Cyrn stares at the boy for a beat, then finally responds, not yet taking the boy's hand.
"Elyon right? What do you mean by wrong, and why would you invite a random stranger to take a mission with you?"
Cyrn's suspicious, and rightfully so; he was practically insulted, then asked to go halvsies on a potentially dangerous mission with a total stranger.
"Ah, sorry, I swear I meant no offense! It's just my Soulcurrent…well lets say it's special, and it's screaming while I stand near you, and that's never happened, ever, and I've been around some incredible people. Something tells me we should team up". Elyon responds, His eyes smiling through the mask.
Cyrn stood there, confused. SoulCurrent again, I'm guessing it's like mana, or the energy these people possess to cast magic, like that language thingy the guard used on me.
Cyrn took this opportunity to try to figure out a little more about Soulcurrent and asked Elyon, "Ok then, Elyon, what's so special about your SoulCurrent? If it's so amazing, I guess I could team up with you".
Elyon's face, even though hidden, obviously brightened at this prospect. "Well, Mr. Interrogator, I guess I can divulge a few things. While everybody possesses a certain amount of soul current, from the smallest tree seed to the strongest mage or sword saint. What makes mine so special are a few things. First is the affinity it manifests itself as. Second is its large quantity, and third is its pseudo-consciousness."
Cyrn absorbed this information and began to conclude. So it is basically mana, affinities, spells, and all that crap. Different people have different amounts, though every living thing has some amount of Soulcurrent. He also talked about a 'pseudo-consciousness', so I'm guessing that's not normal.
Cyrn's head was processing this as he held a smug smile dripping with sarcasm, "Wow, didn't realize I was standing next to the Honored One? Well, since you're so special, I guess we can take something simple together. Any ideas?"
Cyrn was seriously going out on a limb here. He's not a naturally trusting person, but not perpetually suspicious either. He's willing to try this mission with Elyon, with a close eye glued to him at all times. Plus, something about Elyon reminded him of Silas. The bluntness, charisma, and extrovertedness were appealing to him.
Elyon was incredibly pleased to hear Cyrn's acceptance and immediately pulled a piece of paper off the board.
"Look, simple Wight nest extermination. The guards couldn't get to it because of the recently lost battle in the Laniwick Wilds, plus with all those corpses, they're breeding like crazy with all the extra food, so the people have put together some money to try and take out a nearby nest."
Wights, and I was right, they are scavengers. Cyrn thought before asking, "How many are expected to be in the nest?"
"Above average, so probably around 20-30. Not as bad as it sounds, though, we can take them out easily."
30 of those things! I'm stronger, but I don't know if I can take those things. Plus, my regeneration is my trump card, and I don't know if these people even know about vampires at all. Cyrn began to worry before Elyon spoke up.
"I can tell you're worried about the number, but don't be; I could finish this mission by myself if needed. I just thought you should come along, that's all," Elyon said, easing Cyrn's mind.
Wait, am I that readable? How could he tell I was worried? Cyrn froze for a moment before looking at Elyon, his image of him changing from overly friendly stranger to something more.
"Well, alright, it could be a good combat experience, I guess. I'm warning you, if we get overwhelmed with numbers, I'm not sure I'll be able to help."
"Bahh, it's fine, don't sweat it. Again, I could do this solo, so just tag along for the free Solars!"
Cyrn nodded as they began to depart from a different exit. This guy seems peculiar, at best I get more information and maybe a strong early ally, at worst I regenerate my lost limbs and outrun him.
Cyrn kept his guard up — Elyon had already read him like a book.
"The nest is about a day's run from here, so we'll have to stop for a break at some point to rest. After that, we'll finish the journey there, wipe out the wights, take a few heads, and return to Westreach to claim our rewards. Sounds good?" Elyon laid out the general plan. Simple, efficient, flexible, and nothing glaringly stupid about it.
"Sounds good." Cyrn's statement punctuated the end of their conversation as they began to run through the woods in silence, with Elyon taking the lead, and Cyrn following closely behind.
POV: Elyon
Who the fuck is this guy? Elyon thought to himself in sheer awe. They were currently sitting around a campfire, a tent set up for the night as they were grilling pre-made rations.
All of these materials came from a space ring Elyon possessed, and this question had been wracking around in his brain for their entire run now.
First was their running pace. Elyon had lied earlier, interested in testing Cyrn's uniqueness.
The nest was a 3-day run out from the village for non Soulwrights, or people with abysmal SoulCurrent pools, and he doesn't even have any, that alone is fucking insane! Yet he's kept up with me all this time, and he's not even panting. He didn't even react to my space ring!
Either he's used to noble-level gear — or he's bluffing hard. Neither answer makes sense.
But most of all is my SoulCurrent. It's still screaming, telling me to stay the fuck away from this guy, that he's dangerous, but he has no SoulCurrent, and frankly, I'm tired of listening to mine.
Elyon was deep in thought at the anomaly sitting across from him. Nothing about what he's seen so far is making sense.
Let me set a trap, see if I can't get anything more out of Mr. Dark and Brooding over here.
POV: Cyrn
Cyrn and Elyon were sitting in silence, Cyrn quietly observing him, oblivious to the few blunders he's made in Elyon's presence.
Elyon speaks up, face neutral, but voice dripping in curiosity, "Hey Cyrn, what's your SoulCurrent affinity? What does it manifest as, or what concepts have you applied to it?"
Elyon's voice betrayed his body. While he appeared to be asking in order to prepare for the battle ahead, they were about to fight together after all, his tone was dripping in desperate curiosity.
Heart on your sleeve, huh, Elyon? Cyrn stared at Elyon quietly for a moment, his face as neutral as can be.
"Nunya. That's my affinity."
"Huh? I've never heard of Nunya before, wait…holy shit, do you have a unique affinity, oh my god we haven't seen one in millen-"
"Nunya business." Cyrn cuts off Elyon's excitement. His face freezes, then deflates into a pout.
"Asshole, could've just said you don't want to tell me, I get some people don't like to share," Elyon said with clear disappointment.
Cyrn laughs, then finally responds, "Hahahaha! Sorry, but you set yourself up for that one, dude. But besides that, my affinity is…unique to say the least. Hard to explain, so I just save myself the effort and keep it underwraps"
Liar, Elyon thought to himself. He could tell Cyrn had no SoulCurrent, so he couldn't have an affinity, but he didn't say anything, lest he spoke the skittish cat away.
"Whatever, asshole, when we get to the nest, I'm gonna let the wights feed on you for a bit before I save your ass. Then you'll be so grateful you'll spill your guts to me heh." Elyon retorts, trying to get his own dig in at Cyrn, who just rolls his eyes.
"Sure, bud, let's wait till tomorrow to figure that out. I'm gonna hit the sack. You coming?"
"Yeah, just let me put the fire out, we'll leave at sunrise."
Cyrn crawls into the sleeping bag. It's warm, something new yet abnormal, damn this thing is comfy and toasty, nice. Elyon finishes killing the fire before they both fall asleep, unaware of the dangers tomorrow will present.
They wake up the next morning, pack their things, and set out for the nest. A few hours pass before they arrive at the entrance of a cave, the smell of rotting flesh so strong it may as well be oozing green air.
Elyon holds his nose in disgust. "Damn that fucking stinks, they must've dragged some corpses over".
Cyrn's face is still; he doesn't enjoy the smell, but it's fainter than the battlefield he woke up in. "Eh, I've smelled worse."
Elyon shakes his head, not wanting to know where he could've possibly smelled worse.
"Alright, here's the plan: the cave entrance is small, so we both won't be able to swing our swords inside of it, so we'll have to lure them out. I'll cut my palm open, the scent of fresh blood will send them into a frenzy, dragging them out for us to kill."
Cyrn heard the plan and hesitated. He didn't know how he would react to fresh blood, let alone from someone healthy and very alive. He also couldn't offer his blood since his wound would close too quickly for the smell to spread.
I guess I'll just have to hope I can hold on
"Alright lets do it." Cyrn nods.
Elyon nods in return, pulling out a small dagger from his space ring, placing it above his palm, and running it quickly across.
The smell fills Cyrn's nostrils, his mind goes hazy as he thinks, Holy shit, he has good blood. Cyrn bites his lips in restraint and prepares for battle