Ethan's eyes widened as he stared at the ten gold coin reward. 'Holy shit, I'm rich!!'
'I can buy all the food Cross needs. No—better! I can get a house upgrade! No—EVEN BETTER!'
He imagined himself strutting into the village square, flipping a gold coin between his fingers.
Villagers dropping to their knees. "Truly, a ruler above all rulers!"
'Yes, yes… they will sing songs of my greatness'!
[Alright, slow your roll, buddy.]
'Too late, it's already rolling. Mmm, golden roast chicken…'
[Oh, you want to fight three Mana novice assassins?]
Ethan froze. 'Wait. Assassins?:
[Yep. Three. Mana novice. Have fun. Where do you think the gold coin is coming from.]
Remembering how he struggled with the leopard he gulped.
James broke his chain of thoughts. "Uhm Chief I think... I.. I.. think." Before breaking into a laugh.
'Shit, forgot about the triplets.'
"Jordan take your brothers back to the campsite."
Jordan nodded dragging his brothers out from the cave, the Cyph's shuffled towards him their steps making almost zero noise.
'I never thought about this but why did Jordan fare better than his brothers.'
[If you had used the appraisal feature, you'd have found out he has a wood elemental affinity.]
Ethan raised his hands in surrender. 'Fine you win.'
[You never had a chance.]
Turning his attention back to the cocoon, he stroked his chin muttering. "Now what do I do with you?"
The female Cyph walked to him, clutching his trouser. "Mama.. not.. okay.. you.. help?"
Ethan crouched, pinching her cheeks, "Yeah I'll help your mother little Cyph." Before muttering, "Not like I have a choice. Me want gold. So me fight."
The male stared at the cocoon, clenching his little fists.
[What ever you're doing, do it fast.]
[The Nyx brothers have found traces of Meryn and they're about an hours journey away.]
'Great! There goes my beauty sleep.'
"Alright kiddo's step back."
Unsheathing one of The Twins he aimed it at the vine holding the cocoon at the top, then threw it with force.
The blade drew a curve as it cut through the air slashing the vine. It continued it's part returning to Ethan's hand.
Staring at the cocoon expectantly, he mumured. "Any second now."
After nothing happened the systems screen flcikered.
[Ha! You throw like a child.]
Ethan grinned throwing the blade again. Repeating the same movement it returned to his hands. The cocoon still hung on the ceiling.
[If your goal was to cut it down, you're failing spectacularly at it.]
He switched tactics, slicing at an angle. The blade barely nicked the vine. The vine absorbed the impact, swaying gently—as if mocking him.
He exhaled sharply, hands on his knees. 'For fuck's sake.'
The male Cyph crossed his arms. "Human.. weak?"
Ethan shot him a glare. "Strategic!"
The female Cyph blinked innocently. "Stra.. tegic.. mean.. weak?"
[Burn!]
A few more throws later and a small lesion appeared on the vine. Staring at the vine he muttered. "At this rate they'll slit my throat before I even cut it down. Alright change of plans, we hide."
Turning to the male cyph. "You guard your mother and protect your sister okay? I'll be back in a minute."
The male looked at him in confusion before nodding vigorously in reply.
The female clutched his trousers tightly. "Uncle.. go.. where."
Ethan blinked, stunned. 'Uncle?'
The female Cyph stared at him with wide, trusting eyes.
Shaking his head he crouched, ruffling the girl's leafy hair. "Be a good girl, okay? Uncle will be back soon."
She blinked before nodding, slowly letting go of his trouser. "O.. kay."
As he dashed to the campfire, he muttered. "Great! now I'm an Uncle."
He saw the twins heaving clarity slowly returning to their eyes. Jordan walked to him. "Where are the Cyphs?"
"They're inside. How long can our food ration last us?"
Jordan replied. "We have enough for a weeks journey remember?"
Rubbing his forehead Ethan sighed. "Oh right, too much stress my mind's spiralling right now."
Stepping out of the cave he stared at the entrance. 'Okay Ethan think.'
[Hoping on miracles now are we?]
'Now you're just bullying a defenseless young man. And shut the fuck up, I'm busy here.'
Staring at the decay about fifty feet away then the lush in his surrounding, he facepalmed. "And this princess isn't even making my job easy."
'Okay you know they're coming and they don't know you're here. Hide or set traps, hide or set traps.'
'I could try to hide. Maybe sneak away, come back later. But the environment doesn't exactly scream subtle.'
"Ugh I hate making tough decisions."
Then he thought about the Cyph twins. The way the female clung to his trousers, the way the male's tiny hands clenched into fists. And suddenly it wasn't a tough decision anymore.
Ethan clenched his fists tightly. 'No. I am an Uncle now. Uncles don't hide, and I'll be damned if I let some assassins kill my nephew or niece.'
"Traps it is. I'd like to sleep without worrying about dying."
"So if I'm going to sleep tonight.."
His eyes narrowed into slits. "Then they're dying tonight."
With that he walked back inside, "Oi, Jordan come help me with traps. We need to secure here if we're going to sleep here tonight."
"Okay Chief, what do you need."
"Gather some leaves."
Nodding, Jordan walked toward a nearby bush gathering the leaves.
Closing his eyes, he sensed the earth elements around him. The soil Infront of the cave shook caving in slowly until a two feet pit appeared on it.
Staring at the pit he smiled then an idea flashed through his mind, his smiled curved more intensely. 'I hope you like my gifts Nyx brothers.'
"You know what Jordan get sticks instead."
Jordan paused with the leaves in his hands, sighing he walked back. Minutes later he walked back with a bunch of sticks.
"Thanks Jordan."
James stumbled out of the cave, "Wha—what are...you guys doing. Are you playing fetch."
"Jordan go handle your brother#."
Picking up the sticks he began sharpening the edges. After sharpening the stick he buried them in the pit the pointed part sticking outwards.
'On the menu Nyx kebab. Muhahaha.'
Repeating the process two more times, just as he was almost done with the third, the system screen flashed.
[NYX brothers inbound, ETA - 20 minutes.]
'Good let them, come this will be their last night breathing.'
Ethan walked back to the cave. "If you hear the sounds of fighting stay inside. And don't come out ever!"
Jordan's brows furrowed. "What's wrong Chief?"
Ethan grinned, "Nothing I can't handle. Now drag your brothers inside and don't approach the cocoon"
Watching Jordan drag his brothers inside, he crouched beside the campfire, snuffing it out. Plunging the cave into darkness.
The moon overhead providing limited light outside the cave.