Further outside the cavern, deep in an undisclosed location, sat an isolated man engulfed by darkness. A thicket of curling branches encompassed him as he sat atop a sole patch of dirt. The pale moonlight radiated onto the ground, revealing the introduction of another man showing himself into the area, strutting forward with an air of confidence. The cloaked man waves at the reclined individual.
“Yo!”
The perched man looks up to see the merchant. After recognizing him, the man tilts his head back to the ground.
“Back already?” He asks, his deep soothing voice filling the air.
With great strength, the peddler leaped atop one of the many branches inside the peculiar abode. The merchant casually lies atop the vine, staring at the moonlit sky.
“That’s right,” the merchant answers in a sing-song voice. “I didn’t expect it to go so quickly either.”
“What did you run into?”
“Eh, nothin’ really eventful…” he replies while scratching his head. “Just found two candidates. There was a dude in that hamlet who was pretty damn tough. And another girl had some great potential, so I just gave her a little boost.”
“A boost, hm? Did she survived?”
“Survived and pissed off. The blast she let off attracted a whole bunch of those parasites. Not to mention the lady practically came right at me when she saw me."
"That didn't go well for her, I imagine..."
"Course not," the merchant chuckled. "The whole situation almost seemed problematic. Place wasn't sittin' too pretty, but I was keepin' an eye out. Lucky the two had it under control… for the most part.”
The seated man stretches his arms.
“If you say so. And I must thank you for your help earlier. The monsters in this area have started to ramp up in size and strength, so taking out even a few can be quite the help. I'd like to continue living a quiet life out here as much as possible."
“Yeah, buddy, I get you," the merchant stretches. "Oh, by the way, I saw your student in that cave during my stroll back. I didn’t feel like talkin’ to him cause he seemed busy staring at the walls, so I just snuck past him.”
“I see. I thought I told him to stay put during the hours of the night. His disobedience is disappointing news to hear.”
The merchant raises himself and looks to the grounded fellow.
“Want me to fetch him for ya?”
“No, he will return, I am sure of it, but I fear I may have some explaining to do when he comes back," The man sighed.
The merchant sat up, swinging one leg over the other. He rests his arm atop his leg. He pressed his knuckles against his chin and stared out into nothing.
“This feels like such a chore..." He moaned.
"It was your decision alone to venture off into who knows where doing who knows what. Have you even any other places to go?"
"I haven't even seen the half of it and I'm already burned out..."
The seated fellow turns to him, his shadowy gaze seemingly piercing through his mask.
"You are harming and killing many civilians. You know this, correct?"
The merchant grinds his teeth behind his mask.
"I know! You think I don't know?! I've seen all kinds of shit in the other kingdoms that would make any person piss their pants! Its terrible!"
"And how you intend on dealing with these nightmares, is essentially the equivalent of running away?"
The merchant told cold. He speaks in a deadpan tone once more.
"Krady, don't start that. Don't start with me."
"Right..." the man said. "Still a touchy subject."
The merchant reclines into a seated position atop the branch.
"For now, let's just call what I'm doing a community service."
“You've an interesting definition of the term," the perched man smirks. “And after you have completed your services, what next?"
“Probably gonna check up on someone else far up ahead. Just to see how they’re doin’.”
“I see. I suppose a check-up wouldn't hurt. And after that?”
The branch underneath the merchant made a faint clicking noise, cracking slightly underneath his weight. The man turned from his sitting position and sternly looked up at the cloaked person.
“What will you do then?” He asks again.
“I dunno… probably off to make another trade.”
The man sitting turns away from the merchant and sighs.
“Right… it's not as though you have anywhere else to go..."
Without warning, the merchant’s body pivots to the entrance of the small area, feeling as though he were attracted by an unknown power. He leaps up and dashes to the front, staring into the darkened plains.
“Woah! Did’ja just feel that power?”
"You have to stop moving so fast. You will burn through your energy."
"Right, my bad," he says, staring off, "More importantly, that energy felt a lot like your student's am I right?"
“Indeed. He appears to be getting into a skirmish," the seated man concentrates for a moment. "A skirmish alongside..."
“I think the old girl I just helped is with him. Why the hell is she there anyway? What’s her deal?”
“Do you think it’s possible that-”
“She might be after me?” The merchant interrupted him. “Yeah, I mean, she did seem pretty pissed about what I did to her and her dad. Actually, she did say something about wanting to kill me now that I remember. I had no idea she’d actually follow up on it.”
The man sighs.
“Of course."
The perched man stands from his seated position and gazes at the front entrance of the unknown location.
“You should go. I will await their arrival.”
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