Free Web NovelChapter 130: Chapter 126: Flower Picking
How does she do it?
The doe is an elegant ballerina, moving with effortless grace on four legs. She is a living beacon in the cool dark forest. Finally, she is the queen of a peaceable kingdom all her own. Moreover, the very air glows around her like a halo.
Her eyes gleam with the same phosphorescence as her fur. A new feature, or something I just didn’t notice before? [You showed proper respect for the forest.]
I bow my head. [We have not hunted.]
The doe’s ears flick languidly. [Indeed not. But I refer to leaving the blue dye flower in peace.]
Triumph surges within. It’s the triumph that comes from holding fast to one’s own internal vision, one’s own sense of right and wrong.
Lobo angles his head. [System tried to convince us that it was permitted.]
The doe rears up, her head periscoping. [System??? Of course. I should have known.]
Now, something tells me that the doe did know in advance. That, perhaps, it witnessed the attempted seduction in real time from afar. At this point, I don’t discount anything. The doe is a superior being and an intelligence beyond my imagination.
Lobo flattens his ears, and he bares his teeth in a a snarl. [You’re aware of it. Naturally.]
[Yes. You are not the only ones to oppose it. Nor are you the first rebels to pass through this sylvan wood.]
A sobering reality check. Many people have rebelled against System. Many players have laid the groundwork for us to finally defeat it, if that is what ends up happening at the tournament. It would be arrogant to think that no one has attempted to stop System. The Mushroom Man, the Mushroom Forest, and the Eldritch Doe are living proof of that.
I whisper through the link. [LIGHTNING.]
Her sleepy rumble rolls through the link. [Mmmmph.]
[The doe is here.]
Still drowsy. [Mmmmmf.]
[Lightning, it’s important.]
A grumble now. [Better be.]
Moments later, blinking and yawning, she pads out of the tent and makes her way to us, which only takes a few seconds even with her lagging behind. I can’t blame her in the slightest for being a little slow after my rude awakening.
When she reaches us, her eyes lock on the doe, and she bows her head. [I hoped that you would come soon.]
The doe’s ears flick in an almost affectionate gesture. [How kind of you.] Lightning is winning over this elusive, aloof creature.
I nudge Lightning. [It knows that System tried to sabotage us.]
With a disgruntled "mrrrp," Lightning is all fire. [Of course System tried. It told us that you WANTED us to hunt, even though you forbade it, and that you WANTED us to take the nectar.]
The Eldritch Doe flicks her ears again. Amusement? [If I wanted both those things, you would know my intentions. System seeks to lead you astray. But now, I shall lead you where I want. Follow me. Your companions and your offspring will be quite safe and undisturbed.]
Rotating again with a crunch of hooves on grass, the Eldritch Doe pursues her path through the woods. Analyzing it in my mind, I realize it is the path I am hoping for. The trail is identical.
Following the doe, Lobo scouts ahead of us. Lightning is in the middle. I bring up the rear. Excitement builds. We are ready to find the blue-dye flower again.
If only we knew its effects, especially the effect it might have on bonded creatures like Lightning and me, and the effect on Kaline and Hans. In the real world, Damon and Amber and even my parents have not been able to discover much in the way of information.
Perhaps we need to take a calculated gamble. After all, the doe is working to stop System. Whatever effect the nectar has, it’s worth the risk, because we’ve earned it.
The trees seem to part for us now because the doe has chosen us. After all, the forest and the doe are intimately connected. They must be. That is why she was adamant that we not hunt. And that was why we held back from collecting nectar from the blue dew flower.
A faint glow, a bluish flame, beckons us through the tree branches. Our goal is nigh. The flower awaits. Every step is destiny. Every breath brings us closer to a transformative moment. Around us, the air is thick with possibilities.
As before, we emerge in the secret hollow where the blue dye flower opens to the night. And as before, the golden spray of nectar springs up, its radiance turning the delicate blue petals into something otherworldly. Nectar doesn’t hum, but I can hear it.
Lightning stares, her eyes big and round, the stream of nectar reflected in her eyes, transforming them to amber. [It’s still flowing.]
The Eldritch Doe’s ears wiggle. [Of course. It is magic. And you may drink now.]
Be still, my heart.
Lobo is all business. [What will it do to us? What will it do to these two, bonded, and to their tamers? We do not have any idea.]
The Eldritch Doe finally explains everything:
[It will provide you with the strength that you require. You will rise higher in skill level than ever before. You will feel a sense of well-being that is unparalleled. Although it will demand so much more of you, it will give you all that you need to defeat System.]
I give a "mrrrp" of surprise. [This sounds too good to be true. But it must be true, mustn’t it? You would not tell us this otherwise.]
[Of course it’s true. I am not like System, which deceives you.] The Eldritch Doe is assertive, proud, moral. [I would never lead you astray. Now, will you all just stand here like stones, or will you drink and step into your power?]
Will we? Is that even a question?
I nuzzle Lightning. [You first.]
[No. We do it together, all three of us.]
Lightning positions herself at one corner of the flower while Lobo takes up a position at another corner. I complete the triangle. [Are we ready?]
Lobo woofs. [Ready as we’ll ever be.]
Lightning purrs. [On three. One...two...three...drink!]
We lower our mouths to the golden spray.
Ahhh. A tremendous feeling of warmth and well-being spreads throughout my body the instant that the nectar touches my lips. It tastes like butterscotch and crunchy exotic fruits and steak and everything decadent. It’s like drinking liquid light.
How much do we drink? I guess until we have our fill. Right now, my tummy is filling up, and I tear myself away from the irresistible lure of the nectar. The Fountain of Youth, maybe.
Lightning and Lobo also push back from the table, so to speak, their lips moist with golden nectar and their fur shining. They look more vibrant. Everything is more vivid, the colors brighter.
I bow my head. [Thank you, blue dye flower. Thank you for this nectar.]
Lobo and Lightning also offer their gratitude. [Thank you. We appreciate this gift.]
I am curious. [Should we bring the others? Should they partake of this? Our other beast friends and our tamers?]
The Eldritch Doe angles her head. [But you have partaken. Is that not enough?]
Is it? It doesn’t seem right to exclude the others. I consult with Lobo and Lightning, who agree. Anyone who is competing in the Beast Taming Elimination Tournament, and anyone who is supporting us like Dag, should have the nectar.
I appeal to the Eldritch Doe. [They are helping us defeat System. They need every advantage we can give them. Can they stop and drink from the flower foundation when we are leaving the woods tomorrow?]
For several moments, the doe does not respond. Of course, I have just made a very, very big ask.
[They have no need for the nectar.]
My shoulders slump in reaction to these words from the doe.
Lightning flicks her own ears. [We are grateful for whatever you have given us, but we feel selfish keeping it from our family. Our motives are pure. And they will take only what they must, just as we did.]
The doe stamps her feet lightly. I get the impression that she is thinking while she’s moving. Although our request is not unreasonable, the Eldritch Doe has rules that it lives by. This much I know is true.
At length, she responds. [You will not let this go, will you?]
I bow my head. [We will if you tell us to. It is up to you.]
No point in antagonizing the Eldritch Doe. I let the creature choose what she wants to do. Lightning and Lobo are also deferential. Holding our breath, we wait for word. It’s not necessary, of course, that we give everyone in our family the nectar, but it seems like the right thing to do.
Lightning, Lobo, and I lean forward. The Eldritch Doe looks at us and says...
