"Oh?" Launcelot followed Li's gaze to his shield and smiled sheepishly, raising a gauntleted hand to his head as he smiled. "It must be strange to see me with a shield such as this, especially when compared to the former glory of my Silver Stronghold. Alas, its dutiful service to me ended under a torrent of fiery venom."

"I see," said Li mostly just as an automated response. His thoughts laid in processing the repercussions of Launcelot having this shield.

Undoubtedly, this was the very same shield that Chi-You, god of war and the strength stat, had sent to this realm when Li left the divine plane. The appearance was exactly the same, and it brimmed with a faint hum of war mystical energy that made it clear that it was no ordinary shield.

At the same time, Li realized there was not much to it. He knew the gods were going to eventually try and manifest, and he was more curious how the whole process would work. Would Launcelot lose himself entirely? Would the man die to be replaced by the god? 

If Launcelot realized Li was tuning out, the shieldbearer did not show it, instead maintaining his cheeriness by raising the shield so that Li could get a better look. Li could tell that the shield, though once worn down and aged, had been thoroughly polished under Launcelot's care, reflecting the sunlight with ease.

"Its appearance may be middling, but I have always been taught that the heart is where one's worth truly lies. And so it is I feel the same for this shield. There is some magic within, however faint, but above all, I firmly believe that it has chosen me."

"You don't really believe, that, do you, Launce? A weapon is a weapon. You choose the weapon, not the other way round, and I would feel better if you had something a little sturdier to protect yourself with," said one of Launcelot's party members, a woman who seemed to have a permanent scowl, a scar lined across her lip to accentuate it. 

"It is not silliness, it is fate, Faye," said Launcelot with firm resolution. He nodded to Li. "You need not worry about me, good sir, for this shield appeared before my doorstep when I was at the lowest depths, bereft of my beautiful shield and aching all over from injury. But its timely appearance must only mean that it is a tool of destiny, a gift from mine very own guardian spirit, perhaps."

Li wondered why Launcelot would think Li was worrying about him, but then again, the man was cut from an infinitely more optimistic cloth than Li. Somewhat similar to Jeanne, actually, though there was something about the way he carried himself, the way his steps were surprisingly slow and calculated, and that sharp glint in his eyes, that made it obvious that his optimism had been tempered by hardship. 

"Well, I don't worry because at the end of the day, if that shield fails you, you can always fall back on our elixirs." Li eyed the shield again, at how pitiful its durability and magical power were right now. "From the looks of it, you'll probably be visiting here pretty often, too."

"Hear that?" said Faye. She sighed. "I know coin isn't an issue for you, but you shouldn't be hemorrhaging it along with your blood. Come, the remnants of Silver Stronghold can be reforged. Do that instead of waving that piece of paper around."

"Silence." Iona's voice cut through the air with a timbre that instantly caused Faye to grow quiet, and Li gave Iona a look that let her know she should mediate herself. 

"I mean," said Iona. "You should not force him to abandon his ideals. Instead, as his companion, you should accommodate him. Yet at the same time, I foresee that many fangs and claws will carve into his tender flesh and bleed his life dry. Thus, I propose the contract you talked about to ensure he holds a steady supply of healing elixirs to preserve his fleeting life."

Launcelot's expression brightened. "Finally, one who understands me! And the contract, I will take with nary a hint of hesitation. With that, I will never have to worry about the bruises and scrapes I must endure to grow used to this shield."

Li glanced at Iona, noting her satisfied look, and nodded. She had seen that Faye was about to stop Launcelot from wasting quite the sum of coin having to constantly buy elixirs to heal himself with an inadequate shield, and proposed a contract to rope him in. Her moneymaking sense was improving drastically, though perhaps the ethics side of it was a little lacking because of her lack of care for mortal life. 

At the same time, it was Launcelot's decision, and it was not either Li or Iona's role to be his battle advisor. 

"Alright then," said Li to Launcelot. "Consider this the start of our business relationship. Will a typical herbalist's contract do?"

Li agreed with pushing the contract as well because it also meant that it would keep Launcelot in his orbit. That way, he could keep an eye on the shield and further observe its effects on the knight.

As for the contract, it would involve giving Launcelot the privilege to request certain elixirs on a weekly basis, having them on hold until he could come by anytime to get them. For a fairly hefty price, of course, and for specialty workshops like Li's where quality trumped quantity, the costs were even higher. 

In a dangerous profession where finding a sold out stall might mean several days of being unable to work or, worse, getting injured or killed, though, this was usually worth it. 

"Most certainly," said Launcelot without a moment's hesitation. "My team and I are actually going on a hunt this very moment."

Li nodded. "It's quite late to be going out."

"Indeed, but we are hunting direwolves, and they are most active under the night's veil. If ever you spot a particularly large one with a black patch upon his chest, then please let us know, for the fiend is the pack leader responsible for mauling an innocent young girl to death."

"There's truly no stopping you once an idea pops in your head, is there," said Faye as she shrugged. Her voice did not seem too bothered, however, as if used to Launcelot's personality. "Now then, we really must hurry. The Winterwoods will cover the wolves' trails quickly."

"We'll be heading to the woods, too," said Li. "Though after the sun sets. We'll have a few elixirs ready in the case any of you gets injured. Just let me know where your trail's going to be. Consider this a benefit of being our patron."

This would also let Li know where the team was to avoid them. 

"That does ease my burden quite a bit. I thank you, good sir." Launcelot cocked his head. "But I must ask, why now? I do not question your strength, for it is formidable, but certainly, were you to be picking herbs, then the day would be preferable."

"Spoken like someone who isn't in the trade," said Li. "Some herbs are easier to find in the night. They glow only in the dark. And I also have to get her acclimated to the woods."

Li stepped aside to reveal the wyrm more clearly. She hissed at Launcelot before hiding behind Li's legs again. 

"Hoh, I did hear from Triple Threat that you had found the Lerneas's egg." Launcelot smiled. "To think that such a mighty creature starts off so small. Well, good sir, I do not have any doubts that a master beast tamer such as yourself can handle it. If you could subdue that monstrously powerful ant, then nothing should be beyond your limits."

He nodded to Iona. "It is also heartening to know that that your capable expertise will keep the lady safe." He smiled before he made a fist and pounded it against his breastplate. "I would like to chat further, but alas, it is time to go. Good luck in your endeavors, my friends!" 

======

Li sat cross-legged in a meditative pose, his back posture straight and his hands laid atop his knees. The soil felt chilly, Winterwoods and all, but that helped him focus even better. Today's training was specialized entirely for him to improve his spiritual hearing. Night had set in fully by this point, layering the already gloomy woods over in a thick blanket of darkness. 

Li sat in the middle of a clearing fairly deep in the forest, deep enough that the leafy treetop canopy overhead blotted out the moon and stars. He sat there, still as a rock, eyes closed as he honed his spiritual hearing. 

Iona sat atop an actual rock, her thin and pale fingers leafing through a new book, its leatherbound cover spelling out the lengthy title The Art of Trade: Chronicles from the Top Trader of Trieste. 

The training today was hands off. All Li had to do was try and focus on the forest around him, trying to pick out the individual songs of grasses or trees or flowers or herbs among the ocean of noise generated from the forest environment.

This way, he trained to sharpen his spiritual hearing, or, more accurately, regain what he already had. 

It had now been two hours since they had entered the forest, but only an hour since Li had started meditating. The first hour, right after Iona found this clearing to meditate on, Li had helped the wyrm to hunt.

The wyrm had initially been terrified of this vastly unknown environment, feeling instinctive danger from it, but if Li followed her around, she could muster enough courage to explore. It was remarkable, actually, at how quickly she could find courage, and not twenty minutes had passed before she had spotted a rabbit and her predatory instincts kicked in, causing her to try and chase the creature down. 

The rabbits this deep in the Winterwoods were far more agile than the average kind, and so the wyrm mostly spent her time chasing rabbits and small critters to no avail. Even now, the wyrm was prancing about nearby with seemingly boundless energy.

But Li did not expect the wyrm to catch anything. The main purpose of this trip was to get her out of the peaceful farm and get her used to the unknown wild.

Perhaps tomorrow, Li would come back and try to have her hunt for real. In the outskirts of the woods, where the prey was slower. 

For now, though, Li focused on his meditation.

"I can pick up specific songs now," said Li to Iona. She raised her head from the book. "I know how to listen for wintergrass or celandine or the average oak. But this isn't anything like when I'm in my real form. I get everything then, the songs of every single living thing just come pouring into my head, and I just know what all of them are immediately. Like instinct. Strange the knowledge just doesn't transfer over, as if it just disappears from my head when I put my human form back on." 

"Of course, yes," said Iona. "Your human disguise is one of the most complex I have ever laid eyes upon. It is an almost perfect replication of a mortal body, far more intricate than a mere avatar or vessel. Your mind, too, becomes mortal in scope, and a mere human mind simply cannot intake the songs of thousands upon thousands of living creatures. It does not have the capacity." 

"I'm somewhat tempted to transform back to get a sense of that complete hearing again. Maybe I'll manage to retain some of it if it's fresh in my mind."

Iona shook her head, closing the book and laying it on the rock beside her. "I would not advise it, no. It is far better to slowly work up to that level, to expand the boundaries of your mortal mind little by little such that it will feel natural to assume your divine form. 

Too suddenly assuming your divine mind may risk washing away your humanity and personality entirely."

"Isn't that what you wanted, though?" said Li. He did not mean to accuse her of anything. He fully knew that was where he was headed, too, and he was more just curious of what she thought.

"It was, once, yes." Iona nodded. "But now, I am not so sure. I feel that something precious will be lost should the you of now be erased entirely. I still wish for you to be a guardian, but at the same time, I do not want you to become a stranger, either."

A piercing, animalistic screech pierced through the forest. Li could instantly recognize it was the wyrm's. He motioned for Iona to follow as he stood up, practically gliding through the forest as he headed to the wyrm's location.

Li found her backed up against the trunk of a thick oak, her fangs bared. A bite mark stood out against her front leg, cracking through the thin layer of scales and gouging out shallow chunks of flesh. 

Several meters in front of the wyrm, a dire wolf stood, its fangs also bared. Its fur was snowy white like the rest of the wolves afflicted with the dire curse, but it was distinguishable by a patch of black fur at its chest.