Chapter 25: Treatment Plan

On a whim, I decided to follow Talon outside of Dadirdtoun. I received the Village Elder’s permission to go on a journey, and my father somehow agreed to it, though I think he had the wrong idea of what my goal was. Frankly, I’m not even sure what I’m doing here.

If someone asked me to fully explain why I made such a drastic decision, I wouldn’t be able to explain it. If they asked me why I couldn’t explain it, all I would be able to do is say “I don’t know” and look like a fool. The girl who is currently sitting across from me pays no mind to my agonizing thoughts, and instead focuses all of her efforts on devouring an entire seafood platter meant for five people. Without a care for how she looks, or how the people around her stare, Talon continues to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants, even now.

In just a short time, Talon has managed to betray Dadirdtoun, become the Queen of an Orc Tribe, subdue an entire fort, and become a semi-necrotic being. For better or for worse, my entire view of the world has been reshaped by her actions. There are much more to monsters than I learned about as a child, and although Talon’s actions were drastic, I see that she was attempting to help the Orcs reconcile with Dadirdtoun. Later on, she also told me that she was perfectly fine being the victim of a necrotic spell. In her eyes, she saved the General from a fate far worse.

No matter the situation, Talon takes things head on, and without hesitation, will resort to the most drastic measures for reasons I can’t comprehend. I’ve been quickly becoming aware that Talon is much more complicated than I initially thought.

In a way, it’s almost respectable. Elder Tres told me that traits like those are a mark of a free-spirited person. Though, he also said that sometimes, such qualities can lead to their downfall. My wisdom is entirely derived from his teachings, and I can’t really compare his words to others, but somehow, I feel that there’s a little bit of truth in those words. Was it worry that made me leave everything behind to follow Talon? Or was it something else?

Well, regardless of the answer, I’m definitely worried about Talon now. She hasn’t noticed it, but I’ve observed various emotional and physical changes.

For one, this seafood platter. It’s already gone. The one meant for five people. Talon gives me a dopey grin and starts a conversation.

“Whew! That was super tasty, I think I could go for seconds, but I’ll hold back since you’re so stingy on funds.”

“...Thank you for your consideration.”

“What’s the matter Reuby? Are you mad I didn’t share or something? Did you not like your Slowfish Sandwich?”

“It was actually quite tasty, I’m just thinking about… various things. Speaking of, please drink this.”

“Bleh, again with this? You sound like a broken record.”

“Broken record?”

“Ah, right, you wouldn’t know that either, huh… Hmm, I’ll rephrase it. You sound like a bird who only knows one word.”

“...What?”

“Eh, forget it. The point is, I’m not interested in whatever drink you keep trying to give me. I get you’re trying to become a healer and finally realize your childhood dream, but it doesn’t make sense to try something on someone who is perfectly healthy.”

“...Would you let me help you if you were injured?”

“Hm? What kinda question is that? I saw you patching up the Orcs and apprentice knights at Fort Forth. Why would I stop you?”

“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”

So, I’ll have to wait until she lets her guard down to continue with my plan. I’ll need to keep a steady eye on her attitude then.

The seafood platter that put up a pitiful fight is not a problem, but it does hint at one. Talon having a ravenous appetite could be likened to her time with the Orcs. The Tribe is known for its cooking and indulges in as much food as possible. I’ve recently learned all of their customs to better support the journey to Gimmimunee. Talon adapting to their Tribe is not a big surprise. Considering how poorly she ate in Dadirdtoun, I can excuse her wanting to eat whatever she can get.

The problem is the way she approached the menu. It wasn’t with an attitude of “This looks tasty, let’s try it!” but instead a mindset of “I shall devour the meal before me.” There was an ominous flicker behind her eyes. It wasn’t at a dangerous level, but I did feel some unsettling chills run down my back. Beyond that, she was sloppier than usual when eating, and only realized she had to feed her precious chickens halfway through her meal.

I haven’t known Talon long, but having spent a good deal of time with her since our initial meeting, I was already starting to pick up on her habits and mannerisms before the Frying Festival. Many of these things have clearly changed. She’s eyeing shiny items at storefronts when initially she was fine with frugality. She’s also gained a tendency of rushing into battle when she sees monsters in the distance. From what the Orcs told me, she was actually avoiding battles with monsters on their way to Fort Forth, and she had an entirely nonconfrontational attitude when she confronted the previous leader of the Orc Tribe.

It could be argued that these changes are, overall, not too concerning. When someone steps out into unfamiliar places, they are bound to change in some way. I’m sure I’ve changed at least a little bit. Despite this, I have a firm belief that the spell “Nekuroberu” has affected Talon beyond her physical state.

The General at Fort Forth, Mr. Wuns Agen, proposed a meeting between me, Soos Sheff, and himself. The General had seen the entire interaction between Nekuroberu and Talon, and was gravely concerned about Talon’s being. The General was highly aware of what type of side effects might occur, and thoroughly encouraged us to come up with a treatment plan for Talon. The potion I am attempting to have her drink is part of that treatment plan. Soos Sheff and I combined our specialties as a shaman and prospective healer to come up with a remedy for magical necrosis. It’s not a cure-all, and it’ll really only maintain Talon’s current status, but it’ll stop her from devolving further.

If she’s already showing signs of abandoning her humanity for cardinal desires, such as an overindulgence in food, treasure, and battle, then it’s clear the General’s worries were not unfounded. I almost wish Talon still had her mindset from when she was in Dadirdtoun. At that point, it would’ve been easier to give her a new food or drink item without trouble. Her time with the Orcs has made her able to choose her meals without restraint.

The remedy, which is supposed to be given in regular doses, has gone unused. Talon refuses it, and the Orcs, who seem to be the only people Talon listens to, praise her as a Queen. They couldn’t change her mind if they tried. The General was afraid of arguing with Talon for some reason, and her chickens are… well… They’re chickens.

I’m the lone soldier on this battlefield. The only one who can breach the front lines and attempt to break down Talon’s stubbornness. A direct approach clearly isn’t working, so I’ll have to be sneaky. If I can’t figure out something in Gimmimunee, then I’ll work with Mast Tersheff to cook the remedy into Talon’s food. That’s the only thing I can think for now…

“Reuuuuuby! Hey! Buddy! Friend! What are you spacing out for? If we’re done here, let’s pay and head out! I’ve got a lot to do here.”

“...Right, sorry. I was just thinking about things.”

“Sometimes, I feel like you think too much. You can give your mind a break sometimes, alright? I’ve learned how to do that after some hard times. Take it easy.”

Out of nowhere she stands on her toes and pets my head again.

“T-Talon! I thought I told you to stop doing that! Do you have any idea how-”

“Relaaaaax, Reuby. If you can’t take something like this, how are you supposed to unwind in your free time? You always give me odd looks for the simplest things. I’m a bit worried about you, is poor Reuby going to grow up fine in the future? Ahh~ I wonder, I wonder…”

“I’ve been doing just fine, thank you. Just… Please at least warn me when you do strange things out of nowhere.”

“Hmmm… Nope! Surprises like these are how I raise my charm stats! If I can get you to simmer down, then I’m pretty sure most of the NPCs in Namida would be pretty fine with it too. I just need to train a bit more.”

“Right…”

I still have no idea what she means by any of that. I have a feeling I might never know what’s truly going on in her head.

Actually, I think I found the answer. I know why I followed Talon. It was because of exactly that. In Dadirdtoun, I know about everything. As the attendant to the Village Elder, I was commonly moving around town and meeting everyone. I managed myself in a way that suited my role. I knew everyone, and everyone knew me. I didn’t start conflicts and lived my life with no huge qualms. That was how I chose to understand the world.

With Talon, I don’t need to manage myself. Rather, I can’t afford to worry about how I appear when the girl beside me doesn’t care. Doing so would just be a waste of energy, and energy is a precious resource to keep if I’m traveling with Talon. That new sensation of not knowing what comes next… is nice. Experiencing new things, even under stress, is something I can currently enjoy.

That’s why I’ll keep following Talon. To figure out her puzzle, and to make sure she doesn’t lose herself in the process, I think I’ll stick around for now. Talon has already accepted me with open arms, so the best I can do is try and return the favor.

“Hey hey, Reuby, once we check in at an inn, don’t forget, we need to plan on how we’re going to rob the Weituriche Bank, alright?”

“You’re actually thinking of doing that?! That wasn’t a joke?”

“Hehe, doesn’t it sound like fun?”

In the afternoon sun, Talon flashes her pretty smile at me while leaning forward slightly, hands behind her back. She’s doing that thing again where she adjusts her body’s pose to specifically attack my preferences. Does she even realize how powerful that technique is?

Receiving a direct attack from Talon, all I can do is counter back.

“Instead of doing something stupid like robbing a bank, how about you drink some of this?”

“Blehh! Reuby!! Get that way from me!”

What am I going to do with this girl? May Nephelai help me…