In the days since his return from the Red Stone Plateau, things had been awkward with no signs of getting better any time soon. Ara was even more clingy than before, something he hadn't thought possible, while his relationship with Beth had changed. She would one moment completely ignore and avoid him only to be almost as clingy as Ara the next moment. He knew that Beth liked him, if he was honest he'd liked her also. He could lie to others and blame it on being an introvert by nature or lack of experience but that wasn't the truth. He'd had more than one fling but the main problem was the one serious relationship and that it hadn't ended well nor had he ever gotten over it.
"Ugh, you know I feel like an idiot. Things would be simple if I just picked one of them. Or neither of them. But I was never good at telling girls no… and the thought of hurting either of them sucks." He was sitting sideways on the back of one of the boars as it inch wormed its way across the field eating. "What do you think Bo? I don't really know Ara much. Sure she's cute now that she isn't all skin and bones. I'd be lying if having a girl completely devoted to you wasn't kinda nice. But it seems so fast." Ara since his return had taken the role of "Wife" seriously. She cleaned the barracks they were now sharing… which was one of the problems. She made sure there was a meal and a bath waiting for him whenever he returned. She greeted him as if his return was the best part of her day. When she wasn't trying to seduce him he actually found her… well perfect.
The boar's large eyes seemed to roll back to watch the human riding it before turning towards the next clump of weeds. "Beth though I've known longer…. Well, not that much longer I guess. She is fun to tease for sure. Plus it's nice to be able to talk to someone about topics only another Arrived would understand." He pictured her in the dress she'd worn just that morning. It was the most feminine thing he'd ever seen her wearing. It also accented her figure spectacularly letting him realize she HAD a figure. "Who knew that dumpy outfit she always wore was hiding away such treasures. Still, things just don't feel right. I miss the way things were. You know I called her pipsqueak today… right to her face." He looked down at the boar as it chewed away. "Do you know what she did?" He waited for a response. "No she didn't scowl, or roll her eyes, no she didn't take a swing even. The girl blushed at me!" Dropping his head down he propped it up on his hand in a thinking pose.
"Maybe I could go the Harem route. Beth was obviously an anime nerd and Ara would probably be fine with it if I just stopped avoiding her. What do you think Bo?" Glancing down he found the boar's large eyes gazing up at him again. "Bleh, I'm not a pervert… it isn't about the physical stuff. I just don't want to hurt either of them. I'd only be doing it for their sake you know." For a little while longer the boar gazed up at him before turning its attention to its next bite as if calling him on his bullshit.
Sael hopped off his ride. "Look I don't need to stick around here being judged by the likes of you Bo!" Sighing, he shook his head "Great now I'm out here talking to monsters. Ugh, now I know why harem protagonists always play stupid."
Glancing around he sighed at the fact that there still weren't many boars crawling around. He'd really done a number on them that first day farming. 'Antger's don't give me experience or stat gains anymore. I haven't even managed to get any of my skills past nine on them either no matter how much I grind. What I need is another quest or at the very least something stronger to fight.'
Thinking back he remembered the Conri creature had attacked him not too far from the boar meadow. Reminiscing about it he realized he hadn't actually explored that much in this direction. Once he knew where the Antger were he'd focused on them almost exclusively. Pulling his spear out of his inventory he decided it was time to change that.
Unlike the area where the Antger roamed to the west of Little Well the forest region to the east where the boars were was far less dense. Here large open areas filled with milkweed could be found and the trees were far enough apart that traveling was easy. Wandering down a random path he started focusing his senses on the area around him. As he'd raised his intelligence there were a number of perks he'd discovered. Beyond just boosting his rate of learning and reaction times it allowed him to better process information he received. This included sights, sounds, smells, even the feel of the air around him to the point it was almost frightening.
When he focused now it was almost like he could see all the area around him for a good twenty yards. He "felt" a tree branch shift in the wind even though he had no line of sight. Knew about the squirrel hidden away high in the branches above watching him. 'Now if only I can get to the point of doing this while fighting. It still takes too much concentration to keep up this level of awareness while fighting. Not even when fighting an enemy as easy as an Antger.'
Realizing he now considered Antger easy when just a month ago he'd been afraid that killing one was beyond his ability really brought home how quickly he was growing. Thinking about it almost distracted him enough that he missed the hidden entrance.
Almost.
At the edge of his awareness, one of the larger trees in the area was leaning. From where it was uprooted a cave entrance in the dirt large enough to have let the Conri he battled previously squeeze in could be sensed. Dropping into a crouch he crept towards the entrance slowly sliding his feet forward to prevent stepping on a twig or any other annoying gives to his approach.
Sure enough, he found a massive oak looking tree tiled at almost a sixty degree angle. From the torn earth where its roots had pulled free, he saw an earthen tunnel. Sliding up to it he inspected the ground and found that while it appeared there was a hollow under the tree there were definitely claw marks in the dirt. Plus plenty of it had been tossed away as if something had widened the tunnel entrance considerably.
Crouching with his spear in hand he focused his senses again this time on the hole. Inside at first, he found nothing. Then the smallest of ripples so faint that even his impossibly acute senses had missed it. Straining all his senses he finally figured out what the strange rhythmic rippling sensation was. It was a heartbeat, so soft and weak it was barely perceivable. Almost drowned out by the sound of his own body.
Glancing around he debated for a little bit before slowly sliding down into the tunnel. His trip was a short one as beneath the tree was a hollow barely big enough to have fit the Conri. Surrounded by darkness he was greeted by the sickly sweet smell of death. Realizing that there was no enemy to be found he released his light wisp. Under the silvery glow of the wisp, he counted out six small furry bodies. It seemed that the Conri had been a mother. Considering their tiny sizes and that they were currently dead he figured they couldn't have been very old when he killed their mother.
Movement caught his attention and he remembered the faint heartbeat he'd sensed. One of the cubs was still alive, able to only shift slightly before sniffing through a chapped nose. The poor thing couldn't even open its eyes. Sael was shocked that it was still alive considering how long ago he'd killed the Conri. "Maybe it wasn't the mother? But then why would these be… abandoned. Where is the father?"
Crouching down he gently slid his hand under the still living cub to lift it up. It was the size of a terrier but hardly more than skin and bones. It let out a single weak whimper before running its dry tongue across his arm once. Carrying the cub out of the den he sat cross legged under one of the nearby trees. "Alright. I can do this. Ara has explained to me how to share my Vitality a dozen times now. I'll just consider this practice. I don't feel bad. It isn't my fault their mother attacked me."
Ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach he closed his eyes and focused. Since he'd marri...made a pact with Ara he'd often feel… warm. As if he was standing outside on a hot summer day. It was different than being hot or running a fever. It was more of an external feeling that moved. Like a hot dry breeze that would swirl around him from time to time. He just needed to find that breeze and take control of it. So, far he'd not had much luck but sensing the steadily weakening pulse of the cub he thought now would be the best time to change that.
He managed to sense the current of power flowing out of him as if the breeze was released from his body. That part he'd managed to do most of the times they'd practiced. Taking control of it and moving it were the hard parts. It wasn't like flexing a muscle or thinking hard enough about it. It was something more akin to controlling emotions or so it was explained as such. Logic, will power, mental fortitude, even desire wasn't what moved it. It was like making yourself truly sad, depressed, happy, angry, or in love at will. One can replicate the outcomes and even to some effects how it should feel but Ara explained it as being able to manifest true feelings at will regardless of the situation.
Out loud he repeated the cheesy explanation she'd given him. "To transfer your vitality you have to simply make yourself love something completely and totally at will. Be it a flower, an apple, or even your…" He stopped speaking out loud but still remembered the rest of what she said 'affectionless new husband who refuses to give you even the smallest bit of love!'
"I don't think I can make myself love even a helpless puppy on command. But I am sorry you and your litter ended up like this." He whispered. "Faking emotions is easy. Pretending to care. Pretending to be nice. It is easy enough to just act the way that is best for the situation for the outcome you want. Real feelings though are hard, painful, and… dangerous. I wish it was that easy. I wish I could truly become a good person. If I was then maybe I could heal a stupid helpless cub!" For a moment his control slipped, the carefully crafted facade he'd worn since before even coming to this world started to crack. Anger, hatred, rage, violence, despair, and every other dark emotion he'd lived off of for most of his life started clawing their way out. They forced him to see the truth behind his actions. The dark thoughts and desires he lied to himself about.
For a moment he was on the brink of losing his control. Then it passed and he was able to harden his resolve locking up who he'd once been again. Though it felt as if a great weight was lifted from his chest the rest of his body felt heavy. Leaning back against the tree he found his breath was coming in short ragged gasps and he was drenched in sweat. In his lap, the cub slowly licked his hand looking up at him with blue eyes that seemed almost human.
His breath came out somewhere between a laugh and a sob as he stroked the fur of the cub. It was still all skin and bones but he could sense a strong and steady pulse. "Well… I don't think I'm going to try and share vitality again. I'm glad you're doing better little guy but I'm not sure it was worth it."
It just tilted its head staring up at him before moving down to bite on his hand some, chewing on his glove. "Stop that! I'm sure you are hungry but I have no milk. Can you eat something more solid?" He pulled from his inventory cheese, raw meat, and even a bowl of stew that was still warm.
It turned out the little pup had no trouble eating any of it. Only stopping when its belly was so bloated it left it whimpering in discomfort. He laughed and reached down to pet it. "You remind me of a certain Fairy you know. Now the real question is what to do with you? Pup or not you are a monster, I don't think I'm supposed to bring monsters back to town." He heard a voice twisted with hatred and laced with cruelty whisper 'Monsters aren't born...we're made.'
He jumped startling the pup as it rolled out of his lap. He felt the sweat on his body turn cold as he summoned in his spear. He spread his awareness around him expecting to find someone yet there was nothing. Seconds turned into minutes but still, he sensed nothing but him and the pup. Yet, the tension wouldn't leave his body. Mostly because the voice was one he was very familiar with, it was his own.
**********
"Welcome home!" Ara was sitting at the little table in the barracks as he entered. She wrinkled her nose "I have a bath ready. You smell like a wet dog!"
"Er, that might be this little guy." Maybe, he thought.
Ara hopped up and skipped over towards him. Now that she'd mostly recovered she never walked, she skipped or bounced everywhere. Her sparkling eyes went wide and her mouth made an o shape in surprise. "That's a Conri pup! A silver one even. How? Where? How?"
Ara reached out to pet the pup and it started growling so forcefully the pup was practically vibrating in his hands. Ara quickly pulled her hand back as the little pup started to stand up in his arms. "Stop that!" He scolded the pup who just turned to give him sad puppy eyes… only their eyes were far too human looking. Still, it settled down in his arms watching Ara but stopped growling. He scratched it under the chin and it wagged its little tail happily.
"How in the nine kingdoms did you manage to tame a Conri? That's not possible or at the very least something out of legends!" she watched the six legged canine happily wag its tail in response to him scratching it with a mixture of awe and jealousy.
"I fed it? It looked like it was starving." He'd already decided he didn't want to talk to her about sharing his vitality with the cub. If he did she might want him to try again and he wasn't sure he wanted to ever again.
"Well, you do have a habit of making things fall for you by feeding them." She gave him a pretty smile and he did his best to keep the frown off his face. "Still… Do you know what this means?"
"Actually no. I mean I think I killed its mother before I took that trip to the goblins." The little pup stopped wagging its tail and gave him a pained look, almost as if it understood him. "I didn't want to! They attacked me. I only defended myself." For a while, the pup gazed at him with those sad eyes and he actually felt a bead of sweat run down his brow. 'That is totally the truth. Now please don't let it realize I was hunting for more like its mother solely to grind up my stats.'
After a short bit, the pup took its sad gaze off him and rested in his arms again. He actually felt like letting out a sigh.
"You killed a wild Conri? Wait, it attacked you first? Why would it? They are balance keepers. They protect nature and its balance. You weren't out destroying nature were you?" she was frowning at him with a look too similar to the one the pup had just finished giving him.
"No." The lie was so bad even he didn't believe it. 'Slaughtering all those boar. Did I really piss it off by mistake?'
Ara just watched him for a while longer before looking down at the pup "Still, taming a Conri, especially a silver one is a big deal. Wild ones are pretty strong but if one bonds with one of the greater races their ability to grow and evolve are said to be only limited by their master." She gave him a knowing look.
Though he hadn't told her about his unique traits she had hinted a few times at the way he seemed to get stronger even during the fight in an abnormal way. She'd often push the subject right to the point he would feel defensive then back off. Never quite going all in but always bringing it to the forefront as if she wanted him to admit his secret.
Looking down at the pup in his arms as they gazed up at him with one eye he muttered "gotta catch em all" to himself.
"What?" Ara seemed confused.
"Nothing. You said the bath was ready?" She nodded, there was no running water and no hot water either. Filling up a bath meant dragging the wooden bath to the pump like well and heating water. It was actually a lot of work. A few fleeting dark thoughts passed through his mind and he pushed them away. 'I'm not trying to use her, I'm not manipulating her feelings.'
Looking down at the pup in his hands he lifted them up to eye level. "Now I'm going to give you to my… friend here. You be nice now. No biting!" Feeling bad for how he'd been treating Ara he added "She's important to me so I'll be upset if you act up." In response, the pup gave him a long soulful gaze before giving what sounded like a resigned yip. He handed the pup to a pleased looking Ara who took it cautiously. For its part the pup didn't growl or seem angry it just looked….annoyed? With her hands full he patted her on the head and headed towards where he knew the bath would be waiting. "When I get back we have to think of a name for him."
She let out a little giggle that sounded like bells tinkling. "Ok dear, but it might be better if we give HER a girl's name."
**********
In the end, he named the pup Silver. Naming things hadn't ever been something he considered himself good at. So he felt something simple was best. Ara volunteered to bathe the pup after he finished his bath and he decided to take advantage of the moment to slip out to see Beth. It wasn't Ara he was avoiding but actually Silver this time. Meeting the pup had reminded him that he materials from both the Conri and the demon he'd slain.
His hair was still wet and he realized it was growing like a weed. It was now well past his shoulders. 'I should probably get it cut. Fighting with long hair is just asking for trouble.'
Getting anywhere in Little Well didn't take very long and so he found himself outside Beth's shop sooner than he was ready. Things had been strange between them since he arrived with Ara. He wasn't sure if she would yell at him or flirt with him. Mostly he just wanted his friend back, he missed her snarky attitude and her ability to give as good as she got. Peeking in the door he found Beth in the front of her workshop dressed in her normal uniform.
Spotting him she smirked "What is your new wife keeping you on a leash? Come on in."
Accepting her offer he entered thinking 'Alright, so far so good.'
"You were going out for more Catepig hides right?" He cocked an eyebrow wondering how she knew that. "Er well, you went in that direction. There isn't anything else that way but the Catepigs right?" Seeing her fidget brought a grin to his face.
"Oh so just stalking me now? What happened to the pretty dress?" he figured in for a penny in for a pound.
Her face blanched then blushed "Ugh just shut up already about that. I don't know what got into me. So do you have more materials for me?"
Summoning in the Conri pelt, claws, fangs as well as a large bundle of Demon Quills which had been the loot from the demon he killed. They looked like the quills that had run down his head and back. Having examined one he was glad the demon never got a chance to use them. He handed them over letting her appraise them. "Where did you get these? These things are all really high quality. I'm getting tons of unknown recipes just appraising them." She ran her hand down the silvery fur commenting on how soft it was. Thinking about the fur made him feel a bit guilty.
"So anything, in particular, you wanted me to make? I'm going to have to do it from scratch but my skill is way higher, I've unlocked a few new tools so I should be able to make something pretty interesting with these as the primary components." Her voice had the hint of excitement he hadn't heard in a while.
"Hmm, You can't make weapons right? What about something like the blades on the bracers? Both offensive and defensive? I keep getting into brawls and could really use something to help in those cases. If not just whatever you think will be best."
"Alright, I have a few ideas. I'm sure I can come up with something. But, you know it's going to cost you. I don't work for free!" She gave him a familiar grin and he couldn't help but chuckle happily that things seemed to be just fine between them. They joked and teased one another just like before. Eventually, a lull in their conversation started making things awkward again so he did what he always did in those situations, he fled.
"Thanks again. I got to go check on Ara now. I brought back a puppy and I'm not sure how well they get along." Beth just rolled her eyes and shooed him out of her workshop.
Once he closed the door her smile faded and she muttered "Idiot." Not quite sure if she meant him or herself.
*****************************************
As he left Beth's workshop he pondered what he should do next. He hadn't forgotten Dego's plan for the Adventurer's Ball, it sounded not only like a great way to check out more of the world. But an excellent plan to make some real money. He couldn't really keep expecting Beth to work for free and he needed other things as well. Plus if he was honest he just wanted some treasure of his own, he hadn't forgotten his original purpose for hunting the goblins. While the spear was great he still wanted more. The greed of a gamer couldn't be underestimated.
'What I really need is a dungeon to explore. Or ruins. Or some monster filled castle. Or…' His train of thought was cut off by another system message.
[Quest Received: Conquer the Fallen Castle.]