CH45 Bird Flu?
Everyone cheered after hearing that Luna gifted Ki a class. A chatter echoed through the crowd. Nymphs talked amongst themselves, excited about the possibility of following in Ki’s footsteps. Considering that she was one of the first generation of nymph’s Sakura transformed, she filled the role of big sister to many of the younger ones.
"Anything interesting about your new class?" Alex regarded the now-classed leaf-haired nymph.
Ki’s gaze unfocused, like she was staring off into space. “Hmm, it looks like I have a skill called overview. Let me try it out and see what it does.” The nymph remained quiet for a minute with a focused look on her face. She blinked and looked around. “It looks like an overview showing a map of the forest. There is also a, hmm what is the word. Like that thing you were using on your phone to keep track of stuff?”
“A spreadsheet?” Alex guessed.
“Yeah, it is called cuteness points. Apparently having cute buildings generates cuteness points. For example, Sakura’s grove generates two cuteness points per week and Luna’s grotto generates one cuteness point per week.” Ki explained.
“Is that good? What are they used for?” Alex wondered aloud.
“I’m not sure. Maybe I have to level up more to use them?” Ki ran a hand through her green hair.
“Do you have to defeat monsters to level up too?” Alex guessed.
Ki shook her head. “No, to level up Baroness of Beauty I have to increase cuteness point generation. It is not a combat class.”
Alex understood. Her class was like a city sim game or maybe a civilization game at a higher level. “What does the map say about the ruin? Er… I guess it’s a new town now?”
Ki unfocused for a moment then spoke. “The overview map just says unnamed town. It generates zero cuteness.”
“Sounds like it is a really hard class to level.” Alex contemplated.
“Yes, that is the thing about noble classes. They are weak alone. Leadership classes are the same but not as extreme. A general is better with an army but not worthless. They need followers to work. Anyway, the point is, it is harder than a warrior class who just needs to win battles. But we are not alone. My fellow nymphs are here. And hopefully the new stone ax immigrants will help. If we can make more cute places then I’m sure to level up and we can find out what a Baroness of Beauty can do.” Ki sounded confident, like a leader.
“Well, it sounds like we can do it if we work together. Let's go let you mingle, everyone wants to congratulate you. I also want to change out of this outfit. Dressing up like this is embarrassing.” Alex smiled awkwardly.
Alex, using the carriage as a makeshift changing room, reluctantly donned the skirt, corset, and blouse. The absence of pants was regrettable, a consequence of repeatedly postponing sewing them. The pink fleece pants were too casual for this occasion, leaving the crafting outfit with the pleated skirt as the only viable option. Alex lamented having only three outfits and daydreamed of a wardrobe brimming with diverse clothing options.
After getting changed, Alex joined the reception. The carriage was parked right outside the grotto and with some flipping of levers and spinning of gears it was configured to cooking mode.
The reception was full of nymphs with diverse appearances. One nymph's hair resembled cascading purple wisteria blossoms, while another's hair resembled thorny vines. Although most nymphs had shades of green hair, the specific shades varied. For instance, Ki's hair appeared to be normal human hair that was green in color, but upon closer inspection, it was actually made of aspen leaves. Perhaps there was an illusion or some other magic at play.
Alex, Kaide and Martha took turns grilling veggies for the crowd. With all nymphs being vegetarian it might have come across as being offensive serving meat dishes.
Ki quickly engaged almost every nymph in the room in a brainstorming session about how to enhance the town's cuteness. Ideas flowed freely, ranging from the practical to the outlandish. One nymph suggested flooding the town and building a community on giant water lilies, while another proposed replacing the city walls with thorny rose bushes. Ki approved the rose wall, deeming it both cute and practical. Other suggestions included creating wisteria-covered walkways and mandating that all humans wear flowers. The nymphs were clearly enjoying their imaginative discussion, which showed no signs of slowing down.
Alex shuddered internally at the thought of mandatory hair flowers. If that were to be the official dress code, they might as well rename their little town San Francisco, like in the song—not that anyone would understand the reference.
While arranging asparagus on a plate, Alex grumbled, "I really don't want to go back. Staying here in the woods with the nymphs and my friends is a nice break. I guess we have to, though. Plus, taking the carriage through the woods is so slow. I hate being slower than everyone else."
Ki could treestride and Fufi could fly. Merumeru could… well… he wasn’t sure but she had a way to get around fast, somehow.
“I guess maybe I could try to sew a balloon for the carriage. Though that is only a first step. A balloon alone would only go up and then anywhere the wind decided to blow.” Alex said to the grill.
Fufi fluttered her wings from her perch on top of the carriage. “I believe in you Alex. I believe your balloon will be the cutest one on top of any carriage.”
“My sewing skills are good, though making a balloon that big is not something I’ve ever tackled before. I’m sure I don’t have enough fabric. I think the second problem is just as big. How do I make it so that it can fly? None of the books from the dungeon had any examples of propeller design.” Alex sounded hopeless.
“You should just follow Ki’s example. Ask for help.” Fufi simply said.
“But who? The nymphs besides Ki don’t have classes. They make their clothing by growing it with natural magic. I’m not sure that it is something they could help with. Martha can sew but she also has a farm to take care of.” Alex said.
“That is not everyone is it?” Fufi deadpanned.
“You mean the Stone Ax? I’m not sure they would help me.” Alex said, his voice unconfident.
“Well have you tried? They seemed quite willing to listen to your instructions in building things for the past couple of weeks.” Fufi tried to get Alex to see he was being stubborn.
“No, I haven’t. But it is different. The reason I told them what to do is because they couldn’t have built their own houses without direction. I was really only helping them help themselves.” Alex argued but it was obvious that Fufi was right. There likely were some tribes people who had sewing, spinning, and weaving skills. There were some simple tools in the wagons that the stone ax tribe was trying to escape with after all.
Fufi gave him a look, her gemmed forehead glittering.
“Okay, I give in. I’ll ask but it’ll be a side project at best. It is not something we can complete in a day. The carriage if it is fully loaded weighs a whole lot. If we want to sew a balloon to lift it then it’ll have to be huge. We should start out small and work towards that.” Alex caved in. “Perhaps some kind of toy balloon.”
It was late into the night before the class party was completed and everyone headed off to bed. Alex awoke to Ki knocking on the carriage door.
“Alex, are you up? It is important.” Ki called to him from outside.
Alex threw on his pink robe and opened the door for her to come in. “Come in, it is still a bit cold.”
Ki stepped in and took a seat on the bench across from Alex. She raised an eyebrow at his bed hair but spoke anyway. “Well, a little bird told me some news from town.”
Alex yawned. “What happened?”
“Some of the warriors that fled to the wastes have returned.” Ki said seriously.
“Oh no, did they try to attack?” Alex asked.
Ki shook her head. “No, apparently they were the ones attacked in the wastes.”
“Haw, serves them right, those jerks.” Alex crossed his arms.
Ki spoke seriously, "This is a grave matter, Alex. Harpies attacked them. The entire group was exhausted from the forced march and became scattered. Some even chose to abandon their chief and seek mercy from the forest spirits."
“What are you worried about?” Alex said groggily.
“Bird flu. We don’t have the harpies that attacked them so there might be an outbreak by the time we go back.” Ki still sounded serious, and a bit annoyed.
“Normally priests who have the healing or purity domain can cure them. Sometimes high leveled shamans can cure it but we don’t have any of those either. The spell is on the same level as doing a class ceremony so chief stone ax took those ones with him. All the people that came back are scouts or warriors.” Ki tried to get Alex to understand.
“How can we stop it? How do we tell if the harpies were the infected kind?” Alex wondered aloud.
“If the people who came back from the wastes start getting sick and then change it will be really obvious.” Ki said.
“Can nymphs get infected with it?” Alex asked.
Ki shook her head. “No, nymphs are spirits and on top of that they are as much plant as person so they can’t get bird flu.”
“I guess we’ll have to make a quarantine area and try to limit the spread.” Alex said, thinking of how a plague would be dealt with back in his world.
Ki nodded.
“Anyway, I need to shower and get ready. Can I meet you back in town in two days time?” Alex asked, trying to sort through the grogginess.
“Yes, I can treestride back today. Hopefully there won’t be any humans growing feathers.” Ki got up and excused herself, closing the carriage door behind her.