“So… Do we actually quarter him and skin him, and take his meat to eat?”
Myron asked with a bit of apprehension, as he had to know, but wasn’t entirely ready to find out the truth of it. Mery thanking the Pyrobill while he was still alive for the sustenance he would offer, was at least a little bit shocking.
Syl spoke up. “Well, not always, and not exactly. When it comes to sentient Aimon there are a few ways that people deal with them and their corpses. The treatment of the dead differs, and in this case we are not dealing with a deceased Bonded of the Trainer but with an opponent Aimon that had been just as willing to kill us if the fight had gone any differently.” She shivered a bit but shook it off easily enough.
“This may seem a little barbaric but the most common, is to use some parts - like bones - in soups, others to sell to be used in concoctions of the craftsmen, a specific brand of them, the alchemists always appreciate organs, and some are simply turned into fertilizer as they are very rich in Aether. I know for a fact that Aimon in the wild, the awakened specifically make use of these practices as much as they can.”
She continued. “I can understand your distaste for this, it’s not like a I love doing it. But it is considered utmost disrespect, in Human and Aimon communities to discard the dead to be left in the wild.”
“Can’t we just cremate him and then bury his ashes? A funeral of sorts out here in the wild? His ashes will be sustenance enough to the plant life of the area.”
“It is ill advised to do this, as cremating the corpse will burn away all the Aether packed within its flesh and bones. That destroys the purpose of using it as fertilizer, as the ash is now worse than mortal fertilizer and of no use in any area where Aimon live, even here where the world is burning. This ash is worse than the fire.”
“And to answer a question you have not yet asked. There is actually a very serious reason why on this matter and this matter alone, Humans and Aimon agree. Mutant Beasts. Mortal Beasts without Aether and without the capability to support Aether. The common dear, the common hare. Sustenance for Humans like you that have not yet ascended to the First Tier - and those that deny themselves the glory. They know to avoid plant life that is charged with Aether, they know to avoid all such sources as to them it is mere radiation, as well as danger. There are little to no predators amongst the mortal beasts and those that exist are omnivores that spend most of their time eating grass and leaves and playing with their packs, staying in one place and close together for protection from Aimon Children. Now imagine what happens if they find a Corpse of a Second Tier Aimon, it’s Aether wasting away at the wind, drawing them in, not attached to any living entity, not withheld from them in any way. Calling out to them in a way Aether stuck within living beings simply can’t.”
“They consume. And they mutate.”
“And they become horrible abominations, that spread misery unto all. Mutated Beasts are the most frequent reason for mortality in Human society, a problem of their own creation.”
“Why am I not surprised…” Myron shook his head. “Very well then. What do we do with him?”
“Take his spine to be made into soup, take his feathers to be sold, give his heart to me if possible, and turn everything else into compost. Unless his talons or beak have any special properties I do not know of, or have caught your fancy?” She asked with doubt in her voice at the ugly, seemingly rotten beak that was never pretty to begin with. Myron agreed that he didn’t want them and Syl went about her work.
“Oh, and last but not least, certainly not least in fact. The Crystal.” She pulled that out from the center of his chest cavity, right behind the place where the ribs did not quite connect. A glowing crystal with transparent edges and an orange light at its center, a shape of crystals and rectangles growing from the center mass in all directions and sizes.
“That seems, a world apart from the one taken from the Boar, and also… You never explained what it was.”
“I don’t know what type of Crystal it is, you’d have to go to speak to other humans, those that deal with these things most often, an Artificer maybe. Thus I don’t know what it does exactly, but it’s a treasure. Half the reason Taher is burning this place to the ground is for a large deposit of Crystals, probably Gena, which this isn’t. The difference in appearance to the Boar’s Crystal come from Tier and Bond.”
“I get it, that one was wild and First Tier.” Myron nodded and accepted the crystal, keeping it in the inner pocket of his work jacket.
Dakini and Mery helped create baskets from the tall grass around, to separate and also carry the parts of the corpse, and when Syl was done they finally got moving again.
Minutes later she spoke to Myron, with Mery and Dakini getting along at the back. “I know this was a risk, and not only was it a risk, it was also uncomfortable… But-“
“It’s fine. It isn’t uncomfortable, I am merely unused to blood, and gore. I’ll be able to skin and butcher with expertise like yours in the future too. And, you don’t have to be apologetic about the risks or whatnot. This was important to you as an Aimon to a fellow Aimon, your culture, and it is also important for the world at large. One less freak mutant rabbit is all the better.” He reassured her, and she smiled at him. The two remained in pleasant silence for a bit.
“Do we look for shelter somewhere in this region?” Eventually Myron asked, his eyes lingering on Dakini.
“Large Boulders are the best we can do. We’ll keep watch from the ground while you deal with Dakini.”
“Great, sorry for this. I just, need a bit of time to talk to her and get her to Bond with me. I’d rather she spend as little time as possible in the Limbo of Withering. I understand she took some damage upon breaking her bond.” He asked and she nodded. “It also feels a bit uncomfortable to request such a commitment while carrying the birdie parts on my person.” He jostled the basket Syl had weaved for him.
Syl chuckled and then chuckled some more, not giving him any snap-back. Instead the group walked and walked some more.
Half an hour later, they had found the place. As decided, Myron and Dakini were left alone atop the tallest rock. Giving them a great view of the dying landscape to the north and the grass meadows to the south, pockmarked by tall trees with dark leaves in all its fresh, clean, certainly not burnt to a crisp, glory.
It also gave a view of Dakini. Whily eyes of misty pink, a small snout and cream colors fur on her face, with whiskers twitching with the wind. She had bushy brows and only one pair of fuzzy ears atop her head jumping out from her long, silky smooth hair, which ended in a fabulous pink color, with a few strands also hidden amongst the black.
Stolen story; please report.
Her teeth looked sharp enough behind her black lips, like those of a dog. The short fur run down her neck and all over her body, all the way to her four paws, those her shoulders and torso in general where distinctly human in shape and elegance. Her feet where strong, the joint of the knees placed backwards to Humans, and her tails where always moving, creatures with their own mind.
“Right. Hello Dakini, nice to meet you. I am Myron. A newbie Trainer.”
“As you seem to already know. I am Dakini. Master Myron.” She bowed her head. “I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, with all the gratitude I hold in my soul, till the day I die, and for every breath I take, I thank you.” She smacked her forehead on the rock shocking Myron and leading to him reaching forward and pushing her; from the shoulders; back till she sat straight again.
“None of that Master crap. I’m Myron. And… Don’t bow down to me. I wasn’t just guilt tripped into saving you, you know. I made my own choices and hunted Choro down. I debated with the others if we should kill him but decided against it. That way he could do more damage to that Taher woman’s operation.”
“Very well. I shall call you Myron then, but only because I can feel the disgust wafting off you, at the mere idea of the word.”
“Sorry about that. Syl has also noted that I seem to be pretty open with my Bonds.”
“It’s not about the bonds. We are actually not bonded yet.”
“Oh right, silly me.” Myron actually felt embarrassed, he looked away. But she didn’t chastise him in any way.
“It’s me. While everyone can feel other people’s emotions with enough of a heart. I can see them, smell them, taste them, be them myself; almost.”
“That’s interesting. Is it your Typing? I assumed you were Dark type already. Saw those dark energies back when… you resisted beating down on a child, and good on you. Syl agreed with me and supplied the list of all Aimon Types. It held interesting similarities to something I am familiar with form my world, and so I remembered. Are you actually a Dark/Fairy Dual Type?”
“Wow. So you’re not only my Hero, you’re also, smart, capable, attentive, and from another world? Myron, you’re spoiling me here.”
“Please take me as your Aimon.” She said, her gaze locked onto his own - Brilliant, shimmering pink, nearly transparent with dark; murky undercurrents. She was serious and Myron was all the gladder for it. While Mery’s awakening and that whole debacle had turned out well, it was truly better to be having sex with a completely sentient creature capable of conversation and speech, and not an incredibly smart animal.
“That’s lucky. I was also going to ask you to Bond with me. From the very start. Your whole vibe intrigued me, Your typings are unique, and interesting and I wanted to know about them. I want to know all there is to know about Aimon, or at least that is how intense my curiosity feels right now. So I want you to Bond with me too.”
“Then, don’t let us keep each other waiting. Let’s commence this dance of souls.”
She hugged him and swallowed him with her tails. She placed her head on his chest, and moved his hand to the center of her own. It was easy, easier than ever this time around to dive into the space of souls.
“Ha!” Myron laughed at the surprise awaiting him in this space of struggle and battle, as those had been his experiences so far.
Before him, just a step outside of his bubble stood Dakini inside of her own. She smiled at him, her furry face and little snout morphed into a yipping laugh. The little trickster came to light.
Myron walked forth and the two sphered collided. They bounced back away from one another but the Pathway had already been constructed. Myron entered her space, her soul and she bowed her head just a tad in deference. A bed of soul energy was formed for him to lay on with a hole where his face should go.
He laid down, and relaxed. “Didn’t expect a massage when I came in here.”
“When I Consolidate to a more Human form, and enter the Second Tier, I’ll offer you much more.”
He turned red at the implications as Dakini worked his tired muscles with expertise unlike any he had felt before. “Dakini, don’t be inappropriate.” He chastised and bonked her head with a soft Karate-Chop.
“Don’t spoil me too much. One massage is enough of a reward. Well, one massage to Syl and Mery as well would go a long way.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She smiled, and her sharp teeth glinted under her gums. “But I will deny your statement categorically. You did a lot more, and you deserve a lot more. I mean, look at this, how easy was it for us to form the Bond? Right now we’re having fun.”
“That’s because you are willing to open up so much, to drop all pretense and accept me.” Myron said barely able to keep himself awake. The soothing movements of her arms almost too much in his current state. Despite being just a construct within his soul, he could feel his body shiver and get goosebumps wherever her hands traveled.
“And I bonded with you by myself. Get serious Myron. You need a pair to form a Bond. If you didn’t start the Process with such a clear mind, such an open mind we would have had to struggle against some challenge just like I assume you did with Mery and Syl.”
He nodded, realizing that what Dakini had said was the truth. “So the more closed off I am to the Idea, the more doubts I hold, the more fear I harbor, the harder it will be for the bond to form. And the weaker the bond will be as a result, though that can and will change, always.”
“Now, stop thinking so much, and let yourself fall to my ministrations. We Kitsune are known for our Massages, you know?”
“Are you really?” Myron turned his head to look at her, his eyebrow raised in doubt.
“No, but I’d prefer it that way, now shush.” She chided him and shoved his head back in its place. He soon fell asleep within his soul, cared for by the newest addition to his growing family. He let out a breath and with that breath a thought.
“Life is Great.” The Golden words exploded in light, Myron too far into a sleepy haze to notice. From his Soul to all three of his bonded, the love in those thoughts spread out and coated their bonds and souls, intertwining with the fabric of their souls and making them stronger.
Aether flooded up the three pathways and into Aimon in response. The Golden energy moving on its own, given freely by the Aimon in resonance to his feelings. ‘Indeed, it seems to have taken a dramatic turn for the better.’ Dakini chuckled to herself, giddy with excitement, she redoubled her focus and went hard at work, on Myron’s soul and Body at the same time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The refreshing Bonding experience had come to an end, and Myron decided to take one more moment, while Dakini introduced herself to the rest of the team, to check up on his status and the changes he could feel had occurred, as well as the status of his new Aimon.
Myron’s Status
Tier: Unearned
Level: 5!
Distributable Points -> 4
Path: None
Aether: 21/32
Bonds
Syl - Level 29, Emeramantis Queen - Plant/Metal Type
Mery - Level 7, Pygmaleon - Fighting/Water Type
Dakini - Level 8, Kitsune - Dark/Fairy Type
Attributes
Explosiveness - 5!
Might - 3
Tenacity - 5!
Instinct - 6
Focus - 9
Impact - 8!
Spirit - 6!
Clarity - 10
Skills
{P} Heart of Purpose (lv5)!
Bonded of Myron
Name: Dakini
Level 8 Kitsune
Tier - First
Type: Dark/Fairy
Attributes
Aether: 28/28
Shield: 50/50
Strength: 9
Agility: 11
Intelligence: 9.5
Control: 15
Abilities
Terrorizing Howl
Astonish
Dreamy Gaze
Body Morph
Energy Drain
He would have to ask where and how these Attributes came about. If he were to guess with the sample size he had been given, with Syl not offering much help. The growth of attributes was based on the actions and environment of an Aimon as it progressed from one level to another.
Their lives and hardships, their history, is reflected in their Status. That is what he believes, though he would have to ask to clarify.
He filed those thoughts away for when they somewhere much more safe than the wild, opened his eyes and stood. It was time to get a move on.