The relentless downpour finally ceased, leaving behind an eerie, dripping silence. High above the jagged canopy of the Death Route, the bruised, dark clouds began to fracture, allowing lances of brilliant, golden sunlight to pierce the remaining mist. The light hit the wet stone path, making it shimmer like a dragon's scales.
Blop and Rarcth walked in a strange rhythm. Their footsteps—the heavy thud of Rarcth's worn boots and the light, regal click of Blop's heels—hummed against the masonry. The scenery was slowly changing.
The skeletal, withered trees of the Death Route were being replaced by patches of stubborn, dark green moss and the occasional hardy shrub.
The mist, once a thick grey wall, began to dissolve like a fading shadow under the sun's warmth. As the route became visible for miles, the sheer distance ahead became clear.
Rarcth stole a glance at the "Lady" walking beside him. They had been silent for hours, the air between them thick with things unsaid. Rarcth's mind raced, trying to find a way to bridge the gap between a commoner and a Royal.
"Uh... Miss?" Rarcth's voice was barely a whisper, shy and cracking from the cold.
"Where exactly... are we going?"
Blop didn't turn his head. His brown eyes remained fixed on the horizon, but his right hand dove into the deep pocket of his royal silks. He pulled out a crumpled, ancient map and thrust it toward Rarcth without a word.
Rarcth took the parchment with trembling fingers. His eyes widened as he recognized the crests. "The Kingdom of Robelt? We're going there by foot? Miss, that is weeks of travel from this route. The borders are heavily patrolled, and the terrain..."
He trailed off as he realized Blop wasn't listening. Blop was staring at his own feet, a look of profound annoyance crossing his delicate features.
("Heeiiya, this is taking far too long,")Blop thought, his internal slime core vibrating with impatience.( "Walking on two sticks is an insult to my divinity. That blue wolf I ate... its essence is still fresh in my memory. I wonder how fast I can go if I use its legs instead of these.")
Blop stopped dead in the middle of the road. Rarcth nearly tripped, coming to a sudden halt a few paces behind.
"Is there a problem, Miss?" Rarcth asked, his face a mask of confusion.
Blop turned slowly. He didn't speak; instead, he held up his hand, extending two fingers toward the boy. He stared at Rarcth with an intensity that made the boy's heart hammer against his ribs.
("What is she doing? Is this a noble gesture?")
Rarcth wondered, sweating despite the cool breeze.( "Maybe I'm supposed to choose? Is she testing my loyalty?")
He hesitated for a long minute before reaching out and tentatively grabbing Blop's index finger.
Blop's eyes crinkled slightly. )"I don't know what this means either. I just saw June doing this once. I guess I'll take his touch as a 'yes' to whatever I'm about to do.")
In a blur of motion that defied human physics, Blop unfastened his royal silks and threw them to the side.
"No! No, Miss! You—you can't just!" Rarcth shrieked, his face turning a violent shade of red. He slammed his hands over his eyes, spinning around. "Please, keep your dignity!"
Blop ignored the shouting. He let his form collapse. His skin bubbled as obsidian-blue fur erupted from his pores. His skeleton cracked and elongated, the spine arching into a powerful, predatory curve.
His jaw widened, teeth sharpening into serrated daggers as his muscles swelled with the stolen strength of the Wolfare. Within a minute, the beautiful "Lady" was gone. In her place stood a towering Bloodlust Wolfare, its eyes glowing with a predatory amber light.
Rarcth slowly peeked through his fingers, expecting to see the Noblewoman again. Instead, he found himself staring into the chest of a monster.
"AHHH! DON'T COME CLOSER!" Rarcth scrambled backward, falling onto his backside. He fumbled for a stone and hurled it at the beast. It bounced harmlessly off Blop's thick fur.
Blop tilted his massive wolf head, genuinely confused. )"Why is he so afraid? I don't see any other monsters nearby? Is this how humans greet new forms? By throwing rocks? How significant.")
Blop ignored the boy's terror. He trotted over to his royal silks, gently picking them up in his teeth. He walked toward Rarcth, the sheer size of his form casting a long shadow over the boy.
Rarcth tried to crawl away, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but the wolf was too fast. It stood over him, nudging him with a wet nose and dropping the silks into his lap.
("He can carry these,") Blop thought. ("Last time I tried to store these inside my body while running, I nearly vomited from the taste of the fabric. This boy will be my luggage rack.")
Rarcth looked at the clothes, then at the beast. The realization hit him like a physical blow. ("Wait... the silks. This beast... is the Noblewoman? But how? Is this a high-level transformation spell?")
Blop didn't give him time to solve the mystery. He turned around and bowed his front legs, lowering his back toward the ground.
"You... you want me to ride?" Rarcth whispered, his voice trembling.
Before the boy could even agree, Blop's massive tail swished, and he nudged Rarcth upward. With a clumsy scramble, Rarcth found himself perched atop the thick blue fur.
Blop snatched the silks back into his mouth, his jaw gripping them firmly.
("I have to carry my own clothes in my mouth?How tragic,")Blop grumbled internally.
("This boy is lucky he's a God's follower, or I'd eat him for being so slow.")
Blop didn't warn him. He simply exploded into a sprint.
The acceleration was violent. Rarcth, who hadn't gripped the fur yet, was bucked off instantly. He hit the dirt with a painful thud. Blop skidded to a halt, feeling the weight leave his back. He looked back to see the boy groaning in the mud.
He trotted back, dropped the clothes, and bowed again—lower this time.
"Oh... I understand," Rarcth wheezed, rubbing his sore hip. "I have to hold on for my life."
Rarcth climbed back on, burying his fingers deep into the thick, coarse fur of the wolf's neck. He squeezed his legs tight. Blop picked up the silks, and this time, when he ran, the world became a blur.
They moved like a blue bolt through the changing landscape. The trees grew taller and greener, the air sweeter. Rarcth kept his head down, his eyes squeezed shut, feeling the immense power of the muscles rippling beneath him.
It wasn't like riding a horse; it was like being strapped to a hurricane.
After what felt like hours, the pace slowed.
Blop came to a stop in a lush, sun-drenched grove. Before Rarcth could even dismount, the wolf-form vanished. The sudden loss of mass caused Rarcth to tumble backward, his head hitting a tree with a loud thud!
"Ow..." Rarcth groaned, rubbing the back of his head. He looked up to see the small, silver-haired "Lady" calmly putting her silks back on as if nothing had happened. "Miss... was that really you? That Bloodlust Wolfare?"
Blop didn't answer. He was busy adjusting his sleeves.
("Again with the Wolfare?") Blop thought.
("What is that word? If I don't know what it is, I shouldn't answer. It's safer for my reputation as a God.")
He reached out, grabbed Rarcth's hand with surprising strength, and dragged him toward a wooden signpost at the edge of the grove. The wood was weathered and mossy.
"Welcome to... Vy...Vyuko Village," Rarcth read aloud, his voice still shaky.
("Vyuko Village?")Blop mused.( "I know a village is where the people live. But what is a Vyuko? Is it a type of fruit? Or perhaps a seasoning for meat?")
They entered the village proper. It was a humble place—small houses made of mud and timber, with thatched roofs and narrow, muddy paths. The air smelled of woodsmoke and manure. As they walked, the daily rhythm of the village ground to a halt.
Farmers stopped their plows. Women carrying baskets of grain froze. Children hid behind their mothers' skirts. Rarcth felt the weight of a hundred eyes.
"Miss... people are looking at us," Rarcth whispered urgently into Blop's ear.
Blop didn't care. He walked with his chin held high, his brown eyes scanning the villagers as if deciding which one looked the tastiest. A small crowd began to form, murmuring in hushed, fearful tones.
"Look at those silks... she must be a High Noble."
"Look at her hair... it's like pure silver. Is she from the Capital?"
"Don't look her in the eye! You know how the Nobles are—one wrong look and she'll have our heads!"
The crowd parted as a young man stepped forward. He looked stronger than the others, dressed in a clean linen shirt and sturdy leather boots.
"Hello, travelers," he said, bowing respectfully. "I am Karl, the village chief's son. May I ask what brings such distinguished guests to our humble Vyuko?"
Blop stopped and stared. He didn't blink. He just looked at Karl, waiting.
("Why isn't this kid talking?")Blop thought, glancing at Rarcth. ("I saved him so he could be my voice. Talk, you kid!")
Karl shifted uncomfortably under Blop's intense, unblinking gaze. "I... I assume you are tired from your journey. The sun is setting soon, and the roads aren't safe at night. Please, as our guests, you are welcome to rest at my father's house."
Rarcth waited for Blop to speak, but the "Lady" remained a statue of icy silence.
("Is she crazy?")Rarcth thought, sweating.
("She's the elder here! Why is she making me do the talking? But... if she gets angry, she might turn back into that wolf and eat everyone.")
Rarcth cleared his throat and bowed. "Uhh, yes, Sir Karl. We would be honored to accept your kind offer."
He looked at Blop, who was now glaring at a nearby villager who was holding a chicken.
Blop's eyes were filled with a predatory hunger that Rarcth mistook for noble fury.
("What is her problem? Why is she so angry?")
Rarcth worried. ("They are being nice! I really don't understand the high-born.")
"This is getting a bit awkward," Karl laughed nervously, gesturing for them to follow him. "Let's head to my home. We can talk more over some warmth."
They walked through the village. Rarcth noticed the farmers returning from the fields, their faces lined with exhaustion.
They passed a communal well where women were feeding herd animals. Every person they passed bowed their heads, whispering until they were out of earshot.
"See that Noble? She looks like she wants to execute us all."
"Keep your voice low! She'll hear you!"
They reached a house that was slightly larger than the rest, built from sturdy wood planks and bamboo. Karl opened the heavy wooden gate. "Please, enter our small home."
Rarcth hesitated, but Blop marched inside without a second thought. There were no couches or soft chairs, just a clean floor covered in large, woven leaves. Two small children were sitting in the corner; they jumped up immediately, bowing low.
"Hello, Miss Lady! It is an honor!" they chirped in unison.
"(Well-disciplined.")Blop thought, finally sitting down on a wooden stool Karl brought out.
"Please, wait here. I will bring something to drink," Karl said, hurrying into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, he returned with two steaming wooden cups. The scent of herbs and honey filled the air. Rarcth took a sip, sighing at the sweetness. "Mister Karl, this tea is wonderful."
Blop picked up his cup. He didn't sip. He didn't wait for it to cool. He tilted his head back and gulped the entire scalding liquid in one go.
Karl and Rarcth stared, their mouths hanging open.
("What just happened? That was boiling!") Karl thought, terrified.
Blop set the cup down.( "Hmm, this juice is quite hot, but the sweetness is divine. I want more. How do I ask?") He focused his lungs, forcing the air out in a sharp, practiced burst.
"More."
He beamed internally.( "Hahaha! Finally! I said another word without sounding like a dying crow!")
"More? Oh! Yes, of course!" Karl stammered, grabbing the cup and running back to the kitchen. He returned quickly, handing Blop a second cup. This time, Blop decided to savor it, taking small, dainty sips to enjoy the sugary heat.
"My parents are in the fields," Karl explained. "They will be back by evening to greet you properly."
("The Chief works in the fields?")Rarcth wondered. ("How poor is this village?")
As they waited, the children grew bold, mesmerized by Blop's silver hair. "Miss, how is your hair so smooth? It looks like
moonlight," one girl whispered.
Blop didn't answer, he just kept sipping his "divine tea," his mind drifting.
Finally, the door creaked open. An older man with a thick beard and a woman with kind eyes entered. They were covered in the dust of the fields, but they stopped dead when they saw the guests.
"Oh! Travelers!" the Chief said, his eyes widening at Blop's silks. "Forgive us! Let us clean ourselves before we speak."
They rushed to a back room, the sound of splashing water echoing through the house. When they returned, they were scrubbed clean and dressed in their best tunics. They sat on the floor across from Blop and Rarcth.
"It is a true blessing to have a Noble in our home," the Chief said, bowing. "You may sleep in the guest room upstairs. It is empty and clean."
His wife scurried to the hearth to begin preparing dinner. The Chief looked at Rarcth. "So, where are you two headed?"
"The Robelt Kingdom, Sir," Rarcth answered quickly.
The Chief laughed, a deep, hearty sound. "What a coincidence! My son, Karl, is leaving for Robelt tomorrow morning."
Karl nodded, a spark of ambition in his eyes. "I am going to apply to the Adventurer's Guild there. I want to see the world beyond Vyuko."
"If you are going that way, you should travel with him," the Chief suggested.
"The roads are dangerous, and Karl knows the border paths."
Rarcth looked at Blop. He wanted to refuse—having a stranger around might expose Blop's secrets—but seeing the "Lady" nod indifferently, he sighed and agreed.
Dinner was served—a simple stew of roots and salted meat. Everyone ate with quiet respect, but Blop was staring at his bowl, his mind far away.
("Wait... my sword,")Blop thought suddenly.
("I had a sword when I was in that human's body... the one called June. Where did I lose it? I can't remember. Did I leave it in the ruin? Or back at the camp?")
The thought bothered him, but the warmth of the tea and the soft bed upstairs were more pressing concerns. After dinner, they were shown to their room. It was small, containing only one bed.
Rarcth stood by the door, blushing. "Miss, you take the bed. I will sleep on the floor."
Blop didn't even look at him. He jumped onto the bed, curling up and drifting off almost instantly. Rarcth sighed, took a pillow, and laid out a thin mat on the floor.
As the village grew silent and the moon rose over Vyuko, Blop lay in the dark, his golden eyes occasionally snapping open.( "Where is that sword? I need a tooth that I don't have to grow myself...")
But eventually, even the God of Nothing succumbed to the peaceful quiet of the village, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.