Another Step Forward (2)

----------------------------------------

By the time the stars had begun peeking down at us, we’d already managed to find refuge just underneath the canopy of an oddly convenient oak tree. Its bark was rigid and its roots weaved through the earth like ancient veins. They were of course perfect for fastening the ropes of our tents, and the fallen branches scattered about the place kept our raging campfire going.

We’d even found enough logs lying around the place to use as our temporary seating, forming a rough circle around the fire that crackled and popped, sending occasional sparks into the cool night air.

All in all, our journey had been pretty smooth so far – my not so comfortable seating was the only detractor to this pleasant experience at the moment. Still, even that was starting to lose its effects thanks to the strange concoction I now held in my hands.

Myra claimed that it was some form of exquisite beverage or something like that, but given the current situation it feels like she just gave me this to keep me occupied. The warm beverage was both bitter and sweet, hard to swallow, yet comforting in its own strange way.

Apparently, it had some kind of magical gimmick that altered the drinks properties each time you took a sip, so you ended up never really knowing what you were going to get. Truthfully, this was only something you’d give to an overly curious child to keep them quiet for a while, and as shameful as it was for me to admit it – I couldn’t get enough of this.

I was only two or three swigs away from finishing my third cup.

My parents were locked in idle chatter with the other ember fang members, talking about their version of ubiquitous things that included diving into dungeons and what not.

Jytte and Flynn in particular were taking their idle chatter up a notch; a poignant smell was drifting over from their direction and given the eruption of froth escaping from their wooden mugs, they clearly weren’t drinking the same thing I was.

I saw Myra yelling at them moments before her rage took over and she started chasing them around the pit of flames.

After about three laps, she finally managed to talk some sense back into her frivolous companions. Myra’s scolding prowess had actually managed to overpower their brief moment of tipsiness.

“Ta-da!” Jytte shouted in sobriety as she placed something resembling an unsealed scroll unto the ground.

The parchment scrap had an arcane, circular arrangement grafted in the middle that soon began to emit a faint blue light seconds after she placed it on the ground. Within moments, something had begun to rise up from the magical construct like it was forcefully being pulled to the surface.

“Eh!? You kept that thing!?” Flynn exclaimed in excitement

“Of course, these go for around two silver coins you know.” She answered pridefully, running her finger along the scales of her summons.

“That’s a Steel Jaw, isn’t it?” Julia whispered in awe

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Without a doubt.” Oliver replied, clapping his hands in elation. “Haven’t seen one of those in a while, where’d you pick that up Jytte?”

The vixen huffed triumphantly, before slamming a fist to her chest.

“In a dungeon of course! I told you we’ve been busy these last few years.”

“It was a C-rank dungeon Oliver, just so you know.” said Myra nonchalantly as she lazily floated above Jytte’s head.

“So what if it was a C-rank dungeon?” Jytte yelled angrily - or at least that's what she’d wanted to do anyway, but the effects of all that alcohol hadn’t quite worn off just yet. Ultimately, her complaint had just ended up sounding like a whimper instead.

“These things are really hard to catch in the water you know, it almost took me three shots just to hit this one.”

Myra’s eyes drifted over to the lifeless carcass, its body resembled that of a typical eel except for the fact that it was around six times bigger and had hard, jagged scales that shone like pristine sapphire shards.

A single yellow eyeball rested in the center of the monster's face, right above rows of jagged teeth at the front of its streamlined body. Its ivory-colored eyeball was glazed over, clearly from the large puncture wound that went all the way through the side of its head.

“Fair enough I suppose.” She remarked humbly, before floating down to stand on the creatures shining scales.

“Even I’ve never managed to land a headshot on one of these things, they really are too damn fast in the water, nice work Jytte.”

I saw Jytte’s face brighten up in elation, her ears started to flap in unison with her wagging tail.

“W-w-w-weeellll.......it wasn’t that hard now that I think about it~” She muttered through a squiggly smile.

“You liar, don’t let that go to your head, these monsters aren't even that strong, they're just a pain to deal with.”

“O-of course I know that!” came Jytte’s offbeat reply. The hint of pride she felt from Myra’s last compliment was still smeared all over her face.

“Do you really?” Asked the Faerie girl as she inched closer to her comrade, still doused in suspicion.

“Who cares about that now!” Blurted Flynn as he dashed over to the center of attention.

“Hey don’t you guys know why these things are so expensive? It’s because they’re delicious!” He said those words with an unfound certainty. It probably wasn’t stemming from confidence, but rather, his own greed.

The corners of the man’s jaws oozed with the drool of a glutton.

“.....I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try it since you already brought it out. They’re not very easy to find or catch anyway.” Said Myra with a gulp

“You all can have some, but just make sure Liam gets to try it, I’m sure he’s never had dungeon meat, right Julia?”

“No, he hasn’t had any dungeon meat yet, but...” She must have paused to finish a rather ominous thought, because her next words literally sent shivers up my father’s spine.

“Fufu....we’ll get there one day~”

Get where exactly, dear mother?

I’ve been wanting to ask that question for well over a year now, but the modesty I was being taught here would never permit me to do such a thing.

"So, Oliver..." Flynn said merrily, tugging at one of the creature's sharp scales.

"...Will you do us the honor like you used to?"

“As long as you’re fine with grilling or roasting, then no problem old friend.” He answered through a grin.

“Hah! Like we have a choice!”

I found myself indulging in the laughter that erupted afterwards, it almost made me forget what we were even doing all the way out here.