Now That the Thugs Have Gone

The forest leads you open and down, over and under, above and below and other unnecessary repetitions of the same sentiment. You learn some new things. Like despite Ixy living next to the forest and trekking into it a repeatedly in her childhood, she has rather little botanical knowledge to explain the flora that you are seeing. Her studies were more focused on fauna, and your cheeky joke about a succubus focusing on biology gets you a weak chuckle at best. It wasn't your best work, but if we're being honest you are quite distracted.

That was your first, adversarial bit of combat in this world. You were partially on autopilot. Truthfully trying to stay out of Ixy's way if you could, but you held your own pretty well. Your swordsmanship is terrible by any professional measure, but your instincts are carrying you for now. Moreover you completely forgot that this particular continent frowns on outright murder. Ixy's explanation is vague, but related to chaos, something rewards you for taking from your kill, without killing your kill. That sounded less confusing in your head. So the laws of the land reward you for taking something from your opponent other than their lives, preferably sexual or monetary in value, but why?

What benefit does that bring to a force that, if it has such widespread effect, wouldn't be threatened by people killing people? This is confusing, but you gently pat Baroqua as she lays in your holster. Whatever punishment you would have gotten has been avoided because your sword is truly gifted and well suited for adventuring in this world. Now that you think of it, Ixy's crossbow has a similar effect and its starting to make sense why being approved by a judge and being an adventurer in an official capacity would be widely sought out. Being granted a weapon that reduces the chance of being cursed by the all powerful agent of the land you live in is quite encouraging. You might be new to the land, but even people who have lived here their entire lives would likely make a mistake if they were to see regular combat.

If the people avoid fatalities, conflict resolution is probably a bit different.

You will have to see more of this world and you resign yourself to the fact that Ixy won't have the answer for everything, nor should you burden her with your every thought. Looking down at the red minx walking in front of you, you again are glad to have met her. The small town protagonist route is probably much gentler than the slums or wilderness routes you could have ended up on.

And with that last thought you scoop Ixy up and hold her in a princess carry. One hand under her legs the other, further up.

"H-hey," she giggles as her arms instinctively wrap around your neck, "What's going on?"

"We still don't know what I can and can't do," you tell her as you walk at the same pace you had before, "I've got decent strength and solid stamina, but we should at the very least try to find the limit."

"By carrying me?" she asks and leans in, her face nuzzling your chest and collarbone.

"Light as you are, I should feel some fatigue if I carry you long enough, besides, you complained about me feeling distant last night so I'm keeping you close."

Ixy giggles, but doesn't protest, "And your hand on my ass is for support or fun?"

".....yes."

Banter and groping aside, the forest has a decent route for your travels. Straight paths meet uneven terrain, overgrown roots eat into walkways requiring careful maneuvering and at several points Ixy hangs from your back as you climb oddly placed hill sides that do not belong in a forest. You are certain by this point that this forest is all too aware of its inhabitants. Whether it is all seeing or just focused on you and Ixy at the moment, you are thankful that its helping you test your limits.

Four hours later, lunch and relaxing by a creek you think over your findings.

"Jogging through uneven terrain, carrying you the whole way, climbing up and down and still not tired," you tell Ixy as you look across the running water.

Ixy, eating a meat filled pastry simply shrugs her shoulders, "Maybe you were cut out to be a blacksmith or a soldier, but I wouldn't put too much stock into this though. It can take years for some people to fully realise all of their abilities much less reach their potential."

You raise an eyebrow, "So super powered people fall from the sky more often than the dollar bus passes through Flatbush and that's not a problem?"

Ixy licks her lips to clean pastry crumbs from around her mouth before sticking her tongue out at you, "We're not exactly powerless ourselves. A few of you guys have made a name for yourselves in the history books, but the monarchy, most of the royal vassals and about 80% of the top adventurers are all natives. Hard work still goes a long way to being anything, no matter the gifts."

You scratch your chin, "Yeah, I guess Superman wouldn't be all that special back on Krypton, might still stand out on Daxam."

Ixy looks at you quizzically, "Who, what and what?"

You get up and stretch, "Just some stories from my world, we still have enough daylight to keep going."

Ixy turn around to face the path, "Yep, let's go Superman from Daxam."

"He's not- nevermind," you suppress the much needed correction that wouldn't mean anything to her anyway and the two of you head back to the trail.