Ningal

the he was wondering how something that could be killed by a child with one strike could be so expensive. She took the Umbrulpes from him and put it on the table then gestured him to sit.

"What do you want to be when you turn 9 years old?"

"I do not know for sure but a Beast warrior sounds cool.

Sheyken replied as a child would. He felt like he was talking to a mother figure. even though Ningal seemed just a little bit older then he was back on Earth.

"I thought so. Well, anyone who looked at you would see the warrior inside.

She said while rustling his hair.

"As I said, this creature is found in the Benevolent woods and it is rare for anyone to get their hands on it. I don't know if anyone had told you this before, but when you eat the meat of a creature before you reach the age of nine, and you develop a Warrior core, it will be easier to digest and integrate the beast core and nature to your own if you had eaten it before you had a core. That is because beast meat is so nutritious and has many qualities, when you eat it, its essence never lives you."

This was it. This was what was missing in the valley. Information like this was making Sheyken's brain rejoice.

"I don't remember anyone telling me this."

He finally said. Trying to do the disgrace of his form of puppy eyes again. Ningal was feeling sorry for him. She thought his father was the kind of parent to never explain things to his child.

'It is a pity that since they separated in the Trail Forest they may never find each other unless his father makes it out and they meet back at their home. But this place is too far away from any city. How did they get this lost and survive.'

She kept those question to herself since she did not want to upset the boy.

"I think that is why your father took you to the Trial Forest. He was trying to make you eat as many types of beasts as he could and if they are from the Benevolent woods, they would be priceless. Almost no one makes it back there alive. You are one of the lucky ones. Though not having a core played a huge role in you coming out alive."

'Damn this lady is good. I can not even try to lie and say I never went to the Benevolent woods now, but is she trustworthy?'

"What if you eat the meat?"

"I will get its essence but I would have to eat 9 more of the same kind of beast in order to get the same value you would get from eating just one. That is if I was a Beast warrior. In the end, it would be useless unless you hunt down the Shadow devil later on in your life. It has exceptional qualities which assassins would die for or anyone in a matter of fact, but I have to warn you, many never make it back from the hunt."

Sheyken was starting to understand why its value was so high now.

"So, if you sell this to any warrior family you would be richer than all of the people in this village. They might trade you mana crystals for it, or you could eat it since you want to be a Beast warrior and when your hunt down a Shadow devil, you will reach the next stage faster than any other warrior. What do you want to do?"

'This lady just become my number 1 favorite person in Uros. Sorry Zararloch, you are an Undead that is aiming to court a skeleton, which is praiseworthy in itself and you are my master, but this lady is just too sweet with her words. They speak to my soul. She gives good advice and so far, she has nothing to gain from anything she told me. Not to mention the information she is giving me.'

"I will eat it."

He replied.

"Ok, since you do not have to eat the whole creature to get its benefits, can I join you? I can cook it and to top it off I will give you one gold coin to partake in this rare dish."

"Make it two and it is a deal."

Sheyken replied trying to push his luck.

"I do not sell meat anymore and I am just a poor lady leaving by herself. Can you please show me some mercy?"

Sheyken just shattered. Those words made him feel like he was taking advantage of an innocent poor lady. Ningal was good indeed. Even though Sheyken knew she was saying that in order to not pay much, he just could not bring himself to insist.

"Ok, one gold coin it is."

Ningal smiled gracefully, making Sheyken smile even though he just been had.

"You should come back around lunchtime. It will be ready by then."

She said, taking 100 copper coins and 9 silver coins out of her ring and giving them to him.

"Just thought you will need the change."

She said.

Sheyken took the coins and acted like he was putting them in his inner jacket pocket, but absorbed them into his storage device instead. Ningal did not miss his actions. She secretly praised him for being cautious.

"Since you just come in this morning, I am sure you have no place to stay, right?"

"Yes, is there any place I can stay for just a few weeks?"

"Well, there is Lasore's eat and drink which is an inn but we do not get that many visitors down here so I do not know if he still accepts guests."

Sheyken was now wondering how far this place must be from a city if they do not have guests that often. Ningal looked at the boy and sorrow filled her heart.

'It is no good now that they have seen him. All I can do is give him advice.'

"Kid, this is not a good place for a child. I would suggest that you do not stay in any place here. If I could, I would let you stay with me but I have too much on my plate right now."

She said while kneeling down and getting on to Sheyken's eye level and giving him a hug.

"Your father is not with you and you all alone. You have survived the Benevolent woods and you seem like a decent young man. Know this, with beasts, it's either kill or be killed but with humans, you never know who to trust and you might die just like that. Now that you are alone, never trust anyone ok. Go to a safe place and do not talk to anyone. Only come to this town when you need something. It is your choice to leave whenever you want, but I would rather you move on from this place as quickly as you can."

She said, now looking him in his eyes.

"Now go and will talk more when you come back for your meal."

Sheyken did not know what to say. This was his first day in this town and he was already getting life advice and warnings from a person he just met. He nodded his head and went out. Ningal quickly put the Umbrulpes in her storage device and once Sheyken closed the door, she said an incantation that cleaned up the blood that was dripping down from the Umbrulpes corpse.

As Sheyken was now outside, he was met with a group of people that were gathering by the store. They all looked like the first lady he met on that morning, looking like they had a bone to pick with the world. The only normal-looking people were the younger ones and they almost all looked over fifteen years of age.

He quickly made his way through the crowd and left the village. When he was out of sight, he sat by a tree and gathered his thoughts.

'What the Fuck is going on here! I finally meet human beings and I already think I was better of with the Undead. Oops! I am joking. I would never while I'm still sane go back there. What is with the angry people? Why can't everyone be like Ningal. AHHH... She is an angel. I don't mind her proposing... Fuck..... Tenebris.... why did I just think of you right now? Anyway, something must be wrong with this town. Why is it even called snake end?'

As Ningal was down in the basement making sure everything was ok, by her shop three people had joined the crowd. One was tall and muscular with brownish hair looking like a noble. You would say he had a handsome face if only he did not have a big nose. The others looked like disciplined warriors and they were his guards. The crowd made way for them and one of the guards knocked on Ningal's door. No one answered and they tried to come in but she had looked it this time around.

After several minutes of them banging on her door, she finally opened it. When she saw who it was, she could not hide her anger.

"Dunnam!!!.... didn't I say the next time I see you I will KILL YOU!!"

She said out loud almost losing her mind to anger.