The village was alive with music, laughter, and the mouth-watering aromas of a feast being prepared. After the day's events, the villagers celebrated with full hearts and open arms, sharing stories of the recent battle and enjoying the simple pleasure of a safe evening.
Blue and Wobbles stood at the edge of the gathering, watching the festivities with wide, eager eyes. Wobbles wobbled in delight, a trail of clear, drool-like goo dripping from their mouth as they took in the smell of roasting meats and freshly baked bread. Blue, too, was captivated by the feast, his little mouth watering at the scents filling the air. It was a small reminder of his previous life—one of the simple joys he still missed, even if he was now a small scorpion.
.
As Blue watched the festivities, he found himself reflecting on everything that had happened since he awoke in this strange, new world. He remembered the first moments of confusion, the survival-driven days scuttling through the forest, and the relief he'd felt when he first stumbled upon the village. Each day had brought new faces and experiences—first the curious villagers, then the friendly little Wobbles, and now Grimfang.
He thought back to the fight with Grimfang and his own courage in defending the villagers, feeling both proud and astonished at himself. After all, he was just a scorpion, wasn't he? And yet, here he was, a trusted friend to the villagers and a protector in his own right.
As his gaze roamed across the village, Blue spotted Grimfang, the massive creature lying just outside the village's outer wall, watching the celebration in silence. Curious, Blue scuttled over, maneuvering his small body through the gathering crowd until he reached the edge of the wall.
"Grimfang," he called, his tone both curious and gentle. "Why haven't you gone back to the forest?"
Grimfang glanced down at Blue, his usually fierce eyes softened with something that looked almost like guilt. "I… suppose I still feel remorseful," Grimfang admitted in a low tone. But then, as if on cue, a loud growl escaped his stomach, causing Blue to tilt his head and chuckle.
"Are you sure it's only guilt, or are you just hungry?" Blue teased, his voice laced with humor.
Grimfang let out a gruff, slightly embarrassed snort, glancing away. "Perhaps both," he said, though his serious demeanor quickly returned. "But that's not all, Blue. I've been thinking about what we discussed… about the True Name. Have you given it any thought?"
Blue sighed, scratching the ground with his pincers in contemplation. "I'm honestly not sure. I like being called 'Blue,' and the thought of having a True Name that could change me… it's a lot to think about."
Grimfang nodded in understanding. "It is indeed a great responsibility. But should you decide, I would be honored to bestow a True Name upon you. It would only take a small amount of my Essentia, nothing I would miss."
The mention of Essentia caught Blue's attention. "Essentia?" he asked. "What exactly is it?"
Grimfang settled onto his haunches, ready to explain. "Essentia is the fundamental energy of all living things. It exists within us, powering our magic, our strength, and even our very souls. In our world, Essentia is linked to the great cosmic force known as the Essentia Nexus, the origin of all energy."
He continued, "Essentia can be finite, as each being possesses only so much within them. While it replenishes naturally, too much use without rest can lead to exhaustion or, in severe cases, death. It's believed that the Essentia Nexus itself was created by a god, a being called Zephalon—the Creator of Realms. Zephalon is said to have crafted the very essence of this universe, imbuing all living things with Essentia to connect them to the world."
Blue took in the explanation with awe. "So, this… this Zephalon created all of this?" he murmured, glancing around at the village, the trees, and the night sky above. The concept of such a being was overwhelming, yet also filled him with a strange sense of purpose.
"Yes," Grimfang confirmed. "And each living creature has a unique core within them known as the Essentia Nexus. This core allows them to channel Essentia, giving rise to their strengths and abilities. And I can sense, little one, that your Essentia Nexus is unusually well-formed for someone who isn't actively using their Essentia."
Blue blinked in surprise. "I have one of those cores?"
Grimfang's eyes gleamed, his expression amused. "Indeed, and quite a potent one, it seems. Though I suspect you've only just begun to tap into its potential."
Blue shook his head, a bit dazed by the thought. A core of power inside me? I don't even know how I got one in the first place, he thought.
Grimfang's tone grew thoughtful as he brought up the topic of True Names once more. "But Blue… I bring this up not for you, but for your friend."
Blue tilted his head, confused for a moment, until realization hit him. His gaze shifted to where Wobbles was happily wobbling around, playing with the children. A sense of guilt and awkwardness welled up within him as the implication dawned on him.
"Wait… did I… did I give Wobbles a True Name without even knowing it?" he asked, his tone laced with regret.
Grimfang's silence was enough of an answer, and Blue sighed, glancing back at his friend. But as he watched Wobbles wobbling around, clearly delighted by the name and the attention, he felt a sense of relief. Wobbles loved their name, and knowing that made Blue's guilt fade. As long as Wobbles is happy, that's all that matters.
Grimfang, noticing Blue's softened gaze, spoke with a hint of admiration. "You are fortunate, Blue, to have such a loyal friend by your side. I envy that companionship."
Blue looked up at Grimfang, his gaze sincere. "Well, we're friends too now, Grimfang. You promised to protect the forest, and the village as well, right? That makes you a part of this."
Grimfang seemed taken aback by Blue's straightforwardness, but he nodded with a small, grateful smile. "Yes… you're right. I am honored to call you my friend as well. And, if the villagers permit, I would be honored to act as a guardian for the village."
Blue's eyes widened, and he chuckled nervously. "Might want to run that by the village elder first," he suggested, though he felt a swell of pride in Grimfang's offer.
Grimfang nodded, his expression thoughtful once more. "There is one last thing, Blue… about the True Name." He paused, then added, "Not for you, this time, but for someone else."
"Someone else?" Blue was surprised.
Grimfang inclined his head, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You, perhaps, but ultimately… my master. I do have someone who granted me my own True Name, after all."
Blue's jaw would have dropped if he had one. "You… you have a master?"
Grimfang chuckled, clearly pleased by Blue's astonishment. "Indeed. My master is powerful, wise beyond even my years. A being capable of bestowing True Names… though such gifts are not given lightly."
Blue couldn't hide his awe. Knowing what he did about Essentia and True Names, he could only imagine the power of someone capable of bestowing such things. He hesitated, then nodded. "You… you can mention me, if you want. A friend of a friend is a friend, right?"
Grimfang let out a hearty laugh, clearly pleased. "Indeed. I will mention you to my master. They will be curious, no doubt, but I'm certain they will be pleased."
As Grimfang turned to leave, Blue called after him. "Wait—are you sure you don't want to join the feast for a bit? After all, the village's new guardian should get to know the people they're protecting, right?"
Grimfang's stern expression softened, a shy glint in his eyes as he looked back at the lively celebration. "You may have a point, Blue," he admitted, a bit reluctantly.
Together, Blue and Grimfang made their way back to the festivities, greeted by laughter and warmth. For a fleeting moment, as Blue watched Grimfang join the villagers, he felt that maybe, just maybe, he had finally found a place where he belonged.