Noblesse Oblige (Other POV)

“Come on!” A man comes up to Yamakuma after seeing her vomit all over the floor.

“I’m sorry.” The girl responds weakly.

“She has teleportation sensitivity.” Master Til explains before pointing to me. “Pick her up Goodswell. And carry her with us.” She says. I take a moment to compose myself. If this was even just last year I would be yelling back at her, questioning her.

“Yes ma’am.” I respond before the master becomes angry.

“I’m very sorry about this journeyman.” Til says with a salute. “We’re on their graduation hunt otherwise I would have us help you clean up.” She explains to the man.

I look at the small girl before lifting her onto my back.

“Sorry.” Yamakuma says weakly into my ear. “This is better than last time still.” She explains. “So dizzy.” She mutters. This girl has always been problematic but this is definitely the most she has ever been.

-- -- --

The back of the wagon is bare but quite spacious. Nothing like I am used to riding in.

Despite this, Yamakuma is leaning against me as if she is not aware that there is much more space in here. Master Til however is sitting in the other end of the wagon near the driver and the elf sitting next to him.

“What’s wrong with her?” The elf woman sitting next to the driver asks us.

“Teleportation sensitivity.” Master Til answers turning her head back to face the elf before turning back to face us. “I hope this heals quickly.” She mutters.

“Could we give her a healing potion?” I ask the master.

“No.” Til responds shooting my idea very quickly. I take a breath to not let myself become angry and lash out at her. “Teleportation sensitivity is a magical and mental problem. Healing potions are for physical problems.” She explains.

“That makes sense I suppose.” I reply with my anger washing away completely.

“I’m sorry.” Yamakuma mutters weakly into my ear once more.

“Stop apologizing.” I order the girl. “You don’t exactly have control over if you get effected by this or not.” I explain to her. She always seems so mature and put together, especially for her age. But it appears that facade is quite easy to shatter under the correct conditions.

-- -- --

We get out of the back of the transport. Yamakuma seems much better, though maybe not back to normal quite yet.

“Thanks for the ride.” Master Til says to the wagon as they ride away.

“This really is the end of civilization, isn’t it?” I say looking around. There is so little here, how do these peasants do it?

“Yes it is.” Til says smacking the middle of my back.

“So how far to the reported area?” Yamakuma inquires. Good to see she is able to at least compose herself.

“Two days journey.” Master Til answers looking out at the horizon past town. She turns her gaze to the small girl. “That is if we could go top pace the whole way.” She adds.

“So how long?” Yamakuma asks looking out at the horizon. This girl has always been such an enigma.

“If you don’t improve much.” The master looks up at the sky in thought resting her chin in her hand. “Maybe five days.” She finally says looking back down at both of us.

“So we should get moving then.” I say before beginning to take steps towards the wilds.

“Yes, but we should get some food and water first.” Master Til replies stopping me in my tracks.

-- -- --

The sun is setting below the large trees all around the area.

“We’ll stop for tonight.” Master Til orders us. “We don’t want to be out and about at night.” She adds setting down her supplies.

“What’s so bad out here?” I ask setting my own supplies down.

“When I was six a big lizard was out here.” Yamakuma answers setting her supplies down as well. “Talking big enough that Master Nir, a journeyman at the time, and an apprentice were amazed that they themselves took it down by themselves.” She explains sitting down next to her supplies.

“Ah that job.” Til says with a sigh unpacking her supplies. “A prime example of people being wrong with what they see.” She says looking over at us. “They said it was probably a drake or maybe a hairless bear.” She explains before going back to her unpacking.

“I take it was neither of those things.” I reply.

“Correct, one of it’s teeth is the necklace I always wear.” Yamakuma says showing me the tooth around her neck.

“That is quite the tooth.” I respond not really able to think of the words to say about the size of it.

-- -- --

The night sky is filled with smoke from our campfire. I had no idea Yamakuma could cook, we had been on so many practice hunts together but we never had to cook.

“Isn’t it strange?” The girl cryptically asks me. “We’ve been on twelve practice hunts and this graduation hunt for a total of thirteen hunts.” She explains answering the question I was about to ask. The cook looks over at me. “Do you know how many hunts you and I have been on together?” She asks me.

“Most of them.” I answer looking at the fire instead of her. Something about her right now makes me feel a little uneasy.

“Ten of the thirteen.” Yamakuma answers. She turns back to the fire. “There is no way that putting us together so much wasn’t planned every one of those times.” She mutters a bit of anger entering her voice. I personally never thought of that but now that she mentions it...

-- -- --

The sun is barely rising above the trees. I more so smell the swamp than see it really at the moment.

“Well it only took us three days to get here.” Master Til announces looking about the wide sprawling untouched landscape.

“Glad to be of service.” Yamakuma replies in a chipper tone.

“Now the fun part begins.” Til says clapping her hands together excitedly. I would have disagreed when Yamakuma and I first joined, but tracking does have a unique charm to it.

“What kind of things should we be on the look out for?” Yamakuma asks our leader.

“Not sure yet.” The master replies looking back at us for a moment. “Knocked over and damaged trees are the easiest to notice.” She adds. “Rather unfortunate we got such a large area to cover for your first hunt outside.” She mutters in annoyance.

-- -- --

The sun is lowering towards the trees partly blocked by the larger one already. We have been searching all day and almost nothing of note. Master Til is bent down looking at the edge of a large lake searching for any signs of our mark.

“Master should we call it a day?” I ask the woman. She looks over to me and is about to speak until-

“Do you hear that?” Yamakuma inquires interrupting.

“No.” I answer looking at the girl.

“Exactly.” Til says standing up to her feet. “Our mark is near.” She continues turning back to the lake. “Animals are only quiet when they are dead, asleep, or their habitat is disturbed.” She explains drawing her large wooden gem encrusted blade. “I see your Warden training is paying off.” She adds to Yamakuma.

The woman swings her sword against the surface of the water, creating a large splash across the lake. Silence fills the air still.

“Shou-” I begin.

I cannot even ask my question as a large reptilian creature rises out of the lake and roars in fury at us. That is when it unfurls its wings.

“Pit’s shit!” Master Til exclaims “This ain’t a wyrm or serpent.”

The creature rears back its head and opens its mouth.

“That’s a dragon!” The master yells.