“Fala, fly away or-”
“No! What about Master?!”
VROOOOMMMMM!!!
“Just go, it’s about to explode or something!”
The shaking and buzzing quickly muffled their back and forth.
Any second now it could-
BIIIMMMMGGGG!!
CRASHHHHH!
“?!”
The transparent crown, still stuck on Somnu’s head, suddenly came to an immediate halt. A moment later, a violent, distorted shockwave crashed through the narrow surroundings.
“Fala!”
“On it!”
The moment he called for her, his crow companion had already flown over him and summoned her clones to grab onto.
Leaving the deep hole by flying up through the center as everything quickly began to collapse, Somnu watched the bloodied grinning skull symbol on the wall shatter and break apart as well.
Keep grinning… I’ll stop you if it’s the last thing I do…! The scarecrow vowed, the crows carrying him out into the clearing again.
“Ah… Finally, I can move a little better now.” He commented, his feet taking a few steps under the emerald moonlight still enveloping the unusual opening in the otherwise dense and foggy grotesque swamp. “Did he create this clearing, and the trap below? How…?”
Most of his wounds had been healed by now, leaving only the one on his stomach. The left arm couldn’t be considered a wound at this point, but likely something he would need to get used to. Like the scar over his left eyebrow or the unusual white hair sitting at the top of his head, contrasting his darker sides.
“Thanks, Fala. You’re a lifesaver as always.” He turned to the black bird, allowing her to land on his shoulder again.
“It’s only natural when I have such a troublesome master.” Fala shot back. her clones flying into her, immediately merging with the smoke surrounding her rune-covered feathers. “It’s my duty after all.”
“... Shouldn’t you be nicer to me then? I wonder if you’re really just obligated to me because of this System or- Aww! Stop that!”
“It’s your own fault for being a stupid master!”
“Alright! I’m sorry, okay?! I have no idea how this works!” Somnu tried to cover his face from becoming bird food, but he couldn’t stop the onslaught of beak attacks drilling a new hole in the side of his head.
And since Fala had grown so much from the spike of new levels and another rank up of the Dream Catcher she was connected to, every hit felt like a big needle being forcibly jabbed into him.
“The first time you summoned me, Master, it felt odd, but familiar at the same time.” Fala stopped attacking and readjusted herself on the scarecrow’s shoulder. “It felt as if it was the first time I became me, as if I was given life. I could think and feel, and yet, I had no memories of a previous life…”
“You seem different, wiser now.” Somnu reflexively put his hands up when the bird moved a little. “I mean it in a good way! It feels like I’m talking to an actual person now… That’s why…”
“!”
Somnu reached out and grabbed his crow companion, lifting her in front of him.
“I want you to stop calling me master.” The corners of Somnu’s lips curled up into a heartwarming smile. “You’re not something I have, you’re my precious companion. I’m sorry about what I said before.”
“...?!” Fala straightened her head suddenly. “But…”
“You're your own person now, right? With a name and mind to make your own decisions. I simply told you what I want, but you don’t have to follow it if you don’t want that. I would just prefer we be friends instead.”
“...” Fala took flight and circled over her master. “I will think about it.”
“Alright. I do want to ask you a favor.”
“...”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Fine, a command for now then.”
“What is it?”
“Go and gather Almon’s limbs again, you and the clones must have dropped them after the System suddenly shut down and canceled your summoning.” Somnu looked up at the bird blocking the moon in the distance. “And while you’re at it, lead me back to the cave’s exit, please. I feel a bit lost already. Hopefully I can still make it before the other two get out and leave in a different direction.”
“Yes, Master.” Fala replied as countless clones shot out from her body in all directions. Her main body remained, flying a distance before Somnu to lead the way.
The scarecrow took one last look behind him, taking it all in for a moment before trailing behind his bird.
“Still calling me that… It’s best not to dwell on it, but speaking of which…” The scarecrow looked down briefly. “I didn’t get the chance to do it yet, but you’ve been waiting…”
[Serpent’s Summon.]
“Hiss!”
“I know…” Somnu hunched his back forward slightly, the indignant attitude of his other companion adding to his burdens. “You grew much bigger too…”
The snake had seen the most growth, and change overall. Its form was much wider and was likely longer than three meters now. The black smooth skin was covered with a layer of thick black smoke, protruding from the scales. Its eyes still shimmered with an ember color around the black slit pupils, only now much bigger than before.
“Master, you only care about that damned bird up there and barely call upon me… Hiss!” The snake turned its head away from the master and slithered in front of him, her voice landing smoothly on the ears.
“Wait, you can talk now too?! What gender are you?!” Somnu jumped with enthusiasm, but an immediate blank stare halted him in place. “Woah! I’m just asking to pick a suitable name! I don’t mind either way!”
“Can’t you tell, stupid master? I’m clearly female, hmph.” The new companion picked up speed, paving the path beneath the crow.
How am I supposed to know that?! You can’t trust the voice in these situations! Somnu pinched at the inner corners of his eyes. Was that really jealousy before too…? Why am I stuck with moody companions-
““Shut up, Master!””
“?!”
Both of his familiars’ voices rang out at once, interrupting his thoughts.
Wait, they can’t read my mind right?! We don’t have any telepathy skills! It’s just a female’s intuition, right? Right…?
No answer came, so he turned back to the matter at hand and began to think for a moment.
“Yup, I got it! I have the perfect name!”
“!”
Both of his familiars stopped and waited for him to reveal his decision.
“Naga! What do you think?” The scarecrow crouched down, reaching with a hand towards the serpent.
“...”
“!”
After a moment of silence, Naga suddenly slithered forward and gently wrapped herself around Somnu’s body. Her head crawled closer, nudging her master’s cheek as he questioned what she was doing.
“I like it, thank you, master. Thank you for giving me life, and a name.”
Isn’t this a major change in one’s mood so quickly?! Was I being tricked?! Somnu questioned, but then relented and stroked his newest friend’s long body. As long as she’s happy…
“I’ve heard I might be a bit of a troublesome master, but please take care of me.” He said while picking up speed after Fala. “Ah, and the same offer goes to you too, Naga. You don’t have to call me master.”
“...”
Just like the crow familiar, Naga didn’t seem all too eager to take him up on that offer.
“Caaw! No, know your place, serpent!”
“Hiss! It’s right here on my master’s shoulders. You stay there, far away from us, crow!”
Guys, these aren’t really insults… Somnu remarked inwardly, not daring to utter a single word out loud.
“How much longer, Fala?”
“If you start running now, we could be there soon.”
“Right. I should do that.”
Soon enough, Somnu was running again.
He couldn’t have known why Veilbinder’s Diadem had reacted the way it did earlier, and he had already given up on trying to figure it out at his current rank.
What he was actually questioning now…
If both Fala and Naga can talk, and I can understand them… Shouldn’t Grudgekeeper be able to communicate too? It could already imitate my voice, but it rarely even did that or tried to interact with me… He questioned, making a mental note to check on that later.
For now, he needed to reunite with the two companions he still had left.
“They aren’t in the cave!” Fala reported.
“What? Where did they go so quickly?” The scarecrow narrowed his eyes, fearing the worst.
“One of my clones checked and is trying to find them.”
“What are you doing, birdbrain? Simply track their scent, or do I have to do it myself?” Naga scoffed, then turned to Somnu. “Don’t worry master, I will be more reliable to you and find them once you get to the cave’s exit. I’m a good tracker.”
“What did you say, you skank?!”
“Who are you calling skank?!”
“Now now, let’s be civil guys… We’re all friends here-”
““Shut up, Master!””
Why don’t you be more nice to your master?! Somnu’s back was beginning to hurt from all the hunching.
The burden of his two companions might be too much weight for him to handle.
Nevermind that, I hope Mathros and Lulu are safe and sound…!
Here's the Patreon link for those who can't wait and want to read 30+ chapters:
Rating and Leaving a Review goes a long way to support the series!
!
