Tales of Revenants

Chapter 15 – Hunt

The breeze never ceases to leave a cold tone of trailing breath. Such wonderful alps in the Frozen Northlands and the white of the snow along with clouds just up above them will leave the adventure's icy conquest worth the perilous ordeal.

Laken and the rest followed the map written in the quest scroll. The target monster is a unique beast that appeared in the Frostsiege Valley which is the only trading route of the merchants in Grayfrost Village.

Now that it is blocked, the problem arises one by one. The first predicament that would probably occur is famine; shortage of food resources.

Presumably, the monster depicted in the quest was a mammal that had horns, walks on four, and said it has four eyes. For the group, it sounds just like a yeti that was awoken from its hibernation.

“Ugh... so cold I'm gonna freeze to death. How many miles more Xenon?” Eirisse's shivering in winter. She's hugging herself preserving the little warmth she had left. The worst part is that the vampires are a cold-blooded race, meaning they much prefer comfy temperature.

“Starting when we departed thirty minutes ago, we've probably entered the Frostwolf City's southern domain, so I reckon the Frostsiege Valley is six miles more equivalent to one hour and forty-five minutes travel.” Xenon responded in the most detailed way.

Frostwolf City is one of the three major cities of the Frozen Northlands, and to travel to the city from the Grayfrost Village one should traverse through the Frostsiege Valley.

The harsh conditions of constant snowstorms make it almost impossible for an outsider to traverse when they wanted to reach the city.

“Won't you carry me too, Xenon? My feet's about to get frostbite while you're warming yourself up with that mecha suit of yours.” Eirisse sobbed. She can't take the cold anymore.

“Changing attribute: gentleman.” Xenon geared up his personality. There's nothing Xenon could accomplish so he carried Eirisse on his back like how Laken did it to Luciella, just like the gentleman he is.

“That personality switch is something I could covet. It's handy if I can just be honest with myself.” Eirisse murmured to herself although everyone heard it.

“Well, you must be careful what you wish for. As for me, this is a curse.” Xenon said in a somewhat cold tone. Sometimes Xenon's true emotions leak through his personality switch and you could hear the voice of his heart.

In order to lighten up the atmosphere, Luciella questions Eirisse about her vampire ability, “I think it's reasonable here since the clouds are covering the sunlight, but the earlier morning before we were chased out, aren't you afraid of sunlight?” Luciella tried to ask something that is not rude.

Eirisse looked into her eyes and sighed. She chuckled right after, “It seems other races have different perceptions about vampires.” She stated. Luciella tilted her head wondering.

“You see the truth is, a vampire isn't afraid of sunlight nor it could hurt us. I think you see us that way because of vampires in the myths, books, and even famous novels were cautious of the sun. Rather we love sunbathing.” Eirisse explained to her.

“Oh... that's why! I'm very sorry!” Luciella apologizes as she realizes she might have asked something really offensive to Eirisse.

“No, it's okay, I can't blame those stupid historians and authors since the Dethrim Kingdom's skies, the land of the vampires is enveloped in black clouds," Eirisse explained.

"That was the case huh," Luciella contemplates over.

"But in reality, that's a phenomenon in which we had no power to stop. They are writing false information about us.” Eirisse clarified so that Luciella could understand more about such knowledge.

“If you say so.” Luciella settled.

“My energy level is about nine percent. I need mana potions to gulp down.” Xenon wanted some mana potions. They stayed first near a pine tree. Laken and Eirisse searched some mana potions on their sack.

“Here, we can't carry your heavy body once you hit hibernate mode.” Laken gave him three mana potions along with two mana potions Eirisse offered.

“Thanks for the energy!” Without further ado, Xenon gulped the mana potions down one by one. His energy limiter on his shouldered rose a little bit. His metallic gears started to works just fine.

“How does a mechanoid's body convert mana into energy?” Luciella's desire for more knowledge piqued the interest of Xenon.

“Energy sixty-percent. Changing attribute: smart. Activating combustion heater about forty percent.” Xenon activated his heater to heat up the surroundings together with the party.

“Comfy.” Eirisse giggled, “You're so warm Xenon.” She's going to fall asleep in his back considering she's getting most of the warmth.

“Well, let's talk about that while we walk.” Xenon replied. They continued to conquer the icy snow path.

“For starters, a mechanoid has two primary energy resources. First is mana, and the second is raw energy.” Xenon states.

The party carefully listened to him since there's not much information about the mechanoids itself because they are reserved and full of secrets. It's lucky to have a mechanoid to spill the beans.

“Mana is the source of magic around the world. For example, it is used in a lamp or magic heater or cooler. But in the Zargon Republic, our technomagic weapons aren't allowed to use raw mana, instead, we convert the raw mana into raw energy. Then use it just how you do with mana.” Xenon described.

They are all amazed by the heights that a single mechanoid could do, “Since it's just primary, are there secondary?” Eirisse asked as she also seeks knowledge.

“Yes, the best example could be solar energy. A mechanoid's mechanical body had the ability to convert any elemental attributes to energy. We accumulate the rays of sunlight in order to produce solar power.” Xenon described.

He tried to show off the flat mirror in his shoulders that had the ability to absorb the light.

“What about food?” Luciella wondered.

“Good question. The food we eat, just like the mana potion is also converted to energy. Our platinum gut had the ability to convert anything into energy, of course, the more elemental attribute, the more energy we take.” Xenon demonstrated by eating a pile of snows. The energy limiter moved for a bit.

“That's amazing, why won't you eat grasses?” Laken suggested but didn't mean to mock him.

“Are you crazy? I may be a machine, but my heart is made of gold, and so we function just like other living things. What I'm trying to say is we can taste things, why won't you try eating grass since it's your idea.” Xenon nudged him by shoving his shoulder.

“Oh yeah, said by the guy who ate some random pile of snow!” Laken exclaimed. Thrusting him back with force.

“Changing attribute: stupid. You started it you dumbass!” Xenon retorted. He even went to activate his stupid personality, “And what's that silver choker on your neck? Did you finally became Eirisse's cute puppy?” Xenon's taking his mockery to what he just sees.

“What did you just called me?! This is an important artifact that acts as a limiter, probably more important than your Stargazer!” Laken exclaimed pushing him again.

The two argue non-stop as they transverse to the snowy plains. Undeniably that's what happens when the two of them were together, always fighting with each other.

“You two were close.” Luciella giggled. “As if!” The two of them exclaimed synchronously.

Luciella felt the warmth of their close-friend relationship. No one would know these notorious wanted fellows were only living to survive too just like others, is what Luciella thought to herself.

“They were always like that, fighting and all,” Eirisse told and hid her smile.

“It seems to be fun venturing the world, not thinking of any responsibility or whatsoever.” Luciella blurted silently. The party went silent as they have thought something from the past.

Having to deny the responsibility will surely lead them to be cursed one day. Laken contemplates the past more than anyone.

They abruptly stopped when Luciella's stomach rumbled, “S-Sorry!” She's too shy to be seen by others about her bad sides.

“Well I'm hungry too, why don't we search for some mountain bears or something. I'm craving for blood.” Eirisse suggested.

She doesn't want to get tempted by Luciella's half-blood scent. She can control it somewhat but once her Metamorphosis hit in, maybe she won't.

“I agree with Eirisse except with the blood. Laken and I would be fine, sadly both Luciella and Eirisse's body temperature is about to go through the first stage of hyperthermia.” Xenon's scanning their body heat with his right eye.

“Then let's head to the Pine Forest. We'll search some polar bears to hunt down.” Laken and his group took a detour towards the Pine Forest north-east to fill their grumbling empty stomach; chasing any animals they might hunt down.