Book 6: Chapter 17 - New Buddies (RAW)

“I stood in Bronze Hold’s forges and measured dwarf work against the best of human guilds. Where men file and fit, dwarves recast whole pieces rather than accept a flaw. Where men judge a blade by balance, dwarves judge it by how many heirs it will outlast. Their skill shame our finest craftsmen: a hair’s breadth is waste to them. Every hour they spend triples a human day, yet no impatience shows. I left convinced: human craft serves a lifetime; dwarf craft survives dynasties and remembers the hands that failed to match it.”

- The Fanciful Travels by Beron de Laney, 376 AC.

I avoided the Begonia’s Shade and instead chose a similar inn on the edge of the Flower Quarter. There was no need for further words with Naira; we had said and done everything that could be said or done between us. Taking no chances, I kept Larynda beside me at all times, and although the precaution chafed, she understood the stakes. Aelayah, after all, had hired assassins before; if she changed her mind, I intended to be ready.

Larynda was saddened to learn we would leave Patches the donkey behind, but I convinced her the animal would be safer and happier here. Naira, I knew, would treat the faithful beast like a queen. Patches was old and deserved a quiet retirement; it seemed she would be the only one granted a happy ending.

The first order of business was at the Exchange. In those grand halls, I checked that the suitable deposits had been made to my account from the spoils of battle, an astronomical sum that truly beggared belief. A man as affluent as I was treated with great deference by the people of the Exchange. I was offered tea and refreshments by the servile staff, which I politely declined. After the campaign against the elves, I would venture that the city-state of Al-Lazar now possessed perhaps the greatest stockpile of Mithril on the entire continent. I withdrew as much as I could of my wealth that I physically carry, in various denominations—both in solid coin and promissory notes. I had a strong suspicion that, once I left Al-Lazar, my account would soon be frozen or appropriated by the new Sultanate.

Next was the acquisition of supplies. Supplies for a journey that as of yet had no destination.

The Grand Bazaar had resumed business, its cracked tiles and shattered dome the last traces of my struggle with the Adventurers’ Guild. I had fought and trapped Zariyah in a Vessel, turning her into a weapon and tool—an event that now felt like another lifetime. I had sacrificed so much just to stay afloat.

I let Larynda handle the bargaining for supplies, instructing her to be quick. Though I took no part in the negotiations, the chill aura I carried discouraged the more predatory merchants from attempting outright robbery.

With provisions secured—water excluded, as Larynda could conjure that with her magic—we needed only a beast of burden to carry the load.

My gaze swept the pens: ordinary horses and mules; towering Girabis with elongated necks; dependable six‑legged Xaruars; and many more. Yet I was drawn to a familiar creature, the ceratopsian‑like Lumashitu. One specimen, a young male not yet broken, stood for “sale.”

“Young lady, I cannot in good conscience sell you this creature,” the merchant—who introduced himself as Asif—said nervously. “Untrained, he will endanger you and those around you. They can be most ornery while still young.”

His patter grated: every animal he offered was “the best” or “the rarest,” always at a “special” price just for us. Still, Asif showed more courage than most; though he feared me on a general level, he did recognize me and know of my reputation. It gave him a certain degree of courage, which I found almost endearing.

“Yeah, I guess so. He is cute, though,” Larynda sighed.

Where they saw only unbridled danger, I saw potential—a chance to raise a monster of my own.

“We will take him,” I said curtly.

“Samasa… I must warn you again,” Asif began again, but I raised one armored hand, cutting him off.

I looked at Asif pointedly before turning to my ward. “We will take the Lumashitu. Pay the man what he wants, but if you think he is cheating us, you have my permission to reduce him to a withered husk.”

I pushed past Asif and into the pen, past the trainers and minders, and stood before the young Lumashitu. It snorted at me, it large eyes narrowing as it started to judge whether I was a threat, a giver of treats, or just food. 

Summoning my Mimic shield, I made it form a spike that penetrated deep into the stone tiles at my feet with a sharp crack. At the same instant, I lashed out and seized the Lumashitu’s horn.

The creature stomped and bellowed, straining to break free; it might as well have tried to move a mountain. I watched through my visor, gaze cold and unrelenting. A bond pulsed between us—not one of friendship or respect, but of dominance and control.

I would be the master.

I exerted my control, forcing the creature to bow its head as I pulled it down, forcing its head to the stone tiles. It still scrabbled, its clawed feet trying to gouge into the stone to no effect. The Lumashitu’s barbed tail whipped like a scythe, hammering the stone tiles in a savage rhythm. But I held firm, an anchor against its storm as it tried to twist away unsuccessfully. The creature roared once more—raw thunder torn from its lungs—then, inch by inch, the great muscles slackened. And slowly, like all storms, it abated.

I could have sworn the poor thing trembled ever so slightly.

“He is rather cute, isn’t he, Larynda?” I commented dryly as the people around me gawked. “Pay the man and get sufficient tack and equipment as well. We will also need a more… placid creature for you.”

Larynda blew out some air in a huff. “At least life with Gil is exciting. You know I'd like something more exciting, to be honest, since you are going for something like that.”

Her eyes roamed over the available animals. “I'd like one of those, I think…” she concluded, pointing to a manta ray-like creature. “It looks adorable…”

“An excellent choice, samasa,” Asif began to interject. “But a Lirkud is a rare animal. The desert tribesmen do not often part with them. Why, this fine specimen came to me only because one of them had a certain shortage of funds…”

“Enough of the backstory, how much for the Lirkud?” I cut in.

“I believe twenty-three gold would be a reasonable price,” Asif began hesitantly, but I was in no mood to bargain.

I looked at the poor merchant, considering whether I should just lop off his head and take what I wanted. It was not like we would be returning to Al-Lazar in the foreseeable future.

Larynda must have seen my look, for she cut in with a nervous smile. “Fifteen gold, Asif is a fair price, and five silver for tack.”

“I couldn't part with it for anything less than…”

“My grip on this creature is starting to weaken…” I commented idly. “I wonder what would happen if I were to let go.”

“On second thoughts, fifteen gold is indeed a reasonable price. As I get older, the sums come to me a little slower,” he replied, eyes looking all over the place as if searching for an exit.

I smiled to myself. I was getting better at threats. But I could be graceful in victory.

Raising my visor, I smiled at Asif, a small laugh coming to me. “Give the man sixteen gold for being reasonable in his old age. There is nothing worse than a stubborn old man, after all.” 

“Yes… Yes… samasa,” he agreed quickly.

I slowly let the young Lumashitu go, casting Sage’s Sight on the creature.

Juvenile Lumashitu [Proto-dragon] lvl.9

Health: 387/387

Stamina: 63/93

Mana: 4/4

Power Strike (lvl.2)

Trample (lvl.2)

Not perhaps the toughest of creatures, but the little guy made up for it with an above-average level of Mana, which indicated a certain measure of intelligence. He also shared a skill, Power Strike, with me, which I found quite adorable.

Pulling the Mimic shield back into myself, I decided to let go of the Lumashitu’s horn, to test the degree of control and respect I had earned. If it attacked me, a quick punch between its eyes would be enough to pacify it.

You have learned Improved Monster Taming (lvl.1)

My thinking must have been on the right track, for the world rewarded me for it. The Lumashitu snorted and stamped, but did not look like it was going to charge. Its tail had stopped thrashing about threateningly, a sure sign of pacification.

“I think you and I will get on just fine,” I laughed with genuine joy. 

It looked like I had made a new friend.

***

I decided to name the Lumashitu one of the most unthreatening names I could think of, Theodore. The creature had more or less been broken, and I led the “small” Lumashitu by the reins through the streets of AL-Lazar. A few paces behind me, Larynda rode her floating Lirkud behind me, looking absolutely delighted at the novelty. The girl had named her new pet “Blossom” due to a vague flower-like pattern on its back. A sense of excitement, not defeat, overcame me as we passed the threshold of the Feathered Gates. 

I briefly touched the dagger at my waist, remembering that this was the first place Zariyah had decided to lecture me.

This was the call to adventure… and the whole world lay before me to explore at my whim. Now, I could finally enjoy the fantasy life I had always dreamed of. 

And my heart felt light, oh-so light. Free from all burdens.

Taking a deep breath, I took off my helm and hooked it to my belt. Not quite free of all burdens, not yet, and I shook my head, stopping in the middle of the street.

The traffic flowed around us, most of the citizenry wise enough to fear the beast that I was towing behind me.

There was one last piece of business. One of the desert tribesmen had found me at the Grand Bazaar. He was a robed man who tried, and failed dismally, to affect an air of mystery. He introduced himself as Amir Al-Qutar and informed me, with respectful formality, that Cordelia—whom the tribesmen called the Lady of the Blade—wished to meet me at one of the Nas Al-Rimal camps near the Green Road. He offered to escort me there, but I refused, telling him to give the directions to Larynda instead. I had begun to develop a certain paranoia in such matters, and I was sure Cordelia would be easy enough to find.

Perhaps I could pick out some useful members to fill out the spots in my party.

“I just remembered we must pay our respects to the Lady Cordelia de Aserac before we begin our journey…” I started with a wistful sigh.

“I was sort of hoping you had forgotten, you know,” commented my ward, playing with a loose bit of her blonde hair. “But, let’s get out of the city first!”

“I sometimes forget myself,” I answered with a smile.

People were really looking at me now, starting to put two and two together. The area they feared to enter was beginning to expand.

And with that, I moved forward once more, Theodore giving me a hearty snort. The guards at the gate did not want to bother to ask us any questions and just waved us through. I was sure that they were under orders not to impede me in any way whatsoever.

We stepped into a land I once knew only as desert. Now irrigated fields stretched deep into the Whispering Wastes, nourished by the ever‑flowing Samasutum—the Straight River, the Green Road. In their sudden green vastness, I glimpsed the promise of change, the outline of a brighter future.

But it was a future I would no longer be a part of.

Nestled along the swollen banks of the Green Road sprawled the semi‑permanent camps of the desert tribes, a vivid mosaic flung against the ochre dunes. Silk canopies in ruby, jade, and saffron snapped in the scorching wind, jeweled tassels scattering shards of color across sun‑bleached sand, as though sheer exuberance could bend the merciless heat. I even swore I could hear music in the distance, mingling with the smoke from a thousand campfires.

Toward that kaleidoscope of color, we set our course.