Don't Hug Me I'm The Chosen One: Bound With Fate (Book 2)

near realization

"Didn't Shrignold told us not to wander off outside the swamp until we've completed the task?" asked Michelle.

There's something inside me that tells me that I was kind of brainwashed. I still couldn't figure out what type of brainwashing so I just shrugged it off. Eventually, we found all pieces of the sword. As Michelle was helping me form the sword, our hands touched each other by accident. Michelle looks at me, flabbergasted and I blushed out of nowhere. I couldn't tell if it's because I'm embarrassed or flustered but all I know is...I think I have a crush on her!

"Ok ok! Let's just finish this," she chuckled.

After we attached the last piece, the sword glows brightly and floats into the air few seconds before it slowly descends to the ground. Michelle motions to me, signalling that I can be the one to use the sword.

"If you need my help, just call me," she said with a smile.

I blushed once again. As I was searching for the biggest tree in the swamp, I heard growls. I followed the sound and saw a gigantic creature. It has 3 eyes, frilled ears, thick arms and legs, and rough dark blue skin. Its fingernails and toenails are long but seemingly rotten. Same goes with its teeth, which has an improper pattern of both razor and round. The creature wears sewn skins of several animals, which I reckon belong to the unlucky dead residents of the realm of critters. What makes this creature more dangerous is that it carries a mace and a large dagger.

"You did it, Manny! You found the dtauntri!" Michelle announced happily.

"Wait, I did?"

Michelle was right. That creature really is the dtauntri as it was guarding a colossal tree. I could see from behind there's something glowing. I hold the sword firm and prepared myself to face the dtauntri but the second it growled at me, I got scared and stumbled backwards. The dtauntri cackled in a grunting tone as I fell into a muddy puddle and went nearer to me. As he was about to hit me with his mace, Michelle came out of nowhere while swinging in a vine and kicked the dtauntri straight into the face.

"You shall never underestimate us, huge ugly shithead!" teased Michelle.

The dtauntri got really furious and went for her. The pink-haired girl panicked and ran into the other side. While the dtauntri was busy chasing her, I grabbed the chance to attack the creature. I took the sword and ran towards the dtauntri. I quickly estimated the spots I should parkour on. Then I jumped over a boulder and leaped on the bark of a tree and flew towards the dtauntri, slashing his back with a sword before eventually landing on the ground safely.

I covered my ears as the creature does its deafening growl of frustration. The dtauntri turns around and swings his dagger at me in a lower level. Unfortunately for that creature, I jumped and managed to dodged more strikes from the dagger and mace. All of a sudden, this supposedly dangerous battle turns into a fun game. I teased the dtauntri nonstop while it desperately tries to hit me with its weapons.

"Nananana! You can never get me!" I shouted mockingly while I jumped over the approaching dagger. "Catch me if you c...!"

My head got hit by the mace. I fell over another puddle of mud, in which some amounts got into my mouth. My eyes went opposite directions. I felt like everything's spinning around me while I was trying to remember how painful the impact of the mace was. While I was puking out the mud I accidentally drunk and wiping out some of my blood that was sliding down my face, I heard more growls.

Michelle is now facing the dtauntri. She grabbed some vines and turned them into a noose. I shook my head to bring my eyes back to normal directions and watched as Michelle lassoed the dtauntri's weapons. She then swung the vines around its neck and pulled, causing the dtauntri to suffocate. Before Michelle could tie the other end of the vines to a tree, she got captured by the dtauntri's gigantic hand.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO! LET GO OF MY FRIEND!"

I grabbed the sword and ran towards the dtauntri. It also managed to seize me with its free hand. Luckily, I still have the sword with me. I used the sword to stab the dtauntri's arm. The creature growls again, this time being in pain, and impulsively drops both me and Michelle just to hold the part of its arm that I stabbed. This took us enough time to prepare our next moves.

Michelle and I twists the vines around the dtauntri's feet and pulled, causing the huge creature to fall down. The thud was so loud and hard that a small earthquake happened, which only lasted for few seconds. Before the dtauntri could have a chance to stand up, I climbed on its back and beheaded it.

"YAY! WE DID IT!" Michelle shouted cheerfully.

A glowing brass badge, which represents the 2nd lowest rank, floats out of the gigantic tree. I marvelled at the sight as the badge flies and lands slowly on my open hands. Michelle approached me and admires the badge. I looked at her and blushed once again. Shrignold visits us at the swamp and brought us back up to the headquarters.

"Congratulations! You've finished all 3 tasks!" he announced happily.

"Does that means I rank up now?" I asked.

"Of course!" he replied as he grabs the badge from my hand and attaches it on the left side of my chest. "A ceremony will soon be held to praise honor on you."

I couldn't help but get really excited. Once I rank up, I'll get to see what potentials I'll be able to obtain and perhaps use them for certain situations. Certain situations because I could no longer remember what was my original goal before Shrignold brought me up in here. But I sure hope someday I'll be able to recover what's long forgotten.

Before the moving up ceremony, Michelle accompanies me into a room. She was talking lots of stuff about her at me but I was so distracted staring at her face that I couldn't hear well what she were saying. After a few minutes, I couldn't hold it any longer. I decided to blurt it out.

"Ihaveacrushonyou!"

Michelle looks at me in confusion. "Uhh, can you say it slower?"

"Ok ok ummm..." I couldn't help but get really nervous. "Michelle...I'm in love with you!"

"That's amazing!"

I looked up at her, startled. Michelle hugs me so suddenly.

"This organization is about love...I love you too, Manny!" she said in a cheerful tone.

My face went reddish orange. I've reckoned Michelle and I are made for each other but something seems off. There's no butterflies in my stomach like it's supposed to be when you're in love. My heart is also not beating fast. I don't understand this at all.

Franklin arrives to inform us that the ceremony is starting in few minutes. Michelle decided to keep me company as I follow the frog into the ceremony venue. I blushed really hard once again when she held my hand. Soon, we started walking towards the lobby of Malcolm's hall. Shrignold nods at Franklin and then welcomes me and Michelle inside.

"Today is your lucky day because you're officially ranking up," he said. "But this won't happen just once in your life. This'll happen again as you rank up again. Remember, when you reach the highest rank, that's when you get the most difficult tasks but in the end, you'll have the most grant ceremony and greatest class of all!"

"Oh I can't wait!" I replied cheerfully.

"Not to worry, time will tell once you're worthy enough."

Shrignold opens the wardrobe and picks a brownish maroon robe that has a huge collar that looks like a cowboy scarf with a golden heart in the middle. He then guides me into the dressing room. I unstrapped my overalls, removed my yellow shirt, and put on the robe Shrignold gave me. I was also given a thin long golden necklace.

"So, how do you feel?" asked Shrignold.

"I...I feel fantastic!" I said with a smile.

While I was walking out of the dressing room, the headache attacks again. This time, it's more painful than it's been.