Sorry this chapters a day late, literally no excuse. I could not bring myself to write most of next week. I have tried to work on the editing a bit more than usual as I know I miss a lot of structural issues and typos, so hopefully there's less of them now. Hope you enjoy!
Ellena set off for the dungeon far later than usual, and that was for one simple reason. She had to convince her adoptive kin and doctor that she was ready to fight the floor bosses.
The young Mushman decided to tell Ellephwen her goals first thing in the morning, which was clearly a mistake. Both of the women were convinced it was too hasty a decision, Ellephwen even told her to wait until her next evolution, but with how few levels the first floor Monsters gave her now she would have had to wipe out the entire floor and that didn’t seem like an environmentally stable idea.
At the very least, she promised to not go after the Wolf until Samora had time to make a few high quality healing potions for her, but it honestly seemed excessive. As long as she had full health and mana she was almost certain she could take the Matriarch, though of course not without a few scratches.
Still, Ellena was too honest for her own good, so she kept her promise. If she had to wait, she thought she might as well grind a few levels in the meantime, so she decided to head for the Mollit territory. In fact, Ellena tried to use her time as wisely as she could, maximising the number of Monsters fought over anything else.
By the end of this particular levelling session, the Mushman had managed to gain another eight levels, which put her at [Level 84], that along with a few skill levels made Ellena feel ready for her first boss more than ever. Even so, whilst she may have shot a few mournful glances in the direction of that particular beast, she kept her promise.
The only thing that stood out on this particular day, is what happened on her way out. The first thing she spotted was a corpse that had definitely not been one of her victims. Then, something else followed closely behind, the sound of combat. The clashing of metal and grunts of effort.
Ellena darted around the corner following the sound and spotted three Mortals fighting off four Crying Mollits. Two humans and a Horse Beastkin. The Beastkin appeared to be their frontline, a tough looking guy with a massive towershield and a short spear. He looked to be in his early twenties. Behind him was a short Human who looked to be in his mid-teens, maybe around fifteen-sixteen. He wore decent leather, but wielded two short daggers that by themselves could barely pierce a Mollits fat, he also appeared to be nursing a wound. Finally another Human, a girl who must have been a few years older than the boy. She seemed to take on a support role, wielding a staff and chanting spells.
They were struggling greatly against the Mollits, the Beastkin did his best to hold them back, but Mollits were known for their strength, Ellena definitely couldn’t hold back four of them. Currently she would struggle to hold back one, so the fact he was almost managing this situation was impressive.
A part of Ellena always worried that she had become detached from Mortals since becoming a Monster, after all she felt so little after taking that hunters life, but right now she wanted to save the three in front of her, her metaphorical heart couldn’t take just leaving them to die. The only issue was quite a glaring one. She still couldn’t talk, there was a huge risk that they would attack her afterwards, which she could likely win, but once again, she didn’t want to hurt them. Perhaps because they weren’t outwardly hostile to her yet.
After a small amount of thought, Ellena shrugged her non-existent shoulders and decided that she would cross that bridge when she came to it. There were people that needed help and she had the capacity to give it to them, what was there to think about?
She activated Mushroom Shield, and darted at the closest Mollit, smacking it in the back of the head making the beast stumble back into another. That got the attention of two of them at least, which was a number she could deal with and hopefully the adventurers could deal with the other two.
Even so, Ellena wasted no time, leaping into the air to torpedo herself into the first Mollit who was still reeling a little. Her head crushed the beast's nose who screamed lifting their claws to their jagged-tooth filled mouth. She used the momentum to jump from its head then onto her shield, dodging an attack from the second Mollit. The Mushman threw the shield forwards with her on it, sending them both into the second Mollits chest and face.
A layer of dust and her second foe fell, the first not far behind. She was quite proud at how skilled she was getting with the Mushroom Shield, able to use it like she would arms, if she had any.
Not forgetting why she attacked them in the first place, Ellena turned to take a look at the adventurers to see how they were getting along. To her surprise, the other two Mollits had now fallen, it seemed as though they were decently skilled fighters, just far too outnumbered.
Immediately after, the now panting Horse Beastkin pointed his weapon at Ellena, who jumped back a few paces, staring down the spear. Just as she predicted, they now viewed her as a problem. She probably would have also been worried if she watched a strangely strong Mushman beat up two Crying Mollits. She watched the Beastkins eyes, unwavering, ready to protect his allies.
He took a step forward before the Human girl ran in front of him. “Wait Iven, stop! This Mushman clearly just saved us.”
Ellena had heard that for various reasons Mages were generally wiser than most of their peers, but this was the first time she had seen an example. The Horseman glanced quickly at the girl, then back to Ellena and slowly lowered his spear, though still kept a calm neutral expression, watching her. The ex-Human decided that sitting down would possibly make her less threatening, so she hobbled over to the opposite wall of the tunnel and did so.
The mage girl nodded her head satisfied with the situation and turned back to the other adventurer, the younger boy. He had a few decent wounds on him and his breath was ragged. She started blasting out some low level healing magic.
“That’s a Mushman ain’t it Ayla? Never seen one like that before, he seems way too strong,” the boy commented, through pained grunts. He was losing a lot of blood and the mage girl Ayla was clearly not powerful enough to heal it.
“They taught us about variants at Thorsons, Terrin. I’m guessing this little guy is a particularly rare one that we should be grateful for. Now, be quiet I need to concentrate.” The girl continued to heal her ally.
Though Ellena was less than happy with these adventurers referring to her as ‘he’ she couldn’t just sit by and watch one of them bleed to death, especially given that there was quite the capable healer currently living in her home. It was a little risky bringing strangers into their home, but they seemed like decent people and if they weren’t she and Samora could probably take them.
Ellena stood up and trotted over to the mage Ayla, with Iven gripping his spear not far off. She ignored him and bit onto the girl's long robe, tugging it gently. It got the girls attention.
“Eh? Are you trying to grab my attention for something?”
Ellena nodded quickly in response. The three reeled back. It kind of gave away that she was far more intelligent than a normal Mushman, but now wasn’t the time to hide it. She squeaked loudly and walked towards the exit, stopping to turn her head, squeak again and then keep walking.
“What the… Iven, I think he wants us to follow.”
The injured boy gripped onto his wound and tried to stand. “More importantly, why does a Mushman understand the common tongue?” he asked bewildered.
The three adventurers exchanged looks of confusion, before Terrin fell to the ground again gasping for air. Ayla’s expression turned serious. “No time to think about it. Iven grab Terrin, we’re gonna have to take the risk.”
It was clear who was in charge of this particular group. They probably came from a guild, the ‘Thorsons’ that they mentioned seemed likely to be one. Guilds were a strange existence really, neither military or mercenary really, they were places that gave the public licenses to carry weaponry and gave them employment. It seemed as though this particular group were likely given the task to investigate the Lair of the Lonely Wolf. Probably the latest in a long line of adventuring parties.
Ellena unfortunately didn’t have time to think on their origins long, as she had a patient in tow that was close to dying. Normal humans rarely had the Regeneration skills required to ward off that kind of wound.
The three adventurers followed her closely, clearly not certain of their decision to do so. When they arrived at the large tree that was the Mushmans home however, the mage at least seemed to lose some of her tension. Clearly someone or something intelligent lived here.
As the door opened, a certain Dryad turned from her bed with a smile, alongside Samora who sat by her side. “Welcome back, Elli-” Samora stopped, noticing the three behind Ellena.
“Who might you be?” Ellephwen asked them calmly.
Sorry Ellephwen. They’re three adventurers I helped near the entrance of the dungeon. The boy was badly injured and I didn’t want to just leave him to die. I think they’re safe. Ellena conveyed, flashing her memories to give Ellephwen an easier time understanding.
“Uh, s-Sorry ma’am we’re-”
“It’s quite alright child, Ellena has told me who you are.”
She looked confused, then looked down at the Mushman. “Ellena? This Mushman is named Ellena… So she’s a girl?”
Ellena herself pouted. The mage didn’t question how the Mushman spoke without speaking, no, this girl was far more surprised by the fact that Ellena was a girl.
“W-Wait. How exactly did the Mushman tell you who we are?” Terrin asked, pale and drained of blood.
Ellephwen waved at Samora, who nodded, ushering over Iven and Terrin to Ellena’s bed. The Dryad took a sip of her tea that looked to be very recently brewed. “Telepathy dear boy. Now be quiet and rest, Samora is a skilled healer, but you have clearly lost a lot of blood.”
Now Ayla stepped forward. “No way. Did you say Samora? As in Lady Samora the Lake Elf? Then would that make you Lady Ellephwen?”
The Dryad smiled. “That is correct child. Was your Guild a part of the force that fought King Levias?”
Ayla nodded enthusiastically. “Y-yes! Though the three of us were far too weak to take part, w-we heard so much about you. It’s truly an honour!” she bowed deeply with red blushing cheeks.
By appearances, Ellephwen and Samora were apparently celebrities, at least to this particular guild. The girl couldn’t stop stumbling over her words. Ellena hadn’t really thought about it, but if the threat was to the entire continent, of course the Mortal races would have gotten involved too.
“I suppose it makes sense that such an unusually intelligent Mushman is somehow related to Lady Ellephwen. Is her strength because of you, my lady?”
“Ellena is indeed my kin, but that is not where her power comes from,” Ellephwen answered, then paused. “More importantly, Ellena told me that she found you in the Lair of the Lonely Wolf. I do not mean to sound harsh, but why were the three of you in such a dangerous dungeon?”
Ellena perked up at that question. Was the Lair of the Lonely Wolf such a dangerous place? She went in weaker than the average human and she was fine… Well fine was a stretch. She did survive though.
The young mage looked hesitant to answer. “Ah.” She turned to Terrin who was now being healed by Samora. “I guess we have time.”
Ayla sat down, and proceeded to explain the current situation in the mortal world. Apparently the queen of Ash had chosen to tell her people about the threat of King Levias, despite the protest from her advisors. This gave the guilds involved in the first fight against Levias free reign to refuse jobs and instead concentrate on levelling, with funding from the crown no less. The guilds that made their home in the Kingdom of Ashes all sent their people out to level and train in any way they could. Ayla and her companions chose to advance deeper into the Great Forest every day, slowly increasing the difficulty of their targeted foes. That’s when they came across the dungeon, not knowing what level it was at.
Unfortunately, thanks to Ellena’s daily dives into the dungeon, they ran into very few foes, making them far too complacent. That’s when they were caught unawares and ambushed. Ellena couldn’t help but feel a little guilty, but she did not expect anyone else in the dungeon.
Eventually Samora walked over to join them, having finished healing Terrin. They continued to talk over dinner and after, when Terrin felt a little better, left for their camp. Ellephwen told them of an easier dungeon she knew about, but then proceeded to warn them not to fight Levias, just as she did with Ellena, but the three were just as stubborn as the Mushman. Ellena herself agreed with Ellephwen, which only made her realise how difficult it must have been to deal with her own stubbornness sometimes.
Still, she hoped to see them again and hopefully next time not heavily injured. They were the first people she had run into that were around her age in her past life, well, barring a particular hunter. Hopefully, when she evolved, she could have a proper conversation with them and they could be her first proper friends.