>>6156812>“What if I tell you a story about how I fended off a massive bear?”“What’s a bear?” 99 asks, brow furrowed.
You grin internally. You knew there was no way this land had any bears. That meant you could embellish things as much as you want. There was no way Elric would sell you out either! This was the perfect story to land on. You clear your throat and pull your chair closer to the table. As you do, you remember at that moment that you’ve lost quite a considerable amount of blood and have yet to receive any healing. But that could wait. You had a story to tell.
>“A bear is a fearsome creature native to Fodlan. It’s a GIANT, hairy, grotesque beast that walks on four legs and can rip a man apart with a swipe of its MASSIVE claws. It’s even scarier than a Terror if you could believe that.”“Woah.” 99’s eyes open wide.
>“One day, I heard that such a fiend was terrorizing villagers near my homeland. Upon hearing the news, I immediately sprung into action. I grabbed my trusty battle axe, and flew straight for the forest! I found the creature in its den, gnawing on human bones. The foul stench of blood was heavy in the air, and when the creature saw me, it stood on its two hind legs and let loose a mighty roar. It was as big as a house!”99 hangs on your every word. Elric, on the other hand, looks completely mortified at your behavior. Still the boy has the good sense to not call you out.
>“The creature swiped at me, and I met its paw with my axe. Our titanic clash reverberated throughout the woods. We fought for three days and nights, neither of us backing down. The bear lunged at me one final time, putting all of its force into a paw thrust. It caught me with two of its razor sharp claws, puncturing my chest. But at that moment, I severed its arm at the shoulder, claiming my victory!”“The bear stabbed you?” 99 asks in awe.
>“It did. Right here.” You point to the small holes in your chest where the Djinn had shot you with its lasers. “I won the battle, but the bear left its mark on me. Now whenever I sense a powerful opponent, the holes in my chest bleed out, as if to warn me that another powerful foe draws near!”“Woah, cool!” 99 exclaims. She seemingly no longer cares about the trace amounts of blood you’ve dragged into her room. “But why are they bleeding now?”
Because you hadn’t received medical attention.
>“Because of you! You are a powerful warrior capable of stifling even the strongest mage’s magic. This is my body’s way of trying to warn me of the potential danger you pose.”99 screams, placing her hands on her head and turning as pale as a ghost. “I’m so sorry! You’re bleeding because of me! I had no idea that I was so strong!”
“L-Lord Tristain…” Elric whispers. “You should really get that bandage-”
