Hunters: The Prequel - Chapter 246

“Wait,” Hildegarde silenced Mane. “Someone’s coming,” the fairy whispered into his ear.

“The person who owns the place?” Mane asked, the volume of his voice reduced to match hers.

“Yes.” Hildegarde assented. “He came a couple of times when you were asleep”

“Are we related in any way?” Mane quickly enquired. His ‘Status’ showed that he was 15, not 11. It was either he was still in his own body, but in a more matured phase, or he was in another’s body.

“I don’t think so,” Hildegarde shook her head. “You’re still using your body. Your growth was only accelerated”

“That’s good to know” Mane sighed in relief.

“Why do you ask?” Hildegarde c.o.c.ked her head to the side in curiosity. Unfortunately, Mane didn’t see this adorable action because she was seated on his shoulder. And since he didn’t have any of his skills and was basically a normal person, he couldn’t sense it either.

“The daily quest,” Mane stated. “It would be much simpler to solve if we aren’t related,” Mane explained.

“What do you plan to do,” Hildegarde questioned?

“What else can I do,” Mane shrugged. “I can only play the amnesia card here. Don’t you read story books?”

“Shh. He’s at the door” Hildegarde informed Mane. Before Mane could ask where she planned to hide, the door was opened. Mane panicked briefly, his discomfort evident on his face. If this person saw his fairy, there was no way he would have a suitable reply for why he had something like that with him. He gazed at the man who owned the room in worry.

His caretaker, and the one who had nursed him back to health, was a tall man. His muscular frame was barely contained in the baggy clothes he wore, for even they threatened to fall apart under his ripped physique. He had curly black hair and dark eyes. His hair was plentiful, and it was a style Mane had never seen before. It looked like he was trying to make a ball with his hair. The strange thing was, it suited the man just fine. In fact, Mane thought that he would look really bad without it. Apart from his strangely shaped hair, Mane took notice of his skin color. The man was dark, just like Ananse; but the ebony color of his skin granted him a sought of elegance that even his plain and simple clothes couldn’t hide. He had a few wrinkles on his face, and the few strands of grey in his well-trimmed beard served to prove that although he was in great shape, he wasn’t as young as one would think when one first laid eyes upon him. He had a kind smile that reminded Mane of the missing Uncle Jake. He was a handsome man.

“You’re up” the man exclaimed when he saw that Mane was seated on the bed. His gaze was full of concern, and his smile was genuine. His bass voice carried authority, and although Mane had lost his inner energy and the rights to be a scholar, he could feel that this man was unordinary. He must be someone of authority.

“How are you feeling,” The man pulled over a chair Mane hadn’t seen earlier, for it was hidden by the foot of his bed, and sat at his bedside. His words caused Mane to smile in relief. His reaction showed that he couldn’t see Hildegarde.

“No one can see me apart from you. Your test may be different, but the rules for fairies still remain” Hildegarde, who was still sitting on his shoulder informed Mane and assured him that his worries were unfounded.

“I am feeling much better. Thank you for your help” Mane quickly said when he noticed the strange gaze he was receiving from the man. After all, he was staring blankly into space instead of answering the question. The man would have thought that there was something wrong.

“It’s no problem. I cannot ignore someone in need. Although I did find it strange to find someone in the Enchanted Forest” the man rubbed his chin and sighed in relief once he heard Mane’s answer. However, his words interested Mane.

“The Enchanted Forest?” Mane repeated the words that drew his curiosity and looked to the man for an answer.

“Yes. It’s a dangerous place for one so young to be stranded in. Do you not remember what happened?” the handsome gentleman enquired.

“I am sorry. I do not remember anything” Mane shook his head and adopted a look of pain as one who was trying to recall something would have.

“There’s no need to apologize, and you should take it easy. You are still recovering. Your headache would be aggravated if you try to think so hard. After all, not many can survive a Banshee’s scream” the man kindly advised when he saw Mane’s effort to recall some of his memories. Yet, all his words did was to earn more of Mane’s curiosity.

“A Banshee?” Mane wondered

“Yeah. It’s a magical creature that specializes in mental attacks. You were lucky to have only collapsed. I heard its scream and rushed towards that location, only to find you unconscious. It seems that it has robbed you of your memories; but that is way better than death. So, do you not remember anything about yourself?” the man offloaded quite a bit of information in very little time. From the corner of his eye, Mane could see the completion rate on the ‘Status’ menu increase by 0.02. It seemed that as long as Mane went down this path, and collected as much information as possible, he may be able to complete the daily quest. But to ask so many questions would earn his savior’s suspicion. He had to do it gradually.

“I can’t remember anything. I am so sorry” Mane acted as though he was genuinely trying to recall his ‘lost’ memories, and put on a face of frustration.

“That’s terrible acting. Even the densest of people would realize there’s something wrong” the invisible Hildegarde mumbled from over his shoulder.

“I’ve already said that there’s no need to apologize. It isn’t your fault that your memories are a mess” the man kindly tousled Mane’s hair.

“I stand corrected. He is denser that the universe’s densest man” Hildegarde grumbled. Mane naturally ignored her. He swallowed the guilt he was feeling for deceiving such a kind man and thought about what he had gained so far. Although he couldn’t feel any of his inner energy, and although he didn’t feel the kind hands of Edict reaching for him, Mane knew that this world wasn’t common. The man said that the Banshee was a magical creature, and he didn’t speak of it like it was some big secret. So that must mean that there were several magical creatures roaming the land.

Secondly, the man run towards the danger, and not away from it. He was either the biggest idiot in the world, or he was extremely confident in his strength, so much so that he didn’t fear the Banshee. From the fact that he had rescued Mane and didn’t seem to be nursing any injuries, it was safe to assume that he had dealt with the Banshee pretty easily.

“Do you at least remember your name? I’m Dan” the man extended his huge hands for a handshake.

Mane wondered if he should offer his real name, and finally settled on doing so. After all, the Dreamscape was a different dimension. No one knew him here, and it wasn’t likely that he would run into anyone from this dimension after completing his test. Besides, he had told too many lies. He might as well say something that was indeed true.

“You don’t need to try so hard to recall it if you do not remember” Dan looked at Mane worriedly, assuming that the boy’s look of contemplation on whether or not he should give his real name, was an effort at remembering what his name was.

Mane played along and grabbed Dan’s open hand. “Mane. I think my name is Mane”

“Nice to meet you Mane” Dan shook Mane’s hand gently, an action that may have been directed by his fear of aggravating Mane’s injuries.

Mane smiled as he shook his hand. It was now that Mane realized that although Dan’s hands were big, Mane’s weren’t small either. Granted they weren’t as large as Dan’s, but they were certainly larger than the average 15 year old from his world. At the very least, Frederick wasn’t as large as this. It was likely that the people of this world were larger than average, and it wasn’t Dan who was abnormally large.

“Status” Mane chanted in his mind. As he shook Dan’s hand, he was overcome by a strange idea. He used ‘Status’ on Dan. If it was indeed like Spirit Scan, as Hildegarde had said, then he should be able to see Dan’s stats.

Name: Dan

Age: 47

Physical Attributes – Strength: 15.7

Agility: 13.8

Stamina: 18.2

Path: Mystic User

“Nice to meet you too” Mane squeezed out of his mouth as he thought to himself,

“What a beast!”