Major Quest

A sudden shriek originated piercing the ears of Kanan and rattling his brain for a moment.

"Ahhh! Please no! You will break the treaty if you do! Don't do this I am sorry!" Elane screeched as she flailed for her life. Kicking her feet around wildly she managed to hit Kanan but his body had not been moved. It was not her attacks of desperation that caused Kanan to fumble.

His equilibrium tilted forcing him to stumble. 

What the hell was that?!? He thought as he clutched his head. Elane seeing his disorientation attempted to capitalize. 

"A Beastkin then, you will curse your ears for working the day you threatened me!" Swiping her hand she finally managed to reach the syringe and stabbed at Kanan. To her shock however, it snapped on impact.

Tougher than steel? Shit! She thought. 

He managed to recover faster than she could escape and capture her once more. This time his hand covering her mouth with no intent of giving her a chance to deter him once more. Raising his voice Kanan yelled,

"Woman! Do you have anything that dampens sound here? Some type of soft material or fur in small quantities?" He asked. Elane nodded vigorously fearing death after being captured a second time. She used her eyes to lead Kanan to something resembling a cabinet from his world. It was brown and bronze with a multitude of pipes snaking up it leading into different buttons.

Kanan pressed a small button in the middle of the structure and steam shot out of a connected pipe causing the door to open automatically. 

I have heard of technology like this. Steam powered, what did that one university class president call it? Kanan wondered as he rummaged through the cabinet with one hand and held Elane captive with the other. 

Sometime later he found balls of what appeared to be animal fur and delicately placed them in his ears dampening the sound of his environment. After doing so he dragged the still worried Elane back to the examination table he was laid upon.

"Now, this time without screaming. What exactly is a Beastkin and why do you think I am one?" Kanan asked.

Elane looked to him shocked as she answered, "Your fangs, pointy ears, and aura is all non-human. Not to mention the threatening to devour me. Do you really have amnesia?" She asked.

I guess that is the best cover up I can think of at the moment until I get more context for this world. Kanan thought. 

"Yes, I apologize for the earlier threat, but under the circumstances I did not see a much clearer option. I cannot remember any of my past, where, or who I am. Please, help me." He said as his now noticeably big hands cusped Elane's own. His voice as smooth and soft and fog elevated the mood in the room as he showed a passionate and innocent gaze to Elane.

Is this another power of his? No, he really does just look so honest. Damn it maybe I did jump to conclusions and startle him. Elane pondered before speaking. "I apologize as well. I was just nervous because of the situation I found you in, but I will tell you what I can." She said.

"Beastkin are one of the nine sentient races alongside: Humans, Dragons, Oni, Fairies, Elves, Merfolk, Demons, and Monsters. Your traits honestly more resemble that of Oni, or a half blood Oni at least. But I have never seen an Oni or Beastkin with only fangs and ears like yours. No fur or scales either, what exactly are you?" She asked.

Kanan digested this information with sparkles in his eyes.

So many different types of women! I Wonder if they all have similar mindsets… 

Soon after he asked another question, "And this Intent you mentioned before? You spoke of it like a power. What exactly are Intents?" 

Elane's face scrunched alongside her nose as she responded, "I refuse to believe you don't know at least that much."

Kanan pinched her thigh causing her to gasp and apologize for her reply.

"Okay okay, Intents are an aspect of one's abilities when they reach a certain cultivation level. They pair alongside what is called a Claim." She said.

After hearing her a ring sounded in Kanan's ear as the screen returned this time with a different notification.

[Major Quest: Unlock Cultivation]

[Reward: Claim and Intent]

Hm? I will get both just from unlocking cultivation? Does this system allow me a cheat of some kind to be ahead of others? Kanan debated inwardly.

Elane noticing his silence and pondering face asked nervously, "H- hey I have been completely honest and answered your questions. So you aren't going to do anything bad to me… right?" 

Kanan smirked as he looked into her eyes, "Well that depends on you. Are you able to teach me to unlock cultivation? It sounds like a very convenient aspect to have under control."

Elane stammered, "Convenient? Using a stove is convenient. Owning a nimbus is convenient. Cultivation is a step into creating a legacy and even being picked to fight alongside on of the heroes! It is much more than some mere convenience!" Her voice holding back none of her annoyance.

Kanan licked his lips as he once again looked over her image. "You are a feisty one, aren't you? You keep provoking me knowing the things I could do to you. Why?" He asked.

Elane gulped but a dangerous grin formed on her nervous face as she answered, "Because this life is not worth cowering before anyone over. If I die here at least I can say it took a beast to take me out instead of some unknown disease or cowering criminal."

Kanan raised his brows, "What an answer… You speak of legacies? You want to leave one, yet you are so prone to endangering yourself. You speak of worth then give something as precious as life a finite value, based on what? You may look mature, but you still have much to learn." He said.

Elane snorted, "Hm! And who would I learn these things from? You? Some pervert with a non-functioning brain? No thanks, this old dog has learned all the tricks she bothers to. My legacy will be nothing more than a village doctor who could never achieve more. Not even the most natural abilities of a woman are within my grasp…" She complained. 

Her voice carried obvious hints of depression and resentment, to what, Kanan did not know. Though he did not know the specifics he had seen such eyes before, and such words were not foreign to him. As his eyes traced to her stomach he decided to ask.

"The most natural abilities huh? In what world does infertility make you an underachiever? You say you are a doctor. The lives you have saved I am sure would disagree with such a verdict." He replied as he released her hands letting them rest at her side as he retracted his own.

Elane's eyes raised and a blush that displayed shame, anger, and nervousness bloomed. "Why do you even care to comment? I did not ask for your input on such a thing. Do not preach to me pervert, and do not act so familiar with me. We are not friends…" She retaliated.

Kanan nodded before responding, his eyes carried a glimmer and a gaze as if he was looking through Elena. Not to the wall, but to a world far away. 

Clearing his throat with a slight cough he spoke again, "You are correct, I apologize. But for now at least, I ask that we become student and teacher. Teach me to cultivate, I will depart after that." He said with a resolute look on his face.

Elane's blush had disappeared by this time as she looked to his face.

What strong eyes, troubled eyes. What has he seen to make them look like that? She pondered all of a sudden feeling a pang of unknown emotions in her heart.

Nodding her head Elane replied, "Okay, I will teach you to cultivate. But first…"

Kanan wondered why she trailed her sentence, "What is it?" He asked.

Following Elane's vision downward her remembered a forgotten aspect of their current situation.

"Put on some clothes!"