บท 309: Chapter 301: Let's Take A Stroll
"Madness? What madness?!" Drake spat.
"That's enough," Tan said, walking back from the fight, "You haven't been here long. Do not pretend to understand how serious giving last rites to our sisters and brothers when they are on the precipice of losing their mind and free will is."
"Pretty words for such brutal actions. Where I come from, we don't kill our allies."
Tan glared back at Drake, "What about diseased animals?" he walked closer, "Because that is all we are to them. She dies giving her strength so that I may carry on our future as a race. I do it because it is the only way I can honor her. Because it is the only way they permit me to."
He motioned for the crowd to disperse and looked back at Drake before going back in the direction they originally were headed.
Drake looked over his shoulder, seeing the woman, a sense of deep regret and anger beginning to well up inside him. A growing feeling that he knew all of this and that what Tan had done was more than just a mercy. It was an honor.
Ishta's body was being surrounded by people. They gingerly lifted her up and carried her off.
"Where are they going to take her now?" he asked.
"Her body will be cremated. We are not allowed to bury our dead… The Old Gods do not wish for us to have that right. Her belongings and skill stone will be given to her next of kin if she has any," Tan explained, "That is as long as she did not have or manifest an Asuran stone. Yet again another piece of us we are not permitted to have."
Drake felt utter disgust for a moment. As if he himself had been wronged.
Not permitted..? He thought. Just how much is prohibited from these people?
Drake wasn't sure if he felt sympathetic, or angry, or remorseful, or just plain confused.
Tan broke Drake from his thoughts, "We're going back to the smiths. You might not need a weapon now, but having a relationship with the descendants of Obsidian Dwarves is never a bad thing."
Drake followed without protest, but suddenly remembered he had to fill out his skills again.
And the first time was such a wonderful experience…
"Is there a way for me to get some skill stones around here?" he asked.
"You can trade for them if anyone is willing. We don't have a System Center here. We aren't allowed. So your best option is to go back into the jungle and hunt for them. But do not expect me to come find you if you get lost."
Drake nodded, following along with another suspicion tickling the back of his mind.
That guy called Tan, the Rites Giver. I've heard that title before. Earlier in the quest. But that was given to Han. he thought, looking at Tan's green hair and long ears. And this clearly isn't him.
He looked to his side, his younger self looking a bit depressed.
"What's wrong with you?" Drake asked in a whisper.
His younger self looked up with a troubled expression.
"I had heard of what happened in the old times before my Father released us from the Old Gods. I have heard of this giving of last rites. But… I did not think it so viscous. And… well, so heartbreaking."
"You are all savages after all…" Mir'phyra scoffed behind them.
Drake leered back at her.
"Taking a life is always heartbreaking. Even when it can be justified it should always be a hard decision," he looked at Tan's back knowing this was not the first time he had done this and it seemed it would not be the last, "But some of us become numb to it. We live in that type of world now."
Drake heard clapping behind him.
"Wonderful," Mir'phyra laughed indignantly, "Another wonderful gem of spoken word from a savage. It brings back memories of Han when I first met him. He used to go on and on about family and how his race must become stronger to protect them. But always remember how difficult the journey to such a time would be on all of them. It was so very amusing, for a time…"
"If that is how you felt about someone you loved, I'd hate to see what you do to people you despise," Drake whispered, getting a small chuckle out of his younger self.
"My Father used to say all Asurans were family. He recited it to us every day at least once. I can not see it being true after witnessing what happened. I could not find in myself to treat anyone that way if they were family…" his younger self thought aloud.
"I couldn't either," Drake agreed, "Maybe we are a little more alike than I thought, huh?"
The sound of hammers smashing steel, and the roaring of bellows, with hearty laughter to pair with it became loud enough that Drake couldn't ignore it. His attention was brought to the workshops that started to line the dirt roads of the area.
"Aye if it ain't pretty boy! You bring another pretty one to us?" a voice called from a kiln.
"This one's a looker fellas! And if I ain't lost my eyes, he's got bloody gold hair!"
Whistling and cat calls followed as Tan ignored them going to a hobbled building further down the dirt road.
"I'm more than a piece of meat," Drake scoffed, raising a chin, "You will never get this!" he yelled back at them.
"Oi! We got a feisty one! Meet us at the tavern boy, first round's on us!"
"Oh they aren't so bad," Drake laughed.
"Don't let them fool you. They will keep you at the tavern until your ancestors' pockets are dry and then some. They are good people but they like to drink far too much. But the more potent blooded have a different vice."
Tan explained as they walked only to end it at the sound of something exploding in the building they were walking to. A pillar of smoke suddenly rose from the cracked doorway.
Coughing, someone with black skin and half their size bursted from the doorway.
"Son of Talahm'rea! Blasted little toy almost took my beautiful face off!" the man grouched.
"Watch your words Rodrick. Using that name as a curse will get your whole race executed," Tan sighed, as if this was a regular occurrence.
"They couldn't kill my charcoal arse even if they wanted to lad. They need my little buggers to win them their wars!" Rodrick guffawed, dusting off his clothes and beard.
"Disgusting animal…" Mir'phyra growled, "If I had known they were so foul mouthed I would have killed them all earlier… To take my grandfather's name in vain… They are courting a fate worse than death."
Drake raised a brow at her reprimanding, but remained silent.
"All it will take is another younger and less temperamental dwarf having potent blood to replace you. We both know they don't care about how useful you are or have been."
"Aye you might be right, but they can shove it up their arse. Especially that frilly little Elf. First Tree my less lovely backside. More like First Twig, I could snap the man with a wink of an eye."
Tan put a hand to his forehead and sighed.
"I am not here to debate your loathing for the Old Gods."
"Then what are ya here for? Finally ready to have a real drink? Put some hair on your smooth chest? We both know you need it Tan," Rodrick bellowed.
"No. This man will need weapons and armor in the future. I thought it best to bring him to you before that."
Drake gave a quick wave, but Rodrick ignored the greeting, his eyes drawn more to the sword at his hip.
"You give me that blade you got there and I'll make you whatever you want."
"This thing?" Drake said curiously.
"Ki weapons are a dime a dozen round here," Rodrick said, rubbing his beard, "But that thing is a relic. Don't see many pieces like them anymore. Damned handlers keep killing all the Asurans from old families so they just get lost and melted down."
Drake hadn't had the weapon for more than a few hours, but somehow felt sentimental.
"What are you going to do with it?"
Rodrick shrugged, "Nothing. Call it a quirk lad."
"More like a fetish," Tan scoffed.
"Quirk or hobby, don't really care which. I like old and special things, helps me with my crafting process when I tinker. So, what ya say?"
Drake thought for a moment. He didn't really have the weapon, it was made as something for the quest. And honestly he couldn't use Ki so it was useless to him.
"Can you make Tattoo Rings?"
"Nope. Need a special class to make those, no Inkers about these parts. I have the material that's for damn sure, but the skill. Hate to say it is niche, you might find someone on a trade hub planet but ain't going to find it here."
"What about gauntlets?" Drake asked instead.
"Those I can do. You want the ones that are physical," Rodrick smiled, giving a glance to Tan, "You are Asuran, right, pretty boy?"
Drake felt slightly confused. Did this dwarf have a special skill that let him see Drake's class? Or did many part Asurans have magic?
"No, no magic. But something that deals magic would be cool."
"Can't do that neither. Handlers will just take it. They don't want anything too good being used by cattle."
Drake grumbled slightly but nodded.
"We have a bargain then?" Rodrick smiled, his white teeth distinctly showing in contrast to his midnight raven skin and hair.
Drake couldn't help but chuckle and stuck out a hand to shake on it.
"Yeah deal."
Rodrick took his hand shaking it once, "Good, come back in an hour or so."
"Don't you want to take my measurements or something? Maybe want a downpayment?"
Rodrick scoffed, "Where are you gonna go lad? Only one way off this god forsaken rock and they don't take lightly to runaways."
"Then we have reached an accord?" Tan asked more rhetorically than anything.
"Aye, blondie here will have the best he can wear without drawing eyes."
"I don't like being objectified like this… But yeah, we're good. What's next on the docket el capitan?" Drake asked sarcastically.
"Time to meet your squad. I am going to place you in my own for now," Tan said. However Drake heard him loud in clear, 'You will be in my squad so I can keep a close eye on you.'
"Lead the way."
Drake followed Tan through the smithing area with many versions of dwarves he had never seen. Some even looked like Kobolds or Goblins. There were some blue skinned ones as well, a few with helmets filled with water to cover what looked like gills.
"Diverse bunch of people on this planet…" Drake muttered.
"Every race in the multiverse is under the thumb of the Old Gods. There are no exceptions to anyone outside their inner circle. Even the people in a backwater camp know that. You talk almost as if you are new to the system and the way of things. Are you from a newly introduced planet?" Tan asked.
Drake coughed, "No. I've just never seen so many different races. Thinking out loud and all."
They began to pass the last of the smiths, the sounds of hammering metal and crackling fires fading into the distance. They were instead replaced by the smell of something awful and even more poorly maintained roads.
He was almost in disbelief of the surroundings. He had never seen such neglectedly maintained public spaces outside fantasy novels depicting just what he was seeing. Almost dystopian surroundings.
Torn and tattered huts with small fires used for more the burning of trash and waste than keeping warm. Filled the area with a stench Drake would not quickly forget.
"Disgusting, is it not?" Tan said.
"Let's just say it's not pleasant…" Drake responded.
"Those of us that are only used for fighting are given worse than nothing."
"You have your own building though?"
"Special circumstance. I have tried to return the privilege but let us say that I was threatened to keep it," Tan said, his tone showing just how distasteful it was for him, "My brothers and sisters here. I wish to do more for them. I consider them all family."
Soon they found a set of huts, several people relaxing and talking around a bigger fire than most of the surrounding huts Drake had seen on the way there.
He also saw some of the people Tan had with him when he was knocked out. A beastman covered in fur. But there were also people and races he didn't recognise as well.
"Oh. Boss is here," someone said sarcastically, "Everyone at attention, don't want to be sent off on a suicide mission alone do ya?!"
"Every mission we get is supposed to be our last isn't it?!" someone laughed loudly, raising a dirty mug.
"Not with Tan at the lead right mutts?!" someone roared, a cheer following the declaration.
"Enough," Tan said evenly and began pointing at the group members, "This is your new squad. You probably remember Gnobin, he found you."
The beastman raised a clawed hand.
"That's Kuuwei, he knocked you out."
A blue skinned man with a third eye gave Drake a grin.
"No hard feelings there, Goldilocks, just following orders!"
Tan ignored him and pointed to the rest in order.
"Dolf, he is part Asuran, mostly Orc blood. Silvester, Silverwolf and Rock Troll. Vale, she has Phenix blood in her. Take note of her, she is our only healer. Norris, not sure what he is, but keep an eye on him, he will pick your pockets."
"Only did it once Tan! Let it go will ya?"
"Last is Ganeer, part Stardust Golem and he is the longest surviving member of our squad after me."
Drake's jaw hung open as he saw the thing get up. A marbled man three times his height, rose to its feet, small yellow lines running through its grayish skin like lightning. The man moved and hovered over both Tan and Drake, stone faced.
"What's your name then?" Ganeer asked in a voice so deep Drake actually looked down to see the dirt rumble.
"Drake. Drake Wallen."
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