Chapter 288: Lunchtime (1/2)
Cracking her neck, Ilea appeared outside of the dungeon. The others were already around, two of the elves sleeping on their bedrolls, the fabric looking more luxurious than any sleeping bags she had ever seen, even on earth. Each had chosen a dark color, either because of their status as Cerithil hunters or to be a little camouflaged. Ilea noted it wasn’t night, Terok and the brown haired elf called Neiphato adding ingredients to a black metal pot hanging over a small fire. It smelled, like food. Nothing particularly good but she doubted any of them had an assortment of spices with them.
“Thought you guys just eat human meat.” She said, walking towards the two. Elfie wasn’t around but she assumed he was somewhat close by. Perhaps he was still exhausted from their conversation a week ago.
Neiphato looked at her, realizing she was talking to him and not the dwarf. He gulped, “Some do like human flesh. Yes. Especially lower leveled ones with little muscle are considered a delicacy. We do eat other things as well. Some have even sworn off meat.”
“Any of them actually go through with that?” Ilea asked, crouching down over the pot and sniffing the broth.
The elf looked at her and nodded, “I believe so. The ones I knew countered their lust for meat with more hunting and killing. I do not think it makes sense.”
She chuckled, “How’s the map Terok?” The dwarf hadn’t talked yet but even in his armor she thought he looked tired and worn. He had risen to level one ninety three at least. Not yet at two hundred but close enough.
“Ilea… that city is bigger than you think. A month was not nearly enough time.”
His voice was soft, careful, “You can have another then or two.” She simply replied.
Terok stumbled backwards, nearly falling on his ass, “What? I thought our partnership ended if I didn’t manage… and you… you just tack on another month… or two? Do you have any idea how stressed I’ve been the past weeks… I tried buying a map of those Saurians but they hadn’t even started working on one, confused at the very concept.”
“And you didn’t think I was joking? I just thought to give you a bit of a push.” She said, honestly confused at his interpretation of her comment from a month ago.
Terok just shook his head and walked off, “I need a little time.”
She didn’t know if she should feel bad for stressing him out that much or if he was apparently too stupid to gauge her interest in the map and his work. Partnership. She chuckled, finding the elf looking at her, blue eyes reflecting some of the light coming from the fire. “Neiphato right? Elfie told me you might be stronger than you let on.”
He looked away, “I can see how he thinks so.”
“You’re not going to elaborate?” Ilea looked at him, no answer coming any time soon, “Hidden talent? Can turn into a hideous tentacle monster? You get stronger when you eat people… vampire maybe? Literal big dick energy?”
Looking at her with annoyance, he finally reacted, “How can you be so casual about all this? Haven’t you been fighting Centurions for weeks now? How often have you brushed death?”
Ilea smiled, “Against the Centurions? Not often… they barely get any hits in anymore. The Miststalkers are another story… I’m constantly close to death there.” She sighed, “Not what you wanted to hear I know. I like this, love it even. To fight and challenge myself. I don’t take it all that seriously, otherwise I’d be as dark and gloomy as Elfie.”
Neiphato seemed to have calmed down again, “Elfie? You do not wish to speak his name?”
“I don’t know his name. Why are you out here then? Cerithil hunter, cursed one… why cursed? Because you went into a dungeon? Forbidden by your government or religion?”
Neiphato sighed and checked to see if the two other elves were asleep, or out of earshot, “Cursed because that is the status bestowed upon those ignoring the oracles’ orders. One of their most ancient rules is to steer clear of dungeons. The overwhelming mana density and resulting damage helps painting a convincing picture.”
Ilea nodded, trying not to show her surprise at all the information he was willingly giving away. Perhaps she had found an elf not quite as secretive as Elfie, “Giving me this information… wouldn’t you think the oracles aren’t happy with it?”
Neiphato snorted, a grin revealing the sharp teeth in his mouth, “Human… trust me, they couldn’t care less about me, you or anything but magic itself. That is why I am here. You have saved our lives, spared us when they were yours to take and even found us a wise teacher. Something we sorely needed…,” He was quiet for a moment, “May I ask why? I believe our kind has not been benevolent towards yours, or any creature for that matter.”
“Magic itself. Are they like really high level mages? To answer your question, Elfie was around and I didn’t want to deal with you. As to why I saved you… your sorry asses were getting handled by monsters. I would have done as much for any sapient being.” She said.
Neiphato opened his eyes a little wider, Terok in the meantime joining them again, continuing his cooking in silence, “They are of magic itself. I know little of it and they are secretive. It is forbidden to even ask such questions, not that I haven’t tried. It is their inaction that led us to today after all.” He paused for a moment, looking at Terok, “To think you would save a being just for the sake of it. Is that what all humans do?”
Terok laughed at that, answering the question for her, “No. Most of them would sell you to a monster if they could. She’s different one that one. Soft and naive or perhaps thinking herself a saint.”
“I see you’re back Terok. I’m glad.” Ilea said, a vicious grin on her face.
The dwarf shook his head, “At this point I won’t believe you will murder me for anything less than betrayal. Know that dwarves are similarly greedy, it’s just metal we want compared to your gold.”
How terribly cliched.
“Is gold not a metal dwarf?” Neiphato asked with a smile.
He pointed at the elf with the wooden ladle he had gotten out of nowhere. Ilea wondered if he had carved it himself. “Exactly, it is. Not a very hard one at that. Other than gold mages it’s difficult to guide mana through it as well. Now how would you compete in the ring with such a machine?”
Maybe not that cliched. Ilea thought, “So you’re obsessed with forging because you’re all into wrestling?”
“Not wrestling human… such a mundane activity. A battle between two dwarves clad in steel armor, steam rising as the crowds cheer them on to destroy each other. A marvelous sight, one I could only dream of joining.”
Ilea’s eyebrows rose, “You wanted to become a boxer? I did kick-boxing once. Been a while though, now I’m something else I guess. Is the leader of the dwarves the champion of the biggest tournament or something?” She imagined a tiny Terry Crews.
“Don’t be ridiculous Ilea. Being a good warrior doesn’t make a good administrator or king. It helps, certainly but only to get rid of competition.” He said and chuckled. “I was more interested in tinkering with my machine than actually fighting in it. Not that I dislike it but I lack a certain… vigor about it. You know what I mean.” Getting out of his metal suit, he tasted the soup and coughed.
“I know exactly what you mean.” Ilea said with a smile, grabbing the ladle and trying a bit of the stew as well. Fatty and too much spices. Surprised my poison resistance isn’t reacting. She was pretty sure she would’ve lost health if her self from two years ago would have tasted it. “Also I’m neither naive nor soft. Power allows for a certain freedom.”
He snorted, “Aye, I would still not save an angry child from a dangerous monster.”
Yes you would. Ilea thought and just smiled at him. She would too. If the monster was weaker than her then why not give the child another chance at life. If the monster was stronger, that was reason enough to face it.
Terok looked at the brown haired elf and huffed, “Don’t look at me like that, you would probably kill the beast and eat both.”
She couldn’t help but laugh, especially how the elf didn’t really deny any of it. “Don’t eat kids.” She said after calming down, “Or I will murder you.”
“Noted.” Neiphato said, “It is interesting. To learn about humans and dwarves.” He commented.
“We’re not exactly showpieces.” Terok chuckled.