Jer Patch
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Bk 3 - Chapter 8: Three’s a crowd
🕑 Added 2025-05-12 14:00:04 +0000 UTC“I need to heal some of that, unless we’re following the mining settlement’s rules…” Sang said, glancing at Len.
Len frowned, staring at Jennifer. “When someone snaps and attacks another, we let them go free into the deep. The tunnel eventually reached the jungle floor. We left it up to fate.”
My father hadn’t spoken yet, and wore a weary face.
“Dad, what do you think?” I asked.
“She attacked you, my kid. As far as I’m concerned, I should have shot her.” The cold way he said each word sent a shiver down my spine. “She doesn’t deserve to be healed. We did that once already, with the dungeon. I say we put her back where we found her. If she survives, good for her.”
If Jennifer had tried the lowest recommended level for her dungeon run, she’d need to do the next one up. Given she hadn’t passed the first one, it was a death sentence.
“Let’s give her the choice when she wakes,” I said, making a decision, though I didn’t want to own this particular choice. “The dungeon, or being released outside the fence and banishment from my territory.”
If she chose the second option, I planned to follow her in case she met up with the rest of the scientists, since something still felt fishy about her whole situation.
“I’m going to see if I can trade with Grizzle or Nessetra,” I said, shaking my head, just wanting to be done with this mess. At least dealing with beasts was straight forward. Humans were the hard ones.
Everyone looked at me strangely with the sudden shift in conversation, and I felt like I needed to explain myself.
“There are water crystals at the bottom of the lake. I’d like another one or two to try something with.”
“Another one for here would be very helpful.” Sang’s eyes went wide. “I don’t dare bring it into the dungeon with me.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I grabbed my boots from where they sat next to the fire and pulled them on. They warmed my toes up, at least. The two air crystals sat next to them and I couldn’t help but smile. I planned to use one of them later.
The rain coming off the mountain over the opening was much less. I quickly dashed out and found that the storm was practically done. Only a light sprinkle remained, and I yanked my cloak on to keep the damp off my armor.
I headed down to the water's edge, breathing in the refreshing air that smelled like happiness. That after-rain smell was one I loved. I didn’t have a word for it, but it just put me in a good mood, even after Jennifer had tried to kill me.
That part I couldn’t believe.
Especially since she obviously knew whatever my mother had been up to, and she hadn’t agreed with it. That much was clear. Basically, everyone wanted me dead. Human genetic experiment, devourer, and crystal singer.
As I stared at the water, a thought bubbled up inside me.
Let them try.
Let them try to kill me.
That dungeon run had left me wanting a challenge, even with the experience I’d gotten from the boss. Though, that reminded me I hadn’t had time to finish my conversation with Noseen since that bitch stabbed me.
“Sorry, Noseen,” I whispered, though I doubted he could just watch me at any point, since it had something to do with dreams.
Cool air blowing over the water made me grin, and I wondered how far the water reached. Perhaps I’d ask Noseen or Nessetra. Maybe they could explain it to me, since it reached as far as I could see, like an ocean, but it wasn’t salty.
Ripples crossed the surface, and a familiar fin appeared. Grizzle. He swam toward shore nice and slow as he crossed the edges of my territory.
I smiled and waved at him.
He sped up a little until his head peeked out of the water.
“Hey Grizzle, I hope the storm didn’t bother you,” I said nice and slowly.
It took a few moments before he responded.
“Storm gone, me good,” his voice floated over the water between us.
“Can you reach the crystals in the bottom of the lake?” I asked.
The length of time before he responded increased.
“Lake?” His head tilted to one side, and it was clear he didn’t understand my question all the way.
I pulled out my crystal guard from under my armor and held it up. “Crystals, from the lake.”
He didn’t respond, but the water beside him suddenly darkened.
Nessetra appeared. One moment, it was open water, the next she swam there. Almost like she’d been there, but I hadn’t noticed.
“Good Morning, Nessetra.” I tilted my head toward her. “I’m hoping that Grizzle would like to trade two of the water crystals from the depths for something, since I don’t think I can swim that deep.”
“You want to trade with him?” she asked, looking between the two of us. “Why?”
“I thought beasts had a quest about trading and gifting. I figured it might help both of us out.”
“Again you surprise me, little devourer…” Her dark eyes stared at me, and it felt like she saw my soul. “What if Grizzle wants access to the dungeon?”
“I don’t have a problem with it, but I don’t know if he will fit. The tunnel leading to the dungeon is quite short.” As far as I was concerned, he could become a citizen of my territory. He’d been nothing but a good neighbor.
“What about the rest of your people?”
“They need to learn that not everything is as it appears. One of my good friends is a mosquito.” I motioned toward her. “Our favorite neighbor lives in our lake.”
Laughter broke out from Nessetra.
It kept going for several minutes, and both Grizzle and I stared.
“If I can make Grizzle smaller, can he access the dungeon for two water crystals?” she asked.
“Sounds like a fine trade to me. How about I get one crystal now, and another when he wants to do a run?”
“That will give me time to teach him the skills he needs.” She nodded her head, then turned toward him. “Do you agree to provide two water crystals to access the dungeon? One now, and one when you want to go complete your quest?”
He bowed his head, and I felt a zap of energy race between us.
Then he dove out of sight.
“Will the fire crystals we use to keep away beasts hurt him?” I didn’t want coming and going to be unpleasant for him, especially if he was going to help provide a way for everyone to heal faster.
“No, those only work on uncivilized creatures. Grizzle is on the path, much like Dengu.” Nessetra turned toward the east with a frown. “Something is on the breeze. Be careful, little one, you are also one of my favorite neighbors.”
She dove as Grizzle returned carrying something carefully in his mouth. He slowly rose out of the water.
I approached his long snout to take the crystal from him. I didn’t want it to shatter on the beach.
He opened his mouth, and I pulled it from where it rested between the sharp teeth. In his mouth it had seemed small, but as I picked it up the size of it impressed me. The crystal was about the size of my head.
As I touched it, cold energy raced through me before it settled.
“Thank you, Grizzle.”
“Skill time.” He bowed his head and then turned back to the lake before sinking beneath the surface and vanishing from sight. He stayed on my radar until he crossed the line heading deeper, outside of Lakeside Landing.
Now, I just needed to warn everyone else about the deal. I marched back through the drizzle as it cut off and the sky lightened to the east. Soon, the sun would be up, and I needed to get moving on my to-do list.
First crystal training, then dungeon time before I went to check out the beetle problem.
I marched back inside the cavern to find Jennifer awake and bound with a rope. Hawk and Len stood close since my father wasn’t around. Abby stood next to the fire, cooking something in a pot. She kept glancing at Jennifer like she wanted to say something, but resisted.
Jennifer snapped her lips shut and glared at me as I approached.
“So, Grizzle has traded healing crystals for dungeon access,” I said, holding up the crystal the size of my head. Changing a water crystal into a healing crystal wouldn’t take much.
“You traded with a dinosaur for dungeon access?” asked Sang, though her eyes were on the crystal in my hands.
“This one is mine. He’ll bring another when he wants to complete a run. I thought it was a great deal.”
“But isn’t he big?” asked Hawk, like he was trying to picture it. “Isn’t that why the last one tried to expand the tunnel?”
“Nessetra is going to teach him to get smaller, I think.”
“You speak to dinosaurs?” growled Jennifer, interrupting our conversation. Her eyes darted around.
“So?” I stared at her, really stared at her, unblinking.
Her lips parted, but Hawk lightly shoved her side. She flinched and her face went pale.
“What’s the decision with her, anyway?” I asked, resisting the urge to say something I’d regret. Think happy thoughts.
“She hasn’t decided,” grumbled Hawk, he stared at me with a flat look. “I’d prefer to be anywhere but sitting here.”
“That’s easy enough to solve. I’m sure the dinos in the lake would love to eat her.” I turned away and sat on a log near Abby, putting plenty of space between Jennifer and me.
“You’re just asking me how I want to die,” she growled, spittle flying from her lips. “That isn’t right. You’re a monster!”
“You tried to kill me. You're lucky it's not worth any experience for me to kill you.”
Abby glanced over her shoulder at me with a frown, stirring the pot sitting on hot coals. A pleasant scent drifted through the area from it.
“What? It’s true, and she struck first. So I’d be in the clear with the system, even with her low level.” I turned toward Sang, wanting to end this conversation and get on with my to-do list.
“Do you have a spare fire crystal?” While I didn’t have any more forest crystals, I could at least try my idea with three of the crystal types.
“Sure,” she said before pulling a small one out. “What are you going to try, and can I watch?”
“I want to see if I can make an energy battery that recharges… and sure. You might learn something.”
“The shuttle batteries work like that. Why would you need a different one?” Her question trailed off, and she suddenly nodded to herself. “So like earlier won’t happen, and you won’t run out of energy like that.”
“Yeah, the big crystal projects take a lot out of me. Probably you as well. This could solve that.”
I pulled the air crystal closer to me, along with the giant water crystal and the small fire crystal that Sang gave me. First, I got to work shaping each of them to be the same size. That left a huge chuck of the water crystal for Sang to play with.
After this, I planned on heading into the dungeon. If needed, I’d take Jennifer with me, but I didn’t want to say that aloud right now.
“What happened to Dad?” I asked, trying to sense my father on my radar but coming up empty. Everyone else blazed to life, including Lenna and Dengu doing rounds.
“He’s in the dungeon with Benny and John,” Abby answered me. “Plus Denver.”
“John? But he hasn’t done the greater creature quest yet.” I mean, skipping quests could be a valid strategy. It hadn’t occurred to me, to be honest.
“But once he does, he’ll be able to just keep going. You mentioned that's what happened with you and the first quest.” Abby stirred the pot in front of her, taking a sniff from her spoon. “I’m trying my first imbued meal.”
That reminded me to eat a couple more bite-sized pieces of meat. I didn’t know how long this was going to take. The guys in the dungeon could figure their shit out, I trusted that they’d be fine.
I held all three crystals, wishing I had the nice work table from the dungeon. Maybe once the workshop was up and running, I could find a spot.
This time, when I sent my intentions toward the crystals they didn’t immediately respond. So I switched tactics and just greeted each one first. The air crystal's presence felt familiar, while the water crystal felt cold, and the fire crystal kept poking at the water crystal. The water crystal ignored it.
Strange.
Still, I tried to connect the three like I did with the two air crystals. Energy bounced between the three of them, but it felt off-balanced. Pain ripped through my fingers as the crystals all heated up, except for the water crystal which felt ice cold.
Well, fuck.
