"98… 99… 100! Haah… Haah…"
Finishing my latest set of sit-ups, I fall onto my back and let myself take a breather.
"Good job, Mister Ast! You'll be in wizarding condition in no time!" The little healer to whom I owe my recovery spoke up.
It's been 4 days since I was introduced to this new world, battered and burnt. And in those 4 days, this girl managed to get me moving again. She's got the potential to be an outright terror when she gets some combat experience.
"Thanks. I couldn't have gone so far already without you, Wendy. What do you say we go for a walk through the forest? We can get started on those pointers." Now that I can move, I can keep my promise to help Wendy with supporting. The sooner the better.
"Sure! As long as we keep to the paths, we shouldn't run into anything dangerous. I wouldn't want you to get banged up so soon after you've started recovering. Oh, I brought sandwiches so we could even have a picnic in one of the clearings when we get hungry!" With that, she began packing our food and drinks.
Meanwhile, I reached over to a book on the stand next to the bed: 'Woodwose's Guide to the Flora and Fauna of Southeastern Fiore.' Reading hadn't been as much of a problem as I expected. Our worlds seemed to share many of the same characters, though some technical differences I have yet to figure out, such as the value of this world's Jewel compared to my world's Zenny.
Regardless, this book had been very helpful for learning about the local wildlife and would help me raise the point I'm going to try teaching Wendy today. Along with an empty sectioned bag that Porlyusica left by the doorway and a small knife from the kitchen, this was all I was going to bring.
"Alright! I've got everything packed, Mister Ast. We can go whenever you're ready!" And with that it is time for my first little adventure here.
Stepping outside, I took a good whiff of the air and relished in the familiar earthy smell of decaying leaves and moist soil. Strangely, I could even make out the scent of some faraway flowers.
Not only that, I could hear a plethora of splashing sounds in the distance, even though I couldn't see any bodies of water from here. It was honestly a little overwhelming.
As we began to walk along the nearest path, I asked Wendy, "Everything smells so clear that I could probably make out which of those trees in the distance are already starting to rot. Is that normal in this world?"
"So you can smell that too, Mister Ast? I think it has to do with being a Dragon Slayer. The faint sounds of whispers and slight smells of perfume all just seem so clear to me. And for the longest time, I thought I was the only one. Though that was probably because I haven't met another Dragon Slayer until now." It seemed she was quite pleased if her bright smile was anything to go by.
"Ah, so it's a Dragon Slayer thing. Well, good to know I have someone to teach me all about being one. Anything important I should know right off the bat?" Honestly, even if it was just this, being a Dragon Slayer would be a great boon for any hunter.
"Also, Grandeeney taught me that all Dragon Slayers have an element that they correspond to. For example, I am a Sky Dragon Slayer, and so I can consume and utilize air for my magic. Though I usually only do support spells."
"What do you mean by consuming air? Could you give an example?" That greatly piqued my interest.
"Oh, that's easy. It's like this." She stretches out her arms to her sides and opens her mouth, and, for a second, I couldn't breathe, as all of the surrounding air starts rushing towards her. It was like she was drinking all of the air through a straw, leaving me feeling lightheaded in the meantime. And as suddenly as she started, she stopped, letting the air around us fill back up.
"That replenishes my magical energy, and now I can do stuff like this." She turns to the side to face a clearing, seemingly not noticing how dizzy just her breathing left me, and reels her entire upper body back before—
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
A mighty pressure shoots forth from her mouth as the open area is deluged with a powerful blast of air. Like a tornado, it began tearing apart the ground beneath it, leaving behind a long ditch far across the clearing.
If only I had a mirror to see just how far my jaw dropped.
"That was… amazing! Aside from all the environmental damage, something like that would have made slaying large monsters so much easier! I knew I wouldn't regret learning from you! You're just as awesome as I thought you were, Wendy!"
My mind was working overtime to process what just happened. All I could do was heap on all the praise I could. With her power over the air, she was pretty much a miniature Kushala Daora. And since she said she could also do support magic, there was no way she wouldn't be one of the most sought-after wizards for parties.
"Uh, it's not actually that impressive. I just get in the way in fights, so I usually stick to my support spells. If anything, something like Dragon Slayer magic is wasted on me."
"No need to be shy. You've got the makings of a top-notch hunter, so stick out your chest with pride! Besides, I've got plenty of experience working in teams. I'm sure I could teach you to hang with the best!" I puff out and strike my chest as an example.
"You know, I was in a similar position as you when I first started out as a hunter." I pat her on the shoulder as I began to tell a story. There was no way I was going to let her put herself down like that.
"When I was young, I met my teacher. A hunter whose stories gave me dreams of grandeur. Of going on wild adventures and saving the people from the monsters terrorizing them so that my name would resound throughout the generations. So that I would never be forgotten." I continued on with a nostalgic tone.
"But I was only some scrawny kid from just outside Verudo. One of the many who couldn't even afford to live within the safety of its walls. All I had going for me were my skills at foraging for herbs and mushrooms from the nearby forest. So when I became old enough to be a hunter, I could only really do gathering requests for the local apothecary, much less the epic quests my teacher went on." I chuckle a bit thinking about it. I was still rash, even back then.
"Later on, my rank grew enough for me to start hunting small monsters. But I wasn't that good at fighting and had to rely on other hunters to team up with me. Though how many hunters would team up with the shrimp who could only gather herbs?" This time, I continued in a somber tone.
"I gave up on myself. I thought nothing I did was impressive and that all the other hunters my age were so much better. I thought that I could never be as good a hunter as my teacher and that I would be forgotten like the rest of the kids back home." My voice carried a bit of melancholy at this part.
"To hit it home, I received a box from the guild. My teacher had gone to a faraway jungle region and discovered an Elder Dragon, a rare and powerful monster capable of throwing entire ecosystems into chaos, had gone on a rampage and was on a crash course through a nearby village. In the event that he wouldn't make it through repelling the Elder Dragon, he left a survival knife and a letter to be sent to me." I started composing myself to get through the next portion. I didn't want to lose it.
"The letter talked about how my teacher never expected to do something as big as fighting an Elder Dragon back when he was starting out as a hunter. Back when he got lost in a forest near Verudo and met up with a child who helped him find his way out. How boasting about fake adventures inspired a lackluster hunter to improve, simply because a child chose to believe in him, and despite how much he felt he didn't deserve it. That in order to do right by the child, he would set out to make those big adventures he made up come true and turn himself into the hunter the child thought he was." The story was almost over. I had to hold it together until then.
"He felt that this was a battle he was meant to fight so that he could feel he finally deserved that child's admiration. Even though he thought he wouldn't survive the quest, he thought that he would live through the memories of those he helped during his hunting career. Because he'd made a smile on one person's face, and he continued to make another with each new adventure. And when he looked back, he saw more smiles than stars in the sky." There might not have been tears in my eyes, but I was no doubt feeling emotional. Thinking about him always did that to me.
"That letter gave me the motivation to keep on going. Because it turns out I had already made one person smile. And in the end, I wound up going against one of the most dangerous Elder Dragons of all." I pat her head and give it a little rustle.
"So now whenever you're feeling down and that you're not worth it, just know," I pointed my thumb at myself and put on a big grin. "You've already got one person's smile. And that's not ever gonna change. You got it?"
"Alright. If you say so, Mister Ast, then I'll believe you!" Saying so, Wendy pumps her fists and puts on a determined smile. "Thank you. For believing in me."
"No problem. Now, let's get back to that walk." Without realizing it, we had stopped in the middle of that clearing while I was telling my little story.
"And this should be a good time to start with our little support lessons! We can start with recognizing useful supplies while out in the field!"
POV: Wendy Marvel
I'm glad I went on this walk with Mister Ast. I made it no secret that I don't think all too much of myself, but to think I had such an effect on someone. It feels nice to have someone wholeheartedly say they believe in me. I feel as if I can do anything I set my mind on.
"These past few hours have been really fun, Mister Ast! I'll make sure to study an encyclopedia before my next mission!" From learning the different uses of various herbs to being able to track animals by footprints and territorial markings, Mister Ast had a lot of experience from his career that he shared with me.
"Though I wouldn't have minded if we skipped the part about keeping a stash of dung to ward off monsters and whatever scary-sounding thing this 'mega demondrug' is." I never thought hunters would go so far for a quest.
"We should probably head back now, Wendy. It's getting a bit dark. We'll continue our lessons tomorrow, OK?"
"Ah, you're right. Wouldn't want to make Miss Porlyusica mad at us, would we, Mister As—"
Suddenly, I could hear a heavy stomping coming closer to us. Now that I think about it, we haven't encountered any animals on our walk. If what Mister Ast said earlier was correct, this might not be good.
"Wait, do you hear that, Mister Ast?" Looking over, he immediately sported a serious look on his face.
"Whatever it is, it's coming close real fast." He reached into his bag and pulled out the knife he brought. I didn't like where this was going.
Waiting with bated breath, we watched as a tall figure poked out from the trees in the distance. It had a large upper body and arms that had hearts going down their lengths, along with green fur and a purple face and chest. It had long ears on its pointed head and wore a weird grin.
"Oooh! I knew I smelled a girl! What a lucky day!" It spoke with a deep voice as it turned its head to look at me.
"A Forest Vulcan?! Did we wander too deep into the forest?" I shivered as I looked back at Mister Ast, who had a grim look.
"Wendy, do you think you can beat this thing?" Mister Ast asked me suddenly.
I just shook my head. Mister Ast was still recovering, and I couldn't fight this on my own.
"Alright." With that he gave me a familiar sad smile, and I knew he was about to do something stupid.
"Wendy. Go get help. I can keep it distracted. Otherwise, I'll just slow you down as I am right now." He immediately put himself in between the Forest Vulcan and me.
It hit me suddenly. I remember where I saw that smile. It was the same smile that Jellal gave me years ago before he left me at Cait Shelter. Before he left me for good. All because I was too weak to be of any help.
"Hmph. Not interested in man. Only girls can become my wife. Man can just die!" The Vulcan, now angered, started to stomp its way across the clearing.
As I turned around to do what Mister Ast said, I realized that I couldn't move my feet any further. I just froze on the spot. Was someone else I grew to care about going to leave me because I was too weak to help? Was I going to be left by myself again?
"Wendy, go! I believe in you, so just leave me here!" Mister Ast's shout brought me out of my thoughts.
"I can't do this. I don't want to be alone again!" Mister Ast believes in me. What would have changed from last time if I ran now?
"I've decided, Mister Ast. Let's do this together!" I moved to stand next to Mister Ast and readied myself to fight.
The Forest Vulcan lets out a thundering roar and charges at us, causing the ground to tremble with each step. It sends out a heavy sideways swipe, and I launch myself up into the air above it with a gust of wind while Mister Ast rolls underneath it.
It ignores me and instead continues to smash its hands downwards, trying to crush Mister Ast, who narrowly avoids each one with a dodge roll. Since it's distracted, I have enough time to use some support magic.
"O swift winds that speed through the heavens! Vernier!" Using magic to boost our speed, I pull back my fist to prepare for my attack as I reach the apex of my jump.
"I call upon thee! The stalwart might to cleave the heavens! Arms!" I enhance our attack power and use another gust of wind to rapidly descend towards the vulcan and punch its face with all my strength.
"Uwooah!" The vulcan wobbles a little bit and takes a few steps back before it spits out some blood and turns to face me. "Girl is a little feisty. Me like that!"
I managed to get its attention away from Mister Ast as it reaches out and grabs me before I land. I didn't think it would recover so soon.
"Aagh!" Suddenly, the Vulcan lets out a yell before it lurches forward and drops me. As it stumbles to its knees, I see Mister Ast lift a now-bloody knife, apparently having slashed through the vulcan's heels.
He then jumps onto its back as it tries to stand before he raises his knife up high before repeatedly stabbing it into the monster's shoulders. Despite the vulcan's attempts to shake him off, Mister Ast holds on tight and continues stabbing away.
Seeing my opportunity, I got up and started landing punches onto the Forest Vulcan's body. Between its slashed heels and the increasing number of stab wounds on its shoulders, any attacks it's sending out are becoming less and less accurate and powerful.
Then, Mister Ast raised his knife high once more before this time stabbing it straight into the monster's eye. This time the vulcan shakes him off, as he seemingly loses all his strength and falls to the ground.
"My face! My beautiful face!" The vulcan yells out as it clutches its eye.
"Now, Wendy! Finish it with your breath attack!" Upon hearing Mister Ast's shout, I begin consuming as much of the surrounding air as I could and then more on top of that, before letting it all out in one final blast.
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
I had never been one of the stronger wizards around. My magic was usually weaker and took more time to cast than any of the wizards in the top guilds. However, I felt so much faster and stronger just now when I wanted to protect Mister Ast with all I had.
In truth, I never wanted to fight. If anything, I hated fighting. But fighting to protect my friend? There was nothing I wanted to do more at that moment. And it seemed my magic responded to that desire, as my magic grew bigger than ever before. It blasted the vulcan and sent it hurling across the entire clearing. And yet my wind kept expanding, knocking it further into the forest and uprooting all the trees in its path until it could no longer be seen in the distance.
I now fell onto my back, exhausted, just like Mister Ast.
'I did it. I protected Mister Ast.' With that thought, I was going to check on him when suddenly—
"WHAT DO YOU BRATS THINK YOU'RE DOING TO MY FOREST! I WAS WORRIED SINCE YOU BOTH HADN'T COME BACK IN HOURS, AND THIS IS WHAT I FIND YOU DOING!" In came a very mad-sounding Miss Porlyusica.
"Hey Miss Goddess, you missed all the action!" Miser Ast… You aren't helping at all.
.
.
.
Eventually we managed to calm Miss Porlyusica down and started to explain what happened; however—
"And that's when Wendy, after quickly using two support spells to save my hide, came crashing down onto the monster and yelled out, 'Don't you dare lay a hand on my friend!' She then gave it a giant punch that sent it reeling back 10 steps and knocked out 20 of its teeth!" Mister Ast was currently 'retelling' what happened when we encountered the Vulcan.
"Mister Ast! Stop! We both know it didn't happen like that!" This version was way too embarrassing.
"Wendy, we all know you're the kind to downplay what you accomplished. Right, Miss Goddess?" This traitor! Surely Miss Porlyusica will believe me!
"He's right about that, Wendy. Though I didn't expect that much bravado out of you, I knew you had something in you all along." They're both traitors! What will Carla think about me when she hears what they have to say?
"Oh right! And that's when Wendy started rapidly punching that monster's guts. Each and every punch made heavy tremors and caused it to spit up blood everywhere!" He continued his embarrassing tale, and I could only do one thing.
"Mister Ast, that didn't happen—well, it kinda did… But it wasn't as bad as how you're making it sound!" I just wanted to go on a picnic today…
POV: Ast
As I began wrapping up my rendition of 'The Amazing Tales of Wendy!' I began thinking back on why I wanted to start teaching Wendy as soon as possible.
There was a certain legendary hunter, said to have hunted a Fatalis long ago and had made an entire set of armor and weapons from its corpse. However, no new stories were made about that hunter after such an amazing accomplishment. You know why?
It is commonly said that the hunter had gone mad after donning his new armor and had gone out on a hunt to never be seen again. What exactly happened to him after he put on the armor is something that changes from story to story. Some say that he turned to killing other humans and had to be put down. Others say he slaughtered monsters nonstop until his body gave in and he was eaten.
Like what we hunters learned from the Fatalis mission, even the most farfetched stories have a grain of truth to them. And in such a case, one rendition of the legendary hunter has me worried. If it were any other story, I would have paid it no mind, but this was about Fatalis.
This one said that after a Fatalis dies, it could come back to life from a single scale. And after putting on the armor, the hunter had become a Fatalis himself, made to redo the cycle of destruction.
"Hey Wendy, I was wondering."
Considering that I had a part of Fatalis embedded into me…
"What is it, Mister Ast?"
"Is your guild recruiting new wizards, by any chance?"
Then shouldn't I be prepared with a Dragon Slayer on hand?
— End of Chapter —
Authors Notes:
Managed to get off my sick ass and get another chapter out before the end of the year.
Got some character building with Ast and Wendy, though the Fairy Tail picnic curse carries on. At least Wendy's getting herself more out there.
To those of you who mentioned the eye potentially acting as a dragon seed, you got what I was going for. Whatever this means for the future, stay tuned.
And then there's Ast going to Cait Shelter instead of Fairy Tail. I was unsure at the beginning whether to have him go with Porlyusica to Fairy Tail or Cait Shelter with Wendy, but the way the story ended playing out in my head had led me to like this choice more.
That said, being sick has got me dreaming of a bunch of ideas. Some I like, such as Ast embellishing the fight to Porlyusica to Wendy's dismay. Some not so much, like a DxD AU where all the weapons are replaced with Beyblades and it's just Issei being excited to see more of the supernatural world and being incredibly embarrassed when they're just using more tops. Woke up laughing in the middle of the night because of that one though.
Anyways,
professional personman out.