Chapter 187: Karna Xiorra (2/2)
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> …how'd you know?
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<Allan River> Oh, I don't know! The TV?!
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> Should've known.
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<Allan River> I won't ask you what happened for you to turn fully again. Last time was already bad. But I do wanna ask, how confident are you to change back before it gets dangerous for you?
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> It's fine. You can request items from your homeworld at the shop. The doses of Poraxidium the old man left to me in case of an emergency will be here in 48 hours.
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<Allan River> Phew, that's a relief. You have no idea how worried I was. In that case, it's all good. I got your message about Flavia. So, it's break time for a few days?
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> You could but I recommend you do the same as me. Train. More specifically, go and try to increase your Host Rank. I'm already Rank V and I will be aiming for VI right now.
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<Allan River> Hmm… got it. Good luck.
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> Sure. Same to you.
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❮ ◈ ❯
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Rakna closed the window and walked to the Pavilion's reception. The Nymph employee stood up nervously when she saw him come over. ”C-can I help you, Sir?”
”Yeah, you can. Is there any mapper in this village that you can point me to?” He asked.
”Y-yes! The chief of the guard, Fniera'vi, can help you. He is not a Host but he often patrols outside to be sure that no threat gets too close to the village's borders. He could offer you some intel.”
”Ah, that guy, huh? Okay, thanks for the help,” he waved goodbye and was about to leave when the Nymph nervously stopped him.
”Ah, wait! Um… if it's possible, may I know your name?”
Rakna groaned internally. 'Déjà vu…'
”{Hahaha, just be done with it, devourer. An additional identity can be useful.}”
He rolled his eyes and looked over his shoulder. ”Karna Xiorra,” he said and left without waiting for her to react. When he was outside, he looked for the man who had welcomed his group when they arrived in the Plateau. He searched him through smell and found him near the walls.
”Hey,” he raised his voice and Fniera turned toward him with a raised eyebrow.
”Yes?” He said then seemed to notice something. ”You look familiar…”
Rakna sighed internally. He might as well commit. ”I'm Karna. My twin brother came to this village a few days ago with a small party.”
The Nymph's eyes lit up in recognition. ”Yes, I remember now. Do you need something?”
”I was told to find you when I asked for a mapper. Can you help?”
”Of course. But the fact that I'm a Local doesn't mean I don't take any fee.”
”It's okay. Can you tell me where the three closest Dungeons are for now?”
”That's a pretty hefty demand. You're going to do all of them?”
”Yeah.”
”All right. It will be 10 000 Talys for all of it. I will need it in cash.”
”Deal,” Rakna said and withdrew the amount from his balance.
Fniera received it and nodded after counting it. ”Wait a moment,” he said and took out a map from a spatial ring. He drew a few things on it and handed it over. ”I'm not a Host so I cannot transfer it to you but this generally works fine.”
Rakna grabbed the map and looked at it. The location of the village was marked in the center and three spots around it had been circled. Immediately, the System scanned the image on its own and updated the digital map in the corner of his vision.
”Thanks,” he said to the Nymph and gave the map back.
”You are welcome,” Fniera stored it back. ”Be careful while exploring those. I assume you want to leave now, right? I'll turn off the aerial defense for you.”
Rakna nodded and a minute later, he was standing outside the village, popping his joints. He gazed at the dark forest in front of him.
”I'll grind until the Poraxidium arrives with an extra day or two if needed,” he muttered to himself and sent a message to Flavia to inform her as well as telling her that she didn't need to worry about him if she saw the news.
”Okay,” he grinned and his aura was deployed, increasing the temperature around him. Pronos then stuck his head out from under the scarf with a yawn. ”Finally up? How do you even manage to sleep so much in a day? You should be the one with Sloth…”
The little guy hissed groggily and looked around to see where they were.
”We're in the 15th,” Rakna provided to him whilst popping his neck. ”It's perfect. Now that you're up, we can start. Are you ready to go?”
Pronos slithered to his shoulder and nodded at his question.
”Then let's see what this Plateau has to offer,” he cackled and shot off into the woods.