AuthorPalt
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A Gamer's Guide 222
🕑 Added 2024-01-15 12:32:16 +0000 UTCMorning came quickly, though, by the time I was awake, Goss was already up and about, calling me a sleepyhead, a snoozer-loser, a nightcap-haver⌠Every slur in the book. I wouldâve been more upset if he hadnât been right. Yes, indeedâfor once, I was as snug as a bug in a rug.
Being an effective worker to a tee, I wanted us to start lobbying straight away. Unfortunately, Gossâmy ride and guideâwanted us to go hunting first. With yesterdayâs failure in terms of food brought to the feast, Goss was desperate for us to have something better to offer.
And so, at four in the morningâyes, thatâs before the sun goes upâwe went out hunting. Naive as I am, I expected us to hunt in the nearby area, but not so. Goss took us to the neighboring country, and then circled around until he found a forest lush enough to hunt in. As he explained it, to keep themselves from completely wrecking the local ecosystems, they limit themselves both in terms of their prey size and amount. So, no bigger than a dog, and they have to grab it from a new region every day, resetting weekly. Apparently, this gives them a fair bit of variety. Neat.
So, we hunt for a bit. With my help, Goss is able to capture a number of small-to-medium-sized animals. Since he had no sense of how to keep meat tender, I had to teach him to slit their throats and suck out the blood to let them hang a little. How does Fr. Moonlight survive with these beasts around him? Ah, then again, he doesnât have to eat any of it himself. Itâs not like the whelps themselves are gourmets or anything, but I prefer my meat either fresh or old enough to no longer be in a state of rigor mortis.
With little effort and only a bit of bloodshed, weâre able to leave the forest with a few hares, two winged drakes and a single dog-sized tarantula. Mmm, tarantula⌠Goss was hesitant, but I promised to teach him how to cook it so it becomes yummilicious, which convinced him.
Before we fly home, I get Goss to take us on a little detour, flying high above the nearby surroundings. I know he sees it as casual, being a dragon and all, but I canât get over the novelty of it. It looks way too cool. Even if I hadnât adored dragons, this sight alone is enough to make me bitter about humans not being able to transform into dragons.
âŚThen again, considering all the dragons Iâve met so far, maybe being a dragon isnât all itâs hyped up to be.
I glance up at Goss. Well, aside from this guy, that is. The more I think about it, the more amazing it is that heâs still got all that childishness. Not in the way where heâs immature or anything, though. Itâs more that he lets himself be a kid.
Something cold and hard forms in my chest.
By the time early noon rolls around, weâve returned once again to Loathe Summit. For Fr. Moonlightâs sake, we drop off our loot straight away. As soon as we do, though, I have a thought. âHey, Father?â I ask, sidling up closer to him as we walk in the tunnel to his workshop.
âWhat is it, son?â
I pause a second to regain my strength. âWell, uh⌠So far, it looks as though Iâll be staying here for a while. A few weeks or so, maybe.â My statement makes Goss, whoâs walking a little behind us, noticeably light up. I pretend not to see it. âI was just wondering if, while Iâm anyways hereâŚâ The words are elusive, but Iâm able to grab them by the throat. â...Maybe you could teach me how to tan leather? Aâand sew with it, and such?â
âYou want to learn tanning?â he asks, eyes widening incrementally.
âWhy?â Goss shoots down from just above us. I try to telepathically tell him to keep quiet with a look, but it doesnât really work, and he just ends up even more confused. Nevertheless, he isnât speaking, so I overcome my hesitation and continue talking.
âYeah,â I say. âSo far, Iâve been skinning things and keeping the hides, but itâs not like Iâve actually been able to tan them properly, so after a few weeks or months, they kind of⌠break down.â For his own sake, I avoid going into detail about what kind of activities I partake in to cause such wear and tear.
He blinks at me. I feel myself sweat. Dâdid I say something wrongâŚ? âDo you really want to learn tanning? From me?â
Oh, lord, here it is. I turn away from him. âItâs not like I know anyone else whoâs as good at is as you, but if youâve got your hands full, then itâs not like I can force you toââ
Before I have time to finish making my excuse, heâs crossed the distance between us and slung his arms around me, his head pressed against my chest. I freeze in place. Whâwhat isâ
Taking a step back, he removes himself from me, wiping at his eyes. âThank youâyes, of course, I would be delighted to teach you all that I know.â Smiling warmlyâway too warmlyâhe touches a hand to the leopard hide Iâm wearing. âI had noticed the tattered things you wear, so hearing that youâd like to learn how to dress betterâŚâ He chucklesâno, snickers to himself. âI will gladly be of service to you, my son.â
âThâthank you,â I croak, the words only barely overcoming a sob to force their way out. âIt⌠it means a lot.â
âNot as much as it does to me,â he sighs.
We bring the meat for the feast to his workshop, and then Goss and I get guilted into joining Fr. Moonlight for high mass. Okay, thatâs a bit harsh, we could definitely have refused at any point and heâd have been completely fine with it, but the thought of him telling mass to a single attendee overpowered any such wants. Also, since Ymir was set to die in like a month, it would do Goss good to talk more with him. That way, we could extract more information, Goss could get closer to ascension, and I would be privy to more odd stories.
We attend the high mass. It was, dare I say⌠pleasant.
Unlike yesterday, there were three more dragons in attendance, a number that included Kempt, allowing the parish to reach a full six members, myself counted. The difference between three and six members doesnât seem like much, but it made a massive difference in the hymns sung, alongside the overall reverie.
Dragons, as I have come to learn, actually have two throats, one being for fire-breathing and the other for normal speaking affairs. The funny thing, then, becomes how they use both of these throats to sing, creating music Iâd describe as strange, but far from bad. It was⌠interesting.
We remained, and afterwards, Goss took the time to talk to Ymir. It wasnât really my place to listen in on their private conversation, so I dislodged to go learn tanning from Fr. Moonlight.
By the time evening and the feast arrived, I had learnt the basics of tanning, been taught how to properly cobble simple loafers, and forgotten all about lobbying. Shoot.
The feast would have been nicer if Kempt hadnât sat smirking at Goss and me the entire time. Gloating little tick. I wanted to tell him off, but Goss wouldnât let me, insisting that if we blew up at him, heâd be the winner. I was loath to find him correct.
To update on the tarantula situation, Goss liked it. Everyone else thought he was a freak for not only eating but also liking it, but we didnât care. Tarantula is good. Can recommend.
After the feast, we finally got around to lobbying. With so much time leading up to it, I had given plenty of thought to what arguments could be used to sway each party. HoweverâŚ
âYouâre okay with it? Just like that? But I didnât even explain the economic reasoning behindââ
âItâs fine,â Hart says, waving his hand casually as he continues carefully assessing a golden plate of some sort. âI really donât care.â
Goss glances between me and Hart. âDonât⌠care?â His countenance takes on all the properties of a wronged puppy. âBut isnât he your fellow party leader? You must have known him for over ten years by now!â
âYes, I have known Ymir for⌠close to fifteen years now, I believe,â Hart agrees. His massive eye turns to look at us with what can best be described as boredom. âWhy do you ask?â
Goss paces where he stands. âBâbut if youâve known him for that long, thenâŚâ
I hold up a hand, silencing him. Then, I take a step forward, hoping that even though heâs now turned back to the little plate in his claws, he might still listen to me. âWhat weâre trying to say, party leader, is that considering how this is usually a very ritualistic practice thatâs been going on for hundreds of years, we had expected a bit more resistance from you leaders.â I pause, checking to see if heâs listening at all. âSo, if it isnât too much of a bother⌠Could you elaborate a little?â
He turns to us in equal parts confusion and frustration. âAre you deaf? I donât care how that saggy old skinwing dies as long as he croaks before he starts mumbling.â Sneering, he puts the plate in his hand, absently rolling it around with his thumb. âIf you really want to hear my thoughts,â he says, giving Goss a meaningful look, âI wouldnât care even if you decided to let that little pet of yours do him the honor.â
Not sure whether to thank him or question his morals, we instead decide to keep our silence and leave.
Within a few minutes, we reach the religists and gear up to do our well-researched pitch, only to be met with the same reaction.
They donât care.
Not how he dies, not who does it, or even why. Their attitude alone told me that they wouldnât have cared even if I personally decided to tear him apart and use his blood as a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner. They just⌠didnât care.
None of them did.
Not even Ymir.
âYouâd be fine with it?â Goss asks, his voice hoarse. âWith me kâkilling you?â
The aged dragon simply shrugs where he sits, absently basking in the sundialâs sunray. âWhy would I not be?â
âItâs your death rite,â Goss enunciates. But both he and I know that the ritual nature of his death doesnât make any difference. âAndâand Father Moonlight is your friend, so I donât see whyâŚâ
âIt doesnât matter,â he says simply, in the same bored, indifferent way as everyone else. âTo die is to die. Whether it comes at your claws or his kiss is unimportant. In the end, I will return to dust, and my sins die with me.â His aged, deep-set eyes slowly move from Goss to me. âHoweverâŚâ
That small word gives Goss hope, as he looks back up at the larger dragon, eyes twinkling tentatively.
ââI would rather not be killed by someone who is unwilling.â
âUnwilling?â I parrot. âWhatâs that supposed to mean? Goss is beyond willing to do this. I mean, look at him! Heâs practically trembling with excitement!â As a matter of fact, now that Iâm dramatically pointing at him, I notice that Goss is actually trembling for real. I hide how flustered I am with a weak chuckle. âHeh, um⌠Yeah. He wantsâno, needs to ascend, and heâs willing to fulfill the ultimate type-five thing to do so. You understand, donât you?â
Turning to look at Goss, Ymir lets his nose crumple up into an expression of distaste. âI see how it is.â Without waiting for me to explain the facts and how everything really is, Ymir stands up, turning his massive back to us. Before leaving fully, he turns to look over his shoulders and folded wings, brow furrowed over his eye. âI do not care if it is you, or that priest, or even your human friend who should kill me. Neither, I suspect, do my fellow party leaders. However, if you decide to take Father Moonlightâs role, I expect that you should be able to follow through as well. Otherwise, your sins will only weigh heavier.â
And with those words, he walks away, crawling into a tunnel and out of sight.
I nudge Gossâ arm with my elbow. âIâd say that went pretty well! I was afraid he wouldnât be up for it, so itâs great to hear that heâs cool with it. Right, Goss?â
As I turn to look at Goss to examine the reason for his silence, I instead find an answer to a question I didnât even know I had.
Apparently, even dragons can turn pale with dread.
Comments
Zarric Baker
Damn, you right lol tbh I'd never even heard the word sidling before. You're right about loath to as well lol, it just read weird but having read it in the dictionary it makes more sense. "The more you know"â˘ď¸
Palt
"Sidling" as in present tense "sidle", and "loath to" is a real expression https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sidle https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/loath
Zarric Baker
"âHey, Father?â I ask, âď¸sidlingâď¸ up closer to him" Sliding âď¸ "I was âď¸loathâď¸ to find him correct." Loathing âď¸ Or maybe "I loathed that he was correct?"
Guizmo_Unicorn
Thanks for the chapter ! Also, in âYes, I have known Ymir for⌠close to fifteen years now, I believe,â Hard agrees. Hard should be Hart.
