Grim Reaper Ascended

Ch.8 - Introductions

I looked at the black cat and rested two fingers on the jewel trying to determine what was the best course of action, perhaps, for now, I won't tell them much about this new item. 

"It says it's an SS item, but I don't see why. It must be made from higher-ranking materials which bumps the rarity." the beastmen seemed to buy that which was a total relief for me, having pulled that explanation from my ass. The tan looked at me suspiciously, but I played it cool and shrugged as if it was the truth.

"Welcome to the party." the tabby extended a clawed hand and I hesitantly took it. He was strong too, that was a good handshake. "Here, the storage item we promised." he was now speaking best men, but that didn't bother me since I could now understand him, and he was having a much easier time talking. I looked down at his outreached hand and saw that there was a leather pouch that looked like it strapped onto your outer thigh.

"Thanks." I took it and took a good look at it. The pouch was a gray-brown with three different zipper pouches, it has buckles and straps so that you could attach it to your leg, there was also a strap that went around your waist like a belt so the pouch wouldn't fall off. "This is amazing." The tabby and tan laughed while the black looked away.

"Jaze doesn't think her work is liked but aren't they awesome?" I nodded and looked at it, this world, it was so different. I felt much more at ease, though, I doubt I could open up to very many people or creatures once I got the feel for this world, I was currently in the state of discovery. I expected I would return to my emotionless state once I became accustomed.

"Well, give it a go." the tan prompted, I obliged and strapped it onto my hips and thigh, it was comfortable and fit nicely. I looked at my scythe and back at the pouch raising my eyebrow. "Put it in, just will it to." the tan rolled her eyes as if she was talking to a child that was ignorant.

"Uhg, right." I imagined the scythe going into the pouch and it did, quite easily. "I'm just amazed that something as big as my scythe can fit into such a small pouch." Jaze huffed. 'What did I do?'

"Jaze specializes in large storage accessories so of course, it fits. You'll be able to fit a multitude of other items as well." I was impressed and my face showed it. "Well, what do you expect from none other than the great Jazelien Hawkmore herself?" I guess I'm supposed to know that name. Sorry to disappoint.

"It's very impressive indeed." I was impressed, I'm not going to lie, but I'll try to reframe from showing that I know of or don't know of Jazelien Hawkmore. All the beastmen looked like they were waiting for something. "What?" the tan was about to say something before there was a loud crash and a harsh cry that was haunting and shrill.

"What was that?" the tan spun around and Jaze narrowed her eyes.

"It sounded like a Shadow Horse." the tan and tabby looked startled.

"But Shadow Horses don't come to this part of Arasma." the tabby looked at the tan, man, I need to learn their names, I can't keep thinking of them as tabby and tan, or tanny. I snorted on the last name, earning me odd looks from my new party-mates.

"What's so funny?" they looked irritated, oops.

"I was just thinking of random stuff, it had nothing to do with the situation." well my voice is almost emotionless like usual. 

"Well, you should focus! We may need your strength if we run into the Shadow Horse." great, now I have to fight? I have no idea how to do that, I literally just got into this world like an hour ago, how do they expect me to fight off a monster? Though I had to admit, I was curious about this Shadow Horse, I loved horses, and I wanted to see it for myself.

"Elm, there's a strange aura coming from that Shadow Horse, we should avoid it at all costs." I was immediately disappointed, of course, it had to be dangerous, though Reccer knew what they were talking about so I deemed it wise to listen to them.

"We should avoid that Shadow Horse if we can, it's a powerful one." I hope that convinces them. They looked at me and the tabby looked amused, what?

"You spoke in the language of humans." Ooh! I mentally thanked Reccer for the heads up, I would have not figured that out.

"Sorry, not use to being able to speak two languages." the tabby nodded and now the other two looked amused, "I said we should avoid the Shadow Horse if we can, it's powerful." the two females looked at each other then back at me.

"How do you know?" Jaze asked suspiciously, she does that a lot doesn't she?

"I can sense it?" I took a gander and she narrowed her eyes but accepted it. Now that I think about it, I can sense it, there is something strange about it but I couldn't tell for sure.

"To sense something like that from this distance is impressive, you are powerful." the tan said crossing her arms, she did look genuinely impressed. Great, I didn't want this attention.

"You must be very powerful for a human to sense a Shadow Horse at all." Jaze was starting to get, no I pushed the emotion away. I shrugged.

"I guess I am, I haven't been in contact with very many people lately so I don't have a comparison." geez, one lie after another, I have absolutely no way to know if I'm powerful or not.

"What have you been doing?" the tabby asked, uh. . . moving from house to house, moving from school to school, not knowing where I'd be going next.

"Training and getting some alone time." damn it.

"It's dangerous by yourself, you must have a lot of confidence that you can take one whatever these woods throw at you." the tan looked a bit smug at that, I raised my eyebrow at her. Actually, this forest hasn't thrown anything at me except you three.

"I guess you could say that." I'm not going to tell them anything, just agree and come with something and try not to contradict yourself.

"Yeah, no kidding, these woods are crawling with monsters with a very large level range." the tabby nodded. Well, aren't I lucky, I saw no monsters at all.

"Elm, there were monsters surrounding us, they just didn't attack." What? Are you kidding me? Why didn't they attack? I wanted to ask, but I could only speak out loud when I talk to Reccer so that was a problem.

"It wasn't much of a problem for me." I sound so stuck up, hm how can I change that.

"You really are something aren't you?" the tabby gave me a look of calm amazement. I feel stupid.

"Yeah, I am something, I'm not entirely sure what though." well, ain't that the truth.

"What do you mean by that?" Jaze asked she narrowed her eyes again.

"It's part of the reason I came out here to be alone, so I could figure out who I truly am." man that sounds deep, also why does Jaze look at me that way every time she asks a question? I pushed that aside and looked at the three. "So I know Jaze, but I don't know your names." Might as well get it over with. The tan gestured to herself.

"I'm Marian, I'm an A rank hunter for the Hunter's Guild." There are ranks like in video games, I haven't really played any since I've always been on the move, but this is fun.

"Nice to meet you, Marian." I turned to the tabby who stepped forward.

"I'm Zanger, I'm an A rank tracker for the Hunter's Guild." I thought there was only an Adventurer's Guild. "And Jaze is an S rank crafter as well as an A rank hunter." Now, this is getting interesting.

"It's a pleasure, Jaze, Marian, Zanger. I'm Elm a Wanderer." I'll hold out on the last name, for now, I'm not used to it.

"Welcome aboard, Elm the Wanderer." Marian stuck out her clawed hand I shook it. She was strong as well, I held out my hand to Jaza who took my hand despite looking like she wanted to harm me, proving that all three of the beastmen were strong.

"What's our next step of action?" I looked at the three beastmen, "Besides avoiding the Shadow Horse." I wanted to make it clear we should stay away from it, though I really wanted to see it myself.