"Miss Amber! You were incredible!" The Felin says, looking at me with happy eyes. Her name is Lin, and she is too energetic.
And yes, I said she is male-looking, but as I explained, Felins are all female.
"I didn't know Felins could be male," Lucio says, which gets responded to by Lin kicking his leg. "Ah! You brat!"
"I am not a boy! I am a girl! I am tired of everyone teasing me for my appearance!"
She is kind of a tomboy as far as I can tell. The fur is a bit big for both children.
"Never confuse a lady for a rascal!" Karina says that, like anyone other than me can hear her.
"Miss Amber, I want to become a Mage when I grow up." The elf girl grabs my sleeve to call my attention. "Can you teach me, pleaaase?"
The girl's name was Kae'li. She was much more gentle.
"Kae'li, Lin, don't bother Miss Amber. She must be tired." She scolds them. Both children pout.
"I-It's not a big deal," I answer with my ears flat and scratching my ears.
I always liked kids anyway. I was never that good with them, but I like them. I can tell I can be patient.
"Well, if when you are of age to start practicing, and I see you, I can teach you a few spells," I say to Kae'li.
"Please! Will you?!" She beams.
"But what is a mage doing with a sword?" Lin asks.
"I was wondering the same," Bae asks. "You summoned it."
"This sword..." I wonder if... "It's just nothing special, it's just dull. It has a few modifiers for Magic damage and skills."
I decided to keep the reality of Bloodless a secret. Flaunting it around could prove problematic. I want to go around 'ooooohh look shiny ego sword', like I did in the chat of the game when I found it, but maybe I should keep some stuff hidden.
Karina pouts when I call her dull. I will have to compensate her later.
"I want to be a warrior when I grow up!" Lin says. Then she turns to Aurelia. "Like she! She has cool wings and muscles!"
"Oh? You want to be like me, child?" Aurelia smirks at Lin.
"Don't do anything stupid, Aurelia. They are kids."
"Ugh..." Her smile disappears, and a faint growl. "Okay"
"Good, I prefer no one to be injured..." Lisa explains.
She was about to do something stupid, I know it.
"I see the camp!" Kae'li says and starts running.
In front of us, after following the curve of the river, we see the clear sign of a camp in place. Tents, a fireplace, a place to rest. People from the camp, of different species, were looking towards us when they noticed our arrival, and then some people came running to find us.
"T-they are back!" Someone screams.
"Thanks to Ellen!" Someone screams.
Towards us came a male human, a male dwarf, and, surprisingly, another female vulpin! We both look at each other when we notice the other, as we are a rare species to find. Her fur and hair are brown.
I wave at her with a smile, trying to look calmer. She does the same, and remembers she is coming to check in the rescued people.
"Thank the Three, you are all safe! What happened?!" Asks the human. He has long grey hair and a big beard, and a mustache. He seems to be quite old. "We were preparing the random they requested!"
"Lars! You have no idea of our luck!" Bae explains. "These people came asking for an amulet that the Eye stole, and they rescued us! One of the deities must have put them in our way!"
"It was nothing..." I say, feeling a bit self-aware at that moment.
We did rescue some people.
"Hah! That deserves a celebration, lad!" The dwarf laughs. He has a black beard and hair. Both pieces of hair are impressively long. "We were afraid we would never see these three if we didn't pay!"
The Movers are a general name given to nomads who roam the lands, exploring, trading, and never staying in one place for too long. Normally, each member of a camp becomes an expert on a different craft to make products to sell and trade for required resources and tools. They are usually passive and friendly, so making them a target to extort a ransom would not go well in anyone's book.
The Eye is not attempting to win positive points with anyone, if they are risking the reputational hit that is threatening the Movers, that is for sure.
"Don't say that in front of the kids, Adhuin!" Bae says. "We returned fine as it should be, leave it at that."
"Right! Like it should be!" Adhuin repeats her words.
"Can I get your names, please? I am Lars, the current leader of the Camp. This is Adhuin, the tailor." He points at the dwarf, who waves at us. "And this is Lazuli, our gear decorator." Her face turns a bit pink, but the vulpin waves at us.
"D-decorator..." Karina says. "Amber! I demand you get me some decorations from her, now! You can use the precious stones you have found so far!"
What a spoiled spirit! Like she is the one to say something.
"A pleasure, this is Amber, my subordinate Aurelia; these are Lucio and Lisa, who are accompanying us." I take the time to introduce everyone.
"Hmph! How rude, not to present myself!" Karina scoffs.
I cannot do it! They cannot see you!
"Subordinate?" Aurelia puts her hand on my shoulder and presses it, hard, like a press.
"H-hey! That hurts!" I scream, trying to jerk myself out of her grip.
"More like I am forced to be here..." Lisa answers.
"I am trying to... Okay, Aurelia, it is actually hurting now, let me go! Ow, ow OW!"
Lucio shakes his head and doesn't comment. He has been weirdly silent since we left the camp, only commenting from time to time.
He has not said why he joined us. I still don't trust him entirely, but he has not been a threat so far.
"Come." Lars says, "We need to thank you for helping us."
"As we move there, I notice Lazuli looking at me for a few seconds and averts her gaze when I notice. It feels like she wants to say something to me.