Chapter 77: A Team, Meet Sherry!
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake took a moment to meditate now that the immediate threat was dealt with. Making sure to have Harley and Theodore keep a watchful eye on the treeline as he recovered his status.
<span style="font-weight:400">What felt like the blink of an eye for Drake seemed to have been 30 minutes as he was finally broken from his meditation. Theodore lighting rousing him with a shake of his shoulder.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sire, they are gathering further catapults,” Theodore said, bending down to get within eye level of Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“More? I thought we just broke like 20 of them,” Drake replied.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, tis unfortunate to say, but tismendable that they have such a quantity of resources to throw hitherward. This one hast concerns for the rest of the participants in the tutorial,” Theodore reluctantly conceded as he stood straight looking at the gathering of catapults.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake pursed his lips looking out at the gathering as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ehh, I wouldn’t be too worried, there is Bear at Shigure’s, not to mention Shigure himself, though I don’t really know his strength. I’m more worried about what is happening with the rest of the captives… Theo, could you get the people I gathered earlier? I want to get them to work right away. Especially that girl ire, if she isn’t at the gathering go find her please,” Drake ordered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“With all due haste,” Theodore replied, running to the guard tower to make his way down the staircase to the floor.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake watched and considered for a moment that he should have made stairs to the rampart. Making sure Theodore had left his view, he snapped his fingers quickly dropping an earthen staircase behind him forter.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Imbecile…”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Nattoughed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake didn’t reply. Only coughing briefly before sticking his tongue out.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mr. Shot, what are you doing?” Harley asked, her arms hugging her bow.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just um. Tasting the wind.. Bit salty I think,” he chuckled, earning him a mental kick from Natto.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I think they''re about to try again..” Tom said sheepishly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then you best put that shield up. If anything happens to Harley, you won''t be just dealing with me, but another mage that can gopletely invisible,” Drake teased.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tom began to sweat as he pushed therge tower shield closer to Harley.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Stop teasing the poor boy. Can you not see he is about to have a heart attack,”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto chided but couldn’t hide her light giggling.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">It will be good for him, bit of bullying might get his ass into gear.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake chuckled inwardly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake quickly refocused as he saw the boulders fly into the air again, after the sounding of another Goblin Horn. Returning his mask back into ce, he again snapped his fingers this time opting for burning red magic circles to save on his resources for his spell.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Sagitta Magica,”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> he began again in a low voice, the circles ring to life as fires pooled into balls in front of them, “<em><span style="font-weight:400">Convergentia Ignis,” </em><span style="font-weight:400">Drake continued, changing the chant slightly, the fires turning to blue as they condensed, “<em><span style="font-weight:400">Infinitus!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> he shouted as the spells screeched into the air colliding with their earthen counterparts, then quickly outpacing the amount the catapults were able to fire.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I love that I don’t actually know Latin and can use that, Negi you really are one hell of a teacher!” Drake said jubnt.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Is he not 10? How does that work?</em><span style="font-weight:400">” Natto asked.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Not sure but you know. Anime.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought dismissively.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Negi?” both Harley and Tom asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, it’s just from a show I know… Don’t worry about it,” Drake said, his ears turning a slight shade of red. Thankfully his mask covered up his reddening face for the most part.
<span style="font-weight:400">Natto giggled. “<em><span style="font-weight:400">Finally, I say again. People who do not understand your idiotic references.”</em>
<em><span style="font-weight:400">That’s harsh.. Anime is my lifeblood you know!</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake protested.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Yes but that doesn’t change that you are cringe beyond belief!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto replied.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake sighed, not able to argue. Instead dropping down once again, beginning to meditate.
<span style="font-weight:400">This time Drake wasn’t roused by Theodore, but instead the conversing of multiple people that slowly came into focus as he came out of his meditation.
<span style="font-weight:400">“- is he going to wake up?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“He’s just sitting there…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can hear you, you know,” Drake said, cracking an eye open to see a few more people than he was expecting. Nine in total.
<span style="font-weight:400">Looking at the group he could see Amir, ire, Hudson, Theodore, Tom, Harley and thest of the people he had decided to bring in, Sherry.<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Sherry was a special individual that Drake was looking forward to seeing grow. She stood at about 5 foot 2 and had a short side bob cut wearing sses that were cracked on the left lens.
<span style="font-weight:400">In addition to all of them, two more had appeared that he wasn’t expecting to see for some more time, but better now than never.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Miss Chelsea and Miss Jacqueline… How wonderful of you to barge in and decide to join us..” Drake said sarcastically, stealing a nce at Theodore.
<span style="font-weight:400">“This one apologizes, my Lord, but thy insisted that thee wished to make amends,” Theodore said, bowing.
<span style="font-weight:400">“For what? Trying to entrap me? Trying to guilt trip me into helping them? Insulting my morals or insulting my intelligence?” Drake said, smiling at the two.
<span style="font-weight:400">Both winced as they heard the list.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We plead guilty to everything but the entrapment,” Chelsea said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, I didn’t even get to speak long enough to try to do that one,” Jacqueline added, earning a re from Chelsea, “My bad… guess I’m still shook up from the cannon fire earlier.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake wanted to snap at them but couldn’t waste time.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m very busy, what do you want? If it’s an apology I don’t want or need it. There are far too many things going on around the oupost right now for me to care enough,” Drake said, standing up.
<span style="font-weight:400">Chelsea looked like she wanted to say something, but held herself back, taking a moment to think before speaking.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-We want to help. We’re willing to do anything we can to help,” Chelsea began, resulting in a raised eyebrow from Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And in exchange?” Drake probed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Chelsea bit her lip, “Only when you think the Outpost is safe enough. Then I’ll ask.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake put his arm to his chin and mulled over whether he should allow them in on his n or not.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Natto, how much will two more people burden my experience?</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">It is negligible with the amount you kill, also with the addition of Amir they should counteract each other even with a party of ten,” </em><span style="font-weight:400">she exined.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">What exactly is the distribution for the experience then? It doesn’t make sense that that many people wouldn’t be a detriment to the experience gain.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Experience is not quantifiable in the sense you are imagining. Each individual will receive a different amount depending on a number of factors. Whether that be the amount they contribute to defeating said monster, or their ss orientation, rarity, skills affecting their gains or individual Rank and Race. There are many things that are put into it, but for the cut and dry it very much so will be about even. Monster or defeated persons experience is not a whole being split but an individual''s gain of their own pool of experience from the interaction and conclusion,” </em><span style="font-weight:400">Natto exined.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">That’s very helpful. So what you meant by negligible is that it won’t affect me as much because I am the one doing all the heavy lifting, huh…</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought.
<span style="font-weight:400">Somehow Drake could hear a very faint pping inside his head that ended the conversation.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm,” Drake hummed, “What about my arm?” Drake asked evenly, looking at Jacqueline.
<span style="font-weight:400">She squirmed slightly under Drake’s gaze but turned to Chelsea for guidance before answering. But Drake didn’t miss the look. And after a seemingly quick exchange Jacqueline answered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m thankful for what you’ve done for us. All of us, yeah?” she said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“But?” Drake added, beginning to be annoyed by the roundabout answers once again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“But, Chelsea and I. We had a previous group, and they are being held against their will, even some poor bastards not even knowing the mad shit happening right under their snot filled noses,” she continued, “And we want to help them before it’s toote. So… even, yeah? You save them and I’ll heal your arm, square?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake bit the inside of his lip, and then moved his mask to reveal his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Giving Jacqueline an even stare, he looked deeply into her eyes, making sure to glean any subtle changes in her expression as he asked his question, “Are you sure that’s it? I have a sinking feeling there is more to that story that you are not telling me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jacqueline gazed back at Drake for a few breaths before she turned to Chelsea, Drake’s eyes following.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well?” he asked again, this time directing it at Chelsea.
<span style="font-weight:400">Chelsea shivered slightly under his eyes, her body remembering theirst interaction by the gravesite.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Th-there is more… but please let me exin it in more detail once this ce is safe! I know it was selfish to ask in the way I did earlier… I was desperate an-and I’m in a rush to just get there quic-!” she began pleading before Drake raised his hand stopping her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake broke his gaze and looked back towards the forest, sure of the Goblins regrouping being imminent. Nevertheless he mulled over the offer, taking into ount how likely it was to find someone other than Jacqueline to heal his arm within the tutorial, where priests were raremodity already.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">I’m going to go with it. I need my arm healed and they seem to be reflecting on their earlier behavior finally.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought, internally shaking his head. <em><span style="font-weight:400">It really does feel almost like having children.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought, sighing.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">It is not like I can stop you, do as you wish, even if I do find it idiotic,” </em><span style="font-weight:400">Natto said also sighing
<span style="font-weight:400">“That''s enough, I''ll ept, but only because you asked so nicely. And I’m a sucker for people crawling back when they know they''ve done something wrong,” Drake said sarcastically, a grin creasing his face, as both women’s faces turned to scowls but stayed silent not wanting to argue, “Then all of you. Wee to the A Team! First order of business,” Drake shouted his hand up in the air, then feeling awkward with not having two hands to emote, snapped another earthen arm into existence, then continued, “Is for a little exercise in trust! Let me introduce, Sherry!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake moved next to the woman, cing a gentle pat on her shoulder as she gazed back at the group of people now looking at her, with little interest.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I just want more food, bro,” Sherry said looking up to Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bringing his hand to his head Drake sighed, “God damn it, I have another Natto…” he whispered, but received a mental jab from Natto.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">I do not act like that!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> she shouted.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake rolled his eyes, then quickly addressed Sherry.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, yes. I will prepare you some more food once the <em><span style="font-weight:400">massive</em><span style="font-weight:400"> fucking armies are dealt with ok?” Drake grumbled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Cool beans bro,” Sherry replied, giving two thumbs up, her expressionless face slowly curling only the edges of her mouth slightly.
<span style="font-weight:400">If Drake had not been watching her he would have missed it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Isn’t she just a bundle of energy gov’” Jacqueline said, her hand going to rest on her hip.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Herck of sunlight, cortisol and B12 intake is of no concern. What matters here, is Sherry’s ss and what we are going to be doing with such a unique, wonderful, caring, totally not life threatening skill!” Drake said, quickly deflecting.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My Lord what ss wouldeth that be?” Theodore chimed in.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sherry,” Drake said, giving the woman another pat, her sses sliding down her nose, “Is a Pactmaker! And you''re all going under magical contract!” Drake shouted, grinning.