Sothoryos 28

Sothoryos XXIII

[Quest: Alchemist]

[Rank: Bronze]

[Complete!]

[Reward: Greater Healing Potion]

[Quest: Skinchanger]

[Rank: Bronze]

[Complete!]

[Reward: Mental Strength]

[Quest: Martial Artist]

[Rank: Bronze]

[Complete!]

[Reward: Art of the Four Elements]

Jon barely had time to look at the quest board window when the system notified him that all quests had been completed. He was in training, being attacked by Caelyb. Jon moved his hands as he seemed to slide across the ground with each step, but his master followed him as if he were glued to him. Caelyb stretched out his arm and struck with his palm, while Jon blocked using his wrists before moving his hands down, causing Caelyb's left hand to come down with force. However, Jon had to back away once more, when an elbow strike from the other arm nearly reached his nose.

He could see that the martial arts training was effective for him, especially now that his body was different. Stronger. Tougher, but lacking flexibility. For that last reason, Caelyb was teaching him one of the main ways of fighting of the elves. At first, she simply taught him a bit of wrestling, now it included footwork and hand movements. Ways to dodge and block, locks and counterattacks.

Jon moved his hands as he inhaled. Caelyb approached rather quickly and extended his palm. At that moment, Jon exhaled as he attacked, also with his palm. The two hands touched and a bit of wind fluttered before they were forced back.

"That's it, Jon! You have to take advantage of your opponent's strength."

"Ugh…" Jon groaned before falling to the ground, completely exhausted. The last few days had been filled with training and studying, leaving little time to spend with Saynna, or playing with Lorela. He hadn't even been able to work in the Sun Guard or as a ranger, with Dunalinn or Jarod.

But, it was something he had sought out for himself. Days ago, he decided to accept three quests and told the system to notify him when all three were complete. The first quest, called Alchemist, asked him to create ten healing potions, with an apparently ancient potion as a reward.

The second quest, was about his skincamp trait and ability. He had to be able to enter the mind and take control of twenty animals. Upon completion, he would receive a mental strength that protected him from the fiercest of beasts. With this reward, he would not have to fear the fiercest of beasts and having his mind changed.

Finally, his third quest, was about martial arts training. She was related to Caelyb, who had decided to teach her what he called Water Art: a way to move like the flow of water, using the opponent's strength to counterattack. The reward for this quest, might be the best of the three, as upon completing it, she would be able to use the other three elemental arts that the elves trained in: Fire Art, Earth Art, and Wind Art.

At this point, she should already be able to advance in rank in the system, so she could receive more quests and better rewards. And it also meant being able to choose a new special skill.

"Are you tired yet?"

"I can't help it, it was harder than expected."

"Boy, you don't know what you're talking about!" Caelyb growled a little. "Many elves spend years before they can properly use one of the four martial arts. Each one needs good body control. But you, stinky boy, have managed to learn in five days, what has taken others a couple of years. Don't complain!"

 Jon lifted his head slightly off the ground and looked at Caelyb with a cheeky grin.

"Am I that good?"

Caelyb stepped forward and kicked Jon in the ribs.

"Old bastard! That hurts!"

"That's star art. Only available to me."

Growling loudly, Jon shot up as he kicked Caelyb's feet, who had to jump slightly to avoid him. Soon, the two were locked in a new fight.

. . .

Saynna looked at Jon with slight amusement. Her hand gently rubbed his cheek, carefully applying a salve.

"You know this swelling is from joking with the Great Old One, right?"

"He's a very brazen old man, Saynna."

"Still, he still deserves respect. He's the one who's lived the longest in this world, even longer than the King of Heaven, in Ulthos."

Jon fell silent, not wanting to tell Saynna that Caelyb Starson had been a brazen man for thousands of years.

"Good. Done. Don't touch that bruise, for now."

"Thanks..."

"You're welcome," Saynna smiled slightly before blinking. "True, I forgot when I saw you with that wound. But I brought something."

"Something?... A gift?"

 "I don't know if I should consider it a gift. It's just something small that I thought would look good on you," she said as she walked over to the table in Jon's room, where she had left a small bag that she always carried attached to her belt. From there, she pulled out what looked like a sash.

When she stood in front of Jon, she began to place it around his forehead before beginning to tie it at the back of his head. "I remember you mentioned your scar: I'll leave it as a souvenir so I don't do so many stupid things, you said."

Jon raised his eyebrows slightly, remembering that moment. Saynna had asked him why he didn't use ointments and herbs to begin to diminish the scar, and that had been Jon's answer. The scar was quite uneven, having left a mark near the center of his forehead, with a line that moved diagonally, to the point of cutting his right eyebrow. It was the result of hitting the Wyvern near its teeth and cutting himself a little.

 "Instead of looking at the scar, you can feel and look at the band, to remind us and not do stupid things. Or if you want, just to remind me."

"... I don't think I need an object to remember you by, Saynna," Jon said kindly, but he was happy for the gift. The band was grey, with a small sun in the center and a crescent moon surrounding it halfway.

Saynna gave him a kiss on the other cheek before smiling at him.

"Thank you."

"By the way, you mentioned you wanted to show me something."

"That's true!" Saynna nodded before going to get her bag. "Come on, before it gets dark."

"Where is it?" Jon asked curiously as he got out of bed.

"You'll see."

. . .

"You know, I've never been higher than this? Can you tell me?" Saynna asked as she walked alongside Jon, up one of Yggdrasil's massive branches. Jon looked at her for a moment, remembering that she had asked him to recount her encounter with Duraprors. Although, he wasn't quite as precise when she mentioned being at the top of the world tree.

"It was... magnificent. I could see beyond Alfheim. The mountains of Ulthos, even the shadows of Asshai. Westeros could be seen in the distance as well. The sky was darker up high, and the sun was larger."

"Perhaps, this is how Lord Ingwi and Lady Yrir see the world."

"... Perhaps..."

Saynna nodded and paused before looking up at a smaller branch, connected to one of the main branches, that they were walking on. She pushed off and jumped, with Jon following behind.

"This is enough," she said as she sat down. Jon looked at her before looking at the horizon. The land could be seen over the apparent crater where Yggdrasil was embedded. The sun was going down very slowly and illuminated the entire horizon in a beautiful orange color.

"Beautiful..."

"Isn't it?"

"This is one of those things that I will definitely, definitely miss seeing."

"I'm sure you can see the sunset in other places."

"But not as beautiful as here," Jon replied, taking a seat next to Saynna. She opened her bag, which she had placed on her lap. She took out a small bar wrapped in a handkerchief and handed it to a smiling Jon.

"You look like a child with these things."

"Don't blame me. Your cooking is delicious, especially with sweet things."

"I'll teach you, if you want. That way, when you have the ingredients, you can prepare some things."

 "I'll take your word for it, Saynna. One of the best things about Alfheim, aside from the magic and scenery, is its delicious food. Desserts in Westeros weren't the best. And food in the North consisted mostly of meats."

Saynna fell silent, biting into her honey and nut bar.

"Tell me, Jon. Would you mind if I followed you on your journey?"

Frowning slightly, Jon looked at her. Then, he relaxed as he looked out into the sunset.

 "That's one thing I would never mind, but things tend to be harder than expected. In Westeros, you'd draw a lot of attention. And please don't get me wrong, because I would fight any idiot who wanted to make things difficult for you. Damn, you could fight for yourself, no problem. But people are too different. I'm sure some women would try to kill you out of jealousy. Men would try anything to get a woman as beautiful as you... you'd run into trouble, day in and day out."

"You don't? I mean, thinking about possessing me..."

"Ha. I didn't even think anything of you when we first met. Or when we became friends later on. The women here, they're just too beautiful, to the point where I didn't think I had anything good that would draw their attention."

"And right now?"

Jon looked at her and said, "What do you think? You stole my first time. Take responsibility!"

 "Idiot..." Saynna laughed before punching Jon on the shoulder.

The two stayed in a comfortable silence after that. Their shoulders were together. They felt each other's presence, and a few minutes later, they looked at each other before joining their lips, in a soft but passionate kiss.

The two hadn't spent too much time as a couple, and it happened because of a joke from their friends. However, they definitely had feelings for each other. They both respected each other. And they both felt comfortable with each other. Maybe it wasn't a burning, powerful love that would last for years and years, but there was definitely love.

Jon pulled away slightly before closing his eyes and joining his forehead with Saynna's.

"Tell me to wait..."

"Do you want that?"

"... Tell me..."

Jon kept his eyes closed. He didn't know why Saynna would ask something like that. Their current relationship wasn't extremely deep for her to want to wait. Or so he thought. Saynna was of a race that would live for a long time. While he, even with the improvements he's undergone, might not outlive a dwarf's lifespan, which was about 150 years.

"Saynna... I don't know what happens in the future. I know I have something important to do, in Westeros. But... please..." Jon stopped, interrupted by a loud squeal. They both opened their eyes and looked at each other before smiling a little annoyed, but also with a hint of amusement.

They both turned their heads towards the sunset, noticing a figure flying in the direction of Alfheim. It was approaching quickly, which showed the speed at which it was flying. Jon felt his breath hitch when he saw that it was that figure. An upper body that looked like that of a bird, but much larger. The back, looked like that of a large feline, and had beautiful white and brown wings.

"That's a... "

"... Gryphon," Saynna said, excited.

"I thought they were very rare!"

"They are. In Alfheim, very few are seen flying around from time to time. And in Ulthos, most are only found in one place."

"Hey... Is there anyone on the Gryphon?"

"Huh?" Saynna narrowed her eyes a little and noticed a smaller figure on the Gryphon's back.

"A dwarf! It's a dwarf... ! It seems they've started to arrive."

"Shouldn't they all arrive together?"

"Yes. You're right. Although, if one of them has managed to tame a Gryphon, they'll probably want to show off."

"Are dwarves like that?"

 "They don't mean any harm. Even though most of them are honest and straightforward, they tend to brag about something. Even more so if they've managed to tame a Griffin. I think many Elves would brag about the same."

"Shall we go back?"

"Yes... Let's go," Saynna nodded as she stood up. Jon also stood up and took her hand as they walked back.

"By the way, that animal interrupted me earlier. Even though I feel bad about making you wait, the fact that you would, makes me very happy. Would you wait for me?... Until we meet again."

"I'll wait, Jon," Saynna replied with a big smile.

___________________________