Chapter 003 - A Zillion Tome?

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What had changed was that OxBee’s direction became sharply more northerly. In fact he was actually now heading deeper into this ancient forest.

What an insane act? Had OxBee actually forgotten his earlier reservations about heading deeper into this ancient forest? Does he no longer care about the greater dangers that dwells deep within the ancient forest?

Of course OxBee had not forgotten.

In fact, this was the basis for his decision, since OxBee had hoped that the now greater thickness of the forest would be of more help. But on the other hand, if it turned out that the thickening forest trees were still of no help, OxBee had deduced that this primate-like beast was sure to draw another creature’s attention.

And It was this which OxBee had planned to take advantage of, as OxBee had hoped that such a situation would grant him the opportunity to make an escape. Thus, leaving the primate-like creature, along with whatever else it encountered, to ‘duke it out’ as the saying goes.

It was now close to five minutes since the chase had begun. Both OxBee and the primate-like creature were still running at a remarkable speed, covering much distance in the process. This meant that they had journeyed a fair bit within this ancient forest, which was evident by a simple glance around.

The forest was now dimly lit, as the foliage from above blocked out the brilliant light that shone from Goldang and Azurang. Still, what could be seen were beam of lights streaking through the many ancient trees, trees huger than the one OxBee had earlier ascended. While there was a very slightly noticeable increase in the concentration and glow of the bluish fog-like hue of ‘Environmental Qi’.

While the creature was chasing OxBee this entire time, it was still uttering sounds unrecognizable to him, and this finally caught his attention.

Even though OxBee did not understand what the sounds meant, he was now aware they displayed clear patterns of intelligence.

‘Is it talking? Is it trying to speak with me?’, were the thoughts that came to OxBee’s mind, as he now paid keen attention to those sounds.

“Surely not!” Oxbee exclaimed in disbelief. As he was now convinced that what he had heard gave the impression of actually being a form of language.

“Is this creature intelligent? Is it actually a sentient being?”, OxBee said to himself.

“If this is true, was it trying to communicate with me all along?”, said OxBee as he now verbalized his thoughts.

OxBee was now at odds.

This was because he was now considering the reality that, this may very well be an intelligent sentient being, a human being.

This notion was not so far fetch as to prevent OxBee from accepting it.

As a matter of fact, OxBee had actually met other human beings, human beings who were from separate and distinct human species. In fact, one of the very first friend OxBee had made on Dunia, was a human girl unlike himself, a human girl who went by the name ‘Sky’.

However, unlike the primate-like being now chasing OxBee, Sky was a human being from a species known as ‘Cheruboid’, while he himself was of the human species know a ‘Humanoid’.

In fact, if anyone from Earth were to see Sky this very moment, they would be greeted with a sense of familiarity.

After all, solely in appearance, Sky was very similar to those fairies spoken of in various Earth mythologies, with a light body of a rather small stature with beautiful wings used for flight. Nevertheless, baring magic which did not exist, such physical appearance and features were actually the distinct characteristic of the Cheruboid human species, of which Sky and her people belonged.

With his mind thinking of Sky, a human being from a separate and distinct species whom he had previously encountered, OxBee pondered.

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At this very same time, somewhere on Dunia, a little Cheruboid lady, no taller than forty nine centimeters (49cm), stopped mid-air in her flight reminiscent of a hummingbird. As her mind, for no explicable reason, had being continuously thinking about OxBee for several minutes now, she seemed lost in thought.

“Is everything alright?” asked an elderly looking Cheruboid who was flying alongside Sky.

“I-I’m not certain.” responded Sky a bit tentatively, due to her being so engrossed in her thoughts. “It’s just that, for several minutes now , I have been feeling somewhat uneasy for OxBee.”

“Oh?” Responded the Elderly Cheruboid with an air of wisdom and dignity about him, “Do not worry, I’m sure the little fellow is doing fine.” said this elderly Cheruboid, who himself was not more than half a meter (50cm) tall, as he tried to comfort Sky apprehension regarding OxBee.

“I do hope you are correct Grandpa Zan” replied Sky to the elder Cheruboid, “Though I do think I should at least go and take a look.”

Grandpa Zan looked at her with understanding eyes, but he still had his own responsibilities so he went on to remind her “You do remember that your aren’t...”

Sky interrupted, “I’ll just be taking a peek,” she said, as she headed for a nearby tree branch to sit on. She knew what Grandpa Zan was about to remind of, but she was still determined. “However, if he’s in danger...”

“I know I know” replied Grandpa Zan. As he too knew what this affectionate lady who cared deeply about her friends was about to say. Seated meditatively with her eyes close, Grandpa Zan watched as Sky extending her consciousness sensor a few breaths later.

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While OxBee was been chased, it didn’t seem like he was aware that Sky was concerned about him. How could he? Was he a telepath?

No, OxBee did not realize since he was not a telepath. And even  though others might be, OxBee was not. Albeit he did possess a closely related capability.

OxBee’s facial appearance had changed.

Still, this was only due to the fact that whatever OxBee had been pondering about prior, he had now resolved.

‘It’s very likely that this is actually a human being. But if it is indeed a human being, why was he chasing me?’, was what OxBee thought to himself.

Arriving at the possibility that this person may be harbouring nefarious intent, OxBee spoke one word, “Uzumi!”

“Er ist jetzt auf einem Abfangkurs”, was the reply that came immediately and quietly, so as not to be audible to those nearby. However, if someone from Earth were to hear Uzumi’s response, they could would very soon realized that this was the Deutsch language spoken on Earth.

Wait, why was someone, who was on a planet not in the Milky Way Galaxy, but instead on a planet located on the other side of the universe speaking the German language?

“Good.” replied OxBee, with a tone that was more calmer and relaxed than expected. Still, who was OxBee speaking with? Was there someone else here?

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

No, no one else was there, albeit a little Cheruboid was now observing.

Uzumi’s response came from the two ordinary looking knob-like earrings fasten onto each of OxBee’s Tragus.

Were they really just earrings?

Looking at OxBee’s ear, such earrings could never draw a person attention in a million years. Oddly enough, what could and often does draw the attention of others, were the inconspicuous features slightly below OxBee’s ears and close to the top of his nape. For what was perceived there could only be described as gills. Gills that were rather inconspicuous, yet observable.

Gills? Why was it that OxBee had gills?

Not wanting to lose his focus, OxBee affixed his eyes on the path ahead, as he tried to keep some distance between himself and this mass of brute strength giving chase, despite him no longer feeling the earlier aggression from the fellow. However, not even a few moments after OxBee had communicated with Uzumi, something happened.

“Humanoid!”, was the sound that OxBee heard, and the sound was of a word which OxBee recognized.

With the surprise, OxBee’s body jolted, as he had clearly heard someone speaking. But what he found to his astonishment was that he recognized the source of the voice.

However, the source of the voice was not coming from his earrings nor from our observer, but instead it was coming from the thunderous voice of the primate-like being which still gave chase.

Still, the word was not uttered in the same language which the primate-like being had used before, nor was it spoken in the language used by Uzumi.

On the contrary, this word was spoken in the dialect which OxBee had responded to Uzumi in. A dialect spoken by the people within OxBee’s village, a dialect spoken by the Neysian people.

“So I was right after all.” said the primate-like being.

“Before you did not understand me, but now you do, don’t you?” said this gigantic fellow as it spoke yet again with a thunderous voice.

It seems that this primate-like being had realized, simple by the fact that OxBee had reacted earlier when he had said the word ‘humanoid’, that OxBee now understood his speech.

Not willing to come to an absolute halt, OxBee turned his head quickly, glancing at the being that had just spoken to him, as he tried to ascertain its true intentions.

“What do you want, why are you chasing me?” OxBee shouted, as he continued moving at a rapid speed.

“Little humanoid, do not be afraid, I mean you no harm”, said this giant primate-like being.

Was this really true?

Or was this simply a ploy used by this giant primate-like being, to coax his dinner into lowering its guard?

There were no outward responses from OxBee, nor were there any real changes in his speed, as Oxbee knew that there were no real advantages to be gained by him stopping right now.

‘Just a little bit longer.’ OxBee thought to himself.

“Please stop, it would be dangerous if we continued heading deeper into this ancient forest”, said this strapping fellow. However this time with a sudden burst of speed “whoosh”, this huge primate-like human unexpectedly appeared in front of OxBee.

Surely this little boy, who was not even one and a half meters tall, and now facing off with what was actually a seven meters plus gigantic being, must be frightened out of his wits?

Did this huge primate-like being always possess such speed?

If so, why had this huge fellow not done this earlier?

Clearly such speed was not normally, ‘a Qi Master’ Sky thought to herself, as she still observed.

Fear, apprehension, dread, anyone would forgive OxBee for experiencing any such feeling.

But did OxBee actually felt this way?

One would thing this to be true, and maybe it would have been, however OxBee was not the least bit scared.

Not scared?

Was he just been stupidly brave, or was OxBee blind to what was now in front of him?

Did he not notice that this huge primate-like fellow which had just obstructed his path with a burst of extraordinary speed.

No, OxBee was not been stupidly brave, nor was OxBee blind.

Instead, at that very moment, OxBee had heard a subtle voice, a voice that arose his confidence by uttering three words in his ears.

“Er hat eingetroffen.”

These were the three words which came from the voice of a lady, a voice that was truly beautiful and soothing to be heard. After all, this was the voice of Uzumi, the source of which originated from OxBee’s knob-like earrings.

It was now apparent that what Uzumi voice came from, were no simple earrings, but an earpiece of some kind. Maybe this knob-like earpiece wasn’t even just an earpiece?

Why was OxBee wearing such a thing?

And whom was this Uzumi lady who had spoken to OxBee?

These were all great questions.

Yet, still more pressing, were the questions of, who exactly had arrived?

Where did this person come from? How had they caught up to OxBee so quickly?

And were they the only person to come? After all, if things actually went bad, was one person truly able to make a difference here? Especially when considering that this huge primate-like fellow appeared to be a ‘Qi Master’?

While OxBee knew the answers to all those questions, the one most comforting was the fact that his aid could indeed make a difference, and wouldn’t hesitate lending a hand if needs be.

Still, other than OxBee and this giant primate-like being, nothing could be seen in the immediate vicinity. And yet the voice of Uzumi had clearly told OxBee that someone had arrived, and that someone, was now here.

Was this person capable of such stealth? So it seem.

OxBee had now come to a halt, as he stared at the huge being now in front of him. What caught his eyes however, were what appeared to be bloodstains on the jet black belt of this strapping fellow.

Even though OxBee was curious about where the bloodstains came from and wanted ask, he did not. After all, would a wise person stir up a hornet's’ nest, when non-interference was the prudent choice?

OxBee remained on guard.

“Humanoid, why did you run?” asked this gigantic primate-like being, as if he had already forgotten OxBee’s earlier question towards him..

“You looked like a dangerous beast”, replied OxBee “although your clothing gave me the impression that you might have been someone's pet. I thought….”.

“A pet? Azillion Tome a pet…..”, said this strapping being as if he had just heard the funniest joke ever, as he broke out into boisterous laughter which shook the ancient forest ”Aha, ha ha, ha ha, ha ha ha”.

‘Ah, so he’s from the Azillion Clan.’ thought Sky as she observed what was transpiring.

“A zillion tome?”, replied OxBee questioningly, as the laughter subsided. All the time wondering what such a large quantity of scholarly books had to do with anything at this moment, or if perhaps it was the fellow's name.

”Aha, ha ha, ha ha, ha ha, ha ha, ha…..”. Yet again this huge fellow broke out in laughter, this time even louder than before.

OxBee could not help but to smile at how cheerful this huge fellow seemed to be. However he did not interrupt him, nor had he participated in the amusement. He just waited calmly for the primate-like fellow to finish enjoying his laughter.

“Little humanoid, you are very funny.” said a thunderous voice that was clearly unforced.

“You can call me OxBee”, replied OxBee as he introduced himself.

“Well Ox… Ox-Bee” replied the primate-like being with some reservation, ”my name is Azillion To-me, ‘To’ as in today and ‘Me’ as in mellow, and not ‘A Zillion Tome’ like you said.” said To-me as he correctly enunciated the syllables of his name to OxBee.

“Please forgive my careless mistake Mr. To-Me.”, said OxBee respectfully, as he lifted both hands to his chest while folding his left hand into a fist and cupping it with his right. Yet, OxBee still maintained a straight posture. After all, OxBee was a member of the ‘Ras Clan’, and members of the Ras Clan never bow, nor do they ever kneel.

“Say no more.” To-me responded.

“Actually, you can call me ‘Tome’ since everyone else pretty much does, or ‘Azi’, either is fine by me.” said Tome with a smile on his face.

“Ok, Mr. Tome it is then.” replied OxBee more casually, yet still respectfully.

“No no no, just Tome is fine, and if you truly insist, then Big Brother or Brother Tome. After all I’m not much older than you are.” replied Tome in a friendly manner.

Not much older than OxBee, who was still a boy who had not even gone through puberty.

Was this seven meters (7m) tall human giant just a child himself?

“How young are you, ...Tome?” OxBee asked in an enquiring manner, as he decided to leave the Mr. off as requested.

“Hmm, me, I am just sixteen Cycles young.” Responded Tome in is thunderous yet friendly voice.

“Sixteen Cycles.”, replied OxBee.

“You are much younger than I had thought.” OxBee said after doing a quick calculation in his mind.

It should be understood that a ‘Cycle’ represent a year on Dunia, which is longer than a year on Earth. As one Cycle on Dunia is equivalent to, 457 Days and 8 hours on Earth. So someone of sixteen Cycles would be older than 20 years and 17 days and younger than 21 years and 110 days on Earth.

“See, there is no need to be calling me ‘Mr.’, as if I am some middle age uncle.” replied Tome in a joking fashion, as he mimics the posture and facial expression of what a middle age uncle would look like to him.

‘Oh I do think he’s rather amusing. It seems I may have been needlessly concerned’ Sky thought smilingly.

Upon seeing Tome’s performance, OxBee could not help but to burst out in laughter.

“Ha ha ha, ha ha ha”, OxBee laughed.

“You’re actually a pretty amusing fellow yourself, Big Brother Tome” OxBee remarked to Tome.

“I try, I try.” said Tome smilingly, as he caressed the hair on his chin with his left hand, attempting impersonate an elder with a wise and dignified air.

“Ha ha ha”, laughed OxBee again, as he found Tome’s actions to be rather humorous.