24 Chapter 24 - Firefox (1/2)

”Well, after paying the fine for destroying that spirit tree we made enough for a round of drinks tonight,” Kenji smiled.

Violet huffed and rubbed her eyes.

”All that for a few coppers? Can we at least not eat that tavern's gruel?”

Kenji wished they didn't have too, but clenching his fist he shook his head. Even though his stories tonight had brought in another silver, they needed that money to earn their status as real adventurers.

”No, but would it help if I showed you something interesting?” While he had her attention, Kenji had been thinking about this for a while. His friends not knowing about his powers made him uncomfortable, and Kenji thought it was finally time to come clean.

”What is it Kenji?” Tenko said, ears flattening, ”you're not leaving are you?”

”No-no! I am not leaving. You know what? I think it's a bit late, how about we drink, have a good sleep, and I'll show you two tomorrow.”

No one seemed to like that plan, but once the grumbling was over with they were tired enough to fall asleep rather quickly. Except for Kenji, who fretted for hours before finally falling into an anxious sleep.

The next day they were on their way to a capture quest when Kenji decided it was time. As they walked outside of town, over rolling hills and into the farms filled with golden stalks and grazing cows, Kenji stopped suddenly.

”You guys need to understand this before we continue,” he said.

”Yeah? What is it, did you buy us fans?” Violet said as she waved air against her face. Sweating hard, she peered up at the clear blue sky and the golden sun that was the culprit of this blazingly hot day.

”No I didn't buy you fans,” Kenji sighed.

”Did you get us food?” Tenko said, peering at a distant line of smoke coming from a nearby field.

”No, I didn't buy you any food. This isn't a guessing game, I'm just saying I'm a mimi-”

”Firefox! I've sighted it, come on!” Tenko bounded forward, special herb in hand.

Pulling out more of the herb, Violet ran after.

Gritting his teeth, Kenji pulled out some of the herbs that the quest giver had given them too and followed. He still couldn't believe there was a literal creature called a 'Firefox' and he could only shudder at what a 'Google' would look like.

Running after them, Kenji entered a smouldering field to find a very real firefox. It's burning tail had set the wheat alight, and only a swift formation of crystal prevented the fire from spreading. Already Tenko snarled in her beast form, the Firefox hissing back as its tail flared behind it.

”I am a mimic!” Kenji shouted, having had quite enough of staying in the closet.

”A what? Hurry up and give it the herbs already!” Violet shouted back, creating walls of crystal around the Firefox only for it to bound around. Tenko summoned her Silver moon, the parties agility and movement speed increasing, and yet being able to seize the Firefox with their hands wasn't enough to stop them getting badly burned in the process.

”UGH, just watch this,” Kenji growled and activated his slot.

Bubbling up three times his height, Kenji transformed into the Obsidian barked Spirit Tree. In the next moment, he extended his many roots and vines to bind the Firefox, it's fiery tail causing extreme damage to Kenji's tendrils.

”Hurry! Press the herb into the tail!” Kenji cried out in great pain.

Violet and Tenko just looked at him numbly.

”Didn't we beat you up, Mr Spirit Tree?” Tenko said, eyeing his branches with interest. That some expression flattened into depression when she didn't find another golden apple waiting.

”It's me, Kenji, Please hurry up this is REALLY painful!” Kenji whined, both of them sharing confused looks with one another. Peering around they couldn't see the boy knight either, and after several agonizing seconds finally threw handfuls of the herb onto the Firefox's tail.