Rose Tea

Chapter Two [Techno]

Techno didn't really feel guilty about leaving the ghost behind. He didn't think it was really his responsibility to look after the lonely ghost nor did he think he should feel obligated to be some hero he was not. He was quite content with his life and there was no reason for him to go about changing things now.

By the time Techno made it out of the cavern, it was already midday. It's not like he started the day's work any later than usual, but he must have been in the cave longer than he thought for so much time to pass. There was still, unfortunately, a gaping hole in his farm and it would regrettably have to stay that way for now. He would worry about plotting a new farm elsewhere on another day. Along with making sure it wasn't over some idiotic cavern that could cave in at any moment. For right now he would need money and supplies to do so. So Techno decided to gather up whatever game he had caught in his traps he set the night before and then trek to the nearby village just a few hours east. He probably wouldn't earn much today, but if he seriously set traps for the next few days and scavenged for herbs, he might be able to make a pretty penny or two. At least enough to get him by until he could set up a new farm.

Techno sighed, it would not be enjoyable for him in the least to visit the village. He could handle the stares, but that didn't mean he wasn't annoyed by the obvious hostility and the hushed gossip.

Techno adjusted his dusty overalls and gave them a thorough pat-down to get rid of the grime. He left his ruined farm and walked the distance to his cabin. From there he grabbed a sack and packed a lantern, some camping essentials, and whatever else he thought of. He was sure his excursion would carry on into the night given his late start. So he wanted to be sure he had some supplies just in case, though he didn't anticipate the need to camp out. He was comfortable walking all night long just to return home; the monsters that roamed the night wouldn't be much of a bother to him.

Techno started heading east, his mind already past the day's earlier events and the unexpected encounter. As he walked he picked up whatever game was trapped in his traps and packed them into his sack. It wasn't much though, only about 5 rabbits, but it would have to do. As he began heading for the village he gathered small bundles of herbs he knew would also sell well.

~~~~~

It was late afternoon by the time he arrived at the village. He noticed it immediately when the chatter quieted as he walked by and the whisper began. Villagers on the streets would hurry past him, shut their doors and close their windows, but still, he felt their eyes on him through the cracks. The streets were cleared and that gave him plenty of space to walk. He wasn't bothered though nor was he really offended. He understood their sentiments in his own way. Even he would look at humans and think to himself, what small and fragile creatures they were. So he couldn't exactly be bothered by their scornful eyes. All he could do was keep walking and make his business quick. Once out of here, they could do nothing else but gossip.

"Ah, Techno, is that you?" Techno stopped in front of a shop building just as he was going to knock on the door. The small building was old with time, apparent by the crooked door and the cracking foundation. He looked to his left and saw an older human hunched over as he hobbled towards Techno, at least he believed this was what humans referred to as old. Given his even frailer than normal appearance and gray to white hair that shot up sparsely from a nearly bald head.

"Afternoon old man," he was blunt in his greeting.

The man chuckled and Techno moved aside as the old man pushed open the crooked door, "Come in, it's a little tight as always, but show me what you have today." Techno nodded and in he squeezed his large frame through the doorway. The shop was always dimly lit with candles that he was careful to not tip over; the strong smell of dried meats and herbs wafted thickly into his nose.

"You should come by more often you know, I'd like to play another round of chess against you dear friend." The old man shuffled behind the counter and Techno kneeled in front and pulled out his sack.

"You know it's not that easy to do," Techno said. He pulled from his sack, 5 rabbits and several bundles of medicinal herbs. It was a shame because he was looking forward to cooking rabbit stew for dinner, but given his circumstances...he needed the money.

"Bah! Who cares what those hoodlums think, you're just like any other beastfolk I've met!" The old man waved off his comments and brought out a pair of spectacles that he placed low on his nose. Techno placed the items on the counter. Unfortunately, for the old man, his eyesight was poor, and even with those glasses, Techno was sure the old man's view of him was rather misguided. For Techno was not like other beastfolk, far from it actually, he wasn't even one. But still, he was happy to hear such words from him.

"Hmm, these are some fresh rabbits, whole ones too. You normally bring in the scraps after taking what you need."

"Mmm, I just need some money," Techno shrugged.

"Ohoho, honest as always," The man leaned back as he laughed, "well, I'm not complaining. Right, let me get you what I'll pay you for. 50 coppers for the rabbits and 1 silver for all the herbs, that alright with you?"

Techno nodded.

He waited as the old man bundled up the rabbits into a tarp and carried the herbs to the back of his shop. After a few moments, the old man returned with a small pouch of jangling coins, "Make sure you count 'em alright? My eyes aren't what they used to be."

"Will do, thanks old man," Techno took the pouch and shuffled carefully out of the shop. Once outside he walked as he counted. With this much, he could buy some crops, some fertilizer, and perhaps some new tools. He might as well take this chance to expand his crops from just potatoes, he had been meaning to do so for a while now. Better now than never he supposed.

Techno did his business quickly, and it was nothing exciting to really get into. As much as humans tended to scorn him or judge him, the old man he sold stuff to was a very respected guy. So as much as people didn't like him, he caused no trouble to the old man, therefore the rest of the village folk begrudgingly would sell to Techno. And he had the money to pay them too, he wasn't an asshole.

In his sack, he had all the necessary resources for a new farm and about 60 coppers left. He quietly pocketed the money into his overalls.

The sun was setting and the moon would be rising by now. He didn't really want to camp out if he could avoid it, so if he could he would make the long trek back home and scrounge up whatever food he had stored for a late dinner. He quietly walked through the shrubs and roots along the forest. He didn't take the trodden paths through the forest, it was easier for him to avoid trouble if he avoided people. And given the general consensus on his appearance, it was for good reason too. Just think about that ghost who was scared witless by his appearance. That was a common occurrence for Techno.

He wondered briefly how that ghost was getting on, maybe he was a little too insensitive to the guy, but he was still not interested in any good versus evil cliches. A pig, like him, didn't exactly have the hero look. He considered visiting the ghost, the guy might appreciate a conversation partner. However, if he tried to convince him to go on an adventure he would seal the cave back up himself.

There was rustling ahead, Techno paused. The lack of light made it impossible for him to see what lay deep in the forest. A moment later, 8 glowing red eyes peered through the darkness at him, he relaxed. It was just a spider. He paid it no mind as it scurried by, it was likely headed to the village behind him, but the guards would surely be able to handle it.

Monsters didn't mind him and he didn't mind them. Though of course, this was because he was really no different from them.

Techno continued his hike, only stopping every now and then to the noises of growls and grunts. Monsters would pop out from the shadows and head towards the village behind him. However...it only took him 5 minutes to stop walking altogether and take notice of the large number of monsters streaming out of the shadows past him. This was unusual.

In this world, there were 3 main categories of "intelligent" species, though it could be argued either way on how intelligent they were. For as self-entitled as humans were, Techno has seen them do the stupidest shit in the name of their humanity or something along those lines.

There were humans, beastfolk, and monsters. Humans and beastfolk generally got along well, though, there will always be their cultural differences, but for the most part, the two coexisted harmoniously. As for monsters well..., a majority of them are hostile. Call it instinct, even though he wasn't sure how to actually describe their hostile nature.

Most monsters lurked in the night and preyed on the defenseless, so this was seemingly no different from their normal nightly excursion. What was abnormal, however, were their sheer numbers.

Techno turned around, back in the direction of the village. At that moment he heard an explosion, he jumped ever so slightly. This was dangerous. For whatever reason, these monsters were larger in number than normal and all on a crash course for the village. But it wasn't his problem...not really. The monsters didn't mind him, and he didn't mind the monsters, just in the same way he didn't mind humans. It was of no concern for him to get involved...

Techno dropped his sack of purchased goods. He sighed ever so loudly and started running towards the village. As he broke through the forest and into the clearing he saw the growing flames of the houses on fire. There was screaming.

For what reason did he even come, he couldn't–no he wouldn't fight. He was a pacifist. All he could do was maybe try and carry a few people to safety.

"Old man?!" Techno shouted, he ran into the village. He wanted to find the old man first, for as much as the man had done for him, he owed him this. Monsters stumbled past like men on missions. Techno felt his heart sink the moment he laid eyes on the old man's shop. Burnt nearly to ash and collapsed like a pile of rubble. The only guy kind to him. The only guy who was eager to make conversations with him. The only guy who helped him on his feet when he first moved out here.

Techno sank to the ground, "Old man!" He pulled burning planks off the ground and tossed them to the side. Rocks and rubble were also easily tossed away. He didn't care about the embers that danced around him like fireflies or landed on his coarse fur like kisses. After a moment he saw it, the soot-covered form of a man long dead. His glasses crushed a few inches away from him

Techno stood abruptly and stumbled back. It's not like he was overly attached to the man...but even he had no excuses for why he felt the need to return to the village, or for why he hoped the old man had lived. The old man, whose name he never bothered to remember but the man never seemed to mind, was now dead–lifeless on the ground. Just an hour ago he was well, and now his death left a painful throb in Techno's chest.

Behind him, he could hear the crying and the screaming, and all around him, he saw the monsters. Why were they acting like this? He has never seen such a large outbreak of monsters before, to the point, not even the village guards could fend off.

"Ahhhhhh!" Techno turned in time to see a human with tears in their eyes and blood all over them rushing at him with a hoe raised. They swung at Techno and he stumbled back to avoid the blow.

"Wait, I don't mean any–" Techno dodged as the human continued to persist all while wailing piercing cries. He stumbled backward and crashed into the rubble of the old man's shop. Techno raised his arms as the human swung down his hoe. He caught it with ease and pulled it out of the human's grasp who fell forward at his strength. Techno pushed himself up, he took one last look at the ruins of the shop before running to the forest.

There was nothing he could do, he told himself.

The humans wouldn't even want his help anyway, he added.

He ran, his sack of goods forgotten somewhere in the forest. He ran, stumbling past the monsters that ignored him. He ran, home to where it was quiet, where he was alone.

He wouldn't be able to stay now. He would need a new place to live. But how long would it take to gain the trust of even one human? How long would it take before he could settle down without some would-be adventurer assuming the worst of him? He got lucky here, but now it seemed his luck has run out.

Techno stopped, his breathing weighed heavy in his chest. He remembered the ghost, oh that annoying ghost who spouted nonsense. Didn't he mention something about needing a hero? A hero for what? This? Was this the ghost's doing? Everything was normal until after he found that book.

Techno didn't jump at the sound of another explosion behind him. Instead, he shook off the chill deep in his bones and kept running.

~~~~~

Word Count: 2456

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