“I’ll be heading off to the library,” Dustin said, “wanna join?”

Noam thought about it for a moment, it would probably be polite to follow Decs around for a while longer, but he was heading for a library. Those quiet as hell places where there was little to do other than read.

“Nah,” Noam replied, “I’ll go explore a bit more on my own.”

Dustin nodded, “Cool, message me if you need-” he paused, “what do you two want?”

“Me?” Noam asked.

“No not you Matt- Noam, whatever the hell- bored? How do familiars get bored?” he asked in an exasperated tone. “Hey Noam, babysit these two for me,” he reached up into his cap, two tiny myconids hopping onto his hand.

“They can go far from you?” Matt asked as he helped the two hop onto his shoulder.

“Not for too long, they need my mana to refill every now and again.”

The myconids squeaked something, “Ah, nevermind then,” Dustin added.

“Mind translating?” Noam asked, glancing questioningly between the tiny myconids on his shoulder and Dustin. The small myconids in question were unsuccessfully trying to climb onto the top of his head. Noam lifted a hand to help them up.

“Oh they’re gonna eat your mana,” Dustin translated as the two successfully made it to the top of his head.

“How would they do that?” Noam asked.

Dustin shrugged, “No clue.”

Both myconids plopped down on top of his head and Noam felt the two parted his hair, creating a thin spot which exposed his skin, a tickling sensation soon followed.

“Huh, I did not know they could do that,” Dustin said.

“Why, what’s happening?” Noam asked, his hand brushing against the myconids as he tried to feel what they were doing. The two squeaked in protest as Noam felt a fabric like film around where the myconids were roosting.

“They’re... growing?” Dustin said confused, “Yeah growing is the right word,” he confirmed, “into your scalp.”

“Is that dangerous?” Noam asked, slightly alarmed.

“Eh,” Dustin shrugged, “probably not, I took symbiosis, not parasitism, so you should be fine.”

He glanced hesitantly at the top of Noam’s head, “Yeeuup. Probably.”

Noam gave Dustin a withering stare, “Decs, I swear to god if I get head fungus I’m kicking your ass.”

“Well…” he hesitated a bit, “technically you already do,” he raised a hand as Noam’s fingers brushed against his halberd, “but it’s probably not harmful, though message me if you suddenly start feeling weird.”

The mushrooms on top of him squeaked, “Yes, I know that you two don’t mean to harm him,” Dustin said, gesturing to Noam, “but I’m trying to tell him that.”

“Can you tell them that if they make me bald or something I’m going to make them into soup?” Noam asked.

“Don’t worry they already understand you,” Dustin replied.

“Oh, great,” Noam replied. He rolled his eyes upwards until he could glimpse the two mushrooms looking down from his scalp, then sternly said, “If you guys make me bald I’m turning you two into soup.”

The two mushrooms squeaked in affirmation and even gave him a thumbs up.

“You’ll be fine,” Dustin chided, “I’m sure they’ll grow on you.”

Noam slapped his face, and the two mushrooms on his head began chittering in delight.

Dustin stepped into the calm quiet of the library.

He glanced around, there was a receptionist desk near the entrance, a middle-aged man sat behind it, his head deep into a book.

“Excuse me,” he asked, “where can I find the history section?”

“Third row, behind the tables,” the librarian replied without looking up from his book.

“Thanks.”

The librarian grunted a reply, clearly not paying attention.

Dustin walked away, his steps soft on the hard wooden floor. Arriving at the bookshelf that was much taller than him, he took out a book and began skimming.

A cool wind was blowing from the shores and the docks were alive with activity. People of various races and clothing were walking about. The large majority were humans, but Noam spotted a few with pointed ears, likely Elves. There were a few very short looking folks that he guessed were either gnomes or dwarves. Some people had a few animal-like features such as tails or an extra set of ears. Others were completely animalistic.

Noam took a moment to breathe in the fresh, salty air of the sea. It was a nice day, he thought, patting the two shrooms on top of his head.

He began whistling, and idly strolling along the docks. The two mushrooms perked up at the sound and started mimicking him.

Noam amusedly glanced up at them, a small grin creeping onto his face. He began whistling into a deeper tone. The two squeaked, as if accepting the challenge. Then copied the sound exactly.

Noam’s eyebrow arched up, then whistled high and low notes in rapid succession. Going in seemingly random patterns. The two mushrooms were silent for a moment, one of them tried to copy him, but failed after the first few notes, unable to quickly alter their tone.

Noam chuckled, and patted the two on the head, “Decs hasn’t gotten around to naming you two yet?” he murmured.

One of the mushrooms squeaked out something that sounded like an affirmation.

“Hmm… gotta get around to that then,” he muttered, before pausing in front of a building.

“A tavern…” he quietly murmured, ‘What does alcohol taste like…’ he pondered.

“Aight,” he said, clapping his hands as he reached a decision, “let’s get shit drunk.” he declared as he pushed open the door.

“Ah, welcome!” he heard a voice yell from the back, “Bit busy now so find your own seat!”

He glanced around. Not much free room, there was this one dude who was sitting alone by a table. Casually, he walked up to him, “Mind if I sit here?”

The lizard person glanced at him, then at the two mushrooms roosted on his head.

He sighed, “Yeah sure I guess,” he replied in a tired tone.

Noam sat in front of him, “Yo, my name's Noam.”

“Gnome?” the lizard asked, “ah well. My name's Lung.”

“Nice to meet you Lung,” Noam replied.