From Snows whole body I hear bones breaking. The cracking is loud and has to hurt. Other things are happening too as her skin starts stretching and folding. Purple blood drips out of her nose and onto the Cape. Monster Blood always has a slight tint of purple, but is always mostly red, this one is way too purple, and I worry very much.
Right now I can do nothing and hope for it to not kill her, whatever happens, as I am rather fond of her. I hate when something gets taken from me. Every time I have something it gets taken away.
Always the same, something good comes in my life and then it gets taken, be it by someone else, by getting broken or by fate ripping it out of my hands. Everyone just takes, and takes, and takes… I want to take… No one takes from me anymore, I will take everything… I take… take…
…
Where am I? What? Oh yes, Snow! What happened? I do not remember, but Snow is still here. I blanked out and just forgot what I should focus on. Snow seems to be… different. She looks more like a... kangaroo? No, that is not right. Her back legs are a bit more… Is she now a were-rat? She looks kind of more human, no that can not be…
At least she is breathing, so that is good. Her fever is gone and the heartbeat is down. Whatever that was, it was not a normal mutation. I would say she has surpassed her body and needed to reform? But why?
…
My hypothesis right now is the Miasma. Miasma is made by humanoid Sapient creatures using Mana. Their will is embedded inside their Magic, so maybe their body shape is included as well? It is a far fetched hypothesis, but it is one. So to accommodate the miasma better the Body changes into an appropriate form. That would explain Boost and his nimble forepaws.
But there were limits to Boost. He could not further mutate into something different, as his spirit was not able to hold the Miasma for that. Does it need a kind of trigger?
The only one who has a key for the answer would be Snow, but I would rather take over the Void slime again from the start than taking her apart. She is the only thing I can even mention as Family or Friend in this far away World.
…
“Lord? Is that Snow?”
Ah, Leafy came with tea again. A good timing, as Avas body is rather sore from watching Snow.
“Yes, she changed into something… different. I do not know what happened. Do you know anything?”
She gave me the bark cup and I drink while she thinks. She is rather trembling. Something not right? Snow looks not terrifying at all, so that is not it.
“I am sorry, I know not much about Monsters, just some might become Demons.”
“Demons?”
“Some Monsters change into different things and start rampaging. A Rock Bear once started to spew fire and his body was fully engulfed in molten plates. It did not stop destroying anything in its path before we had to take it down.”
Multi miasmic invasion? Boost hurt pretty bad as a second kind of Miasma was introduced. Is this what happens, when more than one kind takes over? They lose their minds even more? ...But that does not explain Snow, as she seems still only Darkness type.
“Must be something different.”
“She was often in the fields with darkness attribute. Maybe she overloaded?”
“Could be, for now she needs rest.”
Leafy nods but looks worried.
“Do not worry, if she rampages, I will keep her in check.”
“As you wish Lord.”
…
After I forgot how many hours, Snow finally woke up. She has problems standing up and is rather wobbly. It reminds me on how she was, after the fusion experiment. Weak, barely able to move and kind of helpless. This is the repeat of the story.
Carefully I help her up and give her something to drink. Lapping the water out of the bark bowl she starts to shake of the rest of her sleepiness.
The first thing she notices were her front paws who suddenly move differently. Then she starts to move a bit around and tries to familiarize herself with what had happened. Right now she goes me right to my hip.
After understanding how she changed she became the same Snow I knew, first food, then wanting attention. It should be a good idea to let her move around for a bit of workout, so I go out and she follows.
…
It is now three days since Snow changed, and she is rather fit. It looks to me rather, as if she already forgot her torturous transformation and does everything what she did prior again.
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With this I should be able to finally travel again. I need more materials and more Information. Furthermore I would like more things for my place. Feather bedding would be nice, especially for Snow. Leafy sadly does not need anything, as she has her living gazebo to rest inside and nothing interests her in the outside World.
With my backpack filled with some more pelts, cores and new crops I start travel to Telk again. As I do not know how the Chaos in the City of Halk is going I go again to Kilt. It is a bit further, but still more secure.
“Have a good travel Lord.”
“When I am gone I suspect you will get your chance to send your letter. Remember your promises and please keep being honest.”
“That is a matter of course, Lord.”
I nod and start my trip again. The Muscles of Ava are again fresh, but will need rest later on. I should stay a day or two longer this time for easier movement back.
…
Right after I left a Scout sneaks in. It seems he is careful, but I can see everything, if I anticipate the intrusion. Working his way inside (I think is a he, rather hard as he has a leaf in front of the face like a vegan Ninja) he finds Leafy waiting at the Gazebo. This time she is not surprised and starts conversation before giving the Letter.
{Stop sneaking in. You can visit every week and exchange letters, even if the Lord is here.}
{But…}
{No buts. He knows you are here, and allows sending letters. We just taint the relationship with sneaking. Please say those to your superior.}
{...I will. Anything else?}
{Yes, I have written a letter for my Mother. Please deliver it. If any other of my friends and family who knows I am alive wants to write me, please bring their letters to me too.}
{Understood. Farewell.}
With the Letter in hand he vanished the same way he came. He might think he is a Ninja, but right now he is the mailman.
…
“Name and reason visiting?”
Still bored out of their mind those guards…
“Ava, mercenary, selling my findings.”
“One copper.”
What they even do on the front, I do not even understand. They just sit there and let everyone in. As if someone would say ‘Spy McSpyington and stealing precious Information from your Mages’. The only reason is the Money, They get enough out of it to not only fill their pockets, they can eat lavishly without it coming out of their pocket.
Why they ask is only for the rare occasion of someone powerful in front of them. If they slight a Mage, their pay being cut is the least of their problem, as it is likely their head is being cut off.
Whatever, It is just one copper, and I have enough in my backpack.
…
“Where did you get this vegetable?”
Again at the Peddler King I get questioned. It is tedious, but to be honest it helps, rather than going from shop to shop, selling everything separately.
“I know someone, who experiments with mana infusion. He would like to stay anonymous.”
Nodding the this time female assistant looks over the white radish a few times.
“Would you please wait? I need someone who can appraise this plant, as I have no specialty in this kind of magical crop.”
“Of course.”
And she quickly left the room. While waiting I sit on the chair for customers. Mostly it is in and out, so chairs are not needed, but when someone happens like this, then it is better not to offend a valuable buyer or seller.
It took a bit but she comes back with a man in a robe. Assistant mage, it seems and the academical type. To work at the Peddler King as appraisal specialist he might not be from a family with much money.
“And you are saying it came from where?”
“My source wants to be anonymous. I hope you do understand his standing by his products.”
That shut him right up. Normally only Mages dabble in things like magical crops. Those sell for quite good money, although that was only hearsay in the memories of Clarke. I can only hope I get a good price.
“...one large gold per Stone.”
A Stone is really close to Kilo in this world, and gram is pebble. I just translate it in my head right away, otherwise it would be tedious.
“This is acceptable for me.”
“Well, your magical radish weighs four and a half kilo, so it will be Four large Gold and five small Gold. Now to…”
“One Second.”
The apprentice interjects and the assistant reacts.
“Yes?”
“The Order of Kindek will be interested in this vegetable. Please put it on hold for us.”
“Of course.”
Bartering for it even before I sold it. So arrogant…
…
Well this time I got Five large gold Coins and a bit of change. This should be nice, as I do not need anything from the peddler right now. Looking in a Bookshop I find rather many Books about Legends, History and even romantic Novels, but nothing practical, as those are precious.
Searching weapon and armor shops I do not find anything enchanted. The tool shop also does not have anything. I remember Mink bringing the tools for better work, or maybe she was just flaunting. I do not think Mink will answer me that question as she might be right now a tree swaying her branches.
The Potion Shop is on the other tendril a jackpot. Even if I do not know, what they are made of, I can analyze them within my Realm, so it should be a good idea to buy different potions.
…
Healing Potion, Antivenom, Blindness salve, Monster deterrent, anti Diarrhea, smelling salt, Mind clearer and a wart removing tincture. The Potion lady looks quite strangely as I bought such a variety and only one each. This cut deep, as it cost me over one large Gold coin. You could buy a small house or… oh, a slave or two would be nice. They could work on my fields and live freely in my Domain. I would like to know what the high Mana would do to them, as I remember Mana burn was a thing.
Looking around I search for a slaver, but as expected of a Country which does have the least slaves, there are none. I should think of something else while resting and digging the Cistern below the fields further.