The bustling thoroughfare blurred around Silak as he hurried home, eager to tell his mother about the Fire Spirit Herbs. But a sudden, insistent whisper in his mind brought him to an abrupt halt.
He turned, looking toward an unseen direction, a familiar yet unexpected presence reaching out. "Senior Gahumdagat?" he mused, a small smile touching his lips. 'I didn't expect him to reach out to me right now. Mother will surely understand a slight delay.' His steps, though diverted, remained energetic.
Minutes later, he found himself standing before the familiar, ancient maw of the cave. Any fear he once harbored had long vanished. He strode inside, confidence in his stride, no longer fearing what lay beyond each turn of the echoing passages.
A few moments later.
The sheer, breathtaking majesty of the guardian beast, Gahumdagat, always left him awestruck. Its immense form filled the cavern, an imposing presence that commanded reverence. The air, thick with the scent of damp earth and ancient power, vibrated with its very being.
"Silak is here, senior!" he announced, his voice echoing, loud and clear against the cavern walls.
A low rumble began deep within the colossal creature as Gahumdagat slowly uncoiled, its massive head turning to fix its gaze upon him. This second meeting, unlike their first, was no longer between stranger and beast but between two beings who had established a surprising acquaintance.
["It's good that you're here,"] Gahumdagat's voice resonated, a deep, guttural sound that seemed to vibrate through Silak's very bones.
["I have a few junks accumulating. You might find use for some."] Its words were as direct and unadorned as its nature, a characteristic Silak had quickly come to understand.
The guardian beast, in its pragmatic way, knew that Silak was seeking supplementary ingredients to aid in the absorption of the potent blood essence it had gifted him. And why let the trophies and accumulated loot, gathered over countless lifespans, simply gather dust in the forgotten corners of its lair? While "junk" to Gahumdagat, these objects held immense value to creatures like humans.
["You can clear it all out because I have no use for any of it,"] the ancient voice continued, a slight shift in its massive frame indicating a direction. ["Just walk past me, and you'll understand."]
"I understand, Senior. Allow me to clear them out for you," Silak replied, moving respectfully around the colossal coils.
"We can make your cave more comfortable as well." He genuinely meant it. He imagined a less cluttered, more inviting space for the ancient beast.
It wasn't long before Silak spotted it: a sprawling, chaotic mound of random objects at the far end of the cave. Not all of it was treasure; some were undoubtedly bones, the skeletal remains of past meals. A faint, earthy scent mixed with something gamey lingered around the pile.
'I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at how much junk has accumulated here, given that Senior has been living for such a long time,' Silak thought, a daunting feeling settling over him as he gazed at the sheer volume. It was more than he could ever hope to carry in a single trip.
"Senior?" he called out, a hint of apprehension in his voice. "I believe there's a lot more here than I can carry in one trip. Is it acceptable for me to visit you every day and slowly clear them?"
["Yes, do anything you see fit to clear them up,"] Gahumdagat replied, its voice already sounding more distant as it slowly began to coil itself back into a deep slumber.
Silak, at six years old, had already encountered many people in his short, cultivated life. He had made acquaintances and allies through his rigorous cultivation schedule, yet true, dependable friends remained elusive. His accelerated maturity, fueled by both his past life's education and his current cultivation, set him apart. He simply didn't have much in common with his peers. He considered bringing some friends to help, but the thought quickly fizzled. What could six-year-old kids do, especially those who hadn't even begun cultivating? He doubted they could even lift a fraction of this "junk."
"Thank you, Senior!" Silak exclaimed, genuinely grateful that Gahumdagat had so easily agreed to his request. He moved closer to the sprawling pile, his curiosity piqued.
"Whoa!" His eyes widened. "I see a lot of bones and hides here. Surely some of these are precious for blacksmiths?"
He began to sort through the chaotic heap, prioritizing items he believed might be useful to Dwalin the dwarf. Being a zoologist in his previous life, he instinctively gravitated towards bones and hides that appeared exceptionally sturdy or possessed unusual textures and markings. While he lacked the specific appraisal skills for these materials in this world, his educated guesses were often remarkably insightful. He could infer their potential value based on their unique characteristics.
Unbeknownst to Silak, the guardian beast, though seemingly asleep, observed him with keen interest. Gahumdagat had intended only a cursory check, but it was genuinely surprised that the child, despite being unable to sense Qi, could discern and select the bones and hides of truly powerful beasts.
About an hour later, Silak had gathered as many sturdy bones and resilient hides as he could manage from the monstrous pile. The makeshift sack he used, a broad, surprisingly pliable hide, was now bulging. He was ready to take his leave. "Senior, I'm done clearing some for today. I will visit you again tomorrow. Thank you!"
Receiving no response, Silak assumed Gahumdagat was fully immersed in slumber. He carefully navigated his way out of the cave dwelling, a newfound excitement bubbling within him as he rushed back towards the trade district, eager to find Dwalin. He wanted to know if his efforts had yielded anything useful before heading home to his mother.
After a few minutes of hurried running, Silak arrived at Dwalin's shop, slightly out of breath.
"Mister Dwalin! I'm back!" he puffed, carefully lowering the bulky sack to the ground. "I wanted to ask for your help in checking these materials. Are they of any use to you?"
He hadn't been prepared for Gahumdagat's summons, so his 'sack' was, in fact, another large, pliable hide he'd found in the pile. He'd simply filled it with his finds and tied its four corners together.
"Hey, kid, that was fast," Dwalin grunted, looking up from his anvil. "Didn't expect you back so soon." He recognized the boy from earlier, the one who'd been looking for Fire Spirit Herbs.
As Silak began to untie the knots of his makeshift container, Dwalin, the dwarf, moved closer, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. He wondered if the boy had managed to find anything truly valuable, perhaps something that warranted more than just three stalks of Fire Spirit Herb.
He did not, however, expect the shock that coursed through him as the contents of the hide were slowly revealed. His stout form stiffened.
"These raw materials might be of use for your armor forging, Mister Dwalin," Silak said, finally pulling the hide wide open. But Dwalin wasn't listening. His eyes were wide, fixed on the array of bones and hides, a profound disbelief etched across his rugged face.
"You… you didn't steal this from someone else, did you?" Dwalin asked, his voice low with apprehension, a sudden tremor in his usually steady hands.
"I wouldn't dare!" Silak replied, his own voice rising in panic. "This was something a senior gave me!"
Dwalin's gaze sharpened, suspicion warring with a dawning realization as he studied the boy's innocent, panicked face. Then, a slow sigh escaped him. "Looks like you really have no idea, do you?"
"I'm sorry, Mister Dwalin," Silak stammered, genuinely confused. "I'm not skilled in appraisal, nor did the senior tell me anything about these materials. But if they're no good, I can go back tomorrow after asking my parents for something else."
Another, deeper sigh escaped Dwalin. "Quickly, tie it back up and come back with me to my inn," he commanded, his voice suddenly urgent. He began to swiftly pack away his tools, his movements brisk and efficient. "I'll just close the shop for today. You can get your Fire Spirit Herbs at the inn as well."
"Yes!" Silak murmured to himself, excitement bubbling over. "I didn't expect that there really is value out of these bones and hides that Senior Gahumdagat called junk!"
Hearing the boy casually refer to these precious materials as "junk" caused Dwalin's mouth to twitch violently. 'What junk?!' he nearly shouted, a flush of annoyance rising to his cheeks. 'I believe you're the only one who calls these treasures junk!' But he swallowed his outburst, realizing they were still in the bustling streets of the trade district.
He didn't want to attract any greedy wolves who might try to steal what was now, by all rights, his. He just needed to get the boy and these priceless 'junks' to the safety of his inn.