Empath

[Ding]

[Mission Accomplish]

[Reward: 10 Free Points]

[Ding]

[Dagger Proficiency I Mastered]

[Upgrade required: 7 Heartstone Required.]

Name: Izalith Snow (Sealed)

Cultivation: Heavens End

Str: 18

Dex: 40

Con:18

Int: 24

[Arcane: 20]

FP: 10

Staring at the menu, I couldn't help but frown, noticing the massive discrepancy between my attributes. How is it possible for me to be this fast but not receive any backlash, or am I at a bottleneck where my body has the potential to go that high, but due to my limited stats, I can't?

The human body is physically made to be perfectly balanced. In the wild, there are some animals that get so large that they end up killing themselves.

A/N: Ligers, I believe

"Izalith,' Eryth called, jarring me from my thoughts. "You'd best be keeping an eye out. Despite Port of Blackpool being relatively safe, I've quite a few men killed simply by approaching the wrong somebody."

"Seriously?"

"I've no reason to lie to a weakling like you," he said, shooting a smile that seemed as grim as his eyes. " Ever heard of the Crimson Ward?"

"I have."

"Do you know how it got its name?" I hooked my head, and his lips deepened. "Seven thousand years ago, when my family, one of the founding members, helped forge this city. A riot broke out due to the disparity between the rich and the poor. A common occurrence now, but back then." He chuckled as if he were there. His voice grew rough and thick. " Back then, the founding families cared not for what the commoners thought and, in a rash decision, slaughtered over a thousand people, bathing the streets red. And if that weren't enough, the founding families tore the ring leaders' families from their homes, ending their bloodline before it could grow. It was said the streets were littered with the bodies of children of all ages."

An itch formed in the back of my throat, and my fingers grew clenched. "That's madness."

"It's reality," He replied. "Or is it that you think your world is any better?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but words failed to escape me as I recalled the genocides throughout history—the mindless slaughter of a few mad men on a far larger scale. Was this the norm here? Mindless killings?

"Keep an open eye out," Eryth remarked, leading me deeper north towards what seemed like a towering ivory building—guarded by dozens of men and women of all races upon a large fanged beast with fur as dark as night.

My eyes widened as I lunged past Eyth towards the fluffy wolf-like creature with eyes that slowly began to reveal themselves as dark blue.

"Halt!' The many guards commanded, but as I opened my palm, I almost couldn't help but giggle.

"Paw!"

The hound barked, liftings its palm as large as my head on my hand.

"What the?" Said the female guard saddled on top of the large hound. Her elvish features seemed almost radiant as she yelped in surprise, followed by a sigh. " Tyr's hammer! Tano, you big idiot! You're a guard dog."

"Roll over!" I sang as the hounds barked, licking the base of my palm.

"Wait! Wait!! Wait!!!!"

Oops. Witnessing the guard beg before being smothered by the fluff, I gasped, albeit slightly jealous. "I'm so sorry!!!! The power of the fluff was strong in this one!"

"Fluff my ass!" Shouted the woman as she clawed her way out from under the hound, minty hair revealed beneath her helmet that went missing under the beast, "You could've killed me!"

"And I'd be out a my most prized warrior," Eryth remarked, shooting me a curious eye as he approached. "Julia, this is Izalith. Izalith, this is Julia Caven, my head knight."

Hoisting herself off the ground, Julia patted sand off her chainmail with a lonesome cry. "Getting sand out of chainmail is a bitch. Does anyone know a cleaning spell!"

Hearing her plea, she sucked her teeth; noticing none step out, she barked," Useless. The lot of you! Now then, it's nice to meet you, Iza. As for you!" She pointed towards the hound!" You lousy bastard! I've raised you from a pup! How could you betray mama? An to another woman of all things!"

Tano whimpered, lowing its large head.

"Let's just head in; Julia is an odd one. A little harmless, assuming you are not an enemy, of course." Eryth said, but…

"But he's so fluffy!" I mourned, unable to stop my eyes from growing a little wet. "Look at those pearly dark blue eyes. He needs a hug!" I cried, pointing at his pitiful face.

"Ah, so you've noticed Tano's greatness!" Julia commented, nodding her head. She crossed her arms." Hehe. Tano's fur is the best. Screw those wyverns and their scaly bodies. No fluff means no life. "

"Is that why you rejected a wyvern? Tyr's Hammer! Do you know how much a damnd wyvern costs? It takes twenty knights to take down one! And that's assuming there's no rider!" Shouted Eryth harshly

"Someone's in a pissy mood." Julia gleefully sang. " Go to mommy. She's looking for you."

Eryth's eyes grew aflame as he clenched his teeth. "You just make sure you can kill her in a single strike should she step out of line," he commanded.

Julia didn't react much as her silvery blue eyes narrowed. She smiled. " Think this will be the day I take her head?"

My mind jerked away from Tano, focusing on the conversation.

What the hell? Was he going to kill his mother?

"How many have died?" Eryth replied, his tone now serene, consumed by an emptiness that made my chest hurt a little.

[Ding]

Skill acquired: Empath Lv 1

Grade: SSS

Description: Embellish in those you call your friends and enemies. Feel their Wrath, Pride, and love and make it your own, for there is power in their emotions.

And here I thought, I wasn't attuned to the emotions of others. How strange. I'd always thought I was distant. I've always found it hard to communicate with others, always being on the outside. Despite being talented, as one of the smartest people in the world, I had no friends. Only Crowe. And, like me, he was the odd one out. For all the women he's picked up through the years. I've never seen him give a woman a second date.

Staring at Eryth, I felt someone had pinched my heart. Stifling my breath, I felt suffocated, as though I was trapped.

"Woof!' Tano muttered softly, licking the tip of my fingers as if sensing my turmoil.

I reached into myself, pushing down these emotions plaguing me, only managing a smile as Tano softly brushed his head against my fingers.

Fur soft as the finest silk billowed like the gentle winds against my fingers, soothing my mind. "Good boy."

Wagging his tail, Tano barked. "Woof!'

"Hehe, you are so cute!" I murmured, wrapping my arms the best I could around his thick neck. I attached myself to Tano, feeling I've accomplished everything I needed to in life.

All hail the fluffy boy!

Gods, I love animals. Humans are too complex. If only Tano were a panda. God, I'm going to miss my panda pajamas. They were the best! So soft and warm. It was like living like a panda!

"Let's just head in, Izalith…." Eryth paused, and my eye's peeped open.

"Hmm?" I turned, feeling so warm and comfy I could just melt away.

"I didn't think you'd be so friendly."

"Friendly?" My head tilted. "I'm always friendly."

"I think he means you don't seem like a bitch." Julia commented, her lips arching at each end.

Eryth coughed. "Well, I wouldn't put it like that, but I thought you were a bit cold at first but seeing you with this beast—"

"Tano." I corrected. " His name is Tano."

"By the Nines! She's just adorable! I want hugs too!' Julia cried out, opening her arms, taking me in alongside Tano in one fell swoop.