Chapter Forty Four - Escort Mission, Part One

Chapter Forty Four - Escort Mission, Part One

Cadence Lee (as Hewka) POV:

Our next mission was to escort some merchants to a city in the north, chosen so that Ray and I could meet with a proper leatherworker and get a harness, saddle, and maybe even some proper barding! I hadnt actually known what barding was until it was explained to me, but I was not about to turn down armor!

Well, some very light and limited armor anyways. My best traits were my toxicity and my flight, both of which would be actively hindered by heavy armor that covered my entire body. However, some protection for my eyes, throat, and some of the more vulnerable parts of my legs would be nice. It was too bad that there probably wasnt any way to protect my wings, but that was just probably how it would be.

We werent alone on this escort mission either. There were several teams helping to guard the caravan, although we were getting better paid because our team had the advantage of a - outrageously beautiful and smart, might I say - wyvern. Ray and I were able to provide extra security which meant we were more valuable, which meant more money!

And more money meant, well, not all that much, honestly. I suppose I needed enough money to get my barding, but as much as I had craved civilization while I was in the wild I now had to come to terms with the fact that civilization was not designed with wyverns in mind. And civilization was especially unprepared for an intelligent wyvern that wanted to participate in it.

As a rule of thumb - not that I had those - I could basically only go where you could take a horse, which really wasnt very many places. And that was only talking about the physicality of movement, the amount of places that you could both fit a horse into and that it would be socially acceptable for me to go was even less. It basically amounted to stables, and while that was better than my previous home I still was sleeping in a stable.

Plus, there was the thought that I didnt actually need to stay here. Sapients needed money because they needed to participate in the economy to live. A [Tailor] cant build a house nor farm for food, but neither can a [Builder] or a [Farmer] make a warm coat for winter, so they all need to work together. I, on the other hand, could make my home basically anywhere and I could always return to my little valley where I would be the apex predator.

I felt a poke on the back of my neck.

Hey, what are you thinking so hard about Hewka? Ray asked me as we soared over the landscape. I wasnt surprised she had noticed my introspection over our bond.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

I just was wondering what the point of this all is, suddenly. I replied. Well, the point was points, but that was an overall goal. I will never actually be able to live in society, will I?

Of course you will! To my surprise, Ray laughed. She noticed my confusion and explained her amusement: Hewka, both of us are young - you are practically a baby when we talk about your experience in this world!

Well, that was technically true But practically I did have a lot more experience than she knew about, and the more I thought about it the more dubious I was that I could ever be accepted and find a way to live in society. Again, she could sense my skepticism and again, she laughed.

Hewka, try and imagine this: imagine we work together for the next thousand years, or five thousand, or ten thousand. What do you think people will think of us then?

I dont know really. I suppose I have never really thought about it, or rather I presume I will be killed long before I live even a hundred years, so thinking about events ten thousand years in the future was kind of pointless. Still, if I did live that long I would become incredibly strong Too strong, perhaps.

I think they would post a bounty on me and try to kill me, I answered. I really cant imagine humanity living peacefully with a being so capable of killing them. Even if I was too strong to hunt down, who would want to interact with me? People would run as soon as they knew I was nearby.

If you were violent, definitely, Ray agreed. However, if you become a famous adventurer it is more likely that you will be viewed as a hero. There are other monsters that were view-

That is Pretty impressive actually, I spoke to Ray. Maybe I should have just charged those Bronzebirds?

Ray swatted me on the back of the head in response and then asked me to go help round up the horses, considering I had scared more than a few of them off. For herself, she seemed happier than usual to be on the ground. Maybe I wouldnt try that again until she had a proper saddle, although I dont think the speed is particularly dangerous to her. Or perhaps I could modify what I was doing, if I could release some of the air as I moved I could save mana and prevent that compression

Something for me to think about anyway!

Passingly, I wondered if I wasnt taking this very seriously. Ray seemed worried by the flock, but while they would be unpleasant for Ray and I to fight alone and in the air I didnt think they would be a problem with Ylma around. Between Rays arrows and Ylmas AoE I figured that the biggest concern about the birds would be whether or not they were edible.

Corralling the spooked horses was rather easy. Not that I calmed them down, but I was able to make them run back to the caravan. Maybe I would unlock a Border Collie evolution next? That would be funny.

When I returned, I took care to land behind one of the wagons so that the horses couldnt see me. They probably could smell me, so I doubt my hiding would help much, but I tried at least. More importantly, I wanted to talk to my team about my upcoming fight.

Bronzebirds Rauvin grimaced and groaned.

Are they really that dangerous? I asked, They sound annoying but not particularly deadly to a group like us.

They arent too dangerous to us, Seeking the Horizon, specifically. Chaurl replied as Rauvin continued to groan, but for the other teams and the merchants? Bronzebirds are a menace to teams without ranged and healing options, more importantly our job is to protect the caravan. Our personal safety is not really the issue here, but whether or not we can keep our clients alive.

As we were discussing, a rather angry looking man wearing mixed leather and metal armor walked up to us.

Oi, Rauvin, the man growled. Keep a leash on your monster, mate. The fuck kind of shit was that?

Mentally, I was about to label the man an asshole and add him to my internal, may eat if possible list, before Ray elbowed me. Ah, yes, I had just detonated an air bomb above him, hadnt I? Woops.

Sorry about Hewka, Ray stepped forward. I asked her to use her ability to bring us back to the caravan more quickly and I didnt anticipate that result.

Awww, Ray! You dont have to take the blame for me! Although, since you offered I wont stop you. Im fine pretending that I am an absolutely innocent wyvern here.

Shut up, Sharpear. The man snapped, I am talking to Rauvin here.

I hadnt heard it before, but I knew a slur when I saw it. Forget the may eat if possible list, you are going on the will eat if possible list buddy!