Sitting around a gorgeous wood carved table, the family was happily chatting while eating a fire-boar, a specialty of this restaurant. Alix hunger had slowly decreased during these two weeks, having steady itself to three times what an average adult was normally eating.
It always attracts other's strange look but now the whole family was used to it even if a little perplexed of where he was stocking all of this. In truth, he was mainly producing Energysomes with this overflow of nutrient but they had finally stopped being created in the morning.
Alix was quite happy, it means he could finally continue to cultivate, feeding his energy to other cells than the one in his nervous system. He could feel that at the apex of the early Evaporate level, he was at least twice more powerful than in the beginning. His reflex had reached a never be seen level for someone who just began his path.
The pain was also quite a bit extraordinary. The little wound in his hand was pulsing like he had incandescent charcoal in his palm. His threshold was however quite high so for the moment he was successfully hiding this fact with a big smile as he swallows enormous bits of meat under the dismayed look of the other clients of the restaurant.
The stone was now resting in his pocket, waiting for a more suitable moment to be examined.
-"Good news! I made quite a big benefit with the door's selling! With the help of Alix, we could deliver in advance resulting in a little added value of fifty silver! Come, take it, your work doesn't have to remain unpaid!" Erik was smiling without a care with little bits of food in his beard.
-"Are you sure? I'm currently free lodging at your home, to take anymore..." Alix was a little ashamed, but his hand wanted to take this few pieces of metal, just to be able to reimburse Méline and gift the family with a few things.
-"Don't worry dear, it's normal for us to take care of you and we don't expect something in return from you. You are like family for us, I hope you feel the same..." Cilis interjected with her gentle voice.
Hesitating a while, Alix finally took the silvers with a bow and gratitude in his eyes. The more he lived with them, the more he owes them and the more he likes them. But that was the thing with family, you didn't have to spoke with words, everyone understood.
The meal passed quickly in an enjoyable mood. Everyone speaking to everyone in a joyous ruckus, the food disappearing at a rarely seen speed.
-"Would you like a cup of morning dew?" The waitress had already cleared the table and was now proposing one of the rare specialty of Tellama village, the morning dew of the mountain next to the village.
-"Yes please, five of them !" Erik immediately agreed, happiness's written all over his face.
-"Did you know there is a legend about this dew?" Méline began, wanting to tell a story.
-"Of course we know, who do you think we are!?" interrupted her brother.
-"Of course I know you knew stupid! I was saying this for Alix, he comes from another region after all!" She rebuked him vehemently, red climbing on her cheek.
-"Of course it's for Alix, hey, he surely listen to you to be polite tsss..."
-"Presently, I truly do want to know...?"
-"You see! Anyone isn't like you, satisfied with his ignorance hehe! This dew was used to bath an ancient goddess who used to live on the mountain. The goddess's skin was too delicate for common water and to be sure her celestial beauty wouldn't be stained, she bewitches the mountain. Since then, every morning, the dew appearing on its flank is said to have magical properties, allowing people to not show sign of age hehe !"
-"And did someone confirm this myth?"
-"No one could check such a phenomenon but Tellama village is famous today for its dew and it's exported to the nearby region, a lot of people put credit on it, after all, gods are notorious for their fickle nature so who knows?"
-"Seems a bit far-fetched but I can't wait to try it..."
-"See! that why it has this much success, hehe !"
The cups were put on the table and the family drank the cool liquid slowly, trying to feel something. Alix was looking inwardly this pure liquid passing through his body being absorbed greedily by minuscule pore on the lining of his stomach. It then assimilates with his green blood, not doing anything much.
"Wait, no, is my blood a little bit greener? Or am I dreaming, wanting this dew to affect me...? I will have to see by drinking much more of it... but a price of five silver for a cup seems a little like a scam for me... Better try it when I will pass by this mountain !"
The meal ended as it began, with bickering and laughter. The group then slowly explored the city, buying some spice and vegetables. Alix even buys small gifts after giving ten silvers to Méline to reimbursed her. She tried to refuse but he didn't let her a choice, much to her joy.
He found a small gift for each family member, a new scarf for Cilis, a gloves pair for Erik and a scabbard for Lor's dagger. Méline would, of course, had her tailor-made jewel, he didn't forget. He didn't have much silver left but he didn't regret it, he owes them too much!
Departing from the village before the dusk began falling, the little group was completely oblivious to the many eyes looking at them.
It has now been a good half an hour they were walking in the green forest, surrounded by tall trees and gorgeous moss with flowers of incredible color. While Erik was explaining how he was put in charge of the future railroad which would connect Tellama village to the nearest one, Bory village, Méline was busy looking at the flower while whispering a beautiful song.
"ROOOOAAAAR"
A thunderous roar could be heard, passing through the trees, shaking even the sturdy trunk. A shockwave could be seen blowing down the short vegetation and propagating in the forest. The eardrums of Méline were ruptured as she shouts in pain while putting her hands against her ears.
Erik instantly appears between the family and the origin of the noise like a ghost, an afterimage could be seen at the place he was a second ago, still laughing.
-"Don't move, stay grouped! Protect Mel and try to see if you can heal her a little! Dear, can you take the rear?
-"No problem!" Cilis had already placed herself to protect the other direction in case there wasn't just one beast.
-"What is it?" asked Lor, ready to fight. Alix could be seen next to him eager to help, powerful memories were appearing again in his mind which he tried to forget until now. The beast powerful shout had awake his instinct, a bloodthirst was even appearing in the depth of his eyes.
-"Don't move now, it should be alone but we can't be sure! The strength of its roar was enough to wound Mel so it should be in the late Condensation level, even possibly an apex one!"
All the family was suddenly grave, it was the same level as Erik but beasts were known for their dominant body and merciless strikes. It will be a perilous fight, better to stay hidden.
"Tap...Tap...Tap"
A slow rhythmic noise could be heard, louder and louder, the beast was slowly nearing the group, it had probably already perceived them since long ago.
A creature could be seen a second later. Its delicate face had two long teeth descending a meter under his powerful jaw. The two teeth were thin as paper, reflecting the light with a metallic luster. Its powerful shoulder plate could be seen at approximately the same height at Alix one, a good two-meter, making this creature from nearly four meters in length quite amazing.
The fur was shining like metallic needles embedded in its sturdy skin, making a strange pattern appears as a black thunder design drawn on it. Its purple eyes were shining with hunger and it was looking at the five frail humans as if a delicious meal to come.
-"It's a Thunder Tiger! How come it's here, they normally live far in the West near the thunder plains!! We are in deep sh*t!"
-"Erik, don't swear!!"
-"Dear, you have a good sense of priorities as always hehe! Our life is at stake here, we could reduce damage by separating but I believe it will hunt us one by one making it a terrible option...Better to do our best together, what do you think ?"
The three of them nodded, Meline remaining oblivious to the situation, unable to hear a single thing.
The beast growl again, the purple of its mouth visible for all to see, its bulging muscles underneath its skin were tensing and suddenly released their accumulated pressure in a mighty jump. The beast, in a second, had closed half of the gap separating it from its prey.
"THUD"
Its front paw touches the ground making the soil tremble under the impact, showing the intensity of the jump and the density of its body. Not waiting anymore, Erik charged, Fire energy covering his body as if a burning man, his two arms contracted, ready to connect in a destructive blow.
"SWISH"
The Thunder Tiger dodge with ease, quite a sight with its enormous body and retaliate with its tail, reaping the legs of the bearded man who boldly charged at him.
"TAC TAC TAC"
Lor had appeared behind the beast with an instantaneous movement akin to teleportation in Méline's eyes. His two daggers hit the flank of the Tiger without much damage, injuring even his fingers when touching the fur-like razor.
The attack diverted the beast attention for a second, allowing Erik to escape its range, his breathing already chaotic.
-"Its skin is incredibly hard, I can't pierce through it, dad !"
Lor's speed provides him with a large advantage, enable him to dodge most of the attacks, the tiger being quick for his size but not as much as him, a Gaseous level specialized in speed.
-"Careful, try your Thunder Strike when an opportunity occurs but not before, you can't do it twice! Dear, try to immobilize it while continuing to protect Mel!"
-"I'm on it!"
Two wondrous water tentacles were slowly forming next to the beast. Wary, it quickly changes his direction, trying to attack the trio remaining at the rear. Its speed makes it disappear as a tentacle was trying to grab its ankle.
-"It's going for you !" Erik was charging behind in an attempt to slow it down, grabbing its tail with his hand covered by blue fire.
The tiger yelp in pain, outrage visible in his eyes, turning over to hit the troubling man. Before it could bite the head covered by fire, a powerful noise echoed.
"CHTOOONK"
"YIIIIP"
Alix hit with all the strength he could muster from his powerful body in the right thigh of the beast, making it cry in indignation as its body was sent against a nearby tree crashing on it.
A short amazed silence followed his surprising performance.
-"What? Didn't I already told you my body was quite sturdy?" innocently asked Alix.
-"Sturdy my *ss, this isn't some sturdiness..." muttered Erik, gritting his teeth.
Cilis quickly warped the Tiger, which was trying to lift its heavy body, with her two water tentacles, immobilizing it for a short moment.
-"Quick, go for it !"
All the family members draw near except Méline and Alix who was resting next to her after having mobilized all his energy to move his body. They hit the Thunder Tiger, blow after blow while attempting to dodge most claw strike and bites now that it was immobilized. Wounds after wounds covered the beast, Lor and his two parents.
The tiger was soon yelping sadly, trying to inflict for the last time a blow to its enemies, in vain. Erik was bleeding from his arms and legs, a gruesome vision for his wife who wasn't any better.
Suddenly the tiger broke from its binding, clawing toward Cilis. She couldn't dodge and two claws ripped apart her stomach but before it could go further, a powerful electrical strike pierces the purple mouth, Lor had seized his chance to inflict his Thunder Strike with one of his daggers.
He had waited for a while, his speed saving him several times. He knew his attacks didn't truly affect the powerful beast but was trying to win some seconds for his father's slower hits to connect. Erik was much more powerful than any of them and was the sol able to finish the tiger.
"CHTOOONK"
A powerful fire fist took the last remnant of life in the beast by destroying its skull.