DISCOVERY PART 1D

Day 18; 1513 (Afternoon)

Focus: 513

Wolf: "Your delusions, are they over?"

The wolf asked, as it narrowed its eyes.

Still confused, 513 tilted his head to one side and raised an eyebrow. [Delusion?] He wondered.

Wolf: "Haaah…"

The wolf sighed after seeing 513’s reaction.

[Where is this sass coming from?] 513 complained.

Wolf: "Answer quickly."

513: "..." (What do you mean?)

Wolf: "How disappointing."

513: "..."

Wolf: "Projecting my voice inside your tiny head is a tiresome endeavor. Speak!”

513: "..." (...did you not hear-)

Wolf: "Speak, you mute!"

513: "...I am…"

Startled by the sound of his own voice, he finally understood the reason behind the wolf's irritation. [Just how long have I been carrying out the conversation in my head? How much of it did I hallucinate?]

513: "...since when did-"

Wolf: "Your laughing fit."

The wolf answered in a vexed tone.

513: "I see...was this your doi-"

Wolf: "Perhaps."

513: "Why would you-"

Wolf: "Perhaps not."

513: "..."

513 blankly stared at the wolf after the short exchange. [Asshat.] He muttered in his thoughts.

Wolf: "That undignified look...shall I excavate your mind to find the full meaning behind it?”

The wolf playfully questioned him, amused by the face he was making.

513: “No.”

He immediately answered. The last thing he wanted was to have the wolf digging around inside his head.

Wolf: “No?”

The wolf smirked as it repeated 513’s answer back to him in the form of a question.

513: “No.”

He firmly replied.

Wolf: “Quite the stubborn fellow, aren’t you?”

The wolf said as it wagged its tail in the air.

In truth, 513 could not trust a single word the wolf had said. Whether or not it could actually read his mind mattered little. The point was, it could easily end his life, but why hasn't it?

Based on the wolf's amusement, it had become obvious to 513 that the wolf was curious about him. The fact that it had disengaged from pinning him to the ground also gave credence to this thought. The wolf’s recent actions meant it wasn't there to kill him. [So, why is it here?] He wondered.

Finding resolve within himself, he conjured-up the courage to ask the wolf directly.

513: “Tell me something.”

He said in a calm voice while prying the rest of his body from the man-shaped crater.

Wolf: “Hmm?”

513: “What is the reason behind your interest in me?”

Wolf: “KUHAHAHAHA!”

The wolf let out a belly-laugh.

Wolf: “Adorable.”

513: “What?”

Wolf: “Do not speak to me as-if we are equals.”

The wolf said with both eyes staring daggers at 513.

Completely freeing himself from the crater, he sat down across from the wolf and continued his cheekiness.

513: “Then why talk to me as one?”

He said while smirking.

Wolf: “Delusions. Falsehoods. Do not take my kindness for weakness.”

The wolf responded, tilting its snout to the sky.

513: “...”

[Your kindness? Nothing about this interaction has been kind.] 513 mused.

Moments pass in silence as the wolf stubbornly kept its snout pointed towards the sky.

As such, not wanting to ruin the opportunity to get answers, 513 patiently waited. Eventually he laid down on his back, closed his eyes, and contemplated what to do next. [Maybe I can heal up while I wait for this dufus to give me answers.]

Finally, after quite some time, the wolf gave its response.

Wolf: “Very well. I have the patience to entertain a few inquiries. Go ahead, ask your questions.”

Being stirred-up mid-doze, 513 sprung upright in a seated position and replied hazily.

513: “I see...so what do you want from me, then?”

513 said while trying his best not to yawn.

Wolf: “Nothing.”

513: “...nothing?”

Wolf: “Nothing.”

The wolf firmly replied.

The wolf then closed its eyes and laid its head down on its front paws.

513 took this as a sign that he wasn't asking the correct question.

After spending a few moments deliberating what to ask, he responded.

513: “Let me rephrase the question. Why are you here?”

The wolf's eyes sprung open and a large grin appeared on its face.

Wolf: "Slow. So very slow."

The wolf chuckled.

513: "Do you intend to answer the question?"

Wolf: "I will. First, let me appreciate this moment."

[Fucking prick.] 513 cursed in his mind.

Wolf: “Oh? You thought of something inappropriate just now, did you not?”

513: “Perhaps.”

Wolf: “Admitting that is a grave mista-”

513: “Perhaps not.”

Wolf: “Tch."

[Did I over-do it?] 513 wondered.

Wolf: "Antics aside, my answer is as follows: I was asked to search you out."

513: "Asked?...by whom?"

Wolf: "I cannot say."

[Great, another mystery to solve.] 513 complained.

513: "...then what were you to do once you found me?"

Wolf: "That...is none of your concern."

Having a decent grasp of the wolf's personality, 513 quickly gave-up on asking specific questions.

513: *sigh* "So what now?"

Wolf: "I return and give my report."

513: "...that's it?"

Wolf: "Correct."

Baffled by the wolf's response, 513 couldn't help but get angry. [So it was toying with me this whole time?]

The wolf sensed 513's animosity, but having completed its task, it immediately got-up and turned to leave.

Seeing this, 513 rushed to ask a few more questions.

513: "Why now? Why not earlier?"

His ambiguous inquiries caused the wolf to pause before giving an answer.

Wolf: "The trees...there are none."

[Trees? I asked why it decided to leave n-] Before finishing his thought, he froze-up. [Trees...have I been under surveillance while inside the forest?]

Wolf: "KUAHAHAHAHA!"

Noticing 513's reaction, the wolf couldn't help but laugh.

Wolf: "As compensation for making me laugh to this extent, I will tell you this: Survive this place and you may be rewarded."

Aware of the wolf's mischief 513 responded cynically.

513: "Are those your words? Or the words of the one you serve?"

Wolf: "KUAHAHA! Your kind, they are always interesting."

The wolf giggled while running-off towards the thickets.

513 followed the wolf's movements until losing sight of it. Afterwards, he sat in place for quite some time, processing everything that had recently happened to him. [My kind, eh?] He thought inwardly.

513: "Well, that was...different."

He mumbled while stretching-out the kinks in his muscles and joints. [Am I being tested? Or am I just part of someone's elaborate game?] He wondered. [Well, none of that matters if I can't even defend myself, let alone go on the offensive.]

After retrieving his trashed spear and shield, he reset the bone chimes and detection traps he had set-up around the camp, then resumed his inspections.

513: "...delusions...let's hope it isn't a common occurrence."

He mumbled while walking around his camp.

513: “Thankfully, that wolf wasn’t actually a tsun-tsun...or I’d be in real trouble.”

He continued, noting the version of the wolf he had hallucinated was different from reality.

The injuries he sustained from his encounter with the wolf were surprisingly minor. Only a few bruises and scratches; no broken bones or life threatening injuries. [Good, no Trauma Healing tonight.] He reassured himself.

As the rest of the day passed-by uneventfully, he remained on high-alert. He wasn't sure if the wolf would return that night to toy with him, or if the wolf's master would send another envoy to torment him.

◊◊◊◊◊◊

Day 18; 2017 (Evening)

Focus: Wolf

Deep inside the forest, on the edge of an endless lake, two figures held a private conversation.

Wolf: (foreign language) "I have performed the duty requested of me."

???: (foreign language) "Go-on."

Wolf: (foreign language) "The Traveller is well."

???: (foreign language) "Your evaluation?"

Wolf: (foreign language) "He may be of use, even if only as fodder."

???: (foreign language) "Very well."

Wolf: (foreign language) "Protector, may I ask a simple question?"

Protector: (foreign language) "You may."

Wolf: (foreign language) "Why allow him to roam free inside your lands?"

Protector: (foreign language) "His condition is pitiable. His survival was...unexpected."

Wolf: (foreign language) "Then why protect him with your aura?"

Protector: (foreign language) "Your request was for one answer. One answer, you have received.”

Wolf: (foreign language) "My apologies."

Protector: (foreign language) "Is that all?"

Wolf: (foreign language) “Yes, Protector. My report has concluded.”

Protector: (foreign language) "Dismissed."

As the wolf turned to leave, it was suddenly stopped by the protector.

Protector: (foreign language) “Rialla, please refrain from seeking-out that Traveller, at least for the time being.”

Rialla: (foreign language) “Whatever do you mean...eh...ehehe...he…?”

Rialla responded nervously. Her plan to visit the Traveller later that night was exposed.

Protector: (foreign language) “No need to act coy around me. I am aware of your...predilection.”

Rialla: (foreign language) “My...predil-”

Protector: (foreign language) “Your habit of toying with whatever interests you.”

Rialla: (foreign language) “...uhm…”

Protector: (foreign language) “Do not fret. I find that side of you rather...endearing. However, maintaining contact with that Traveller will hinder any future plans involving him. Do you understand?”

Rialla: (foreign language) “...I understand…”

Protector: (foreign language) “You may sulk now, but you will thank me in the future. You may go.”

◊◊◊◊◊◊

Day 18; 2019 (Evening)

Focus: 513

*WOOOSH* *CLUD* *CLUD* *CLUD*

At 513’s camp, a large gust of wind triggered the bone chimes he had reset just hours ago.

513: “MOTHERFUCKER!”

He screamed-out, jumping to his feet and grabbing hold of a new spear and half-completed shield.

He scoured his dark surroundings for quite some time, but nothing came forward. [Normal wind?] He thought. [Still, I can’t let my guard down.]

Even though the wind this time was a natural occurrence, he ended-up spending the rest of the night vigilant and wary of unwanted visitors.

---Chapter End