Cinnamon Bun Chapter Ninety-Two - Making Friends at the Next Level

Chapter Ninety-Two - Making Friends at the next Level

It was only an hour later, when we had pulled away from the valley and settled into a spot with so sandy grass where we could pitch our tents, that I finally found the energy and will to check on my notifications.

Not that much will. The days adventure had taken its toll, and I was weary to the bone... and yet I was also energized? It was probably all that excess mana from the dungeons core room. It was supposed to be dangerous, though I didnt know the details on why and how.

So, I laid back on a blanket, Awen tucked against my side and completely knocked out, Amaryllis on my other side with her head tucked in her armpit with only the occasional choo to show that she was alive.

Moon Moon had insisted on staying up all night, and we were too tired to argue against his generosity.

Alright Mister nu, I whispered before letting out a yawn. Show what weve got.

Quest Complete!

The world thanks you for your sacrifice!

That made sense. No reward again. Not unless Miss nu was serious about the living thing. Wed see, I guessed.

Path of Broken Reflections Dungeon Core Destroyed!

You have gained: Four General Points

Just the four? Two more than the Wonderland dungeon. Still, that got up to six total. I could get a skill up to... Rank B. Or I could get a bunch of general skills to Rank C. That was sothing.

That was a lot of sothing. I could imagine that people at higher levels like Abraham had a lot of general skills, and all of them would be stuck at rank D. Suddenly getting five skills to rank C would unlock a whole pile of new abilities.

I yawned.

Quest Update!

Pruning the Evil

Evil Roots Remain! Dungeons across Dirt are Infected! Destroy them!

And that was still a thing. h.

I brought up my skill sheet and ran over it at a glance.

Na Broccoli Bunch Race Human (Riftwalker) First Class Cinnamon Bun First Class Level

9

Age

16

Health

125

Stamina

135

Mana

115

Resilience

35

Flexibility

40

Magic

20

Skills Rank Cinnamon Bun Skills Cleaning A - 02% Jumping C - 100% Gardening D - 24% Cute D - 100% Dancing F - 87% General Skills ` Insight C - 62% Makeshift Weapon Proficiency D - 49% Archeology F - 62% Friendmaking D - 100% Physical Manakinesis F - 49% Skill points

2

General Skill Points

5

I was doing pretty good, I figured. I shifted around on my bedroll, pulled Awen closer because she was warm and liked cuddles, then I pulled the blankets so that they bunched up under my chin. As soon as I closed my eyes the world faded away.

***

Wake up moron, the suns up.

Mmm no.

Soone huffed. It had to be Amaryllis, she was the best at huffing.

I will test out my new thunder slap skill on you if you dont get a move on.

That was scary, but I had an infallible defence.

I pulled my blanket over my head. Now nothing could hurt .

The blanket was ripped away. I had to squeeze my eyes super tight so that the brighter light wouldnt burn them. Ugh, I said. Why?

Because we cant afford to be lazy all day, no matter how much you might wish it to be the contrary.

I glared up at Amaryllis, and when that didnt work, I tried pouting.

She snorted. Nice try. Now get up. Moon Moon is leaving soon to return to his pack. If you dont say goodbye he might think that youre no longer his friend.

Thats just an, I said as I rolled around and climbed onto my feet. Wheres my skirt? And my armour? I asked.

Amaryllis gestured to a corner of the tent. Hurry up, she said before walking out.

I hurried... sorta. Getting dressed inside a wee little tent was a bunch harder than getting undressed, as it turned out.

A few minutes later I was hopping out of the tent, one shoe on crooked and my pretty blue dress a bit twisted, but that was an easy enough fix.

We had set up the tent on the downwind side of a hill just a little ways from the glass valley where the dungeon had been. We werent exactly in a travelling mood the night before, but we also didnt want to sleep on glass.

Good morning! I said with a stretch as I took in my friends all standing around under the still low-in-the-sky sun. The area slled fresh, like morning dew on the brink of evaporating.

Awen was sitting with her crossbow on her lap and a piece of glass in her hands. She was frowning at the glass until she looked up and greeted with a big smile. Hello Broccoli, she said.

Yes yes, hello, Moon Moon said. The droll was chewing on a strip of dried at. You sleep loud.

Ah, well... thanks, I said. Do we have breakfast? I wondered as I shifted my gear on straight.

Im afraid not, Amaryllis said. We cant start a fire, not unless we sustain it magically and thats a hassle. Want to prepare so of your tea while I tear down the tent?

Sure! I said.

The next few minutes were frantically calm. We werent doing anything too special, but there was a sense that we had to hurry along. It was a weird feeling.

So, Moon Moon, I started while filling my teapot with so of the last of our water. Youre heading out?

Yep yep, Moon Moon said. Got to get back to the pack, tell them the stuff that happened.

Ah, youll tell them the dungeon was destroyed?

The droll nodded. Yes. Very sad. But its okay. Another dungeon will co. Maybe an easier one.

Thats a nice attitude to have, I said. Its too bad about the roots. Ah. I should explain those.

Dont bother, Amaryllis said. Ive been over it. He knows to try and destroy any roots, and hell tell the other drolls about it.

I will! Moon Moon said.

Once the tent was packed up and Amaryllis whisked it away into her ring, we sat on the side of the hill and had so tea with a bit of hardtack. Nothing too fancy, but it was filling nonetheless.

Then it was ti to part ways. You were fun to have around Moon Moon, I said.

The drolls tail waggled behind him. Yes yes, thank you. You were good too, Broccoli who doesnt sll like broccoli. You too, chicken one and... he sniffed the air. One who slls like Broccoli.

I grabbed Moon Moon in a big hug and squeezed him tight. Well see each other again one day, alright? I asked.

Yes yes! If you get tired of human things, you can join the Best Pack with your mate and your bird friend, Moon Moon said.

Amaryllis snorted. But she did say her goodbyes too.

We all waved as the droll trotted off into the sunrise. And then it was our turn to get going. So, northwest? I wondered.

Awa, I think straight north might be best. Well move away from the desert, Awen said.

I eyed her from the corner of my eye, she sounded a bit more confident than she had just a few days ago. If you say so! I said before I began to march north-wards.

We were in a fantastic mood, the trials last night being over and the sun shining bright and pretty in a sky that was dotted with big fluffy clouds made the whole world feel light.

Amaryllis and Awen talked about their general skill points, but wondering where they would spend theirs. As Id kinda guessed, having any amount of those was sort of a big deal .

What did your Book Smart skill do at its one-point rank? Amaryllis asked.

Awa, it allowed to use mana while reading to perfectly morize a book. Its very handy.

Hrm, Amaryllis humd. That does sound useful. Not sure if its worth the point. Observe is also tempting. Unfortunately my other general skills are all utilitarian. I dont think Accounting will co in handy with an additional skill point in it. And now that my class has evolved I have five empty general skill slots.

I, I dont have any good General Skills, Awen said. Um. Instruntalist, maybe?

That might apply to using things like that bow of yours, actually, Amaryllis said. Maybe you should wait until you have unlocked more skills before spending your own points. Its not as though were in any great hurry.

R-right.

For all that Amaryllis claid not to be in a hurry, she could certainly talk a whole lot about how best to spend the points she didnt want to spend yet.

Im going to put one point into Friendmaking, I said.

Amaryllis paused and tilted her head to the side. I... suppose that isnt an awful idea.

It might co in handy soon too, I said as I pointed out ahead of us.

Way, way off in the distance were a bunch of people. They would have been impossible to spot were it not for their yellow and black clothes that made them stand out on the green and blue horizon. They were far enough away that it would take a while to get to them though.

Amaryllis squinted ahead, then brought her new goggles up to her eyes. Cant Observe them properly from this far away.

I shrugged and opened Mister nu with a flourish. My Friendmaking skill was maxed out, so...

Congratulations! Friendmaking is now Rank C!

Friendmaking

Rank C - 00%

The ability to make friends. As you practice this skill your ability to make friends will improve. You are now able to see what people desire in a friend, their dreams and hopes for the future!

Ohh, I said. Neat! I can see what people want now.

Amaryllis nodded. Knowing what soone wants is the first step to getting them to do what you want.

And its one of the best ways to make them your friend, I added.

Sure.

I grinned at Amaryllis. Im gonna use it on you, alright?

Go ahead, Amaryllis said.

I focused on her, then pouted as nothing happened. Maybe it was like insight? Friendmaking? Nothing. What are your dreams? Nada. Hi! Wanna be friends?

Amaryllis Albatross

Desired Quality: Soone who will validate her

Dream: To have her family and clan be proud of her

Aww, I said before glomping Amaryllis. Id validate you anyti!

Get off , you dumb brute! Amaryllis squawked.

Not until you know how much you matter to ! I shouted right back.

She started buzzing and tickling with little electrical shocks. I giggled and let go, my arms and sides tingling with fuzzy electrical energy, like rolling on a carpet while wearing a thick wool sweater.

I turned to Awen next, and her face instantly went red. Awa, if, if you want to do , thats... its okay, she said.

Aweso! So, do you wanna be my friend?

Awen Bristlecone

Desired Quality: Taller than self. Female. Slightly older than self. Green eyes. Brown hair. Friendly. Adventurous. Outgoing. Cool. Cute.

Dream: To spend the rest of her life in the company of Broccoli Bunch

I stared for a bit, my tummy roiling and tears stinging the corners of my eyes. I didnt glomp Awen. But I did pull her into a big, very tight hug. Thanks Awen, I said.

Awa?

Ill be your friend forever, okay? I said. And when Im older, and Im living in a cute house with my cute husband, and my two cute kids and my cute pets, you can live in the house next to mine, and we can chat and talk and be together until were super old, okay?

Awa...

Guys, as amusing as Broccolis idiocy is to see, I think your attention would be better directed ahead of us, Amaryllis said.

I turned and blinked. The yellow-black people were closer, close enough that we could see them.

Though calling them people was maybe a misnor.

Giant horse-sized bees were not usually people.

***