[Reward: 6 exp, 3 agility points]
“God dammit that was harder than I thought!”
I tripped so many times the system took pity on me and reduced 2 exp and 1 stat point every 5 fails.
“That’s nothing, you only went through the first forest section, there are like 5 forest sections in total. Not to mention the other courses.”
“Why are you doing this to me, I’m just a baby.”
“Even mama birds kick their babies out of the nest, just learn to fly and you are good.”
“End my suffering.”
“Aw don’t be like that, have a karot!”
[Exp 4]
Stuffing the karot into Tokki’s mouth to shut her up, Noel took her back into the large tree and placed her in the stables.
“I’ve got some errands to run so sit tight and talk to your new friends.”
“You’re just going to leave me here?”
“Yep, you can talk to Daisy or Philip, they can teach you what there is to know in this place.” After pointing out a white frog and a yellow snake with a scar on his eye. The fairy left to do whatever she needed to do.
“Um, hello, my name is Tokki.”
“Hai, I’m Daisy! And this sad noodle is Philip!”
“Sssssshut up.”
“SO! How is the place? You like it? It’s pretty fun! The food is so good, and I only have to move once in a while!”
“Uh, so is there any way to leave this place?”
“Leave? Why would you want to leave? The fairies take care of us and we don’t have to go hunting or have to survive in the food chain. It’s like retirement after you experienced the world.”
“I haven’t experienced the world yet though, I woke up, ran from a fox and then got abducted by that fairy."
"OH! um, well..."
"Sssssso you want to be an adventurer. I ussssssed to be like you before I took an arrow to the eye."
Is that a Skyrim reference?
“I am ssssssecond to none when it comesssss to adventuring. When I wassssss young, I was given an option to become a fairiesssssssss mount, I declined and essssssscaped but wassssss told to find a big rock in Jahera foresssssst if I ever changed my mind. Luckily for you lad, I am experiencccccccccced in everything in this foresssssst, I don’t mind having to anssssssswer a few of your quessssssstionsssssssss.”
“Um, so what was it like outside?”
“Outssssssssside? There is nothing but ferociousssssss beasssssstsssssss, no where isssssss ssssssafe, even I, the pinnacle of common grade animal, have trouble. I tried to break the conssssssstraintssssssss of common grade, yet in my long sssssssearch for a rare herb to evolve I failed and even losssssssst to a human. Thatsssss why I’m here, I became a mount in exchange for a chancccce to evolve.”
“Common grade? So what grade is beyond that why did you need an herb?”
Right so animals evolved every 20 levels, but I forgot to check these two stats when I met them. I need to make this a habit.
---
[Name: Philip Jonessssssss]
[Species: Sssssssssssssssand viper]
[Level: 20]
HP: 228/228
[Strength: 39]
[Vitality: 38]
[Intelligence: 24]
[Agility: 67]
[Charm: 7]
[Luck: 14]
[A predator who roams the desert, beaches, or sea, as explored the entire Jahera forest without dying. Eyes are often used as alchemical ingredients to improve eyesight.]
---
[Name: Daisy Pinut]
[Species: Albino toad]
[Level: 14]
HP: 210/210
[Strength: 34]
[Vitality: 35]
[Intelligence: 17]
[Agility: 47]
[Charm: 20]
[Luck: 4]
[A charming, beautiful toad. Be careful, many male toads fell for her cuteness and got lost when following her. She is horrible with directions.]
---
“Theressssssss 5 gradessssss, the firssssssssssst isssssssss common grade, typical animalsssssssss, then uncommon where the animalsssssss gain a new ability or element.
Next issssssssss rare, where we gain another ability that can empower the firssssssst or gain a sssssecond element.
Then we have epic grade, we can choosssssse to evolve into a new sssssssspeciesssss or become a greater versssssssion of our original sssssspeciessssss. Of courssssssse, many beasssssstssssss choossssse to evolve into a new ssspeciesss but there isssss a higher chancccccccce to fail.
Lassssssstly isssssss legendary, I do not know anything about this grade asssssss few animalsssss have made it, but from ancient ssssssscripturesssssss, they wield immensssssssse power and complete control over their element or ability.”
“What if I wanted to have…” awkwardly glancing at the snake. “a humanoid form?”
“Why would you want lanky legssssssss? Anywaysssss only beasssssssssst kin can sssssssssshapessssssssssshift between animal or humanoid formsssssss.”
“Oh, is there any way for me to become a beast kin?
“No, beasssst kin are unnatural in the firsssst placccce, humansssss are weird.”
“Erm, changing topics, do you have any advice on how I can get fast, er… faster?”
“I got this! Ehum, both of our species are known to hop right? So of course, you need advice from me! Being quicker is not the only way to be faster, you need to be strong as well! Because we don’t run like other animals, each of our hops are filled with tremendous force to propel ourselves forward. SO! Not only will you need to be quick, but you also need to be strong.”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Wouldn’t it make sense to just train is strength then? What’s the use of being fast if you can just be strong?”
“Simple! Only having strength is like being able to jump far but falling face first on the ground, while being agile would allow you to jump but also do many flips and land perfectly. WAIT!”
Hesitating, Tokki cautiously asked “Why are we waiting?”
“Sssssssshessssssss thinking about ssssssssssomething… sssssssssomething that will get usssssss in trouble.”
With a big grin on her face, Daisy finally exclaimed “Since your new here and you never had an adventure, lets tour the town!”
“Eh? We can do that? What about the fairy coming back?”
“Don’t worry, Philip and I have been here for ages, we have permission to go wherever in the town where it is acceptable, as long as we are with you, things shouldn’t go wrong.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why not, it’s not like we are their slaves, we do have animal rights. C’mon, I know a place that has sweet orange fruits!”
Following Daisy to random root on the wall, she hopped and jumped on the root, unlocking a door that was covered in leaves.
“Here, let’s take the root shoot, it’s really fun and I could do this all day except for the fact I have to go up the stairs again. Alright I’ll go first, don’t be a scaredy cat, BYE!”
And with that Daisy jumped into the slide and rolled her way to victory.
“Shouldn’t you go next?”
“Assssss your sssssssenor, I will make ssssssssure you don’t essssssscape, I baby ssssssat sssssssso many new mountssssssss ssssssso don’t make this hard on me.”
“o-ok”
Hopping onto the slide, Tokki fluidly went down the slide.
Ew, why is it so slippery, this is gross, its like snot, am I going out of this tree’s nose? A-ck!
Going through 3 loopy-doops, 8-barrel rolls, and 2 tongue twisters (don’t ask), Tokki crashed into a pile of leaves. If it was merely a leisurely stroll, one might look at the inside of the tree in a daze due to its neon green mushroom lights and vast beauty, however Tokki was going so fast all she saw was green lights flashing like a rave party,
“C’mon, Philip is next and. He. Might. Crash. Into. Youuuuu~”
“W-ww-why are you-u sayi-ing it like t-t-that?” Tokki dizzily replied.
Struggling out of the leaves, Tokki discovered not a single sticky/slippery stuff was left on her fur, in fact it felt as if she just got out of a warm shower.
“Hehe, I like that expression on your face, the slide is the BEST thing about this tree.”
“Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss”
Firing out of the root like an rpg, Philip limply crashed into the leaves.
“Oh god is he okay?”
“Yeah its fine, he usually goes limp during the ride because it gives him a feeling of flying in his dream or whatever.”
“It wasssssn’t a dream, I really did fly!”
“Ignoring him, Daisy brought them out of the shoot area and exited the tree.”
“Why did you say that in third person?”
“Idk felt like it, alright follow me and make sure not to get lost.”
Guiding Tokki and Philip through the forest, they were met with several trees that looked as though houses were built into them.
“This is the residential area; I’m just going to skim over the introduction since this isn’t our destination and I don’t live there, never have, never will.”
Arriving at a bridge, they crossed over the river and moved on to the next area.
“Here this place is designed to look like a human town, it is because once a month, fairies bring guests here to trade since this is a peace ground between beast and humans.”
There were several wooden houses of all sorts of sizes. A house roughly 50 Tokki’s tall was their destination. It had a cobblestone floor and brick chimney with wooden windows giving it a cozy feeling.
*Croak*
After a few moments a voice could be heard on the other side.
“D-daisy? Why are you here? Give me a minute!”
Hearing some shuffling, occasional pan falling, and a lot of yelps, someone opened the door.
“Greetingssssssss.”
“Hi Philip, Hi Daisy, Hi small bunny.”
Opening the door, a small beast-kin wolf girl with a plain shirt and shorts greeted them.
“Why are you guys here? The festival is in a week I think, and we are so busy, brother is in the forest gathering fruits right now.”
“Who says we can only visit during the festival? C’mon, I’m your pal.”
“You only come here for my citrus hot cakes.”
“Right-ehrm, we also want to introduce you to our new mount mate, Tokki!”
“Oh…” looking disappointed and slightly drooling. ”so, she’s not food?”
Filled with her primal instinct roaring, Tokki couldn’t help but panic.
“YOU WANNA EAT ME????? AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” dashing at full speed, Tokki attempted to escape.
With a cold glint in her eyes, the wolf girl couldn’t help herself anymore, she began chasing Tokki on all fours.
“COOOOOOOME HEEEEEEEEEERE!”
“AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”
As if playing with her food, the wolf girl overlapped Tokki several times, making her escape futile to the point Tokki could helplessly run-in circles around the house.
Watching the whole ordeal with amusement, Philip wondered out loud. “Should we tell her everyone is vegetarian here?”
“ah” tripping over herself, Tokki looked at Philip with betrayal, “You COULD’VE TOLD ME THAT! Wait why is she still co-“
Tackling Tokki, the wolf girl snuggled with her.
“Aw she’s so fluffy, I just wanna stuff you in a pillow and sleep on you!”
“AHHHHH SEXUAL HARASSMENT!!!!”
“Found it!” carrying a frying pan with a citrus hot cake on it, Daisy made her getaway.
“Ah you can’t steal that; I was going to save that for brother!”
Freeing Tokki from infinite imprisonment, the wolf girl chases after the frog.
Struggling to comprehend reality, Tokki confusingly said “ugh. Whats her deal?”
“Her name is Ssssssssssssally, ssssssssssshe moved here 6 yearssssss ago because sssssssshe couldn’t make hersssssself eat cute thingssssssss. Ssssssseeing her sssssstarve herssssself, her tribe abandoned her, and her brother, who couldn’t sssssseperate himssssself from her, desssssssperately tried to find a ssssssafe haven for them. I met them on my journey and pointed them in the right direction. Sssssssssssince thissssss place is a neutral zone, eating meat isssssss frown upon, sssssssince animalssssssss have feelingssssssss too, except fissssssh, they are free game.”
“… I can’t believe they abandoned her like that.”
“Ssssssssurvial of the fittesssst.”
*booOom*
Firmly pressing Daisy against the floor, Sally went ahead and grabbed the frying pan.
“Well, I tried.”
“Ehe, you’re never going to be faster than me Daisy.”
Patting the dust from her clothes, Sally turned around and grinned at Tokki.
*shiver*
As expected of a natural born predator, I’m not her match.
“Let’s go inside, I would love to learn more about your friend.”
Entering the building, Tokki looked around.
“It’s like a medieval cottage, except there is a giaNT KITCHEN, HOLY, WHY DO YOU NEED SO MANY KNIVES I THOUGHT YOU WERE VEGETARIAN?”
Lining the walls like decoration, hundreds of knives are proudly displayed. Ranging from butterknives and butcher knives, to… katanas and great swords. In the middle of the kitchen, dozens of frying pans and pots of all sorts of sizes had different vegetables inside.
“Oh, my brother has a habit of making things, he’s especially fond of making sharp things.”
“Is he a blacksmith?”
“Not exactly, he dabbles in a little bit of everything.”
Sitting at a dinner table, she pushed some dishes aside to make room for her guests.
“So, what do you guys want? I will happily accept our new friend’s eternal love and devotion if that’s up for grabs.”
“That isn’t up for grabs, or is it?”
“it’s not”
“It’s not, so anyways, I don’t actually have a reason to be here, I was just craving some hot cakes and used the excuse to show Tokki around to get here.”
…
…
…
“So, can we have some?”
“NO! these are for big brother, you can have the failed ones, there are still in the… oven… I FORGOT TO TAKE THEM OUT!”
Rushing towards a wooden box, Sally opened the ‘oven’ and hot steam came pouring out. Inside were two perfectly golden, orange hot cakes.
“Oh no, it’s ruined.”
“It looks good to me?”
“Use your nose!”
Sniffing at the hot cakes, Tokki grimaced. It smelt like burnt popcorn.
“OH NOO, THE CAKE HAS BEEN RUINED, WE WILL TAKE YOUR BURDEN AND TAKE THE CAKE ELSEWHERE TO FREE YOU OF THE STENCH!”
“Oh, thank you Daisy, ill give you a hotcake next time when its not ruined, I’m so sorry.”
“NO WORRIES, YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY US BACK, WE ARE MERELY DOING THIS OUT OF THE PASSION OF OUR HEARTS!” Glancing at Tokki, Daisy muttered something in a hushed voice. “Tokki, help me grab the other one, quick!”
Hurriedly grabbing the hotcake, the trio said their goodbyes and retreated under the bridge.
“What just happened? I’m so confused, I feel like everything happened to fast for me to comprehend.”
“AHAHAHA, WE STRUCK GOLD!”
“I can’t help but feel we just stole candy from a baby.”
“Thatsssss exactly what Daissssssy did.”
“Don’t blame me, I’m just recycling her trash”
“You mean the ruined hotcakes?”
“They aren’t ‘ruined’ THEY ARE PERFECT.”
“It smells like burnt popcorn though?”
“I have never seen anyone burn their corn before, but the smell is NOTHING compared it its taste. Somehow, little Sally has a gift for cooking, only when she does something by accident, when she does something purposeful, the quality falls. So, when she remembers something after she left it burning, left it out in the sun, or drop chemical X, it adds that little flavor that I can’t describe.”
“I alwayssssss felt bad whenever Daisssssy ssssstole sssssso I ssssstopped helping her ssssssteal.”
“AND YET YOU TAKE SOME OF MY HARD EARN CAKE!”
“Sssssssharing issssss caring.”
“Why don’t you guys try to tell her about her amazing cooking skill?”
“We tried but she is always grossed out by the smell.”
“All I could do isssssss tell her to not wasssssste food and let her brother or sssssssomeone elssssse eat it if ssssssshe doessssssn’t want too.”
“ENOUGH!” Daisy was literally drooling a waterfall. “Let’s EAT! Here here, Tokki open wide, here comes the dragon~”
Scooping a handful of hot cake, Daisy stuffed it inside of Tokki’s mouth.
As if time stopped, all Tokki could think about was the hot cake. The way it melted in her mouth, the savory citrus flavor, each chew an explosion of flavor. She was in paradise. And if thunder struck her, she came back tasting the awful bitterness aftertaste.
{Stat points 0->4]
“Oh wow, that tasted heavenly, and bad.”
“You see how ingenious it is? If it was only Eliususly flavored, then everything else would taste like poop, but with the sharp bitterness, it takes you back and allows you to taste normal food without thinking it taste like dirt!”
“Indeed, too much good isssssss a bad thing.”
This is literally food made from the heavens, AND IT GIVES STAT POINTS.
“How much can I eat?”
“Since this is your first time, you can have the entire pan to yourself, hehe.”
“I’ll get one fourth assssss a ssssssilence bribe.”
And with that, the trio enjoyed the hot cakes with tears of joy flowing down their eyes.
[Stat points 4->37]