Chill out, people! One croca commander doesn’t mean the entire species has been wiped out or anything… Sheesh!
Even Enid is smiling broadly as she turns back to me. I think she can sense my discomfort at the hubbub bubbling around us so she hastens to reassure me.
[I apologise for their boisterous behaviour. Good news has been hard to come by lately, and even a little thing like this is enough to lift their spirits.]
Her eyes narrow a little.
[I… didn’t let them know that you’d been injured. I rather felt that there might be some panic or indeed, some outrage, if they were to know that you had been harmed. I don’t want anyone to start trying to sneak into the Dungeon to exact revenge.]
I can’t help a little shake of my head at that. Just how dumb are these people? Going into the Dungeon. Suicide!
Still, this is as good a time as any to bring up my needs with Enid.
[Speaking of being injured. The fight helped me come to the realisation that I may need some advice and assistance in regards to developing my skills and abilities. I tried to learn what I could from your queen, but I believe that much information may have been withheld from me. Would you be in a position to assist me?]
Enid looks slightly stunned to be hearing so many words at once from me. Once she understands my meaning, she frowns, her hands nervously playing the front of her skirt.
[I know a bit. My husband was a high-Level warrior who spent his days delving in the Dungeon and he taught me a fair bit about the combat skills. However, he was a swordsman and a human. The skills he used may not be applicable for you at all.]
She hesitates a moment before rushing on.
[You might not like to hear this, but our local priest, Beyn,] she gestures to the robed figure, still exhorting the crowd with all of his might, [would be an excellent person to ask. As a priest of the Path, he studied the System extensively. Part of his responsibilities as a priest is to advise people on builds and skills relating to their profession. He would know far more than I would.]
Oh. Great.
Reluctantly, I agree to Enid’s suggestion.
[All right, fine. Let him know I’m going to weave a mind bridge to him so we can talk, shouldn’t take a minute.]
[Ah, there are some others here who want to speak to you also. Would that be possible?]
More of them?
[I’ll talk to this priest first, then we’ll see.]
Enid nods and turns to the priest, tugging at his sleeve to get his attention before speaking to him.
A few moments later he begins to weep profusely.
Yeah. I’m already getting irritated.
125. Confrontation
Sobbing uncontrollably with joy, the priest raises his one hand toward me and falls to his knees, quite obviously performing some kind of worship. So caught up with emotion is he, that nearby refugees, temporarily taking leave of their senses, are also swept up in the moment and mimic his action.
Surrounded by villagers giving praise on their knees, my ego begins to stir.
Down, Dark One! You shall not rise here this day, nor any day!
I take a moment to control my thoughts. Having people worship you is a quick way to let your ego take over. I can’t imagine anything good happens when someone begins to think of themselves as some sort of god, when they are in fact, an ant.
I haven’t shown any external reaction to all of this kerfuffle, keeping still except for the occasional twitch of the antennae, but there are others who have responded more strongly. The five new martial looking refugees, led by the square-jawed female, do not look impressed to see a group of humans on their knees before a monster.
You know what? That reaction is probably spot on.
What sort of people in their right mind would do this sort of thing? If anything, I agree with the five newcomers. These humans are nuts. In some ways, having a human look at my villagers with such shock and dismay is almost a relief. At least there are some normal humans around here!
An angry light in her eyes, the leader pushes forward and grabs Enid by the shoulder, pointing at me and speaking in quick, harsh tones.
What’s all this about then?
I’m not a big fan of her being so rough toward Enid. The old woman has been nothing but helpful to me and to the humans here. She deserves respect.
Enid listens without fear to the words being spat at her before shoving the hand from her shoulder and replying curtly to the woman. Then she turns to me, concentrating on our mental link.
[This person is named Morrelia. She and her group have been fighting surface monsters in this area for weeks. They only recently found us here, and to be honest, they are quite distrustful of you. They question the villagers’ loyalty and devotion toward you and your colony. I believe she wants to talk to you to determine if you are using some form of mind control.]
She thinks I’m mind controlling these people? I didn’t even want them here!
[She seems to be getting a little forceful here, Enid. Have they caused any trouble?] I ask.
The older woman shakes her head.
[No. I simply believe they are concerned for the safety of the people here.]
I grunt.
[How concerned do you think they’ll be toward you if they think you’re all under some sort of mind control? Will they attack me or just kill all of you?]
Enid blinked, seemingly not having thought of the possibility.
[I’ll talk to her. But tell her if she gets too handsy with you, I’ll be taking that hand with me.]
Turning quickly to the martial looking woman beside her, Enid relays my words.
Nodding with satisfaction, the fighter steps back from Enid and turns to face me with a sharp glint in her eyes. And a hand resting on her sword hilt.
Yeesh.
Grumbling internally about humans being far more trouble than they’re worth, I ignore the shock and disappointment in the priest’s face as Enid tells him what is happening so I can finish off constructing the bridge, which I extend toward my unwelcome guest.
[What?] I huff, irritated.
Morrelia’s eyes widen slightly at my abrupt rudeness, but she shows no other reaction.
[Are you able to hear me?] the response comes.
[Yes, I can hear you. It’s a frickin’ mind bridge. I didn’t bust my thorax trying to learn this spell so that I couldn’t talk to people.]
Oooo, that’s a bit snippy, Anthony. I must be grumpier than I thought. Need to rein it in a little.
I have none of these problems when talking with ants, just sayin’.
My words provoke a response this time. Indignant rage seeps through the cracks on that stone face, but she holds her neutral expression well. The eyes tell a different story. They’re alight with anger.
[Listen to me, creature, my family has slaughtered monsters for generations. If you don’t show the proper respect, I’ll add your head to my wall.]
Her grip on the pommel of her sword is getting pretty darn tight by the looks of it. This lady has some serious angst.
Mind you, I’m not planning to back down any just for that.
[Unless you’re a higher-Level human than I’ve seen around here, taking my head might be more than you can handle.]
Morrelia sneered.
[You overestimate yourself, monster.]
What did I do to deserve this kind of attitude? This is what I get for saving humans. Somewhat irritated, I snap back.
[You’re standing in a village full of people whose lives I’ve saved, and then protected, for absolutely no gain, and threaten me? Which one of us has issues with manners and respect? As you’ve been only too quick to point out, you are a human who celebrates killing monsters. Yet I’m a monster who has saved humans. Is it possible that I’ve done more good for your kind than your family has?]