《The Undead Porter》 Prologue: Beginning ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ Every second, an array of colorful lights explodes in the sky above Shaun''s head, making him wince. Occasionally, a stray shot or two slams into the giant, translucent white wall in front of him, causing it to flicker in and out. Shaun shakes his head and blinks furiously. His hands tremble as he holds them out in front of him. On the sleeve of his armor is a badge with a hawk-like symbol embedded into the fabric. ¡°Penny, how much longer!?¡± Shaun shouts through gritted teeth as several shots crash against the wall again. ¡°I don¡¯t think Lilith can hold it off much longer alone!¡± A humanoid figure suddenly rushes in from the side where the wall isn¡¯t present, its long tongue dragging behind it with purple, slimy tentacles outstretched. Barely glancing at the creature, Shaun waves his hand dismissively. ¡®Bam!¡¯ The zombie-like undead slams himself mindlessly against the wall, creating a slight crack on the surface. Up close, it''s a horrifying sight¡ªwhat was once an actual, conscious being; a human. Tentacles now sprout where his arms should be, wiggling and pulsating with every movement. The bottom half of his jaw is missing, the hinges appearing burned off, likely during the turning process that the now mindless creature had endured and lost. ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ As the undead continues his barrage, banging what¡¯s left of his arms against the wall, the tentacles on his body begin to twitch and bend in unnatural ways rapidly. ¡®Crack!¡¯ ¡®Cwrek!¡¯ ¡®Crack!¡¯ The noises made by the tentacles attract several other undead, each with some form of tentacle growth and the same blank, almost soulless look in their eyes. ¡°Penny, how much longer!?¡± Shaun shouts through gritted teeth as several shots crash against the wall. ¡°I don¡¯t think Lilith can hold them off much longer alone!¡± ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ Finally finishing off her opponent, Penny turns to see several undead starting to surround them. The blonde takes a deep breath as a blue, mist-like energy flows along her arms. ¡°We need to hold out until Yisk is done,¡± Penny says coldly as the blue mist begins to take the shape of pistols. ¡°The process is complicated, he said.¡± ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ Several of the undead immediately fall to the first series of shots. A few manage to duck in time, their bodies pushed down by the tentacles. ¡°Easier said than done,¡± Shaun snaps before taking a deep breath. ¡°Just because these Essevians are mindless doesn¡¯t make them any less dangerous. We¡¯re lucky they haven¡¯t sent in ones that are higher tier.¡± Penny¡¯s eyes light up with neon blue as she turns her gaze toward a pile of debris. ¡°He says to give him five more minutes.¡± Shaun can¡¯t help but roll his eyes, a rare display for the usually calm and patient soldier. He briefly glances back at Penny, giving her a look through narrowed eyes. As the battle continues, Shaun¡¯s face slowly turns pale, and sweat begins to trickle down his back. ¡®BAM!¡¯ Shaun swivels his head just in time to see a tsunami of dirt raining down on the walls he¡¯s using as shields. The dirt and debris gradually slide down the surface of the walls, revealing a gigantic hole in the ground where another woman with blonde hair lies. The woman has two black horns sprouting from the top of her head. Her skin is an almost sickly white, except for her arms. From the mid-length to the tips of her fingers, her arms have a blackened, somewhat charred, metal-like appearance. Her nails are sharp, pointy claws that resemble miniature daggers. ¡°Ugh,¡± the woman groans as she rubs her temples. ¡°And to think I dressed up this morning.¡± ¡°Lilith!¡± Shaun shouts, almost dispelling the shields completely. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Lilith slowly shakes her head with a tired smile on her face. As she starts to get up, two comically large wings become visible on her back. ¡°You should see the other guy,¡± Lilith says, slowly approaching them. ¡°I give Serena quite the runaround before one of the almighty commanders finally comes down and takes the phony out herself.¡± Lilith winces, suddenly grabbing her right shoulder. ¡°Seems like the little suck-up manages to piss Beatrice off this time.¡± ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ More Essevians fall from Penny¡¯s shots, a few dragging themselves along the ground. ¡°BEATRICE!!¡± Penny shouts as she blasts another Essevian. ¡°God fucking damn it! Great, just fucking great! What happened to Fortilux? Is he still functional?¡± Lilith narrows her eyes before rolling them; the demoness¡¯ black wings briefly twitch at their tips. ¡°No, idiot. You think that pitch-black, soulless commander would let him live?!¡± ¡°Beatrice swallowed up that animated armor¡¯s core, alright,¡± Lilith scoffs, turning around to stab her hands through an Essevian. ¡°He¡¯s deader than the cold, lanky fingers of my mother.¡± At the mention of Fortilux¡¯s fate, Shaun¡¯s shoulders briefly deflate. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up, Shaun. It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Lilith says as the Essevian claws wildly at her arms, more alive than it ever was in its entire short existence. ¡°If it makes you feel any better, he wasn¡¯t really alive. He¡¯s just animated armor.¡± As Lilith yanks her hand out, a pulsating, vibrant sphere¡ªalmost cloudy in shape¡ªclutches between her fingers. The Essevian opens its mouth jarringly wide as its eyes flicker up and down. All the tentacles along the undead¡¯s body writhe and convulse before its host finally falls down for the last time. Satisfied with her work, Lilith turns around to face Shaun. Holding up one of her fingers, the demoness lightly taps against the transparent wall. ¡®Tud!¡¯ ¡®Tud!¡¯ Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The wall briefly flickers in and out of existence, its presence hanging by a thread as it takes on a more misty look. ¡°Mind not tapping on the wall, Lilith?¡± Shaun grunts as red liquid slowly trickles from the corner of his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can handle you right now.¡± He tries to give a slight smirk before flailing his arms around to readjust the weakening shield. Not responding to Shaun¡¯s jest, the demoness twitches the back end of her wings and turns her head to Penny. ¡°Penny,¡± Lilith says with a dark glint in her eyes. ¡°How long did you have Shaun hold the shields up?¡± ¡®Bang! ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ Putting her guns down, Penny watches as several undead creatures fall. Despite being shot so many times that their cloudy, mist-like essence shows through their bodies, a few continue to drag themselves forward. ¡°This is going to be really difficult, creating enough light asura with just my own,¡± the woman hisses before letting out a string of curses. ¡°Fortilux is the only one who has enough affinity to create it consistently.¡± The blue guns in Penny¡¯s hands quickly dissipate, transforming into a blue mist that flows down her legs. Raising her left leg, the woman swiftly brings it forcefully down. ¡®Bam!¡¯ The sound seems to reverberate across the floor, causing it to shake as crystal-like ice spreads from her feet. Like a rushing tsunami, the ice overtakes any surrounding dirt, soil, or anything it touches. A few unlucky Essevians who can¡¯t get away are encased in ice crystals from the inside out. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Penny says, nudging a large piece of debris aside to reveal a large hole. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time.¡± Without waiting for a response, Penny jumps into the hole, her body immediately plunging into the darkness. Lilith and Shaun stare at the hole before turning to each other. One looks annoyed, bordering on furious, while the other appears tired, almost drained. Shaun sighs and lets his hands fall at his sides. The transparent shields immediately fall away, collapsing as they begin to dissipate into the air. As Shaun does so, he slightly stumbles forward. Reacting quickly, Lilith catches him with one arm. ¡°You need to rest after this¡ªno buts.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just¡ª¡± Before the man can argue further or say anything, Lilith rushes toward the hole and jumps down, bringing him with her. As they freefall toward the ground below, the demoness stretches out her wings slightly, slowing and smoothing their descent. Once they¡¯re mere inches from the floor, Lilith gently sets Shaun on his feet before landing herself. On the ground, they see that Penny has already gone ahead. Shaun and Lilith share a look before wordlessly following Penny. ¡°This is going to set us back,¡± Penny mumbles, continuing without seeming to notice¡ªor perhaps not caring about¡ªthe two behind her. ¡°Fortilux is supposed to be the one who gets sent back. Now what are we going to do with him dead?¡± ¡°Worry less about that stupid plan of hers and more about the ones still alive,¡± Lilith whispers to Shaun, her wingtips twitching. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s a reason all the members of your old main team are killed.¡± Shaun immediately elbows Lilith in the stomach. Rubbing the sore spot, Lilith glances at Shaun. ¡°What? I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Did you really have to bring them into it?¡± Shaun whispers back. ¡°Besides, Penny isn¡¯t that bad.¡± ¡°You think this plan of hers is going to work?¡± Lilith questions, gazing at Penny¡¯s back with crossed arms. ¡°That it¡¯s not a total waste of time?¡± ¡°Well¡­I mean, time traveling is kind of...¡± Shaun trails off, letting his words hang in the air. "Maybe it''s not one of her better plans..." Penny suddenly stops in front of a doorway, waiting until the door slides open before cautiously peeking her head inside. After a moment, she quietly enters with Lilith and Shaun on her heels. Inside is what appears to be a fully equipped lab. Multiple white counters are cluttered with tools haphazardly scattered about. One wall is covered in several blueprints tinged blue, bearing detailed plans of an unknown machine, with indecipherable scribbles scrawled across them. The opposite wall displays newspaper clippings pinned to its surface. Thick black wires snake across the floor, connecting to the strange contraption outlined in the blueprints. The machine features several metallic plates at its base, ending in a swirling pattern, with a large plastic circle at its center. Two giant, nozzle-like guns hang from the ceiling, their wires protruding and hooked up to various terminals on the mainframe. A human-snake hybrid darts around the machine, tinkering with the plastic circle. ¡°You¡¯re back early,¡± the hybrid says, not looking up from his work. ¡°This machine isn¡¯t finished.¡± ¡°Then hurry up, Yisk,¡± Penny snaps as she moves toward one of the counters. ¡°Beatrice and the others have broken through the last of our defenses. All three of us are too drained of our asuras to keep going.¡± A small, square-shaped portal opens beside Penny the moment she flickers her hand. Darkness covers the inside of the portal, giving off the feeling of endless depth. Penny places her hand inside the portal and pulls out several crystals, each with different sizes and colors. Seeing this, Yisk slides down from the machine and slowly approaches Penny. ¡°Those crystals should be enough for me to activate the machine. There will be a lot of problems, though. We¡ª¡± ''Bang!'' Everyone suddenly goes quiet as the lights flicker ominously, plunging the room into complete darkness. A tremor ripples through the lab, causing several items on the counters to crash to the floor. Penny stomps her foot on the ground, covering the floor in her asura. Instantly, the smooth ceramic surface transforms into ice with jagged edges. ''BAM! The lab door crashes against the shield, crumbling uselessly to the ground as a small bomb flies through the entry and lands on the floor. ''Boom!'' The explosion creates multiple cracks in Shaun''s shield, nearly pushing him and Penny back, while Lilith remains unaffected. The hybrid heaves himself off the floor and continues typing into the computer''s mainframe. Energy crackles from the machine''s base to the two guns hanging from the ceiling. Intricate glowing strings stretch from the nozzles, weaving into bright balls of energy that pulse and converge at the center. ¡°With the amount of energy we have, I¡¯ll need to adjust the time we¡¯re traveling back to,¡± the hybrid blurts as another impact slams into Shaun¡¯s shield. ¡°It decreases the chance of dangerous side effects, but they could still happen.¡± Another bomb is thrown into the room, and time momentarily seems to stop as it falls toward the ground. ''Boom!'' Shaun¡¯s shield shatters from the blast, sending him tumbling to the ground. Lilith rushes toward him as Penny¡¯s asura conjures several translucent blue spears. Essevians burst into the room, only to find the ice covering the floor morphing into sharp, jagged stone heads. ''Puk!'' The stone heads pierce through the chests of two Essevians, their orb-like objects impaled on the sharp ends of the stones. Other undead avoid the danger, hanging from the ceiling with their tentacles. One of them transforms their asura into fire, slowly melting the ice on the floor. The remaining Essevians conjure several asura energy blasts and launch them at the group. Penny deflects the blasts with her spears, stabbing one into an unfortunate Essevian. As Lilith rushes into the midst of battle, she notices how the Essevians around her are different. Unlike the undead from before, these do not have a hazy, almost misty look to them. They appear clear, almost full of life. Additionally, the tentacles act more like extensions of the Essevians'' limbs rather than being in control. ¡°These don¡¯t look like our regular mindless Essevians,¡± Lilith says as she disposes of the one near her. ¡°Looks like Beatrice and her merry band of cavalries are here.¡± Shaun quickly gets to his feet and creates a shield around Yisk, who is frantically typing at the machine¡¯s mainframe. An undead suddenly rushes at him, tackling him from behind and leaving the shield half-complete. Lilith¡¯s eyes flash with surprise before morphing into fury as she tries to run toward them, only to slip on the now-melting ice floor. As Lilith slowly pulls herself up, a black tentacle¡ªcovered in what suspiciously resembles Fortilux¡¯s asura¡ªstabs through her heart. Penny glances at Lilith as she falls, then dodges out of the way as an Essevian launches several daggers at her. Rolling to the side, Penny spots a familiar Essevian within the crowd. The undead¡¯s face is half human, while the other half is skinless. Black tentacles drag behind her on the floor, resembling lifeless meat puppets. ¡°Beatrice,¡± Penny hisses and blasts a ball of energy toward the undead. As the ball of energy speeds toward Beatrice, white sparks can be seen among the misty blue cloud of asura. Turning just in time to see the attack coming, Beatrice grabs a nearby Essevian and holds him in front of her. ¡°What¡ª¡± The sentient Essevian barely manages to utter anything else before the attack lands squarely on his chest. Smoke rises from the cooked Essevian as the pulsating core within his chest gives out one last spin before collapsing. Barely glancing at the undead, Beatrice tosses the corpse aside like garbage. ¡°I trust you lot can handle the rift rafts,¡± Beatrice commands one of the Essevians. ¡°Round up the last of the survivors and escort them outside. We¡ª¡± ¡®Bang!¡¯ A random blast from somewhere in the chaos passes through the unprotected part of the shield, hitting Yisk in the abdomen. He crumbles to the floor like a deck of cards. A misfired ice arrow embeds itself in the machine¡¯s mainframe, causing sparks to fly. The massive energy between the machine¡¯s nozzles wobbles unsteadily. Beatrice¡¯s eyes widen momentarily in fear as she runs toward the computer¡¯s system. Shaun, meanwhile, breaks into a run, scrambling to Lilith¡¯s side. Suddenly, a blast erupts a few feet away from him, propelling him into the swirling ball of energy created by the machine. ''Whiiieeerrr!'' Shaun¡¯s body is instantly engulfed and buried beneath a massive ball of white light. ''Bizzz!'' Beatrice moves a few tentacles in front of her face as sparks continue to fly from the computer. A fire ignites, quickly spreading from one end of the mainframe to the other and consuming it in a blaze. ¡°Get out!¡± Beatrice shrieks, already sprinting toward the door. ¡°It¡¯s going¡ª¡± The Essevians immediately scramble away from the blast, rushing for the door as a flash erupts, engulfing everything in its path in a blinding white light. Chapter 1 The lodge''s warm air feels heavenly against my skin. It chases away the coldness that seeps into my joints. My fingers itch to brush off the last bits of snow clinging to my face. Holding the newspaper close to my face, I look at my surroundings. Many people had separated themselves into individual groups, glancing cautiously at each other. There''s not one face within this crowd who looks remotely friendly; at least they are hostile inside a warm lodge rather than shivering outside in the cold. If they had continued to leave us out there, the ensuing fight following it... A shudder passes through my body, and I furiously shake my head. Apart from the tense atmosphere, everything seems unnervingly peaceful...Okay, what are those tentacles up to? They are usually more...active than this. I prod at the bonds between me and the tentacles, only to slam myself against a wall. A small pinch of pain suddenly appears on my wrist, making me drop the newspaper. What in the world is going on with them? They had been like this for a couple of days. We don''t get along, but they have never completely blocked me. Picking the newspaper up, I retract my grip on the bond. It doesn''t look like they are in the mood to share what''s going on with their behaviors. This is worrying. Are they plotting to wrestle for control when I''m caught off guard? I''ll have to nag them about this later. Lightly shaking my head, I resume scanning the area around me. The wooden walls look somewhat new and lack any visible cracks. Benches are arranged at the front, where many take naps, while at the far end, a path leads deeper inside. That path likely leads to this lodge''s room, where Team 3''s members stay. It sure would be nice to stay here instead for the expedition. Lucky bastards, they even get to be let in first while the rest of us are standing outside, freezing our butts off. ''Creeaak!'' My seat subtly rises underneath me as another weight is added to the empty side of the bench. That doesn''t make sense. Why would anyone want to sit beside an Essevian? Are they going to force me off the bench? I don''t want to give up my seat. My feet are sore after standing outside in the snow for so long. There''s nothing I could do about it. Not if I want to get caught up in some trouble. As I slowly lower the newspaper, I glance out of the corner of my eye. Seated next to me is a short, burly man with white streaks in his hair. Standing beside him is a blueish lizard with crossed arms, who only frowns at the man in annoyance. The reptile does not show his teeth, claws, or other signs of aggression. This is weird. Since when did a lizard man act so casually? He''s not even lashing his tail on the floor. Now that I think about it, why does that man seem so relaxed in the reptile''s presence? "Hey, Iss," The burly man says, pointing to where a group of lizardmen is sitting, "Isn''t your brother a little uncomfortable over there?" The other lizardmen lounged on the benches near the TV, bearing their teeth at any outsiders getting too close. Despite the aggression, some are still attempting to make small talk with them. "Leave," One lizard man from the group hisses at a young man. "We don''t want your kind here." "Well, I was just thinking that maybe some of you would like to join my main team. After the expedition, you might need to join a main team-" "Leave," The lizard man grunts, giving the young man a little shove, "Do not make me repeat myself." The young man immediately scurries off to where the rest of his main team is. Of course, there will still be people talking to those lizardmen. This is a good chance to join or recruit others into your main team with the number of people on this expedition. "Egg is perfectly capable of defending himself, Matthew," Iss grunts, "Besides, those lizards over there aren''t going to hurt him. We are the same kind." Iss swivels his head as the scales along his neck slightly rise. He continues scanning the space around him while rapidly flicking his tongue in and out. "Relax Iss," Matthew harshly pat Iss'' back, "He''s like, I don''t know, an adult in human years. I''m pretty sure he''ll be fine." "He''s a young adult, but, no, that''s not what I''m worried about," Iss glares at Matthew, "Travis-" <> The TV blares as a green lizard man slowly gets up from his bench. <> Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The reporter is quickly cut off when the lizard man presses a button on the TV, changing to a different channel. Someone marches to the reptile, completely red in the face. "What gives you the right to change the channel?" The man grunts, reaching for the TV''s button, "I was watching that." "I have every right to what I want, just as I got the right to be here. " The lizard hisses, smacking the man''s outreach hand, "If you don''t like it, stand over there with the rest of your posse. This isn''t the corner for your kind." "Watch what you say," The man clenches his fist, "My kind wasn''t the one who murdered the innocent." The lizard straightens his back, flaring the two ruffs on either side of his face. "So what?" He hisses at the man, "Your kind wasn''t completely innocent either." "Hey, c''mon, fellas," Matthew gets in between them, "We''re all friends here, not some comedy sitcom. We are teammates until the end of this expedition. " Blinking my eyes several times, I brought a hand to my forehead. Is it possible that I am coming down with something? How did he even get over there without me noticing? The man leans near Matthew''s face, his mouth open to speak. "I-" He suddenly pauses as a shiver runs through him, then hastily backs away from Matthew, retreating to the safety of his friends. "Now, isn''t that better?" Matthew grins, causally throwing an arm over Iss'' shoulder. "So, h-" The green lizard glares at Matthew before turning his attention to Iss, specifically at the arm on his shoulder. "We can handle ourselves. One human isn''t enough to ruffle our scales," The lizard grunts, "We don''t need your fake sense of righteousness." "Ah, welp, if that''s all," Matthew points to somewhere in the crowd, "Excuse us since we''re leaving. We have someone waiting for us." With that, Matthew takes Iss''s hand and leads him away from the group of reptiles. ''Kling!'' ''Klack!'' ''Kluk!'' Metal circles from the ceiling and floor pop out, gradually extending toward each other until they connect. ''Whirrr-!'' A flash of light pops into existence in a swirling vortex of blue mist. From the portal emerge two women, an ogre, and several people trailing behind, carrying various machinery. One of the women slowly ascends to the air with her body enveloped in golden asura. Finally! I thought they might call off the expedition. I can''t afford for them to cancel this last minute. The amount of money I have left is barely enough for a few days'' stay at a motel. That''s to account for the food and everything. It would not have been enjoyable to try and book a different one. Annoying, It''s extremely difficult! Especially ones that are as accommodating as this guild but doable. I fold the newspaper and put it in my pocket as I stand up. Walking closer to the slowly gathering crowd under the hovering woman, I narrow my eyes. That woman isn''t one of the leaders assigned to this expedition. I wasn''t informed of this. Why did the guild decide to do a replacement without telling anybody? "Lilith!" The woman, a brunette, hisses, her voice slightly amplified. "What are you doing?! Get down from there!" "It''s fine, Penny," The woman hovering in the air says, waving her hand dismissively. "A little bit of flair never hurt anybody." Lilith? The famous high-rank asura user of Aequitas? Why did her guild assign her to this expedition? This dungeon is below her pay grade. "We''re indoors and on guild properties, Lilith," Penny berates. "No one is allowed to use their asuras inside, especially for hovering in the air, unless the situation calls for it." Lilith seemingly ignores Penny and turns toward the crowd below her. "Sorry for the delay. We have been experiencing some difficulties ever since the surge of asura. For a lot of you, time is important," Lilith says, tossing her back, "So, thanks for deciding to wait for us a little while longer." Murmurs run through the crowd, and everyone around me glances at each other. Some glare tiredly at Lilith but keep their mouth shut. I doubt anyone here will decide to leave, even if they are later than this. Though I expect a higher standard of professionalism as they are The Aequitas Guild, their treatment of mercenaries is better than most, especially when compared to main teams. Additionally, the amount of money this guild offered also helped. "Quick words of caution before we enter the dungeon," Lilith holds a hand near her mouth, badly covering a yawn, "This is an unstable dungeon, a D rank one but still a D- nonetheless. Its asura can change at the drop of a hat, so exercise caution or whatever." "Lilith..." Penny draws out warningly. I may have heard plenty of things regarding Lilith, but it didn''t prepare me for the real deal. She''s a lot more... nonchalant than I expected. "Alright, I got it already," Lilith groans, "Now, where was I? Oh, right. We will depart shortly, so please gather around your assigned leader for this expedition." She gestures toward Penny and the ogre. "Penny is for team 2, Nogud is 3, and I''m 1. That is all, thank you." Lilith brushes a hand through her rich, honey-blond hair. She wears a high-collar white blouse and corset-style harness cinched around her middle, paired with a knee-length frilly skirt. Silver armor pieces adorn the shoulders of her sleeves and pants. She sure loves wearing white for someone who is usually involved in dungeons. Two blackened arms are held to the sides as fluid trickles down. Wide, predatory eyes stare unblinkingly while a smile slowly forms. White clothes are drenched in blood from the unfortunate victims around her. Jolting in place, I vigorously shake my head and immediately take a few steps back. What just happened? I don''t remember this ever happening. This is the first time I met her personally. Rubbing my eyes a couple of times, I stare at Lilith while continuing to back up. Her lightly tanned arms are held close to her eyes, where she examines her nails. Lightly tanned arms. I must be more tired than I thought. There''s no way that- Something slams into me from behind, and I swiftly whirl around to face the offender. It''s a man wearing a black robe with a hoodie that covers most of his face. "Sorry," The hooded man apologizes, "I didn''t see you there. Are you alright?" "It''s fine," I say, relaxing my shoulders, "No harm done." Weird, why do I feel like I have heard his voice before? The man''s shoulders tense, and he grabs his hood, pulling it down further on his face. What''s with his reaction? Should I be suspicious? No, calm down. Don''t jump to conclusions. No one here knows who you are. No scheming students are looking to stab you in the back or trying to twist your words. You''re far away from the academy and Crystal Blossom City. "My name is Shaun," The hooded man says, holding a hand out, "And you are?" I peer at the offering hand before taking it into my own. "Beatrice," I say, shaking his hand, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Chapter 2 "Beatrice," Shaun says, "It''s nice to meet you as well." He gently turns my hand, tracing the outline along the glove. "Isn''t it a bit difficult to move your fingers with these?" His teeth grind together as he offers a forced smile. Frowning, I slowly retract my hand from his grip. Ah, he must be one of the Essevian dissenters. I find myself among them too, though ironically. "I mostly wear them for the aesthetic," I say, crossing my arms. "It''s a bit challenging to move my fingers, but not a hindrance." Many already find my face unsettling, not to mention the tentacles on my back. It''s best not to draw attention to my right hand as well. Besides, wearing gloves is commonplace in my line of work. As Shaun turns toward Lilith, his movement causes part of the hood to lift, revealing glimpses of red hair. "This isn''t how the event was supposed to unfold," Shaun mutters, his thumb near his mouth. "She wasn''t meant to be on this expedition." Who wasn''t supposed to be here? Lilith? His demeanor and words hint at something sinister. Everything about Shaun so far is unsettling; I need to find a way to distance myself from him. "Sorry to cut this short, but" I point towards Penny, "I need to go meet my leader for Team 2." Shaun snaps his head back, and a green glow briefly hovers on his robe before quickly dissipating. Goosebumps rise on my skin as I feel unseen eyes piercing my soul. "Oh, what a coincidence," Shaun chirps, clapping his hands together. "I''m part of Team 2 as well." "Wow, what a pleasant surprise!" I smile while walking away. "Mind telling me what roles you signed up for on the expedition?" How unpleasant. This must be a cruel joke. I don''t want to be anywhere near this man. He''s setting off alarm bells in my head. "I''m one of the team''s shields," he says casually, walking beside me. "As an inexperienced newbie, I hope to learn from my seniors and help my guild." "Wow, you were recruited by a guild? Congrats!" I say as I approach Penny''s location. "That''s quite an achievement!" He must have been recruited separately, as I don''t see anyone else who could be part of his main team. Shaun''s body jolts, and his shoulders tenses. "Oh, right, I was recruited," he says quickly. "It was earlier than I had expected." Raising an eyebrow, I turn to look at him. Shaun avoids my gaze and peers at a passerby. What''s with his reaction? Is he lying about being recruited by a guild? Turning away from him, I slowly shake my head. It''s not surprising, considering adventurers frequently fabricate such tales. Some have even gone as far as falsely claiming to be recruited by the Aequitas guild. While that guild may have lower standards for hiring expedition members, their recruitment process is typically rigorous. As we near Penny''s location, Shaun fidgets with his fingers. "So," Shaun draws out, "What''s your role in the expedition?" "A porter," I answer, frowning. "I carry things that others found or hunted on this expedition." Shouldn''t it be obvious what my role on the expedition is? I''m an Essevian. I wouldn''t be in this position if it weren''t for those tentacle parasites. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable," Shaun apologizes. "It just feels unbelievable that someone like you does this." Passing by a humanoid fish, Penny and some members of Team 2 come into view. "Right," I look over to where the other porters stand. "It''s been nice talking to you, Shaun, but I need to join them."
Waving a polite goodbye to him, I begin heading towards the rest of the porters. "Chirp!" Something squeaks behind me. "Chirp!" Peering behind me, I see Shaun waving with one hand and clutching part of his robe with the other. Swiftly, he turns around and strides toward a group of humans. I hope I won''t have to interact with him much during the expedition. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
''Clink!'' ''Clank!'' The dungeon''s massive iron gates are closed shut, barring entry or exit. Countless scratch marks and dried, bloody handprints mar the metal''s surface. Nearby lies a small pile of broken bone fragments. Turning away from the scene, I follow behind my temporary teammates. Some of the human porters give me suspicious looks, their eyes brimming with fear. Right, I''m an Essevian now. I keep forgetting that. It''s strange to be glanced at suspiciously, not because of my asura. We proceed in silence, occasionally glancing at rodents scampering nearby. Clusters of moss cling to the rocky walls, some adorned with tiny flower buds. The temperature gradually rises as thick, pungent vegetation scents fill the humid air. ''Ffffssh!'' Water spouts out of a fissure in the distance, assaulting my senses with the scent of rotten eggs. The asura around me presses against my body in a constricting but tolerable hug. The person in front of me abruptly halts, and I quickly stop, barely avoiding bumping into him. Stepping to the side, I peer over his shoulder and catch sight of several tunnels ahead. Penny is talking to someone unseen; their conversation is inaudible from my vantage point. "We''ll be heading inside this tunnel," Penny gestures toward the middle one, her voice amplified. "Watch your step and stay on guard." Different glows of asuras slowly form around several of my teammates'' bodies. A few channel some of it into their weapons of choice. Penny and several other head in first, prompting the rest to file in. I quickly follow the person ahead of me. As we advance, a sudden hunger prickles from the bond''s tentacles. Oh, so now they decide to open their side of the bond. Damn parasites. Opening my side of the bond, I sent out a questioning prompt. Images of pork dishes flood into my mind, almost causing me to stumble. After staying in stony silence and completely blocking me for several days, the first thing they do is bombard me with pictures of food. Couldn''t we have done this before entering the dungeon? This isn''t the time or place for eating. I send them a firm refusal, then slow my pace. I''m met with several resignations and acceptances in response. One, however, is furious and lashes out at me. Recoiling from the pain, I grit my teeth. Many porters give me strange looks and a wide berth, while those who are Essevians offer knowing and pitying glances. Fine, if that''s how one tentacle wants to play it. I strike at the bond, releasing memories of being in the cold, and quickly close it. There. Much better. Ignoring the constant pounding in my head, I continue to follow the person ahead of me. We traverse through numerous tunnels, occasionally turning left or right. Finally, we halt in an area enveloped by glowing mushrooms stretching as far as the eye can see. Two people leave the group, standing off to the side with tired expressions. Penny instructs, "All porters stay here. Apart from those handling food, your task is to gather plants and pack the bodies. Those two men over there will be in charge while I''m away." I watch as some of the food porters move away from me, beginning to set up a cooking station. The corner of my eye twitches as I bite down on my lip. How lucky. It must be nice to relax during this expedition. "The rest of you, follow me," Penny instructs.
As I continue to cut into the monster''s body, my hands feel like lead, joints throbbing with every movement. Fluids spill out of the corpse, drenching the rocky floor in blood. ''Bam.'' Another heap of corpses is added to my overwhelming pile of monster bodies. Every muscle in my back screams out in protest, aching persistently. "More are on the way," one of the guards in charge says. "Remember to harvest some mushrooms when you finish early." Pausing in my work, I look up as the man walks away. My eyelid feels heavy, demanding most of my focus to keep it open. There seems to be no end in sight to this. I''ll still be here long after Penny and the others have called it a day. My stomach clenches with hunger, insistently gnawing at me. The tentacles bombard me once again with images of food. I''m tired and hungry, ready to collapse. Let''s try to get this done as soon as possible. The sooner I finish, the longer I can rest. Taking hold of my end of the bond, I urge them to resume working on packaging the monster. In response, they express annoyance, mentally swiping at me. "It''s tough going, isn''t it, Travis?" chuckled a familiar voice from behind me. "The monster''s hide is hard to shed. Take care as you slide the knife through." "Ughh, Matthew," groaned a raspy voice, "Why?" "Hey, my jokes are the best. It''s how I worm my way into yours and Issa''s hearts." I glance behind me and see Matthew seated beside a snake person. The cobra-like figure has brown scales and towers over Matthew. Huh, so the cobra is called Travis. Isn''t that a human name? "Sometimes I wonder why my younger self found your jokes funny," the cobra remarks, "Because I sure don''t." "What venom!" Matthew exclaims dramatically. "I think I''m going to die of a broken heart." "Pff, whatever. Can we please get back on task? The number of monsters we need to finish is ridiculous." Sighing, I turn away from them and continue cutting the monster I''m working on. It''s fine. So long as they don''t bother me, I can pretend they don''t exist. "Eh, the last expedition probably didn''t do too well of a cleanup job," Matthew says. "Oh, I got another joke. What''s-" "I''ll tell Iss about you slacking off," Travis interrupts with a chuckle. "You wouldn''t want that now, would you?" "Now, wait-" "BBBBbbbbblllllllaaaaarrrreee!" A monster screams from somewhere far away, echoing off the wall. "BBBBbbbllllaaarrreee!" Quickly getting to my feet, I clutch the knife close to my chest and glance around. Most porters were already standing, eyeing everything suspiciously. The two guards swiftly assume positions, drawing their asuras and scanning their surroundings with narrowed eyes. Matthew remains composed amidst the tension, meticulously carving away at a monster''s body while keeping one hand on Travis. After a couple of tense minutes, I slowly relax my grip on the knife as a few porters resume their work, leaving a sudden silence lingering in the air after the commotion. I think I recognize that ear-splitting screech. If I remember correctly, it belongs to a C rank monster, the Vutezal. Glaring at the ceiling, I bite down my bottom lip. Don''t I have enough problems already? No, of course not. Let''s throw in this monster as a bonus as well! I sigh and slowly sit down. Pulling the monster''s body closer, I continue working on it. It''s fine. I can handle this. So long as the dungeon doesn''t decide to become unstable. "Looks like the last expedition missed that monster during clean-up after the dungeon got unstable," Matthew remarks. They sure did, and now that monster is our problem to handle. Chapter 3 ''Clik!'' I close the lid containing several pounds of monster''s meat. The muscles in my body sigh slightly with relief but continue to scream out in agony. Finally, that is the last of it. I am exhausted. "BBBBbbbllllaaarrreee!" The Vutezal shriek in the distance. It''s a shame there''s nothing that can be done about the shrieking. Maybe it will get better once we move somewhere else. A black appendage coils around the storage box, slipping it into my backpack. Simultaneously, another tentacle shoves the first aside, depositing a bag of glowing mushrooms. Every joint in my body aches, each movement a protest of pain, and my eyes droop heavily. Waves of exhaustion radiate through our bond as a tentacle shakes itself harshly. Alright. I''ll finish packing these mushrooms and get them stored away. Rising to my feet, I dust off my clothes and glance to the right. Tents and sleeping bags are neatly arranged around foldable tables where people gather, chatting over their meals. Some have already retired to their tents or sleeping bags, each with their asura or a weapon nearby. Two porters responsible for the expedition team''s provisions are busy handing out plates of warm food. Meanwhile, another tends to a pot, filling the air with the savory aroma of simmering beef. My stomach clenches as my mouth waters. Some tentacles react to the smell, and an overwhelming sense of desire engulfs me through our bond. Shaking my head, I rub the bridge of my nose. I need to stay focused and complete the task before they decide to relocate. Picking up my tools, I move to a patch of mushrooms and sit down. "Alright, go take a break now," booms one of the guards. "Make it quick, though. We''re leaving soon." ''Cling!'' ''Clang!'' As I let the tentacles take over, I glance around. Several porters have already risen, hurrying towards the food distributors, while most Essevians remain in place, diligently harvesting mushrooms. "Except for you lot," Another guard steps in, forming a blue barrier around some Essevians who were about to leave. "You need to finish harvesting the mushrooms." The guards waited until the other porters had left before rounding up the Essevians. As they were being led away, one of them, a young man with brown hair, got into the guard''s face. "What do you mean?!" he shouts, his green tentacles flicking wildly behind him. "Why do they get to leave, and we don''t?!" It seems the sweatbox is about to claim its first victim. The guard narrows his eyes, scanning the Essevians who are busy harvesting the mushrooms. Quickly, I avert my gaze and return to my task, just before he nearly catches my eye. "So?" the guard asks. "What are you trying to say?" "We had been working almost the whole day! I checked," the Essevian hisses. "We deserved a break!" "Well, I''m sure you can work a little longer," the other guard chimes in. "You''re undead. Look at the others; they''re not complaining." Cutting the mushrooms faster, I put them into a container and move to the next one. Meanwhile, dread radiates from the tentacles as they hastily shove boxes into the backpack haphazardly. ¡°Hold on, let me take this,¡± the guard says. ¡°Uh-huh, yep. Aggressive? You could say that. Uh-huh, okay, I¡¯ll tell him that. Alright, someone wants to talk with you.¡± ¡°Good, because I had a lot of things to¡ª¡± ¡°Alright, already. Save it for when we get there.¡± As I continue working, I sneak a peek out of the corner of my eye. One of the guards is leading the Essevian and a couple of others toward a tent.
Following the person ahead of me, my muscles ache with every step. Simultaneously, my stomach churns and shrieks with hunger, while the tentacles pulse with pure exhaustion from the strain. A persistent pounding echoes in my head as my vision blurs. I rub my eyes and straighten my posture. We had been traveling for quite a while. Let''s hope we''ll stay there for a while before moving on. There''s so much sleep I need to catch up on. "You look unwell," the porter beside me states. "Have you gotten any sleep?" I pull my hand away and face the speaker. She is a woman in her mid-thirties with short, curly black hair. Something clenches painfully within my chest as the weight on my shoulders lightens. Why do I feel relieved and sad at the same time? Why is she being so friendly? Is this an attempt to fish for information?" Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. "I''m alright, thank you for asking," I answer with a smile. "It''s probably just nerves. We are inside an unstable dungeon, after all." I quickly glance ahead, checking if anyone is looking behind them. You can never be too careful about who might be listening in. The guild members on this team might take offense to what I say and silence those grievances. I don''t want to end up in the sweatbox sooner than necessary. "Hey, you," Travis says as I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Do you know where that loudmouth Essevian is? The one with brown hair and green tentacles?" "No," I scan the people ahead of me. "No, I don''t. Sorry." "Ah, that''s a shame because that insufferable jerk owes me a couple of punches to the face after what he pulled." My eyes flicker to the back where a coffin-like metal box with robotic legs moves swiftly. Whatever he did to Travis, being inside the sweatbox more than made up for it. "That''s weird," Travis says, looking behind him with narrow eyes. "I don''t remember that walking box being there before." Glancing up at him, I study Travis''s face. Is he pretending not to know what the sweatbox is, or does he genuinely not recognize it? Surely he must have guessed by now. ''Bang!'' ''Kak!'' ''Boom!'' Different colors of lights flash ahead of me as porters push their way to the front. I step aside, letting one move past me, and rub my throbbing shoulders. They must be engaged in a battle. I''m grateful that, for now, I''m not tasked with handling monsters'' bodies on the move. "Travis!" Matthew says, moving beside the cobra. "Why did you go and disappear on me like that, eh?" Matthew peeks over Travis''s shoulder, staring at me unblinkingly. At that moment, chills run up my spine under his gaze. His tentacles pulsate with slight suspicion and exhaustion, sending a questioning feeling over our bond. Something tells me I shouldn''t get involved with this man; he smells like trouble. Matthew''s jaw tightens briefly before morphing into a wide smile that doesn''t quite reach his eyes. "So, who is that over there, Travis?" Matthew says casually. "Your girlfriend?" "No," Travis answers, giving Matthew an unamused glare. "She''s¡ª" He pauses and turns toward me. "What''s your name?" "Beatrice," I quickly interject, preparing to excuse myself. "I feel like I''m intruding on your conversation, so I''ll..." "Oh, no, not at all," Matthew interrupts, his voice low. "Stay, we would love to have you with us. Right, Travis?" ''Bang!'' ''Kak!'' ''Boom!'' Matthew glances over to my other side and blinks in surprise. "Why, hello there, gorgeous," he flirts. "Mind gracing me with the honor of telling me your name, beautiful lady?" The woman beside me blushes, brushing her hair back. "My name''s Mary." "Well, it''s a pleasure to meet you, Mary," Matthew says with a smile. "Correct me if I''m wrong, but are you perhaps a tea fan?" "Yes, how did you know?" "I saw that you have a pin of a famous tea brand on your backpack." With a twinkle in his eyes, Matthew explains, "My partner has the same one, so I''m familiar with it." ''Bang!'' ''Kak!'' ''Boom!'' I watch the flashing lights ahead and occasionally glance at Travis''s face. Although I''m glad Mathew''s attention is focused elsewhere, I feel very uncomfortable with what''s happening. The person in front of me halts, stopping in an area full of rocks and trees. "We''re camping here for the time being," Penny instructs us. "Get as much rest as possible. You will need it." My body sighs in relief at her words. Finally, it will be nice to get some sleep. "Alright, old man," Travis grunts as he lugs Matthew over his shoulder. "They are planning on setting camp soon. We''d better secure a place before all the best spots are taken." With his luggage in hand, Travis swiftly walks away. I stare at their backs, blinking my eyes several times. What a peculiar duo. But then again, never in my wildest dreams did I think a human and a snake person could get along. Something taps my right shoulder several times, insistently, so I turn my head to face a black tentacle. It points toward a ledge on a pile of boulders. Not bad. It''s a good vantage point to watch out for ambushes. I''ll need to get closer before deciding, though. The black tentacle puffs up with waves of pride, and images of beds and blankets flood my mind. As I approach the ledge, the sweatbox swiftly overtakes me with its long, outstretched limbs. It stops near a bush and opens its door, dumping out the unfortunate Essevian curled into a ball. Suppressing a shudder, I turn away from the scene.
"Oh, hey, are you busy?" Mary pokes her head up. "No," I answer, scanning her face, "not at the moment." Mary hauls herself over the ledge and stands up. Keeping my eyes on her, I quietly feel for the knife stitched inside my coat sleeve. "Not to be rude, but," I glance behind Mary, "Is there a reason why you''re here?" "Some of us are having a little mini-celebration. One for having survived this far." "That sounds nice," I smile. "I''m afraid I have to decline. Social events are not my thing." I''ve just gotten my sleeping bag out. The only thing I''m looking forward to is sleeping. "Well, if you change your mind later on, you''re welcome to join us," Mary smiles gently as she retrieves something from her pocket. "Here," she hands me a thermal water bottle, "Starlight Mushroom Tea." My eyes widen as I stare at the bottle. After a moment of hesitation, I cautiously grasp its handle. "Isn''t that the mushroom they had us harvest earlier?" "Shh," Mary holds a finger to her mouth and winks. "What they don''t know won''t hurt them. Besides, I harvested more than enough to fool them." Giving me a wave, she turns around and starts climbing down. I watch her for a moment before returning to my sleeping bag. What a strange woman. She''s going to get herself killed at this rate. Settling into the sleeping bag, I close my eyes. "Oh, you must be pulling my leg," a voice yells from below, "Ain''t no way that happened." Opening my eyes, I scoot closer to the edge and look down. A group of men and women are gathered around a fire, their faces bathed in its warm, golden glow. A sulfuric, citrusy smell wafts up as they gulp from large wooden cups. "Believe me, that''s what I thought at first," one of the men says, gesturing widely with his hands, "But it is true." The group laughs, a few clapping the man on his back. Nearby, another man tilts his head to the side. "Really?" As they converse, a woman quietly pours a generous amount of liquid into her cup. "Hey, don''t hog the beer!" another man yells, playfully shoving the woman. "Save some for the rest of us!" "Oh, come on!" Lana yells, flinging a pillow at Jack''s face. "You''re supposed to share it with the rest of the team!" "Ah ah ah," Jack tuts, holding the jar of coffee above Lana''s head. "I''m a businessman at my core, my dear." He gestures with his other hand. "Pay up." "Trevor!" "Guys, guys," Trevor steps between them with a laugh, "Calm down. Jack, put the coffee down and no one will get hurt." Looking away from the group, I glance around me. The ledge''s surface is rocky and hard, barren of any life. Coldness radiates and seeps into my sleeping bag. Chapter 3 p2 "Koeff!" I cough out a mouthful of blood, splattering it across the ground in crimson. A relentless pounding throbs at the back of my head, accompanied by an uncomfortable, pinching sensation gnawing at my stomach. Get up! They are just around the corner! ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' Needle-like spines shoot into the air, their ends gleaming wickedly. One heads toward me like a speeding torpedo of death. My legs cry out in pain as I swiftly move out of the way, dodging the spine. ''Puak!'' Glancing behind me, I see a boy collapsing to the ground, a spine embedded in his stomach, exposing his insides. He gasps like a fish out of water, his eyes quickly clouding over. He''s dying! What do I- ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' Quickly turning around, I raise a shield as explosions erupt, nearly reaching me. ''Boom!'' My shield shatters completely, and I''m flung into the air by the impact ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' More needles shoot into the air, and one grazes past me, nicking my arm. Pain flares from the wound as my face nears the ground. ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' I draw more asura out of my Asura organ, gathering them into my hands and weaving them into a giant sphere. Come on come on come on come on. Hastily finishing it, I throw it below me. It hits the ground with a tiny bounce. ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' I collide with the sphere, which yields slightly but remains firm against my body. ''Crack!'' Sudden, excruciating pain washes over my back as the pounding in my head worsens Damnit what went wrong? What did I mess up? Something heavy slams into my side, piercing my ribs. I stumble to the ground, clutching the obstruction as I fall. "Get away!" The owner of the obstruction struggles between my limbs. "Get away! Get away! Get away!" The person on top of me is a young girl, her eyes replaced by a large gash. Her hair is matted with blood and mud, and three silver stars are embedded in her school uniform. Wait, Sarah? Is that her? She struggles harder, waving her limbs around madly, causing a shooting sensation up my back. Looking down, I see a pink translucent blade piercing my stomach¡ªattached to the rest of the girl''s arm. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "Sarah, is that you?" I ask through gritted teeth, using some of my asuras to hold her down. "Hold on, I think one of your arms is inside me." Seeming not to hear me, she tries to pull her arm out of my stomach. I bite down on my bottom lip, gripping her wrist tightly to keep her in place. ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' Drawing more asura from my reserve, I hold it close to my wound and carefully extract the pink blade. It dissipates, revealing the rest of Sarah''s arm. ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' After removing the blade, I release my grip on Sarah''s wrist and use my other hand to press against the wound. Pain intensifies as blood gushes out. ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' Gritting my teeth, I press harder on the injury, channeling the asura from my hands into the wound. The flesh around the puncture gradually closes up, stemming the flow of blood. It''s hastily made, but it would do. ''Boom!'' The ground trembles beneath me, knocking me off balance. ''Boom!'' ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' A heavy weight lands on me, driving my face into the mud. The air is thick with the coppery smell of blood and charred flesh filling my nostrils. I squirm, desperate to free myself, but my limbs won''t respond. They feel like lead, moving in slow motion. ''Boom!'' ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' ''Pak!'' More weight presses down on me, forcing my face closer to the ground. Mud infiltrates my mouth and nose, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Jolting myself to a sitting position, I leap out of the sleeping bag. The tentacles send out waves of annoyance and surprise. Why-what? My legs feel unsteady as I look around. The ledge beneath my feet is barren, devoid of any signs of life. Below me, people meander about, some engaged in conversations. Holding a hand to my forehead, I close my eyes. So it was just a dream. One of the tentacles sends a questioning pulse. Sighing, I firmly reply ''It''s nothing'' before turning to the sleeping bag.
"Well, you look lovely this morning," Travis squints at me. "What happened? Get stampeded by a herd of Rockbulls?" Ignoring him, I rub my eyes to keep myself awake. I guess it was too much to hope for a peaceful night of sleep. Of all the memories, it had to be the one where I first entered a dungeon. I swear I acted like a headless chicken, fumbling around and wasting my asura. The person on top of me is a young girl with a large gash where her eyes should be. Her hair is matted with blood and mud. There are three silver stars embedded in her school uniform. I can''t believe I thought she was Sarah. They looked nothing alike. She was already dead years before that happened. "Do you know where they''re setting up the meal station?" I ask, covering up a yawn. "I want to get there before the others." "Over there," Travis points to a small clearing surrounded by rocks. "They''re not going to open for a few hours, so you''ll be waiting a long time." Putting my hand down, I glance up at him. "It can''t be that long," I say, pulling my sleeve up, "My watch says-oh." Ah, fudge. It is too early to be up. I don''t want to try to go back to sleep. I can''t. I don''t want to face them again. "Yeah, I was surprised too," Travis grunts, rolling his shoulders. "I''m usually the one who''s up first. This is the first time someone has woken up before me." Without a word, Travis slithers to his tent. Raising an eyebrow, I follow him. The cobra sits on a dead tree trunk and pulls his backpack onto his lap. "What are you doing?" I ask, peering over his shoulder. Maybe I could help him with this, it''s the perfect distraction I have plenty of free time too much time on my hands. to spend. Travis jolts in surprise, his hood briefly flaring out. "Don''t you have anything else to do?" Travis mutters, pulling out various tools. "Like sleeping?" He looks up as a loud snore rings out from the tent. Shaking his head, he fights back a smile twitching on his lips. "Not really," I shrug. "I don''t think I can go back to sleep." What am I doing? Just because Travis hasn''t eaten me so far doesn''t mean it''s safe to keep hanging out with him, especially near his belongings; many cobras are known to be territorial. The tentacles protest at my words, radiating annoyance. Instinctively, I shove them out and wall up my side of the bond. Travis glances up from his work before looking away. "Alright," He relents, tossing me a pair of rubber gloves, "But you might as well earn your keep. I''m not having you constantly look over my shoulder." Chapter 3 p3 "Were your brain replaced by a monkey?" Travis hisses, "Does that look like a Philip screw?" Even as an undead, I could feel my blood pressure rising by the minute. "BBBlllaarree!" The shrieking monster continues to blare. "BBBlllaarree!" The Vutezal screaming its heads off certainly isn''t helping the situation. "Is this not what you''re asking for?" I hold up the screwdriver. "They all looked the same to me." "You need your eyes checked then," Travis holds up a different screw. "This is what it''s supposed to look like." Travis lays all the screwdrivers next to each other on the wooden stump. "This is a slotted screw," Travis points to one of them. "Next is Philips, Pozidriv, Hex, and Torx. Do you see the difference now?" Narrowing my eyes, I scrutinize the screwdrivers, examining each detail before turning towards Travis. "Well, one of the screwdriver handles is blue, the other is red, and..." "No," I groan, feeling the tentacles send a wave of facepalm over our bond. "The only thing I''m getting is a headache from my brain overheating and annoying tentacles bothering me." Travis fixes me with a deadpan expression and crosses his arms. "What are you even building anyway?" I ask, avoiding his eyes. "A weapon, obviously," he answers, turning to his work. "It''s supposed to be a bracelet that can turn into a blade with a button." I raise an eyebrow, tilting my head to the side, and let my eyes wander. On the wooden stump lies a jumble of connected, mismatched parts. "Right," I say. "I see." Travis briefly flares out the hood on either side of his head. "Okay, so it might not look like much now," he gestures to the pile of parts, "but it will get better." Just then, a part falls off the lump of metal. ''Pik!'' It hit the stump, rolling near the edge. Disbelief and astonishment emanate from the tentacles. "Eventually," Travis adds with a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Okay, then," I say, "Are you planning on enhancing the weapon? Like making the blade sharper?" His work is impressive, but it''s nothing groundbreaking. Maybe it would be better to buy a pre-made one considering how cheap they are... Ugh, I sound like Jack just now. "Jack! We do not need more toilet paper!" Trevor grabs Jack''s waist, trying to drag him away. "Our apartment is already filled with them!" "It''s on sale!" Jack remarks. "If we buy them now, we will save money! Or we could repurpose them to sell at a market!" Liam stands beside them, observing from the sideline, rolling his broad shoulders. "For once, I think Jack has a point," Lana says thoughtfully, flashing an evil grin. "I could think of a few relatives to gift them to." "I don''t think I could argue with that," Kim says with a kind smile, barely concealing a laugh. "Not helping, Lana!" Trevor lectures. "And Kim, I thought you were on my side!" He turns toward me with a pleading look. "Beatrice, please, you''re the only one I can count on. Help me¡ª" A tentacle pokes at me through the bond, while another taps me on the shoulder. I blink and rub the bridge of my nose. A pit forms in my stomach, accompanied by a burning sensation where my heart should be. I need to stop dwelling on memories. They only bring pangs of sadness and grief. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Of course," Travis huffed, his voice tinged with offense. "I''m not about to build something just to have it be another copy among thousands of the same model. I''m adding a feature where the knife''s damage is doubled, based on the user''s asura." He deflated, rubbing a hand under his chin. "I just need to figure out how to do it." How promising. "Can I hold it for a moment?" I ask. "I want to examine something." Several tentacles groan in protest at my words. The corner of my eye twitches, and I shove them out of the bond. "Sure," Travis scoffs, handing me the contraption. "I didn''t build it to break apart at the lightest touch." As I turn it around, Travis''s eyes flicker anxiously with my every movement. He tenses when I press hard on a joint. Travis sure is bad at pretending he doesn''t care, considering how hard he''s trying As gently as possible, I prod and move aside some parts. Wires protrude from several places, occasionally intertwining with each other. On a few plastic capsules, there are poorly written inscriptions. Many of these asura seals are advanced in design but poorly constructed. Their only apparent function seems to be storing asura, nothing more. "It''s been a while since I''ve seen one, but are these Asura seals?" I asked, holding the device close to Travis''s face and pointing at one of the inscriptions. "Yes," Travis replied, "They''re a bit shoddy since I don''t have much experience with making them." "In that case, I don''t think it will be wise to use them," I hand Travis the contraption. "The ones you used can only use the asura store to boost its damage. It would require the wearer to charge it first before using it. The amount of asura needed is also quite costly." Travis frowns as he takes the device, turning it over between his hands. Not everyone can spare Asura for charging up a weapon. Dangers can lurk everywhere, depending on your location. "There is also another problem I spotted," I continue, "While advanced asura seals can be useful, they can cause problems if you have no idea what you''re doing." I point to one of the capsules, "The inscriptions you used make it impossible for the asura to flow into the blade. The device might also explode if the amount of asura or the asura potent sends is too much." Travis frowns even harder, slightly flaring out his hood. Oh shoot, was that too much? I''ve become so comfortable that I forget he''s a cobra¡ªthose creatures are quite prideful. Criticizing a project he''s invested in might have actually angered him. This was meant to be a distraction, not something that got me killed! "What do you suggest?" he asked, tweaking a few parts of the device. "Not that I need it. I can still figure it out with or without your help. It''s just helpful to hear other opinions." Blinking my eyes several times, I scan his face. Travis only flicks his tongue and deflates his hood. It seems like he''s not too upset about me criticizing his work. Would it be safer to continue, or should I stop? "Well," I glance at the device, "I suggest you get rid of the capsules." They are also useless due to their small size, and there are other ways to achieve what Travis wants. "You might want to use some kind of absorbers," I suggest. "Have the device focus more on weaving the asura into a basic foundation along the blade, and then proceed from there."
Shrugging my shoulders, I stand up and stretch. "Sometimes the easiest way to control asura and achieve what you want is to establish a basic foundation," I say, rubbing my shoulder. "This holds for many asura users as well."
Travis eyes the device in his hands before placing it on the stump. "You seem to be very knowledgeable in this kind of stuff," Travis states, staring me down. "Do you by any chance know how to do asura seals?" "No, I only understand how asura works," I wave at him dismissively. "It''s mostly basic stuff." I can still smell the pages of books I spent my days poring over when I was younger. Life at the academy in Crystal City might have been harsh, but at least I had the chance to read to my heart''s content. "Well, you clearly know more than most," Travis stands up and regards me thoughtfully. "You spoke more from experience rather than reciting something from books." "Wow, you seem to know so much about asura!" Trevor gushes, poking his head over my shoulder. "Can you help me? Some of my teammates are having trouble controlling theirs." ''Klik!'' "Oi, Beatrice!" Travis snaps his fingers near my face, interrupting my thoughts. "Jeez, where did your mind go? It''s only been a few minutes." "Sorry," I apologize, looking to the side. "Just reminiscing." I thought distracting myself with Travis''s project would keep my mind from wandering. "Ahh, I guess you didn''t hear what I just said," Travis mutters, "I want to ask if you want to work with me on this and future projects."
"Hey, Beatrice, thanks for the help! We couldn''t have done it without you!" Trevor smiles as he walks beside me. "I see that you haven''t got a main team yet. What do you say about joining¡ª" "Thank you for the offer, I''ll have to think about it," I say, starting to walk away. "I have a lot of things going on in life right now." ''Brrzz!''
Pausing in my steps, I swivel my head back. The flaps of the tent next to Travis open, revealing a tall, bluish lizard that crawls out and stands upright. "Travis?" The lizard asks, covering up a yawn. "Are you staying up late again?" "Everything''s fine, Iss," Travis reassures, pushing the lizard toward the tent. "Don''t worry about it; just go back to sleep. I''m about to finish up, anyway." Iss glances up at me and rubs his eyes furiously. "Who is that?" Iss asks. "I don''t think I''ve seen her before." "She''s just a friend," Travis insists. "I just need her help with something." Travis turns toward me, mouthing something silently. What is he saying? One of the tentacles slips past my guard and into my side of the bond, promptly poking me with a ''get moving''. "I have to go now," I say, slightly lowering my head. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Iss." With that, I hastily make my escape. Chapter 4 "Why did I think it was a great idea, again?" I mutter while pouring the bag''s contents into the small pot. "I must have lost a few brain cells somewhere along the line." Waves of confirmation radiate through the tentacles. Ignoring distractions, I screw the stove onto the canister. Once I''m sure they''re secure, I ignite the lighter near the stove. I can somewhat excuse myself for accepting the tea from Mary, considering my sleep deprivation. That could have been dangerous. What if it''s poisoned or used as evidence to prove I stole some of the mushrooms? Grabbing the pot, I set it on the stove. But then I went ahead and followed a cobra to assist it in building a weapon ¡ª in his territory! If that wasn''t enough, Travis is close to Matthew; he might have been digging for information. I take the spork from my lap and stir the pot before covering it with a lid. Steam gradually rises, filling the air with sweet, nutty spices. My stomach clenches at the smell, while strong waves of hunger radiate from the tentacles. ...Maybe I''m being too paranoid about this. I was the one who insisted on watching Travis work. I like working with him. It''s been so long since I had the chance to feel useful. Although Matthew and Shaun are suspicious, they are likely people who strongly dislike Essevians. Stopping my stirring, I put out the fire before lifting the lid. Speaking of which, where did Shaun disappear to? It''s suspicious weird I haven''t seen him again since that meeting. "Beatrice!" Mary''s voice echoes from outside. "Are you here?" Fudge. How did she even find this place? No, the bigger question is why she''s here. Swiftly closing the pot''s lid, I grab a couple of leaves from nearby plants and hastily cover my cooking utensils. After ensuring they''re secure, I quickly stand up. "I''m over here, Mary," I say casually, waving from beside a rotting trunk. "Is something the matter?" Mary turns toward me and walks over casually, though there''s an occasional pause in her steps. "I''ve finally found you," Mary says, smiling kindly before glancing around. "What were you doing here, anyway? It''s quite far from our campsite." Keeping my gaze on her, I avoid looking behind me. "Just answering the call of nature," I reply, crossing my arms. "Nothing you need to worry about." "Ah," Understanding flashes across Mary''s face. "I didn''t know Essevians could still do that." We stare at each other for a long, agonizing moment. "So," I awkwardly cough into my hand, "Why were you looking for me?" "They''re sending out a small group to scout the surroundings," Mary explains. "You''re assigned to scouting duty." "I see," I sigh, glancing behind me. "Thank you for informing me." So much for eating before the journey started; maybe I could sneak a few bites in during the scouting mission. "I need to finish a few things first before heading back," I tell Mary. "Do you mind waiting?" I should put the cooking utensils back into my backpack. I might not have enough time to return, and someone could stumble upon them. "Finish up. I''ll wait over there," Mary says, pointing toward a blank space in the distance. "Tell me when you''re done." "...Right."
The glow of our team''s campsite grows brighter with every step we take. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "You don''t look too well," Mary scans me up and down. "Do you want me to fill in for you?" I shake my head and hold a hand up, while the other covers my mouth. Maybe it wasn''t a great idea to stuff food in my mouth. Seizing a brief pause, I swallow, feeling the pointy clumps of food traveling down my throat. "Thank you for the offer, Mary, but I''m alright," I say, clutching my chest as I continue to follow her. "I''m fine." Yep, it was a bad idea, but on the bright side, I don''t have to sneak in moments of eating during the scout mission. "Here," Mary takes my hand and places something in it, "They''re flavored candies for indigestion. I know you say you''re alright, but I can''t help worrying." Yanking my hand out of her grasp, I look at her sharply. How did she know? "Don''t get your bundles in a twist," she says casually, sidestepping a stone. "It''s quite obvious with the way you stuff your mouth. You remind me of my son." I-I have no idea how to respond but it probably means she will not out me for secretly eating. I think. "Can you tell me more about the scouting mission?" I ask as we approach the team''s campsite. "Who will be accompanying me?" Mary began counting on her fingers, "It''s two other porters, Kevin and Melissa, I believe. Shield, and two attackers, one of whom is a member of Aequitas." So, one of the guild members will be with me. That''s a relief. Despite their good reputations, I might not trust anyone from Aequitas, but they are bound by certain obligations when taking the oath. Unless it''s only a lie meant to give a false sense of security. "Hey, Beatrice!" A hand waves in front of my face. "Are you with me?" Blinking my eyes several times, I furiously shake my head. Amusement mixed with slight disappointment radiates from the tentacles. "You should be more careful of letting your mind wander," Mary points at a rat scurrying to the side. "You almost tripped over the poor animal." Ah. That explains the emotions I got from the bond. "Anyway," Mary glances to her right as we arrive at our campsite, "we''re here." She turns toward me before stepping further inside. "Looks like some people from your scouting group are already here. Want me to introduce you?" "It''s fine," I begin, waving both hands in front of me. "I-" "Oh, look, there they are!" Mary says, already walking off. "Let''s go meet them." Standing there, spluttering a bit, I shake my head and let out a low sigh. Through the bond, I can feel the tentacles "laughing" and sending out waves of amusement. Reluctantly, I follow after her, guiding the tentacles to lower themselves as we move deeper into the camp. Wary eyes track my every movement, their scrutiny is almost tangible. I keep my gaze fixed on the dusty ground, avoiding their piercing stares. "Mary!" someone calls from a distance. "Over here!" "Leon, you miscreant!" Mary calls back cheerfully as she marches toward a group of people. "Never thought I''d see you here of all places!" "Good to see you again, Mary!" A blond-haired man laughs before turning toward me. All the joy drains from his face, leaving behind a forced smile. "And... who is that you have with you?" Leon scans me up and down with thinly veiled disgust, his fingers twitching as green asura emanates from them.
"Oh right, this is Beatrice," Mary says, pushing me to the front. "Beatrice, meet Leon and his main team."
Some people behind Leon briefly glance up before returning to their tasks. One of them waves at Mary and smiles warmly. "Ah, right, here''s the herbal mix you were asking for," Mary retrieves a plastic jar from her backpack. "This one gave me quite a bit of trouble due to some of the ingredients." "Mary, you''re a lifesaver!" Leon takes it from her, slightly straining under its weight. "Wow, this is heavier than expected." "Hey, fair warning," Mary covers her mouth with a laugh, "It''s heavier than it looks. I''ve been lugging these around for a while." "Guess I''d better listen to your advice from now on," Leon smiles, nudging Mary with his elbow. "Say, do you have any other recommendations?" "Of course! Now there''s..." Crossing my arms, I dig my fingers into the fabric while Mary and Leon chat, their voices slowly becoming background noise filtering through my ears. They sure seem friendly with each other. While they continue chatting, I awkwardly stand beside them, rubbing my eyes and turning away to survey my surroundings. Many are engrossed in deep conversations or peacefully tidying their belongings. Regardless of their activities, everyone seems accompanied by someone, either watching over each other or simply enjoying each other''s presence. I glance at the dusty, barren path of dirt beside me, where my only companion is my shadow. "Come on, I know you have some leftovers saved from last time." I look up from the ground, my eyes landing on a distant figure with a brown cobra. "And I''ve told you, the answer is no," Travis flinches as a man approaches him. "How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?" Flaring out his hood, he points emphatically to his mouth. "N-O. No. Now stop bothering me." Suddenly, Mary speaks from behind, "Seems like many porters are getting restless since they stopped feeding us. You guys must have it worse since they haven''t let Essevians eat yet." Fighting down the urge to jump, I swiftly turn around to face Mary, the amusement radiating from our shared bond like tentacles. Aren''t they supposed to watch my back for things like this? "Sorry if I surprised you, but I think your scout group is getting ready to leave," Mary points behind her, where a small group of people is gathering. "You might want to get going or be left behind." She takes a tinfoil-wrapped object from her backpack and hands it to me. "This is in case you get hungry on the journey." "Thank you...?" I say, taking the object from her hands. "Don''t thank me just yet." Mary makes a ''shooing'' motion with her hands as she laughs. "Worry more about catching up with the others." Chapter 4 p2 "Several acid hounds a few feet ahead," The black-haired woman says, barely audible enough for me to hear, "Several acid hounds a few feet ahead, all with asura between 2 and 3, E rank." The man beside her nods, pausing in his step to look around. The hawk-like diamond-shaped badge flashes as he moves, momentarily blinding me. Typical Aequitas. They always opt for flashy designs. If I didn''t know better, I''d think they were compensating for something. "Can you sense any other abnormalities from those hounds, Ivy?" the man whispered to the woman. "They seem normal from here, but I''d need a closer look to be certain," Ivy answered, slowly rising to her feet. "Even if they have abnormalities, I don''t think it''s much of a concern. All their asuras are below D rank dungeon level, so it''s unlikely to trigger anything." "Yeah, whatever," the burly red-haired man beside Mark interjected, flexing his muscles. "I say we go in and bash some hound heads." Rolling my eyes, I hold in a sigh. Why did they decide to choose him for this scouting assignment again?
As the redhead prepares to charge in, Mark grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him back. "Our goal is to scout the road ahead for any possible dangers," Mark chastises, holding the redhead in place. "We do not engage in fights with monsters unless their asura is appropriate for a D rank dungeon and they are native to it unless directed." "Yeah, yeah, I got it," the redhead relents, backing off. "No need to get your tails in a twist." Mark glances back at us and points to the ground. "Stay behind me to monitor the porters," he instructs. "You''re inexperienced; I don''t need you charging at any monsters you see." The redhead scowls at us, his black eyes searing into mine. An intense heat and pressure press against my body, making the tentacles whine in pain through the bond. This goes on for several long minutes. "Fine," the man says, "but those porters better not get in the way. The pressure against my body gradually lessens before completely dissipating. Letting out a sigh of relief, I glance up. The two other porters beside me look slightly shaken, their shoulders hunched together. "I''m detecting a group of monsters above D rank," Ivy suddenly pipes up. "All their asuras seem to have an affinity with ice." She turns to the right, where a massive tree trunk stretches across the chasm to the other side. Mark looks at where Ivy is facing and frowns. "That''s the path our team will be taking for the expedition," Mark notes, playing with the tip of his beard. "Can you sense what type of monsters they are?" "They''re just a bunch of rock monsters. Dangerous, but manageable," Ivy says, her pink asura glowing. "Should we engage?" "Yes," Mark nods and steps onto the tree trunk. "It might be more troublesome to leave them for our team to deal with." As he walks across the trunk, Ivy and the redhead follow behind him, their asuras glowing from their bodies. The other two porters glance at me nervously before one of them approaches. "Hey, uh, do you mind going first?" one of the porters, Kevin, asks. "Both Melissa and I are apprehensive about you walking behind us." His eyes keep darting toward my back where the tentacles are, while he twiddles his fingers. Right. They must think I could still infect them. Well, at least I''m not going last; that would leave me vulnerable to possible enemies. "Sure," I answer and step onto the trunk. As I carefully place one foot in front of the other, I look ahead. Mark and the two people behind him have already made it across. They stalk toward a group of monsters on a rock ledge surrounded by trees. ''Crack!'' The trunk jerks harshly beneath my feet, and a wide crack gradually travels across its surface. Several tentacles prompt me to turn around just in time to see a black blur lunging at Melissa. "AHHHHH!" A bloodcurdling scream rang out from behind me. Swiftly turning around, I yank the knife from my coat''s sleeve. A clump of black sludge lies on top of Melissa, pinning her down, its scorpion-like tail mere inches from her arm. A Blobby?! ''Skhiek!'' A limb flies into the air as blood spurts when the monster''s tail comes down. Shaking out of his stupor, Kevin morphs his asura into a small projectile and launches it at the Blobby. The creature jumps out of the way and lunges at him. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ''Bam!'' The monster slams into the shield Kevin hastily made. Millions of cracks spider across the barrier''s surface, pushing him dangerously close to the edge. With knife in hand, I cautiously approach, causing parts of the trunk to give way beneath my feet. Suddenly, Kevin flings the monster off, sending it flying toward me. "Khhhieek!" The monster shrieks, its tail swishing wildly in the air. Swiftly batting the creature away from me, I stomp on it. Black sludge-like limbs immediately wrap around my boot, yanking harshly and throwing me off balance. My body rolls to the edge and I tumble off the trunk. Fear surges through the bond. As I plummet, sweat gathers underneath my gloves, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I quickly grab the vines lining the trunk''s underside, temporarily halting my descent. ''Puak!'' ''Puak!'' Several tentacles latch onto the small crevices of the trunk''s surface, slowly pulling me up. At that moment, a black scorpion tail comes into view. Letting go of some of the vines, I grab the limb and pull it down. The monster falls off the edge, scrambling futilely for a grip. While the monster wildly flails around, I haul myself up, flopping my back against the trunk and rapidly breathing in and out. That was way too close. I''m way off my game today. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I close my eyes. "Everything is going to be alright, Melissa," Kevin says as someone groans. "Wait, no, don''t close your eyes. Stay with me, you''re fine. Everything is fine." Quickly rising to my feet, I walk toward where Kevin is kneeling with Melissa in his lap. White asura flows from his hand, covering Melissa''s stump as her face grows pale. Two dark holes where her eyes should be staring right back at me, her face pale, drained of all life, colder than ice. ''Crack!'' The cracks in the trunk begin to spread, causing a few wooden parts to break off. Fantastic. This day keeps getting better. "Hey," I tap Kevin''s shoulder, "We need to get back to the other side. Now! This makeshift bridge won''t hold all our weight." Without waiting for his reply, I haul Melissa onto my back. As her body presses against mine, an image of several tentacles tightly clutching Melissa flashes through my mind. Good. She looks secure enough. Taking Kevin''s hand, I pull him along and quickly cross the bridge. ''Crack!'' As I near the end of the trunk, I leap across the remaining distance, landing gracefully on the dusty ground. Kevin''s legs give way, and he tumbles to the floor. ''Crack!'' ''Cprak!'' ''Crack!'' Slowly lowering Melissa to the ground, I glance behind me. The middle section of the trunk is gone, leaving a wide gap over an empty chasm. Suddenly, pain shoots through my wrist as nails dig into it. I jerk my hand away and glance down at the source of the pain. Melissa''s face has turned pale, her eyes unfocused as she opens her mouth in a silent scream. She flails her limbs around, leaving numerous scratch marks on the ground. Kevin is beside her, his hands continuing to apply pressure to her wound. Melissa looks pale, having lost too much blood. Kevin managed to stem the flow, but as a porter, he likely doesn''t have enough potent asura to heal her. I slip my backpack off and hastily open it, digging around inside. Pulling out several blankets, I wrap them around Melissa''s body. My fingers occasionally slip as I fumble with the fabric. A copious amount of blood seeps through the bandage, staining it in red. Stop fumbling with the blankets! I''ve done this before; it shouldn''t be bothering me. "Koeff!" Kevin covers his cough with a hand, wiping it on his pants. "Melissa, hey, you''re doing alright. Just focus on me, okay? I¡ªKoeff!" Blood trickles from his nose as he tries to stifle another cough. His asura briefly flickers as he places a hand in front of him. "Aaaagghh!" Melissa screams, tears streaking down her face as a small pool of blood forms beneath her stump. This is much worse than I thought. Kevin''s asura can''t stop blood flow once he lets go. While carefully cradling Melissa''s stump in my hands, I retrieve a roll of bandages from the backpack. Kevin, could you please relax your asura a bit?" I ask while the tentacles begin unrolling the bandage. "I need to wrap up Melissa''s wound." Kevin nods wearily, struggling to keep his eyes open. Slowly lifting his arm, he allows some of the asura to dissipate. This action causes Melissa to claw at everything around her with her intact hand. "Hey, Melissa, hey," Kevin lightly touches her shoulder, "It''s just me, see? Everything''s alright, okay? You''re safe now." Grabbing the bandage roll quickly, I carefully wrap it around Melissa''s wound, ignoring the scratches she made on my legs. Some tentacles hold down her limbs as she continues to squirm. "There," I say, finishing wrapping Melissa''s wound. "This should hold for now." Kevin lets out a loud sigh and allows his arms to relax. The asura around Melissa''s stump becomes more transparent, loosely encircling it. "Do you have any pain medication?" Kevin asks, rubbing his forehead. "I''m not sure I can fully release my hold without causing her pain." ...I don''t think I restocked on any pain medication after running after the expedition. Turning to my backpack, I search inside as the tentacles steady Kevin and keep him upright. There really is no pain medication. Worthless dumbass. Can''t even do anything right. What am I supposed to do? Kevin can''t keep Melissa''s pain at bay forever, his asura organ must be near empty by now. "Unfortunately, I''m all out," I say, taking out a random bottle and something wrapped in tin foil. "Can you stand?" Kevin nods slowly, placing his hand on Melissa''s forehead. "I can, just... need a quick moment." Quickly unscrewing the cap of the thermal bottle, I hand it to him. Kevin takes it with shaking hands as I retrieve the object wrapped in tin foil. This is the food Mary gave me earlier. It should help Kevin regain some of his energy. Kevin slowly sips from the thermal bottle, then looks at me confusedly. "This is tea." "Here," I say as I unwrap the tin foil and hand it to him, "You''ll need the energy for the journey back." ''Kiok!'' "Great, my armor is scuffed," someone huffs from behind me, "This will take forever to buff out." When Kevin takes the food, I briefly glance behind me. Mark and the redhead stand near the remains of the trunk, watching Ivy float across the chasm with her green asura. Mark pats the redhead''s shoulder and chuckles, "You''ll survive, I''m sure. We all have to sacrifice something when we come in here." Slowly approaching us, he shakes his head in amusement, dragging a monster behind him. "Here," he says, placing a packet in Kevin''s hands and dropping the corpse near me, "That should be enough painkillers for the journey back. Be careful when removing the hide; the guild needs them intact. Let me know if you need a knife replacement for tough skins." Without another word, he walks away, motioning for the redhead to follow suit with his pile of monsters. Chapter 4 p3 While trudging behind Mark, I slowly adjust Melissa on my back; her chin digs into my right shoulder, and she drools on me. Kevin follows beside me, fretting over his passenger, annoyance radiating from the tentacles whenever he gets too close. Why broadcast every annoyance? Carrying Melissa, who weighs more than a bag of rice, is exhausting enough. Why is she so motionless? She can''t be dead. I guess it was a good thing I knew some basic first aid. I must have messed up somewhere. Just like with Trevor. I''m doing it again. Now all we need to do is find someone more skilled than I am. As we continue walking, I notice a large group of people setting up camp in the distance. "It seems our expedition team beat us to the meeting place. They looked pretty beat up, though," Ivy remarked, a green aura covering the areas around her eyes. "What do you think happened?" "I thought things were too peaceful," Mark sighed, brushing his hair back. "Heavy casualties?" "Doesn''t seem like it from what I could see." "This is what I''ve been waiting for!" the redhead exclaimed, bumping his fists together. "Any monsters will rue the day they cross paths with me!" Following behind Mark, I glanced around as we neared our expedition team''s campsite. "Mark!" a man shouted upon our arrival. "You''re here!" "Where''s Penny?" Mark asked. "I need to speak with her." The man let out a booming laugh, clapping Mark on the back. "Always business with you first, eh, buddy," he chuckled, pointing toward a green tent. "She should be in there. Probably working herself into a frenzy. Anyways, once you''re done with that, stop by my tent. Me and a few others are having a couple of beers." "I don''t know if I could make it," Mark said, massaging his shoulder. "There might be-" "I''m breaking out my stash of Umqombothi." "Fine," Mark sighed, turning toward me. "Leave the bodies you process over there." He gestured to a brown bench where lizardmen were busy picking through a pile of corpses. "We are going to be processing them."
"Beatrice!" Mary smiles, slightly out of breath, "You''re back! That was quick! I-" Her eyes widen and she rushes toward me, dropping the box in her hands. She takes Melissa off my back and onto a nearby slab of rock. "Ollie! OLLIE! Where are you, you old bat!" Mary hollers while examining Melissa''s stump. "Get over here!" An old bald man stumbles from a bush, face set in a scowl. His brown robe is stained with dry blood while marching to Mary''s side. "What do you want now, you old hag?" the man screeches. "Thanks to our expedition team, I''m knee-deep in patients! Can''t you see I''m busy?" "Who cares! This girl needs priority. She''s lost too much blood!" Suddenly, tentacles send a picture of an old married couple from some TV show. Frowning, I push them away. "Aaugh," Kevin groans, his legs buckling beneath him. Swiftly grabbing his arm, I sling it over my shoulder. "Melissa," he moans near my ear, his voice cracked. "W-where is she?" Is he too disoriented to see what happened? He might have depleted his asura organ to a dangerous level. "She''s right over there with Mary. Do you want to go over?" I ask, nudging him gently. Pain shoots through the bond as Kevin''s elbow presses into the tentacles. "Yzzsss." He croaks out. Without further discussion, I begin to guide him slowly toward Melissa. Mary briefly looks over at our approach before returning to her conversation with the old man. "There is quite a lot of poison in Melissa''s body, especially in her stump," the man mutters, securing a metallic band around Melissa''s wound. "I need to eliminate it before it spreads further." He turns towards Kevin, assessing him from head to toe. "Oi, you! Let me check his condition," he says, nudging Mary aside. "Why didn''t you bring him to me sooner? Jeez." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The old man roughly examines Kevin''s face, pulling at his skin before retrieving a small flashlight from his pouch to examine Kevin''s eyes. "Severe asura depletion, likely from stopping Melissa''s blood flow," he mutters while taking Kevin off my back. "That would explain the foreign asuras I found in her body." He glances sharply at Mary with beady eyes. "Oi, Mary! Did you get what I asked for?" "Not exactly. Mostly run-down ones, unfortunately," Mary shakes her head as she gestures for the bald man to follow her. "They said those were all they could spare." "They will do," Ollie growls, snatching them. Crossing my arms, I turn toward where Melissa lay. My eyes land on the bloody stump with black fluid oozing out of it. "He lost way too much blood. I don''t know if he''s going to make it." Trevor''s body is covered in layers of bandages, with only tufts of hair peeking out. His chest barely rises with every second. "Beatrice?" Mary''s voice cuts in as a hand frantically waves over my eyes. "Are you there?" Jolting in place, I quickly shake my head. "Yeah, I''m fine." "Are you sure? You''re shaking a lot." "I am?" Quickly glancing down, I uncross my arms. My fingers clench and tremble uncontrollably. How did I not notice? "Hey Beatrice," Mary gestures with her head to the side. "I''m going to be busy for a while. I need you to help Iss distribute the supplies to the other porters." I slowly nod my head. "Alright."
Iss hands me a heavy satchel before turning toward Mary. "It''s nothing. If anything, I wish I could do more," Iss sighs, slowly shaking his head. "The others are picky about what they give out due to the recent skirmish." He glances to the side with a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Maybe I could try to convince my brother..." "That''s alright, Iss. You''ve done more than enough for us," Mary smiles, clutching a parcel in her hands. "I don''t want to trouble you any further." "If you say so," Iss mutters. "Is there anything else you need? I will be busy for the next several days." "No, not right now." "Alright. Do me a favor and keep Matthew away from the liquor. He''s not supposed to be having any, but he''ll probably drink himself stupid without me around." "We wouldn''t want that, would we?" Mary chuckles, motioning for me to follow her. "I better get these to the others. See you around, Iss."
With one last wave, Iss strolls back to his side of the tent. As I look away from his retreating figure, I hurry to catch up with Mary. Huh, how surprising. It''s not often that an interaction between a human and a lizardman is amiable, especially considering their differing positions of power, with Mary being a porter. "Friend of yours?" I ask, walking beside Mary. "Yeah. Turns out, Iss has a big interest in tea," Mary explains as she opens the parcel and sifts through its contents. Friends? Is that even possible? Maybe she''s just using him to get more supplies. Yeah, that seems more likely/ "We hit it off after Matthew introduced us." "I see. That''s...nice." Matthew. So Iss is the lizardman I saw back at the lodge. It is somewhat concerning if Iss is associated with someone suspicious like Matthew. The asura he extrudes isn''t one you''ve seen from a porter. Maybe he''s someone hired from Blossom City to finish the job. That, or I''m overthinking it. Who in their right mind would send someone after a porter, anyway? Or it could be what they want me to think in order to let my guard down. A tentacle pokes at the satchel while another slips into its opening, delving inside. Quick bursts of happiness suddenly flow through the bond. "Sure didn''t take them long to find it, eh?" Mary chuckles and gives my arm a nudge. "Can''t seem to ever hide it from them." Opening the satchel, I retrieve a gel compact. It''s wonderful floral but minty scents tickle my nose as tension in my muscles slowly relaxes. A tentacle reaches over and rubs against the container. This is weirdly...nice. It''s been a while since I felt this relaxed...Should I be more suspicious of this? "What is this stuff?" I ask Mary, putting the container back. Disappointment flows through the bond. "Silverbell grass," Mary mutters, flipping through a paper covered in writings. "It makes all Essevians weirdly happy, almost content." "Even those without a sentient?" I inquire. "Especially them," Mary confirms, still absorbed in the paper. "With the host''s consciousness dead, nothing stops them from acting on instincts." "Just because it''s more effective on them than other Essevians, don''t throw it at one," Mary leans closer, her tone serious. "They''ll still give chase, even if they don''t plan on eating you." She winks before returning her attention to the paper. I glance back at the satchel and hold it away from my body. Disappointment instantly flows through my side of the bond. I should probably keep my distance from this stuff. Despite its calming effect, which I appreciate, it might lower my guard and impair my ability to assess threats. "So," Mary chimes in, "How are you feeling?" Peeking through the corner of my eye, I shrug. "I''m fine, thanks for asking." Should I be suspicious of why she''s asking that? I can''t tell, the question seems innocent enough. Then again, that might be the Silverbell''s fault. "Well, that''s nice to hear," Mary says with a smile. "It could be¡ª" She suddenly pauses and looks to her right, focusing on something in the distance. A frown appears across her forehead. "Ah, sorry, Beatrice," Mary apologizes as she looks back at me. "Do you mind delivering the gels?" She takes out a folded piece of paper and hands it to me. "Ollie is busy with patients, and most porters are hesitant about approaching those Essevians." "I don''t have anything else right now, so sure," I agree. "Thank you, Beatrice," Mary sighs, briefly closing her eyes. "I know this is sudden, but something''s come up." The look in her eyes slowly darkens. "Or rather, someone who apparently can''t wait even a second." "It''s fine, go." With one last wave, Mary quickly strides toward her destination. A shadowy figure moves in the distance at her approach. Huh, who is that? Quickly shaking my head, I turn away. I shouldn''t get involved. It''s none of my business, anyway. Chapter 5 "We''re severely behind schedule," Vrak states with bags under his eyes and a strained voice. "Our team is supposed to meet Lilith''s team here." He points to a location on the map, his fingers digging into the paper. Penny sits beside him, nodding along to the conversation as her eyes struggle to stay open. As the heat inside the tent slowly rises, some begin wiping their foreheads with a handkerchief. One of the people around the table sighed as he fanned himself with his hand. ''Don''t you think I understand that? I have my main team out there, constantly surveying the area. The others assigned to scouting are good, but they can''t account for everything!'' He turned toward someone with mushy, flabby-like skin and a pig snout. ''If it weren''t for a certain somebody..." "Me?!" the pigman shrieks. "How is this my fault?!" "Well, maybe if you hadn''t drawn every single monster that crossed our path!" The pigman narrows his eyes, biting down on his bottom lip and throwing his head to the side with a snort. "Chris, are you stupid or something? We have quotas to meet. Do you want to be the one explaining to them when a horde of monsters, far above this dungeon''s usual rank, escapes?" Chris''s forehead wrinkles as he glares at the pigman. "Some monsters are too dangerous to handle alone. We need team 1''s collaboration for that," Chris mutters crossly, holding the pigman''s gaze. "Or are you too pigheaded to realize that?" The pigman suddenly rises from his chair, slamming his fist onto the table. "What do you expect me to do?! High-ranking monsters are crawling all over the place. If you and the others had done your jobs properly on the last expedition, we wouldn''t be having this conversation!" "I was part of the communication team, Grunkle, not directly involved in it!" "Woah, whoa, whoa," Vrak cut in, drawing their attention. "I think the stress is getting to us all. Do we need to take a break?" He turned to Penny. "What do you think, Penny?" Penny doesn''t answer, standing motionlessly with her eyes half-closed. Her head droops with every passing minute. "Ey, Penny?" the half-orge grabs her shoulder, giving it a light shake. "Oi, you with us, human?" Penny suddenly jolts awake, swiftly straightening her posture. She places a hand on her forehead, rubbing it insistently. "Apologies," Penny shrugs off the half-orge''s hand. "As I was saying, we need to speed up our progress. Ideas?" Vrak taps Penny''s shoulder to get her attention and whispers, "Are you sure you don''t need a break?" "It''s fine, Vrak," Penny replies as someone at the table stands up. "Continue." Vrak frowns at her response before slowly shaking his head. "I suggest we cut through here," a black-haired man says, drawing an imaginary line on the map. "It cuts our travel time in half and avoids many dangerous monsters." "I don''t think that''s going to work," Chris interjects, taking out several maps. "Based on the information gathered by scouts and my main team''s report, there are signs of Essevian pods in the area." "We received reports before this expedition about a pod infestation," Grunkle adds. "We might need to address that issue." Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "We are unprepared for it," Chris says with a glare. "It''s an infestation pod of Essevians, something the last expedition failed to mention." He sighs, turning towards Grunkle. "I won''t deny that I might have played a role in it, but the higher-ups did not handle it properly." Grunkle crosses his arms and grunts in response. "Chris is right," Penny says. "It''s too risky to travel through it without proper preparation and backup. We don''t have enough people with light affinity asuras to deal with them or enough antidote if things go south." The black-haired man glances at the ground for a minute before looking up. "We could always use the Essevians our expedition has." The whole tent goes silent as everyone stares at the man with varying emotions displayed across their faces. "I am not cleaning up the mess that would be caused by doing that!" someone yells. A few murmurs of agreement ring through the air. "I don''t think they are trained for that kind of work," Penny mutters, blinking her eyes. "Considering how most of them aren''t born but are turned into one, their reactions toward the thing responsible for the transformation can be a wildcard." "Pfft, understatement of the year," a woman from the table rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. "If I became nothing more than a walking corpse, I would rather die again or never recover my conscience. Especially if I''m a tier one Essevian." A shudder passes through her body. "Can you imagine? A world without asura while they are all around you? What''s even worse is the little gross parasites that attach themselves to the host." "Well, if you''re an Essevian," Chris says casually, "At least you wouldn''t have to use your asura to look young." He glances at the woman, who frowns in response. "But then again,'' Chris continues, "it preserves your face as it currently looks, rather than changing it temporarily." "Regardless," Penny interjects, ''I don''t think many of them will be happy about it." "How about we have the porters work a little longer?'' someone else suggests. ''Their dillydallying is slowing us down." Grunkle snorts, placing both feet on the table. "You call that work? I could finish hundreds of those bodies without breaking a sweat. Those guys complain after barely reaching sixty, while the rest of us are fighting off countless monsters." He tilts his snout into the air. "I agree with the human; the porters are too lazy. They should be made to work longer." Vrak''s face twists into a grimace as a frown appears on his face. He turns toward Penny, watching her expectantly. Penny sighs and slowly nods. "While you''re not wrong," Vrak begins, clasping his hands together, "I don''t think we should push more workload onto them. Most are already unhappy that we didn''t share our supplies. It wouldn''t be wise to anger them further." "They barely do anything! We''re the ones risking our lives fighting off monsters!" Grunkle insists. "It''s probably not as easy as it looks," Penny suddenly coughs, capturing everyone''s attention. ''Kap!'' Vrak claps his hands together as he rises to his feet. "Well then, I think it''s about time the leader of my main team heads back to bed," he declares, casting a pointed glance around the table. "Now, unless there are any objections, I''ll excuse her for the rest of the meeting." Ignoring Penny''s attempts to wave him off, Vrak escorts her outside. A light breeze passes by, carrying with it sweltering heat that brushes against their faces. "Honestly, you''re going to keel over at this rate," Vrak mumbled, gently tugging Penny along. "I know your work is crucial, but¡ªoi, don''t give me that look," he interrupted as Penny glared at him. "It''ll only be a few minutes. Everything will be fine when you wake up." "But¡ª" "No," he hushed her, "It was a mistake to let you go this far without rest. Everyone''s stressed, not just you. Did you see the way Grunkle and Chris snapped at each other?" Penny sighs as they pass several people who give them a quick nod. Some porters in the distance immediately duck out of sight. "Yeah, they are usually not like that with each other," Penny says as she continues to let Vrak drag her along. "Just a few days before the expedition, they were trying to see who could balance the most paint cans on their heads." Vrak chuckles, drawing some people''s looks. "Idiots." A boy with light, red hair marches by them, his green eyes searching through the crowd of porters. He looks up at their approach as a flash of recognition briefly appears on his face. "Good day, Vrak," He nods his head before turning toward Penny. "You as well." With that, he quickly scurries off. "What was that about?" Vrak asks Penny. "I''m not sure," Penny shrugs. "He''s been rather strange for the past few days. He even thought he was part of Aequitas for some reason." Vrak glances behind him, watching the redhead''s retreating back. "Should we be worried? He''s been spending a lot of time watching the porters." "About Shaun?" Penny quickly shakes her head. "It''s probably just stress from his last time in a dungeon. It was his first one, after all." Vrak frowns as he turns away. "If you say so." They walk in comfortable silence until they reach a cluster of small tents nearby. Chapter 6 Why did I agree to do this again? Shouldn''t I limit her contact with her? The sting in my wrist persists as I walk around. A faint hammering resonates through the bond, scraping against the barrier I''ve erected. Certain human porters quickly steer clear whenever I approach. Where is Mary anyway? I haven''t seen her since this morning. As I continue walking, I pass by a couple of Essevians. A sense of unease washes over me as I observe how some of them interact happily with their tentacles. Borned Essevians. Stuck up, snobs. Why anyone would be happy about being a host is beyond me. My tentacles wave at their counterparts, radiating happiness through the bond. Suppressing a shudder, I turn away and spot Travis carrying a stack of wood toward his tent. Should I ask him for help? He wasn''t hostile the last time we interacted. As I approach him, the pit in my stomach grows. Or I could have mistaken that during my haze state of mind. He''s probably not too happy about his work being insulted, either. Then again, he doesn''t look like he took offense to it. Travis is a snake. The most prideful reptilian species so why wouldn''t he? Still, it doesn''t bode well that he''s associated with Matthew and Iss. I should get out of here before Travis notices me...Perhaps I should see him later, he seems busy. Quickly turning around, I start to walk away, while the tentacles continue scratching through the bonds, their efforts somewhat muffled by the barrier. "Hey, Beatrice!" Travis shouts behind me, making me cringe. "What the heck are you doing there, staring at me like a creep? Do you want something?" I relax my hunched shoulders, straighten my back, and twist around. "I''m looking for Mary," I say, marching toward Travis. "She asked me to give this to another Essevian." I unclench my palm, presenting a balm container. "Unfortunately, it didn''t work out." "Get away from me!" the Essevian shrieked, flinging mud right at me. "I knew you born and bred would try to control me!" Biggest understatement of the year. Brief flashes of agreement seep through the barrier as the pounding temporarily pauses. "I haven''t seen her either," Travis tilts his head to the side and shrugs. "I think she''s with that weird guy with black hair who''s been hanging around here." He narrows his eyes as his hood slightly puffs up. "He smells weird." Didn''t he complain about how every human or Essevians smelled weird and disgusting a few days ago? Briefly looking to the side, I shake my head. Let''s not point that out and antagonize the giant cobra towering over me. "I need to return this to her." I hold the container in my palm, keeping it away from me. "Do you have any idea where Mary might be?" "Not that I can think of." Travis frowns, glancing behind me. "What have you been up to? You look like you''re about to drop dead. Again." "There''s been hardly any time to rest ever since the expedition leader decided to load us with extra porter duties." I sigh, massaging my shoulders. "They just added a few boxes to carry," Travis says with a questioning tone. "It''s not that difficult." Raising an eyebrow, I scrutinize Travis. His scales gleam, polished to perfection. I would have thought he was slacking off if I hadn''t seen him working earlier. "You''re a reptilian, a snake on the larger side," I say, frowning. "A hundred extra boxes probably seem like just a couple to you." Even though Travis''s species is much stronger than your average human, he should be feeling the strain after countless hours of packaging the monsters. Maybe he''s bluffing to sound tougher. Travis''s eyes narrow, and he flicks his tongue. Turning to the side, he mutters something under his breath. Did something I said offend him? Though it''s true, a reptilian is indeed stronger than your average human. With a sigh, he turns toward me. "Does that binding around those tentacles have anything to do with the bags under your eyes?" "The parasites have been rather difficult lately." Narrowing my eyes, I glance behind me and glare at the tentacles. "I''ll consider freeing them if they behave." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As if to prove my point, the tentacles suddenly thrash around, tugging at my back. "Which is not going to be anytime soon," I add, glaring at them before returning my attention to Travis. "You could always use that gel,'' Travis suggests, pointing at the container. "Those tentacles usually calm down when other Essevians apply it. I don''t think Mary will mind if you take it yourself." "No, that wouldn''t be right," I reply with a shake of my head. "Thanks anyway." That idea sounds terrible. I didn''t wrap the thing in several layers of my containers to use it. I''m trying to prevent any influences the gel has on my mind. I would have loved to use it on the tentacles if it wouldn''t affect me. The tentacles suddenly fill the bond with protest and annoyance. This was a waste of time. I need to find Mary and return the gel to her quickly. I don''t want to risk the Silverbell having long-term effects from prolonged exposure. "Hey!" Travis shouts from behind as I begin walking away. "Yes?" I ask, not turning around. What now? "Well, if you''re free, I would like your assistance on some projects," Travis says. "Not that I need it, of course. I just want a second opinion on certain things." Stopping in place, I stare down at a patch of dirt. It would be nice to do that again. To feel needed. But.. "Maybe," I say, continuing my walk. "We''ll have to see." I have other things to worry about. It won''t help with my current situation or bring him back. Return to a time when I still have my main team. After some time wandering around, I spot a crowd of porters forming in the distance. Closely watching my surroundings, I carefully wiggle my way to the front. Many quickly give me space, avoiding any contact. "Don''t lie!" one of the voices up front shrieks. "I know it was you who stole it! Who else would do such a thing?!" "Oh, really?! How can you be so sure?" another voice counters. "It could have easily been anyone here!" "Your scales color matched with the one I found!" "Bah! You need your eyes fixed then! Most of the lizardmen here have those colors!" Stepping out from behind someone, I glance at the scene ahead of me. A dark brownish lizardman and a tall human male are facing each other, with Mary standing between them, grasping their shoulders. She looks like a mouse caught between two giants. "Why, you no-good lowlife!" The man pushes himself forward, but Mary holds him back. "It was a pendant from my late mother!" "Good thing it''s lost, then," the lizardman smirks, his tail lashing dangerously behind him. "If I had a son like you, I wouldn''t want you to have it anyway." "Now, now, gentlemen," Mary says, stepping between them, "I think we all need to take a breather before things get out of hand." Both the man and the lizard glower at each other but remain in their positions. How in the world did Mary manage to hold them back? She shouldn''t have been able to, given her petite stature. "Try searching your belongings again," Mary tells the man. "If it doesn''t turn up, we may need to do a bag search." She then turns to the lizardman, pointing at his claws. "You''d better get those cleaned up before they get infected. We''ll discuss your conduct later." The lizardman huffs, shoving people aside as he moves past them. Gradually, the crowd around me begins to disperse. "Beatrice!" Mary exclaims as she approaches me. "I didn''t see you there." A lump suddenly forms in my throat. Why is she always so eager to see me? Have we crossed paths before this expedition? And why does her joy bring a sudden wave of sadness? I must have eaten something bad. "I''m here to give you this since the other Essevian didn''t want it," I hand Mary the gel. Mary rubs her eyes as she takes the gel, "I was hoping these would help soothe her." She sighs, shrugging her shoulders. "She''s been recently turned and is not handling the change well. I''ll have to check in on her later on." Oh. That would explain the Essevian''s behaviors toward me. But... "You could leave her alone," I say, "She''s not your responsibility." Most Essevians wouldn''t want to burden themselves with that, and I can''t blame any of them. I already have enough problems, not to mention dealing with my transformation. Mary smiles at me and says, "True, but shouldn''t we help them, anyway? They deserve the same kind of compassion as everyone else. Looking to the side, I shake my head. That''s certainly an optimistic view. Naive, even. How did she survive this long? "You do realize that not every Essevian will appreciate your effort, right?" I ask her. "You''d be lucky if they remember to pay you back later." Simple pity I could understand, but this doesn''t make sense. I can''t see the benefit of helping out some Essevians who were stupid enough to get turned. "Why in the world would they pay me back? I''m only giving them the respect and care they deserve," Mary frowns. "It''s the same as everyone else." The same as everyone else? She must not be right in the head, then. "If there''s nothing else," I tell her, "I''ll be turning in early." Since I''m free right now, I might as well get some shut-eye. Something tells me the next several days will be even more draining. Goosebumps erupt on my skin as I feel eyes piercing my core. An encompassing terror washes through the bond, threatening to pull me under. "The day isn''t even halfway done, and there''s already so much that needs to be done," Mary mutters in a tired voice. "We''ll just have to try¡ª" ''Bang!'' Swiftly dodging to the right, I roll across the ground. A burning sensation lightly brushes one of the tentacles, and screams of agony radiate through the bond. ''Tuk!'' An arrow hits the tree trunk where I originally was. The overbearing sensation of light asuras flows freely from it. What the hell was that? "Beatrice?" Mary says, helping me up. "Are you alright?!" I slowly nod, trying to push back the full-blown panic emanating from the tentacles. "What were you trying to do, Hansel?!" Mary shrieks. "You could have killed someone!" "Sorry!" a man yells from behind. "I don''t know what happened! I just picked this up and it suddenly shot out an arrow!" Ignoring the shouting match behind me, I slowly approach the arrow. As I get closer, the burning sensation becomes stronger, dancing across my skin. The tentacles push against the bond, urging me to stop. This arrow is filled with light asura, almost as if it were made from it. Clenching my fingers around the shaft, I grip it tightly. Light asura seeps through my gloves, making my palm throb. Using all of my strength, I yank the projectile out. A silver arrowhead gleams at me, its surface smooth and sharp enough to cut diamonds. This doesn''t look like the regular expendable arrows we have lying around. They certainly don''t get infused with asura, let alone this much. Turning around, I scan my surroundings with narrow eyes. Before I dodged, this projectile was aimed at my core, infused with an absurd amount of light asura. It could have killed me. Chapter 6 p2 My legs feel like rocks as I force myself to walk, the tentacles dragging behind me as pulses of exhaustion flow through our bond. I choose the trunk Travis is sitting on and plop my butt down, causing it to rock beneath my weight and making Travis flinch. "HEY!" Travis suddenly yelps, flaring out his hood. "Why the hell didn''t you warn me?!" He glares at me, scooting farther to the trunk''s end. "Don''t get your tails in a twist, I''m just sitting down," I snap back. I''m tired and hungry. Today has been more brutal than the last one. I don''t care if some prissy snake throws me across the room. I. Am. Sitting. Here. I''m only saying you shouldn''t try to sneak up on me," Travis hisses, sounding slightly offended. "Is that too much to ask for?" "How is sitting to your side considered sneaking up?" I huff, pulling my backpack toward me. "And how is that different from all the other times we''ve met?" "Those were different! You were usually facing me or had enough of a scent for me to smell!" Travis insists. That''s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. So, do I need to be smelly now? Is that it? Something pounds into the back of my head, causing worries to leak through the bond. I place my forehead in my hand, taking a deep breath. I need to calm down. It won''t do me any good to snap at everyone here. Lizardmen. A bunch of lowlifes. Where did that thought come from? "Look, I just don''t like being surprised, especially at my sides," Travis says, shuddering. "Not something I want to experience again." "Alright," I say, dragging my hand down my face. "Sorry for my earlier actions. That was rude of me." I unzip my backpack and take out a notebook and pen. I''d like to take out my food, but there''s too much risk. Normally, I would sneak off somewhere, but it might be dangerous if someone is trying to murder me. "You don''t look too well,'' Travis remarks. ''Have you even gotten any sleep lately?" Not very well, unfortunately. I might try again later. Well, what do you think?" I asked, scribbling furiously into my notebook. "I''m sure anyone would if they suspect someone''s trying to murder them. But what do I know?" I must really have a death wish today. Of all times, I choose now to get my thoughts and words mixed up. So, no news on that, then," Travis says, twirling his fork absentmindedly. Looking up from my notebook, I sigh. "Penny and the other asura users don''t want to look into it, despite Mary''s best efforts. They said we''re exaggerating and should focus on our jobs." Not that I can blame them, though. As far as they''re concerned, I''m not even alive. And they''re not entirely wrong. What the hell can I do as a lowly tier 1 Essevian? The only thing I have going for me is my sentience and control over my body, but even that is compromised. I can''t use my asura either¡ªall thanks to certain parasites who won''t lift a finger unless I force them to." "Are you sure it''s not an accident?" Travis suggests, twirling his fork. "Maybe someone just forgot to remove the arrow." "Maybe," I reply, looking down at the arrow on my plate. It still doesn''t explain the light asura-infused arrow. Light asura is difficult to find and create, especially in large quantities. How could anyone forget to take it out? Even if it didn''t touch my core, I could have permanently lost a limb. Regeneration isn''t going to help with that. "If it makes you feel any better," Travis continues, "I didn''t detect any scents on the crossbow. At least not during this expedition. No one has been tampering with its ammunition." Shrugging, I tap the pen against my notebook. The asura might have interfered with it. Light asura can distort smells even in small amounts. The scents might have been erased by it. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "Travis," I look at him, "You don''t have much experience with light asura, right?" Flicking out his tongue, Travis places a hand under his head. "Mostly small bits of it when I was younger." Something flashes through his eyes as he hunches into himself. "Quite ironic how they use it, considering how you humans symbolize the thing." "What do you mean by that?" Narrowing his eyes, Travis sighs and rubs his shoulders. Suddenly standing up, he stretches his arms before turning to me. "If you see him, tell Matthew I''m sleeping and not to bother me," he says firmly, then pauses, staring at the ground in concentration. "Actually, just say I''m busy with a project. He knows better than to bug me during that." "Already? Didn''t you say you could handle a bit of extra work?" I ask him. "Mental exhaustion, idiot," Travis rolls his eyes and snorts. "I need time to relax and unwind. It''s not like I''m a robot or one of those lifeless animated armors." "Animated armors? Well, that''s a funny comparison." But a very accurate one. I remember meeting one back in my academy days. He embodied every stereotype about animated armor. If there''s one good thing that came out of my transformation, it''s not having to endure another lecture about laws." Rolling his shoulders, he huffs, "Pfft, those lugnuts are basically robots with how lifeless they are. The ones in Aequitas Guild are even worse." He drags a hand down his face and lets out a groan. "Trust me, I''ve met one before. He lectured me to death about laws, justice systems, and a bunch of other nonsense just because I accidentally littered in a public space." That''s weird. That''s the same name as the animated armor I met. Maybe Travis is talking about a different one? "Well, I''m off to bed now," Travis yawns as he slowly slithers away. "Don''t let the bed bugs bite you." He pauses, smirking at me. "No, wait, let them. I need the extra protein." Chuckling at his joke, Travis continues on his way. Glad to see someone is going to have a good time. Meanwhile, all that awaits me is countless sleepless nights.
''Puak!'' ''Puak!'' ''Puak!'' The man continues to swing his pickaxe while I haul some of the ores into a cart. ''Puak!'' ''Puak!'' ''Puak!'' Pieces of stone break off, tumbling to the ground as the man pauses in his mining and wipes his forehead. Mentally urging my tentacles to lower themselves, I cautiously approach him. With narrowed eyes, he thrusts a cart of ores towards me. I grasp the cart''s handle and push it toward a table where some porters are stationed. They promptly take the ores, inspecting and cleaning them with care. After the cart is empty, I return it to the man. My tentacles continue to drag behind me, incessantly reminding me of my hunger.
If these parasites tentacles won''t help, they could at least be quiet. "Beatrice!" Mary''s voice calls from behind. "Do you mind harvesting some of the plants over there?" She points towards a rocky wall covered in vegetation. "We''re a bit behind on that." "Sure," I reply. Thank goodness. I could use a break, but harvesting some flora beats mining any day. "Thank you," Mary says, brushing some mud off her face. "I wish they wouldn''t be so adamant about meeting the quotas for minerals and plants. It might be a while before we get a break, with how short-staffed we are." "It''s okay. You did your best under the circumstances," I reassure her, glancing around. All around me, the porters are engrossed in their work, their clothes caked with deep layers of dirt and their faces etched with exhaustion. This turned out better than I anticipated, considering the extra work Frowning, I place a hand under my chin. Come to think of it, things haven''t been so bad since Mary took over. Oddly enough, I didn''t even notice when she assumed leadership until recently. It''s almost as if it became natural like it was meant to happen. Strangely, I feel relieved. That can''t be normal. "Mary!" a woman calls out cheerfully as she walks toward her. "Are you coming to the celebration this evening?" "Wouldn''t miss it for the world," Mary replies with a smile, then turns to me. "Are you coming as well?" The porters who had invited Mary suddenly grow pale, their faces showing discomfort and their eyes filled with disdain as they glance at me. "I''m going to get started on harvesting now," I say quickly, slowly backing away. "Wouldn''t want the asura hunters to see us as lazy." They will still see us as lazy either way, but it''s good enough as an excuse. Swiftly moving away, I traverse past several porters engrossed in harvesting their plants. A subtle wave of amusement emanates through our bond, accompanied by an amusing mental image of me awkwardly retreating. Right, and somehow a couple of tentacles can do better. Pulses of confirmation rang out through the bond. As I walk by, someone comments, "The porters sure are more organized these days. I haven''t seen this in quite a while." "Yeah," replies the person next to them, "It can be annoying at times, but at least we don''t have to watch out for dissenters constantly." Huh. So even the guards have noticed the change as well. The two guards turn a corner and continue on their way. Once they''re gone, one of the porters holds something to the light. A strong smell of rotten eggs fills my nostrils, making my head spin. What is that smell? "Doesn''t this look kind of weird?" the porter mutters to the person beside them. "I mean, these things don''t often grow here, especially in this kind of terrain." Moving closer, I quietly observe the plant. The mushroom is as dark as coal with a rocky-like surface, and it has a few cracks that reveal a reddish, magma-like glow. Isn''t that a Ucroil? I thought they only grew in warmer environments or places with fire asura. What is it doing here? "Maybe it''s from the last time this dungeon got unstable," Another porter comments tiredly. "The previous expedition was pretty sloppy with their work. They probably missed it, just like everything else that went wrong." That''s true, but I thought the dungeon''s asura drastically decreased without changing its element to fire. Something prods at my back like an insistent slap from the bond, urging me to ''get on with it''. Mentally pushing the tentacles away, I move forward. Maybe I''m just being paranoid. Seeing shadows where there are none. Besides, who would listen to a sleep-deprived, melodramatic Essevian anyway? Chapter 7 I pull the gloves off my hands and place them on a nearby boulder. They are speckled with melted spots and soaked in fluids. A sense of disgust courses through me as the tentacles nearby wipe themselves with a towel. After the expedition, I need to buy a few more pairs of gloves. Putting on a new coat, the fabric lightly grazes across my palm, causing a sharp, tingling pain from the scrapes. After buttoning it, I glance down at my hands: one is covered in blisters, its skin redder than a cherry; the other shows cracks along its bony surface. The blood must be more acidic than I thought, given the extent of damage to my skeletal hand. It could have been even worse without Essevian regeneration. I''ll need to apply healing jelly, just to be safe. I cringe and sigh, feeling a persistent pounding at the back of my head. A new coat, gloves, and possibly a fresh jar of healing jelly. Feels like I''ve thrown a few bucks down the drain. I take the blood-stained clothes and shove them into a specialized bag, tying it closed. From the corner of my eye, I spot a tentacle retreating from the backpack with a jar filled with yellow jelly. Mentally slapping them, I snatch the container away, feeling a pulse of annoyance through our bond at my action. Parasitic troublemakers. I swear, these guys can''t do anything other than cause a nuisance. "Oi, Beatrice!" Travis suddenly says from behind, making me flinch. "If you take too long, there won''t be any scraps left for you." Swiftly standing up, I turn to face him. "Travis. I thought you hated surprises." How long has he been there, and why didn''t the tentacles warn me? The memory of when I snatched the jar from a tentacle suddenly plays out in my head. Wincing at the intrusion, I mentally shove it aside. Ah... of course. These tentacles are pettier than some back at the academy. At least I wasn''t stuck with them 24/7. "Not when it''s directed at me, no," Travis smirks, puffing out his chest. "Besides, this is payback for last time." "Right," I mutter, struggling to keep my eyes open. Isn''t that just a bit hypocritical?... But fair enough. I was pretty rude to him the last time we interacted. I''m surprised he hadn''t chucked me through a wall because of it. "Come on," Travis waves at me to follow as he slithers away. "We''ll be left with scraps if you keep standing there." Without a word, I follow him as we pass several porters. Some give us the stink eye, while others quickly veer away at the sight of Travis. The cobra doesn''t seem to notice or care, glancing to his left where a stack of sweatboxes stands. It''s only been a few days, and there''s still this much Essevian in the sweatboxes. Why don''t they ever learn? It''s easier to give in than be trapped in one of them. "So, Beatrice," Travis begins, scratching his head, "Do you mind offering some insight on why a certain project of mine isn''t working?" "Sorry, but I can''t," I answer, looking away. "I have a lot of things going on in my life." I can''t shake the sense that someone is trying to murder me even weeks after the incident. And I still haven''t sorted out my feelings from last time. I do enjoy feeling useful, but I''m hesitant to continue. It might be a trick or have some hidden agenda. Besides, why would Travis need to ask me? He could have just threatened me instead. He doesn''t act like those types of snakes. "Travis glances at me from the corner of his eye. ''You do realize that putting off sleep isn''t going to help, right?'' "What?" I blink at him. "You haven''t been getting enough sleep for several days," Travis says, pointing a claw in my face. "Don''t even try to deny it. You literally reek of exhaustion. Heck, I can probably smell it from within a forest." Trying not to slap his claw away, I push Travis''s finger out of my face. Agreement rings through the bond at the cobra''s statement. Nosy cobra. He should mind his own business. "I am not dripping from exhaustion!" I insist before inhaling deeply. "I do sleep. The work is tiring enough that it can''t be cured with a good night''s rest." Granted, I mostly fall asleep when I''m completely spent, but it counts. Plus, my thoughts are somewhat coherent; I expend more energy burying undesirable thoughts than sleeping. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Okay, if you say so," Travis sighs, shrugging his shoulders. "I guess this is unrelated to the sleeping problem, but are you aware we''re currently in line?" Wait, what? Turning away from Travis, I look ahead and am met with someone''s back. Glancing to the side, I see a long line of porters waiting for their food. Huh. Guess I got a little bit distracted. "Whether or not you have trouble sleeping, maybe ask some of the Aequitas Hunters for something to help with it," Travis suggests as we shuffle forward when the porter in front moves up. "Seeing blood and viscera every day can mess some people up." Right, let''s go up to them and be buddies. Was he born yesterday or something? "I didn''t know you have so much faith in Aequitas," I say, moving forward as the person ahead of me shuffles forward. "Considering how most humanoid reptilians feel about them." At that, Travis loudly snorts and rolls his eyes. "We don''t. Their reputation is much better among lizardmen." He must really be a newbie. Even though Aequitas treatment is significantly better, it doesn''t quite match up with porters, especially Essevian. Why would anyone like Essevians? Especially those borned ones. I can''t even blame them for that. If possible, I''d try to turn back time and prevent my transformation. "I know that look," Travis says as the person ahead of us starts getting their food. "No, I am not a newbie." "It''s okay to admit it, you know. I think your pride could handle a few hits," I reply bluntly. Shoot. That wasn''t meant to come out. I am not." "Let me guess. You''re someone with skills that could qualify you as an asura hunter, yet here you are, choosing to be a porter on this expedition," I say. "Probably because you find pleasure in pain and exhaustion." ...That wasn''t meant to come out, either. I must be having a death wish. Massaging my temple, I turn toward Travis. "My apologies, I didn''t mean-" Travis rushes forward as soon as the person ahead of us leaves. He quickly says something to the food server, grabs his ration and slips away. What was up with his reaction? I didn''t expect him to slink away like that. Should I be suspicious? I grab a paper plate and hold it out as the server begins scooping something onto it. Maybe what I said hit home and he''s running away because of it. Is he more powerful than your average porter? Blinking my eyes several times, I shake my head. The lack of sleep must be affecting me more than I realized. Who in their right mind would choose to be a porter when there are better options? Unless he''s a masochist. ''Plop!'' As a brown sludge plops onto my plate, the server hurriedly ushers me away. Despite this, a sense of happiness emanates from our connection. As I move on, tentacles extend forward, inspecting the food left behind. Continuing my walk, I pass a group of porters engaged in beating an Essevian. ''Bam!'' ''Pak!'' ''Kek!'' "Damn, bastard! Stuffing your face with food while the rest of us are starving!" Nearby Essevians coincidentally look away, engrossed in their tasks. ''Bam!'' ''Pak!'' ''Kek!'' "He should have shared if he got some food." ''Bam!'' ''Pak!'' ''Kek!'' "I bet he stole them from someone else." Quickening my pace, I avoid glancing back at the scene. The tentacles hunch close to my body, attempting to appear non-threatening. Moving towards a lone, tree-shaped rock, I climb atop it. Settling among its branches, I observe the surroundings below. Thank goodness for this tree at our temporary camping spot. It helps me keep watch for potential attacks and conflicts that could escalate later. Too bad it can''t cure stupidity. Why didn''t I do this on Trevor''s last dungeon? "Mary!" a random porter greets the old woman as she comes into view. "You''re back! How did the meeting with the others go?" The porter''s brown hair is matted with dirt and his freckled skin shows signs of wear. He pulls Mary into a tight hug before letting go. "Oh, you know how it is, George," Mary sighs, waving her arms above her head. "I swear it''s like I''m talking to a brick wall!" She lowers her hands and turns towards him. "Did anything happen while I was away?" "Well, Ollie is complaining about the lack of resources as usual. There have been several fights, including a brawl between some lizardmen that I managed to break up," George answers, scratching his head. "Things haven''t been looking good lately. Everyone seems a bit more on edge than usual." Mumbling under her breath, Mary takes out a clipboard and begins jotting things down. What is she writing down? Waving my hand in the air, I attempt to reach the asura within my body, but I encounter only a wall of emptiness. Mentally withdrawing, I frown and then clench my fingers in frustration. Right. I can''t do that anymore. It''s something so simple. I didn''t even think I would miss it. "Since no porters will volunteer, I''ll take inventory," Mary suddenly said with a sigh. "They say Penny needs it by the end of this week." "Can''t you just have someone else do it?" George suggested. "Better yet, have one of those Asura hunters handle it. It''s thrusting undesirable work on us that''s outside our job description and having the gall to call us lazy." "Calm down, George, you''re going to have a seizure. Besides, not all of them are that bad." "Uh-huh, right. Do you want me to help?" "Oh no, it''s fine. I can handle it." While continuing to watch their exchange, goosebumps prickling my back. A strange, unexplainable feeling of eyes boring into my soul. Quickly standing up, I launch myself off the branches and tumble to the ground. ''Smak!'' ''Crak!'' Crashing into a thick bush, I wrestle within its branches before scrambling to my feet. As I brush the leaves off me, I awkwardly glance up. Mary and the man beside her are staring at me with wide eyes. The air between them crackles with something akin to tension. Damn it. How do I get out of this? They''ll probably be suspicious. What if they report me to the team leader and I end up in a sweatbox? "Looks like you have your volunteer, Mary," the man chuckles. "Didn''t you say you wanted a helping hand? Might as well train her to take over some of your duties." That''s not what I...expected. "Wouldn''t it feel like we''re forcing her?" Mary asks, turning toward me. "Also, are you okay?" "Nah, I''m pretty sure she volunteered," George says, approaching me. "I mean, she falls over herself to help you. Quite literally in this case." He claps me on the back and pushes me forward. "Besides, she seems smart, or at least patient enough to do inventory." I guess that''s not too bad of a punishment. This must be a trick. Trying to lure me into a false sense of security before striking. Raising my hand, I suppress a sigh. "I know how to do inventory. Just let me know if you have any specific preferences on how you want it done." Chapter 7 p2 As I occasionally glance up, I scribble in my notebook, feeling boredom emanating through the bond while a tentacle continues to poke my shoulder. Hunter can effortlessly create fire using asura, suggesting a strong affinity for pyromancy. ''Fak!'' ''Fak!'' ''Fak!''
In the distance, an Asura hunter lit several bundles of twigs underneath the cauldrons. His rapid-fire blasts suggest two possibilities: either he possesses a significant reservoir of asura energy within his asura organ, or he exhibits exceptional control over his asura. Storing spells in advance would also demand considerable mastery. Further information is needed to make a definitive assessment. As I write, the notebook''s pages slowly fill with ink blemishes. Breathing out a long sigh, I choose to ignore them. I wish I had my tablet; whenever I write on paper, there''s always a pencil or ink mark. "Beatrice!" Mary suddenly calls out from below. "Are you here?" She spins around slowly, muttering, "Where in the world is she?" Quietly descending, I tap Mary on the shoulder. She jolts and quickly turns around. "You sure have a habit of disappearing," Mary remarks before letting out a sigh. "Did you finish doing inventory?" "Yes," I say, handing her the clipboard. "There might still be some errors, so I advise you to look over it." "Nonsense," Mary waves her hand as she takes the clipboard. "I haven''t heard any explosions, so it must be better than most of my helpers." She motions for me to lean down before whispering, "As long as you didn''t accidentally set off a box of Ucroil, then you''re good." Giving her a small frown, I look off to the side. For inventory? How does anyone accidentally set off a crate of Ucroil? "The harvested meat and plants are categorized by their spoil date. Basic medical supplies and food are on the second page, with items running out highlighted in red. They are organized alphabetically if you need to find something." Handing the notebook and pen to a tentacle, I have it put them inside my backpack. "I''ve checked it over several times, but you should still review the list just to be sure." "You did a really great job," Mary says, glancing up. "Where did you learn how to do this?" A warm feeling flutters within my chest, and I shrug my shoulders. "I just have a lot of practice with it." "Maybe I should have you teach others this, sometimes," Mary chuckles. "Most of my volunteers aren''t quite good with numbers." As she starts to walk, I follow her. Is there anything else she wants me to do, or am I free to go? Maybe she hasn''t gotten over the fact that I spied on her. There''s a persistent prompting from the tentacles on my side of the bond. They nudge at something in the back of my head. I push them away before mentally erecting several barriers. "Hey Mary," a random porter greets her as we pass by. "Hey there," Mary says, handing them the clipboard. "Do you mind giving this to Penny for me?" "Sure! Are you still up for the party tonight?" "Yep, life is short, after all," Mary smiles. "Might as well live it up." While continuing to stand there, I watch the two exchange pleasantries before Mary decides to move on. There sure had been a lot of parties. Where are they getting the supplies for that? "I never took you for a party person," I casually say as several other porters greet Mary from afar. Mary sure is friendly with a lot of people. "I don''t usually participate in parties," Mary says while waving at another group of porters. "There''s just this strange feeling I''ve had over these past few days." "Strange feelings?" "I''m not sure how to explain it. Not without sounding crazy," she mutters, tapping her chin in contemplation. ''Bang!'' ''Crak!'' Two lizardmen crash in front of us, wrestling with each other. Quickly dodging to the side, I avoid a punch heading my way. "Alright, break it up, you two!" Mary yells, separating them. "What in the world happened?" Both lizardmen stand slightly taller than a human toddler, their eyes bulging out of their sockets. They glare at each other before one breaks eye contact and turns toward Mary. "He purposefully invaded my space!" the lizardman accuses, pointing his finger. "I know he was the one who treads mud all over the place!" "How can you prove it? Everything you say is a lie, like when you stole the ration I have been saving up!" the other lizard yells back. "Did not!" "Did too!" "Okay, let''s take a step back here and figure out what''s going on," Mary turns to one of the lizardmen. "Is there any evidence that he tread mud all over your place?" She looks at the other lizard. "And can you prove that he stole your ration?" "Well, I saw my tent was covered in mud when I returned," the lizardman states. "He wouldn''t answer any of my questions." "I have food in my mouth!" the other lizard remarks. "How do you think I can answer with a full mouth?" "Let''s not get off task. Did the muddy prints look like they match his?" Mary questions. "Haven''t really checked." "Go do that first, and we''ll try to resolve the issue." Crossing her arms, Mary glances at the other lizardman. "What about you?" The lizardman lowers his head, scratching the back of his neck. "He was close to my space." "Alright, try to find evidence before checking back with me." Watching the lizardman go, Mary sighs and slowly shakes her head. That wasn''t a bad way to handle the situation. Maybe that''s why so many porters didn''t object much when she became our unofficial leader. "Honestly," Mary says, placing a hand on her forehead, "I wish they had talked things out before it erupted into a fight." Stolen novel; please report. "They''re Tiki reptile men," I add, turning toward Mary and scanning her up and down. "They''re usually more territorial and aggressive around their own kind." Considering how Mary intervenes in their fights unscathed, they must have a very favorable impression of her. It''s not just them; many other people have similar sentiments. Perhaps that''s how she''s managed to survive for so long. "I do notice they look different from the other lizardmen," Mary mutters. "I didn''t realize they would act differently from the ones we usually see." I shrug my shoulders. "Not everyone has interactions with different types of lizardmen, so it''s easy to make a mistake." Surviving through the use of connection sounds so simple and flimsy on paper that many wouldn''t have considered it. It seems more effective than I thought if Mary can utilize it. Perhaps it would be a good idea to watch and learn how she does it. "I gotta hurry and finish my work. Don''t want to miss tonight''s celebration," Mary says somewhat tiredly but happily. "Are you coming to the party as well?" Glancing to the side, I avoid her eyes. "I am busy with something later on." "Well, that''s a shame. Just know that you''re welcome to come if you change your mind." Through the bond, the tentacles send out various mismatched movie clips that read: ''Ask. Her. to. Leave. dolt.'' That sounds too easy. Is it going to work? "Thanks. Is it alright for me to go now?" I ask, pointing with my thumb at a random place behind me. "Oh yeah, sure. Go ahead," Mary replies, shrugging her shoulders before walking away. ...Oh wow. That actually works. Smugness instantly emanates from the bond.
An encompassing smoke blankets the entire meadow, with embers lazily drifting in the wind. Bodies litter the ground, painting it a stark red. ''Boom!'' A blast struck several of the rock monsters, momentarily confusing them. Seizing the opportunity, I dashed towards one of the fallen bodies¡ªa boy with hair matted in dirt and streaked with blood. I recognize him; he''s one of the boys from my class. Placing my fingers on his neck, I search for a pulse. "Koeff!" The boy coughs, choking on a handful of blood as his eyes snap wide open. Breathing out a sigh of relief, I move my hand to his chest. The smooth sensation of asura flows through my arms as I reach towards the boy''s wounds. One of his hands quickly grabs my wrist and holds it in place. "Please..." His body shudders and curls as he coughs, "Please...tell my sister...I love her." "Tell her yourself," I gently remove his hand from my wrist, "You''re going to make it out of here alive." He chuckles faintly, a hazy look passing over his eyes. "I think we both know it''s too late for that." ''Boom!'' A flash of light engulfs the entire meadow, leaving everything blinded in white. Opening my eyes, I quickly sit up. Annoyance and anger immediately surge through the bond as some tentacles nuzzle against the blanket. Tomorrow is going to be a long day; this is already the fifth time! Slowly emerging from my sleeping bag, I survey the scene. A group of porters has gathered around a large fire, their laughter echoing in the distance. That looks...festive A cold breeze sweeps past, sending goosebumps down my skin. Nearby, tentacles gather and roll into a giant ball. I glance at the campfire and then at my sleeping bag before turning my attention back to the group of porters. I won''t be able to fall asleep anytime soon, so I might as well occupy myself with something¡ªmaybe see if they have some food lying around. Cautiously looking around, I climb down from my ledge jutting out of the dungeon''s wall. When my feet touch the ground, I walk slowly toward the campfire. With each step, the chatter of conversation grows louder. "Do you think she''s going to say yes?" "No, no, no. Kbumquek is a better alternative than Kibumpquek for the recipe." "Eh, no wonder you''re single with a face like that." "When in doubt, add bacon. Or something like that. I honestly can''t remember." "Cat got your tongue? What do you say we go somewhere?" The man said as the lady beside him laughed. Without acknowledging my presence, they cut in front of me. A few tentacles curled themselves into what looked like a fist and waved it at the couple. Slowly shaking my head, I continue walking until I stop a few feet away from the campfire. Mary sits on a tree trunk, engrossed in conversation with the others. Some are joking around, creating strange shadow puppets, or comically imitating a monster. "Alright, next one," George says, placing both hands on his head. With his two front teeth on display, he resembles a deer with a rat''s snout. "George," Ollie mutters, not looking up from his reading. "Unless you want to star as the next budget-cut bunny man in a horror movie, you''ll stop doing that right now." He flips through the book''s pages. "And no, I won''t be fixing it when it happens." Mary and the lizard lady beside her laugh as the two men start bickering. They seem...happy and at ease with each other... It''s been a while since I felt that way. "When the drill goes down!" Trevor sang in an off-pitch tone, "All the nearby people drown. They cough and bleed as they plead to the sky above, but it doesn''t save them from the gas''s choking love." Trevor continued strumming his guitar, making random mismatched noises with it. "Two hundred million fish suddenly decide to go on land¡ªAck!" A pillow hit his face, cutting him off mid-sentence. Stifling a laugh, I held my hand near the fire, letting its warmth wash through me. "Oh my god, please go to sleep already! I can''t take it anymore!" Lana yelled, burying her face into the pillow. "My eardrums are bleeding!" With an offended look, Trevor rubbed the spot where he was hit. "I know it''s not my greatest work, but I can get better with practice." "At your level," Jack deadpanned, shaking his head. "Yeah, no, I''ll be lucky if I can find someone who buys recordings of your singing. Might work if I advertise it as a weapon instead." Liam glanced up from polishing his sword and pulled two wads of cotton from his ears. "I think it sounds great," Kim said lifelessly beside Trevor, her face paler than the moon. "Shh, Kim," Lana interjected, "I know he''s your boyfriend, but you don''t have to pretend to like it. We all know it''s worse than torture." "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I''ve never felt so reassured in my skills," Trevor sarcastically remarked. "You guys are the best main team a leader could ever have." "Ya welcome, bud," Lana flashed him a thumbs-up. "But seriously, the lyrics need fixing. I''d be embarrassed if I were the one who wrote it. Ha! I''d toss myself into the nearest volcano!" "Those lyrics were written by our ancestors during The Asura Metamorphosis. You can''t just go spit on their graves like that!" A sudden constricting feeling tightens around my chest as I watch the porters from my vantage point, happily chatting with each other. The campfire''s warmth barely reaches my skin as gusts of wind pass by me. Years ago, I would have done anything to avoid hearing Trevor''s singing, but unfortunately, it happened every single day at least once. Now? I would sacrifice anything to have one more moment like that again. As Mary briefly looks away from her conversation, our eyes meet. A smile slowly spreads across her face as she stands up and comes over to me. "Hey, Beatrice," Mary says with a smile, stopping in front of me. "I''m so glad you came." Leaning in closer, she whispers, "Things were starting to get chaotic. I need someone with all their brain cells intact." "Oh, I understand. I didn''t mean to intrude. I''ll leave now," I respond quickly, beginning to walk away. "Nonsense!" Mary exclaims, gripping my wrist to halt me. "Come on, I need to introduce you to everyone." With that, she starts leading me toward the campfire. Conversation halts momentarily as I approach, and some eyes follow me with expressions ranging from disgust to pity. After a short walk, Mary gestures for me to sit next to Ollie before settling down herself. "I don''t think you''ve met her yet, but this is Beatrice," Mary introduces to the lizard lady. "Arbora, meet Beatrice." Arbora looks up from her sharp, pinprick-like claws. Her wide mouth and light scales resemble tree bark. "By the blisters on my grandmama''s foot, what happened to half of that girl''s face?" Arbora covers her mouth with a hand, pointing at me. "It looks like it''s been carved clean of any skin. How in the world can you walk around like that?" I meet her gaze with half-lidded eyes and shrug. The tentacles behind me shift at my movement, prompting a displeased pulse from the bond. I got used to it after a while. Kind of. "What kind of question even is that, Arbora?" Mary asks with an agape mouth. "What? I''m asking what we''re all thinking about. Don''t you want to know?" "Even if I want to know, it''s none of my business." "But you didn''t deny it, either." As I watch them argue, a tentacle lifts a camera recorder. ...Where in the world did the tentacles get a camera recorder from? Ollie quietly closes his book and turns toward me. "Please excuse my... companions,'' he says, gesturing towards Mary and Arbora. "They''re good people and lizards, but can be dunces at times." "It''s fine,'' I say, raising both hands. "I don''t mind it too much." Oddly enough, I genuinely mean it. It brings back memories of better times, I suppose. I miss them. "I can''t help but notice you have a medical book in your hands," I say, glancing at Ollie as he looks down at it. "I need to brush up in case something happens," he replies. I was a little worried there, but I guess that makes sense. It''s better than expected since most people who hire porters barely provide medical care. Regardless of my opinions on Aequitas, they are usually well-liked for a reason. "Why would I know about a bunch of loners?" Arbora loudly huffs, interrupting my thoughts. "Those Tikki Lizards or whatever they are, nothing better than the dirt under my feet. I can never understand why any lizardman would reject building their community. Bunch of disgrace, if you ask me." "So you really don''t know about them?" Mary asks beside her. As others around me continue to converse, I sit there in silence. Chapter 8 "That should be the last of it," Mary sighs in relief, wiping a hand across her forehead. "There sure has been a lot of work these days." As sweat runs down her skin, Mary starts cracking her joints. Her body is covered from head to toe in thick soot and grime, her clothes matted with various fluids and small tears in the fabric. She''s like a monster. Despite being half my height, Mary can lift objects much heavier than her. If I hadn''t witnessed her strength firsthand, I might have mistaken her for a hunter in disguise. Years of working as a porter must have honed her abilities. Clicking the pen in my hand, I start scribbling on my clipboard. A sense of neutrality emanates from the bond as tentacles scan for threats behind me. ''Crack!'' ''Crack!'' ''Crack!'' "Ah, that''s better!" Mary exclaims, bending her wrist in an awkward position. That makes my spine crawl. I''ve never understood why someone would willingly crack their joints. Lana always seems to enjoy doing it, though. "Aren''t you feeling hot with that jacket on?" Mary asks, walking up beside me. "Do you want to take it off? I could help you put it away." "No, I''m alright. Thanks for asking," I reply, turning toward her and shaking my head quickly. It''s hot wearing a coat, but I feel more comfortable with it on. I''ll take it off when the heat becomes too much to handle. "Say, do you have anything else that needs to be done?" I ask. Placing a hand under her chin, Mary looks up at the ceiling. "There are a few things, but most of them don''t need to be done right away." She picks up a crate and starts to move away. "I''m going to see what else needs to be done in the meantime." "I''ll come with you," I say, quickly following after her. "I can help if needed." "That''s really sweet of you, Beatrice, but I don''t want you to push yourself." "Oh no, it''s my pleasure. I want to help you." After all, it''s my job to observe how Mary interacts with others. I haven''t been sticking to her side for nothing these past few days. If she can survive this long through connection, I should learn from her. It could be useful later on." Mary sighs as she walks. "Alright, if you''re sure." ''Ckinkle!'' ''Ckinkle!'' ''Ckinkle!'' A striped lizardman passes by, pushing a cart full of Ucroil. "Hey, As''ryik!" Mary greets. The lizardman gives her a curt nod. That type of lizard does not acknowledge people it doesn''t respect. Perhaps that''s why Mary greets everyone who passes her. "There sure had been many of those hanging around the dungeon," Mary remarks, briefly glancing at the cart behind her. "A suspicious amount if you ask me." So I''m not the only one who has noticed. "Hmm? Isn''t that normal?" I casually ask, slowing down my walking. "The environment in this dungeon seems suitable for fire asura." "No, I''ve been to this dungeon several times already," Mary states firmly. "Ucroil isn''t hard to find anywhere, but the amount we harvested is alarming." Her brow furrows as she continues, "The asura here, when stable, tends to be more neutral rather than the spicy hint we''ve been experiencing lately." "So you''re suspecting the dungeon is becoming unstable." "Yes, but it''s only a D rank; the changes shouldn''t be too dangerous," Mary mutters quietly. "Even if it does, we should still have enough time to evacuate." Strange, it feels as if she''s trying to reassure herself. Waving her hand at some porters, Mary turns toward me. Her eyes scan my face before looking past me. "You do realize that I''m not going to bite your head off for suspecting the dungeon''s asura is unstable, right?" I clutch the clipboard tighter. "I''m sorry?" How in the world did she know?! She''s not a mind reader, from what I can tell. Did she somehow get in here? No, I would have sensed it if someone''s asura lightly grazed across my head. My so-called brother helped me with that plenty. "Your eyes were flicking around nervously, and the tentacles connected to you subconsciously respond to how you feel," Mary explains, gesturing at my back. "We''ve been teammates for several weeks; it would be strange for me not to notice." Anger mixed with surprise suddenly emanates through the bond. "I think you''re mistaken, Mary," I say, smiling at her. "How could I, a low-tier Essevian, tell if a dungeon is becoming unstable? We can''t feel it in our environment like you." If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Staring at me with pity in her eyes and a somewhat amused smile, Mary slowly shakes her head. "From one porter to another, try to let down your walls a bit. While being cautious of your surroundings is good, it''s not healthy to always be on guard. Maybe get to know some of the other porters." "I am fine, Mary," I say, clenching my jaw. "Besides, I prefer to be by myself." "Preference or self-isolation? Either way, you still need some positive interaction with others. How about Travis? You guys seem to like each other." Avoiding her gaze, I stare down at the clipboard in my hands. "Look, Beatrice, I''m worried about you. I don''t want you to end up like me at some point." "Mary!" A voice calls out from a distance. "Some asura hunters are causing problems with the Essevians." "Oh, for the love of," Mary loudly sighs. "I swear, it happens every month. Newbie asura hunters who think they''re all that." Dragging a hand down her face, she swiftly turns around. "I''ll be there." As Mary is about to run off, she looks back at me. "Just think about what I said, alright? We''ll have to pick up this conversation later."
Is it safe for me to sit here exposed, without any cover from potential attacks? With my back against the wall, I sit on a large boulder while Mary and Arbora are seated on the floor nearby. Several porters around us are setting up their tents or laying out sleeping bags. "This isn''t what I had in mind when I said we''d continue this conversation later," Mary complains as Arbora picks at something in her hair. "And remind me why I''m here again?" "Oh, hush, you," Arbora chides, digging through Mary''s hair. "Why is it such a mess?! Don''t you humans usually take better care of your fur?" "We''re in a dungeon. When would I have time to fix my hair? I could barely manage to wash myself." Silently observing the exchange, I sip the tea in my hand. A sweet, floral scent wafts into my nose as the tangy liquid flows over my tongue. A tentacle nudges me, seeking a taste. Well, at least this makes up for it. It doesn''t taste half bad. Probably the best I''ve had in years. "How in the world do I expect to attract, hmm," Arbora hums thoughtfully. "What''s that word you humans like to use... ah yes, a husband?" "Why does that matter?" Mary asks. "Isn''t that the end goal?" Shifting from her spot, Mary tries to dislodge Arbora''s hands. "Not for me. I don''t think I''m ready for that kind of responsibility yet." Mary winces as Arbora tugs rather harshly at a strand of hair. "I still have a couple of years left in me. Heh, I haven''t even accomplished all my goals yet." Glancing down, my reflection stares back at me from the surface of the tea. I don''t think I have much of a goal beyond surviving. One of the tentacles suddenly holds up the camera recorder and starts filming. There''s a pulse of happiness radiating from the bond. "Eh, your choice," Arbora huffs. "But if you change your mind, I could hook you up with someone." Using her tail, Arbora grabs a picture and presents it to Mary. "Look at this lizard. He''s not too bad. His scales are somewhat dull and less colorful than I would like, but he''s quite fast on his feet and pretty strong." Mary only spares a glance at the picture before pushing it away. "That''s nice... Not really what I''m looking for, to be honest." "What more do you need to look for?" "I don''t know, maybe someone with a personality? Someone funny?" The camera recorder shakes as the tentacle holding it vibrates with amusement. This feels rather private. Perhaps I should excuse myself and investigate where the tentacle acquired the camera recorder. "Bah, picky," Arbora turns her head toward me and licks her snout. "Hey, uh, you, Essevian, do you have someone you like?" Blinking rapidly, I stare at her, mouth slightly open. "Excuse me?" I give Arbora a sidelong glance. "Sorry, Beatrice," Mary apologizes, glaring at the lizard behind her. "Arbora meant to ask if you have any romantic interests." "Nope, that''s-" Arbora suddenly hunches over, hand on her abdomen. I watch her for a moment before turning back to Mary. Rolling my shoulders, I stare at the soles of my boots. "I did have a small interest in someone when I was younger." "Hey, Beatrice, do you mind looking this over for me?" Trevor catches up hurriedly beside me. "I''d like to hear your opinion on it." "That''s..." Mary hesitates momentarily as she helps Arbora up. "Quite a surprise." I shrug. "It was inevitable." "What was he like?" Mary asks. "Greetings, everyone! It is I!" Trevor salutes dramatically, but his oversized top hat promptly falls. "Oh, fudge, hang on." "Nothing special," I mutter. "Just someone who likes making music." While Trevor wasn''t musically talented, he had a knack for drawing people in. Perhaps it was his compassion. "Come on, guys, give her some space." A boy with brown hair pushes through the crowd and crouches near me. "Hi, I''m Trevor. What''s your name?" Perhaps Trevor would have been better off if he had never had the misfortune to meet me. Digging the heels of my boots into the dirt, I clutch the cup tighter between my hands. "So?" Arbora persists, despite Mary''s glare. "What happened?" Glancing up, I shrug. "He''s taken." "And?" "I got over it." "What?" Shock immediately ripples through the bond as a tentacle fumbles to catch the camera recorder. "It wasn''t easy at first, but I gradually let go of my feelings for him," I explain, watching as disbelief spreads across Arbora''s face. "It wouldn''t have been healthy for our relationship in the long run, so we talked it out and set up boundaries." Although it was sad then, I think it''s all for the better, though I''m still somewhat embarrassed about it. While scratching the top of her head, Arbora glances from Mary to me. "Well, that''s interesting to know how humans court each other," Arbora remarks, her tail swishing back and forth, lightly sending dust into the air. "It''s quite bizarre and miraculous how you humans even managed to thrive as a species." The tentacles conveyed their agreement through the bond, assembling clips of films that state: ''Humans. your body is weak. but we''re thriving! somehow. Omg, that''s an Essevian! those insects reproduce like rabbits. I can''t beat every you, Jerry.'' I''m not sure if I should feel reassured or threatened by that message. Mary opens her mouth to say something, then pauses. Placing a hand under her chin, she stares thoughtfully at Arbora''s back before shrugging. I meet her gaze with half-lidded eyes and raise an eyebrow. "I mean, Arbora kind of had a point," Mary says, turning towards me. "Somewhat." ''Bang!'' ''Crac!'' "Mary!" he gasps, trying to catch his breath. "There''s trouble. One of the Essevians is going wild." His eyes meet mine, and he flinches. There are scratch marks and what appears to be a stab wound on his ankle. "You''re bleeding," Mary observes, already tearing off a piece of her clothing. "We need to patch that up." "No time!" the man insists, brushing off Mary''s concern. "My asura is 3.69, an E rank. I''ll be fine. My body can take it, but the other porters¡­" He shakes his head vehemently. "Most are F-G rank, not so good." "Alright, explain on the way," Mary commands calmly. "Lead us." Nodding, he gestures for us to follow before taking off. Chapter 8 p2 "Make way!" Mary yells as she pushes through the front. "Coming through!" I follow, trying desperately to catch up while avoiding bumping into anyone. I look around at my surroundings after navigating through the crowd of porters. At the center of attention is an Essevian, swiping at anyone who gets too close, with a pool of black liquid gathering beneath him. His bloodshot eyes have pupils of an alarming red hue. A lizardman bursts through the crowd, lunging toward the Essevian. "No!" Mary shouts as the lizardman nears the Essevian. With a hiss, the Essevian rolls to the side and grabs the lizard''s tail, biting down and tearing the limb apart. As the two wrestle, my eyes follow a trail of black blood leading toward a nearby bush. Occasionally glancing at the battle, I swiftly approach the bush. The prickling sensation on my skin intensifies, emanating repulsion and disgust. Whatever is hiding in the bush seems to cause the Essevian''s aggression. It feels similar to the light-infused Asura arrow, but different¡ªmuch weaker and mixed with other unknown elements. "I''m going to borrow that for a moment," I say, snatching a nearby porter''s kitchen tongs. "Be right back." Edging closer to the bush, I concentrate, willing two tentacles to forcefully pull it apart. It reveals a limb covered in clumped-up black blood and various types of gunk. My stomach churns with nausea. For once, I''m somewhat thankful they decided to restrict all Essevians'' rations lately. With tongs in hand, I latch onto the limb and hold it to the light. Its shape resembles a long ribbon that''s flat like a paper but sharp as a blade. A small white light is mixed with black Essevian blood from the jagged cutoff. This was intentional: An Essevian''s tentacle requires significant force to tear off. While light asura can inflict severe damage, the small amount involved wouldn''t have been enough to sever it. If anything, the culprit repeatedly butchered it until the limb finally detached. As one of my tentacles pokes at the dead limb, the bond feels eerily hollow, devoid of any sensation. A buzzing feeling resonates through my ears, muffling nearly all other sounds. ''Shiek!'' ''Splurt!'' "Mary!" someone shrieks from behind me. "I''m fine!" Mary yells back, her voice strained. "Hand me a rope!" Swiftly turning around, I spot Mary pinning the aggressive Essevian to the ground, blood dripping from a deep claw mark on her arm. At the sight, a pounding sensation clouds my vision and rings through my head. On the ground lies an empty container with two distinct boot tracks imprinted on its surface. Nearby, a bush sports a sizable hole torn right through it. I blink rapidly, pressing a hand to my forehead. The fuzziness over my eyes quickly recedes. This is the second time this has happened. I don''t recall ever experiencing this before. What in the world is going on? A burning sensation washes over me as the bond quivers with the tentacles'' fury. Mentally distancing myself, I swiftly erect multiple barriers that partially dampen the intense anger. It seems like the tentacles don''t cause the memories. That anger feels similar to a few hours before the expedition when they decided to put up a mental barrier. "I was informed there''s a disturbance here," a blond-haired man asks as he approaches Mary. "Seems like that''s been taken care of." Isn''t he one of the asura hunters? The strange vision must have taken me out long enough for him to arrive. The man wore an armband over his sleeve adorned with an Aequitas symbol, and two silver stripes were embedded on the left corner of his chest armor. Fudge, one of the leaders in this expedition is here. If I thought my ration was sparse before, it''s going to be even more so after this incident. I glance at the Essevian pinned down by Mary. His eyes are shut tight and his mouth pulls back in a grimace. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He''s not getting out of this one unpunished. They''ll probably stuff him into one of those sweatboxes. "Scout leader Chris," Mary addresses, her hand still on the Essevian beneath her. "Do you need a rundown of what happened?" "Not right now. I came here to subdue the threat posed to the porters." With narrow eyes, he glances at the Essevian. "He will be detained and temporarily incapacitated." A shudder passes through me as I stand up. Holding the paper-like tentacle at arm''s length, I start walking toward Mary. Chris gives me a passing glance and snaps his fingers. An airtight bag flies from out of nowhere and hovers near my face. Without a word, I place the severed tentacle into it. "If I may, why not have the Essevian stay with me for now?" Mary suggests, stepping closer to Chris. "We''ll detain him with an asura circlet." Chris raises an eyebrow and strolls over to where the Essevian lies. "Are you sure that''s wise? Most of the asura under your care are below D rank." Chris nudges one of the Essevian''s tentacles with his foot. "One strike from this one could be fatal." "We don''t have the full story yet," Mary interjects, stepping in front of the Essevian and shielding him with her body. "Cutting off all his limbs seems excessive." What in the world is she doing? She''s just a porter; Chris is an asura hunter and a high-ranking member of Aequitas. He could easily have her blacklisted. She briefly gazes at me, mouthing ''trust me'' under her breath. "I''ll be fine," Trevor smiles, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Trust me." The insides of my stomach churn while my chest feels like something heavy is pressing on it. This feels so much like something Trevor would have done. He would still be here if it weren''t for someone like me. "Some members of my main team are on the case and doing the best they can," Chris says, crossing his arms and slightly bending down to Mary''s height. "Regardless of who''s at fault for this incident, this Essevian has proven to be too dangerous. Don''t worry too much about him; his limbs can regenerate." As Chris tries to move around Mary, she swiftly blocks him again. "With all due respect, I can''t let you take him. While it''s true that he can cause significant damage, incapacitating him is a cruel punishment," Mary continues, holding Chris'' gaze. "The regeneration process for a tier-one Essevian is slow. Though I am not saying you guys will do it, depriving him of food would slow the process down." Trevor stares defiantly up at the teacher, continuing to block her path. "We shouldn''t be jumping to conclusions. There could be other things we''ve missed." Mary steps closer to Chris, invading his space. "It''s also possible that threatening him with torture would make it harder to gain his cooperation or could lead to false statements." Trevor states firmly, shielding the girl behind him as the teacher gives him a warning look. "Using pain to extract information isn''t always reliable; it can make someone agree with any statement just to stop the pain." Why do I keep dwelling on memories of someone who''s gone? Trevor and Mary are nothing alike. It must be the universe''s way of reminding me. After all, his death was my fault. "Very well, we''ll let you have him for the time being," Chris sighs as he turns away. "Keep this in mind, Mary. Although many porters see you as their leader, you are not an official one. Not many asura hunters will take kindly to your defiance." With that, he quickly leaves the scene. When Chris is a long distance away, other porters rush in and begin pestering Mary with questions. Shaking my head, I quickly stride toward Mary and rescue her from the crowd. "Wow, there sure are a lot of questions," Mary chuckles while handing a nearby Essevian an asura ring. "It''s probably not going to let up for a few days." The undead promptly walks to where the Essevian responsible for this incident is lying. She puts the asura ring around his torso before closing it with a tap. Asura flows through the metal''s surface, making it glow a neon green. "Thanks for the rescue, by the way, Beatrice," Mary says as I continue to drag her away. "I don''t think I could have escaped without your help." Staying silent, I sit Mary on a nearby rock and squat down beside her. Gently, I cradle her injured arm in my lap and begin inspecting it. "Ouch!" Mary winces as my finger lightly grazes against her wound. "That''s going to sting for quite a while, huh, Beatrice?" Without a word, I retrieve a disinfectant bottle from my backpack and pour it over Mary''s wound. "Beatrice?" Mary grimaces, then straightens up. "Is everything alright?" Pausing in my work, I tighten my grip on her wrist. "Why did you do it?" I ask quietly. "You could have faced serious consequences for your actions." A long silence falls between us as I continue cleaning her wound. "If I didn''t do it, who would?" Mary finally says, her arm relaxing under my touch. Trevor stares at me, "They can''t do it for themselves right now. Who else would have stood up for them?" They really are the same, aren''t they? "Hey, don''t underestimate me just because I''m shorter than you," Mary puffs out her chest. "I''m a lot tougher than I look." I gaze at her with half-lidded eyes, crossing my arms. The corner of my mouth twitches as I suppress the urge to chuckle. Smiling, Mary slowly rises to her feet. "Thanks for worrying about me, though. Sorry if what I did upset you." "Mary!" Arbora''s voice calls out in the distance. "I heard you were injured, so I brought Ollie with me!" "Put me down, you stupid reptile!" Ollie barks. "I''ll make sure to ''accidentally'' rearrange your teeth if you do this again!" Chuckling to herself, Mary holds out her hand to me. "Hey, my name is Trevor. What''s yours?" The boy extends his hand toward me. No. While they are similar in some respects, they also have their differences. "We better get back before Ollie decides to skin Arbora alive," Mary smirks. "Then again, I still haven''t gotten her back for ruining my tea mixes." I briefly glance at Mary''s outstretched hand before heading towards the voices of Arbora and Ollie. "I think you still have other matters needing your attention," I chuckle, amused as Mary responds with an exaggeratedly tired expression. While Mary could never replace Trevor, maybe getting to know her wouldn''t be so bad. Chapter 9 "With that, I should be able to comfortably cross this off the to-do list," I mutter, tapping the end of the pen against the clipboard. "Which leaves..." I flip through several pages. "Several more to go." Just when I thought I had made a dent in this. "Pfft, it''s a lot, isn''t it?" Mary chuckles as she passes by me. Two dark circles are under her eyes with hair that resembles a chicken nest. "Just wait, you haven''t seen anything yet." Smiling to myself, I slowly shake my head. "Hey, Beatrice, do you mind if I ask you something?" Mary asks while setting down the crate she''s carrying. "Um, sure. Long as it''s within my capacity," I say. Slightly tilting her head, Mary gazes at something behind me. "Did something happen between you and your tentacles?" Mary asks, scratching her head. "I''ve noticed that they seem rather angry about something." Mentally probing through the bond, I feel around the giant block the tentacles had put up. I lightly push against the barrier before quickly retreating. What could be so important in there? Maintaining a barrier this big can be taxing even for a short time, let alone several days. Shrugging my shoulders, I glance down at the clipboard. "I don''t know why they''re like this either." Since the strange vision entered my head, the tentacles have been silent. I won''t be getting anything from them anytime soon. Mary asks as she approaches me, "Isn''t that a bit worrying?" I shrug. "A bit, but it''s not like I can do anything about it." While I am concerned about their activities, they haven''t given me a reason to suspect foul play. Unless necessary, I won''t attempt to forcefully breach their barrier¡ªthe consequences would be too severe for both parties involved. Mary suddenly flinches, swiveling her head around with narrow-eyed suspicion. "Say, Beatrice," she says casually, still scanning her surroundings, "Do you know what an Essevian''s could be used for?" Why is she looking around like that? Should I be worried? I briefly glance behind me before turning back to face Mary. "It depends on the tentacles and your Essevian tier," I say, raising an eyebrow. "Mine can act like an extra set of hands or provide better grip when climbing¡ªpretty standard compared to others." "I guess that sort of answers my question," Mary mutters, resting her chin on her hand. "I suppose I wasn''t clear enough." I tilt my head. "What do you mean by that?" Mary startles and shifts her gaze to something beside us. Following her eyes, I frown at a pile of boulders. "I need to go," Mary says, her eyes darkening as she rubs her forehead. "Can you take care of things while I''m gone?" I blink rapidly. "Uh, sure." "Thanks. If I''m not back in a few minutes, please keep an eye on George and Matthew for me. Those two might try to sneak into some random Asura hunter''s tent." I''d rather avoid Matthew and his unsettling glances, but as long as I keep George away from him, it shouldn''t come to that. "Alright, Mary. I''ll keep an eye on them," I assure her. As Mary walks away, I watch her closely from behind. Her back is hunched, shoulders drawn together in a protective stance. Should I have asked what''s on her mind? Would that be appropriate or sound too nosy? I can''t have another repeat with Trevor. Not again. Shaking my head, I glance down at the clipboard in my hand. I don''t think I''m the right person for the task. Since we''ve only known each other for a few weeks, someone like Arbora or George would probably do a better job than me.
"After this, the next item on the list is..." I glance down at the clipboard, scanning it a couple of times. "Negotiating the amount of rations for the porters." Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. I couldn''t even get any asura hunters to listen to my concerns last time. I doubt negotiating rations will go over well. "Does your eye not fall out when you stare at that paper for too long?" Travis remarks sarcastically from behind. "Did that thing wrong you in some way? Why are you looking like it owes you money?" Quickly turning around, I see Travis slithering toward me with a smirk on his face. "Travis... I haven''t seen you around lately. Is there something you want?" I ask, scanning him up and down. Something flashes across the cobra''s eyes as he slithers beside me. Rolling his shoulders, Travis lets out a huff. "What, is it a crime now to talk to you?" Travis says with a yawn, slightly puffing out his hood as he looks up to the side. "Well, no, but..." Why is Travis pretending to be offended when he''s the one who has been avoiding me? Speaking of... "Why have you been avoiding me these past few days?" I ask, narrowing my eyes. "Ever since our conversation while we were getting our rations, you''ve been going out of your way to evade me." Travis''s hood briefly flares up before swiftly deflating. Scratching the top of his head, he glances at me from the corner of his eye. "Don''t you remember what you said last time?" "Remember? What do you mean?" Did something I said offend him? It''s possible, given my mental state at the time. But what exactly? I can''t recall much from then; the days seem to blend together. Perhaps I should take Mary''s and Ollie''s advice and get more sleep. "I just thought¡ª" Travis cuts himself off and roughly shakes his head. "Nevermind. It''s nothing. Anyways, that''s not what I want to talk about." He presents his arm to me, the cobra slowly opening his palm. "I want to give you this." On his open palm is a thin bracelet with a circular bead connecting it. It''s the size of a man''s wrist but looks small within Travis'' hand. "What is it?" I ask, cautiously poking at it. "A shield. It''s supposed to protect you from physical damage or at least partly." "Partly?" "It''s powered using batteries that can somewhat manipulate the asura around us to create a barrier. Something I doubt most engineers would be able to do," Travis smirks before quickly faltering as he continues. "Unfortunately, this means it cannot withstand damage that exceeds a certain limit. You also have to remember to recharge it daily, as well." Gingerly poking it a few times, I pick the bracelet up and hold it to the light. I guess that''s not too bad considering it''s powered entirely by electricity. It''s honestly impressive Travis managed to manipulate the surrounding asura. I don''t think many people could do that. Inspecting it between my fingers, I turn toward him. "You mentioned that it had a certain limit. What is it, by the way?" Travis shrugs, staring at me blankly. "What is that supposed to mean?" Scratching the back of his head, Travis wrinkles his snout. "All of the bracelets I created have various limits, so it''s kinda hard to tell. Some can just break from you sneezing on them." Staring at him with half-lidded eyes, I blink slowly. Well, I guess it''s the thought that counts. "Why would you gift me this, anyway?" As nice as this is, Travis might have an ulterior motive for gifting me a bracelet. We barely know each other. Why would anyone bother gifting something to a total stranger? Why would Travis go out of his way to gift this? "I mean, other than Iss and Matthew, you''re the only one I can talk to. It''s going to be pretty boring around here without you," Travis says, picking up a discarded shoe. "Considering the news about that Essevian. Until the case is resolved, it''s not safe for you to be wandering around without some kind of protection." He grimaces suddenly, a shudder passing through his body. "I still don''t get why anyone would want to cut several of that undead''s tentacles. What would anyone want with your guys'' tentacles anyway? No offense intended." "None taken." I honestly wouldn''t want them either, but it''s not like I can remove them permanently. Aside from trying to provoke an Essevian into aggression, why anyone would do that is beyond me. Travis scrunches his snout and begins pulling the shoe apart. "Also, even before the incident, you look like one of those rabbits who will faint at the slightest scare." I respond hesitantly, "I''m not... well, what about everyone else? I mean, we are in a dungeon, so isn''t that natural?" Rude cobra. I wasn''t doing whatever he said. It''s natural to be on guard about things. There''s danger everywhere if you know where to look. "I''m not saying it''s bad, but you do look ridiculous," Travis remarks, grabbing one of the shoe''s shoelaces and slowly tugging it out. "But you haven''t been too bad these past few days. You seem happier, especially around that short lady. Smiling quite a lot, too." "Oh, I am?" I reply, feeling around my mouth. That''s...not possible, is it? Shouldn''t I have been able to tell? Rolling his eyes, Travis flicks out his tongue. "Of course not right now, you dolt." As Travis resumes tearing the shoe apart, I glance at the bracelet on my hand. "So, there''s nothing you want in return for this?" I ask, holding the bracelet up. Tutting to himself, Travis barely looks at me. "Well, if you insist, you could advise me on how to act like a human." "That''s it? Nothing else?" "Nope," Travis punctuates with a click of his mouth. "You don''t have to do it if you don''t want to. Just consider it repayment for the last time you helped me with an invention." Frowning, I inspect the bracelet between my fingers before putting it on. It hangs slightly off my wrist, making my arm look small. ''Kzzz!'' ''Kzzz!'' <>The reporter''s voice crackles << through the airwaves, hinting at a future Academies Clash despite the absence of rival schools.>> Huh, Academies Clash? I can''t believe it''s been a few years since I last participated in one. "I wonder who''s watching that," Travis mumbles under his breath before turning toward me. "Hey, I''m going to see if I can sneak a peek at it. See you later." As I wave Travis off, I shift my gaze to the clipboard in my hand. Right, I still have to knock these out first.
A chilling sensation crawls across my spine, prickling into my skin. Intense fear and terror wash through the bond as the tentacles'' barrier swiftly crumbles. I spin around quickly, scanning the surrounding area. It''s that feeling again. What in the world is it? The sensation that has wrapped itself around my spine quickly dissipates as I continue to stand there. Chapter 9 p2 "Do you need any help?" I ask as George begins setting up his tent. "Oh, no, I got it," George says, turning briefly to acknowledge me. "Thanks for asking." The tent''s pole leans dangerously to one side, threatening to fall on George''s head. Acting swiftly, I grasp it and steady it before the metal can cause harm. "Wow, nice reflex!" George smiles, giving me a thumbs-up. "That was a close one, eh? Can''t afford to lose any more brain cells." Leaning in close, he whispers, "They''re an endangered species, according to Ollie." Considering the things I''ve seen him get up to, I think Ollie might be right about that. There''s a reason why no one lets him near a box of Ucroils. "Since you don''t need anything else, I''ll leave you to your devices," I say as George turns his attention back to setting up his tent. Rolling my shoulders, I start walking away from George. "Oi! Hurry up with that!" one of the porters shouts at a boy who looks a year younger than me. "Be careful not to drop those Ucroils! They''re very flammable!" "Coming!" the boy yells back, rushing toward the older porters. In his mad dash, the boy almost bumps into me. "Sorry!" he mutters before hurrying off. "Alright, let me show you how to set up a fire using Ucroil," one of the porters says when the boy arrives. "Watch closely." Looking away from the scene, I glance at my surroundings. Many porters wander around, occupied with various tasks. Some gather nearby materials or set up their sleeping arrangements. Though there''s a hint of wariness in their glances at each other, there''s no outright hostility or restricted areas. Everyone moves freely about, going wherever they choose. This is different from what I''m used to back at Crystal Blossom. There, everyone usually keeps to their own space. Unless you''re close to someone, you try not to cross into anyone''s area. Sure, there''s some hostility and occasional fights break out, but it''s somewhat expected. It''s probably better now since Mary is regulating them. A few lizardmen cut past me, nodding in acknowledgment. Some of my tentacles wave at them, while others stretch themselves. Even though I''ve been working as a porter for quite a while, I usually spend more time alone. Is this the usual interaction everyone has with each other? It feels much more peaceful than what I''m used to. Sidestepping a couple of borned Essevian, I ignore their presence. "Hey, Beatrice!" Arbora calls out, balancing several containers filled with berries and water. "I''m dropping some of these off near your sleeping bag." "Thank you, Arbora," I respond, feeling grateful as my tentacles fill the bond with relief. After walking around and assessing tasks that need attention, I stop at a large boulder. Mary is probably still held up in the meeting with the asura hunters, so she won''t be returning anytime soon. Arbora already helped me with getting berries and drinkable water, so I can cross that off my list of chores. It also seems like no one needs my help at the moment. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Placing one hand on my hip, I scratch my head. I think this is the first time in a long while that I have some free time. There''s just one problem, though: What am I supposed to do now?
Ignoring the waves of annoyance and discomfort emanating from my tentacles, I scribble in my notebook while crouching in a bush. The leaves and branches poke against my skin whenever I shift my body. This position might not be comfortable, but it should do for now. It''s rather unfortunate there isn''t a place with a high enough vantage point around here. Peering through a small hole in the bush, I observe some asura hunters in the distance. ''Fwoosh!'' Suddenly, a ball of flame the size of a man''s head appears in an asura hunter''s hand. With a smirk on his face, he says something to his comrades. He''s able to summon fire using his asura quite easily. He must either have a strong affinity toward the fire element or possess a good amount of asura and control over them. As I jot down my observations, the tentacle beside me swats at a branch of the bush in annoyance. Holding back a sigh, I mentally will it to behave. It resists slightly before huffily moving away. Tough luck. As long as I maintain control, I''ll play by my rules. The man feigns a throw at an Asura hunter and chuckles loudly as they flinch. Glancing at the fireball in his hand, he sends it flying towards one of the dungeon walls. ''Boom!'' The blast creates a huge hole in the dungeon wall''s surface with a dark blemish around it. Charred remains from the impact break off and fall to the ground. Judging by the damage on the dungeon''s wall, that asura hunter must have had a very high potency within his asura or supplied a huge amount of his asura to the blast. Either way, his asura rank falls between 4.5 and 6, spanning from D up to C rank. As one of the other asura hunters confronts the man, stepping into his personal space, his hood slips off, revealing shiny red hair that rivals the fiery hue of flames. My vision whites out, overwhelmed by staticky sounds that drown out the surrounding noise. Blackish-brown eyes bore into mine as he stood there with his chin jutted out in defiance. The green, transparent shield continues to bear the brunt of attacks while he keeps his hands in front of him. "Beatrice?" Mary''s voice breaks through, dissipating the vision. "What are you doing inside a bush?" Quickly shaking my head, I start to stand up. A questioning pulse emits from the tentacles as they prod at me through the bond. I push them away before poking my head out of the bush. Suspicion radiates from the tentacles at my actions. "Mary?" I say while awkwardly getting out of the bush. "I thought the meeting would take longer. How did it go?" At my question, something flashes across Mary''s eyes as her gaze darkens. With her head hung low, she crosses her arms. "They decide to drop the case until we exit the dungeon," Mary sighs, glaring at something in the distance. "Until then, the Essevian will be under their jurisdiction." But by then, any evidence within the dungeon may be tampered with or erased. Frowning, Mary turns toward me. "What do you think regarding this case?" Scanning the area around me, I make sure no one is within earshot before looking at Mary. "Do you remember what we discussed about the light asura found at the scene and that time I almost got shot with one?" "So you think those events are connected?" Mary asks. "No, I don''t believe so," I shake my head. "The light asura from those events are vastly different. One of them feels like a highly concentrated, pure light asura, while the other is a weaker version, likely mixed with other elements. It feels like they were made by two different people." Placing a hand under my chin, I frown. "It also seems like they were used for different purposes. Regarding the light asura arrow, I can''t tell if it was an accident. As for the incident with the other Essevian, it was a deliberate act against his tentacles, judging from how they were butchered." I can''t tell if the lack of sleep is finally getting to me, but something about the light asura-infused arrow feels familiar. It''s like I''ve tasted it before, for some strange reason. "Anyway, all of this is speculation, not concrete evidence," I sigh, looking at Mary. "I don''t think it matters if we bring this up to the people in charge of the expedition''s team." Mary glances off to the side with narrow eyes. "Uh, Mary?" I ask, waving a hand in front of her face. She jolts in place before shaking her head. "Sorry, I was distracted by... something." Pinching the bridge of her nose, Mary turns towards me. "Do you want to get something to drink? I think we both need a little distraction." Chapter 9 p3 As I walk through the crowd of tents and porters, I follow Mary. Boredom radiates from every tentacle. The reporter''s voice blares from the small device held by one of the porters: <> One of the tentacles perks up in interest and leans toward the sound. It looks like that time of year again. I still remember my first participation in it. Granted, not all of it was exactly...pleasant. I wasn''t as prepared as I should have been Mary pauses in her walking and approaches the porter''s tent. "Oh, that sounds interesting," she remarks, careful not to step on the scattered items around the tent. "What are you watching?" "Some live broadcast about this event in Crystal Blossom City," the porter says, turning his tablet around to show us. "It''s where the students undergo various tests to showcase their abilities before culminating in the Final''s Arena." He taps on the screen. "That''s what''s happening right now." On the screen, two boys are shown fighting in a large, open-space stadium. One manages to grab the other by the neck and repeatedly slams his opponent''s head onto the ground. <<''Crack!''>> Blood slowly leaks from the boy''s head, staining the sandy floor red. He thrashes futilely, attacking the other with arrow-shaped asura blasts in an attempt to dislodge the hands around his neck. <<''Crack!''>> Confusion and disgust immediately fill the bond. I gingerly prod at them questioningly. What is up with their reaction? Shouldn''t they be used to blood and violence? "Ah, right, those," Mary winces as the boy''s head slams into the ground. "Never been a big fan of them. I don''t understand why Crystal Blossom City hosts such events for its students." She gestures towards the fighters on the screen. "Look at them. They barely look older than thirteen." "Is there something wrong with it?" I ask, tilting my head in curiosity. What does age have to do with it? They''re just two students competing in the arena. I''m sure other academies test their students too. "What¡ª," Mary sighs, dragging a hand down her face. "Look at what''s happening on the screen. Isn''t one of them going to suffer a severe head injury?" The porter shrugs as he turns his tablet around. "Ah, don''t be a spoilsport. It''s not even that bad. A bit violent? Sure, but it''s just a game." "A bunch of kids fighting to the death isn''t what I consider entertainment." "I don''t think you should get so worked up over it," the porter says, typing something on his tablet. "Besides, most of them have asura ranks between B and up. Their bodies can handle a lot more than we can." "Tapping Mary on the shoulder, I draw her attention toward me. "Don''t worry. The academy in Crystal Blossom City always ensures there are enough high-level healing potions," I reassure her. "Even if one of your limbs got cut, you could still reattach it." Of course, there are still people who succumb to their injuries, but that''s unavoidable. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Mary stares at me with something in her eyes before glancing down. "Why are you rubbing the lower part of your arm?" I pause in my rubbing and swiftly yank my hand away. A bit of pity leaks through the neutrality the tentacles present. How in the world did I not notice that I was rubbing it? <<''KZzzss!''>> "Ah, darn it!" The porter huffs, shaking and lightly hitting the tablet. "The flickering asura sure is getting on my nerves. How is anyone supposed to watch anything with the flickering connection?" He looks up and glances around him. "I hope the asura stabilizes soon. It''s going to be real annoying if this dungeon becomes unstable." Sighing through her teeth, Mary pinches the bridge of her nose. "You know what, I don''t have the mental energy to continue this conversation." She turns around and motions for me to follow her. "We will talk about this later." The porter grunts in acknowledgment, his eyes still locked on the tablet''s screen. I gaze at him for a moment before hurrying to catch up with Mary. Together, we silently walk away, leaving the porter''s tent far behind us. How strange, she''s not usually this silent. Did I do something wrong? I wonder what''s on her mind. Mumbling something under her breath, Mary leads me to a tent adorned with white heart-shaped flower petals. Beside it stands a tree with a kettle hanging from its trunk by a metallic rope. Aren''t those Fyeade? Narrowing my eyes, I stare at the Fyeades. The mass of red stamens sways wickedly from side to side in the breeze. A brief moment of wonder passes through the bond as tentacles reach toward it longingly. I feel uneasy being near these flowers. Should I tell Mary? She might not know what they represent. "Here, sit," Mary takes a random cut-up log and places it on the ground. "I wish I had something other than this, but the stool was too heavy to carry with me." "Oh, no, it''s alright," I say before sitting on the log. Some tentacles drape themselves on my lap while others lay on the ground. Mary smiles as she unties the rope from the tree and slowly lowers the kettle. Along with two small cups, she takes the teapot over to me. Ah, that reminds me. I still need to return Mary''s thermal bottle. It''s fine, I''ll do it later. "This is my personal blend," Mary says, handing me one of the cups as she begins pouring tea into it. "Careful. It''s hot." Bringing it near my nose, I sniff it before taking a small sip. The tea enters my mouth, and a light, fruity flavor flows across my tongue. "This is really good," I compliment Mary, occasionally passing glances at the Fyeades. "Oh, thank you," Mary chuckles, sitting cross-legged on the ground. "I wasn''t sure how others would perceive it since it''s pretty experimental. I''m thinking of adding my blend to the menu when I open my tea shop someday." "A tea shop?" "Yeah, one by the seaside. Maybe in my hometown." "That sounds wonderful," I say before my gaze returns to the Fyeades. "Those flowers are quite beautiful." Mary glances back at the flowers decorating the roof of her tent. "They really are, aren''t they?" Smiling, she turns back to me. "I like having them around as they represent rebirth in my culture." "Rebirth?" A flower that''s the symbol of bad luck from Crystal Blossom is seen as rebirth from somewhere else. "Yeah, in some ways, I kind of see it in myself," Mary explains, briefly closing her eyes. "You see, I used to not be a very good person. I guess those flowers to me are like a second chance. A rebirth if you will." She rolls her shoulders and places the kettle beside her. "I don''t think anything I do is ever going to make up for what happened, and that''s justifiable." Mary, a bad person? I can''t imagine it. Would it be rude to ask about what happened? "Oh, sorry, didn''t mean to dump that on you," she chuckles sheepishly. "Anyway, this is not what I want to talk to you about." Straightening her back, Mary makes eye contact with me. "Is everything alright with your family life?" Raising one of my eyebrows, I tilt my head to the side. "I''m sorry?" "I know it''s none of my business, but your reaction toward the broadcast is a bit concerning," Mary says gently, resting both hands on her lap. "I want to ask if there''s anything you want to tell me." Blinking, I gaze at the ground and then stare off to the side. "Your friend has a very low chance of surviving his injuries," the doctor says solemnly. "I would suggest that you should prepare to say your goodbyes." Standing up from her chair, Lana starts to walk out. "Where are you going?" Jack asks. "I need some air," Lana answers, not looking back. "...Alright. You will return later, right?" Letting out a long sigh, I look back at Mary. There''s no need for Mary to get involved with my baggage. "...I''m sorry, Mary, but I don''t think I''m ready to share that yet. I''ll tell you about it when I''m ready." Nodding, Mary smiles at me. "Alright," she says, "But if you ever need a listening ear, just know that I''m always here." "Thank you."