsily with a stretch of her wings.
KiAera clapped her paws together, and after all of that, she placed a paw on her hip with a sigh. "Great job waking Amber up, Plelepun!" She patted the Plelepun approvingly on its head with her other paw.
The Plelepun preened happily under KiAera's touch. "Yo! Anything for you KiAera! My pleasure!" It took a step back and struck a pose with its trunk raised high above its head triumphantly. "Soooo? What's my reward?" The Plelepun gazed expectantly at KiAera with hopeful eyes.
KiAera blinked, taken aback by the Plelepun's request for a reward. Wow, the Plelepun wanted a reward for doing what she had asked? Hmmm...
She scratched her chin thoughtfully with a paw. What reward would be appropriate for the Plelepun? "Um... well..." KiAera paused momentarily to think. "Hmm... alright, how about this? Your reward will be... uh... more Light-Blue Crystal hunting today."
If she had ever seen such a miserable and dejected look before, then KiAera had no recollection of it whatsoever because Plelepun wore that exact expression right now… Its shoulders slumped dismally, and its trunk hung limply beside its feet.
"Yo! More crystal hunting?! Aw man... but... that sounds like... busywork..." The Plelepun looked crestfallen. It trudged over to KiAera glumly with its trunk dragging along the ground. "Yo, KiAera... why crystal hunting? Can't I do anything else instead? Like... ya know... something less boring?" It gazed at KiAera imploringly with puppy dog eyes.
Well, shoot... KiAera winced inwardly... she hadn't expected the Plelepun to dislike crystal hunting that much. She had thought the Plelepun enjoyed Light-Blue Crystals? She needed to fix this immediately! Think, KiAera, think! Reward the Plelepun with something it likes... something it enjoys doing...
| 'Allow the youngling to renovate the Crystal Shelter. In addition, you can have the child construct traps around the Crystal Shelter's glades,' | GamaGen suggested, snapping KiAera out of her thoughts.
Ah, excellent suggestion GamaGen! KiAera snapped her fingers with glee. Traps... traps... Plelepuns liked building things! She smiled brightly at the Plelepun, "Hey Plelepun! Instead of crystal hunting today... why don't you help renovate our Crystal Shelter?"
The Plelepun perked up instantaneously upon hearing KiAera's words. Its eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yo! Renovating the Crystal Shelter?! I LOVE decorating! Count me IN KiAera!" Plelepun pumped its trunk enthusiastically. It hopped up and down cheerfully. "I can make so much cool stuff! Yo! This gonna be so fun!"
KiAera laughed merrily at the Plelepun's reaction. Though the mention of tunnels made her thoughts trail back to a predicament awhile back.
During her first day in Zeldritzon, she recalled a certain tyrannous beast—she shuddered; the awful and mighty ArchLiorex. Back then it was only her, GamaGen, Big Osseod, and the little Osseods when she and her companions trekked through a tunnel.
If it wasn't for that tunnel well... she didn't even want to imagine what would have happened to her party if they had traversed through the UvoSath plains above ground.
It couldn't be denied that the tunnels saved their lives back then. Which reminded her... tunnels meant Plelepuns... Plelepuns dug holes... and if that coincidence aligned... then did that mean the Plelepun before her dug those tunnels? KiAera pondered briefly. If it did, perhaps it wouldn't know how impactful its deed was.
And thus, curiosity gnawed at her inquisitive mind. She just HAD to ask. "Plelepun, I got a query... there was a tunnel that led from the UvoSath Plains to the UvoSath Forest... Did you dig that tunnel by any chance?" KiAera inquired.
Plelepun tilted its head sideways quizzically. Its brow furrowed in concentration as it tried to recall any memory involving tunnels. Then it gasped aloud. "Yo! Wait... oh yeah! I remember digging that tunnel!" Its eyes gleamed brightly as it recounted the memory.
The Plelepun beamed radiantly. Pride oozing from its smile. "Yo! You saw those tunnels KiAera?! Cool, huh?! I made those tunnels myself! Pretty amazing, right?!" Plelepun puffed up its chest smugly with a smirk plastered across its face.
It leaned in closer towards KiAera eagerly. "Yo! Soooo? What did you think of those tunnels?! Awesome right?!" It bounced excitedly on its toes with anticipation.
KiAera met its enthusiasm with a warm but knowing smile. The Plelepun had no idea how crucial those tunnels were for herself and her companions. Those tunnels saved their lives back then.
She gently ruffled the Plelepun's head with a paw fondly. KiAera gazed directly into the Plelepun's eyes with utmost sincerity. Her tone was tender with gratitude. "Thank you for saving us from that ArchLiorex, Plelepun," she bowed. "Your tunnels became our lifesaver then."
The Plelepun froze upon KiAera's statement. Its jaw dropped agape in shock. It stammered incoherently with flushed cheeks. "Y-yo. W-wait... r-really, K-KiAera?!" In a span of a second its expression became puzzled. "Uh, what's an ArchLiorex?" It scratched its head with its trunk.