Three soothing days later Imuru was right in his office, the time heading to midday, reading over his book, rocking a new simple hairstyle; A rope twist, his hair coiled into a dense spiraled strand. With Yosho standing ramrod straight by his side.
A familiar voice came at the shojo door, giving Imuru's face a little light in his day already as he smiled.
"You may come in," He said softly, resting his book, part of it still held in one hand, while the other he leaned on.
Roll and Imuru giving an eyebrow raise—Titani right beside the body of trembling nerves.
"You okay Roll?" Imuru inquired, his appearance looking pale, which Imuru could only know is an obvious bad sign.
"Please forgive me," Titani stepped forward. "He just had a bad time down in Section: 3 Part: C," She said, eyeing Roll from the corner of her eyes.
"T-They… were… M-m—Massive, Lord Imuru," Roll stammered. "C-Can you blame me? W-Wh—What if I… Was, eaten?"
Imuru straightened up from the words that came from Roll's mouth. "That would be terrible, Roll."
Titani cleared her throat, throwing herself right back into this conversation. "They were hardly even half the size of your Bee friend, Lord Imuru."
"They were venomous!" Roll countered in haste.
Titani huffed lightly. "No they were not," She calmly replied. "How you made it back home is beyond me."
"Alright you two," Imuru said softly, intervening in case this would go on any further.
"Lord Imuru, there is something else I wish to bring to your attention," Titani said. "Dark Deviders have been very mischievous lately, messing with that new platform, sir."
"Uh?" Imuru's eyes snapped open wide. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of Dark Deviders messing with such a valuable structure… Yet again, he couldn't be there all the time, they would certainly follow his words to a tea, if he gave a simple warning, but he had even a better plan.
Imuru stood up from his chair. "Titani. I would say you're exceptionally capable, would you think so yourself?"
Titani blinked perplexed by this shift, but held herself together, head held high. "Yes, my Lord," She replied confidently.
Imuru smiled. "Then that is all I need to hear. From now on, Titani you'll be the appointed guardian for my valuable infrastructure… Of course take this as a mere warm up, because there is much to come. Do you accept?"
Titani fell to one knee. "With pleasure and certainty, my Lord. I will not fail you. I guarantee only excellent results, from my field."
"Please stand. I am very appreciative of this, and not only you, but the loyalty of your people, and I must say thank you in return," Imuru bowed deeply.
Titani could feel a tear swell in her eyes, as she stood before Imuru, taking controlled, short, breaths.
"You're dismissed," Imuru said, allowing the pair to leave, one still a bit shaken and the other boiling with confidence and a need to prove herself.
Imuru smirked subtly for a second, taking his seat, brimming with thought. "Damn. I'm good. I actually thought of something proper to say this time. It must be the book, my brain, stretching and expanding, as my knowledge grows further… Soon, I shall know all. And be known as the All Knowing Imuru." He shook his head, having laughed at himself enough.
He lifted his book back up, settling in to continue his reading. "Ow… Look." Imuru showed Yosho the book. "A page is missing here too."
"Oh, dear," Yosho said in dissatisfaction. "My apologies, once again."
"No need to worry about it, a single paper is a lot easier to carry… Or whatever else you possibly needed it for," Imuru said.
"Mm. I think it's cuddling time?"
Imuru was up and out of his office, the door softly shutting behind him as he strode into the hallway, Yosho coming along quietly. On the outside porch he scratched the back of his head, gaze sweeping the area and the sunlit yard.
"Now..." He muttered to himself, a faint, affectionate exasperation in his tone as he stepped out into the crisp air, "where has that adorable one gone off to?
"Forcent!!!" Imuru loudly called out, stepping off the porch. He continued to call as he circled the lodge.
"No luck. Maybe he's off hunting again… Understandly he probably needs to go a long way. We could thank the Persudos for that."
Coming back round to the front, Yosho observed him, his expression searching. "Is there something I could help you with, Great Imuru?" Yosho inquired.
"No..." Imuru replied through a stifled yawn, waving off the unspoken concern. "It's fine. I just need to wait. I just can't help but wonder where he's currently gotten himself off to."
While Imuru mused, Forcent was already many leagues away, a small determined puff of white fur hopping and nimbly climbing the steep, wind-scoured face of a towering butte. With a final heave and a soft thud, he reached the sun baked summit. After a moment of scanning the flat, barren top, his keen eyes found a gash just up ahead. He padded over and peered in.
Below, in a sheltered hollow, lay a nest of dried thorn-vines and tree branches. And in it, coiled and dozing, was a Sky Murt, its distinctive, iridescent blue feathers and bright, parrot-like orange beak impossible to miss even in dim light.
The Sky Murt felt the cold plunge of having Forcent's shadow wash over it. The Sky Murt opened its fiery eyes, gazing upon the creature above it. The pair locked eyes with each other; a showcase of what was supposed to be of predator vs prey… But there wasn't any prey here.
In a blink of the eye the Sky Murt dashed from its nest further down into its little passageway. The gash above was only so large, cutting off, leaving Forcent unable from keeping track from above.
The flap of a wing caught his attention, his head tracking to the noise. The scene was particular, the Sky Murt was perched there staring at him. Forcent had thought it would've tried to make a run for it, but apparently it had other plans.
"Hmph." Forcent stepped forward to the Sky Murt radiating confidence. "Standing to challenge me. Not truly respectfully to the natural order… but I will not complain."
"I would not fight someone weaker than me unless necessary; being on the hunt is an excuse."
The Sky Murt tilted its head subtly. It once again burst forward into a sprint, like a bull seeing red, snapping its beak at Forcent, an attempt of an attack that was dodged with extreme casualness.
And just like a bull, it came to a split second uncontrolled tumble, right back to its feet.
Forcent frowned at this sight, his disinterest growing by the second. The Sky Murt, ruffled itself, shaking off the dust from its feathers.
Forcent's ears drooped. There were many ways he could efficiently deal with this creature, but favourite meal gets favourite treatment. In advance, one subtle step at a time. The Sky Murt opened its wings, circling around Forcent defensively, trying to discern his next move.
It lunged forward with a sharp cry, its bright beak aiming for Forcent's head. The Sky Murt didn't commit, stopping halfway, and swiftly pulling back.
Forcent had paused briefly, his ears perked. He didn't flinch, or display any signs of fear despite the creature's attempt at portraying its size.
This was all very typical in Forcent's eyes; he'd seen it all before.
Repeatedly, Forcent feigned going on offensive, a quick dart forward, mimicking the Sky Murt's own aggressive posturing from moments before. But there was no real intent behind it; he was playing its own game back at it.
Down in the gash, the three little chicks stirred at the commotion, gazing up with curious intent.
The three chicks, fluffy and fierce determination, flapped and scrambled up to the surface, emerging into the sunlight. Seeing Forcent squared off against their mother, they let out a chorus of high-pitched screeches and charged. One, the boldest, flapped its tiny wings furiously on top of Forcent's head, more a nuisance than a threat, while the other two began pecking and picking at his paws with their flaming orange beaks.
The mother Sky Murt's eyes flashed with protective fury. Seeing her chicks swarming the Ennom, she went on the offensive with a piercing shriek, committing to the attack. Lowering her head, she charged across like a feathered bull, her powerful body ramming solidly into Forcent, shoving him backwards in a skid of claws against rock, all the way to the very edge of the butte, where they came to a steady halt.
Unable to fully knock Forcent over, the parent Sky Murt along with its chicks retreated into a defensive position.
Forcent tilted his head, the last flicker of predatory intent leaving his eyes as he regarded the panting, defiant Sky Murt. With a soft huff that seemed almost like a sigh, he turned his back on the family—a gesture of clear, dismissive peace and gazed out over the forest. He sniffed the wind diligently, sorting through the scents for other prey.
He gave one last flick of his tail and leapt from the butte's edge, descending in a smooth, silent arc back toward the canopy below. Forcent began his search for something suitable for his palate, glancing behind him ever so often, his thoughts a scrambled mess; wanting to return to that Sky Murt's nest, but Imuru kept flashing in the back of his mind.
Traveling silently through the dense undergrowth, Forcent's ears perked forward and his twitching nose picked up the sharp, coppery scent of blood... Specifically, that of Persudos.He wasn't interested in the slightest as to their well-being, but a flicker of cold curiosity about trouble they were stirring up promoted him to pivot his path and slip like a white shadow toward the source to investigate.
Sneaking through the thick brush without a sound, Forcent emerged at the edge, in an area where the trees were thin at their base, grew spaciously apart, and had a green-yellow shade. His sharp gaze landed upon the scene: an Orc in gleaming silver armor from head to toe, holding a massive double-bladed axe, the plates on its arms studded with sharp spikes, standing firm and dominant against three injured, snarling Gray Persudos who circled him with wary, bleeding hesitation.