Liam, Avery, and the rest of Liam’s group tensed up at the words. Their eyes briefly passed between each other as Liam’s fell upon Uncle Naro. His eyes narrowed as his body language spoke of multiple different things. Liam wasn’t sure what exactly was running through the man’s head, but he got a small glimpse as he asked, “What do you mean by that?”

Omira looked at Uncle Naro, she tensed up a bit as she noticed his narrowed eyes. She quickly said, “I mean the mana. The mana that was rolling off their wounds. It smelled like it was some sort of decaying…”

“Smell of the mana?” Mercer muttered as he brought a hand to his chin. “Mana has a smell?”

Omira, looking relieved that someone else asked a question, took the lifeline, and answered, “Yes. It is one of the Fae’s racial benefits. We can smell mana that has been used off of or on people. It helps us determine what kind of person they are.”

Liam wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He had never heard about this before and had never heard Ariyana, who was a Nature Fae, talk about that. He then froze as he noticed Omira stare at him with a look of confusion on her face. That look was brief, but it was enough to tell Liam that she knew something, but didn’t want to say anything.

Before Liam could think or say anything, Roman suddenly asked, “Huh, why haven’t you said anything about this before Ariyana?”

Everyone quickly looked at Roman. Liam’s group glared at the guy while Uncle Naro, Key, and Omira turned their gazes to Ariyana. All three were curious about this as they saw her glare on Roman turn into an uncomfortable one while averting the gazes of the three.

“Are…Are you a Fae too?” Omira questioned.

Ariyana hesitated for a moment before finally answering, “I am, bu…”

Omira’s eyes lit up as she said excitedly, “Oh my god. I didn’t think I would meet another of my kind while on my journey! Tell me. What kind are you?”

Ariyana flinched and took a step back as she felt the teenaged girl’s sudden excitement. Even Liam was shocked by how happy the girl seemed. However, he was also puzzled by how anxious and uncomfortable Ariyana seemed.

“I…I’m sorry. I need some fresh air,” Ariyana swiftly stated as she spun around and walked away. She quickly made her way down the stairs and away from sight. Artem right behind her as Blair looked at Liam. He felt like she was saying she was going to follow to see what was going on and wanted to make sure all would be fine here. Liam nodded, letting her know he’d do something up here as his eyes motioned to Roman. Blair nodded with understanding as she let out a sigh, grabbed Roman by the ear, and dragged him to find the other two.

Liam shook his head as he looked back at the teenage girl who now looked both crestfallen and confused as to what had happened. She looked at Liam and asked, “Did I do something wrong? Was it what I said?”

Liam shook his head. He then said as he semi-lied, “You’re fine. She’s new to this world and I don’t think she has had much time to fully let it sink in that she is no longer human. My group and I…” Liam then pointed to Gimmel, “Except Gimmel here, are what people have been calling New Arrivals. We aren’t entirely sure what we’re all capable yet and I think our inconsiderate friend, the Kitsune, asked a question he wasn’t entirely sure he had every right too.”

“Oh,” Omira said as she looked to the ground. “I didn’t mean to make her feel uncomfortable. I just…” She let out a sigh. “I don’t get to interact with others of my kind close to my age.”

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Avery suddenly popped in. “How old are you?”

“I’m nineteen,” Omira replied.

Yeah she’s close enough to our age, but holy hell does she look younger. Liam thought as he looked surprised. I thought she was around fourteen or fifteen with how young her face looks.

“Judging by the looks on your faces you all probably think I’m fourteen or fifteen,” Omira stated as she looked at Avery, Gimmel, Liam, and Mercer. “I get that a lot. It’s the fairy blood in me. Ah since you’re new you probably don’t know, but Fairies are a type of Fae that look younger than they really are. I had a feeling that your friend might be like me, but I wasn’t sure. If she’d like maybe I can talk to her more about the Fae Race?”

“We’ll ask her. Just…just give her some time to figure some things out,” Liam said as he gave her a warm smile. “However, if you are free later, I would definitely like to learn more about your race. Being new to this world has made me both curious and interested in learning about the different races. The world I came from Race was not like how it was hear. It was more of a social construct that groups people based on perceived physical traits, such as skin color and facial features as well as where you were born rather than what species you were born from.”

“That sounds like a confusing world,” Omira stated.

“You have no idea,” Liam muttered.

“I’d like to know as well,” Mercer chimed in. “I want to get into the Merchants world more and learning about different races here in this world could be very useful.”

“I wouldn’t mind learning as well,” Avery also agreed.

Omira let out a soft giggle before looking embarrassed and saying, “Okay. I don’t mind telling you guys about the Fae race later if you’re okay with me being the one.”

Avery, Liam, and Mercer all nodded their heads.

“I’m glad that little thing got solved, but I feel like the conversation has derailed quite a bit,” Key cut in. Even though her words felt like she was annoyed, Liam could see signs of relief and even some concern disappearing. “You said you smelled Decaying off of the mana from the wounds left on those people? Are you sure it wasn’t Rot Mana?”

Omira’s smile fell as she looked back at Key. She looked like she was trying to concentrate on remembering it. After a few seconds had passed she said, “I am sure it wasn’t Rot Mana, but at the same time I am not sure what it was. As a Fae we can easily tell the mana by the smell, but this time…it’s like my senses were being blocked.”

“But you said it smelled like Decay,” Uncle Naro stated as he stared at the young woman.

“I did. But that was what I thought when I smelled it,” Omira said looking perplexed. “I called it Decay because that’s what the smell reminded me of. Decaying flesh. However, there was no Rot smell to it. I know there’s no such thing as Decay Mana, but…”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Key turned her gaze on Uncle Naro who looked to be contemplating something. Liam watched as the two older adults waited. One on the other to say something, almost like she was informed of something by the other and wasn’t sure how to broach it while the other looked like he was trying to figure out if what she was talking about was the same thing he thought it was.

After a couple of minutes passed, Uncle Naro let out a breath and stated, “Maybe I’m overthinking it, but there’s no way it could be connected.”

“What can be connected?” Omira asked.

Uncle Naro waved a hand, dismissing the question. “Nothing. I’m just a cautious sort is all.”

Omira nodded slowly, not sure what he meant by that, but also felt he wouldn’t touch more on it. She then looked hesitant before asking, “Um…if you don’t mind me asking.” She looked at Liam, Avery, and Mercer before continuing, “Can I ask what your purpose is to travel by boat? I understand that Miss Key is a friend of yours sir, but isn’t it easier to travel by portal to where ever you are going?”

“I could ask you the same,” Uncle Naro said with a teasing grin.

Omira floundered a bit as she stumbled on her words. “Oh…Ah…Its…I…”

Uncle Naro let out a loud laugh as Key elbowed him complaining, “Quite teasing the young lady will ya Naro.”

Uncle Naro waved a hand in an apologetic way which seemed to calm the girl down some, but not cooling her red cheeks. “I’m just teasing. I’m having my little apprentice here gain both experience and knowledge. The best way to do that is by traveling the old fashion way, not the easy way.”

“What do you mean by that?” Omira asked, starting to get curious. “And who is your apprentice?”

Uncle Naro pointed at Liam as he explained, “That little rascal right there. As Key sails from island to island I will be having his group take on the dungeon towers as well as any wild dungeon portals we come across. The best way to gain experience is through real life applications. And while on the sea I will also have him work on what I teach him.”

“That sounds nice,” Omira said as she gave both Uncle Naro and Liam a smile. The smile looked longing for some reason. Almost like she wished she had someone doing the same thing for her. “What type of applications are you teaching him and if you don’t mind me asking, what kind of an apprenticeship do you both have?”

“I am teaching him the ways of Combat Crafter,” Uncle Naro stated. Omira’s smile suddenly morphed into a puzzled expression which grew more and more confused as he continued, “He is a Crafting Apprentice and will be learning Rune Craft and Enchanting while also preforming Construction Crafting for Key here. She will be the judge on what he makes is acceptable to be used or not.”

“I’m sorry, but did you say the ways of a Combat Crafter and he is learning Rune Craft and Enchanting while performing Construction Crafts for Miss Key?” Omira asked, making sure she did hear him correctly.

Uncle Naro and Key both nodded their heads as the bear of a man replied, “Yes, you heard correctly.”

“But why would he need to learn something like the ways of a Combat Crafter? That is only meant for those who have the…,” Omira started to ask until she thought about Liam and how he fought during their brief first meeting. He did use an unorthodox method using a Mana Hand Type spell to wield a hammer, but she hadn’t really thought about it at the moment. He had utilized it so well she had thought it was a normal thing. However, now that she had a moment to really think using a Mana Type Hand spell to wield a weapon in a battle wasn’t normal. It was only truly used for those who had a specific class type. A Crafter class.

“Oh? You have heard of the ways of a Combat Crafter?” Uncle Naro questioned with a grin on his face.

“Of course I have. An aunt of mine found a copy of the book by luck and studied it a few years ago and claimed she wished she had that information back when she had first started leveling her class. It was the answer to all her problems when she cursed herself for not being able to be useful in fights,” Omira stated as she thought back on the memories of her aunt talking to her. “She had always wanted to be an Adventurer, but since the traditional ways of classes were always taught she had given up on it since people kept telling her it was a waste of her time wishing for something she couldn’t have or do…”

A warm smile grew on her face as she remembered the joy on her aunts face. “She had often talked about the things she was learning from the book. The ways Mana Hand Type spells could be used and how they were currently underutilized. I hadn’t ever seen what she had meant, but…” Omira looked at Liam. “After remembering seeing how you used the method she had talked about in great lengths…I am now certain that what she was talking about is something she had so desperately been searching for.”

“You witnessed him fight?” Uncle Naro asked as he raised a brow.

Omira swiveled her head with gusto and said as she nodded quickly, “I did. It was for a brief moment, but the way he moved his Earth Hand to swing the hammer and shatter the attackers sword in half. It was awesome! And he also used it to protect Sebastean and myself from getting stabbed by a flying dagger.”

“Is that so? Shattering a sword in half huh? How did you manage that feat?” Uncle Naro asked with a teasing grin as he looked at an embarrassed Liam.

“I used Spot Frailty and noticed the sword hadn’t been properly maintained in a while,” Liam stated. “Since it was on the verge of falling apart on its own, I figured I’d hasten it and use it to my advantage.”

“Well I’ll be damn,” Key muttered as she looked at Uncle Naro. “Isn’t Spot Frailty a Blacksmithing skill?”

Uncle Naro nodded. “Did I not mention that he has some Blacksmithing experience? Fia took him on as her apprentice in the Tutorial Area.”

“Really? Little Fia took him on as her apprentice?” Key questioned with a surprised look.

“Also Galin was there as well and is his Alchemy Mentor,” Uncle Naro added.

Liam saw Key’s mouth drop as she said, “No way. What are the odds both of em were in the same Tutorial at the same time and took on the same apprentice.”

“Do you know them?” Liam asked, confused and happy. He was happy that his two mentors were known but also confused by Key’s reaction.

“Know them? Why they are…,” Key saying as she hiked a finger at Uncle Naro but stopped as the man placed a hand on hers and pushed it down and finished for her, “We have met them before and have seen their skills and talents in person. We both know how good they are.”

Liam eyed the man and the woman. Uncle Naro was staring down at the confused Sea Elf who gave him a flabbergasted look. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but before he could think more into it, Uncle Naro said, “You four should go and check on Ariyana and make sure she is alright. They haven’t come back in some time.”

Liam looked at him suspiciously before saying and turning away, “Alright. We’ll go do that.” He, Gimmel, Avery, and Mercer then walked down the stairs. He was confused by Uncle Naro. He knew there was something there that wasn’t being said, but at the same time he couldn’t figure it out.

“There they are,” Avery stated as she pointed to Ariyana and the others on the other end of the ship.

They quickly made their way around the busy people moving around the ship. When they approached them, Roman was still apologizing as Ariyana stared off into the water. Artem was on the other side of her staring down at her as Blair glared at Roman.

“Ariyana,” Liam called out as they walked up to them. He knew by the way she was staring out in the ocean that she had a lot on her mind. Whether she decided to tell them or not, Liam was going to leave that to her. He didn’t want to pressure her into saying anything.

He opened his mouth, but stopped as she turned, smiled, and said, “Sorry. I panicked there a bit.”

If he hadn’t spent time with her he would have thought the smile was genuine. He could see how forced it was though and said, “If it is something that is bothering you then just know that you don’t have to tell us now if you don’t want to. Just know we are here and won’t look at you differently if it’s something you believe is bad.”

Ariyana’s smile faltered for a second. She held it there for a moment as she looked at all of them. After looking back at Liam the smile finally faded as he facial expression saddened. She let out a sigh as she stated, “No. I was planning to say something eventually and now is probably as good as a time as ever. I meant I saw the look of confusion on your face when you saw that girl’s wings and looked at me earlier today.”

Liam scratched the back of his head. He knew he wasn’t subtle about that, but at the same time he didn’t think Ariyana was sensitive about it as well. They all waited until she finally continued, “I can’t use my active Racial benefits…”