Origin ARS 3 (Origin A.R.S.) Read Free Page B

possible speed. They ran like their scaly asses were on fire, or rather they ran out of fear that they soon would be.
    “Come back here! Don’t you know how much I like fish nuggets!” called Scott before he trotted toward the crawling mermaid. Actually, he preferred chicken nuggets but they did not need to know that.
    The fish men fled back into the sea. Not long after the anti-climactic battle the musical score changed to the soft and gentle tune from before. Despite the fact that the battle had felt like some sort of event to the man, the world treated it as though it were nothing special. A battle report popped up not long after and he smiled at the result.
    <<< Battle Report! >>>
     
    Congratulations!
     
    You defeated a Shar-Shar and made fish jerky out of it in the process!
     
    + 0 EXP
    + 88 Fayth
    +2 Ability Points
     
    Item(s) Acquired:
     
    Shar-Shar Jerky X 1
     
    <<< * >>>
    “Neat, jerky...” He checked his survival lore ring to see how much experience he had earned. He had decided that he would wear it until he learned the skills that it contained. It would give Rhea a chance to catch up to his level, and it would also allow him to finally receive those needed skills.
    “Hmm... not bad!” He had gained nearly six hundred points of experience from a single Shar-Shar!
    “He must have been around level twenty if he gave me two ability points... Probably weak to magic.” That would also explain why they raced off so quickly.
    Either way, the man stopped musing about his incredibly heroic victory. He remembered the reason that he came out in the first place. He walked over toward the feebly crawling mermaid then stopped a few feet from her position. He eyed her carefully for a moment. After a brief moment passed, she looked up at him. “Please...”
    Scott preferred not to get too close, yet. Just because the fish men were hungry assholes did not mean she was an innocent victim. “What do you need?”
    “My people... please...” the girl lifted up her hand and reached out to him.
    “What about them? Why did you come here?” he asked. Scott felt uncomfortable questioning her like this, but he had to find out a little more information.
    She started to cry. “My people have been captured by the Shar-Shar tribe. I escaped but some of them chased me...”
    “Yes...and...” said Scott.
    “I saw your sanctuary fire and I hoped to find help... please. I’ll do anything...” The mermaid pushed herself up slightly.
    “Anything?” asked Scott curiously. That was a rather interesting thing to offer.
    “We’ll be glad to help.” said a familiar voice. Scott turned to see Rhea standing behind him, two torch stones floated alongside her. Due to the increased light he could see her expression clearly, not that he enjoyed the heavy frown that she leveled in his direction.
    “You will? Thank you!” said the mermaid. Rhea walked closer and the stones lit up the area to a greater degree. The mermaid was revealed to have an earnest and thankful expression.
    The fish-tailed girl reached out toward Scott. She completely ignored Rhea’s presence despite the fact that she was the one who had offered to help. The sorcerer smiled at the aquatically oriented girl, but secretly wondered what that mild snub was about.
    Rhea spoke up, loudly. “We should get you to the campfire so you’ll be safe and you can change out of that form.”
    The mermaid smiled softly up at Scott then spread her arms out as though she wanted a hug. “OK. Can you help me get there?”
    The elf girl snorted then strode over and gripped the mermaid by the hands. The fish-tailed girl cried out in panic, but did not have the strength to fight back. Rhea hoisted her over her shoulder, like she was carrying a sack of clothes then turned toward the campfire.
    “No, no... Let him carry me.” cried the mermaid.
    Rhea snorted once more then casually walked away. The mermaid looked back and Scott with a forlorn expression and reached out toward