Most of the bonfires were already dead or had only glowing embers left. Yet, one still burned brightly in the dark night. Tiralie and Terl sat across from each other, a bonfire between them.
"Do you think we stand a chance against the beast from the Chasm? After today’s battle, we have even fewer people," Terl sighed.
"No point thinking about it. We’ll have to face it anyway. If you’re scared, you can go back. And if I have to, I’ll fight alone."
"I just don’t want more of my people to die."
Their conversation seemed to end there, and both stared at the fire in silence—until Tiralie spoke again.
"What if it can somehow command the Bonewolves?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
She tossed a wooden branch into the fire to keep it going. "We already said it was unheard of to see such a large pack of them. So what if the beast gathered them all? Maybe to attack us, or for some other reason. The beast looked like a wolf, and Bonewolves are, well, wolves too. It could have dominated the pack leaders and united them into one big army."
"That would explain what we saw today. But that would mean the beast is actually smart, no? To plan something like that."
"When I fought it the first time, it didn’t speak, only growled. It didn’t seem to understand me, either. But again, it doesn’t matter too much. I found it once, I’ll find it again—and this time I won’t let it escape." Determination shone in Tiralie’s eyes as she watched the flames dance, though her mind replayed her earlier encounter with the monster.
* * *
By morning, the expedition pressed forward. Soi and Morilia chatted occasionally as they walked, but Nicole wasn’t listening.
Alright, Nicole, time to recall. It all started during the duel. I tried to grab sand, but then a giant hole appeared out of nowhere. And I threw way more sand than I could possibly hold. Which means it must have been my… what should I call it? Ability? Skill?
Nicole’s foot snagged on a root sticking out of the ground, and she nearly fell. "Shit," she muttered, continuing on.
Anyway. If I absorbed the sand into my body in a panic, I should be able to do it again.
She glanced around and sighed. Obviously, there’s no sand in a tropical forest. Can’t hurt to try with something else.
Nicole picked up a stick as she walked. Holding it in both hands, she focused on it, trying to 'grab' it the same way she had with the sand. At first, nothing happened. But after more attempts, she felt the same tingling sensation on her palms. Looking down, she saw the wood thinning where her hands touched it.
She tried again, this time concentrating longer. After a few minutes, the stick was completely absorbed, as if it were slowly melting into her palms.
Alright, that’s good—so I’m not limited to sand. Now for some limit-testing.
As the group traveled on, Nicole picked up sticks here and there, gradually consuming them.
That evening, after camp was set up, she sneaked away from the others. Holding out her arm, she tried to push the wood back out. At first, nothing seemed to happen.
Why isn’t it working?
Then she noticed a centimeter of bright wood protruding from her fingers and palm. Concentrating harder, she realized something like compressed wood was slowly forming. Using her other hand, she pulled the piece free—it fell away easily.
Hm. Looks like it compressed all the sticks into one wooden mass. And wood can’t be thrown out like sand. So maybe I can use it differently.
This time, she focused on just one finger, and the wood extruded slightly faster. Then she shaped it, forcing it into a square base—forming a small wooden brick.
Interesting. I’m not a sandman. I’m a whole damn 3D printer.
She experimented with other shapes until she worried her absence would be noticed, then returned to camp.
The next day, the expedition continued. Nicole kept absorbing sticks as they walked. But by the following evening, she realized she could no longer absorb any more wood.
Luckily, Terlia ordered a stop. Nicole sneaked away again, sat on a rock, and tested unloading and reabsorbing wood.
Alright, so I didn’t break it. There’s just a limit to how much I can hold at once. The easiest way to find that limit is to unload everything and weigh it—but that’d take forever.
Instead, she practiced. She found she could extrude wood from any part of her body, not just her hands, and even reshape it mid-creation. She managed to make a wooden sword, but it wasn’t sharp enough to be practical.
Suddenly, a voice startled her.
"Nicole? What are you doing out here?"
She spun around to see Soi. "Uh…"
The catgirl stepped closer, eyeing the wooden sword. "Where did you get that?"
Nicole sighed. I wanted to master this before telling anyone, but I guess now’s the time.
"Alright, listen. It might sound strange, but I’ve discovered I have some kind of… ability."
Soi blinked rapidly, her brows raised. "W-what do you mean?"
"I’m human—I don’t have claws like Torakai, or anything like the other tribes. But it seems I’ve got something unique. Look."
Nicole opened her palm, and slowly a wooden brick rose from it.
Soi’s eyes widened, speechless.
"So yeah… that’s what I’ve been doing here. Practicing."
Unexpectedly, Soi hugged her tight. "That’s so cool!" After nearly crushing Nicole, she stepped back, beaming. "I’m so glad! I worried you felt bad about not having anything unique. And there’s so much you could do! Can you use other materials?"
"Well, I was a bit jealous before… And yes, I can use sand. Haven’t tested anything else yet."
Soi tapped her chin. "Wait, sand?! That means it was you who made the giant pit during the fight with Dellas?"
"Yeah, but I didn’t know at the time. My theory is I used it subconsciously in the heat of the moment."
"Alright, but I’m more interested in what happened after the battle. At Mori’s hut, you mentioned your hand turning into sand for a moment—was that this ability too?"
Nicole’s eyes widened. "Right! I totally forgot. Let me try with wood."
She stared at her hand, imagining it turning wooden. After a minute, nothing happened.
"Nope. Doesn’t work." She sighed.
"Maybe try with sand?"
"You see, I need to absorb the material first. And I used up all the sand from the duel."
"Oh, I see… Anyway, let’s head back. No point sitting out here alone."
On the way, they gathered sticks, and Nicole decided to try stones too. By the time they reached camp, they both had arms full of wood and rocks.
They explained everything to Morilia, who was surprised but didn’t comment much. Nicole began absorbing the materials, shaping crude figurines from wood and stone.
With no more reason to hide, the following days passed quickly. By the sixth evening, counting since the head out of the village, nearly everyone knew about her ability. Many gathered to watch her hands produce shapes seemingly from nothing.
At first, Nicole recycled her creations, reshaping them into something else.
Hm. If they’re already this interested, I could earn some respect here. That never hurts.
So instead, she started handing them out—asking only for more materials. Soon, a line had formed.
Word spread quickly, reaching Tiralie. The catwoman approached with a stern look.
"I heard something strange is going on. Care to show me?" she asked, standing over Nicole by the fire.
Something strange? That’s my line on this island.
Nicole smiled and stood. "Well, maybe~ How about this—if I show you something that makes your eyes widen, you’ll…" She paused.
What should I even ask for?
"You’ll—"
"I’m not playing your games, girl." Tiralie smirked, showing sharp canines. "Don’t even dream about it. Very few people can demand anything from me—and you’re not one of them." Yet in her eyes there was a dangerous shine, as if challening Nicole to try and defy her.
Nicole swallowed hard. "Alright, alright. I guess I got carried away."
Damn, her presence is terrifying and cool at the same time. Especially since she struts around naked.
"It’s nothing big. Just a little thing I learned. Look."
Nicole held out her palm. Slowly, a grey, stone skull rose up on it. Or well, more like a globe with two holes for eyesockets, a triangle for nose and a line of top teeth without a jaw.
Tiralie blinked. "On Merial’s dick—what the fuck?"
Nicole smirked as she caught the woman’s widened eyes. I knew I could win. Sadly she didn’t agree.
Tiralie snatched the skull and examined it. "Alright, that’s actually impressive. I’ve never seen anything like it."
"Thanks. I bet you don’t hand out praise often, huh?"
Tiralie turned away. "Don’t get cocky, girl."
Only after she was gone did Nicole realize she’d taken the skull with her.
Looks like she liked it. Good. Another point in my favor.
Yet no matter how much Nicole tried, she didn’t manage to make her body turn into wood or stone.