Chapter 8: The Babbling Broker and the Symbol-Scrambled Signals
Ethan knew that while he could understand the secrets of ancient scrolls and forgotten gaming techniques, the greatest secret, and the greatest threat, was right in front of him: Lady Elara.
He had to save her.
But with the clock ticking and the shadow creature's influence growing, he needed a plan, and he needed it fast. The knowledge he had gotten would be important in the future and would net him some good points to. The problem was earning it.
He refocused on Lady Elara, determined to pierce the veil of corruption and get a clearer reading of her true state.
Above her head, a label floated, but it was far from serene. It pulsed with corrupted energy, a chaotic mix of jumbled letters and symbols, barely holding onto a semblance of meaning:
[@$#?*&%√¢£¥€¤π^]
It was a chilling reminder of the shadow creature's insidious influence, twisting and corrupting everything it touched, reducing her identity to pure chaos.
He knew that whatever he did, he had to tread carefully. Any sudden move, any reckless action, could push Lady Elara over the edge and into the shadow creature's complete control.
He needed those last four Reputation Points.
He looked at the ancient scroll, still clutched in his tiny hand. The knowledge it contained was valuable, but it was also dangerous. He couldn't just blurt out the secrets of "The Dream Weaver" to anyone who would listen.
He needed to find someone he could trust. Someone who could help him understand the true nature of the shadow creatures and how to defeat them.
But in this world of distorted labels and hidden agendas, who could he trust?
Then, he remembered Sergeant Gruff.
Loyal, brave, and perhaps a little bit gullible, Sergeant Gruff was not the most discerning individual but he did what he was told. He was a good man, and he cared deeply for Lady Elara. If anyone could be trusted to help, it was him.
He started to cry, a soft, mournful whimper that quickly escalated into a full-blown tantrum. He threw the ancient scroll across the room, sending it skittering under a nearby table.
Lady Elara, startled by his outburst, rushed to his side. "What is it, little Ethan? What's wrong?"
Ethan continued to wail, pointing at the table with a trembling finger. He made a series of frantic baby sounds, emphasizing the "lost" and "precious" aspects of the situation.
Lady Elara sighed. "Alright, alright. I'll get it for you."
As Lady Elara bent down to retrieve the scroll, Ethan focused his mental energy on Sergeant Gruff, who was standing guard outside the nursery door.
[Sergeant Gruff - Loyal Caretaker. Level 25]
He needed to get Sergeant Gruff's attention, but he couldn't risk revealing the scroll's secrets to Lady Elara. He needed a distraction.
He willed a small, highly viscous droplet of drool to form. He aimed it at Sergeant Gruff's prized mustache.
Then, he launched.
The droplet sailed through the air, landing squarely in the middle of Sergeant Gruff's mustache.
Sergeant Gruff froze, his eyes widening in surprise. He reached up and touched the glistening glob of spit.
"What in the blazes…?" he sputtered, his voice a mixture of confusion and annoyance.
At that moment, Lady Elara emerged from under the table, holding the ancient scroll. "Here you go, little Ethan. Now, be careful with it."
As Lady Elara turned to leave, Ethan focused his mental energy, activating the Linguistic Linker (Baby Edition) skill. He strained to convey a complex message through a series of seemingly nonsensical baby sounds.
"Goo goo ga ga! Blah blah! Sergeant! Ga goo gah!"
Sergeant Gruff, who was still trying to wipe the drool off his mustache, paused and stared at Ethan with a bewildered expression.
"Did… did you just say my name, milord?" he asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
Ethan continued to babble, emphasizing the "scroll" and "danger" aspects of the situation.
Sergeant Gruff's eyes widened. He looked at the ancient scroll in Lady Elara's hand, then back at Ethan. A flicker of understanding crossed his face.
He cleared his throat. "Lady Elara, if you'll excuse me, I need to have a word with the little lord. In private."
Lady Elara, distracted by her goblin berry recipe, simply nodded and left the nursery.
As soon as they were alone, Sergeant Gruff knelt down beside Ethan. "What is it, milord? What's wrong with the scroll?"
Ethan, still babbling furiously, pointed at the scroll and then at the corrupted label above Lady Elara's head.
Sergeant Gruff's eyes widened in horror. He understood.
"The shadows…" he whispered, his voice trembling. "They're after Lady Elara?"
Ethan nodded, his baby-like features conveying a sense of urgency and determination.
Sergeant Gruff stood up, his face grim. "Then we must act quickly. I will protect her, no matter the cost."
He turned to leave, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Suddenly, the SYSTEM chimed in.
SYSTEM: ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!
SYSTEM: "BABBLING BROKER" - SUCCESSFULLY CONVINCED SERGEANT GRUFF OF THE SHADOW CREATURE THREAT THROUGH A SERIES OF INCOHERENT BABY SOUNDS. REWARD: 4 REPUTATION POINTS!
Ethan sighed with relief. He had done it. He had earned enough Reputation Points to unlock "Purifying Spit."
But as Sergeant Gruff disappeared out the door, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap. The shadows were watching. Waiting.
And they were about to make their move.
Above Lady Elara, the distorted label shimmered ominously:
[@$#?*&%√¢£¥€¤π^]
End Chapter 8