“Despite the memory loss, me hiring you was the best decision I think I’ve made, son,” Madam Madrid commented, having waited for the last customer to leave. “I assume you’re done with the cataloging?” A Nod. “Good. Give me that list and I’ll come up with a decision on what we want to add.” Roge grinned at this, handing over the piece of paper before looking around the shop.


    “Leave the stocking to me today son, you’ve deserved a bit of a break.” Checking the time, Roge nodded at the statement, it having taken him a good hour to list all of the traits.


    “Works for me, I have another experiment I wanted to work on.” Madam Madrid only raised an eyebrow at that and waved him to go back. He grinned back and quickly headed to his experimental plot, eyes focusing on the vines he had set up off to the one side, as well as the venus flytraps he’d set up next to them.


    Creeper Vine Rank 2


    Abilities: Cling(1), Strangle(2)


    Status: Healthy Sprout (10/10)


    Venus Flytrap Rank 2


    Abilities: Munch(1), Sensing(2)


    Status: Healthy Sprout (9/10)


    Roge noded at both descriptions, his eyes snagging on the new addition to the Status but decided to ignore it. He blew out his customary cloud of Magic at the venus flytrap, not having to go through the rigmarole of funneling his Magic as he lets the skill do the work. No need to focus anymore to do it, which had interesting combat applications, in his opinion. He then focused on the task at hand, wanting to do something more complex than just adding a trait from one plant to another, rather fusing the two plants. He wasn’t sure it was possible, but that didn’t stop him from trying.


    Focusing on the venus flytrap, he sucked the magic out of it, the whole thing withering in a matter of seconds. No trait notifications popped up, which Roge hoped was a good sign. Next he looked at the creeper vine, visualizing exactly what he wanted. Thicker vines, ones with grabbers on the end that could stick to any surface. Growing, shrinking, and launching at will. Grappling Vine is the name that instantly springs to mind, the idea flowing out of his muzzle along with the Magic and saturating the creeper vines.


    Nothing seems to happen for almost a minute, Roge feeling more and more disappointed as not even the Status changed to anything different. With a sigh, he blew more growing magic on the vines and hoped they would at least look nice enough that he could sell them as decorations. I also need to buy more flytraps. At least I can upgrade them for pest cont…


    His musing cut off instantly as the vines shot out at him, the dragon reflexively shielding his chest with his arms. A pained cry escaped his maw as the vines dig deep into the scales, drawing blood that strangely doesn’t fall to the floor. Instead the vines look like they drink it, Roge’s nausea growing as the vines almost Slurp into his arms, dropping to the floor and puking as they wriggle under his skin.


    He laid on the floor breathing heavily for what felt like hours, feeling the vines shifting more under his skin as Madam Madrid finally arrives. Probably not more than a minute then, his panicking mind thought, his breathing slowing as he feels the vines stop. They’re not gone though… He looked at his arms carefully, ignoring Madam Madrid’s voice in favor of feeling his arms with his hands. Claws? Whatever… They looked normal on the outside, minus the not bleeding holes in his skin and the almost magical rate of healing. On the inside though, he could feel the vines creeping inside his muscles, one more bit of pain as they grow through his wrist and wrap around it.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Magic Grappling Vine Rank 2


    Abilities: Rapid Extension (1), Grapple(1), Parasitic(2)


    Status: Sickly Sprout (5/10)


    Parasitic Rank 2: This plant sustains itself off of the flesh of a host, gaining energy from the host’s metabolism. If low on energy, it will instead eat fat, followed by muscle, draining its host of life if they cannot feed it. Doubles number of calories needed per day.


    Never alone. Got it,” he muttered, the vines finally stopping their creepy movement in his arms long enough for him to focus on the room. At that he flinched again, finding that Madam Madrid was not the only person in the room.


    Of course that goes without saying that if you used a Spell to make that, you’re going right to jail,” the cleric stated, giving Roge the stink eye. Standing just over sex foot, the hawk-like face always gave him the chills, looking like someone took a bird’s head and smashed it on a mostly human body. The red and black feathers somehow clashed with his white and gold robe, Roge always unsure how he always looked like a walking fashion disaster.


    Of course Paul is here… he silently fumed, taking a second to share his Extended Status with the avian. He took the time to change his Class to Draconic Mage (Plant), knowing he’d have access to more Magic and control over the plants. Paul clicked through his Status silently, his feather hands looking almost unnatural as they bend around. “Everything above board officer?” Roge asked as he tried to keep his voice innocent instead of snarky.


    Paul had no problem being snarky himself however, sneering down at the dragon. “For now.” He then cocked his head to the side and Roge has to fight another flinch at the broken looking neck. “You’re going to need to pay if you want to get rid of that infection though. Just because you’re my charge does not mean I do shit for free.” He then briskly walked back out of the greenhouse, leaving Roge to look up at the orc.


    Status being the main contributors to that feeling. He was glad Paul had found no problems with his Skill, having half expected to be arrested on the spot for the Spell-like Skills. The only good thing was him mentioning the infection, Roge glad to know he could simply pay for a healing to get rid of the grappling vines.


    Early lunch for the win…?