[h3]Monster Party[/h3]
After taunting Rags Nar some more, Ash glided to the next tree to try and get a closer look at this strange creature observing them. She tried to be stealthy, but that was difficult given that a flying creature would instantly be silouhetted by the sun as she passed from branch to branch. Still, the creature didn't seem to be aware of her yet...or if it was, it simply chose not to move...

The Pygmy Drake checked her surroundings. She knew Digbie and Oberon were inside the shelter and that Torrent could handle herself. The goblins were still preoccupied, and it didn't seem that Rags Nar had even registered her taunt given his current struggles. She moved a second time...and this time the creature at the edge of their camp began to move as well. However, it didn't seem to be looking up at her--if she could even guess where its eyes might be at this point--and it moved in an arc around the camp, as if it were instead trying to get a better view of the fight between the goblins and the goat. 

As it did so, Ash's [Analysis] skill gave her a clearer idea of just what this thing was, but she could only see one of those hooved legs as the thing manuevered through the trees...

[quote=System:Ash]
You used [Analysis]!
---Cariblade---
A possible Transformation of the Bowhorn Deer, the Cariblade's horns have better adapted for close range combat. A diet rich in certain nutrients has hardened its antlers, turning them from woody formations to rigid, metallic spikes. Special blood vessels throughout the blades allow them to vent heat very efficiently, however this makes the metal unsuited for normal forging. Whereas other types of deer mark their territory or shed horns by rubbing against trees, male Cariblades often use rocks instead to hone their edges. Cariblades are not particularly magical in nature, but have higher MP than most other creatures you've seen in the forest. Its MP is still slightly lower than your own. It does not possess any magical skills, but seems to have some physical ones. Its antlers are of Excellent Quality, and its fur coat is protective against cold and rain. The meat, bones, and most other parts of its body would all have some use for food, clothing, or tools. Its physical stats are all higher than yours.
[/quote]

Ash moved a third time, using her wings to glide rather than outright fly, and trying to stay at angles where the creature would have to actively look upwards to find her. The Cariblade's body was broad and thick, at least five feet tall at the shoulder. Its frame looked to be packed with several hundred pounds of muscle. Its broad hooves had a somewhat arrow-head shape, though the bottom of each foot was even wider and seemed to have a sharp edge. Its antlers were styled like those of a reindeer--if a reindeer's horns were made out of metal and had been flattened and sharpened into a forked web of blades. It was almost like the creature wore a crown of scimitars and sickles. But, now it became clear--there wasn't just one monster observing them. A figure sat atop the Cariblade's broad, dappled brown back. Just a hair under five feet itself, the creature was humanoid in shape but seemed to have less mass--however, Ash couldn't tell what kind of frame it really had. It wore a thick furred cloak made of many hides stitched together with plant fibers, and under that it seemed to have thin, parchment-like wrappings around its hands and legs. It had proper shoes of rough leather--though they were obviously primitive in make, little more than moccasins. A hood covered its head, hiding its features in shadow--but as Ash's [Analysis] gaze swept over it, it clearly looked up at her. A hint of a reflection shone under the hood.

Was it smiling at her?

[quote=System:Ash]
You used [Analysis]!
---???---
This creature's features aren't clear enough for a proper analysis. You can tell that its size, and likely its strength, is much greater than that of yourself or a goblinoid. It appears to have some magical energy, but it still seems to be weaker than your own. However, there is a magical presence from it--perhaps a Spell or some other effect. It seems to be familiar with some form of stealth skill.
[/quote]

Meanwhile, Torrent had barely acknowledged that the Pygmy Drake was on the move. Instead she began to focus her magic, and waited for her chance as the goblins engaged the four-horned goat. Right after the sword-wielding goblin drew blood from the goat she tried to shift the earth beneath his feet. The harder packed ground and solid stones refused to budge, but she was able to shift the looser soil. Under the swordgob's lead foot the dirt suddenly lurched up just a bit, while under his rear leg it sank just a scant inch under his heel. The instant shift threw off his balance, and he fell to the ground. Though he managed to keep hold of his sword as he cried out in pain, he was now wide open. The goat had just kicked the goblin wearing the frying pan, and now it saw a weak link in the circle of goblins surrounding it. With a snort the creature lowered its head and charged the sword-holding goblin, who once again screamed in a high pitched voice.

Its horns, still corked at the ends, clattered against a sturdy wooden pot lid. Rags Nar held his shield in one arm as he stood over his underling, but it was clear he could barely hold any ground against the much heavier animal. Still, he slashed wildly with his dagger and the goat let out a loud bleat as it scrambled backwards.

The goblin wearing several pelts reached under one of them and withdrew a Stone Knife, before charging at the goat with a battle cry. The animal hopped lop-sidedly away, causing its attacker to miss. The beast swung its hard head, clipping the goblin's shoulder with its snout and immediately trying to bite him. It ripped a large patch out of the goblin's fur clothing, but didn't draw blood.

Mahya seemed to be looking on the ground for a weapon to use, and settled on a fist-sized rock. With a grunt and a wind-up worthy of a baseball player she hurled it at the goat. With a heavy thud it struck the creature just above one eye, and for the second time drew blood. The creature reeled, seemingly dazed from the attack--but just as the goblin with the frying pan armor was charging back up the hill, wooden club held high in both hands, the poisonous mammal bucked and kicked backwards once again. With another "ding" and a drawn out howl, the goblin went rolling back down the slopes.

As this "battle" waged on, Ash saw the strange figure pull something out from under its cloak. It looked like...a short bow of some kind, either made from horn or from very smooth wood. From a quiver strapped to the Cariblade's side, it drew an arrow...except, this arrow's head was oddly shaped. It was like a hard cylinder, made of wood and blunted on the "point." The creature notched its weapon...and took aim towards the gaggle of Goblins.

Inside the cave, Digbie prayed for guidance. He wanted to charge his Mana Orb with Holy magic, if such a thing were possible. He asked Jehanne to show him the path...but, in this quiet, dark, peaceful place, it didn't seem like he could see or feel any sign of her. However, perhaps because it was so quiet, dark, and peaceful, the little Demiblin had an almost meditative frame of mind...and a thought might occur to him. What made something "holy," really? What was the word's definition? And did that definition mean something different in regards to a spirit of mercy and compassion? A spirit like that, what kind of things would people expect them to do? Probably the generic "love and kindness" kind of miracles, right? Maybe like his Minor Heal spell? Or Sacred Ground? Sacred ground actually had the word "sacred" in it after all...

Oberon, on the other hand, took a secular line of thought. He tried to empty his mind and feel the energies all around him. He had taken into consideration Air Read, which had to be something like Digbie's Tremor Sense but for the Wind element. He had practiced with several elements by this point and was beginning to understand the differences in their Mana. He had spent quite a bit of time meditating, so he knew how to detect the energy within his own body. What he wanted, however, was to detect these things in [i]other[/i] bodies. 

In his mind, Mana took a shape represented by fog. Was it colored fog? Textured fog? Fog that could be thicker or thinner, wispier or denser?

In the darkness behind his closed eyelids...white fog began to form, edged by shifting patterns of rainbows in a fashion much like aurora borealis. But then that fog, so close to him, began to fade...or, rather, he was seeing more clearly beyond it. It felt a little like crossing one's eyes and seeing one's nose--it had to be there all the time, but the brain edited it out for the sake of clearing one's vision. He saw through the white, prismatic fog...and saw blackness. No, wait. There was...gray fog. All around, everything was gray...although, right over there, where he thought Digbie might be, the grayness seemed a little...heavier.

[quote=System:Oberon]
You are experiencing Rapid Skill Progression.
[/quote]
[hr]
[h3]PixieSlime Party[/h3]
"...Because there IS a Maker!" Despite being in the midst of battle, Trent manage to stare incredulously at Asura as the Slime engulfed the weakened Zombie Rat. "You yourself told Sir Zieglar of the voice that spoke to you and the "options" that allowed you to Transform!" The boy flinched at the sound of bones and organs being crushed inside the red, amorphous reincarnator's body. "Such things are how Divine Spirits commune with us, and the Maker is the only one who contacts all creatures no matter what type they are. You didn't even know about Galatine or any other Divines until moments ago."

With their enemy dealt with, the boy and slime were left to watch Ardur attack the Ghost Wisps. Asura tried to use his newest Analysis skill on the two creatures, assuming that the HiPixie and maybe his spider pet would be able to handle them.

[quote=System:Asura]
You used Magic Analysis I! You used Monster Analysis I!
---Ghost Wisp---
An Undead Wisp, its body has been consumed by both necrosis and magical energy to serve as fuel. What is left is a transient spirit that has a higher level of Mana, which allows it to exist as a Spirit-class Undead, but little control. Without a source of Mana nearby to recharge, a Ghost Wisp typically won't last more than 24 hours in the living realm. Its other abilities are typical of a low level Wisp. It is a magically oriented creature, possessing four spells.
[/quote]

Ardur's beetle mandible began to glow just so slightly with a white aura, as he activated his Mana Strike skill. Wings aflutter, he charged the Ghost Wisp just as it unleashed another Mana Orb of its own--its third one since the battle had begun. With a classic barrel roll, the Hipixie avoided the missile and prepared to strike--

He passed right through his opponent, as the Ghost Wisp faded away completely. With a last, creening screech, before he could even make contact the creature just seemed to...flicker out. Had using Mana Orb three times exhausted its MP to the point it couldn't sustain itself?

But with this target taken care of, Ardur could continue his flight towards the last remaining opponent. It was still focused on Trent and Ardur, and with a bright flash it too started to fire another Mana Orb. Then the buff fairy swung his sharpened piece of insect, and the magic around it crackled on contact with the ephemeral undead. Ardur's attack cleaved the second Ghost Wisp in half, and just like its fellow its agonized scream followed it out of the realm of the living.

When he turned back to the others, he would see Steve pointing towards Asura--who had already partially digested the Zombie Rat. Since his last order to the spider had been to switch targets, Steve seemed to be saying "what now?"

[quote=System:Ardur]
Skill Rank Up: Taming I > Taming II (1.95 > 2.0)!
MP Cost for Tamed Creatures below your level has decreased. Your Tamed Creature will automatically perform certain actions depending on the strength of your bond: Tamed Creature will attack any creature that attacks you; Tamed Creature will take a hit for you if your HP is low; Tamed Creature will prioritize any healing skills it possesses on you if your HP is low. 
[/quote]

"Well then." Trent said, returning his attention to their surroundings. "This...seems to be working better than I thought it would..."

As they continued, they soon came to the ashen remains of the goblin's old bonfire. The ground was uneven from all the digging the various monsters had done here--back before everyone left the cave, Asura and Digbie had tried to make a tunnel and the Dire Rats of the group had tried to dig trenches. There was also the fire pit itself, which had been scattered about as people tried to dig for the hidden stash of crystals. And the signs of battle, from the various monsters that had tried to attack Crispy. It had only been a day, perhaps two, since they had been here last but somehow the Dungeon's aura made it feel as if it had been that many years instead.

From the Dire Rats' old trench, a figure suddenly lunged into the radius of Asura's torchlight. It was a Goblin Skeleton--or was it?

Trent yelled out as a stone blade stabbed into his boot--he jerked his foot away, and it was unclear how much damage he had taken, but he immediately had his shield at the ready with his sword pointed right at the creature.

"Mana Orb, First Rank!"

The skeleton leaped from all fours, out of the trench and away from the magical blast. As it landed they could see just how it differed from the normal skeleblins--it was about six inches taller, with bones generally the same thickness but just elongated. Its cranium, too, was a little larger, and the ridges where its ears would have connected were deeper. Its bones were bleached white with only a few spots of brown or blackened gristle rather than any yellow bits--such things took a long time, indicating that these bones were very old.

As its jaws chattered, a more typical Goblin Skeleton came clattering towards them out of the dark, attempting to flank the group. From underneath the bonfire, a blurbling black mass rose and began slowly moving towards Asura...
[hr]
[h3]Rat Party[/h3]
[quote=System:Ed]
You used Monster Analysis I!
---Adult Male Human---
Humans are not technically considered Monsters. They are of the Enlightened Races, considered truly sentient. Nonetheless they are an advanced race with a fully functioning civilization, a varied history, and distinct cultures. [color=red]WARNING: DANGEROUS![/color]
---Elder Male Human---
Humans are not technically considered Monsters. They are of the Enlightened Races, considered truly sentient. Nonetheless they are an advanced race with a fully functioning civilization, a varied history, and distinct cultures. This one is an elder, as many humans only live less than a hundred years.
---Adolescent Male Human---
Humans are not technically considered Monsters. They are of the Enlightened Races, considered truly sentient. Nonetheless they are an advanced race with a fully functioning civilization, a varied history, and distinct cultures. This one isn't fully mature yet, but is undergoing many changes as their body grows into adulthood. [color=red]WARNING: DANGEROUS![/color]
[/quote]

The bandit lurched in recoil as Ed yelled at him, but the other humans just stared. The youth with the sword, now finished cleaning his blade of the fat bandit and the hobgoblin's blood, approached nonchalantly. The magic user hopped out of the cart to stand in front of the driver, patting one of the horses to calm it down.

"Baishan, d'ya think it's a Deviant? Should I kill it?" The swordsman, Wulf, stretched his wrist by giving his blade a light flourish.

"No! Ya already killed an enemy that was crippled, now ya wanna attack a critter what just helped us!?" The old man had reined the horses in, and now tied the leads onto a rod attached to the cart so he could shake his fist at the boy. "I dunno what that Monster thinks its doin', but if it ain't attackin' us or slowin' us down, leave it be! Let's get outta here--I'll bet ya Copps to Gol there's more o'them bastards around somewhere!"

"If you [i]have[/i] to keep cutting something, Wulf," the magic user broke in, crossing his arms with a huff, "Cut the ears off those hobs, and the kobold's tail, and we'll turn them in for some extra coin."

"...And the head of the fat one." The tribal spearman, apparently Baishan, kept his own weapon pointed at the bandit on the ground. With one hand he threw his pack on the ground, then reached into it to pull out some rope. "I'd also bet Copps to Gol that these two were on some of the bounties back in town. The Guild will probably recognize them both on sight."

"Alright, alright." Wulf sheathed his sword, looking at Ed with a curious expression, before drawing a carving knife instead. "But we still don't know why it can talk, do we?"

Ed had been watching the group this whole time, analyzing some of them. Granted, given the lower rank of his Skill, he only seemed to pick up information that was already somewhat obvious...

"I've heard of Ratmen that can chatter a bit." The old man stood up a little in his seat, chewing his bottom lip as he looked down at Ed. "But as to why it speaks Visk and not some varmint language, I ain't got the foggiest. Shouldn't you know somethin' like that, Al?"

"Most Ratmen speak a distorted Mob language, depending on what's in their habitat. Kobolds, Goblins, etcetera." The magic user rubbed his chin with a slender hand as he watched Ed sigh and stand up. "But maybe--"

"As you all have noticed, I am not your average run-of-the-mill ratman. I won't go into any complex nor convoluted explanations as to why I am this way, but I will say this." The group immediately went silent, every eye turned towards Ed. The bandit was even too shocked to resist, as Baishan had stopped tying his hands halfway through when Ed started talking again. "I am not from here and neither am I your enemy. I have no evidence, other than my words and actions, so it's up to you if you consider me to be otherwise." The Ratman sheathed his weapon, and after showing them he was unarmed, began to walk away. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some things to do."

"...Okay, it's either a [b]high[/b] rank Deviant, or something else Shape-Shifted into a Ratman--" The magic user had taken up a defensive stance once again, one hand already extended while the other had opened up a thick tome he pulled from his pouch. But the driver made a shushing motion with his hand, and as the tension settled over everyone like a weighted blanket, they watched.

Ed took the Kobold's staff, tying the black robes to it so that he could start looting the rest of the bandit's bodies. Every head slowly, stiffly, turned to follow his every movement until he finally came to the fat bandit. Wulf was standing over the body again, sword raised to cut off its head, but like the others had frozen solid when Ed made his speech. The ratman looked way, way up at the tall youth.

"Would you mind if I took the knife he had?"

"Uh...Just don't stab any Humans with it?" came the answer, as Wulf lowered his weapon and scratched the back of his head in confusion.

When Ed finally left the battlefield, the humans looked at each other. Baishan roughly hauled the bandit to the back of the cart, and after shoving him amongst some cargo, rubbed at his own temples.

"That's a sign of the Spirits, I just know it."

Meanwhile, Asteria had been looting her own body, and now tried to fasten the wraps from the hobgoblin to her own body. However, given the difference in length and size between the two creatures, they were quite awkward and heavy. 

[quote=System:Asteria]
You attempted to equip: Green Dyed Body Wraps!
Item was not made for your size. Item is not suitable for your species. Item is too heavy.
You have the Skill [Stronger I]. You have the Skill [Dextrous II]. You have the Skill [Use Light Equipment]. Negative Substat Enhancements have been neutralized.

You attempted to equip: Green Dyed Arm Wraps x2!
Item was not made for your size. Item is not suitable for your species. Item is too heavy.
You have the Skill [Dextrous II]. Negative Substat Enhancements have been lessened.

You feel [b]slower[/b] than before. It is [b]more difficult[/b] to attack properly. You do feel slightly [b]tougher[/b], though.

These Items might be altered by Crafting Skills.
[/quote]

Using her Muffle skill, Asteria was able to stay out of sight as she watched and listened to everything that happened between Ed and the Humans. Thanks to her higher rank Beast Senses, now that the din of battle was over she could catch pretty much everything that was said, and see well enough to pick up the various expressions of each person. She and Mother Rat followed Ed at a distance, from an angle where perhaps the humans wouldn't see them approach him until he was out of their eyeshot. 

Though they interfered with her movements somewhat, at the very least the green dyed cloths helped disguise her brown body amongst the grass. She and Mother Rat soon reunited with Ed, then they all headed back to the burrow. At some point during their trek, since they had taken such a wide U turn to double back without being spotted, they had missed the humans going on their way on the road. By the time they got back to the burial mound's entrance, the cart was rolling over the next hill. The bodies, or what was left of them after Wulf got through taking the gristly trophies, had all been rolled into the ditch...though at least the human had been somewhat laid in eternal repose, and a few bundles of cut grass had been piled over his body in imitation of a shroud.

Now what?
[hr]
[h3]Deep Forest[/h3]
As Femus meditated, he found his MP was already fairly full due to a full night's rest. It didn't take long for the System to inform him that his magical energy was topped up. However, as he continued to concentrate and--perhaps using that new skill, Mana Control--feel the flow of energy throughout his spherical form, he found that he could still draw some more. The sensation was like trying to breathe as deeply as one could and hold it, their cheeks puffed out and their mouth set firmly, before they tried to take in just one more through their nose. The silicate hairs all over the Wisp's body began to stand straight up, giving him the appearance of a floating pin cushion. He continued to draw in Mana, focusing on the circulation through his physical body of this seemingly spiritual energy. He wanted the greatest concentration possible...white sparkles of Mana, like dust motes in the air around him, began to appear around him like an aura.

[quote=System:Femus]
Your MP is Full.
You have gained Temporary Extra MP.
Your Mana Density has increased.
...
Skill: Mana Control has prevented Mana Overload. 
You have gained Temporary Extra MP. Mana is at Critical Limit.
[/quote]

Then he focused his will and decided on 'Adult Wisp'.  It was time to experience what this whole evolution thing was.

As soon as his decision was made, Femus felt a deep and powerful sleep come over him. It was too fast, and there was no fighting it--just like going under before a surgery.

And as he went under, he rose up and up and up. Femus saw his own body suddenly plop on the branch, lying peacefully in the leaves as the aura of light suffused his form and then went out. His glowing body now looked like nothing more than a gray, fluffy toy...

Femus suddenly saw EVERYTHING.

Not in crystal clarity, of course. But he drifted upwards, out of his body, rising high enough that he could look out across the forest. And sometimes it seemed as if he saw [i]through[/i] it--into the great tree under which he rested. Within the trunk, there was a deep, emerald colored light...and this light seemed to take a distinct form, a creature curled up as if in deep slumber. 

Then he could see nothing but the layers of leaves and branches, and then daylight, but before his eyes could adjust he was rising higher. Now he saw the forest in its entirety, and gently rising cliffs growing ever steeper until they became mountains to the immediate west. One of these mountains bore a great scar near its peak--as if some blade of impossible size had sheared off its tip. The rocks there were blackened yet smooth, with a glossy appearance of something that had melted together and then cooled. Within this smoking crater, many lights glittered...and small figures, too small to pick out their features, moved in groups along the slopes. He rose higher, drifting through clouds and further beyond, over curling smoke trails and unnaturally shaped structures of wood and stone that could only be civilization. Somewhere to the east, a large body of water sat glimmering with the last rays of the setting sun.

He rose higher. To the north, great rivers and another forest, though this one reached higher into the sky and its colors were darker and more muted. Though, there was an also an odd brown patch...as if many trees had been felled here, and then left to rot...Many miles further, this forest even wore a thin blanket of snow. Further to the east, a bright light cutting a path to safety for those in need of guidance. Over the mountains, to the southwest, a grand city stretching for miles. Still in the west, but far further north, a tower like a mighty tree reaching up to the heavens with roots stretching deep, deep into the earth. So far to the east that it became west again, a lonely, cold, desolate island where red lightning split the sky. Further beyond that, marshlands and mountains and untamed, wild lands.

He rose higher. A world, a planet, rotated thousands of miles an hour, yet from this distance appeared as no more than a soap bubble, as if it would pop if he but brushed a fingertip against it. The city lured him, cried out for him. The island's red skies held him in sway.

[quote=System:Femus]
[color=red]H͎͍̭̺̗͔̭m̶͎̀,͏̴̮̞ ̡̜͓̬̱͖͝t̨͇̼̪̼̘̖͍̬ḩ̴̬̫͈̀i̤̲̩̱̳̰̥s̀҉̺͓ ̷̱̣̜͟s͕̞̙͇͞ͅt͖͚̩͕̦̱i̭̦̘̖̤̹̜̰̯͞l̷͔͓̳l̶͍͖̘̻͉̰̘ ͉͎̜͉̥̺͟ḱ̼̣͈e̵̹̦̖̗͇̲͓̦͢e̬̫̬̠̮p̫̻̯̹̩͓̻̣͞s͏̩̺͎̻͚̣̮̪̣ ̧̲h͓̰̝̱̥a̩̪͖̬̕p̣̼̥͓͉̺̫͘p̶̝͖̖̳̯̻͖̩è̷̱̤̼̘n̢͢҉̞͇̟̫͈̹̲ͅi̘n̗̙͉̙̙̖͜g̙̖̳̕̕ ̺͇̝̯͇̺͇̀e̗̼͉̳̖͘͜v̛̖̦̹̭͈͇̠́e͏̹̜̦͚͜͞n̨̲̹̟̫͘͜ ̸̷̢̥̠̼̭͉̪͈̰t͞͏̘̜̦h͙̞̭̭͞ͅo̙͈̩u̖̮͉̙̤̗͡g̡̪̮͝ḩ͉͈͔̜̹̱͢ ͎̺I͓̠͖̙̭̭̜̣ ͓̖̦̼̪̮̗̀́ͅo͕͟͡v̱̩e͏̨̦r̹̗͇̀r̸̵̘̗̺̹̪̟̣̹̪o̢̺̝̖̮̼̻̗̰̠͘d̠̱̰̖̟̙͇̀e̵̺͖̘͇̺ͅ ̵̺͙͔̝̠̹̰̦t͔̱͕h͔̘̞̘͎͖̳͈͞e̞̬̩͕̼͚͍͖͘ ̞̫͍̞̩͙E̩͖̰͘͝r̷̙̲̟̭̗͕̕͞r̡̩̗͟o̥̳̖͖̕ṛ̷̨͕͎ ̪̗ṛ̫̫e͙̰̞̠̼̲̠͎ͅp͏̟o̷͕̬͓͙̕r̙̞̯̼͓͘͞t̢̙͇͇̳̜̞͍͝͡s҉̵̶̹̥.̹͕͖̻͔̜͙̙͟.̤̮.̡̛͇̠̖̪͍͇o̫͈̳͙͖̳̣h̵̰͈̲͘͟ ͏̶̬̺̼͎͘w̴̶̻̰̠̺̞͓̯̝̩͜e̺̼̩͓̕͜l̶̨̗͕̣͙͕̻̠͎̕l̡̺̟̗̤̮͝.̶͕̻̳̫̝̕͠ ̛̭̥̀D̮̲͈̤̹̦͟ͅò̲͓̮̀́ͅe̱͖̞s̶̼̩̻͙̩͔͝ͅn̨̜͈͖̠͉͙̩͠ͅ'̟͔͚͖̩͙͈̥̣ṱ̴̷̦̟͕ ͇͎̘͍͘͞͡s̸͚̬͍̱͕̙e̴҉̫̪̳̭̼̗͙̥̯e̞͡m̮͢͝ ̛̦͓̳͘͢t҉̼̖͈͇͚̲̪͟o̡̰͚̥̘̫̞ ̪̤̜̙̹̰̹̹b̪͡͝e̞̹͖ ̛̰͉͚h̶͏̤ư̜̪̜r̨̮̥͢͠t̸͔̠̣̟͘i͏̤͈n̡̝̗̰̹͙͇͎̭̕g̰̭͙͡ ̷̵͇a̘̳̥̝̣͝ņ̮̼̱͕̬̘͡y̡͎͔t̛͍̣̥̪̳͖̗h̴̡͇̙̦ͅi̴̼̝̟͓̥n͏͎̤̤͉̣̜̙̘g҉͎ ̶̧͙͎f̷̙̯o̤̼̪̱̬͎̳̮͞r̢͚̖̣̙̜̥ ̵̞̻̗͉͔̱t̨̜̮̝̘̬̝͖̲͢h̗̳͚̩̯̩̤̀e̢̫̰̠͓̟͟͠ ͏̫͖͙̱̠̩̫̲m̧̩̟͓̳͖͉ò̳̟͙͇̕͠ͅḿ̰̩̙e̫̱̲̲͜ņ̗̺͕͕̠̭͕̗t̀҉̹̠̜̹̮̬̯.̡̘̩̙̩͇͈͕͜ ͏̹̜̼Ą̥̖͔̱̦͍͚̯͔͢n̵̦͇̙̙͠͠d̪͖͈̗̟͚͝͠ͅ ̳͎̀y͕͢o̡̘̬̞̦̭͇̺̤u̧̘'̴̝͡r̷̙̹͙̤͍͖̟͎ͅe̝͖͓̕ ҉̘͎t͙̣̰̤̀͜h̸̵̢̝e̠̮̖͓͉͙ͅ ̪̤͓̟̪͍̰f̸͖̹͘̕i̱̪̣̲̜̩̬̯̕͜r҉̬͎̙̬s͔͖̦͓̝̟̱t̢̜̬ ̸̨̰̤̥̪̭ơ̧̟̤̺̦͘f̶̞̣ͅ ̩̯͍̯͍͘t̗̞̕ḫ̷̡͖̥͘a̡̳̭͓͟͢t̨̨̞̜ ̣͙̭̤͍̘̱s̵̱̗͘e̦͙̮̬͇̣͢c̯̱̹̀͟͝o̲͔͜͞n͏͇̘͎̣ͅd͙̝̪͠ͅ ̦͡g̗̺̙͉͎͉r̶̥̭͙̹̀͡o̗͍̲̕ù͇̱̫̜p̗̝̖͎̘ ̧̤͝t̷͉̦̖̥̥̲͞o̶̙͞ ͈̭̕ͅe͟͏͓̖͎͕̘v̷̥̦͜o̧͇̬͡l͕̲̲̳̦͈͉̫v̶̷̰͖̜̙́ȩ̤̞̫,̺͓̤ ̴̠̳͖̠͖͕̹e͞͞҉̲̦̫̺̺͖h̝̦̲̭̱̱͟͜?͏̪̦̤̯͉̳̀ͅ ̵̬̝̳͈̻̞̀A͔n͏͕̫̮͙͓͍̞͕ḓ̴̬̳͎ ̗̱̜̙͍̬o̢̼͕̗̰̣n͙̝̯̹̹͢͡l̩̤̜̞y̷̡̘̰̫̹̪̖̮̼͢ ̺̮̜̹̠̹͍t̷̘̖̪͉͔̼̪̘͟h̸̠̖̻̰͈̘e̼̠̗̹̼̭ ̜̙̟͈́͢s̴̛̙̱ę͍̰c̯͓͠o̶̶̳̮̱̙̮̟͞ń̻̞̤̜̞̮̣ͅd͝҉͕͇ ̴̣̼͙͇̫̘͠ͅó̷̭̗̩̬͖͙̲n̷̶̴̖̞̜ȩ̸̖̭̦̦̠͓ͅ ͚̳̭͙̭̼͕̦͚ó̺͉͈͖̦̻̝u̘̖͞t̵̤̼̪̠ ̸̸͓̱̬ͅǫ̠͍̫͢ͅf̟̘̥̰͔̗̳͓́ ҉̵̜̭͠t̨̩̩̲̭̙͓͙̻̀ͅh̩̗̙̫e̙̗ ͈w̸̘̣̗̬̼̫̩͠ͅh҉̬̤̮̹͎̗̥̝o̸̥͉͖̘͔̗͔̕ļ̷͏͖͉͇̰̥e̶͔̤̱͓͙͉͜ ̴͈̝̳̣͔̦̙͘b͈̟̫̩̟̖̭͔̪a̡̡̨̦̤g̜͘͜ ͏̳͖͘o̡͕͕̬͓͉̲ͅf̩̪͕̯̟̭͞ ̸̷̱̰̥̩͈c̷̢̻̙̞͈͠a͈̪̮͉͍̺̱͘ͅț̨́s̥̖̩̞͜͝ ̯̱̖̦͢ṯ̬͈͠ơ̴̢̫͇̣͓ ̡̞̺̲͉̳̪͔͡͝ͅͅǵ̡̗̖ò͎͍̭̳͉͚͞ ̡̞̞͈̮͢ͅw̯̱̮̬͎i̷̖̮͎̮͙̙t̯̺̬͍͕̰͈͖̕h̷̢͙̯̭͈̜̀ ͏̠̜̮̣̭͖̗͜t̢̡̜͉͉͕h̟̙͚͇͉è̴̵̗̱̺̯͖ ̨̠̭̤̪ͅ"́҉̜m̧̦̖̖͖̭u̫̬̹͙͔͙͙̼͉͟n̴͓̖̹̯͓͉͎̱ḏ̴̡̛̰̩̙͙a͎̼̳̩͕n̜͙̭̪̲̳͢e̘̰̫̦̣̠̻͓"͕͉ ̦͈a̧̧͎̰͔͎̭̬͝d̨͔͔̭̠̪̼͈̻̰u̷̺͉͈̗̜̪͇̝͖͡l͏̛̲̻̣̰t̛̜͈͖͝ͅ ̺͈̹o̦̰̱̭͍̬̳̲p̛̼̪̯̠̳̤͓̩̹͠͡t̲̬̺͚̫̩͝i͏̵͚͈o͔͈̯̩̰̩̯̬͜n̷̵͈̣̩͚̯͢.̸̱͚̙̙̱͜ ̨̯̹̞̤͍̬̜̕I͏̣̤̣̱̘͇̞̞ͅn̮͉̬̦̞͉̞̣͝t̮͔͝e̮̲͇͓̪͓̼͠͡r̡̭̣̜̯̭̝e̢҉̦̞̲̠̞̦̖̠s̨̧͖̺̝̞̺͙̪̳͔ţ̻͖i͖̘ņ̛҉͎g̜̠͉̬͚̤̠̕.̫̟̟̟̜̳̘͈͞͞ͅ.̧̰͎.̷̞͍̯̟̭̰̞ [/color]
[/quote]

Femus plunged earthward. Color blurred as he passed everything he had seen in an instant, and just as it all blurred together in his vision it did the same in his mind. When he awakened, he would remember only so much as one remembers a deep, nonsensical dream. He fell through the trees and crashed into his body...

[quote=System:Femus]
TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE!
(Immature) Wisp > (Adult) Wisp
All Stats have Slightly Increased!
Base HP has Increased!
Potential has Increased!
Special Condition: Mana Overfill has Slightly Increased Base MP!

You have still not reached your full Potential.
You are Well Rested.
Your HP is Full.
Your MP is Full.
Your Stamina is Full.
You are Hungry.
You are Thirsty.
[/quote]

As Nira observed Femus's evolution, all she would see after he strangely dropped into a deep sleep was that every pulse of his heartbeat seemed to become visible. And, after a few minutes of this, she might notice that his body was actually...swelling...with each heartbeat. The myriad fine hairs all over him were also growing longer, and it looked a few new ones were sprouting. Then, all of a sudden, Femus gave a jerk and came back to consciousness.

His body lit up from within, crackling with magical energy as he once again rose into the air. But for now, it seemed all that had really changed externally was his size and the brightness he produced. It was hard to look directly at him, much like a new lightbulb when the switch is turned on for the first time.

But, to step back in time for a moment...

When Nira had stepped down to practice the Mana Orb, she repeated her original exercise with more surety. The orb seemed much more stable this time, though still smaller then when she had seen Femus use it. When the idea came to her to make some kind of incantation, she found that with every word she spoke the orb grew a little larger, and when it was the right size she could feel it pulling, as if it wanted to simply fly off somewhere. She took aim and released, and the orb flew away from her...only to rapidly lose steam. Every millimeter it was away from her hand it grew a little smaller, and by the time it actually struck the ground it did nothing more than sizzle. 

[quote=System:Nira]
You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.

You are Hungry.
You are Thirsty.
[/quote]

As she grabbed a Blue Yill from the nearby field, maybe it was the smell of herbs or just the fact that she hadn't had breakfast yet. But her belly began to grumble as she returned to the tree, just in time to see Femus finish his evolution...
[hr]
[h3]Farmstead[/h3]
[quote=System:Danny]
You used Monster Analysis III! You used Material Analysis I!
---Adolescent Human Male (Physical Combatant Class)---
Humans are not technically considered Monsters, and seem fundamentally opposed to them. They are of the Enlightened Races like Elves and Dwarves, highly evolved creatures considered truly sentient, though this may depend on definition. Nonetheless they are a technologically and magically advanced race in control of multiple nations, with a varied history across most of the interior continent, and distinct cultures in different biomes. This one is still an adolescent but appears trained in combat. His physical strength and attack stats seem much higher than yours. His MP is not quite as high as yours, but is higher than most creatures you've seen in the forest. His speed and agility based stats seem higher than yours. His endurance is much, much higher than yours. Many of his stats are being increased by his equipment. He has an Iron Hatchet, an Iron Dagger, a Thick Gambeson, a Wellspun Tunic, Wellspun Trousers, Leather Boots, Leather Gloves, and a Cloth Bandana. His pouch seems to contain essential items for short term travel. It is likely his training has allowed him to develop some Skills. [color=red]WARNING! DANGEROUS![/color]
[/quote]

Geir looked up from his practice even before Danny had started to approach him--they weren't in his line of sight at the moment, but the boy slowly took stock of his surroundings. Had he picked up a sound, or the slight glow of Danny's body in his peripheral vision? After a moment or two he seemed to relax--then the Poltergeist called out to him.

The red headed human whirled, axe in hand, and swiped at the empty air as if he expected an enemy to rush him at any moment. Finally he focused in on the vague, glowing outline of Danny several yards away.

"Excuse me! This is probably a strange question but do you have a map my friend and I could look at?"

"HALT! FREEZE! STOP, RIGHT THERE!" The human took a deep breath, and steadied his grip on his weapon. Now he sank into a proper stance, and his eyes--what little of them they could see reflecting Danny's light in the darkness--narrowed. "Identify yourself! Who and what are you! And if you're another of these talking monsters, I advise you to just turn around, right now! Demons can fuck right off!"

He was looking right at Danny, and certainly did not look nice at all. A chill wind blew through the night. One of Geir's hands slowly eased towards his belt, and the long knife hanging there.

Meanwhile, Miiba stopped as she helped Lear bring in firewood. She spoke to Gwyn, who was still conversing with Scott, but stopped short as she caught sight of something out of the window. When she went to look, she saw Geir flailing and could hear the muted, angry noises that was probably him yelling at something, but couldn't make out any words. She could also see the faintest, almost ghostly, blue glow flickering out in the lawn.

"Mr. Lear," she started with the same inquisitive tone she used whenever she was about to ask something, "What big blue glow ball with Geir?" she asked with her finger pressed against the window pointing to Danny, but looking back to Lear.

"Hmm?" The farmer leaned down next to the goblin and squinted. "Oh? If I had to guess, I'd say a Wisp that floated over the wall." He put one big hand on Miiba's head and ruffled her hair. "Don't worry about it. Geir yelling is as natural as the wind's whistling. It'll probably be good for him to blow off steam with a weak enemy or two like that."

The farmer went back to his fireplace. It seemed like the family was about to get ready for their usual reading from that book, like they had done last night...