As I sit here, in this sea of trees, watching over another from my world, I wonder, was it worth it? Sure I knew the risks and the stipulations, but I also knew of the fun, the adventure. Why do I feel this way? As I sit here, and close my eyes, drifting into my mind, I wonder, what makes this worth it?
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I must have stayed in that city for a week. After that first hunt, I didn't feel like leaving, all I wanted to do was wallow in pity, and drown in my hate. Yeah, I did hate him for what he did. Guiding me for a week, then up and leaving, not cool of Jace for sure, and I honestly think that hate lead me to leave on my second hunt. A personal quest, of sorts, to try and defy the fiendish reasons I had concocted in my mind to explain his sudden departure. It went like shit, a Pixon attacked me while I was distracted in thought and nearly ran me through, luckily my armor blocked it, and I was able to use Jace's sword to impale the thing on its next charge.
It was heavy, and the going was slow, I was pretty sure a Prowler was gonna stalk me but I made it back, turned in the beast, and went back to that cozy home. It was then that I realized, I felt something, something different, something, pleasant. I felt that spark of adventure, the same one that drew me to choose this world in the first place. In an instant, that fire was ignited. I know it's silly, and a bit crazy, but that simple hunt put things in perspective. And though I still hated him for it, I at least understood a little of why he up and left. I realized how fun this world could be, but also that I needed to put in the effort. So that's what I did.
Every day, from dusk till dawn, I trekked through that forest, searching for something new, and dispatching anything that tried to kill me. It was rough, both on my body and mind, and I'd had more than enough close calls when fighting some of the more challenging or cunning beasts. Hell, a few times a pack of Prowlers ganged up on me, boy those times sucked ass. And whenever I could I would take on an Association contract, returning at nightfall with my prizes and knowledge. But the time came, as I knew it would when I had explored the forest reaches, and the fire began to fade. So I did some thinking. If I had explored the forest reaches, well, the parts I was capable of at least, where else could I go? At this point, I was still a 3rd class Hunter, but that bastard's tales came back. The crimson cavern.
A large fissure in the southern grove, unmarked by the association, and I figured what better way to show that man up than by beating an area he'd struggled with so much? I was fucking stupid!
I wasn't ready, I don't know what the hell made me go through with it, but when I got there, even with my now year of experience, I was nearly ripped to shreds. I was lucky to encounter a wounded beast, and just barely killed it when another came up on my right. A damned goliath of a lizard, heavily armored, and it had strange ridges lining the top of its eyes, extending to the base of its tail, which was further equipped with a serrated spike. A fucking nightmare for someone like me. But, funnily enough, it was exciting. Fulfilling even.
When I saw it something just clicked, and not just a feeling, no, something clicked in my Aether gate. I opened up the torrent of mana and rushed the beast mindlessly. It reared back on its hind legs, lashing out with its front claws. Blade clashed with bone, and sparks flew. I was alive! I felt exhilarated! And voila. It happened. The rush of pure energy flowed out from me, enveloping the small pocket in the stone we were in, but instead of exploding, it flowed through my weapon, and seemingly was sucked up into the lizard before me. I couldn't shut it off, like a pressure valve that burst, it wouldn't quit till all my mana was gone, and I faltered moments after we clashed, drained dry of energy. The claws racked my chest, drawing blood but luckily not running too deep.
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Waiting for the finishing blow was torture, but it never came. When I finally worked up the energy to go up to a crouch, I saw it was laying there, faintly glowing, and staring at me, instead of the savage beast I saw before, I saw a creature, one with a light of intelligence behind its slits for eyes. One that was curious. One that, that thought and felt.
Anyways, long story short, that's how I met Barasov. A few minutes after the mana transfer, which I found out was infusing my presence, my intelligence, into the being, giving it its personality, it disappeared and my Aether pocket felt, full. More full than ever before, it was a pretty pleasant feeling, like the warmth of knowing you're safe like you're whole. I got a skill. I could Summon.
Infusing my mana into that lizard, henceforth referred to as Barasov, melded it with him, granting him access to both my Aether chamber, and greater intelligence. It was fascinating, especially since it was pure dumb luck in my eyes, but hey, I wasn't going to refuse. I did realize there is a limit to my summons, once I was full, that was it, no more for me, and good old Barasov took up all my space, still, such an awesome companion, who cares? I went on my merry way, practicing with summoning and dispelling on the way back, I knew showing anyone else was a death wish, summoning was pretty much unheard of, so that was out of the question, but just the simple satisfaction of knowing, that finally, I had something Jace didn't, I did something, he never did. That drove me until now.
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Again, I know it's ridiculous, but you take what you can get in this place, and now, sitting here, finding my purpose, finding the drive I do, indeed, remember, what drove me to this place, and what drives me now. that independence, that satisfaction of doing something only you can, that, is what keeps me going.
That is what made it worth it, indeed... So now as I sit here, and open my eyes, I am left with only one questi-... Where is Agni?!
As Alkir opened his eyes, something pretty damn bad met his vision. Well, something was missing, without noise or any indication whatsoever Agnji had up and vanished. Aw hell! Jace is gonna kill me! He began frantically looking around the small clearing, but nothing, not even new footprints, which he would know of, after all, he did examine them, stood out to him. His frantic nature increased, and again, nothing of note came forth. The grassy patch she had been sitting in was still compressed, so she couldn't have been gone long, but there weren't any footprints.
Fuck!
He heard a faint rustling in the trees, and for a moment tensed, but then he dropped his shoulders and sighed, looking at the ground, then to the noise.
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Jace shuffled with Nell's arm around his shoulder, the boy had increased his strength quite a bit but was still weak by all means, so even with the near hour that Jace was gone and dragging the boy back, he was happy with their pace. Slow and steady wins, or something, right? He pushed through more branches, Nell's feet carrying more and more of his weight with every step, Jace was just a tiny bit worried that too much of his mana made its mark on the boy, but he was confident he'd be fine. Pushing through that last patch brought them nearly into the camp, all that stood ahead was a thick row of bushes, which the pair shoved their combined weight through, easily slicing through the leaves with ease, coming face to face with Alkir.
And only Alkir.
"Look, Jace, before you get mad. I can explain. well, I can't. But hear me out!"