Chapter 120 - Day CCCLII, Part I

From the very beginning of the day, I knew that I'm not gonna go hunting. I just needed to inform Will about it, so I headed out as usual to the city center, but without my cart.

I needed to check out new skills I acquired, and on top of that we both could really enjoy one day off after the incredibly long fight yesterday.

On my way, I tried summoning, just for fun. To check what I'll be able to get. I got a fucking fly, and it ate the whole chunk of my manna. Couldn't see how much really, but I felt it was quite a bit. On top of that, the damn bug just flew away. I probably needed to contract it somehow, with the other skill, or bind it with that circle.

I actually more or less knew how this skill worked, but I needed something to draw few symbols with. I had clear images in my head, but what it actually did, I had no idea except my own guesses.

That's how I made it all the way to the city center. Will was waiting, sitting on his cart already.

- Morning.

- Morning, Peter.

- Are we having a break? You should tell me sooner you bastard.

- Sorry. I got a new class yesterday, and I need to figure out how the skills work. I just was too tired to even think yesterday.

He sighed.

- It's ok. A actually also wanted a bit of a break. Not gonna lie, yesterday was hard, and repeating it today would probably be even harder. I'm mentally exhausted.

- Then it's settled.

- What class did you pick? And did killing the werewolf unlocked anything? I bet it did.

- Yeah. I can now become a werewolf. Which I'm not gonna do for obvious reasons. And yesterday I picked summoner. Your ability to get a sword from a thin air made me jealous.

He laughed.

- It's cool, isn't it?

I nodded.

- But why you don't want to become a werewolf? - he continued. - That thing was amazing. We couldn't do anything to it until you cut its head off.

- Yeah. I know it would be awesome, but... Didn't you read or watched anything with werewolves? They go nuts at the full moon. I don't want to go on a rampage in the city.

- Peter... Those are just stories. Who knows how it works here?

- Well... I'm not gonna check that out. If you want to, then feel free after we get some more class points.

He sighed. 

- Fine. By the way... Did you try to summon anything yet?

- Yeah. I summoned this awesome fly, and it flew away.

He laughed.

- That was a good investment of your class point.

- I didn't upgrade the skills. They are just basic, so shut up.

- I'm going back to bed then - he said with a wide grin. - Good luck with summoning flies.

He grabbed the handles of his cart and headed towards his place. I went to get some breakfast, and also to upgrade my summoner skills, hoping to get something better than a fly.

I upgraded every skill by one level, then grabbed some chalk, and food. When I was done, I went to find a more secluded place for my tests, munching on the food as I was walking. An alley almost an hour away from the city center was good enough.

I strolled around a bit to find the space where cobblestone was more or less even and started drawing. The symbols in my head were perfectly embedded so I didn't even have to think. My hand moved on its own.

It was pretty big. More or less one meter in diameter. A circle surrounded by symbols I couldn't understand, I just knew how to use it. So I put my hand on it and pumped some mana in, which made the chalk glow slightly. After I focused and used the summoning skill.

This time it was not a single fly, that just buzzed off. This time, It was something completely different. I had to sit, that's how surprised I was. Well... That's probably because I just summoned a fucking chick.

Yes. Yellow little chicken, that didn't have a clue what was going around. This skill was useless, and the amount of mana it took to use was ridiculous. I could feel it physically.

Now I hat do make a decision, to contract my summon, just let it go so it could die from starvation, or grab it, and take care of it. The third option seemed like the smartest one, but instead, I used the contract skill, and we both were bound together.

It scared the chick, or maybe even inflicted pain on it, cause the poor animal freaked out for a moment, then passed out still breathing. I took it with me and returned to the city center thinking of a name, but I didn't have any good ideas.

At first, I had those stupid ideas about pompous names clearly not fitting the poor thing. Like 'Iron Wing' or something... Then my approach slightly changed. I thought about funny names, like certain restaurant chains serving fried chicken... I'm not proud of those ideas, ok.

Chicken woked up at some point and I actually wanted to feed it but didn't really have anything. I ate my food already.

Eventually, I came back to the city center and bought some grain for my new companion. Then fed it piece by piece. Doing it made me realize, I couldn't really take care of the poor thing. I spend most of my time away from home, fighting dangerous monsters. There was no way of taking it with me, and also leaving it alone didn't feel right.

So I started thinking about who could take care of it, and only one person came to my mind. Nadia. I gad to wrestle a bit with myself, but ultimately I decided to swing by Velvet Lotus, and talk with her.

Allice was sitting o the stool, next to the entrance, carefully sharpening a knife.

- Not hunting? What made you so mercifully leave the spot to other people? - she asked with clear irony in her voice, not even raising her eyes to look at me.

- Let's just say am a philanthropist. I like to share.

She chuckled.

- You are lucky Aisha is out. Cause she would kick your ass.

- What did I do to her?

- You know exactly what you did, and are doing. People are not gonna stand by it, you know?

- My hunting spot is too hard for anybody else, so those people would only find their death there.

- You know what I'm talking about Peter.

- I can't do anything about other organizations in the city - I lied thru my teeth. - You know what they say. If you can beat them, join them.

She snorted. Evidently, my words were ridiculous to her.

- Look, Alice... I brought you this chicken of piece, so can I see Nadia, please?

That made her finally look up. Her face suddenly changed. The eyes got so wide open, it caught me off guard. Then she smiled.

- Aren't you the cutest little thing - she said hunching over and stretching her hands, to grab the bird.

But actually, before she did, there was a moment of pause, when she looked at me for approval. I nodded, and she gently took the chicken in her hands.

- How did you get one?

- Long story... I actually came to ask Nadia if she could take care of it for me.

- Did you name it?

- No, not yet.

- Can I name it?

She was so damn excited, that I just couldn't believe my eyes.

- Uhm... I was actually gonna give that opportunity to Nadia - I said slowly, having problems with speaking out the words because I didn't want to crush her excitement.

- Too bad - she said with clear disappointment in her voice. - Nadia will probably think about some amazing name. No, I'm sure of it.

Then she returned the bird, slowly. I felt bad, so I did something kinda stupid. I crouched down to put my hand on the ground and used the summoning. I regretted it instantly because a small kitten appeared. It was grey with black stripes and very little. You could fit it in the palm of your hand.

- Oh my god, oh my god! - Alice squealed while dropping down on her knees, to slowly approach the scared kitten.

- It's you if you can catch it - I said with regret, then looked at my chicken.

She looked at me for a second. I swear there were sparks in her eyes. Then she focused on the cat, mumbling sweet words to it. I, on the other hand, sighed and entered the Velvet lotus.

Life sometimes is like this. You get a chicken, and somebody gets a cat - I thought to myself.. - But there is no reason to be envious, or discouraged because chickens can lie eggs, while cats can not.