As Damien stood at the ravine, facing the Marionette Mite, he started to ponder the idea that he may have been using his darkness wrong this whole time. Up to now, Damien had used the same method Dharc had used in his Journal. That is, infuse darkness into the staff and wield it like a blunt instrument. Due to this new revelation, however, Damien realized it may be the case that solidifying it was the wrong approach. It was a consuming darkness. It needed to spread and needed a clear path or direction. The air wasn't a valid target. It wasn't organic. So Dharc needed something with reach. A tool to help close the distance and connect himself and the target. It served no greater purpose aside from preference once he'd owned it for so long.
'So in theory, the staff was never absolutely necessary. I fooled myself into thinking it was because every version of Dharc had it and it took to the darkness so well!'
"Um...I am truly sorry, sir....I didn't mean to speak out of line..." The sudden timid words broke Damien out of his thoughts. Glancing back down at the Gnome girl, he noted that her complexion was a little better, but it was obvious his darkness had done a number on her. She had spoken thru pained breaths and was fighting to stay awake. Realizing his mistake, he quickly took a knee and placed down the Gnome and his staff. Keeping a watchful eye on Marionette Mite, He reached into his pouch and retrieved his last vial of 'Blue Medicine'.
"No, you did nothing wrong. I should be the one to apologize. I'm still new to my powers and don't have fine control. I didn't mean for it to effect you like that and I'm sorry. I need you to take this. It'll help you recover some."
Saying as much he opened the vial of 'Blue Medicine' before handing it to her to drink. He didn't want to take his eyes off marionette, so he opted to wait for the blue light to confirm she had taken it.
'Good, with that she should at least be okay. I'll have to be extra careful with my darkness until I can set her down somewhere safe later. Kinda annoyed though...She drank the stuff without so much as a peep. I know shes a resident and is probably use to this worlds medicine, but man. I feel like a goober now that I see such a tiny thing drink that nasty stuff without so much as a sound.'
"T-thank you, sir. Um, if we hug the left side of the ravine, there's a path between a set of boulders that leads up hill. If we follow the foot path east past that, there's a very dense stretch of trees we can use to lose it. If we drag it far enough inside, it should lose track and spend weeks navigating those woods." The Gnome girl responded after a moment.
'Perfect. Though I'm not sure what time of day it is, so I can't be sure if the sun is rising or setting. I'll need her to direct me to where east is, but that's a minor detail. In the meantime, I'll have to confirm my theory before I bank on it. Now that I know what to look for, it should be much easier.'.
"I hope that helped. Would you be able to climb and hold on to me on your own? I need to test a few things and could use the free hand" Damien said. His sight still trained on the Marionette Mite.
"I think so! Um- thank you for the medicine!" came the speedy reply before she took hold of his sleeve. Pausing for a moment and muttering "Um...pardon me." before timidly climbing up to his shoulder and into his hood.
'What am I, a kangaroo?' Damien grumbled in his head, but decided to forget it as long as his hand was free and she was secure. Without wasting any more time, Damien stood back up and paid more focus to his darkness, ensuring it stayed off the Gnome this time. Now that there was nothing else to consider, he lowered his stance before kicking off the ground hard. propelling himself along the side path of the ravine.
Marionette Mite wasted no time before chasing after him as they ran along the mountain side and between the boulders up hill. As soon as the chase began, Damien reached into his pouch once more. This time, retrieving one of the pieces of dried jerky. He'd never considered doing this to his food, but it should fit the requirement if his theory was correct.
Focusing on his darkness, he began to let it flow into the jerky. As expected, it offered no resistance and began to emit a familiar dark flame. Similar to the staff.
'Awesome. That lines up with my thought...' Glancing back at the charging Marionette Mite, he pondered something for a moment before deciding now was a good time to try it out. So, continuing his run, he focused on the darkness that coated the stick of jerky as he felt the gnome girl lean in over his shoulder. Observing his actions closely. He was trying to paint a clear picture of what he wanted to happen and felt he was almost there, but his focus only confused the gnome. Causing her to speak up.
"Um--Sorry to ask, but how is playing with your meat going to help?" Came an innocent question from behind. Damien, jolting with a snort, lost focus of his reinforcements. Nearly tumbling back down the hill and into Marionette Mites claws. It letting out a gleeful series of clicks in anticipation.
Barely getting control of his darkness again, he regained his balance and continued to run. Trying his best to control his laughter as he repeated the words 'I am mature' over and over again in his head.
"Sorry! D-Didn't mean to disturb your focus! I'll be quiet!" Came a panicked whimper from behind.
Damien, taking a moment to get the last few chuckles out, tried to focus back on the ration, but the whole thing was too comical for him at this point, and he figured now wasn't the time to play around with his powers anyway. So, with an amused smile on his face, he glanced back at the gnome girl cowering in his hoodie and decided to get some more info.
"It's no problem, I was just testing a theory. You actually helped lighten the mood, so I should thank you. You said there's a path due east. Which direction is that? While we're at it, how are you so sure we can lose track of that thing in the forest? It could have a sense of smell or other way to track us."
The gnome girl, though still a bit worried, pointed her finger ahead of him. All the while addressing his questions.
"East is that way. Once we're in the forest, you may notice. Its enchanted in many ways and although we know how to navigate it, Its a struggle for anyone who doesn't live in the area. Including merchants without a guide. Using senses like sight or smell will get you nowhere. We gnomes use the minerals in our lands as a beacon to guide us. Otherwise we'd end up just walking in circles till we drop."
'Scary....' Damien couldn't help but think, as he wondered what may have happened if he'd woken up in those woods and not the cave. Suddenly it didn't feel like such a bad hand.
Reaching the path at the end of the hill, Damien wasted no time and shot east. Already seeing the huge spread of trees nearby. Glancing behind him once more, he saw his favorite leathery bug monster following close by.
"Up ahead, by the withered stump. As soon as you pass it, go inside. Focus on running. I'll let you know when it loses sight of us!"
"got it."
Damien replied. Quickly closing in and diving into the forest head. He didn't bother turning around to see if it was still following him. The sound of it clawing and cutting at the trees and branches were all the verification he needed.
Navigating the forest floor was a bigger challenge than he had expected. He wasn't used to the terrain and he was glad he had an extra set of eyes to watch his back. He couldn't help but wonder if this was what it was like to have a familiar. Though he knew the Gnome girl had to be either an Earth or light monster.
'If I recall, Dharc's Journal mentioned that different charmers gave a different feeling to their familiars. Water Charmers would fill the target with an overwhelming sense of kinship. Like a close friend. Fire Charmers, on the other hand, would offer a parental warmth. So they usually targeted young creatures that had parental attachments to make things easier...Wind Charmers would use their winds to induce a sense of guidance. Quite literally, a guiding wind that made the familiar feel a sense of coming home...I wonder what Dharc's influence is...?'
"You're clear! It lost sight of us!"
The sudden voice jolted Damien from his mind, but the thoughts still lingered. Something told him he had to know. What was it that he could do. There was something inside, like a driving force or instinct telling him he absolutely had to pursue the answer. He tried to fight it off with logic, but the thought refused to be silenced. Until Damien finally made a choice.
"Hey, I'm sorry to do this to you...but could you guide me so I can sneak up on it?"
"HUH?!?" Came the dumbfounded reply from the Gnome girl.