Chapter 80: Dark Forest Preparations (8)
The journey to the springs took longer than it did yesterday due to Pagan's constant whining about how heavy the cart was. He begged multiple times for the shroom to take his place, but Lucius denied his pleas.
And in the end, it bore fruit. His stats had all increased by leaps and bounds, though it left him drenched and haggard.
"What is that thing anyway?" the shroom asked, pointing towards the cart, as they stopped in front of the main spring to allow Pagan to rest. It seemed that there were quite a number of creatures around today.
These creatures were way larger than Lucius, the smallest of them being the size of a small boar. However, they all seemed preoccupied with whatever they were doing, perhaps seeing something of Lucius's size as insignificant.
"Listen up. Pagan, you're going to trade this piece of meat with the lizard beings, okay? If they come up to you, this is what you give them. And don't forget to fill the sac with water," Lucius said, trying to make sure that the exhausted Pagan understood his assignment.
"Why aren't you coming? I don't feel safe with just him," the shroom said, pausing to take a look at the wheezing and 'sweat' covered Pagan.
"I can't come. I'm too different from the last time I was there. It might cause suspicion," Lucius replied.
"Isn't this guy bigger as well?" the shroom asked, wondering whether it was just its imagination or whether Pagan had really grown as well.
"It can be argued that Pagan is a different person from before. They didn't talk to him or look at him that much. I on the other hand am very hard to forget," he said, pointing to his horns and tail.
And he was indeed right. If he went, the lizard-beings would instantly know that he had grown larger overnight.
"I'll be watching from afar, don't worry," Lucius said, before the two went off to the section of the stream they had been at yesterday.
The lizard-beings were already waiting, and as Pagan and the shroom walked towards the end of the stream with their cart, the lizards began discussing amongst themselves. Perhaps wondering why Lucius was not with them.
After a bit of talking, the leader of the lizards decided to approach Pagan and began making hand gestures. Of course, Pagan didn't get what the lizard was saying at all but merely showed it the piece of meat that Lucius had set aside for them.
After inspecting the piece of meat the lizard handed over the needles. Once that part of the trade was done the lizard brought forward a weird egg-looking object, and made another trade gesture.
"More trade, huh?" Pagan sighed, before turning to the shroom.
"Do you think this thing will be of any value to the Lighted One," he asked, trying to look around to see if his Lighted One was in sight.
"It looks like the egg of some creature. I've never eaten eggs, and I'm not sure of its uses past consumption," the shroom replied.
"So basically useless, right," Pagan said, before looking back at the leader of the lizards.
"Sorry, I cannot make this trade," he said, shaking his head profusely at the lizard's further attempts to insist on the trade.
The lizard went back to discussing with his men, before returning with an assortment of herbs, making another trade gesture.
"What about these? Are any of these useful?" Pagan asked, once again interrupting the shroom as it was purifying the meat.
"Why are you asking me? This isn't part of the agreement between me and your master," the shroom replied, apparently annoyed.
"Eh, this much should be the minimum you're willing to do. Why do you need agreements to do work for the Lighted One? I thought it was common sense to do his bidding," Pagan shot back.
"You're crazy," the shroom whispered, looking at Pagan as if he were disturbed.
"Anyway, they are trying to rip you off. Those herbs can be found back in the flower bed, and the amount isn't even worth a few minutes of work," the shroom whispered after looking at what the lizard was holding.
"So they're trying to rip us off because the Lighted One isn't here, huh?" Pagan deduced. "Disgusting creatures," he said more loudly, looking at the lizards as if they were devil worshippers.
"Oi, calm down. Are you trying to get us killed?" the shroom said, trying to calm Pagan down before the lizards noticed the aggression in his tone.
"If I were them I'd try to punk us too. Just reject their offer," the shroom added. And once again Pagan rejected their offer, giving them a nasty glare as he shook his head at their trade.
The lizard leader reluctantly went back to his men and once again discussed something with them. This time however a few of them kept looking over at Pagan and the shroom with killing intent in their eyes, it seemed that they were tired of trying to trade and wanted to resort to violence.
Of course, Pagan wasn't the least bit afraid of this. With a single spell, he could light up these heretics, and send them back to the dirt for trying to cheat the Lighted One.
However, it seemed things would not fall to such a state as the leader calmed his men down and returned with two large fang-shaped objects. They were obsidian purple, the same color as the needles, and were about half Pagan's size in length.
This time the leader pointed to four pieces of meat, four times the price they had asked for seven needles.
"This guy must be crazy! I'll smite them right here for their blatant attempts at spitting on the Lighted One's trust," Pagan shouted in anger.
"Oi, Oi, calm down. Look carefully, those are weapons. I don't know what animal they are from, but I can assure you they are valuable," the shroom reasoned.
"Why did he entrust you to do the trade? Isn't there anyone better in your commune?" the shroom whispered to him.
"Hmm, they do look nice," Pagan said inspecting them more carefully. "But are they worth four pieces?" Pagan asked. If he gave four away, they would only be able to take 6 pieces back home.