After Aeth and Eirene's talk, they retired to their tents as it had already turned night.
Aeth, trying to find a comfortable position, rounded in his sleeping bag. Then after around thirty minutes he gave up, deciding to say up as he got up from out of his tent.
The sky was pitch dark and silent, being able to hear anything from a mile, the only sound being the chilly wind in the air.
Aeth felt a sense of calm being out at night, as if nothing mattered. Well something did matter of course, which was his meditation skill.
He had realized at the guild that in meditation, location played a big part in how much his soul could open up.
So since he couldn't sleep, he figured that this was the best time to try it out at night, to see if there was any change, negative or positive.
Aeth then walked around aimlessly, as he couldn't see, trying to find a suitable place to meditate.
He then reached the edge of the camp, where the wall of rocks protecting them stood, he then started climbing it, slowly so as to not fall.
Aeth, after a few minutes of slowly climbing, reached the top of the rock, he stood on it for a few seconds, before sitting in a Burmese position.
He first calmed his nerves, which wasn't too difficult with the silent, dark, grey sky, as he calmed his muscles.
Aeth then concentrated on his soul, trying to open up his soul. Not forcefully, but in a calm and natural way, letting it slowly open.
He continued this routine for about fifty minutes before he felt a rush of fatigue and something rushing into his soul, as he heard a voice ring in his head.
*Ethereal gain: 7*
*Total: 10/20*
Seven huh, well that definitely more than the usual six or five I get, I guess it was the night or the silence that helped me gain more.
This wasn't the only change that had happened though, he felt a profound change in himself, more specifically his soul. He had felt that it had opened a decent amount from this session of meditation.
Even so, he was still far from gaining the meditation skill, if he kept this quality of meditation, he would obtain it in around a few months, which wasn't too bad.
It was still quite late though, as the sun would come up in a few hours. So Aeth decided to try and sleep again, as he was tired from the meditation.
Aeth got down from the rock, careful not to hurt his healing injuries, as he walked back to his tent and layed down in his uncomfortable sleeping bag.
...
The sun shone bright in the morning, illuminating the small camp, as a petite girl rose from her tent, as she tied her hair in a ponytail.
She went up to the fire pit, lighting it as she got a pot of water and started making breakfast.
Eirene was very happy today. Happier then she had been in a long time, as she'd finally made a friend after eight years.
She looked up at the sky, today it seemed brighter, as if the Gods were happy with her.
...
Aeth woke up groggy as always, he was just about sick of being in this camp even though the trip was only half way done.
Eirene finished making breakfast, as he made his way over to the fire pit and sat down.
"Good morning Eirene, you sleep ok"
"Yes I slept great, Aeth" She said cheerfully.
Aeth was a little surprised at this.
She…. She didn't studder, not once, wow
Aeth was taken aback, he had thought that she was shy by nature and was just depressed.
I guess talking yesterday helped her more then I thought it did.
"Well im glad your doing good"
"Thanks Aeth"
They then ate their breakfast as they talked about the plan for today, before Aeth asked Eirene to use her [Tracker] Ability.
Eirene sat down on the floor, drawing a square then a diamond in the middle in the air, as light drew from her hand.
Then after ten seconds the light dissipated.
"There's an Ordinary Rank five miles south which seems to be the same one as yesterday, an Ordinary Rank three miles southeast, and an Abnormal Rank three miles southwest".
Hmm, we should deal with the two Ordinarys first, then I could get Eirene to help me kill the Abnormal.
"Good work Eirene, I'll deal with the two Ordinarys and then we'll kill the Abnormal together".
"Thanks Aeth, ok".
Aeth then got up from the fire pit, summoning his Tools, light wrapped around his body as [Shadows Curse] and [Starborn] appeared.
He then walked to the versan, getting in the driver's seat as Eirene got into the passenger seat. Then he started the steam engine, driving towards the southeast.
As he drove he checked his Task progress.
Atlas, could I see my Tasks
*Of course Aether Torn*
————————-
Tasks:
Rank X: Defy The Gods
Rank: IX: Kill Ten Thousand Grey Creatures
Progress: 7/10,000
————————-
This is never not going to be daunting, damn the Gods.
As he drove he saw the Grey in the distance.
It was a huge black bear, with foot long claws, sharp teeth, and a decent sized chunk of its side missing, somehow not bleeding.
How or what is doing this to these Greys? Is it another Grey? Like a vampire maybe.
Either way it didn't matter right now, all he needed to do is kill this Grey before it got too close to the camp.
Aeth parked the car a bit away, then got out, looking at the bear.
It had seen him already, as Aeth didn't try to hide, after a second it started sprinting at him.
In response, Aeth ran at it, as he couldn't afford to destroy the versan as it was a rental and their only means of transportation.
Aeth and the beast collided as he blocked the bear's claw with relative ease.
He then sliced the claw away, then jumped back.
The bear charged at him again.
Aeth dogged it with relative ease as he sliced at its claw, causing it to bleed red blood, as the bear recoiled back.
He then took the opportunity to cut its over claw as it fell to the ground, unable to move now, the creature layed there, with an insurmountable amount of hate in its eyes.
Aeth then stabbed it between the eyes, ending its pathetic life, as he heard a familiar robotic voice in his head.
*Grey of same Rank killed*
*Ethereal rewarded: 0*
Hmm, that was faster than the last, I think my swordsmanship might be getting better.
Aeth had been using a katana, not because it was a weapon he was used to, but because his [Six Sense] had told him to pick this sword.
So Aeth hadnt had lessons, everything he knew about swordsmanship was just from watching people from the Marsh district practice.
So Aeth didn't know any fancy techniques or a fighting style at all to be honest, but he wanted to change that, and the only way he knew right now was studying others.
Sadly, the only good swordsmanship he had seen was from Terra, which wasn't bad by itself, the problem was he was half passed out when he saw her, so need couldn't remember it well enough to imitate.
So he had hoped that one of the Greys out here would have some sort of sword, so he could learn a little from it.
Sadly, like this Grey, it was another disappointment, as the Grey was just a bear, incapable of even using a weapon.
Aeth dragged the body of the huge bear to the versan, loading it into the trunk as he got in the driver's seat, heading towards the second Ordinary.
...
As they drove their way towards the Grey, Aeth realized it was another disappointment, since this was another slime type Grey.
Aeth then got out of the versan, slightly annoyed by that fact and quickly killed the slime, as it couldn't fight back unless you touched it for too long.
*Grey of the same Rank killed*
*Ethereal rewarded: 0*
This was by far the easiest kill, I wouldn't even consider this a Grey, at least it counts the same.
Aeth and Eirene then got some buckets, scooping some of the green liquid as it could be used in some medicines.
After getting a couple buckets they got back into the versan, then started driving to the Abnormal.
Aeth didn't let himself get cocky with the easy fights though, quite the opposite actually, as nothing usually goes easy in the Outer World.
Even so, Aeth couldn't help but smile as he saw the Abnormal.
It was a tall, dark figure, with dark black armor and an imitating dark helmet, with him holding a long, dark sword, almost touching the ground.
The dark knight stood with pride, sadly though, Aeth was gonna split that pride in two.
He was going to gain his battle style.