Drip-Fed

 

‘Man, that’s the last thing I wanted to know about the guy,’ Atlas thought and moved his eye away from the tiny pecker the huge Monk had between his legs. ‘Monks sure can be weirdos.’

“Put on some clothes, vulgar creature!” the high elf ranger shouted and notably averted her gaze.

Apexus did so only after cleaning the remaining wetness of the lake from his legs. The last thing he wanted was to go through all the trouble of taking the pants off only to soak their inside with saltwater anyway. Once he had the clothes back in place, the two parties were face to face.

“Successful day?” Atlas pointed at the beached chest with his chin.

“We have finished our objective,” Aclysia answered in her darling’s stead. “Do you have a campsite in mind?”

“We found a nice and dry spot about ten minutes from here. Flora would make it a little more homely. That work for you?”

“Courtesy of our unique circumstances, the location of our encampment is secondary at best,” Aclysia answered.

“I will show you.” Apexus took the key that Aclysia pulled out of her Adventurer’s Bag. The golden object felt right in his hand. That his first love had held it for the day had not changed that it belonged to him. The spirit within responded to Apexus, both in terms of who could enter and how the space available extended.

Atlas whistled when the turned key created a frame of light and a wooden door within it. “A Mobile Estate? I only heard about these things. I thought you had no money?”

“My teacher decided to gift it to me upon my departure.”

It clicked in the head of the party’s Witch and she took a sudden step forwards. “Your teacher wouldn’t happen to be Divine Hand Maltos, would he?”

The Monk nodded with a mild smile on his face. “His reputation reaches even here?”

“He was here, a hundred years ago, when the Leaf was formed,” the Witch reported. “His Chapter was the one to venture out to the furthest reaches, founding the cities of Respite and Isolation. Had it not been for him, we’d likely still be tracing the coastlines of this world.”

“You’ll probably find a few statues of the man around,” Atlas added. “To think that legend is still alive… Divine Fruits sure pack a punch, huh?”

“I can only speak about the seed,” Reysha said, while Apexus and Korith moved the chest from the beach into the Mobile Estate. To use it as storage for larger items was one of the intended uses for it. One locked door later, Apexus put the key into his own adventurer’s bag. He would use it again soon enough.

Not having to haul the chest around made trekking over to the spot the Atlas party had scouted much easier. It was, as advertised, a bit of dirt elevated enough that it was nice and dry. A rare ring of trees kept the dirt compact. The number of large plants that had survived the salination of the groundwater in the lake’s direct vicinity was little. Over the coming hundreds of years, those few survivors would multiply again. Where once a forest had been, a forest would be again, in due time.

Flora, the slime Druid, and Kumlin, the dwarf Shaman, assured this campsite would survive a while longer by combining the rudimentary forms of their magic to balance the water and strengthen the roots of these trees. While that was going on, Aclysia helped the dryad Witch with drying firewood that the others were gathering.

The Atlas party pulled out their own set of luxuries. Four large tents that popped up on their own, a ring of stone that would assure the campfire stayed lit on its own, foldable chairs, and plenty of food. They offered to share and Korith took the offer after some nudging. Apexus and Reysha preferred to partake in the remains of a crocorilla that they had carried with them.

“I’d like to ask if you also have Noir,” Atlas spoke up, “but I think we should take a moment to actually introduce ourselves. There’s been some talks here and there between our groups, but I don’t know half your names. If we work together, we should get that much out of the way.”

“A good call,” Apexus agreed. “You are socially abler than me. I will adapt from your example.”

“Weird choice of words,” Atlas laughed. “Alright, let’s go back and forth then. I’ll start.” The Warrior rose to his feet and executed an overly dramatic strike with the branch of wood he had been playing with. “I am Atlas, leader and founder of the Atlas party! I originally was a solo adventurer. I formed the party because I needed to for some paperwork. Never thought I’d get a permanent bunch around me, but one thing led to another and now I am stuck with one gorgeous dryad and three idiots.”

“Hear, hear!” the dwarf laughed. The rest of the camp followed.

The mood was jolly, which made it difficult for Apexus to keep up with it. He stood up and then just… stood there. He was still sorting his words. The party across the fire was giving him patient smiles. Not because they knew of his current internal struggle, but because they were used to Monks taking their time making any announcements.

‘I’m strong now. Too strong to be hunted. Too human-like to be wanted as a trophy.’ The pragmatic thought occurred first. ‘I should open myself to those that are trustworthy. Maltos advised as much.’ “I am Apexus. I originate from a cave in the depths of Ctania, where I came into existence for reasons unknown. No god has made me.” He raised a hand and turned the skin translucent until the blue slime and bone underneath became visible. “I am a slime that evolves by devouring creatures and replicating their parts.”

That, the Atlas party had not expected.

“So that’s why…” Flora mumbled, now understanding why he had approached her.

“For real?” Atlas asked. “That’s awesome!”

“That seems like an interesting origin,” the dryad agreed. “Can you replicate anything you eat?”

“Must be useful,” the dwarf added.

“So that’s why you look like someone mixed and matched a bunch of parts,” the elf stated.

That, the Inevitable party had not expected.

“I can… replicate anything biological, although there are restrictions,” Apexus kept it brief. He expected further questions and a few came. They were understandably curious about what he was and he answered what little he could. Knowing not to be rude and sensing that this was a large step for the humanoid chimera, the Atlas party did not pry.

Instead, they kept things casual and on topic.

The dryad stood up next. Her asymmetrical, wooden horns had shrunk down in the absence of her witch’s hat. “I am Rahesia, a thorn dryad from the forests of Mergrun. I practice witchcraft, utilizing a variety of curses to either inhibit the enemy’s abilities or intensify their weaknesses. I also have the questionable honour of sharing a tent with this guy.” She playfully grabbed Atlas by the hair.

“She’s also the reason why they have a noise-cancelling tent,” Kumlin added.

That caused another wave of laughter, during which Reysha jumped to her feet. “I am Reysha from Ragressia. I’m a disagreeable, little bit crazy murder-kitten. Got Noir because I was stupid enough to think I could take on a dungeon on my own. I was saved at the last moment by a batch of sapient goo.” She mimicked Rahesia’s motion by scratching Apexus behind the fox ears. “I’m also the reason why ya should be thankful we sleep in a dimensional pocket.”

“What is it with you all and being proud of being loud?” the elf Ranger groaned.

“You would understand if you finally broke your dry spell,” Atlas joked.

“Fuck you! Urgh!” The Ranger jumped to her feet. One hand on her hips, the other flipping back her cascade of white hair, the fair-skinned, green-eyed woman announced: “I am the Ranger Alabasta of the House of the White Falcons from the Sleeping City. I hope you will know to pay me some respect!”

“Uhhhh, should we?” Korith asked.

“It means she is nobility of the Sleeping Empire, in whose territory we currently dwell,” Aclysia supplied.

“Oh… ooohhh… wait… you are related to the tax collectors, then?” Korith grabbed her bag and clutched it tighter to her chest. “Get your own stuff!”

“I am getting my own stuff, I am an adventurer!” Alabasta stomped. “Why are peasants always so weird?!”

“H-hey, I’m not a peasant! I’m a Goldborn!”

“Come now, squishy, ya know the protocol, stand up when ya introduce yourself,” Reysha teased her party member.

Korith rose from Apexus’ lap, which barely made a difference to her height – then cleared her throat. “Ehem, I am Korith Hoardseeker from the realm of Hoard! I’m adventuring to get stuff for Hoard. Hoard is love, Hoard is life, and we should all praise Hoard and… uhm…” Suddenly self-aware she stammered. “I-i-I joined the party kind of on happenstance and now I am here! That’s it!” She plopped back down hastily.

“You did not tell them what a Goldborn is,” Apexus pointed out.

“Oh, uhm, right.” Korith shot back up. “As a Goldborn, I am a chosen of Hoard to fight and gather in its name. I am… kind of nobility?”

Alabasta raised an eyebrow, quietly doubting that fact. Her expression made the others laugh. The pale elf’s scowl slowly turned into a smile in its own right. “You’re all weird,” she drawled with bantering intent. She was stiffer than the rest of them, but she still fit in.

With the kobold seated for good, it was the slime woman who rose next. “My name is Flora. I am a slime of the Lilypad Lake in Ruduradas. I am a Druid. My primary specialisation is shapeshifting into cats and bears to function either as a Rogue or a Warrior replacement, basically. I can, uhm, also heal a little bit, but you shouldn’t rely on that.” When Flora sat back down, she did so by turning her legs into a puddle for as long as it took for her butt to reach the ground.

The final member of the Inevitable party stood up.  “I am Aclysia, angel of Hashahin. I was found by my darling by happenstance and, following the completion of a Divine Quest, became his companion for as long as love binds us. I am a Priest and I will do my best to assure your physical and mental well-being.”

“You do twice as much as Kumlin does, then,” Atlas joked.

The dwarf laughed loudly, slapping his knee. “Quite so, quite so – then again, who could keep your thoughts in line?” the Shaman asked and pulled out a pipe. After lighting it, he turned his blue eyes to Aclysia. The angel was still standing. “May I ask a question?”

“Affirmative,” Aclysia answered. “I do not guarantee I will disclose all intel you seek, however.”

“Just some curiosity. I saw you weigh in extensively during the fight for the beach, using offensive spells. Just struck me that you’re capable of wielding a lot of mana at once. Did you ever consider hiring another healer and doubling down on the attack?” Kumlin took a huff and puff of the pipe.

“I was crafted with versatility in mind. My purpose was to be matured by the Divine Quest, not to be claimed as a travel companion. I suspect that is why I can handle more mana than I should be capable of. I lack the limiters that prevent me from inflicting self-harm by overloading my mana circuits.” Aclysia then shook her head. “However, my calling is that of a healer. To do harm to the enemies of my darling may be just and proper, but my temperament finds care more agreeable than harm.”

“Tad of a shame, that, but I understand,” Kumlin answered, then got on his feet while Aclysia sat down. “Name is Kumlin. I hail from the forests of Ogh Katuhn. I was exiled by the local mountain prince because I preferred wood and water over rock and stone. A blessing in disguise, as it brought me to travel the Leaves, rather than spend my life mining deeper.” He paused for a moment to draw on his pipe again. “I’m a Shaman. I’m the main healer of this party. My healing is powerful but works over time, which has its drawbacks. I can also restore stamina and temporarily boost the performance of Skills and Martial Arts. In a pinch, I can use water magic to help out.”

With that, the two parties had finished introducing themselves to each other. Atlas enthusiastically raised his hand. “Question! Are you one of those parties?”

Apexus, sitting with a tiger woman to his left, a cuddly angel to his right, and a shortstack in his lap, tilted his head. “Those parties?”

“A harem party,” Rahesia clarified.

“A sleazeball party,” Alabasta used the less flattering term.

“Yes – no,” Apexus answered. “I heard that parties like this usually do not work out. I have been with Reysha and Aclysia for…” He looked to the metal fairy for help.

“The closest estimation would be two years,” Aclysia stated. “Although we cannot be entirely certain. There were stretches during which we did not have access to a calendar or did not care to count the passing days.”

“And I have been with you for like a month,” Korith grumbled.

“Closer to nine, actually,” Aclysia informed.

“W-what? When?!”

“Could have popped a baby out by now,” Reysha joked.

Rahesia laughed. “You sure are an interesting bunch. A very wild mix.”

“We have had our ups and downs,” Apexus answered. “As I am sure you’ve had.”

“Well, I don’t mean to brag.” Atlas very much meant to brag. “But we did face a Living Gravestone once while we joined an Expedition into the Necro Lord’s Influence Zone. Took twenty people to take it down.”

“It got my grimoire for the trouble,” Rahesia told them.

“What’s the strongest monster you ever fought?” Flora asked.

Reysha grinned braggingly. “A Deathhound.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Alabasta shouted. “You did not!”

The next two hours were spent exchanging tales. Apexus took from the Atlas party a promise not to share everything he told them and they took the same promise in return when they went into the more juicy details of their individual journeys.

Apexus spared few details, admitted even to the most shameful moments of their path. The Atlas Party answered in response. Alabasta revealed that she was technically disowned and that, as a high elf, she belonged to the lesser houses anyhow. Most of the Sleeping Empire’s nobility consisted of dark elves. Kumlin confessed to having sabotaged the Hold the day after he was sent into exile.

Such shared shames were the rarer events though. Primarily, they talked about things that happened that were funny either in the moment or in hindsight. That time Flora had shapeshifted so convincingly a dungeon monster had tried to mate with her had been funny immediately. The memory of Kumlin rolling down a suddenly sloping corridor and managing to hit every spike on the way was only funny because he had survived it.

They talked about Quests and dungeons and morals at times. The more Apexus talked to Atlas, the more he understood the validity of the view, even if he did not share it.

“I still think you are too greedy,” Apexus said at the end.

“That’s fine,” Atlas dismissed with a wave. “We don’t have to agree, don’t we? In the end, we’re both doing good work.”

“There is wisdom in those words.”