10-25. The Cleansing
“Toothpaste?”
“Yeah,” Elijah said, running his hand through his hair. If there was one thing he liked about fighting in his various bestial shapes, it was that the blood and other viscera that inevitably came with ripping monsters apart with his claws failed to sully his hair or clothes. It was only when he was forced to resume his human form – usually to heal – that he ever picked up damage to his gear. “You know, fights gingivitis and halitosis. I have some in my satchel, but it’s kind of lost its minty kick, if you know what I mean. Been on the lookout for a new supply.”
“And you believe that I have access to such things?” asked Rakhan, obviously confused by the sudden shift. Going from slaughtering Voxx to talking about dental health was quite a shift.
“Well, you clearly have great oral hygiene.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So, what’s your secret?”
“Charcoal and sage.”
“Ew. Charcoal is terrible for tooth enamel,” Elijah said. “But sage…I could do sage. I think I have some in the grove.”
“I have also used salt.”
“Gross. My dad used to make me gargle saltwater when I had a sore throat. He called it a home remedy. I called it torture. And rightly, I developed an aversion to it,” Elijah revealed with a shake of his head. “I think I’m just going to have to bite the bullet and have my friend make some toothpaste for me.”
After all, Biggle had decent teeth. Surely, his world had something like toothpaste.
“I agree that dental hygiene is important. A clean body and clean heart – they are both acts of devotion to Waheguru,” Rakhan stated with a nod. “However, this does not seem the best place to debate such things. I suggest we take our rewards and leave this hell.”
“You know what? Probably a good idea.”
With that, Elijah turned his attention to the white crystal that hovered before him. It was a small thing, barely more than a foot tall and half as wide. Though it did pulse with a small amount of ethera that, compared to the chests he’d been awarded after conquering the Primal Realms, seemed a little disappointing.
He shook his head, prompting a question from Rakhan. “What is it, my friend?”
“Just realizing that I’m turning into a bit of a treasure snob,” he admitted with a wry grin. “Never mind me. Let’s open our presents.”
Rakhan narrowed his eyes at the odd characterization of their rewards, but he didn’t say anything else. That left Elijah to focus on the crystal. He reached out, touching it, which prompted a notification:
| Congratulations! By closing an average Dimensional Rift, you have done a great service to your world. Thus, you have earned a reward. Riftseed awarded.
|