Eyyo, kinda transation chap.

I feel like once I get the basic exploration done, (like one mission) I can speed things up a little. Desert Scourge hopefully by ch10. Also npcs soon.

maan, this is such a self indulgent fic haha.

Armour: Wood

Weap: Copper Bow (Arrows), Zombie Arm

Acc (11): None

Health: 95/100

*Pheeeeeewww… thunk*

The arrow whizzed past The Guide as it flew from The Terrarian's bowstring, cutting through the swirling, misty air until it struck its mark with incredible velocity. The poor blue slime nigh exploded from the impact of the sharp stone arrowhead piercing it through. Its remains quivered, glistening and sticky in the sunlight. Some blue gel was smeared on the green forest grass. The rest had come to rest all over the incredibly frustrated Guide, who whirled from collecting mushrooms to holler with as much exasperated wrath as he could muster.

"Are you kidding me?! That was on purpose, wasn't it!"

The Terrarian didn't honor him with a response. He completely ignored The Guide and merely walked ahead to kick through the remains of the slime. Upon finding nothing of value, he turned his back and continued to traverse the landscape. The Guide trembled as he watched The Terrarian march away. Honestly, he would've preferred The Terrarian to show him open hostility or sneering ridicule than persist in this maddening, demeaning silence. Did The Terrarian truly regard him (the man who had spent himself to save The Terrarian's life not once but twice now) as so lowly that he wasn't worth the breath in his lungs?

Why do I put up with this?! Gaah!

The Guide shut his eyes and did his best to control his breathing. After a long moment, his vision was no longer tainted red - and he could continue in his task. Early this morning The Guide walked out of the shed so fraught with guilt he was nearly suicidal. He had never killed another person before and had thoroughly convinced himself The Terrarian now lay dead because of The Guide's ineptitude.

However, to his great shock, he found The Terrarian not only alive and well, but completely uninterested in how he had been healed… or brought back from the dead last night. All The Terrarian wanted to learn was archery, and he made it very clear he wasn't going to concern himself with the mechanics of his recent death and regeneration despite The Guide's prodding. This apathy towards everything aside from the current task at hand was what baffled The Guide the most about his strange companion. It was infuriating the way he simply took things into stride. He was no more disturbed by the mechanics of collecting a mushroom than he was by the fact he had been raised to life this morning.

That makes no sense…

Was he not curious? Did he have the capacity for curiosity or was he simply hiding the truth. Perhaps he was truly some deathless creature who had taken the shape of a man. Perhaps his ability to regenerate drew from the collective life force of everyone slain in the village. Did they all die to produce this immortal golem? How was that fair! How cou-

Stop! Shh… okay… you can moan all you want, but nothing will change. You can hate him all you like, but he's your only shot at revenge… control your temper...

The Guide released a long breath.

That's right. The Guide didn't need to love this man. He didn't even need to like him. All he needed was to establish himself as a non-threat that was useful enough to keep around and occasionally take direction from. Perhaps The Terrarian was a monster. Perhaps he was a man. Perhaps something in between. None of that mattered so long as he was strong. This almost-human was going to be the vehicle by which The Guide actuated his vengeance. He would accompany The Terrarian. He'd use his vast founts of knowledge to bring him up into a terrifying Slayer… then, he'd turn him loose to crush the Vulture-headed mage. To that end, The Guide would suffer all sorts of indignities. He would tolerate, even assist, The Terrarian for the hope of one day seeing the Vulture-headed mage butchered at his feet.

Phew… okay…

And besides, although The Terrarian didn't speak to him and treated him nothing more than silent contempt, he did occasionally follow directions albeit at his own chosen pace. He had chopped trees and built the shed yesterday per The Guide's instructions. He had also listened quite well during the archery lesson, and in just a few short hours, his combat skill was on-par with the Guide's. Even now, he was operating under the Guide's command. They had set out this morning to survey the landscape, collect herbs and resources for potions and sustenance, and to mine iron with which the Terrarian could smelt better equipment.

Get stronger. Get stronger so I can use you...

The Guide grunted as he stood to his feet, stashing away his now-slime flavoured mushrooms. These mushrooms, when distilled in water, would create a Healing Potion - something The Guide felt necessary to have on hand considering his new companion's penchant for getting torn up. As he walked, he popped one of the mushrooms into his mouth - making a face at it's bland flavour - before dropping the rest into the salvage bag.

Ugh… I want a warm fish soup…

The salvage bag. A bag which had mostly been emptied by the Terrarian - who was quick to demand possession of any of the useful tools The Guide had managed to retrieve from his destroyed village. Normally, The Guide would be hesitant to hand over the only things he could remember his family by, but ultimately made the decision that revenge trumped his petty sentimentalism. As such, The Terrarian was now in possession of not only a Copper Axe and Pickaxe, but also the ornamental Copper Bow which the local blacksmith was so proud of, he hung it above his mantle.

I… I didn't think he could actually draw it…

The Guide had produced that copper bow during the archery lesson with the intention of humbling The Terrarian. That bow was never meant to be used. It's construction was fine - yes, but the weight of the draw was so tremendous, that none who tried could manage to shoot more than a couple of shots before their arms gave out. However, (The Guide should really have expected it), The Terrarian didn't seem to have a problem with it. It seemed as if he were ignoring the bow's weight entirely. The Guide hypothesized should he give the Terrarian a longbow or even one of the mythical artifacts which required tremendous strength to draw, The Terrarian would barely notice the difference.

Freakish… humph…

But The Guide wasn't particularly shocked at this revelation. He had already seen too many strange things these past few days to be upset by one more. In his well studied opinion, The Terrarian was already far past the realm of normal, logical reason. Not only was he tireless and could carry many tonnes of resources on his person without the slightest perceived effort, but also appeared to neither feel pain nor possess the ability to die. The ability to pull a particularly heavy drawstring was nothing in comparison.

Ridiculous. Ridiculous is good… I need somebody ridiculous to take down the Mage

And so, having hardened his resolve and regaining control of himself, The Guide peeled off his now-ruined shirt and looked about for The Terrarian. He found him nearly at the end of the clearing, where the almost-man was staring up at a great sky tree - clearly at a loss concerning how to proceed. He had crafted a new set of wooden armour this morning, but had removed the right shoulder piece to make room for the shaft of The Guide's arrow - which much to The Guide's chagrin - he seemed to carry around like a souvenir.

Does he think it's funny? Does he even understand the concept of humor? Ugh, whatever… If he wants to walk around with a bit of flint stuck in his arm - then I won't stop him…

The Guide shook his head and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. As he approached, he shouted out to the Terrarian, and the two of them proceeded down the long trunk, into the bowels of the earth.

Poor Guide. He's stuck between a Rock and a Hard place.

He hates Terrarain b/c he was brought here using the lives of his loved ones.

But he's also mad at the Vulture mage, who conducted the summoning to begin with.

And The Guide's only way to revenge on the Vulture-headed mage (who do you think this is btw? lol) as through the Terrarain. So he's got a whole lot to deal with in that big brain of his.

Meanwhile, my darling little slayer is like brainded lol. he be like - whoa, what is this tree?

I love all you reviewers :3