It was strange even with the effect of my (Loyalty) on Remi the snake targeted him first. "a thought for later perhaps," I dismissed the thought for the time being. Checking over Remi to make sure he didn't have any wounds, I'd noticed a small tuft of loose fur. I rubbed over it with my fingers and he winced a bit. I looked it over a bit longer and there was only bruising. "If I took those hits he would've shattered my bones. Thankfully you were there Remi," I gave him a pat on his head and I noticed it once more.
There was a small energy that left my body, I felt it more precisely this time. It left me through my palm and I felt it connect to Remi. "Everytime I worry, huh?" I said with a small smirk. As I began to stand I heard the snapping of branches followed by a massive thud. Remi sniffed the air for a second before starting to bark. Hearing another loud thud I dropped to one knee taking cover with my gun just hanging over the side of the hey stack.
I had all my focus on where the sound came from, then I felt a tickling on my ankle. The moment I looked down like a viper in the night I was ripped into the air by a large vine. I took a second to get a handle of the situation then placed my Winchester to the vine and fired away. I rolled off the hey pile I landed on and rolled to my feet aiming my rifle at a man. He was sitting in the corner of my barn with these weird flowers growing from his pointed ears. He was sitting there with a large amount of vines and flora holding him afloat.
Quickly I glanced over to Remi who seemed to be mesmerized. Turning to the other side Echo seemed to be the same way. I felt my heart sink a bit and the man chimed in, "fret naught tis just my appearance, though I'm curious as to why you aren't the same?" He tested his elbow on the bunch of delicate looking flowers and his smile grew almost sinister.
I took a few steps back then glanced over to both Echo and Remi, "I require your full attention." I let out the words and forced that feeling of energy leaving me. It left me a bit tired but I heard Remi snap to as he began to growl and walked in front of me. I looked quickly to Echo as I hit one knee, I felt as if I hadn't slept in weeks. But Echo seemed to be back to normal he did a weird movement I'd not seen before, at that note I felt my eyes close.
Shadows covered my field of vision as I tried to look around my neck and eyes felt glued in place. After my eyes adjusted I could tell the shadows had shape. As if a giant creature was living and wrapping around all of my being I could see not, but it was there. "Oh dearest Siren, may I know thine name? I am partial to those that assist me," the booming voice almost whispered these sweet words to me.
"My name is Kaiser, Kaiser Lloyd. Now to return the favor, who are you?" I heard the great being sigh. A jolt of fear ran up my spine. 'I hope I didn't anger him,' I thought quietly to myself. He spoke it once and spoke it softly but the words fell deaf on my ears. I cupped them to make sure they worked, as it seems they felt fine.
As my eyes opened I felt a rush of relief I had Remi laying on my side and Echo was within reach. I popped up to look for the man and surely enough he was sitting in the corner. "Kaiser it was, most interesting. You talk in your sleep, btw." he said as I reached for my gun. It wasn't on me though I quickly gleamed the room. It was tangled up in his vines. I went to speak and he interrupted me, "already found it have you. You've got some spunk," he said as the plants containing my guns began to inch near me.
"Don't shoot me now, my name Dimitri. I'm one of the merchants that awoke," he smiled as I checked on my Winchester. To my surprise it was still loaded, "if I wanted you dead I would've done it while you slept. You have 52SP you have just enough to buy some of my more expensive items." He held his hand open as a large flower began to grow out of his bramble of vines. It soon blossomed showing off a list of items with the names written under them.
"Unknown Scabbard, Giant-Eel Scarf, Toadstool Blade, Poe's Feather. These are you wears?" I glanced at his stock of about 30 items then up to him then back once more. "These could be good if they are anything like the mask I guess," I said releasing my gun causing tension on the strap. I scratched my chin a little lost in thought.
"You seem to be having a hard time," interrupting my thought process with his slow and methodical voice. I glanced up at him and he at me. Quickly I looked back at the good and walked up throwing my hand out and pointing at the Unknown Scabbard.
"I guess I'll buy that, if it serves no use I want a refund." I said looking him dead in the eyes. He quivered a bit as his lips curled into a smirk.
"Oh don't I wish I could do that?" he looked at me with a relaxed gaze.
"So how do I pay," I said getting out my phone to check Incase it was a notification.
"You'll find nothing there we just have to make contact," he said reaching out his right hand.
"Didn't think I'd be shaking hands after witnessing dragons but here we go I guess." I leaned forward taking a firm grip onto his hand, he slid a finger up my wrist and I felt a small prick.
"Pleasure doing business that with you, that was 28SP," he said with a smile on his face. He handed me the scabbard with a stuffed laugh.
"Can I get something cheap that fits the scabbard as well?" I asked as I ran my hands over the silver engravings that made a strong casing for the leather bound blade holder.
"Sure you can fit almost any blade in there by the way," I looked at the scabbard and laughed a bit at his joke. He reached forward grabbing my wrist and making the transaction then handed me a forearms length blade. The cost came to 2SP
I felt a little worried as I slide the shorter sword into the sheath. I felt the sliding of plates as it slid perfectly in place with the outer metals moving past each other to fit the blade perfectly. I started at the phenomenon for a bit before I felt a vibration from my pocket. "Stuff isn't cheap here, all I've done so far feels like nothing compared to these costs," I shook it off and retrieved my phone from my sling.
"I see you've met a merchant, good luck with getting him out. hehe he'll be a problem. So it seems you have 22SP leftover after buying Unknown Scabbard and an Emerald Kukri. The Unknown Scabbard has the skills (Hone) and (Reshape), it may serve vary useful despite not having a good combat ability. The Emerald Kukri has no skills, just a mundane blade form a different land. Good luck, you'll need it." This ended the messages.
"Well looks like I'm not getting you to leave," I said walking out the barn with a smirk on my lips. I blocked out whatever witty remark the merchant gave and let out a whistle. A couple seconds after I heard a slow trot following me along with Remi walking in front of me. My smirk changed to a smile as I got to the car and got Echo's riding equipment. I saddled him up and got him ready to ride.
"Maybe I should get a new friend? You know, one I can understand," I thought aloud while finishing the fastening of the saddle. Remi stared up at me at hearing me speak then with a tail wag he let out a couple playful yips towards me. I pet him and Echo for a second before I tested the saddle to make sure it was good for a long ride. "Okay, Echo, Remi we have enough supplies to last us a couple of days but we need to fight and build up our SP." My hands and voice quivered a bit at the end, "You boys ready?"
Expecting nothing in response I started to situate my weapons on my body making sure they would be comfortable for riding. As I finished situating my gear and looked up I heard a soft sigh form Echo and he moved his head a bit and a coordinated bark from Remi. I smirked, "Okay lets get moving you two smarties!"
I mounted Echo and gave Remi a order to follow loosely, with the we began to ride slowly back into town. I made sure to avoid the direction I saw the large horse snatchers take off to. We rode for about 40 minutes before coming across a convenience store. I didn't wanna enter but it was midday on a Saturday when all this started. "There is definitely a chance some people got stuck in there," I said as I jumped down off Echo. "Remi protect him," Remi tried to follow as I entered but I raised a finger to him and he waited outside. I entered the door with a chime, I felt a little pale in the face. I quickly took cover behind a counter to ready myself if any creatures were alarmed by the bell.
I laid low for a couple seconds before popping my head up to see what was going on. I didn't see anything to out of the ordinary besides a couple of the isles seemed to have fewer food items. Then as I stood I heard, "Was that a human. Does anyone know what's going on? I really need help I'm stuck under a shelf in the back." The girls voice sounded distressed it didn't seem like it was lying, I took a few steps in that direction then heard what sounded like the slapping of clawed feet across the tiles.
I began a dash for the back after rounding a couple corners I could see the girl who was calling me. I could also see a two legged creature moving on all fours. It saw me and let out a loud chittering noise as it approached the girl. I grit my teeth as I heard a couple more of the creatures chitter back, "I've got to do this!" After I screamed I slid up beside the girl landing just in time to plant my foot in the one eye of the lanky creature. "Skree," it shrieked as I sent it sprawling out for a couple seconds.
I took a quick moment to take in the surrounding, I heard 2 behind me and 3 more ahead of me. She seemed to be really deeply stuck under the shelf, but she was bleeding pretty badly I couldn't make out any features due to her being unconscious. I dashed forward kicking the one I'd already kicked to get it to on it's face. I placed a very abrupt slash down on it's neck, my Kukri got stuck in the back of it's neck.
I quickly kicked it pulling the blade out just in time to backhand the next one that lunged at me attempting to slash at me with it's gnarled nails. I was getting a little scared so I let out a loud whistle with a very shaky smile I slashed at the next one to leap towards me. The slash landed flush on it's chest leaving a massive gash as it crashed to the floor. I quickly turned hearing steps get even closer. "Not this time!" I screamed slamming the butt of my Winchester into the face of the creature. I quickly slashed at it's abdomen leaving it's one eye dim.
I quickly kicked the next one coming from the same side I heard a snarl and what sounded like the clanking of stone on stone. "Thanks for listening boy. Don't show any mercy," I said as I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I dashed forwards releasing my gun to grab the creature by the back of the neck, slamming it's face into a shelf a couple times it's body went limp. I turned back with an annoyed look on my face, I grabbed a can and launched it at the one that was trying to jump on Remi.
The can slammed into the creatures are causing it to stray off path, quickly it was met by my bestfriends teeth. I looked down noticing Remi took care of one already, I let out a relieved breath. I saw another of these one eyed freaks vault over the shelfing going for the lady on the floor. I git my teeth one more time and stepped to the left a step, putting myself in it's path. The creature clawed at my chest a couple times, I stifled a growl as I grabbed the creature by it's arm.
It tried to claw at my hand but I snatched it up and slammed it to the ground causing it to almost bounce as it gasped for air. I was peeved so badly I found myself covered in grey chunky blood a few seconds later. "Miss are you okay?" I levered my shoulder under the shelf and lifted the corner to free her lower body. She seemed to be unconscious but there was so much blood I couldn't tell what was wrong.
I grabbed her pulling her loose and throwing her on my back, I sheathed my blade instead holding my Winchester in my left hand with my right supporting her on my back. I quickly raced outside having Remi go ahead of me. There didn't seem to be any threats nearby so I mounted Echo saying my sorry before we left. We began to leave the city at a canter to make sure we didn't loose Remi in a dangerous place he kept up very easily at that speed.
Soon as I saw a sign I looked over at Remi and hollered, "take your time don't exhaust yourself!" I felt the energy leave me once more, then I had Echo ramp up to a gallop Remi couldn't keep up so he let off on his speed a bit and just seemed to canter back. "Good he understands," I thought allowed keeping a good eye on the road making sure Echo wasn't running into anything that could damage his hooves.
With a sigh I whispered down towards the unconscious women, "be strong we will be there soon, I will help you the best I can. I promise!" I let out a bit more energy. I felt my grip loosen on the reigns a bit, I snapped to after a couple seconds. I had to keep my eyes up so I dug my nail into my open wounds from the one eyed ugly. With a sear of pain I felt my exhaustion recede a bit, I soon after could see the house coming into sight.
The moment we got there I hopped down off of Echo collecting the girl on my back once more and moved as quickly as I could to the barn. "Skip the bullshit give me a healing item of some sort take as many points as you need," I quickly put the girl down and ran over slamming my hand into his then grabbed the vile he pointed out. "She can't drink it normally, fuck I've always hated this trope!" I exclaimed as I took a small sip of the vile holding her nose and placing my lips to hers. It was grimy she had blood absolutely covering her face.
I fed her the brew a couple of times and tended to her over the next few hours making sure Echo and Remi were watered and fed. During that time I noticed her wounds start to slowly close. From what the merchant said she wasn't going to regain her sight even with a 6SP potion, his most expensive potion that I could afford. She seemed to have a broken leg and some minor cuts that healed up just fine but the massive gaping wounds over her eyes healed with a fair bit of scaring around them and a haze of grey over her eyes.