Wings on my lap and legs folded under me, I sat in my house-bush and thought.
This choice I make now would set the path for my entire future, all the options I got were highly varied; this basically ensured that once I chose an evolution, there was no going back. The Caelestin chick seemed incredibly interesting and powerful, the transformation skill could also prove to be immensely valuable. The only issue was... it was a leap of faith.
The evolution was shrouded in mystery, the system itself couldn't identify the transformation skill's capabilities and the "???" didn't inspire any confidence in me. My instincts and heart wanted to choose this option, after all it seemed like a typical main character evolution! Celestial abilities with mysterious powers!
However I was not some gung-ho main character, my actions needed to be rooted in reality.
It was entirely possible that the class could have lower capabilities than the others, it was simply too vague to be a viable option, and I am not one for a leap of faith.
'Sigh'
I resigned my fate of being a hero of justice, the best option was obvious.
'there's only one real option then... even if I do kind of hate it'
'ALRIGHT SYSTEM... LOCK IN PALLIDI CHICK!'
[ Processing... ]
[ You have chosen Caelestin Chick , commence evolution? ]
'What?! Wait no go back!'
The orange interface reverted back to it's elongated form, showing me information about each species yet again, maybe it read my thoughts wrong? That must've been it... however that had never happened before.
With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I re-thought my preferred evolution.
'Lock in P a l l i d i C h i c k'
I enunciated each word meticulously in my head, ensuring the system would receive my message instead of bugging out like before.
[ Processing... ]
'Yes yes process process, just hurry it up and give me my proper evolution yeah?'
[ You have chosen Caelestin Chick , commence evolution? ]
'Oh $#@%'
I quickly backed up to the evolution page again, being very careful as to not accidentally accept the evolution the system was seemingly strong-arming me into choosing. Once I was back to the page where I could choose my evolutions, I went through each species, selecting them one by one, not worrying about accidentally choosing one as I knew that a confirmation notification would pop-up. Alas each pop-up assumed I had chosen Caelestin Chick as my choice.
Having little to no patience, I exited out of the evolution screen and stared outside, peeking out of the brambles and leaves. I slowly got up and walked outside, each step heavier than the last.
I thought that when I received the notification about my evolution, that I was finally choosing my own way for once, that I was finally shaping my own destiny. I don't know what put me on this planet, or why my new 'family' chose to abandon me. I ended up here cause I was chased by lizards and hunted them back in retaliation... I haven't done anything independently to further my chances of survival besides petty revenge ravaged on a singular lizard.
That night I drowned my sorrows in the depths of a crisp and plump pear shaped fruit, apologising to the man with each bite I took. I left behind 2 or 3 cores on the ground as a gift for his generosity, I dug up a hole and threw them inside, tamping down the dirt with a *pat pat* of my feet. I felt awful about my actions and my current situation.
While eating the sweet fruits may have given me momentary pleasure, the knowledge that the man would once again scream bloody murder tomorrow combined with my failed evolution irked me enough to give me a restless night. Before you ask, turning the leaves over doesn't make it colder... there is no cold side to a leaf, only a warm one, and a wet one.
------------
"GGRRAHHHH YOU GODDAMN PEST, HOOLIGAN, RASCAL... DEVIANT! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU YOUR FEATHERS ARE TOAST!"
"YEEP!"
I awoke with a start, letting out an involuntary chirp as I did so. The man's screaming luckily seemed to have deafened him to my short yell. Peeking out from the bush, I barely managed to make out the humanoid figure as he stomped his feet and flailed his arms. I moved from my position to see him in greater detail.
During my previous encounter with the man in question, I was unable to observe his features as avoiding becoming a stew was a much more enticing goal to chase.
The man wore a white apron over a cream shirt, the clothing looked to be high quality compared with my standards. The apron had a golden insignia at the top left, situated over the man's obviously pounding heart, it was too difficult to make out the symbol, but it looked ornate.
'I might've pissed off someone important...'
Staying this close to my crime scene may seem dumb, but the man had sprayed some of that "anti-magical beast" liquid all over, it was probably way out of the norm for a magical creature to be able to withstand the effects of the spray. Hiding in plain sight was enhanced due to these factors.
I silently watched him blow off steam, the man punched a tree and even kicked it so hard that branches thick with fruits fell over onto the man. This only served to greater frustrate him.
Before I could make a quick and quiet strategic escape, I heard another voice call out, a much younger, quieter and mellow voice.
"S-sir... The Head is looking for you..."
With a grunt, the fruit-crazed man turned towards the other and waved his hands, shrugging off the message the young man sent.
"Sir... they've been cultivating fruits for months now, if what you said before is true about some hooligans eating your fruits... then maybe we should move-"
"NO!"
The sudden outburst caused me to jump back, judging by the sudden *thwish* of a bush, I'd assume the new character was startled as well. Does this fruit man have no control over his voice or temper? I did sympathise with his loss of fruits but he seemed borderline maniacal right now.
"They can abuse me all they want... ingredients are only half of a dish after all... I shall pummel the Head using whatever plants I get, making full use of my experience to thoroughly destroy him! That rat faced, pig slobbeRING, GOBLIN KISSING, SHOE LICKING, ANCIENT FOSSIL OF A MAN! I SHALL MAKE HIM REGRET THE DAY HE STOOD AGAINST THE GREAT RAPHAEL OF KURU!!!"
With each word the man said, it seemed like his volumed increased tenfold, by the end of his inspirational "speech" I was left hugging my ears with my wings, unknowingly plopping down onto the floor and watching the soap-opera run before me.
"Ah... yes sir. It is best we leave now... he is still the Head for now; annoying him off will lead to trouble."
With a grunt and another punch of a tree, both men made their way away from my house.
'Phoooo wow. That was intense.'
The fruit-lover, or Raphael as he called himself, heavily relied on those fruits for something, listening in on them suggested some form of a cook off! As a true food enthusiast a cook off between two reputable chefs with brilliant ingrediants excited me! Although one chef had a major disadvantage due to my actions....
I felt guilt for some time, then I yet again promised to never touch the Raphael's plants, for real this time. Even if I was faced with an impossible situation such as having any semblance of control in my life being ripped away from me.
*ahem*
I pulled up the evolution screen again. Re-reading the options and information about the different species. I tried the Pallidi Chick evolution yet again. No luck still.
I raised my wings up in fury and balled them up, thrusting it at the sun and the world, damn you odds! I shall overcome you with grandeur and style!
I felt scammed.
I'm going to hold off on evolving for now, I'll try and improve my base evolution as much as I can. With every kill I grew stronger. It also meant I had to hunt stronger prey but hopefully as I spent more time in this world and this body, my prowess would similarly increase.
I burst out of my bush, plans on how to eradicate the lizards from this ecosystem running through my brain. I grabbed the Godly Nozzle with my beak and made my way towards the nearest lizards.
Time for some hardcore levelling.