Chapter 23 - Recovery

I wake as a light drizzle of rain is starting to fall. From the looks of the clouds, it's going to be pouring in a bit. I feel a lot better now, but I'm not fully recovered yet. I check my status.

*Status: Concussed (Normal)*

Ugh, it's still Normal? I guess it's a serious condition if it takes this long to go away on its own. I prepare mentally for any pain, and try to use Hidden Space. My goal would be to retrieve the Octopus Cloth so the Huldr could get some clothes on her. I thrust my hand into the air before retracting it.

Success! Although my headache's started up again, I now have the Octopus Cloth in my claws! I gently lift the wing that the Huldr is laying beneath and slip her the cloth. She stirs and wakes, looking slightly confused at my offering. "Put on. Imagine clothes." I instruct simply via Telepathy.

My headache intensifies. Seems using Skills makes it worse. She takes the cloth, wraps herself in it and closes her eyes for a moment. When she opens them, the cloth has taken on the form of an ankle length skirt made of thick black wool cloth, a red blouse and a white apron. I get up, keeping my wing over her so as not to let the rain get onto her, so she can get up as well.

She inspects the clothing. Nodding in satisfaction, she moves to hug my neck. "I see you managed to get some clothes onto her." Mervik spooks us as he approaches from the camp. I guess he was late guard? The Huldr lays her ears flat and runs to my other side, peeking out at him with a distrustful look.

"What is she though?" He leans to the side to get a better look at her without coming closer. I try to tell him, but attempting Telepathy makes the world spin. "Hey now, take it easy!" Mervik calls out as I stumble.

Suddenly, my headache clears.

*Status Cleared!*

Eh? What happened? I regain my footing, looking around for the source of the heal. My eyes fall upon the Huldr. Did she? I reach out to her, effortlessly, "Did you heal me?" She nods with a smile. I guess she must know at least one language since Telepathy works on her. I inspect her.

Unnamed

Species: Huldr (Goblinoid) (Rare)

Gender: Female

HP: 250/250

MP: 400/450

SP: 180/200

Attack: 45

Armor: 60 (-20 Vs Light)

M.Attack: 80

M.Armor: 85 (-30 Vs Light)

Speed: 70

STR: 45

CON: 50

INT: 80

WIL: 75

DEX: 60

Skills:

Language Comprehension: Goblin (Great)  -  Language Comprehension: Common (Lesser)

Alluring Song (Normal)  -  Charm (Lesser)

Elemental Affinity: Life (Normal)  -  Elemental Affinity: Air (Lesser)

Elemental Affinity: Light (Lesser)  -  Elemental Affinity: Dark (Normal)

Spellcasting Affinity: Illusion (Normal)  -  Regeneration: MP (Lesser)

Fey Step (Normal)  -  Stealth (Normal)

Damage Resistance: Dark (Normal)  -  Damage Resistance: Earth (Lesser)

Spells:

Great Heal (Lesser) - Recover (Lesser)

Dark Bead (Normal) - Blind (Lesser)

Invisibility (Normal) - Lure (Lesser)

Chime (Lesser) - Mesmerize (Lesser)

Social Titles

New Life - Compassionate

She has basic Common comprehension at least. Her Stats seem low though, is it because she is new-born?

*Her Stats reflect the minimum Core Stats needed for Evolution into her species. As she came into this world as a Huldr, she does not retain any Skills or Spells her previous Evolutions would have gained.*

Oh, so she's kinda bare-bones, I guess. But she healed me! Which means we can get off this mountain! Having a quick look at my items in storage, it seems my best suit of spider-silk (monarch silk?) armor got shredded when I transformed after hitting my head. I select the next best thing, and swap into my human form.

"Whoah!" Merkiv exclaims as I return to human form. "What happened? I thought you'd be out of it for longer?" "She- the Huldr, healed me." I explain. Merkiv looks from me to her and back. "Okay... So I guess... We could head back to town now?" He asks. I nod. "I'll explain on the way." I tell him as we go to tell the others.

I explain what's going on with me and the Huldr as best I can on the way back to town. "So, let me get this straight; you're an Otherworlder, reincarnated into a monster body, which happened to be the body of a monster destined to become the next Monarch, and because you hit your head, you dreamt into existence a bunch of monsters from your old World?"

"That's about it, yeah" I nod to Merkiv, who has an annoyed look on his face. "Unbelievable." He huffs. "I mean, I'm glad you weren't some escaped Photian weapon, but still..." "What are the odds of that, right?" Seagrass adds.

"So what do you plan on doing now?" Germund asks me. "Hm, well I don't know. I've sort of promised to deal with the Morke in the mine, but after that I'm not too sure what I'll be doing." I decide to tell them the truth. Being honest leads to less issues in the future, methinks.

"The Morke, huh... I guess you were the one that chased it off the day before we met." Germund stops and looks to the sky. "Darn, it's getting worse. If we're unlucky, we'll still be up here when the storm hits." I look at my weather forecast. Lightning storm in around an hour, huh?

"And I guess we can't catch a lift on Millibelle without alerting the entire town to her presence..." Seagrass mumbles. Well, we'll certainly get caught in the storm if we just stand around complaining, so I quicken my pace. "Let's hurry then, we got about an hour." I tell them.

"Yes, let's- wait how can you tell?" Merkiv hurries after me, trying to get me to explain. I refuse, simply because I don't think I'd be able to do so in a way he'd understand. As the first bolts of lightning fall from the sky, we make it to the edge of the forest that hugs the lowest part of the mountain.

Before us is a stretch of plains. "Wait, going out into the open can be dangerous!" I hold them back. "Well, staying here isn't exactly a solution either?" Seagrass argues. "Lightning aims for the highest spot to connect to. We'll be the highest spot on the plains." I tell them. "But doesn't that mean that we risk being under a tree that gets hit?" Merkiv asks.

"Well, yeah. Safest place is to be indoors." I retort. "But at the moment, it's much safer to be in the forest, provided we don't lean against the trees." *Pchoow* *Rumble~* The Huldr squeaks as a particularly close lightning-strike makes itself known. She clings to me, burying her head in my shoulder.

I glance at the forecast; about two hours... We'll be soaked through to the bone in the rain sitting about, but I guess there's nothing to be done about it. I guide them a little bit into the forest, away from the plains before weaving a small canopy for us to sit under.

"You have a lot of Skills..." Germund remarks as he sits down on the soggy forest floor. Seagrass and Merkiv joins him, with Merkiv leaning on Germund as they sit side by side. "So, weather forecast, how long until this lets up?" Seagrass asks me. "A few hours. The lightning will stop then." I tell him. "Ugh, hours... I mean, I don't mind the weather but..."

I sit down, and the Huldr joins me. Softly, she starts humming, before breaking into a somber song. We sit like that, listening to her song. I at least really found it beautiful. Something about being stuck in a rainy forest, lightning and thunder in the distance, and the lovely song of the Huldr.

Before we know it, the rain is abating. I rouse the others, who've been lulled to sleep by the Huldrs song. "Come now, before it starts back up again." I tell them. If we hurry, we should be able to make it.

A disgruntled guard, miffed at being on duty during this terrible weather, waves us into the town. We head straight for the Guild Hall. I'm soaked, the Huldr is cold, but the thick wool cloth her clothes are made of means she's not as soaked, the others are cold, soaked and shivering.

"Let's report in as fast as possible so we can go get changed." Germund instructs. All in all, we each earned fifty Silver for the mission. "I think I'll go see Father Crym. Thanks for the help up there, maybe we'll meet again." I bid farewell to the hunters, and with the Huldr in tow, I make my way to where Brother Crym is currently.

Hurrying through the streets, we soon come to a church. Or, well, the only church in town. Or is it a temple? Who knows. As we approach the threshold, I feel my hair stand on end. Like an electric charge is building. Is there some sort of anti-monster field? I hesitantly reach out to the door, only to retract it as a jolt of pure magic jumps at me.

"Well, guess we've gotta wait for him to come out then..." I mumble as I go across the street to stand under the awning of a house. The Huldr huddles up to me, clearly miserable in the rain. Her long blonde hair is soaked through. I take the time waiting to check up on my status. I guess since I got knocked out at the end of combat, I missed the Power Osmosis announcement. (~Jesus christ I gotta do these more frequently~)

Millibelle

Species: ??? (???) (EXUnique)

Gender: Female

HP: 8500/8500

MP: 10.000/10.000

SP: 8000/8500

Attack: 1200

Armor: 1500

M.Attack: 800

M.Armor: 1000

Speed: 900

STR: 1162 (Max: 1250)

CON: 1239 (Max: 1250)

INT: 784 (Max: 1875)

WIL: 910 (Max: 1250)

DEX: 781 (Max: 1250)

Skills:

Innate World Knowledge (True - Unique)  -  Power Osmosis (True - Fated - Unique)

Hidden Space (True - Unique)  -  Language Comprehension: Goblin (Great)

Language Comprehension: Kobold (Great)  -  Language Comprehension: Common (Great)

Guard Share (Normal - Unique(Goblin Shaman))  -  Wide-Casting (Great)

Complex Shape Body (Lesser - Unique(Doppelganger))  -   Malleable Body (Great)

Damage Immunity: Fire (Lesser)   -   Damage Immunity: Heat (Lesser)

Damage Immunity: Physical (Lesser)   -   Condition Resistance: Poison (Normal)

Condition Resistance: Disease (Great)  -  Condition Resistance: Burn (Grand)

Condition Resistance: Paralysis (Great)   -   Condition Resistance: Overheat (Grand)

Elemental Affinity: All (Great)   -   Spell-Casting Affinity: Bolster (Great)

Spell-Casting Affinity: Weaken (Great)  -  Regeneration: HP (Great)

Regeneration: MP (Great)   -   Remote Body Control (Normal)

Tongue Action (Great)  -   Tail Action (Great)

Viscous Body (Normal - Unique(Celluloid))   -   Great Swallow (Great)

Hardy Digestion (Normal)  -  Cellulose Digestion (Great)

Rapid Digestion (Great)  -  Phagocytosis (Great)

Terrible Talons (Lesser)  -  Megalodon Jaw (Lesser)

Focusing Horn (Normal)  -  Web Sense (Normal - Unique(Arachnoid))

Strong Legs (Normal)  -   Poison Stinger (Great)

Spider Climb (Great - Unique(Arachnoid))  -  Stealth (Normal)

Flight (Great)  -   Draconic Flight (Normal)

Spit Attack: Paralysis (Normal)  -  Thick Mucous (Normal)

Keen Sight (Normal)  -   Keen Hearing (Great)

Keen Smelling (Great)  -   Telepathy (Normal)

Fire Breath (Great)  -   Napalm Breath (Normal)

Soothing Presence (Lesser)   -   Frightening Presence (Normal)

Selective Presence (Lesser)  -   Commanding Presence (Lesser)

Lustrous Fur (Lesser - Unique(Emperor))  -  Jagged Scales (Lesser - Unique(Tyrant))

Steel Shell (Great)  -  Geovore (Great)

Combustion (Normal)  -  Vent Heat (Lesser)

Boiling Breath (Normal)  -  Web Geyser (Normal - Unique(Arachnoid))

Spider Silk (Great - Unique(Arachnoid))  -  Night-Vision (Normal)

Spit Attack: Poison (Normal)  -  Spellcasting Affinity: Illusion (Normal)

Thread Manipulation (Normal)  -  Shed Shell (Lesser)

Life's Blessing (Normal - Unique(Human))  -  Weapon Affinity: Sword (Normal)

Weapon Affinity: Shield (Normal)  -  Aimed Strikes (Normal)

Language Comprehension: Harmekian (Great)  -  Damage Resistance: Cold (Normal)

Condition Resistance: Hypothermia (Lesser)  -  Hypnotic Gaze (Normal)

Status Shield (Lesser)  -  Condition Resistance: Suffocating (Lesser)

Nameds' Call (True)  -  Boon of Fertility (Normal)

Teamwork (Lesser) - Leadership (Lesser)

Plaguebearer (Normal) - Hivemind (Grand)

Crafting Skills:

Weapon Crafting (Apprentice) - Weapon Twisting (Apprentice)

Magic Tool Crafting (Apprentice) - Trapmaker (Novice)

Armor Crafting (Novice)  -  Armor Warping (Novice)

Spells:

Great Heal (Lesser) - Recover (Lesser)

Blind (Normal) - Dark Bead (Great)

Light (Great) - Radiant Beam (Great)

Barrier (Lesser) - Empower (Great)

Weaken (Normal) - Crumple Defenses (Lesser)

Fireball (Normal) - Red Hot Claw (Great)

Create: Water (Normal) - Water Beam (Great)

Control: Water (Normal) - Wind Blade (Normal)

Earth Spike (Normal) - Mesmerize (Normal)

Withering (Normal) - Curse (Normal)

Command (Normal) - Lure (Normal)

After-Image (Great) - Double Vision (Normal)

Chime (Lesser)  -  Gravel Cannon (Lesser)

Memento Mori (Lesser)  -  Lightning Cannon (Lesser)

Earthen Stomp (Normal) - Slick Ice (Lesser)

Social Titles:

Compassionate - Makeshift Midwife

Lifesaver - Innovator

Sole Survivor - Backstabber

Ruthless - Boss-Slayer

Heart-Eater - New Life

Tyrant - Emperor

Named Monarch  -  Lifemaker

Reckless

Aw jeez. I have so many Skills! Makes me want to just... not look at my status at all. Of course I have the Reckless title too... Ugh. But, the important thing is that I have Cold and Hypothermia resistance! Now, what does this Status Shield Skill do?

*Status Shield (Lesser) - Adds a 5% chance to not gain a Condition regardless of other Skills. Stacks with Skills that reduce the chance of gaining specific Conditions. A rare Skill awarded to those who have been afflicted with a variety of Conditions and lived.*

W-wait, so since I've been getting hit with all sorts of status conditions, I've been rewarded?

*Correct. There exists a few so-called Prowess Skills, awarded for completing certain hidden criteria. The criteria for Status Shield is to be afflicted with, and be cured of, at least 10 Status Conditions.*

I'm guessing you aren't going to tell me what to do to get the others...

*Correct*

My conversation with myself is interrupted as Brother Crym comes out of the church/temple, followed by a procession of villagers. Once out of the church, the crowd disperses, and Brother Crym approaches us.

"Ah, you're back!" He happily exclaims before looking at the Huldr. "And this is?" "I'll explain once we get to the clergy house. At the moment it's a bit too public... and wet, for my tastes." Only now it seems Brother Crym notices how sopping wet the two of us are. "Oh, of course, of course, follow me."

We make our way to the house as quickly as possible. When we get back inside, distant thunder announces that the lighting is picking back up again. "What weather..." He mumbles as he closes the door behind us.

Gleda peeks out around a corner, seemingly intimidated by the Huldrs' presence. "I guess we can chat over supper. Gleda, could you show them to the bath?" Gleda hesitantly comes into view and motions for us to follow.

After a nice bath and a change into dry clothing (I just used Control: Water on the Octopus Cloth to dry it, since I don't have a spare Cloth.), the Huldr and I join Brother Crym in the dining room. As we eat supper, I explain what happened during the hunt.

"Are you certain it was a good idea to tell those hunters?" He looks worried. "I don't really see a point in lying when they already know I'm not human. Besides, what would they do?" I respond, finishing my second plate of roast veggies and scrambled egg. "I- I forget that you are quite capable of leveling a town if you so desired, my apologies."

I look at him, he seems... perturbed? "I'd never do that, though." I assure him. The Huldr is busy making a mess. Seems utensils are very much learned behavior. She's got the basics down, but much like a child, keeping everything on the plate and not on the table isn't high on the priority list.

"So this Huldr... What do you plan on doing with her?" Brother Crym asks, saving her water mug from falling off the table after she placed it too close to the edge. "If she could stay here whilst I deal with the Morke, I'd then take her to my Lair and let her live there if she wants." I look from Crym to Gleda. They glance at each other, before Gleda nods. "Seems it's okay with Gleda."

"I'm guessing you'll deal with the Morke tomorrow?" Crym asks. "That's the plan. Sooner the better." I get up from the table. The Huldr finishes her plate and follows me. Heading to the guest room after bidding good night, I lock the door behind us before returning to my true form, settling down for the night.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day, for sure. Here's hoping the Skills I've picked up give me the advantage I need. The Huldr grabs a blanket from my pile and wraps it around herself before snuggling up against me. Soon enough, we're both asleep.