Coming back from my father's house, both me and Tskuta were silent along the way, even after entering the house.
"Are you okay?" I asked, breaking the silence.
Ignoring my question, Tskuta frowns and slowly starts aimlessly walking in circles.
Seeing this made me silent. (What am I suppose to say now?)
Without anything to say, all I could do was stare at Tskuta, but fortunately, Tskuta finally opened her mouth.
"What did you say?" She asked with a confused look on her face.
Taken aback by her sudden question and forgetfulness, I said "Uhh, I asked if you were okay."
"Oh, it's fine." She said dazedly.
Seeing her current state made me worried. Usually, nothing can faze her. So why is it that today's events caused her so much thought?
"Why didn't you tell me it's a dragon egg?" I know my question is so sudden, but it's the only one I can think of to solve her current state. And did it work? Yes.
Her face turned cold upon hearing my question.
"Telling you everything you need to know wasn't in the deal." She said in a cold voice.
Hearing this, I heaved a sigh of relief but suddenly remembered something really important.
"Can Shaman Hulu see that I'm not Kuta?" I asked while feeling nervous. This has truly been bothering me for quite a while now.
"Don't worry, he can't see souls; he can only sense them." Tskuta reassured me.
Listening to her, I calmed down my nerves, but then I had doubts. "So how did he not find out anything wrong about you?"
"As I said before, telling you everything wasn't in the deal."
She quickly diverted the topic and said, "Tomorrow, we are starting with your training."
"Wait, haven't we already started?" I asked, taken aback by what she said.
Ignoring me, she heads to her room, but before entering and completely shutting the door, she says, "Just a reminder: from here to Orc village, it takes 5 days. And on a trip such as this, it's common to meet 2nd Rank creatures. So..."
Looking at me with a creepy look on her face, she shuts the door while saying, "So, sleep well."
Listening to her, instead of being frightened, my heart was pounding with anticipation. (If I kill a 2nd Rank creature, How many experience points will that give me??)
(Guess there is no sleeping tonight, but why did Sade exactly warn me? Isn't she like super powerful? I'm sure solving a 2nd Rank creature should be easy, right?)
(Wait, if meeting a 2nd rank creature is common, then...) A scary thought passed through my mind, causing shivers to run down my spine.
Howl
Frightened by this sudden howl, I quickly hid under the blanket, but do I have one?? No, so I hid under the table.
(Wait, why am I hiding?) I asked myself with doubt. After realising it was only a howl, I calmed down.
(If what I think is true, doesn't that mean tomorrow's mission is going to involve 3rd Rank creatures maybe even 4th Rank.)
Just the thought of going against a 2nd Rank creature made me shiver. (Today's a really cold night. I'm sure if I sleep on the floor, I'll get a cold.)
(Should I maybe...) Turning my head, I look in the direction of Tskuta's room.
(She should give me one right.) Making up my mind, I walked up towards the door, then...
Knock, knock, knock.
(Please don't be mad. Please don't be mad.) I prayed in hope.
A minute passed by, and still no sound was heard.
Standing in front of Tskuta's room's door, my brain couldn't help but have doubts. (Did she not hear me knock? Should I knock again?)
(Let's try again.)
Knock kn...
"What do you want!" Tskuta's cold voice shouted, causing my body to stiffen.
Although truly terrified of her, I still manage to explain my purpose for coming to her.
"It's cold out here, so..."
"So what?" Tskuta's cold voice sounded again.
Gulping, I continued. "I want to ask if you can maybe lend me a cloth."
After I said that, Tskuta went silent again.
Seeing this made me feel disappointed, but considering she has almost 90 percent of control over me, I guess it's reasonable.
Just as I wanted to turn around, the room's door opened. Before I could react, a cloth was thrown at my face.
"Take it and don't return it." Tskuta's cold voice sounded before the door slammed shut in my face.
Holding onto the cloth, I looked stunned, then smiled. (Guess she does have a heart, but...)
Looking down at the cloth, I couldn't help but frown. A very unpleasant smell came from it. (Could it be...)
Suddenly noticing a brown spot in the cloth, I instantly, without any thought, threw it away.
"Ugh, someone actually used it clean...!" I shouted really angry with the disgusting act that was done.
It should probably be those two. It's just, how am I suppose to sleep now.) With this problem, I looked towards the cold, hard ground.
With no other choice, I laid down on the cold ground and closed my eyes. (If I truly do sleep, please don't let me catch a cold.)
The next day, me, Tskuta, and Kina all stood in front of the gate. Both Kina and Tskuta looked as usual, it's just...
"Hatchoo!"
I caught a cold. Normally I wouldn't actually have caught this cold considering I am level 5 now, but yesterday night was really cold.
"Kuta, are you alright?" Kina asked with a look of worry on her face.
Wiping my face off, I said in a thin voice. "I'm fine; it's just a cold."
Hearing me, Kina looks through the small, brown bag she held.
"There's it." She said after finding what she was looking for.
"Here, take this. It's helpful against colds." She said while handing me a green leaf.
Looking at the leaf in my hand, I was very doubtful it could actually help me, but most importantly...
"How do I take it?" I asked while feeling a little embarrassed.
"Hmm." My question caused Kina to ponder as she held her chin in thought.
"Eat it." Tskuta's cold voice sounded.
Listening to Tskuta's, I opened my mouth and bit on the leaf. A horrible, bitter taste attacked my mouth, causing my face to turn ugly.
"Why did you tell him that!" Kina shouted as she quickly took a black container out of her brown bag.
"Here, drink this, but not too much." She held the container in front of me, allowing me to drink.
As my lips touch the liquid inside the container, a refreshing taste numbs the bitterness.
"You know giving him that is only a waste, right?" Tskuta's voice sounded, causing me to wonder what Kina actually gave me.
"You!! If you hadn't told Kuta to bite the Gine leaf, then I wouldn't have given it to him!"
"What? I only said eat it, didn't I?"
"It doesn't matter; it's still your fault!"
"Oh, then who's Gine leaf was it?"
"You!!!"
Looking at the arguing women next to me, I couldn't help but feel that this journey is going to be longer than 5 days.
"Sigh."