novelraw Chapter 109 - 108 - Strange Beast
Chapter 109 - 108 - Strange Beast
Lind was in the countryside after a long time in cities. He chose to walk as he was in no hurry and it left less of a trail for others to follow just in case. Lind also finally dispersed the dye in his hair and took his original name.
The bright forest sparkled to his Eyes with earth and air in each plant. Lind enjoyed the wild forest while keeping an eye out for any beasts. Thus far, he had encountered only mortal animals but it was close to civilization.
Lind found a river to refill his water barrels and did so as he relaxed with some fishing. He had enough meat for getting by, but he really needed to make some money for spices or fruit/vegetables.
The stick strung with a string shook as Lind pulled up another fish from the river. He had 5 now as his 2nd barrel finally filled up. Purified with his Qi, he happily put it away. Lind then resumed his journey and moved on.
It took a month to reach the large city of Cimmeria on foot, but Lind avoided all major roads as the Sapphire Auction House had found him, thus he tried to break the connection as best he could.
No random cultivator had crossed his path, but Lind noticed the lack of aether beasts as well. He wondered why he only saw normal animals, but stretched his senses to stay aware if that changed.
After a week, something came back that felt odd.
Lind followed the feeling until he came upon a sad scene.
A blue and gold scaled beast was caught in a rather brutal trap. The back right leg was snared in what looked a great deal like a bear trap to Lind's mind. He had seen them in shows, but the bright red blood was stark as the four legged beast moaned.
It had a large snout, scales, and a tail but it looked nothing like any beast Lind knew. The trap had clearly snared it, but the pitiful moans touched Lind's heart. A trap was not wrong to him, it was a legitimate choice for locals to trap beasts from regular paths.
Lind could see the pain and blood. He knew a beast would attack if free, but this one was pitiful. He carefully approached and saw the beast wail. It was desperately trying to escape, but Lind sent out a peaceful flow of Qi.
The beast was of light and water, so Lind harmonized with it. It let the beast know he meant no harm. Lind looked over the trap and was glad nothing complicated was inscribed into it. The metal was bad enough as it cut into the hind leg of the beast.
It might be some variant of an anteater but Lind carefully pushed open the metal teeth of the trap. The beast limped back from the trap and looked at Lind in fear. He left his hands open and allowed the beast to smell his hand.
It was a strange beast. It did not match any description of any beast or animal Lind knew. It did not sniff his hand but seemed to trust him as he slowly looked at the bleeding leg. The jagged wound was bad. Lind frowned as he summoned some disinfectant while also pulling out some bandages.
He showed the materials before applying the bitter disinfectant and then wrapped the leg in a wrap. The beast moaned but did not resist. Lind was glad as he felt like this beast was an herbivore.
It might have valuable claws or other organs, but he could not let such a beast suffer. The beast was at tier 3 Soul Realm and given its coloring, it seemed manifested as well. Lind then tried to move on but the beast followed him.
Lind sighed as he could not watch it suffer so he set up his camp early. He began to roast the fish he caught and noticed the beast drooling at him.
"Don't worry, you can have some as well." Lind cooked the fish carefully and shared it with the beast. It looked at him in curiosity and Lind wondered if it was an odd beast that awakened intelligence early. He still could not identify it.
The sun was setting but Lind did not shoo the beast away. Any opportunity to study a manifested beast was helpful to Lind so he did not argue with it. The beast seemed afraid to fall asleep but LInd put up formation wards Qing taught him.
"Don't worry, you are welcome around my fire." Lind saw fear in its dark eyes but it stayed within his wards. Lind smiled at how wary it was of the surrounding forest but perfectly fine with a strange human.
Lind laid out a simple sleeping bag and set up a warning formation that would give him time to respond. The sleeping bag also had some defenses woven into it by an array master. Lind was glad he got to camp in both lifetimes as he enjoyed the feeling of nature very much.
He scoffed at how naive humans were on Earth as he had realized wild animals were easily able to lay waste to a campground before anyone could respond. This world was even more dangerous but the ability to protect oneself was far greater. A peak Gold Tier was rare near human lands as they had no wish to be hunted.
Lind was tucking in for the night when he felt eyes on him. He looked over and saw the strange beast giving what most would call puppy eyes. Lind glanced down and back up at the beast. Surely not, right?
Lind held open the cover and the beast limped over before snuggling into the warmth with him. He was surprised at how soft the scales felt. The glimmer of blue had seemed to indicate very hard scales on the pale skin. Shrugging it off mentally he smiled as the beast seemed to finally relax and fall asleep.
It had been trapped for who knew how long and had been fed after being treated. Lind smiled as it was not a bad feeling having a companion without complications. He surveyed the formations once more and then let sleep claim him.
Lind felt the stress drain away after his long journey and enjoyed a dreamless sleep.
****
'Who am I?' It was the first question that came to them. There was a feeling that there had been something before, but it was too vague to understand it. The first thing was pain, mild pain as a burning brightness made water come from them. Warmth, ticklish air, and sounds followed the pain until everything felt stable once more.
There was an up and down, there was the understanding of up and down. Legs wobbled as balance was felt for the first time. They were filled with confidence that this form would obey as expected. Instinct informed knowledge that filled their mind. They slowly took their first step and it changed.
The crunchy ground was now wet. Why was it wet? What does wet mean?
This cycle of question and answer continued until they finally grasped all they were born with. They are in the world and they are alive. A blessing of Heaven and Earth had graced them to come into existence. In exchange, they were granted knowledge that took others a portion of their lives to learn.
They enjoyed the sunlight as it fell to the horizon and night came. They felt no fear, because they were of the world. What was there to fear in the parent that birthed them? It was a limit of the gifts of Heaven and Earth. Knowledge of oneself and cultivation that affected them was all they got, but the rest must be learned in the same vein as all others.
Water was refreshing and they enjoyed watching it reflect the starlight as it slipped down their skin. It tickled too in a pleasant fashion. Flits of shapes in the water revealed fish! They began to move away from the flowing water and entered the towering plants.
The pure joy was now splashed with an icy feeling. What was this feeling? Fear, it was fear. Why had fear suddenly come?
They began to shiver as the night felt cold and empty compared to the flowing water. They suddenly followed the impulse to run. Sharp but tiny pain transmitted as plants scraped or stones poked from the path followed.
Suddenly, their mind blanked as pain worse than anything was nearly simultaneous with a metallic clang. Their leg throbbed and looking at it made all thought freeze. Blood, their blood flowed as razor steel teeth held their foot tight.
Whimpering came first until full wails filled the night. They tried to move the teeth but they were too weak! Struggling just made it worse and they cried out for their parent to help them, but the Heavens remained silent.
Why? What did they do wrong? How did they offend? The pain and misery stretched for 2 passes of the sun and moon. Thirst raged and hunger burned but fear was rising. As there had been a beginning, they understood there was an end. Were they going to end so soon?
Just as fresh whimpers began, a sound came to them. It was the movement of another. Others had come but they dashed away as soon as they called out to them. Now, the fear of an end rose until a strange being emerged.
Unlike the other beings in the world it wore something on top of its skin. It had deep green eyes, but they felt only despair. The trap was made by something unnatural and now the owner had come. Death had come!
As they gave up, a gentle feeling passed over them. It felt like their insides and it was so gentle. It was kind. Happiness almost deceived it, but then it watched as the being held out their hands and mimicked opening the trap. Hope rekindled but the harsh lesson made them cautious.
Blessedly, the steel teeth were opened and it carefully stepped away. Pain lanced up their leg but before it could try to run off, the being seemed to make things appear. Curiosity pulled them in and they saw the being apply the liquid and cloth in a way they understood.
They watched in wonder as the being gently applied both. The liquid burned but the pain blissfully faded as the cloth was wrapped around it. The being's hands were gentle and they were no longer afraid.
The being then patted their head but then went to move off. Don't leave! They limped after until the being noticed and smiled. The being breathed heavily but moved back towards the flowing water.
The being made sounds they almost understood but it took time. They had to concentrate as it was one of the gifts of Heaven and Earth. Fish were pulled up and then the being did strange things to create a fire that cooked the food. It smelled so good and the being shared!
Fear of the outside remained, but safety was with the being. They did not want to leave the being ever! Some kind of soft mound was laid down and the memory of chill nights made them shiver. They did not know how to ask but the being seemed to understand and held a flap open.
'Safe, I am safe here.' After that thought, they released all the fear and tension. The flow of Qi was also released and the beast form vanished. In its place, a young woman with a wrap around her right ankle replaced it. Her pale golden skin was marked with blue scales. Her hair was a beautiful mix of gold and sapphire. Her eyes were a mix of blue and gold.
The elfin woman had no clothes at all, but she knew no better as she wrapped her arms around her savior and listened to his beating heart. She had found her home.