"Are you ready?" Dave asked.
'Ready for what? I thought you were just realigning things.'
"I am."
'Well, yes, then do it. The sooner the better, as I can see something approaching from the east.'
"Okay," Dave said, then paused. "Erm, you know that's Kibble, right?"
'What?'
SJ turned and stared in the direction the blot of shapes was travelling from.
"Haven't you been looking at your map?"
SJ felt her cheeks flush, not even considering checking where Kibble was in relation to her position. She had been a little preoccupied after all.
'No. I hadn't.'
"Well, now this is very interesting," Dave said thoughtfully. "Oh well, the changes won't take long while we await his arrival. Here goes."
'Wait...' but it was too late as SJ's vision was lost. She gasped in shock, having experienced a horrible and similar fate in Killic when the system had automatically levelled her. She sat cursing, wishing Dave had warned her, trying to remain patient.
'How long?' she thought.
"Oh. A minute yet, just triggering the adjustment patch. Here goes."
Searing hot pain flooded her brain. It suddenly felt swollen and overloaded as images of text flashed into her mind. The darkness of her vision was replaced with her internal thoughts as word after word, letter after letter from every known language entered. She grimaced, gritting her teeth, believing they might shatter. It felt as though red-hot pokers lanced her eyeballs.
"Nearly there," Dave said cheerily.
'Need to hurry up,' SJ hissed angrily.
The pain ebbed away, and as it did, she opened her eyes, for her vision to be filled with ones and zeros.
'What's this code?'
"Oh, it will stop in a moment."
As stated, the ones and zeros faded as SJ's vision returned fully. Her display icon in the bottom corner flashed away, as she would expect after any log entry.
"That's all done."
'Are you sure?' SJ said cautiously, feeling her head, where it had felt like it was expanding; she was grateful that it was the same size and shape.
"Yes, language modules have been added to your synapses. It will now be like you have known them your whole life."
'Does it mean I can speak to them as well?'
"As long as there aren't any biological considerations. Toadies, as an example, use their sacks to pronounce their language, which you don't have, but you will understand it."
'Toadies?'
"Yeah. Strange bunch of humanoid beings that live on the west coast of one of the other continents."
SJ just frowned. Of all the explanations, he had picked one she would likely never meet. Or at least not in the near future.
'So, I can now understand the gnolls and draconians.'
"And creatures, not all creatures, but those with intelligence above a certain threshold."
'I know you just updated a lot of information in my brain, but what attribute amendments did you make?'
"Check your character sheet."
SJ opened her display of her attributes. Everything appeared the same until she got to Intelligence. Her intelligence had rocketed to a base level of thirty before any bonuses from equipment or items, and there was a new skill defined, Linguist.
'Wow...' was all SJ could respond with.
"Yeah. Languages are gained through intellect, and to allow for the full package, yours had to exceed or equal thirty. Only gods or AIs usually have access to the language's ability, where everything is available."
'AIs have access to skills?' SJ asked, frowning.
"No, of course not; we are omnipotent."
'You're not really, though, are you?'
Dave stumbled in his reply. "I... I may not have been, but now I am released from my bonds... muahahahahahah."
SJ rolled her eyes. 'Does it have any other effects?' As SJ's senses returned, she could hear the distant sound of the enemy, their voices now understandable amidst the continuing chaos.
"If you were a magic user, you would have the ability to learn extra spells, but since you're not, its bonuses are quite limited. Your mana will have increased slightly, but not by much, not that it's relevant to you outside of tailoring."
Intelligence was probably SJ's least concerning attribute; she didn't require it currently for any of her assassin class skills. Therefore, the bonus points she had received with the adjustment would save her from ever having to worry about it again. The linguist skill was going to be something that could bring massive benefits, considering several conversations she had overheard in Asterfal and between various beings in Killic, particularly during council meetings, where representatives from different races discussed matters in their native languages. It wasn't a skill she was willingly going to advertise that she now had. Never mind the questions it would raise.
As SJ shifted her focus back to the sky above, the blots in the distance were slowly growing larger. She had moved away from the town towards the edge of the lake south of town, and this meant that she was away from the circling wyvern and any enemy troops, who were busy nearer the town barracks, closer to the centre than the outer edge.
As Kibble approached, SJ wondered initially if he was being chased, but as he neared her mouth dropped open in shock. Behind him in a tight formation were five wyverns. They were all of a similar size to him, yet had the green colouring of the larger wyvern that was currently attacking the town. They flew high above the town before circling and heading in towards her from the lakeside.
'That was smart of Kibble,' SJ thought.
"He is rather intelligent," Dave said.
Kibble came flying in to land next to SJ, the five wyverns doing the same, their small forms bobbing up and down and hissing towards her. Kibble turned and looked at them, clicking. That was when SJ realised that she could understand him.
"Shut up, you lot. I need to speak to SJ," Kibble clicked.
One of the smaller wyverns squeaked in response to the larger of the five to turn around and growl at it, snapping. SJ had no idea whether they were male or female, and hadn't understood the wyvern.
"Kibble. What's going on?" SJ asked, shocked beyond belief.
Kibble started to squeak, chirp and click in response. His words were clear as day.
"I was drawn to the mountains where the clutch was hatching. I imprinted, stating my authority over them, so they are now mine to control."
Dave started to interpret. " He said..."
SJ cut him off. "I understand; Kibbles' intelligence must be high enough for me to translate." She smiled at the discovery; it would make communicating with her miniature companion much easier.
"You understand," Kibble chirped happily.
"Yes. I have a new skill," SJ grinned.
"That's amazing," Kibble said excitedly, his youthful exuberance showing as he hopped up and down.
"Kibble. Can you explain why the large wyvern is here and you have the five young with you?"
"Ah. I can explain that one better," Dave said as he explained the nesting ritual of wyverns to her.
"I see. So, the mother," SJ turned towards the town. "Is feeding after guarding her clutch. The problem is that she is attacking the townsfolk as well, who are being held captive. Is there anything you can do to help?"
Kibble looked at SJ thoughtfully for several moments before he replied. "I could try and influence it, but they aren't very intelligent," his tone was almost demeaning.
SJ frowned. "Kibble. There is no need to speak of them in that way," her tone harsh.
Kibble dropped his head. "Sorry."
"Don't you hold a hierarchy over them?" Dave said.
"What do you mean by hierarchy?" SJ asked.
"This is something I couldn't tell you before," Dave sounded happy. "Miniature wyverns are basically the royal lineage of the wyvern race. They hold sway over their kind."
"What?" SJ said again, taken aback by the revelation.
"Yes. They are seen as rather special. Kibble here is a rarity. There are fewer miniature wyverns than any of the other wyvern breeds. Yet, they hold immense sway within their race."
Kibble had puffed his little chest out. One of the wyvern hatchlings turned and snapped at its sibling, which had held back from the others, sinking its teeth into its wing. Kibble reacted immediately as a flash of lightning flew at it. The attacking wyvern squeaked as the lightning coursed over it, suddenly backed away, hissing, and lowered its head towards Kibble.
"It looks like you have them controlled at least," SJ said. "Although I'm not sure punishment is the best option."
Kibble squeaked in response. "They are newborns. They need to learn the rules; otherwise, once they get away with something, they will think they can always do it. They learn through mistakes, and currently, all they want to do is eat."
SJ shook her head. The switch from the excitable, child-like Kibble to the sudden ruler of the five wyverns was a strange thing to witness. "We need to find them food then."
"Yes."
They were only a couple of hundred feet from the town, and SJ could easily get to one of the houses and check for food.
"Would they stay here if you told them to?" SJ asked.
Kibble tilted his head and appeared to shrug.
"Okay. I will go and get some food. Wait here with them. As soon as I am back, I need you to go and see if you can deal with the mother."
SJ took off, staying low, and flew to the nearest home. After searching inside, she found what she was after and returned a short time later with several chunks of hogling, the smell of frost clinging to the wrapped meat. They were still coated in ice from the freezer box where they had been stored. She took them out and placed them on the ground. Immediately, the wyvern moved towards them, and Kibble snapped at it.
"You wait," he hissed.
SJ chuckled, hearing her little companion speak like that, especially considering how much of a nightmare he had been when it came to stealing food. The last thing SJ wanted to happen, though, was for them to discover and start eating the corpses that still littered the streets in several areas. Although SJ doubted, they would remain for a very long time with the beast circling the skies above.
Eventually, Kibble got them to behave properly, and they stood waiting as SJ cut the meat up into even chunks.
"While I feed them, please go and see if there is anything you can do with the mother. If she hurts the townsfolk anymore..." SJ trailed off.
"Going," Kibble clicked as he lifted off.
A wyvern, which had been bitten on the wing by its sibling, squeaked as Kibble flew off, and SJ noticed how nervous it suddenly appeared, being left with its siblings alone. On closer inspection, although there wasn't much in it, SJ realised that it must have been the runt of the litter, clutch, whatever their name was.
"You're right with the term clutch," Dave said, reading SJ's thoughts.
SJ deliberately fed the nervous wyvern first, to growls of displeasure from the other four. As they snarled and snapped their jaws in frustration. Carefully, SJ fed them all, ensuring that each got the same amount of food. The largest one, even though fed last, gobbled his food down and turned immediately towards another.
SJ immediately interjected. "Don't you dare."
The wyvern looked at her cautiously for a moment before growling and turning away.
"Oh. That was interesting behaviour. I think because of the way Kibble reacts towards you, it realised that you are above them. I have never witnessed that before. Not that I have ever witnessed a miniature wyvern controlling five wyverns before. Just wait until they grow," Dave chuckled.
As soon as Dave mentioned those words, SJ froze, her eyes wide as she looked between the five wyverns and the adult that was causing chaos above the town.
"That's not something I had considered," SJ gulped.
"Bah. They should be fine... I think."
"You're not filling me with confidence," SJ sighed as she turned to watch Kibble.
The wyvern was nearer the northern side of town, where it had perched itself on one of the buildings. SJ could hear the panicked voices of the enemy guards from the town as they scrambled to deal with it.
"I hope Kibble can do something. I don't wish to know how many it may have already injured or even killed."
Kibble was so excited that SJ could now understand him as he flew towards the mother wyvern. Its long claws had dug through the building's roof, shattering its tiles. In the streets around, the enemy forces were moving. Kibble let out a snarl towards the gnolls and the draconian rider who was heading towards where the wyvern had perched.
He was still tiny compared to most beings, and as he neared the wyvern, he dropped down towards her. She noticed him screeching as she turned her head in his direction. 'This won't be easy,' Kibble thought.
The wyvern's jaws were coated in red from its recent feasting, but with such a vast supply of food literally at its feet, Kibble could see this being an issue to get her to leave.
Kibble didn't pause as he landed mere feet from the wyvern, who turned its head, staring down at him. A fire burned in its eyes, of lust and caution.
Kibble didn't pause in his movement as he immediately hopped towards her. His head was high, and he was meeting her gaze with no sign of fear. Then again, miniature wyverns didn't understand fear. He let out a deep growl as he neared, looking up at her monstrous form. This close, Kibble could see where scars raked her body from previous conflict. Several scales were damaged, and a long scar ran down her neck. Kibble wondered what had damaged her so badly.
She blinked slowly as she looked at him, returning a growl in response to his. Kibble snarled, allowing lightning to form around his jaws in a threatening manner.
The wyvern tilted its head in response, unsure of what to do, as though confused that this miniature version of itself could threaten it.
Kibble had been hoping to have a conversation and ask her kindly to leave the area, but her response had been swift in rebuttal, just two words. 'Free food.' That's why lightning now crackled across his jaws. Although he felt sympathy for her starvation after looking after her clutch, he couldn't ignore her.
Shouts from closer could be heard, and Kibble looked down the street watching as a draconian rider and its mount came running down the street. The lizard could reach the building's roof, Kibble was sure after seeing them scale the wall, and as if on cue, it started to lift its forebody off the ground.
Kibble hissed at the wyvern, warning her, but she just snarled back in defiance.
He shook his little head from side to side, a very SJ response, and immediately pushed off the roof. After seeing what these lizards were capable of, he wasn't going to take any chances, and although he didn't really wish to see one of his kind die, he would rather that than any of his friends be injured.
Gnolls followed the lizard as they charged around the corner, spears and slings held ready as they neared. The wyvern was watching them approach. As Kibble thought it was too late for the wyvern to react, it spat. A ball of acid left its mouth, directly at the lizard, which had just started to jump.
There was no way the lizard could avoid the acidic spray, and even though it attempted to turn its head, it received the full amount across the side of its face, across its back, where the draconian rider sat. The draconian rider screamed in pain as the lizard, no longer being able to monitor its trajectory properly, crashed down onto the roof before flipping over as it shrieked in pain. The draconian was crushed under its weight as it rolled, attempting to get the acid off its skin as it fell over the roof's edge, crashing to the ground below, where, although still alive, it continued its frantic movements. Its tail swished angrily, smashing into windows, doors or anything else that offered little resistance.
Several of the gnolls, having again seen the acidic response of the wyvern, slowed, and a couple even turned away again, but several didn't, and as they got in range, they started to hurl or fire at the wyvern. The wyvern shrieked this time as several slingshots struck its underside. Kibble noticed one of its scales had cracked. There was no way it could stay there and take the damage.
It pulled its head back and spat again. This time it wasn't an acidic ball, but a fine spray, similar to that which Kibble had watched Fas use with his poison attack in dragon form. These gnolls, who had stood their ground though, were ready and moved from its path, ducking into alleys or entering buildings to avoid its lethal impact. As soon as the spray stopped, they resumed their attack.
Kibble wasn't sure if the wyvern could do it again. Fas had been left exhausted from his attack, and as he hovered over the scene, the wyvern let out a cry of frustration as it beat its wings. Loose tiles were cast from the roof as the wyvern lifted into the air again. It turned further to the north and flew towards the mill. The mill was the tallest structure in Killic and could be seen from almost everywhere. Its whitewashed walls and brown leather sails stand out like a beacon.
Kibble followed the wyvern, catching up to it as it flew slowly. It no longer appeared to have the same energy as before, and Kibble wondered if his assumption was right, that its jet spray had weakened it. He called to her, her head turning but not replying. It appeared to be with effort that it beat its wings, lifting to the mill's roof, before coming into land on the thatched surface. The thatched roof wasn't designed to bear such a weight, and it shrieked in surprise as its clawed feet sank straight through it.
