Electus - Chapter 480

“Ouch!” Eric whispered once feeling his head hit something hard, aimlessly spinning across the mud aided such minor predicament.

Taking only a second to recover, he tried to gaze up and see what he hit. Fortunately it doesn’t look like anything hostile, he has bumped into a tree.

Fairly random come to think of it, as he hasn’t really seen any trees ever since he got here. Just mud mostly and grass spread around here and there.

Confusing most likely and Eric didn’t fail to express it as the back of his head took comfort over mud. “The hell am I supposed to do with this tree?”

“If you weren’t being an ass about this I would tell you.” A tone echoed, coming from the tree neither man or woman by pitch.

“Oh finally, some help.” Eric barked out, a bliss of relief taking land on his soul.

Understanding that his wordsmithery can determine progression here, Eric decided to rub the ego of whom spoke. “I bet you are smart, tell a fellow Human how to get out of here? I just want to get back to my family.”

“Oh, I guess you met with Jaluuti.” That same tone answered, kinder by tone and eager to listen.

Shedding truth amongst truth, Eric explained as he tried to find where the voice is coming from, this tree doesn’t have a mouth. “Yes, out of nowhere her companions attacked us, we beat them and she attacked us after. It was all self defence is our side really, she just tried to kill us.”

Cooperative beyond expectation, that voice from the tree answered. “Yes she does that, she has been using this realm for a long time now to aid her sporting needs.”

Holding a full on conversation when time is ticking is a bad idea, but it’s better to attain knowledge here instead of wandering endlessly. “I bet all of you are sick of that, can’t you do anything about it. Like why didn’t this realm banish her yet.”

Crawling out of the tree, that tone talking Eric up revealed itself as some kind of animal, a bit like a Rat but it’s dark blue in colour and has 5 feet, 2 heads. “I can tell you about that but she would have my head, the realm master would banish me instead.”

Interested at the being but in no way grossed out since he has seen worse, Eric tries to bicker. “Well can you at least tell me how I can get out of here? I can’t afford to die, the whole world is doomed if I die.”

A bit rebellious fair to say, the Rat revealed what he thinks. “Hmmm… the realm master didn’t say anything about helping Jaluuti’s play things.”

Letting silence stretch a few seconds, the odd looking Rat explains. “Look I don’t know how Jaluuti rigs her puzzles, but you can find someone who knows more.”

Clinging on the tree, pointing to its left, the Rat explained. “Spin this way, seek Bushy Kuliert and explain to her your predicament.”

“Oh right you need this too.” The Rat chirped and afterwards dashed towards the tree, a leg fell down after and the Rat followed with a crawl. “It’s your leg, you found one already so I’m sure you know the procedure.”

Worming his way towards the leg swiftly, joy overwhelming the boy, he has to express gratitude. “Oh thank you, at least now I can walk. I’m sick of tasting mud.”

…

Running his way across the muddy fields encrusted by the mist, who seem to generate a bit more grass now ever since Eric obtained the second leg.

How this works? Still a blur to everyone come to think of it, as Ada for example was ridding through a wide clear to see grassy field in one moment, then it became mostly mud in the next.

The puzzle of Halieq, as Taluuti likes to call it. Has been nothing less than confusing ever since they all got here. It jumps from one end to the other and the only one towards strong progress is, Rash the Goblin Demon.

“Are you Bushy Kuliert?” Eric puzzled, demanding an answer as he gazed upon a table.

Not even kidding about that one, the young Electus has reached the point of talking to a table.

Not a fancy table either, it just has 4 slightly narrow (15°) standing legs, holding a flat surface stretching just 3 feet wide and 5 feet long.

Breaking the normal once more, something near the table started speaking aloud. “I don’t remember, help me remember.”

Sensing based on the tone, that whatever is speaking has a firm memory, Eric mouthed. “Are you asking for gold?”

Confused by tone at what Eric just said, the table jumped a foot high so one of its edges faces Eric. “No, what’s gold? I’m asking you to help me remember.”

Pointing out what Eric should have figured out himself by now, the table uttered. “I’m a table, tables don’t have good memories.”

Trying to excuse himself, Eric explains. “I’m sorry, you are the first living table I’ve seen.”

“It’s alright, it’s alright.” The table comforted and let silence stretch a little while before adding. “I can only remember how to get my memory back, the rest is a blur.”

Finding this golden opportunity to make a deal, Eric offers as he taps the ground with his feet, feeling nervousness. “Well then do tell, I’ll help you and after you help me. Do we have a deal?”

Swift to answer, the table cites. “Yes we have a deal.”

Eager to get this started and over with as soon as possible, Eric asks. “Okay, what do I have to do?”

Casually, the table answers. “Slap my ass.”

Confused the young boy asks. “Uh okay… which one is the as.”

Able to somehow see where Eric is although it has no mouth or eyes or anything basically, the table guides. “The one to your left.”

Able to figure it out, Eric pointed. “Aha, I’ll slap it with my foot.”

Raising his foot as high as he can to reach the table’s rear, trying not to stub his toe which would make this experience a full pain in the ass.

With the bottom of his foot, he struck the table trying his best to make it sound like a slap.

A second after, some kind of whistling sounded over their heads however it’s undertone strikes heavier from a common whistle.

It feels heavier, lower pitched although that would break the dynamics of a whistle.

Still, it overtook their ears since that feeling of a whistle still remains regardless of its differences and it even lasted for a few seconds.

At last from above, an object landed over the table’s back. It ain’t heavy enough to break the table but we can’t call it light as a feather.

Shocked, Eric gazed upon the object for a few seconds and the only sentence he can form is. “The hell, that’s my arm. What does it have to do with your ass?”

Unwilling to hold a conversation before regaining its memory, the table demands. “Put it on and slap my ass with your hand now.”

Knowing the procedure, Eric leans in towards the arm’s socket and expresses. “Oh this will hurt after a minute!”

Repetitive, the table cites. “Just slap me.”

His arm still feeling numb, Eric tries to use his upper body to move or swing best called, his arm as close to the table’s rear as he can.

“Oh yeah!” The table shouted, starting to jump around after and spinning in place, one of its edges almost hitting Eric’s waist.

“I remember now.” The table added right after, while Eric stood in place taking it into consideration that this is the weirdest thing he ever faced.

Vigilant to explain what’s going on, thankfully choosing to save Eric’s time from this point, the table cites. “I’m Bushy Kuliert the table. I thank you, whatever you are for restoring my memory.”

And afterwards continues without waiting for the human to speak. “You need to head to the left, straight to the left if you wish to escape Jaluuti’s clutches.”

Spinning and facing what could be its sound source, to the left. The table continues to explain. “You are a few steps away from escaping this puzzle, the uncertainty probably makes it look big but it’s simple like the palm of your hand.”

Thankful, Eric has no chance to avoid gratitude based expressions. “You are the biggest help of this entire puzzle, table.”

Tad mad that it’s word is interrupted, the table shouted. “Ok ok shut up and listen! Run this way and keep shouting the key word, Azr.a.p.etos!”

Glad that the way out of here transparent, one more worry strolls around the young Electus’ head. “But what about my arm?”

With its memory newly arrived, it is understandable for the table to skip such valuable information but there is no time like now to state them. “Oh right you need to get all of your limbs, or you will wake up missing the ones you failed to find. In this case, your arm.”