Mining Ore, Return...

As the four-person squad led by the female hunter turned to leave, they didn't notice Tracha behind them... Instead of heading deeper into the cave, he stepped out of the shadows once more, watching the fleeting backs of the hunters.

'Hmm...I wonder if they're all Travelers or just her?...' thought Tracha as a small smile graced his lips. He was enjoying every second of his first real dive, and meeting his consumers sounds like something interesting to do...

"Hermaus..." whispered Tracha who seemed to be speaking to the empty space nearby. Strangely, after a few seconds, green tentacles ripped apart the void and a hideous eyeball opened from within the torn space, the entity focusing on his master...

"HE---LLo....MY Cre---ator....How can I bE Of....SERViCCCCE..." inquired a somber and magnificent voice radiating the subtle confidence that comes from knowing many things...

"I need the information on which of those four in the distance are Travelers and I'd also like to see their details....meeting accomplished divers interests me more than I thought it would..."

"As You wISH My...CREatoR..."

...........

After hearing the Daderic god's report, Raven was left surprised. Not for the three men, as they seem to be your average diver possessing little accomplishment, but extreme stuborness, allowing them to brave every word in Altissia resulting in their qualifications to ascend.

No, the surprise came from the nosy woman in the lead...

'It is her...' thought Raven, reminded of Chastain Grey, the woman who resembled his dear friend and first love.....the one he lost to cancer without being able to share his feelings. In the past, he followed Chastain for months as she completed what she called her "speed run".

'She was the one who lived a full life in TFNs...the one who loved boomerang guy...'

Although the atmosphere around Raven (Tracha) became melancholic as he relived bad memories, the thought of the beloved and quick-witted character from one of his favorite American works eased the tension...

As he came out of his reflection, a new question began to pop up in his mind....and unlike most troublesome things since he Transmigrated to Blue Star, this thought didn't seem to go away but lingered in the back of his mind. He wasn't sad about the question but was genuinely curious...

'Does she hate me?... I gave her someone she loved dearly, but will not allow him to live on with her.....how does she rectify the fact that I am the creator of the thing she loved more than life itself but also the person who took it away?....'

It was a weird thought and a conundrum he never thought he would face.....it was philosophical on a level never before encountered.

The more he thought about it, the more Raven needed to know the answer....it wasn't guilt or sadness, or even curiosity. It seemed esoteric in such an interesting way, it was a question only fit for a god but.....somehow, his mortal self faced such a thing...

'If I get the chance...I think I'll ask her...' thought Tracha, as he shook himself out of this mindset.

"Until then..." *sigh*

"I have some mining to do.....that old man better make me something nice with this Royal Ludroth material or I'm not selling him a d@mn thing!..." grumbled the mighty creator as he took out his pickaxe and ventured deeper into the dark cave.

..............

Days passed and finally, Tracha was facing the village entrance once more. He walked slowly through the active streets and eventually made his way to the quest center...

"Hello young miss, I'm back from my mining quest, and fortunately.....there have been some unexpected gains."

The chipper lady looked up from her papers and smiled brightly..."GREAT! Glad you made it back Mr. Tracha, the chief asked me yesterday if you were back yet...so what did you.....!?"

"IS THAT FROM A Royal Ludroth!?....but this was only your first mission?....how did you do it?..."

Tracha saw the girl shocked and quirked a small mischievous smile in response, teasing was a skill he prided himself in and the forthrightness of these natives made it so much more fun...

"Well, that's simple young miss....you must not know much about me but....let me explain"

....

I was walking towards the quest center early this morning to see what is new on the list...my squad just returned from our failed mission and have been resting for a few days... 'we're ready to go out and try another kill-quest now...' thought Chastain as she smiled lightly, this world is just too interesting...hehe

But, just as the smile graced her lips and she was about to round a bend, she heard a familiar voice that irked her.....she remembered the voice as she couldn't stop thinking about it on the way back to Moga Village.

"Yep, yep...it's all true young miss, I cut my own umbilical cord with my razor-sharp teeth, instead of milk as a baby, I sucked on the fangs of venomous snakes and I killed the first man I ever met with just my firm handshake..."

I looked towards the quest counter to see a man puffing up his chest while nodding his head in an "it is as it should be" expression while an enamored young quest-giver was looking at him with bright eyes...

'This guy....he defiantly played me...' I thought, my eyebrow kept twitching as I kept listening to his stupidity before I walked up to get the quest list...