388. Nas and Stuff
The city of Hemigus was a relatively small city in the Helbir Plains. That ant that it was more akin to a town in other parts of the Human lands. They didnt produce much. They had so farmlands and a few forests nearby which let them export a few basic necessities, but they werent a large textile exporter like Alyras was or a military state like Dolonia. Hemigus was small. Comparing them to those large nations was like comparing a Neria to the Vaun Qieur Empire.
And if you hadnt heard of Neria before, neither had Halae until a delegation from Neria passed through Hemigus a day ago. They were a small nation in the Alterian League down south. Unlike the Helbir League, the Alterian League was far less of a stringent coalition. Odra, the leader of the Alterian League, hadnt organized a single representative force on behalf of the Alterian League for the eting in Alyras. Instead, Odra had sent a few of their own dignitaries as did the other countries in the Alterian League.
Regardless, Hemigus was small. And Halae had lived out most of her days being a simple [Trader]. She sold at and poultry from her fathers farm for a few copper coins per pound. There were more travelers passing through Hemigus than usual over the last few weeks, so business was booming. Today, shed even brought a surplus of goods from the farm to town.
Except as the sun set in the horizon, and the day ca to an end, she hadnt even sold half of her stock.
This sucks
Halae sighed as she leaned against her stall. A chuckle drew her attention. She stared at the stall across the street as a rotund man laughed at her.
Whats wrong, Halae? Seems like you were too overzealous today.
Shut it, Dimi. You didnt get many sales either.
Dimi was her, well, rival. Or her fathers competitor. Not that she cared too much about their rivalry. He liked to agitate her, and she usually ignored it.
I was prepared for this. I didnt overstock my shelves. Let this be a good lesson for you: for every good harvest, a bad one cos right after.
He sneered at her, and that annoyed Halae. Not because of the way he spoke, but because he was right. She was overeager. Her father had told her so. But she insisted told him that it was a brilliant idea. And she was wrong.
Halae gritted her teeth. She was not in the right mind to deal with this. She was about to snap at Dimi when a shadow passed over the sky. A few heads turned. Both [Traders] and custors looked up as a figure descended. Quickly.
A woman scread and fell back as a flash of light crashed before them. Halae herself stumbled back, reaching for a machete her father had her carry with her at all tis. But as the dust cleared up, a young womans voice piped up.
Hi! Im Salvos!
A girl with silver hair looked around the market street. She had wings made of blue fire, and a blue jacket that looked like it was made from out of this world. After scanning the area for a minute, her gaze landed on Halae.
The [Trader] flinched. She pulled out her machete, but Salvos just leapt forward. She ran a hand through the entire stock of at and poultry as she spoke cheerily.
Ill be taking all this!
Wait, wha
Halae started, but blinked as her entire stock vanished in an instant. It was nowhere to be found, and the [Farr]s daughter just stared.
How? I
Thank you. Here you go!
Salvos threw a handful of gold coins at the [Trader]. Halae looked down at the glinting objects, eyes wide.
This is I cant take it
But Salvos didnt listen. She spread her wings wide and grinned.
Gotta go now! Bye!
Wait!
Halae sputtered, but the silver-haired girl flew off. The dust hadnt even cleared yet. The passersby all just stared in shock and confusion. Dimis jaw dropped. Halae closed her eyes.
What the fuck just happened?
I decided that buying food was probably the best way to feed the Wyvern babies. I an, I couldve hunted down the [Mammoth Boars] myself, but when I got to them and heard their terrified voices
Please dont eat !
I taste terrible!
Were so sorry!
I decided that I might as well just grab a few already-dead animals and feed them to the baby Wyverns instead. It wasnt that I thought it was wrong to kill them after theyd tried to attack earlier. I just felt a little bit bad for them. Only a little. Honestly, I couldve killed them and forgotten about it a minute later. But at that mont, I decided that since I had a lot of money, I should just spend it.
And I did. So I returned back to my fractal do, passing through my semi-pocket space as I waved a hand.
Alright, Im back
Right as I stepped through, a gray object whizzed straight at . I caught the rock and blinked a few tis. I stared at what I saw on the other side. Willy was flying around in a panic as the three baby Wyverns were scattered throughout the valley. One of them was climbing the cliffside at a ninety degree angle, while another was burrowing into the earth like she was a mole. The third was standing on his head, looking at while upside down.
They all turned to look at , stopping what they were doing. The Wyvern baby climbing the wall dropped, and Willy barely caught him. I looked over at the [Will O Wisp].
Um, seems like youve been doing a good job?
I scratched the side of my head and the babies all began bawling all at once.
Wait, why are you guys crying?
Human!
Willy yelled back at . I paused. I looked down at myself and realized what was wrong. I was in my Human form. I had transford out of my Wyvern form to not scare the Humans in the nearby city, but Id forgotten to change back when I arrived here.
Oops. Look, its alright! Its !
I tried to wave a hand placatingly, but they all cried even louder. Willy scoffed.
Idiot! Change!
Give a mont
I stepped back as my body shifted. There was a crack. The world around shrank as I stood taller. My wings joined with my arms and my five fingers rged into only three talons. My pale skin was replaced by a silvery hide and my jaw elongated into a vicious maw. I was back in my Wyvern form now, and the babies halted their crying.
I smiled uneasily at them.
Its , see?
I wasnt sure how they would react. I fully expected them to begin crying again. But to my surprise, they waved their little nubby hands in the air in excitent, chorusing.
Mama!
They got back up and ran to . Well, it was more like a slow waddle. One of them even tripped before picking himself back up. They hugged my legs as I looked down at them.
Um, there, there?
I slowly patted them on the head. The three baby Wyverns just cuddled up to . I wasnt sure what to say or do. But Willy flitted up to and t my gaze.
Food?
Right, I got this for you guys.
Bringing a hand up, I summoned all the at Id bought off that [Trader] in the city. I lowered the food for the little trio at my feet. Their eyes went round as their mouths salivated. They instantly pounced for it. The three of them fought over whod get to eat first, pushing each other aside as they grabbed the various ats off my hands.
I watched them scarf it all down with little-to-no regard for manners. Willy snorted next to as I smiled.
Theyre ravenous, arent they?
Then I made a face of disgust.
Gross.
The three Wyvern babies quickly finished all the food Id brought them. They drew back as a growl left their stomach. I frowned, and they covered their stomachs with their arms and looked at sadly.
Wait, are they still hungry?!
Another growl from their stomachs confird that, yes, they were still starving. I threw my wing-arms into the air.
But thats everything Id bought!
Not enough.
Willy sighed. I scowled. I glanced around, back out of the do. Unfortunately, I couldnt sense those [Mammoth Boars] nearby anymore. Theyd most certainly evacuated the vicinity entirely. Maybe they might never even return ever again.
I sighed.
Ill go look around
Right as the words left my mouth, I heard a little roar. One of the baby Wyverns the first to be born lunged at sothing dashing through the tall grass. He caught a little gray thing, squirming in his hands. I leaned over his shoulder.
Thats
It was a bunny rabbit. It struggled and struggled but it was locked in his grip. I cocked my head.
Are you going to eat that?
He nodded back at as he held up the bunny for his siblings to see. Their eyes widened. They scanned the grass and began hunting for little critters to eat too. I watched this hesitantly.
Should we let them do that?
I asked Willy. The [Will O Wisp] faced curiously.
Why not?
I dunno.
I shrugged. I didnt want them to be wild. But I guess they needed to eat to survive, so that wasnt really being wild. Being wild was simply killing anything and everything which they clearly werent doing. I watched on as the first baby Wyvern held up the rabbit. I fully expected him to eat the bunny whole, but instead, he poked it on the side.
That made pause. What is he? And sure enough, he began poking the bunny as it struggled in his grip. He bared his teeth in a smile as he began tugging at the bunnys limbs, drawing blood, but not killing it just yet.
Hey! What are you doing?
I stopped him. His siblings paused in their hunt. They all looked up at , puzzled. I took the bunny from his hands and crossed my wing-arms.
If youre just gonna eat it, dont play with it! Its not a wild thing it didnt try to hurt you, did it?
The three baby Wyverns stared at , confused. The eldest sibling shuffled his feet and averted his gaze.
Y-yes?
I glared at him.
Dont lie to .
He lowered his head quickly and anded his statent.
N-no
Exactly! If this bunny was wild if it tried to hurt you sure, you can play around with it a little bit. But if youre just eating it, do it quickly! Theres no need to do all this.
I gestured at the bleeding bunny. The three Wyvern babies lowered their heads ashad. I set the bunny back down as it cowered there. I gestured for them to feast on it.
Alright, now that you understand that, go ahead.
I waited for them to fight over the bunny as they fought over the food Id brought them, but instead they just stood there like statues. The bunny looked around apprehensively before taking a hop. When nothing attacked it, it escaped into the tall grass. I blinked.
Wait, why didnt you guys stop it?
The three Wyvern babies exchanged a glance. They spoke at the sa ti.
Not hungry.
Tired.
Mama
The third baby Wyvern still didnt have much to say, unlike his two older siblings. I stared at them, befuddled.
Are you guys being serious right now?
They all nodded and walked up to my legs again. This ti, they didnt just hug . They cuddled together, curling up into little balls as they yawned.
Wait, why are you guys sleepy all of a sudden?
I spoke in disbelief, but the baby Wyverns didnt answer. They were already snoring at my legs. I tried to work my jaw. Willy flew down, shushing .
Shhh, dont wake them up.
Right
I looked at them all lying there. I slowly lay next to them, putting a wing-arm over them. Sighing, I spoke exhaustedly.
Children are hard.
They are.
Willy agreed. He landed right on my cheek, staying silent for a mont.
Nas?
He finally asked when the three Wyvern babies quietened down, even in their snoring. I eyed him.
Oh, I actually thought about it earlier. How about
I gestured from the first baby Wyvern to the last, in order of their birth. The boy, the girl, and the other boy.
Lets na them Novis, Bellum, and Oriur.
Willy looked at quizzically.
Why?
Well, theyre Demon nas, right?
Thats it?
Can you co up with any better nas?
He hesitated.
No.
Exactly.
I grinned back at him triumphantly. He didnt say anything. The sun had already set a while ago. It was dark the moon was high in the sky and the stars twinkled in the do above. I closed my eyes.
Were gonna be really busy for a while, huh?
Yes.
I do hope nothing exciting happens while were gone.
Probably.
My eyes snapped open, and I peered at Willy.
Wait, is that a probably not? Or a probably, as in sothing will probably happen?
Yes.
Huh.
Sohow, that both did and didnt make sense, but I agreed with it anyway.
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