The Shar, the great cats that thrive wherever they're found. They are odd creatures, possessing as many quirks between individuals as any human, such is the depth of their intelligence. By definition they are apex predators, too risky or tricky to be hunted by any other animal. The cats thrive even in places with low food, as they've been known to ration their resources and kills. Terrifying and intriguing to any scholar after my own heart. My favorite is the Moonlight Shar, perhaps the most devious and cunning. And if the stories are true, kindhearted and benevolent when it strikes their fancy.
-Craddus Faul, Annual Scholar's Meet.
The main problem for the fight, Luck instantly noticed, was where to have it. The greenhouse room, aptly named, was filled with plants, young and sprouting. He didn't want to damage them.
The common room had a bunch of furniture. The amber card table Luck was especially loathe to damage, further, the room didn't really lend itself to a realistic battlefield. Add to that there was a sleeping lightning mage in there, and that room was crossed off as well.
Luck's bedroom was his bedroom, he didn't want to fight there if he could avoid it. The bathroom was obviously too small, and the healing spring...
Well, they could check that room actually.
"Come Saga, let's see if the healing spring has a big enough space for you to lose." Luck smirked, not really ever having been able to tease the shar. He walked by the sprouting plants, some faintly reaching to him, and opened the door for Saga. "But, more importantly, if it has a big enough space for me to win." He smiled.
You will bite your tongue Amber Eyes. Saga said, annoyed, but with a sureness to his voice as he padded through the common room.
Passing by the leather chairs, Luck determined that Ace's normally stoic and reserved nature dissolved completely as he slept. The man was snoring loudly, peaceful, but splayed nearly all over the chair. Odd, since Luck had seen Ace sleep in the rooms at the Arena Fields, and he was a quiet sleeper then. Of course, that might have been less Ace sleeping and more Ace being knocked out. That was right after their bout with Madam Sav's guards and the man suffering heavy mana fatigue. Luck wondered perhaps if it was instead a matter of comfort. They really were a pair of tasteful leather seats, Luck couldn't blame him. With an amused smile, he walked to the door of the bathroom.
It opened up to a small hallway, different from before, but at the end was what he assumed was the healing spring, that, or Evodim had rearranged where the actual bathroom was as well. Since there was a door to his immediate left he judged that as the bathroom and with a quick peek he confirmed it.
Mist tinted green came from the room, along with the sound of gentle flowing water. Luck was more surprised that he approved of the style of what he saw. Set into the ground was a clear pool, a waterfall flowed into it from the wall. But the waterfall was kept quiet, even as mist rose from its collision with the pool. Said pool was mysteriously calm, undisturbed from the rushing water. Despite that it didn't seem stagnant, rather, it looked refreshing and rejuvenating.
Plants grew in the pool, giving the set up a natural feel, despite the tile that covered the floor of the pool. There was a slant going into the pool, water lapping at Luck's feet as he took in the room. Warm. That was what he instantly recognized from the feel of the water. From that warmth one wouldn't expect the soothing nature of the waters, yet that was what happened. He realized, some of the mist was actually steam as well. He felt he was breathing easier, and unbenknownst to him, the pain in his back was numbing down.
Luck looked at Saga. "Might help my back." He shrugged, still a bit stiffly, before wading into the pool and finding it came only to his thighs. He lowered himself fully, floating a short distance from the floor.
What an odd place. Saga said, he stood at the edge, licking at the water. It will heal your wounds?
"And yours too." Luck replied, not even needing to open his eyes to remember the various cuts and bruises that Saga sported. Luck watched out for his friends, so the detail didn't escape him.
There was an amusing pause before the shar responded. It reminds me of the whales in The Pools.
"Oh, the blue ones?" Luck replied, his back pulsing not unpleasantly.
Yes. He said, a small smile in his voice. Rest before we fight then. Then you will know how squishy you are. And the shar waded forward as well, floating on his back and closing his eyes in the same way Luck did.
Luck peeked an eye and chuckled quietly. He remembered Saga's playful side when at The Pools, the cunning side below Dersoc, and the heroic side that helped Erok and saved two bunnies. But the shar could be just as vicious as he was deep. Luck recalled, blearily, Saga taking down the callamoth, all claw and teeth, and no mercy.
But the shar didn't know Luck's life before this world. He was a dangerous man, no matter what world he was in. That didn't stem from his skills, or his powers. It was a given for any man that was determined in his own way, one that set his mind to something and saw it done. Yes, he had the skills and techniques, honed over the years, but preceding that was the determination to make his parents proud, for them not to worry. And what better way to achieve that than to prove himself the most capable man in the underground? And within the decade, so it was.
"Master Luck." A voice flowed into the room not unlike the ocean tides. "It seems that the explosive growth I was experiencing is waning, occuring in such a way I feel that perhaps is an aspect of the magic that makes me."
Luck kept his eyes closed, a luxury he normally couldn't afford, as he rested his hands behind his head, letting out a sigh of content. "Remember, I couldn't access you until a day ago. You'll have to explain what you started as."
"Ah, apologies Master Luck. What you see currently is nearly twelve times my original size. Previously, I was smaller than the common room." Evodim said, his voice a warm ocean breeze. "According to Spirit's logs my growth stems four days. Roughly twelve days of growth."
"The past four days I've been under constant pressure and action. It wouldn't be surprising to see you grow significantly through that diversity." Luck speculated, eyebrows creasing. It was nice to loosen the reigns on his emotions every now and then.
"That is true. As I understand it, my current size is somewhat large, unprecedented even, for a dimensional room. Though this may be a direct effect of the evolving trait. In some way the magic enchantments inherent to me that pertain to the evolving trait are affecting the spacial enchantments inherent to the dimensional room. For the better." Evodim explained. "I believe that all evolving tools have this burst of growth intially however. That knowledge is more instinctual, and peculiar since a tool without self awareness would not be able to act upon it."
"Sounds like a catalyst. Forcing the evolving tool to create a base foundation from which to evolve from." Luck sported a thoughtful expression, suspended in the water. "Compounded with the amount of growth I achieved over four days... in comparison you probably had a lot to work with."
"Agreed. This brings me to my point. I believe I have two or three days of this growth left, before the magic wanes completely. That is, two or three days in here. During that time I encourage you to focus your attention inward, improving yourself and therefore me." Evodim said. "Already I feel your closer ties to nature, which I plan to augment the greehouse area with. Past that, I've no other inclinations as of yet."
"By all means." Luck said approvingly, enjoying the warmth of the spring. "A small part of nature in my own home would not be unwelcomed. More so, the place might serve as a good enough arena for me and Saga."
Saga opened an eye and gave Luck a pointed look. It seemed even if he could talk, the shar was a feline of few words.
Luck chuckled, excited more than anything.
No inclinations Evodim had said. Luck's first thought was some type of training room, but if the greenhouse room becomes enlarged than that would serve them far more better than anything else.
A myriad of other room types came to mind. Storage he didn't really need, he wasn't a hoarder, and there was enough space that if they did need to store something he could just stash it in one of the rooms. An armory might make more sense, but again, Luck didn't see himself using more than a few trusty items when he did get his hands on them.
A room dedicated to the gods might be something worth exploring, for the ones he liked. The only problem was that there was likely something better to make.
What else could he... a bar.
He wanted a bar. And a kitchen.
"Evodim." Luck said, knowing he'd have to make some significant progress growing. "I want a bar and kitchen."
Luck didn't think he was that great in the bar, though near everyone he knew said otherwise. It was a topic of contention with him and everyone else. Conversely, no one argued his mediocre skills in the kitchen, to his relief. He could cook pasta and scrambled eggs. That was about everything he could bring to the table. He conceded that if everyone thought you were good at something, you probably were. So, with Luck at the bar and Ace in the kitchen they could probably entertain a good number of guests, hopefully bringing new cuisines from other worlds if it ever caught their fancy. Unlike Luck, Ace was modest in both the things he exceled at and those he was okay at. Ace's cooking was something Luck remembered Mr. Ark raising a pleasantly surprised eyebrow to way back when, a sight that made Luck nearly choke in disbelief.
"A wise addition." Evodim said, genuine honesty in his accent. "I'm loathe to admit the idea had never crossed my mind. I'll see what plants we have that can lend themselves to fermenting." He added. The emotion present in his voice brought Luck's attention to Spirit; whether or not he should change the voice settings. Another time perhaps.
"What time is it outside?" Luck asked, not really caring whether Spirit or Evodim was the one to answer.
Actually, Spirit never really chimed in, even though Luck allowed advance action. Though, truthfully Luck couldn't think of many moments where he wasn't already thinking of most contingencies. Actually, there were some times where Spirit lended a hand, small indicators or suggestions in the heat of battle that Luck took on instinct. To some extent, the S.I. had some insight on Luck's plans when fighting Melthin, though the help was small, it was appreciated.
"Nearly four in the evening." Evodim replied. "That is, using the twenty-hour clock of Aerae."
Luck emerged from the spring. His pants were soaked, having gone in with them, but he placed the only other thing from his pocket on the dry benches nearby beforehand.
It was the timepiece he received as a reward. He took it in his palm, looking at the hands. The pocketwatch measured a twenty-four hour day. It was created by a master horologist. Could he have been from Luck's own home?
Another mystery, although it seemed the times were synced at least, where six in the evening was five in the evening on a twenty-hour day.
Scratching his head, Luck just decided to use his own time, since that was the way his own pocket watch was keeping it. "Assuming we're meeting at six in the morning, we've got thirty hours." Contrary to the busybody many people thought he was, Luck was someone who could appreciate some shut-eye. "That's more than enough time for some really good sleep." He yawned, stretching.
Luck blinked, that motion was way too easy.
Too smooth.
Spirit, stop numbing me. He directed.
Affirmative.
With the reply came no pain at all. Stretching as he did, he felt no stiffness. Slowly, he decided to finish his calisthenics, going through the process of limbering up as was necessary to avoid cramps. A routine one of Mr. Ark's friends had drilled him on, the friend that specialized in 'borrowing' as he put it.
Wet padding and a slosh of water let Luck know that Saga had emerged as well.
His eyes landed on his familiar from over his shoulder as he stretched, and Luck stared in wonder at the shar's unmarred dark green coat. A matte green as dark and clear as the day he met him. Saga himself stared at Luck's back intently.
Your back is healed Amber Eyes. Saga remarked, impressed.
"And you're void of cuts, bruises and scrapes now. The cut along your forepaw is gone. the scrapes on your left side, vanished. You aren't limping anymore either." Luck observed, noticing his smoother walk. "And from the looks of it, your shoulder is healed too." He smirked.
Saga paused, his eyes focusing on Luck's own for a change. You see much. He said simply.
Luck looked at him meaningfully. You are my bondmate Saga. I would not push you farther than I would push myself.
Instead of using any words, Saga nodded, nudging Luck's hip with his head as he strided past. The door opened of its own accord, letting the shar through.
Luck smiled as well, grabbing a towel from one of the cubbies set into the wall, and made his way to his own room. His room was less stylish, and more simple comfort. A soft bed with support was all he ever really needed, though he wasn't a stranger to cold concrete either. Somehow Evodim had sensed his preference since there was little decoration in the room, just enough to be able to say it wasn't empty or without character. The reason he had kept his previous bedroom the same way was because it was harder, but not impossible, for him to sleep with such decor to appreciate.
He was glad he was able to turn on the feeling in his back.
The bed was mindblowingly soft.
The next morning, or rather, when he woke up, Luck opened the door into the main living area.
A bar had been added sidled right up against Saga's patch of greenery, where the shar now lay. The wood wasn't one he recognized, but one that he immediately liked. A dark polish, you could tell the age of the wood from the barely visible rings on the bar counter. There were only a few bottles on the racks behind the bar, but walking behind the counter revealed all the equipment was there. The dark wood had a faint, sweet scent to it, as if chosen specifically to complement the inherent bitterness of alcohol. Pushed up against Saga's own space, the leaves that came through Saga's doorway added a type of jungle feel to the whole setup.
"Solid work Evodim." Luck spoke out loud. "Walk me through the bottles." He said, his curiousity getting the better of him.
There was a small amount considering, about six in total. "Of all the plants possible to be planted there were much more options, but filtered through nutritional value, taste and growth rate these were the best given those restrictions. They come straight from some of the sprouting plants." Evodim's voice came clear and strong, as if he was a bartender himself. Did he change his voice depending on the setting? Luck smirked gently. An odd quirk.
A pleasant smell wafted over to the bar, overpowering the sweet scent of the dark wood. Luck's stomach rumbled. He would've noticed the scent earlier if he was on alert, as it was, he was in a safe place and there was no real need. His stomach was all the alarm he needed this time around. Luck knew some people who got caught off guard switching between those two states, never being able to truly relax or vice versa. He had learned to appreciate the slow moments early on, so he had no trouble transitioning.
"The fermented fruits are-" Evodim began.
"What's that smell?" Luck asked instead, though he already knew the answer. It was breakfast. And unless the bunnies were cooking, then there should be a particular human in the kitchen. What that meant? Good food.
"Ah, that is Master-" He corrected himself. "That is Ace is in the kitchen." Evodim said. "He went hunting for food this morning and was able to make a good catch."
He nodded, noting Evodim's verbage. Ambery eyes ravished the bar and set to work, tasting and testing the drinks. From what he could smell, both from the bottles and from the smell that wafted over, he could reasonably assume the type of dish the chef was making. Because he knew that, he knew exactly what type of drink he'd most enjoy to pair with it. A swish of a dark blue juice, and a swirl of bright orange liquid, oddly paired well enough together that he stopped there, not needing to add anything else. A quick shake and pour, and he had two cool glasses in his hands.
There was only one new door so Luck went through it. This brought him to a fairly large kitchen, a small serving window between it and the tables. The tables were made of the same wood, except they looked ornate, like they belonged in some type of older establishment. Needless to say, it was a type of style Luck admired. Luck placed the drinks on the table with the view.
Now, what really drew his eye, if not his magical connection, was the glass window behind the tables looking into the greenhouse room. Or rather, what was once a greenhouse room. That being where he put down the drinks. Now, it was a dense forest, the greens were lighter though, more inviting. As if it was more of a glade, or sanctuary, than something teeming with unknowns. But it was clear to Luck that the place wasn't dangerous, abundantly clear. He watched an animal, both strange and familiar at the same time, prance through the woods and dissapear.
It was home, he knew. Odd as it sounded from a man who lived his whole life in the city.
"Good, you're awake." A slow voice said, drawing amber eyes to the neat serving window. "And you've already chosen us seats, perfect. I'll be right out."
Luck smirked, he was pretty sure he caught a chef hat and apron before Ace dissapeared from view.
There was another door set into the wall next to the large glass window that lead out into the woods. Almost as if he were in a restuarant nestled right in the heart of a forest. Luck let his eyes wander, finding they always drifted back to the window, admiring the trees, and the plants. Even the small animals darting between the foliage. Admiring... Saga? His familiar walked among the forest floor, appearing as if from nothing. It took Luck longer than he would've liked to finally notice him, then again he wasn't looking for him in the first place.
Saga's cat-like eyes held a promise in them as they regarded Luck.
When you are ready Amber Eyes. The match starts when you enter the woods. And then he was gone, another shadow among the trees.
The shar's voice had resounded loud and clear, even through the glass.
Idly, Luck took a deep, slow, and thoughtful swig of his drink. This... complicated things. He wasn't expecting a bout in the woods, he had nearly no experience fighting in nature. Scratch that, he had absolutely no experience at all fighting in the woods. The way Saga was setting this up; it was obvious who the hunter and the hunted were.
The gentle setting of ceramic on hardwood stole Luck's attention.
With a comfortable silence Luck admired the food, plated beautifully. Seasoned meat that looked like nothing Luck recognized, save for the fact it was without a doubt dripping with flavor. It was served simply, with a side of rice that absorbed the escaping flavors of the meat.
Ace settled in across from him, his friend's bedhead looked aggrivatingly stylish. Handsome without trying as Tate had once said. The man quietly ate his food, either too tired or too hungry to talk.
"What?" Ace asked, apparently not needing to look up from his food to know Luck was staring. Luck's father had always thought Ace strange, in the sense that the former mercenary had many surprises to him.
"Nothing." Luck smirked softly. He took a sip from his drink, laying back in his chair. They had nearly a full day before he needed to meet with Madam Savs.
His first bite coincided with Ace's first sip. At the same time, "How is it?"
They shared a glance and smiled with humor.
Luck was the first to respond. "Delicious as always, regrettable, since I've never once had anything negative to say." He shook his head. "And you?"
"Refreshing." Ace examined the glass, swirling the liquid in his hold. "As always." He smiled.
"Where'd you get the meat?" Luck asked after a moment, it didn't taste like anything he knew.
"The grove." Ace nodded to the window. "Evodim's placed some game in there. I went hunting." He said, shifting in his chair to give Luck a better view of the door to the forest. Luck followed his eye's and only now noticed the bow and quiver resting against the door frame. The wood had camofluaged it enough for Luck to skim over it.
It was weird, he was always expecting some type of backlash from animals being hunted. His logical mind was expecting his trait to scream at the injustice. But it was his emotional thinking that let him know that this was just how nature worked.
"I guess that's what Saga's doing in there now." Luck said, remembering the peculiar animal he saw dart away in the direction Saga had headed.
"Saga's in there?" Ace asked, mildly curious. "I didn't see him go. I thought he was sleeping."
"Yeah, and I told him we could have a spar." Luck sighed. "I was definitely not expecting a fully fledged, dense forest to be the battlefield." His drink might be needing a refill soon. "Not only that, I promised not to use magic. The match starts when I enter the grove."
"Sounds like you." Ace replied dryly and not the least concerned, drinking his own drink and looking through the window. It may have been Luck's imagination, but it seemed Ace was sipping from the glass to hide a wry smile. Luck was only slightly annoyed. "Nevermind that, you'll find a way. You always do."
Luck scoffed. "You've been listening to too many of those stories. Luck Lockyer isn't what people make him out to be. First you think my name is fake. Then there was that amber gaze thing I had no idea about. Who knows what other notions of me you've accumulated? The real Luck Lockyer is nothing like those stories." Luck finished slowly, an inkling of an idea coming to his mind.
Ace gave him a questioning glance as his friend stood up, making for the door. There was a playful glint in those amber eyes, one that Ace had seen before. Eye's that looked as playful as they were determined. Hard and soft in both equal amounts, in the way only Luck could pull off.
Luck looked at Ace, sending a brief shiver down his hardened friend's spine. "Then how is the real Luck Lockyer?" Ace couldn't help but ask.
"In the flesh, he is much much worse." And Ace knew it to be true. "Thanks for the meal Ace."
Luck was gone before Ace could respond leaving the cook opposite a drained glass and cleaned plate.
The woods, to Luck, felt the same as spending time with his family any of the times they had a new hideout. His family was where his home was even if the setting was unfamiliar. In the same vein, this forest... this grove was home, familar and yet... not.
The bond to Saga was strong, but Luck found it easy to put it out of his mind. There would be no cheating today.
But there was some deep connection here too, it was easy to recognize. A bird flew above, flitting between the treetops singing its song. A patterned deer called out from within the woods, just barely audible. Insects and creatures unseen seemed to talk and chatter, their conversations a layer below the sounds of the forest. And residing below that, the most encompassing by far, were the trees.
Oh, Luck could talk to them for a long time he knew. Who knew the changing of the land could be described so accurately through only emotion and vague memories? Who knew it could be so beautiful? If he wanted, he could sit among them and get lost in their stories. He found it odd, as Evodim had created these trees, had he not? Why did they have such a history?
Luck nocked an arrow. Something had gotten his attention, sharp amber tracking the shadow. He feigned losing sight of the shadow as it stilled, unsure. The birds sang ahead, their chirpings served as small amusements among the elder trees.
He admired them. If he could fly he might be just as fickle. Unfortunately, his mind, tempered as it was, would probably never stop turning. It was why, even appreciating the colorful feathers, his eyes saw the shadow move.
Even he truly didn't know why it was ever required that he train with the bow, but he was trained nevertheless. To be fair, it was probably one of the oddest things about him given that he lived in the city. It wasn't Mr. Ark that trained him though, nor was it any other teacher. In fact, it was Rick Lockyer himself. His father loved antique weaponry, a fact not many people knew, and to be honest Luck had long suspected the cane he limped around with was some type of blade before he even witnessed him kill a man with it.
Among his father's large collection, was the bow.
The one in his hand was nothing like the ones his father kept, but all the same, it was a fine bow. Not decorative or ornate, but beautiful in the essence of a tool. It was made to do the job, and made well. The string was taut and strong. The wooden frame, sturdy and smooth. The fletchling on the arrow, superb. The shaft itself, straight and narrow.
The archer? Exceptionally dangerous.
Luck held the bow low, pretending to inspect it in his left hand, while looking at the arrow in his right. There was a moment when he just listened. The shar was a smart one though, Luck really had to put on a show for the past hour, slowly relaxing himself, before Saga even considered pouncing.
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But now he only listened for the moment. Felt for it really. He had felt it too many times to count and had no doubts he would recognize it the moment it came. It was the exact moment a man made to squeeze the trigger of a gun pointing his way. A mere second before disaster struck.
Luck was always faster.
He swiveled, pivoting on his foot perfectly and suddenly, drawing both ammo and weapon together and shattering the act of innocent wanderer. Saga was only meters away, and having realized he had been tricked sped up drastically, his teeth were bared and he snarled in his advance. Dropping one foot, Luck took a deep breath as he fell sideways, and let loose.
Saga soared over him as an arrow pierced the meat of his shoulder, unable to stop his momentum he stood up and turned recovering incredibly fast.
Luck already had another arrow nocked.
"That one could've easily been your heart." Luck said, still wary of sudden movements.
The shar twitched and Luck pulled the string taut.
Saga's eyes narrowed and he pawed the ground. You knew.
"I have many friends." Luck said simply, as a bird alighted on his shoulder chirping in his ear.
I am not satisfied. This was not the ideal hunt. Saga padded over and Luck dropped the bow, realizing the fight was over.
"Ah, but this wasn't a hunt." Luck said, his hand wrapping around the arrow in Saga's shoulder. "This was a match, to see if I was as helpless as you thought I was." He eyed Saga and the arrow in askance.
Saga sniffed. Go I am ready. And you could only beat me with the help of the forest. It would be different without it.
Luck removed the arrow easily, as it was not barbed and not aimed for anything vital. There would be bleeding, but there was also a healing pool, so it didn't really matter. It was only a flesh wound after all. Luck would easily be able to recognize something truly severe.
Saga merely grunted as the arrow came out.
"The forest is as much your hunting ground as it is my home. Who's to say who really had the advantage?"
The shar nudged Luck's hip. I only fear your safety Amber Eyes, not losing.
Luck sighed, wondering if the stupid stories Ace knew about him might quell the shar. "I am not as powerless as you think Saga. And to be honest, it's insulting."
I merely-
"You found me in only ten minutes. Yes, some animals were helping by then, but I was largely on my own for the first half hour. The forest is a different terrain than what I'm accustomed to, but my senses are the same as they were at home, better even." Luck explained sharply. "I observed you hesitate a total of three times. You retreated a total of four times to come at me from a different angle, and this because I assume you wanted the perfect kill. All within the first hour."
Again you observe much, but this changes nothing.
Luck glared at the shar, miffed. "Why did you retreat or hesitate? Tell me. Perhaps, it was the way I was facing? My position to the trees? An obstructed view of your target? Or maybe my eyes glanced over your position once or twice? Could it have been I was too far in the open, not near enough for you to get to me?"
Saga shifted, trying to remember. His face, one of consternation, then slower, hesitant suspicion. To think back, it was too unlikely. Saga looked at Luck strangely. You were warding me off, just with those simple acts? Impossible.
"Simple you say? That was an extremely delicate balance I played, unknowing and natural and yet aware and faux. And when I was vulnerable? Then? You were too far to do anything weren't you? For every single time I was open." Luck glared, annoyed he had to spell it out for the shar.
Luck glanced around, sighing in annoyance as his explanation continued. "Until finally I set you up here. This is a bottleneck if you haven't noticed, really I was just looking for something like this the whole time. Not too disadvantageous for you, and not too advantageous for me, but just enough of each."
He could see Saga finally take in the surroundings, his eyes coming off his prey and moving to the setting. The trees here were spaced thickly, but to reach where Luck had ended up placing himself, Saga couldn't stalk among the branches. He had to come down and prowl among the trunks, and there was enough that Luck knew he would feel confident in their cover. There was a stretch of open ground that was the closest thing to a shooting gallery one could find for a bow. That was what Saga had had to cross. And did for that matter.
You... thought this far ahead? Even so, the difference came only to a few seconds even with all the advantages you attained. My speed for yours.
Luck's eyes met Saga's, a challenge in their amber. "Do you deny that it worked?" The shar was silent. "I take what I can, every advantage, no matter how small. They always add up. I didn't even use my magic, not even the S.I. in my head. Well, I guess talking to the forest is magic, but there's nothing I can really do to mute them. I was armed with only a bow and my wits, and I could've done without one of them too." Luck said, an easy confidence about him.
The dark green familiar had taken a hint of amber from Luck's own eyes, an effect of the familiar bond. Now those cat-like eyes stared back at him meaningfully, if not in awe then newfound respect. The shar bowed his head, slightly submissive, a gesture full of nuance.
Saga chuckled in his mind. You have proven to me much today Amber Eyes. I will not pester you further, the result of the match is clear. Perhaps I should've taken Quiet One's respect for you into account.
"You said I needed a weapon if I ever get trapped." Luck smiled, the scar on his cheek meaning a little more to Saga now. "Well, I'm not really one you ever find cornered. At least when I'm thinking straight." Luck smirked knowingly, remembering a recent close call with a callamoth and his subsequent savior.
With newfound respect, Saga curiously accepted tutoring from Luck, learning a myriad of tricks to fake out a pursuer or stalker. Such tactics were less for Saga's natural prey and more for any particularly experienced humans he might end up tailing. More so, Saga himself would likely never have to use said tactics, instead Luck taught him so that he may recognize them should the need ever occur.
Though the methods Luck used were learned in the city, to substitute the fire escapes with the canopy, the trees with people, and other such city scenery with that of forest greenery wasn't too large of a leap in logic. Luck's knowledge of pursuit and tailing was easily adaptable, he knew not if it came from his own proficency or his bond to the land.
The largest obstacle Luck had had to get over was the issue moving silently. In the city, the ambient sound of everyone else would cover your movements. Even in the dead of night, there wouldn't be lush greenery lying about to signal your movements to the world around you. In this, Luck instead learned from Saga. Needless to say, learning to walk again was daunting, even as Saga progressed in his own lessons.
In the end, Luck was loathe to admit that Saga might have absorbed the information better than his younger self had. Though, the simple space a shar took in the food chain might have something to do with Saga's quick tutelage, the shar was a born predator after all.
Now, both put their skills to the test.
Adjusting his jacket, Luck stood stock still, arrow resting lightly in the crook of his bow. He listened, having told the forest of their game the trees and animals were silent to him. An easy fix to the earlier problem, Luck had a tendency to overthink things when his mind was working full throttle. Often one could tell how dangerous a man was by his focus, the simple way he held a weapon or himself. Such was a posture the Amber Demon possessed.
Ruffling leaves and Luck instantly drew up to his ear, his aim snapping to the target quicker than even his eyes could.
"Woah there Lucky." Ace said, coming out palms open. "Just taking a stroll." There was a bag strapped to his shoulder and if Luck's eyes didn't decieve them, it was something Ace had made himself. It was made of leaves, delicately woven, and just another surprise among Ace Vent's many skills. At this point, it wasn't surprising he was surprised.
"Sorry-" It was then, of course, that Saga decided to strike. A roar ripped through the canopy.
Ace Vent was a hardened mercenary, and it would be a core part of his identity even if he was retired. So, ever observant, when Luck saw his friend's amused surrender tense, and his eyes dart upward, Luck was already moving.
Luck dived forward, feeling something thud onto the floor behind him, but not hearing the impact. Still, Luck twisted as he came up, moving away from Ace as a courtesy, as he was not involved in their game. The bow was a hard weapon to engage in a tactical roll with, especially one so sudden, but Luck was used to adapting on the fly. Slapping the weapon to the dirt, he lunged forward again, not feeling quite out of range. In the same motion, he scooped a handful of sand and threw it backward.
He knew he was too slow though, caught off guard. So he turned on a dime and rolled backwards again, dodging Saga's roaring advance. The shar swiped high, partially blinded and Luck ducked low, before coming onto the balls of his feet and twisting off of Saga's body. A claw ripped into his high right shoulder, but by then Luck already had an arrow to the back of Saga's neck. The shar had been aiming for the string of the bow, cunning beast. If he was anywhere else there wouldn't have been loose dirt nearby to throw. The rest of the clearing was grass.
"I have to say I'm glad we're friends." Luck said, a crooked smile about him.
Saga bared his teeth briefly, shaking his head and blinking his eyes. You have too little openings Amber Eyes, it is almost inhuman.
Luck laughed. "Chalk it up to the way I was raised Saga." He waved offhandedly.
"And this is...?" Ace opened, a little surprised at the sudden action.
"A little training, and a lot of fun." Luck replied, pulling on his ripped jacket. At least it would regenerate. "No harm done."
"You're beating Saga, with a bow?" Ace raised his eyebrows. "I didn't even know you could use the bow."
"Well, i'll call this one a tie. Thanks to you distracting me that is. " Luck gave Ace a good natured glare. "And yeah, if we're not counting toy swords the bow's probably the first actual weapon I ever picked up. Years before I ever touched a gun I might add. Dad's kind of an antique weapon's nerd."
"Huh. Didn't know that." Ace replied. "Anyways, I brought lunch. Was working up a sweat north of here, got hungry and made some extra. Picked a few fruits too." He opened the picnic bag that he held close, and began setting a small mat.
"Ah, your lightning practice?" Luck commented. Ace in turn gave him a curious glance to which Luck expanded. "I could hear the thunder from here. Also, the trees were talking about some lightning demon in the forest." Luck explained, taking a seat on the grass. "Not too hard to put two and two together."
"Probably should've guessed that much. Not gonna sit on the mat?" He raised an eyebrow. "It's made specifically for sitting, you know." He said, sarcastic.
"Nah, I kinda like sitting on the grass." Running his fingers through the soft tufts, he realized he probably would've never known the feeling if he stayed in the city. The long grass bent easily as he sat, cushioning him as if it were the softest of beds. Nearby, Saga had created his own dent in his own patch of the stuff.
"Suit yourself." And they began to eat.
A few minutes in Luck tried one of the odd fruits in the picnic basket. Was it possible for a grenade to go off in someone's mouth? Because the dark golden fruit bursted with sweet flavor, reminiscent of mango and citrus. As overpowering as it was, the flavor faded quickly leaving him wanting more.
"Holy... that's good." Luck smacked his lips, his sticky fingers finding the grass.
"That one's from the one of the plants in the caves. I went exploring a bit, the fruit practically glowed in the gloom." Ace shrugged, swallowing before continuing. "It was only after staring at it for a bit that Evodim chimed in that I could pluck it. Flarefruit, he called it."
"Flarefruit." Luck said, turning one of the flarefruits in his hand. "Fitting. And if it lines up with the criteria I set for Evodim, then it's probably packed with nutrients too."
"Makes sense. I had one on the way here and it settled my stomach for the walk."
They lapsed back into silence, Luck trying samples of the fruits Ace had plucked. Occasionally, one would taste curious or look strange and Ace would recite Evodim's description of the fruit. Other than that, the two remained amiably silent, even as Saga stood silently and stalked off. Luck couldn't help but think of how Mr. Ark might love these.
"Are you ready?" Luck said quietly, the lack of an actual topic leaving it clear as to what he was referring to.
They had an eight month journey ahead of them.
Ace hummed. "As i'll ever be."
Ace had laid the mat near to one of the trees, which he now lay against, the trunk conveniently fitting for his torso. It was a reminder of the very first day they arrived, though now, for the moment, they knew they were safe. Ace had transitioned to that state of his that Luck admired. The man was simply living in the moment, something Luck did too little of.
A bird landed on Luck's shoulder, one bright blue and orange, a color for each wing. Another landed beside it, same species, but with the colors reversed.
A bright day it is, yes? The larger of the two chirped.
Oh yes, a bright day indeed, don't you agree friend? The smaller of the two addressed Luck.
Intuitively, he knew the two were something of a couple.
He had been called forest friend, green one, and guardian by the smaller animals. The older entities of this forest, the trees, called him Druid Lockyer or simply green friend, a name they shouldn't have known less Melthin's announcement truly had some power behind it. He didn't mind really, a fact he found oddly unaligned with his usual attitude towards titles.
"A bright day indeed." Luck smiled languidly, enjoying the small conversation in his ear.
He gazed contently at the trees, a sense of security washing over him as he knew he could access this place anytime. After a while, he realized the tree they sat under actually bore some fruit, a light green camoflauged in the leaves.
May I? Luck directed to the tree, opening his palm.
For you, Druid Lockyer, at no expense friend. The tree, a voice one of lively oldness responded.
The fruit plopped right into his palm, the small impact stalling the conversing birds for only a moment before their chirping began again. Truly, the fruit just seemed like an apple. He wondered if-
A small laughter drew his attention.
"What?" Luck asked, rubbing the apple clean on his jacket sleeve.
"Nothing." Ace smiled, still resting against the tree. "You just seem like such a far cry from the Luck Lockyer from the city. I can't quite decide if you seem more or less in place, here in the forest."
Luck grinned, finding the humor in the scene. "I assure you I'm just as naturally charming, easily charismatic and devilishly handsome here in the forest as I am back home."
Ace guffawed. "Yeah, yeah. Finally letting some of that cockiness out, are you?"
"Never more than the legendary Ace Vent." Luck countered easily. "I could never contest that cocky wide mouthed grin of yours. With teeth as white as those it's no wonder no one could see past the act."
"Save for the amber gaze." Ace grinned.
Luck groaned loudly. "Enough of that please."
"Oh? The Luck Lockyer I knew never passed up a show, especially in front of an audience." Ace waved around.
True to his word, they indeed had an audience. Small animals and the like. Among them were a few deer and other herbivores. Their hesitation, it seemed, stemmed mainly from Ace. Easily observable in their harmless and alert gazes, the flick of their ears and their light, uncertain stomping. The smaller animals seemed more confident in their speed and therefore escape as they were the first to approach Luck, making zigzags in the grass that was taller than they were.
Luck looked around, slightly surprised before having an idea. "You are safe here." Luck announced gently in Drood. His voice was a gentle boom, sounding as if it should've bent the grass around him.
The words were law as immediately the many animals came up to Luck as if domestic. They licked and sniffed at him, learning his scent. Nuzzling his clothes, they stopped curiously at the rip in his jacket and shirt. They seemed distressed at the wound, but gentle words set them all at ease. A small eared black and white creature climbed easily onto Luck's neck, tugging playfully at his necklace.
Luck laughed, he was not aware he was as ticklish as he was. "Stop, stop!" He said, out of breath. "Ace help." He struggled.
Ace watched cold and merciless from the side. "My hands are tied Lucky." Really, the man was just eating a sandwhich, enjoying the show as if it was popcorn instead.
A plump ball of dark brown fur settled against Luck's back, and oddly, Luck felt a surge of warmth that was not unpleasant. An odd animal to be sure. He welcomed it happily, getting used to the pokey snouts and nuzzles.
Ace looked satisfyingly bemused, some of his hair effortlessly flopping over crinkling eyes. "The oddities of a druid. Or rather, the man named Luck Lockyer in general." He remarked tiredly, more to himself than anything.
Neither of the two expected Evodim to reply. "Ah, yes. The druidic aspect of Master Luck lends itself to some interesting interactions with my magic. An older... cleaner magic intertwined with my own to create this grove, somehow already inherent in Master Luck. It was not unwelcome, in fact I believe it has something to do with Master Luck's new title as a Knight of Nature, a True Druid."
Now, pressed into a bed of small to medium furred mammals Luck responded faintly. "How so?" The voice was barely audible, passing through the wall of fur.
"From the general information package, it seems this will serve as your Grove. There are very scarce hints as to what exactly this means, only that the Druids of old all had one. Their purpose is not quite clear, but it was said that the Druids could return to their Grove at anytime, only to emerge when something substantial threatened the wildlife under their purview." Evodim informed, his voice actually calmer and softer as if considerate to the now sleeping animals.
"His Grove and Dimensional Room combined?" Ace said ponderously, putting his knuckles to his chin. "Jerxos had in fact mentioned the unpredictability of power combinations. Perhaps this is one such occassion?"
Luck met Ace's eyes and made a serious face, his body almost invisible among all the fur. "It's not exactly half bad." He shrugged gently, only serving to sink him deeper into his makeshift bed.
Ace laughed at Luck's extreme comfort, his eyes crinkling up in genuine amusement. "It doesn't look half bad at all." He smiled.
"No, it does not." Evodim agreed, his voice fading in unsaid farewell and light amusement. "If you need me Master Luck, i'll be tending the plants." The disembodied voice said it as if he wasn't omnipotent in this place.
Luck was pretty sure he had a few allergies, as he'd always get some reaction during allergy season. Funnily, one of his only concerns with these wild animals is if he'd be itching after touching them. Now, in a veritable bed made of them, he had no such worries.
Ace seemed content to relax, probably tired, the thunder was quite loud after all. So Luck decided he might as well train his own magic.
Calling upon his magic was different depending. For Time it was a singular focus on a particular moment, an almost transcendant dwelling upon. For Earth it was all sharp intent and sudden constructs, or so he found. For Nature it was his connection to the forest, to the wild, that lent him the power. And yet, with every one of those magics he found in some form or another it involved that layer of potential that was both him and not.
Mana, he knew.
As close as he was, both to the earth and these animals, and frankly, with just the sheer level of enjoyment in his this moment he was feeling, he wondered if he could work multiple magics at once.
His leg was caught under a resting deer's neck. His knee down only had a multitude of small animals nestled between his calves. And there was something like a squirrel on his foot, but the most important detail to take away was that his barefoot had contact with the grass.
Luck closed his eyes, careful not to fall asleep in his focus. He knew no magical background, he hadn't even heard the theory behind magic in general. Spirit had only educated him on the combinations of magic and how they might affect each other.
So he wondered what he could do.
Nearby the grass wriggled, seemingly unnoticed by both men. Such an onlooker would be wrong. Both men present were much more than they seemed. Ace Vent merely noticed the flow of magic and concentration of Luck's face through squinting eyes. The man laying down himself had his vision obstructed by warm and cuddly forest animals.
Oh, but he could see.
Not a hint of amber but his view was as perfect as Ace's own. The picture was perfect in his mind. And while a sharp intent was faster, a slow push allowed Luck's detail-oriented mind that much more freedom with much more effort. Some of the animals near him were odd, unseen from where he was from but not unnatural. In fact, the drowsy animals seemed rather familiar to him, an effect of his traits no doubt.
Luck opted for a simpler muse.
It was a straining to the mind, but he could manage it in the environment he was in. He pulled aspects from the animals around him and applied it to the blank two-legged construct he created. It was a small mannequin of sorts, no taller than two feet. A sharp eye might notice the attention to detail the creator had placed in the thing. The ruffled clothes, small accessories, and worn shoes among other things. If color was available the whole effigy might have had a whole other dimension, but, as it was, it was impossible to see the amber in its eyes nor the color in its garb.
Holding the aspects he drew from the bodies around him, with a constant mental pressure, he moved that connection through his own Earth magic as he manipulated the dirt man. It was rough, Luck could feel, but the magic found purchase, if only because he allowed it to flow across the layer of magic that enshrouded him. The aspect of nature wasn't something he could've applied outwardly, the connection between things was too central to its application, to send it across a void would be letting the spell die.
Somehow Luck could make out the amusement from the trees around him.
The effigy sported fur, still made of dirt. And though Luck had no practice, he knew he had had a high affinity for these magics, and he felt, or rather sensed, that the effigy was emitting a small warmth, like one of the animals against him. Aside from that, perhaps the senses would've been sharpened if it possessed any, but nothing more, these were all herbivores to the best of his knowledge after all. He guessed that applying the changes to a model of himself might have something to do with this inherent sense of the changes. Still, in all, nothing useful.
Now that he thought about it he wondered if there were any predators in his Grove.
Spirit? What other spells for Earth and Nature are there? Luck queried mentally, knowing his S.I. had no data on Time magic anyway. And you mentioned Tiers previously?
Known 2nd Tier Earth spells: unknown. Known 2nd Tier Nature spells: deep roots. Tiers dictate the level of difficulty for any known spell, these difficulties are exponential across Tiers.
Interesting, what exactly constitutes a spell? Or qualifies it to enter a Tier for that matter? Luck probed.
Spells are not set magic formulae. Instead they are an effect produced through the magic tagged with a difficulty. For example, earth dart and earth spike are of the simplest and straightforward Earth spells, requiring only a sharp intent and as such are Tier I. However, as Earth spells tend to focus on that constant effect on the earth, spells are often unnamed as their effects are too many to count. A master of Earth could construct and attack with countless numbers of different spells with his intent. Earth tends to be a difficult magic to organize, as it has a focus on efficiency and creativity.
So magic isn't concrete. Luck smirked. Even to magic users it is apparently hard to make sense of.
Internally, he wondered exactly how one would go about teaching magic. How would someone even begin to describe the odd tug on your being, or the power that flowed through you? The nuance that came with different types? It baffled Luck. From what he gathered from Spirit, one needed to know their magic well to implement any effects in any real situation. There was no such thing as a preset magical spell, instead there were a variety of known effects one could achieve with a given magical affinity, and perhaps an infinite number of unknown ones. Those known effects were organized into Tiers by difficulty of reproduction. What would a master of their magic be capable of?
The animals around him stirred, agitated. They dispersed quietly, the sound of their parting the simple brush of fur upon grass. This didn't surprise Luck as he considered his effigy, studying the apparent changes. Saga had returned, the shar's presence scaring off the harmless animals.
The 2nd Tier Nature spell deep roots was supposed to lend the caster strength through the nature. Luck followed along as best he could, but the directions seemed impossible to begin with. How was he supposed to form a connection with everything around him simultaneously? He wasn't sure if he was incompetent or simply out of his depth.
Luck wasn't one to dwell though, there was time to relax, and while magic might be a powerful asset he was already dangerous as he was. If he could glean some small understanding of magic as a whole, then he'd just be a little more powerful. That was what knowledge was after all.
Earth seemed the most practical for Luck, his quick thinking and wit allowed him to use it on the fly when fighting Melthin. Though he did feel extremely lucky about the encounter, even accounting for everything he did plan for during that fight. On the other hand, nature seemed supplemental and more useful for support, although, Luck could be thinkng of these magics completely wrong. In fact, now that he thought about it, why did magic have to be used for combat? Sure, it had those perks, but it wasn't everything that it was.
Luck's perspective shifted, for a moment he had forgotten where he was, the wonders he had already seen. He recalled The Pools, the light mist and nearly glowing blue waters that surrounded the whole place, the flowing streams and colorful plants. He remembered simply playing the card game during his impartation, the holographic cards themselves were a glimpse into this world.
There was much to see to this world. Oddly, he was sure that in terms of where he was, Peace was backwoods and not really that big of a city at all. Who knew what he would see in a larger, more established settlement?
Luck shook his head, a blinking notice at the bottom right of his vision had been vying for his attention for a while now. He knew with a glance it wasn't Spirit either.
Pay Heed! Quest Completed: Mystery Of Aerae
Long has the purpose of Ethodthem been debated, drawing from personal interactions you are among the few who know the truth. Ethodthem is a force that permeates the very structure of Aerae. You know its purpose is to shift power to those capable but to what end?
Rewards: Greater Boon, Quest: Mystery of Ethodthem
Hmm. He had almost forgotten about this quest. Actually, shouldn't he have gotten this completion earlier? He was almost one-hundred percent sure of his Ethodthem-Leah theory earlier. It should've got him a notification then. Of course. The quests were suspended until the update. Luck mentally slapped himself.
"Ace?" He said, sitting up. "You open your quest completion yet?"
His friend peeped open his eye fast enough to see Luck's effigy fall away to the dirt. "I'll do that right now." He grinned somewhat guitily. A few seconds passed, "Greater Boon?"
"Yeah, I'm not entirely- " He was interrupted.
The earth shook ominously. The shaking grew intense, nearing a point, which, Luck was sure something would erupt from the ground.
Two vastly different instincts kicked in, Luck glanced around somewhat unurgently, knowing deep within himself that he was safe in his Grove. A set of instincts ingrained deeply into his psyche however, those bred and cultivated in a life of crime, pushed his eyes to dart around the small clearing. Instead of finding a threat, sharp amber fell curiously upon his friend sitting not two meters from him.
Ace was high alert, as if he noticed something Luck couldn't even with his enhanced senses. The familiar bond did many things, but the physical changes sharpened Luck's already honed dangersense.
Luck's brain went into overdrive, Ace had to be sensing something magical. Luck's current aptitude of Time and Earth gave him no illusions. Ace had a control much more fine than Luck, evidenced by the demonstration of power he had shown Luck on the river down to Dersoc.
Time froze, two seconds Luck flexed, just enough time for him to swivel his head around. The clearing was just that, clear. Nothing moved in the forest beyond, though somehow, Luck already knew there was nothing there. Saga was not far off. He was resting upon a thick low hanging branch, barely visible, but the bond communicated calmness and focus. The last half second Luck glanced at Ace's face, employing a skill that rarely ever worked on the former mercenary.
Ace's expression... wasn't scared, not that he ever was, as far as Luck knew. It wasn't grim either. His hazel eyes were sparkling and his eyebrows were halfway raised. There was an uncertainty in his gaze, for uncomfortableness or nervousness. But... the majority of his expression was... pleasant surprise?
Time resumed and the Grove moved once more. The shaking stopped.
Evodim's voice floated across the clearing, like a fisherman remarking on the biting fish of the day. "Ethodthem moves." He opened. "Have you done something deserving of a reward Master Luck?"
"I think we both just got a Greater Boon." Luck replied, relaxing.
The trees around him, normally content to watch and observe unless spoken to, broke out in whispers. It seemed their awareness was as vast as Luck's own when it came to his Grove. Something changed, an unknown, though not hostile it seemed. The large green trees had deep voices, spoken as low as the lowest hanging leaves. Deeper than the roots in the ground.
Druid Lockyer, truly he is something.
Approved by the Wazar King.
His title rings through the groves.
To deliver this...
Luck felt something. But asking the trees, asking even the small animals still hanging around netted him the same answer.
The druid must see himself. A large, gnarled tree responded.
Some fleet-footed squirrel gave him the same answer, albeit faster. Green friend look for yourself!
Look with your own eyes, green friend! A large bug flying by said the same.
Evodim's voice was as if he was right beside Luck. "I believe there is something waiting for you at the center of the Grove, Master Luck." He said simply, his voice unhurried.
Luck could feel them, the animals moving to the center of his Grove. Somehow he had the strange sense that all of the trees around him had their attention towards the center as well, even if they couldn't be there phyiscally. Thick branches, looping and spiraling blanketed the clearing. Despite that, sunlight found the ground. There was a sky. Before he hurt his head Luck just took that at face value.
It was the same with every tree, they were all looking towards the middle. That is, except for the few whose attention was shifted to one particular lightning mage. Soon enough Luck regarded Ace.
"You won a dragon." Luck deadpanned.
Ace turned, as if introducing a friend, all smiles. "Luck, this is Tric." He shrugged his shoulder, flourishing the dragon that perched there.
"Pleasure." Luck said, unreadable. His eyes tracked the dragon, wary, but it only took a moment for him to relax.
"Tric, my best friend Luck Lockyer, the Amber Demon, Devil of the Cards, the Bloodless Hand. I could go on, but that's as good an introduction as any." Luck twitched. Ace had a swarmy grin slapped right on his face.
"Is she your Greater Boon? Or a tool?" Luck realized his first assumption could've been wrong, the creature may very well have been a gift by Ethodthem.
"Both." Ace said simply. "She had to find me but ended up taking express." He grinned, obviously happy.
A dragon. Even the size of a hawk, it was clear the thing was a predator. Some type of companion like Saga then? Luck mentally recapped all the possible tools, at least, the ones he knew of.
He regarded the magnificent creature, some part of him in simple wonder. The child in him perhaps, the same one who never had the luxury of fairy tales.
Slim, not the fat hoarding dragons of myth, nor was it reminiscent of an eastern dragon, sinuous and long. Tric was yellow-blue, the shifting sunlight from the canopy leaves lit up her sharp overlapping scales, causing them to turn almost golden-skyblue.
It was clear she wasn't an Item, Trait, or Base. Nor was she an Ingredient, Knowledge or Magic type tool. She had to be a Companion of sorts then. Whether there was a Magical or Evolving prefix attached remains to be seen.
"Tric?" Luck asked, instead of all the other questions he could've.
"I didn't name her." Ace responded in answer. The two seemed just as comfortable with each other as he and Saga were when they first met, minus the initial bonding. "She's not like Saga, by the way."
"Care to expand?" Luck probed, his inquisitive mind already wondering. He asked more for the sake of asking than for an actual answer. Ace grinned and that was all Luck needed. "Thought not."
Tric yawned stretching her golden-skyblue scales and Luck caught a whiff of her breath. Suddenly, with lightning clarity a few pieces fell together.
Ozone.
"She's quite the beauty isn't she Lucky?" Ace said smiling. Tric was laid out across his arm, allowing Ace to regard her full figure. Ace didn't seem to struggle with the weight, but the man's strength was definitely at its peak as was necessitated by his previous profession, so the dragon's weight could've been anything.
She was indeed beautiful, and more, she was a thing of nature. A friend. And while the little dragon would've been a friend to him anyways through Ace, the reassurance was nice, especially to someone so accustomed to the negativity of the world. It took only looking into her eyes to know.
Odd that he'd have an affinity with nature, something so diametric to his past life.
Luck shrugged, when he revealed his tools to Ace his friend had taken it in stride despite the incredulity of them. He would do the same. "Well, would you and the lady like to accompany to the center of my Grove?" His left arm was across his stomach, his right gestured to the trees and a sunlit path invitingly. "I believe there is something quite interesting waiting. Not that bad for a first date eh, Ace?"
For his part Ace seemed not the least insulted as he glanced to Tric. "We'd love to."
"Well, we best get to it." Luck smirked, pulling out his stopwatch for effect. "We're late."
And from the voices of the Grove around him he was missing out on quite the commotion.