CHAPTER 69: GNOLL (1)

It took me two hours to hunt. Because I need to find more food for K'nor so I had to go to the river and clean myself to remove the smell of blood after killing the first deer. The second one mad run around for nothing as well. If you know you are going to die, jist accept it and die, dammit. While walking back, I see a tree that is broken, or more like it was squeezed. I wonder what did that.

Back home, K'nor is outside, waiting for his food. That guy devours a whole deer all by himself, bones and all. He only leaves the hooves everytime. Maybe because they are dirty. His poop is always filled with fur. He sometimes takes the bones somewhere, but I don't know where. I just put down the first deer I caught, and he pounces on it while drooling.

"woof!"

"Yeah, have a goof meal, K'nor."

I put the second one on a tree stump I have arranged for butchering. Then I remove the skin like usual. And cut it in small pieces. These will serve for today and tomorrow's meals. Excafol taught me how to cultivate crops behind the house. We have a small garden now with potatoes, corn, and other kinds of vegetables. There is even one weird vegetable that turns your hands red once youstart peeling it. Selene called it beet. I don't think I have seen that one in Tatradum. Also, thanks to K'nor hunting more preys, we use bones to enhance the growth of the crops. We grind them into powder and burn it; then we throw it on our little field.

***

Today, I will make one of the only three dishes I was able to learn from Selene: potatoes stew. I cut all the vegetables and put them in a pot with the meat. Then the seasoning, and finally a bit of salt. Yesterday, the food flavor was a little weird, so I kept adding salt until I was no good anymore. They still ate it though. I ignite the wood with a fireball. I can control the quantity of Angas I use way better now. One hour later, the food is ready, and the smell is correct if I must say so myself. Though, maybe I should add a bit more... No, let's not repeat the same mistake ad yesterday. Worst case, I can just put some salt on the table for those who will want to add it. 

"Food is ready!"

"Then bring it inside, brat!"

Sigh… This woman, I swear. Let's just do it. I carry the pot inside the house, leaving K'nor alone outside with what is left of his deer. He is now gnawing with the bones while waving his tail around. If this isn't happiness in his eyes then I wonder what it is. 

"It looks good. You are improving, kid!"

"Thanks, you are a good teacher after all."

"Yeah, I know, I know."

Flattering her always works. We eat happily while Excafol lectures me. I have tried and tried and tried, but I can't fly, I don't understand how to do that.

"The Areal Acceleration script normally would require wind and light Angas. But by incorporating earth, you can reduce your own weight. That's how I have modified it. Although I can reduce the weight of my equipment as well, I can't reduce the weight of other persons I carry, so carrying somebody significantly reduce my flying time and speed."

"But how can I-" 

"Sigh, not again. Can't you guys wait until we finish eating?"

Selene never likes it when we are talking about these kinds of topics while eating. Moreover, since we have installed a table and chairs in the main room. She had hoped that we would act a bit more like we were having dinner. But, we rarely listen to her, and she always ends up listening to us without any more complaints.

"But, then what about light? I can understand that wind will be for movement, but light seems off here. Also, I asked you if I could use Fire or lightning yesterday, but you didn't say anything. And I don't understand how to use earth to reduce my weight. "

"Ah, yes. For light, well, it's mainly because of your vision. You use light to coat your eyes and protect them when you are flying. And for other elements, I don't know. I have never tried to use lightning like that. Or maybe you are thinking about something more precise?"

"Yes, let's say I have something I want to try. Maybe tomorrow."

I want to use Tatiana's THOUSAND STEPS OF LIGHTNING. Although thinking about it, it stings and makes my heart heavy, I must admit that that attack was really cool. I will try again tonight with Two.

"Well, you will have to try that alone then." What? What is Excafol saying?

"We are going to the town tomorrow for a few days. There are one or two things we have to take care of."

"But you never went outside the forest all this time, Excafol. Is it something really important?" I don't want be alone here. 

"Hm…"

"Just tell him." Tell me what? Is it possible that they will abandon me also? Like everyone else…

"Tell me what?"

"Selene wants to sell her inn and comes to stay here with us. But it was going to be a surprise."

"Ah!! Really?! Thank you, Selene!" I jump on Selene's neck and hug her. She tries to shake me off, but I hold her tight enough.

"Argh! Just leave me alone already! It's not like I have a choice anyway. Coming here every time is too tiring."

"Thank you!" I kiss her on the cheek. She blushes and pushes my head away.

"Stop it already!"

The night was really warm. I slept like a baby for the first time in a good while and even forgot to try flying.