Riva recalled the details of the taming ritual. It would be ideal if her target was willing. In a sense, the gnome had already said he'd do anything.
He's totally afraid of me. I doubt he will listen to anything I have to say. Let's just go with the flow. He thinks I'm the villain, so, why not? We will have enough time to rectify the misunderstanding after he's tamed.
Riva adopted a deeper more authoritative tone and said "I have decided, puny gnome. You are in luck, I was searching for a willing test subject. I shall test my skill on you. As long as you accept and receive my spell willingly, I shall guarantee your well-being!"
Riva had to forcefully suppress her laughter.
The gnome hurriedly nodded. He acted as though she would eat him if he took too long with his answer.
Riva immediately began the taming procedure. She bit her finger and then used her purple blood as a pen to draw a complex rune on the gnome's skin. It didn't matter where she drew it, but for convenience, she chose to draw it on his forehead.
After this, she had to focus and try to send some of her energy into the rune through the connection with her blood.
She thought this part would prove to be the hardest. It sounded both abstract and magical. But in truth, she found that the rune was like a torch in the night, it was shining and about to burn out. She simply needed to add fuel. This immediately ignited the torch, or rather, her blood. It looked as though it was burning with both purple and golden flames.
The poor gnome was whimpering with fright. It didn't seem to hurt him in any way, but, even though Riva wouldn't have thought it possible, it managed to scare the gnome even more.
Both he and Riva held their breath in anticipation of what was about to happen.
A moment passed.
She could see the cold sweat running down the gnome's face and dripping into his beard.
Ten seconds passed.
Riva coughed awkwardly.
Half a minute passed.
The flames dancing on her blood rune began to dim.
Finally, a system message popped into Riva's mind.
[Target invalid]
"WHAT??!" Riva's sudden outburst made the gnome jump in fright.
The poor guy passed out on the spot.
"INVALID?! Are you kidding me? It's a gnome! A humble, small, frightened gnome. Why can't I tame it?" Riva made her indignation heard.
[The gnome is an invalid target for the 'Taming' skill]
"You're repeating yourself! Then what IS a valid target?"
[Searching for target… target found]
[Target is situated directly behind user]
Did someone sneak up on her? Riva hurriedly checked behind her.
"Uh, system, there's no one there. All I can see is dirt and a few dead leaves... some rocks and…"
[User found it. This is the nearest valid target according to system's search]
"What is?" Riva didn't get what the system was talking about.
[The rock touching user's toe is the nearest valid target]
Riva choked on her words.
"Cough, cough...ahem… I didn't know that you updated your humor during the last update. You got me good."
[...]
[System does not support humor]
[Suggestion added]
…
"You're telling me I can tame a ROCK?!"
"That's something a kid would do!"
"Who do you take me for? Did you think I would enjoy drawing faces on rocks and calling them friends?? Do I look desperate enough to have a pet rock???"
"How the fuck is a god damn ROCK supposed to help? At the very least, a gnome could have served me as emergency rations!"
Riva breathed heavily with anger. She technically didn't need to breathe, a habit from the past. It took her a moment but she managed to calm herself somewhat.
"I don't know what I expected. Something useful? With your track record, it's either useless or dangerous or both. I really should stop getting my hopes up!"
"Note to self. Never expect anything good from the system. You'll have fewer anger management issues."
Riva wouldn't usually get this emotional over a trashy skill from the system but a part of her had its geeky hopes and dreams regarding taming crushed into stardust. Why else would she have invested as much effort into finding a good target?
Riva stared at the rock with a blank look.
"System, 'Taming' is a tiered skill, could it be that I get additional targets once I level the skill high enough?" Rive couldn't let it go that easily.
[Affirmative, system can't tell user the details as user will have to experience for themselves]
Riva considered it for a moment. If she continued to tame, wouldn't her skill level rise. Then there was a chance that the skill could eventually turn into something useful. She couldn't help but become hopeful once more.
"Guess I'm desperate enough to tame a rock after all."
+++ +++ +++
Troikin regained his consciousness. He was unsure how much time had passed.
It had made him accept a ritualistic spell under the promise that he wouldn't be harmed if he did so willingly. It didn't work. Troikin was almost sure that this had been its plan all along. It was merely playing with its food. Even the aura it exuded when in its anger was too much for him to bear.
When he passed out he was sure he would never awaken again.
Maybe it did keep its promise or far more likely, it intended to play a little longer? Why couldn't it be over already?
He considered playing unconscious but decided against it. There was no hiding from it.
He sat up and opened his eyes.
What greeted him was the view of the beings back. It was crouching on the ground and holding what looked like a stone with a rune made of its blood. Before it lay two more stones featuring the same patterns.
What the hell was it doing?
Troikin could feel the earth. It wasn't that it was speaking to him. It was more similar to an analysis where he would get feedback on its state in an abstract manner. It was enough to become aware of danger.
Now he was receiving feedback from the rocks.
They were worshiping it. Everything about them was attempting to become closer to it, empower it, make it content and fulfill it's every wish.
That's when he realized the truth. This was what it had attempted to do with him through that ritual from before. It wanted him as its follower!
It turned around "You're awake, nice. I was worried about what to do with you in case you didn't wake up soon. How are you feeling?"
Troikin shuddered, he understood its implication. 'I would have eaten you if you didn't wake up when you did. Be grateful, for you shall live a bit longer. But only as long as you don't displease me.'
"I-I-I am s-s-sorry, m-mistress."
"Nah, there's no need to apologize. Are you feeling okay?"
"I-I am glad t-t-to be s-spared, m-mistress." Troikin's teeth kept chattering.
The being mustered him with some concern. Maybe it was checking for the tenderness of his meat.
"What will you be doing from here on out?" It asked.
Troikin was certain that this was a trick question and there was only one possible answer.
"I w-w-will be your l-loyal follower, m-mistress!"