Larry watched Pebble as he flicked his Coin of Communication and contacted the King's attendant. He wondered if Pebble had any clue just how meaningful their encounter was. 'I bet Pebble doesn't even have a clue just how valuable he really is. Does he even know Reeki's history?' Larry felt an enormous wave of emotions flood through him. His nose wanted to run and tears wanted to be set free, but he held them back. He watched as Pebble casually explained the situation.
'His tone is so cheery and up beat. This is the same man who was just gored by a spike trap that I laid, and he's my salvation.' Larry decided that he would certainly devote himself to Pebble. He remembered how he used to be a man of faith. He was always hopeful that one day Reeki would return with his wits about him and bring a new era of peace to Tiamat. That day never came and eventually he turned from his faith and forged a path by any means necessary. Seeing Pebble here today was a clear reminder that Reeki was still out there. His faith that he's forsaken has yet to forsaken him.
Pebble was explaining the situation to the King's attendant now. He looked up and caught Larry staring at him and he felt a bit awkward as he gave a tiny wave, "Yes, I'm sure that this isn't any sort of plan to get me. I trust Larry. Yes, sir. Yes. Indeed." Pebble said as his conversation continued through the coin.
After a moment, Pebble said goodbye and hung up the call. He approached Larry, "Hey, Larry. Are you sure about all this? They told me the process and I know how to summon the contract now. You have to sign it in blood and…" He looked at Larry oddly, "Well, it really sounds like a bum deal for you, man. You get, like, zero benefits and basically are sworn to report to me. You're not allowed to lie or hide anything from me and you'll be viewed by society as my property. You won't even be responsible for your own actions anymore, I'd be responsible." Pebble told him everything he knew about the process. He was convinced that Larry would come to his senses and choose to start his new life instead of selling his soul.
Larry looked down at the ground and Pebble took this as a sign of regret, "Dude, it's okay, really! You owe me nothing. Thanks for not fighting me and I'm glad we're both alive. We can leave it at that. You can go do your thing, no one will stop you, I promise."
Larry balled his fist, "I know you don't get it, but I need you to know that you don't get it. I don't think you will get it, even if I explained it to you. So, let me just say it once and say it clearly. Today, I have decided to turn back to my path of faith. Reekology has been memory holed along with the great acts of my true god. You being here today is a sign of change, Pebble. Beliefs I have given up on are rushing back just because I've met you." Larry looked up and Pebble and he looked desperate and determined at the same time, "I can't let this opportunity pass me by. This is my vocation, I know it. I've had to work hard my whole life, nothing has ever been given to me."
Larry lowered his backpack and pulled out a knife from one of its compartments, "Except for you, Pebble. You came, seemingly out of nowhere, the very same moment I was about to tuck tail and give up." He cut his hand and held his hand up, "Summon the damn contract, sir."
Pebble looked at the honest display before him and felt overwhelmed, "If that's what you want." He recited some words that he couldn't comprehend and the next thing he knew, a contract appeared in his hand. He held it up and read it out loud, "It says, I, Larry Carto, will devote myself, body and soul, to Sir Pebble." Pebble stopped reading, "Pause. Body and soul? Look, I just want to make a point to verbally say that I have no intention of doing any sort of weird stuff with or to you. I apologize for the phrasing in this document. Also, how did it know your last name?"
Larry laughed, "Just shut up and let me sign it!" He snatched it from Pebble hands and used his finger to sign his name with the blood from his self inflicted wound. A golden light enveloped the both of them and the contract ignited, leaving only ashes.
"Oh cool, I didn't expect that!" Pebble said excitedly and Larry stared blankly.
Puffy appeared from behind a tree, "Are you two done? We're ready to head to the cave."
"You good?" Pebble asked Larry and he responded with a nod, "Word! Coming, Puffy!" Larry and Pebble rejoined Puffy and the group. Larry reintroduced himself to the team after being officially appointed as Pebble's squire. He now felt like he was meeting his new tribe.
"I'm really looking forward to working with you guys!" Larry said with high spirits and the team departed towards the goblin cave.
—
The team stopped at a bush not too far from the cave. They could see tracks leading from the bush back towards the goblin hideout, so they chose to retreat and observe from a bush on top of a hill.
Larry pulled out a pair of binoculars and looked through them, "Looks like there's one hobgoblin outside the cave and a few normal goblins cooking up some pork over a fire." Larry's stomach growled.
"Are you hungry?" Pebble asked Larry.
"A bit," Larry said sheepishly, "Do you want to look?"
Pebble's eyes twitched for a moment as he summoned some beef jerky from his inventory, "Courtesy of the King, and I actually have my own pair!" Pebble gave the jerky to his new friend and summoned his own binoculars from his inventory. Larry's eyes were wide as he ate the dried meat. This was the first time in his life that he's received food without paying for it. Even when he was a child he had to earn his share and yet, Pebble gave him a snack without so much as a second thought.
"You're a generous master, sir!" Larry said between bites.
"I'm not your master," Pebble said dismissively while peering through his binoculars, "Hey, do you see something to the right of the cave?" He elbowed Larry.
Larry quickly shoved the rest of the jerky in his mouth and began looking again, "You mean the red thing in the bushes?"
"Yes, exactly! Is that a guy?" Pebble questioned.
"This is f*cking killing me, who gave the two idiots the far-seers? Let me have a look!" Puffy jumped up on Pebble's shoulders and swatted Larry's hand away as the man attempted to stop him. He peered through and saw the red object they were referring to, "What? That's definitely a dude."
"Who calls them far-seers?" Pebble muttered.
"Can I see?" Fred asked Larry. Larry saw the opportunity to earn favor and didn't hesitate.
"Sure thing! You want to look right there." Larry handed the device over to Fred and pointed at the direction of the suspicious bush.
"Oh, dead to rights! That's absolutely a guy." Fred pointed, "Look, he's moving!"
"Oh sh*t, you're right!" Puffy said as they watched.
"What's going on?" Bard asked, he looked like he was hanging on every word.
"It's a red shirt guy! He's sneaking up on the hobgoblin outside of the cave." Puffy answered.
"A red shirt?" Pebble questioned.
"Yeah! Ohhhhh baby, he's right up on that hobgoblin!" Fred said with anticipation.
"Let me see!" Bard quickly took the binoculars away from Fred and looked for himself. "Oh my god, he's going for it!"
"You ass," Fred slumped his shoulders in defeat, "Wheel me away, Wheely." His wheelchair squeaked and dramatically turned away.
"Yo, he just broke that hobgoblin's neck!" Puffy exclaimed.
"Really? Should we go in?" Pebble questioned.
"Yes! We should!" Bard said with determination.
"Err, I don't know. I think this guy's got this handled." Puffy replied. "He's moved on to the normal goblins and he's already killed two."
"Do we still get credit if someone else clears the cave?" Phil spoke up for the first time.
"Yup, but we don't get any experience!" Puffy replied.
Phil was already slithering towards the cave.
"What's gotten into him?" Puffy questioned.
"Guess he wants the experience. I'm going too!" Bard announced.
—
Artia watched the chalice intently. Pebble and his team were approaching the man who insulted her so deeply. She was eager to see this blemish in her image be wiped clean soon. Glurt was staring at her and it began to irk her.
"Can I help you, Glurt?" She questioned.
"Are you going to ask him to kill him right away?" Glurt questioned bluntly.
"I would like that, but I know he wouldn't want to do so in front of his friends." Artia said honestly.
"You want this man dead that badly, Artia?" Aphrodite questioned.
"I do." Artia sighed, "He's well liked and that's even more infuriating. The scumbag was summoned by bandits. He was destined to be filth, but he chose to be this way."
"Seems like a touchy subject. Don't mind me. I'm not judging!" Aphrodite giggled, "I've offed my fair share of scumbags."
The Throne Holder leaned in, "Ladies, petty squabbles aside, I have a question for you both."
Aphrodite and Artia looked at him curiously, "Yes?" They said together.
"You do see the problem with Pebble's brain, right?" He replied seriously.
Artia held her elbows, "I have considered that it may be problematic." she said.
"I've always preferred dumb men." Aphrodite replied with a sinister smile, "I think it adds to his charm."
"Well that's cute, but that's not going to work for what he has coming." The Throne Holder looked at both of them with a desperate expression, "I've invested well beyond the normal investment for a Hero. I quite literally cannot afford to fix this matter at the moment. I'm coming to you both honestly. I need your help to get his brain fixed. We've all seen how one stat syndrome develops in its late stages." He said ominously, "Furthermore, he has the Berserker trait and his lack of intelligence severely impacts his self control."
"You gave him the Berserker trait?!" Artia yelled. "Well, f*ck!"
"What?" He replied.
"Ahaha, did you have plans for your Little Rock?" Aphrodite probed.
Artia's eye twitched, "He was meant to walk The Forest Path and ultimately…" She paused and blushed.
"I see, so if that's the case, you should have an investment in fixing his brain too." The Throne Holder replied clinically.
"Ooo, can we talk about this later? It looks like they are going into the cave!" Glurt cheered.
"I LOVE THE SUSPENSE!" Reeki yelled.