Broken

Chapter 67

I couldn't help but stare, transfixed, upon the man seated before me, surrounded but what little remained of an encampment. Despite the fact that it was ruined and made of wood rather than the materials we brought with us, this place wasn't all that different than the base camp we ourselves had put together. Maybe that was why it looked so strange to see the feline person seated within it.

Then again, maybe I was just captivated by the man in and of itself. I had heard that there were intelligent peoples within the tower. The people populating the tenth floor were one, but raiders have always made reports of scattered races on other floors. But this was my first time seeing one myself, and in an instance no less. The closest I'd seen before were goblins or orcs. Sure, they were cognizant enough to have clothing, use/make/or steal weapons, and have complicated social structures... but they had all been rather wild in nature.

This man was anything but that. I mean, he was just sitting there... staring right back at us. Unlike me and the boys, however, he didn't seem surprised. Actually- despite not being adept at reading an animal's face- I'd say he looked mostly indifferent, and not even surprised to see us. Much less bothered enough to get up from his spot on the barrel.

Though he was seated, I'd say that he had the same build as Bryce: tall and broad shouldered, but not freakishly so as Argus was. Honestly, he looked exactly like a very large cat had gotten up on its hind legs and slipped into a suit of ornate dark armor. The only major anatomical difference being that his fingers were longer than that of a cats, and he had apposable thumbs.

"That's... a cat..." mumbled John, tense at our backs. At the sound of his voice the cat's ear twitched, but he didn't make any other movements.

Seeing as how we were all locked in a strange parody of a staring contest, I figured that now was as good a time as any to activate <Honesty> on the guy. It may not have worked on the skeletons, but this looked like an actual living, intelligent being. It should work.

[Use the skill <Honesty> on the selected target? Yes/No]

Yes.

[Error. Unknown parameters. Recalculating. Readjusting.]

Huh? Not another damn error. 

I nervously looked from side to side. The last thing I needed was another giant appearing here! Why did this crap only ever happen to me?

[Name: Prangarrel (Death Knight)

Race: Maomasa

Attribute: (N/A)

Level: 68

Mental State: Unable to read an undead summon at current level

Status Changes: Resurrected

Skills: Unable to read an undead summon at current level

<Unable to read the secrets of the dead. I'm not a medium, you know?>

Observations: He's dead. A strong Death Knight Summon to the Queen of the Frozen Throne. Currently her hold on him is lax, allowing for limited independent thoughts and behaviors. Be careful the summoner does not focus on him once again, or you may be in trouble. Oh, and he shows traces of once being under the <Curse of the Frozen Throne>. Maybe you too will come back as a servant of the Frozen Throne upon your inevitable death?]

What the hell was that?! Now my own skill was cracking jokes about me dying and coming back as a necromancer's plaything? 

Gritting my teeth, I resisted to rage out loud at my own skill and risk looking like a crazy person.