102 Jerky

A warm breeze drifted through the air. I couldn't help look up at the Tama sky one last time before I was forced into a barred carriage with Loki. I wasn't even able to say goodbye to anyone… I mean I was being exiled to somewhere called the " Dredge Lands" so I didn't expect much.

" Hey Loki," I said as I looked at the dark-haired boy that had been petting Kibbles.

Loki looked up at me as he kneaded Kibble's paws. Kibbles in return was showing his belly and was wiggling to the left and right. If I had not have known better I would have assumed we were going on holidays due to how carefree they were acting.

" Why did.. Why did you decide to suffer this punishment with me and what did you say to the king?" I whispered quietly so the guards couldn't hear us.

Loki moved in closer so his breath tickled my ear as he said " I did it for you" before he nodded agreeing with himself.

" Yeah but.. Why?" I responded.

" Yuki.. you can be pretty thick. I made this place for you. If .. if you were in Tama Prisons I would follow. It is not like I have anything better to do. Plus it seems that disaster follows you where ever you go since Rinura got involved." Loki said as he sighed before he placed his head on my lap.

" What do you mean since Rinura got involved?" I said as I looked down at Loki.

Kibbles had adjusted himself so he was sitting on Loki. My legs were probably going to get numb soon but I didn't care. For some reason, Loki was talkative for once and I wanted answers.

" There is no harm in telling you now since we are about to leave Tama but your high school experience was supposed to go very differently… you probably already guessed that however" Loki said as Kibbles purred.

" I have found it a bit strange that there were all like the Romance Fantasy characters but… I as you put it have suffered disaster after disaster" I said nodding.

" That is because Rinura tampered with the free will system I created," Loki said as he pinched his brows.

" Free.. will.. System?" I said confused.

" I had arranged it so that certain events would happen and eventually you would find someone you like.. But.. well… those events were destroyed when Rinura appeared. She made a clone and tampered with the system. So now everyone has the same free will like they would have had if they been on your Earth" Loki said as he sighed.

" Are you telling me that...you were basically going to force people to like me?" I said grinding my teeth as I flicked Loki's nose.

" Oww! Stop it you little pest. Of course not... It's just things would have happened so that you could meet your capture targets… the women and Setsu were just supposed to cause you a little trouble." Loki said as half angrily as he rubbed his nose.

" Mm, now you can see how much trouble Rinny caused. Now that guard has been taking his place restoring the natural order of this universe." Loki said as he brushed a hair from his face.

" That guard?" I replied.

" Don't tell me you were not completely crushing on that guy that apparently doesn't even have a name.." Loki said in a teasing voice as my face went a shade of crimson.

" I… Wait that's not the point... He has a name?! Did he lie?" I said attempting not to raise my voice.

" Of course he does... He just doesn't know it!" Loki said while looking at me as if I was an idiot.

" So you are telling me… all of this was because the system you made is broken" I said with an eyebrow raise.

" I guess so... It hasn't all been bad though has it? The number of friends you have made, Is pretty amazing in itself. You were on Earth almost completely alone, now you have friends and magic and can wield swords, most nerds back on your home planet would have died for such an adventure." Loki said as he pinched my cheeks.

" But .. Ki" I said quietly.

" mm.. I wish I could have done more" Loki said as he let go of my face.

The carriage ride continued in silence as Loki took a nap on my lap. It was about an incense stick of time before we made what I could only assume was an unplanned stop. I was told to step out of the carriage, I didn't even argue as I nodded and realised we were on an empty road.

It was there I saw my grandfather.

He looked at me with pity before running up to my side.

" We don't have much time Yuki, takes these and be safe," Reo said before he handed me a letter.

" What is" I began to say before I was cut off Reo who shook his head. He looked at the guards gratefully before jumping on his spirit beast and leaving again. I couldn't understand the rush but this letter must have been important.

I stepped back in the carriage where Kibbles and Loki were waiting for me.

" Was it anything important?" Loki said with his head cocked to the side as he wiped the sleep from his eyes with a fist.

" I am not sure," I said as I held up the letter.

" Well.. take a look," Loki said as he tried to stare holes through the letter.

I opened the letter and a ring fell out. It didn't look amazing in the slightest. In fact, it was a little rusty like it had been sitting in the bottom of a lake.

" An exchanged ring," Kibbles said excitedly.

I placed the ring on Kibble's tail as I took the letter from the envelope before reading it. Loki had come up to my side leaning over to take a peek. The writing itself was scrawled messily so only after a few minutes was I able to decipher it.

It read:

" Grandson,

As soon as you read this letter have your pet burn it. The Dredge Lands is a harsh place that is considered uninhabitable by all but a certain tribe. Seek them out if you wish to live and keep an eye out for your mother… you were right she is alive. I am sorry for lying to you but there is more happening then someone your age could understand. That ring has storage space inside of it I hope the items that I have given you will keep you safe and remind you that although this is happening you will always have a place to return to.

Love your Grandpa Reo "

" Ohh the old man knows of the Tulk? " Loki said over my shoulder.

" The Tulk? I said as I took the ring of Kibble's tail much to his disappointment.

" … I think Earth called the people like them... What was it... Amazonians?" Loki said with his thumb and finger on his chin.

" You mean the tribes with the bones in their noses?" I said as I recalled a nature documentary I once watched.

" No.. the all-female kind," Loki said holding in a laugh.

" Maybe going isn't such a good idea that" I responded sheepishly.

" You worried they will kill and eat us for being men?" Loki said laughing.

" I.. could be," I said as I looked at the floor.

" Leave that part to me," Loki said as he shook his head.

I fiddled with the ring in my hand for a bit before I asked Loki how it worked. He took the ring from my hand for a minute before his eyes glowed like a galaxy. My head began to spin before I clutched it.

{ Adding "Inventory" to Lubu System }

{ Inventory Added }

" A little warning next time?" I said as the pain resided.

" I may not be the main body... But that I could do. Just think the word inventory, I also upgraded the space so you can carry more... No need to thank me or anything" Loki said as he handed the ring back.

The ring that had been rusty was now a sleek matte black. It even had Kibbles face moulded on to the top. The design looked much nicer than it originally was so I admired it a little before putting it on.

As I did the ring vanished from view making me rather shocked.

I looked over at Loki who merely said " Anti-theft measures" as if a disappearing ring was no big deal.

[ May as well test this out. Inventory ]

As I thought the words a mental list of items appeared as if I was sorting through a catalogue. Loki was not kidding when he said he upgraded the space as over 1000 slots were available and only 50 were used.

There was everything from books, to blankets, fishing gear, rations and swords. There was also a bunch of seeds that I had collected much to my surprise. I thought about the rations that I wanted and instinctively turned over my hand.

Three pieces of jerky appeared by what I could only assume as magic.

I handed one piece to Kibbles and one to Loki the sound of chewing was heard as we continued on our journey.