Carrying the unconscious member like a princess. Raian followed behind while Liala proceeded to survey the surroundings.
Avoiding the creatures they could easily contend against two of them traveled with low presence, with critically injured Bumaru, Raian didn't feel like fighting. Carrying a person who was all left dampened his desire for battle quite a bit, especially when the loss of the lower limb was his fault.
Somehow the creatures seemed to agree with them. Disengaging as they did albeit slower in motion, maybe they could address which side was stronger. So far in this nightmare of an empty world they were the smartest creatures Raian had met.
Upon hours of long march, Raian was already used to small buzzing noise coming from Bumaru's wounds.
Looking closely one could see small blades of silver transpiring out of the injury and begin to cauterize the injury then building something above it.
After consulting with Liala, both agreed to ignore it till Bumaru himself explained it to them. Respecting his strange ability.
Raian wasn't the someone particularly smart, that much was obvious even to himself but he knew where to draw the line. If someone didn't wish to walk Raian wouldn't force them. Much like how he still waited for Liala to talk first.
After discovering a cave big enough for a dozen people, three of them camped there for the night.
Putting down the body, Raian reached to start a flame with a lax motion. Liala guaranteed the dark sea wouldn't reach here and Raian trusted her.
Grabbing small bites of wood, infused with monster meat and rubbing them together. A small blaze formed after a few minutes of constant effort.
The smell was suffocating as ever, but thanks to the size of the cave not much of the dreadful stench assaulted his nose. Even then he was used to it.
Starting a flame was nothing out of the ordinary but it was quite rare for him to do. Some nights no wood was found to sustain the flame, sometimes it was too risky to light flame.
But tonight was a little special so he decided to start one. After all, meeting new members was not an everyday occurrence. So far after a month of travel, he met only two people.
Looking at the bonfire and scratching his chin Raian shook his head in refusal.
Deciding there was no time to ponder what happened to many other sleepers, he let out a sigh and piled more for the blaze to swallow.
Watching the flame flicker, Raian silently enjoyed the moment. Beneath his passive look, there was a small part wishing for a nightmare creature to accidentally tread into their cave.
The motionless body besides the flame stopped Raian's imagination with a twitch.
Raian happily got up and tried to inform Liala but she was nowhere in sight. 'Scouting again I guess.' shaking his arms Raian gave up the idea.
These days the lapse between Liala going out to scout has increased. Head leaning a little to the right Raian thought. 'Maybe she is getting restless as well. Getting out of the first nightmare usually took a few weeks on average. Lucky ones would drop near bastions which guaranteed their life. Unlucky ones took months, dropping who knows where. But the truly miserable ones are the dead ones.'
Exhaling like an expert, Raian sat cross-legged and trutted his arm beneath his jaw, waiting for Bumaru to wake up.
He would like to storm him awake but it would be quite rude. Unless there was some kind of an emergency, Raian disagreed with waking his comrades. Sometimes intentionally letting Liala sleep so he could enjoy the battle.
Often scolded by Liala for his acts, but Raian couldn't keep himself together. Encountering a strong creature always riled something in him.
Heavens were kind most of the time. Giving him dormant devil, tyrants sometimes, fallen were on the rare side. Since they were stronger than the dormant creatures. Unless he specifically looked for one, finding one was a hassle so Raian had given up on that idea.
Maybe if a fallen demon or a devil dropped on them Raian would consider waking Liala but that was just a maybe.
Laughing to himself and wiping his small droll Raian gripped his cheeks to calm down. Not wanting to stay up all night excited and giddy like a little girm, he had the morning shift if they decided to stay here further.
Not letting him scourge through the endless imaginary world where only war existed, Bumaru eventually woke up with a slight groan.
Watching Bumaru silently open his eyes, and slowly feel his body. Raian had a pang of regret looking at his missing leg.
But to his surprise, Bumaru seemed to not mind his missing limbs. Gripping a space where his leg should be. the sleeper only sighed in disappointment and looked up towards him.
Deciding to start the conversation as he had nothing to do Raian smiled and waved at the all-left sleeper. "Hello." letting his greeting linger and setting the mood he followed.
"How are you feeling, do you remember how we met, i am Raian, and my companion is currently scouting for something. She will be back soon."
As if remembering something dreadful Bumaru visibly recoiled hearing him talk. Slight killing intent bursting towards Raian but it quickly vanished as Bumaru moved his body around.
Raising his only arm to press his glabella, then massaging his temples Bumaru looked like a tired old man in the morning.
Chuckling at the picture he created inside his mind Raian waited for Bumaru to respond in any shape or form. Even if Bumaru suddenly attacked him, it was only fair Raian though. After all loss of a limb seemed like quite a chore to Raian.
Waiting patiently until Bumaru finished massing himself with one arm. Silence filled the empty tall cave.
Even after a few minutes, the silence continued to exist.
Rubbing his hands to draw Bumaru's attention, Raian asked. "If you are at a loss about your leg, it's placed nearby, while the chances may be on the lower side I could try to connect them."
Raising his only arm to protest Bumaru shakily said. "No, it's fine, even if you can connect them, it is impossible for me."
Looking towards his empty right side, Bumaru closed his eyes to concentrate until small buzzing sounds flared up. " My flaw… rather my aspect forbids me from healing traditionally. The only way is to build new limbs."
Marveling at the uniqueness of the aspect Raian asked. "So that explains a lot, you were still beeping while unconscious but it stopped when you started to wake up."
"It's automatic when I'm not paying attention, but requires activation when I'm thinking about it, Like breathing… I guess." answered Bumaru.
Dropping his right fist on the left palm, Raian made an understanding face. " Your explanation makes it sound simple, how did you come up with that analogy? ."
Bumaru shaked his head sideways. "It's a way to cope with it."
Looking at the fire and then at Raian he asked. "So how long has it been, i remember hearing about this Liala in the academy but none from you. "
"It's been around a month, most likely more but no one knows exactly." scratching his head softly. "Maybe Liala knows, she is more of a.."
"More of a what?" Before Raian could finish, a female voice interrupted him like thunder.
Donning an innocent smile he turned toward Liala. "More of an orderly person."
Raising her eyebrow at Raian's statement, she slowly treaded toward the bonfire and hopped upwards, crossing her legs mid-air she gracefully glided down, almost like her weight equaled an autumn leaf. Snarling at Raian " I'll let you off this time."
Following up, Liala summoned a water pouch and passed it to Bumaru. "Drink."
Watching Bumaru take the pouch and chug the water inside. Raian blinked slowly and asked Liala. "So, our Esteemed Scout, anything interesting news? "
Chewing on dried meat Liala answered in a bad mood. " No, it's too dark, cant see shit." swallowing the mildly sweet meat she continued. "We will find out in the morning. Besides, I got a good feeling."
Rolling his eyes at her quote on quote 'good feeling' Raian tried not to think of the worst. Maybe they might find something. He would believe in her words more if she hadn't pulled this card three times already.
Sighing and not wanting to let the conversation dry out. "So Bumaru, how about a short introduction? Any unique talents? "
Liala followed along. "Oh, can you sing? I heard people with longer hair sings better."
Facing these two Bumaru mentally palmed himself. One looked disheveled, only wearing pants, the other looked too clean, almost like she recently descended from the real world.
Leaning back, crumbling under their expectant gaze Bumaru started singing his best. Earning claps from them both.