Chapter 14: Reunion

Iris was at her wits end; this was the twelfth attempt and she still could not make any head way. Nathan and Iris had been out for about a week, on they fourth day out, they came to their first obstruction in the form of a wall. A thirty-meter-high, wall of a cliff impeded progress. There was absolutely no way they would be able to climb, Nathan suggested they walk around, every wall had an end. They decided to split up, if one came to the end first they would go back for the other. The time limit was one day, and so they both took off and opposites direction.

One day later the two had reunited, neither of them were able to reach the end. This brought them to their current attempt, if Iris could fly high enough she could see to where the wall extends. They wouldn’t have to walk its length; they could cut a path through the forest. Though this idea was slowly unraveling, for once Iris reached the ten meters’ high, gale force winds would immediately begin to blow. She had tried several times already, each ending in failure, but she had no plans of giving up.

Nathan: “Iris, you can stop if you want, we can try something else.”

Iris: I appreciate your concern, but I’m alright, I have an idea, for my next attempt.

Nathan: “Okay~”

Iris landed and begin reciting a spell and began to glow.

Nathan: “What’s she up to?”

Wind encircled Iris, like the eye of the storm, the wind engulfed her completely. Once she had been completely surrounded by wind she took off once again. Within seconds she had climbed the ten meters, and the winds kicked up, once again. Surprising enough, Iris continued upward, she had slowed to a crawl but she was gaining altitude. The wind barrier she erected was working well, given this was the first time she cast it. It was doing fine job of keeping the winds at bay, however she could move no faster while elevating. Inch by inch, she climbed.

Nathan was tired of watching, she was barely moved any higher. He laid in the grass and fiddled with his status screen, she would eventually make it to the top, whether he watch or not, and if she failed this time, she would just try again. Nathan made a mental note, he would reframe from asking Iris to do certain things in the future, or she would keep trying until she accomplished what he asked.

Since they had left the study, besides the first attack by the plant monsters, they haven’t had many encounters. Most likely do to them being at the outer edge, there was a lot less foliage so if anything approached they would see immediately. Though they did come across, two more of the plant creatures, which Iris reluctantly let Nathan fight by himself. Just as he had figure, it was absolutely no problem defeating them, and thanks to that he was able, to rise one level.

Nathan Lowell Level:5

HP:2105/2105 MP: 330/330 SB: 20/100

Race: Human/Lycanian

Legacy: Nature’s Blessing

Skill: Tweak M.Ability: Phytokinesis, Heal, Therapy, Tranquil, Plant Growth, Gardener P.Ability: Photosynthesis, Threat Detection, Clearmind, Enhanced Reflexes, Hyper Senses, Co-op

Stats Party

STH 66 Inventory

DEF 108

INT 56

AGI 93

LUCK 77

Skills: Persuasion 9% Bribery 0% Thievery 27% Charisma 10% Finesse 10%

Titles: (Hero?) (Sweeper)

After he reached level five, a new bar with initials “SB” appeared. He asked Iris did she have it as well, but she did not, she said that she had never read anything about having a third life bar. He tried pressing on the bar, but nothing happened. As they traveled, it gradually rose, he thought it rose from walking around, but even now as he laid in the grass the bar is still increasing.

He had a hunch what it was, whenever a player was in a tough situation or on the brink of death in games, pressing a button would allow them an extra burst of strength and sometimes complete invincibility for a limited time. This allowed them to pull off fantastic special attacks, which could turn the tides of the entire battle. Though the effects were temporary, in the long run, it was mainly use as method to restore health to the party.If this bar was like that, he hoped he never need to use it, the condition was one he did not want to initiate. He was dumb enough to come near death door, just to see if his theory was correct.

He also got a new ability, Gardener, but it wasn’t anything special. All it does, is make the plants better then if they grew naturally, like an evolution. But for some reason, the ability works through his blood, like water, but needing only a drop. So basically, his blood, has essentially become plant food. Well he did plan on selling a bunch of plants from this area, higher quality plants, means he can raise the prices. He had tried it several times already, being careful to avoid Iris's, watchful eye, but to be honesty he couldn't tell the difference between the higher quality and the normal.

He looked up at Iris, she had gotten to the halfway point, though, she still had a considerable amount to climb. Iris made it high enough to see, pretty far out. The area was expansive, the walls continued far off into the distance, with no end in sight. Far off amongst the lush green, there was a strange discoloration, but she could think too deep about it, she had to focus. The winds had picked up considerably, to the point where she was almost at a complete standstill. Though she would no failed in the task the Hero had given her.

As she rose higher, dark clouds begin to form above her, she ignored them and continued upward. Nathan on the other hand begin increasingly worried. He told Iris about rain clouds earlier on, but he didn’t understand why clouds were forming, only above Iris and nowhere else. No sooner did he think to call her back, did lightning ripped through her barrier.

Iris: “KYAAA!?”

Nathan: “IRIS!?”

With her barrier destroyed the winds took her and sent her barreling toward the ground. Nathan raced towards her, catching her right before she crashed. Her eyes weren’t open, he began to cast heal, she was just unresponsive.

Nathan: “IRIS, IRIS, HEY IRIS!?”

Iris: “……………. Ughn, Hero, why?”

Nathan: “Oh, thank goodness, you had me scared there for minute, how are you feeling?”

Iris: “I-I’m fine.”

Nathan: “Are you sure, normal people don’t get struck by lighting and be okay.”

Iris: “No, it never touched me.”

Nathan: “I saw it hit you.”

Iris: “No, all it did was destroy my barrier, but now that I know that will happen, I can prepare for it.”

Iris flutter away, ready to start again, only to be grabbed out of the air.

Nathan: “Oh no you don’t, you’re not doing that again.”

Iris: “Of course, I am, the lightning will not be a problem wants I prepare for it.”

Nathan: “I don’t care how prepared you are, that lighting, wasn’t natural.”

Iris: “You said that lightning is a natural occurrence during a storm.”

Nathan: “Yeah, but look at the sky now.”

Iris looked up, the clouds had vanished and the sun had come out again.

Nathan: “Those clouds didn’t appear until you were half way, to reaching the top of the wall, there wasn’t a drop of water to be found, and they didn’t cover the entire sky, they just hovered above where you were.”

Iris: You, believe the lightning, was aiming at me specifically?

Nathan: “Yeah, and I don’t hear the wind anymore, it’s was like some sort of security system.”

Iris: “Security system?”

Nathan: “It what people use to keep treasure safe, it drives away intruders.”

Iris: “I see, but were not after anything like that, and were trying to leave.”

Nathan: “Doesn’t matter, anything trying to get over those walls, will be attacked, even if you happened to get past the lightning, there might be something worse higher up, will just have to find another way out.

Iris: “Hero, if I may try once more I’m sure-”

Nathan: Stop, stop, stop, enough of that, you’re not attempting to fly through that again, there has to be a way out of here that doesn’t involve gale force winds, lightning or would ever come’s next, Amelia got in and out, we just need to find out how.

Iris: “Then we should move through the forest.”

Nathan: “Oh, you saw something?”

Iris: “It’s what I didn’t see, I’m afraid.”

Nathan: “Hmm?”

_

_

After hearing out Iris, they both made their way to through the forest, apparently, she had saw a large area filled with water. Nathan figured she must have been talking about a lake, he suggested they head there. The element which brings life, would sure to have life near it. Maybe they could find someone, they could get out and get some information about the world as well, books were okay when you needed information on past events, not so much for current.

On the way, Nathan would collect any piece of fruit he could find, he wanted the seed of anything edible. Reaching up and grabbing a piece of fruit from a tree, he looked over to Iris. He didn’t want to get another sermon, but it seems she wasn’t worried about fruit so much as she was worried about him eating a corpse.

Nathan: “Examine”

Cassi Class: Fruit

Cassi fruit, typically grow in secluded areas with lots of sunlight, though their appearance is similar to a common orange, they are extremely bitter.

Nathan: Aw man, well, I guess some on will eat. *munch*

*ding* *ding*

Cassi seed consumed, Duration time: 3 minutes

Nathan: “Blegh, bitter, definitely.”

Iris: “Hero, I don’t understand why you’re doing this, you don’t need to eat, there’s no reason to keep subjecting yourself to displeasure.”

Nathan: “Just because I don’t need to eat, doesn’t mean I don’t want to, I mean do you need to read those books, it’s the same thing.”

Iris: “True, but why are you collecting the seeds?”

Nathan: “I’m going to sell them.”

Iris: “Sell?”

Nathan: “Along with the fruit, if I could make a profit from them, I want have to sell all these armors (and I won’t upset Anais.).”

Iris: “But, Lady Amelia Said, you were free to take what you want.”

Nathan:……………What, why didn’t you tell me that earlier!?”

Nathan pulled on Iris’s cheeks.

Iris: Sobby, iy thaw yush wsh awez.

(Sorry, I thought you were aware).

Nathan: If I knew, I would be worried about upsetting her.”

Iris rubbed her sore cheeks

Iris: Lady Amelia is really nice; in fact she may have gather those, just for you to take.

Nathan: I wasn’t talking about her, *Sigh* well I guess it doesn’t matter anymore, I’ll still collect the fruit, the number of armors I have are limited and you should always have a backup plan, right?”

Iris: “Alright.”

Nathan: Right, so I’ve collected fourteen so far, so let’s go for an uneven fifteen, and I see lucky number fifteen, right over there, look at that thing.”

Straight ahead, was a large flower, the biggest they had seen so far.

Iris: “My, it’s lovely.”

Nathan: It kind of look like my worlds Tulip, except Tulips don’t get this big.

The Tulip set four feet high, three stems connect at the base, and each head had its own distinct color.

Nathan: Now, how am I supposed to get the seed from this thing without hurting it.”

Iris: Hero, look here.”

From underneath a petal, a small hole was seen, and from out that hole, set a row of seeds, each one in a separate pod.

Nathan: Perfect, good job Iris.”

Iris: It was my pleasure.”

Nathan reached down and took hold of the pod

*shriiiiiiippppp*

Nathan: “Whoa, Its heavy, like a rock”.

Iris……………………...Hero, step away, somethings wrong.”

Nathan: Huh, WHOA!?

Looking over his shoulder, two of the heads were facing directly at him, whilst the third was aimed at Iris. Nathan took a few steps away, however no matter which directions he moved, the heads would move in tangent.

Iris: Hero, shall I burn it?”

Nathan: Give me a sec, should have did this in the first place, “Examine”

Uzy Class: Plant

A very beautiful, very rare flower. They spread their seed by shooting them across long distances and form a small network. Seeds grow and bloom quickly. When it feels threaten they will fire their seeds in rapid succession, at the threat.

Nathan: “…………… Oh boy.”

*Click-click*

Nathan: IRIS, MOVE!

A flurry of seeds, exploded from each head. Iris took to the sky, whilst Nathan begin to duck and dodge the incoming projectiles. Iris who wasn’t as fast as Nathan, invoked a flame cloaked shield, which burned majority of the seeds.

Nathan: “Iris, cast a spell!”

Iris: “Understood”

As soon as she began to chant, the two heads chasing Nathan, turned and fired on her. The multitude of shots began to shred her barrier.

Iris: “Tch, I can’t concentrate"

Nathan: "Forget it, I’ll, whoa!?"

As Nathan reached for his blade, one head begin to fire at him, but with only one, Nathan was able to move forward. When he was nearly within striking distance, all three heads fired on him, pushing back, and it would change targets in tangent, with who was ever targeting it. After a few minutes the barrage ceased.

Nathan: "Screw this, I got the seed, lets run."

Iris: "Right!"

Both took off in the direction they came from, only to stop as quickly as they started. The seeds that the Uzy fired off, had all sprouted and now locked on to the two.

*click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click*

Nathan: “Shit.”

*ratatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatata*

A maelstrom of bullet like seeds was unleashed, Iris invoked, barrier after barrier, but the seeds rip through them, almost as fast as she created. Nathan tried his best to avoid them, but was failing miserably. What made things worse, every seed that missed, two more would sprout. After a short while they were completely boxed in, Seeds came from every direction, avoiding was next to impossible. “Not even “Origin”, could help, plus with Iris around, he could risk her freezing up. He decided he was going to send her away, if she flew up high enough she could get away.

Iris: “HERO, THIS WAY!”

Iris barrier started to expand, Nathan took this opportunity and leaped through the opening she created for him.

Nathan: "I didn’t know you could do this."

Iris: "Nor did I, however were still in danger."

Nathan: "Yeah, I say were worse off."

With them both now in close proximity, the full force of the barrage, was squarely on the barrier, slowly whittling it away. With just her, she could regenerate it fast enough so that not many bullets could pass, but to regulate a barrier to accommodate them both, was proving taxing.

A few seeds made it through before iris could close the barrier, Nathan begin cutting down the ones that got through, however they were still being nailed and still even more Uzy were sprouting. Soon the area around had become nothing but a flurry of seeds, nothing could be heard through the sound of shattering seeds. Sooner or later, Iris would run out of mana and they both will be gun down within seconds.

*rrruuuuuuuummmmbbbbbbblleeeeeee*

Nathan: "What the hell!?"

The ground begin to shake and crack apart. Columns of rock shot up from th ground, Iris and Nathan watch as the pillars encircled them. The flurry of bullets stopped, now being blocked by the pillars, shattering on impact with the rock. Iris let down her barrier for the moment, visibly sweating from mana use. Nathan check his health, he was shocked to see that, he only had five hundred points of health left. That was ridiculously low, the bullets, didn’t really hurt, it was just the sheer volume that done it. Even as they spoke, the sound of seeds impact on the rocks was deafening.

Nathan: “Iris.”

Iris: “I’m fine, just a little tired.”

Iris landed to catch her breath, just like him she must have low health. Nathan, let her rest, he walked up to the columns and checked how solid they were.

Nathan: "*knock knock* Iris; why didn’t you do this in the first place?"

Iris: “I didn’t, I thought you did it.”

Nathan: “I don’t know any spells, remember, but if you didn’t……..* sniff ,sniff, sniff*, no way?”

Iris: “What is it?”

Nathan: “Not what, who.”

Nathan Jumped to the top of the rocks and peered over top.

Iris: “Careful Hero, they are a few still firing at us.”

Nathan: “I’ll be careful.”

Nathan looked around, some of the uzy were still firing at them but, from the way the direction they were firing they couldn’t hit him. He looked around and could not see at first, but a second later shadow darted through some bushes. The figure would appear than vanish and a fireball took its place.

Nathan: “Dammit, that’s not going to work, there’s just too many.”

She was smarter than this, no way she thought, she could take them all out, firing off random shots. Nathan kept watching, closely but carefully.

Nathan: “Could it be, are you okay, I need your help.”

Iris: “Yes, I’m fine now.”

Iris was still breathing pretty heavy, but he needed her.

Nathan: “I need you to fire off the “Crimson Squall” Spell.

Iris: Um, understood.

Iris steady herself and began to chant. Firing the spell, Nathan watched to confirm his theory, and as he thought none of the uzy even bother to protect themselves from the fire rain.

Nathan: They don’t react to random fire, it not seen as a threat, since no one targeting them directly, they just burn.”

Iris: “That why he’s missing so many shots, then I shall continue to firing blind?”

Nathan: “Yeah, but we need her to stop first, it great that she showed us how to get out, but her random moving is making things worse.”

Iris: “(Her)?”

The figure was darting around the area, ducking in and out of cover, Iris could mistakenly hit her.

Iris: “If she would just join us in the shelter she erected?”

Nathan: Don’t worry, and I’m pretty, damn sure, that klutz is going to stop real soon.

Iris: “What do you-”

*Bang*

Iris looked over to the sound of the loud bang. She stared in disbelief, the figure that was running around randomly, the figure that saved them with the spell, was a little, brown hair, Therian girl, who was now laid out on the ground, eyes spinning, from running head first into a nearby tree.

*Click-click-click-click-click-click-click*

Iris: Hero, with must help her, they’re going to fire.

Iris words fell on death ears, for Nathan had known she was going to crash and had already jumped out to save her. Moving as fast as he could, he reached her right before the bombardment arrived. Scooping her off the ground he sped back to the blockade, but not before taking more shots. Leaping over the pillars, he found iris already casting the spell, much bigger than last time, fire rained once again burning another few dozen plants. Iris continued to fire off her spell, while Nathan tended to the girl. Though her appearance had change so drastically, her scent stayed the same.

Nathan: “Hey, Anais, wakeup.”

Anais: “………………….”

Nathan: “Wakeup, you klutz.”

Anais: “WHO’S A KLUTZ……huh, how did I, what happen?”

Nathan: “Like always, you crashed splendidly, barrier you created, thanks for that, by the way.”

Anais: “Behind, no, we need to get out.”

Nathan: “We will, as soon as Iris thins them out, they can’t get us from behind here anyway.”

Anais: “They will soon enough, this barrier won’t hold, the spell wasn’t perfect, it could crumble anytime now.”

Nathan: “What!?”

Nathan looked around, sure as she said, large cracks could be seen all around, and the pillars were coming apart.

Nathan: “Shit, I not at full health, I seriously, can’t take another bombardment.”

Anais: “Why don’t you just control them; don’t you have that ability?”

Nathan: “Yeah, but in all this chaos, I never ate the seed, even if I eat it right now, we won’t make it in time?”

Anais: “What are you talking about?”

“Nathan explained his abilities with more detail.

Anais: “………YOU IDIOT!”

Nathan: “You can’t help insulting me, can you?”

Iris: “Hero, I agree with this girl?”

Nathan: “Et tu, Brute!?”

Anais: “You mean this entire time; you haven’t been controlling any of the plants you came across!?”

Nathan: “Yes, I have, but not until I eaten them.”

Iris: Hero, what you’re doing and what you’ve describe are not the same.”

Nathan: “Huh?”

Iris: “Your “Plant Growth” allows you to grow and control plants you’ve consumed; they have become a part of you, of course you would be able to control them.”

Nathan: “Right.”

Anais: “Then think you idiot, why would you need two, of the same ability?”

Nathan: “……………….Ah!”

That’s right, Nathan didn’t understand how this world work, but having two of the same ability, unless the abilities stacked which they did not, there was absolutely no reason for this. “Phytokinesis” and “Plant Growth”, he has been looking at them as one whole, instead of two separate abilities.

Nathan: “Even if that’s the case, I don’t understand how to utilize it.”

Anais: “What, there is no how to you just do it.”

Iris: “Excuse me, whoever you are, but the Hero is from a world without magic, he doesn’t fully understand the concept.”

Anais: “Shut up, Fairy, servants are seen, not heard.”

Iris: “Excuse me!?”

Anais: “I already Know that, but look around, we don’t have much time.”

Iris: “And I understand the urgency of the situation, however it would be reckless to ask him to attempt something he hasn’t fully grasp.”

Anais and Iris continued to argue on about him. Nathan looked around, the walls that were cracked were now visibly crumbling. Soon the whole thing would be no more and they will be caught in the onslaught. No matter how many Iris burned away with her spell, firing blind means you will always miss, even if one is left, it could easily become hundreds, within seconds. If he was going to make it in this world he would have to learn how to do this eventually, why not right now when his life depended on it.

Iris: “No, I will not allow the Hero to risk his life for something like this.”

Anais: “Then I guess you want to die, because that exactly what’s about to happen.”

Nathan: “Iris, I’m going to do it.”

Iris: “Hero, don’t let this girl persuade to do something you’re not ready to do.”

Anais: “Rather he’s ready to do it or not, it won’t matter unless he tries.”

Nathan looked over the crumbling barrier, per Iris and Anais, it was as simple as breathing to this. He concentrated, thanks to the effects of “Clearmind”, Even the constant assault of seeds on the barrier was blocked out. He sent a command to the Uzy closes to him, over and over he told it to stop, but no matter which way he said, the melee continued. He didn’t realize, that the piece of column he was leaning on was about to give way, until it was too late. The top part of the column crumble, leaving Nathan head exposed, he was instantly greeted with several shots to the face. He quickly jumped back down, he checked his health, two hundred points of damage, in so little time. Why couldn’t he do it, he slumped down on the ground in frustration.

Iris: “Hero, are you okay, look what you’ve done, he’s hurt.”

Anais: “How is this my fault, he was the one who can’t control his abilities, something any child could do from birth.”

Iris: “How many time must I say it, he comes from a world without magic, something that we understand from the time we were young, won’t come as simple to him.”

Anais: “That’s why at times like this, he should try his best to understand, before he comes time his life depends on it, which it does.”

Iris: “Yes, but losing his life, in the process, won’t solve anything.”

Nathan: “QUIET!!!!”

Iris and Anais both jumped from Nathan the sudden outburst.

Nathan: ANAIS, I DON’T GET IT, I NOT FROM THIS WORLD, YOUR CONCEPTS, UNTIL A LITTLE WHILE AGO DIDN’T APPLY TO ME, MAGIC AND ITS ENTIRETY, WAS AN OBJECT OF FANTANSY, I KNOW YOUR JUST TRYING TO HELP, BUT IT NOT AS SIMPLE AS BREATHING.

Iris nodded her head in agreement, until Nathan turned to her.

Nathan:” IRIS, ANAIS IS RIGHT, SOMETIME IN THE FUTRUE I’M GOING TO NEED TO DO THIS, I KNOW YOU WILL HELP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE, BUT IT WOULD BE FOOLHARDY TO RELY ON YOU FOR EVERYTHING. I NEED TO DO THIS. BUT WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME BEFORE THESE WALLS CRUMBLE, AND YOU TO ARGUING ISN’T HELPING. SO THE BOTH OF YOU JUST…..STOP!”

Iris and Anais turned away, Nathan knew he was taking his frustration out on them, he couldn’t do it and it was eating at him. In the stories he read, everyone learned their abilities so naturally, you’d think they had them since birth. However, this wasn’t a story and he wasn’t going to get it on the first try. He would apologize later for yelling at them, but for now while it was completely silent he could concentrate, no yelling, no noise.

Nathan: “………. It’s quiet!?”

The girls looked to each other, in confusion.

Iris: “……………. Is this not what you wanted?”

Anais: “Make up your mind.”

Nathan: No, girls, it’s completely silent”

Then they understood, the sound of bullets colliding with rock had stopped. All three looked over the top in different directions, the uzy who had pinned them down, had all ceased fire. Even as they looked straight at them they were not being fired upon. Nathan wasn’t going to waste this moment.

Anais: “Why did they suddenly, h-hey, put me down.”

Iris: “Hero, kyaaa!?”

Scooping them both up, Nathan sprang over what was left of the walls, with everything he had he took off, at an incredible speed. He had run past several uzy, not one turned toward him, like statue’s they stayed in the same position. Maybe he done it, was this because of him, some outside force, a fluke, none of that matter, he wasn’t going to wait around to figure it out. As he ran off with Iris on his shoulder and Anais flailing in his arms, he remembers the seed he had yet to eat. After what they put him through he was definitely, going to add them to his arsenal.

*Crunch* *ding* *ding*

Uzy seed consumed, Duration: 30 seconds

Nathan: “…………………Bwahahahahahahaha, what’s up with that, you gotta be kidding me!?”

Anais and Iris looked on confused, as Nathan sped away from the area, laughing away his frustration.