Mythran's Master Of All

Teepo was right about the horse being tired. In fact, they had to make more stops than they did before. Aimus took several detours and spread the word about the dire wolf showing up at his homestead. No one was sure if there was more than just the one that was killed. There could be several of them, or even a whole pack could be waiting in the woods. Aimus made sure that no one would go looking on their own and planned on forming a 'scout and hunt' party when he returned.

They arrived at the beginning of the mountain pass. It was near dusk and Aimus declared that they were staying overnight. Ren helped Aimus unhook the horse and tied it to the back of the cart. Ren could have let the horse graze for a while, but wanted the horse to keep it's strength up. Ren gave it a feed bag instead. Once that was done, Ren looked around and Aimus was gone. He must be going to check the traps. Ren thought.

“He is.” Teepo said.

Ren turned around but didn't see Teepo anywhere. Hey, Teepo... where are you?

“On Aimus' back.”

Ren chuckled and then climbed into the back of the cart with Lucy.

“What's so funny?” Lucy asked.

“While Aimus is checking the animal traps, Teepo hitched a ride on his back.”

“Teepo's your little invisible friend, right?” Lucy asked and Ren nodded.

“You know... I've seen you talking and interacting with it, but nothing else comes up on the screen.” Lucy said. “It's like only you can see it.”

“That's true.” Ren said.

“We all thought you were just making it up. We checked the machine, and with the company, but there wasn't anything wrong with the equipment.”

“It would look like I was crazy.” Ren said with a twisted smile.

“That's what the psychologist thought.” Lucy said and clapped her hand over her mouth. “I did not just tell you that.”

“You don't think I know that already?” Ren chuckled. “They've been calling me a 'basket case' for years. What's one more little quirk?”

“It's supposed to be privledged information. I don't know why it just slipped out.” Lucy said.

“You transfered, remember? You don't work there anymore.” Ren sighed. “Teepo's my friend. He's been my extra eyes and ears since the first time that I found him. I wouldn't have gotten through some of this without him.” Ren chuckled again. “Of course, like a true friend... some of it I had to go through because of him.”

“Hey, I really needed help that time!” Teepo said.

Ren smiled. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat, Teepo.

Ren thought for a moment more then asked Lucy a kind of important question that Ren had forgotten to ask before.

“Lucy, what level are you?”

“I'm already at level 12!” Lucy said and smiled, proud of her achievement. “I didn't like killing all those cute little bunny rabbits and foxes...” Lucy's smile vanished. “...but after a while, new ones would appear.” Lucy said. “People called it something on the help forums... oh, right! Farming.” Lucy smiled again. “It was nothing like 'farming' at all, but it worked. It only took me a couple of weeks to get this high.”

Ren turned his head so Lucy wouldn't see the surprise on his face. How did she make it all the away out here while only a level 12? Ren thought. She should at least be a level 30 to travel by herself. We didn't let anyone below level 30 come on the Aurora Expedition. Ren turned back once the surprise was gone from his face and looked closely at Lucy's clothing. Ren noticed that they were a similar type of starter clothes that he received the first time he had entered the game.

“The first thing we should do is get you some new clothes.” Ren said.

“Why? What's wrong with these ones?” Lucy asked.

“Besides the tears and holes?” Ren teased, then ducked when Lucy tried to swat him on the head. Ren grinned when Lucy missed.

“Yes, besides that.” Lucy said.

“They don't offer you any protection.”

“You can get clothes for that?” Lucy said, surprised. “I thought you needed something like armor to be protected.”

“Most times, yes.” Ren said and nodded. “But... the clothing I'm wearing now is pretty durable. It takes a lot to damage it. The dire wolf's claws didn't even punture it.”

Lucy closed her eyes and shuddered at the memory.

“Sorry, Lucy. I didn't mean to bring it up like that.” Ren said in a soft voice. “I just wanted you to remember that the cloth was strong.”

“Okay.” Lucy opened her eyes. “Where do we get this cloth from? Is it expensive? I don't have a lot of money.”

“It's definitely expensive. In fact, it's nearly one of a kind.” Ren chuckled. “I know who has some, though... and your money is no good to him.” Ren grinned. “Actually, he wouldn't take your money even if you threw it at him.”

“Then what does he want?” Lucy asked. “Who is this guy?” Lucy was a little exasperated.

“Well... he's me.” Ren said and smiled at Lucy's expression. Ren wasn't sure how she managed it, but Lucy looked both mad and happy at the same time.

“You shouldn't tease a woman about clothes, Ren.” Lucy said, then smiled. “How do I get the great Ren Haddon to make me some new clothes?”

“Help me clear a spot in the cart.” Ren said and started stacking the feed bags at the front of the cart. I need some room to work.”

Lucy nodded and helped Ren clear a good sized space and got out of the cart. Ren took out his spool of spider silk fabric and measured out a bit more than what he thought he needed to make a set of travelling clothes. Lucy's clothes were slightly different, but Ren assumed that it was because they had form-fitted to Lucy's body just like Ren's clothes fit him once they were equipped. Ren took out his portable tailoring kit. Ren cut out the pieces of the pattern that he needed from the cloth. When Ren got to the parts for the shirt, he stopped.

Going with a crazy idea, Ren opened the plans for the party dress. If Ren scaled the size a little, left off the frilly parts on the shoulders and only used the chest piece, he could subtitute that for the middle of the shirt and sew on the sleeves. A slight flip to the collar would allow the cloak to be attached properly. Ren cut out the new pieces and looked at Lucy's hooded cloak.

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“Can I borrow your cloak?” Ren asked.

Lucy took off the cloak and handed it over. Ren didn't have to take it apart, he could clearly see where the hood attached to the cloak because it had been seperate pieces and Ren adjusted his new pattern to fit. Ren cut out the new hooded cloak and sat back.

“What colors would you like them to be?” Ren asked and pulled out the portable dying station.

Lucy picked the colors she wanted everything to be and Ren instantly dyed them. Ren sewed all the pieces together with the spider silk thread that he had. When the outfit was finished, Ren got a popup.