Dark Slate
"Ambush? Did you see anything?" asks Lula.
"The blood of the cockatrice we fought earlier is gone," says Niva, still in panic.
Meanwhile, Krilo attentively listens to the sound behind the gate after Niva closes it with aheartbeat.
"That's the boy named Niva, right? The one that summoned the cursed yellow compfreund?" asks the raspy sounded man.
"Yes, you dumb. But, why the hell did he already detect us?" answer the higher pitch sounded man.
"What happened? Where is the signal?" asks another lady's voice somewhere near the source of the two previous sounds.
"Stay on your ground!" commands much louder sound of a man. "For the Order never forgive a failure like this."
'The Order? The Holy Order? That transnational secret organization wants to find me? What is their business doing here?'
He tries his best to think but lacks a confirmation. 'But it is no use to speculate about something that is still vague in this era. Maybe I will ask the group for more info.'
Krilo slowly articulates his words. "They just said that they are from the order. What do they mean by that?"
Niva's attention goes to Krilo. "Are you sure with what you heard? That's The Holy Order that you are talking about."
"Holy Order?!" blurts Krilo thinking out loud.
"I don't know what their aim is, but we are fugitive in their eyes. Even the kingdom supports them," thinks Niva.
"That snake tongued Yerni is waiting for the right moment to lay a trap for the both of us," mumbles Niva.
'Supports them? They weren't even legal in my era. And from the mumbling previously, his companion maybe just made a truce with them but betrayed eventually. Boy oh boy they would prefer killing you on sight for the reason of not believing their version of The Nature than negotiating for their own benefit.'
Krilo tries to tie everything up in his bird brain. The change in century really messed him up. The social norms, order, law and everything might have been transformed into something that he is not accustomed with.
A thought dawned on him. 'The fact that this initially rogue organization has set a foothold in this realm means that they somehow know behind the tragedy centuries ago. And somewhat orchestrate it.'
Another list of people to be held accountable in his notebook.
'A militarily strong organization needs equal strong men to operate it. That means most of them might be minimum level 7. Far from us who have only the support class.'
Even when he successfully identifies the aggressor, it is not solving anything to come out from this circumstance.
He then looks at the two humans in front of him. A helpless look on his face why he has to team up with these three weaklings. He can't blame himself though that he is the weakest link.
He sits down in the corner while looking at three of them arguing about a solution which doesn't make sense to him. It is futile. Krilo thinks the group still don't know anything.
From his opinion, Niva is an optimistic young man, rarely complains and easygoing. But easily hurt when faced with a tragedy like that lifeless Foxtren boy. He was crying the most when looking at the body. His companion also spacing out the most when looking at him.
Meanwhile Lula, a decent young lady. Krilo doesn't believe that she is only a year older than Niva. More like 5 years older with the way she quietly assesses the problem and is not that impulsive. Except the twitches in her left hand that she tirelessly tries to hide.
Krilo thinks that the group still don't know the various classes that might be responsible for this ambush. The Holy Order will swiftly backstab the targets from the shadows with Level 7 [Assassin] from [Rogue] class line. One assassin each for each target. Not giving any chance to escape. It is their most ancient practice when operating.
Krilo reassesses his thoughts. Based on their current situation. Krilo thinks that they will probably apprehend him and his companion. Seeing that The Holy Order has an obsession to keep The Nature's anomaly intact and examine them further in their headquarters.
Krilo doesn't know where their headquarters are.
A look of resignation slowly dawns on him. 'We are trapped here, huh?'
Somehow the dark dealing with The Void still lingers in his mind. 'What kind of power did they just give me?'
His power is not increasing or his speed or anything. It is just the same as his first time reincarnated. 'So what gives?'
He then remembers something. The final text before he wakes up. He tries to imitate the gesture of opening the slate. Touching one's heart then dragging all the way in front. the full length of his stubby arms.
Suddenly something conjured in front of Krilo. A slate but different from the usual slate that humans and non-humans possess. But a bit dark and purplish color compared to blue light that the normal slate uses. He cannot contain his excitement.
"What is it, Krilo?" Niva and the others notice his unintended scream. The excitement of having a
Krilo just freezes in his place. As everyone can now clearly see what he has been up to. A slate that should not be in the hand of the compfreund like him. He never saw Shervo unleash her slate. Many questions will be asked and Krilo doubts that his foolish companion won't lay his eyes on him.
"Why are you standing like that and what's with that expression? You want to poop?" Niva seems to look at Krilo in the eye. Ignoring the blatant dark purple slate that is currently hovering between them.
"Y-yes just a little." Krilo tries his best to play along. "I haven't even pooped yet from the moment I have been summoned."
Come to think of it. There is a slight load in his buttocks. He assumes that it is just below his leg or between his legs and peacock tail. The yellow compfreund cannot imagine how it feels to poop as a different species. What shape of his poop or how much poop will come out.
Everyone's attention suddenly turns away from Krilo. He takes a deep breath from the nostril on his long beak.
'They really cannot see the slate, huh?' A sly facial expression formed in his eyebrow.