I walked through the Winter WonderLand for what seemed to be hours, yet I still wasn't tired, even in the slightest. Every tree looked the same, but the pole I was moving toward seemed to be getting closer.
"Hey Erytho, you said you assimilated a pigeon. Why don't we just sprout wings and fly?" I asked.
"That is ill-advised. Doing so would reveal our abnormal relationship, invoking the intrigued to study us by any means. Together we are an entirely new species," Erytho answered in an informed tone.
I see. It's like the Government kidnapping and experimenting on people that seem unique or off in someway from the general population.
I pulled out my phone to check the time. Last time I checked it was 2:00 AM, I powered on my phone to find that the current time was now 5:36 AM. Honestly, I'm not even sure if this is at all accurate here, but it's the only sense of time I have.
"That magical tool. You used it earlier as well...what is it?" Erythro asked me curiously.
"It's not exactly a magic tool, but it's called a phone. It's a device that can run thousands of calculations simultaneously as well as provide essential services. It can do things like communicating with other phones over hundreds of thousands of miles or connect to a nearly infinite database of knowledge and entertainment."
Erythro seemed invested in my phone and after a while, decided to speak up.
"I see...may I assimilate it. If I were to do so, I could assume it's capabilities and project them through us."
At first, I thought that there's no way I could just give up my phone like that, but after looking at it once again, I came to the conclusion that maybe this was for the best. It was cracked and broken beyond repair; it looked like it wasn't going to hold up much longer anyway. I let out a long sigh.
"Alright, go-ahead," I said reluctantly.
"Acknowledged, I will begin the assimilation process."
The phone I had been holding in my right hand was consumed by the red viscous substance I had seen when Erythro first showed me his capabilities. The phone was now gone and the viscous substance retracted back into my body.
After this happened, it felt like my thinking speed, recollection, critical analysis, everything was being refined and enhanced.
"I'm done, I would like to show you something if that's alright with you," Erythro said.
"Yeah, sure, go for it." I granted my permission in a state of bewilderment.
I see a sort of digital window open up out of the corner of my eyes.
Oh, no way. I definitely made the right choice.
"Dude, are these all of my songs? They even have album art and everything." I exclaimed in joy.
"Precisely, focus on one and imagine it playing. I listened to all of them."
I did as Erythro instructed, and focused on my favorite song, Human Condition, and I could hear it clear as day in my head.
I listened for a while enjoying every second of it. After a while, I hit pause and continued my conversation with Erythro.
"This is so sick."
"Sick?"
"Yeah, it typically means unwell, but it can also mean something like awesome or cool," I explained.
"I see. I took the initiative to implant a graphical user interface within your field of vision. It can be utilized by thought alone."
Everything from the time to my vital signs was displayed within my vision. This really made my day a whole lot better, even considering how garbage it's been thus far. Erythro spoke up again.
"Your clothes are still soaked in blood, please allow me to assimilate them." Erythro protested.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute, won't I be naked? Not only is that awkward, but it's also snowing out here; I'll freeze to death."
Now that I think about it, I should be freezing right now, but I felt rather warm. Strange.
"You needn't worry, I've been regulating your internal body temperature via diastolic and systolic pressure as well as controlling your sweat glands to maintain the optimal temperature. As far as awkwardness goes, you'll have to bear with it for a moment. Your blood could attract predators, we may be strong, but some are still far beyond our league." Said Erythro.
Erythro made some fair points. I complied with my other half and gave Erythro permission. Red goo seeped the skin of my entire body, enveloping my tattered, bloody clothes completely. The goo retreated back into my body for a moment.
I examined my body; I was surprised at just how toned I had become. I was always a bit lacking in that apartment. In a quick burst, the viscous fluid covered my body again; It began taking shape.
I was now wearing a black hoodie with red highlights going around the cuffs and collar, a black t-shirt with an "X" across it, black pants, and black shoes with red shoelaces accompanied by a red sole for each shoe. Erythro's pretty edgy huh?
I noticed that the clothes weren't entirely red like I had expected them to be and they weren't the exact same clothes I was wearing.
"I told you, I am a variant of my species which possesses the ultimate metamorphic abilities. I can take the form of nearly anything I see."
"How did you manage to make these clothes though, I don't recall ever wearing something like this," I asked.
"I derived inspiration from the archives within your phone. You had many items on a 'wishlist' that provided various images of each item. Copying those images was quite simple." Erythro said sounding cocky.
I have to admit, I'm thoroughly impressed.
"We should continue walking. Anyway, why did you decide to do all of this?" I asked to Erythro.
"The host and I are one, to take care of the host is to take care of myself. You are a vital part of my being."
Hearing that made me feel happy in a sense, but strange in another. Who would have thought that the thing that tried to hijack my body a couple of hours ago would be treating me so well now? My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Erythro.
"Milo, Danger amongst the tree line. Initiating combat mode." Erythro said in a stern tone.
I felt all of my senses sharply enhancing as well as my muscular strength. I heard a weird "TWANG" sound off to the side of me. I turned my head in the direction of the sound. The moment I did, I was met by an arrow only inches away from my face. Before it hit my right hand instantly intercepted it. Looking at the arrow I caught, I could see that the head was laced with a green substance. Poison?!
"Humans are not welcome within this Elven Forest! Leave now or die." An unfamiliar voice demanded.
"That's exactly what I'm trying to do! Who the hell are you anyway?" I pleaded my case.
Looking at where the arrow had come from, I noticed a person who was up in a tree, they seemed pretty well hidden. A normal person wouldn't have been able to spot them, but I could easily do so with my enhanced sight. It was someone with a white-hood, a mask with three slits for eyes, a wooden bow, and blond hair. From their anatomical structure, they seemed to be male.
"Tch, you think I'd believe the words of a Human and there's no way in hell I'd give you my identity!" The masked man yelled in anger.
The masked man drew three more arrows from his quiver and fired off three shots simultaneously. I dodged to the side, performing an aerial cartwheel.
"We have to kill him," Erythro stated.
"What? No! He's a person, not a monster." I protested.
"He's an Elf, one of which wants to end our life," Erythro replied.
"Even so, killing him is a bit much," I pleaded.
"Very well, then we'll incapacitate him," Erythro said.
"Alright then," I agreed.
At this point, the Elf got fed up. He put his bow away, drawing 2 daggers in its place. He jumped down from the tree and charged me head on. Looking closely, each dagger was laced with something purple. I don't want to get cut by that.
"Oh great Sylphs of the wind, guide my movement!" The Elf chanted.
A swipe to the right, I weaved to the left. A horizontal slash, I ducked under it then followed up with a palm strike to his chest.
The Elf coughed up blood and staggered back a bit. Damnit I didn't mean to hit him that hard. All things considered, he's really fast. He's almost able to keep up with my accelerated vision and movements. If I didn't have Erythro with me, I'd be dead already.
"AUGH! Y-you bastard! I'll kill you!"
The Elf threw a flurry of attacks directed at me, not a single one making contact. That's when I noticed just how fast we were really moving. The snow that had been falling just moments before, had almost stopped in place.
I slipped behind the Elf and I delivered a swift chop to the back of his neck. He went limp, falling to his knees. The snow soon resumed falling at normal speeds.
"What just happened?"
"Who is that man? Humans are scary?"
"D-did he just take down Valren, b-but he's our strongest assassin."
I heard hushed whispers from the trees around me, so I turned my attention to them once again.
"Shhhh, be quiet he'll see us."
"You be quiet, your the loudest one."
"Both of you be quiet, this is very dangerous."
"Y-yes, mom."
I guess they don't know that I can hear their entire conversation. From the sounds of it, there are three others in the trees; a young boy, a young girl, and an adult female.
"I have an idea. Take his mask off and pick up the Elf we just knock out by the collar of his shirt." Said Erythro.
"Uh, alright."
I did as Erythro said. Upon revealing the Elf's face, I could see that his eyes had rolled in the back of his head, and he was drooling blood and spit. Sorry, buddy. Looking at him up close, he was indeed an Elf. I picked him up by the collar using only one arm.
"Now grab one of his knives off him." Said Erythro.
"You said we weren't gonna-" I let out before being interrupted.
"We won't. Simply hold the knife in a threatening manner toward the Elf."
God, I feel terrible doing this, but I complied. I heard three gasps in unison as I was doing this.
"Daddy!" Two kids said.
"Stay here, promise me you two won't move." The adult female voice said in a panicked tone.
"O-okay mommy." Said the voice of the two kids.
Just then, someone dropped down from one of the trees. Judging by the anatomical structure, it was the adult female. If the Elf I'm holding is the father of those kids, then this Elf must be his wife. She too was wearing a white hood. She wore what looked to be a fox mask, and she had several weapons on her person just as the male Elf did.
I got to questioning her immediately.
"Who are you people, and why was I attacked just now?"
"We are Elves, inhabitants of this Elven forest in the continent of Loramoira." She seemed to be adding extra emphasis on the fact that they were Elves.
"So you attacked me because you thought I was Human?" I inquired.
Now that I think about it, I'm feeling less and less Human as time goes on. It's like I'm losing an important part of me, yet I don't really mind it, ya know?
"You are Human, are you not? Granted, it's rare for Humans to be as fast and strong as you." She pleaded he case.
"Yeah...I'm Human" I confirmed.
Unconsciously, the knife I had been holding had moved closer toward the Elf which I had been holding by the collar the entire time. I heard two thuds behind me in the snow. The two kids who were wearing the same attire as their parents (minus the mask, it fell off during their fall) fell from the trees. They got up immediately.
"D-daddy, leave him alone you big meanie! I hate Humans like you!" The young elf boy and elf girl came charging toward me, yelling in anger.
"Kids! No! I told you to stay put! The wife shouted at the two kids.
They ignored her and collided with me with all their strength. I didn't budge. They started punching and kicking me in the legs; It honestly felt like nothing more rain droplets.
"Please, they don't know any better, don't hurt them!" The adult female Elf pleaded.
I definitely don't feel as Human as I did before arriving in this world, but I'm not a monster.
"Why would I hurt them, they're just kids," I said, being completely honest.
I placed their father down and tossed the knife I had been holding aside. I took a step back, and the kids rushed to him. Soon, the wife followed suit taking her mask off too. They are looked extremely similar in appearance. Blonde hair and blue eyes. The only exception was the boy, his eyes were a bright shade of violet.
"Erythro, you've been kind of quiet for a while now," I said in my mind.
"...Why did you release him?" Erythro asked.
"I'm Human not a mon-" I stopped before finishing my sentence realizing it might offend Erythro.
"I'm not a bad person," I said.
"...I see. Milo, I'm hungry, feed me." Erythro demanded.
Huh, I guess I haven't eaten in a long time. Of course, I'd be hungry, especially with all the moving I just did.
"Uh, excuse me, I don't suppose you would happen to have any food on you," I spoke up.
God, I sound so dumb right now.
Reader's Bonus
Name: Valren
Age: 102
Height: 172cm
Weight: 149lbs
Complexion: Fair-Skin
Hair-Color: Blonde
Eye-Color: Blue
Race: High Elf
Magic: Wind/Ice