Chapter 02: Baba
As if they were not already good enough hunters, Ishvalians have a genetic and physical capacity allowing them to copy any living being form and then transform into them. however, this ability does not come without any risk. If you take a form for too long, you might forget forever your original appearance. Even worse some Ishvaliens claim that some hunters took beast’s forms and lost themselves forever.
Even if those are just rumors, it is true that Ishvaliens use this skill to mingle with hordes of beasts and wait for some of them to move apart from the group in order to have an easier time killing them.
Obviously, being able to copy the form and mimic a beast without it noticing the trickery requires a lot of training.
For Rahn who is trying to escape from his intensive training that has lasted for more than a month and keeps going until now, this ability is of no help to him. He only needs to get up early and block his master’s door. Even if, on his way, he was stopped by two or three Ishvalians that he could have driven away with his master’s usual grunt, he would only gain a few seconds. Rahn knew that Tannyl would know where he had gone.
Ishvalians trade very little, everyone provides for their own need. Nonetheless some members of the village have developed some techniques or products that are good enough to be traded with the most precious of liquids : water.
The old Baba invented a cream from a variety of plants. When mixed with water this cream becomes some kind of milk that they call the babane.
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Rhan is currently heading to Baba’s hut with a small jar in his hand. Although babane is one of his favorite thing, it is not the only reason he is taking all of these risks to come and see her.
Nobody knows how long Baba has lived for but if she has been around for even half of the stories she has been telling him she must be immortal. Undoubtedly, she is not but she is a never ending well of stories. Rahn is crazy for her tales and the few times he skipped training, he went to Baba’s hut right away.
After an insane run, he quickly reached Baba's hut, entered like a gust of wind to try and surprise the old woman and maybe even get her to jump with fright but before he even put a foot inside, she told him:
« Don’t even try, you little fool, sit down, i’m going to prepare some babane »
Rahn seemed a little annoyed by this remark and replied : « How come that never works ! You’re blind ! »
« How do you think i gather the correct plants to prepare some babane ? » she answered
Rhan laughed « I always pictured you on all fours, sniffing the ground for hours »
Baba chuckled. Then a huge grin appeared on her face and she retaliated : « You’re not far from truth, I use smell and touch to gather the plants needed.But In your case, considering your smell, it’s never hard to know your coming »
Rahn pouted for a second and said « You do not smell like flowers either grandma »
Baba bursted into a laugh, approached the table to pour them both some cream-like liquid. Rhan quickly added some water and after they had silenltly drunk a few sips, Rahn put down the divine concoction and eagerly stared at Baba. As usual she only needed a few seconds to understand what the boy was waiting for. She stopped drinking, took a deep breath, and started telling him one of the few stories she still had not told him.