-- Aster --

We had left the city of An Le Notre and were making our way to the city of Nucifera, the last big city on the way to our quest destination. After that, we would be purely in the wilds the entire way and no more roads. Thought with how cracked and bumpy this one is, there might not be much difference.

I was habitually checking the map every fifteen minutes, not because I didn't trust James but I liked knowing where we were. I kept estimating distances and counting downtime in my head. It was keeping me busy.

After looking at the map for a while, something had been bothering me for a while and I think I finally figured out what. "James how accurate is this map?"

James had taken over driving since none of us wanted to, "The guy said it should be the most recent one."

"And how recent is it?" When I asked that the rest of the team started to pay attention.

"Uhhhhh....not sure but if it's the most recent then pretty new."

"James."

"Yeah?"

"Did you look at the city names?" Bay was making a gesture to hand the map over so I did.

"Well yeah. The seven major, An le Notre, Nucifera, Mori Shige, Jekyll, Babylon, Visser, and Lancelot. They are all there." James answered confused.

"That's true but Visser is spelled V-Y-S-R." I told him.

"That's not how you spell it?"

"It's how you used to spell it." I corrected.

"How long ago?"

I turned to Bay who was looking over the map, "Bay how long ago was Visser spelled V-Y-S-R?"

"I think about three or four hundred years ago." She answered.

"Well shit," James answered.

"How much can we trust the map then?" I asked wondering.

Bay answered speculating aloud, "Well the cities and towns should all be accurate, there might be a few new ones, but I doubt it since the population is kind of static. It's the environment we really have to worry about."

"So, the route I planned might not be right," James asked concerned.

Bay shook her head, "Oh, I'm sure it will work. It's just we might have to deal with more trees."

"Well, that's going to be fun," Violet commented.

"Scree!" A loud screeching came from the sky.

"Speaking of environment looks like the environment is here," Rowan said looking outside.

We looked beyond the makeshift roof I had made. I was more of putting a massive beetle shell and tied it down. The vehicle shook, jolting us around, Something had struck the roof. I guess the shell is already paying off. Looking up we saw a herd of Peryton, from a distance they looked like dear with wings, but the closer they got the more feral and birdlike features began to stand out. Their mouths filled with sharp teeth and clawed hindquarters, and antlers. It was only due to them being up near the sun that the illusion of being a dear held. Seeing one flying at you you just think monster. Especially with how territorial they are.

"We must have entered Peryton territory," James shouted.

"Shit."

"Can you see their shadows?" James asked as he began to serpentine across the road.

I turned to ask, "Why?"

"Just answer the question!" He yelled.

I frantically looked to the ground, looking for a shadow. I did but had to do a double-take because of how strange it was. The shadows weren't in the shape of the Peryton but of a human. "Uh yeah, but it's weird."

"Does it look like a human or as a normal shadow?"

I looked up at James confused, "A human?" I both asked and confirmed.

"That means they haven't killed anyone yet. So they are probably young and weak." I just stared at the back of James's head as he kept talking, "Bay they tend to be around level seventeen, but these are young so should be about ten to twelve can you take them out?"

Bay was looking out to the monsters scrutinizing them, "I think so, but I've never cast in a moving vehicle."

"Time to learn." James answered as we leaned out the sides as Bay aimed, "Remember they are still birdlike, hollow bones and all that, so use that as you will."

Bay leaned out the side was trying to think of the right spell. I knew when Bay opened herself to power, because my eyes widened, as what could only be described as a tornado of energy formed above her and flowed into and through her.

"Lighting strikes chains and spreads. Chain Lighting" A bolt of purple plasma shot forward, missing the head Peryton, but still striking one closer to the center. The bolt burned the creature through as it jumped out and through each one of the creatures. One by one they began to fall out of the sky. Then the last Peryton was struck and began to fall. But, the spell wasn't over as electricity jumped off the last creature towards us. I didn't have time to react as it hit me, locking my muscles. I quickly opened myself up to absorb the rest of the power and keep it from spreading. It burned but I was able to absorb it before it did too much damage.

"Shit. Shit. Shit." I could hear Bay panicking.

Violet stayed calm as she asked me, "Aster are you ok?" Seeing I couldn't quite answer yet she turned to Bay, "How much power was in that?"

"I don't know. I'm still getting a handle on this. How was I supposed to know the lighting could jump that far?"

"I guess we were just lucky it ran out after hitting Aster," Rowan commented.

I just laid there feeling my muscles twitch, as I scoffed " Yeah lucky."

"Oh good you didn't pass out, then it must have been nearly out of juice," Bay said with a relieved sigh.

"Still hurt," I commented.

"Don't be a baby." Violet said as she reached out and searched my body for injury, you just have some minor burns, and only some are internal injuries."

It felt like another jolt of electricity shot through me as Violet healed the minor wounds.

I was just regaining motion when Rowan patted James on the back, "James that was some quick thinking. How did you know all that?"

James had a smug smile, "While you guys made money I studied."

I had forgotten he had spent his time researching in the library, "That was actually smart." I teased.

"Yeah, thought it was the best way for me to help."

"Well, I'm not going to knock it," Rowan commented.

"Should we turn around for monster parts?" Bay asked me.

I sat up and turned to look out at the corpses, "Depends. If what James said is true, that they're young, then probably not.

"What are they good for?" Violet asked.

"Well, monster smithing is all about how the monster is perceived." I explained

Bay looked at me confused, "What? That doesn't make sense."

"If you go by game logic it does," I answered

"OK fine. What would the Peryton be best for?" She asked.

"That shadow thing would probably enhance illusions when young, same with the feathers and pelt." I was thinking aloud, "If I was making something It would most likely be for an illusionist or, possibly wind mage, for wind amplification or wind blades, with the teeth and talons."

"Wow, that is..."

"Child logic," Violet said finishing Bay's thought

I stopped to think, "...Actually yeah." That was eerily close to how it worked. I had only recently learned why that was the case, so I continued explaining, "It's all about belief. Think of it like monsters absorb that belief, and smiths just use that stored belief for their creations."

Bay looked at me not fully believing my explanation, I could see it in her eyes. Though that didn't stop here from asking, "So what monster would be best for a weapon for me?"

"Depends on what you want. Amplify magic? Sure which type?"

"Can't do it for all of them?"

"There's a reason people specialize. Faster casting, their bodies become more like the element even becoming resistant to it."

"So what types do you think?"

I appreciated that she asked for my opinion but this was her thing so I left it open-ended, "If you stick with lighting I would say thunderbird would be good?"

"Why not a dragon."

"Because we'd have to kill a dragon. Those pieces sell for ridiculous prices. No way I'd be able to buy them."

"Ok...why a thunderbird, and not an, I don't know, electric mouse?"

"Mouse?" I looked confused at Bay.

She shrugged, "Just came to me."

"Well, you need something with hollow bones, it helps to pull and channel the energy in. As for some other land base electric creatures. It could work but would have to use something other than bones. Honestly, I say bones but I would be using most of the creature, it really depends on what you want." I clarified.

"What about my healing?" Violet asked.

"Hmmm." I had to think about that. A weapon to help to heal, "I would probably use a healing salve in there somewhere and probably energy crystals while melting the steel. Then maybe unicorn materials...or venom. Honestly, not sure would have to experiment."

"Neat."

"So no going back for bodies?" Rowan asked.

"Past the point of no return, just look," I said pointing behind us. Everyone looked back to see other monsters already taring into the dead bodies of the Peryton.

"Gross," Rowan commented

"Yeah."

"Onto lands unknown!" Violet yelled giving a little jab at James.

"How was I supposed to know no one updates maps anymore." He whined.