His eyes snap open, and he tenses in anticipation for a threat as he quickly turns his head even as he prepares to pounce-
"Huh? Annie? What are you doing in here?"
Crouched next to the bed is the hunter girl Annie- 12 years old, and a 3* prodigy, the type seen only once in a century.
Currently, she has a mischievous yet embarrassed look on her face.
"Um well... the thing is..."
She hesitates for a second-
"Can I touch your head? Your ears too? Oh, and your tail? You'll let me right?"
...?
"Uh, no way kid. Go back to your room or something, it's the middle of the night."
"Huh!?"
She puffs out her cheeks with air in dissatisfaction.
"Who are you calling a kid!? You're about the age of my younger brother, you should be calling me big sister! Also you're already awake, aren't you? So it's not a problem then, just let me touch!"
"No way you're older then me."
"Oh yeah? How old are you then?"
"I'm- oh."
(I don't even remember how old I was back on earth, let alone wherever I am now... I probably am younger then her actually. I look like I am at least.)
Annie grins at the lack of response.
"Yeah that's what I thought. But don't worry- Big sis'll give you something in return if you let me pet you!"
(Pet me? What am I, a dog or cat?) Simon sulked silently, before asking a question.
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
"Books! Well, that's all I have to give, really. But don't worry, they got a lot of info, and its how I got so smart! I'll even get them right now, wait right here!"
And before Simon can say anything in response, Annie stealthily returns to her room.
(...I'm not sure I want the books, considering her actions thus far don't really give me the idea of 'smart'. Jokes aside, I'm really lacking in information... and I'd rather not have to ask everyone things all the time. Who knows, maybe there will be something about that 'dream' I had, bizarre and lifelike as it was.)
As soon as this thought ends, Annie returns as quietly as she left, with a wide smile on her face and a stack of books in each hand. She quietly yet quickly places them on the floor beside the low bed Simon was on. Simon picks one up off the pile, and takes a look at the title. It says 'A guide to the depths of the star ranking system.' The next book on the pile is 'The ultimate monster encyclopedia.'
As he begins to crack open the first book, Annie interjects with a whispered "Hey!"
Simon glances at her. "What?"
"It's time to hold up your end of the bargain! You can read as much as you want, and I'll pet you! Don't worry, I'm pretty good at it. I've always wanted a tamed wolf of my own..."
(... Oh whatever.)
********************************
Throughout the night, Simon did not skimp out on absorbing knowledge through what he read. Even as it was occurring, even he was surprised at the speed he both read, and maintained information. After he finished reading about star rankings and what they actually represented, he got started on the monster encyclopedia-
(... Why do I recognize some of these monsters?)
And he wasn't just referring to things that resembled things on earth, such as direwolves and direbears (which he was surprised were 3* as adults, and felt him involuntarily tremble when he thought wouldv'e happened if he lost), but about even stranger things.
(A Kanor... I've definitely seen this before, but how?)
The image he was referring too, was a humanoid creature with a terrifying appearance. It was one of the few 6* and above creatures with significant information on it. It had 3 holes on it's 'face', two for eyes and one for mouth it seemed, all the same dark hole. It had pale, clay like skin, and it's specialty was sucking out the souls of other humanoid races, and putting the souls inside of inanimate objects to torture them for eternity. He's definitely seen this before. His hands trembling, holding an old worn out tome, and this was the first thing he saw within. This was it! A memory! He tries to understand more. What else did he see? What did the writing say next to the image of the Kanor? And then-
"Agh!"
He felt a throbbing in his head, before it subsided with a soft stroking of the back of his ears and top of his head.
"Are you okay? Whats wrong?" Said Annie as she was still petting him without stopping, as she had a smile on her face.
"...Nothing."
"Oh, okay then. It seems you are enjoying this as much as I am though!"
(...She stopped caring real quick. Also, I'm not a dog.)
But these thoughts remained unspoken.