This is my first attempt at fanfiction, please read and review.
K-suke is Kewne and Tyr Is a griffon.
This is set well before the end of the game.
…
New friends, Newer Enemies.
His palm was slick with blood; it ran down the burnished gold of his blade and left a garish mask on his face. K-suke, off to Koh's left was bouncing fiercely into anything that moved and giving far more than he was taking. He always did.
Twelfth floor and things were so different; His first shock had been the electric bodied Kraken, which was not an experience he wished to repeat. Then he'd stepped on a rust trap, turning his shield to so much scrap.
Now, with a monster nest things had gotten much harder. He'd used an acid rain ball, and two bursts from a flame, that put the krakens out but four griffons and two volcanoes remained after them.
It had been a manic few moments. But now all that stood between him and the prize the treasure Loup had revealed was a Single griffon, and he wasn't about to back down. K-suke moved over to him slowly, His strength pushed to its limit.
"Stay put pal, I've got this" Koh's words sounded hollow, like childish bravado.
He's as tired as I am thought K-suke; I hope he can handle this.
The next moments stretched interminably, the razor claws of the monster clicking as it shifted its weight to its hind legs.
"Come on" yelled Koh taking the initiative, the useless shield was flung, hard, at the griffons head. It took the bait, rearing up to block the makeshift missile with its eagle talon forelegs.
It pinned the shield to the floor, buckling it beyond repair, the creatures sharp eyes coming up to meet Koh's gaze. The realization that the prey was closer now, swinging its glittering talon so fast that the air whistled came too late.
The blade bit home, feather, flesh and sinew parted, the creatures death instant as the sword struck its spine. No cry, no last gasps of air just a weight falling to the floor.
"That's the last one boss, grab the stuff, and let's go home."
The piles of coin and herbs were ignored; it was the egg He'd fought for. This high the egg's made the battle worth while.
"K-suke, you did well today, weedy been sneaking you snacks"? The tired smile Playing on his lips and the weary set to his shoulders told of a rare day, Three eggs in one ascent, meant that He might have to share the hut with a hatchling as soon as tomorrow.
The sharp blue glow of the wind crystal pulled K-suke from his reverie he began to feel a tingle across his wings as the magic pulled him into a slow spiral around his master.
The next thing they felt was the heat of the monsbaiya sun.
Wreath near screamed as her blood soaked son stumbled through the door.
It was a good three hours before Koh's mother had calmed down, her hysterics a comfort to Koh. It's nice to be cared for he thought as she poked at his wounds. None were severe yet each hurt as only non-fatal pain can.
"Mom, we need a bath, and I've stuff to sell. I'm going to live".
"This time, yes. You need to figure out a shield that will hold out against, well whatever ate the last one". Her voice filled with irritation and admiration in equal measure.
"Ill ask around at the stores, maybe a hunter or the owner of the smithy might have a suggestion" Koh looked crestfallen, to fight beasts, survive deadly traps and still need his mom's help was less than morale boosting.
His shoulders protested against the removal of his shirt, the effort making him laugh to keep from tears. He was glad he'd been able to afford an extension; bathing indoors meant no-one else saw the bruises, or the fresh scarring on his shoulder.
The cut to his left arm wasn't too deep, and would heal leaving a narrow six inch scar. It was the muscles in his right arm that Koh worried about the krakens shock numbing them, He knew using Mix-magic had saved him that time, but how long could he be lucky? He needed to be better than any challenge the tower could envision.
The hot water soothed his battered body, his mind flowing slowly to sleep.
"Boss, don't sleep in the tub you drown now and its goodbye hurty town"
K-suke had a perverse sense of humour and in fairness Koh enjoyed it.
A Talking familiar gave you criticism and praise, he told you when to duck and when to run.
It also kept you sane. The tower got lonely when everything else wanted to eat you.
"Jump in pal, you smell like volcano crap, I mean that's a pretty weird defence right? Who decided that any living thing could poop a wall of rock?"
K-suke chuckled, lay floating on his back as Koh scrubbed dried blood from his head.
If he had to choose a master, he'd pick Koh, Bath time and little sisters with snacks is a good life.
An hour later K-suke settled in to his pillar as Koh headed to the monster dealer, hoping to get a better price than last time. As far as Koh knew he was the only person in years to bring back anything more than a troll. Yes he'd had two Pulunpa and a noise but last time he was offered the same rate for a U-boat. Well not today, He'd show that cheapskate. Koh had something special.
It was the smell more than the noise of the shop that caught people's attention. To some it stank like wet dog chewing skunk fart. To tamers it smelled like homecoming,
Like the tower it was just for them. Others didn't know it but that smell was always with you, subtly telling the world that you had seen things not meant for them.
All eyes were on Koh as he approached the counter, He smelled different to everyone.
"Koh"! The exclamation sounding like surprise "What have we got today"?
"A better price I hope, one dreamin and one clown, tenth and eleventh respectively."
This should do it he thought.
"I kept the griffon from twelve for myself".
News spreads quickly around a small town and monsbaiya was no exception.
Koh was nearing the pond in the centre of town when Nico threw herself onto his back. Any other day he'd have laughed at the familiar game, today his left leg buckled and he near snarled.
Nico froze, Koh looked dangerous. This was a new side to her childhood friend she didn't know, one she didn't like.
"I'm sorry" she said in a small voice, her green eyes showing her fear.
With a deep breath, Koh pushed himself upright and turned to face his truest human friend.
"I've had a bad day Nico. A lot of fear and pain mixed into a lot of excitement and a pretty big win for me." He looked straight into her eyes, not like Ghosh did; his eyes were soft, still innocent. Koh's were sharp, hard even.
It was then Nico understood that Koh had faced nightmares and lived, that her scrawny, scruffy little layabout had become a fighter and a killer.
"I didn't mean to upset you Nico, just take it easy on me from now on. I get enough surprises at work." Said Koh, as he jerked a thumb at the looming tower.
"Nico stop staring at me, it's a little creepy, it's like your going to hit me."
Nico's face turned into the cutest pout he'd seen since he told weedy she couldn't have her own flame knight.
"I'm not some uncivilised barbarian you know"!
That's what she said, but it didn't stop Koh getting the second to worst dead arm all day." What could he tell her, the truth?
"That towers changed you, it's made you different. Different than before. You won't change too much, right"?
Koh considered Nico's question, should he tell her that every day in there pushed him further from humanity. That the one person he knew would never let him down wasn't even human?
"I can't promise I wont change, but I promise I'd never change you. Not for the world."
Nico had looked a lot happier as she walked off, mumbling about a fountain.
It was a few streets later he realized he was being followed, he could hear the footfalls. He wondered aloud, "could be getting paranoid, could have a stalker. Shall we find out"? He turned swiftly catching the silhouette whit his good right hand.
A shrill scream split the air, as Selfi fell backwards.
"You, you brute, laying your hands on a lady. I shall have you before the mayor"
Koh had turned away as soon as her stealth spell was broken.
"And tell him what? I pushed down an invisible assailant. I'm sorry but why were you following me home, people might talk."
"Your not even looking at me, apologize at once." Koh couldn't resist, even though his father taught him better.
"Ill look at you when you close your legs, or are you sat like that on purpose. Cheap thrills aren't my thing".
"Wha…." Koh heard her knees slapping together. She got up in a rush and ran away in what Koh hoped was maidenly modesty. He didn't have the heart, or inclination to tell her that her skirt had ridden up at the back. Her blue mantle covered most of her back but every few steps a brief flash.
Koh smiled all the way home, reliving the image of Selfi's dust covered bottom.