Chapter 103 - One Month

I sigh. "Seriously? It sounds like you're just salty about my response earlier. I told you, I promised—"

"I need proof that not only are you truly the Sword Saint, but that I can trust you not to screw it up if you do end up going after the Stringmaster."

"Ugh. But c'mon, it's a bit unreasonable, isn't it?"

She snorts. "You're pretty new, aren't you? If that's the case, then you need this, anyway. You need to understand the weight of the weapon and the title that you hold. It's not something a kid can just swing around with a smile on his face. It's simple. The ten targets I tell you, and your condition is met, and the organization will be permanently crippled. I overlooked them before; but I won't do it again."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, okay, Miss Brooding Main Character. I don't like it, but… means to an end, right? Plus, they deserve it."

A buzz alerts us to a notification on my phone. "Huh. This thing managed to stay in my pocket? Should I be impressed with the phone or the shorts?" I muse as I grab it from my pocket. "Both, probably," the bird lady notes as I read the message.

{Eni: got us a big cat. did u get kidnapped??}

I type back a quick response, pulling up the message from before to glance over it discreetly.

{Klum: Not kidnapped. Good 4 u. Got big bird, and not the yellow one.}

"And now…"

[Hidden Requirements met. Skill Analyze+ will be automatically evolved to new Skill.

Hidden Requirements met:

- Be able to see Mana, through a Skill or otherwise. (Complete)

- Find out a person's race while Analyze or Analyze+ is active.

- <Hidden >

- <Hidden >]

[Seeing Eye (Ultra Rare Permanently Active Skill): The user's eye can now discern some of the many secrets of the world. The user can see and read Mana, see detailed information when analyzing, and predict movements of an enemy if the user understands enough of the fighter's style.]

In complete shock, my phone slips out of my hand when another buzz shakes it, clacking it resoundingly against the tiled ground. I had felt my sight seemingly grow sharper, but this?

"Hello? What happened?!" Yauln asks, raising her hand up to wave at me. She's still kneeling, so the movement is in my downturned vision, snapping me out of my stupor. "Right, sorry. It's nothing."

She gives me a distrusting look. "Sure. We start tonight, and your friends can't know about it. We'll go back so I can update my husband, and then leave until we're finished. Deal?" This time, she extends her hand, asking for help up and to shake my hand.

"A few questions first. Can't the Stringmaster use you to spy on me? How can I trust you?"

"He raised me, you ass. He trusts me completely, so the only connection is when he informs us to meet one of his Mannequins."

I blink. "Ah, fair."

She sighs irately. "What else?"

"Actually, that was it," I respond. A few conflicting emotions still threaten me that I should walk away, but…

Kicking my phone into my Inventory, I reach my hand out to take hers. "De—"

Sparks fly through my body, leaving behind intense pain in their wake. All my strength leaves my body, and I fall to Yauln's level, both knees hitting the ground. "A-ah," escapes my mouth, even unable to properly contain my saliva, which drips onto my knees and the floor.

"What the fuck?!" She calls, standing up and backing away a step or two.

'It hurts. It hurts it hurts it hurts'

[ Skill Close the Gap has deactivated. ]

<The user has pushed their body far beyond any tolerable limit. Now that the user's Skill worn off, all strain will be experienced at once. Also, likely unable to move for awhile.>

A looming figure over me overloads my senses, and I whip my hand up to latch onto a dark wrist, one that pauses. Then, gently, the woman easily pries her arm free of my weak grasp, placing her hand on my shoulder. "I experienced this only once, and it was so bad that I made sure to never reach that level again. But this is many times worse. What in the world are you doing to yourself?"

"Jus mag 'aily 'uty, yanno?"

"Your…?"

"Da-ily… Dooo…tee…"

She sighs and shakes her head, gently pushing me onto my back, and shifts once more into a raven. Grabbing me in her claws, she flaps her wings and takes off. I stare with an empty expression at the shrinking ground and buildings. 'Ah. Why am I suddenly so tired? That's odd…'

* * *

The flapping of large wings alerts everyone to the arrival of a certain 'big bird.'

Eniyala still didn't understand why Klum needed to specify that the bird wasn't yellow. Maybe there's another one coming? No matter what came at them, she stood in all of her gear, ready for it all with Termi on her left, and Ro on her right. She looks over to see him polishing something, sitting on the floor.

'At least I have Termi.'

A large black figure appears in the hole of what used to be room 521's window, and Eniyala begins casting, but Termi grabs her arm. "Wait, look!"

Klum's limp body sits safely clutched in the bird's feet as it finds a spot to land. With a click of her tongue, Eniyala dispels the sigils forming the Spells, meaning she won't be able to conjure them again for a few minutes due to the distorted Mana now surrounding her.

"I see you've all grasped the situation," the bird says, lifting Klum under her wing before shifting into a human, supporting the unconscious boy in her arm. Eniyala stares with her evenly, but her face and chest are burning in anger. "What do you want?"

"Him and I have a deal. I'll be needing him for about a month. He needs recovery, and a lot of fluids. Honestly, I can't believe you guys let him run so ragged."

"A month?? Hell no! What the fuck are you talking about?!" Eni retorts, throwing her hand out to the side to accentuate her point. But, a small drop of doubt wins her over mentally, and she Analyzes Klum.

[Stamina: -112/89]

"Negative? How did he manage that??" Eniyala blurts out. The feathered woman gives her a look. "Who subjugates most of the monsters you guys come across?"

Everyone silently looks at Klum.

The woman nods in confirmation, moving to her next question. "And when was the last time you all got ample rest?"

"Besides last night, around a week ago. Why?"

The Hybrid looks at her skeptically. "A week? ALL of you?"

Lynsel scratches his chin. "Well… Klum was actually trainin' tha whole time, so… I think a month, for him."

Everyone grows quiet for a moment, contemplating his words. 'Shit,' they all thought collectively.

"Right. So, I'll be taking him with me for a month, and as insurance, I'll leave my husband with you. Pantholeo, they're on our side."

The restricted large man in the corner pulls his shaggy head up from its likp, dangling position. "Aw, what? I've been stuck here for half an hour; now I can't kill them?? What happened to our orders?"

The dark woman stares down the man. "Panth, this is for Leuve. For her future."

The man grunts, but then nods. "Fine. Only for you both. You have my word, my feisty love."

"Uh, hello?! Why should we even trust you?" Eniyala asks, pointing her rod at the man. "You guys work for a man who controls people, literally. Not a great reputation to have, if you ask me."

The oversized bird shrugs. "Keep him tied up then."

"Wait, what?" The large figure fidgets nervously inside his pile of rocks. "Can I at least go to the bathroom?"

Ignoring him, his spouse continues. "He has his word to me, one he loves most, to not lay a finger on any of you. In any case, you won't hear from this boy until he's done with the condition I've set for him, so if you have anything to say; tell me or hold your peace for a month."

A long silence deafens the air around them as everyone contemplates the development in front of them. Lynsel steps forward first, whispering something to her. He then steps aside to allow anyone else to come up. After a moment, Termi steps up, says something short, and steps back, looking at Eniyala. She sighs, shaking her head. "No, I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

"…Yeah."

"Well then, we'll see you in a month," the woman says plainly, shifting into a bird and diving out the window, flying off into the distance. Immediately, Eniyala pulls out her phone, texting Klum's phone.

{Eni: you better be back in a month.}

* * *

<The official name for any half-human, half-animal species is Hybrids. There are sub-species, such as a werebeast or werewolf, but the general term used to describe them Much like how narrow-minded and stupid humans think one race better than another, Hybrids also often certain races others. Dunno why, tutorial's computing power cannot find reason why this discrimination exists, simply that Stat point wise, they equal in way another. Anyways, tutorial out!>