[center][h2][color=F0E68C]Asteria[/color][/h2][/center][hr][hr]
[color=F0E68C]“Oh, hey there, gnome!”[/color] she greeted him, surprised that he’d so promptly showed himself. She was glad he’d allowed for the goblin meat, and nodded thankfully. [color=F0E68C]“It’s what we have at hands – at paws? – so, great that it works for you,”[/color] she commented, rolling a shoulder.

Asteria listened intently as the gnome explained it situation. It was fascinating; he was a monster contracted by humans to work as a guard. She really, really wanted to see the contract itself, but since that was unlikely, hearing about it was the second-best thing. Apparently, the coin she’d stolen had been left as an offering, which was…not at all what she’d assumed. That was kinda embarrassing. At least she could keep the gold piece. It probably wasn’t worth too much, but who knew when it would come in handy?

[color=F0E68C]“Heh, heh, loopholes are the best, right?”[/color] she chuckled slyly, but shifted in place slightly. It was a tad awkward discussing that so openly. [color=F0E68C]“If you really don’t mind me keeping the coin, then I will,”[/color] she declared, somewhat hesitant. Regardless of what the gnome said, this was technically theft, and [i]if[/i] the humans found out about it, Asteria was sure it would constitute as a breach of contact. While she considered why the gnome was fine giving away a gold coin to a random stranger (and to an unusual monster, moreover), the gnome asked for fire, which Ed promptly responded to.

Just after Ed left to gather the items for his fire-making attempt, Asteria added her piece. [color=F0E68C]“Since you said the gold a gift from you to us…what do you expect in exchange? Is getting Ed to cook you the food enough?”[/color] she cocked her head to the side, considering the gnome. [color=F0E68C]“I know that may be a crass thing to ask, but there are bound to be some…cultural differences,”[/color] she offered.

Then her companion returned, and explained why humans cooked food as he worked. [color=F0E68C]“It can also be tastier cooked, as you noted. Especially if seasoning is added,”[/color] she remarked. Ed then told the gnome that they were humans reincarnated into monsters, without revealing the Demon King’s involvement, which Asteria agreed was for the best. [color=F0E68C]“Yeah, we aren’t Familiars. Do [i]you[/i] count as a Familiar, gnome, or is being contracted a different kind of a thing?”[/color] she wondered.

Asteria was certainly eager to find out as much as she could from this sentient creature. He was classified as a monster, sure, but it seemed perfectly willing to cooperate. [color=F0E68C]“Are there many so-called monsters that can speak like we do? I mean, we’ve heard that goblins, hobgoblins, kobolds, and the like can, to an extent, but…I doubt that human speech – if what we’re using right now even is that – is so common among non-humans. By the by, those human owners you mentioned, do they come and go on a fixed schedule or are there random check-ups? We probably don’t want to be seen by them.”[/color] Running out of breath after her bout of rambling, Asteria inhaled, and let the gnome the opportunity to answer. She still had a lot of questions, though.