I hobble over to the door as the dreepy swarm me, darting about maniacally as they are doubtless making a commotion I am still unable to hear.
At the very least they have the courtesy to inform me when someone is knocking at the door, I think. All the more fortunately as well, judging by their excited state, it is not Cyndaquil who is there.
I open the door to my laboratory but before I am able to see who is there, I am thrown backwards onto the ground by a blur of beige-and-brown fur.
The flames cresting my neck automatically ignite in joy, though I try to regain my composure as I stand up and speak towards my assailant. "Linoone, I've asked you to not hug me so. What if I were carrying a dangerous potion?"
"Sorry, Ikarus," I see the mailmon mouth, "I just hadn't seen you for a while since we've both been busy!"
I sigh. "Yes, that is so. And fortunately my hands were free."
"Which means you can give me a hug!" Linoone exclaims.
I am unable to suppress a chortle as I embrace my friend. I make no effort to suppress my flames, however, as they seem to have no ill effect on him.
"Well Linoone," I begin, "I hope you're here to catch-up. If you're here for a breakthrough with that alchemical enigma of yours, I must confess none has come."
Linoone waves his claw in the air dismissively. "Don't worry! I've just been busy with my deliveries and I know you've been busy with your new partners!"
I close my eyes wistfully. "Yes, they are indeed great to have. Wonderful company."
I open my eyes to continue, but I instead see Wrath trying to tip over a vial of volatile liquid onto his sleeping sibling, and I am forced to intercept.
Well, these partners are certainly some sort of company.
After I readjust it and turn back to Linoone, who is playfully waving his claw at the other dreepy surrounding him. Once he sees I'm looking back at him, Linoone says, "Well, it is great to see you, but I actually came to see if you could help me with a delivery."
"Oh? Why me?"
"Well, I try not to fight in mystery dungeons and--"
"Forgive me for interrupting," I say, "but did I not tell you how my one and only foray into a dungeon went? I neglected to bring offensive potions and even my fighting was novice. If anything, I was a detriment with how slowly I moved."
"But don't you want to go dungeoneering again?"
"I do," I confess with a sigh, "Since arriving here I longed for the very same adventure I longed for as a human. But I am a knight neither here nor there. Just a mere alchemist better suited for the laboratory..."
"Well, that doesn't have to be the case!" says Linoone, patting my arm excitedly. "You just have to practice! And that's why I want you to come along and help out. I have to deliver a package at the end of a mystery dungeon so it'd be great for you to come and practice."
"I cannot protect you."
"Don't worry about it Ikarus! The dungeon shifted or something a hundred years ago and is dirt-easy now. I guess that's why the client decided to live there. Easy enough to deliver to but enough to make unwanted visitors avoid it."
"And what might I learn from you? You said you did not fight, correct?"
Linoone nods. "Right, I don't fight. But I'm a badger just like you! I was in your place two years ago, so no one would know more than me how to help you learn how to use your body more effectively. You said you moved slowly too, right?"
"Yes..?"
Linoone lets out the brightest smile I've seen from him yet. "I thought so! Well, who better to learn how to be fast than from the fastest mailmon on the whole continent? Our bodies should be similar enough for me to teach you everything I know!"
Now I begin to take this offer more seriously, enough to entertain stepping away from my alchemical work.
"Also..." starts Linoone.
"Hmm?" I question.
Linoone dons a smug grin, "Well, I do need you for something else. The package needs to remain heated and I have to deliver it to a place called Blizzard Island; I'm sure you can imagine how cold it'd get."
My ears automatically flatten at this revelation. "So you wish to have me merely as a source of heat?"
"Nonono! I want to help a friend of mine go for his goal! You can just help me out, too!"
"So," I say, "were I to accompany you, you would teach me how to use this badger-like body to the fullest extent?"
Linoone nods, but my mind turns and I speak more, "I do wonder, however, if I can find another badger to teach me, one that actually fights. Or rather, would not another member of my species be even better suited to teach me?"
Linoone snickers, "You mean Cyndaquil?"
With that I find myself hastily agreeing to the expedition, with Linoone telling me to start packing up as he goes to retrieve the package. I pack away a fair share of alchemical potions -- I will not use raw, inefficient, and unclean ingredients taken from the floor -- and ready myself for the adventure.
Before I head towards the docks of Capim Town to begin my adventure with Linoone, I turn to my dreepy assistants and command them to behave, but am sure to give all of them -- save for Pride and Gluttony -- farewell tosses.
I will leave a note next door announcing my departure and requesting they be fed. At the very least I have faith these dreepy won't destroy the lab. Or the Guild. I hope it is not misplaced.
With the last toss, I waddle towards the door and close it. My slow pace makes my mind wander. I do wonder how Linoone will teach me to move faster considering he runs on all fours. I pray his secret isn't to relegate myself to such a stature and leave behind one of the few remnants of my humanity. Never could I do such a thing.
Rescue Team's Friend Area ~ Oceanic
"You do have to do such a thing," says Linoone, "there's no other way for you to run fast with those short legs of yours, Ikarus."
I look down at my body, trying to remain upright despite the motion of the Lapras Liner as it sails the seas. "Linoone, I am an alchemist. Hand-chosen by one of the foremost lords of Britannia. I was trained in the city of Constantinople itself; I witnessed the epitome of human civilization. I will not tarnish all of that by being worse than when I was a peasant by walking about on all fours."
Linoone frowns. "You don't have any choice. Look, Ikarus, do you want to make a better future or just live in the past?"
"The former," I admit, though I know what will come of my honesty.
"Okay, then," says Linoone as he throws himself onto the deck of the ship and begins to prance about, "In that case just do what I'm doing. You sorta have to fling yourself forward."
Still, I object. "But what of my humanity? Is this not utterly humiliating and animalistic?"
Linoone sighs, "What other choice do you have? We just have to play the cards we're dealt. I mean, look at Torchic. I think I heard her say she was once a chemist and now she can't even stand up on her own. I'd say you got the better end of the deal."
My interest was piqued at this. "'Chemist?' 'She?' I will have to find out more but, a female alchemist? The lot of you truly do originate from a backwards world."
"Ikarus," says Linoone, "right now we need to focus on the basics. But you do get my point, right? You have to walk around on all fours if you want to accomplish your goals; I'm sorry but it's just how it is for you. Don't you want to adventure?"
I concede that with a sigh. At the very least I can stand upright easily. Being forced on all fours almost the entire time seems a worse fate.
Thus, I analyze what Linoone does and, begrudgingly, let myself fall to my hands. It is a humiliating endeavor, walking about the ship as I try to copy my companion, but to my unfortunate realization, I move far, far faster than I before. I manage to catch up to his pace and, as he speeds up, I slowly but nevertheless manage to catch up.
This rapidly escalates as we go about in circles in a run -- Linoone mentions something about how he is slow since he can only run straight -- but nevertheless the accomplished speed is worth the humiliation, if at least for my ability to not slow down allies in future dungeons.
"Okay," I say, "and do you just push yourself up to stand upright? I might be able to run now, but I still require use of my hands to combat an opponent."
"Sure!" comes the jolly reply, "I have to do that when I hand over a piece of mail. Just make a leap like so--" comes the jolly reply and demonstration as Linoone makes a particular bound forward. "--and then shift your weight forward when you land. You'll do a roll but you'll end up standing!"
The act is swift, but he manages to roll and -- in a single smooth motion -- open his mailbag and emerge upright with a piece of mail between his claws. "See? I'd just hand it to them like that! There's a reason Pelipper Mail stands no chance against Delibird Deliveries."
"Does that include the 'packages' your lord asked me to assist in making?"
Linoone just dons a smug smile but returns to showing me how to leap-then-roll.
Doing so is not preferable -- of course neither is commuting on all fours -- but the ease by which Linoone is able to upright himself is undeniable.
Come forth, Ikarus, I tell myself, you already committed to mulling about on all fours. What more is a small roll?
With that I make the roll and, trying to mimic Linoone, stand upright with a flame ignited over the open palm of my hand, ready to use it. I am surprised by my own aptitude with this.
"See!" Linoone exclaims with a clap, "you're great! And you got a flame! Isn't that one of your moves, 'infernal march?'"
"Infernal?" I reply, "It is anything but! This is more akin to greek fire, which I rediscovered; by the guiding light of the divine, no doubt. It is a rather strange flame, however... Firstly, it seems to particular groups of pokemon are immune to it entirely! It contains elastic properties as well; when I let it grow in size it dissipates as if whatever force was holding it together ceased to exist, but if I compress it it rebounds with wild vigor, disssipating with brief but extraordinary force! As it does not extinguish in water much like greek fire -- did ever I mention it was I who rediscovered it? -- I thus suspect it to be--"
Linoone's wildly waving arms make me realize I was going on yet another alchemical tangent.
"My apologies. All I know is that the fires I control act much differently than what I have seen used by most other pokemon."
Linoone nods, "Well, you'll have plenty of time to experiment! And soon, too! Look over there, on the horizon."
I align my snout with Linoone's and see, amidst a cold squall of air that blows over us, a rising, frost-tipped peak in the distance. He taps on my shoulder to get my attention. "Ikarus, from where we make landing it'll be a bit of a journey. But since we're running now it won't be too bad! We'll have to make camp before we go up."
I open up my bag. "Nonsense! Many a night I've stayed awake when I was in the depths of my alchemical research. Here, I brought for us some quick-seed drinks. Not only did I make it so that it was infused with energy, but I flavored it with berries so that it might be more enjoyable."
I hand Linoone a potion and he downs it. I feel pride when I make note of his tail wagging, though I know since I would be embarrassed at such a thing, I turn away and rummage through my bag, opening and drinking a similar potion. I settle my gaze upon our destination; Blizzard Island looms ahead.
Explorers of Sky's Blizzard Island Rescue Team Medley
The world reforms around us in a dizzying melding of blue-and-white as I feel the cold I felt on the shore of the island triple in magnitude.
"By God," I say as I focus on the flames emanating from me, increasing their intensity, "It is extraordinarily cold."
I glance at Linoone whose eyes are darting from me to the package as he breathes out a bit of condensation.
"Oh, my apologies," I say as I raise my hand towards it and intensify the flame through will alone, "I had nearly forgotten."
I proceed to summon another flame around Linoone, but he just looks at me with sadness. I forgot this doesn't work on him.
I take a potion out of my bag and hand it to him. "Drink this. Concentrated aspear berry."
Linoone takes the potion from me and I can see the relief was over him; I cannot help but feel a bit of pride at that. Not all of my creations are failures.
I look around the room, the flame alight in my palm ready to be used offensively, but it is far different than the previous dungeon I was in. Apparently here all the floors remain similar. It would be a welcome change if not for the fact that I was bare-footed and soon to be bare-handed as well.
"Before we begin," says Linoone, "we need code-names. Mine is... Solid Linoone."
I find myself utterly dumbounded but, I oblige my friend. "Alright then, 'Solid Linoone.' Do I also require a code name?
"You do! Let me think..." I see Linoone raise a claw to his chin, "for some reason Revolver Ocelot comes to mind, but I'll have to change that obviously."
"Doubtless so," I respond, "I haven't a clue as to what a 'revolver' is."
"Well I guess the name for that guy was because his main thing was a revolver so--"
Oh! What might my most standout feature be? My alchemical knowledge? Perhaps my quest for chivalry?
I know! You'll be... Deaf Leopard.
My ears fall down once more. "Firstly, there is so much more about me. Secondly, by your own admission I am a badger, not a leopard."
Linoone chuckles but he says, "Yes but it's a good pun. I used to listen to Deaf Leopard when I would drive."
"Drive?"
Linoone nods, saying something how rye-bread and gooselings are quite literally him and, before I can offer any more objections, he says, "Come on, Deaf Leopard!"
With that Linoone drops down and begins to scamper forward, and I am left in the dust.
I will petition for another name later, I promise myself as I follow suit lest I be left behind. Although Linoone is doubtless faster than myself, he practically crashes into the wall as he has difficulty changing directions. On the other hand, I manage to sufficiently slow down and retain some momentum as I switch directions, allowing me to catch up for a brief moment.
Running through the gauntlet of twists and turns, I must admit, is an exhilarating feat. Moreso is outspeeding ferals. While before they would be upon me in a matter of paces, Linoone's instruction allow me to ignore them in such circumstances.
When we enter the next room after a few more twists and turns, I see a water-mouse with a bulbous tail and a bird that looked almost identical to the founder of Linoone's delivery service at our sides.
At the fore, however, was a series of steps that physically to nothing but, in the strangeness of the mystery dungeon, lead to another floor.
Linoone looks back at me and says to run for it, and I have no choice but to oblige. As the two ferals close in on us, he runs up the stairs and fades into nothingness. I force myself to pause; just like last time I am forced to recompose myself and proceed.
The world shifts around me again and I find myself beside Linoone, who is scanning the area for any ferals. Fortunately, we are alone.
"Okay, Deaf Leopard, let's keep running!"
The next series of floors proceed as the previous one, with myself and Linoone running through passages and avoiding ferals.
While I am glad I am able to move with great haste now, I think to myself as we round yet another corner and make our way towards the stairs in the distance, I do wish I could practice combat.
As I ascend the steps behind Linoone, I come to immediately regret thinking such a thing. The room I find myself appearing within beside Linoone, I am greeted by a lone feral off to the side. Despite it not blocking our passage, Linoone just stares at it.
"Linoone?" I ask, turning to him, "Is all well?"
He looks at me but no worry is present on his face. "Solid Linoone," he corrects, "and yeah! But you said you wanted to fight, right? Well, here's a lone one you can practice on."
I turn my attention to the lone blue feral bounding towards us.
I already know how to use fist-of-thunder, so why not try something else?
I summon a flame from my hand and allow it to intensify -- all the while ensuring the fire keeping Linoone's delivery properly heated remains stable -- and will it towards the feral.
The fire dances in the air and makes contact, leaving a scorch mark but bouncing off nevertheless. I send a wave more of such flames, each whittling down the feral until it fades away at the end of the surge of tyrian flames.
A blue orb falls to the floor where it dissipated.
"Oh!" exclaims Linoone, "It must've been carrying an item. We can get it!"
Not what I would have liked, I tell myself as Linoone and I approach the remains, I know I can control these flames but I would have preferred to have the fire collapse on itself and release the energy in a single powerful burst. But... how can I compress it so?
"How many more floors do we have, Linoone?"
But Linoone does not look to me, instead staring rather intensely at the blue orb on the ground. I have to approach and tap him on his shoulder to get his attention.
"Solid Linoone, are you okay?"
"The orb..."
"What of it?"
"I-I want to put it in my mouth."
WHAT?
"Linoone, surely you jest? Is this some sort of training technique? I can assure you that putting balls in my mouth is where I draw the line in being badger-like."
But Linoone looks back at me with a partial smile, that being so only due to the massive, circular protrusion emanating from one of his cheeks.
"Linoone I--"
His mouth starts to glow. Linoone looks down in surprise but does not relinquish the orb.
"Linoone! That orb is activating! Drop it at once!"
I am unable to see what he says by cause of his mouth being full, but he does not let the damned thing go. Thus, he is enveloped in a light so bright I am forced to cover my eyes lest I lose another of my senses.
When my vision returns, the space where Linoone was is completely empty, save for a faint wisp of smoke.
"Linoone!" I call out, and I wait for a response.
Of course, none comes. I am deaf.
Blast it all. What is the protocol for this? Search for him? Find and wait by the stairs?
But... Linoone doesn't fight. He relied on me to defend him here. I must find him.
Without a moment's hesitation I throw myself to the ground and sprint down the hallway, trying my best to explore the rest of this floor to find my now-lost companion.
I turn the corner and, standing at the end of the passage is there a second water-mouse, albeit a slightly larger one with a white underbelly.
It looks at me with empty eyes, opens its mouth, and runs for me.
While I could have retreated and allowed the feral to follow me back to the other room where I could outmaneuver the fiend, in these circumstances time was of utmost importance.
If I remember correctly, I think as I press onward in a sprint, Fire is ineffective against water. But my fist-of-thunder should be extra-powerful against this creature.
Just as Linoone taught me, I make an especially large leap, land on my forearms and allow myself to roll, then find myself standing upright before the feral.
I raise my hand skyward and feel energy pulse from within me, an electric strength that causes all the hairs on my fur to stand up but is overwhelmingly diverted to my right fist. I see sparks of lightning flicker as I punch into my opponent.
The result is cataclysmic. The pokemon is thrown to the ground as sparks fly; while I am deaf I can feel the vibration of the thunder resonate through my whole body.
I've used this before but lightly; nowhere near this degree of power. I never even knew I had this within me.
The creature, billowing smoke, attempts to stand once more, but a second energized fist-of-thunder makes it disappear into smoke.
I feel satisfaction with myself at having managed to defeat an enemy -- although I am careful to remind myself that Linoone said this dungeon had become rather easy -- but I continue onward into the next room, where I find the stairs in their stalwart magnificence, albeit guarded by two pokemon.
One is a blue, upright duck and another is a...
Sneasel; how unfortunate that the one at the Clover Guild dislikes me. If she knew I were slaying one in her image I fear her disdain of me would only be deepened.
The two do not share my regret, however, as they advance towards me, with the duck-creature the closest of the two.
Let me try the fire once more, for I am at distance.
I summon an array of flames beside me and send them forth, where each one strikes the feral and slows it down, but without the full power I simply know each flame has within it.
It collapses under the onslaught -- more quickly than I would think for a creature supposed to be resistant to fire -- and I turn my attention towards the sneasel.
Her eyes are filled with senseless fury as I repeat my previous tactic: a second array of ethereal flames. But the flames seem to be utterly ineffective, despite the Sneasel being seemingly frost-tinged.
In desperation I raise my arm skyward and call upon the thunderous energy once more. It envelops my claws and I send it in a flying punch towards the sneasel, but she deftly dodges it and counters with a claw imbued with black energy.
It cuts deep into my side and the energy it contains sends me reeling backwards. I regain focus and, as the sneasel is about to attack once more, I summon a fire in my hand and palm her with it, causing her to stumble backwards.
I gaps when the smoke clears and it is evident the attack was to little effect. She lunges once more and I manage to dodge the first strike, but with the second I am not nearly as fortunate and her claw strikes my neck, causing a deep gash and throwing me to the ground once more.
In desperation I summon another flame -- these at least seemed to hit their mark -- in my fist, but the sneasel slammed my claw back to the ground, tightening it and--
A massive burst of flaming, ghastly energy erupts from me and she is thrown backwards.
How had I forgotten? Applying pressure causes it to rebound in a flare! This is how I can strengthen my attacks.
I manage to pull myself up to my feet as the sneasel does so, though we are both gravely injured. She staggers towards me as I look at my hand. I summon another fire and close my fist, then release it in the motion as if I were throwing an object.
The attack strikes and with more power than before, but it is unwieldy.
The closer to a singularity, the greater the power of the fire's rebound. But how?
The sneasel still advances, and I have to slowly step backwards to provide myself a little more distance, enough for one more attack against this weakened opponent.
She steps on a bit of ice, causing it to buckle and snap under her weight as she--
Snap! That is to be my deliverance!
Once more I summon the fire in my palm, once more I control it and tighten my grasp around it. But I do not let it set clumsily in the palm of my hand; no, I instead force it between the tip of my thumb and middle-most finger.
I can feel the energy of this greek fire on the verge of erupting, ready to be let out. I raise my hand ahead of me, against the sneasel nearly upon me, and with a motion where I would imagine I direct the action forward, I snap.
The fire that leaves my fingers is but a faint, hardly traceable line, but upon hitting the target it seems to envelop her completely in a powerful explosion of ethereal flame.
The smoke clears and my opponent is nowhere to be seen.
Success!
I look at the stars and make my way towards them to wait for Linoone to find his way here, but the pain of the wounds makes me move slowly. I open my satchel and sift through it to pull out a blue-colored drink; condensed oran berry.
I sip the bottle and feel immediately revitalized. I look at my wounds and see that, while they are still fresh, they look more like light smarts rather than the deep gashes they were.
I have studied this extensively and still I am left amazed at the seemingly magical properties of this world.
Before I can relax, however, I see another feral enter the room by where two paths meet. I raise my hand, ready to strike with my newfound prowess, but it does not approach me as it instead enters the other room, not even looking my way.
Rather odd. They normally target the nearest intruder, so why would it not go for--Linoone! My companion must be there! This is no time for rest; I should make haste at once!
I rush forwards, throwing myself to the ground with renewed vigor and excitement.
I follow the feral creature and come upon a terrible scene: Linoone pinned to the ground, struggling against another duck-creature, though I see it has the advantage judging by its advantageous position and its fist rearing back for an attack against the mailmon. The pokemon I followed -- the water-mouse without the white underbelly -- turns back at me as I hurtle towards it.
I have no time!
I make another barrel roll and, as I stand upright, find all my energy directed into another fist-of-thunder that I loose against the mouse, which causes it to be flung backward, trussed in smoke.
I take a step forward and summon a flame to my hand, leveling it true against the duck that is about to strike Linoone.
My apologies, Linoone, but I pray you can persevere against this attack.
I snap my finger at the two, and the thin streak flies across the room and intercepts the two tussling pokemon, erupting around them in a red-and-purple explosion of flame.
The haze clears and my heart beats as I approach with a potion in-hand, ready to administer aid to Linoone. The duck struggles to get up but Linoone, still on the floor, is unscathed.
Heavens! I had forgotten Linoone was immune to my fires! What good fortune.
I snap away another plume of fire and it passes harmlessly over Linoone, right into the duck, dissipating it into nothingness.
Linoone struggles to right himself but I bend down and help him up, being sure to offer him the rest of my oran berry potion. I find myself in a state of incredulity as I observe the wounds fade before my eyes.
"Thank you, Ik--Deaf Leopard," says Linoone, immediately making me feel a light twinge of regret for coming to his aid. Still I cannot stay mad at my friend for long. "Of course... Solid Linoone."
Once more he gives me a quick hug, his tail wagging about wildly, once more my crest of flames intensifies. While I do wish I could temper my fire more, at the very least my tail is merely fur and not something that would betray my every emotion.
We proceed back to the stairs and, although Linoone is able to run once more, he encourages me to keep practicing. I blush a bit at this, as he seems as entranced at my precise manipulation of my otherworldly fires as I am. For the next series of floors as we approach the peak of Blizzard Island, this is the attack I use to dispatch ferals -- save for the sloth-like creature that seems to share Linoone's immunity, which we instead run away from.
It is incredible how it seems that explosive flames seem to appear at practically any point I have a direct line of sight with, save for some delay for the narrow wisp of flame to reach the target.
I am so filled with excitement that I will be able to act in a knightly fashion by undergoing quests and saving those less fortunate than myself -- as well as bringing justice to those who wrong others -- that we reach the final set of stairs in no time. Linoone has to stop me once the room is clear as he tidies himself up, being sure to adjust his Delibird Deliveries cap and clearing me of any soot I have accumulated.
"We want to look good for our loyal customers, of course!" says Linoone, "Now, let's make a delivery!"
With that, Linoone hobbles up the stairs, my small fire ensuing the package's warmth following then disappearing alongside him. I follow and, to my great pride, ascend Blizzard Island having learned far more than I could have possibly imagined.
Rescue Team's At the Snowy Mountain
I sit atop the mountain, watching the sun slowly crest above the faraway ridge.
The rays of light, which meet my head first, slowly fall over the rest of my body as the sun makes its ascent.
Difficult to believe we were in there for the latter part of the night. At the very least we can enjoy this sunset and, once we do make camp, the rest will be all the more enjoyable.
I sit alone for only a few moments more as Linoone scurries to my side. I ask, turning to him, "Did you manage to deliver the package then?"
"I did! The customer seemed happy when he opened it so it seems your fire kept it warm. Thank you again for that, Deaf Leopard."
"Is not our mission over? I would much prefer to simply go by Ikarus."
Linoone giggled. "Of course, Ikarus. And thank you again for helping me. I remember now that Mustel -- that's the zangoose in the guild -- told me a while ago that my species just likes to stuff spherical things in their mouths. It was an urge I couldn't resist, sorry."
I suppress a rather rude laugh at this information and speak instead, "Well, if anything you had taught me here is true, then that is simply the... uh, dealt card?"
"Cards we're dealt," corrects Linoone, "And I guess you're right. We have to manage ourselves."
"I am merely glad that I do not share the same propensity for orbs you do!" I titter, "Though I am glad that, if I was to be transformed into anything, it was this."
"Why is that?"
"Well, firstly a badger wreathed in flame was my lord's crest. A rather ironic twist of fate. But more relevant, I think, is that I was able to learn from you. I doubt I would have been capable of continuing the pursuit of my dreams of invoking the chivalrous acts I dreamed of as a child here after my initial foray into a mystery dungeon. Though it would, of course, be supplementary to my passion of alchemy!"
Linoone smiles at this and turns his head towards the sunset. "I'm happy to hear that, Ikarus. I'm glad to have helped you out even a little bit."
I eye the sun rising over the glittering mountains as they reflect the rays of light. So this must be why that individual decided to live here. Isolation, sure. Affordable almost certainly. But this sunrise, this gorgeous dawn as if it were rising over a renewed world entirely; this entire journey was well worth this alone.
"You've done so much more, Linoone. You were there when I first came here, introducing me to the Guild with such warmth. Even despite the fact that I was unfortunately related to Cyndaquil. Plus you stuck beside me while I was deaf and learning how to read lips? I learned faster than I expected but you were aiding me regardless of my speed. Thank you kindly, my friend."
Linoone smiles and gives me a clawed pat on my back. "That's what friends are for, after all."
The sun continues to rise, washing our tired and cold bodies in warmth. Exhaustion hits me hard and I find my eyes slowly closing despite the dawning of day, but as I turn to get another potion, I see Linoone, too, is dozing off. He does not fight it, however, and instead seems to give into the onset of sleep as he curls up and rests his head on his claws, a look of satisfaction plastered upon his worn face.
If we are both to rest, I cannot think of any better place to do so than here, in the company of a friend, as the sun rises over this beautiful sight.
So I allow myself to drift off into consciousness, the exhaustion having fully overcome me, though I still have in the back of my mind a beckoning excitement for all the future adventures that are to come, in large part thanks to the efforts of my friend beside me. My final thoughts as I drift into unconsciousness are simple but unwavering in their truth:
Thank you, Linoone, for everything you've done for me.