Chapter 8: Questions and Mushrooms

Theo listened attentively as Resha explained what she knew about her abilities so far. He determined that Erishkigal must be a powerful goddess since her basic abilities seemed too strong.

Resha has had her abilities for a month and has already gained numerous attack and support skills. Meanwhile, Theo only knows what dullahans are capable of from the legends he read about a year ago.

When he voices this observation, Resha laughs. "Don't be so concerned." She said. "There's a class here for helping people figure out what they can do."

"How quickly do you level up?" Theo asks, wondering what he should expect. He still hasn't figured out where the sixth experience point came from.

"Level up? What do you mean?" Resha seems to have no clue what he is talking about.

"Uhm, the system…" Theo begins.

"System?"

"Yeah, when I gained my dullahan status, I also gained a system that shows me my stats and abilities. Not that I have unlocked any yet. It's kinda like a game status window." Theo explains.

Resha tilts her head to the side, examining Theo with curiosity. "Never heard of anyone having a system before."

Theo gulps, suddenly incredibly nervous about how he gained the system, suspecting it was different. "How did you gain your abilities?"

"I read a piece of paper with notes left by the scholars." Resha sees this as though it is the most obvious fact in the world. "Why do you ask?"

Theo laughs dryly, sweat beading up on his forehead. "Cause I gained mine by accidentally cutting myself on an old rusty dagger that was hidden in a hollowed-out book."

Resha stares at him in shock. "A dagger? You didn't read any notes written by the scholars? That's how everyone here has gained their abilities."

He raises his hand, showing her the healing cut on his thumb. "It was right here."

She leans forward, grabbing his hand and studying the scab. "I do sense mana in the cut. How bizarre."

"Uhm, what are the two of you doing?" Scott is back, carrying three medium-sized plastic bowls and spoons.

Theo quickly snatches his hand back. "Nothing."

Resha shakes her head. "Theo, this isn't nothing." She turns to Scott. "He didn't get his dullahan abilities the same way that everyone else did. He cut his thumb on a rusty dagger."

Scott's eyes bug out, and he quickly sets the bowls on the picnic table. Then, he grabs Theo's hand and stares at the cut. "Wow. That is quite a bit of mana in such a small cut."

Resha nods in agreement. "It's different. He even said he has some kind of game-like status window that shows his current abilities."

Theo takes his hand back, feeling very strange. Why were they reacting like this?

"That's interesting," Scott says with a grin. "Definitely sounds useful. The rest of us have to undergo periodic testing to determine if our stats have increased. It's incredibly boring."

"But why am I different?" Theo asks, his frustration growing.

Scott immediately changes his tone to one of understanding. "Sorry, Theo. Didn't think about how this was making you feel. We don't have enough information on the scholars right now to know why you're different." The satyr then pats Theo's back comfortingly. "I'm your mentor, so it's part of my job to help you research the creature you can mimic now. We'll figure this out."

Resha raises both her hands in excitement. "I'll help too. The scholars are interesting."

Theo looks back and forth between the two before resigning himself to leave his numerous questions unanswered for the time being. "Alright, thank you."

He then looks at the bowls that Scott had brought over as his stomach rumbles loudly. "What did you make?"

Scott proudly picks up two of the bowls, handing one to Theo and one to Resha. "It's a mushroom stew. I didn't have many ingredients readily available, but since this is a fairly remote cave, there are lots of mushrooms growing from the rocks. Just have to know where to find them."

Resha glances at the bowl with a questioning look. "Aren't many of the mushrooms here poisonous?"

Scott h-rumphs indignantly. "Yes, but I have the abilities of a satyr. I promise none of the mushrooms I used will kill you."

For Theo, hearing that was enough for him to place his head on his lap and begin shoveling the stew into his mouth. The earthy flavor of the mushrooms paired well with the spices that Scott used. "It's good."

Resha shrugs and begins eating slowly, her hesitation disappearing once she tastes it. "Wow, Scott. I didn't know you could cook like this."

Scott's eyes twinkle with happiness, and he indulges in the food as well before pausing with a pale purple mushroom on his spoon. "Huh, I don't remember putting this one in."

Resha and Theo freeze, their mouths full of stew. Resha spits hers back into her bowl. "What do you mean by that?" she asks, slightly panicked.

"Oh, relax," Scott says calmly, shoving the mystery mushroom into his mouth. "It's not dangerous. Just will make you high for a bit." He grins unabashedly at the other two, making Theo think he put it in on purpose.

"SCOTT!" Resha sounds mad, although she seems too unsteady to do anything other than yell at their chef.

Theo shutters as he begins feeling very light-headed. "Whoa!" His head falls between his legs and rolls under the table. The world spins, and Theo has to grab a hold of the table to keep himself upright. "I'm gonna be sick." He groans.

Resha shakily reaches under the table to pick Theo's head up. She carefully balances on the table, ensuring it won't move, before taking her trembling hands off. "Close your eyes, Theo. That might help with the dizziness."

Theo grunts, closing his eyes. He leans his body forward, crossing his arms on the table. A few seconds later, he hears Resha threatening Scott, "Once I can stand without falling over, Imma beat you up. Why would you give us a magic mushroom stew?!"

Scott is laughing at the others, seemingly unaffected by the mushroom. "Seemed like it would be fun. Didn't realize Theo was such a lightweight, though."

"Why wouldn't he be?! His head is literally not attached to his body!" Theo is positive that if he were to open his eyes right now, he might see steam coming out of Resha's ears.

"Stop fighting," Theo mutters. "You're giving me a headache."

Resha and Scott go silent immediately, allowing Theo time to recuperate.